Lights Out
Jinhyuk returned to his seat.
Up on the stage, the host was giving a brief rundown of the day's schedule.
"Are you okay?"
He had been gone in the restroom for quite a while. His face looked… troubled.
"Yes, I'm fine. Is your phone getting any signal?"
The question was so sudden that Jin Seo-hee instinctively took out her phone to check.
"No, nothing. But why the sudden question?"
Jinhyuk showed her his map app.
"The map suddenly… hm?"
Seo-hee narrowed her eyes, tilting her head.
Something was off.
They weren't in a location where the signal should be dead.
"I'll go ask one of the staff."
As she stood, Jinhyuk caught her arm.
His voice dropped.
"Don't be startled. Just listen."
"…What is it?"
"There's a bomb on the ship."
Seo-hee's eyes widened.
She was known for her calmness, her unshakeable composure.
But not even she could maintain it now.
The words were simply too absurd.
"Yu Jinhyuk…"
Whatever she had been about to say died on her lips.
She had never seen his face this grave before.
He was not someone who made things up or exaggerated.
Her instincts told her—she had to believe him.
Once she managed to steady herself, Jinhyuk continued.
"It's not just one or two. It's enough to blow up the entire cruise ship. The fact that they installed them in advance means someone among the staff is colluding with them."
"That's why you stopped me."
"Yes. There's no way to tell who's innocent. And figuring it out won't be easy."
Seo-hee frowned as she glanced around.
Just as he said.
There were only a few guests, but countless New Cali-ho staff.
There was no way to separate black from white here.
"Haah…"
She exhaled slowly.
She, too, was a player currently attempting the 50th-floor segment.
She hadn't lived a sheltered life—but encountering a situation like this outside the Tower was a first.
"I'll go look into things."
"You? Alone? I'm going with you."
Jinhyuk shook his head.
"If you move, they'll notice. You attract attention wherever you go."
He wasn't wrong.
If the enemy sensed anything strange, there was no telling what they might do.
The best option was for Jinhyuk—a relatively unfamiliar face—to move alone.
"Mr. Yu Jinhyuk, which level segment are you challenging right now?"
"Thirty."
Seo-hee shook her head sharply.
"That's too dangerous. If you run into them while searching, they'll kill you on the spot. We should stay together and watch their reaction before we act. You don't need to be a hero."
A reasonable concern.
At the 30th floor, even with a high synchronization rate, he'd be around twenty percent at best.
And Jinhyuk was a melee class that used a sword—if the enemy had firearms, he would be as good as dead.
"Hero? It's nothing that grand. I just…"
He shrugged lightly.
"I'm doing it because it's well within my capabilities."
Before she could stop him, he stood.
Seo-hee couldn't call attention to them by trying to hold him back.
"Mr. Yu Jinhyuk…!"
"I'll be back."
Jinhyuk walked off at an easy pace.
Not only was Seo-hee a 50-floor player, she had equipment usable outside the Tower.
She could protect herself.
Screee… thunk.
Once out of the hall, Jinhyuk stretched, then smiled faintly.
He hadn't wanted this situation.
But this… suited him far better than sitting stiffly at an uncomfortable event.
Alright, let's go find them.
Bastards who planted something filthy on a good day, in a good place.
Whoever they were, he didn't know.
He didn't know what their purpose was either.
But interfering with the auction for that precious Star Necklace?
Unforgivable.
Not happening. Absolutely not.
He moved forward.
Time to see some faces.
Genex Headquarters.
Security Chief Cha Myung-jun entered the chairman's office.
"So? Did you find anything?"
"Yes. There were many similar cases, so locating them wasn't difficult. However…"
Cha inserted the USB he had brought.
Multiple documents and videos appeared on the screen.
"They're troublesome."
"Vesta? That the name of their organization?"
"Yes. A terrorist group that mainly operated in Russian waters."
Jin Tae-gon let out a low breath.
Why would such people appear in Korea?
"And the connection to Genex?"
The market was a living battleground of endless competition.
Genex holding a high position meant many companies had sunk beneath it.
Small or large, grudges inevitably existed—meaning the original target might not be Jin Seo-hee, but Genex itself.
"Nothing concrete yet."
"Hm."
Frowning, Tae-gon flipped through photos and videos.
His expression twisted.
Most of the images showed places blown to ashes.
The next file displayed identified members of Vesta.
"All players."
"Yes. Mostly 30- and 40-floor players."
"What about the New Cali-ho security?"
"Similar or a bit higher. But…"
Cha gestured to the next document.
"It worries me that they were dangerous even before they became players."
Class awakening, gear, special traits, match-ups— countless factors influenced combat ability.
But one thing people often overlooked was the person's background before awakening.
Vesta's members had committed numerous acts of terror long before they ever awakened.
