Chapter 68: Floor 5 (6)

— Breaking news: Wang Kai of China, officially recognized as the world’s highest-level Climber, has died in battle against Person123 on Floor 5...

The rumors of Wang Kai’s death were soon confirmed.

News outlets around the world rushed to report the story.

[Lemon: Seriously, though, this makes no sense. How does Person123, who’s supposedly level 40, kill Wang Kai?]

[LizardTail: Judging by the difficulty of the Sub-Towers he cleared, he was obviously never level 40 in the first place.]

[Cocktail: I heard Wang Kai couldn’t even put up a fight... That has to be exaggerated, right?]

[Heogang: Idk. From what I’ve heard, the rumors going around are actually understating what happened.]

[Hando: Isn’t the Security Corps going to release some kind of official statement?]

[Prech: I heard they’re keeping a tight lid on everything for now.]

How strong was Person123 really?

Was he truly Korean?

What exactly had caused the confrontation with Wang Kai?

As speculation grew increasingly heated, Alex, Chief of the Security Corps, posted a message on the Communication Channel.

It was the Security Corps’ official statement.

[Mountain Range: This is Alex, Chief of the Floor 5 Security Corps. I am issuing this statement to clarify the precise facts surrounding the recent incident and to present our official position.

A dispute arose in Zone 3 between the Security Corps and the Black Star Society over hunting territory. The dispute escalated into a direct confrontation, resulting in several deaths on both sides. Five members of the Security Corps were killed, along with three members of the Black Star Society.

Wang Kai and I arrived at the scene shortly afterward. We agreed to settle the dispute through one-on-one combat, with the loser accepting responsibility. I was defeated by Wang Kai and acknowledged my loss. Despite this, Wang Kai then attempted to kill every member of the Security Corps present.

At that moment, Person123 intervened to protect the Security Corps and attempted to mediate the conflict. Person123 repeatedly warned Wang Kai to stand down, but Wang Kai refused to listen and continued to threaten and attack him. In the end, Wang Kai was killed when Person123 retaliated.

Wang Kai was the first to attack Person123, and Wang Kai was the one who ignored Person123’s repeated warnings. I wish to make this absolutely clear. Person123’s killing of Wang Kai was unequivocally an act of self-defense, and every member of the Security Corps present owes him their life...]

It was a lengthy statement that laid out the entire sequence of events in detail.

It drove a stake through the heart of the rumors swirling across the Channel.

[SeaDragon: Knew it. Of course the Black Star Society bastards would pull something like this.]

[Fantasy: Person123 killed someone << Logically speaking, who do you think was at fault? You don’t even need to see what happened. Obviously the dead guy did something to deserve it.]

[Necromancer: Wang Kai was actually insane. He seriously tried to kill Person123?]

[Webby: I genuinely can’t wrap my head around this. Who does something like that unless they’re trying to destroy the entire world?]

[WinterWind: fr even people with anger issues need to control that shit lmao]

[Coffee: China needs to issue an apology or an official statement immediately.]

Public anger turned sharply toward the Black Star Society and China.

A handful of Chinese Climbers attempted to defend Wang Kai and condemn Person123’s actions, but their voices were drowned beneath a flood of furious backlash.

It was fortunate that Person123 had been stronger than Wang Kai.

What if Wang Kai had been stronger?

What if something had happened to Person123?

The mere thought was horrifying.

The world had come frighteningly close to ending for real.

Soon afterward, the Black Star Society released a statement of its own.

[Black Horn: The Security Corps’ statement is wholly contrary to the truth and constitutes a malicious attempt to slander us.]

Its account, however, was the complete opposite of the Security Corps’ version.

According to the Black Star Society, the Chief of the Security Corps was lying.

The conflict had begun because the Security Corps attacked first.

Wang Kai had never threatened or attacked Person123.

Instead, they claimed that Person123 had intimidated Wang Kai before ambushing and killing him as Wang Kai attempted to retreat.

That was the essence of their long-winded statement.

[BlueBird: There’s literally no way to describe this other than complete bullshit lmaooo.]

