I’m the Only One With Two Towers - Chapter 268
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Only I Have Two Towers Episode 268
Public Opinion War
Vatican, Pauline Chapel.
The old man who had been praying slowly rose to his feet.
Cardinal Carlo Monchine followed suit and stood up.
Carlo took a small breath.
Today’s prayer had been particularly long.
What could be happening?
“Ho ho ho.”
How much time had passed?
Pope Benedict XVII let out a laugh.
It was a laugh filled with both kindness and mischief.
“Cardinal Carlo.”
At the Pope’s call, Carlo stepped forward.
Benedict examined Carlo with worried eyes.
“Are your family finances difficult these days?”
“…Excuse me?”
Though the Pope often asked unexpected questions, this time he couldn’t help but feel tense.
Because there was something that hit close to home.
And sure enough.
“If someone as devout as you sold off Michelangelo’s sculpture, there must be some great trouble, wouldn’t you say?”
Cold sweat ran down his back.
There hadn’t been any mistakes in the copying.
The appearance was so perfect it could be considered a flawless reproduction.
“Hmm.”
The Pope who had let out a contemplative sound leaned toward the sculpture.
“Is your awakened class Michelangelo or something? It’s truly seamless. No wonder the other cardinals didn’t notice. So, Cardinal Carlo. Will you continue to remain silent? I won’t force you to confess, so let me just hear your story. I don’t think you would have done such a thing without any reason.”
Carlo, who had been keeping his eyes tightly shut, let out a deep sigh.
Then he told the story of meeting Runner Yoo Jin-hyeok.
“I planned to confess and take responsibility myself once the Runner’s climb was over. Though it’s become a meaningless excuse now.”
Carlo smiled faintly and bowed his body.
“It happens to be the Consistory today. I will confess everything without hiding anything.”
The Consistory – a meeting where the Pope and cardinals gather together.
As it happened, today’s main topic of discussion was the Runner’s climb.
“Ho ho ho. You went through all the trouble of creating a perfect crime, so what’s the point now.”
The Pope shook his head.
“Don’t confess to the other cardinals. Let only me know about it. That way I can use it as leverage when needed.”
“But…”
“Cardinal Carlo. That’s just a sculpture decorating the Pauline Chapel. Just because it’s fake doesn’t mean our faith will diminish or we’ll neglect our prayers, does it? Besides, don’t people believe it’s real? Then it is real. However, there’s one thing I want to ask.”
The Pope who had slightly opened his eyes gazed at Carlo.
“The moment the Runner ascends to the next floor, that thing will awaken. If he doesn’t ascend and gives up, its resurrection will never happen. Though I don’t know the details, that floor is currently subordinate only to the Runner. Even so, do you really think it’s right to awaken that thing and face it? Can the Runner accomplish it?”
Carlo slowly nodded his head.
He had witnessed it directly.
The scene of Runner Yoo Jin-hyeok completely erasing all the divine power that existed around him.
“If what we must face is a being made of sacred light, he is our best option.”
“Ho ho… If someone heard this, they’d misunderstand that the Vatican worships darkness. You haven’t forgotten, have you? That our Vatican is also servants of God who serve the sacred light.”
Pope Benedict XVII let out a small sigh.
He had awakened as the hidden class Oracle of Light.
Thanks to this, he couldn’t help but hear the voices of countless beings whenever he prayed.
“The sacred beings are also aware of it. That someday we must face that raging light. But they cannot say when that will be. They only speak in unison. Is now the right time, or shouldn’t we build more strength and awaken it later? They want to postpone it. The moment they must face the consequences. Such cowards.”
Carlo Monchine swallowed dryly.
Wasn’t that just blasphemy?!
The Pope who finished his thoughts drew a meaningful smile.
“Runner, was it? I like how refreshing he is. Unlike those cowards who can’t make a proper decision and only express concerns.”
While he couldn’t respond to the endless blasphemy.
The Pope moved toward the chapel exit.
“Let’s go. We need to go to the Consistory and decide the Vatican’s position.”
Carlo followed behind.
It seemed this Consistory would be a formal meeting.
Benedict XVII, the head of the Vatican.
His mind seemed to have already been made up.
External Cooperation Department, Player Hunter Bureau.
Department head Yoon Se-won leaned back on the sofa.
As she closed her eyes, a sweet melody flowed in.
‘I really can’t hear anything.’
These were newly purchased noise-canceling headphones, and they were worth every penny of their expensive price.
Had she enjoyed about 30 seconds of such peaceful listening time?
One side of the headset was lifted up.
Ring ring ring ring!!
“External Cooperation Department Control… Yes! No!! That’s not right!!”
“Connected… Wait a moment! Please calm down!”
Through the gap, tremendous noise from the control room poured in.
Yoon Se-won looked at the man in front of her with droopy eyes.
“Team Leader, you’ve been pretty bold lately, haven’t you? Confiscating the department head’s headset on your own.”
Im Woo-gang took a breath.
Normally he wouldn’t have done this, but right now he had no choice.
Dozens of places were looking for her, and she was escaping into music appreciation.
That wouldn’t do.
“Haaaaah.”
Yoon Se-won sighed deeply enough to sink the ground and looked around the control room.
The control room was currently beyond chaos, on the verge of panic.
Because of whom?
There was no need to think long about it.
There was only one person who could bring such great chaos to the Player Hunter Bureau.
“Team Leader Im Woo-gang. People are really ungrateful, aren’t they? Don’t you think so? Last time when he greatly elevated our department’s position, he was so lovable I wanted to go give him a kiss right away. But now that this situation has come up again, I’m starting to hate him.”
