Chapter 109: Coup (2)

News about the North Korean climber on Floor 5 continued to pour in.

A North Korean climber seeking asylum in our country had fled to Floor 5, while North Korea was demanding that the Security Corps hand him over.

Relations between the Security Corps and the Black Star Society were growing increasingly tense, and our government was reportedly negotiating with the North Korean side...

It was an unusual incident, and one I couldn’t help but keep an eye on.

Only part of the story was making it onto the news, but I was able to get a much clearer picture of what was actually happening.

[Chicken Sandwich: They say he’s a Hard difficulty Floor 14 climber named Kang Tae-seong.]

That was thanks to Bilon.

Maybe because it concerned Korea?

I hadn’t even asked, yet Bilon’s people were keeping me updated on everything.

[Chicken Sandwich: They say he was one of the key figures behind this North Korean coup. But Park Gwang-jin betrayed him, and while he was being hunted down, he took advantage of a moment when his Combat Status was lifted and escaped to Floor 5.

It’ll take more digging to uncover the finer details, but apparently U.S. intelligence considers Kang Tae-seong’s testimony credible.]

Whether they had someone inside the Security Corps feeding them information directly, or whether the Climbing Bureau was sharing it with them.

Bilon relayed every new development to me in real time, down to the smallest detail.

[Chicken Sandwich: The North Korean side doesn’t seem willing to negotiate at all.]

[Person123: That puts the Security Corps in a difficult position too.]

[Chicken Sandwich: It does. Apparently, complaints are starting to surface internally as well. For now, Alex, the chief of the Security Corps, is keeping them under control, but still.]

[Person123: What happens if the negotiations completely fall apart?]

[Chicken Sandwich: If they’re left with no other option, the Security Corps will eventually have to wash their hands of the matter. Kang Tae-seong understands the situation he’s in too, so apparently he’s already signaling that he intends to survive on Floor 5 without ever leaving the Tower.]

In fact, North Korea apparently knew where Kang Tae-seong would emerge and was already preparing for it.

The chances of him dying the moment he stepped outside were extremely high, so remaining on Floor 5 really was his only option.

I felt a little sorry for him.

From what I’d heard, Kang Tae-seong had started the coup because he wanted to turn North Korea into a country worth living in.

Of course, there was no way to know whether that was actually true.

“Hmm...”

Surely saying a few words couldn’t hurt?

It wasn’t as though there was nothing I could do to help.

But simply standing by and watching didn’t sit right with me either.

Our government was supposedly still negotiating with the North.

A single post from me on the Communication Channel might give those negotiations an enormous boost.

What worried me, however, was whether doing so might unnecessarily provoke the North Korean side...

It was a sensitive matter, and acting on my own seemed risky.

After thinking it over, I decided to ask our government for its opinion first.

[Person123: Could you tell me how things currently stand?]

I sent a Whisper to Section Chief Shin Su-jin.

***

“...There’s nothing more to be done. I knew from the beginning that I was asking for the impossible.”

“That isn’t true.”

Shin Su-jin shook her head at Kang Tae-seong’s words.

There had been no progress whatsoever for days.

Kang Tae-seong was still staying inside the Security Corps building.

“I already owe the Security Corps more than enough. I can’t keep imposing on you like this, so from now on, I’ll manage on my own.”

“And what exactly do you intend to do?”

“I’ll have to keep living on Floor 5. If I hold out here for a thousand years, surely even those people will get tired of waiting eventually.”

If things continued this way, both the Security Corps and the Korean government would eventually have no choice but to let the matter go.

And if North Korea had absolutely no intention of backing down, that was the only path left to him.

But Floor 5 wasn’t exactly safe either.

The North Korean climbers would come after Kang Tae-seong, the Black Star Society might lend them a hand, and the Security Corps couldn’t remain at his side forever, guarding him day and night.

Of course, Kang Tae-seong was a level 52 powerhouse.

To put it bluntly, it wasn’t impossible for him to leave Zone 0 altogether and survive by hiding somewhere in monster territory.

Even so, no matter how things played out, the life awaiting him would be a grueling one.

Shin Su-jin’s heart ached for him as well.

She left the Tower, finished filing her report, and checked the Communication Channel.

But then...

“...!”

She froze in shock.

A Whisper from Person123 was waiting for her.

[Person123: Could you tell me how things currently stand?]

...So he had been paying attention to this matter after all?

Shin Su-jin gladly explained the situation to him.

She told him that negotiations with North Korea remained deadlocked, and explained the respective positions of the Security Corps and the government.

After hearing the whole story, Person123 replied.