[SafeDriver: You almost have to admire them. Just not in a good way.]

[Dopre: Person123 ambushed Wang Kai... Who exactly do they think is going to believe that?]

Of course, there had been no independent witnesses.

Only the members of the Security Corps and the Black Star Society who had been present knew the truth.

Naturally, the public sided with the Security Corps’ account.

Or, more precisely, they trusted Person123.

Person123—the hero who had saved humanity countless times.

The man who had willingly taken Penalties upon himself to nullify the Three-Year Rule.

The man who had sacrificed more for humanity than anyone else.

Between Person123 and Wang Kai, which of them was more likely to have started the fight?

The answer seemed obvious.

Several countries, including the United States, released statements strongly condemning Wang Kai and China.

Before long, China issued an official statement as well.

“This is a complete fabrication of lies, propaganda, and slander manufactured by forces hostile to China. We will never betray the truth or bow our heads...”

China’s official position could be summarized simply:

Wang Kai had done nothing wrong, and China would offer no apology.

With the Chinese government seemingly losing all restraint after Wang Kai’s death, public outrage flared up once more.

***

Zhongnanhai, China.

A meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee was underway.

Every member of the Standing Committee, including President Zi Yuan, had gathered in the conference room.

The atmosphere was oppressive and grim.

Wang Kai was dead.

The damage China had suffered as a result could only be described as comprehensive.

The loss of Wang Kai himself—the Hard difficulty record holder and the world’s highest-level Climber—was already a catastrophic blow.

Moreover, the ownership rights to the Sub-Tower he had controlled appeared to have been nullified upon his death, as the Mana Vein in Chongqing had ceased functioning.

And now, because Person123 had become involved, China was facing condemnation and political pressure from the entire world.

The country had been plunged into an international crisis on top of everything else.

Wang Kai, that reckless thunderbolt of an idiot, had managed to leave behind an enormous pile of shit even in death.

President Zi Yuan had proposed a single plan for overcoming the crisis.

His grip on power within the Party had already been weakening for several years due to economic difficulties and various other problems.

If he meekly admitted fault now, China would not only suffer the damage already inflicted but also lose face before the entire world.

That humiliation would further destabilize his position within the Party.

The whole world might currently be attacking China, but historically, external hostility had always presented an opportunity to strengthen internal unity.

This was all a Western conspiracy.

An act of aggression against China.

China was second to none when it came to framing events in such terms.

Externally, they would evade responsibility and allow the issue to gradually fade away.

Internally, they would stir up and unite the population, whose national pride had been wounded by Wang Kai’s death and whose resentment had intensified under the wave of foreign criticism.

That resentment would then be converted into political support.

It was, in President Zi Yuan’s mind, the perfect plan.

There had been no statement from Person123 yet.

But what if he once again threatened to abandon his climb?

Even then, Zi Yuan intended to press forward.

Would China alone be destroyed?

No.

The entire world would perish with it.

Judging from Person123’s actions so far, there was no chance he would truly abandon the Nightmare climb.

Surely he would not allow all of humanity to die merely because one country had refused to apologize.

“There is no need for us to waver. We need only remain resolute and refuse to yield...”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunshots suddenly rang out beyond the conference room.

President Zi Yuan and the members of the Standing Committee leaped to their feet in alarm.

“What was that?”

The doors burst open, and agents from the Central Security Bureau rushed inside.

“You need to take shelt—gah!”

Before the agent could finish speaking, another agent came hurtling through the doorway from outside.

He crashed into the first man, sending them both slamming into the wall.

A figure entered the conference room with a bright smile on his face.

“Everyone, please remain seated. I imagine that gave you quite a fright.”

Ye Tianwei.

China’s foremost Nightmare difficulty Climber.

Several agents followed him inside and surrounded the President and the members of the Standing Committee.

Ye Tianwei took the seat at the head of the table.

With a bloodstained hand, he calmly smoothed back his slightly disheveled hair.

He looked around at the President and the Standing Committee members, all of whom sat frozen in stunned silence.

