The tracking mark had no physical form.
Think of it as a tiny bit of magic power compressed to stay intact.
Of course, there was risk of detection.
If faced with knights or mages stronger than himself.
But could Earth humans even notice?
When first meeting them, he only placed marks.
Wondering if he was being needlessly suspicious.
But the next day.
Kozak detected the marks.
Three bits of magic power circling near the officetel.
It was clear.
They were watching this officetel.
This place where many players lived, though looking ordinary.
Where Master Bong resided.
Yet they dared to try something?
Painful memories from the past surfaced.
Memories of failing to protect his summoner.
For players, outside the tower was more dangerous than inside.
Eliminate even the smallest seed of threat completely.
Among other summoned beings, there were terrifying ones who wiped out entire nations claiming to protect their summoners.
Because that was better than the world ending.
He too would gladly do it if such situation and opportunity came.
So he requested re-summoning under the pretense of watching soccer.
Right.
He lied.
Something that should never, could never be done.
But Summoned Being Principle 3, Article 3 had already activated.
So the lie gained legitimacy.
What did this mean?
The marked ones were related to Master Bong.
While Master Bong slept, he quietly left the officetel using stealth skills,
Finding them wasn’t difficult thanks to the marks.
Thus John Kozak arrived at the closed massage shop not far from the officetel.
The door was locked but wasn’t picking locks a basic assassin skill?
Making minimal noise,
Click,
Entering with stealth to where the marks were.
Eight in total.
They were talking but he couldn’t understand what.
He’d understand Korean since he shared language with Master Bong, but,
What did language matter?
What mattered was Master Bong’s photo among those spread on the table.
Time to work.
Slipped out of stealth.
Then said one thing.
They noticed him.
Infused killing intent into his daggers, first one person.
Swish!
Slice!
“Gasp!”
“E-eek!”
“Grab his arms!”
“Shoot him!”
“Bastard…”
Stab! Stab stab! Stab! Stab! Stab…
Did such trash need assassination techniques?
One shot, one kill.
Shredded their hearts with dual daggers in both hands.
The room suddenly quiet.
Seven corpses total.
One survivor.
Deng Guanglin felt like he was dreaming.
Where was this? Who was this person?
A Korean intelligence agent? Special forces like UDT or HID?
No way. Neither.
This inhuman force he showed.
Was this person human?
…A ghost.
But where had he felt something similar?
Memory flashed.
Black Tower clear footage.
Player.
If he was a player, did that mean he could use tower abilities in reality?
Suddenly!
That terrifying ghost turned his head this way.
Deng Guanglin stumbled backward.
His legs shook too much to move properly.
Even he had killed more people than fingers and toes could count.
Also gone through countless training and real combat.
What was a few people dying before his eyes?
But right now, this moment, he was utterly terrified.
His mind went blank with overwhelming fear.
“You, one left?”
Drip drip,
Blood dripping from the ghost’s blade.
“Say ‘I’m sorry.’ You know Korean, right?”
Deng Guanglin had to answer.
Felt like he had to.
“I’m sor-“
Stab!
Crunch!
The dagger stabbing under his jaw came out through the crown of his head.
Kozak checked again for anyone still breathing.
One beheaded, six with crushed hearts, one head pierced.
Now to finish…
Unconsciously reaching for ribbons in his breast pocket.
But,
“Gasp! Al-almost tied them. Haa, haa…”
Hold back, hold back.
Had to.
His signature mark.
Though his hands trembled wanting to tie ribbons, he had to suppress his nature.
Could call it superhuman restraint.
Fellow assassins who knew him well would be shocked.
Not leaving his mark?
Are you really Kozak?
Because he’d decided to hide it from the start.
If told beforehand, given Master Bong’s personality, he would surely have forbidden it.
While for himself it was something he absolutely had to do.
Might scold him like before.
Though probably wouldn’t cast him out…
Sigh,
Honestly couldn’t know even that.
Worried about what’s ahead.
Might be cast out.
R-grade Gobang rose to SSR and firmly established his position as tank.
Meanwhile his own solid position started shaking.
Random summon day coming soon.
Fortunately if trait enhancement happened another spot would open, but if not?
As an assassin, Kozak’s role in the tower was very limited.
