I Inherited the Basement of the Tower - Chapter 66

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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 66

After finishing the press conference and all the hectic schedules.
I stopped by the Association President’s office right away.
Inside the room, Association President Yun Tae-sik, whose complexion had improved far more than before, greeted me with a benevolent smile.

“You’ve worked hard, Hunter Kang Ha-jin. And… you did wonderfully.”
“I simply did what needed to be done.”
“How modest of you. It’s hard to even fathom how much our nation’s prestige has risen from this incident, and how enormous the national interests we’ll gain in the future will be. All of this credit belongs entirely to you, Hunter.”

The Association President spared no praise.
Well, it wasn’t unpleasant to hear.
My statement that I simply did what needed to be done wasn’t modesty.

‘After all, I had to verify Thanatos’s mark.’

Besides, I went in and obtained power before coming back out.
It was purely an action for my own benefit.
Regardless of my intentions, it was true that I had brought honor to my nation.
The way I brilliantly exposed the Chinese spy issue to the media.
And clearing the special dungeon floor with my strength that far surpassed the level 10 limit.
Apparently, fast-moving foreign broadcasters had already begun their reports.

‘It’s too early to be surprised by this much.’

I planned to clear all the special dungeon floors created by Nix’s children.
And obtain all of their marks.

“…I express my gratitude once more.”

After the Association President’s light commendation and thanks for my efforts ended.
I brought up the main topic.

“Association President, have you heard about that matter? About the man named Park Do-hyeon who was mixed in with this raid party.”

I had already exchanged information in writing about Lin Xiao-wei and Li Wei.
Association President Yun Tae-sik said he already knew everything beforehand.
It had been that way from the auction house to begin with.

‘Asking for a name and such—his behavior wasn’t typical at all.’

But regarding Park Do-hyeon, I opened my eyes wide as if I knew nothing.

“From the Nameless Guild?”
“Yes. His actual level is 25, but he disguised himself as level 10 to enter.”

At my words, Association President Yun Tae-sik’s eyes narrowed.

“…A Level Trickster.”

A Level Trickster.
An item Park Do-hyeon had mentioned—it was an object possessing the effect of level confusion that even deceived the Tower’s system itself.

“You’re aware of it?”
“Yes. Such an item existed. An anomalous item that deceives even the Tower’s system. Under normal circumstances, there’s no particular use for it, so I didn’t pay much attention. But to think it could be utilized to bypass the level restrictions of special dungeon floors.”

The Association President exhaled a sigh tinged with admiration.

“Indeed, when it comes to information, there’s no organization that surpasses the Nameless Guild.”
“Quite so.”

I carefully gauged the Association President’s reaction before dropping the real crucial information I’d extracted from Park Do-hyeon.

“So curiosity got the better of me, and I asked him who had commissioned that request. He said it was Councilman Choi Wan-yong.”

He froze.
Association President Yun Tae-sik’s head turned toward me.

“Councilman Choi?”
“Yes. Something felt off and bothered me, so I turned the tables and commissioned him instead. He readily confessed that this Choi Wan-yong had instructed him to bring evidence that Lin Xiao-wei and her group were Chinese nationals.”

In truth, the word ‘readily’ was a stretch.
To extract those three names, I’d had to use three out of five free-use coupons from the Nameless Guild.
Still, seeing the Association President’s surprised reaction like this, it seemed the effort was worthwhile.
A deep fatigue and anguish flickered across the Association President’s face.

“…He’s an old friend of mine.”

He closed his eyes tightly.

“But once he entered the path of politics, he became my rival. I crushed him quite thoroughly when I became Association President. How is he rising again like this…?”

All the pieces fell into place.
I carefully laid out my suspicion.

“If he was a rival, then surely…”
“Yes. It may have been to drive me out. He held evidence that foreign hunters had infiltrated, and if the conquest failed, he planned to place all responsibility on me.”

The Association President nodded bitterly.
But soon his eyes sharpened, and he made a polite request of me.

“Hunter. First, would you entrust this matter to my further investigation? It seems to be a festering wound that I must handle myself.”

I nodded silently.
I had cooperated with the Association President, blocked foreign schemes, and saved people several times, but I mustn’t forget this.
I’m not a hero or anything like that.
I’m simply a father who hasn’t been home in quite some time and desperately wants to see my family.
It was right for the Association President, the expert, to handle the complicated political struggles.

“Then I’ll ask you to handle it that way.”
“Yes. Thank you for your consideration. Oh, and Hunter James from the United States, whom I mentioned before, will be visiting soon.”
“Ah, it’s come to that already? Did you receive the meat well?”

It was a commission I had received before entering the special dungeon floor.
I had delivered a large quantity of wild boar meat infused with sunlight and completed it perfectly.

“That’s actually what I wanted to tell you about. He wants to arrange a place to deliver the payment himself. Chef Ahn Yeong-jae said he really wants to invite you to his restaurant.”
“Ah, yes.”

Ahn Yeong-jae is a world-renowned star chef who operates a Michelin three-star restaurant.
An invitation from him would naturally be a meal at that magnificent restaurant.

‘It must be delicious.’

I heard a single meal there easily exceeds a million won. Since I’m not one to dislike eating, I felt genuinely curious and my mouth watered, but then the faces of the residents huddled together in the Underground Temple, gnawing on fried chicken, flashed through my mind.
They’d probably be just as happy eating that chicken too.
Even that chicken would make me happy because it tastes good.

“…Hmm.”

I hesitated before answering, letting out a sigh.
The perceptive Association President immediately grasped what was on my mind.

“You’re concerned about your companions, aren’t you?”