“I trust everyone understands the situation?”

“...”

“Let us keep this clean and orderly. Anyone who would prefer an ugly death may raise their hand now.”

Naturally, no one raised a hand.

***

After the incident in Zone 3, I decided not to return to Floor 5 until the situation had calmed down somewhat.

Judging by the Communication Channel and the news, the public was siding with both the Security Corps and me.

That was exactly what I had expected.

There was also a great deal of speculation about my personal identity.

People were saying that I was Korean, that I was a young man, and making various claims about my face and height.

Some of the information was correct, but plenty of nonsense was mixed in with it.

As I had anticipated, there was no need to worry too much.

[Chicken Sandwich: I am deeply relieved to hear that you are unharmed, Mr. Kim. Should you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.]

Bilon also reached out to check on me.

Apparently, his heart had nearly stopped when he heard the news.

I replied that I hadn’t suffered so much as a scratch and that there was no need for concern.

In any case, I didn’t make a statement on the Communication Channel myself.

The Security Corps’ statement had already covered everything that needed to be said.

Then the Black Star Society released its counterstatement.

It was laughable.

I had assumed they would at least remain silent, but instead they were openly trying to frame me.

Even the Chinese government had joined in and issued a statement repeating the same nonsense.

I didn’t have much to say about it.

When you expect nothing from someone in the first place, there is no disappointment to be felt.

Whatever.

They could keep barking all they wanted.

What could they actually accomplish by barking?

I was beginning to think it was time to return to Floor 5 when something unexpected happened yet again.

“...The death of Climber Wang Kai was unquestionably a tragedy brought about by his own actions, and we deeply acknowledge the Party’s failure to exercise proper oversight. We extend our profound regret and sincere apologies to Person123. Furthermore, on behalf of the late Wang Kai, we apologize to the people of the world for the reckless actions that endangered the entire planet...”

China had abruptly reversed its position and issued a new statement.

Even more surprisingly, President Zi Yuan himself appeared before the public to deliver the apology.

His face looked haggard.

And he continued speaking for quite some time.

“...As the highest leader of the Party, I have failed to fulfill my responsibilities. I have caused needless international friction and brought about the isolation of our nation. Combined with the deterioration of my personal health, I have come to understand that I no longer possess the political or moral qualifications necessary to lead this great country.

Therefore, I, Zi Yuan, have decided that, as of today, I will immediately step down from every position I currently hold, including General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People’s Republic, and all posts within the Central Military Commission...”

Whoa.

What was this?

— Chinese President Zi Yuan has announced his resignation. He has transferred full authority to Haoran, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and the most powerful figure within the military...

It appeared that a coup had taken place in China.

***

The briefing room of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.

Photographs of several key figures within the Chinese Communist Party, including President Zi Yuan, were displayed on the screen at the front of the room.

“...The coup was carried out with exceptional speed and precision. We assess that the conspirators deliberately chose the time of a Politburo Standing Committee meeting, allowing them to secure every member of the Standing Committee—including President Zi Yuan—in a single operation.”

“That could not have been easy.”

“Available intelligence suggests that they recruited a number of agents from the Central Security Bureau and simply forced their way through the remaining resistance, but...”

“If they deployed Climber-level force, that would have settled the matter.”

The agent giving the briefing nodded.

“A coup of this scale could not have been carried out without extensive preparation. They seized the opportunity created by Wang Kai’s death, when internal cohesion within the Party was at its weakest, and moved boldly without hesitation.”

They had forced the President to resign.

They had stripped him and the Standing Committee of their authority.

They had declared a state of emergency and established an emergency response committee, thereby providing a clean legal justification for their seizure of power.

The entire operation had unfolded seamlessly.

The agent raised a laser pointer and indicated a network of photographs connected by lines like a spider’s web.

“Full authority over the Party is currently held by Haoran, the leading figure within the military. Other individuals confirmed to have participated include Long Weige, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and Xiao Lin, a member of the Central Committee...”

The laser pointer moved across the photographs before stopping on one particular face.

