China was still under a state of national emergency.

The chaos caused by the Liberation Rune Necklace had spread across the entire country like wildfire.

The Chinese government declared martial law and deployed public security forces and the People’s Liberation Army to suppress it, but it wasn’t enough.

The liberated villain players no longer charged in blindly like before.

Instead, they used the necklaces in extremely cunning ways: hit-and-run guerrilla tactics, long-range sniping with bows and crossbows, targeted assassinations with minimal movement.

Senior government officials and Chinese Communist Party leaders were ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) now afraid to leave their homes.

They had become the primary targets of the Chinese Player Association-turned-secret society—the Resistance Liberation Players.

Beijing, China.

An emergency countermeasures meeting of the Chinese government was held in a heavily secured location.

“The Party Secretary of Shaanxi Province has been killed.”

“Cause of death?”

“He was attacked at home. An arrow flew in through an open window and struck his forehead...”

“Have you caught the suspect?”

“They’ve already vanished... but we’re pursuing them.”

Pursuing them.

But could they really be caught?

The Resistance Liberation Players were growing more covert by the day.

They were organized and systematic.

But above all, the biggest problem was this—

“Their numbers keep increasing. At this point, we can’t even estimate how many there are.”

“Hah...”

“If this continues...”

“This is madness.”

What were they supposed to do?

How many high-ranking politicians and officials had already died?

If things went wrong, the government itself could collapse.

If there were a solution, it would be to block Tower entry at the source—but was that even possible?

There was no solution.

Their insides burned with anxiety.

No—there was one option.

The Mana-Sealing Scroll.

The only reliable way to neutralize liberation players safely.

If they could import around a hundred million of them, it might work.

“Those Mana-Sealing Scrolls are produced in Pyongyang, right?”

“Yes.”

“Have you spoken with Chairman Kim Injung?”

“We’ve already contacted him, but—”

“What did he say?”

“He said distribution is handled exclusively by Korean companies and the Korean Awakening Administration. They’re only a subcontracted manufacturer...”

“Damn it!”

That bastard.

Chairman Kim Injung had completely switched sides now.

He was firmly aligned with South Korea.

“Send an assassination squad and kill him.”

“It won’t help. Chairman Kim Injung isn’t the real power in North Korea.”

“Ah! Right.”

The most powerful figure in North Korea now was the Minister of the People’s Armed Forces—Cossack.

“Then Cossack...”

“Or we raid the Pyongyang factory and steal the printing equipment—”

“Launch a preemptive strike first.”

But dissenting voices rose as well.

“No, let’s not do that. Why choose the hardest path? We don’t have the capacity for war right now. That would only delight the liberation players.”

That was true.

Even if Chairman Kim Injung and Cossack were killed, would Mana-Sealing Scrolls magically appear?

It would only provoke backlash.

Stealing the equipment was unrealistic as well.

They had already acquired and analyzed several scrolls.

The technology was impossible to replicate.

It required special paper and ink.

“Is there an alternative?”

“We need to bow our heads and approach the Korean Awakening Administration. That’s the best option.”

“Hm.”

“Let’s issue a joint statement from China’s Emergency Response Committee apologizing to players and showing sincerity. Then the Korean Awakening Administration may allow scroll exports.”

“Grrngh!”

It was the only alternative...

But the problem was national pride—China as a great power.

This was practically begging.

A white flag of surrender.

But what choice did they have?

“What does everyone think? Reconciling with the Korean Awakening Administration?”

“... I agree.”

“There’s no other way, so I agree.”

“I agree as well.”

“Agreed.”

“I concur.”

A unanimous decision.

With all six Standing Committee members in agreement, only action remained.

“Then who will go as special envoy?”

“I’ll go. I’ll meet Commissioner Jeon Gwangil.”

“We need at least a hundred million scrolls. Otherwise it won’t be effective.”

“Yes, understood.”

One hundred million scrolls—ten trillion won?

Money wasn’t the issue.

The country itself was in danger of collapse.

CLANG—

The Human Holy Sword, Bardin.

The same Bardin who once shouted “O Light!” from Meatshield’s hand.

He had returned—at LSSR rank.

Juhyeok ran to the landmark building to welcome him.

The summoned entities followed behind him.

He was nervous.

What would Bardin be like now?

What was the true form of their LSSR Holy Knight?

Soon after, Bardin arrived in the landmark lobby.

“O Light!!!”

After shouting once, he strode forward.

“Ugh, I can’t even open my eyes.”

“He’s pure light.”

“That’s basically a searchlight.”

“I told you before—undead would melt instantly.”

Such radiant brilliance.

A nightmare for undead—but warm to Juhyeok.

It even felt like his body was being healed.

“My lord! This knight, Bardin, has safely returned after breaking through his rank.”

<Catalog: The indomitable, unbreakable Holy Knight who has finally realized his true duty.>

Name: Lucius Bardin

Rank: LSSR (Legend Special Super Rare)

Ahhh!

A holy knight clad from head to toe in radiant silver armor.

But the flail was gone.

Instead, he carried a shield far larger than his own body.

That’s right.

