Goyeon Ha, CEO of HG Fashion, arrived at the Awakened Management Agency right on time for the meeting.
Wearing a temporary visitor's pass around her neck, she followed an employee's guidance into the main conference room.
She hesitated.
"…Hmm."
Should I go in or not?
Inside the conference room were two people.
Including herself, that made three.
Judging by their name tags, one was from Ilseong Apparel, the other from Daehyeon Trading.
They weren't the presidents or CEOs.
If they were, she would've recognized them at a glance.
They were probably executives—directors or something similar.
That meant she was the only CEO present.
"…Did I come for nothing?"
This was awkward.
She looked a little ridiculous.
As Goyeon Ha entered, the two men stood up halfway and greeted her.
"C-CEO, n-nice to meet you. I'm Kim Seokjin, Executive Director of Ilseong Apparel."
"Yes, I'm Goyeon Ha. Is CEO Jeong busy today?"
"He's currently in New York to attend a fashion show."
"Oh."
One was overseas.
Well, fashion shows were important.
"Allow me to introduce myself as well. I'm Yang Sejun, Managing Director of Daehyeon Trading."
"Yes, Director Yang. I'm Goyeon Ha."
She didn't ask where the president of Daehyeon Trading was.
That man was always busy too.
Usually traveling for leisure, but still.
In the end, the most free person here was her.
A fashion company CEO with such a loose schedule that she could show up immediately whenever a government office called.
An executive director and a managing director—at least the lineup wasn't completely lacking.
Even if they weren't final decision-makers, they were high enough up to report immediately to their presidents in case of an emergency.
The atmosphere grew stiff.
No one spoke first.
"Should I make up an excuse and leave?"
All kinds of thoughts crossed her mind.
And then, right at that moment—
Knock, knock.
The conference room door opened as someone entered.
"Ah, sorry I'm late."
Huh?
The deputy commissioner himself came?
Everyone sprang to their feet and bowed deeply.
Goyeon Ha did the same, bowing politely.
You couldn't afford to treat a civil servant lightly.
This was Jeon Gwang-il, the power behind the Awakened Management Agency.
The man who devised the Elite Team Player Project and elevated South Korea into a leading nation in tower-conquest strategy.
As a result, Korea's highest cleared floor count had matched that of the United States.
Nam Ga-eun, who appeared to fill the void left by the naturalized Yoo Cheol-min, had established herself as a star player.
And that wasn't all.
There were rumors that he was the one who had secured the Holy Sword.
Some even speculated that he knew Korea's S++-rank record-holder personally.
He was almost guaranteed to become the next commissioner, powerful enough to rival conglomerate chairmen.
No—he was probably even harder to meet than one.
For someone like Jeon Gwang-il, the new deputy commissioner, to personally appear in the conference room—this alone made attending worthwhile.
"…Maybe it really was a good idea to come."
At that moment, Jeon Gwang-il looked troubled.
"Um, I'm afraid I need to apologize. I believe we'll have to meet with the representatives from Ilseong Apparel and Daehyeon Trading another time."
Kim Seokjin and Yang Sejun looked bewildered.
"What do you mean?"
"When I sent out the official notice, I specifically requested that the CEOs attend. There was a reason for that."
Then—
"There's no problem. I can contact our president in real time from here."
"Same for me. The president told me to call him immediately if anything came up…"
Jeon Gwang-il sighed, looking regretful.
"I truly apologize. This is an internal policy decision. With all due respect, I will be speaking only with CEO Goyeon Ha. Then—"
His tone was polite, but his words were firm.
Left with no choice, Kim Seokjin and Yang Sejun gathered their belongings and left the room.
And just like that, only the two of them remained.
Goyeon Ha smiled brightly.
"Did I just get lucky, Deputy Commissioner?"
"Hmm… I can't give you a definite answer yet."
"I hope it's good luck. I did prepare something."
"Prepare what?"
Goyeon Ha took a document folder out of her bag and handed it to Jeon Gwang-il.
Inside were design drafts.
There were photos as well.
A model inspired by Player Nam Ga-eun, wearing leather armor branded Wildflower and holding the Holy Sword.