[Person123: Would it be alright if I helped?]

Shin Su-jin let out a small sigh.

Given his personality, it was hardly surprising that he would step forward.

Out of consideration for their position, Person123 asked her to find out what the government wanted before he did anything.

[Lotus: Understood. I’ll relay it immediately.]

Shin Su-jin went straight back to the Director of the Tower Climbing Special Agency.

“...Person123?”

The Director’s eyes widened in surprise, and he asked again.

“You’re saying he contacted you directly, Section Chief Shin?”

“Yes. He knows that I belong to the Korean Tower Climbing Special Agency.”

Shin Su-jin had denied having any connection to Person123, but there was nothing particularly strange about him contacting her.

After hearing her account, the Director nodded, his expression turning grave.

So, in the end, Person123 was going to step in.

The entire situation was about to grow far bigger.

The Director immediately conveyed Person123’s intentions to the government.

The government went into full crisis mode.

After being briefed directly, the President convened an emergency meeting with his advisors.

This was the first time Person123 had ever reached out to the government of the Republic of Korea in this manner.

Perhaps out of respect for the government, given that this was a matter concerning national interests, he was asking whether they wanted him to intervene.

“...What should we do?”

It was something the government had to weigh very carefully.

In truth, the government had already been leaning toward dragging the negotiations out while gradually extricating itself from the situation.

The only reason they hadn’t already withdrawn was concern for their international standing. They had no reason to protect Kang Tae-seong at the cost of taking on an unreasonable burden.

But if Person123 stepped in now, backing out would become difficult, and there was also the risk of provoking the North.

That was the problem.

And yet...

“The fact that Person123 has come forward like this practically means he wants Kang Tae-seong rescued, doesn’t it?”

Considering Person123’s character, perhaps it was only natural.

To the government, however, it also felt like pressure from Person123.

He had gone out of his way to communicate his intentions to them.

What would happen if they replied that they planned to abandon Kang Tae-seong anyway, so there was no need for him to step in...?

Wouldn’t Person123 be deeply disappointed in the Korean government?

On the other hand, this was also an opportunity.

The entire world already knew that Person123 was Korean, but he had never once openly taken a position in support of the Korean government.

But what if Person123 stepped forward on this issue?

That alone would give the government enormous diplomatic leverage.

They would have to see how things unfolded, but North Korea would most likely become more willing to accept the negotiations as well...

Unless they intended to turn the entire world against them, surely they wouldn’t go so far as to start brandishing nuclear weapons and issuing threats?

After deliberating over the matter.

The government decided to ask Person123 for his help.

And once the government’s wishes had been conveyed to him.

A post from Person123 appeared on the Communication Channel.

[Person123: I would like Mr. Kang Tae-seong to be handed over into the custody of the Republic of Korea. I hope both sides can reach a peaceful agreement through negotiations.]

The eyes of the world immediately turned toward it.

[Sulfur: Person123 finally stepped in, holy crap]

[Maximus: He’s Korean, so of course he’d get involved?]

[Fenrir: A man’s life is on the line. He’d have stepped in even if it were another country’s problem]

[Rule: North Korea, quit being so damn stubborn already~]

[Golden Bell: Whatever it takes, just get this resolved quickly. You really gonna make Person123 waste his energy on this?]

Naturally, public opinion was overwhelmingly on Person123’s side.

The governments of various countries, which had been watching the situation while waiting to see whether Person123 would intervene, immediately sided with Korea and began issuing official statements.

“We can no longer support your position either. Negotiate.”

The Black Star Society also completely reversed its stance the moment Person123 made his position clear.

With everyone abandoning all pretense and openly taking sides, the North Korean spokesperson was left dumbfounded.

Under the overwhelming pressure that began pouring in from every direction because of a single statement from Person123, North Korea had no choice but to come to the negotiating table.

***

In the end, after negotiations, North Korea agreed to hand Kang Tae-seong over.

An economic condition had been attached to the agreement, but it remained well within a range our country could accept.

It was decided that the North Korean side would personally escort Kang Tae-seong to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom.

Thankfully, everything seemed to be working out, but...

Since I had already gotten involved, I decided to see the matter through to the end.

If North Korea broke its promise, things could easily descend into chaos all over again.

[Person123: Bilon, could you give me more detailed information on Kang Tae-seong’s location?]

I got Kang Tae-seong’s exact location from Bilon.

I planned to warp there at the exact time he was scheduled to emerge from Floor 5.

***

“Thank you. I am truly in your debt.”

Kang Tae-seong expressed his gratitude to Shin Su-jin and the other members of the Security Corps.