“...And above all, the central figure in the entire operation: Ye Tianwei.”

China’s Nightmare Floor 4 Climber.

He was also the third son of Ye Chenze, the former Vice President and senior elder of the Daejin Faction, the largest faction within the Chinese Communist Party.

Because of that background, Ye Tianwei had long been a person of interest to the United States.

He was a member of the Party’s innermost elite.

At the same time, alongside America’s Taylor and excluding Person123, he was one of the few Climbers challenging the front line of the Nightmare difficulty.

He rarely appeared in public, which had made it difficult to gather reliable intelligence about him.

However...

“Based on the totality of our intelligence, we assess that it is highly likely Ye Tianwei was the architect of this coup.”

“...Are you saying that Ye Tianwei is the real power behind Haoran?”

“It is still difficult to determine the precise extent of Ye Tianwei’s control, but the probability is high.”

If that assessment was correct, then the Chinese Communist Party was now under the direct control of a Climber.

The expressions of the CIA agents grew grave.

“This may be an unprecedented situation... We need a far clearer understanding of what kind of man Ye Tianwei is.”

Immediately after the coup, China had abruptly changed its position and fully admitted responsibility, using former President Zi Yuan as the mouthpiece for the confession.

The purpose of that decision remained unclear.

Perhaps it was intended to provide further justification for the coup.

Yet fully admitting fault, rather than attempting to obscure the matter, was a decision that appeared to bring China far more loss than gain.

Had Ye Tianwei truly seized control of the Party?

Why was he acting this way?

What future did he envision, and what objective was he pursuing?

As the CIA agents contemplated the mountain of work ahead of them, they could already feel a headache coming on.

***

[Black Horn: The Security Corps’ statement is entirely true and contains not a single falsehood. The responsibility lies wholly with the deceased Wang Kai and with our Black Star Society. We offer our deepest apologies to Person123 for every wrong we have committed...]

After the coup in China, the Black Star Society’s attitude changed completely.

It was as though the organization had transformed overnight.

Having previously released a false statement, it now posted a new apology directed at Person123.

[Flowerbed: They’re groveling a lot harder than I expected.]

[AssaultRifle: What do you mean, too hard? This is the bare minimum anyone with a human conscience should do.]

[Radki: They mean it’s a lot by China’s standards.]

People felt that events were finally proceeding as they should.

At the same time, they couldn’t help feeling somewhat puzzled.

Throughout the dizzying developments of the past several days, Person123 had, as expected, remained completely silent.

That was simply the kind of figure he was, so no one found it especially surprising.

In this manner, the Wang Kai incident gradually came to an end.

Public attention shifted away from China and returned to the fragments of information that had emerged about Person123.

A high-rise building somewhere in Beijing, China.

“Tell me exactly how Wang Kai died. Describe it precisely as you witnessed it.”

Ye Tianwei sat in his chair, idly turning what appeared to be a string of prayer beads between his fingers.

The Black Star Society officer standing before him answered in a tense voice.

“I... I’m not entirely sure. Person123 fired something resembling a black ray.”

“And then?”

“...The black ray struck Wang Kai, and Wang Kai simply disappeared. Th-that was truly all there was to it.”

Ye Tianwei gave a quiet laugh.

“Understood. You may leave.”

The Black Star Society officer departed.

Ye Tianwei turned his chair toward the window and gazed down at the city below.

“As I thought...”

Person123 truly was a magnificent man.

Of course, someone like Wang Kai could never have hoped to compare to him.

Even so, Ye Tianwei had not expected the difference between them to be quite so vast.

Thanks to Person123 killing Wang Kai on his behalf, Ye Tianwei had been able to put his plan into motion at precisely the right moment.

Most of the power within the Chinese Communist Party was now in his hands.

At the very least, China would never again stand in that man’s way.

Ye Tianwei smiled as he continued rolling the object between his fingers.

It was a string of prayer beads decorated with a metal ornament in the shape of a human figure.

The number 123 had been engraved into it.

For all practical purposes, it was the symbol of the Church of Person123.