Chapter 1446: A New Phase (11)
A post announcing the suspension of the Eastern Continent Power Ranking updates and simultaneously teasing an update for an integrated power ranking.
Are they planning to rank not just the Eastern Continent, but all continents combined this time?
Seeing the text in the post’s body, Lennok was momentarily speechless and gave a bitter smile.
“I see they deliberately chose this timing… Their intentions seem quite obvious.”
Even Lennok had various thoughts after seeing the announcement to suspend the Eastern Continent Power Ranking, so it goes without saying how others must have felt.
He could somewhat imagine the shock people must have felt after clicking on the title and reading the text in the body.
Skimming through the chaotic comments, Lennok muttered.
“Does posting this at this point in time mean they think calculating rankings within the Eastern Continent is no longer meaningful?”
[They might have felt there’s no longer a need to evaluate only the Eastern Continent, now that the Ascendants have begun to move in earnest.]
Davi wagged her tail with interest.
[It’s unexpected, but come to think of it, this is the perfect time to expand the ranking or broaden its scope. Don’t you think the author was aiming for this?]
“Just the timing of this post alone makes it seem certain.”
A time when news of what Lennok did in Paradise Lost had spread across the continent, and all sorts of users were flocking to the Deepweb.
They announced an update for a new power ranking right when the debate was heating up over comparisons between Adamant Thunder and Cheonbeon.
A blatant attitude, aiming to update and change the ranking at the moment it could receive the most attention, or when all eyes were on it.
The reason was unclear, but the creator of the power ranking was undoubtedly someone intentionally trying to draw attention and interest from across the continent.
He had already confirmed through the Dark Archive that the entity creating this ranking was doing so with the help of the Answerer.
At the very least, he might be able to guess their purpose once the integrated power ranking they mentioned was updated.
[Creating an integrated ranking is fine, but it’s a bit disappointing that we can’t check the power ranking right now.]
Davi, who had climbed onto Lennok’s lap, grumbled.
[I thought they would provide a thesis-level, detailed explanation of what you did in Paradise Lost, Master. That’s what I was most curious about in this ranking.]
“You were watching right next to me, so why are you curious about that?”
[Hmph.]
“If the reason for creating an integrated ranking was because of what happened in Paradise Lost, there will probably be a mention of it when the power ranking is released again.”
Lennok replied, kneading Davi’s cheeks with both hands.
“Announcing an update means they’ve already made an estimate, so it probably won’t take that long. I also have a rough idea of why they’re trying to create an integrated ranking.”
[You mean there’s another reason besides simply expanding the scope of the ranking?]
“If they had intended to evaluate various Transcendent beings to determine their rankings, they would have created an integrated ranking long ago. In fact, this timing feels a bit late, if anything.”
[…Huh?]
“They created an integrated ranking at a time when the Demonic Realm is being conquered and the Ascendants are beginning to move and clash in earnest. That’s probably….”
Lennok said, slowly scrolling down.
“…to include some of the Ascendants who have started moving again in the ranking, don’t you think?”
[Oh…!!]
Along with Davi, whose eyes were sparkling, he lightly scanned the comments.
└An integrated power ranking for all four continents lololol
└F*ck yeah, this is it
└With something this big, I can understand the delay. They’ve found a good excuse.
└They stopped updating for over a month and this is what they come back with? Aren’t they just making up any old excuse?
└Well, it’s not like they’re getting paid for it, so it happens. It’s purely a hobby, can you really blame them?
└Guess the number of newbies has increased lately, they don’t know sh*t about the Deepweb. An account with that many views definitely gets advertising or viral marketing contracts.
└Don’t you know the board managers get paid a salary by the Deepweb to work?
└What kind of bullsh*t is that lmao
└Was the Deepweb some kind of company or corporation? You’re talking nonsense.
└Of course the managers get paid. You think they manage a board like this for free?
└…
└Take that back.
└+1
Although there were some reactions criticizing the suspension of the ranking, the majority seemed to be positive, looking forward to the integrated ranking.
The ranking hadn’t actually been updated, it was just an announcement, but the comments were already buzzing with predictions about its content.
└All those knock-offs imitating the Eastern Continent Power Ranking have been running rampant, but the original is finally coming out.
└Heard they made a few similar ones on the Western Continent, but they were all mediocre and quickly got buried.
