The Player Who Can't Level Up

Once the news about Iron Guild’s Korean branch broke out, all Korean news channels went wild.

-The Iron Guild! It has arrived in Korea!

-The Angela Guild and the Iron Guild plan to work together!

-Who will be the branch manager of the Iron Guild’s Korean office?

-What will the Iron Guild profit from its Korean branch?

Many showed interest in this news since it had both pros and cons. A world-class guild inside Korea meant the country would be a little safer. However, it also meant the other resident guilds had to give up many of their rights to the Iron Guild.

-Why did the Korean association allow this?

-Why isn’t the government stopping this?

-Does the Angela Guild have more power and authority than the Korean government and the Korean Players Association?

Just as many welcomed the new branch, many were also against it. At first glance, a guild branch looked like a business; however, it was more of an elite group of players on foreign soil. Usually, this group was stronger than most nations’ armies, so accepting a foreign army into Korea had to be a difficult decision. 

But the Iron Guild had no problem getting their request approved, thanks to the Angela Guild. Meanwhile, the Angela Guild’s guild master, Lee Sun-Ho, had also not made a public appearance in a long time now. There were rumors that he was severely injured, but many people began to doubt this story. After all, how could an injured person sway the Korean government and the Korean Players Association (KPA)? 

Ring, ring, ring...

“Hello?” Gi-Gyu answered his cell phone. 

-I found him. 

Sung-Hoon replied without first greeting Gi-Gyu. However, he didn’t care since he knew exactly what Sung-Hoon was talking about. “All right.”

Just a few days after becoming a ranker, Gi-Gyu was, once again, leaving his house. 

***

“Why do you think he wanted to meet here?” Sung-Hoon asked Gi-Gyu.

“Easy to escape? Paparazzi are such sneaky people,” replied Gi-Gyu as he looked around. Currently, they were in a small town in Hanam City, which was destroyed by a recent gate break. Lagging on repairs, the entire town had nothing but damaged buildings. It was a dark and eerie sight with not a single living thing brightening the place.

Watching the sad scene in front of him, Gi-Gyu caressed his chest. He wondered, ‘If I open Brunheart’s gate completely, will it cause similar damage?’

Gi-Gyu wasn’t certain since many factors resulted in such a disaster: It was a B-grade gate, the association didn’t react in time, and many more.

Gi-Gyu was thinking about this and that when Sung-Hoon suddenly asked, “Are you a pervert or something?”

Sung-Hoon gave Gi-Gyu a strange look and muttered, “Why do you keep caressing your chest?” 

Smiling widely, Gi-Gyu replied, “You have quite a talent, Sung-Hoon.”

“Talent for what?”

“Annoying me enough to make me want to smack you!” When Gi-Gyu stepped forward menacingly, Sung-Hoon jolted in fear and backed away. Sung-Hoon replied, “Wow, you’re now officially a tyrant, Player Kim Gi-Gyu.”

When Sung-Hoon shook his head as if embarrassed, Gi-Gyu smiled and said, “I was just joking.”

“Well, it didn’t sound like you were joking,” Sung-Hoon grumbled. 

Looking down at his watch, Gi-Gyu murmured, “He should’ve been here by now. Are all paparazzi horrible at keeping promises?”

“Well, they are known to be unmanageable,” Sung-Hoon replied in annoyance. Thinking they had to wait a bit longer, Sung-Hoon announced, “We have three months left now.”

The Iron Guild members would arrive at their Korean branch in three months. Despite the pressure from the Angela Guild and the Global Players Association, the Korean Players Association (KPA) bought Gi-Gyu this precious time. 

With a shrug, Gi-Gyu replied, “Three months should be more than plenty.” During this time, he planned on preparing himself to kill Rogers Han. And he was here as the first step toward his successful plan. 

