101 – The Returner Reorganizes (2)

“… “

“… “

We look at each other blankly for a moment. The first thought that came to mind was… Is this true?

Yoon Jung-hyeon. This guy has a very aggressive style on the internet. The way you talk is arrogant.

“… “Please sit down.”

“Yes, whatever.”

I don’t know what Yoon Jung-hyun was thinking as he spoke softly, but he offered me a seat. I also didn’t decline.

“The coffee you ordered has arrived.”

Perhaps it had been ordered in advance, but two cups of coffee were naturally placed on the table. Oh, I don’t drink coffee. I only drink sweet Frappuccino or Ade.

Because of that, he didn’t even think about putting coffee to his mouth, but Yoon Jung-hyun’s expression hardens in real time as he interprets it.

“… “

“… “

It’s not noisy, but the sound of conversation comes and goes inside the cafe. The two of us just looked at each other silently, and the coffee was getting colder by the minute.

Around the time when steam no longer rose from the coffee.

“First of all… “Let me introduce myself again.”

Yoon Jung-hyun finally opened his mouth.

“I am Yoon Jung-hyeon, a former National Intelligence Service agent who will soon be serving as the head of the ‘Player Management Department’ at the Korean branch of the Players Association.”

“… “

National Intelligence Service? Korean branch of the Players Association? A name bigger than I expected popped out. No, is it okay to say that the NIS agent was from his NIS? But he didn’t say anything else.

Because my mind and body were exhausted, I became annoyed by such grandiose titles, and I was returning anyway, so what about you? There was also a bit of arrogance.

“Oh, by the way, the Players Association will be created starting with the American branch in a month… “

“I know.”

Players Association. It is an organization created by the U.S. Government one month from now. I just didn’t know there was a Korean branch.

“… “You know?”

“Yes. “Isn’t Michael Jeter the president of the association?”

“… “

This time, Yoon Jung-hyun keeps his mouth shut. Oh right. This will be resolved in a month.

“Was it something I wasn’t allowed to say? I’m sorry. “I’m a little out of it right now.”

“… It’s okay. Well, that’s it, here’s the information.”

Yoon Jung-hyeon opens a black briefcase and takes out a thick wad of paper from inside. He laid the report down on the table to see how thick it was and boom! And I’m shaking.

＜4Th floor survivor report＞

The title is intuitive. This probably contains all the information I was looking for.

Sigh.

Yoon Jung-hyun pushing the report towards me. The attitude is as if you can take it at any time.

“What is the price?”

This is information provided by a former member of the National Intelligence Service. There is no way this information was easily collected. There will definitely be a price.

And Yoon Joong-hyeon nodded his head slightly, as if my guess was correct.

“The price is simple. I’m going to convince you to join the Players’ Association. All you have to do is listen to it for just 10 minutes. How is it.”

“… “

Without answering, I slightly leaned back and took a comfortable posture. The attitude was as if he was telling me where to start.

At first, I thought, ‘Huh? I thought, ‘Is that okay?’ But… Now that I think about it, I am incredibly strong. And he is also a regressor.

A chance to persuade the regressor? I think that was enough price to pay. How precious is my time?

“Thank you. “Then let’s get started right away.”

Yoon Joong-hyun takes out a laptop from his briefcase and sets it aside so that we can both see the screen.

Click. Click.

PPT displayed on the laptop screen. Yoon Jung-hyun boldly skipped the title, table of contents, and the beginning.

“I’m sorry. I just thought that a fearless unemployed person would come, but I didn’t know that someone like Junho would come… “

Yoon Joong-hyeon explains that the original target was ‘unemployed people with a desire to improve.’

The early part of the PPT included information about what economic benefits are provided when registering with the association, what support can be received, and how to quickly become stronger.

Apparently he didn’t know I was coming.

“Actually, I observed Junho the entire time he was on the 4th floor.”

Yoon Joong-hyeon speaks while flipping through the PPT screen.

“I felt good, tired, and responsible. They say that with great power comes great responsibility, but great power allows us to avoid great responsibility. “If Junho had tried to survive alone, he wouldn’t have been able to blame anyone.”

Tak.

He points to the laptop screen.

“Let’s see.”

“… Excel?”

What appeared on the screen was a fairly dense Excel screen. Thanks to my increased physical ability, reading was no problem, but visibility was shattered.

