Root and Stem
"Not belonging to any other country. That's my condition."
Someone might say it.
That they're burning 50 billion for a mere condition like this.
But that's the kind of talk only from someone who doesn't understand this ecosystem.
Ever since the emergence of Awakeners and Towers, every nation in the world had plunged into a perpetual state of competition.
A silent war, they called it.
Everyone was desperate to recruit talent.
And the player they most desperately wanted right now was undoubtedly the Record of Honor Runner.
His floor count wasn't that high, but he'd bulldozed up to the 28th floor with absurd momentum.
He was the epitome of a promising sapling, and no one could predict what kind of monster he'd become as time passed.
For such an immeasurable variable to defect to another country would be a catastrophic disaster in itself.
If they could prevent that, 50 billion felt like a bargain.
"To be honest, I wanted to condition your entry into the Hunter Agency. But you'd refuse, wouldn't you?"
"Spot on."
"And you wouldn't want to join as a freelance hunter like Se-yeon, either?"
"Right again."
Jin Yun-ho, eyes closed, nodded.
The Hunter Agency wasn't a pushover.
They didn't let themselves get dragged around by just anyone.
But right now, they had no choice but to go along.
They were the ones who needed the money, but Jin-hyuk was the one steering this deal.
'This won't be easy.'
He hadn't realized it before, but watching Jin-hyuk's demeanor today made it clear.
The man before him wasn't some naive rookie oblivious to the world.
He looked innocently kind, but he was a sly fox who knew exactly the cards he held.
50 billion was an obscenely large sum, no doubt.
But if he proved he was the Record of Honor Runner, he could get that much from anywhere else.
Jin-hyuk knew this and had chosen Jin Yun-ho and the Hunter Agency because they seemed the least hassle.
If they overstepped and made excessive demands?
He'd kick over the table and walk to someone else without a second thought.
Better not to have him at all than to lose him to rivals.
That was the best judgment Jin Yun-ho and the Hunter Agency could make right now.
"Very well. But since it's no small amount, you'll need to disclose the purpose. I have to get approval from headquarters."
"I need a top-grade subspace bag."
Now he understood why he'd asked for 50 billion.
The ability to store items from outside the Tower.
And to store more than others could.
It might sound trivial at first glance, but it absolutely wasn't.
Being able to carry a variety of items meant diversifying tactics inside the Tower.
In a war of attrition on a single floor, sustaining supplies were essential, and a high-grade subspace bag made that possible.
That's why equipment that wasn't top-tier in level or rank cost a fortune.
The abysmal drop rate played a part in that, too.
Jin Yun-ho rubbed his forehead and checked his phone.
'There is one.'
He hadn't misremembered.
The Hunter Agency had one, too.
A top-grade subspace bag usable both inside and outside the Tower.
But it was already assigned to another player.
"If you get the bag, you won't need the 50 billion anymore?"
"Yes. No need."
Jin Yun-ho checked the name of the assigned player.
No need to weigh it against Jin-hyuk; the decision was obvious.
"I'll make one call. So, you're accepting the terms?"
"Of course. And no other countries will get involved."
He'd never planned to affiliate with anyone anyway, so the choice was easy.
Being solo was far more comfortable.
"Good. We'll handle the contract shortly."
Jin Yun-ho stood and left the restaurant.
Then he made the call.
Hey, Team Leader Jin. What's up this late at night?
Lee Chang-gi, the Personnel Director, bantering as usual.
"It's not even 6 p.m. yet."
To someone like me who goes to bed early, it is. So, what's got you calling first?
"Could you pull some strings in the Support Team for me? If I do it, it'll start a fight."
You think that'll fly? What's this about? Spill.
"The subspace bag from Flick's that was set for Player Jo Kang-tae. I want to reassign it to another player."
Jo Kang-tae, currently attempting the 40th floor section.
His floor wasn't exceptionally high, but there was a reason the Hunter Agency supported him lavishly.
Up to his current floor, Jo Kang-tae had broken quite a few Record of Honor entries.
The Agency valued his potential and backed him with resources and personnel.
You planning to drop a nuke? Don't you know Jo Kang-tae's personality?
"I do. How could I not?"
Jo Kang-tae was infamous for endlessly requesting funds and items.
The moment his mood soured even slightly, he'd hint at defecting to another country or organization, using it as blackmail.
Yet his performance so far had been stellar, so the Agency quietly accommodated him.
That subspace bag was barely secured after Jo Kang-tae threw a fit about needing it. And now you want to give it to someone else? No way. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
Jin Yun-ho's lips curled up.
Lee Chang-gi, the clairvoyant.
Even he hadn't foreseen this today.
"What if giving it away prevents the Record of Honor Runner from going to another country?"
No matter what you say, if it's no—
A screech of a chair.
Lee Chang-gi, who had been lounging, shot upright.
You found him?
"I didn't find him; he came to me himself. He needs a top-grade subspace bag. We could give him the 50 billion as originally requested, but I judged that too risky."
Fair point.
Buying equipment worth 50 billion wouldn't be straightforward.
It could draw unwanted eyes or expose his identity.
Even if Jin-hyuk kept his word, the risks were too high, and the Agency wanted to avoid them at all costs.
