I Conquered the Tower with the EX-Class Character That I Raised - Chapter 109

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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 109
Jang Ho-hyun genuinely did not want to go with the Apostle.
Even without making eye contact, the mere fact that those terrifying eyes were fixed upon him sent shivers down his spine and cold sweat trickling down his back…
He was scared, plain and simple!
“You’re not answering.”
‘!!!’
“Apostle. I have a limited-edition 1/7 scale figure reservation battle for ‘Magical Girl Magical☆Lulu’ scheduled for 10 PM tonight, so I’m afraid immediate departure is impossible.”
Jang Ho-hyun blurted out the “most important and most urgent schedule” he could conjure up on the spot.
‘Oh no!’
Only after speaking did he realize that the fact the silent assassin was a die-hard fan of ‘Magical Girl Magical☆Lulu’ was a secret he should take to his grave.
“Whitey.”
But it was too late.
[Yes, Agent.]
“Handle it.”
[Understood. Activating backdoor access to Hunter Jang Ho-hyun’s personal terminal. Preempting the server traffic route of the figure sales website via the global network.]
“What?”
As if answering Jang Ho-hyun’s question, Whitey’s mechanical voice poured out like machine-gun fire.
[Reservation purchase setup complete. Accounting for latency, the highest-priority packet will be automatically transmitted 0.001 seconds before the opening, with an estimated success rate of 99.99%. Payment will be automatically processed through Agent Jang Ho-hyun’s card.]
“…!”
Jang Ho-hyun flinched.
‘A macro? 0.001 seconds? Server traffic route preemption?’
What in the world was happening?
If this were before the Hunter era, any halfway decent hacker or programmer could have pulled this off.
But this was after the Hunter era.
Undersea data cables connecting nations? Those had been severed by monsters long ago.
The internet was no longer a convenient tool connecting the entire globe.
Now the internet had been downgraded to intranet-level operations, each country running its own separate network.
Particularly, the ‘Magical☆Lulu’ limited-edition figure Jang Ho-hyun coveted was sold exclusively on Japan’s domestic server.
‘Running a macro to directly access Japan’s closed network from South Korea, where physical communication lines are severed?’
Jang Ho-hyun was a high-ranking official of the Hunter Association.
Therefore, he was well aware that this ‘Whitey’ AI was a state-classified entity embodying South Korea’s most cutting-edge technology.
But no matter how advanced it was, he never imagined he’d witness that overwhelming technological prowess deployed right before his eyes—and for nothing more than reserving his “limited-edition figure.”
Just how absurd was this?
It would only be possible by hacking the “Class-1 military classified military communication satellite” hovering in the airspace between South Korea and Japan, then using that military channel as a stepping stone to forcibly breach Japan’s national closed network.
In other words, this AI had just committed cyber terrorism on the scale of an international cyber war—without batting an eye—just to reserve a single figure!
[For reference, I calculated the yen exchange rate in real-time and applied the most favorable premium rate. I also routed the payment through seventeen layers of Swiss bank shell company accounts to perfectly block the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s payment tracking. You can rest assured, Hunter.]
‘Wait, I’m buying a 150,000 Gold figure—why are we going through Swiss shell companies?! And why is the Japanese Ministry of Defense even involved?!’
[I was joking.]
‘…sigh.’
Jang Ho-hyun’s legs finally gave out beneath him.
“It’s settled, right?”
“Y-yes, thank you.”
There were other reasons I could have mentioned.
For instance, an assassination contract that needed to be handled within two days.
…But what would happen if I actually said that out loud?
Would I just call out ‘Whitey’ and have him track the target’s coordinates in real-time, then drop something like ‘God’s Staff’ on them?
It was entirely plausible.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
So Jang Ho-hyun kept his mouth shut.
* * *
‘He really does like it.’
What? Magical Lulu?
Whitey showed me what kind of work it was, so I took a quick look…
Hmm.
I’ll respect his taste.
Besides, when he talked about how much he wanted the figurines without even meeting my eyes, I pulled some strings for him.
Whitey’s smart, so he must have handled it well on his own.
