Laborer Mr. Kim Reaps Sweet Rewards with Auto-Hunting - Chapter 64

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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 64

Job Perks that pop up like Achievements now and then.
What are the conditions for them to appear?
I still don’t know for sure.
One thing’s certain — they show up whenever I do something for the first time.
But the criteria are fuzzy.
What I do know for certain, though—

“Every time one appears, I’ve been satisfied.”

There have been quite a few Job Perks so far.
First, there was opening the Workforce Management Bureau.
And various consumable items useful in different ways.
Oh.
Not long ago, one even modified a skill’s effects.
In any case, quite a lot have come through.
A Fixed Team Management slot, though….
It might rank second after opening the Workforce Management Bureau?

[Job Perk: One additional slot for ‘Fixed Team Management’ will be added.]

The roster was already full.
I’d been curious how to expand it.
Well, I figured the expansion conditions would come up eventually.
That’s what I thought, but….

“And it shows up here. That’s incredible.”

It was originally seven slots, so now it’s eight.
Let me take a look.

——-
[Fixed Team Management]

1. Arthur (Supreme-tier)
2. Robin (Supreme-tier)
3. Orc Tribe (High-tier)
4. Rani (Supreme-tier)
5. Todd (High-tier)
6. Unjang (Supreme-tier)
7. Master Slime (High-tier)
8. Empty Slot
——-

“Huh….”

From Arthur to Master Slime.
Just looking at it gives me peace of mind.
And if one more person is added?
This is really….

“Nothing will hold me back.”
“Hey! Show me too, Rani!”
“This? Right here.”
“Arthur…, Robin…, Mr. Orcs…, and Rani’s here too! And an empty slot? Then more of Rani’s friends are coming?!”

Well, yes.
I’ve used up my summons for today anyway.
I’ll call them tomorrow instead.
I’m looking forward to it.
I wonder who’ll show up this time?

* * *

“Let me get this straight—you’re claiming to be a subordinate of the Workforce Management Bureau chief?”
“To be precise, not a subordinate but a contractor.”
“A contractor? Well, either way, you work under him, don’t you?”
“That’s correct. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Kim Seonwoo, Master of the Truth’s Eye Guild.”
“Hmm….”

A calm response.
The section chief of South Korea’s Awakener Management Bureau.
Yoon Jihyeok furrowed his brow as he spoke.

“Breaking in late at night to an empty house and waiting quietly in the living room—do you truly expect me to find your story credible, Kim Seonwoo?”

What kind of situation is this anyway.
I come home from work and there’s someone in my living room.
The window’s open too.
Well.
It doesn’t look like they’ve gone through anything.
Though I can’t be entirely sure.
At least they’re not a burglar, which is something to be grateful for.

“I apologize for that. I was hesitant to approach directly.”

Right.
If they really were under the Workforce Management Bureau chief, I suppose that would make sense.
But….
How am I supposed to believe it.
This whole talk of contractors and such.
The way they speak is strange too.

“Hmm….”

Still, I can’t provoke them recklessly.
If I accidentally set them off, who knows what happens.
I genuinely couldn’t handle that.
I’m not even a Hunter….
So I’ll be as careful as possible—.

“If you’re truly connected to the Workforce Management Bureau chief, can you show me proof?”
“Of course. I came prepared.”

There.
Look at that confidence.
Seems they did bring something.
Alright, let’s see.
What exactly did they prepare.

“…Hm?”

I understand opening an Inventory.
They must be a Hunter, obviously.
How else would an ordinary person get through a seventh-floor window.
The problem is.

“A Pickaxe?”

Don’t tell me he pulled that out as evidence?
What on earth—

“Perhaps it would be best to examine it before making a judgment?”
“Very well.”

What in the world could he be so certain about?
Yoon Jihyeok tilted his head, studying it.

“Clink-clink?”

Wait.
That naming pattern seems familiar somehow…
And then the first line of its description.

– Masterwork crafted by a skilled artisan.

“This can’t be real.”

That description—was there anyone alive who didn’t know it?
It had become so famous that practically everyone recognized it.
More than that.
Yoon Jihyeok had actually seen one before.
Lee Bojun’s weapon, the previous Rank One hunter, looked exactly like this.
The first line, the other options—everything matched.
And somehow, this mere pickaxe even had a Skill attached to it.

“This… surely the Workforce Management Bureau’s Director made this?”
“Don’t you feel it at a glance?”
“That would…”
“And this here—it’s a material that dropped during the recent Tower raid. Would you care to examine it?”