He had already resigned himself to spending the rest of his life on Floor 5.

He had never imagined that Person123 would step in, much less that events would unfold this way.

Kang Tae-seong accompanied the Security Corps members to the portal in Zone 0.

The North Korean side had agreed to hand Kang Tae-seong over, but they had refused the demand that they withdraw the military equipment deployed outside.

Their justification was that Kang Tae-seong might have other intentions and could suddenly go on a rampage, so they couldn’t possibly receive him without taking any precautions.

The possibility that North Korea might break its word wasn’t zero.

If that happened, Kang Tae-seong would die without even having a chance to fight back, but...

That was a choice he had to make, and a risk he had to bear himself.

The Security Corps and the Korean government had already done everything they could.

“I hope we can meet again in the real world, Kang Tae-seong.”

After one final handshake with Shin Su-jin and an exchange of farewells with the Security Corps members.

[Will you exit the Tower?]

Kang Tae-seong stepped out into the world beyond.

The instant his surroundings changed.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

A bullet ricocheted off Kang Tae-seong’s body.

Without so much as flinching, Kang Tae-seong silently glared at Park Gwang-jin, who stood before him.

Park Gwang-jin smiled and tossed the pistol in his hand onto the ground.

“Relax. It was a joke.”

“...A joke?”

The outskirts of central Pyongyang.

Tanks, missile launchers, drones, and all manner of other military equipment surrounded the area, along with the climbers stationed there.

Under circumstances like these, firing a gun could hardly be called anything but a joke.

A mere bullet couldn’t even scratch the skin of a level-50 climber.

And yet...

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Kang Tae-seong spoke.

“Why did you betray me? The dream we shared, of setting this rotten country right... What the hell was all of that?”

The two of them had been friends since childhood.

By sheer coincidence, both had become climbers, and for years they had bided their time while sharing the same cause: that one day, they would tear this country down and rebuild it.

They had finally carried out the revolution they had dreamed of...

Only for Park Gwang-jin to betray him at the very end.

“You’re more than old enough to know better, and you’re still living in a dream.”

Park Gwang-jin clicked his tongue as though pitying him.

“Look at reality. The strong rule over the weak. That’s simply how the world works.”

“...”

“Tear it down, my ass... Why would I destroy this paradise with my own two hands? Watching that man Ri Hyeok-cheol from up close, there was only one thought that ever crossed my mind.”

Park Gwang-jin grinned.

“That I would be next.”

Kang Tae-seong let out a hollow laugh.

“I really was an idiot for trusting a bastard like you. Let’s begin.”

Park Gwang-jin replied casually.

“Begin? Sure. Let’s hurry up and see you off to Panmunjom.”

Kang Tae-seong glared at him.

“Cut the crap. You have no intention of letting me go, do you?”

The gunshot.

That was why he had fired.

To place Kang Tae-seong under Combat Status so he couldn’t flee back to Floor 5.

“You figured it out?”

The corner of Park Gwang-jin’s mouth curled upward.

He didn’t even bother trying to hide it.

“Can’t be helped, Tae-seong. I know you too well. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night with you still alive. As long as you’re breathing, sooner or later you’ll come for my life. Right?”

“You really do know me well.”

Park Gwang-jin chuckled.

“It was actually a stroke of luck that bastard Person123 stuck his nose into this and caused such a commotion. If I’d simply told you I was going to let you walk away, you never would’ve trusted me enough to crawl out of Floor 5, would you?”

Breaking the agreement and killing Kang Tae-seong here would carry an enormous international cost, even for a North Korea already burdened by every sanction imaginable.

But to Park Gwang-jin, the threat posed by Kang Tae-seong’s continued existence outweighed all of that.

It was better to endure the consequences and eliminate Kang Tae-seong once and for all.

“There won’t be a second time. I won’t let you slip away again.”

Park Gwang-jin’s expression hardened.

“Let’s end this here.”

Killing intent poured from Park Gwang-jin and the other climbers.

Kang Tae-seong accepted his death and prepared himself for one final battle.

And at that moment.

Whoooosh-!

A massive wave of cold erupted outward.

Park Gwang-jin and the North Korean climbers.

The military equipment surrounding the area.

Even the drones circling overhead.

Everything froze solid in an instant.

“...?!”

Kang Tae-seong, who had been about to move, faltered, his face twisting in shock.

What... had just happened?

Even though he had witnessed it with his own eyes, he couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing.

Then, sensing a presence, Kang Tae-seong raised his head.

His eyes flew wide.

Someone was looking down at him from the sky.