“Originally, I made the font small on purpose to test the abilities of the players I met here… “Junho, you don’t need to do that.”

Yoon Joong-hyeon enlarges the screen for better viewing. The contents of Excel are simple. Records of people who entered the fourth floor were organized in detail.

“This is the ultimate goal our association pursues.”

Sigh. Run your finger over the numbers.

“God controls information, encouraging people to enter the tower unprepared. But that doesn’t mean you can stay still, right?”

“… “

“If you approach it systematically, there is definitely a solution. Even though God controls all information, advance preparation is not impossible.”

Crack.

The ‘Time’ part is highlighted on the Excel screen.

“First of all, statistics. “Statistics alone have great value.”

It is impossible to share what happened on each floor. However, we can tell you when you entered and when you came out. This in itself is already great information.

How many people entered each floor? What was the average clearing time, and how many of those who entered came out alive? If you provide statistics, you can create information that others can use as a reference.

Based on this indicator, you will be able to predict the risk of each layer. You will be able to refer to how thoroughly you need to prepare, and it will have a positive impact on people’s survival rates.

“… Aha.”

I had just cleared the tutorial and was waiting to enter the second floor.

I remember an article that advertised that ‘the survival rate on the second floor is extremely high.’ There was probably some influence from the association there.

“The idea is good.”

If almost all players around the world join the association, the possibilities are endless.

Not only can it effectively prevent player crime, but it can also run its own vigilante group. Or, instead of individually dispersing opinions on the Internet like they do now, players from all over the world could gather in one community and discuss.

Considering that the National Intelligence Service agent has taken up a position in the association, it is clear that he has also obtained cooperation from each country. Yes, the possibilities are endless.

“But… “There’s not enough incentive to get people to sign up.”

Yoon Jung-hyun clenches his fists.

Once the players’ association starts to catch on, it will spread rapidly. But as is usually the case, the beginning is the most difficult.

They say they will give them money and fame, but the players do not yet trust the government. Ghost stories about human experimentation on players were still circulating publicly. Maybe it’s not a ghost story.

“That is why the existence of a ‘hero’ is necessary.”

We desperately need someone like Michael Jeter who can attract others.

“And the way I see it… “

“It’s been 10 minutes.”

I picked up the thick report and stood up.

I understand what these people are trying to do. I understand why you want me. But I am not that kind of person. Rather than a shining hero… Because it was a miserable rolling slug.

Also… It didn’t seem like this organization would be all that shiny. This is true for large organizations.

“I have no intention of joining any organization. However, if necessary in the future, I will at least cooperate.”

“… All right.”

Yoon Jung-hyun also seemed to understand what I was trying to say. I left the cafe with the report at my side…

“Ah, Mr. Junghyeon. “Can I ask you one last question?”

“… “Tell me.”

“Maybe you did as I said on the 4th floor…” “Is it related to the association’s activities?”

“hahahaha.”

Yoon Joong-hyun shakes his head and bursts into laughter.

“Do you remember the empty box on the third floor?”

“… “You mean the box in the hidden room?”

“Inside the box, there was a ‘single escape ticket.'”

“Aha.”

Even if something goes wrong, there is insurance. Only then did I understand.

I was suspicious that someone who wasn’t quite good like William Smith or Baek Da-hye would always do as I said. I wonder if there’s something up there.

But they searched the third floor without my knowledge? It’s a bit unfair, but I’ve done my part, so I don’t plan on blaming it.

And a person who is naturally a bit shrewd is the perfect person to do business with.

After packing the newly acquired information into my head, I left the cafe with light steps.

**

I returned to my room and threw the report on the bed.

There was no follow-up. I thought he might look suspicious wearing a black suit, but he doesn’t seem to be that dirty.

“Are there three main things to do?”

First. Talk to Choi Ji-won when he comes back.

Second. Train your mana.

Third. Read the report.

Third, all you can do here right now, without any preparation, is read the report.

As I was coming and going, I was getting hungry (I didn’t have much time to eat food at the tower, and even when I did eat food, I had a craving for delicious food), so I ordered two chickens and inhaled them in one sitting.

“Whoa.”

Finally, I picked up the report that said ＜4th floor survivor report＞.

It’s time to start planning in earnest.