Climbing the Mythic Tower as a Cheating Administrator - Chapter 79
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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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The Admin Using Cheats Climbs the Mythic Tower (79)
The two Possession users who had been holding hands nearly let go.
The man looked to his left, while the woman’s lips trembled as if she were about to speak.
It meant that the shock of the Five Rings Eye was bleeding through them without filter.
“Perimeter security, now! Check all personnel on this floor and every floor below. Surveillance on unknown individuals around the building—move!”
And Robert K. was fast.
He didn’t know how the situation would unfold, but he had to act in the moment.
“[How… no, there’s no way he could pinpoint this location so precisely at this exact moment.]”
Even the Five Rings Eye, after confirming Robert K.’s orders, seemed to recover some measure of composure before muttering.
Kim Moo-saeng was much the same.
They, who had only scouted the lower floors of the tower, could see this clearly at such a precise moment?
“……Robert K.”
“Yes?”
Then there was only one possibility.
The Thousand-Li Eye must not be aware of Kim Moo-saeng himself.
Yet if this location had been pinpointed so clearly—
“Ah, I wasn’t calling you for that. I think the Thousand-Li Eye confirmed this place because… they were following your trail.”
They had come following Robert K.
Robert K.’s face flushed crimson in an instant as he raised his voice.
“What—that can’t mean—I didn’t—I never exchanged a single word with anyone from the Chinese side—”
“I’m not saying you betrayed them.”
Kim Moo-saeng calmed the agitated man.
It didn’t mean Robert K. had betrayed anyone.
“The mysterious explosion in downtown Seoul… it made the news. And then there was a police investigation.”
“And?”
“The police would’ve secured at least the basic information that Geum Soo-ah and Association personnel were involved.”
“……Ah!?”
Robert K.’s eyes went wide.
Watching realization dawn on his face, Kim Moo-saeng nodded.
“Yes. A force like ‘them’ would’ve been able to obtain that level of information. And they dug from there. To identify Association members. To mark which ones mattered most……”
Kim Moo-saeng himself had his own channels.
There was a detective he’d come to know through running OmKim Corporation with Park Hyun-gu.
Even a small-scale Dungeon Sherpa outfit like theirs had such connections without realizing it.
How could the Chinese Central Party fail to obtain information the police handled in secret!?
[Kekekeuk! Humans are truly amusing. Trying to track us with such primitive methods. As expected, poor intellect makes for exhausting work.]
The Chinese Central Party’s Thousand-Li Eye had a strategy.
There was no need to verify or monitor Kim Moo-saeng individually, or Wash, or those unknown figures.
In an incident shrouded in mystery—dismissed as a ‘mysterious explosion’—
Among the information they’d secured, the most crucial person.
“By keeping watch on Robert K., they were certain such an opportunity would inevitably arise.”
The strategy of the Chinese Central Party’s Thousand-Li Eye.
Kim Moo-saeng had read their every move perfectly.
“……My God.”
“[So that’s……]”
Not just Robert K., but even the Five Rings Eye was left speechless by the deduction.
Yet they couldn’t refute it.
Because there was no other way to explain the current situation.
“It’s always like that, isn’t it? Hunting a zombie wyvern is difficult, but follow a murder of corpse crows and you’ll inevitably find a zombie wyvern at the end.”
[Shriek!? So I’m the zombie wyvern, Kim Moo-saeng? Comparing me to such a filthy, foul-smelling, disgustingly crumpled life form!?]
Kim Moo-saeng barely managed to ignore Wash’s indignant squawking and shrugged.
Robert K., for his part, nodded blankly.
“The information on Floor 41…… Ahem, yes, I understand.”
That he didn’t bother asking how Kim Moo-saeng, scanned as a Floor 25 climber, could know about Floor 41 information showed something of his judgment.
Rather, it demonstrated just how exceptional Kim Moo-saeng was as a Dungeon Sherpa.
“[Kim Moo-saeng. I say this with confidence.]”
“Yes?”
And how invaluable he was as an ally.
“[I apologize that I lack immediate authority to decide, but I will do everything within my power to ensure the Association accepts your request regarding the search of Floor 58.]”
The Five Rings Eye had perceived it clearly.
That Kim Moo-saeng—this person—possessed enough power to potentially shake the very structure that had endured for so long: the Five Rings Eye versus the Thousand-Li Eye, and perhaps even the World Awaker Association against their greatest rival force.
“[So I must ask. Please cooperate in handling the Thousand-Li Eye. Or rather, you needn’t take active steps. Only… please promise me you won’t shake hands with them. I beg this of you on my honor and sincerity.]”
He had made his calculation.
Kim Moo-saeng’s lips curled upward slowly.
* * *
―Can you see it, comrade?
A mechanical voice echoed.
It was a question posed to one solitary figure in a vast, dimly lit space.
An Awaker wearing a helmet that hung in shreds, face entirely obscured save for mouth and jaw, spoke.
“I can’t see everything clearly. But of course, as long as the Five Rings Eye exists, they wouldn’t allow me to glimpse the specific inner workings.”
The Thousand-Li Eye.
The Awaker who had finally seized upon Kim Moo-saeng’s trail through the Party’s aggressive movements.
―What can be confirmed?
“Six people in total. One is the subject of observation. Two are Possession Awakers, I’d wager. That leaves three candidates, one of whom is probably…”
The Party had already secured intelligence that the Association always brings two Possession Awakers whenever the Five Rings Eye makes contact with the outside.
