Chapter 143
Chapter 143: South Korea’s First Long-Cherished Wish (2)
[December 31st]
Park Je-hwang drove his supercar recklessly as he made a call.
The other person was Kim Do-han.
Tuuu- tu. The customer cannot be reached-.
"Why aren't you picking up?"
He irritably called three more times, and at last Kim Do-han's voice came through.
—Well, well, our Alliance Leader.
"Why aren't you picking up your phone?"
—It's not like I'm Bo-yeong, glued to my phone all day.
"Have you been drinking?"
—A little. Today's mood is absolutely golden. Damn it.
His words came out slurred.
Through the receiver came the thumping of music and the laughter of women.
He was obviously throwing a party at home.
Park Je-hwang felt irritation surge within him, but because he had a favor to ask, he swallowed his curses.
"Do-han. Shake off that alcohol fast and get to the Tower."
—The Tower? At this hour?
"That's right. I'm going to climb 37th floor."
—Suddenly? Are you out of your mind?
"I'm not. Get here quick. Help me out."
—Why do you need me?
"Because we have to climb together, you idiot!"
Park Je-hwang snapped.
Kim Do-han seemed to have moved to another room, as the surrounding noise died down.
—……You've really lost it. What business do I have climbing 37th floor?
"Let's go in today."
Kim Do-han's voice instantly returned to normal.
—Je-hwang, 37th floor is a nightmare. It's hell!
The walls of Poison Valley stood over ten meters tall.
If you tried to forcibly smash through the main gate, or tried to leap over—
You couldn't even get close to the walls before poison vials came flying in, staining the entire area with poison energy.
On the other hand, if you quietly approached and quietly began scaling the wall—
The enemies lying in wait inside, along with the trap formations, would activate.
The poison vials would detonate, and the ten-meter walls would transform into a prison with no escape route.
There had been attempts to endure it with internal energy.
Strong climbers had gone ‘A little poison? Bring it on!’ and tried to push through—but who could have known?
The poison of Poison Valley was lethal to Artificial Dantian.
The Artificial Dantian running at full output—
Crackle- Sizzle-snap!
Would suddenly malfunction and begin losing power, which meant death.
Unless one possessed true internal energy overflowing through the body—
Climbers who had relied on the convenience of Artificial Dantian died in droves.
So it was not without reason that Kim Do-han was frightened.
Without an antidote, conquering it was genuinely impossible.
—Je-hwang. I don't know what's gotten into you all of a sudden, but not me. I can't do it.
"Do-han, come on!"
—I said I can't! Contact the Changbai Sect.
"Already did. Damn it!"
—And?
"They said they can't spare a single person. They've all been mobilized to support that stubborn old man Hwangbo Geom!"
—Why Master Hwangbo?
Park Je-hwang let out a long sigh and said,
"My Master says he's going to climb again. 37th floor."
—Huh? That makes no sense.
"It's complicated! Anyway, the glory of 37th floor has to be mine. Do-han, you have to bring a few 37th floor climbers with you."
—Hmm.
Kim Do-han fell into brief contemplation.
It was the first time he had heard such a heartfelt plea from Park Je-hwang.
Park Je-hwang knew he was calculating, but he had no choice right now.
Finally, Kim Do-han spoke.
—You've obviously prepared the 37th floor antidote, right?
"It'll be there."
—What?
"Anyway, I have it."
—How many vials?
"Four."
—Ha, damn. Planning to climb with just four vials.
The disappointment in his voice was unmistakable.
"Not enough, but if we're careful, it should somehow be possible."
—So two for me, two for you, Je-hwang. Like that?
"……Right."
—That answer came a bit too slowly.
"I promise."
—Pfft.
Through the receiver came the sound of Kim Do-han's laughter.
His low murmur beneath his breath.
—I'd rather climb with Bo-yeong than do this.
Thump thump thump!
The thumping noise grew loud again.
—This isn't going to work, Je-hwang. I've got national duties to attend to.
"Hey!"
—I'm busy. Understand.
"Kim Do-han! Hey, Kim Do-han!"
—Aah! The mood is great! Ladies! Drink up!
Park Je-hwang shouted, but no answer came back.
Just music.
Just the sounds of lips smacking and chewing filling the air.
"Damn it!"
Hoooonk-!
