How black market deals work.

In the early days, they took payment in dollars, but now it’s coin only.

So how do they trade the goods?

If it’s an item that isn’t that expensive, a guild member goes out personally and hands it over.

But for high-priced things like runes, deliveries can go wrong, so they usually use private bank safes.

Even if you trust Player guild members, if someone goes crazy, stuffs the rune into an Inventory, and runs, it’s a disaster.

First, you pay the item price on the dark web using various coins—Bitcoin, Tether, Ethereum, Ripple, and so on.

Then, once the deposit is confirmed, a courier hands over the key and passcode to the private bank safe holding the item, and the deal is done.

What’s left after that?

Manage it so the coin price doesn’t crash, then slowly cash it out.

“We just got word the deal is complete.”

“Good work.”

The Trait Enhancement Rune deal finished quickly.

The United States must have been desperate.

Two runes were sold off.

The price: nineteen billion dollars.

Well, Gerald used to be the best in the world, but now Gerald had been pushed aside by a Korean S+++ Player and fallen into “just another ordinary Player,” so of course they were getting impatient.

Honestly, concentrating that kind of rune investment on a single Player is stupid.

Who knows what might happen later.

If something happens to that person in the real world, it’s over.

Players are surprisingly fragile.

Even if Trait Enhancement is done multiple times, it’s useless if the mind wavers.

Anyway, the Trait Enhancement Runes were sold.

Now only one rune remained.

That one would not be sold.

You never know what might happen later, so it was for emergencies—

The Guildmaster of the black market organization.

Nobody knew the name.

The nationality wasn’t publicly known, either.

All anyone knew was that this was an early-Awakening Player and was in the mid-forties.

Of course, did that mean there was no name?

It showed up as-is in the Status Window.

Along with the recently changed nationality.

[Name] : Dmitry Romanov

[Affiliation] : Black Tower (Republic of Korea)

[Level] : 61LV.

Dmitry currently lived in Prague, Czechia.

After temporarily naturalizing through the Czech North Korean embassy, Dmitry cleared the Republic of Korea Black Tower up to Floor 60 and was preparing for Floor 61.

The undead section—something that had once been unthinkable.

Dmitry had stalled at Floor 59 too.

Managing the black market was the main job, so was there any need to climb uncleared upper floors?

It had been nothing more than the occasional repeated clearing of lower floors.

But from now on, Dmitry would climb actively.

Breaking through the undead section.

There was holy water, too.

‘Within a month, I need to clear Floor 70.’

Floor 70—the final floor of the undead section.

The place guarded by Kabalan’s Copy.

Just get past that.

The undead dark aura had been nerfed, so it wasn’t difficult.

All thanks to the Korean S+++ clearer taking down True Kabalan.

Dmitry had also heard Floor 71 was very easy.

Was Dmitry going up alone?

Not a chance.

For this operation, around thirty elite guild members were carefully selected and temporarily naturalized together.

All of them were Players who had enhanced Traits at least once.

And once everything got onto the real track—

‘We can get our hands on Liberation Rune Necklaces.’

And Rejuvenation Elixirs and Potions of Disease Treatment, too.

Results were already starting to show.

Not only high-grade Magic Stone mining, but all kinds of items were coming out as rewards.

‘The key is the Liberation Rune Necklace.’

That would never be sold.

If enough Rune Necklaces were secured, the Black Market Guild’s long-held wish would be fulfilled in a single stroke.

Real force.

Liberated Players above level 70.

Superhumans who could use Tower abilities in the real world.

A powerful armed organization of Players would be born.

With that in mind...

‘Today, how about tasting Floor 61?’

There was plenty of holy water, so if things went well, a clear might even be possible.

‘Alright. Then I’ll enter—’

Right then!

[Global Notice: Player overcrowding has occurred in a specific country.]

“...Huh?”

Out of nowhere?

And then the follow-up notices:

A Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Black Tower being built, the climbing floor set to Floor 55, and Status Window nationality movement blocked for one year.

“...What the fuck is this bullshit!”

Dmitry hurriedly checked the Status Window.

