The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 114

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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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The Return of an EX-Rank Mage Episode 114
Thud!
Spaloti slammed his forehead against the floor once more.
Blood streamed down his face.
-A predictable reaction.
-The hierarchy of existence is sometimes distinguished by the forehead, you see. It can be gauged by the depth of scars left upon it.
-And now, that forehead is proving it quite magnificently.
In an instant, Mayo’s Small World cleaning routine activated, and the floor gleamed once more.
Choi Kang-mok opened his mouth quietly.
“I have no desire to escalate this situation further.”
There was no need to spread rumors that I had obliterated the Naples Tower’s rewards.
“I will also assist in Naples’ reconstruction.”
“….”
Spaloti swallowed hard.
This could no longer be mere goodwill.
Just as a victor demands from the vanquished, an EX-Awakened could extract much from Naples.
What terrifying conditions might follow?
“Extract the 40s Floors strategy from Real Madrid for me.”
“Of course.”
In other words, playing a double agent.
I had already steeled myself for this much, so it was manageable.
‘And next….’
The price for challenging an EX-Awakened.
I could not fathom how dire it would become.
“The condition is that the Pyongyang Lord will occupy the 1st through 10th Floors of the reconstructed Tower.”
The tone was quiet, but the implications were seismic.
Pyongyang is a feudal guild of Seoul.
If they occupy the 1st through 10th Floors, Naples Tower falls under Seoul’s sphere of influence.
It becomes synchronized. In other words, it becomes a vassal state.
Of course, I myself did not think of it in such grandiose terms.
‘I need to expand my operations to Italy.’
My supply of EX Coins had been running tight lately.
Mayo’s appetite had grown with full enhancement, and maintenance costs were mounting.
To maintain stabilization, more EX Coins were always better.
I also needed to purchase the new ‘Seal of Justice.’
If London was an equal partner, Naples was a resource territory.
Spaloti swallowed hard.
‘A new form of colonization.’
An occupation achieved without spilling a single drop of blood.
The appearance is cooperation, but the reality is dominion.
Perhaps it was an odd structure where even some of the subjugated felt joy.
‘The imperialism of the Tower civilization era is dawning.’
Now the puzzle pieces fit together.
Why the EX-Rank Awakener hadn’t immediately executed Vicario.
Why he had dragged this entire situation to this point.
The reason he had orchestrated events to bring me to my knees before him.
The EX-Rank Awakener was not merely a powerful Awakener.
‘He is one who dreams of becoming the emperor of a new age.’
Of course, that wasn’t true.
Choi Kang-mok’s dream was simply to be an excellent mage.
In any case, Spaloti nodded.
“I will accept everything.”
It was actually better this way.
If he truly dreamed of being an emperor, he wouldn’t resort to reckless oppression.
Compared to other Guilds, Naples’s position wasn’t unfavorable.
Perhaps the first servant to offer loyalty might receive somewhat special treatment.
“You’ve thought this through well.”
“Additionally, there’s something I’ve been eager to show you.”
He retrieved an item from his inventory.
“This is a conquest map of the 40s Floors. It can be used up to the 45th Floor.”
From the 41st to the 45th Floor, the maps are identical.
Only the challenges differ slightly.
“It’s not complete—only about one-third of the full map. I’d be grateful if you’d accept it as a token of goodwill. Oh, and Real Madrid likely has the remaining pieces. I’ll do my best to persuade them and obtain it.”
His confession about wanting to serve as a retainer in a great household wasn’t a lie.
Better to become a favored minister at the emperor’s side.
A well-fed schemer was preferable to a starving patriot—that had long been his philosophy.

* * *
One piece of news struck Europe with force.
[Breaking News: Naples Lord Spaloti marched into Seoul seeking revenge for Vicario, only to be utterly defeated]
└Random Korean (Seoul resident): lol who even invaded?
└Apparently Spaloti blamed the EX-Awakened for Vicario’s death and came to settle it
└nah nah he was pissed because Naples Tower’s reward system got destroyed
└Either way, he got his ass handed to him and ran back, that’s facts right?
Vicario’s death.
And the destruction of Naples Tower’s reward system.
Spaloti concluded that both incidents were caused by the EX-Awakened and marched into Seoul.
Or so the story went.
[But it turns out Vicario was actually the one at fault?]
└That national curse that hit Korea? Vicario did that lol
└Video evidence is airtight apparently
└Spirits testified too
└Naples Lord coming back empty-handed deserves all the upvotes lol
After that, Spaloti issued an official apology.
“Following thorough investigation and review, both incidents have been confirmed to be unrelated to the EX-Awakened. We acted in haste…”
The Seoul Guild promised support for reconstructing Naples Tower,
and in the process, a new keyword became known to the world.
[Seoul Guild announces support including Orbs, Novaeite, and EX Coins for Naples Tower]
The world learned for the first time what EX Coins actually were.
While they had various uses, they proved extraordinarily advantageous for all manner of reinforcement and synthesis.
[Orbs: boom, Novaeite: boom, EX Coins: boom, Hope: boom]
The projected reconstruction time, which had been 1,000 days, was reduced to approximately 30 days.
The spark of hope burned fiercely.
└They must’ve been furious over Vicario, yet they’re still handing out EX Coins?
└Wow, that’s what a premier Guild looks like. I can’t even swallow my pasta from the shame
└From now on, I’ll only eat kimchi.
└We need to hang a banner on Vicario’s memorial photo saying ‘Apologize to Seoul’
Of course, there was a price to be paid.
[Apparently they promised to hand over Floors 1 through 10]
└Random French person: Wow, not just one but ten whole floors? Where’s your pride?
└From now on, people will probably hesitate before entering “Excuse me, Seoul-nim~”
└Someone get the Naples Tower staff some Seoul Guild uniforms~
└We saw it coming when they started bragging about being upper-mid tier strongest lol
Some Naples citizens felt considerable humiliation.
In the age of Tower civilization, losing a Tower was tantamount to losing one’s very identity—so argued political and diplomatic experts.
“On the surface, it may appear to be humanitarian aid in exchange for appropriate compensation. But in essence, it represents control over a city’s—indeed, a nation’s—strategic asset. It is, in effect, a violation of sovereignty.”
After that statement.
The expert in question was assassinated by the mafia.
[@NapoliFami…_Official]
EX Awakener, did you see? We’ve handled it quietly.
└Wow, they really cleaned it up nicely. The sense is insane
└Next time, share the list of worriers. We need to prepare too.
└(This comment has been deleted)