Park Je-hwang slammed down on the horn.
At one point—
He had thought that wielding Iron Instrument God's Sword, he would stand at the pinnacle of every climber in the world.
And yet this was the only way he had to vent his frustration now.
* * *
It was nearly midnight.
President Park Jae-yeol stood with an anxious expression, glancing at his watch.
"It seems the young master is running late."
Pyeon Jae-yeong was equally uneasy, his expression no better.
"Is Je-hwang not answering his phone?"
"His line has been busy the whole time."
"Hmm."
Time kept slipping away.
As midnight approached, even he was growing weary.
"Ah, there."
Pyeon Jae-yeong pointed toward the parking lot.
With a roaring rumble from a supercar—
Park Je-hwang stepped out, sword in hand, and walked over.
"I am late. Grandfather."
"Greet Minister Pyeon."
"It has been a while, Minister."
"Indeed. Long time. Are you well?"
"Yes. Thanks to you."
"I heard our prosecutor paid you a visit at the hospital?"
"Yes."
"Greetings can wait for another time—we need to prepare quickly."
Park Jae-yeol cut in.
He gestured, and Gukmubon agents came forward with armor.
But Park Je-hwang waved the armor away.
The president asked,
"You plan to go like that?"
"Light clothing is better for 37th floor. You need to be ready to dodge at a moment's notice."
It was a textbook answer from Park Je-hwang, but Park Jae-yeol pushed the armor toward him once more.
"Put it on."
"As I said—"
"This time is different. Put it on."
Climbing with Ghost.
Park Je-hwang read the meaning in his eyes and obediently put the armor on.
It was magnificent armor. Engraved with golden dragons.
"It is far too flashy."
"Don't you love flashy things."
"Even so, this time……"
"When you return, flashy will be fitting."
‘When you return……’
Park Je-hwang repeated his grandfather's words silently.
Park Jae-yeol issued a command to his grandson.
"Go to the front of the Murim Tower."
"Um……Where is Ghost?"
"I don't know."
"Is he actually going to show up?"
"He and the Nameless Hero will handle it."
He had no idea of the method—but
His eyes held certainty.
Park Je-hwang suddenly wondered whether his grandfather trusted the Nameless Hero more than he trusted him.
"……"
He hesitated, and Park Jae-yeol asked,
"What's wrong."
"Am I truly going in alone?"
Then Pyeon Jae-yeong burst out laughing and answered for him.
"Of course not. I anticipated this, so I hired some mercenaries."
Five men rose from a corner.
Mercenaries of various nationalities.
Every one of them looked rough, but having challenged 37th floor, their skills appeared outstanding.
But Park Je-hwang did not like the look of them.
‘These must be the criminals who have filtered into Korea recently.’
They clearly had no idea they would be climbing alongside Ghost.
‘Better than nothing, I suppose.’
Park Je-hwang gave them a nod and moved to head toward the Tower with them—but
"Wait."
Park Jae-yeol called them to a stop.
Veins were visibly reddening across his forehead.
"Your Excellency, what is the matter?"
Pyeon Jae-yeong noticed that Park Jae-yeol was furious and asked—
Grab-!
The answer came as a hand seizing a collar.
"Your Excellency!"
"Pyeon Jae-yeong! You intend to kill my grandson?!"
A thunderous roar erupted.
"What do you mean by that?!"
"You plan to send those five along to provoke Ghost! An enraged Ghost will move to eliminate our Je-hwang too!"
"N-no! What are you saying!"
"No? Aah! So the plan from the start was to have those men kill our Je-hwang directly! Then pin it on Ghost!"
"I would never do such a thing!"
"Silence! Who are you trying to fool?!"
Finally Park Je-hwang stepped forward to intervene.
"Minister. Please wait over there for a moment."
"Ah, understood……. Goodness. Je-hwang, you know my heart, don't you? It truly was not like that."
"Yes."
Pyeon Jae-yeong walked away with a sullen expression.
Park Je-hwang caught a trace of something in the turned minister's face—regret, perhaps—and
"……"
His heart grew heavy.
But by the same measure, his trust in his grandfather was revived.
"Thank you. Grandfather."
"I cannot entrust my precious grandson to men I have never met."
"I am no longer a child."
"In my eyes, you are still taking your very first steps. You fool!"
