Climbing the Mythic Tower as a Cheating Administrator - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Climbing the Mythic Tower as a Cheating Administrator (51)
You set a fire? The alarm went off?
At a hotel owned by Geumseong Guild!?
“Damn it. For someone stupid enough to do this, he’s still got some nerve—.”
He could pin it on someone else.
He could keep Lee Eun-woo from facing criminal charges, and even if he couldn’t find another suspect, he’d walk away with suspended sentences or less.
From a legal standpoint.
Lee Eun-woo’s insanity was probably calculated to that extent too.
“—Didn’t you know Geumseong never just lets things slide!?”
But that was speaking in terms of law.
In terms of public authority.
The private cost he’d have to bear?
“He’s still young—. No, even if he were, there’s no way he wouldn’t have thought it through.”
An abnormal situation.
An incomprehensible, absurd incident.
Watching Kim Moo-saeng mutter away in distress, Wash spoke.
[……You keep muttering like that, yet you don’t miss a thing, do you, Kim Moo-saeng.]
Whatever his mouth kept babbling.
The moment the alarm went off, he moved to grab his duffel bag, water, other necessities, even a soaked towel to drape around his neck, and on top of that snatched up the fire extinguisher from the room—the sheer efficiency of it?
It was impressive enough that even Wash had to admire how Kim Moo-saeng’s mind and body seemed to operate independently.
“What? Of course. That’s what I said. You can only handle it like this if everything’s always in its proper place, arranged just right.”
Of course, Kim Moo-saeng answered matter-of-factly.
He was a worn and weathered Ace Dungeon Sherpa, after all.
His body reacting first was only natural, and this degree of incident wasn’t the sort of thing to rattle him.
Thud—Kim Moo-saeng kicked open the room door and rushed out.
The alarm wailing loudly, guests scurrying in panic.
Toxic gas already beginning to creep through the corridors…….
‘This isn’t a small fire. At this scale, it’s not something done in a moment of rage. He must have prepared accelerants in advance.’
Considering that Kim Moo-saeng was staying on a fairly high floor, the size of the flames spoke volumes.
Kim Moo-saeng ran quickly but carefully toward the emergency stairs.
[Kyaa-kyaa-kyak! Can I finally see that beast rampage, Kim Moo-saeng?]
“No, that won’t happen. No matter how much Chairman Geum Byeong-chul is—he won’t ignore the Nevada Treaty. No need to go that far—wait!?”
Whoooooosh—crack!
A room door burst open and flames poured out.
Flashover? Backdraft?
Step, step, step…….
But what followed was the sound of footsteps.
Kim Moo-saeng, in the midst of pulling the safety pin from the fire extinguisher, had to pause.
And in that moment, several things became clear.
Chairman Geum Byeong-chul would not violate the Nevada Treaty.
But there existed a man who could ignore the Nevada Treaty.
“Oh? Moo-saeng Bro?”
Steve King.
With the question of why he was here came another certainty for Kim Moo-saeng.
During an emergency conference directly overseen by Geum Byeong-chul.
Considering that quite a few VIPs would be staying at this hotel.
“……I see. It won’t be just disadvantage then.”
Lee Eun-woo might die.
The Korea One-Way Group might be disbanded.
Or perhaps both would come to pass.
Of course, what mattered now wasn’t Lee Eun-woo’s life or the fate of the Korea One-Way Group.
“Last time was so much fun……. How about somewhere that isn’t a dungeon, Key?”
Whoosh—Steve King swept his hand through the air.
The flames flickered as if dancing to his command.
* * *
It was Eight Seconds’ style, you might say—opening like that.
‘Wash is convinced he can’t use his abilities outside a dungeon. He’s asking like he’s curious, but…….’
They’d crossed paths just once before.
For Steve King, it was certainly an unforgettable encounter, but even so, they hadn’t exactly had a long conversation.
Yet had he already grasped it.
Wash pressed the Black-Rimmed Glasses firmly onto his beak.
[A savage beast……. Perhaps beasts truly need to be whipped into submission?]
