Chapter 20: Do you fancy a cup of coffee? (2)

“Hmm, you’ve got guts.” The Countess smirked. “A cat turned into a human, but you don’t look surprised... You aren’t like most youngsters nowadays. Oh, that was a compliment.”

“Thank you. I’ve gotten used to these things because I can see ghosts and stuff.”

“Hahaha! You can even afford to joke now?” The Countess produced a fan and fanned herself. “You’re incredible.”

I wasn’t joking though.

“Uhh....”

“Ummm...”

The Human Resource Team managers had been screaming about my signing bonus until not too long ago, but right after the Countess had shown up, they now only exchanged glances. Only the Countess was laughing now. The blonde Hunter with a large figure cautiously said, “Um, excuse me, ma’am...”

“You’re excused.”

“Isn’t...a fifty thousand signing bonus and the MA assistant leader position too much? I-it is remarkable that he cleared the tenth floor, but we don’t know...how great...a Hunter he actually...is...”

The Hunter trailed off into silence. Not because he suddenly lost the ability to speak, but because the Countess was looking at him. Her mouth was hidden behind her fan, and she was smiling only with her eyes. The Hunter closed his mouth, belatedly realizing that everything he said was meaningless. After all, he was talking to the Rank 3 Hunter, who was in a whole different league.

“Are you done?”

“...Yes, ma’am.”

“Then bring your superior before you embarrass yourself any further. I’m sorry, but it’s pointless to talk with you—well, I don’t really mind if one of you can bet more than fifty thousand gold. Make yourself comfortable if you can,” she told them, an elegant way of suggesting they get lost.

If someone as high up as her told middle management to get lost, then all they could do was get lost. One by one, the HR managers stood up and left the cafe. It took ten minutes for new Hunters to walk into the cafe, carrying the metaphorical batons passed by the HR managers.

“That MF! God fucking damn it!”

The first person to enter was the Viper, the Rank 5 Hunter and the leader of OJP Sect.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hmm. She got a drop on us,” the Inquisitor, leader of the Pantheon and the Rank 4 Hunter remarked. “I guess I was too complacent.”

“Calling it complacent is wrong. Our job today is to prevent chaos from spreading among Hunters, not welcome the new hero. The Countess went too far,” the Paladin commented. She was the Rank 8 Hunter and assistant leader of the Watchmen League. Behind her was the Black Witch, who was the Rank 2 Hunter and led the Black Dragon Guild.

Whoa. I didn’t show it, but I was impressed. Heroes assembled.

Every one of them was a High Ranker, someone I had only ever seen in their interviews and the newspaper articles about them. They were now moving right before my eyes and sitting at my table. Once again, I realized how high my value was.

“Welcome, all of you.” The Countess rested her chin on her palm and gave them a beautiful smile. “I don’t know how long it’s been since we were last gathered. I feel like it was only yesterday we cleared the second floor. Time flies. We’re old now.”

“Shut up before I cook you into a butterfly stew, mofo.” the Viper growled. He was a middle-aged man who wore an eyepatch over one of his eyes. Apparently, it covered the scar he had gotten after challenging the Sword Star. He was also known for clearing the second floor.

“I heard on the way you offered fifty thousand gold and to make him assistant leader. Did your brain turn into an animal’s after spending all those days cosplaying as one? I don’t care about you throwing your money in the air because there’s nothing new about your shit, but why in the hell would you make him assistant leader—”

“Now, now!” the Inquisitor interrupted, beaming. “Let’s make our orders first! It’s very rude to stay in a cafe without ordering. We’re ensuring the Tower’s order as the major guilds’ leaders, so we should set an example! I’ll get a mocha. What about you?”

“Oh, I would like a hot americano.”

“I want a cold latte.”

“...Hot hazelnut latte. Add an extra shot, and make it grande.”

The guild leaders had their orders ready and took care of it with minimal fuss. The Viper was the only one who didn’t go along.

“What? Coffee?” he demanded. “Hey, the whole world turned upside down because the tenth floor is cleared. Are your brains pickled in caffeine—?”

“It’s an espresso for you, Viper, isn’t it? Alright.”

“You fucking sycophant—!”

“Sir! I’d like to make an order!” the Inquisitor yelled, ignoring the Viper.