"……"
A faint smile touched the corner of Park Je-hwang's lips.
"Go now. I have prepared someone separately for you."
"Yes."
"Come back safely."
‘Embrace.’
Park Jae-yeol pulled his grandson tightly into his arms.
Park Je-hwang bowed in farewell, then turned with a steeled expression and walked toward the Tower.
Just as his grandfather had said, someone was waiting for him.
"Alliance Leader. I have been assigned to climb with you this time."
"I am in your hands."
The man waiting for him looked solid and reliable.
He was someone Park Je-hwang felt he had seen somewhere before.
Park Je-hwang asked,
"Are you with Gukmubon?"
"I used to be. This is my first time on 37th floor."
"And now?"
The man held something out in answer.
Four vials of antidote.
"Now I work directly under His Excellency."
"Ah, I see."
Park Je-hwang received the antidotes, tucked them into his chest, and nodded.
He asked the man,
"Do you have a strategy mapped out?"
"His Excellency said simply to follow whatever Alliance Leader says."
"Was there any other instruction?"
"He told me to protect the Alliance Leader with my life."
The man's face was filled with reverence for Park Jae-yeol, who had trusted him with such an important mission.
"I am in your hands. We go by the standard approach. For now we keep our distance from Poison Valley and observe how things develop."
"Yes."
"If there is any change, that is when we move. I will distribute the antidotes at that point."
"Yes!"
The man answered briskly.
Park Je-hwang smiled and took his place at the foot of the Tower.
11:59:58…… 59……
12:00.
"Hoo-. Hoo-, hup! Let's go."
"Yes!"
With rough, steadying breaths, they entered the Tower with tense expressions.
At that moment—
"……That person?!"
Pyeon Jae-yeong, standing at a distance, saw the man entering alongside Park Je-hwang and was struck with shock.
"It's him, no doubt! That's him!"
***
At the embassy in Paris.
It was none other than the Head of Security who, without a single report, had walked Chief Han straight through to stand before Park Jae-yeol.
[When Chief Han Jang-mi appeared at the embassy, the Head of Security who had been with me for years placed her before me without a single report!]
"Ha! Using me as the sacrificial lamb, he even deceived his own grandson!"
A chill crept into one corner of Pyeon Jae-yeong's chest.
The disposal of a bodyguard who could not be trusted.
Chief Han, had trained that bodyguard.
The falling-out between Ghost and Chief Han, to be ignited by the bodyguard's death.
And if it came to it—even his own grandson!
……A terrifying man.
President Park Jae-yeol.
It seemed the last of his gunpowder smell had finally faded—
And he had at last become a politician steeped in venom.
Pyeon Jae-yeong's lips trembled.
"Damn it all."
‘I will have my revenge, no matter what.’
‘I need to find a lifeline first.’
[Why don't you stop drinking the alcohol Park Jae-yeol has been pouring for you all this time, and drink mine instead.]
A lifeline by the name of Nameless Hero.
* * *
['Silver Key' has been summoned.]
—You may break into the Republic of Korea's Murim Tower.
Wuuung-.
[A door to break into 37th floor of the Murim Tower (Republic of Korea) has opened.]
[Entering 37th floor of the Murim Tower (Republic of Korea).]
[Mission (37th floor): Eliminate the 50 warriors guarding the first gate of Poison Valley.
—Time Limit: 3 days
—On Success: 500,000 Happiness Points awarded]
[A bonus mission is given upon first entry.]
[Bonus Mission: Without harming a single warrior of Poison Valley, open the gate and enter.
—Time Limit: 10 minutes
—On Success:
① Mission (37th floor) deemed complete
② Happiness Points tripled (×3)]
—On Failure: The warriors blocking the gate will double in number.]
I stepped into 37th floor and drew a deep breath.
37th floor, breached using the Silver Key.
Quite a bit of information about 37th floor's strategy had spread around—but there was no information about bonus missions.
Because they were given to me alone.
[Kim Tae-yang looks around asking where Park Je-hwang is. +50 Happiness]
‘Wait, you.’
I sharpened my gaze and searched for Park Je-hwang.
At the far end of the Poison Valley canyon.
Park Je-hwang in his gleaming armor and another man were visible.
[Kim Tae-yang points and says he's over there. +50 Happiness]
Thud thud thud-.
