It hadn’t been erased or lost. 

To be precise, it had merged into the palm of Suho’s left hand. When he examined his hand, he noticed the shape of a key etched there—a mark indicating ownership of the Pocket Dimension House, just as Jang Pyung-ho had described.

The mark soon disappeared. According to Jang Pyung-ho, it would remain hidden unless he used the Pocket Dimension House.

Suho clenched his left hand and thought, *“I finally have my own personal fortress.”*

Calling it a "fortress" came from Jang Pyung-ho himself, as he had used the Pocket Dimension House like an impenetrable stronghold, especially for “smuggling.”

*“From drugs to national treasures—even people… there was nothing he wouldn’t handle.”*

Indeed, with the Pocket Dimension House, any smuggling operation became incredibly easy, as it could store living creatures, unlike other pocket dimensions. Moreover, its space could be expanded as long as his Mana stat was high enough.

Because of this, Jang Pyung-ho had utilized his skill extensively for smuggling, earning him the titles of “Smuggling King” and “Drug Lord.” 

But even Jang Pyung-ho was eventually caught. Though he was practically invincible while inside the Pocket Dimension House, the drawback was that he couldn’t leave once he entered. 

Thus, as soon as the Korean Hunter Association witnessed him entering the Pocket Dimension House, they surrounded the area and maintained a 24/7 watch until they captured him.

*“It took them over three years to finally catch him.”*

He was a stubborn one. He’d set up the Pocket Dimension House so well that he managed to hold out for over three years alone.

Having secured the Pocket Dimension House, Suho stepped back out and headed to the next floor without hesitation.

***

Meanwhile, as Suho continued climbing the Tower of Trials, small ripples spread through the Hunter industry.

- The top scorer in this year’s Hunter exam: Hunter Ahn Suho.
- Who is Hunter Ahn Suho?

Such buzz was typical each year, as the top scorer of the Hunter exam always attracted immense attention as a rising star. Accordingly, domestic guilds began preparing to recruit Suho, as the top scorer held the highest expectations among all new Hunters.

However, just as guilds were getting ready, a new article was published that sent shockwaves through the industry.

- [Exclusive] Hunter Ahn Suho, revealed to be a graduate of Nexus Academy…
- [Exclusive] Hunter Ahn Suho, single-handedly cleared the Guro Station Gate!

These articles were strategic PR pieces released by Nexus Academy. 

Upon reading the news, guilds reluctantly backed off from recruiting him. If he was a Nexus Academy graduate, it meant he was a top prospect groomed by the Nexus Guild, the third-largest guild in the industry. Hexagon and Prime were left feeling blindsided, as they’d assumed the competition was solely between them, only to be upstaged by an unexpected third player.

Watching the flood of inquiries pouring into the Academy, Kim Soo-ae, the director, couldn’t suppress her smile. *“The three billion was well spent.”* Not only was the Academy gaining prestige, but she even received praise from the guild leader and vice guild leader. 

However, neither Kim Soo-ae nor the Nexus Guild planned to stop there.

- “Prime got to him first? Doesn’t matter—offer whatever it takes to recruit him! Money isn’t an issue!”

The Nexus Guild Leader, like everyone else, was ambitious. As a leader, he didn’t want to miss out on this rare opportunity.

Kim Soo-ae felt the same, which is why she had already attempted to recruit Suho before. *“I failed last time, but this time I’ll make it happen…”*

This time, the Guild Leader’s orders were clear, meaning they could offer even more enticing benefits than before.

Just then, another article popped up.

- [Exclusive] Top scorer Ahn Suho: “My dream is to become a civil servant Hunter.”

The sudden release was not from their own press team. It was an article from PBS, Korea’s top player broadcasting station, making it all the more credible.

It was hard to believe. A top scorer could command the highest price as a private Hunter, so why would he want to become a civil servant Hunter?

Could it be a clickbait tabloid article? Unlikely, as PBS wasn’t a tabloid that spread false rumors.

But hadn’t Suho shown a positive response to her proposal? Confused, Kim Soo-ae read through the article carefully but still couldn’t understand Suho’s intentions.

*“Why?”*

Had something happened? Could the government have made him a secret offer behind their backs?

Kim Soo-ae bit her lip and called the guild leader, determined not to give up on recruiting Suho.

***

**[You have cleared the 29th floor.]**

**[Proceeding to the 30th floor.]**

Who knows how much time had passed? By the time Suho had cleared ten more floors, he finally succeeded in breaking the highest official record in the Tower of Trials.

After clearing the 29th floor, a system message appeared, congratulating him on setting a new record.

