100 Floors All Master - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master of 100 Floors Episode 031

Two Guilds (2)

“…What do you mean by that?”

Kim Tae-yeon’s voice trembled. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke calmly.

“If this were the original world, your thinking wouldn’t be wrong. Rather, it would be quite right.”

The strong protecting and saving the weak. It was literally an ideal thing. Kim Tae-yeon, who carried this out, was certainly a good person.

But the world had changed.

After the Tower appeared before them, existing common sense no longer applied.

“You’re telling people they don’t need to climb the Tower. That they can just do their own work on the ground. Let me tell you clearly. That protection has no value whatsoever.”

At his words filled with conviction, Kim Tae-yeon’s eyes wavered once again. Kang Jun-hyeok continued.

“For now, those who don’t climb the Tower might be able to live adequately. But the world will change even more. Those who climb the Tower will reach higher and gain power.”

Literally, to an unreachable degree.

To an unapproachable degree.

“The world will also change accordingly. Those who don’t climb the Tower will eventually be weeded out.”

“…But that’s something we don’t know will happen, isn’t it?”

There might be a future where that doesn’t happen. At Kim Tae-yeon’s words, Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head.

“No. That’s what will happen.”

His voice carried conviction.

It had the kind of power that only one who had seen the end could speak with. Feeling this, Kim Tae-yeon closed her mouth.

“What you’re doing is like confining a child in a cradle and not letting them outside.”

The child would eventually have to grow up, leave the cradle, and walk on their own will. Even if that process was rough and dangerous.

“Instead of protecting them by saying they don’t need to climb because it’s dangerous, you should have encouraged them to climb the Tower. At this point, you’re actually killing them.”

“…”

Kim Tae-yeon wanted to argue back.

That it wasn’t true.

That she was protecting people. That it wasn’t meaningless.

But how could she deny it?

Even she didn’t know what lay at the end. Even if she argued back, it would just go in circles.

Kim Tae-yeon closed her mouth. As she became quiet, Kang Jun-hyeok now looked at Baekdusan.

Baekdusan was laughing very pleasantly. He thought Kang Jun-hyeok would side with him after seeing him criticize Kim Tae-yeon.

Indeed, Kang Jun-hyeok’s following words seemed to defend him.

“In that sense, you’re extreme but adapting fairly well to the changed world. At least you’re making your guild members climb the Tower.”

“Exactly! That’s the path we should take! I know that! So please, with us…”

“But I have one question. What floor have you reached, Mr. Baekdusan?”

“The 27th Floor!”

Baekdusan spoke proudly. As if it were something to be proud of, as if it were a great achievement.

It actually was impressive. A 27th Floor Player was among the top tier by Korean standards.

But Kang Jun-hyeok had an ambiguous expression.

“Why are you still only on the 27th Floor?”

“…What?”

At the unexpected words, Baekdusan’s face hardened.

The 27th Floor was being called “still only”? He couldn’t understand it. But Kang Jun-hyeok was serious.

“As far as I know, you’re one of those who entered the Tower from the very beginning.”

Baekdusan was one of those who entered the Tower as soon as it appeared on the ground. In terms of time, over 10 years had already passed. And given Baekdusan’s abilities as Kang Jun-hyeok judged them, he should have reached beyond the 30th Floor.

Yet he was only on the 27th Floor.

It meant his attention had been distracted by something else.

And Kang Jun-hyeok knew what that was.

“You’re obsessed with power.”

Baekdusan’s fundamental purpose was revenge against the Tower.

But that wasn’t all. He also wanted to grasp his own power while doing so. He couldn’t let go of his desire for material wealth and authority.

“…”

Baekdusan couldn’t argue back. Because it was true. He had been so focused on running the guild that he couldn’t properly climb the Tower.

“You too, in the end, haven’t perfectly adapted to the changed world and are longing for past glory.”

Both Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon. Both were utterly disappointing to Kang Jun-hyeok. So Kang Jun-hyeok’s conclusion was simple.

“I have no intention of joining either of the two guilds.”

“…Then.”

Baekdusan opened his mouth.

“Then why did you call us here?”

His voice carried a displeased tone. He had waited here for days trying not to lose to his rival, only to receive a rejection. He couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

Kim Tae-yeon didn’t show it much, but she had a similar expression.

And Kang Jun-hyeok knew about this too. He hadn’t called them just to criticize them.

“So I’m thinking of making a deal with you.”

“…A deal?”

“A deal?”

At the unexpected words, Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon muttered. Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.

In this life, he would take everything. He had no intention of making concessions anymore.

But a deal was a different story.

