An attempted terrorist attack at the HG Hotel showcase venue.
Amazingly, there were zero civilian casualties.
That is—excluding the terrorist himself.
A massive incident that shook the foundations of the nation.
Because elite Players had been the targets.
Until now, Korea had been known as a safe haven from terrorism.
Which made the shock to the public all the greater.
Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il moved swiftly to contain the incident.
The very first thing he did was delete all CCTV footage inside the venue.
He went so far as to rip out and physically destroy the storage devices.
So that recovery would be impossible.
Soon, countless videos began popping up everywhere.
They flooded the internet.
Jeon Gwang-il ordered the Administration's staff to collect every video circulating online and on social media.
Was there anything dangerous among them?
What if footage existed of Player Bong Juhyeok summoning those two?
Fortunately, there wasn't.
Instead, most clips focused on the terrifying giant in action, or on the Westerner rescuing Nam Ga-eun.
They were all short, fragmentary videos like that.
The only footage that captured the entire event from start to finish was the showcase video by the YouTubers Wildflower & Vasily.
Which made sense.
When armed attackers burst in with guns, who would have the guts to keep filming with a smartphone?
You could get shot dead doing that.
Everyone must have been in total chaos.
Lying flat on the floor, trembling in fear.
Only after the situation suddenly turned around would they have mustered the courage to pull out their phones.
Then a thought suddenly occurred.
Were there really only those two?
The people Bong Juhyeok could summon, that is.
What if there were more than that…?
Terrifying, superhuman power.
Who in the world could possibly deal with beings like that?
How fortunate it was.
That he was Korean.
And that he had absolutely no intention of naturalizing elsewhere.
On top of that, he was a lifesaver.
Without fearing that his abilities might be exposed, he saved both himself and Player Nam Ga-eun.
His character was outstanding.
He wasn't greedy either.
They would do everything they could for Bong Juhyeok.
Starting with preventing his identity from being revealed.
But then something unexpected happened.
The media started moving on its own.
Thankfully so.
Then came the decisive article.
<"I Will Never Forget the Debt of Saving My Life at the Showcase, nor the favor of clearing the United Arab Emirates' Black Tower.">
<"I Am Truly Sorry for Accidentally Revealing a Name on Broadcast. Please Forgive Me.">
ㄴ That seals it. An S++-rank clear record holder.
ㄴ Even Bin Salāh confirmed it. One of those two was Gobang.
ㄴ To think there were two of them.
ㄴ During the 60th-floor clear, Gobang temporarily naturalized with the UAE, and one stayed behind in Korea.
ㄴ But which one is Gobang?
ㄴ Bin Salāh would know.
ㄴ Did you see the giant enter the Tower at the end? Cool as hell, like he was done with everything.
ㄴ No matter how you look at him, he doesn't seem Korean. Did they naturalize him?
ㄴ Don't be racist based on skin color.
ㄴ If he has Korean nationality, he's Korean—part of Korea's Black Tower.
ㄴ The Administration's doing a good job. Even handling naturalization.
ㄴ Just think about what could've happened to Player Nam Ga-eun.
ㄴ Damn, it makes my skin crawl just imagining it.
ㄴ Is this another national pride circlejerk?
ㄴ Yeah, drink it up. Chug it all.
ㄴ Long live Gobang!
ㄴ My daughter's name will be Gobang. Kim Gobang.
ㄴ By the way, what kind of lunatic carried out that terror attack?
ㄴ Japan or China. I'll bet my balls on it.
ㄴ Oh my? I don't have any. But you're probably right.
ㄴ F*ck! What's the government doing? Fire a Hyunmoo missile or something.
ㄴ And start a war while you're at it?
ㄴ Nam Ga-eun's at fault. What kind of model is she? She should've just climbed the Tower somewhere safe.
ㄴ Bullshit! So Players should do nothing but climb the Tower?
ㄴ What, did she commit a crime? Players aren't allowed to have outside activities?
ㄴ And this is why I'm quitting being a Player.
Originally, it was supposed to be a showcase where leather and bags took center stage.
But of all things, a terrorist incident had to break out.
Was CEO Goyeon Ha disappointed?
Not at all.
It was a massive hit.
Because of the videos, even people with no interest in fashion came to know the Wildflower & Vasily brand.
Reservation inquiries poured in nonstop.
But they didn't take orders by phone.