The loud pounding of Kim Tae-yang's anxious heart came through clearly.
[Kim Tae-yang asks 'What are those guys doing over there?' +1 Happiness]
"Cowering and hiding."
Because this was Poison Valley, after all.
37th floor—the wall of despair for every climber in the world.
It was only natural they were hiding.
"Poison Valley really is an impregnable fortress."
Same as Demon Wind Manor.
The difference was that Demon Wind Manor was perched atop a remote cliff with only a single path in.
Poison Valley, true to its name, was situated in a canyon.
One massive wall spanning the sheer canyon walls on either side.
A wall exceeding three zhang high blocking off the canyon entirely—if the Poison Valley men decided to start hurling poison, the entire canyon would fill with it.
"And yet here I am, told to open that heavy gate without killing a single person."
It was a difficult order.
Especially one that contradicted everything the missions so far had been.
I turned my thoughts to my past life.
The reason I had been able to enter Poison Valley was because of my utterly tattered clothing and dragging leg.
More than anything—because the Ten Thousand Poison Army, knowing my identity, had grown careless.
‘They tried to lure me into a trap. To dissect me and learn the secrets of the Sacheondang Family's poisons and how to become a Poison Demon—but they failed in the end.’
"If I limp toward them now, would they open up the same way?"
I thought for a moment, then shook my head.
"No need. There's a better way."
I smiled and reached into my chest.
Out came the Human Skin Masks obtained on 36th floor.
I chose one.
One of the Evil Path's Eight Emperors.
The Human Skin Mask of the 'White-Faced Scholar'.
He was one of the Evil Path Alliance Leader's direct disciples.
There were other Human Skin Masks as well—but the one closest to my current build was surely him.
"Ahem!"
I clasped my hands behind my back and strolled leisurely toward Poison Valley's main gate.
"Is anyone there?!"
I called out loudly, and a small opening appeared in the gate.
Just large enough for two eyes to peer through.
"Who are y—. Huh?!"
The guard spotted my face and slammed the small hatch shut with a bang!
"Hmm."
I kept my hands clasped behind my back and waited.
Before long—
Gr-gr-gr-grind-.
Ten years since the Republic of Korea had begun climbing the Tower.
The gate of Poison Valley—never once opened—groaned as it swung wide.
Behind the opened gate, dozens of Poison Valley warriors stands at rigid attention.
They raised their fists in salute and cried out in unison.
"Poison Valley pays its respects to the Eight Emperor!"
What had everyone found so difficult about this.
……Something this easy.
"Hahahat!"
The moment I stepped one foot inside Poison Valley—
A message appeared immediately.
[Bonus Mission Complete]
—Mission (37th floor) deemed complete!
—Happiness Points + 1,500,000!
[Time to mission completion: 3 minutes 25 seconds]
[Overwhelming Completion (GOLD)!]
[37th floor of the Murim Tower turns golden.]
[The entire world turns its eyes to Korea's Tower.]
My mission was over—
But Kim Tae-yang's mission was only just beginning.
I immediately shouted at the Poison Valley men.
"You wretches!"
"……!"
My booming voice echoed through Poison Valley.
"Since your eyes are there but serve no purpose, I shall pluck them out myself this very moment!"
"Wh-what do you mean by that?"
My energy-laden roar left the Poison Valley men unable to collect themselves.
"Spies from the Orthodox Faction are conducting reconnaissance as we speak—what are you all doing?!"
"Wh-what?!"
Silence fell over Poison Valley in an instant at my thundering shout.
I swiftly pointed beyond the gate.
"Are those two in that gaudy armor truly visible only to my eyes?!"
A sliver of moonlight descended and reflected off Park Je-hwang's armor.
"……!"
The Poison Valley men spotted Park Je-hwang and the man beside him and jolted in alarm, immediately snapping into combat formation.
"Capture those two alive and drag them back here at once!"
"Y-yes, your order!"
The White-Faced Scholar was one of the Evil Path's Eight Emperors.
More than that—a direct disciple of the Evil Path Alliance Leader.
Whose command could anyone dare refuse?
The Poison Valley warriors surged out at a run.
[Kim Tae-yang wipes drool from the corner of his mouth, saying 'Beat them half to death and bring them here!' +5,000,000 Happiness]