In front of the 75th floor’s lost and found storage.
“Sir Taru, I’m here.”
A guard with a crocodile head approached the lost and found storage for a shift change.
“Reken, there’s still an hour left until the shift change. You’re here early.”
“Kyakyakya. I thought you might be tired, Sir Taru, so I came a bit early. I’ve brought some alcohol and snacks, so please enjoy them on your way back.”
“Oh! You’ve brought all this… You really are polite and diligent, unlike the youngsters these days…”
“Kyakyakya. Thank you. Please go inside and rest now.”
“Alright. Ah! There’s something unusual that happened today.”
“Unusual?”
“Yes. A wandering merchant came to draw from the lost and found storage after a long time.”
Taru spoke, carefully observing Reken’s expression, which crumpled as expected.
‘As I thought, he had his eye on something here.’
Taru smirked. Working as a guard in the lost and found storage was almost a thankless job at the Wandering Merchant Association. Thus, everyone was reluctant to work here.
Thanks to that, no one complained when Taru started working here 150 years ago as a favor from Chairman Mason of the Wandering Merchant Association. Rather, they were all relieved.
And 140 years after Taru, Reken was the one who voluntarily applied to guard the lost and found storage.
Reken acted diligently and politely, but Taru’s experience told him that Reken was after something in the storage.
However, Taru didn’t care much. He simply wanted to rest in this quiet place.
“So… what did he take?”
“Let’s see… two deeds and some sort of agricultural tool that looks like a stick?”
“A… An agricultural tool?!”
Reken’s face changed at the mention of the agricultural tool.
‘Hmm… So he was after the agricultural tool.’
“Well then, take care.”
Taru left Reken behind and departed.
‘He will quit soon.’
Taru thought Reken would soon quit as he went back to his lodging, ate the food and drink that Reken gave him, and went to bed.
‘Come to think of it, that cat fellow was really bold. If he knew who I am.’
Lying in bed, Taru recalled Theo, who had bargained fearlessly in front of him.
‘Hahaha. If he knew how powerful and wild I used to be, would he be scared?’
Taru was once the boss of the 97th floor of the tower. He didn’t care to mention it, but the thought of Theo trembling in fear at learning his true identity made him laugh.
However, Theo was much more fearless than Taru thought. If there was a deal to be made, Theo could bargain unhesitatingly even before the Minotaur King.
Of course, that fearlessness was based on his strong belief in Sejun.
***
“Theo, you came quickly?”
“Puhuhut. Of course, meow! I’m competent, so I’m fast, meow!”
Theo, looking quite arrogant, spoke as he climbed onto Sejun’s lap.
“What’s with you? Why are you so arrogant today?”
“Puhuhut. There’s a reason, meow! Look at this, meow!”
Eager to show off, Theo quickly pulled out a golden badge.
“Oh! What’s this?”
“It’s the golden badge that proves I’m an elite wandering merchant, meow! I’m now an elite wandering merchant, meow!”
“Representative Theo, that’s impressive.”
“Puhuhut. Of course, meow! So make me Vice Chairman Theo now, meow!”
Theo wanted to follow Sejun and become the second-in-command. To do that, he needed to become the Vice Chairman.
However,
“That’s not happening.”
Sejun refused flatly.
“Why not, meow?! Even though I’m an elite wandering merchant, I can’t be Vice Chairman Theo, meow?”
“Of course not. You think becoming the Vice Chairman is that easy?”
“So how can I become Vice Chairman Theo, meow?”
“Become the tower’s best wandering merchant. Then I’ll officially make you Vice Chairman Theo .”
“I understand, meow! I’ll become the best wandering merchant and Vice Chairman Theo, meow!”
Theo was filled with motivation and ambition for the first time in a while. But that didn’t mean he would wait to become Vice Chairman Theo until he was the tower’s best wandering merchant.
“I’ve brought something that Chairman Park will like, meow! So make me Vice Chairman Theo for a few days, meow!”
Theo began bargaining with Sejun.
“Alright? Let me see the items first.”
Although Theo’s items were always trustworthy, Sejun deliberately left some room. From the moment Theo started bargaining, they were in a battle.
‘But I can’t lose since I taught him.’