He was a sharp-witted man with a talent for politics.
While he might not know about the systematic limitation preventing the Temple’s residents from physically leaving the Tower,
he had apparently noticed that they never ventured beyond my underground building and remained hidden.
He simply had the tact not to ask why.

I asked with a serious expression.

“Is there any way I could take leftover food with me?”

You’d only know such things if you’d been to an expensive place like this.
At my earnest question, Yun Tae-sik stared blankly for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter.

“Ahahaha! Well, since this isn’t my restaurant, I can’t give you a definite answer. But we’re quite close, so I’ll make a special inquiry for you.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Don’t mention it. I was hoping to treat Barkalor to some delicious food anyway. While I’m not paying, consider this my contribution.”

If that’s the case.

“Understood. Please send me the address and date.”

Since he said I could bring companions, perhaps I’d bring Min-hee along.
After finishing all business, I stood to leave when
something suddenly caught my eye—an interior decoration in the corner of the Association President’s office that seemed completely out of place.
It was a familiar object I’d seen many times before.

“That’s…”

The humanoid bot I had used during training for special dungeon floors.
Or more precisely, the one I had destroyed.
As I pretended to recognize it, the Association President smiled broadly.

“Ah, you recognize it. That’s the training bot that you, Hunter, destroyed.”
“…I apologize for that. You did say I could hit it with the intention of breaking it.”

Despite saying that, the moment it actually shattered, I felt a twinge of regret.
I recalled Hyeon-jun’s pitiful expression, frantically asking how much one of these cost.
Just as I was wondering if I should offer compensation—

The Association President gently shook his head.

“On the contrary, we were grateful. For using that overwhelming power to protect our Republic of Korea.”

The Association President continued, gazing at the dented bot with affection.

“In any case, that bot’s structure is quite intricate. The maintenance technicians within the Association have thrown up their hands in defeat. No one understands its design. They all sweated profusely saying repairs were impossible. Fortunately, the creator is an acquaintance of mine, so I’ve already reached out to him separately. Whether he’ll come or not, I’m not sure, haha. Beyond that reason, it’s simply too dangerous to leave such damaged equipment lying around in the training grounds.”

I nodded in agreement.
That made sense.
Now that the massive event of the special dungeon floors had disappeared.
The Association training grounds, which they had controlled for some time, would have been reopened to regular hunters as well.
If such an eyesore of damaged equipment was lying around there?
It would look terrible.
It was only natural.

“Of course, to commemorate your great achievement, Hunter, we left one unit in the training grounds. Would you like to see it?”

Beep.

The Association President proudly operated the remote control.
A large monitor on one side of the Association President’s office turned on, displaying a live CCTV feed of the Association training grounds.

“…”

I was left speechless watching the screen.
The hunters on the screen were all gathered together taking selfies instead of doing their assigned training.
And in the background stood none other than the training bot that I had crushed.
In front of it was even a crude sign that read: [Training Bot Destroyed by Hunter Kang Ha-jin in 7 Seconds – Photo Zone].

“…”
“Haha. What do you think? I thought you’d like it.”

Whether he mistook my dumbfounded silence for being moved, I wasn’t sure.
The Association President smiled contentedly and studied my reaction.

“Please clean this up immediately.”

Of course, I had no intention of being pleased about it.
Word would spread around the neighborhood that I went around destroying property.
I hardened my expression firmly.

“…Understood.”

Reluctant, the Association President smacked his lips and dejectedly turned off the remote.

* * *

“Boss! Over here!”

In front of a high-end restaurant.
Jeong Min-hee, dressed up elegantly, was already outside waving her hand at me.
Her appearance was a complete 180 from her usual work clothes covered in dust from laboring in the Underground Temple.
She proved that the Hunter community’s praise of her having “looks that could devour idols” was no exaggeration.
The gazes of passersby continuously turned toward her.

“You’ve dressed up quite nicely. It suits you well.”

At my compliment, she clenched her fists tightly.

“Of course! Chef Ahn Yeong-jae’s restaurant is so exclusive that even reservations are like plucking stars from the sky. You look great today too, boss.”
“Ah, well…”

Rather than me dressing up, it was actually Black Armor’s choice.
Pleased by the compliment, Black Armor rustled its cloak proudly.

As we stepped into the restaurant.
A man in pristine white chef’s whites—not a manager—came rushing out barefoot.
It was Ahn Yeong-jae, the legendary star chef of Michelin three stars.

“Oh! Hunter Kang Ha-jin! I’ve been waiting for you! I really wanted to meet you!”

He seized both of my hands eagerly, pouring out his overwhelming emotion.

“That meat you had the Association President convey to me! How on earth did you age and process it?! In my thirty years as a chef, that was the first time I’ve ever encountered such perfectly flawless ingredients!”

There was no separate aging or processing involved.
The meat itself was simply delicious.
Given that my culinary expertise extends only to boiling ramen, I wondered how the taste could be so extraordinary even when I grilled it.
However, Chef Ahn’s eyes sparkled so brightly that I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth.

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Min-hee found it amusing how I was receiving such treatment, and she kept snapping photos.

“Wow… a celebrity with another celebrity.”

Though perhaps Min-hee herself was the most famous of all.
She seemed completely oblivious to her own celebrity status.

“Come now, let’s head inside! I’ll show you to our private room!”

Chef Ahn Yeong-jae winked, glancing back and forth between Min-hee and me.

“No, we’re not—”
“Let’s go!”

Before I could clarify, Min-hee quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me inside.
I simply chuckled and let myself be led along.
Once we were seated, dishes began arriving one after another, each accompanied by detailed explanations.

“…Wow.”

A wild boar steak of overwhelming visual splendor revealed itself before us.

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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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