[Name] : Dmitry Romanov

[Affiliation] : Black Tower (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)

[Level] : 61LV

‘...’

It had changed.

The nationality had changed.

Just moments ago, it had been the Republic of Korea.

Seriously?

“R-Republic of Korea Black Tower, Floor 61 entry!”

[You cannot enter a tower of a different affiliation.]

“My God!”

In an instant?

It didn’t even feel real.

Why?

At that moment, the door burst open—

“G-Guildmaster.”

Deputy Guildmaster Anton stumbled in with a face gone pale.

“Anton... don’t tell me you too?”

“I-I was in the middle of clearing Floor 59, and it said it was a tower that didn’t match my nationality, so I got forcibly ejected.”

“Ah...”

Dmitry immediately checked with the other guild members.

Same for them.

Every single one.

All nationalities changed.

No entry into the Republic of Korea Black Tower.

The only tower they could enter was the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Black Tower.

A place where Floor 55 was an uncleared upper floor, meaning reward probability was extremely low, and the value was so bad it had become dirt cheap—a place where you could mine only normal Magic Stones.

“You goddamn bastards!!!”

Dmitry’s hands trembled.

Breathing seized up.

To the point it was hard to even stand properly.

‘It’s completely... ruined.’

How much money had been poured into this business?

Now it looked like it would all be lost.

*****

Everyone heard the Global Notices.

At first, nobody could even process the situation.

What kind of nonsense is that?

A newly established tower?

Only after Players who had temporarily naturalized through North Korean embassies checked their Status Windows did they finally realize what it meant.

Why can’t I enter the Republic of Korea Black Tower?

My nationality changed?

I got kicked out mid-clear.

Damn it! This is a scam! Give me my money back!

Haah, do you know how much temporary naturalization cost?!

Wow! Thank god. I was just about to sign.

North Korean embassies were packed with Players.

People asking to cancel temporary naturalization. People demanding refunds.

But as if that would happen.

Black Tower internet communities and social media across the world exploded, too.

Especially the Korean Tower-climbing board—posts went nuclear.

— Welcome to the North Korea Black Tower!

— Coming in is free, but leaving isn’t.

— Long live the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Black Tower!

— You sons of bitches, we’ll show you the people’s Black Tower!

— Reporting you to the National Intelligence Service.

— Hahahaha, your straw got yanked.

— The real North–South division starts now.

— Do they even have level 55 Players in North Korea right now?

— Probably not among existing Players. Temporary naturalization Players, maybe.

— North Korea’s majesty! The world’s highest Player count per population.

— I want to climb the Republic of Korea Tower... huh? This isn’t it.

— It’s lightning out of a clear sky.

— What can you do? Guess you mine normal Magic Stones.

— Can you even survive selling normal Magic Stones? Won’t even cover potion costs.

— But where is the new Black Tower?

— I heard it’s near Pyongyang.

— Is it close to the Chairman’s palace? Like Japan—

— No, not downtown Pyongyang, but if it collapses, won’t it still fall inside the impact radius?

— What a waste.

— Hey! Aren’t you worried? The Korean Peninsula might get a hole punched in it.

The Korean government went into emergency mode too.

The National Intelligence Service moved frantically to grasp the situation, and the entire military went on emergency standby in case something happened.

The TOWER PLAYER AWAKENING ADMINISTRATION was in chaos as well.

Commissioner Park Kyungsoo was on the phone nonstop.

“...Fifteen kilometers east of Pyongyang? What about casualties? Ah! Still unknown. Mm. If anything changes, contact me anytime.”

A Black Tower rising near Pyongyang.

Jeon Gwangil, the Deputy Commissioner, wore an expression like it still didn’t feel real.

“It’s a strange feeling. I want to laugh, but it’s not something to laugh about.”

“Same.”

South Korea and North Korea had shared one tower.

With these Global Notices, a Black Tower belonging only to North Korea had been created.

Up until now, North Korea had sucked the sweetness out of the Republic of Korea Black Tower with zero risk of Tower Collapse.

But now North Korea had to bear the risk.

Tower Collapse was no longer someone else’s problem.

