Juhyeok stopped by the family home.

It had been a long time since he’d even shown his face, so he should force the time out and at least take the family out to eat.

“Hm, your face looks better these days? Are you getting skincare or something?”

“I feel like I’ve heard that before.”

“Have you?”

Bong Suchul smiled in satisfaction.

“Of course. My genes are doing their job. Live with gratitude at all times.”

“Hey. I think he takes after Mom.”

Mom snickered beside him.

“Of course Juhyeok takes after me. Skin and all. And if you look at him running around as a Player, how could you not tell?”

Minhyeok looked dissatisfied.

“Then what about me? Why is my skin bad?”

“Minhyeok, you little punk, takes after your father.”

“Ugh.”

“What? Are you ashamed to take after me?”

They traded quick hellos like that.

Then Juhyeok took the family down to the apartment parking lot.

“Let’s take my car. I already reserved the restaurant.”

Minhyeok waved him off.

“A camper van? Why would you ride something that big? That’s embarrassing. Parking’ll be a pain too. Call a taxi.”

Brat. Does this punk think all his big brother has is a camper?

“I have another car.”

“Oh! What is it? Did you buy a new one?”

Instead of answering, Juhyeok pulled the smart key from his pocket.

Then he pressed it.

Over in the parking space across from them—

VRRRRMMM, with a majestic ignition roar,

headlights flashing on.

“Gasp!”

“W-what?”

“Oh my...”

Juhyeok grinned.

“Get in. Bentley.”

A successful son’s car.

“Was this car yours? Oh my, you really made it, my son.”

“Whoa! It hits different when you roll up in a Bentley. Rich big bro.”

“I knew the moment I saw you. You’re the holy-sword owner—of course you should be driving something like this.”

It felt good.

He loaded everyone into the car.

“Mom, want a car too? How about a Ferrari. Ferrari.”

“Stop it. The moment I grab a steering wheel, my temper gets bad.”

“...What about me? I can drive a Ferrari too.”

“Dad already has a car.”

“Bro, I’ll take it.”

“Get your driver’s license first.”

He said it like that, but he planned to give them one each later.

The Bentley carrying the family rolled down Gangnam-daero.

There it was.

The finishing blow.

“You see that building over there, right?”

“Where—ah! The sixty-one-story one?”

“Actually, it’s mine.”

Then—

“Yeah, right.”

“Come on.”

“You know how much that would cost?”

He knew they wouldn’t believe it.

“I’m going to take an entire floor and turn it into a museum. I’m planning to display the Jikji, the Oegyujanggak documents, the Record of the Five Indian Kingdoms, and Kim Hong-do’s paintings—things I own.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

This time nobody even answered.

Ahhh.

There wasn’t really anywhere to flex, so he had to do it to his family at least.

It was a genuinely peaceful moment.

Well, something had happened in North Korea, but did that have anything to do with ordinary people?

*****

In operating the Black Market Guild, Dmitry dealt with two kinds of countries.

Countries that bought items, and countries that sold items.

They bought items in places like India and Africa, then sold those items off to the United States, Japan, and China.

Then what about North Korea?

Obviously, a country that bought items.

A supply source of items for the black market distribution guild.

So contact with North Korean personnel was unavoidable.

Dmitry, originally from Russia, had a line to a high-ranking North Korean government official.

The name was Lee Yongtae, rank: Deputy Director.

A kind of broker operating on the European stage.

Of course, that person was a Player as well.

They had only ever spoken by phone.

They addressed each other only by titles—Guildmaster, Deputy Director.

Dmitry called Lee Yongtae.

“Deputy Director, it’s the Guildmaster.”

—Guildmaster comrade, long time no see. I was going to contact you too, actually. I heard a strange rumor.

“What rumor?”

—A rumor that the Black Market Guild, as an organization, temporarily naturalized to our republic.

North Korea knew.

It wasn’t as though Dmitry had thought they wouldn’t, but still.

Did it even need to be hidden?

“Yes, that’s right. We jumped in hoping to make a killing, but the situation’s gotten extremely difficult.”

—Hah... I see.

A brief silence.

—Is the clearing of our republic’s Black Tower Floor 62... something your side did?

Dmitry answered without missing a beat.

“I swear it wasn’t. If we were going to clear it, we’d have contacted Deputy Director first. Even if we temporarily naturalized, it’s still climbing uncleared upper floors.”

—Hmph.

This had to be hidden.

Deny it flat.

—Then why did you call?

“Why does a merchant call? It’s for items. I wanted to ask whether you have a Tower Jumping Ticket.”

—There’s no way we would have that. Even if we did, we would’ve sold it long ago.

