Fwip! Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!
Kozak dashed rapidly toward Beijing. Preliminary reconnaissance was crucial, especially in a rescue operation like this one.
Master Summoner Bong had given the order: save as many as possible, as safely as possible.
Then that’s what had to happen. He would accomplish it, no matter what.
A large road came into view, and beyond it, a metropolis of skyscrapers. It was Beijing, the capital of China. From here on, he had to be slow and steady. He attached a perception-disrupting talisman and reduced his speed. There was plenty of time. He had already mentioned that he would be clocking out from here.
The words Xiao Jun had confessed before he went insane… The players were being held in a building in Zhongnanhai, behind the Forbidden City. He had gotten not only the address but also a description of the building and how to enter.
First, he needed to go to the tallest building in Beijing. A skyscraper was perfect for getting a rough sense of the layout. As it happened, there was a structure in the city similar to Namsan Tower. It seemed to be a tourist attraction, as the tower was bustling with people. Kozak blended into the crowd and went up to the top.
The entire city unfolded before him at a glance. He could see the Forbidden City and the buildings behind it.
Over there.
Location identified. The entire route was saved in his head.
Now for the on-site reconnaissance.
He left the tower and walked leisurely. After crossing a wide plaza and circling a pond next to the Forbidden City, he soon arrived at his target. This area was off-limits to civilians. From this point on, he used stealth. Moving too quickly would break it. He had to be careful, patient.
He secretly infiltrated the building Xiao Jun had mentioned. The structure was complex. There were guards everywhere, and every firmly shut door required fingerprint, iris, and facial recognition.
The doors…
He lightly touched one. His blade aura would be enough to cut through it. Chinese-made steel doors were all the same. Of course, there was no need to cut it now. He could just wait for someone to come and follow them in.
This was it.
A prison. Or perhaps a mental asylum. Down a stark white corridor, there were rooms on either side, and inside each were people who looked like Players. Most of them appeared to be of Southeast Asian descent, all wearing the same colored clothes. There were about eight of them.
The escape route is…
His mind worked rapidly. The fastest route of travel, the location and number of guards to be dealt with, the location of the emergency staircase, and so on.
Kozak went back outside. The roads connecting to the surrounding buildings, the locations of the guard posts.
Got it.
He had memorized everything. But there was still a lot of time left.
Should I look around a bit more?
This was the heart of Chinese power, a place where ordinary people couldn’t carelessly approach.
It was at that moment!
Vroooom!
A line of black cars was moving somewhere in a procession.
Someone important?
Who would be considered important here?
Fwip!
Kozak followed the cars. They stopped in front of a certain building. A large number of people were lined up, waiting to greet the vehicles. And from the central limousine, one person stepped out.
Oh!
Kozak let out a gasp of surprise. He’d seen him on TV.
The supreme leader of China. The core of Chinese power.
Could he just watch and leave? Of course not. He had to plant a tracking mark.
A small lump of ki shot toward the supreme leader.
Mark planted.
An unexpected gain. He needed to unleash his karma anyway. The reconnaissance had gone very smoothly.
***
The next day, Juhyeok asked Kozak, who had just been summoned.
“Did the reconnaissance go well yesterday?”
“Perfectly, sir. We can execute the operation tonight.”
“By yourself?”
“I will need Sergeant Bae, sir.”
“Sergeant Bae… ah! Ms. Veronica.”
Just then, Veronica, who had been dozing off nearby, shot her eyes open.
“Sergeant Veronica Caliber! Ready for the operation!”
An assassin and a sniper. It was the best combination.
“What about Mr. Razix, Mr. Gobang, and Princess Gyeon Dallae?”
“Aigoo, our Worker Razix can just stay home and clean, sir. Same for Gobang and Lady Gyeon Dallae.”
“Hoeng?”
“Still, you should all gather and discuss it. Many hands…”
“…make light work, sir. Hehehe.”
And so, the summons gathered in a corner of the living room.
“Sergeant Bae, how low can you reduce the output of your magic rifle? Just enough to knock a person out if they’re hit.”
“Paralysis rounds are possible.”
