Episode 58
058. The Declaration
‘Assassin’s Blade and Pursuer’s Boots? I could probably just sell these… But where the hell does this PK God guy keep getting stuff like this?’
While Geumson was thinking about PK Godt, the smartphone he had forgotten on the desk rang loudly.
“Hey! Golden Hand! Where are you right now?”
The voice coming through the receiver belonged to his only friend, Changsu. Excitement and urgency were mixed in his voice.
“What’s up, what’s going on?”
“What’s going on? Aren’t you watching TV? Aren’t you watching the news?!”
At Changsu’s insistent urging, Geumson picked up the remote and turned on the TV. A familiar face was on the screen. Kang Mujin, Rank 1 of the Lepyon Korean server. He was answering reporters’ questions in real-time within Repion.
[- Player Kang Mujin, how do you feel about acquiring the Moonlight Venom Snake Sword, which had fierce competition?]
[- I’m indescribably happy. I express my deep gratitude to the one who crafted this sword, ‘Golden Hands.’ If you are watching this broadcast, I’d appreciate it if you contacted me personally.]
It seemed Kang Mujin had started a press conference with the Moonlight Venom Snake Sword. Changsu, surprised by this, had called Geumson. Because the name ‘Golden Hands’ had been directly mentioned from Kang Mujin’s mouth. Changsu’s voice grew louder.
“Hey! That’s you, right? You’re that golden hands! What the hell have you been doing in Lepione? What did you do for Kang Mujin to mention you directly?”
Changsu seemed unaware that Geumson had become a celebrity in Lepione. It was a time when he was too busy starting his own business.
‘He became a currency exchanger?’
The business of converting Lepyon gold to cash or vice versa. Changsu had just started this brokerage.
“You, a currency exchanger, can you be that indifferent to Lepione?”
“Ah, shit! Is Lepyon the only game? I was actually keeping an eye on it because Lepyon-related transactions have surged lately… but I didn’t know that golden hand was this golden hand.”
Changsu, calming his surprised heart, asked for details. But instead of answering, Geumson made a request.
“Hey, no lectures. How much can you handle for currency exchange?”
“Exchange? Ah! Don’t tell me the money from the Moonlight Venom Snake Sword… that! Leave it to me! I’ll handle it!”
“It’s quite a bit. Can your operation handle it? If not, I’ll look elsewhere.”
“Don’t worry, just send it over. How much?”
“Can you handle 5 million gold? Never mind, let’s start with 3 million gold.”
He decided to try exchanging the money he had in Lepione for cash first. Changsu sounded flustered.
“3, 3 million… wait a minute! Let me calculate a bit!”
Changsu’s breathless voice came through the receiver. Normally, he would have cracked a joke smoothly, but the weight of the sum ‘300 million won’ wasn’t something to joke about.
“Hey, you… you’re not joking, right? It’s really 3 million gold?”
Changsu verified several times as if he couldn’t believe it. After a brief silence, he shouted with a determined voice.
“It’s possible! Of course it is! Hey, don’t you trust me? I’ve been in this field for ages! Fine, 300 million, I’ll figure something out! But… you gotta pay a hefty commission, right?”
“No friend discount?”
“I love you! Valued customer! Of course we’ll take care of you!”
Geumson chuckled and hung up. Changsu was definitely bluffing, but Geumson knew he’d somehow manage. The huge sum of 300 million would be a burden for him, having just started his business. But simultaneously, it would be a perfect opportunity to catapult his business onto the right track.
‘If I give Changsu the funds… Changsu will probably get stronger in Lepione too. This is just the first transaction.’
While looking out for Changsu in his own way, Geumson blankly stared at the TV screen. Kang Mujin’s interview continued.
[- Don’t you feel it’s a waste of 5 billion won?]
Kang Mujin gave a wry smile toward the reporter who asked and slowly drew the sword at his waist.
Swoosh—
All noise in the press conference hall ceased as if lying. As the blade, seemingly imbued with a faint moonlight, and the purple energy flowing over it in a snake-scale pattern were revealed under the lights, low gasps erupted from various spots.
[- Not at all. It wouldn’t be a waste even at 5 billion.]
As the hall buzzed again from Kang Mujin’s statement, a sharp question came from an analysis expert for a game-specialized channel.
[- Then what do you plan to do with that incredible weapon? Your activity has been scarce lately. Are you perhaps considering taking on the ‘Nightmare King’ who is hampering the top rankers?]