By process of elimination, that narrowed the remaining candidates to three.
―Is this the one suspected to be the [Brain]?
The goal the owner of that mechanical voice desired.
A mind likely superior even to the eyes.
The Thousand-Li Eye answered.
“I cannot say with certainty. Above all, judgment is not mine to make, is it?”
―……Are you resisting, comrade?
Displeased with that response, the mechanical voice sounded again.
The Thousand-Li Eye paused for a moment.
“……No.”
Then he shook his head.
Since his every movement was visible from beyond the glass partition, the one producing the mechanical voice adjusted course slightly.
―I understand well enough that you’re exhausted from recent overwork. Even the lower levels of the tower are not easy to survey. It cannot have been simple either, sweeping across all of South Korea since you first became aware of the [Brain].
It was only natural that the Thousand-Li Eye would show signs of resistance.
Could this be called comfort? Could it be called understanding?
―But understand that your eyes bear the dignity and honor of the nation, the people, and the Party. Above all…. Your own safety. And the safety of those you love. All rest upon your eyes.
No one knew better than the Thousand-Li Eye that this was not true.
He had to take care not to clench his teeth audibly.
If even that small sound slipped out, it would be deemed resistance again, and discipline would surely follow.
“I understand better than anyone. Which is why I endure here, in this place that never sees a ray of sunlight.”
Yet it could be said that the Thousand-Li Eye’s purpose had been achieved nonetheless.
The Party had made a decision to settle that remaining hint of curtness.
―……Very well. I promise you outings through Possession Awakers. No, if this matter concludes well. If you locate the [Brain] candidate successfully. We shall consider letting you go out directly yourself.
“Truly, sir? Then my family too—”
―So harbor no grievances and work. For the Party.
The mechanical voice pressed.
The Thousand-Li Eye swallowed dryly and answered.
“Understood.”
The Chinese Central Party commanded.
―Then from this moment, begin unlimited observation of the three candidates you have selected, until verification is complete. I shall contact field agents deployed in South Korea at once.
They are to activate the Thousand-Li Eye’s ability the moment any irregularities are detected.
Surveillance cameras monitoring Kim Moo-saeng around the clock began to operate.
* * *
The Thousand-Li Eye continues watching even now.
He has no intention of stopping. How far can he see?
“So you know how many people there are, but not the specifics, correct?”
“[If his ability is the same as mine…. That would be the case.]”
Hearing the Five Rings Eye’s response, Kim Moo-saeng could exhale in relief.
If they don’t know the internal structure, we can still lay down smoke.
“Phew, at least both of them are Korean—you are Korean, yes?”
“I am Japanese, but—”
“Either way. Thank goodness you’re at least Asian.”
The two teammates who moved with Robert K.
One Korean and one Japanese.
The moment they leave this room, the Thousand-Li Eye will identify their faces.
What if Kim Moo-saeng and the other two had different ethnicities from each other!? That would be the end of it.
[Khehehehe, interesting. I could lower the eyelid of my left eye this very instant—]
“Ahem!”
Moo-saeng deliberately coughed loudly to stop Wash.
Cover the eyes now, in this situation? That would be madness.
‘There’s someone you’re looking for in here~ it’d be like advertising it…….’
The Thousand-Li Eye could see this place, but that didn’t mean he saw everything perfectly.
In other words, Wash—or rather, that concept of a “Brain” they were after—it was likely Thousand-Li Eye couldn’t be certain whether it actually existed here or not.
But what if Wash used his ability to block Thousand-Li Eye’s vision?
At that moment, it would be as good as confirmed.
Except for Robert K., and except for the two Possession users.
They’d either pursue the remaining three people year-round…….
‘Or they’ll kidnap them. They’ll try to secure them by any means.’
They’d use the methods they favored.
That would become quite exhausting.
How could he prevent that?
Several ideas surfaced in Moo-saeng’s mind.
“I apologize for asking something like this, but how much can you use your ability, Five Rings Eye?”
“[What?]”
“Some time limit on ability activation? How long have you tried using it at most, and how much longer do you think you could?”
So this was what needed to be confirmed first.
Assuming Five Rings Eye and Thousand-Li Eye were similar.
Or, taking the conservative estimate—that Thousand-Li Eye’s side had slightly greater sustained power than Five Rings Eye’s side—how long would they need to evade?
“[W-well, that is—. Um…… it’s difficult to say precisely—.]”
Five Rings Eye hesitated for a moment before answering.
Wasn’t this the kind of information only top-tier Association members would know?
Speaking of such things before a mere East Asia Branch liaison and someone of even lower rank?
Robert K. himself was flustered, unsure what to do, his face asking whether he should even be hearing this…….
“Oh, everyone here is family anyway. Robert K., you’re someone trustworthy, aren’t you? The Korean member, the Japanese member—they are too. And the Possession ability users go without saying. Right? Let’s all make a promise. Pinky swear. Then that’s fine, isn’t it, Five Rings Eye?”
Moo-saeng casually extended his pinky finger as he spoke.
And shortly after.
Pat-pat-pat-pat-pat-pat—!
The World Awaker Association’s East Asia Branch Korean Office—where tense silence had hung heavy.
Twenty-seven male Awakers of standard build, their faces covered, began scrambling through the entrance to that secret conference room.
All of them dressed in formal attire, their garb completely uniform.
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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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