Chapter 144
"It's been quite a while since we've spoken privately like this, Shaka."
Ruzian smiled gently at him.
Shaka returned the smile.
"There haven't exactly been many opportunities to speak with the Highest-Level Administrator like this."
"I'm simply glad we can finally have a conversation now."
His gaze shifted slightly.
Leon was nearby, bound tightly with rope and struggling with all his might.
"I didn't expect to see my predecessor here."
"Well, I'm not officially in the position yet, so I suppose calling you my predecessor would be premature."
"It's been a while, Mid-Level Administrator Leon."
"Mmph! Mmmph...!!"
Leon desperately tried to say something through teary eyes.
But with his mouth covered, all that came out were muffled noises.
Ruzian looked at him and smiled.
"I thought he'd be rather noisy, so I restrained him temporarily."
"Though, to be honest, I would've done this regardless."
He turned back toward Shaka.
"Come to think of it..."
"Your movements have been rather aggressive lately."
"What exactly are you planning that requires you to cause this much trouble?"
He rested his chin lightly on both hands and smiled as though there were nothing strange about the conversation.
But the reality was completely different.
The red eyes visible through his narrow lids were ice-cold.
It was a clear warning.
Whatever Shaka was planning...
He should stop before causing any more disruption.
Silence stretched between them.
Shaka simply shook his head and smiled calmly.
"You misunderstand."
"Planning something would be far too grand a description."
"I'm merely carrying out the duties assigned to me."
Both of them continued smiling as though everything were perfectly normal.
But beneath the surface...
A cold war was unfolding.
They knew each other's goals.
And they knew they were enemies.
"...You weren't like this before."
Ruzian's smile remained unchanged.
"You've changed quite a lot, Shaka."
For the briefest moment...
Shaka's shoulder twitched.
So did his eyes.
A small crack appeared in his previously relaxed expression.
But almost immediately...
He returned to normal.
"Haha."
"How long ago are you talking about?"
"That was more than five hundred years ago."
"Back when both of us were Lower Administrators."
"Yes."
Ruzian nodded.
"That's right."
"Those were good times."
"Sometimes we relied on each other."
"Sometimes we fought because our opinions clashed."
"Perhaps now that ‘she’ is gone-"
BANG!
Shaka shot to his feet.
The corners of his mouth trembled.
He was trying to maintain his smile...
But deep fury had already spread across his face.
"Enough..."
He exhaled sharply.
"That's enough."
"Don't bring that up again."
It was the first time Shaka had shown such visible agitation.
His fists were clenched.
Just who was she to these two?
Ruzian leaned back in his chair as though this had been deliberate from the beginning.
His false smile never disappeared.
His fingers interlocked.
"I had no intention of angering you."
"Still..."
"It's a shame."
"I thought meeting on a day like this might give us a chance to reminisce about the past and perhaps rebuild our friendship."
His tone made it sound as though he were looking down from somewhere far above.
The way he looked at Shaka was no different.
This bastard....
Shaka was technically the one physically standing over Ruzian.
Yet somehow...
He felt as though he were looking up at someone standing atop a mountain impossibly far above him.
Ruzian gave him another once-over.
Then smiled and leaned forward again.
"If that made you uncomfortable, I apologize, Shaka."
"It seems I shouldn't have brought it up."
Silence followed.
Shaka eventually regained his composure and sat back down.
"It's fine."
"I was the one who became unnecessarily emotional."
"Then let's get to the point."
Ruzian crossed one leg over the other.
"Do you know why I called both of you here?"
"Since Leon and I have been gathered in the same place..."
Shaka glanced toward Leon.
"I assume Lee Suhyeok will be arriving next."
At the mention of Suhyeok, Leon's shoulders flinched.
He immediately began making muffled noises again.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Rip.
"Puhah!"
"Lee Suhyeok, you b-bad bastar-"
"Shh."
With a single gesture from Ruzian...
The tape covering Leon's mouth peeled away.
At the same time, Leon floated into the air.
He drifted over to the table where Ruzian and Shaka were seated.
The moment he came face-to-face with them, every strand of fur on his body stood on end.
"You're rather cute like this."
Ruzian smiled.
"But I'd appreciate it if you remained quiet for a moment."
"We have something important to discuss."
"Will you cooperate?"
The pressure behind the words was impossible to describe.
Leon couldn't do anything.
He merely trembled and nodded frantically.
Ruzian moved him back down to the floor.
Then resumed speaking.
"As I said at the Banquet..."
"Player Lee Suhyeok will be given a total of two choices."
"The first was the choice he made at the Banquet."
"He selected you, Shaka."
A window appeared in the air.
Both Shaka and Leon flinched.
Their accumulated Coins...
Their achievements...
Everything they had built up until now was displayed openly.
"The second choice..."
Ruzian continued.
"Will be made here."
"Lee Suhyeok will choose one of you."
Leon and Shaka alternated their gazes between the floating window and Ruzian.
They seemed to already understand what would come next.
"Exactly as you're imagining."
"This isn't simply about being chosen."
"From now on, the Administrator assigned exclusively to Lee Suhyeok will be promoted to Upper Administrator."
"And that Administrator will obtain exclusive broadcasting rights over all Constellations."
"...!"
It was an unprecedented benefit.
Exclusive rights over the Constellations meant broadcasts from Administrators on other floors would effectively be shut down.
Naturally...
The Constellations would all gather in a single channel.
The amount of Coins earned would become astronomical.
The scale of the channel itself would become absurdly large.
Even Shaka couldn't understand why Ruzian would go this far.
What are you planning, Ruzian?
Ruzian smiled as though he'd already predicted the question.
"Hehe."
"I understand why you'd find this strange."
"After all, this requires me to spend even my own Intervention Power."
"From one perspective..."
"It's a loss for me."
He casually glanced somewhere beyond them.
Then spoke meaningfully.
"But..."
"My poison begins now."
"...!"
Shaka understood instinctively.
Those words hadn't been directed at him.
They were meant for the System.
And perhaps...
This reward was a poisoned chalice.
[Player Lee Suhyeok is entering this space.]
