The Pauline Chapel, Vatican City.
The old man who had been offering prayers slowly rose to his feet.
Cardinal Carlo Moncini rose after him.
Carlo took a small breath.
Today's prayer had been unusually long.
Was something going on?
"Heh heh heh."
After some time had passed, Pope Benedictus XVII let out a laugh.
It was a laugh filled with both kindness and mischief.
"Cardinal Carlo."
At the Pope's call, Carlo stepped forward.
Benedictus looked at Carlo with worried eyes.
"Are you having family troubles these days?"
"...Your Holiness?"
The Pope often asked random questions, but this time, Carlo couldn't help but tense up.
Because he had something to feel guilty about.
And sure enough.
"If a devout man like you went so far as to sell a Michelangelo statue, you must be in serious trouble, no?"
Cold sweat ran down his back.
It wasn't that he had made a mistake in the forgery.
The exterior was so perfect it could be considered a copy.
"Hmm."
The Pope hummed and leaned toward the statue.
"Did you awaken as a Michelangelo class or something? It's truly flawless. No wonder the other cardinals didn't notice. So, Cardinal Carlo. Are you going to remain silent? I won't ask you to pay it back, but let me hear your story. I don't believe you would do something like this without a reason."
Carlo, who had been squeezing his eyes shut, let out a deep sigh.
Then he told the story of meeting the Runner, Yoo Jinhyuk.
"I intended to confess and take responsibility once the Runner's climb was over. But that excuse is meaningless now."
Carlo smiled faintly and bowed his head.
"Today happens to be the Consistory. I will confess everything without hiding anything."
The Consistory, a meeting where the Pope and cardinals gather.
As it happened, the main topic of today's meeting was the Runner's climb.
"Heh heh heh. You went through all the trouble of creating the perfect crime, so why come clean now?"
The Pope shook his head.
"Don't tell the other cardinals. Let it be known only to me. That way, I can use it as leverage when needed."
"But..."
"Cardinal Carlo. That is merely a statue decorating the Pauline Chapel. Whether it's a fake or not won't diminish our faith or make us neglect our prayers. Besides, don't people believe it's real? Then it is real. However, I do have one question."
The Pope opened his eyes slightly and stared at Carlo.
"The moment the Runner ascends to the next floor, that thing will awaken. If he doesn't climb and gives up, its resurrection will never happen. I don't know the details, but that floor is currently subordinate only to the Runner. Even so, do you truly believe it's right to awaken it and confront it? And do you think the Runner can handle it?"
Carlo slowly nodded.
He had witnessed it himself.
The sight of the Runner, Yoo Jinhyuk, completely erasing all the divine power that existed around him.
"If the enemy is a being made of sacred light, he is the best option."
"Heh heh... Anyone who hears this might misunderstand that the Vatican worships darkness. You haven't forgotten, have you? That the Vatican is also a servant of God, worshipping the sacred light."
Pope Benedictus XVII let out a small sigh.
He had awakened as the hidden class, Oracle of Light.
Because of that, every time he prayed, he was forced to hear the voices of countless beings.
"The sacred beings are also aware. That someday, they must face that raging light. But they cannot say when. They only say in unison, 'Is now the right time? Shouldn't we grow stronger and awaken it later?' They just want to postpone it. The moment they must face the consequences. A bunch of cowards."
Carlo Moncini swallowed dryly.
Wasn't that blasphemy?!
The Pope, having finished his thoughts, wore a meaningful smile.
"A Runner, you say? I like his decisiveness. Unlike those cowards who can't make a proper decision and only express concern."
While Carlo was unable to respond to the continuous blasphemy.
The Pope moved toward the exit of the chapel.
"Let's go. We must go to the Consistory and decide the Vatican's stance."
Carlo followed behind.
It seemed this Consistory would be a mere formality.
Because the heart of the head of the Vatican, Benedictus XVII, was already leaning in a certain direction.
---
Player Hunter Agency, External Cooperation Headquarters.
Headquarters Director Yoon Sewon leaned back into the sofa.
As she closed her eyes, a sweet melody flowed in.
'I really can't hear a thing.'
This was the new noise-canceling headset she had just bought, and it was worth every penny.
She had enjoyed about thirty seconds of peaceful listening time.
One side of the headset was lifted.
*Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!!*
"External Cooperation Headquarters, situation... Yes! No!! That's not the case!!"
"It's connected... Just a moment! Please calm down!"
Through the gap, the immense noise of the situation room poured in.
Yoon Sewon stared at the man in front of her with half-lidded eyes.
"Team Leader, you've been pretty bold lately, haven't you? Confiscating the Headquarters Director's headset like that."
Im Woogang took a breath.
Normally, he wouldn't have, but this was an emergency.
Dozens of places were looking for her, and she was escaping into music.
Unacceptable.
"Haaah."
Yoon Sewon let out a deep sigh and looked around the situation room.
The situation room was currently beyond chaotic, teetering on the brink of panic.
Because of whom?
She didn't need to think long.
There was only one person who could bring such chaos to the Player Hunter Agency.
"Team Leader Im Woogang. People are really ungrateful, aren't they? Don't you think? Last time, when he boosted our headquarters' standing, he was so adorable I wanted to go over and kiss him. But now that this situation has arisen, I'm starting to hate him."
She clicked her tongue and glared at the ringing phones.
Had an order come down?
Although not official, it was a religious organization of immense global scale.