Figures.

A North Korea that sold anything that made money.

“And I have one more question. On the government side, how do you plan to respond to this situation?”

—We’re already on emergency footing in the republic. For now, we’re united on one opinion: we absolutely have to climb to Floor 71. But the method...

Now, to the real purpose.

“I’ve obtained a video. I’ll send it first. Watch it, and then we can talk again.”

Dmitry sent the Floor 62 bodycam video from his smartphone to Deputy Director Lee Yongtae in North Korea.

After waiting a moment, Dmitry called again.

“Did you watch it?”

—Isn’t this bodycam footage? It looks like an old video. The zombies are too strong.

“It’s not old. I just confirmed it on social media. The location is Black Tower Floor 62 for the nationality of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

—...What?

Dmitry had already instructed a guild member in America to upload the bodycam video to YouTube.

Under the title: North Korea Black Tower Floor 62 Dark Zombie.

In case the source was questioned.

—Th-this...

Even through the phone, the shock was obvious.

—The republic’s tower?

“Yes. You’re a Player too, Deputy Director, so you know. That’s an unweakened dark aura. Undead from before True Kabalan.”

—How could this happen... then our republic’s Black Tower...

“At this point, you should assume it can’t be cleared. Even if you climb, you’ll be blocked at Floor 68. Without a Tower Jumping Ticket.”

—Mm...

It had to be disorienting.

It wasn’t as though North Korea had any ability to respond to Tower Collapse defense.

—Why are you showing me this?

“I want to make a proposal.”

—A proposal?

“We have to clear the Tower, don’t we? And we need to resume the high-grade Magic Stone mining that was halted.”

—How? Is there a method?

“We’ll help. And we’ll need the North Korean government’s help. Not just Tower Collapse defense—let’s try to climb to Floor 71. First...”

—Ah, ah. How can you discuss something that important over the phone?

Then how?

—We need to see each other’s faces. Let’s meet. I’m currently staying in Berlin. Where are you?

Meet?

Dmitry hesitated.

—If you’re only going to talk on the phone, I won’t hear your proposal. This isn’t about buying and selling goods.

Should Dmitry meet, or not?

This was business that required discussion with the North Korean government.

Renting a holy sword, acquiring Tower Jumping Tickets, and that four-item gift set on Floor 71—none of it could even begin without trust.

But was it worth taking the risk?

There was no reason to be that impatient.

If he gave up, life got easy.

After all, they only had to wait a year.

Rest the whole time. Travel somewhere.

‘...No. This has to succeed.’

The reason Dmitry was pushing this.

The new business was Dmitry’s decision, led from the front.

And it had sunk from the start.

They had mobilized the guild’s assets and launched the new business—if it failed without accomplishing anything?

It would be time to give up the guildmaster seat.

Not only that.

Dmitry would have to take responsibility for the losses.

And if things went wrong, even Dmitry’s life could be in danger.

Dmitry had done the same.

Guild members who caused losses for the guild were executed without mercy.

All under the name of “discipline.”

So this business had to succeed, no matter what.

“Yes. Let’s meet. Tomorrow, in front of Prague Main Station. Around lunchtime.”

—Understood. Let’s do that. Will you come alone?

“If Deputy Director comes alone too.”

—Good.

They set the place and time and ended the call.

The next day,

Dmitry went to Prague Main Station.

A place crowded with people and tourists—relatively safe.

If something happened?

Dmitry could escape into the Tower.

In the distance, Deputy Director Lee Yongtae was visible.

Dmitry lingered for a while, confirmed Lee Yongtae was alone, then approached.

“Deputy Director comrade.”

“...Guildmaster?”

“Yes.”

“Now we finally see each other’s faces. Let’s walk. Sounds like it’ll be a long conversation.”

“Let’s. I know Prague geography well, so follow me.”

Dmitry started walking first.

On purpose, along a road where plenty of people passed by.

Lee Yongtae moved alongside.

“So. What’s your proposal?”

Dmitry explained the plan.

To break through the undead section, renting a holy sword was essential.

It was a transaction between nations.

They didn’t even need to climb all the way.

Only to Floor 66.

After that, use a Tower Jumping Ticket and it was an elevator to Floor 71.

The guild would take responsibility for securing tickets and for the Players who would use the holy sword, and so on.

“Anyway, if we succeed in climbing to Floor 71—”

Lee Yongtae’s eyes glittered.

“So you’re saying we’ll receive the four-item gift set.”

“That’s right. The problem is renting the holy sword, and for that, at the national level, you’d have to negotiate with the South Korean government—”

“Ah, wait.”

