Jeon Gwangil fell into deep thought.

Putting aside how Player Bong had even brought whole hides out in the first place, the real problem was pricing.

He had absolutely no feel for it.

And the volume was insane.

I mean, just this one whole hide.

This single piece was more than the total amount of hide the Administration’s Player Shop bought up in an entire month.

And there were seven of them.

Even if it didn’t quite reach the level of wyvern hide—officially recognized as the highest quality—what was known as the next best thing {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} after wyvern hide was basilisk hide.

It even had a scratch self-repair function.

No, would it even get everyday scratches in the first place?

Top-tier durability. Even bullets couldn’t pierce it.

It was so hard to process that you needed a knife made of Tower metal to cut it.

And on top of that, it didn’t even look like the hide you got as a clear reward.

The color itself was different.

And when he touched it, it felt even more so.

What should he set the price per hide at?

And what about the herbs?

There were a lot, and the types were diverse.

There were a few he’d never seen before.

We’ll hand the herbs over to the lab for analysis.

Jeon Gwangil asked Juhyeok,

“By any chance... did you receive all of these items at once?”

“Um... yeah, well, pretty much.”

“Then the odds of another batch this large coming out again are slim, I suppose.”

“Nope.”

What?

Jeon Gwangil doubted his own ears.

“...What did you say?”

“I might be able to bring out even more than this.”

“Ghk!”

Was that really true?

Of course it was.

There was no way Bong Juhyeok would lie.

“Consistent, ongoing supply is also possible.”

“...”

How, exactly?

He wanted to ask in detail so badly it made his throat itch, but—

Don’t be curious.

Just accept it.

Even the fact that he was the one with the record of forty-one consecutive S++ clears was a mystery.

Something like this could also be a reward for an S++ clear.

Either way, the Administration couldn’t absorb volume like this.

After thinking for a moment, Jeon Gwangil opened his mouth.

“Let’s do this. We’ll purchase all of the herbs. At double the existing herb price, since we’ll likely need them for research.”

“Okay.”

“Instead, how about releasing these basilisk whole hides to the private sector? If a steady supply really is possible.”

That was exactly why I came.

If this ended with these seven, that’d be one thing, but going forward, a significant amount of basilisk hide was going to enter the market.

Honestly, what would the Administration even do with this hide?

They’d use it to make Player armor.

Or make bulletproof vests.

There wasn’t really any other use beyond that.

But private companies had an enormous variety of ways to use it.

Fashion companies, especially.

“Um, for private-sector sales too, the Administration can...”

“Yes! We’ll handle it on your behalf.”

“Oh! Thanks. I’ll pay you a commission. Take one whole hide as the Administration’s share.”

“Th-that’s alright.”

“No, we should be exact about the accounting.”

Now for the last matter.

“And, um... that penthouse, you know?”

“Yes. It’s still vacant. Are you thinking of moving in?”

“I’m moving in. But! I’m buying it. With money.”

Jeon Gwangil sighed inwardly.

“We can transfer the deed to you free of charge.”

“Come on, can I really take it for free? I’ll pay the proper price for an apartment. Just deduct it from the holy sword rental fees and deposit only the remainder.”

He was burning up.

Why did Player Bong keep trying to put distance between himself and the Administration?

They’d succeeded in signing an elite contract, but when you looked closely, it was only half of one.

Minimum salary, lax security, no bodycam requirement, exemption from mandatory attendance at the Administration—practically no different from a regular contract.

That was why he wanted to pour benefits on him and strengthen the relationship.

This free penthouse deed transfer had been proposed with exactly that in mind.

But here he was again, insisting on paying.

There was no choice.

He’d have to sell it as cheaply as possible, aligned with the officially assessed value.

And throw in new furniture and appliances, too.

“...Alright. We’ll do that. We’ll follow the procedure and contact you.”

That took care of the business.

But Jeon Gwangil seemed to still have something he wanted to say.

“Um, Player Bong, may I ask just one thing?”

“You can just ask. It’s fine.”

“If we proceed with supplying basilisk whole hides, it could draw attention again. We’ll try to block it, but in the worst-case scenario...”

I knew exactly what he meant.

It had been the same with the holy sword rental.

A few people up top already knew that I was the real owner.

And if it became known that I was also the one selling the hides?

It meant that, eventually, even my identity as the S++ record holder could be exposed.

“Well, I know there’s no such thing as a secret that lasts forever, but if possible, I’d like it to get out as late as it can.”

“We’ll do our best. Even if something like that happens, don’t worry. We’ll do everything we can to ensure your safety.”

Safety, my ass.

I was born a coward, but these days I wasn’t even scared.

If anything, I was worried about the other side.

If you’re talking about the kind of threat that hits an exposed Player, it’s stuff like blackmail or kidnapping, but who would try that with me?

I’ll just—pop—release Mad Demon.

