I Inherited the Basement of the Tower - Chapter 46

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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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Inherited the Basement 1 of the Tower – Episode 46

Tell me your name.
Unlike the Association President’s usual genteel tone, his voice was remarkably aggressive.

“…!”

Everyone’s eyes widened.
I glanced around the room.
I felt the same shock as the others.
But not because of the Association President’s demeanor.

‘He doesn’t know the name?’

This fact alone made it a major incident.
Until now, the Association President had known and called out every bidder’s name.
The Association’s database was vast.
Since the Tower appeared, they had made it mandatory for all Awakened to register, and they continued to do so to this day.
Those who refused faced severe penalties.
There was even a noble justification—preventing Awakened criminals.
Of course, some still managed to slip through the surveillance net with cunning.
As the Tower was conquered and various items and powers emerged, the number of Awakened increased, and they acquired people with diverse abilities.
Those who intentionally hid their Awakening could no longer move about freely anymore.
It was safe to say that illegal unregistered individuals were now ‘virtually’ nonexistent.

‘Unlike the old days, registering as a Hunter doesn’t necessarily mean you have to conquer the Tower.’

There was no real reason to hide.
In other words, the Association possessed records of every Hunter in South Korea.
At least for those attending this event, they would have the roster.
Those capable of winning the conquest rights were magnates of tremendous wealth.
The Association President, thorough and with a long political career, didn’t know such a figure?

‘The Association President is human and could make mistakes, but what are the odds of that really being the case?’

I scanned the conference room methodically.
Hyeon-jun’s expression had shifted to bewilderment, and Gu Jang-hun nearby wore the same look.
Uncharacteristically, he was sweating and swallowing hard.
Most tellingly.

‘Even you?’

Though she sat like an ordinary employee, I recognized her—we’d met before, and I knew her true identity.
That bespectacled woman was the team leader of the Association’s archives division.
I’d received information from her previously regarding special dungeon layers.
As far as I knew, she possessed the most comprehensive knowledge about Hunters in the entire country.
Her presence here was surely to assist the Association President in that capacity.

‘They’re wearing earpieces.’

Both the Association President and she wore them.
They were clearly communicating through them, exchanging information about the successful bidder’s name.
Yet the team leader merely adjusted her glasses repeatedly.

‘In other words, everyone from the Association side doesn’t know a single Hunter’s name.’

But was this mere anxiety?
Fortunately, the answer came quickly.

“…Kim Cheol-su.”

The Association President’s gaze fixed in that direction.
So he was the successful bidder.
The Association President regarded the one who had answered “Kim Cheol-su” quietly.
Then he nodded.

[…Kim Cheol-su, sold.]

The next one proceeded the same way.

[Name?]

“Kim Hyeon-su.”

[Kim Hyeon-su, sold.]

The Association President had asked for the name of the final bidder as well.

“Has there been a breach in the Association’s intelligence network?”
“Regardless, all ten have been selected now. It’s the designation rights turn next.”

Since the auction had concluded successfully either way, everyone dismissed it as nothing significant.

‘No, that’s not it.’

Kim Hyeon-su and Kim Cheol-su.
The Association President had asked for the names of two people in total.
And he hadn’t even revealed which guilds they belonged to.

-Hyeon-jun, get photos of those two.

I manipulated my phone and made the request to Hyeon-jun.

[From: Hyeon-jun]
-Got it.
-But the Association President seems to have something in mind, so don’t make any moves first.
-(Photo.)

Hyeon-jun sent two photographs.

‘Are these them?’

Kim Cheol-su and Kim Hyeon-su.
Both had their hoods pulled down deep, but there was nothing particularly suspicious about them…

“…!”

Then I noticed something in the photographs.
Though they were different photos, the angles and positions of the surrounding structures were similar.
In fact, a portion of Kim Hyeon-su’s body was captured in the corner of Kim Cheol-su’s photograph.

‘They were together.’

