Episode 325
Since the morning, Chinese high-ranking officials have visited the Taishan Guild Shanghai branch.
This is because there was a sudden call from Lee Jeong-jae, who was elected as the world’s youngest guild leader and the second guild leader of Taesan Guild.
The conference room was large enough to comfortably accommodate thirty people, all of whom were taking their own seats.
However, since he had been called out in the morning, his expression was not good.
Lee Jeong-jae, the person who convened the meeting and the youngest of those gathered in the conference room, appeared only last.
Lee Jeong-jae sat down and opened his mouth.
“I am sorry to have to convene so suddenly.”
Contrary to his words, there was arrogance in his voice.
That didn’t look good in the eyes of some leaders.
This is Lee Jeong-jae, who was a team leader until not long ago.
Even though he has obtained an SS level player license in China.
It is a position he would not have achieved at that age if it were not for the halo of his father, the owner of the Taesan Guild.
Moreover, my current position is because my father was imprisoned as a criminal in the new Korea.
It was a position that was arbitrarily taken away belatedly.
About half of the thirty leaders thought that Lee Jeong-jae was not worthy of telling them to go away in his current position.
That’s also why I came here today.
Some people also wanted to criticize such behavior.
Lee Jeong-jae looked at the faces of those leaders.
Suddenly, the corner of his mouth went up in a sly tone.
“It seems like you have a lot to tell me. “Let’s listen to the story first and then proceed with the meeting.”
Lee Jeong-jae’s words became the trigger.
“Lee Jeong-jae, the new guild leader. Do you know what time it is?!!”
A middle-aged man who serves as the head of the Shanghai branch of the China Players Association said.
This was because he placed particular emphasis on the word trust.
“Isn’t it six o’clock?”
“her….”
“Are you trying to tame us now?”
It was the Shanghai branch’s media reporting director who said that.
It was difficult for him to understand why the Taishan guild, which was based in Beijing, would come to Shanghai and do this in the first place.
“To tame it. “You’re talking too much.”
Lee Jeong-jae said in a blunt tone.
As the branch manager and media director stepped forward, others who saw this as an opportunity rose up.
“To begin with, a guild leader is asking us to come. “You’re out of your mind.”
“What on earth do you believe in and do this?”
“Have I forgotten what happened to my father?”
“I can’t believe you have such shamelessness even after stealing the guild leader’s position by claiming to be the successor to the group.”
“I guess he was drunk on fame when he was still young.”
Their trembling voices were completely translated through the earrings worn by Lee Jeong-jae.
Eat.
Even though words that could make him angry were being exchanged, Lee Jeong-jae remained unfazed.
It was expected anyway.
Old people are trying to shake things up with their vested interests.
“Who do you think I am?”
“I am not the guild leader of the Taesan guild.”
“You became the youngest guild leader by robbing.”
A sarcastic answer followed.
It’s true.
Lee Jeong-jae was only a team leader, but after Lee Jeong-su’s imprisonment incident, he was inaugurated as the guild leader.
Therefore, a Chinese SS-level player who was a former guild leader had to be lowered to deputy guild leader.
But there was one thing they overlooked.
The reason Lee Jeong-jae was able to become a guild leader was not because he put forward the position of successor to the Taesan Group.
“It was my strength.”
“…?”
“What did you say now?”
“It means that he defeated the previous guild leader by force and took this position.”
I was momentarily taken aback by Lee Jeong-jae’s sudden change in tone.
“Try to choose your words!!”
“I guess I didn’t learn manners from Chairman Lee Jeong-soo!!”
“You are the ones who have to choose what to say.”
Lee Jeong-jae winked at his subordinates.
OK.
Crash. Crash.
They locked the door to the double conference room.
“What are you doing?!”
“How dare you threaten us with force?!”
“What a crazy thing!!”
As if it doesn’t matter that they growl.
Quaaaaa.
Purple magic bloomed from Lee Jeong-jae’s body.
Just opening up his magical power made the air thicker.
“From now on, listen to me clearly.”
Lee Jeong-jae looked around with his bloodshot eyes.
“first. I am not just a guild leader, but the legitimate successor to the Great Taishan Group. Since his father is away, it is natural for me to take command of the group.”
Such unreasonableness.
Someone tried to say something like that, but their vicious gaze immediately silenced them.
“second. From now on, the Taishan Guild Shanghai branch will be used as an organization that processes information from around the world. “I would be grateful if you would cooperate voluntarily.”
By then, the faces of the leaders were turning purple from the magical power emanating from Lee Jeong-jae.
He was whining here and there and grabbing my neck.