Reservations were accepted only through existing Wildflower stores, an established HG Fashion brand, and even then in limited quantities—the entire first batch sold out.
The Rainbow Bag, in particular, saw explosive interest. People begged them to sell it no matter the price.
So they planned to raise the price significantly starting with the second batch.
Even so, buyers lined up.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Tower Clearing Bureau.
A conference room with a large monitor connected to a laptop.
Secretary of Homeland Security McMillan and Director Antonio were analyzing several videos.
"Who on earth are they? And how can they use power like that?"
"How would I know?" Antonio replied.
It was unbelievable.
More intense than any movie.
"Let's assume Gerald could manifest player abilities in the real world. Could he do anything like that?"
Antonio pondered carefully.
"I believe it's impossible. The giant blocked bullets without even using a defensive barrier like a shield. And that red-brown–haired Caucasian—fine, dagger techniques aside, he was far too fast. Even in slow motion, we couldn't track his movements."
That was true.
Power surpassing even players inside the Tower.
"At the very least, he doesn't look Korean. If he's Gobang, does that mean his surname is Go?"
"Korean names place the family name first. If he naturalized, he likely took a Korean surname."
"Which one of the two?"
"I wouldn't know."
At this point, it was clear.
"Those men were Korea's S++-rank clear record holders. And not just one—two of them."
"Bin Salāh confirmed it. That's the decisive factor. Korean media is already treating it as established fact."
"Exercising that kind of power in reality…?"
"An item, most likely. It's just a hypothesis, but there's no other way to explain it."
An extremely rare category of items—those without the label 'Tower-only'.
Items that could be used in the real world.
Even by ordinary people.
"Even if it's an item effect, it's still absurdly powerful."
"Sixty-one consecutive S++ clears. Do you really think all they got was a handful of magic stones?"
It truly was a different dimension of clearing.
Naturally, the rewards would be immense.
"The giant disappearing at the end—entering the Tower?"
"Yes, that's how it looks."
"Then he'll reappear at that spot. Should we send our agents?"
"That'll be difficult. Korea's Administration and the NIS are tightly controlling the area."
"He might've already left. The Administration probably extracted him quietly."
"Yes."
It also seemed clear that they had connections with the NIS.
They didn't even kill the last one.
Almost as if saying, Come arrest him.
McMillan shook his head in disbelief.
"What a strange country. Sixty-one consecutive S++ clears, a holy sword, basilisk full-hide leather, and massive quantities of Tower ore."
Director Antonio moved the mouse.
"At this point, there's a high probability that even the so-called true owner of the holy sword is a smokescreen."
Click.
A man appeared on screen.
It was Bong Juhyeok.
"Name: Bong Juhyeok. Age: 25. He's been active as an elite player for less than six months."
After the holy sword had been loaned out twice, would the U.S. really just sit still?
They gathered information through multiple channels.
The person they arrived at was Bong Juhyeok.
The most likely candidate.
They traced the flow of funds.
He was also frequently spotted alone with Deputy Commissioner Jeon Gwang-il.
Additionally, after Korea's top player Yoo Cheol-min naturalized to Japan, Bong Juhyeok purchased the penthouse Yoo had lived in.
That's why he'd seemed like the prime suspect.
"So Bong Juhyeok was just a front man the Administration put forward—to divert public attention."
"There's no definitive proof, but circumstantially…"
"Haaah! Talking with you any longer makes my head feel like it's going to explode."
"Mine too."
There was only so much that could be uncovered from videos alone.
Aside from directly questioning Korea's Administration.
"What about their disposition?"
"At the very least, they don't seem like villains. They saved people."
"Could we recruit them?"
"I can't guarantee it. The Korean government won't sit idly by."
"Heh! And what if they don't?"
International relations still ran on the logic of power.
And since the Tower's appearance, that tendency had only grown stronger.
"You compiled the report?"
"Yes, here it is."
"Good work. Let's review it again after I return from the White House."
"Yes, sir."
The meeting ended.
In the end, the final decision would be made at the White House.
Cheongdam-dong penthouse.
Juhyeok and the summoned ones were all gathered in one place.
Everyone was furious to the point of boiling over.
"Hehehe, don't worry, sir. Bong Summoner's right hand—this Kosak—took care of everything."
"The warrior helped too."
Gyeon Dallae snorted disdainfully.