Is this a coincidence?
I don’t know.
I stopped believing in such things a long time ago.
Ever since I inherited Basement 1 of the Tower from Nix.

-Hyeon-jun, do you know anything about this person’s background?

I marked the figure appearing repeatedly in the photos and sent it back.

[Sender: Hyeon-jun.]
-I’ll look into it.

* * *

A reply came shortly after.

-He’s the guild master of the Yeomyeong Guild. A small guild formed by friends and acquaintances. He’s under level 10, but doesn’t seem strong enough to challenge special dungeon floors. Maybe he just came to watch?

‘…Really just a coincidence?’

I looked down at the photos again.
There were only two, but there was a change.
His face filled with fear, looking at Kim Cheol-su and Kim Hyeon-su respectively.

‘Fear.’

Unless he had social anxiety, this was an emotion that didn’t fit such a gathering.
And if he did have social anxiety, he wouldn’t have come to a place where so many people were expected.
Shortly after, another message came.

-Looks like they’re about to reveal the conquest rights now.

Ah, so it’s already come to that.

[Well then, we’ll conclude the auction here. The conquest rights winners, that is, the conquest team members are Jinhyeok, Park Seong-cheol, Yang Sang-jin, Park Eun-ji, Hyeon-jun…]

The Association President was speaking into the microphone.
Just as I was trying to push my thoughts aside for the moment.

Zing—

—Huh? But there’s something odd. Recently, there have been three disappearances from the Yeomyeong Guild. Three cases.

“What?”

I glanced at Hyeon-jun on the platform.
He was already too preoccupied helping the Association President and organizing the auction house to respond.
Further contact seemed impossible.

“Boss, is something wrong?”

Min-hee tilted her head curiously from the seat beside me.
I smiled and shook my head.

“Nothing. It seems the designation announcement is coming up soon. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Not nervous?”
“Since it’s based on contribution, it has to be me. Let me know what you’d like to eat at the dinner later. My treat.”
“Wow, such confidence! No wonder you dressed up so formally.”

Min-hee poked my shoulder playfully with a mischievous expression, tickling me.

“Ah, well—”

It wasn’t actually my choice, but Black Armor’s pick.

Ding!
【Black Armor shrugs his shoulders.】

I chuckled and turned my gaze to the platform.
But soon the smile faded from my face.
Min-hee’s words had briefly interrupted my thoughts.
Yet Hyeon-jun’s message wouldn’t leave my mind.

‘From a guild made up of family and friends, three people have vanished. Three people close to the Yeomyeong Guild Master.’

That’s definitely strange, isn’t it?

[…and so I will announce the designation target. The 11th Hunter is—]

‘I’ll investigate later. For now, let me wrap up this event properly.’

I needed to investigate the Open Guild Master anyway.
Might as well kill two birds with one stone.
I was waiting for my name to come from the Association President’s lips when—

“Wait just a miiiiinute!”

Someone leaped onto the platform.
Or rather, tried to.
The security guards below blocked them.

“Hey, wait! Let go of me! I said let go!”

Everyone’s attention shifted in that direction.
It was a voice I’d heard somewhere before.
Though they didn’t seem to be anyone particularly important.
Who was it again?
Gu Jang-hun, who was protecting the Association President, also turned his attention that way.

“An active terrorist. I won’t hold back using force to subdue them.”

Crack—

Each of Gu Jang-hun’s fingers was like a weapon.

“No, wait! Just hear me out!”

[Hold on. You seem to have a complaint about the designation results. Am I right?]

Gu Jang-hun stopped.

At the Association President’s words, Gu Jang-hun halted.
The source of the commotion nodded.

“That’s right! The Association President was surely about to designate Kang Ha-jin as the final member of the conquest team! You must have judged his contribution to be the highest!”

[…Are you saying your contribution is higher than Hunter Kang Ha-jin’s?]

“Not yet, but it will be soon. I guarantee it!”

[Kang Ha-jin saved a hunter on the brink of death. Furthermore, by distributing meat that increases ability stats, he elevated the capabilities of many Korean hunters. Lastly, he cleared up to the 10th floor in record time.]