Phones were pouring in from every branch of that organization.
Even from National Assembly members and corporate chairmen associated with that religion.
They were all raising a ruckus, demanding that the Runner be stopped from climbing immediately.
Apparently, if the Runner ascended the Tower, something that shouldn't awaken would awaken, leading to the end of the world.
"Tch. How can I stop him when I don't even know who he is?"
Of course, she had tried contacting Lee Changgi, but it was useless.
He only repeated that he would take full responsibility and to contact him again if the Runner failed his climb.
"Headquarters Director! It's Segang Industries' External Cooperation Department! They say if we don't stop the climb immediately, they'll recall all the steel weapons they've been supplying to the Player Hunter Agency!"
Most of the incoming calls were like this.
More like threats than requests.
Yoon Sewon let out a snort.
"Religion is really fascinating. A relationship that was maintained well for years, and then overnight they send out threatening messages like that. The power of faith."
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Tell them to get lost."
"Yes!?"
"Genex contacted me earlier. They said they'll support the Hunter Agency as much as possible to cover any gaps caused by this situation. Actually, this works out well. Let's switch to the top company."
After speaking, Yoon Sewon turned on her tablet.
They had really gone all out with the hired commenters.
The Tower Site was flooded with posts slandering and cursing the Runner.
Of course, the comment sections of those posts weren't safe.
@ Where did these bastards crawl out from? Weren't they all arrested as a cult last time?
ㄴ Aren't you afraid of God's judgment?!
ㄴㄴ Areun't yuo afriad of gOd's jUdgmenT?! I wanna slap you.
@ These guys who lower our national prestige every day are insulting the Runner, who raises it every day? Crazy comedy, like if you agree lol
ㄴ Like.
ㄴㄴ I like too.
A new term, "Runner Effect," had been coined, and the Runner's current popularity was at an all-time high.
To openly provoke such a Runner was like poking a hornet's nest.
'Hmm, if only one or two more places besides Genex would officially support him.'
Then the Player Hunter Agency's voice would definitely carry more weight.
*Ding!*
She frowned at the updated information on her tablet.
'Japan's Prime Minister, all of a sudden?'
Japanese Prime Minister Sato Tsubasa had unexpectedly issued a statement supporting the Runner.
*Ding!*
Before she could even process that, another new alert came in.
This time, it was the British Royal Family.
Even if she could concede that Japan, with its lowest religious penetration rate, might do such a thing, the British Royal Family joining in was unexpected.
A smile formed on Yoon Sewon's lips.
She had momentarily forgotten.
That the Runner was the hero who had saved the current British dynasty.
"H-Hey, Headquarters Director? You need to see this."
She turned her gaze to the monitor Im Woogang was pointing at.
Pope Benedictus XVII of the Vatican.
He was making a live statement.
"Huh."
It was a statement supporting the Runner's Tower climb.
She lowered her eyes to her tablet.
The news breaking news tab was filling up with the just-announced statement.
Naturally, the Tower Site was in an uproar.
The posts cursing the Runner were now being hit with concentrated attacks, almost to the point of persecution.
The phones that had been ringing wildly in the situation room were also calming down.
Now, only one or two calls came in sporadically.
Yoon Sewon ran her hand through her hair and curled the corners of her mouth.
What kind of trick did he pull to get the Vatican to announce something like that?
At this point, she had no choice but to admit it.
The Runner. He was truly capable.
"Headquarters Director?"
"Aren't you calling me too much today?"
Ignoring her, Im Woogang handed her his phone with a blank expression.
"It's Headquarters Director Lee Changgi."
This time, even Yoon Sewon had to draw a question mark.
She had always been the one to call him, feeling desperate. What did that sly old fox want?
"Yes, this is Yoon Sewon."
# Hello.
"You know that's not the case, so why bother with such pointless pleasantries? Just tell me what you want."
# Then I'll get straight to the point. Please procure some ritual tools for me.
"Ritual tools? What kind?"
# Bells, talismans, or swords used in shamanistic rites or ancestral rites. They say they're kept in museums, shrines, or temples.
She didn't ask what he suddenly needed them for.
The fact that Lee Changgi was personally asking at this timing meant the Runner needed them.
'Tch.'
As expected of the man being called the next Hunter Agency Director.
He knew everything about her family's background.
"Are you borrowing them? Or just asking for them?"
# He says he'll try his best to return them.
"So there's a high chance they won't be returned."
Yoon Sewon tapped her fingers and continued.
"You know, right? The ritual tools you're requesting are items of absurd value."
# The Runner has already agreed. From now on, it's what you're about to request.
"Agreed to what? I haven't said anything yet."
# Isn't it to tell you who the Runner is?
Yoon Sewon closed her mouth.
This man was truly a ghost.
# Let me know when you're ready. I'll send you the address.
After hanging up, Yoon Sewon let out a low breath.
Ritual tools? They were precious. Extremely so.
But more than that, she wanted to establish a relationship.
Not a secret investigation to find out his identity on her own, but a formal, friendly relationship built on mutual agreement.
'Well... let's go for it.'
She shrugged and moved her steps.
It was time for her to board the ship too.
The ship called the Runner.
---
A few hours later, in front of the house in Seopangyo.
Jinhyuk, standing in front of the entrance, stared at the four trucks approaching.
*Gulp!*
He had asked them to bring as many as possible, but just how much had they brought?!
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T/N:
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