“Haa… Don’t you think you’re being arrogant? We’re talking about destroying a group that’s as strong as a top ten Korean guild…” When Sung-Hoon trailed off, Gi-Gyu looked up in the air. With determination in his eyes, Gi-Gyu replied, “But we must do it. We have no other choice.”

Before Sung-Hoon could make another comment, Gi-Gyu announced, “I think he’s finally here.”

“Pardon?” Sung-Hoon seemed confused as he looked up to where Gi-Gyu was looking. 

Gi-Gyu said to the air, “Don’t you think it’s rude to be this late?”

“Sorry, I’m late.” Suddenly, the air above them split, and a faint figure appeared from it. The newcomer was about 170 centimeters, had messy hair, thick glasses covering much of his face, and looked like a beggar. 

“You’ve ruined all the fun, so you better take responsibility.” When Gi-Gyu joked, Sung-Hoon looked at him in confusion.

***

Modern society was an ocean of information before the Tower, the gates, and the players appeared. Except for the top-secret data that belonged to governments or powerful corporations, one could find most information online. The reporters were especially very active figures who released various sensitive news for profit. 

However, the world changed once those mysterious structures and powers appeared. Information involving the non-players remained accessible, but anything regarding the Tower and the gates became a mystery to the public. Any and all information about the high-level players became a top-secret. 

This was how the player paparazzi came about. They were once players, but they now acted as freelance reporters to expose information about the Tower and the gates.

Being a player paparazzi was a lucrative business, so many skilled players turned to it; only one was considered legendary. This paparazzo could get any information he wanted, and he even forced the KPA’s president, Oh Tae-Gu, into making a deal for the masked player’s photos.

This infamous player paparazzo’s name was Go Hyung-Chul. 

Gi-Gyu asked the man floating in the air, “Are you Go Hyung-Chul’s contact?”

“Yes, Mr. Go Hyung-Chul only accepts requests through me,” the messy-looking man replied firmly. Now that the contact was a bit closer, Gi-Gyu finally realized what a skilled player the contact was. Since Go Hyung-Chul used such a powerful player as a contact, he couldn’t help but wonder how strong Go Hyung-Chul himself was.

Gi-Gyu asked him, “Can you come down? All this looking up is hurting my neck.”

With a nod, the man slowly floated down to the ground. 

‘Hmm…’ Curious, Gi-Gyu studied the man before shaking his head. “I have a request for Player Go Hyung-Chul. It’s a big job with high risk, so I would like to talk to him in person.”

“That’s impossible,” the man refused swiftly. He explained, “He only accepts the requests that go through me. I also have the power to accept or deny requests, so please feel free to speak to me.”

“Hmm…” Gi-Gyu became quiet as he fell into deep thoughts. Sung-Hoon suddenly grabbed Gi-Gyu’s sleeve and whispered, “This is too risky, Player Kim Gi-Gyu. If others found out your request…” 

Sung-Hoon trailed off as he eyed the man, but the contact seemed uninterested. He just looked at Gi-Gyu and Sung-Hoon blankly. 

However, Gi-Gyu had made up his mind, so he reassured, “It’ll be all right.”

Gi-Gyu then turned toward the man and explained, “I’ll first let you know the compensation I’m willing to pay. Five billion upfront and ten billion won when I get the requested information. The total payment will be 15 billion won if he succeeds.”

This was everything Gi-Gyu had at the moment. He was glad he saved most of his wealth and didn’t spend it on unnecessary stuff. He felt a little apologetic toward his family because he had told them they were rich now. However, this was necessary to protect them. 

The contact, indifferent till a moment ago, seemed very interested now. “And what’s the request?”

Gi-Gyu grinned a little as Sung-Hoon murmured worriedly, “Player Kim Gi-Gyu… Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Gi-Gyu promptly replied, “I believe the Angela Guild and the Iron Guild have made some kind of deal. Please find out what it is.”

“...!” The contact, indifferent first and a bit interested later, was now gaping like a fish. He stammered, “A-are you crazy?”