└The original is different. Their evaluations might be arbitrary, but their intel is insane.
└Has there ever been anyone who knew this much detail about high-level Transcendent beings?
└That’s pretty much why we all come to see it lol
└If it’s an integrated ranking, what happens to the rankers from the old Eastern Continent Power Ranking? Do they just pick a few to be included?
└Of course Adamant Thunder and Cheonbeon will be included, right?
└The Cult’s Apostles, the Alliance’s Spell Masters, and the Apostle-Slayers will all be lined up in the integrated ranking.
└Been hearing a lot about Ascendants lately, maybe they’ll be included in the integrated ranking too?
└Whoa, if they’re gonna compare Ascendants and rank who’s stronger lololol
└Just thinking about it is f*cking hilarious lmao
└As expected, the power ranking served up by the original is the most delicious and accurate.
└The day Cheonbeon is finally ranked higher than Adamant Thunder is not far off.
└What kind of nonsense is that?
The comment section instantly erupted into chaos, but there was also considerable support for the opinion.
└Cheonbeon is currently the only explorer who has succeeded in conquering the Demonic Realm on the Central Front.
└After achieving such a feat, does he still deserve to be rated lower than Adamant Thunder?
└If you don’t like it, maybe Adamant Thunder should stop just killing people and participate in conquering the Central Front too.
└Even after leaving the Eyes of Blue, Cheonbeon has consistently participated in the Central Front conquest, but what does Adamant Thunder do? Is he satisfied with just killing people?
└Get a grip. You act like conquering the Central Front is some kind of volunteer work. You think the people there are saviors of the world or something?
└They’re all risking their lives to participate in the conquest because they have their own interests and desires.
└If you can just retrieve the Empire’s legacy left where the central city fell, you can rule the world.
└Looks like you’re itching for a fight. Why don’t you guys just be the authors?
└In communities like this, everyone channels their inner Ascendant.
└These bastards just want to curse at people lol
“I should stop here.”
[Eek.]
Davi fidgeted with her front paws in disappointment, but Lennok immediately stood up.
“I think I have a general idea of what people in Vulcan think about the Paradise Lost incident. I doubt there’s any more information to be gained.”
The opinions and reactions exchanged on the Deepweb were quite frank and helpful, but on the other hand, there was just as much meaningless information.
It had been entertaining in its own way, but he also felt it had taken up more of his time than he’d expected.
“Let’s get going. Aris must be waiting.”
[Eh, Aris said it’ll take a little more time to gather the tower’s people.]
Davi hurriedly unfolded a hologram, showing the message from Aris as she spoke.
[It says some of the ‘organisms’ went out on assignments as soon as the pact was concluded, so it’ll take a bit more time to call them back…]
“It’s not just about handling the Magic Tower’s affairs. If I don’t settle things properly with Pandemonium regarding this incident-”
At that moment, Lennok felt the comments on the monitor screen increasing at an incredible speed and glanced over.
It was such a fierce reaction that even Lennok, who had just been about to log off the Deepweb and stand up, was momentarily drawn to it.
An explosive response was unfolding under a certain anonymous account that had just started commenting.
“Hmm?”
└Adamant Thunder wins, no question. You’re all too scared to have ever seen him in person, right? - (鬼)
└So you’ve seen Adamant Thunder in person? Talking nonsense when you’ve never even spoken to him.
└I have. I see him at the Magic Tower every day. You wouldn’t know. - (鬼)
└Don’t be ridiculous. Are you saying you’re a Magic Tower employee or something?
The reaction in the comment section instantly shifted in one direction.
└No way they’re an employee. Do you know how complex and difficult their hiring standards are?
└The administrator who oversees the tower’s internal affairs is famously competent. I heard the hiring criteria are absurdly strict.
└It’s more than that; the administrator personally leads the HR team. If there were an employee leaking internal information, they’d be caught in less than a day. Who would do something so crazy?
└I’m not an employee. I’m an invited guest at the Magic Tower. - (鬼)
└You’re just spouting utter nonsense lol. If you’re not an employee, you’re just an outsider. Who would say something like this unless they’re crazy and have a death wish from Adamant Thunder?
└[Image attached] - (鬼)
The picture posted instead of a reply showed a clear view of the Magic Tower’s internal hallway and lobby.