A holy knight used a shield.

Still, just to be sure—

“Sir Bardin?”

“Command me.”

“You’re not going to turn into a Human Holy Sword anymore, right?”

“Do not worry. I have finally realized my duty. A holy sword is not my role.”

“Oh!!!”

Wonderful news.

“Instead, my role is...”

CLACK!

He swung the shield from his back to the front and—

THUNK!

Slammed it into the ground.

“I am my lord’s shield.”

At that moment—

FWAAAAASH!

The already enormous shield began to grow.

Larger and larger.

Massive enough to block any attack from outside.

But—

“... Giantification again? This makes me nervous.”

Bardin stood there holding a massive shield.

And over there stood giantified Meatshield, holding a colossal hammer in one hand.

One of Meatshield’s hands was empty.

Big enough to hold something enormous.

Like a giant shield.

“... Don’t tell me Meatshield’s going to—”

“As I said before. I am my lord’s shield. I protect only my lord.”

... Whew.

Thank goodness.

He had almost thought it would turn out like the Human Holy Sword all over again.

But Cossack seemed to think otherwise.

He smirked at Bardin.

“Old habits die hard. One day, he’ll end up in Meatshield’s hand.”

What nonsense!

“Absolutely not.”

If that ever happened—

He would revoke both Meatshield’s and Bardin’s Residency Rights and exile them to the world of souls for a month.

It would hurt, but wrong was wrong.

Anyway, Bardin’s rank breakthrough.

That made ten LSSR-ranked summoned entities fighting alongside Juhyeok.

A grand celebration was held on White Tower Floor 17.

Everyone showered the transformed Bardin with praise.

He had come carrying a shield, after all—

With the sole purpose of protecting his summoner.

“Commendable. Use that shield well.”

“A warrior is proud of you, Holy Knight.”

“Truly admirable. Please take good care of the young master.”

“It seems healing energy is woven into that radiance as well. Stay by the summoner’s side during Tower climbs.”

“Congratulations, Adjutant Bardin.”

“WAAH!”

They still needed to examine his changed abilities.

The obvious differences were the intensity of his radiance and the shield replacing the flail.

There had to be more than that.

They would find out inside the Tower.

So where should they go?

There was something they needed to do anyway.

Open the 84th floor of Earth No. 675’s Black Tower.

To restock their high-grade and top-grade Magic Stones.

“There should be ore veins there too, right?”

One run for an S+++ clear.

One run to search for veins.

“Sir Bardin, as your initiation—let’s run the 84th floor of Earth No. 675’s Black Tower twice.”

“I shall prepare.”

“Yes!”

Juhyeok and the party took the elevator down to the 1st floor of the White Tower.

They needed to go outside first, so they wrapped themselves in a Transcendent Concealment Veil and left the White Tower.

“... Hm?”

What?

“There’s nothing here?”

Before, monsters had packed the area so tightly there had barely been room to stand—but now there wasn’t a single one.

Really none?

Just in case—

Designated Summon.

SPOT! SPOT! SPOT!

“Eh? Why does it feel so empty?”

“I know. We came out all tense, but at this rate, do we even need the concealment veil?”

Gyeon Dallae waved her hands in protest.

“That would be absolutely unthinkable. The veil must remain on at all times.”

“The fairy is right. One must always remain cautious.”

Let’s go into the Tower.

Together with the summoned entities.

SPOT!

[Entering German Black Tower 84th Floor.]

The environment here—

A snowfield with blizzards sweeping across it.

Exactly the same as the Black Tower environment on their Earth.

But then, at that very moment—

“Huh?”

What is it?

There was someone standing right in front of them.

Immediately, Bardin stepped forward with his shield.

Meatshield enlarged his body through giantification.

The Berserk Mage released crescent-shaped waves of power.

ZIIING!

Mackenzie deployed a barrier to protect Juhyeok.

Juhyeok simply stared.

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over him.

“Feels like someone I’ve seen before...”

That’s right.

Not a real person—a hologram.

An egg-shaped head.

No hair.

No eyebrows.

Don’t tell me—again?

“It’s an administrator.”

“Administrator.”

“It really is an administrator.”

“The one from No. 675?”

“Why is an administrator here?”

“Lower your eyes, you bastard!”

“WAAH!”

All administrators looked the same.

The thing’s mouth slowly opened.

[Bong Juhyeok, you’ve been running wild in someone else’s world. Do you think this is your world?]

Huh?

That’s rich.

As if you’re a local yourself.

[The reason I came here is—]

“Don’t tell me, the equivalent-exchange scale again?”

[You’ve already tried it once, so you understand. We can communicate.]

“What are you giving me?”

[State what you want first.]

At that moment—

“This bastard’s getting mouthy. While I’m being polite, start using honorifics. If you keep talking down to us, I’ll tear you to pieces.”

Ohhh!

What was this?

Cossack speaking clearly and sharply for once?

The administrator didn’t back down either.

With a mocking smile—

[The master stays silent, yet the dog steps forward. I’ll need to discipline you properly.]

What?

This insolent bastard.

Calling their Cossack a dog?