There were both female and male models.
Of course, the armor and the Holy Sword were replicas.
"What do you think? Our lead designer spent several days pouring effort into these designs."
"Ah…"
"Please take a look."
It was rather sudden.
Shoving design drafts at him out of nowhere?
But they were quite beautiful.
Armor made like this would probably sell very well in player shops.
"I'll review them. And CEO Go—if you don't mind, would you come somewhere with me?"
"Of course."
The two exited the agency building together.
They walked toward a secluded area behind the building.
Soon, they arrived at their destination.
A steel door guarded by heavily armed police officers.
"This is…?"
"The Tower Materials Warehouse. It's where we store material items purchased from players."
"I see."
At Jeon Gwang-il's signal, one of the guards brought over two thick long padded coats.
"Please put these on. We're running cooling systems, so it'll be very cold."
The steel door opened, and the two entered.
It was dark.
They couldn't see an inch ahead.
And just as promised, it was freezing cold.
What if she hadn't worn the padding?
"I'll turn on the lights. Please don't be startled."
"Ah… y-yes."
Click!
The lights came on.
Her eyes stung slightly.
She closed them briefly, then opened them again—
What…?
Black, monster-like things covered the floor… monsters? Monsters—monsters?!
"Kyaaaaaah!"
Goyeon Ha screamed and stumbled backward.
"Please calm down, CEO. That's all leather. Whole hides—look closely."
"…W-what? L-leather? F-from animals? Uh… lizards? Crocodiles?"
"Similar. Except for the fact that they came from the Tower."
What did that mean?
The Tower?
"This one is an Iron-Armored Basilisk. This is an Iron-Jawed Basilisk. And over there—a Long-Tailed Basilisk as well."
"Basil… risk?"
To be honest, Goyeon Ha didn't really know what kinds of monsters appeared in the Tower.
However, she knew the names wyvern and basilisk very well.
Wyvern leather, regarded as the finest of all.
Basilisk leather, ranked just below it—but said to rival wyvern leather in certain aspects.
But why was this here?
It felt like a prop made for a monster movie shoot.
"Is this… real basilisk leather?"
"Yes. We've secured a total of thirty-six hides. What you're seeing here are thirty-four of them."
There was no way a man of deputy commissioner rank would go through all this just to scare her.
Only then did Goyeon Ha muster the courage to inch closer.
They were definitely whole hides.
Even the head skins had been peeled off intact.
"We plan to supply these to the private sector. Not just for armor—these can be used in everyday products as well."
"S-supply…? Are you saying Tower materials will be allowed for private companies?"
"Yes."
That's insane!
"And the recipient is HG Fashion?"
"As you've already realized."
"Hmm…"
Tower materials—monster leather—were extremely expensive and rare.
Which meant their limitations were obvious.
That was precisely why they had never been commercialized.
"What about volume? If this is all there is, mass production could be difficult."
"We can provide a steady, continuous supply. Pricing will have to be negotiated, of course."
"Ah!"
"It may circulate at levels comparable to crocodile leather."
A continuous supply?
Like crocodile leather?
If those hides were processed properly and turned into bags or wallets?
Clothes, shoes, hats, gloves, keychains, phone cases…
There was nothing they couldn't make.
They could use pure leather or mix it with other materials.
"And stamp it with the Wildflower brand."
Good heavens.
Just imagining it sent shivers through her body.
Once again, she realized—
she had truly made the right decision to come.
If she had sent a representative like Ilseong or Daehyeon, she might have regretted it for the rest of her life.
No—she needed to take a closer look.
Goyeon Ha stepped right up to the hides.
Then she noticed strange patterns unlike anything seen in ordinary wild animals.
Even compared to top-grade crocodile leather, the texture itself was completely different.
Far more beautiful, luxurious, and unique—on an entirely different level.
The colors came in three types: black, dark brown, and deep gray.
Her mind began spinning rapidly.
If Jeon Gwang-il was right, commercialization was possible.
Then—suddenly, a thought struck her.
"Deputy Commissioner."
"Yes?"
