Chapter 58: Branch Tower (4)

After Person123 conquered even Japan’s Third Branch Tower, Wang Kai was absolutely livid. Under normal circumstances, he should have cleared them all and claimed ownership, but he had already lost two of them. It wasn’t that he was driven by some patriotic fervor for China; rather, it was about the deal he’d made with the Party. While handing over a Magic Vein would bring him immense profit, that had become a secondary concern.

The sheer fact that his prizes were being snatched away one after another twisted his insides.

Person123. The Nightmare Difficulty record holder.

Wang Kai had always found it obnoxious how the man was worshipped as a savior, but he’d never paid him much mind before—they’d never had a reason to clash. After all, he was the world’s highest-level Climber. But when someone started interfering with his path, the story changed. Wang Kai was the type of man who demanded everything go his way; anything in his path was to be crushed or cleared.

To make matters worse, the public opinion on the Communication Channel was mocking him, constantly comparing him to Person123.

“These insects who wouldn’t dare squeak if I were standing in front of them… their mouths sure are busy…”

“Why don’t you just launch a fighter jet and drop me there?” Wang Kai spat.

“That’s absurd. Are you asking us to violate sovereign airspace?”

“If you can’t do it, forget it. Tsk.”

He figured the guy had just gotten lucky being in Japan when the tower appeared. That kind of luck wouldn’t strike twice. Wang Kai had the full backing of a superpower. Unless a tower appeared in that Japanese guy’s backyard, there was no way he could reach a tower in another country faster than Wang Kai could.

He waited impatiently for the next one.

A week later, the notification finally popped up.

“Brazil? Nice.”

Finally, a tower had appeared outside of Northeast Asia, all the way in the Americas. This time, Person123 would undoubtedly be delayed. He was likely still in Japan.

“The fourth tower is mine. I’ll clear it instantly and leave him sucking his thumb,” Wang Kai thought as he boarded his plane.

“…”

The message appeared the moment he sat down. He nearly sprayed his drink across the cabin. Coughing, he wiped his mouth, his face contorting into a grimace.

“Huh?”

What was this? How?

Utterly bewildered, he could only stare at the message in a daze.

—

After clearing the tower in Japan, I posted the strategy information on the Communication Channel.

I hadn’t originally intended to post info on the Branch Towers. I figured I’d be clearing them all anyway, and since the Monsters changed every time, there wasn’t much point. But then I realized it was better to share it. People could still enter the towers after the initial conquest, and someone might actually want to go in.

Another week passed. The Fourth Branch Tower appeared in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

It had finally left Northeast Asia, but I wasn’t exactly celebrating. Brazil was practically on the other side of the planet. When I looked up the distance, I felt faint.

“Eigh… eighteen thousand…”

It was nine times the distance to Ulaanbaatar. It would require 1.8 million Willpower, which translated to roughly 1,400 hours of charging time. Even subtracting the 120 hours I’d saved up over the week, I still needed 1,280 hours…

That was over 50 days!

“Wow.”

This was insane. To make matters worse, it exceeded the Warp Device’s maximum capacity, meaning I’d have to make the trip in two legs. I seriously debated if warping was the right call. Maybe I should look for a flight before the travel warnings hit? I could just tell my family I was going on another trip.

But… I had a feeling.

China was likely done negotiating and was now desperate to conquer a tower, especially since they knew about the ownership rights. If I took a plane, I’d probably lose to them.

“Should I just skip this one?”

Even though I was a pro at stopping time and killing boredom, 50 days was excessive. That staggering number was almost enough to make me let China have it.

In the end, I chose to warp. If I committed to something, I had to see it through.

I’ll spare you the details of how mind-numbingly boring it was. I fully charged the Warp Device and moved all the way to Rio de Janeiro.

The conquest was, of course, instantaneous. The Monsters were different, but the overall Difficulty was similar. The 10th-floor boss was a Wyvern-like creature that breathed fire. I dodged it with Teleportation and finished it with a single click of the Destruction Line.

“Yay… now I have to charge another 50 days to get home…”

I stepped out of the tower, laughing like a man who had lost his mind. Please, let the last tower be somewhere close.

