Max Talent Player

Chapter 157

I doubted my eyes.

Hes here, again?

By coincidence, I met the Great Explorer Jackson in front of a rather special location, the Gwanghwamun Dungeon. I did have a hunch that our chance encounter wouldnt be the end of our acquaintance, but I didnt think we would be meeting again so soon.

Seeing as he hadnt been able to come into the field, he must have arrived sometime during the scenario.

No matter how I think of it, its weird.

I couldnt shake off that feeling.

Who was the one who created the Guardian Tower here in the past?

It was at this point in time that the Guardian Tower appeared between Complex 1 and 2 of the DMC Riverview Xi. Who was the mysterious person who created the Guardian Tower that would later grow into the Megalodon?

Its true that Megalodon is a lower grade than Tintin.

Megalodon and Titan were slightly different types of Guardian Towers. Titan had a turret tower form, while Megalodon had a magic form. They certainly differed in utility. But if you were to ask people which of the two Guardian Towers was more outstanding, the majority would pick Titan.

Even if we presume that Megalodon is a lower grade Guardian Tower

It was still a pretty high level tower. Who could have created such a tower here, at this time?

It was right about this time that the early version of Megalodon, Melo, appeared. Not long afterwards, Melos power was revealed, and the price of land around the DMC Riverview Xi skyrocketed.

Its weird.

That meant someone had to have been diligently collecting Guardian Gems from Gajwa Station. And then, another person with remarkable enhancement talent summoned the Guardian Tower here.

Was there any Player like that in Korea at this time?

Korea produced a lot of great Players. The 8 Heroes of Korea were neck and neck with other heroes worldwide. But the sphere Korean server Players particularly distinguished themselves in was combat, specifically direct combat. The country produced many direct combat class Players.

We were comparatively weak in other types of Playing, like enhancement or production.

Some called this a server trait, and others called it a racial characteristic.

Anyway, I dont think there was anyone from Korea who could have created a Guardian Towerand the starting version of Megalodon, evenat this time, right now.

No matter how much I wracked my brain, I couldnt come up with a name. But now, I knew: Jackson had been here at that time.

He walked up, clapping. I had a good time watching from afar. You use quite a mix of techniques.

Jackson came up to me. There was a big smile on his face as he took my hand to shake it.

Ive never seen a Player of your level, not even in England. I simply regret that I wasnt able to watch from up close.

Sunhwa tilted her head. A foreigner mister?

Oh, hello there, little miss. My names Jackson.

Jackson held out his hand. Sunhwa took it after some hesitation.

Hello. Im Kim Sunhwa.

Ah. Youre Mr. Kim Hyukjins little sister?

From their trivial conversation, I instantly realized.

Hes investigated me.

He was able to dig out my information so fast? The only people who were interested in me were the Sungshin family. He seemed to be meeting Song Kiyeol for the first time, so it was either CEO Song Kiyoung, the Blood and Iron Queen Song Junghye, or the spoiled brat Song Jinchul.

Its probably not CEO Song.

So it was either Junghye or Jinchul. But Jinchul was still too young, and he didnt have much intel on me.

It must be Song Junghye.

He got my background info from Song Junghye. He had met her. I was sure of it.

Well, its not a bad thing.

Did Jackson think I wouldnt be able to figure out his relationship with her from what he said? No. He probably knew. He knew and said it anyway. I didnt know what he was intending. It could be that he was showing off his access to a powerful intelligence network, or was telling me that he was very interested in me. Or it could also be that he didnt think at all, though that was very unlikely.

Sunhwas hesitating face brightened a little.

Youre super good at Korean, mister.

Spare me the mister. Oppa. Call me Oppa, little miss.

He was even clear on the difference between mister and oppa.

Im not little.

Oops, sorry, Jackson said, before bending into a respectful bow. Please call me Oppa, my lady.

Jackson intentionally put on an exaggerated air with a sly expression, but he himself seemed to find it cringey. Eurgh, so cheesy. Sorry. Ill make my apology quick.

The entire time, he spoke with such fluent Korean that anyone would believe he was a native. In any case, Sunhwa seemed to have relaxed a lot around him.

How did you end up here, Jackson? I asked.

Its because of my scenario. Somehow, your path and my scenario keep coinciding.

Jacksons bearing was extremely natural. He didnt really seem to be lying.

May I ask what kind of scenario it is?

Jackson smiled brightly. Sorry, no comment.

That was fine, I hadnt expected anything. I heard Yeonseo murmur, Wow, thats one good-looking guy. Though he isnt my style.

A blond-haired handsome man with a stocky physique.

Standing before the gray, 5-meter-tall Guardian Tower was the blond-haired, handsome man, the twelve-lane road underneath him reduced to ruins. He cut a pretty dashing picture.

It looks natural.

He looked just like a hero from a western disaster movie, and it felt like I was seeing a scene from the movie. Was this heroic-looking Jackson connected to the puzzle of the past?

I didnt know. I asked again, By any chance, do you have comrades?

I am in the process of making them. I would also like to build an amicable relationship with you, Mr. Kim Hyukjin.

I see.

But I wont rush things. You seem to be very busy.

Like a true explorer, Jackson closely examined the Guardian Tower, which could be considered a new relic. Then, he said some more amusing words.

It seems like an extremely innovative tower, but something is missing. Its not quite there. Coming closer to me, Jackson grinned. I dont think its in its complete form yet. Though Im sure you already know.

...

Jackson held out his hand again.

I think well be seeing each other again shortly.

...

After shaking my hand, Jackson scrambled away. As I watched his receding back, I spoke.

Guildmaster Song Kiyeol. This is just a personal request, but

Please go ahead.