“Y-yes...?” The Starbacks barista standing behind the counter flinched. He went pale when he realized that he had to make coffees for the High Rankers.

The Inquisitor beamed at the barista, his blonde hair fluttering. People from all over the world were gathered in the Tower, so he was responsible for preventing religious conflicts. He was also known for speaking to everyone with respect, even the terrorists that he tortured.

“I would like to get one iced mocha, one hot americano, one iced latte, one hot hazelnut latte, and one espresso. Can I get the first three tall, but the hazelnut latte grande with an extra shot and the espresso to be in doppio!” the Inquisitor rattled off.

“Yes! Yup. Yes...!

“Oh, yeah.” The Inquisitor slowly turned his head. “What would you like to order, Mr. Kim?”

All five people watched me carefully, gauging my reaction. Amusement, belligerence, joy, coldness, and nonchalance. Each of their eyes contained different emotions.

The Guardian spoke up.

—Don’t chicken out. Think of them like they’re nothing! They are nothing. You were killed by Gramps Marcus, right? None of them are better than Gramps Marcus.

I know. I knew it very well. They’re just trying to bring me down a notch.

And all of this was part of their little charade

I shrugged. “Can I see a menu, sir?” I asked the barista.

“Pardon?”

“I had a caramel macchiato earlier, so I don’t really feel like having another coffee. I want to look at the menu first... Hmmm, on second thought, it’s fine. Can I have hot chocolate if you have it?”

“Ah, okay.” The barista nodded.

I needed to show them composure.

They didn’t run into each other here by coincidence.

Even the Human Resource Team managers from different guilds had arrived at the cafe together, just like their leaders. Could that really be a coincidence?

Hell no! Their plan is to use their numbers to confuse the hell out of me.

They were only pretending it was a coincidence. It was a classic gangster move.

Well, these Hunters are much scarier than ordinary gangsters...

The tension was so thick that I could cut it with a knife.

This is nothing compared to getting burned to death.

In other words, their pressure wasn’t even lukewarm in comparison. If all of this had happened before the Fire Emperor killed me... I would have been scared shitless, but not now. It wasn’t scary at all for one very simple reason.

They can kill me if they have a problem with that.

I would be fine even if they killed me!

—Yes, I told you that you have the advantage! The Guardian nodded fervently. Scowl at them! Taunt them into killing you already if they are going to do it. Sit up straight! They’re a bunch of losers who can’t keep you dead! They shouldn’t call themselves High Rankers!

Umm... Thank you for taking my side, but I’m not canceling our Mr. Gong-Ja arrangement.

—Ah, shit...! The Guardian clutched his head in despair.

The Inquisitor’s eyed me curiously “Hmm, interesting. I found no notable history before you cleared the tenth floor. It’s like you became a different man... I guess you never know where life will take you!”

“He does have some notable history.” The Countess smiled with her eyes, covering the lower part of her face with her fan. “This young man has recently won my guild’s lottery. He’s lucky as well as bold. I’m not sure how he did it, but judging from the fact that he cleared the tenth floor, he’s also skilled. Luck, courage, and skill. Any youngster with these three elements will always thrive.”

The Viper looked at them across the table and sighed. “Phew... That’s why I told you guys to just recruit him! Don’t rely on cheap tricks! Tsk. I knew this act wouldn’t work at all... He cleared the tenth floor, so he can’t possibly be that naive. “

“It doesn’t matter.” The Black Witch, the leader of the Black Dragon Guild, broke her silence. “Just because a monk wasn’t able to save face, doesn’t mean Buddha is also disgraced. We’re all busy people, so let’s lay out the blame later.”

“Cough...”

“Mr. Kim.” The Black Witch looked at me with eyes that were as dark as ink. “I’ll be honest. Which guild are you planning to join? If you’re going to be like the Sword Star and not join any guild, tell us in advance—we need to discuss how we shall deal with the media.”

“What if I’m going to join a guild?” I tilted my head.

“An intense recruiting war will start,” the Black Witch calmly answered. “We’ve been stalled on the ninth floor for far too long... I guess that’s an understatement. We’ve just been embarrassing ourselves. But thanks to you clearing the tenth floor, we now have an opportunity to advertise the Tower’s value to the outside world.”

“An opportunity...”

“Yes, an opportunity to bring more people from the outside world, not just refugees.”