“third. “All of this has already been permitted by the President.”
“Kek…Kek….”
“Magic power….”
“Please…please save me….”
“They’re going to kill us….”
“please….”
“I did it wrong… ok…”
Lee Jeong-jae slowly scanned the faces of those suffering from his magic.
He had an extremely satisfied expression.
“I think I understood well.”
Only then was the evil magical power withdrawn.
Leaders fell face down on their desks or slipped off their chairs.
“Okay then. Let’s start the real meeting. “I have to go back to Beijing.”
In Lee Jeong-jae’s words.
No one in the conference room was allowed to open their mouth.
* * *
Phew.
Lee Jeong-jae, who was left alone in the conference room, exhaled smoke from his cigarette.
He started smoking when he came to China and was working as a player.
“Things like trash.”
Lee Jeong-jae muttered like that.
He was heading towards the leaders who had filled the conference room just moments ago.
His eyes were full of contempt.
If it were a new Korea, it would not have ended with threats.
But even though he was naturalized, this is a foreign country.
In order to run a business, you needed a tin and a string from the players’ association president.
It’s like you’re already on the same boat as them, but you don’t know what kind of bond they might have as well.
‘I need time.’
He made Taesan Group, without Lee Jeong-soo, completely his own.
Time to fully digest the newly received power.
Fortunately, Lee Jeong-jae’s resourcefulness was not bad.
Although he didn’t receive attention until after being hit by Taehyun in New Korea.
Wasn’t he also raised as a successor to a group?
“I like China because it’s comfortable.”
How wide the land is.
How many people there are.
Even if a few people went missing, it wasn’t a big problem.
Even if they were brothers in the succession structure of the Taesan Group.
The skyscrapers of Shanghai visible outside the window caught my eye.
The reason he came all the way to Shanghai, leaving his headquarters building in Beijing, was simple.
Independence from China and the Party.
He realized that in order to avoid following the same path as his father, Lee Jeong-su, who was an entrepreneur rather than a warrior, he had to prioritize strength above all else.
Fortunately, Lee Jeong-jae had potential that could not be compared to Lee Jeong-su.
Chi profit. Chii Iik.
With just a moment of excitement, the chair he was leaning against melted.
“It is truly an incredibly poisonous magic power.”
Lee Jeong-jae commented on his newly acquired power.
I can’t control it properly yet, so I can’t believe I have this kind of power just from the magic power that leaks out.
He envisioned the future.
As the success rate of requests for the rapidly growing Taesan guild increases.
His reputation will increase.
He will purge more enemies and his notoriety will increase.
but.
“It’s hard not to have that level of notoriety.”
He has already experimented with demonization.
He has already colluded with Mine.
He has crossed an irreversible river to become a just player.
The only way forward for Lee Jeong-jae now was through paedo.
An overwhelming path that moves forward while clearing away all obstacles.
“With this power, I can do it.”
Chi profit. Chii Iik.
In his excited body, his magic began to melt the chair and nearby furniture one by one.
His head hurt.
In these cases, he sometimes lost consciousness.
‘Damn it.’
Lee Jeong-jae took out a syringe from his pocket.
It was diluted monster blood used in demonization experiments.
Phew.
The syringe was inserted directly into the protruding blood vessel.
The process I am currently experiencing is a kind of side effect.
A shadowy specialist hired in utmost secrecy said.
It is said to be a side effect of accepting Kassim Jort’s magical power, but the person responsible for the magical power has died and there is no one to control it.
Sometimes I lost my mind.
Each time that happened, when I woke up again, it was easier to control the magic power in my body.
Gradually, the swollen blood vessels subsided.
Phew.
Lee Jeong-jae took a deep breath and looked at the status window.
The corners of his mouth naturally went up.
The awakening grade, which was S until just a few months ago, had been changed to SS.
Is that all?
Below are the S-rank skills ‘Heart of Flame’ and ‘Heart of the Monarch’.
The SS grade skills ‘Dystopia’, ‘Demonization’, and ‘Devil Gate’ were added.
Two S-rank skills and three SS-rank skills.
Who in the world has this kind of power?
Shadow, Black Hole, and Kasim Zort are considered the worst demons.
Cody Cruz, who was considered the best player in the world, also had Kim Tae…
Startle.
Suddenly, Lee Jeong-jae’s body began to tremble slightly.
Taehyun Kim.
Because that damn guy’s face came to mind.
at the same time.
‘Did he also have this kind of power?’
It occurred to me late that this guy has multiple skills.
Lee Jeong-jae’s eyes turned to the status window again.
