Chapter 61: The Ultimate Player with Maxed-Out Talent

“That… is the final puzzle of this place.”

An unusual squirrel that uses magic. I walked towards the squirrel. It did not run away, instead wearing a confident expression.

“Do you want to make a deal with me?”

The squirrel seemed to understand my words, nodding its head. I had no idea what this squirrel was.

[The proficiency of your Sensory Eye (感覺眼) is too low to comprehend this.]

Nonetheless, it’s certain that it wants to deal with me.

“Rather than giving it what it wants right away…”

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to tease it a little.

“Do you want this, perhaps?”

The item I took out was none other than a ‘Black Yak Meat’.

The squirrel stomped its feet on the ground with anger. Of course, being a squirrel, its stomping had no effect on the ground.

Just then, a notification chimed in.

[The Merchant of Venice is paying attention to you.]

Huh.

“The guardians from the Italian server must be closely monitoring this place.”

The Merchant of Venice is also a very renowned guardian in Italy, the protector of ‘Eliana,’ known as the Queen of Water.

“The Merchant of Venice, huh.”

I had studied for civil service exams and thus knew more about the domestic guardians. However, I had a rough idea of the basic inclinations and characteristics of guardians from overseas servers.

“They’ll watch how I manage to trade to my advantage.”

‘The Merchant of Venice’ considers being adept at negotiation and trading an achievement. Eliana, the Queen of Water, was also a genius in magic as well as trade. It’s said jokingly that she accounts for 30 percent of Italy’s GDP.

“It’s funny that the Merchant of Venice would make an appearance over a negotiation with a squirrel.”

Seoul Station’s Dungeon, B2. The Special Hidden Field definitely seems to be a very special place.

“Then… perhaps this?”

I offered the ‘Goblin Perfume,’ a completely useless item to the squirrel which I had just acquired. The squirrel vehemently shook its head from side to side, raising its fluffy fists. Then a yellow number appeared beside it.

‘1?’

It appeared to be communicating an ultimatum through a magical number. Number 1. It seemed like a sign that this was the last chance. I grinned.

“Ah… This honestly feels like a loss for me.”

I hesitated for a moment. The yellow characters beside the squirrel’s fist grew larger.

[1!]

The last chance! The last! Hurry up! Hurry and give me what I want! It seemed to be shouting. Crossing its arms, the squirrel huffed, seemingly demanding something it greatly desired.

“Think about it. It’s honestly been very difficult for me to obtain such special items.”

[I extract a strawberry from the ‘Fruit Bundle’.]

I held the strawberry in my hand, and the squirrel’s eyes widened. The number ‘1’ changed to a ‘!’. Typically, if the exclamation mark ‘!’ appears in front of monsters, it means that I have successfully attracted their aggro.

[I extract a banana from the ‘Fruit Bundle’.]

“Ah. This is really too precious. Honestly, what you have, I can’t even eat.”

[I extract a tangerine from the ‘Fruit Bundle’.]

“This is also really delicious…”

[I extract blueberries from the ‘Fruit Bundle’.]

The squirrel hopped in place, helplessly. The once yellow ‘!’ sign had now changed to a red ‘!!’.

The fruits in my hand. The squirrel’s gaze did not waver from them, incessantly following the fruits around.

“But if you really want them… I suppose I have no choice. Shall we exchange?”

With vigorous head nods, the squirrel rubbed its paws together. Its previous confidence and arrogance were gone.

“No choice, I guess. Alright, let’s trade.”

It was an absurd trade, but it couldn’t be said to be completely nonsensical.

“There’s definitely something here.”

It’s not like the ‘Short Table Dungeon’ that the Giant of Sunset, Kang Sang-gu, made on purpose to nurture it. It’s not a place where some guardian invested COINs deliberately. It’s a genuine Hidden Field that exists in the system.

“And from there… did the Withered Goblin accidentally create the ‘Fruit Bundle’?”

The ‘Fruit Bundle’ was dropped by the fanged wild boars, and from that, I could be more certain this place was a twisted space.

“Was that a coincidence?”

The probability that it wasn’t a coincidence is very high. It’s a system’s sophisticated trick disguised as the Withered Goblin’s ‘mistake’. If I hadn’t obtained this ‘Fruit Bundle’, or if I had already eaten it, then there might not have been a trade with the squirrel right now.

“If I had failed to make a deal with the squirrel… I wouldn’t have been able to escape from this place.”

The probability is very high.

“I hope this is the key to escape.”

A notification came in.

[The squirrel proposes a trade.]

The trade window opened.

‘Oh?’

A squirrel that could activate a trade window. That’s a first for me. But then again, a squirrel that can use magic is a first, too.

[The trade has been completed.]

[You have acquired an ‘Amplification Magic Stone’.]

The trade was confirmed through the trade window.

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[Amplification Magic Stone]

A magic stone that amplifies magical power.

Grade: Unique

Amplification Value: ?

Remaining Uses: 1/3

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The amplification value was marked with a ‘?’. It meant that it was an item of a level that I currently could not check.

“There are also 2 uses left.”

I have obtained an item that will come back to me with 10 billion after 3 years. The goal used to be 1 billion, but now it is 10 billion.

