Chapter 9
[User Information]
-Name: Yoo Seong-un
-Level: 6
[Detailed Stats]
-Strength: 11
-Agility: 11
-Stamina: 11
-Sense: 11
-Mana: 11
Level 6.
Considering he'd finished the Tutorial, it made sense that he'd reached Level 6.
The problem was the skills possessed by the person they had just inspected.
-Super Sense (SS)
-Swordsmanship Mastery (SS)
My God... What is this?
Hwang Chan-hee had only recently joined the Association.
This was his first time ever seeing a skill with an SS-rank maximum.
And there weren't just one.
There were two.
Even if their current ranks were low, they would eventually grow all the way to SS-rank.
This is insane. So these are the skills of someone who finished with EX-rank...
Apparently, someone needed to possess abilities on this level just to meet directly with the Association Chairman.
While Lee Gi-cheol and Hwang Chan-hee stared at the result sheet with dazzled expressions...
"I asked if it was finished."
Seong-un's words snapped them back to reality.
Lee Gi-cheol hurriedly bowed.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Are the contents of this result sheet correct?"
Seong-un looked over it and nodded.
"Yes. They're correct."
His title should've been added as well.
But titles were classified as items, not skills.
That was why it didn't appear in the inspection results.
"Then... for now, we won't make these results public."
Normally, once an inspection was completed, the results were published on a program accessible only to guild officials.
Guilds would then use those results to contact climbers they wanted to recruit.
But in Seong-un's case, the Association Chairman had personally gotten involved.
Until the situation was completely settled, they intended to keep everything private.
"Do that."
Outside the Association were representatives from Balhae Guild, Horus Guild, and virtually every other major guild.
"Mr. Seung-beom, is that man really the EX-rank climber?"
A Human Resources employee who had arrived late stood beside Park Seung-beom.
Park Seung-beom had completed his inspection on the same day as the Tutorial and had officially been confirmed as the owner of an S-rank potential skill.
The reason he had come here was none other than Han Geon-woo, who was currently causing a scene.
"No. That's the guy Cheonha recruited. He died the moment the Tutorial started."
Park Seung-beom remembered it clearly.
Han Geon-woo had attacked a man wearing no equipment and had his throat cut almost immediately.
"Ah, so that's why Cheonha is losing their minds like that."
Han Geon-woo was still arguing with Cheonha employees.
The surrounding scouts appeared to have figured out roughly what was happening.
"Yes. If I remember correctly, the actual guy had a solid build and a fairly handsome face."
The monster who had shown overwhelming combat ability despite wearing no equipment.
"Then why is this guy claiming he's EX-rank?"
The employee tilted his head.
"No idea. He's so unpredictable..."
Even during their brief encounter, Park Seung-beom had clearly realized how thoughtless Han Geon-woo could be.
That made this ridiculous behavior somewhat believable.
"We just heard that someone made contact with him."
At that moment, another employee returned and reported.
"Made contact?"
"Yes. We couldn't hear exactly what they discussed, but considering he started claiming to be EX-rank afterward, it seems connected."
"...I really don't understand."
Even if he caused a scene like this, the truth would be exposed soon.
Worse, he was doing it directly in front of every guild's scouts.
Cheonha would never ignore something like this.
There was a one-hundred-percent chance he would be expelled from the guild.
And afterward, joining another guild would become difficult too.
What kind of conversation had convinced him to take such an absurd gamble?
"The real problem is that he isn't registered yet."
One HR employee clicked his tongue.
Park Seung-beom tilted his head.
"He isn't registered?"
"No. Cheonha probably stationed him inside the Association to search for the EX-rank climber."
Only people preparing for registration were allowed to use the waiting room in front of the inspection area.
Cheonha had likely exploited that rule by deliberately leaving Han Geon-woo unregistered.
That was also why the situation had dragged on for so long.
"Their way of handling things is incredible."
Park Seung-beom sounded almost amazed.
He couldn't imagine who had come up with such an idiotic plan.
"Tell me about it."
He's doing better than I expected.
Now on the fifth floor, Seong-un looked through the window at Han Geon-woo creating chaos below.
He hadn't even expected the bastard to actually try it.
He certainly hadn't expected him to last this long.