There was a trace of anger in his voice.
Steve seemed delighted by the reaction and swung his arm again.
“HAHAHA! You think you can do that? Right now? To me?”
Whoooosh——————!
Flames erupted once more from the room he’d been standing in.
The fire spread to envelop Steve King and consume the entire Corridor.
A clicking sound came from Wash’s beak, and that was all.
One could not use Awakening Abilities outside a Tower or Dungeon.
Wash sensed it too — the situation had become one where any argument he made would be futile.
“No matter how much of a Wind Bloom you are, violating the Nevada Treaty isn’t something you can simply brush past, is it?”
Kim Moo-saeng stepped forward quickly.
The flames a moment ago were clearly a use of an Awakening Ability.
A violation of the Nevada Treaty.
Steve King answered with a smile.
“No Problem. I have a special privilege granted to me by the chairman of the Association.”
A right to be exempt from the Nevada Treaty?
Because he was counted as the strongest among Eight Seconds?
Kim Moo-saeng pulled the safety pin from a Fire Extinguisher and sprayed powder toward the spreading flames.
Shhhhhhhhh…….
“That can’t be. If such a thing existed, it’d be chaos. Even if it did exist, if it became public knowledge, do you think it could cover for you? The chairman would have to step down immediately.”
No, that was impossible.
To begin with, it was an international agreement for order and safety.
There could be no privilege for a single individual.
“I’m telling you it’s real. I can even prove it—”
“Even if such a thing existed……. It would only apply when there’s an imminent threat of Nevada Treaty violation, as a preventive measure. Not for ‘committing arson on a Geumseong Guild building’ like this.”
Even if Steve King had been granted a privilege, it would be under the pretense of preventing emergency situations.
Unlimited and unconditional it could not be.
Steve King did not answer directly.
“Hmm……. The flames are already spreading, aren’t they? How are you going to prove I did it?”
The fire was rising again in the exact spot where Kim Moo-saeng had extinguished it.
If anything, with even greater intensity than before.
Kim Moo-saeng glanced at the flames and spoke.
“I saw it.”
“Moo-saeng Bro? No! Do you think you’re going to walk out of this alive?”
The corners of Steve King’s mouth pulled upward in a grin.
A Dagger was already gripped in Kim Moo-saeng’s hand.
“And you—can you handle it? Whether I die or I don’t.”
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh…….
And four Silver-Grey Guardians were already circling in the air around him.
Mage Maia’s Magitech—Kim Moo-saeng too was now using a skill.
Because Kim Moo-saeng’s resolve had been conveyed, the laughter vanished from Steve King’s face.
Kill Kim Moo-saeng?
It wouldn’t be easy. Even without Wash.
If Kim Moo-saeng survived?
He would have to fight Geum Byeong-chul.
The World Awakeners Association might become his enemy.
And before that…….
[Gyahahaha! How about it, you crude beast! This is what happens when that damned Kim Moo-saeng starts a conversation!]
Wash.
He was asking whether Kim Moo-saeng was willing to turn Key—whom he called the Tower’s administrator—into his eternal enemy.
“…….”
Steve’s brow twitched slightly.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to say something.
“Cooperate, Steve King. I know who the real culprit is. If you stop now, I’ll let it go.”
Kim Moo-saeng spoke first.
Then he smiled coldly.
“Besides, at Chairman Geum Byeong-chul’s level of wealth, this much damage wouldn’t be too painful to absorb.”
“……HAHAHAHA!”
Steve King let out a hearty laugh at that final remark.
By that point, the corridor had already been purged of both flame and smoke.
The Awakening Ability: Red Whip.
An overwhelmingly versatile power over fire and heat.
“Okay. I’ll grant you that, Moo-saeng.”
Steve King nodded his head.
Moo-saeng collected all four of his scarab constructs and slid his dagger back into its sheath.
“Look, we can both be a little sore about this, but let’s not dwell on it, yeah? You called me ‘brother,’ didn’t you? Brothers can clash. Oh, and while you’re putting out fires, mind if you quietly snuff out the ones in the rest of the building? I’ve taken a real liking to this hotel.”