The Merchant of Venice seemed to be satisfied with my trade.

[‘The Merchant of Venice’ is very satisfied with your trade.]

[‘The Merchant of Venice’ is determined to watch over you.]

Moreover, they gifted me a special item.

[‘The Merchant of Venice’ sponsors a ‘Forced Exchange Coupon’ for you.]

* * *

Senia, who had been observing the situation so far, exhaled deeply.

“At last… he did it.”

I thought that Kim Hyuk-jin would somehow manage to do it, but he actually did. The guardians who revealed their names are trying to maintain silence, but they are not planning on leaving their channels.

It was difficult to check even the posts from unnamed guardians.

[Isn’t he level 29 right now?]

[I think he just gained 1 level up point?]

[Wow? So level 30?]

It was a huge issue even among Korean server guardians. Level 30. The level at which a player selects a dedicated guardian. Kim Hyuk-jin’s play was outstandingly exceptional even within Korea. There was simply no other player who could replace him.

[We’ll have to check with the middle manager for accuracy.]

[Summarize what rewards he got!]

While riff-raff was creating a commotion, ‘The Cowboy of Las Vegas’ sponsored 1000COIN to Senia. The Cowboy of Las Vegas had one request. To reveal what reward Kim Hyuk-jin had received.

[‘The Cowboy of Las Vegas’ sponsors 1,000COIN to the middle manager.]

[‘The Cowboy of Las Vegas’ sponsors the ‘Temporary Pause Authority’ to the middle manager.]

Thanks to that, Senia was again able to use the expensive ‘Temporary Pause Authority’.

“Player Kim Hyuk-jin. May I ask you a question?”

In a world tinged with black and white, Kim Hyuk-jin had already anticipated Senia’s action. He knew that she would use the ‘Temporary Pause Authority’ to check the rewards. So, he had his answer already prepared.

“Are you asking about the rewards I’ve received?”

“Yes.”

I shrugged my shoulders casually. There was really nothing to hide at the moment. In fact, now was not the time to hide anything.

“First of all, as you know, I got one level up point.”

My current level is 29. Which means 30 now.

‘The guardians must be in an uproar too.’

There were quite a few guardians who were subtly or openly appealing to me. In the current situation, I am the ultimate asset. There might be guardians to replace other guardians, but there is no player to replace me.

I digressed to a different subject, making them a bit more anxious.

“I added a new attribute to the Sensory Eye. I’ll briefly reveal information about the Sensory Eye. Feel free to scan it.”

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[Sensory Eye (感覺眼)]

1. Category: Unique Ability

2. Basic Acquisition Conditions:

1) Hyper-Sensory Perception

2) The Eyes of a Cold Observer

3. Additional Acquisition Conditions:

1) Overcoming the ‘Hyper-Sensory Perception’ death verdict

2) Overcoming pain

4. Detailed Description:

The Sensory Eye is the ‘eye of intuition’. Intuition means obtaining concrete knowledge of external objects directly through the operation of sensation. This ability possesses the power to intuitively dissect and comprehend information about the opponent.

5. Proficiency: [1]

6. Attributes:

1) Differentiation between Awakened/Non-Awakened

2) Status Window Comprehension

3) Danger Perception

4) Resistance to Illusionary Formations (幻想(陣) or Phantom (幻影) Magic

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The new additional attribute I gained from clearing the ‘Mystic Forest’ is attribute number 4: Resistance to illusionary formations/phantom magic. This alone is already quite a good reward. This will be a useful ability in the forthcoming ‘Gwanghwamun Dungeon’.

“Plus, a magic stone.”

I disclosed information about the magic stone. Senia’s wingtips quivered. Senia may know the ‘amplification value’ of this magic stone that is designated by ‘?’

‘It looks like it’s quite an impressive item after all.’

The real value of this wouldn’t be clear without at least three years. It’s like a lottery that is sure to win after three years.

“And the goblin perfume.”

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[Goblin Perfume]

A perfume used by goblins when they play tricks. Allows the use of a special ‘Invisibility’ effect. However, if you move too much, the spell will be cancelled.

Effect: Invisibility spell

Duration: 3 minutes

Usage Count: 1 time

──────────

This Goblin Perfume, which later becomes regulated as an item prone to criminal misuse, was also part of my gains.

In addition,

“The Merchant of Venice also sponsored a special item for me.”

I also announced this publically.

──────────

[Forced Exchange Coupon]

A scroll that allows for the trade window, once activated, to proceed with a forced exchange completion.

──────────

If an expensive item is mistakenly placed in a trade window, this item can be used to forcibly take that item. To be honest, I don’t particularly like these types of items. It’s like the last bit of conscience I have left. However, I mentioned this now because my next level up is approaching.

Approaching level 30, the level to choose a guardian.

‘Now you’ve all heard it, guardians.’

The Merchant of Venice even gifted me with a special scroll like ‘Forced Exchange Coupon’ today despite having just begun to notice me.

“Now then…”

I’ve drawn out the time suitably. I have no idea how many guardians are inside Senia’s channel.

“Shall I level up?”

That’s when a strange change began to occur in Senia.

‘What? Could it be…!’