“…..”
Information about Hastings.
Zhenhyuk bit his lip tightly as an astonishingly huge topic appeared before him.
One of the cards he had desperately wanted had been laid out on the table.
Hastings had been enshrouded in mystery, and in the past, it had been difficult to discern his true motives, but now there was a chance for confirmation.
‘Just that, to hear this story, I’d have to join Eden?……’
Eden, one of the titanic forces of the upper echelon.
Certainly, it was a place with more advantages than other options.
Its members were robust, and, more importantly, had ties to both the demonic realm and the sublime light, allowing them to create various variables in the future.
However, before making a choice, first…Ding!
[Lv15 ‘Eye of Gluttony’ has been activated!]
Zhenhyuk’s eyes pierced through his opponent.
But then…
[The Blessing of the Archangel has been activated!]
Golden mist arose as if it had been waiting for him.
“Cough!”
It was sharp and intense.
A searing pain erupted in Zhenhyuk’s eyes as if his skull and spine were penetrated.
“Hehe. Trying to peek behind the curtain is cheating. We also have a certain understanding of the types of skills possessed by player Kang Zhenhyuk.”
Gabriel expressed this with a faint smile.
Indeed. Gleaning information through ‘the eyes’ in front of an upper deity was not an easy task.
Nonetheless, there were other ways to extract the desired information from the opponent.
“Understood. Let’s stop the awkward probing here.”
“Does that mean you accept our proposal?”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Zhenhyuk shook his head horizontally.
“That’s regrettable. I thought you were very eager to know the information about Hastings.”
Hmm…
“It seems you’re under some misconception, I only said that I wouldn’t join your power. I never said I’d give up on the information about Hastings.”
“What?”
“I’ll offer you corresponding information from my side.”
“Are you suggesting an exchange of information? With us?”
“Correct. I’m sure it will be quite an enticing story for Eden as well.”
At that moment…
“Absurd.”
A male angel, who had been silently watching, interjected.
“To even offer a suggestion to such a creature is already overgenerous, and you dare to propose a trade with us using your trivial knowledge?”
“That’s enough, Damiel.”
Gabriel attempted to stop him, yet the male angel was not easily swayed.
“But, Archangel, am I wrong? At best, what he knows could be some rare item lurking in the mid-floors of the tower… No more than that. Asking for information about Hastings in exchange for that is ludicrous.”
Damiel scoffed with disdain.
But then…
“The reason you bear a crown but can’t even approach the 50th floor’s boundary, isn’t it because you don’t possess ‘that book’?”
Damian’s dismissive expression flipped 180 degrees.
“…How do you know that?”
He had no choice but to be flustered.
One of the holy relics that was absolutely necessary to traverse the 50th floor safely.
The ‘Necronomicon.’
A grimoire filled with all sorts of information about the 50th floor and ancient deities.
Yet, here was a forbidden book known only among deities, spilling from the mouth of a mere player.
It was unbelievable.
“I’m aware of the location where a portion of that book resides. If you provide the information about Hastings, I will also reveal the location of that book’s fragment.”
“This… You’re more dangerous than I thought. Who exactly are you?”
Gabriel, too, could not hide her dismay at his words.
Just knowing about the book’s existence made it unlikely to be false.
Then…
“Very well. Let’s make a trade.”
Gabriel accepted the offer.
＊＊＊
[You have paid 1 Blue Dragon’s Orb as the entrance fee.]
The guardian at the entrance meticulously inspected the orb and then nodded, signaling that the fee was sufficient.
“Then I wish you a comfortable auction…”
As the guardian stepped aside, the massive gates opened on either side.
The grand auction hall became visible.
The inside was already bustling, with many deities in attendance.
“Should write down concerning magic stones at least….”
“The fifth item must definitely be from our side….”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Most were discussing with their respective factions about how to obtain the items to be auctioned.
However…
Thud.
As Zhenhyuk walked into the auction, the buzzing conversations ceased as if by magic.
All eyes turned his way.
The rookie who reached the mid-floors of the ‘Tower of Ordeal’ in less than two years.
The hot-topic ranker who drove out the strongest being that even deities couldn’t handle.
Although countless towers had appeared in countless dimensions over the eras, there had never been a player who climbed so rapidly.
Naturally, the focus was all on him.
“Is that fellow Kang Zhenhyuk?”
“Right. He’s been mentioned a few times on our end too.”
“He played a major role in the war between the martial arts world and the empire. He was also directly responsible for dealing with the devil of the Heavenly Devil Sect.”
“If that devil you mention was one of the candidates that deity Juncheon intended to take as his apostle, wasn’t it?”
“Haha. Judging by the way his face is contorted over there, it seems you’re right.”
The deities chuckled and exchanged words among themselves.
Just then.
Zzzt!
Black sparks flared all around.
Unlike those merely observing from afar, one male strode forward with naked hostility, his long fangs and a face marked with red tattoos distinctly noticeable.
“At last, I get to see that damned face. My subordinates have been quite indebted to you, making me so eager to meet you.”