If someone had to be eliminated, it would be him.
“N-no, that can’t happen, can’t.”
Had to stay by his side long term.
Time to go now.
But couldn’t return to the officetel.
How could he enter that sacred place reeking of blood?
Should still be sleeping?
Hoped Master Bong was sleeping deeply.
Since deep sleep was closely related to health.
As for himself?
Just sightsee outside until summon dismissal and return.
※ ※ ※
Juhyeok woke up after a good sleep.
Going to the living room, the TV was off and Kozak was gone.
Wonder if he enjoyed the soccer.
First, prepare to go out.
Planning to visit home.
Then tower climbing floor 35 in the afternoon.
Called a car and arrived home.
Security guard waiting below.
“Son’s here.”
His father Bong Soo-cheol frowned.
“Your way of speaking has been strange lately?”
“Hm? Is that so?”
“Something good happen?”
“This humble son is always full of good things. So came to share some good things.”
Mother Hong Geumja snickered and said,
“Haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“Yes sir!”
“Well, at least you won’t talk while eating.”
After finishing the meal his mother prepared.
“Mom, don’t you need allowance?”
“Oh, it’s fine. I’ll get a job soon.”
“Where?”
“Thinking of working at a restaurant.”
Ah,
Korea’s top player.
Asset holder worth 4 billion won still couldn’t provide comfortably for his parents.
“I’ll deposit some money in your account. Take your time finding work…”
“Not needed. How could I use money earned by my son risking his life? Just save it. Never know what might happen later.”
Then father Bong Soo-cheol watching from the side made a circle with his finger and poked his own chest.
Mouthing without sound.
Send it to me, to me.
…
Goodness, the power of genetics.
“Ah! Right. Here’s Player Nam Ga-eun’s autograph and… take one each of these. Always carry them in your inner pocket or wallet.”
“Hm? …Talismans?”
“Yes! This is for health, this for luck – prepared three each for Father, Mother, and Minhyeok.”
“You believe in these things?”
“Totally believed recently. The effects are amazing. A very skilled shaman wrote them.”
Not a lie.
Really a skilled shaman.
Experienced it firsthand.
“Hmm, alright. You have yours too?”
“Of course.”
They should be healthier now.
And fortune would dwell in the household,
Even if just minor ones.
※ ※ ※
Returning from home, Juhyeok gathered the summoned beings.
Since R-grade Gobang was reborn as SSR Gobang, must hit floor 35.
“With three SSRs, S++ up to floor 40 shouldn’t be a problem right? Or is that not enough?”
“An underestimate. Even floor 50 would be easy.”
Oh!
Gobang becoming SSR really was amazing.
“However, from floor 51, S++ clear…”
He knew.
Giant flying monsters.
Griffons and wyverns using feather attacks and breath abilities.
Tough enough to eat Minotaurs and Ogres for meals, tricky being flying monsters, and need to watch out for magic attacks besides physical force.
Planning to summon one more being in the 40s anyway.
The key was whether trait enhancement would appear or not.
So he stuck the talisman inside his underwear.
Would have plastered them all over if more meant better, but one or a hundred had the same effect.
“Let’s go. Hunt the bull head king.”
“Yes sir!”
[Entering floor 35 of Korea’s Black Tower.]
The mission:
[Floor 35 Mission: Defeat 80 Minotaurs of any type and 1 Minotaur King.]
[Time limit: Within 13 hours.]
[Completion conditions: All types of Minotaurs 0/80, Minotaur King 0/1]
Geez,
So many.
White ones, black ones, spotted ones, small ones, big ones.
Glancing sideways, saw Kozak staring straight ahead with a serious expression.
Looked very determined.
Not even giving his usual flattery, pulling out two daggers filled with blade energy while muttering to himself,
“Can’t be thrown away. Absolutely can’t be thrown away. Will stay until the end. Until the end.”
What’s he saying?
Who’s throwing who away?
Did he suddenly go crazy?
Couldn’t have bet on sports gambling while watching soccer.
Ding ding ding!
With Gyeon Dallae’s bell sound, the floor 35 clear mission began.
Right then!
Whoosh!
Kozak shot out like a bullet.