"You said you secured a total of thirty-six hides, correct?"
"That's right."
"And there are only thirty-four in this space."
"Correct."
"Then where are the remaining two?"
Jeon Gwang-il grinned.
"Please follow me."
He led her to a section across a single wall.
And the moment they turned the corner—
Goyeon Ha came to a dead stop.
"Ahhh…"
There were two hides.
Silver-based leather emitting a spectrum of colors.
Brilliant, yet not excessive.
Neither cheap nor vulgar.
The colors seemed almost alive—fading, deepening, swirling together like iridescent paints floating on water.
They never fully mixed, yet harmonized, merged, separated, and recombined in endless motion.
"Th-this… this is really l-leather?"
"Rainbow Basilisk. I guarantee you—even wyvern leather can't compare to this."
"Is th-this leather also s-supplied to the private sector?"
"Of course. It's not very suitable for armor. Too flashy, you see."
Her head spun.
If this were released onto the market, it would shake the global fashion industry to its core.
Was she getting too excited?
She forced herself to calm down.
"Since I'm the only one who attended the CEOs' meeting… that means HG Fashion has priority purchase rights, correct?"
"That would be the case. At least for the first batch—"
"I'd like the second batch as well."
"That can't be decided just yet, but there is a condition."
"Anything."
"Until HG Fashion commercializes this leather, please keep it confidential as much as possible. I know it won't be easy."
"I'll do my best."
Commercializing the leather would take quite some time.
Existing leatherworking tools couldn't process it.
They would first need tools infused with Tower metals.
Craftsmen would need training—and once that happened, many would inevitably learn of the leather's existence.
Well, nondisclosure agreements could be drafted.
"Then there's just one thing left. What price are you planning to supply it at?"
At her question, Jeon Gwang-il sighed.
"Whew… that's the hardest issue. This is the leather players usually receive as Tower-conquest rewards."
He showed her a piece of leather about the size of a cushion.
"This is basilisk leather as well."
"That's right. But you can see the difference, yes?"
Indeed.
The patterns were muddled, and the sheen slightly faded.
"We purchase these at ten million won per piece. We make armor with them and sell it to players at cost."
Goyeon Ha nodded.
Even that kind of leather was rare and almost impossible to obtain on the civilian market.
Players themselves barely had enough.
"So we'll need some assistance from you."
"Assistance?"
"Your company has leather experts and craftsmen, doesn't it?"
"Of course."
Jeon Gwang-il handed her two envelopes.
One contained a sheet-sized piece of ordinary basilisk leather.
The other held a half-banknote-sized piece of rainbow basilisk leather.
"These are samples."
"Ah!"
"Discuss with your experts and determine the value of this leather."
She understood immediately.
Not the seller setting the price—but the buyer.
"And if I lowball it?"
"Well… then we'd have to consult somewhere else."
Goyeon Ha smiled brightly.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of undervaluing this leather. If anything, I'd rather price it higher."
Short-term profit wasn't the issue.
She had to think long-term.
"I'll consult with our experts. And don't worry about confidentiality—it won't leak."
"I'll trust you."
Jeon Gwang-il was curious as well.
If released to the civilian market… just how valuable would this leather become?
Late in the evening.
Cheongdam Ark Hill Apartments, Seoul.
Juhyeok stood in front of the penthouse-exclusive elevator with a building staff member.
The property registration transfer had been completed.
The owner of Ark Hill Apartments was now Bong Juhyeok.
The reason he came today was simple—to spend a night here to commemorate the apartment becoming his.
Security was indeed tight.
"To use the private elevator, you'll need to pass through this door with your card key. You also need the card key to press the buttons. Without it, the door won't even open."
"Uh… what if I lose it?"
"Report it to the management office. The lost key will be deactivated, and a new one will be issued."
Juhyeok rode up the elevator with the staff member.
When the doors opened, a space came into view.
Luxurious-looking tiles on the floor, brilliant lighting, and a massive front door.
"This is the entrance. You'll also need the card key to enter."
The moment he stepped out, he was already at his front door.