* * *
Antonio, the Real Madrid Lord, wore a bitter smile.
His lips curved upward, but his eyes remained cold.
“That bastard Spaloti….”
At this point, it was safe to say that Real Madrid’s scheming regarding the Tears of Blue Lotus had completely unraveled.
There had been no direct protest from the Seoul Guild, but we had certainly crossed a point of no return with Seoul.
Either way, an example needed to be made.
How dare he betray Real Madrid?
“Assassinating Spaloti has become difficult.”
“Why?”
“He fled to Korea.”
“…That damned border.”
Once someone fled to Korea, assassination became far more difficult.
“We’ll have to wait for the next opportunity.”
Someday, Spaloti would have to be eliminated.
For the sake of Real Madrid’s honor.
“What about recovering the Tears of Blue Lotus?”
“It’s difficult for now. But we will recover it without fail.”
“See that you do.”
Aside from rendering mana barriers useless, its true utility remained unclear.
Yet there was no doubt it was something that absolutely had to be recovered.
“And the one orchestrating all of this is undoubtedly the EX Awakener, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes. It appears they designed and coordinated the entire scheme.”
Antonio nodded quietly.
Going forward, the EX Awakener could no longer be viewed as a mere awakener, but as a top-tier sovereign-class existence.
‘Be careful, EX Awakener. The more I come to understand you, the less likely your victory becomes.’
It was fortunate that it wasn’t the EX Awakener who destroyed the Naples Tower’s reward system.
Besides, such a thing couldn’t possibly be within the power of a mere human.
Not even missiles could do it.

* * *
London Sovereign Foster exhaled sharply, turning over Naples’ decision in his mind.
‘They abandoned pride and chose pragmatism.’
Among many paths, it was the wisest choice.
Yet the problem was that Seoul and Naples had grown far too close.
In Europe, London should have been the one closest to Seoul.
‘If only we could secure EX Coins as well.’
Through Emily, I’d heard of their power firsthand. A small gift wouldn’t suffice.
We needed to secure them through official channels, at the Guild level.
It wasn’t merely a matter of profit—it determined London’s diplomatic standing.
‘Perhaps being servile would ease the mind.’
Like Naples, bowing one’s head might be the answer.
In equal relations like London maintained, there was actually less to gain.
‘What would an EX Awakener appreciate?’
Still, London had a dependable Archmage. Christine.
“Good news, Sovereign!”
“What is it?”
“I’ve obtained a 1/3 fragment of the 40s Floors conquest map! Strong Tree was planning to challenge the 40s Floors anyway—wouldn’t this be quite helpful? Rather than me giving it directly, wouldn’t it be far better if you transmitted it through official channels?”
“Certainly.”
“Seeing you fret about being outpaced by Naples is so obvious I simply couldn’t stand by and do nothing.”
Foster closed his mouth for a moment, then asked slowly.
“Christine. But why do you keep speaking in Korean?”
The pronunciation itself is strange. Those particular word choices.
Why should I need to wear a translation pendant while conversing with an Englishwoman?
“Just try to manage it.”
“Manage what?”
“I can’t bear to see Naples and Seoul growing close.”
“…Why?”
“Because I want to be closest to you?”
It was playful, yet sincere.
Both emotionally and diplomatically.
Foster didn’t press further. That single statement needed no explanation.
Soon, London transmitted the conquest map.
A 1/3 fragment of the 40s Floors conquest map.
And Kim Chul-in of the Boddari Union gifted another 1/3 fragment.
“Oh.”
Unexpected fortune had rolled in.
Thanks to the kindness of those around me, the 40s Floors conquest map was complete.
There was no further reason to delay.
[Entering Seoul Tower 41st Floor.]

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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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