Chapter 19: Do you fancy a cup of coffee? (1)

“Who in the world cleared the tenth floor?”

“I’m checking the news, but I got nothing. They’re all tabloids...”

“Maybe the Black Dragon Guild is hiding it on purpose to be dramatic...”

“Ah, I’m telling you it’s the Sword Star!”

Babylon, the city on the Tower’s first floor, was in an uproar. People were overjoyed by the news. The unassailable tenth floor had been cleared! However, the identity of the one who had done the deed remained a mystery. Even the people on the patio of the cafe I was in were talking about it. How would they react if they found out that the guy next to them was the person they were talking about?

“Mmm. It’s sweet,” I said, sipping on my caramel macchiato.

The cafe located opposite the MA headquarters was Babylon’s one and only Starbacks. No one could leave once they entered the Tower, but they had managed to build a franchise cafe in this place anyway. I really respected their entrepreneurial spirit. The Tower also had franchises from the red-nosed clown and the plump grandfather mascots. Ah, human greed was truly amazing!

“What do you think, Mr. Sword Emperor? Isn’t victory really sweet? Frankly, I feel like even an espresso would taste sweet to me.

“Hmm? Are my earphones not working? That’s strange. I can’t hear your answer.” I pulled out one of my earphones and tapped on it a couple of times.

Actually, my earphones made no sound. It was a simple decoy because, without it, I would look like a crazy guy who was talking to himself. It worked quite well, judging from how no one in the cafe took me for a weirdo.

“Mr. Sword Emperor? Oh, Mr. Sword Emperor. Hey, Mr. Psychopath! Excuse me, Mr. Crazyhead?” I heckled in a sing-song voice.

—...Yeah.

“Phew. I can finally hear you. You had me worried there for a second—I thought you had a problem with your ears. Tsk, tsk. You shouldn’t make me, the great Gong-Ja, worry if you have a heart.”

“Oh, riiiiiight. You don’t have a heart, you’re a ghost! I forgot! I’m so slow. Come to think of it, Sword Emperor, can we talk casually now? You’re supposed to serve me, so it’s a little weird if I speak to you formally.”

—Fu...ck... I’ve never been humiliated like this... An emperor... They called me the emperor of swords. How did I end up in this disaster after my death... The Guardian floated on the other side of my table, trembling.

“I’m joking, of course. I’m joking. Even if you call me Mr. Gong-Ja, you’re a senior Hunter with much more experience than me, so I can’t do that. Well, nothing is technically stopping me from being casual with you, but I’ll keep calling you Mr. Sword Emperor because I’m a man of manners. How does that sound? Do you like it?”

—Just kill me! the Guardian cried. Get a new Skill and overwrite the Sword Constellation! Then everything works out, you shit! Just kill me already!

“What? What are you talking about? We’re partners. Partners for life! No one in the world kills their best friend. We’re together forever.”

The Guardian sobbed.

—Forget it... I’m not going to say anything. Gramps Marcussss, I want to go back to you...

I looked up at the sky, enjoying my extra-sweet coffee.

[22:32:50]

The countdown in the sky showed that one and a half hours had already passed. It was about time they came...

Meow.

“Hmm?”

A brown cat ambled toward me. She was too well groomed to be a stray, not to mention the two gold coins dangling from her neck. I nervously considered my next action.

She’s the Goldcoin Cat.

—What?

The Goldcoin Cat. She’s really famou— Oh, yeah. That isn’t a thing right now.

The cat wasn’t ordinary. In five years, she was going to become a famous mascot.

...I didn’t expect a tycoon like her to come all the way over here herself. I guess I should pretend I don’t know anything.

Maintaining my composure, I looked at the cat.

“Are you lost?”

Meow.

The brown cat rubbed her head against mine. It left me a bit dumbstruck. If I hadn’t known her identity, I would have thought she was a real cat who happened to be rather friendly.

“Do you want to stay with me until your owner comes to look for you?”

Meowwww.

I picked up the cat and put her on my lap. She immediately curled up like that was exactly what she was aiming for. She even meowed again and let out a yawn.

I did hear that she’s obsessed with cats, but she’s quite the actress. I stroked the cat’s head, amazed.

Meoooow.

After I spent a while listening to the cat purr, a group of Hunters entered the cafe. One of them spoke first.

“Excuse me. Is your name Kim Gong-Ja?”

“Mmm.” I gave them a quick scan and noted their expensive gear, which indicated that their guilds hadn’t sent nobodies. They may not be the leaders, but they were at least executives of their guilds. Yet they were here at Starbacks.

I pulled out my identification card and showed it to them. “I wondered how long it would take. Exactly one and a half hours.”

Seeing my identification card made the Hunters’ eyes widen. They hurriedly pulled out their smartphones and made calls.

“Yes, I found him!”

“He’s at the cafe across the street from the bank...”

“No, the other guilds are here too... Yes. Yes! Understood, Colonel.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll never lose him to a different guild!”

I pleasantly watched the calm before a storm.

I feel like a VIP.

—Well, most guilds would be hellbent on recruiting you. No one managed to clear the tenth floor until you did. And you did it alone. That makes you a real VIP.

You have a point. The guy who cleared the ninety-ninth floor calls me Mr. Gong-Ja and serves me with respect. It would be weird if I wasn’t a VIP.

—Fuck! Fuck! Fuckkkkk!

The Hunters finished their calls one after another, all looking nervous. I quietly waited for one of them to step up.

A blonde Hunter with a large physique made the first move.

“I’m the Human Resource Team manager of the Watchmen League, Mr. Kim,” he said. “I’m sure you already know that the Watchmen League is the most honorable guild in Babylon. If you join my guild—!”