Each of his words dripped with anger.
It could not be unknown to him.
How could it possibly be unknown?
Guntapheor.
One of the commanders of the infernal legions, he had previously encountered his subordinates at the giant’s stronghold.
Since he’d foiled their grand plans through the minions…
Certainly, he wouldn’t hold any positive feelings towards Zhenhyuk.
Beside him, a man donned in armor adorned with the emblem of Ataraxia.
Excension.
The head of modern Ataraxia who betrayed Elyss seemed to be attending this auction too.
Zhenhyuk’s eyes narrowed.
…Powerful.
Overwhelmingly so.
When he had encountered the house-lords in the lower floors of the tower, their power had been restrained, but here, they could unleash their full might.
The assorted arms he wore were renowned top-tier holy artifacts.
“Auction or blow your nose wherever, cutting off your head is what I desire.”
Guntapheor’s nails sharpened.
“Making a scene in front of so many deities, just for me? I’m here as a participant in my own right… If you do something like this, the others won’t stay quiet, you know?”
“Seems you do not know the deities well, they have no interest in your life. Deities only move when there’s the slightest benefit for them.”
Though obvious, here in this place, power was the rule and the law.
Whether a resident or a player, surviving among the deities required being associated with some faction or another as an apostle.
Of course, Zhenhyuk, who belonged to none, appeared as easy prey ripe for the taking.
That was the common sense.
That was the current pecking order.
He was right.
Right, except…
There was one thing Guntapheor was mistaken about.
“Sorry, but I’m rather popular.”
“What rubbish are you— huh!? You!”
Guntapheor abruptly raised his voice as he spoke.
“Hmm. Who’s cutting whose throat? He has promised to become my apostle. In other words, a player backed by the infernal realm.”
Beriel intervened.
“This fellow is to become the Black Apostle of the infernal realm?”
“An apostle? Me? I?”
Both were surprised at once.
Ah… right.
In the battle against Shub-Niggurath, it was said he lured this guy out with promises of becoming an apostle.
A lie spoken without conviction, so easily forgotten.
And faint memories of having sold out even the Sovereign of Heaven along with it also surfaced.
“Then it would be best for you to back off. Unless you want to start war with me.”
“Beriel… This despicable fallen angel! You’ve been acting too high and mighty just because the demon lord favors you a bit. I might not know about the others, but I always knew you’d betray us someday.”
“Betrayal… That’s an uncomfortable word to hear.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
“Do? I’m thinking of cutting off that neck and hanging it in front of my castle gate.”
Snap!
Zzzt!
The atmosphere thickened violently with tension.
If the hostile standoff between the deities escalated into battle, the consequences would be disastrous, especially since they could wield their full powers here.
But the buildup of this charged magical air did not reach its climax.
“Now, now! Thank you for your patience. Since there were many preparations, I’m afraid I’m a bit late.”
Suddenly, a rabbit-like beastkin appeared at the center stage.
It marked the beginning of the auction, and Beriel nonchalantly stepped back.
“Running away?”
“Unlike you, I am quite interested in this auction. Don’t waste your energy in futile places and just enjoy the auction leisurely. You ought to secure at least something to develop your foolish apostle in this auction, no?”
“Ugh… This detestable creature…”
Guntapheor clenched his fist as if to crush it.
However, he did not cause more commotion.
As Beriel mentioned, raising his apostle was also important.
“Everyone, it seems you have calmed down, so let’s kick off the long-awaited auction. The first item I’m going to introduce is a brand-new product freshly acquired from the 45th floor of the tower just a week ago!”
With a flick of the rabbit’s finger, a huge glass box appeared from nowhere.
Inside, the claw of a behemoth over 3 meters long was stored.
As expected of such a massive beast, the size of just part of its claw was beyond imagination.
“Behemoth.”
“A rare ancient breed. Was it on the 45th floor?”
“They’ve managed to track its trail.”
The phrases echoed…’A beast capable of swallowing islands’ was not an overstatement.
The starting bid alone was 700 million magic stones.
As the deities joined in, the bid rapidly escalated.
“1 billion!”
“1.5 billion!”
“3 billion!”
“8 billion!”
Undoubtedly, the Behemoth’s claws were the best material for weapons or armor.
Yet, it was out of reach for ordinary contenders.
“Enjoying the view, rookie? Oh! But of course, all you can do is watch. It’s not a game for the penniless like you. Hahaha!”
Guntapheor burst into savage laughter.
Yet, Zhenhyuk remained silent.
“……”
After all, his purpose here wasn’t for such things.
“The Pandora’s Box goes to Hermes from Olympus!”
“The transcendental magic stone is awarded to Gabriel from Eden!”
“The Heart of the Element is awarded to Ysiassis, representing the Elemental Realm!”
The auction continued without rest.
How much time had passed?
“Now, the next item I’m going to present is…!”
The most highlighted auction item finally appeared.
At last.
Swoosh…
Zhenhyuk slowly opened his spatial inventory.
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