They had no choice but to do it themselves.

“What are the temporary naturalization Players feeling right now? They said nationality changes are impossible for a year.”

Of course, only the Status Window affiliation changed, so nothing physically changed in reality, but—

“What do you think? If they want to eat, they clear the North Korea Black Tower for a year. If they don’t climb, their Awakening gets canceled.”

Right.

If you don’t enter the Tower for three months, the system strips Player qualifications.

For trapped temporary naturalization Players, there was no choice.

They had to climb.

“They got greedy and bit bait they never should’ve swallowed.”

“A full catch. Hooked a whole load.”

“The problem is, the North Korean government doesn’t have the ability to solve this crisis on its own.”

That was true.

Until now, North Korea hadn’t even considered raising Players at a national level.

All it did was obsess over how to exploit Players.

“I hope the North Korean government comes to its senses now.”

“Hah. Like that’ll happen.”

Even if it did, it was too late.

The North Korean government had no ability to manage Players.

“Either way, North Korea’s tower climbing will probably be led by the naturalized Players.”

Those naturalized Players had no choice.

If they wanted to recover their investment, they had to climb.

“They’ll push to Floor 70 fast. To mine high-grade Magic Stones.”

The establishment of a new North Korean Black Tower.

In a way, it was refreshing.

It felt satisfying.

But could anyone just laugh?

There were now two towers on the Korean Peninsula.

*****

The penthouse.

Juhyeok was talking with the summoned entities too.

Gyeon Dallae, with a calm expression:

“I knew it would come to this. There is no pleasure without responsibility.”

Everyone nodded.

Meanwhile, Mad Demon said—

“Let’s take North Korea while we’re at it. Three hours is enough. We even have an exit ring.”

Like Mad Demon had been waiting, it started arguing for a march north.

Well, that was exactly the sort of thing Mad Demon would say.

“Leave it. North Korea will handle it. It’s not like they’re short on Players.”

The North Korean government wouldn’t be completely stupid.

They wouldn’t just let Tower Collapse happen.

“I believe it will be difficult.”

“Why?”

“The undead section could become an insurmountable wall.”

“Mm. They can get holy water, and the undead section got easier.”

That was true.

Overall, the dark aura had weakened.

Even ordinary Players were going out to clear it.

“Do you truly believe it will be so?”

“Huh?”

Was it not?

“Why did Earth’s Black Tower undead section become easier?”

“...Because True Kabalan was cleared and the curse was lifted.”

The Global Notice back then.

True Kabalan’s influence, which had affected Black Towers worldwide, disappeared.

And the stats of Floor 68’s Guardian Death Knight, Floor 69’s Gatekeeper Lich, and Floor 70’s Kabalan’s Copy dropped drastically.

“Correct. Thanks to the summoner granting that grace, every nation’s Black Tower benefited simultaneously.”

So what was the problem?

“However, the northern Black Tower is newly established. Kabalan’s curse was never applied there, and therefore there was nothing to be lifted.”

Huh?

“Because it is newly born, there is a high chance it did not receive the effects of curse removal.”

“No way. It has to apply.”

“You will only know once you open the lid. The undead dark aura could be at the level it was before True Kabalan.”

If Mad Demon’s guess was right...

“Early sixties might be forced through somehow. But the mid-to-late sixties...”

They wouldn’t be able to climb.

Even Gerald had nearly died to the Floor 68 Death Knight while holding a holy sword.

“Therefore, the only Player in the world who can clear the late sixties of the North Korea Black Tower will be the summoner—you alone.”

“...”

This was getting annoying.

Did Juhyeok have to worry about North Korea’s Tower Collapse too?

“Heh heh. In times like this, it would be nice to have a Tower Occupation Proclamation Loudspeaker.”

...What?

Juhyeok’s body twitched.

The other summoned entities did too.

“A-a loudspeaker?... What is that?”

“What else? You seize the tower from a nation that lacks clearing capability.”

“...Wow. That’s an incredible item.”

He had to play dumb.

It was an unknown item.

If they found out it was a perk item, they’d immediately pester him to use it.