“…Wait.”
Even Lennok could tell at a glance that the photo wasn’t fake.
The light of the gradually setting sun could be seen shining through the window.
Clear proof that the picture was taken just now, not one saved from before.
As the commenter claiming to be a guest at the tower presented proof, the reactions exploded in an instant.
└F*ck, it’s real.
└This really isn’t fake? What’s going on?
└Hey, you, delete this right now. Do you really want to die by Adamant Thunder’s hand?
└I have seen nothing.
└Deleting comment…
Replies flooded in, and at the same time, the number of comments being deleted in real-time also increased.
As the commenter revealed they were truly inside the Magic Tower, the number of people feeling both curiosity and fear simultaneously grew.
“…No way, is this for real?”
Is an actual employee or affiliate of the Magic Tower really leaking the tower’s information and photos in real-time?
He had thought something like this might happen, but he never expected to see it with his own eyes.
[Master, I’ll check on it right away.]
As Davi spoke in a chilly tone and connected to the Cybernetic Space, Lennok examined the ensuing comments.
└I’ve been on the Deepweb for decades and I’ve never seen a psycho like this;; you’re gonna die soon, pal.
└Isn’t the guy who’s been on a community like this for decades the biggest psycho here?
└What are you talking about? Hasn’t everyone been here with me on the Deepweb for decades?
└Stop lying. You mean other people are on the Deepweb just for fun?
└Fr, no way something that absurd is possible.
└(Emoticon quietly looking around)
└If you’re really a Magic Tower affiliate, spill some juicy info before you die.
└You know you’re gonna die soon anyway, right? Speak freely.
└What’s the atmosphere inside the tower like right now? How’s Adamant Thunder?
The reply to the comment openly asking for information about the tower’s interior came meekly.
└It’s really noisy. It’s so boisterous during the day that it’s hard to sleep. - (鬼)
└?
└?
└Who sleeps during the day?
└What are you talking about? Sleeping during the day and being active at night is the standard.
└The time of true players is-
└Stop. Enough of this f*cking topic. Just keep talking about the Magic Tower.
Reactions that cut through even the usual trivial jokes of the Deepweb, urging for an answer.
It was probably because they had so many things they wanted to hear from this Magic Tower affiliate.
Since such information leaks rarely occurred in the first place, they were likely trying to get at least one more answer before the leaker was dealt with-
However, the answer from the very person who had thrown the post into chaos with their comments was far from what was expected.
└But I don’t really know much. I don’t even know the names of the people here. - (鬼)
└What kind of bullsh*t is this now? You said you were in the Magic Tower.
└The food in the tower cafeteria is delicious. They make the dishes I request well. The benefits are good. - (鬼)
└Cut the crap and say something more believable. You think I asked because I was curious about how good the tower’s benefits are?
└If you’re going to risk your life, at least tell us some important information.
└What are you talking about? I’m already dead. - (鬼)
“…Wait.”
A feeble answer, seemingly from someone unfamiliar with online communities. A strange habit of adding a suffix after their sentences.
A bizarre response, claiming to be a guest at the tower yet not even knowing their colleagues’ names.
Just as Lennok arrived at the answer through these clues, Davi returned from the Cybernetic Space.
[Master, I found them. They weren’t even trying to hide.]
Davi, returning to Lennok’s arms with a look of disbelief, asked.
[They should be on the floor right below us. Do you just want to go see them now?]
“…”
Instead of answering, Lennok immediately stood up and went down to the floor below.
He walked down the corridor along a gentle ramp, heading for a solitary room located at the very end of the floor below.
The room visible through the slightly open door was dark with the lights off, but the faint glow of a tablet shone from within.
A black-haired woman with her hair down was awkwardly fumbling and tapping at the tablet’s keyboard.
“S-So… I… I’m n-not an e-employee of the Magic T-Tower… I said so….”
“…”
“A… a t-treated… g-guest… at the M-Magic Tower… V… V… I… P….”
As if she had almost never touched an electronic device, she clumsily opened and closed the on-screen keyboard, slowly typing one letter at a time.
Each time, to type the necessary characters, the woman ceaselessly muttered the words she wanted to write, repeating them to herself.
The Corpse Ghost Spell Master, oblivious to Lennok watching her speechlessly, tapped diligently at the keyboard.