"Director. Will you do it?"
What kind of question is that? Of course.
Like Jin Yun-ho, Lee Chang-gi didn't bother weighing options.
If Jo Kang-tae had occasionally refreshed the Record of Honor, the Runner had shattered it from floor 1 to 28 entirely.
Naturally, all of Jo Kang-tae's records in that range had been cleanly erased by Yoo Jin-hyuk.
No need to agonize.
Team Leader Jin Yun-ho.
"Yes."
You did great.
With praise, Lee Chang-gi hung up.
Flick's subspace bag: secured.
After a hearty dinner capped with delicious seafood for round two, Jin-hyuk finished up.
"Then, see you tomorrow."
He bid farewell to the two.
The subspace bag required procedures, so delivery was set for tomorrow.
"Yes. We'll deliver it promptly. Take care."
"Get home safe!"
Jin-hyuk bowed once more and left the restaurant.
Watching his retreating figure, Se-yeon let out a deep sigh.
"Let's do round three."
"Bear with it today. We can't disturb such an outstanding player—who's also the Runner—right after midnight when he plans to hit the Tower."
"I'm an outstanding player too, you know? Cleared the 84th floor today, even."
Se-yeon shrugged and leaned back in her chair.
On any other day, Tower or no Tower, she'd have grabbed Jin-hyuk.
But today, she had business with Jin Yun-ho.
"Did you find her?"
"No. One step too late."
Until recently, the Hunter Agency Support Team member in charge of Se-yeon: Geum Sa-ra.
She'd vanished completely.
"We found this at Geum Sa-ra's home."
Jin Yun-ho handed over the phone Se-yeon had lost at the Agency.
"It really was... Sa-ra."
Se-yeon pressed her forehead.
Her head throbbed faintly.
They'd been quite close for over two years.
"We're tailing Geum Sa-ra, but no leads yet."
"Tail-cutting, huh."
She clicked her tongue in irritation.
She wanted to tear them apart for the interference, but it was frustratingly out of reach.
"By the way, that tea you asked me to track down last time—was it connected to Yoo Jin-hyuk?"
"Ah, haha..."
Se-yeon scratched her head, gazing at distant mountains.
With the potion's source traced back to Jin-hyuk, there was no dodging it anymore.
She glanced at Jin Yun-ho.
For some reason, his face was gravely serious.
"Please understand. I couldn't report it because I'd received something."
As she added another word to his still-unyielding expression, Jin Yun-ho continued.
"There's another lead besides Geum Sa-ra."
"A lead?"
He slid a binder across the table.
Profiles spanning several pages.
"Who are these people?"
"A group that seems connected to Geum Sa-ra. Most are ex-cons."
"Where are these bastards? Let me go ask them myself."
"You can't ask them."
"Huh?"
"They're all dead."
He handed over a photo.
A dozen corpses in an abandoned factory.
Se-yeon furrowed her brow.
"Who did this?"
"Honestly, I'm curious about that too."
Jin Yun-ho met Se-yeon's eyes.
Reading his intent, she waved her hand dismissively.
"Come on, Yoo Jin-hyuk just cleared the 28th floor. His sync rate can't be more than 10% at best. You think that makes sense?"
"And the records he set from floor 1 to 28 do?"
She had nothing to say.
After 28 repetitions, she'd grown a bit numb, but it was still an astonishing chain of feats beyond comprehension.
Jin Yun-ho exhaled softly and leaned back.
"The Record of Honor Runner. An absurdly remarkable existence—no one would deny that. But I don't think that's all there is to it. If Yoo Jin-hyuk really is the one who killed them..."
A strange gleam flickered in Jin Yun-ho's eyes.
"He might be an even greater Irregular than we imagine."
Se-yeon swallowed dryly.
What etched on Jin Yun-ho's face wasn't gravity or suspicion.
It was a monstrous anticipation bordering on ecstasy.
She could bet on it: Jin Yun-ho was hoping.
Hoping that Yoo Jin-hyuk was indeed the Irregular who did this.
And one more thing—a new worry cropped up.
The shadowy organization that had used Cheon Se-yeon's phone to reach the meeting spot.
They might know, too.
That the last person their dead operatives met was Yoo Jin-hyuk.
At that moment, in an old-town officetel.
"Sound the fanfare!"
"Sound the... What's fanfare?!"
Too tricky a word, so they changed it.
"Raise the drumsticks!"
"Waaaah! Drumsticks are yummy!"
Seira and Dark each grabbed a drumstick, following Jin-hyuk and Kancho's lead.
"So, what now?"
They paused like that for a moment, then Jin-hyuk, drunk on joy, scratched his head.
"Let's eat up."
The four quickly demolished the chicken before them.
Jin-hyuk tore into it with even more relish than usual.
And why not.
Bliss!!
A whopping 50 billion.
An amount he'd never even dreamed of coveting.
Yet it had rolled in, vine and all.
In the form of a subspace bag.
Having polished off a drumstick in seconds, Jin-hyuk clenched his fist.
'Nice!'
Tomorrow, he could finally go.
To the Mythic Tower's bonus floor, 3.5.
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