A confident smile hung on Kang Mujin’s lips.
[- Sharp as ever. Yes. My next target is the ‘Nightmare King.’]
His declaration caused huge ripples among the reporters. Right then, the analysis expert who had asked the question grabbed the mic again. His voice was filled with excitement.
[- If it’s the ‘Nightmare King’… it’s known to be on par with the ‘Lich King’ that’s currently hampering the Rank 1 US server guild, ‘Panteria’! If this raid succeeds, it would mean the Korean server is the first in the world to clear a raid of that grade. Is this a move conscious of the US server?]
All cameras and gazes turned toward Kang Mujin.
This wasn’t just a raid announcement.
It was a declaration of war toward the world, a matter of pride between servers.
Kang Mujin fell silent for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.
[- Not conscious of it.]
He gently ran his finger along the Moonlight Venom Snake Sword’s blade and stared straight into the camera lens.
[- I intend to create an overwhelming gap.]
His final words froze the press conference hall.
It was an arrogant, yet undeniable statement filled with the certainty of a powerhouse.
[- With this sword, nothing is impossible. Please witness the moment when our Yeorcheon, and Korea, stand at the peak of the world!]
As soon as the press conference ended, his statements spread at the speed of light to servers worldwide.
‘Golden Hands’, ‘Moonlight Venom Snake Sword’, ‘Nightmare King Subjugation Declaration’.
And Kang Mujin’s provocative message about ‘creating an overwhelming gap surpassing the US server’ paralyzed Repinet and plunged the entire Korean server into a crucible of fervent excitement.
Around the time that interview was being broadcast live, at the Panteria guild in the US.
“How dare that monkey-like bastard…! He speaks of a ‘gap’ to me, to Panteria?!”
He sprang up from his seat.
A giant physique nearing 2 meters and a well-trained muscular body.
Kane’s face flushed red with anger. At his appearance, the guild executives sitting around unconsciously swallowed dryly.
Kane’s face was crimson with rage.
The master of the Panteria guild, Rank 1 of the US server.
He was the undisputed strongest player who had never once relinquished the top spot in the US server to anyone.
And to him, Kang Mujin from a small Asian country far away.
That guy had dared to challenge him head-on. Directly to Kane of Panteria, to himself.
“Megan! Megan! Report! How is contact with that guy ‘golden hand’ going? Bring him before me immediately! I don’t care how much money it takes!”
Kane’s bloodshot eyes turned toward the woman standing to one side of the conference room.
Panteria’s strategic analyst, Megan.
Unfazed by Kane’s rage, she calmly displayed data from her tablet PC on the screen.
“Guild Master, please calm down. Contact with the player named ‘golden hand’ is currently virtually impossible.”
“Impossible? Nothing is impossible for Panteria! If money doesn’t work, threaten him and bring him here!”
“That would also be difficult. Every time we attempt contact, a major Korean conglomerate called ‘Mirae Group’ blocks all channels. They appear to have already taken charge of Geumson’s personal security.”
At Megan’s report, Kane’s brow furrowed deeply.
Mirae Group.
A monstrous Korean corporation, ranked number one in the business world, whose name had come up several times even in Panteria’s intelligence network.
“Mirae Group? So they’ve entered Lepion too. Then they’re in league with the Yeorcheon guild?”
“No. Quite the opposite. According to our intelligence team’s analysis, Mirae Group appears to intend to monopolize the potential of the individual ‘Golden Hand’ to check HS Group, Yeorcheon’s parent company.”
“So Mirae is interfering with us because…”
“Yes, that’s likely the reason they’re preventing us from approaching him. However…”
Megan paused briefly and pointed to the interview footage.
“This interview by Kang Mujin might actually present an opportunity for us.”
“An opportunity?”
“Kang Mujin has displayed overwhelming power by acquiring the ‘Moonlight Venom Snake Sword.’ This will pose a significant threat to Mirae Group. The biggest reason they wanted to monopolize Golden Hand was precisely to prevent such a situation. But they have effectively failed.”
Her blue eyes gleamed sharply.
“Now, Mirae Group will need a new card to check Yeorcheon. And that card could be us, Panteria. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Megan’s analysis was perfect.
But Kane had no interest in such complex political battles.
His mind was occupied solely with the thought of crushing Kang Mujin, subjugating the ‘Lich King,’ and achieving the world’s first monumental feat.