Among his own skills, ‘Heart of the Monarch’ cannot be used after being attacked by Kim Tae-hyun.
Likewise, the ‘Devil Gate’, which clearly belonged to Kasim Jort, also indicated that it could not be used.
Lee Jeong-jae’s eyes sparkled.
“You bastard….”
Things I had always thought were accidents were put together like a puzzle in my head.
In my heart, I want to go find him right now, bury him, and trample on him.
However, Kim Tae-hyun was no longer someone who could be easily met.
My body trembles with resentment.
On the other hand, a wry smile appeared on his lips.
Not long ago, he was mired in self-destruction and inferiority complex.
Not now.
Capital called Taesan Group.
A connection called the China Players Association.
Shady and sunny organizations called Taishan Guild and Harsultan.
Moreover, it has the power of omnipotent potential.
He lacks nothing.
“Enjoy yourselves to the fullest, Taehyun Kim.”
It will be pulled down from the top soon.
Just thinking about it, Jeongjae Lee pictured a happy future and inserted another needle.
* * *
“Japan is also amazing. “It’s hard to believe that such damage would pave the way for something like this to happen.”
“why?”
“Look at this.”
Jeong Han-soo handed over the report.
Yoo Ah-young quickly skimmed through the report.
She said that the saint had been issued an SS-level player license, and that the government was investing a huge amount of capital to add one more player by next year.
“It’s pathetic. “These are the guys who were playing against each other not long ago.”
It wasn’t wrong.
It was difficult for Japan today to keep China in check.
It is said that China has also suffered a significant blow to its image.
This is because the infrastructure for growth is on a different level.
“Still, it is also difficult that there is no breakwater in Japan. Well, the Chinese side seems to think of us as a breakwater.”
Jeong Han-soo mentioned P20, which the association is promoting.
In relation to this, the Chinese side proposed signing a large contract with Night Walker on the condition of severing relations with Japan.
Recently, protests declaring independence have been taking place every day in Hong Kong.
In the current situation, if even the United States and Japan put pressure on China, it will not be easy for China, whose status has fallen, to respond.
Therefore, they are planning to recruit the information guild Night Walker, who is exercising influence in New Korea, and present it as a breakwater.
“What do you think, Deputy Guild Leader? “What is the situation where we can benefit the most?”
“Are we talking about Night Walker or New Korea?”
“Hmm~ You know my answer, right?”
Jeong Han-su sighed at the guild leader’s innocent answer.
“In the short term, it will be to join hands with China, but in the long term, it will be a push and pull.”
“Then do it.”
“All right.”
“Anyway, Taehyun said he arrived in New Korea. Why isn’t he coming?”
We have already received information that Taehyun met Kim Jong-ho, Ji Jin-hee, and Ko Tae-wook.
He was sorry that he wasn’t first, but he was thinking that he would definitely be next.
“You look happy.”
Yoo Ah-young laughed meaningfully.
“Are you that good of a player, Kim Tae-hyun?”
“It’s not that I like it. “This is what the world wants.”
What nonsense.
‘It definitely got weird.’
It was Jeong Han-soo who doubted his superior’s mental health.
Below his nameplate, he is given the title of S-rank player and is even engraved with the title of skill fusion expert.
It seemed like Ji Jin-hee made an effort to utilize Bang Chae-soo more actively.
The only thing that changed was the entrance.
The number of laboratories that had previously only been used increased to five.
It was not difficult to guess that the internal laboratory had expanded to at least five times its size compared to before.
In fact, a quarter of one floor was given over to Bang Chae-su’s laboratory.
It was a part that showed how much Ji Jin-hee regarded Bang Chae-soo’s abilities.
No, Kim Jong-ho, who is praised as a master in the industry, is close to me.
‘Maybe it’s strange not to acknowledge that skill.’
The reason Taehyun came here was because he thought he was the best skill fusion expert in New Korea.
‘You should have reached the level of skill you had in your previous life by now.’
Will Bang Chae-soo, whose skill and magical proficiency have increased, be able to solve his problems?
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited.
Knock. Knock.
Taehyun knocked lightly.
As if he had been waiting, the door opened and Bang Chae-soo came out with his eyes wide open.
He greeted Taehyun while holding both of his hands.
“Kim Tae-hyun player!! “I received notification in advance.”
“It’s still on the way directly from the association president’s office.”
Tae-hyeon told me that Go Tae-wook said he would contact me.
Bang Chae-soo shook his head.
“That’s not it, I’m saying that I received a call from that strict old man, Kim Jong-ho.”