“What you want most from me is information, isn’t it?”

Information needed to climb the Tower.

Information about Perfect Clear.

Information about understanding and utilizing various systems.

Information that he, the only Perfect Player, possessed. That’s what they would want.

Its value literally exceeded a fortune. The reason they tried to pull Kang Jun-hyeok into their guilds was ultimately to monopolize that information. Kang Jun-hyeok said.

“I’m thinking of trading that information.”

He would give what they needed, and they would give what he needed.

Kang Jun-hyeok intended to make a deal where their interests aligned. The two were momentarily flustered but soon nodded.

“Well then…”

“Hmm. Understood.”

Both accepted. It was disappointing that they couldn’t monopolize the information, but they couldn’t force it. It was better than the other side taking it.

Kim Tae-yeon asked.

“Then what do you want from us?”

If it was a deal, there would need to be appropriate compensation.

Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon focused their attention. They were guessing that what Kang Jun-hyeok wanted would be something significant.

But at Kang Jun-hyeok’s following words, both their expressions changed instantly.

“I need gems.”

“Gems… you say?”

“Yes. Whether ruby, sapphire, diamond, anything is fine. I need high-purity refined gems. If each of you could prepare at least ten, that should be enough.”

“Uh, uh, yes.”

Both had very flustered expressions.

They looked like they couldn’t understand why Kang Jun-hyeok would want something like gems.

But Kang Jun-hyeok knew.

That there were floors where high-purity gems were needed for clearing.

It meant there was a special Perfect Clear reward that could only be obtained from that place.

He planned to prepare for it in advance.

High-purity gems were difficult for individuals to obtain. However, the story would be different if done through influential guilds. The two who had been flustered by Kang Jun-hyeok’s words soon composed themselves.

“Hmm… It seems possible.”

“But if it’s ten of them, it might take some time.”

The world was broken, but that didn’t mean the value of treasures had disappeared. There were many cases where those who had newly gained power coveted gems for authority. Kang Jun-hyeok knew about this, so he didn’t rush them.

“As long as it’s prepared within a month, it doesn’t matter.”

“In that case…”

“Understood.”

The two accepted Kang Jun-hyeok’s proposal. At their response, Kang Jun-hyeok let out a hollow laugh.

How simple this was.

He had easily obtained precious gems through such a deal. His past life self couldn’t have done this. More precisely, it was closer to saying he couldn’t do it. He felt guilty about giving to others and receiving compensation in return.

‘I was foolish.’

But not anymore. Having organized his emotions, Kang Jun-hyeok continued speaking.

“Then I’ll share the information. Originally, I should wait until the gems are prepared, but… I don’t think the two guilds would do such a thing.”

“How could we possibly do that.”

Baekdusan hurriedly shook his head. Unless he intended to become hostile with Kang Jun-hyeok, he couldn’t break the promise.

“Then I’ll briefly inform you for now.”

Kang Jun-hyeok told them about clearing the 4th Floor.

That the 4th Floor was shaped like an ant nest, with one world above it.

And that countless ants existed above it.

The eyes of the two who heard the story widened.

“…So it can expand in that way too.”

“Then, then.”

The two continued asking Kang Jun-hyeok about their curiosities. Kang Jun-hyeok answered appropriately.

“So you dealt with all the ants?”

“I found the Queen Ant.”

“Queen Ant…! So that’s what it meant to deal with as many as possible. How did you find it?”

Kang Jun-hyeok explained the method to them. They were shocked and amazed. And soon they began to fall into thought. They were probably thinking about how they could utilize it when they went down.

Kang Jun-hyeok quietly watched their behavior.

His past life self had given everything to others.

He had handed over the fish itself to those who were starving.

Therefore, they couldn’t find a way to catch fish and just obsessed over the fish he gave them, unable to grow any further.

But now he didn’t give fish, and through fair trade, he taught them how to catch fish.

What kind of change would occur? He was curious. Having organized his thoughts, Kang Jun-hyeok reached his hand into the air.

“Have you roughly organized your thoughts? Then let’s move on to the next thing.”

“The next thing?”

“In the end, what you want most is information. But that’s not what you’re most curious about. What you really want to know is how strong I am, isn’t it?”

The first Perfect Player. The one who reached 100% from Floor 1 to Floor 4. Kang Jun-hyeok.

How strong was he?

“Let’s test it simply in actual combat.”

Kang Jun-hyeok spoke calmly. At the same time, a system window appeared.

[Kang Jun-hyeok requests a duel with Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon.]

[Duel stakes: All gold possessed by Baekdusan and Kim Tae-yeon.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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