Chapter 25. Emergency Return
The area in front of the bank counters was strangely quiet.
Do-yoon sat in a chair, holding his queue ticket.
Ordinary people surrounded him.
A man waiting to discuss a loan.
An elderly woman carrying her bankbook.
A young mother holding her child's hand.
An office worker wearing a suit.
They were all people from reality.
There were no monsters.
No Mana Stones.
No magic.
Yet Do-yoon felt that this place was more dangerous.
In a dungeon, he could simply draw his sword.
If an attack came, he could dodge it.
His enemies were right in front of him.
But reality was different.
Wherever money moved, people followed.
It attracted attention.
It left records.
And those records could eventually become shackles.
"Mr. Kim Do-yoon."
A bank employee called his name.
Do-yoon stood up.
"Yes."
The employee smiled politely.
But behind that smile was the gaze of someone who wanted to verify something.
"We've noticed several relatively large deposits and withdrawals from your account recently, so we need to conduct a brief verification."
"All right."
"Could you explain the source of these funds?"
Do-yoon gave the answer he had prepared in advance.
"Investment profits."
The employee began typing on the keyboard.
"You're a student, correct?"
"Yes."
"And where did your initial investment capital come from?"
Do-yoon remained silent for a moment.
The longer a lie became, the more dangerous it was.
But he could not tell the whole truth either.
"There's someone helping me."
"Is that person your legal guardian?"
"No."
The employee's expression changed slightly.
Do-yoon did not miss it.
That was when a low voice came from behind him.
"I'll explain."
Do-yoon turned around.
It was Han Myeong-jae.
A black suit.
A neatly arranged tie.
An expressionless face.
The atmosphere inside the bank changed slightly when he entered.
The employee immediately straightened his posture.
"Ah, Chairman Han."
Do-yoon swallowed nervously.
This man possessed power in reality.
And it was not just money.
His name.
His credibility.
His connections.
He had all of them.
Han Myeong-jae sat beside Do-yoon.
"I can verify Kim Do-yoon's investment advisory arrangements and some of the fund transfers."
The employee immediately lowered his head.
"It's part of our verification procedure..."
"I know. That's why I'm here."
Han Myeong-jae took out an envelope containing several documents.
"The funds are legitimate. I've prepared the securities account statements, investment management authorization, and tax advisory records."
Do-yoon stared at the documents.
These were things he had never even considered.
Taxes.
Professional advice.
Authorization.
Records.
Earning money in reality was only the beginning.
You had to prove where it came from.
You had to protect it.
And you had to distinguish between what needed to remain secret and what needed to be disclosed.
Han Myeong-jae glanced at Do-yoon.
"Do you know what's more important than earning money?"
Do-yoon answered,
"Protecting it."
Han Myeong-jae chuckled.
"Not bad."
After checking the documents, the employee's attitude became considerably more relaxed.
"Everything has been verified. We apologize for the inconvenience."
Do-yoon nodded.
"It's all right."
When they stepped outside the bank, Do-yoon let out a deep breath.
Han Myeong-jae walked toward the parking lot.
"Did that surprise you?"
"A little."
"This is barely the beginning."
"..."
"When one hundred million won enters your account, the bank takes notice. When one billion enters, the tax authorities take notice. When ten billion moves, it's no longer individuals watching you. Entire organizations start paying attention."
Do-yoon listened silently.
"And if the source of the money looks suspicious, it might stop being yours, no matter how much you insist that it belongs to you."
"Then what should I do?"
Han Myeong-jae stopped beside his car.
"You need to establish a corporation."
"A corporation?"
"An investment company. An asset management corporation. A research company. A trading company. You can decide on the name later."
Do-yoon narrowed his eyes.
A trading company.
That particular phrase caught his attention.
Reality and the other world.
Goods moving between two worlds.
Potions.
Gold coins.
Mana Stones.
Items.
If he eventually wanted to trade those things in reality, he would need a proper business structure.
Han Myeong-jae noticed his expression.
"You're already thinking of something, aren't you?"
"Not yet."
"You're a terrible liar."
Do-yoon fell silent.
Han Myeong-jae leaned against the car.
"I don't mind that you have secrets. Everyone has them. What's important is making sure those secrets don't end up strangling you."
Do-yoon nodded.
That was when his phone vibrated again.
[Blackroot Guild Request Notification]
[Urgent Information Related to the Tower of Suffering Has Been Discovered.]
[Immediate Return Recommended.]
Do-yoon's expression changed.
Han Myeong-jae noticed.
"Do you need to go?"
"Yes."
"What about school?"
"I can leave early."
"What reason will you give?"
Do-yoon thought for a moment.