She clicked her tongue and glared at the ringing phones.
Had some directive been issued?
Though not official, it was a religious organization that boasted tremendous scale worldwide.
Calls were pouring in from all their branches.
Even congressmen and corporate heads related to that religion were involved.
They were all making a fuss, demanding that the Runner be stopped from climbing immediately.
Saying that the moment the Runner climbed the Tower, something that shouldn’t awaken would awaken and the world would end or something.
“Tsk. We need to know who it is to either stop them or not.”
Of course they tried contacting Lee Chang-gi, but it didn’t work at all.
He only repeated that they should contact him later if the Runner failed the climb, and that he would take full responsibility.
“Department Head! It’s a call from Seggang Industries’ External Cooperation Department! They say if we don’t stop the climb immediately, they’ll recall all the steel weapons they’ve been supplying to the Player Hunter Bureau!”
Most of the incoming calls were like this.
Rather than requests, they were closer to threats.
Yoon Se-won burst into laughter.
“Religion is really fascinating. It was a relationship that had been maintained well for years, but overnight they’re throwing around threatening language like that. The power of faith indeed.”
Yoon Se-won waving her hands frantically.
“Tell them to get lost.”
“What!?”
“Genex contacted us earlier. They said they’ll support us as much as possible to fill the gaps left in the Hunter Bureau due to this incident. This actually worked out well. Let’s take this opportunity to switch to the number one company.”
After finishing her words, Yoon Se-won turned on her tablet.
It seems she really went all out with her part-time work this time.
Tower Site was continuously flooded with posts slandering and cursing the Runner.
Of course, the comment sections of such posts couldn’t remain unscathed.
@ Where did these damn vermin crawl out from? Weren’t they all caught as cultists last time?
Don’t you even fear God’s judgment?!
No no, you’re not even trying to be sincere! Makes me want to slap you.
@ These assholes who drag down the country’s reputation every other day are constantly trashing a runner who boosts our national prestige? If this crazy comedy deserves upvotes lmaooo
Agreed.
Nah, I agree too.
The Runner’s popularity was at an all-time high, enough for the new term “Runner Effect” to be coined.
To directly provoke such a Runner was like poking a hornet’s nest.
‘Hmm, it would be nice if just one or two more places besides Genex officially supported us.’
Then the Player Hunter Bureau’s voice would definitely carry more weight.
Ding!
She frowned at the information updated on her tablet.
‘Suddenly the Japanese Prime Minister?’
Japanese Prime Minister Sato Tsubasa had unexpectedly issued a statement supporting the Runner.
Ding!
Before she could properly think about it, a new notification followed.
This time it was the British Royal Family.
Even if she could understand Japan, which has the lowest religious penetration rate, for the British Royal Family to join in as well.
A smile formed on Yoon Se-won’s lips.
She had momentarily forgotten.
The Runner was the hero who had saved the current British Dynasty.
“D-Director? You need to see this.”
She turned her gaze to the monitor Im Woo-gang was pointing at.
Pope Benedict XVII of the Vatican.
He was making a live statement.
“Huh.”
A statement supporting the Runner’s Tower climb, no less.
She looked down at her tablet.
The breaking news tab was filling up with the just-announced statement.
Naturally, Tower Site was in chaos.
Posts that had been cursing the Runner were now receiving concentrated attacks at persecution levels.
The phones that had been ringing frantically in the control room also found stability.
Now only a sparse call or two came in occasionally.
Yoon Se-won brushed back her hair and raised the corners of her mouth.
What kind of trick would one need to pull for the Vatican to announce something like that?
At this point, she had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Runner. Quite capable indeed.
“Director?”
“Aren’t you calling me too much today?”
Regardless of her response, Im Woo-gang held out his phone with a dazed expression.
“It’s Director Lee Chang-gi.”
This time, even Yoon Se-won couldn’t help but draw a question mark.
It was always this side that needed something when calling, so what was that sly fox up to?
“Yes, this is Yoon Se-won.”
# How have you been?
“You know that’s not true, so why bother with such pointless greetings. Just tell me what you want.”
# Then I’ll get straight to the point. Please get us some ritual implements.
“Ritual implements? What kind of ritual implements?”
# Bells, talismans, or swords used in ceremonies or rituals. I’m told they’re kept in museums, shrines, or temples.
She didn’t ask what he suddenly needed such things for.
Lee Chang-gi personally asking at this timing meant the Runner needed them.
‘Tsk.’
Indeed, he was someone called the next Hunter Bureau Director.
He knew all about this side’s family background.
“Are you borrowing them? Or just asking for them?”
# He says he’ll try his best to return them.
“So there’s a high probability he won’t give them back.”
Yoon Se-won, who had been tapping her fingers, continued speaking.
“You know, right? The ritual implements you’re requesting are items of incredible value.”
# The Runner has already agreed. Now it’s what you’ll be requesting from the Director.
“Agreed to what? I haven’t said anything yet.”
# Isn’t it about telling us who the Runner is?
Yoon Se-won closed her mouth.
This guy is really like a ghost.
# Please let me know when you’re ready. I’ll send you the address.
After hanging up, Yoon Se-won let out a quiet breath.
Ritual implements? They’re precious. Very much so.
But more than that, she wanted to establish a relationship.
Not secretly investigating alone to discover his identity, but an official friendly relationship formed with mutual consent.
‘Well… let’s give it a try.’
She shrugged her shoulders and started walking.
Let me also board it this time.
The ship called Runner.
A few hours later, in front of the Seo Panjyo house.
Jinhyeok stood at the entrance, watching four approaching trucks.
Gulp!
He had asked them to get as many as possible, but just how much did they bring?!
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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