Instantly leaping to slice a stage 3 Minotaur’s throat, then already rushing at another target.
…Hmm.
Why was Mr. Kozak acting like this again.
Should hunt safely.
Could just stick behind Gobang and pick them off.
Antsy from playing around too long?
Anyway, what should I do?
Let’s hunt stage 1 or 2 Minotaurs.
Crackle!
Energy barrier activated, hand shield and mace out.
Though bothered by the summoned beings watching with worried glances.
“Who am I? The talent who succeeded at Shadow Walk in mid-air!”
Better take down a few before they stop me.
Ha!
Swat! Swat!
But then?
“ROAAAARRR!”
The Minotaur King appeared on the battlefield wielding a giant axe.
Already?
“Hey, come on! I just started.”
As soon as the King appeared, SSR Gobang,
Crack!
Body slam at terrifying speed.
Bam!
“Ughh…”
Went flying like a pancake.
Throwing away its axe and soaring far far away.
…
SSR Gobang really was balance breaking.
At least in the 30s.
[Notice: You have achieved grade S++ in clearing floor 35 of the Black Tower (Korea).]
[S++ clear reward: Platinum badge awarded.]
Now just checking the special bonus.
Please!
※ ※ ※
Yellow police line wrapped around a building in Seoul’s entertainment district.
A mass murder occurred at the closed <Imperial Traditional Massage> shop.
A mailman delivering mail in the morning smelled something strange through the open door crack.
Thinking it might be blood, he reported to police.
Violent crimes detectives stared at the crime scene with stunned expressions.
Another mass murder.
How long since that incident,
“Could it be related to the Smile Cash case? That was mass murder too.”
“Well, only one body has a clean neck cut. Most are heart wounds, one head pierced, and most importantly, no ribbons.”
But the clean neck cut was similar…
“Secured any CCTV?”
“None installed inside the shop. The convenience store opposite only caught footage of these victims coming and going.”
“Sigh, got our work cut out.”
Another unprecedented mass murder.
Media would swarm like dogs.
Police would be swept up in criticism.
“Chief.”
“What?”
“Take a look at this.”
“Hm?”
A detective pulled something from a victim’s body.
“A pistol. Looks like a Tokarev.”
“What?”
A Tokarev,
The most copied pistol.
Therefore extremely common.
“Here’s another. And here… these guys, they all had one each?”
The guns weren’t the only suspicious items.
Military knives, syringes with clear liquid, rope and duct tape, restraining handcuffs…
Not just that.
Photos scattered on the floor.
Close-ups of specific people’s faces, about ten photos.
Who were these people?
“The murder suspects are suspicious but the victims seem even more suspicious.”
The detective chief nodded.
“IDs?”
“All had them.”
“Check them quickly.”
Shortly after,
A detective contacting headquarters,
“Chief, this is really strange.”
“What?”
“All the IDs are fake. The real names exist in the database, but the faces don’t match.”
“…Thought so.”
Who were these guys?
Didn’t feel like Koreans.
Illegal migrant workers?
No way!
Workers wouldn’t carry pistols.
Then organized crime?
That possibility was out too.
They knew all the local gangs.
Both domestic and foreign,
The violent crimes detective chief had a suspicion.
The syringes found among their possessions.
High chance of drugs or anesthetic.
They were planning to kidnap someone.
Who?
Must be the subjects of these photos.
Need to check.
“Contact higher-ups and ask them to reach out to the National Intelligence Service. Request they send an agent quickly.”
Time passed,
An NIS agent arrived at the crime scene.
“Oh my, thank you for your work. Must be tough. The victims?”
“This way please.”
“Understood.”
The smell of blood as soon as entering the room.
The NIS agent covered his nose with a handkerchief while carefully examining the bodies when.
“…Huh?”
His gaze examining the bodies turned to the photos scattered on the floor.
Blankly approaching to pick up one photo, then another, and another…
“Fuck!”
The sudden curse.
The NIS agent’s eyes sharpened.
His expression hardened stiff.
“Chief.”
“Yes?”
“Media doesn’t know about this case yet?”
“Should still be unaware.”
“Then we’ll take this case. Seems to fall under NIS jurisdiction.”
And that day.
The National Intelligence Service and Awakened Management Office were turned upside down.