“If you seize the tower, what happens to the Players of that nationality?”

“That, I cannot know. You will know once you seize one.”

Hm.

That was worth thinking about.

If the North Korean government really couldn’t clear the tower, taking it might not be a bad option.

But what had Cossack been doing this whole time?

Silent, not saying a word.

‘When Cossack gets quiet, it makes me nervous.’

Cossack was searching something on a tablet.

A quick peek showed—

Who is the North Korean chairman? -

Where is the North Korean Chairman’s palace -

Where are North Korea’s nuclear missile bases -

Seriously.

“Cossack?”

“Yes, sir?”

“What are you going to do with those searches?”

“...Um. Just basic knowledge.”

“Anyway, it’s useless. That’s not information you can get just by searching.”

“I-is that so, sir?”

Then Gyeon Dallae clicked her tongue.

“Tsk tsk. Cossack, can you not tell what should and should not be done? How can you do something so foolish?”

Exactly.

As expected, a wise Princess.

“The location of the Chairman’s palace is a single phone call to Deputy ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Commissioner Jeon.”

“Oh! Didn’t think of that, sir.”

“And does killing only the Chairman solve everything?”

“...Doesn’t it, sir?”

“You must aim for the Supreme People’s Assembly. A place where high-ranking party officials and People’s Army generals gather. You must deal with them all at once. Only then will there be no aftermath.”

“Ah, I was an idiot, sir.”

This was driving him insane.

“Move together with Deputy Manager Veronica Caliber. You have experience executing operations together.”

“Deputy Manager Veronica Caliber. I only need the location of the Supreme People’s Assembly hall. With three heavy shells, I can clean everything up.”

“Understood, sir. I will stick to Deputy Manager Veronica Caliber, sir!”

Mad Demon smiled with satisfaction.

“You have finally come to your senses. Yes. It is better to swiftly erase future threats. For the summoner.”

“Heh heh heh. This Cossack worries about Summoner Bong day and night, sir. Mad Demon, do not worry, sir.”

“That is so. Cossack may appear lacking, but when it matters, Cossack delivers.”

Even Rajix joined in.

“WAAH! I’m going too. I have a pickaxe.”

What was wrong with everyone?

Had they been hanging around Mad Demon too much and picked up the vibe?

Why were they fixating on the North Korean chairman?

That person didn’t create the Black Tower...

...Wait.

‘Hm.’

Thinking again, it wasn’t like there was zero responsibility.

If they hadn’t run temporary naturalization sales...

CLICK!

The door to the shut-in alchemist’s room opened.

And then, SWISH—a huge water dispenser jug came out of the room.

Inside was a yellow liquid.

“Oh!”

Juhyeok immediately had the homunculi bring the jug over.

TAP-TAP-TAP-TAP!

An elixir sample made by the alchemist Mari.

The volume was enormous.

A water jug held 20 liters.

A typical Tower reward elixir bottle was 100 milliliters.

That one jug would yield about 200 bottles.

What kind of elixir was it?

<Sage-Brewed Mental Fortification Elixir (Bulk Size)>

Effect: Upon consumption, mental strength is greatly fortified for 10 hours.

A short description.

There was no “Tower-only” modifier, and no limitation.

Which meant—

It applied in the real world, and to ordinary people.

Still, it would never be supplied to ordinary people.

There wouldn’t even be enough for Players.

‘Should I drink a cup?’

GLUG,

He poured it into a cup.

Then swallowed it.

‘Mango flavor.’

Mental fortification.

It wasn’t like a courage potion, where your chest swells up and you become bold and grand.

It just made the mind calm and steady.

A feeling like he could endure any stress that hit from outside.

‘It’d be nice to drink a cup every time I’m stressed.’

So what if there was one more tower in North Korea?

If there was something to clear, he could just clear it.

And there were Platinum Badges, perk items, and treasure vaults too.

‘...Should I test the Tower Occupation Proclamation Loudspeaker while I’m at it?’

So what?

It used to be one country, anyway.

He wasn’t talking about unification.

He just wanted to take the tower.

Just the tower.

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