It was an insane choice, but it was the only one Gi-Gyu had. After all, asking Go Hyung-Chul to keep a secret was akin to asking a news outlet not to reveal a piece of spicy news. 

However, the variable to constant ratio of this Korean branch thing was massive. Why was Rogers Han being sent as the branch manager? Why did the Angela Guild help Iron Guild? Were they allies now? What did it mean for Korea as a nation since even Association President Oh Tae-Gu couldn’t stop them? Gi-Gyu needed to know why the Angela Guild was siding with the Iron Guild, especially when they were never on good terms before. 

‘I must do this for my revenge.’ Gi-Gyu thought in determination. If it helped, he was even willing to sell his soul to the devil. 

The man, clearly appalled, began to float away as he replied, “I refuse your request.”

But to his surprise, Gi-Gyu grabbed the man’s ankle as he stated, “You can refuse if you want, but…”

The man flailed mid-air, but Gi-Gyu had a firm grip on his leg. Gi-Gyu continued with a grin, “Mr. Go Hyung-Chul, please come down before I beat you up real good.” 

***

The man gasped and denied, “What the hell are you talking about?! I’m not Mr. Go Hyung-Chul!” 

However, Gi-Gyu just pulled the contact down like plucking an unwilling fruit. With a loud thud, the man fell, scattering dirt everywhere. Meanwhile, Sung-Hoon just watched with his jaw on the floor, failing to even comprehend such an unexpected turn of events. 

Gi-Gyu quickly approached the contact and reached out. 

“Binding.” When Gi-Gyu announced, Oberon shot a black stem toward the contact. Surprised by Gi-Gyu’s new skill, Sung-Hoon murmured, “Player Kim Gi-Gyu…?” 

Gi-Gyu gained this skill after Lou awakened as the Emperor of Black Magic. 

[Black Magic: The power of black magic can be granted to an Ego.]

Gi-Gyu didn’t understand much from the description, but trial and error gave him an explanation: Depending on the Ego and its abilities, he could add Black Magic to them and create a new skill. As Gi-Gyu and his Egos became stronger, the skill was bound to be useful.

Black Magic with Oberon gave rise to a new skill called Binding.

[Binding: Binds the enemy with Black Magic.]

The contact flailed helplessly to free himself, but Binding’s strength was directly proportional to Gi-Gyu’s strength, so he couldn’t do anything. 

Gi-Gyu chuckled before commenting, “Mr. Go Hyung-Chul, how could you try to flee after hearing my request?” 

When Gi-Gyu walked up to him slowly, the contact, Go Hyung-Chul, insisted, “What are you talking about?! I’m just a…”

“There is no need to act anymore.” With an eerie calmness in his eyes, Gi-Gyu explained, “I can see everything.” 

Lou muttered in displeasure as Gi-Gyu’s violet eye shined brighter than usual.

-Gosh, I have to admit that this ability is unbelievable. 

[Go Hyung-Chul]

Gi-Gyu could see the man’s name floating above him through his violet eye like a status screen. Noticing Gi-Gyu’s unusual eye color, Go Hyung-Chul gasped and screamed, “Y…you have the evil eye?”

As if in surrender, Go Hyung-Chul closed his eyes and murmured, “I knew it! I knew there was a connection between you and Lucifer! But still… How?!”

Poof!

The stem that trapped Go Hyung-Chul shattered: He was now free. However, Gi-Gyu didn’t move, and when the magic dust settled, Gi-Gyu and Sung-Hoon could finally see the real Go Hyung-Chul. He no longer looked like a beggar; instead, he looked dapper: Clean hair, sleepy eyes, firmly closed lips, and red eyes. Go Hyung-Chul looked at Gi-Gyu with interest and offered, “I am interested now. Let’s talk.” Even his voice and speech pattern were different. 

The legendary paparazzo, Go Hyung-Chul, was ready to talk.