Episode 161:
United States Players Association.
Seven men and women were gathered in the conference room.
There were five people who received SS-level licenses, as well as association president Michael Gore and Kevin Lee.
“I can’t see you.”
Montel Jackson asked, pointing to an empty seat.
Gregor Gillespie Jordan Knight Jason Rinaldi Nick Lentz.
It’s been hard to see their faces lately.
“He left for the depths of the Abyss. We can’t neglect exploring there either. “I didn’t do that on purpose, so I hope no unnecessary factions arise.”
“Do you think we look like kids to the president of the association?”
Ricky Harlis, who has fully recovered, said with a laugh.
“Cracks start from small things.”
Association President Kevin Lee’s point of caution was clear.
Of the ten existing national power level players, only five became SS level players.
Low grade S. S-grade middle to low level. S grade intermediate. S grade upper intermediate level. S-class upper level.
And the highest level of S rank.
Originally, the term national power level meant someone who had reached the pinnacle of S level.
It was an honorable title for the highest level S class.
However, its meaning faded with the introduction of the SS level license.
‘The highest standard cannot always be the same.’
The world is constantly changing, and so is the player’s world.
Soon, ranks will naturally be created in the SS grade, and those who reach the highest level will win the new title of national power grade.
Those closest to the new national power level were the five people in front of Kevin Lee.
‘As our United States collapses, the world order collapses.’
In order to prevent that, it was necessary to successfully complete this matter.
“How are the preparations for the attack party?”
Association President Kevin Lee asked Dominic Garbrandt.
He was the strategy leader of this joint team in which Uriah Simone Montel Jackson participated.
“Currently, about 50% have been collected. “The German side’s convocation is later than expected.”
“It must be some kind of protest. “I gave Berlin second priority.”
Association President Kevin Lee clicked his tongue and checked the documents.
There was a list of players entering this unexplored Paris dungeon.
6 SS grade players.
20 S-rank players.
100 A-grade players.
150 B-grade players.
300 porters.
It was a more luxurious composition than any other attack force in history.
‘I don’t think there will be any major difficulties in the attack.’
The case was different from Irkutsk, Russia.
This is because the measurement grade for the Paris unexplored dungeon was much lower.
Likewise, Berlin and Milan also did not have high measurement ratings for unexplored dungeons.
Rather, Barcelona is similar to Irkutsk.
That was why the coalition placed the Barcelona dungeon at the lowest priority.
‘We need to coordinate our hands and feet a little more and reorganize our battle lines.’
Now, the trend of great powers joining hands is an unstoppable trend.
Russia was a good example.
If we maintain our current conservative attitude, China and Japan, of course, will suffer.
They realized that they could also be overtaken by the new Korea.
That sense of crisis brought the great powers together.
In addition, the US, UK, France and Germany are all countries that have unexplored dungeons.
There were no better conditions for creating a new game.
“I will contact the German association president separately.”
“All right. Then, we will proceed with the schedule as planned.”
The UK had no complaints about being pushed to the bottom of the list due to low horsepower levels as a result of re-measurement.
However, in the case of Germany, there was strong dissatisfaction with being pushed to the bottom of the list even though the numbers were not much different from France.
Because I know that all of this is a political relationship.
“Michael. “Please help Dominic.”
“All right.”
“Now that I think about it, what will New Korea do?”
Montel Jackson, who was also examining the documents, asked that question.
A country that declared that it would follow the United States in conquering SS-level dungeons.
Even though it was an ally, it was considered a 3rd place place in Asia.
None of these people here ignored New Korea.
This is because I personally experienced Taehyun’s power at the award ceremony.
“According to the information, it seems like they are mainly selecting players from their own country.”
“…?”
“mark?”
“There wouldn’t be more than ten S-class advanced players there.”
Association President Kevin Lee nodded in approval.
Dominic Garbrandt Juraiya Simone Montel Jackson.
The three people looked at each other in bewilderment.
This is a strategy to conquer a dungeon that was rated SS.
Although it is led by Kim Tae-hyun, an SS-rank player, no one knows how the inside of the dungeon is structured.
Having stable power was essential.
‘I don’t know what you’re thinking.’
Although he didn’t reveal it, Association President Kevin Lee also thought he couldn’t understand it.
Taehyun Kim.
I expected that the ambitious young man would challenge the United States.
However, no matter how powerful he may be, he is still an individual.
There are limits to what you can do alone.
‘If he had been born in the United States of America, he would have become the next Cody Cruz…’
In many ways, he was a person who would be a shame to have in the country called New Korea.
Association President Kevin Lee’s eyes turned to Cody Cruz.
After the ceremony, Michael Gore spoke separately with Ricky Harlis.
Now he recognized Taehyun as a player on the same level as Cody Cruz.
‘Is Ilsin’s power sufficient? ‘The strategic part is disappointing.’
I know that he dealt with SS-rank monsters Kentamion and Venom.
Therefore, I thought that Japan and China would be drawn in in this strategy.
Because the justification is sufficient.
If S-rank players from Japan and China join, it will be a huge boost.
If that were the case, it might have been quite an interesting situation with a confrontation between the West and Asia.
However, Shin Korea’s current behavior was far beyond his expectations.
“Hmm… You’re putting low-skilled players from your own country as the main players…”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
Juraiya Simon and Dominic Garbrandt shook their heads.
