The Legendary Regressor Devours the Tower - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Association President Choi Hyuk was currently nursing a major headache due to this EX+ Rank.

From the tutorial to the 1st floor.

Because of absurd results, the eyes of the entire world were focused on South Korea.

“How about the United States?”

“Yes. The US side is currently requesting information about the monster rookie.”

“As expected.”

Choi Hyuk let out a sigh.

As of the present, it was the country possessing the most top rankers.

Whenever they saw someone with promising potential, they recruited them en masse, promising massive compensation including permanent residency. As a result, the gap had gradually begun to widen, and currently, they were dominating to an untouchable degree.

“It’s not just the United States. Many other countries like China, Japan, Russia, and so on are the same.”

As the US ran away with their dominance, other countries were striving tirelessly to narrow the gap.

They were undoubtedly trying to bring Sungwoon to their own countries by any means necessary.

It was fortunate that the association had placed a padlock on him using their authority.

If not for that, the recruiting war would have expanded from guilds to nations.

“Reject them.”

Since the padlock was engaged, even the US wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

In fact, they might even welcome it.

Since the association put a padlock on him, a LOCK was placed for a certain period, preventing anyone other than the Association President from accessing the Climber’s information, so they wouldn’t have to worry about losing him to anywhere else.

‘It’s the composure of those who have it all.’

Tutorial EX-Rank, 1st Floor EX+ Rank.

Having finished consecutively with results that defied human common sense, his verification was as good as complete.

Currently, the country challenging uncharted territory is the United States.

Because of that, hidden encounters discovered for the first time were also often taken by American Climbers.

It meant they could promise extraordinary treatment fitting of such achievements.

‘If that’s the case, going to the United States might not be so bad either…’

What Choi Hyuk desired was not the wealth and power of South Korea, but reaching the top of the tower to prevent destruction.

“Yes. I will take measures right away. And these are the items requested by Climber Yoo Sungwoon.”

He carefully placed the note received from Team Leader Jang Byungjun onto the table.

A total of eight items were written on the note.

“Prepare them right away and send them.”

“Yes!”

[They say the NPC named Hudin died?]

-I heard you have to get the headband from him. But how do you even get the headband itself ㅡㅡ

└Lies are pouring out just because an EX+ Rank appeared. You bastards

└I saw it directly on stream though? He was definitely wearing the headband

└You’re supposed to get that headband from the NPC, but no one gives it to you.

└Does that mean it’s just a simple item?

Sungwoon, who quickly skimmed the community, smirked.

‘Once an EX-Rank appears, it never appears again.’

Whether it’s the first time or existing.

According to the memoirs, once someone reaches EX-Rank, it changes so that no one else can ever receive an EX.

‘As time passes, they will naturally find out.’

Those looking at him with eyes of awe would increase, but humans trying to keep him in check would also appear just as much.

Therefore, he would climb even higher.

To the extent that they couldn’t even feel an emotion like jealousy.

“More importantly, are you going to keep monitoring me from behind?”

When Sungwoon asked him to fetch some ingredients while he went out, he handed over the note to another employee and trailed right behind Sungwoon.

“Yes. It is to protect you, Climber-nim, in case anyone tries to approach you.”

Finishing the 1st floor with an EX+ Rank didn’t mean he had risen to an overwhelmingly powerful figure yet.

Speaking objectively, Sungwoon still hadn’t moved past being a beginner.

Because of that, protection could be considered essential.

“Just don’t get in my way.”

“Yes. Please ignore me entirely and go about your business.”

No, seriously, if you stare at me so intently, how can I not care?

Sungwoon shook his head side to side and took his steps toward the alley.

Thereupon, three men who were squatting in the alley puffing on cigarettes stood up from their spots with glowing eyes, as if they had spotted prey.

“Hey. Wait a second, I… Keuh-heok!”

As one man tried to approach Sungwoon, Jang Byungjun, who had been watching from a short distance away, suddenly closed in and grabbed the man by the throat.

