Chapter 12 : Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - Strengthening the Foundation

Huh? Really?

I rubbed my ears and looked at the employee again.

“Please take it and use it comfortably. If it needs repairs, you may leave it with us anytime.”

“Is it a loan?”

“No. We are giving it to you. A gift. A present!”

“……You said it was 3 billion?”

“Ah……!”

The employee let out a small sigh and clapped briefly.

“So you want something more expensive! Then please come this way.”

He grabbed my hand. The situation was starting to go in a strange direction.

“No, something more expensive is……”

“It is fine. You just set shortest records on the 11th and 12th floors, didn't you not? An order came down to increase your rewards accordingly.”

“From where?”

The employee raised his index finger and pointed at the ceiling, then smiled as he lifted the corners of his mouth.

“From the top floor.”

It was not far from what Sang-cheol had said. All I had to do was climb Avalon. Sang-cheol had also promised full support.

I simply climbed Avalon according to the contract, and Sang-cheol supported me accordingly.

Even so, it was honestly burdensome.

“This one is worth 7.5 billion. It is far more powerful than the sword you just saw, and it even has an embedded skill.”

“A skill?”

“Yes. You cannot test it here, but take it with you and try it out.”

The employee casually placed the 7.5-billion sword in my hands and pushed me as if telling me to take it. My hand trembled slightly as I held the sword.

“A-Are you sure I can take this?”

“Of course. We are giving it to you so you can use it.”

“But this is not a small amount…… Is it really okay to just give something like this away?”

“We provide even greater support to S-Class and A-Class Players.”

I stood there blankly, holding the sheathed sword. I could not tell whether I should be happy or not.

After that, I received several more pieces of equipment for free.

They say that liking free things makes you go bald. At this rate, I would not have a single hair left.

“Is there anything else you need?”

At that question, I fell into brief contemplation.

“Do you happen to have equipment that changes appearance?”

“Changes appearance? What kind of……?”

“Well, I have…… As you know, I became unnecessarily famous.”

“Ah. Then could you please wait a moment?”

After waiting briefly, the employee returned with equipment that would be most useful for my current situation.

After exchanging farewells, I left the Equipment Store with a clatter.

Now that I was fully equipped, I truly felt like a proper Player.

Feeling proud, I opened my Status Window and placed each piece of equipment into it.

In fact, I had learned recently that the Status Window also functioned as a subspace.

Since I was Level 2, the subspace should have expanded as well. There would be more than enough room for a few pieces of equipment. I also made sure to store the most important item I received last.

‘Whew.’

My shoulders lifted.

At this level, I could probably brag a little to Chun-sik.

I could already see him bowing after seeing the guy who received a 7.5-billion sword.

Just wait, Chun-sik…… Your older brother is bringing something big.

***

“Did you give him everything he wanted?”

“Yes! I gave him everything. He left very satisfied.”

“Good…… Well done. You worked hard.”

Late at night, Sang-cheol, alone in his office, sighed as he stared out the window.

“Then I will hang up.”

After ending the call, he pressed his temples firmly.

He had made bold declarations to the Team Leader, insisting that Park Si-hoo must be secured at all costs.

The contract itself was successfully concluded, but there was more than one mountain to overcome.

“Well, it is good that he gets stronger since it raises our standing too, but it is still too early to say he is firmly on our side.”

Park Si-hoo’s stature continued to rise as time passed. Sang-cheol, standing at the center of it all, felt it keenly. More Scouters were pursuing him, and guilds were bloodshot-eyed as they tracked his movements.

The Association had only signed a contract with him. There was no deeper bond or shared narrative. In other words, it would not be strange for him to transfer at any time.

“And there is even a contract termination clause.”

Sang-cheol’s head ached.

He sat down and moved the mouse. Click. The Player Gallery appeared on the screen.

New info dropped!! It is Park Si-hoo. He always appears in the lobby at 4 p.m.

↳ Oh, so that is why Scouters were camping there at that time.

↳ Is he the guy who set the shortest records on the 11th and 12th floors today?

↳ Yeah. I heard Tae-yang even held an emergency press conference earlier, saying they will definitely recruit Park Si-hoo.

↳ What are you talking about? He already signed with the Association. It shows his affiliation on the website.

↳ Tae-yang will probably crush it with money. They will pay the penalty too.

↳ Damn…… Is it going to turn into that mess? That place is hell every single day.

↳ Yeah. Tae-yang does seem to be getting too powerful. They say Park Si-hoo’s potential is unprecedented.

Sang-cheol’s head spun when he read the final reply.

The comment struck precisely at what the Association feared.

A Player wielding overwhelming power.

Even a B-Class Player could eliminate several military units alone. Could such Players truly be controlled under human rule of law?

They thought it would be possible with Avalon as a common enemy and the Association as a mediator, but the limits were becoming clear.

A massive Rampage that erupted in the heart of Iran was the catalyst.

The government Player Association attempted to stop it, but their control was weak, and they failed to properly unite Players and guilds.

Powerful guilds moved in a despicable manner.

They watched the Association collapse, then intervened in the battlefield belatedly. Afterward, they posed as saviors and gradually gained public support.

As a result, the Association and government, unable to counter the Rampage, lost much of their authority, and guilds took their place.

It was truly the worst outcome.

It was an incident that exposed the dark side of Players and made it clear that human law alone could not control them.

Iran became a cautionary tale for Baek Sang-cheol—no, for Associations worldwide.