“Puhuhut. Now! Here are the land deeds, meow!”
Theo, full of confidence, handed over two leather scroll documents to Sejun.
“Oh! You’ve managed to get two land deeds?!”
Sejun excitedly checked the land deed documents. Which floors were they for? He was really looking forward to finding out.
However,
[Leather Document]
???
Grade: E
[Leather Document]
???
Grade: D
They were unappraised items. But since they looked like land deed documents, neither Sejun nor Theo doubted that they were not.
“Phuhuhut. Now, am I Vice Chairman Theo, meow?”
Theo said with a sly smile.
“…But I need to verify them first.”
Feeling like he was losing to Theo, Sejun decided to stall for time.
“Verify all you want, meow! Puhuhut. Either way, Chairman Park will have no choice but to make me Vice Chairman Theo!”
Theo spoke smugly, boasting that he would become Vice Chairman either way.
‘Ugh… Annoying. I hate it.’
Sejun wanted to outsmart Theo, but the situation was so advantageous to Theo that Sejun couldn’t argue back.
Just then,
Krueng!
[Big brother, don’t I get a gift?]
Cuengi looked at Theo with twinkling eyes. Cuengi wants a gift too!
“Meow?! A gift for Cuengi, meow? Of course there is one, meow!”
Though there originally wasn’t one, now that he had the land deed documents, Vice Chairman was a done deal. Theo, as a big brother, decided to give Cuengi a stick with iron attached to it at the bottom, brought from the lost and found storage.
Krueng!
[Thank you, big brother!]
“Phuhuhut. So Cuengi, listen to me from now on, meow!”
Krueng!
Upon Theo’s words, Cuengi energetically nodded and reached out his hand. Give me the gift quickly!
But
Krueng! Krueng!
[I already have a stick! This would be better for daddy!]
Cuengi tossed the stick that Theo gave him to Sejun. The stick found its original owner. Sejun checked the stick.
[Hoe]
???
Usage Restrictions: Lv. 10, Strength 10 or more
Creator: Confidential
Grade: E
“A hoe?”
It was a farming tool, a hoe, slightly curved at the end with a wide piece iron attached.
“Thanks, Cuengi.”
“Meow?! I gave that stick, meow!”
“What are you talking about? I received it from Cuengi.”
“Where is such a thing, meow!”
“It’s here!”
And as Sejun and Theo were squabbling,
Krueng! 𝑖𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ𝘮
[Now daddy and I have matching sticks!]
Cuengi was happy that he and Sejun had matching sticks.
And then,
“You’re being petty, meow! Quickly check the land deed documents and make me Vice Chairman Theo, meow!”
Finally, the irritated Theo hurried Sejun.
“Alright. Aileen, please appraise these items.”
[The Tower’s Administrator says to leave it to her.]
With Aileen’s words, the deed documents and hoe disappeared from Sejun’s hands.
A moment later.
[The Tower’s Administrator says she has finished appraising.]
“How about it? Are they land deed documents?”
“Of course, they are, meow!”
[The Tower’s Administrator confirms that both documents are indeed land deed documents.]
“What?! They are?!”
“Phuhuhut! Now I’m Vice Chairman Theo, meow!”
Sejun was disappointed, and Theo laughed brightly.
However,
[The Tower’s Administrator says something is strange.]
“Strange? What is?”
[The Tower’s Administrator says these aren’t the Black Tower’s land deed documents.]
“What?! They’re not the Black Tower’s land deed documents?”
“Meow?!”
The corners of Sejun’s mouth, who had been eager to defeat Theo, went up, while Theo’s smile faded.
[The Tower’s Administrator says to check it out first.]
Two documents were placed in Sejun’s hand.
[You have acquired the 43rd floor’s land deed document of the White Tower.]
[You have acquired the 74th floor’s land deed document of the Blue Tower.]
“Ah… That’s too bad…”
“What’s too bad, meow?! Even if they’re from another tower, they are still land deed documents, meow! Make me Vice Chairman Theo, meow!”
Theo, sensing something ominous from Sejun’s voice, cried out urgently.
“No. Only the Black Tower’s land deed documents can be used for the trade.” (TL: Trade here mean to trade for Vice Chairman title)
“Meow?! Where is such a thing, meow?!”