“Give me a moment please.” I held up my hand, interrupting him. “I’m really sorry for cutting you off, but I would like to make two things clear before we begin anything. First of all, don’t mention my name to the media.”

I slowly looked around at the Hunters. I was sure that none of their Classes were lower than mine. Before the regression, I wouldn’t have dared to look them in the eyes, but I now had no reason to feel intimidated.

I had the glory of clearing the Tower’s tenth floor! That was a reputation that no one could belittle, regardless of their Class. And the more capable Hunters were, the more they valued feats of strength. If they were competent officers, then they wouldn’t treat me lightly.

“I’ll never sign a contract or make a deal with any guild who leaks my identity to the media. Please remember that before we continue.”

“Umm...” Another Hunter raised her hand. “H-how long does that condition stand, though? The reporters from the Retrospective Newspaper are hovering around every guild looking for answers... Mr. Kim, I’ll be honest. The guilds can try hiding it, but we can’t guarantee your anonymity.”

“Well, I’m not asking you to do it forever.” I pointed at the sky, drawing the Hunters’ eyes.

[22:25:31]

“Please keep the news embargo until that countdown hits zero.”

“Oh! Yes...we can make it work.”

The Hunters heaved a sigh of relief.

I have to hit the ground running as soon as the eleventh floor opens up, so I can’t waste my time with reporters.

“That’s my first condition,” I continued with a smile, “and the second is...”

The Hunters looked at me with dark expressions, worried that my second condition would be difficult. However, I just grinned and gestured around at my surroundings.

“This is a public place, so let’s be considerate of the other guests.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m surprised you haven’t noticed that people are watching us. Everyone is confused because you guys came rushing in.”

Indeed, most of the guests on the patio were stealing glances in this direction. They looked at the Hunters and me skeptically and were whispering amongst themselves. Some of them even held up their smartphones, seemingly trying to discreetly film everything.

“It’s a public nuisance. I understand that it would have been hectic for all of you to find me, but it’s not like I’m going to run off anywhere.”

“E-excuse me.”

The Hunters belatedly came to their senses and scattered.

“I’m sorry. I’m not at liberty to discuss what is happening, but if you would please excuse...”

“Sir, I would like to rent the cafe for an hour. How much would it cost?”

“Thank you for your understanding, people! If you visit the OJP Sect later, the guild will express...”

Their work was flawless. They bowed to the guests and asked for their understanding and then borrowed the cafe from the owner. All told, it took less than five minutes to empty the cafe. We went inside to resume the conversation.

“Alright. Let’s begin the negotiation.” I gestured at them. “State your terms.”

Funnily enough, all of the Hunters were holding a cup of coffee after I had told them that they were being a nuisance. It was adorable.

“...The Watchman League can offer you ten thousand gold as a signing bonus.”

That was the trigger.

“Ten thousand gold? Did you really have to show how poor your guild is here? Mr. Kim, please join the Adventurer Association. The guild can guarantee you twenty thousand gold as a signing bonus, plus an executive position.”

“Why don’t you come to the OJP Sect, Mr. Kim? The guild specializes in raising combat Hunters in the most classic way. You’ll immediately be appointed as an instructor and receive a signing bonus of twenty-five thousand gold.”

“That kind of position comes with cumbersome duties. Why don’t you think about this, Mr. Kim? The Pantheon offers you an honorary position, but it would be great if you could take charge of advertising the guild in and outside the Tower. The signing bonus will be thirty thousand gold, but separate bonuses— “

“The Hunter Management Bureau! The bureau would like you as a promotional ambassador!”

The cafe became rowdy with the HR managers’ voices. I could understand their desperate attempts to win over me, though. Major guilds would be feeling pressured by the Sword Star; he was the Rank 1 Hunter and he didn’t join any guilds or even work with anyone! Because of him, people couldn’t help but wonder if it was necessary to join a guild. Perhaps a Hunter was better off standing alone after all...

But the Sword Star is a special case.

Regardless of what the truth was, it badly affected the guilds’ image.

And now they have a new hero who’ll be as popular as the Sword Star. I smiled. They’ll use any means necessary to recruit me.

It was obvious that each of the recruiters were under strict orders to keep me out of the hands of the other guilds.

“T-the Watchmen League...can offer you thirty-six thousand gold—”

“If your guild is too poor for this, why don’t you just stay put? Please?”

“This is never going to finish if you only raise the price by one thousand gold at a time. Can’t you read the room here?”

“The Alchemist Office—”

“The MA will give you fifty thousand gold,” a charismatic voice interrupted, catching all of the Hunters’ attention. Their eyes turned to the cat on my lap. She meowed and used her fluffy hind paws to leap into the air. By the time she landed nimbly on the floor of the cafe, her paws had turned into human feet wearing shoes.

“Your signing bonus will be fifty thousand gold. I’ll give it to you right now if you want.” The woman turned around. The two gold coins on her necklace bumped into each other with the distinctive clink of metal. “And you’ll be the MA’s assistant leader. How does that sound? Fifty thousand gold and becoming the MA’s assistant leader.”

She was the Countess, the Rank 3 Hunter and leader of the Merchant Association. She had the ability to transform. She must be over forty years old, but looked like she was in her twenties. Well, she was the richest Hunter in the Tower, so she must be drinking top-quality elixirs of eternal youth every day.

Although she was a tycoon the likes of which the old me would never have been able to meet, I maintained my composure and gave her a smile.

“Hmm, now it sounds like a negotiation.”

The first round of bidding was complete.