"There's a guidebook on the living room table, so please refer to it. If you have any questions, feel free to call us anytime. Then I'll be on my way—enjoy your time."
"Yes, thank you."
Juhyeok opened the door with the card key and stepped inside.
As he moved forward cautiously—
"Wow!"
An exclamation burst out of him.
Magnificent was the perfect word for this place.
From what he'd heard from Jeon Gwang-il, the penthouse interior had been completely redone.
Tiles, wallpaper, kitchen sink, bathroom, bathtub, toilet, washbasin, built-in furniture…
Anything that might have still borne Yoo Cheol-min's touch had been torn out entirely.
At this point, Juhyeok summoned all of the Blood Summons to their designated positions.
"Lo! I, the Blood Summoner's right hand and most trusted retainer—huh?! W-where is this?"
Kosak had been here once before.
"It's our new home. What do you think?"
Gobang, Gyeon Dallae, and Rajiks all stared around with wide eyes.
"Aah, how luxurious… no wonder it was expensive."
"It is wide and tall. Comfortable."
"Hooo… it's amazing."
Juhyeok flipped the switches and turned on all the interior lights.
"Alright, feel free to look around."
Thudududud!
The Blood Summons scattered in all directions.
"L-look at the bathroom! You could sleep in there! The toilet's a work of art! Taking a dump here would feel sinful!"
"Oh? There's even a small sitting room attached to the bedroom."
"The ceiling is high. My head will not hit it."
The TV was so large it felt like being in a movie theater.
The appliances also looked brand new.
Everyone was too busy touching and inspecting things to slow down.
They opened all three refrigerators, admired the top-of-the-line kitchen sink, turned the chandelier lights on and off—
And then, at that moment,
No one knew who triggered it, but—
Ziiiiing.
With a soft mechanical sound, the living-room curtains opened on their own.
Everyone's gaze turned in that direction.
Through the massive panoramic window, Seoul's night view spread out before them.
Juhyeok slowly walked closer.
The Han River flowing calmly below.
Lines of car lights streaming along the roads beside it.
Tall and small buildings alike, lit floor by floor.
Ah… why was a man-made landscape like this so beautiful?
He couldn't tear his eyes away.
"It is beautiful."
"Yeah."
Kosak and Gobang stepped closer to the window as well, gazing at the view outside.
"…This world must never be destroyed. We will not allow it."
"The warrior will protect it. The Summoner as well."
"This young maiden shall offer her very body if needed."
They stood there for quite some time.
No matter how long they looked, it didn't get old.
But then—what was Rajiks doing?
Juhyeok turned his head and looked behind him.
"Huh?"
Rajiks was standing stock-still, confronting something.
His whole body was trembling as if he were furious.
Even the hat on his head was wobbling.
Why did even his angry look so cute?
"Hoek!"
"Whiiing, whirr, whirr!"
"Hooeeek!"
"Wheeeeing!"
It was a robot vacuum cleaner.
No one knew when it had started running, but Rajiks was blocking its path.
Blocking it didn't help.
With its AI navigation, the robot vacuum dodged around him and continued cleaning the floor.
"A mechanical servant."
"It seems our chief servant feels a sense of rivalry toward the mechanical servant."
That certainly seemed to be the case.
Each time the robot vacuum sucked up dust, Rajiks stomped his feet and shook with anger.
Laundry and dishes might be handled by the washing machine and dishwasher, but household cleaning had always been Rajiks's job.
To him, that robot vacuum must have felt like a serious threat.
What if it took his job?
Juhyeok understood.
Kosak had been the same way.
He too had once trembled in fear at the thought of losing his position.
We can't let anything threaten our Rajiks.
Juhyeok leaned over and whispered into Gobang's ear.
Gobang nodded.
He strode up to the robot vacuum—
Grabbed it with both hands.
Crunch!Crack!
And crushed it on the spot.
"Hoh?"
Rajiks's face lit up brightly.
Then, from somewhere, he brought out a broom and dustpan and swept up the remains of the broken robot vacuum.
"Hoooee…."
The mechanical servant was gone.
In this house, there was only one servant.
Rajiks wore an extremely satisfied expression.