Compared to regular players whose experience came mostly from the Tower, they had overwhelmingly more real-combat experience.
In equal conditions, victory was decided by split-second judgment and luck born of experience.
Even if the ship's security were higher-floor players, odds were they would lose.
"Their armaments are likely superior as well."
"Of course. The New Cali-ho travels between Korea and Japan—one of the safest regions in the world."
Equipment that works outside the Tower was already expensive.
A ship traveling such safe waters had no reason to spend extravagantly on defense.
Chairman Jin leaned back in his chair, rubbing his forehead.
"So internal resolution is impossible."
As he and Cha discussed options—
A knock sounded, and the head of HR entered.
"Chairman, you'll want to take this call."
Tae-gon rose and accepted the phone.
He didn't need to ask who it was.
"Vesta?"
Oh my, Chairman Jin Tae-gon. You sound calmer than expected. Considering your lovely youngest granddaughter is about to die.
"Did you plant bombs on the New Cali-ho as well?"
You've done your homework. I waited until then to call you. Naturally, the bombs are more than enough to blow the ship to pieces.
Tae-gon clenched his molars.
Planting such things on a ship carrying his granddaughter?
He wanted to rip them apart with his bare hands.
He steadied his breath.
"What do you want?"
Just ten trillion won.
"Do you have any idea how enormous that sum is?"
Genex's market cap was 100 trillion.
They were demanding ten percent of the entire corporation.
Oh, we know. You have three hours. If you think your granddaughter's life isn't worth ten trillion, then don't pay. And if any suspicious ship or aerial unit approaches the New Cali-ho, we'll detonate it immediately. Ah—and don't forget the lives of everyone else aboard are in your hands.
"I need more time."
Not my concern. Goodbye.
Even after the call ended, Jin Tae-gon couldn't let go of the phone for a long while.
"Chief Cha. Quietly gather any rankers we can mobilize. You and the company teams might already be under surveillance. Also, find a way onto the New Cali-ho."
"Understood."
"Be careful. He's cautious. The moment he senses anything…"
He didn't finish.
The photographs made the consequences obvious.
Cha Myung-jun left.
Jin Tae-gon pressed his fingertips hard against his eyes.
"HR, bring in engineers. We need a way to break through the New Cali-ho's communication jamming."
"Yes, sir."
Most of the influencers aboard the ship were players climbing the Tower for content creation.
They wouldn't add much combat power—but knowing was better than being ignorant.
They must return safely.
His mind drifted to Jin Seo-hee and Jinhyuk.
He was the one who had given them invitations.
If anything happened to either of them, he would never forgive himself.
He had to bring them back alive, no matter what.
Top deck of the New Cali-ho.
Walking down the corridor at a relaxed pace, Jinhyuk approached a security guard.
"Hello."
"Yes, hello."
"I have something to ask. Where's the situation room? The place that handles the CCTV feeds and monitors the ship. I heard it was on this floor."
The guard tilted his head.
"Sorry, but only authorized personnel are allowed in. May I ask your reason for visiting?"
"Oh, sure. One moment."
Jinhyuk took out the round plastic container he'd received from Kancho.
"I found a bomb on the ship. I think I should report it directly to the situation room."
"A b-bomb?"
The guard seemed to consider something, then nodded.
"Please follow me. I'll guide you."
"Thank you."
They began walking.
"How did you find the bomb?"
"By coincidence. I was exploring the ship, saw something strange, and checked. It was there."
"I see. Did you report it to anyone else before coming?"
"No. I kept it secret just in case. You're the first person I've told."
"Good call. The situation room is just ahead."
He tapped a card, and the closed door slid open.
A new hallway appeared.
Jinhyuk glanced down at the Yodle Compass.
He was indeed headed toward the situation room.
"Just keep going straight."
"Thanks."
He bowed his head and walked forward.
And then—
[Karacel's Ring, Quick-Shield – Physical activates!]
[100 mana deducted according to blocked damage. Current mana: 1900]
A fist aimed at his neck bounced off.
"!?"
The guard stared between his own fist and Jinhyuk's neck, bewildered.
Jinhyuk rubbed his neck lightly and turned around.
"That makes five."
"Wh-what…?!"
After confirming there were no CCTVs nearby—
KWAANG!
He slammed the guard's head into the wall.
"Haah…"
He ran a hand through his hair.
At first, he'd tried to figure out which of the security staff were in league with the bombers.
But now, he didn't need to check anymore.
Every one of the five guards he'd randomly encountered had reacted the same way.
Which meant only one thing.
All of the New Cali-ho's security were the enemy.
----------
T/N:
Just for being a free member, you'll get 5 advanced chapters every week!
Access 35 chapters in advance on my Patreon:[email protected]//towerup