The transaction was complete.
Of course, the place of trade wouldn't be inside the labyrinth.
"I'll come there. I miss the cup of coffee I had in the library. After all, good coffee is best enjoyed in a cozy place."
Jin-hyuk said something he didn't really mean.
But—
[Hmm. If that's the case, I will open a gate that leads here…]
Rick wiggled his tail.
What?
Did that sound like he was up to something?
There was a slight hesitation in his voice, and after a brief moment—
[Fufu. No. Strangely enough, things have become a little interesting. Not for other players, but only Player Kang Jin-hyuk deserves to come here.]
Rick managed to say those words.
What?
Did he do something?
Jin-hyuk tilted his head, and at that moment—
Woong!
A massive gate appeared in front of him.
'This…?'
Jin-hyuk frowned slightly. This gate was different from anything he had seen before.
Its base was made of pure white ivory, and a golden mist covered the center—an unusual sight.
'So that's what he meant.'
Now he understood Rick's words.
Before heading to the Elven village, he had planned to wander around dungeons for a while.
'Interesting.'
It didn't look like this would end with a simple deal.
Jin-hyuk took a step forward.
The moment he crossed the gate, his vision turned black.
Woong!
As his sight returned, the scenery before him changed completely.
An endless desert.
Under a blazing sun stood a city filled with the brilliance of an ancient civilization.
"Yah…"
Jin-hyuk let out a dry breath.
It already felt as if his lips were burning.
At that moment—
"Come here, Player Kang Jin-hyuk. I've been waiting for you."
Rick greeted him, dressed in a black suit.
Couldn't he give up the suit under this scorching sun?
Just looking at Rick made Jin-hyuk feel even hotter.
"I thought we'd be in the library. I didn't expect the gate to lead here. Were you enjoying a vacation?"
Jin-hyuk pretended not to know.
"Haha. I wish it were a vacation, but I'm here on business. You see… the Egyptian Gods you're familiar with—this is where they are. They also wished to meet you. Would you accompany me?"
Right…
The 42nd floor of the Tower of Trials.
An upper floor most players wouldn't even dare to imagine reaching—yet he had been invited here.
Perhaps his lie about being protected by an Egyptian God had finally been exposed.
'Do they want to watch me stumble before a god?'
'Or do they want to see how I handle the situation?'
He couldn't tell which.
Either way—
The result would surely differ from expectations.
Rick guided him into the city. The moment they entered, countless gazes fell upon Jin-hyuk.
They weren't human eyes.
Human bodies—but heads of eagles, snakes, cats, and jackals.
'So these are the beings of the 42nd floor.'
Jin-hyuk recalled the past. Normally, it would take an eternity to reach this place, but thanks to Rick, he was getting a rare experience.
It was also his first time meeting Gods in person before reaching level 100.
As Jin-hyuk observed the city, its residents whispered among themselves.
"Hey! Look over there! A human!"
"I heard humans entered the Tower, but to come this far…"
"If he came with Mr. Rick, that means he used the gate, right?"
"Incredible. Getting his approval means he's special among humans."
"Did he come for the 'choice'?"
"Already?"
The murmurs grew louder.
'I feel like an elephant in a zoo.'
Jin-hyuk smiled as Rick spoke apologetically.
"I'm sorry. Since it's your first time here, I wanted to give you a tour, but instead I dragged you into something uncomfortable."
"No. This is a refreshing experience."
The sights of the 42nd floor—he didn't need them.
This place was familiar.
He even knew the thirteenth pot in Anubis' bedroom was fake—but he still had to act naïve.
Suspicion from Rick would be troublesome right now.
"So the Egyptian Gods wanted to meet me?"
"Yes."
"When I see you smiling like that, I doubt the reason is pleasant."
"After learning that you deceived me by claiming protection from them… hmm. Let me show you something."
Rick pointed toward the distant desert. A massive crater lay carved into the sand.
"At one point, a Sphinx and a Pyramid stood there."
A short sentence.
So—
When Gods became angry, they destroyed monuments.
Rick watched Jin-hyuk carefully, expecting fear or regret.
But—
"What a shame. There must've been plenty of treasures. To destroy them all… gods really are different."
Jin-hyuk merely clicked his tongue.
"You're not afraid…?"
His opponent was a god.
Absolute rulers of the upper floors.
Jin-hyuk was merely a player who had entered the Tower recently.
They were incomparable—
Yet—
"Why should I fear the 42nd floor instead of the 50th?"
Jin-hyuk smiled.
Such confidence.
It was as if he implied that gods were manageable.
Rick didn't think it was empty bravado.
He felt it.
Instinct honed over countless years.
"Puahaha! Indeed! As expected, Player Jin-hyuk never disappoints. Interesting—very interesting. I was tired of my long life, but perhaps it won't be boring anymore."
Rick laughed heartily.
One thing was certain.
The fascination he felt toward Kang Jin-hyuk wouldn't fade soon.
He had tried to create a troublesome situation—
Yet it didn't faze him at all.
"I don't know why, but I feel it. Mr. Jin-hyuk, one day you'll reach this place on your own."
"Strange."
"Strange? How so?"
"I had the same thought—that I'd come here someday."
As expected.
Always the last word.
Rick smiled.
"Hehe. I look forward to that day. And when it comes, bring a deal greater than Medusa."
After some casual conversation, they arrived at a palace of white marble.
The residence of the Egyptian Gods.
[White Oasis]
"I'll be back shortly. I need to inform the guards."
"Yes."
Jin-hyuk licked his lips.
'Before meeting brainless beings, I should prepare.'
Even veterans didn't meet Gods unprepared.
He opened his status window.
Coins: 2,153,188
A result of his fifth-floor video and accumulated dividends.
Comparable to a large guild's wealth.
'Coins don't matter.'
If it wasn't enough, he'd find another way.
There was always a way.
Jin-hyuk opened the Coin Exchange.
"What should I pick… ah, this."
"Puahaha! What nonsense is this?!"
"Don't joke! Do you know how much I suffered because of him?!"
Voices echoed inside the palace.
Right on cue.
Gods.
Absolute beings who could shatter mountains.
Yet—
They were shocked.
Horus scoffed.
Osiris found it amusing.
Anubis radiated barely contained anger.
And at the center—
Jin-hyuk.
"Is it unreasonable to ask for the 'egg' kept here in exchange for Medusa? Considering Horus' collection, it seems fair."
Jin-hyuk shrugged.
"I don't know how you learned of the egg, but that isn't something a human can possess."
Horus rejected it outright.
"Well. I happen to be good at taming wild animals."
"You treat a divine beast like a pet. That crosses the line."
Horus sighed.
Osiris, however, smiled thoughtfully.
"Why not? Give it to him. Sounds fun."
"Osiris!"
"He won't even hatch it! Forget this. Take Medusa and leave."
Kukuku!
Osiris released a hint of power. The air froze.
Rick stepped forward.
"Haha. Surely you aren't suggesting breaking the rules in front of me? Player Kang Jin-hyuk is our guest."
"Tch. Fine. Those damned rules."
Osiris relented.
At that moment—
"I don't need anything."
Anubis stepped forward.
Thud!
A mummy over two meters tall emerged.
Bandaged, yet radiating dungeon-boss-level magic.
"Five seconds. Survive five seconds against this opponent. If you do, I'll exchange Medusa for the egg—or anything else within the rules. Do you accept?"
"Five seconds?"
"Right. But remember, it can kill you at any—"
Anubis never finished.
Between words—
Lightning-like sword flashes swept through the mummy.
"Kiiik…"
The giant mummy split in half.
Swish!
Its upper body collapsed.
Silence filled the palace.
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