“Will it kill them, ma’am?”
“They don’t die easily. Well, if they’re unlucky, maybe… Wanna get shot?”
“Shoot Gobang, ma’am.”
“I want to shoot you. Present your ass.”
“For real, ma’am? I’m droppin’ my pants!”
“Do it!”
“Hoek?”
A heartwarming conversation unfolded. It seemed that being summoned together so often had made them all much closer.
“Worker Razix.”
“Hoeng?”
“Keep Sergeant Bae well-stocked with ammunition.”
“Hoe-eh.”
“Princess Gyeon Dallae, please write us some perception-disrupting talismans.”
“How many?”
“Eight. But it would be best if their effect only lasted about an hour. Is that possible, ma’am?”
“That is not a difficult task.”
“And while I was there, I saw someone…”
He was absolutely thrilled. Just beaming. The meeting went on longer than expected. The more thorough the plan, the better.
And so, all preparations were complete.
After the summons had returned, Juhyeok called Kozak and Veronica around midnight. He entered the first floor of the Black Tower, finished setting the exit, killed a few maggots, and then…
Fwip!
The three of them appeared at China’s Black Tower #1, west of Beijing.
“Well then, good luck.”
“Victory! All glory to the Commander!”
“…Sir! Master Summoner Bong’s right-hand man, the master of guerrilla warfare, the ace of hostage rescue, this Kozak will return upon mission completion!”
What is this, a loyalty competition? How embarrassing.
Fwip!
Kozak and Veronica vanished quickly. Juhyeok waited for a moment until they were far away from him. If they were too close, they would enter the Tower together.
About an hour passed.
This should be far enough.
Juhyeok entered the first floor of the Black Tower alone again. After forfeiting the mission, he came out and was back in his penthouse.
This is really convenient.
There was no risk involved, either. He didn’t think the operation would fail. Who could possibly mess with those two? He just felt sorry for the ordinary people they would be up against. He just hoped they wouldn’t cause too big of an incident.
***
Late at night. The Special Intelligence Division building in Zhongnanhai.
It was past two in the morning, but Nguyen, a Vietnamese Player, couldn’t sleep. He was still full of regret.
Why did I act alone back then?
He’d been feeling peckish, and his mistake was going out alone for some bún chả² as a late-night snack. He was dragged away by thugs, injected with some kind of drug, and lost consciousness. When he woke up, he was here.
Kidnapped. The player kidnappings he had only heard about in rumors. There were many others in the same situation.
As soon as he arrived, the torture began. They threatened to kill his family if he didn’t listen. In the end, Nguyen gave up. He stamped his seal on the documents renouncing his original nationality and naturalizing to China.
It was a truly strange thing. The moment he stamped the naturalization papers, his Black Tower affiliation changed. To China.
And so began his conquest of China’s Black Tower. Nguyen cooperated as much as he could. He even cleared unclimbed upper floors for them. If he didn’t, he would be killed.
There were three Towers in total. They assigned teams to each tower, and if an unclimbed floor wasn’t cleared within the time limit, terrifying torture awaited. More than ten people had died that way. They also threatened to kill his family. Once a week, they would show him photos of his family in Vietnam.
He received one today. His wife, heading to work on her scooter; his young daughter, going to school; and his parents. His family probably thought he was dead. If only he could tell them he was still alive, how wonderful would that be?
How could he sleep in a situation like this? He didn’t know if he would ever see his beloved family again before he died.
Suddenly!
Crack! Thud! Thump, thump.
Strange sounds came from the hallway.
What’s going on?
The sounds continued. Nguyen shot up from his bed.
“Don’t tell me…”
Something was happening. Nguyen pressed his ear against the door. He heard doors opening and the surprised voices of people. A moment later, click!
Nguyen’s door opened as well.
“Wh-who?”
Someone stood in the doorway. It was clearly a person, but he couldn’t make out their face.
“Shh!”
The unidentified man brought a finger to his lips, then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Nguyen.
“Th-this is?”
Red writing on yellow paper. It was a talisman. A familiar sight, even in Vietnam.
Flick!
The man lifted his shirt, revealing a talisman stuck to his chest.