“Hehehe. It’s here, of course. It’s the chairman’s rule.”
“You’re being petty, meow!”
After a long time, Sejun triumphantly suppressed Theo, who had been acting arrogant.
“Aileen, but why didn’t you give the hoe?”
[The Tower’s Administrator says that she is having trouble since it’s not an item registered in the tower and couldn’t be fully appraised.]
“Huh?! It’s not an item registered in the tower?”
[The Tower’s Administrator says that she asked her grandfather, it’s not dangerous, and you can use it for now.]
A hoe appeared in Sejun’s hand.
[You have acquired the ‘Legendary Land Moving, Myler’s Hoe’.]
“What?! Legendary?!”
Sejun quickly checked the hoe.
[Legendary Land Moving, Myler’s Hoe]
→ It is the legendary hoe of the farmer Myler, who is said to have moved the land at will and farmed long before the towers were created.
→ It is a legendary-grade item that is not registered in the Black Tower.
→ There is information that has not yet been revealed due to insufficient information.
→ Usage Restrictions: None
→ Creator: Unknown
→ Grade: S+
→ Skill: [Land Moving (Master)]
[Land Moving (Master)]
→ An extreme skill that allows you to move the land as you want using magic power.
The applications of moving the land are endless.
“Wow! What?! Good job, Cuengi! From now on, Cuengi will get 10 jars of honey every day for a week!”
Sejun gave a reward to Cuengi, who gave him the hoe.
Krueng!
Cuengi cheered and celebrated at Sejun’s words. It’s honey!
And then,
“Meow?! But I gave that, meow! It’s unfair, meow!”
Theo felt wronged that only Cuengi received a reward. He provided the item, but Cuengi received the honey. Tears welled in Theo’s eyes.
‘Did I tease him too much?’
Sejun, whose heart had softened, decided to stop teasing Theo.
“Okay. Since Theo’s contribution is the greatest, I’ll make you Vice Chairman for a month!! Now, Vice Chairman Theo, let’s eat Churu.”
“Great, meow!”
Sejun opened Churu and fed it with one hand while patting Theo’s belly with the other.
Lick, lick, lick.
“Ah! Chairman Park, since I’m Vice Chairman Theo now, I’ll eat two Churus, meow!”
Theo, who was eagerly eating Churu, spoke firmly.
“Alright.”
Sejun readily agreed to Theo’s request. It was a very trivial request for a Vice Chairman.
Lick, lick.
Krueng!
[It’s delicious!]
Next to them, Cuengi had taken out 10 jars of honey from Sejun’s storage and dipped its front paw to lick it deliciously.
Thus, a satisfactory deal was concluded for everyone.
***
Inside the lost and found storage of the 75th Floor Wandering Merchant Association.
“It’s gone!!!”
Reken, who had hurried into the lost and found storage after Taru left and searched the place thoroughly, yelled in anger. The legendary hoe that he had found the day before and placed in the corner of the storage was nowhere to be found.
‘I was going to take it and leave today…’
It had taken him several years to find out that the legendary hoe was here… but just as Taru said, the cat merchant had taken it away.
Of all places, he just had to come to the lost and found storage that nobody came to anymore… Maybe he was after the hoe; otherwise, he would not have taken such an ordinary-looking farming tool.
“How dare you take what’s mine?!”
According to ancient documents he had investigated, the owner of the hoe used it to break mountains, divide seas, and it was said that he had raised tens of thousands of earth soldiers. In short, it was the ultimate strategic weapon.
“With that, I could become the strongest person in the tower! That cat merchant must be the one who was just announced as the elite wandering merchant, right?”
The next day, Reken found out the identity of the cat merchant who had recently become the elite wandering merchant, quit his job as a security guard at the Wandering Merchant Association, and disappeared.
*****
TL Notes:
1) From this chapter onwards, I’m changing the term ‘president’ to ‘chairman.’ In Korean, ‘??’ can mean both ‘president’ and ‘chairman.’ Initially, I chose ‘president,’ but with the introduction of the ‘vice chairman,’ it has become clear that the term should be translated as ‘chairman’ rather of ‘president’.
𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝑚