Chapter 462 - Central Bureau (4) (1/2)
“I’m saying we should beat that bastard up this instant!”
“Hmph. Even though you’ve already reached this age, your suggestions are always ‘let’s beat him up’ or ‘let’s kill him’. That’s why they say you’re ignorant.”
“What? Are you saying I’m ignorant?”
“Is there anyone else here spouting horseshit like you?”
“You bitch…!”
“Shut up!”
“Yawn.”
The Bureau was no stranger to incidents involving players, but the uproar today was unprecedented because of the player causing trouble on the fifty-first floor: the Shadow King. Because his name was blurred out, even the Guardians called him Cain, and he had recently been marked as an SSS-ranked troublemaker by the Bureau.
He’d lived up to his reputation and blown up the entire fifty-first floor.
“Hm.” For the entire meeting, Klus rubbed his temples as his headache grew. ‘This is why I made a fuss and refused to be director…damn it!’
The Zodiacs, the eleven high Guardians—formerly twelve—shouted at each other during their meeting as they discussed what to do with Yeon-woo. Each Zodiac was assertive, and their personalities so different that they rarely got together like this. However, the severity of the situation demanded an urgent meeting.
However, the joy of gathering for the first time in thirty-odd years was not in evidence among them. In one corner, some growled as they gripped each other’s collars, some bastard was yawning in another corner, one was falling asleep somewhere else, and one was crying. Klus had no idea how to keep them in check.
‘Fuck, should I just…” Klus hesitated for a moment. It didn’t matter if the conference stretched out for an entire year. They wouldn’t be able to get anything done. Klus’ code name was Yin. He was a tiger. When he’d been a player, he crushed anything he disliked without a second thought, but now that he was older and in the director position, he was a lot more patient. But if they kept this up, even Buddha wouldn’t be able to stay calm.
A sharp look flashed in his eyes, and he was about to tighten his grip on the table when Yvlke suddenly clapped his hands together. Clap!
The chaos stopped.
“Ohyohyo. Since we’ve already expressed our opinions, how about we listen to the director’s?”
The High Guardians coughed and turned their heads. No one dared to look at Yvlke in the eye.
Claude couldn’t help scoffing. Even though they were all roughnecks, they walked on eggshells around Yvlke.
Yvlke understood why; he and the dragon, Diablo, had the upper hand when it came to strength. However, Yvlke also had an aura that overwhelmed those around him, as though there were an invisible barrier around him that made him unapproachable. He could make you shrink if you stood next to him. As such, people always treated him with respect. He didn’t have friends, but he didn’t have enemies either.
That was the reason Yvlke was the first person to serve four consecutive terms as the Bureau’s director. If he hadn’t said he wanted to rest this time, he would have easily served a fifth. He had also stayed in a High Guardian position longer than anyone else.
No one knew how a goblin, the lowest of the lowly species, managed to climb to such a prominent position, but Klus didn’t mind, as he respected the strong and the wise. ‘The only catch is that it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking.’
The High Guardians usually took care of the Bureau’s blacklisted players. Yvlke was in charge of the player at the top of the list, the Shadow King. Nevertheless, Yvlke never imposed any significant constraints on the Shadow King. This was the only exception, although he clearly had his reasons. However, since he always efficiently took care of all his assignments, there wasn’t anything to scold him about.
In fact, Klus was grateful that Yvlke settled everyone down. He nodded, and Yvlke smiled understandingly.
“First, our probation of the Shadow King.”Klus slowly spoke up as the eyes of all the High Guardians shot to him. Because he input magic power in his words and didn’t allow anyone else to act up anymore, he could feel the atmosphere tremble. “I think we should do the same thing we did to the Martial King a long time ago; does anyone have any objections?”
* * *
Plod. Plod.
Yeon-woo was being escorted by five Guardians along a narrow, lightless path. Handcuffs were clasped tight around his wrists. They all watched Yeon-woo carefully in case he suddenly tried to attack them, but Yeon-woo didn’t have any interest in them at all. Instead, he looked around in a relaxed manner as they walked and examined the handcuffs that were sealing his magic power away.
It definitely wasn’t divine iron. What was it? If only he knew, he’d have various uses for it. He also checked the messages that popped up in his vision.
[You have made an achievement that is not easily accomplished. Additional karma will be provided.]
[You have acquired 100,000 karma.]
[You have acquired 150,000 additional karma.]
[Your reward…]
[All trials have been completed.]
[You have set a new record on this floor. Will you register your name in the Hall of Fame?]
…
[Will you move to the 52nd floor?]
Fortunately, the bothersome trial of the fifty-first floor was over, and he’d once more broken all records overwhelmingly.
‘Climbing the mountains was the trial, but since I broke the mountains and stood on top of the pieces, the Tower must’ve judged that it was the same thing.’