Lee Yongtae raised a hand, cutting him off.

“My shoelace came undone. Let’s talk after I tie it.”

“Sure. Take your time—”

Lee Yongtae bent over.

Dmitry stepped back slightly.

That was when it happened.

Sliding closer—

A black van pulled up and stopped beside them.

‘What?’

A van, all of a sudden?

A sense of unease hit Dmitry.

‘Don’t tell me—’

In an instant!

DRRK!

The van door slid open.

At the same time, Lee Yongtae—who had been bent over—lunged forward and slammed Dmitry into the van.

“Ghk!”

THUD!

Dmitry was folded helplessly into the van.

Two thugs inside rushed him.

“T-this!”

Instinctively, Dmitry cast Enter Tower.

SPOT!

Dmitry’s body vanished in an instant.

Lee Yongtae clicked the tongue, looking disappointed.

“You bastard, you’re fast.”

In the end, the target got away.

“Deputy Director comrade, what do we do?”

“What do you mean what do we do? Park here and wait. Turn the engine off too.”

A Player who entered the Tower.

Was that it? Lost forever?

No.

They could catch the target.

All they had to do was keep waiting.

Eventually, the target had to come out.

The place the target entered was the same place the target would exit.

“You think this is our first Player kidnapping? We’re the experts, more than China.”

Lee Yongtae pulled out a cigarette and put it in the mouth.

“Looks like we’ll be waiting a long time, so get some sleep.”

Time passed quickly.

The van didn’t move even once.

Whether it got ticketed for illegal parking or not.

Then—

SPOT!

Dmitry reappeared inside the van.

“Goddamn it!”

Caught, with no way out.

Enter Tower was once per day.

This was why the Liberation Rune Necklace was needed.

“You little shit, trying to play games. You thought you’d be fine if you ran into the Tower?”

A North Korean agent jabbed a syringe into Dmitry’s neck.

The drug spread fast.

Thud.

“I caught a golden goblin. Heh heh heh.”

Lee Yongtae laughed loudly, satisfied.

The Black Market Guild’s guildmaster.

How many treasures would be in that Inventory?

“Let’s go home. You got our republic’s nationality, so shouldn’t you step on our soil at least once?”

A ridiculous bastard.

A mere Player, daring to negotiate with a nation?

This one definitely cleared the republic’s Black Tower Floor 62.

They could pry it out through torture.

Either way, there was a lot to do.

From renting a holy sword to securing Tower Jumping Tickets.

Even if not that, there were plenty of ways.

South Korea was right under them.

Renting a holy sword? Tower Jumping Ticket?

Why go through such a complicated ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) process?

Just demand it.

From South Korea’s S+++ clear-rank record holder.

Of course, there would be a little coercion in the process.

If the North Korea tower collapsed, everyone died.

The republic’s nuclear fire-clubs would fly south.

*****

How many Players had their nationality locked by this new Black Tower situation?

No one knew.

Only the North Korean government had the full picture.

The level range varied too.

From newbies to veterans.

At the time, the Korea Black Tower had been a treasure vault of abundance.

In the middle of all that, a video was uploaded to YouTube.

Under the title: North Korea Black Tower Floor 62 Dark Zombie.

Zombies with thick, dense dark aura.

Undead from before Kabalan—now gone.

An old video?

No.

The filming date was the day before yesterday.

So the undead weren’t truly weakened?

Then how were they supposed to kill them?

Was the collapse of the North Korea tower basically guaranteed?

But North Korea itself issued no statement whatsoever about the situation.

Instead, the Republic of Korea was the bigger topic.

Every day, news poured out.

A panelist who used to be a Player appeared on a terrestrial broadcast debate program.

“North Korea’s Tower clearing will be difficult. If that’s pre-Kabalan dark aura, they won’t get past the undead section.”

“Even with a holy sword and holy water?”

“Didn’t you see it? The footage where Gerald nearly died on Floor 68.”

A pessimistic view.

“In six months, the tower may collapse. Pyongyang will be within the impact zone.”

“Then the solution is...?”

“There isn’t one on North Korea’s side. Maybe on ours.”

“Ah! You mean the Republic of Korea’s S+++ clear-rank Player?”

“It’s the only method. I’ll say it clearly—there is no other.”

Then what would North Korea likely do?

“First, they’ll make an official request. They’ll talk about ‘one people’ and ask for the Tower to be cleared. For example, some method like requesting temporary naturalization for Korea’s top Player.”

The anchor frowned deeply.

“Temporary naturalization? If you move nationality to North Korea right now, you can’t even get out for a year.”

“Correct. Absolutely not. And our government would never accept it.”