He said this with utter ease.
The same man who, moments before, had been dead serious—literally risking his life—was now saying such a thing?
With such brazen audacity?
“What? Hahahaha!”
The man officially recognized as the highest climber in the world laughed with satisfaction.
* * *
“Uh, what’s going on? Did you—did you see Kim Moo-saeng? Where is he?”
Lee Eun-woo stammered as he spoke.
Jang Ha-guk shook his head.
“It seems he hasn’t come out yet. These people haven’t spotted him either.”
The Southeast Asian Awakeners around them were in the same boat.
They’d already committed Moo-saeng’s face to memory.
Even with binoculars, night-vision goggles, and every piece of equipment trained on the entrance, they couldn’t see him.
“Then what do we—what are we supposed to do! Why did the fire go out! The fire trucks haven’t even arrived yet!”
“Sir, that’s not something I can—”
“Manager Jang!”
Lee Eun-woo’s voice exploded.
And finally, Jang Ha-guk pushed back.
“—Executive Director, please keep your voice down.”
From Jang Ha-guk’s perspective, this was a migraine.
Or rather, that was precisely why he was trying to quickly cut his losses.
Korea One-Way Group? That wasn’t the problem.
‘I have to survive. That Chairman Lee Jeong-gi will be too busy with Geumseong Guild anyway—’
He needed to run.
And for that, perhaps it would be better to—offer Lee Eun-woo up.
A calculated decision: sacrifice the drugged Lee Eun-woo and slip away.
It was just as Jang Ha-guk was entertaining this thought.
“Target! Target!”
One of the Awakeners from the Philippines shouted.
Moo-saeng had bolted through the entrance and was now sprinting toward somewhere.
Lee Eun-woo sprang to his feet.
“Chase—chase him! Grab that bastard! You have to grab him!”
The direction was underground—the Underground Parking Lot?
It didn’t matter.
Lee Eun-woo had already started running blindly.
The rest of the Awakeners did the same.
‘Damn, damn, damn!’
And Jang Ha-guk, who’d missed his window to escape, found himself swept along as well.
Of all moments, why now—why did Kim Moo-saeng have to make his break?
Should he turn back now? What could he do?
Jang Ha-guk’s mind raced.
And before he knew it, he was rushing through the entrance to the Underground Parking Lot beneath the Geumseong Guild’s hotel.
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap—for some time now, nothing but the urgent percussion of multiple footsteps had echoed through the evacuated Underground Parking Lot.
Layer after layer downward went the Korea One-Way Group’s people.
“Kim Moo-saeng!”
Lee Eun-woo bellowed.
It wasn’t until they’d descended all the way to Basement Level 4 that Moo-saeng finally responded to Lee Eun-woo’s call.
Whether from the fire or the damaged lighting system, the space was pitch dark.
Only a handful of green LED indicators marking available parking spaces cast any light.
Moo-saeng himself was half-shrouded in shadow.
“You son of a bitch, there you are. You bastard, huh? You—?”
But it was a face Lee Eun-woo could see clearly enough.
The trembling of his jaw wasn’t merely a sign of intoxication.
Excitement, a whirlpool of emotions beyond control.
With bloodshot eyes, Lee Eun-woo glared at Kim Moo-saeng.
“You’re dead, you’re fucking dead. I’ll kill you. They’re all 50-Floor Tier Awakeners here, you bastard, you—you—now—. If these guys cripple you, I’ll kill you myself.”
He jerked his chin toward them.
Members of the Korea One-Way Group’s Southeast Asia division emerged smoothly from the shadows.
There were seven of them. All of them 50-Floor Tier.
It was evident they possessed a level of fighting power that bore no comparison whatsoever to Park Do-hyun and his ilk.
“So what?”
They were nothing but ‘awakeners of this caliber.’
A figure—one head taller—stepped forward from behind Kim Moo-saeng.
“F***, not even worth using as toys.”
Steve King’s expression darkened.

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