And then the pencil lead merchant trembled and got all emotional…
‘Easy.’
He’s moved to tears by such a small gesture of goodwill.
How long has he lived without experiencing human affection…
‘I’ll take good care of you.’
With that sentiment in mind.
I resolved firmly to bring the pencil lead merchant into the Foundation.
I’d pay him well too.
Give him plenty of work to create another reason for him to live.
‘Does he know how much I care for him?’
If I wanted to save money, couldn’t I just pay his salary in figurines?
I rode in Jang Ho-hyun’s car to the Black Market.
To use the ‘portal’.
After arriving at the Market, I descended to the basement following Kang Hyo-jun’s guidance.
A gate of pitch-black form, as if shadows were rippling across it.
“I’ve already input the coordinates. You can go through.”
I nodded and stepped through the portal.
‘…Now that I think about it, this is my first time going abroad since the world became like this.’
I’ve only been able to move around freely for a short time anyway.
Even before the Hunter era, I’d never been on a plane.
And now, after the world changed, I’m visiting a foreign country for the first time.
How moving.
As the alien sensation of forcing through a transparent barrier faded, I opened my eyes.
‘Is this… Italy?’
It was just an ordinary underground chamber.
‘…It’s no different from our villa basement?’
A few old, worn tables and chairs.
And that was essentially all there was—just a handful of cheap mattresses that looked decidedly uncomfortable.
Our villa basement housed people without homes and without money, and this place had exactly that atmosphere.
‘They say South Korea is the heir to Rome.’
Rome equals Italy equals South Korea.
In other words, Italy is South Korea.
‘…’
My disappointment was so profound that my mind spiraled into meaningless rambling.
“This way, please.”
Whether someone maintained it periodically or not, the underground chamber was spotlessly clean.
I climbed the stairs and opened the door to find, right before me…
A dilapidated church.
Or rather, calling it a church felt almost insulting to actual churches—there stood a building so decrepit it hardly deserved the name.
If not for the crudely carved wooden cross, I would have mistaken it for a barn.
The structure was that aged and unsightly.
– Kyahahaha!
– Stop it already!
From beyond the building came the laughter of children and the joyful sounds of them running, playing, and tumbling about.
‘…I’ve seen this before.’
A nostalgic scene that brought back memories of my childhood self.
This place must be an orphanage.
I took a wider look around the area.
‘…What is this?’
For a simple orphanage, there were far too many worn-out, exhausted adults.
As if refugees had flooded in, they all lay sprawled across the ground, tents, and cheap mattresses with dead eyes, not moving an inch.
A gloomy atmosphere emanated from them.
Like people who’d just heard the news that their country would collapse tomorrow.
‘Is this a world after the apocalypse?’
“This is the Primordial God Sect.”
“?”
The Primordial God Sect…
The one where Yereche serves as the Holy Maiden?
The place that amassed vast wealth by selling holy water?
‘Yereche…’
This wicked woman!
She never invested, just earned and spent it all on herself!
The old door that served as the entrance to the Religious Order bore clear marks of being kicked repeatedly by someone of short stature.
Jang Ho-hyun pushed the door open and entered first, and I followed behind him.
Inside, a kind-looking middle-aged man sat greeting visitors.
“Benvenuto… ‘Silenzio’?”
[Welcome… ‘Silence’? You seem surprised.]
Whitey immediately translated the foreign language for me.
“Da quanto tempo, Francesco.”
[It’s been a while, Francesco. Jang Ho-hyun is quite fluent in Italian.]
From then on, Whitey provided real-time translation in Korean, layering each person’s voice directly into my ears.
“Non dirmi che… è il mio turno?”
[Surely… it’s not my turn?]
“No. Oggi è un altro affare.”
[No. Today is a different matter.]
Jang Ho-hyun naturally stepped aside and politely opened the way for me.
The middle-aged man called Francesco’s gaze naturally turned toward me.
He startled slightly, and Francesco gave me a respectful nod.
“…An extraordinary guest has arrived.”
“That’s right.”
That’s me.
“Is your business concerning the Holy Maiden?”
“Among other things.”