There was no personal bias in the statement.
No exaggeration or subjective evaluation.
Only objective facts.
Those listening nodded one by one.
It was something the public already knew.

“…But. I! Our guild this time-.”

[-Now listen here.]

The Association President cut off the man’s words.
His voice was heavy.

[Who exactly are you in the first place? When making public statements like this, you should disclose your affiliation and name first. For the benefit of those listening.]

“Oh, yes! I’m Park Jin-woo from the Sage Guild! I didn’t think you wouldn’t know my name….”

Park Jin-woo, so it was him.
I remembered now.

‘How shallow his thinking is.’

Did he really believe the Association President didn’t know his name?
That couldn’t be.
Not because Park Jin-woo was famous.
But Park Min-hu was famous and acquainted with the Association President.
He would certainly know his son.
The Association President’s words meant the public didn’t know.
Who he was and what he’d done.
Of course, revealing his name wouldn’t change anything.

“Park Jin-woo?”

Someone from a nearby seat spoke with confusion.

“Ah, the Sage Guild—I’ve heard of them. They’re famous for alchemy, aren’t they? But I didn’t know they had hunters like that.”
“Well, considering this special dungeon floor has a level 10 restriction, I’d say he’s a rookie.”

[So, Park Jin-woo of the Sage Guild. What contribution have you made? I’ll give you the chance—speak up here.]

“W-well, that is…”

Park Jin-woo’s voice began to falter.
The murmurs from the audience grew louder.

“….”

I studied the Association President.
He had the appearance of a powerful man, but what I always sensed was that the old mind within him was quite cunning.

‘In other words: if you made such a contribution, why doesn’t anyone know about it?’

I glanced toward where Park Jin-woo stood.
He was looking this way too.
His eyes, trembling with intimidation and fear, suddenly blazed with defiance.

“Tch! Contributions don’t always correlate with fame!”

Hoh, he’s got some backbone.

[Then speak. Not just for me, but so everyone here can judge.]

“The most critical matter facing our nation right now is undoubtedly this special dungeon floor.”

[That’s true.]

“So if there’s someone who provides decisive help in conquering it, that would surely be an enormous contribution!”

[…That’s right. Among the level 10 hunters I know, there’s none stronger than Kang Ha-jin.]

“But according to Taesan Guild’s briefing, this special dungeon floor can’t be cleared by strength alone!”

[Get to the point. Are you claiming you can make that possible?]

I exhaled deeply.
The text message from Min-hee came to mind—the one I’d received before departing.
That bastard’s really going through with it.

“That’s correct!”

As expected, Park Jin-woo’s confident voice resonated through the hall.

“Everyone! Please look at this!”

He set down the sack and withdrew a single ring from within.
Gasps of admiration spilled from the crowd’s lips.

“Wait, could that possibly be…?”
“Yes. Did the Sage Guild really succeed?”
“If that’s genuine, the tables have turned!”
“Kang Ha-jin is certainly a powerful hunter, but they say this special dungeon layer originates from the tenth floor range. Clearing it without divine power is impossible!”

The atmosphere immediately grew turbulent.
Park Jin-woo laughed with a sharp, exhilarated sound.
Riding the momentum, he raised the ring even higher.

“Exactly! This is a ring created by our Sage Guild that ‘grants divine power’! With this alone, our Republic of Korea can successfully conquer this special dungeon layer!”

Park Jin-woo flashed me a victorious smile.
How presumptuous.
The Association President on the platform also turned his gaze toward me.
His eyes seemed to speak volumes.
‘The Association’s choice will not change. However, have you prepared your justification for what comes next?’

Tug.

Min-hee beside me grabbed my arm.

“Boss…! That ring was made before I left the Sage Guild—.”
“Don’t worry, Min-hee. I brought something just in case.”
…!”

I reassured Min-hee and rose from my seat.
That was my answer to the Association President’s question.

‘Of course.’

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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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