Id like you to find out if there are any British people traveling with Jackson, and if there are, what class they are.

Kiyeol nodded, his eyes burning bright with determination.

Understood. It shouldnt be hard to find out if I look at Jacksons entry record. I will investigate every British person who entered the country at around the same time as Jackson.

* * *

* * *

The residents of the DMC Riverview Xi were forced to accept a new fact.

Have you heard? That something weird popped up between our apartment complex 1 and 2?

Is it a monster?

Its not a monster. It seems to be called a Guardian Tower or something.

Guardian Towers were still unfamiliar entities to people.

Wont the prices of our houses fall with something like that around?

Thats what Im saying! The worlds chaotic as it is because of monsters.

And plus, the road was nearly reduced to ashes.

Taeguk Shield apparently had some kind of scenario there and will be repaving the road.

Thats good, at least

Dont you think there might be some compensation for damages we can claim?

But only the road was destroyed.

Still, maybe we can get psychological compensation or something. Or at least compensation for our house prices falling from the eyesore theyve put in our neighborhood

The residents formed the core of a lobbying group that loudly demanded that Sungshin pay reparations.

Are you going to take responsibility if our house prices go down?!

Take down that eyesore at once!

It looked as though the people werent yet ready to accept these structures called Guardian Towers. They didnt know what they were, and even if they were told, they wouldnt believe it.

Song Kiyeol came to Hyukjins house.

...Things are going the way you thought.

Yes. They must be demanding reparations.

A few people are claiming that they saw Players who arent part of Taeguk Shield. They say those people need to pay reparations as well. There are also people who say they saw So Yoohyun.

It wasnt just Taeguk Shield that was there, but Hyukjin and his team. People were arguing that they should get reparations from Hyukjins teammates as well.

Hyukjin already knew people would make such claims, and that those claims would soon disappear. He shrugged. To put it one way, the current situation was a side effect, and it would be greatly overshadowed by the main effect.

Taeguk Shield must utilize the current situation very well. Weve made the worlds first Guardian Tower, and its even one capable of growth. This is your chance to spread the name of Taeguk Shield far and wide.

They didnt know right now, but not long from now, people would come to know everything about Guardian Towers.

You will become famous. How well that fame could be utilized was up to the Guildmaster of Taeguk Shield, Song Kiyeol. And the clamor for reparations will soon disappear.

Because very soon, the Guardian Towers true worth would be revealed for all to see. By the quickly approaching break of the Gwanghwamun Dungeon.

Understood.

Also, theres a high chance you will be contacted by guilds from around the world. They, too, will soon summon Guardian Towers.

They would move quickly to get information from Sungshin, no, Taeguk Shield. And if they were Players capable of summoning Guardian Towers at this point in time, they could certainly be called geniuses. Taeguk Shield would be able to effortlessly make connections with such people. For Taeguk Shield, it was a winning transaction.

Kiyeol nodded. Well take the fame, and youll take the practical benefits.

That was Taeguk Shield and Hyukjins relationship. Their mutual interests aligned perfectly.

Hyukjin asked, Has the Precognitive Dreamer, Ham Sohyun, said anything?

That is actually the reason why I am here.

Kiyeol had gotten a message from Ham Sohyun before, one that he showed CEO Song. He shared it now with Hyukjin.

Three doors. A king walks the Kings Road.

In front of the kings path, he shall suspect the river of baptism.

Sohyun had a precognitive dream related to these words in the past.

That was when I met Jackson in front of the Gwanghwamun Dungeon.

The dream happened to coincide with the time when Hyukjin met Jackson. And Hyukjin knew Jacksons class.

Exploring Baptist.

Which meant there was a very high chance Ham Sohyuns precognitive dream was related to Hyukjin.

If we suppose the king here is me, then in front of the kings path I will suspect the River of Baptism?

In some ways, it wasnt wrong. He was indeed feeling a sense of strangeness he couldnt describe from Jackson.

Hyukjin examined the note again.

Three doors. A king walks the Kings Road.

In front of the kings path, he shall suspect the river of baptism.

After thinking about it further, he noted that the divination was divided into two notes. That meant it was possible the subject of the top note and bottom note were different.

A king walking the Kings Road.

A person standing before the kings path.

Were they the same person?

This is complicated.

Hyukjin decided not to think about it too hard. They were glimpsed by a Precognitive Dreamer as illustrious as Ham Sohyun, so these two revelations were definitely not easy to figure out.

Kiyeol passed him more notes.

Theres more.

Hyukjin took them.

Three fire demons shall descend.

It could have been written on one note, but the contents were written on different notes.

One fire demon and---.

One fire demon and---.

One fire demons---.

At the crossroads of---.

It seemed Ham Sohyun was unable to see more of the future than that.

I have a feeling somethings written there but strangely enough, I cant comprehend it.

It was set so that the rest couldnt be comprehended. There were words on the paper, but he couldnt understand their meaning. His brain couldnt recognize them. This was, of course, a phenomenon that science could not explain.

Hyukjin observed the notes for a long time.

Can you see something more? asked Kiyeol.

He could. But it was fuzzy. Something was subtly different between the past Hyukjin knew and the future that was to come. Each and every tiny puzzle piece was ever so slightly different.

That Ive changed the future is already a done deal.

That in itself wouldnt make him lose his nerve or get scared. Why? Because Hyukjin was making the now, and that now would turn into the future. So all he had to do was do his best in the now.

From here on out, what he said was important.

Guildmaster Song Kiyeol. Please listen to me very carefully.

Hyukjins special eye, the Observers Eye, was staring at the note, not Song Kiyeol, as if to bore a hole through the paper. Almost as if he were transfixed.