"I'll say I'm not feeling well."
Han Myeong-jae chuckled.
"You certainly look like someone who's heading somewhere that might actually make him sick."
Do-yoon did not answer.
Han Myeong-jae opened his car door.
"Go. But don't neglect your responsibilities in reality either."
"Understood."
"And Kim Do-yoon."
Do-yoon stopped.
"Yes?"
"The more you possess, the more danger you bring to the people around you."
Do-yoon's expression hardened.
His mother.
Their home in reality.
His school.
Everything and everyone around him.
Han Myeong-jae spoke quietly.
"Having power isn't just about protecting your own body. It also means protecting your name and the people who belong to you."
Do-yoon slowly nodded.
"I'll remember that."
That afternoon, Do-yoon did not return home.
Nor did he stay at school for long.
He visited the school infirmary and submitted a request to leave early.
The teacher looked at him suspiciously, but Do-yoon no longer avoided his gaze.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"Yes."
"Has something been happening to you lately?"
"No."
The teacher did not ask anything else.
It had always been like that.
They pretended to ask questions.
But they never truly wanted to hear the answers.
Do-yoon left through the school gate.
Then he entered an empty alley.
He turned off his phone.
From his pocket, he took out a small piece of metal.
A key to the Dimensional Gate that he had brought from the other world.
It was a Dimensional Resonance Stone that Liana had temporarily given him.
The symbol on the back of Do-yoon's hand glowed red.
[The First Gate Is Opening.]
The air split apart.
Without hesitation, Do-yoon stepped through.
The other world.
Blackroot Outpost City.
When Do-yoon opened his eyes, he was standing in the warehouse of his own house.
Luna immediately rushed toward him.
"Master!"
She was breathing heavily.
Her eyes were filled with anxiety.
"Are you okay?"
When Do-yoon asked, Luna hurriedly nodded.
"I'm fine. But..."
"What happened?"
Liana entered the warehouse.
Her expression was serious.
"The record of our first-floor clear has spread."
"Already?"
"Your name was recorded in the tower, remember? Certain guilds, nobles, and Chosen Ones can access those records."
Do-yoon clenched his teeth.
He remembered the message that had appeared after they cleared the first floor.
[Other Chosen Ones Can Detect Traces of Your Presence.]
It had not been an empty warning.
Liana threw a request sheet onto the table.
"But that's not the real problem."
Do-yoon unfolded it.
[Emergency Request]
[The Tower Rift Beneath the Abandoned Quarry Is Expanding.]
[Large Numbers of Low-Grade Undead Have Appeared.]
[Two Members of a Reconnaissance Team Are Missing.]
[Investigate the Cause and Search for Survivors.]
[Reward: 12 Silver Coins]
[Special Condition: Kim Do-yoon's Participation Recommended.]
Do-yoon frowned when he read the final line.
"Why is my name on this?"
Liana lowered her voice.
"Because you're the one who opened the first floor."
"I opened it?"
"Most likely. The tower reacts to Chosen Ones."
Luna spoke cautiously.
"I read something like that in a book."
Do-yoon looked at her.
"What did it say?"
"Anyone can discover the Tower of Suffering, but only someone who has been chosen can open its true doors..."
Liana turned toward Luna.
"Are you sure you only did odd jobs?"
Luna became flustered.
"I just... happened to overhear things while I was working."
Do-yoon looked at her thoughtfully.
Just as I thought. Luna isn't an ordinary maid.
She had knowledge.
Sharp senses.
And she knew a surprising amount about the tower.
If he helped her develop her abilities, she could eventually become a tremendous asset.
But he did not have time to think about that now.
"What about the missing people?"
Liana answered,
"Two Wooden-Rank mercenaries. They went in to investigate last night and never came back."
"Any chance they're still alive?"
"Not much."
Luna's ears drooped.
Do-yoon looked down at the request.
Twelve silver coins.
A considerable reward.
But this was no longer just about money.
The Tower Rift.
His name.
The Chosen Ones.
The wielder of the Fruit of Wrath.
Everything was becoming connected.
Do-yoon spoke.
"I'm going."
Liana nodded as though she had expected that answer.
"I knew you would."
Luna stepped forward.
"I'm coming too."
Do-yoon looked at her.
"This could be dangerous."
"I know."
"It might be even more dangerous than the first floor."
"I'll still come."
Luna looked down at the bracelet around her wrist.
The blue crescent moon engraved over the Slave Contract.
The mark of her first Companion Contract.
She spoke quietly.
"I'm your companion now too, Master."
Do-yoon remained silent for a moment.
A companion.
The word was beginning to carry more and more weight.
But he did not dislike it.
"All right. But you must follow my orders without question."