What was this now?
Taking it from his hands.

[Lycanthrope’s Claw]

This was…
A material from the 61st Floor.
It had dropped recently during a Tower raid, or so he’d heard.
Only one person had ascended past the 61st Floor recently.
In the entire world, just one.
That anonymous Hunter who’d been setting World Records all along.

“Then, was that anonymous Hunter—the one who set the World Record all the way to the 61st Floor—the Workforce Management Bureau’s Director?”
“Of course it was the Director. Didn’t you already have a rough idea?”

He grinned widely, and soft moonlight filtered in from the window behind him.
Incredible.
As expected from the Bureau’s Director.
Even someone named Haecheong carried an extraordinary presence.

“What’s your reason for seeking me out? Does the Awakener Management Bureau need something from us?”

A figure who’d kept his identity hidden until now.
There had to be a reason for approaching him like this.
He asked with certainty—

“Ha, surely not. I’ve simply come by. Besides, what would the Manager possibly need from us?”
“Well, that’s true….”

No.
Then why did he come?
It doesn’t make sense, but it’s not wrong either.
Other Hunters would be different.
The Awakener Management Bureau helping the Workforce Management Bureau?
It wouldn’t make any sense.
America’s shocked, China’s turned upside down, and all that.
The kind of line you’d only hear in nationalist propaganda videos — yet this eccentric actually made it real….

“Hmm….”

His purpose?
I still don’t know.
But the fact that he came means there’s room to establish some kind of connection, doesn’t it?
Then I’ll forge that link, one way or another.

“Here’s my business card. If you ever find yourselves needing the Bureau’s assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Much obliged. I’ll see that it reaches him.”
“Thank you.”
“If you should wish to relay a message to the Manager, seek out the Master of the Truth’s Eye Guild.”

Truth’s Eye.
Noted.

“Ah, just to be safe — it would be best if only Director Yoon Jihyeok and the Bureau Director knew of this matter.”
“Understood.”
“I’m sure you grasp the implication, but should you conduct any background checks or let word slip….”

The rest left unsaid, quietly buried.
What exactly had it been?
That there would never be another connection to the Manager?
Or….
Perhaps a threat.
Either way, it doesn’t matter.
I had no intention of saying anything anyway.
Still, it’s a relief he said I could inform the Director.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take it to the grave.”
“I’ll take your word for it, Director.”
“Thank you.”
“Very well. Take care, and perhaps we’ll meet again if fortune allows.”

Was the business finished?
The man walked slowly toward the window.
And then—

Whoosh!

“Insane….”

No.
We’re on the seventh floor.
He just jumped out like that?
Startled half to death, I rushed over to the window.

“He’s gone.”

What in the….
Is this what it’s like when a ghost takes hold of you?
My mind felt utterly hollowed out.
But still.
I had to do what needed doing.
First things first.

Brring-brring-brring!

— Ah, Yoon. What brings you calling at this hour?
“Yes, Director. I have something urgent to report….”

* * *

North Korea. Pyongyang.
The People’s Army soldiers moved with brisk efficiency.

“All preparations are complete, sir.”
“I see….”

The man entrusted with cleaning up this affair by Division Chief Kim Yongpil.
Cho Heedong sighed as he spoke.

“Give me a full report.”
“First, regarding the Revolutionary Talents—or rather, the rebel rabble’s families—we’ve located them all and positioned the People’s Army accordingly, sir.”
“Tell them not to move until I give the order.”
“Understood, sir! And right now, the People’s Army is advancing on the current residences of the Revolutionary Talents.”
“Good….”

One more day, and it’ll be over.
As for the families of the Revolutionary Talents—what of it?
What could they possibly do?
We’ve already found their locations.
They’ll be caught the moment they try to flee.
The real problem is the Revolutionary Talents themselves.

“So… there’s no chance the other Revolutionary Talents will come to their aid, is there?”
“None.”

North Korea’s Revolutionary Talents.
The 1,328 alongside Park Moopal aren’t the whole of them.
Children of Party officials.
And those satisfied with their current positions have remained behind.
We’re talking a few hundred or so, I’d estimate.
But….

“Those valuable assets have seen fit to leave? Still, since we’re sending a few anyway, be satisfied with that, will you.”
“Understood, sir.”

A few.
You could guess without looking.
The ones without connections, no doubt.
Still, well.