“Then a Multinational Tower Use Ticket?”

“Probably. That’s the most likely.”

“And if even that isn’t accepted?”

There was a military expert on the panel as well.

“It will inevitably lead to military provocation. That’s how North Korea operates.”

“What kind?”

“Well, firing a ballistic missile into the East Sea, for instance. Or subtly crossing the Military Demarcation Line.”

Even without being a military expert, it was easy to imagine.

“Then they’ll approach and say we should talk. If that doesn’t work, they’ll conduct artillery fire toward the West Sea to build tension, and then come back saying we should talk again.”

That was North Korea’s way.

The so-called two-sided hard-and-soft tactic.

They made the public anxious with provocation, while throwing tantrums behind the scenes.

And in the end, they got what they wanted.

A close country, but the farthest one: North Korea.

Juhyeok and the summoned entities were watching the news from the living room.

Juhyeok sprawled long across the sofa, moving homunculi around here and there while yawning openly.

In contrast, the summoned entities were quite serious.

Cossack stared at the news with a cold, hardened expression.

Gyeon Dallae sharpened a blade on a whetstone—shhk, shhk.

Rajix stood up and sat down, restless.

Veronica took out the magic gun and maintained it.

Bardin manifested a gentle Radiance.

Then Cossack spoke.

“Summoner Bong.”

“What?”

“It’s very hot.”

“So?”

“At times like this, how about a refreshing bowl of naengmyeon?”

“Oh! Naengmyeon sounds good. Want to order it?”

Cossack shook the head.

“Delivery naengmyeon gets soggy and you can’t eat it.”

“Then what?”

“Naengmyeon tastes best in its homeland.”

Homeland?

“Naengmyeon is best at Okryu-gwan in Pyongyang.”

“....”

“We use the ring that exits the Tower to come out at the Pyongyang Black Tower. Then we go into Okryu-gwan and slurp down an icy bowl—Kyaa!”

He knew it.

“Mad Demon has to come too. Lately the vigor looks low, and it’s hard to watch. Naengmyeon is the best summer stamina food. Summon in Pyongyang. And while we’re at it...”

“Stop.”

“Yes, sir.”

Naengmyeon, my ass.

Gyeon Dallae chose the straightforward approach.

“If you leave North Korea as it is, there will be repercussions. And that is not all. Please take pity on the North Korean Players who are being exploited.”

Hm.

‘North Korean Players...’

He’d been thinking about it for a while.

Ever since he helped kidnapped Players escape in China.

The reality for North Korean Players.

It had been notorious for a long time.

Testimonies from defected Players, bodycam footage they brought out.

Maybe the most pitiful Players in the world.

Stripped of freedom under constant surveillance, forced to enter the Tower once a day, risking their lives to clear the Tower—only to have all Magic Stones and items seized by the government.

And did the government at least support clearing properly?

Among North Korean Players, there probably wasn’t a single person who went into a clear with decent gear.

Even if they received equipment as Tower rewards, what did it matter?

They had to hand it over intact.

For a North Korean Player, bodycam wasn’t a tool for clear analysis.

It was used to watch whether the Player entered the Tower, whether the Player did anything “unapproved” inside, whether the Player secretly used items instead of handing them over.

‘It really is pitiful.’

When Players were treated like that, Tower clearing immediately ran into problems.

And on top of that, they had to break through an undead section from before Kabalan.

Interfering with North Korea’s situation might just be meddling.

Who was he, anyway?

But he’d helped kidnapped Players escape in China.

He’d intruded into an American tower and saved Gerald’s life.

If he was going to meddle, he should do it equally.

Why would North Korean Players be any different?

And he had the power to do it.

Now that a Tower existed in North Korea,

Juhyeok could go there whenever he wanted.

And what did it mean if Juhyeok went?

Cossack, Bardin, Veronica, Mad Demon, Gyeon Dallae, Blood Wolf—everyone went.

Except Meatshield, who was off in the other world for rank-up, and the shut-in alchemist.

He also had to consider taking the Tower.

If they couldn’t clear it, then take it.

Temporary naturalization was impossible, and there weren’t many Multinational Tower Use Tickets either.

The best method was taking the Tower and making it a Republic of Korea affiliation.

Then he could come and go freely.

‘Use the loudspeaker, or not?’

But he also had to think about the risks it could cause.

North Korea was a nuclear-armed state.

If things went wrong, it was war.

‘This is getting big.’

What would Mad Demon think?

Honestly, there was no need to ask.

It would be march north, of course...

Soon, he should pick a day and have a drink with Mad Demon.

Should he bring the shut-in alchemist along too?

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────