“…You want me to stick this on? Like this?”
He had no choice but to do as he was told. Nguyen stuck the talisman on and went outside. He was stunned.
“Huk!”
People were standing awkwardly in the hallway. The other kidnapped players, just like him. It was strange. He couldn’t recognize anyone. Was it because he was so tense?
Nguyen looked around. The guards and public security officers from the Chinese government were lying unconscious all over the corridor. The only ones standing were the unidentified man and the kidnapped players.
It was at that moment.
KABOOM!
A massive roar, as if from an explosion, shook the building.
“Ugh!”
“Aah!”
“Wh-where did that come from?”
The players were terrified. But the man, as if he had known the explosion was coming, didn’t flinch. He gestured nonchalantly.
Follow me?
He had to go. If they could get out of here… Nguyen and the other kidnapped players followed the man.
There was a closed door at the end of the hall. The man pulled out two daggers.
Vmmm!
The blades shone like lightsabers.
SCREE! SCREECH!
The steel door was cut into a neat square.
C-Crazy!
Are those real lightsabers? Or lasers?
There was no time to think about it. The kidnapped players passed through the hole in the door. No one stood in their way. No, there were people, but they were all collapsed on the floor.
The kidnapped players ran blindly after the man. Chinese public security officers and guards popped out from everywhere. But…
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
They were taken down one by one by bullets that flew in from somewhere. Only then did the surroundings come into view. An elegant palace, and in the distance, skyscrapers.
Nguyen was overcome with emotion. How long had it been since he’d been outside like this? Could he really go home?
***
Veronica, the deadshot ranger of the Magic Empire. Her abilities stemmed from the equipment she wore: a reinforced suit that clung to her body without a single ripple, a magic eye that enabled auto-aiming, and assault combat walkers.
From her perch atop a streetlight by the road, Veronica watched the rescue targets run out of the building.
Friend-or-foe identification complete. Commencing escort mission.
She needed to create another diversion. She fired one more large-caliber round at the upper floor of a distant, dark building.
FWOOSH! KABOOM!
Then she leaped down from the streetlight and followed the kidnapped players, guarding their rear. The assassin was in the front, she was in the back. Thanks to the perception-disrupting talismans, it was unlikely anyone would rush them, but just in case, she put any conspicuous armed soldiers to sleep with paralysis rounds.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
The final destination was the US Embassy. The assassin had said the mission would be over once they got there.
He’s a strange man.
Usually, he was a sycophantic, frivolous man without peer. But she had to give credit where it was due. This entire plan came from his head.
Veronica continued to run, covering the rear. The US Embassy came into view. The operation was a resounding success.
***
KABOOM!
Chinese President Lin Zhaoming woke up after the first explosion. A few moments later, a second explosion was heard.
KABOOM!
What in the world?
Just then, the phone rang. It was his secretary.
“I understand. Let’s meet in my office.”
President Lin Zhaoming hurried out of his bedroom and into his office.
“What is all this about?”
“It appears to be a terrorist attack, sir.”
A terror attack?
“A-and.”
“Spit it out!”
“Our naturalized players… have e-escaped.”
“What?”
If the naturalized players had escaped…
“The Special Intelligence Division?”
“Y-yes, sir.”
“Heh,”
He wasn’t even angry. Just dumbfounded. An explosion in the heart of Chinese power, and kidnapped players escaping? How was this possible?
“Have you caught them?”
“…”
“This is driving me mad.”
President Lin Zhaoming slumped into his chair and closed his eyes. In any case, it had happened. The important thing now was the aftermath. He had to handle it quickly.
“Issue an emergency alert for all of Beijing. Mobilize everyone, public security, the military, everyone, and find the ones who escaped.”
One more thing.
“And the escaped players, revoke their Chinese nationality immediately. Erase all records and evidence! Leave no trace.”
“Yes, sir!”
A leader must always assume the worst-case scenario. If this incident became public, China’s prestige would plummet.
“…Clean up the Special Intelligence Division as well.”
A purge. It was an order to kill.
“The entire organization, sir?”