“I-It’s not a l-lie….”
In the middle of it, as if someone had teased her, a vein popped on the Corpse Ghost Spell Master’s dazed face.
“A-A freeloader… you… you really… I’ll t-turn you into a… a C-Corpse Ghost-”
“What are you doing in there?”
“Kyaaaaak?!!!!”
The Corpse Ghost Spell Master leaped up on the spot and let out a scream louder than any response he had ever heard from her.
“W-What? What’s going on?”
“It’s near the solitary room in the annex. There’s been an incident!!”
“That’s the room where we’re holding the person under surveillance! Call the security team, now!!”
The tower employees who came running from all directions upon hearing the scream spoke urgently to Lennok.
“Tower Lord, we received a call about a disturbance near the isolated solitary room.”
“Confirmed that the Corpse Ghost Spell Master of the Order Alliance is under surveillance.”
“If there was an attack, we will immediately-”
“It’s nothing like that, so you can all leave.”
At that moment, Evelyn’s voice echoed from behind the security team staff.
With Soo-ryun, who held a guandao, by her side, she stood with her arms crossed, looking at the solitary room.
“Looks like the Order Alliance’s freeloader has caused some brilliant trouble. We’ll handle it from here.”
“Ah, understood!!”
As the flustered employees retreated, Evelyn walked toward Lennok.
“Van. Sorry to bother you with such a trivial matter.”
“You already knew what was going on?”
“That one’s hobby lately is staring at Deepweb communities all day long.”
Evelyn gestured with her head.
“She whined all day to be let out, but she’d quiet down if I gave her a tablet, so I just left her alone. I didn’t think she’d actually cause trouble.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s not like she was actually trying to leak important information or secrets on the Deepweb. However….”
Lennok gazed quietly at the Corpse Ghost Spell Master, who was squatting against one of the room’s walls, trembling.
“It does seem she needs a bit of attention in various ways.”
“W-Waaaah… I-I was wrong….”
The Corpse Ghost Spell Master, who had been shivering with her eyes spinning, prostrated herself with a pale face.
“I-I won’t write comments ever again…!! Ah, I didn’t say anything. I o-only praised the Magic Tower!! I just said the food was delicious and the… the boss was kind!!”
“Spell Master. Now that you’re cornered, you suddenly seem a bit more articulate?”
Evelyn said, looking down at the Spell Master with a cold expression.
“How could this be? Were you just putting on an act for me all this time?”
“Heh, hehe… T-That’s not it….”
While the Corpse Ghost Spell Master stammered out excuses, dripping with cold sweat, Lennok glanced at his phone.
“Sorry to interrupt while you’re busy, but it looks like I’ll have to take the Corpse Ghost Spell Master with me.”
“What? You didn’t just come down because of the commotion on the Deepweb?”
“That was the original reason, but… Corpse Ghost Spell Master.”
“Y-Yes, sir!!”
Hearing the Corpse Ghost Spell Master’s disciplined reply, Lennok glanced around.
“The Black Fairy that the Fairy Conjunction Master gifted you. Are you still taking good care of it?”
“O-Of course!!”
The Corpse Ghost Spell Master shot up and explained in a formal posture.
“I-I feed it my mana five times a day and groom its wings three times!! S-Since I… I don’t have any m-money, the… the Magic Tower is paying for the incidental expenses, but…!!”
“But?”
“I-If it’s an expense I have to… to repay… p-preferably interest-free… p-please….”
At the words of the Corpse Ghost Spell Master, who was cautiously testing the waters, Evelyn spoke with an incredulous look.
“This one is truly hilarious… Where did you learn to say things like that?”
“F-From the… community… hehe….”
“I won’t ask you to pay, so don’t worry.”
Lennok nodded.
“If you’ve managed it well, then that’s fine. Bring the Black Fairy. We have somewhere to go.”
“W-Where are we going….”
He was originally scheduled to have a meeting at the Magic Tower about the Guardian Spirit Beast issue, but he had received a reply from Aris saying it would take some time.
In that case, even if it wasn’t tower business, prioritizing urgent matters or issues was the first thing to do.
“A message came from Pandemonium. I need to settle all the accounts with them from what happened in Paradise Lost.”
Lennok said, glancing at his phone.
“It seems Myeong has awakened.”