They could not rely on governments. The Association had to independently embrace powerful Players. That was the only way to strengthen its power and increase control.

‘Park Si-hoo is an opportunity.’

The only opportunity given to them.

Sang-cheol steeled his resolve as he gazed out the window. No matter what happened, he could not let him go.

As the saying went, he was undoubtedly a Player with tremendous potential.

***

“My lord! Did you commit fraud or something? How did you obtain such excellent equipment?”

Yesterday’s expectations were utterly crushed.

I went through all the trouble of bringing good stuff, and all I got was nagging.

“Hey. Park Chun-sik. I brought all this great equipment. Could you at least praise me?”

“No, but this makes no sense. You were a penniless beggar, so how did you obtain these…… My lord, did you buy them on credit?”

“I told you they gave them to me for free. And what do you mean calling your lord a beggar? Should I just return everything?”

“……That was a slip of the tongue. I could not believe it, my lord.”

“Anyway, I really got them all for free.”

I grabbed his shoulders and shook him. Snap out of it.

Only then did Chun-sik begin examining each piece of equipment closely.

“It seems the Association has steeled its resolve. Supporting you with equipment means they do not want you going elsewhere.”

“I think so too.”

New info dropped!! It is Park Si-hoo. He always appears in the lobby at 4 p.m.

↳ Oh, so that is why Scouters were camping there at that time.

↳ Is he the guy who set the shortest records on the 11th and 12th floors today?

↳ Yeah. I heard Tae-yang even held an emergency press conference earlier, saying they will definitely recruit Park Si-hoo.

↳ What are you talking about? He already signed with the Association. It shows his affiliation on the website.

↳ Tae-yang will probably crush it with money. They will pay the penalty too.

This was part of the comments on the most viewed post in the Player Gallery.

Seeing this, I understood why they were showering me with equipment.

“So they are really trying to stop me from going elsewhere. Are they trying to keep Tae-yang or whoever else in check?”

“My lord, from the looks of it, you should not enter Avalon today. The moment you enter the lobby, countless Players will recognize you and rush over.”

At that, my lips stretched into a grin. As expected, Chun-sik was smart and had good situational awareness.

That was exactly why I expected him to say this. But I had my own plan as well.

“Hehe. I prepared for that!”

I pulled out a pure white mask from the subspace. It was an item dropped by the 35th-floor boss. Apparently, it was not very useful and did not sell well.

But it was very useful to me.

“With this, I can change my appearance!”

“……What good will that do? If they detect your magic, you will be exposed immediately.”

“The employee said it would be fine as long as I do not actively emit magic.”

“Oh.”

Chun-sik looked at the mask with interest. But only briefly. His expression soon stiffened.

“This mask……”

“What? Do you know it too?”

“Yes. I do. I did not expect to see it here again…….”

Chun-sik’s eyes grew distant, as if recalling the past.

He stared at the mask silently, then changed his expression.

“So whose appearance will you change into?”

“Yours.”

“……Whom do you mean by ‘yours’?”

“You. You. You, right there!”

“My face?”

“Yes. We do not go around together unless we are inside a floor anyway. Would it not be fine to walk around with your face?”

Chun-sik was extremely, extraordinarily handsome. To be honest, I had wanted to walk around with a face like that at least once.

“Well, I suppose it does not matter.”

Surprisingly, Chun-sik readily agreed. Even if he had refused, I would have done it anyway.

“At least you will not have to worry about being unable to move around due to fame.”

“Exactly.”

“Are you planning to go to the 15th floor today as scheduled? I am always ready to move for you.”

As he spoke, his eyes sharpened. At times like this, he was reassuring.

When I nodded, his expression finally relaxed.

“Very well.”

The 15th floor carried significant meaning.

Clearing it was the point at which one was finally acknowledged as a Player rather than a novice. If I even set the shortest record on the 15th floor, the contract I signed might be renewed.

With greatly improved terms.

“I will help too.”

“Our goal is to achieve the shortest record on every floor.”

Ah. He was starting again. Even so, the corners of my mouth lifted. The more his competitive spirit burned, the greater my rewards.

“I want to climb floors quickly and get strong fast too.”

It seemed I had caught a bit of his competitive fire as well. But Chun-sik’s expression remained firm.

“My lord. I trained for decades to become a Sword Master. From my perspective, you are growing at an astonishing speed. To an unbelievable degree. There is no need to rush.”

“……Okay.”

I nodded readily, but my thoughts differed.

The world was changing rapidly. Avalon was dangerous, and the frequency of Rampages increased significantly every year.

Some claimed that Avalon was encroaching upon Earth, using Rampages as a means.

What began as a conspiracy theory was now being accepted as fact.

“Then teach me a lot from now on. I will do my best to learn.”

“I will serve you with my life.”

We looked at each other and smiled. It had been a while since I felt camaraderie like this.

Suddenly, I recalled what happened at the Equipment Store.

Clink.

I placed the sword beside me into his hands.

“What is this?”

“A gift.”

“A gift…….”

His eyes wavered greatly as he traced the sword.

“A famous blade. It seems to have special functions as well.”

“I brought something better than the one you wanted. How is it?”

Chun-sik removed the sword he had been carrying and replaced it with the one I gave him. He tried hard to maintain a blank expression, but he could not hide the corners of his mouth lifting again and again.

“Let us depart.”

“Okay.”