“Yes. Executives, staff, field agents, even the ones dispatched overseas. Recall them all. Quickly!”
“Understood.”
The secretary left to carry out his orders. President Lin Zhaoming was left alone in his office. He took out a cigarette, put it to his lips, and lit it.
“Hooo.”
It would be good if they caught the escapees, but it didn’t matter if they got away. Cutting their losses. Playing dumb. As always, the Chinese government would deny any knowledge of player kidnappings. Besides, the ones they kidnapped were players from weaker, developing countries. They would bark, sure. But that’s all. What could they possibly do?
President Lin Zhaoming walked toward the map hanging on his office wall. China had a vast territory and the world’s largest population. So why were they always short on talented Players? Why were they struggling so much, unable to even cross the 60th-floor threshold?
The neighboring country, Korea, was the complete opposite. A place overflowing with talent. The S++ Rank Clear Record Holders proved it.
“Damn it!”
Cigarette smoke billowed up. Lin Zhaoming shook his head. He had purged his political rivals and risen to the pinnacle of power. He had worked so hard for the glory of China.
Korea.
If he had his way, he would annex Korea. He wanted to unify the nations into one, even if it meant starting a war. If only the United States wasn’t in the picture. A war would have already broken out.
Using North Korea to induce an all-out war…
It was at that moment.
Shiver! The back of his neck prickled. He heard the sound of footsteps.
Thump, thump.
Was someone there? This was his private office. He tried to turn his head, but…
Damn it!
He couldn’t move his body. It felt like his entire body was stuck in a spiderweb. He couldn’t even open his mouth.
“Our princess says…”
Korean?
“That emperors and national leaders are usually judged by a different standard of karma than ordinary people.”
Kozak placed his hands gently on Lin Zhaoming’s shoulders.
“For a national leader, the greatest sins are sloth, laziness, and indulgence.”
Whether he understood him or not, Kozak continued speaking.
“A ruler who neglects politics, drinks dissolutely, enjoys pleasure, and doesn’t look after the country. Because then, the people suffer.”
Lin Zhaoming felt like he would go mad from frustration.
“But dictators are different, she says. Especially those with many supporters who govern according to their own set of policies.”
“Because there are those who benefit from it, they can be judged as having good karma. Isn’t that hilarious?”
It was definitely Korean, but he couldn’t understand what he was saying.
“No matter how many people they kill and purge, if the country develops and becomes prosperous, it’s considered a legitimate act of governance.”
“Tsk, I can never agree, but if the princess says so, I have to believe her.”
Flinch.
A suspicious energy was flowing into him through his shoulders. Even so, the man’s words continued.
“I mean, does that make sense? Why is the standard different? It’s not like it’s a special privilege. That’s why I hate politicians.”
Who was this man? Could he be the one who appeared at the HG Hotel in Korea? The one who dealt with China’s special intelligence agents? If so, he wanted to speak. He would give him whatever he wanted, just come to China. But his tongue was so stiff he could barely breathe.
Suddenly, his head began to throb as if it would shatter. At the same time, his eyes grew heavy.
“If karma doesn’t work, I have to find another way.”
“You are a man who threatened the life of my Master Summoner, and who has the potential to continue threatening it in the future.”
Lin Zhaoming struggled to stay conscious.
“Consider yourself lucky you didn’t meet Gwangma, and die quietly.”
His knees buckled as if he were about to collapse.
“The cause of death will be a cerebral hemorrhage. You know, a blood vessel bursting in the brain. They won’t be able to do a thing. It’s not just one vessel bursting.”
“You won’t die right away, though. You’ll suffer in bed for about ten days. After that, you’ll be at peace.”
Thump!
Finally, Lin Zhaoming collapsed to the floor.
“I wonder if he designated a successor. Honestly, I hope he didn’t. That would make things noisy for China.”
Kozak smiled viciously. The poison injection was complete. A poison he created by converting his own ki. It wasn’t a particularly strong poison. Anyone who could handle mana could easily detoxify it. But an ordinary human could never withstand it. They wouldn’t even be able to find a trace of the poison’s components.
Having finished all his tasks, Kozak vanished into the darkness.