Is that too harsh?

“...And you’re not thinking of naturalizing to any country besides the Republic of Korea, right?”

Huh?

All of a sudden?

“Absolutely not.”

“Hahaha... th-that’s a relief.”

Naturalization, my ass.

Why would I go to some country where I don’t know a single person?

I’d rather conquer the world.

*****

After returning from the Administration, I summoned Cossack, Meatshield, Gyeon Dallae, and Rajix in order.

Then I sat them all down in a tight cluster facing the TV hanging on the living-room wall.

Rajix’s round, dizzying back view—when you looked from behind, he was basically a gym exercise ball.

At my glance, Cossack puffed out his chest and strode forward to stand beside the TV.

He said he was preparing a briefing, and it looked like he’d worked hard.

“Hello, I am John Cossack, Summoner Bong’s first summoned entity and right hand, trusted confidant, artist of the red ribbon.”

When I clapped, the summoned entities clapped along.

But their expressions were not exactly pleased.

What do you mean, his right hand?

And a confidant?

“Then I will begin the briefing for our future Tower climbing.”

He skillfully connected a laptop to the TV.

“First, I will explain the missions we must complete from Floor 42 to Floor 45.”

CLICK!

The screen enlarged.

A photo of a basilisk with a long tail appeared.

“The monster we killed on Floor 41 was an Ironclad Basilisk. This one is the Long-Tail Basilisk on Floor 42. This is what we clear tomorrow. Nothing special. Just watch out for the tail blade.”

FLASH.

“SQUEAK?”

Rajix raised his short hand like he had a question.

“Worker Rajix, speak.”

“Peel long-tail hide?”

“Of course we peel. However, we skip the first and peel on the second. The first clear, no time to peel hide. Must clear S++.”

CLICK!

Next.

“Floors 43 and 44. Iron-Jaw Basilisk and Spiny-Scale Basilisk. Peel Iron-Jaw, pass Spiny-Scale. Hide has sharp spines. Annoying to remove each spine. Any questions?”

No one seemed to have any.

“Moving on.”

CLICK!

A basilisk with a brilliant, multicolored sheen appeared on the screen.

“This is the key. Rainbow Basilisk. The Floor 45 boss where we will park for a while and run repeated missions.”

Then Gyeon Dallae spoke.

“I have something to ask. Why, specifically, must we park on Floor 45—”

“Wait! Princess, obtain the floor and then speak.”

At Cossack’s words, her face turned a shade of disbelief.

“...Obtain the floor? I need to obtain the floor to speak? You are going too far.”

“Yes! Summoner Bong delegated full briefing authority to me.”

“Mm.”

After a brief, spark-filled stare-down, Gyeon Dallae raised her hand.

“Permission granted. Princess.”

“What is the reason we must park on Floor 45? There is also Floor 50. If the floor number increases, wouldn’t gathering become more efficient?”

“I will answer.”

CLICK!

“Monsters that appear starting from Floor 46.”

It was a massive scorpion. A scorpion-type.

“No hide. There is an exoskeleton shell, but it is separated into segments, so takes time to dismantle. Correct? Worker Rajix?”

“SQUEEEAK, yes.”

“Exoskeleton is light and hard, used for armor and shields. But most important is... hide is more expensive. More versatile. Means it sells well.”

Cossack could really talk.

He must’ve practiced a lot.

“On Floor 45, all types of basilisk appear. Especially the boss Rainbow Basilisk. Look at it. Isn’t it beautiful?”

It really was flashy.

A bizarre blend of seven colors across its skin.

“We must peel this one’s hide and sell. Our Summoner Bong bought a house recklessly and is house-poor. Money must slam into account.”

I nodded with a satisfied smile.

Gyeon Dallae lowered her head.

A face that said she shouldn’t have raised her hand.

“Problem is, if we kill it, clear ends and we must exit Tower. Must peel hide and leave in very short time. Worker Rajix, can you do?”

“SQUEAK!”

Rajix wore a determined expression.

He was saying he’d do it.

So we clapped again.

CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP!

“For a while, only dismantle hide. No need to gather other things. Don’t harvest herbs. Throw away Magic Stones.”

Meatshield raised his hand too.

“What should warrior do?”

“Meatshield do what always do. Be meatshield.”

“Understood.”

CLAP-CLAP-CLAP!

I clapped again.

Everyone else clapped along.

“One more remains. Most important agenda.”

CLICK!

The screen changed.

There were no photos.

Just one huge word: ‘SPECIAL PRIVILEGE’.

“We cannot miss Floor 45 special privilege. This right hand Cossack still remembers. The CLICK on Floor 40!”

I closed my eyes and recalled that moment.

CLICK—man, it had been thrilling.