The barista came over with a tray full of coffee. The guild leaders quietly received their coffee. No one said anything.

The Black Witch took a sip of her hazelnut latte and then put it down before she continued, “Above all, once the eleventh floor opens, the Hunters in Babylon will be inspired. Even the realists who forgot about their adventurous spirit will want to step outside the first floor and peek at the eleventh floor; everyone wants to explore the unknown world waiting for them “

I nodded. “It’ll help the food shortage.”

The Black Witch stopped for a moment, surprised by my answer. “...You catch on quick. Yes, it’s getting difficult to meet our food demands by selling goods from the ninth floor and below.”

“I’m keeping the trade route to the outside world open all day.” The Countess smiled. “But it’s not like I’m as vigorous as I used to be. It’s getting tougher as I age.”

“We need new products,” the Black Witch continued. “We have to attract adventurers to the world beyond the tenth floor so we can search for goods that can only be found there.”

“Plus, you will need a means of advertisement so that you can announce the beginning of a new era. And that’s me,” I speculated.

“...Yes, that would be an accurate assessment.”

That was precisely what was going to happen in the future. It was also the reason why major guilds couldn’t kick around the Fire Emperor, despite how full of himself he was. He used to be a hero and the icon of a new generation, regardless of whether or not they liked it. In order for the Tower’s society to grow, people needed a hero like them!

But the Black Dragon still tried to assassinate the Fire Emperor.

I remembered the conversation I heard in the slum alley.

“Who ordered you to kill me? Was it the witch from the Black Dragon Guild?

The Saintess had slowly nodded. Unless she had been lying, the witch in front of me had actually tried to assassinate the Fire Emperor, although I would never know why she had done it...

We’re going to get along great. A person who hates the Fucker can’t be a bad guy! I joyfully thought.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as it was said, so I felt a sense of camaraderie with her.

“I understand what you’re saying,” I said. “Any guild that successfully recruits me also becomes the symbol of the new era, while the other guilds will end up as sidekicks.”

“Correct.”

“That makes me feel a little bad...so here’s how we’ll settle this.”

When the Hunters waited for me to continue, I pulled out my cards.

The Black Witch tilted her head in confusion. “Cards? Are you seriously suggesting you’re going to pick your guild with a card game?”

“Yes. I’ll join the guild of whoever wins this poker game. I don’t need a signing bonus or a high position.” I grinned. “But! If I win, I will join all of your guilds at the same time. Oh, I’ll be an ordinary member, but I want to be treated equal to all of you. You get to use my image, and I get to be treated like the major guild leaders. How does that sound?”

The guild leaders’ expressions changed.

“Hahahaha!” The Countess threw back her head. “You only cleared one floor and yet you want to be treated like us?”

“Yes. That is, if I win in the poker game with all of you.”

“Intriguing. I like it.” The Countess put down her coffee cup and looked around. “How about the rest of you?”

“I’m good with it too as long we aren’t using any tricks!” the Inquisitor answered first.

“...Let’s not use any Skills either. If you do, you guys will have too much of an advantage. Whoever gets caught using their Skills will automatically be eliminated,” the Viper suggested.

The Paladin nodded in agreement. “This is better for me. My guild is poorer, so I’ll inevitably lose if we start bidding. I won’t suffer any losses even if I’m defeated in this game, but winning would be a jackpot.”

“Okay,” the Black Witch agreed, rounding off the group. “I accept your offer.”

After the deal was struck the High Rankers and I detailed the rules. The rules themselves were rather simple, but the High Rankers examined the cards very thoroughly to see if I had rigged them in any way.

While the cards were distributed, I said, Mr. Sword Emperor. You really hate calling me Mr. Gong-Ja, don’t you?

—Huh...? The Guardian, still wallowing in despair, blankly looked up.

Here’s what we’ll do.

—Do what...?

You only have to call me Mr. Gong-Ja until the end of this game.

—Seriously? I can? The Guardian’s eyes as big as saucers.

Yeah, sure, I told him, the ends of my mouth rising. In return, tell me all their cards.

—Yes! Yes! Woohoo! Hell yeah! God damn. The Guardian hopped ecstatically. You’re like the reincarnation of Confucius! So generous! Don’t worry one bit. Mr. Gong-Ja, I’ll tell you if they’re pulling a fast one on you as well as their cards!

Now, let the game begin.