“Do you want to die?”

At his bloodthirsty voice, the two approaching men froze like stone.

Whether gripped by terror, their legs trembled like aspen leaves.

“Seeing that you do not answer, I shall take it as an affirmative.”

Snap-

Jang Byungjun grabbed his right arm and snapped it mercilessly.

“Kkueuuueueuk!”

Being choked and unable to answer, the man’s eyes turned bloodshot, and tears flowed down.

He struggled to break free from Jang Byungjun’s hand, but it didn’t budge at all.

“I will ask one last time. Do you want to die?”

His gaze turned to the two men.

“Hieeeek!”

As if loyalty didn’t exist in them, the men turned around and ran away as fast as their legs could carry them.

Sungwoon gave those guys a pathetic look before turning his gaze to Jang Byungjun.

“You can let him go now.”

“Yes.”

Jang Byungjun’s fierce look softened in an instant as he released the pressure from his hand.

The man, who was on the verge of passing out, gasped heavily while tears and snot poured out.

“Cough! Cough! P-please spare me…”

He was so utterly terrified that he couldn’t even speak properly.

‘I could have handled it fine without him stepping in.’

Since he had just started climbing, there would be a clear difference in terms of stats, but he could narrow that gap with his vast experience.

Well, rather than wasting energy for no reason, it was convenient having him step up like that.

Sungwoon took his steps forward.

Jang Byungjun, who was staring intently at the man, averted his gaze and followed behind Sungwoon.

At that time.

Han Geonu was watching his surroundings nervously while standing in a corner, waiting for someone.

“Ha, seriously… why the hell did he call me to a place like this?”

The place Sungwoon summoned him to was Alchemy Street.

The key figures who elevated South Korea into an alchemy powerhouse transmuted alchemy while receiving lavish treatment.

Then what kind of place was this?

It was precisely where alchemists who had been weeded out due to side effects of failed transmutes resided.

“Fuck…”

Just then, Han Geonu spotted a man staggering toward him and stepped aside.

“We-e-e-ek!”

Placing his hand on the wall where Han Geonu had been standing just a moment ago, the man threw up everything inside his stomach right then and there.

As the disgusting scene unfolded, Han Geonu frowned.

“Seriously driving me crazy.”

Fortunately, the painful time ended here.

“Have you been waiting?”

Because Sungwoon, who had summoned him, had arrived.

“Ha, seriously, why did you arrive so late?”

Upon swearing absolute loyalty, Han Geonu had decided to serve him as his hyung-nim.

Tutorial EX-Rank.

And the person who recorded 1st Floor EX+ Rank was said to be the same person—no matter who looked at it, wouldn’t it obviously be Sungwoon?

There was no reason not to serve him as hyung-nim.

Of course, his defiant attitude remained as ever, but Sungwoon didn’t mind.

If he tried to cross the line, beating him to a pulp until he crawled on his knees would be enough.

“Got a problem?”

Flinch.

“A-No. It’s not that…”

“Is that so? Then follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

Sungwoon walked ahead, and Han Geonu followed behind him.

The place they headed to was an old building.

It was a 3-story building, but the entrance was blocked by iron bars so that no one could enter.

“Where is this place?”

Han Geonu asked with a somewhat anxious face.

Black plastic bags were piled high beside the building, emitting an unbearable stench.

What looked like red blood dripped from them, giving off an eerie sensation.

The important thing was the man following behind them.

A burly man wearing a suit was watching silently.

‘Who the hell is that bastard?’

Since the guy was staring intently at him, he couldn’t ask out loud, so he sent eye signals to Sungwoon several times, but Sungwoon lightly ignored them.

“Now, shall we go in?”

Sungwoon stepped aside.

Why is he stepping aside when he says we’re going in?

“Huh? I thought you said we’re going in?”

As Han Geonu wore a question mark on his face, Sungwoon shook his head side to side in frustration.