—

After the Japanese tower was cleared, rumors that Person123 was Japanese spread like wildfire. When he posted the strategy guides, it was taken as confirmation that he was indeed the one who cleared the Mongolia and Japan towers.

As usual, people marveled at his capabilities. Meanwhile, Japanese Climbers were throwing a party.

The fuss was incredible. Person123 never denied it—then again, he never posted anything on the channel unless it was absolutely necessary. The atmosphere made it seem like his Japanese nationality was a settled fact.

Then, the Fourth Branch Tower appeared in Rio de Janeiro. Like the one in Japan, it was cleared in 20 minutes.

The Communication Channel erupted again.

While people wondered if it was a different person, a new post appeared.

That hammered the final nail in the coffin. It wasn’t someone else.

People suffered a collective mental breakdown. Did Person123 just happen to be in Brazil by pure coincidence? Either way, the theory that he was Japanese lost its steam instantly.

Everyone’s eyes were now fixed on the fifth and final tower.

—

Meanwhile, at the Japanese Prime Minister’s official residence:

“Based on surface findings alone, the deposit is estimated to be at least 50 tons. If we include underground reserves…”

A meeting between the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers was underway. The Magic Vein formed after the Sendai City tower was cleared was the priority. To the Japanese Government, the rumors of Person123’s nationality were secondary to the massive mountain of gold they now had to manage. It was a happy problem to have.

Prime Minister Sato’s approval ratings had been in the gutter, but the Overwhelming economic effect of the Magic Vein promised a dramatic rebound.

“Could things really go this smoothly?” Sato struggled to keep a straight face. When the tower first appeared in Ulaanbaatar and China pressured Mongolia, towers seemed like a national curse. But Person123 had stepped in and cleared them with such speed that the situation had completely reversed.

He was a lifeline sent from heaven. If Sato knew which direction Person123 was in, he felt like performing a dogeza (prostrate bow) right then and there.

“One issue is the Magic Stone Agreement. According to the clauses, Japan might suffer unnecessary losses.”

There was a treaty between Japan, Korea, and several Southeast Asian nations. It was formed a year ago by countries lacking Nightmare Conquerors to counter China’s market manipulation of Top-Grade Magic Stones.

But now that Japan had its own Magic Vein, the agreement had become a shackle.

A minister immediately chimed in. “Why don’t we withdraw? With the international situation in chaos due to the towers, now is the perfect time.”

There were plenty of excuses to manufacture. Any backlash would be worth it compared to the immense national profit. It was best to cut ties before their neighbors—especially Korea—had time to react.

Of course, this would hit the liquidity of Korea and Southeast Asia hard. But what of it? That wasn’t Japan’s concern. If anything, Korea would have to bow even lower to Japan in the future to secure a supply of stones.

Prime Minister Sato nodded. “Very well. Let’s move before the tower incident concludes.”

—

I finally returned home after clearing the Brazilian tower. Only 30 minutes had passed in real time, but for me, it had been an exhausting journey. I collapsed onto my bed.

A whisper came from Billon. He rarely asked questions first, but I guess his curiosity had finally reached its limit. Understandable. I gave him an answer.

The secret of the 20-minute clears finally made sense to him.

“I knew it.” If I hadn’t warped to Brazil, China would have made their move. At least my 50-day ordeal wasn’t for nothing. But how did Billon know what the CIA knew? I guess that’s the power and network of the world’s richest man.

I finished my chat with Billon and went back to resting. Once the fifth tower was cleared, it would be over.

A few days later, I saw the news.

“—The Japanese government has announced a unilateral withdrawal from the Magic Stone Agreement with Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, citing ‘unfair clauses.’ Our government has immediately issued a formal protest—”

Japan had scrapped the treaty they had with Korea and others. They used a flimsy excuse, but the real reason was obvious: the Magic Vein.

I felt like I’d been stabbed in the back after I’d literally cleared their tower for them.

“Unbelievable…”

I don’t know why everyone is so greedy. I hadn’t planned on actually exercising my ownership rights, but this changed things. If I let this slide, every country that got a Magic Vein would start acting out.

Time to make an example of them.

Close the valve.

Magic stones confiscated.