“Cody. “What do you think?”
Kevin Lee asked Cody Cruz, who was silent.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on him.
“Kim Tae-hyun must have something on his mind.”
“Hmm…”
“Of course, military power is great, but you think too highly of other things.”
Dominic Garbrandt refuted Cody Cruz’s opinion.
“You think not?”
“If that were the case, we wouldn’t have thought of forming a strategy team with only players from our country. Even if there was another purpose.”
“Maybe so.”
Cody Cruz stepped down easily.
It was always like this.
He did not express his thoughts strongly to others.
They simply put their country’s interests first.
“Anyway, let’s end the meeting here. Cody and Ricky, please stay for a moment.”
After a while.
The two people who had individual missions left the association president’s office side by side.
“Cody. “You must be very disappointed that you can’t participate in this attack.”
“I don’t move for fun like you do.”
Ricky Harlis chuckled at his characteristic blunt answer.
“Anyway, he’s a boring guy.”
Just as she was about to pass by, Cody Cruz spoke again.
“Ricky. “Let me ask you one thing.”
“hmm?”
“that day. “What happened on Jeju Island?”
“Ah… that?”
Ricky Harlis recalled the memories of that day.
Overwhelming power and overwhelming defeat.
Without realizing it, my mouth was trembling.
“Well… I hope the woman’s privacy is protected.”
“….”
I said it jokingly, but it was a refusal.
Cody Cruz quickly accepted it without any pushback.
“okay. Don’t ask any more questions. But know one thing.”
“hmm?”
“Nothing can take priority over the country. “We are no exception.”
She laughed at Cody Cruz’s warning.
“I can’t believe I heard those words from you. “You don’t empathize, do you?”
“What does it mean?”
The two people’s eyes met.
Ricky Harlis calmly accepted the beast-like gaze.
“You’re hiding it too, right? “I signed a contract with the Archduke of the Abyss.”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re worse at lying than you look. “I’m Ricky Harlis.”
As she said that, magic bloomed in her fingers.
Pazzzzz.
The green magic swirling around Cody Cruz’s body quickly turned gray.
Cody Cruz, who was maintaining a poker face, twitched slightly.
Ricky Harlis laughed at that sight.
“You are definitely the strongest in the world. “Is it still too early to fool me with magic?”
“…Since when did you know?”
“Maybe about a year ago?”
Cody Cruz shook his head as if he had been punched.
“I saw you too easily.”
Definitely about a year ago.
He made a contract with a being he met at the deepest level of the Abyss.
Archduke Lucifer.
This was a fact that even Kevin Lee did not know, as he never revealed the power he gained through the contract.
“So he was also a contractor? No, the question is wrong. What archduke did he contract with?”
“You’re asking too much from your bare mouth.”
“What do you want?”
“Hmm. “It’s quite a sight to see the world’s strongest man hanging, isn’t it?”
“If it’s a joke. “It’s an envoy.”
“Well, just wait a little longer. “I’m still at the stage of finding out.”
With a strange answer, she took a step forward.
“….”
I watched Cody Cruz, who was left alone, walking away.
I remembered what happened at the Colosseum.
A magical power that is not awkward to be called SS grade that weighs down the entire body.
However, he also knew that his skills were not at that level.
‘Kim Tae-hyun. ‘What kind of monster have you joined hands with?’
Putting aside unanswered questions.
Cody Cruz took a step forward.
* * *
A few days later.
A raiding party from four countries entered the unexplored dungeon in Paris.
Instead of waiting impatiently for the break, a human preemptive attack has begun.
As it was a level of difficulty that had never been conquered before, a huge number of people entered the dungeon.
An SS-rank player who will face the dungeon boss.
The main players of the attack team, Dominic Garbrandt, Juraiya, Simone Montel, Jackson, Alex Watson, Daniel Grint, and Thomas Neuer, emerged as an issue every day.
And again a few days later.
A raiding party consisting only of New Korea players arrived in Milan.
* * *
“There are more reporters than I thought.”
Taehyun said while looking at the reporters from each country forming a crowd of people.
If it weren’t for the control of the Italian police and players, it would have followed them all the way to the dungeon.
“There has been no contact from the joint attack team yet, so attention is bound to be focused on us. “Anyway, is it really okay with this many people?”
Kwak Si-yang said that and looked back.
There were 100 players and 100 porters.
“No problem.”
“Uhm….”
“Oh, let’s stop procrastinating and go in quickly.”
At Kwon Kang-hyuk’s urging, the remaining four people headed to the dungeon entrance.
There was a player guarding the entrance gate.
“Strike leader. Kim Tae-hyun, New Korea’s player. “Is this you?”
“you’re right.”
The man followed the formalities and double-checked the certificate Taehyun handed him.
It was an entry right certified by the World Players Association.
“One SS rank. 4 S-rank people. 50 Grade A students. 50 people in B grade. 100 porters. Is that correct?”
“you’re right.”
“Confirmation completed. “The gate will be opened.”
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
With an ominous sound, the man disarmed the device.
at the same time.
Quaaaaaaaaa.
Morale leaked out of the dungeon.
“Let’s go.”
Taehyun took a light step.
click. Click. Click. Click.
The reporters did not miss the sight as if they were going for a walk.