**[You have achieved the highest record in the Tower of Trials.]**

**[For this extraordinary achievement, the system awards you with 5 bonus stat points.]**

**[If you proceed to the 30th floor, your accomplishment will be broadcasted outside the tower.]**

**[Anonymous mode is available if you prefer to remain unnamed.]**

Five bonus stat points. He would receive more every time he broke the highest record, which was why he felt a bit of regret. If the previous record had been set lower, he could have accumulated more bonus stats.

After a brief moment of thought, Suho declined to reveal his name. While fame had its appeal, he felt it wasn’t too late to reveal his identity after completing the next floor.

*“Jo Jin-hwi, I’m sure you’re watching.”*

Though Jo had tried to put on a tough front, his journalist’s curiosity likely prevented him from ignoring the action. By now, he had probably either come to Pangyo in person or was watching through a personal broadcasting platform.

Suho hoped Jo Jin-hwi would be kept in suspense for as long as possible.

Keeping his identity anonymous, Suho stepped through the portal to the next floor.

***

**[The 29th floor has been cleared.]**

**[A new challenger is attempting the 30th floor.]**

The moment Suho chose to remain anonymous, the Tower of Trials began broadcasting his progress to those outside, just as it had notified him.

Everyone who saw the announcement froze in place, astonished.

“30th floor?”

“Is someone actually challenging the highest record?”

“Who is it this time?”

The attempt to break the Tower’s record was always a hot topic among climbers of the Tower of Trials. And quite a few had managed to reach the 30th floor, as the monsters on the 29th floor were only Level 29. By then, most party members’ average level would exceed 25.

However, the 30th floor had yet to be conquered due to a single, daunting reason: the appearance of a “golem,” the first of its kind in the Tower.

“Which team will be crushed this time?”

“Why did they choose anonymity?”

“Probably assumed they’d fail and decided not to reveal their identity.”

“Maybe it’s an internal test by a guild?”

“Could be.”

“It’s still better for their reputation to show their real name.”

That was true; in the Hunter industry, proving your skill directly increased your value, and the Tower of Trials served as an effective method of demonstrating one’s strength.

While everyone speculated about the challenger’s identity, one person stared at the Tower’s notification in disbelief.

It was Jo Jin-hwi.

After finishing his article, Jo had come to Pangyo on a whim. To his surprise, something extraordinary was indeed happening in the Tower of Trials.

*Ahn Suho… could it really be you?*

Ahn Suho, the solo conqueror of the Guro Station Gate, top scorer of the Hunter exam, and the hottest name in the industry.

However, something seemed odd. Suho had claimed he wanted fame, so why climb the tower anonymously?

*Could it be because of me?*

If that were the reason, Jo thought Suho was truly crazy. And if the anonymous player in the Tower was indeed Ahn Suho…

Gulp.

Jo swallowed nervously, his eyes gleaming as he grinned.

Just then, a new notification appeared.

**[The 30th floor has been cleared.]**

**[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

Upon seeing the message, Jo Jin-hwi and the surrounding Hunters’ eyes widened in disbelief.

He’d cleared the 30th floor so soon after the 29th?

It wasn’t a mistake. The system and the Tower clearly indicated the 30th floor had been conquered.

But the most shocking part was…

**[The challenger is Player Ahn Suho.]**

**[Player Ahn Suho has begun the 31st-floor challenge.]**

“…!”

Jo Jin-hwi’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he read the message.

***

**[The 31st floor has been cleared.]**

**[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

**[The challenger is Player Ahn Suho.]**

**[Player Ahn Suho has begun the 32nd-floor challenge.]**

**[The 32nd floor has been cleared.]**

**[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

**[The challenger is Player Ahn Suho.]**

**[

Player Ahn Suho has begun the 33rd-floor challenge.]**

**[The 33rd floor has been cleared.]**

**[A new record has been set in the Tower of Trials.]**

**[The challenger is Player Ahn Suho.]**

**[Player Ahn Suho has begun the 34th-floor challenge.]**

…

With the record-breaking 30th floor cleared, Suho chose to reveal his name, and the outside world erupted. The higher he climbed, the louder the buzz grew.

Kim Soo-ae, in particular, was stunned.

“A-Ahn Suho is setting a new record in real-time?”

“Yes, ma’am! As you can see in the news, he’s still climbing…”

At the Nexus Guild headquarters, Kim Soo-ae had urgently gathered the guild leader and vice guild leader for a meeting to discuss Suho’s recruitment. However, they had to throw their plans aside due to the unexpected development.

With the news broadcasting the situation in the Tower of Trials live, the guild leader quietly removed his glasses, his eyes wide with surprise.

“This… may require an offer beyond our expectations.”

All the executives in the room nodded solemnly.