I do need to capture the escaped Holy Maiden and bring her back.
‘Troublesome creature.’
But right now, meeting Giovanni is more urgent.
Given that Sharp led me in this direction, this man must be the key to meeting Giovanni.
“I came to meet Giovanni.”
“Giovanni?”
The Pope tilted his head as if hearing that name for the first time.
Jang Ho-hyun spoke up beside me.
“‘Il Pazzo,’ you mean.”
[Il Pazzo means madman, a lunatic.]
‘Thanks, Whitey. Really appreciate you pointing out that it’s a curse word.’
[It also means a genius who transcends common sense, an uncontrollable lunatic.]
The Pope nodded upon hearing that designation.
“Ah. You mean that old master.”
“That’s right.”
The Pope’s expression darkened.
“He was hiding in our Underground Prayer Chamber just this morning…”
Ah, why is this happening.
Don’t lay down ominous hints like that.
“His whereabouts have become unclear at the moment…”
‘A linked Quest, then.’
At the premonition that this would become tedious, the moment I squeezed my eyes shut.
[Don’t worry. I’ve found Giovanni’s location.]
‘Phew, relief.’
Whitey immediately cut off the chain of linked Quests that threatened to multiply endlessly.
[Giovanni Russo, The Old Master, Il Pazzo… with three keywords provided, anyone could find him. He’s currently at the Italian Hunter Association.]
Thanks, Whitey.
“Right then. I’ll be going.”
I had nothing left to do here.
I left the Religious Order without hesitation.
Jang Ho-hyun, who immediately followed, bowed his head apologetically.
“I apologize. Based on the information I had, it was certainly…”
“It’s fine. Do better next time.”
A mistake? Sure, sure. These things happen.
Jang Ho-hyun, you’re still okay!
[By analyzing the CCTV and interpolating the empty movement patterns… the Pope’s words are true. Last night, due to Lee Hyung-je’s deception operation, all of Italy fell into severe chaos, and Giovanni abandoned his originally planned hideout and hastily evacuated to the Religious Order headquarters…]
“Wait. What did you say?”
I waved my hand to send Jang Ho-hyun away and erected a barrier using mana.
A deception operation?
“What exactly did this deception operation do to cause such severe chaos across all of Italy?”
[We spread information about the Corrupted Entity throughout Italy.]
“Be specific.”
[The Corrupted Entity, an unidentified enemy designated as ‘Unknown,’ appeared and annihilated two S-rank Hunter teams from the United States who couldn’t stop it…]
“…I see.”
If such a threat appeared, it would be reasonable to panic.
Especially Italy—it has the second-worst PTSD regarding monsters, right after South Korea.
‘Second place was originally India, but that’s no longer a country now.’
Simply triggering a slight fear that such an enemy might appear in Italy would be enough to terrify them.
[We mixed in ‘false information’ about massive civilian casualties.]
“Huh?”
That.
Brother Lee?
‘…Right, I did ask him to design an incident important and catastrophic enough to keep the upper echelons of the Hunter Association’s eyes glued to it.’
But that was supposed to target the ‘upper echelons of the Hunter Association.’
Not to turn the entire nation of Italy upside down like a kicked hornet’s nest.
‘If he goes this far, the whole country will be in upheaval!’
[And]
“…There’s more?”
The problem was.
It wasn’t over yet.
[He concluded by prophesying that the same would soon unfold in Italy.]
“….”
[For a mere human to devise such an exquisite deception strategy in so short a time is remarkable. He pinpointed Italy’s vulnerabilities with surgical precision and exploited them thoroughly. A nation subjected to such a scheme has no choice but to collapse.]
…I see.
[His skill at sowing chaos is extraordinary. You saw through Lee Hyung-je’s talents at a glance. You are truly worthy of the title, Agent.]
Now the surrounding situation finally made sense to me.
…These people.
They’d evacuated believing the nation would crumble by tomorrow.
‘Because of Lee Hyung-je.’
A subordinate’s mistake is also the superior’s failure.
It seemed I would need to lend a hand.
“Pull up Giovanni’s location.”

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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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