Chapter 17 (1/2)

“Party….. Will there be normal people?”

“We’ll see.”

Though they might seem fine on the outside, people were mazes inside.

The world inside a mission had no law or order. Even if someone commited a crime, they could not put them on trial. When people are put in extreme situations, they turn into devils.

“I’m not forcing you to do it.”

“I’ll try it. I got this far in Level E missions with just my body. The advance mission shouldn’t be so bad since I’ve got good equipment and you.”

Park Jin Hyuk made up his mind. If he changed his equipment, he would have the confidence to take on 1000-point missions alone. With Cha Jun Sung on top of that, he was not scared.

“That’s impressive.”

Cha Jun Sung knew that he would do it and patted his shoulder. They had become quite close in a matter of 10 days. If compatible, time didn’t matter.

“It’s for me. I’m sure you’re the same, but I hate losing.”

“Except in studying.”

“Ha ha! Right. Except in studying.”

Kikik!

They checked each other’s thoughts. All they had left was to wait until the D-day.

If they gave up a mission, it would become congested. Lifers were growing by the day. If they stayed still, the Lifers would catch up to them and then they would be left behind.

“How many points go into body modification?”

“300,000 for the 2nd stage and 100,000 for the first stage.”

Ahem.

Park Jin Hyuk coughed. 300,000 points! It was easy to say 300,000, but it was dark. It would take them months.

“I gathered 100,000 so I can do the first stage.”

“You’ve gathered 100,000 already? Jackpot! So I guess you’ll do the 1st stage of body modifications?”

“Yeah. I’m going to go do it today.”

“The advance mission after a body modification? It’ll be easier than we thought.”

He wished it could be like that, but Cha Jun Sung knew that it would not be as easy as they were thinking.

Level 1 was fine. But if Level 2 mutants came out in hordes, he would not be able to handle it.

1 or 2 mutants between the two of them was just right. Even with body modification, 3 or 4 mutants would be all. He was not going to become unbelievably strong.

“From now on, let’s observe Lifers’ dynamics instead of gathering points.”

“Okay.”

Now they would lower the number of missions and search for a party to go into the advance mission with. The maximum number of people they could enter with for a mission in Class E is 10.

The day that number is filled would become the day they go into the advance mission.

***

After Cha Jun Sung left Park Jin Hyuk, he did not return to the real world. He needs to go through body modification. He went into the briefing room for the first time in a long while.

“100,000 points.”

Gulp.

He swallowed as he saw the number of points he had accumulated come up on the PDA screen.

It was the result of suffering for two months. With this, he could purchase the one or two of the best equipment in the Level D store.

The list of things he wanted to buy was endless, but he had already made up his mind.

“Body modification.”

He needed to rely on personal skill rather than equipment. In that end, body modification is a necessary course for Lifers to strengthen their bodies.

No matter how great the equipment was, he could not use it properly if his body was garbage. If the foundation was weak, it was just a sand castle that will be blown over in the wind.

“Odin, prepare it.”

-[Once you accept it, you cannot overturn it. Shall I set the body modification?]

“Yeah.”

-[Setting, setting complete. 100,000 points will be deducted.]

Cha Jun Sung’s points fell to 100. He went into the body modification room slowly. It was simple. A cylindrical object in a transparent material closed around him.

It was similar to the body modification room in the virtual version. He did not see any terror-inducing instruments. There were only tubes to eject liquid.

Seureuk.

Cha Jun Sung took off the equipment he had been wearing. Body modification was not a raw surgery where his flesh was opened to tamper with his bones, muscles, and organs.