Don’t stop me.

From here on, I’m going all out.

With ten LSSR summoned entities backing me up—

“Hey!”

[Hm? Are you speaking to me?]

“Yeah, I’m talking to you, asshole! Who the hell are you calling a dog? Get lost. I don’t need your equivalent exchange or anything else.”

[......]

“Did you eat bad manners for breakfast?”

[...... Why all of a sudden?]

“Get lost!”

[Are you refusing dialogue?]

Dialogue my ass.

“If you want to talk, apologize and use honorifics.”

[What?]

“Use honorifics. Otherwise, I’m not listening.”

I’d keep talking down to him all day if I had to.

[......]

“You’re not going to? Then I’m leaving.”

[Very well... let us proceed that way.]

“Apology?”

[I’m sorry.]

He had won the opening exchange.

How dare that thing try to square up to a grown man?

[As stated earlier, I came to propose an equivalent-exchange scale transaction.]

“Not interested. Can’t you just let me climb the Tower in peace?”

I’m doing just fine.

Why do they keep interfering?

[... You know it yourself. This isn’t a situation we can ignore. Taking Gigants to clear the Tower... and five entries per day—isn’t that excessive?]

“Hm.”

[There must be hardship for growth. For you, Tower climbing can’t even be called hardship. It’s nothing but play. At least some effort is necessary to feel accomplishment.]

What nonsense.

“My Tower-climbing philosophy is freeloading.”

[Yes. I’ll let you freeload. You succeeded with the equivalent-exchange scale on Earth No. 1,001, didn’t you? Do the same here.]

......

His heart wavered.

Easy clears. Easy rewards.

Just imagining it felt good.

[The floor to be set is the 85th. Place what you want on the scale. The difficulty will be determined accordingly.]

What should they do?

First, everyone gather.

They huddled together and whispered.

“Why hesitate? Accept it right now.”

“Definitely put up a Trait Enhancement Rune.”

“And a Dragon Heart.”

“Why not ask for a bottle of Elixir of Enhancement outright?”

“How about 1 ton of top-grade Magic Stones?”

These people were asking big.

What if they failed?

“So what? It’s a Tower in a ruined world anyway. If it doesn’t work, we can just quit.”

... That was true.

Even if this Tower collapsed, it wouldn’t affect their Earth.

Should we go all in?

But the Berserk Mage spoke up.

“Let’s not overdo it. Only ask for what we can actually clear.”

Gyeon Dallae nodded as well.

“That is correct. This is an opportunity. We must be able to claim what we place on the scale.”

Then—

“Trait Enhancement Rune, okay?”

[I’ll place it on the scale.]

“3,000 tons of high-grade Magic Stones, and 1 ton of top-grade Magic Stones too.”

[Placed.]

One more.

“And if we clear at S+++ grade, increase the Platinum Badge reward tenfold.”

Meaning twenty badges.

[Placed. Anything else?]

That was enough.

Ask for more and they might not even be able to touch it.

Dragon Hearts could be obtained by killing dragons.

Elixirs and nectar could be crafted by gathering materials.

Hold back.

They had already been greedy enough.

“No more.”

[Very well. An excellent transaction.]

The administrator looked satisfied.

I’m satisfied too.

I’ll succeed for sure and take everything.

“Just so you know.”

[Yes?]

“Thanks.”

[... Understood. Then I’ll take my leave.]

SSSK.

The administrator of Earth No. 675’s Black Tower vanished.

Even as it left, its face wore a bright smile.

Yeah, go ahead and smile.

We’ll see who’s laughing in the end.

Anyway—

“Don’t you think I was pretty manly just now?”

Anyone would agree, right?

A little praise would be nice—

“Top-tier manliness. Absolute alpha.”

“A paragon among magnanimous men.”

“Young master is the very embodiment of a gentleman.”

“You were strong from the start.”

“From a commander’s perspective, exemplary.”

“You shall become the emperor who leads the Earth Empire. O Light!!!”

“There is no man like my master across all dimensions. Hehe.”

“WAAH!”

Hey! Why was everyone acting like this?

This was embarrassing.

“We don’t know how the situation might change, so let’s finish this as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, sir!”

Before it got patched.

First, clear the 84th floor.

Using Master Bei’s sub-light-speed rounds.

ZIIIIIIING!

CRRRRZZZZT!

BOOM!

The Colossus Condor exploded.

[World Announcement: You have achieved clear grade S+++ on Black Tower (Germany), Floor 84.]

[S+++ Clear Reward: 2 Platinum Badges have been granted.]

Next, repeat the clear.

Check whether ore veins existed.

Of course they did.

Now they just had to mine them.

And then—

“Cossack.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve got that ready, right?”

That thing that didn’t work on their Earth but did work on Earth No. 675.

“It’ll be ready.”

“Then let’s go to North Korea with Rajix and bring it back.”

“Yes, sir!”

How many should they detonate this time?

Five should probably be enough.

They could adjust depending on the situation.

“Whoa...”

His heart was suddenly pounding.

He was excited.

When that exploded on the 85th floor of the Black Tower—

How would the administrators feel then?