“Trait enhancement! Now is time we need ritual. We’ve already taken in enough of Rooster-Dragon Mountain’s spiritual energy.... Next ritual candidate site is the sacred Mani Mountain on Ganghwa—”

Right then!

Gyeon Dallae raised her hand again.

“...Speak.”

“My view is different. The Floor 45 special-privilege wish ritual is too early.”

“We already skipped once, yes? Summoner Bong suffered two days staring at wall.”

“And that is why Rajix came to us.”

“Then how explain Mad Demon?”

“...”

Gyeon Dallae fell silent for a moment, then parted her lips.

“No matter how I think about it, the Floor 45 special-privilege wish ritual is not the answer. We should postpone it safely to the Floor 50 special privilege—”

At those words, Cossack let out a greasy smile.

“No confidence?”

“...What?”

“A person who calls herself the top shamaness of the Celestial Empire fears holding a ritual—”

“You bastard!!!”

In that instant!

I raised my hand to stop them.

“I also agree with postponing the ritual.”

“...Yes?”

“Mr. Cossack, you don’t know rituals. Princess shamaness knows rituals best. So let’s listen to Princess.”

Cossack instantly wilted.

“Uh... o-okay. Ritual... postponed.”

When I backed Gyeon Dallae up, she, in turn, looked at Cossack and let out a snort of contempt.

Running your mouth about things you don’t even know?

“SQUEEEAK?”

Rajix looked at me.

At me, who’d settled everything with just a few words.

“So cool.”

Yeah. Cool. Real cool.

This is what a real man is.

Anyway, let’s start according to the briefing.

Run to Floor 45, park, sell hides, make money.

*****

Commissioner Park Kyungsoo rushed to the Administration’s materials warehouse after receiving Jeon Gwangil’s message.

The moment he arrived and saw the object spread across the floor, he flinched—

“Holy shit! So it was real. It’s a whole hide.”

Seven Ironclad Basilisk hides, with the head, tail, and leg shapes all intact.

How could he not be shocked?

He’d never even heard of a hide coming out of a mission reward in this form.

“How did he do this...? What did Player Bong say?”

“I didn’t ask at all. It didn’t seem like there was any need to ask.”

Park Kyungsoo nodded.

The Player himself was a mystery incarnate.

“One of these is our share, right?”

“Yes. We plan to craft equipment and supply it to our team Players.”

“Good.”

Commissioner Park Kyungsoo stroked the Ironclad Basilisk hide with his hand as he spoke.

“If we sell six to the private sector... what method will we use? Auction? Open bidding?”

“We plan to proceed as privately and discreetly as possible.”

“Mm. Yes, that’s better than doing it publicly. Who are the targets?”

“Wouldn’t it be best to contact Korean companies first?”

Commissioner Park Kyungsoo agreed.

“Then you handle this too, Deputy Commissioner.”

“...Deputy Commissioner? I haven’t even received an appointment letter yet.”

“It’s basically already done. The notice will go up within a week.”

The next day.

Jeon Gwangil sent an official document, under the name of the Administration’s Deputy Commissioner, to famous Korean fashion companies.

Only to major companies that could handle the volume.

They planned to proceed with a public-private cooperation project on the utilization of Tower materials, and he wanted to hold a joint meeting with the company representatives.

He emphasized company representatives and singled them out.

If it was a project of this size, it needed a person in charge who could make immediate decisions.

*****

Goyeonha, CEO of HG Fashion.

She was a third-generation heiress of the HG Group.

HG Fashion was under the group umbrella, but its scale was smaller than other affiliates.

Rather than growing the company by grabbing a bunch of brands, this brand and that brand, octopus-style, she wanted to create one proper luxury brand.

She cleaned out the miscellaneous divisions and integrated what remained into one.

In the process, she ambitiously launched a domestic, homegrown brand called Wildflower, but it wasn’t going well.

Was it easy to be recognized as luxury?

It was still early, so it was hard even to get the name out there.

Anyway, Goyeonha read the official document from the Tower Player Awakening Administration.

A public-private cooperation project on utilizing Tower materials.

What Tower materials would have anything to do with fashion companies?

The most representative was monster hide.

The kind of Tower hide with extremely small quantities and wildly unstable supply.

She’d seen it before.

Even if she’d never done anything with it.

That was how rare it was.

It was only used to make Player armor and combat boots.

Was there really something for public-private cooperation there?

Were they asking her to make fashion hide armor or something?

Well...

Hide armor would be better if it was pretty.

There would be brand advertising value.

For example, imagine Nam Gaeun wearing hide armor stamped with the Wildflower brand.

The brand value would skyrocket.

But do I really need to go as the CEO?

Were they trying to demand a rebate or a bribe?

She didn’t particularly want to go, but if Nam Gaeun would just wear Wildflower’s fashion armor...

Well, my schedule’s open anyway. I can go in person.

What could it be?

Honestly, she didn’t even expect anything.

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