Kim Jong-ho, who already knew about Tae-hyun’s problems, seemed to have told Bang Chae-soo the general situation.
“I canceled all reservations for this week for you.”
“There’s no need to go that far….”
“no. “If I want to match the skills of a player of your level, I need to take care of my stamina first.”
Bang Chae-soo’s expression looked so serious that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Then we can talk quickly.”
“Come in. “I already wanted to show you my new studio.”
Bang Chae-su, excited as a child, walked ahead and talked about the usability of space and equipment.
The lab was so long that you had to walk 10 minutes to get to the space where Taehyun’s skills could be worked.
It’s a bonus that equipment you’ve never seen before is installed here and there.
I once again realized how much effort Ji Jin-hee was putting into strengthening the association’s players.
“It’s pretty long, isn’t it?”
“Thanks to you.”
“It was all done by the elders.”
Until they arrived at the space, Bang Chae-su repeated what Kim Jong-ho had said.
“It’s hard to tell how much they’ve grown just by looking at their outward momentum.”
“Is it that much?”
“I’m embarrassed to brag in front of you, but my skills have improved considerably. “I got a lot of advice from hanging out with that old man, Kim Jong-ho.”
“The president of the association must be happy that the two great people met.”
“It would be difficult to say that there was no such reason for this lab expansion.”
While the two people were talking about that.
Before we knew it, we had arrived at the expanded laboratory where Taehyun’s skills would be worked on.
“wow.”
An exclamation came out of Taehyun’s mouth.
It’s not just that the size has expanded.
Ten small gates, five medium-sized gates, and one large gate were installed scattered around.
Is that all?
Magic amplification stones of different sizes were located here and there, combined with some kind of device.
At a glance, it was clear that the device was used differently depending on the awakened person.
Bang Chae-su explained with a faint smile.
“I heard it was specially produced equipment from Alchemist. “They say they plan to sell it to several countries in the future as custom orders.”
“Still, it may not be as efficient as the elderly.”
“Now I get scared every time you say that. “How much are you trying to make it harder for me…”
Contrary to what he said, Bang Chae-soo did not seem to dislike it.
Taehyun wasn’t joking either.
I was confident that if a craftsman named Bang Chae-su had been provided with such excellent equipment, he would be able to find a clue to ‘Devil Gate’.
“Are you managing this large area alone?”
“No way. Manager Go Tae-wook took action before you arrived.”
I thought it was really thorough.
Bang Chae-su’s explanation of the equipment continued.
There was nothing special.
It’s just that magic power is unlocked, Bang Chae-su’s skill is involved, and the number of supporting equipment has increased.
“If there’s one thing to keep in mind… everything that happens here is recorded.”
While saying that, Bang Chae-su turned on the monitor.
In the recorded video, a man and Bang Chae-su appeared.
Keying.
In the video, Bang Chae-soo’s skill was activated along with the sound.
At the same time, a weak magical power rose from the man’s body.
“This person was an unawakened saint… but soon after, he became a C-rank awakened saint.”
Taehyun’s eyes sparkled.
“If the reason you came to see me was to forcibly activate a skill, you should be able to do something with the equipment here.”
I could feel the confidence in Bang Chae-su’s eyes as he said that.
‘You’ve grown as expected.’
Taehyun knew that he had come to the right place.
“Please sit over here.”
Bang Chae-su looked at Tae-hyun and pointed to a machine connected to a magic amplification stone and a large gate.
As soon as we sat down, Bang Chae-su started another system.
Jiying-
Along with the sound of machinery, a barrier was created between each sector of the laboratory.
“What is this?”
“It’s a 10-layer barrier. “The association paid attention because we didn’t know what skills would be awakened.”
“The barrier wall is quite thick.”
“I heard it was because of you.”
It is said that the barrier that Onsaemi-ro boasts has been broken quite a bit.
So she told me that she had Taehyun in mind from the beginning when she designed it.
In fact, the ten barriers meant that Taehyun would run away.
It wasn’t a bad preparation for Taehyun either.
Bang Chae-su, who convinced us of the existence of the barrier, continued.
“I’m guessing that in your case, various skills may be affecting you, preventing the expression of other skills.”
“That means….”
“First, we will extract a significant amount of your magic power through a large gate. Then, the magic power stored in the magic amplification stone will flow into your body.”
“What should I prepare?”
“Even if the magic penetrates, don’t reject it no matter how long it takes.”
In short, it meant that the skill had to be controlled to a degree close to sealing so that it could not run wild.
After nodding her head, Taehyun consciously lowered his magic power to the lowest level.
In addition to blocking the magic power from ‘Predation’, we focused on preventing the skills from reacting to sudden magic power.
