I Conquered the Tower with the EX-Class Character That I Raised - Chapter 107

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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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Chapter 107
When I emerged from the Tower, I collected Kang Hyo-jun, who stood waiting with a deathly pale complexion, and we departed.
I retrieved the core I’d given him as a sample earlier, bringing my total to three cores.
I sent Kang Hyo-jun back to work and tapped Whitey lightly.
“Whitey, you remember everything, right?”
[Yes.]
I’d previously pressured the Black Market for a list of what could be purchased with three cores.
When they complained about organizing such a massive inventory, I requested only items made by Nebula.
‘Honestly, I have no interest in anything except what Nebula creates.’
Why would I buy those?
My own creations would be superior anyway.
The list was too lengthy for me to read and memorize, so I entrusted it to Whitey.
How reliable you are, my dear Whitey.
I called Min Ji-hee.
“I need an Alchemy Workshop. I heard Jang Ho-hyun has one.”
[This is Jang Ho-hyun, Agent.]
“Yes, that person.”
However, Min Ji-hee’s response indicated she had no knowledge of this.
[You mean something like that exists?]
“Kang Hyo-jun mentioned it.”
[…]
Min Ji-hee fell silent.
‘…I have a bad feeling about this.’
I felt like a father who’d accidentally let slip that he’d hidden an adult magazine under his son’s bed.
[I will investigate this matter immediately.]
Min Ji-hee’s voice came through in clipped, frigid tones.
A chill ran down my spine.
‘I’m sorry, Jang Ho-hyun…!’
The call ended.
“….”
[…]
Less than two minutes later, Min Ji-hee called back.
[Apostle, I apologize for the inconvenience. I’ve completed my investigation.]
“…I see.”
[It appears he was secretly operating an Alchemy Workshop and selling potions as a side business. Of course, we have a strict moonlighting prohibition.]
“I understand.”
[So I’ve seized the operation.]
“…What?”
What do you mean by that?
[You may use it freely.]
“How are you planning to compensate me?”
[Compensation?]
Min Ji-hee’s voice carried a cold, mirthless laugh.
[There is none. It would violate regulations…]
“….”
Min Ji-hee, what a terrifying woman…!
[A guide will be sent shortly. Please wait a moment.]
“Fine.”
I ended the call.
In my palm, the Core rolled with soft clicks—clink, clink—as I waited.
Then, without warning, a man materialized from thin air before me.
‘!’
He startled me.
I nearly struck him down.
“Greetings, Apostle. I am Jang Ho-hyun.”
“Who is that?”
[…Detection failed. I have sensed this presence before.]
‘Ah.’
Now I remember too.
The man who vanished after leaving the component beyond Whitey’s sight.
The Silent Assassin.
Jang… Ho!
“…Embarrassing as it is, I am known as the Silent Assassin.”
Jang Ho-hyun was entirely black.
Black hair, black eyes, a black mask covering his jaw to his nose, black full-body tights, black leather chest plate and greaves, black gloves…
He looked like a pencil lead.
Actually, given how slender he was, more like…
“A mechanical pencil lead…”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
Perhaps his faint presence made his name difficult to remember.
I couldn’t seem to retain it…
‘From now on, you’re a mechanical pencil lead.’
Now I’d remember easily.
“Are you the guide?”
“…Yes. I was ordered to escort you to the Alchemy Workshop.”
“Hmm…”
I studied the mechanical pencil lead’s demeanor carefully.
He stood right before me, yet his presence was barely perceptible.
It was impossible to discern what emotion he felt in that moment.
[…No heartbeat or blood pressure detected.]
“Impressive. You truly deserve the title of Silent Assassin.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Then let’s go. Sharpism.”
“…Yes? Ah, understood.”
Sharpism’s workshop… wait.
Not anymore.
My workshop wasn’t far from here.
It was a small room in the Hunter Association Underground Parking Lot—a place that had once housed a caretaker, now illegally converted into a workshop.
‘Quite audacious…’
Yet the fact that it had escaped even Min Ji-hee’s notice proved the old saying true: the lamp at the foot of the lighthouse casts the darkest shadow.
“How did Kang Hyo-jun discover this place?”
“Because that was the only place to sell to.”
“I see…”
Potions made in secret and sold on the side.
There would be nowhere else capable of handling such volume besides the Black Market.
“Why did you set up a hidden workshop?”
“…My entire ‘collection’ disappeared for reasons unknown. I couldn’t afford to replace it on salary alone, so while searching for alternatives, I ended up here.”
“Ah…”
I see.
Min Ji-hee had mentioned that most of my ‘operational funds’—assembled from the entire fortune of the Hunter Association’s upper echelon—had come from selling Sharpism’s collection.
A twinge of guilt stirred in my benevolent heart.
“Do you need Gold or Points?”
“Yes.”
A direct answer.
Not that I was offering—I was merely asking.
I stepped through the doorway.
“…!”
Wow.
I was astounded.
At first glance, brand-new mechanical devices and tools resembling scientific apparatus completely filled this cramped room.
Even someone ignorant like me could tell they were state-of-the-art.