"I'll take a look at the inspection sheet."
"Go ahead."
Choi Hyeok completely ignored the situation outside and accepted the result sheet from an employee.
His reaction was not much different from Lee Gi-cheol and Hwang Chan-hee.
"Huh..."
Choi Hyeok couldn't hide his amazement.
Now he could understand why Seong-un's confidence reached the sky.
From the moment Choi Hyeok first received his invitation until becoming Association Chairman, he had never seen a climber begin with two SS-rank potential skills.
"What have you decided?"
"Before that, there's something I need to tell you."
They couldn't afford to lose this monstrous rookie.
Choi Hyeok wanted to bring him into the Association even if it meant accepting every condition Seong-un requested.
But there were things that needed to be made clear.
"What is it?"
"We're slightly different from guilds. The Tower's system overwhelmingly favors guilds."
Every year, during year-end settlement, the Tower distributed rewards based on guild ranking.
Those rewards were given individually to every guild member.
That was why lower-ranked guilds struggled so desperately yet couldn't overtake those above them.
The gap simply grew larger with each passing year.
It was also one of the major reasons climbers tried so hard to enter powerful guilds.
The Association, on the other hand, couldn't receive rewards from the Tower.
The Tower completely excluded them.
"Of course, there are advantages as well. First, climbers belonging to the Association receive bonus evaluation points."
In exchange for not receiving guild rewards, Association members received a bonus.
A full two percent.
Combined with Blessing of Odius, Seong-un would gain a total twenty-two-percent increase to his evaluation bonus.
That means even if I make a small mistake, I might still get EX-rank.
This part was extremely attractive to Seong-un.
"And?"
"You'll have the authority to summarily punish problematic Awakened."
For example, Awakened who abused their power to commit crimes.
Those who intentionally refused registration.
Those who operated without Association approval.
Association personnel were granted the authority to eliminate such people.
Of course, not every Association climber had that power.
There was a separate crime division.
"You're saying you'll give me that authority?"
"Not immediately. The Association will provide everything you need. Once we judge that you're qualified, we'll grant you investigative authority as well."
Seong-un gave a small laugh at the outrageous offer.
"So you're saying you'll invest in me."
"Yes. The Association will become your shield. We also won't interfere with your solo climbing or any rewards you obtain from it. We'll even allow you to establish your own guild and operate under both organizations. However, you will have to prove yourself."
"Prove myself?"
"Yes. Your first-clear evaluation must never fall below SS-rank. That's the condition."
"What happens if it does?"
"You'll lose some of those privileges."
For an ordinary beginner climbing the lower floors alone, achieving even A-rank was difficult.
SS-rank was nearly impossible.
In other words, Choi Hyeok was indirectly telling him that if he lacked confidence, he should abandon the idea of solo climbing.
But that didn't apply to Seong-un.
SS-rank?
For someone aiming at EX-rank, that condition was practically meaningless.
Still, accepting immediately would be a waste.
"If you're attaching a condition like that, joining a guild might be better."
At the mention of guilds, Choi Hyeok smiled as if he'd expected that response.
"I said we would support everything. That includes the high-rank items currently owned by the Association. Of course, we'll arrange it so you can personally choose the item you want."
"!"
Seong-un's eyes widened.
A great deal of time had passed since the Tower first appeared.
How many hidden opportunities had been discovered during those years?
Most had already been used.
But some were still being preserved without use.
There were cases where the Association or guilds stored them instead.
EX-rank was certainly impressive.
But he hadn't expected the Association to put hidden opportunities on the table.
"Of course, I'm not saying we'll give one to you immediately."
"That's part of proving myself?"
"Correct. We'll evaluate your future achievements and then provide you with one of the hidden opportunities stored by the Association."
Did that mean he could obtain that as well?
Like Super Sense, it had been used relatively late.
But once used, it had displayed overwhelming performance.
Seong-un kept his expression neutral and nodded.
"That's an extraordinary offer."
"Isn't it?"
"Why?"
"Hm?"
"I'm curious why you're willing to bring out hidden opportunities you've preserved for so long just to recruit one person."
Choi Hyeok slowly nodded and lifted his teacup.
Sip.
Silence settled over the room as he wet his throat.
A short while later, Choi Hyeok broke that silence.