“Break it down.”

“B-Break it down?”

“Yeah.”

“…Understood.”

He wondered if it might become a problem later, but surely this guy would take care of it on his own.

However, there was one problem.

When he was kicked out of the Cheonha Guild, all the equipment he possessed had been taken away.

Furthermore, after mindlessly attacking Sungwoon and dying on the 1st floor, he was left without a single gold piece.

In other words, he didn’t even have equipment to climb the 1st floor right now.

As he was groaning while nervously watching Sungwoon’s reaction like a puppy that urgently needed to take a dump, Sungwoon handed him a hammer as if he had realized.

“Use this.”

“Ah, thank you.”

A hammer that was of B-Rank, no less.

It was very light, weighing just slightly more than the pink dumbbell.

Han Geonu slammed the hammer toward the iron bars.

Kkang!

What kind of damn iron bars were these that easily withstood a B-Rank hammer?

“Why is it so hard?”

Han Geonu continued to strike with the hammer.

Kkang! Kkang!

“Stop, you bastard!”

Then, a man’s voice roared loudly from inside the building.

‘Is that person Woo Mincheol?’

An alchemist called an eccentric who invented countless elixirs and bestowed hope upon many Climbers.

Sungwoon had also actively used his elixirs, and thanks to that, he was able to overcome numerous crises.

However, that alchemist actually referred to his disciple, Lee Sanghyeon, not Woo Mincheol.

Because in his previous life, Woo Mincheol had died before Sungwoon even climbed the tower.

The three syllables of Woo Mincheol’s name were known to the world only because Lee Sanghyeon confessed that he had utilized his master’s recipes.

“Who the hell are you bastards!”

Woo Mincheol picked up a glass bottle he was holding and yelled.

“W-What should we do?”

Han Geonu, who had been pounding on the iron bars with the hammer, asked with a flustered face.

“I came to get some elixirs.”

Sungwoon stated his business with a nonchalant expression.

“Elixir? Don’t talk bullshit and fuck off.”

Woo Mincheol overtly expressed his displeasure while raising his middle finger.

“That son of a bitch?”

Feeling offended, Han Geonu raised his hammer and struck the iron bars.

“Get the hell lost right now before I melt you down?!”

Woo Mincheol snatched a glass bottle from the table.

“Step back.”

“…Yes.”

Han Geonu, who was about to strike the iron bars again, stepped back with a sulky face.

“Hmph, unlike that burly bastard, you’re not stupid at least.”

“As you can see.”

Sungwoon smirked, while Han Geonu glared at Woo Mincheol with an incredulous look.

“I’m warning you for the last time. Get the fuck out!”

Woo Mincheol approached closely and threatened them with the red liquid inside the glass bottle.

It looked as if he would splash the liquid on them immediately if they didn’t leave.

“10 billion.”

10 billion.

At that amount, Woo Mincheol’s expression subtly shifted.

“10 billion?”

“Yes. I will buy it for 10 billion.”

As of the present, elixirs were not famous.

To be precise, the elixirs manufactured by Woo Mincheol.

He was ostracized by alchemists simply because he resided in this street.

In such a situation, someone appearing and offering 10 billion would inevitably tempt him.

“…What kind of elixir do you need?”

Although a new currency called gold appeared alongside the tower, cash was still invincible.

It meant it was a world where money could solve almost anything.

If it were impossible, one had to consider whether the money they possessed was insufficient.

“I need an elixir that can resist poison. And a very powerful one at that.”

“Poison, huh… Then you came to the right place.”

Woo Mincheol forced his scowl to smooth out.

There was indeed one elixir related to poison.

Tears of Belos.

The problem was that Tears of Belos was an elixir that had not yet been revealed to the world.

Meaning it was still incomplete.

“Then will you sell it to me?”

However, the sum of 10 billion was far too large an amount to reject.

“Mnnn…”

Only after pondering for a long while did Woo Mincheol open the tightly shut iron bars.