"You say you took care of it? Wasn't it handled far too easily? Those wretches dared threaten Young Master—an unforgivable crime. Slowly, drying them to death, burning them alive, cutting them apart, filleting them—doing all that still wouldn't have been enough."
Veronica, clearly seething as well, added,
"If it were me, I wouldn't have let them die right away. I'm so angry I can't even sleep. When a commander falls, the army is as good as annihilated. Retaliation must be carried out with shock and terror."
Gyeon Dallae and Veronica were far more agitated than expected.
Even Rajiks was the same.
His fluffy, round body trembled violently as he raged.
"Hoek! Hoee! Kill them. I'll kill them!"
If even Rajiks was like this…
Juhyeok stepped in.
"Uh, hey—the outcome was good, so let's just let it go. No one got hurt."
Had he said the wrong thing?
He thought it would end with them venting together.
But the atmosphere turned ominous.
Gyeon Dallae sprang up and bowed deeply toward Juhyeok, almost flying at him as she spoke.
"Young Master, forgive me, but this is not something that can be overlooked. Retribution is required."
"…What are you planning to do?"
"I shall unleash killing intent."
"On whom?"
"The target of my killing intent shall be the Emperor of China. The sins of the underlings must be borne by their master."
As if the Emperor of China were just sitting around somewhere.
She clearly meant the supreme leader.
"Let's say you unleash it. Won't there be repercussions for you, Princess?"
"This maiden has already died once—what would dying twice matter? I would merely be unable to be summoned for a hundred days."
That was hardly a comfort.
Gyeon Dallae really did seem a bit unhinged at times.
"Let's just fling some karma instead. If we ask Mr. Kosak, he can go to China and bring back a suitable sacrifice to use for karma."
"I beg you to reconsider. Karma alone is woefully insufficient."
Kosak raised his hand high.
"I'll go," Kosak declared. "This Kosak—genius of assassination and artist of the red ribbon—will create a masterpiece and return."
Veronica spoke up as well.
"If it's sniping, I'm confident too. One shot is all it takes."
Even Rajiks joined in.
"Hoeng! I'll go!"
"What are you planning to do, Rajiks?"
Shhk!
Rajiks pulled a dazzling, gleaming golden pickaxe from his subspace backpack and struck a solemn pose.
As if he were about to smash an enemy's skull with the pickaxe.
Whoosh!
"Hoek!"
"…"
Whoosh whoosh!
"Hooeek!"
"…"
This is driving me insane.
Gobang raised his hand high as well.
What was he about to say now—
"Summoner, let's use the Mad Demon."
"The Mad Demon?"
"Drop him in China and come back. Three hours will be enough."
This guy's lost it too.
Unleashing the Mad Demon in China was no different from dropping a nuclear warhead.
It would be pressing the launch button yourself.
He would kill indiscriminately.
Guilty or not, everyone he saw would be torn apart.
And then he'd say this:
Summoner, I've taken care of everything. You may take over China now.
"The Mad Demon? Don't you know I've been keeping him at one star and not summoning him all this time because I don't want to do that? You want me to just let him loose here?"
"…"
This needed to be stated firmly.
"Try doing anything behind my back, and I'll dismiss you on the spot. Got it? And I'll never summon you again. Random summoning's coming up soon anyway—I'll just build a new team and run repeat clears with Rajiks."
"Hoeeeh…"
The atmosphere turned icy.
"At least I can tolerate throwing some karma. Can you manage that, Mr. Kosak?"
Kosak jumped to his feet.
He scurried right up next to Juhyeok.
"Ah, this Kosak—admiration upon admiration! To think I serve such a benevolent and broad-minded Summoner—what fortune! Just say the word, I'll do anything. Hehehe."
"Sergeant Veronica Caliber! I solemnly vow absolute obedience to my commander's orders. Certain victory!"
"The warrior also supports the summoner's decision."
Gyeon Dallae hesitated for a moment, then said,
"This maiden shall obey the Young Master's august command."
Juhyeok smiled in satisfaction.
"Good. Then let's prepare to throw some karma."
"Yes, sir!"
But what if the effect of the karma was too weak?
They'd definitely cause another uproar.
Gyeon Dallae would insist on unleashing killing intent, Kosak would reach for his ribbons, Rajiks for his pickaxe…
"Hmm, the Mad Demon…"
If he were even a little more sane, he wouldn't be a painful finger—he'd be the most reliable one of all.
"I should summon him later and ask him a few questions."
Had his thinking changed at some point?