“Let’s get started.”
Keying-
As he said, the gate was activated and began to extract all of Taehyun’s magical power.
Next, Bang Chae-su’s skills, strengthened by the magic amplification stone, enveloped his body.
I could feel old magic power sweeping through every part of my body.
I didn’t push it away.
The skills were thoroughly controlled to prevent them from showing their head.
I felt sweat flowing all over my body.
How many hours have passed like that?
Tiring.
[Skill Devil Gate (SSS) has been activated. Explore the location.]
‘done!!’
Taehyun was happy for a moment.
[Skill Devil Gate (SSS) has been strengthened. Magic power consumption accelerates.]
‘what?’
[The location of Skill Devil Gate (SSS) has been determined. The gate is activated.]
It happened before Taehyun could react.
Not an installed gate.
Hahahahaha.
A huge gate was created in the air.
“Huh…!!”
Finally, we hear Bang Chae-su’s flustered whining.
The entire area was swallowed up by the rapidly expanding gate.
* * *
An intangible energy weighed down Taehyun’s whole body.
It’s not magical power or ambition.
It felt familiar.
Although it is weak.
The law of the Abyss is applied.
‘The ‘Devil Gate’ used by Kassim Zort is opened by exploring a certain location in the Abyss. ‘It was to bring in the marked monsters.’
With that thought in mind, I opened my eyes.
just as expected.
Before my eyes was not a laboratory, but the red sky Abyss.
As expected, it was somewhere in the deepest layer.
‘I’m embarrassed.’
The Devil Gate that appeared in Taehyun reverse-summoned the two to the deepest level.
It was also the first time I saw it.
“This place… somewhere on earth…”
Bang Chae-soo, who opened his eyes late, alternately saw Tae-hyeon and the deepest part, with sparks flying.
The level of monsters living in the deepest layer is also different.
The air itself also becomes thinner.
Unless he had the body of an S-rank player, it was impossible to endure for a long time.
just as expected.
Bang Chae-su was embarrassed and his face was contorted as if he was having trouble breathing.
“I can’t breathe… I can’t breathe.”
“Has something like this happened before?”
“It wasn’t there…!!”
Bang Chae-su’s face was full of resentment and pain as she said that.
“Then I don’t know what to make of the situation now.”
While saying that, Taehyun checked his magical power.
Due to the influence of being selected at the gate a little while ago, there were less than 50 left.
“Where on earth… where on earth are we…?”
Bang Chae-su looked around him and asked as if he was squeezing.
“Abyss. Among them, the area located in the deepest part.”
“What…?”
“Welcome to the deepest level.”
Bang Chae-su’s face was colored with astonishment.
Taehyun explained the situation.
‘Devil Gate’ is a skill that summons monsters from the deepest or deepest level.
It seems like something went wrong with the skill being forcibly activated.
Judging from the location, it seems to be a place marked by Kassim Zort.
Although Bang Chae-su was aggrieved as to why he was caught up in this, he accepted it calmly.
After all, he is also a craftsman.
“So… what should I do now?”
“The skill activated strangely, so I have to go back. “If I were alone, it wouldn’t be a place where I could survive while protecting the elderly.”
It was fortunate that the Law of the Abyss was only slightly activated because all the skills were forcibly sealed.
Otherwise, my whole body would have exploded to the point where I would have had to use ultra-fast playback.
In particular, the sealing of ‘Predation’ and ‘Heart of a Higher Species’ had a significant impact.
This is because those two skills are more involved in Taehyun’s transformation into a monster than any other skill.
‘I think I might know how to ignore the laws of the Abyss.’
Of course, the power used by Jormungand.
It would be great if you could use Runaway properly.
At that moment, Taehyun’s body shook.
“Why but?”
Taehyun checked the status window without answering.
“This is crazy.”
A curse came out of me.
All skills in the status window were sealed.
The same goes for ‘Apostle of the Gate’.
“Are you okay? “There must be a way to go back, right?”
Bang Chae-su, feeling something strange, asked.
The voice and face that asked that question were full of earnestness and pain.
This is because the current environment is too harsh for Bang Chae-su, who is not a trained player.
Taehyun took out a potion for use in emergencies from his belt.
Top-quality healing potion.
It wouldn’t be considered treatment, but it would be at least first aid.
“Elder, let’s just do this….”
Before Taehyun could finish speaking.
dump.
Bang Chae-soo lost consciousness and collapsed.
Taehyun hurriedly poured the potion into Bang Chae-su’s mouth.
From far away.
There was someone watching those two people.