“The People’s Army alone will be enough to settle this. Don’t worry about it.”

The Revolutionary Talents?
What could they possibly do?
Surrender, or—
take cannon fire and die.
It’s one or the other.
I’d rather this be over quickly, all things considered.

“Tell them to wrap this up efficiently.”
“Yes, sir! Understood!”

* * *

Wheeee—!

[Attention, all rebels. Attention, all rebels. Our Great Leader, in his boundless love for the people and magnanimous compassion, grants you one final opportunity. If you now return to the path of Juche and kneel before us, confessing your crimes, your sins shall be forgiven and you shall once more be embraced by the people’s bosom—.]

A siren wailed in the distance.
And a warning.

“Sigh….”

Park Moopal exhaled heavily.

“What do you think we should do?”
“I never expected things would come to this….”
“Director, what are we to do now?”
……
…

Some of the Revolutionary Talents were already wearing expressions of despair.
Well, that was only natural.
Not all 1,328 Revolutionary Talents could remain steadfast.
Least of all in a situation like this.
Life was precious to anyone, after all.

“I’m sorry.”

Park Moopal was currently at the 60th floor.
He’d managed to push through to climb one more floor by sheer force of will.
But going higher was beyond him.
If he’d made it to the 61st floor, perhaps there might have been some way forward….

“Director, shouldn’t we fight?”
“That’s right! The flame of our revolution hasn’t gone out yet!”

Of course, not everyone was discouraged.
Most were burning with resolve.
That was true.
If they met head-on, it wouldn’t end easily.
1,328 Revolutionary Talents gathered here.
1,329 in total, including Park Moopal at the 60th floor.
If they clashed with overwhelming force?
They could certainly claim a considerable toll from the military.
But….

“Look there, comrades.”

Park Moopal pointed toward the military forces ahead.
1,328 Revolutionary Talents.
Most of them Awakened, surpassing ordinary human limits.
Despite the considerable distance.
The faces of the military were all visible.

Tense, afraid, trembling….
That’s right.
They’re common people just like us.
Not even Revolutionary Talents among them.
It’s obvious without looking.
They must’ve sent only powerless civilians as cannon fodder.

“How could I use this power against fellow people? The upper ranks are another matter.”
“That’s….”
“Ah….”

You live long enough to see strange things.
In truth, I never thought this way—not until we first took up arms.
Powerless civilians with no connections?
What does it matter.
My survival comes first.
If things went wrong?
Guerrilla warfare, no question.
Military officers, cadres, whoever.
Burn it all down.
That was all I thought about.
But.
After I came to know the Manager, my thinking changed.

“The grace of receiving weapons to help powerless civilians—how could I turn a blade on my fellow comrades?”

There’s no avoiding it.
Now there are no choices left.

“As Combat Director, I’m issuing my final order. Comrades, you will go and surrender.”
“Sir?”
“Director, what are you saying?”

What do I mean.
Exactly what I said.

“Go surrender now. That’s what I’m telling you.”
“Director, even if we surrender now, you know we’ll be sent to Aoji, don’t you?”

Aoji?
No.
If you were ordinary people, yes.
Then surely Aoji.
But you?
You’re Revolutionary Talents.
They won’t simply discard you if you surrender quietly.
You’ll suffer, of course.

“They say even rolling in a dung heap is better than the next life—isn’t living better than that?”
“Come with us, Director.”

Me?
I’m already too late.
From the start, their goal was to eliminate me….
Would they let me live if I surrender?
Not a chance.
This is where I stop.
So.
Sell me out and live, all of you.

“Tell them I coerced you—that I forced you here against your will. Understand?”

A sigh.
How had it come to this?
Park Moopal.
A man who had lived his entire life without ambition.
Only now, at the end, had he discovered there were other paths he might have taken.

“Hm….”

It was a bitter thing to contemplate.
Still.
He’d climbed to the 60th floor, at least.
A rueful smile crossed his face—

Ding!

[Global Alert: Ralph Carter (United States) is the first to advance to Floor 70 of the Chaos Tower.]
[From this moment forward, the world will be transformed.]

An incomprehensible alert sounded.

“Director, look there! Look!”

He turned to look.
The Chaos Tower—which had always hung in the sky like a mirage, perpetually beyond reach—had vanished.
In its place.
At a distance that could be seen with the naked eye.
A tower rose up, so impossibly tall that its peak disappeared from view.

“Isn’t that Pyongyang?”

No.
What in the world was happening?

—————
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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