"I want them to be used by someone worthy."
"Pardon?"
"It's been ten years since the Tower appeared."
Choi Hyeok lifted his teacup again as he continued.
"And yet we haven't climbed even half of it. We haven't even reached one quarter."
"We're at the 24th Floor."
Humanity was currently struggling on Floor 24.
Of course, Seong-un knew they would clear it six months from now.
"Do you remember the warning message from before the Tower appeared?"
"Yes."
How could he forget?
The dimension had reached the end of its lifespan.
If humanity failed to reach the top, Earth would be deleted.
"The time we're currently spending in relative peace will eventually end. We need to reach the summit before that happens... But to be completely honest, I don't see anyone with the ability to climb all the way there."
"So you want to test me?"
EX-rank Tutorial completion.
Two SS-rank potential skills before he'd even properly started climbing.
Since the Association would only provide hidden opportunities depending on his future performance, Choi Hyeok had probably decided it was worth the gamble.
"Isn't it an attractive offer for you as well, Mr. Seong-un? We're talking about hidden opportunities. Some of them are even SS-rank."
"...All right. I'll prove myself."
There was no reason to reject an offer like this.
"Welcome to the Association. From now on, I'll arrange things so nobody except me can access your information."
Choi Hyeok extended his hand.
Seong-un shook it with a smile.
"Yes. I'll be establishing a guild soon as well, so I look forward to your help."
After Seong-un left, a meeting was held with the Association Chairman at its center.
The topic was the recruitment of the monstrous rookie.
"Offering him one of the hidden opportunities stored by the Association seems excessive."
Item support.
Housing support.
Permission to establish a personal guild.
Allowing him to establish a guild practically meant he would only have one foot inside the Association.
But if they could recruit the monstrous rookie and strengthen the Association, those investments were worthwhile.
The real problem was the hidden opportunities.
The opportunities currently stored by the Association.
The first Association Chairman, Bae Gi-yeon, had been a powerful Awakened and the first person in the world to clear the 15th Floor.
At the time, he had possessed three S-rank skills.
The problem was that he had been fighting a serious illness.
No matter how powerful Awakening made someone, it could not defeat his disease.
Eventually, he passed away three years ago.
Choi Hyeok had served as his Vice Chairman.
That was why he'd succeeded him as the second Chairman.
The hidden opportunities stored by the Association were discovered by the first Chairman.
Rather than using them personally, Bae Gi-yeon had stored them inside a secret area accessible only through the authority of the Association Chairman.
Choi Hyeok had now promised to give one of those opportunities to a rookie who had only just Awakened.
"There's no problem with the Chairman distributing them under his own authority."
Choi Hyeok looked sternly at the executives.
He himself had climbed as high as the 19th Floor.
There was no one in the room who could match him either politically or physically.
"They are treasures left behind by the first Chairman. Why would you hand them to someone like that?"
"You should use them yourself, Chairman! If you use all those hidden opportunities, reaching the 20th Floor may not be impossible!"
Even so, the executives refused to back down easily.
"Did anyone here receive SS in the Tutorial? No, did anyone even receive S or higher?"
At Choi Hyeok's question, the executives fell silent.
Most of them had been part of the vanguard, receiving their invitations within one or two years of the Tower's appearance.
Every one of them had finished the Tutorial with A-rank or lower.
Those who achieved S-rank or higher generally didn't join the Association.
Instead, they founded their own guilds, built up their forces, and grew explosively.
"Even my best was S-rank."
Choi Hyeok had ranked first among one hundred participants and reached the fourth floor.
Yet even he had only finished with S-rank.
That alone showed how absurd EX-rank truly was.
"I'm not saying I'll hand one over immediately. I have no intention of giving away a hidden opportunity just because he cleared one Tutorial."
"Then what?"
"Floor 10. He must receive at least SS-rank on every floor from 1 through 10 while climbing entirely solo."
"SS?!"
Floors 1 through 10.
Even with perfect knowledge of the strategies, that score was extremely difficult to achieve alone.
In practice, it sounded almost like Choi Hyeok had no intention of giving away the hidden opportunities at all.
"Shouldn't conditions like these be sufficient?"
At Choi Hyeok's words, the other executives finally nodded in agreement.