I turned to Sharpism with eyes wide in surprise.
A subtle pride gleamed in the man’s gaze.
[Agent, this workshop… estimated value is 800 million Points.]
‘…That much?’
[An estimate. Some models are discontinued now, so… if we factor in premium pricing, the value climbs higher.]
‘Where did this guy get all this money?’
“…I have something of a reputation in the Black Market.”
“How did you manage that?”
“I did some legwork. Concealment and stealth happen to be my specialties…”
Sharpshim glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then whispered to me.
“I may have… borrowed a few things.”
“….”
This bastard.
Was he a thief?
“I take on jobs targeting those with bounties on their heads.”
…So he was a righteous man after all.
“I use the points and gold I earn that way to cover the Hunter Association’s operating costs… and the rest is mine.”
Sharpshim shrugged and continued.
“Everything in this workshop was received as payment from a CEO who runs a large mechanical workshop.”
“Hmm…”
“I was supposed to receive gold originally… but I may have… borrowed it instead.”
“….”
This bastard really did steal it.
“By secretly crafting and selling potions that way, I managed to cover all of this year’s operating costs.”
…Truly an impressive man.
‘This is making my head spin.’
I genuinely cannot predict what this man will do next.
“I heard the Hunter Association seized your assets.”
I asked seriously.
A master of concealment so skilled that even Whitey couldn’t detect him.
Aside from myself with synchronization activated and Han Seol-ah, who was sensitive to temperature changes as a frost mage, it seemed nearly impossible for anyone else to expose Sharpshim’s stealth.
Which meant.
If this man decided to, he could assassinate everyone except those two.
“Does it bother you?”
“No, not at all.”
As if it were nothing.
Sharpshim shrugged and let out a soft chuckle.
“I’m used to it.”
‘….’
I’m sorry.
Truly.
* * *
After exchanging a few more words with Sharpshim, I came to a realization.
‘I want him.’
My talent radar had activated.
A person I could trust with all manner of shadowy work.
Such talent is rare.
Sharpshim was the perfect fit for the role.
When I suggested joining the Foundation, Sharpism bowed respectfully.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m quite busy with my current responsibilities.”
“I see.”
Fair enough.
Min Ji-hee wouldn’t let a talent of this caliber sit idle.
Unfortunate, but I’d have to accept his refusal…
“I have quite a backlog of anime to watch, you see.”
“…?”
What did I just hear?
Anime?
“You’re not working?”
“Even when busy, there are things one must do.”
“…?”
Well, I suppose that makes sense.
“Then, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Just as he’d appeared, Jang Ho-hyun’s figure dissolved into nothingness.
[…]
“….”
A peculiar man in every way.
Brrrring—
Shortly after, Min Ji-hee called.
[Apostle, I just heard that you’ve taken over the Alchemy Workshop.]
“Yes.”
She must have already gone and filed her report.
[So, what did you make of Hunter Jang Ho-hyun?]
“In every way… an odd fellow.”
There was no other way to describe him.
[Ahahaha!]
Min Ji-hee burst into laughter despite herself.
‘Wow.’
This was the first time I’d heard Min Ji-hee laugh like that.
[Does he behave that way in front of you as well?]
“He did.”
[Ahahaha, he’s not a bad person. Just a bit… peculiar, as you say.]
Ha, haha…
After composing herself, Min Ji-hee spoke in a more serious tone.
[Actually, there was another reason I assigned Hunter Jang Ho-hyun as your guide.]
I suspected as much.
If she knew the location, she could have come herself or simply informed me through Whitey.
Assigning the workshop owner—who’d just had his establishment seized—as a guide struck me as deliberate.
What could the reason be?
…I don’t know that!
Min Ji-hee wouldn’t have attached it there without purpose.
I simply accommodated her intentions.
[The ‘machines’ in that workshop… they bear brand names engraved on them.]
After hearing Min Ji-hee’s words, I examined the brand name on the large machine before me.
The letters M.G.R were inscribed on it.
[That’s the abbreviation for ‘Maestro Giovanni Russo’.]
“Hmm.”
Who is that?
[I heard about it through Happy. The Italian craftsman—or as Happy puts it, ‘The Old Master’—you were looking for.]
“That’s right.”
[That old master’s name is Giovanni Russo. MGR is the name of the workshop he operates, and…]
‘Ah.’
I see.
Jang Ho-hyun had described this workshop as something he’d ‘received as payment from the CEO running a machine workshop instead of taking money’.
So that CEO’s true identity was ‘Giovanni Russo’—in other words, ‘The Old Master’.
[Through Jang Ho-hyun, you should be able to approach Giovanni Russo easily.]
“Excellent.”
Happy had said she could never meet The Old Master again due to the ‘crime of presenting uninteresting merchandise’.
I’d even considered turning all of Italy upside down to find him…
This makes things far simpler.
‘Min Ji-hee really is something.’
A strategist who prepares everything meticulously so my path remains unobstructed.
“You’ve done excellently.”
[Thank you.]
I ended the call.
‘Now what remains…’
Creating a divine elixir capable of moving The Old Master, ‘Giovanni’.
And that will be quite easy.

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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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