WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: DereKimchi
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Abandoned Tank is a Disaster-class Awakener ◈
Chapter 11
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The headquarters of the American Awakeners Association was bustling as though a war had broken out.
“France has contacted us again!”
“An official inquiry regarding Guardian Authority has arrived from the Chinese Association!”
“Japan wants us to clarify the standards for toll collection first!”
“Germany wants to discuss the approval process for challenging the hidden boss first!”
Reports poured in from every direction.
The phones on the desks had been ringing nonstop for several minutes, and unchecked official documents continued to pile up in the email inboxes.
Not only associations from various countries, but government agencies, major guilds, and international Awakener organizations were all contacting America at once.
At the center of it all, David Miller stood with a very serious expression as he looked over some documents.
At least, that was how he looked on the outside.
“Hmm.”
Miller let out a low groan and slowly removed his glasses.
One of the employees asked nervously.
“Mr. Chairman, are you all right?”
Miller pressed his fingers to his brow.
“Not at all.”
“...Pardon?”
Twitch.
“I’m so happy that I think it might interfere with my work.”
“...”
The employee closed their mouth.
Miller put his glasses back on.
He was having quite a hard time forcing down the corners of his mouth, which kept trying to rise.
It was only natural.
Whenever an issue related to the Tower came up, America had always had to take a step back.
It had lost key personnel and experience in two major disasters during the early days, and the aftermath had lasted longer than expected.
While other countries cleared floors one by one, America had to gather people again, rebuild its systems, and accumulate experience from scratch.
America had once styled itself as the world’s police.
But at international conferences, there had always been limits to how loudly it could speak.
In the end, the Tower gave the strongest voice to those who had climbed higher and held the right to clear its floors.
That was why America had always been the one making inquiries, pleading with South Korea, China, and Russia for favors.
But now, America was receiving inquiries from countries around the world.
Not as the side asking, but as the side being asked.
“Mr. Chairman!”
An employee held out a tablet.
“We have received complaints regarding the tolls. Some countries claim that applying the same rate to every country is unfair.”
Miller raised an eyebrow.
“Unfair?”
“Yes. Their point is that a Guardian personally taking clearing rewards from other countries could lead to international disputes.”
Miller took the tablet and read it slowly.
Then he nodded very seriously.
“They have a point.”
The employee looked slightly surprised.
“Then should we discuss it...”
“Tell them to complain to the Tower if they don’t like it.”
“...Pardon?”
Miller handed back the tablet.
“It isn’t a rule we made, so what are we supposed to do about it?”
His tone was utterly matter-of-fact.
“The system said it would collect tolls, and the Tower takes the rewards itself. It’s not like we’re sending invoices or stationing employees at border customs.”
Miller shrugged.
“If they feel so wronged, tell them to file a complaint with the Tower.”
One employee who had been listening hurriedly lowered their head.
They had almost laughed.
Miller continued as if nothing had happened.
“Ah, make the reply polite.”
“How polite should it be?”
“Something like, ‘We fully understand your country’s concerns.’”
“And after that?”
“Nothing.”
This time, several employees eventually turned away.
Miller pretended not to notice.
But something even more sensitive than the tolls was the second authority.
The hidden boss.
And the authority to decide whether someone could challenge it.
Several countries had already begun to push back, calling that authority a de facto monopoly.
One official document was particularly blatant.
It called for Guardian Authority to be managed jointly on an international level.
Miller snorted as he read it.
“Joint management, my ass.”
As though he found the words amusing, he muttered them once more.
“I don’t remember hearing any talk about international joint management when we were burning through people twice over because of the Tower.”
The meeting room fell quiet.
This time, some of the amusement vanished.
For a long time, America had been treated as a country that had failed in the Tower.
Many had asked to borrow its facilities, and many had demanded that it share research materials.
But whenever America requested clearing resources or rare items, it was always pushed to the back of the line.
When it came to the Tower, America had been excessively submissive compared to its national power.
But things had changed now.
The throne of the 25th floor.
Tolls.
The right to approve hidden-boss challenges.
And the person who held all of it belonged to America.
Miller set down the document.
“Send a reply.”
“What should it say?”
“Guardian Authority is a unique authority granted by the Tower, and the American Awakeners Association respects it.”
The employees quickly took notes.
“And?”
Miller’s gaze darkened slightly.
“Write that attempts to pressure the approval authority may be regarded as hostile acts toward the Guardian.”
The atmosphere in the meeting room changed.
“Mr. Chairman, is it all right to take such a strong stance?”
Miller looked at the employee.
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“It could develop into a diplomatic issue...”
“Then let it.”
He said it so calmly that the employee had nothing more to say.
Miller leaned back in his chair and interlaced his fingers.
“We’ve been too nice until now.”
A faint smile hung on his lips.
“They ignored us when we were struggling. Especially the leading countries, including South Korea. Do you know how arrogantly they held their heads?”
Everyone nodded at that.
“But on the first day, they’re telling us to hand over the authority or manage it jointly?”
Miller nodded.
“Fine.”
The employees looked at him.
“Make a list.”
“...A list?”
“We’ll need it for reference when they apply for approval later.”
Only then did laughter break out around the meeting room.
“Mr. Chairman, surely you aren’t planning retaliation?”
Miller’s eyes widened.
“Retaliation?”
He looked genuinely wronged.
“I merely intend to assess their diplomatic credibility.”
The employees laughed even louder.
“Of course, we should respond cooperatively to cooperative countries.”
“What about uncooperative countries?”
Miller pretended to think for a moment.
“The Tower has a lot of monsters besides hidden bosses, doesn’t it?”
This time, nobody held back.
“Hahaha!”
Laughter filled the meeting room.
Until recently, it would have been difficult to imagine such a scene.
Senior employees of the American Awakeners Association laughing while international Tower-related inquiries sat before them.
One employee shook their head and said,
“Mr. Kang is truly a blessing. Hasn’t everything changed since he joined us?”
Another employee immediately added,
“He rewrote the 25th-floor record, found the hidden trial, became a Guardian, started collecting tolls, and even gained the authority to approve boss challenges.”
Miller laughed along with the employees, who were usually so grim as they scrambled to plead with others.
Then he looked down once more at the record on his desk.
[Guardian of the 25th Floor: America, Kang Seong-un’s Party]
Before he realized it, the corners of his mouth rose again.
He shifted his gaze and looked out the window.
Only a short while ago, America had been stuck on the 25th floor, anxiously struggling.
There had been repeated failures.
There had also been moves to minimize the damage by offering enormous rewards through temporary naturalization.
America had always had to hold its breath since the age of the Tower and Awakening began.
But now, the former strongest nation was spreading its wings again.
Only now did it feel real.
America had not recruited Kang Seong-un.
Perhaps America had been given another chance to rise in the Tower.
‘I will protect Mr. Kang no matter what.’
America, and Miller, had no intention of letting go of the hard-won opportunity.
Any threat against Kang Seong-un would be taken as a threat against America itself.
And Miller, the Awakeners Association, and America would not simply stand by and watch.
Just as he was strengthening his resolve.
“Mr. Chairman. The Korean Awakeners Association is calling.”
At the employee’s words.
“...”
Miller’s fingers stopped.
After a brief silence.
Grin.
A slow smile spread across his lips.
“Is that so?”
It was different from the laughter from earlier.
“Put them through.”
Miller straightened his tie once.
“We should answer a call from a valued customer.”
He had been declining calls until now.
But South Korea was different.
They were the ones who had sent a precious benefactor named Kang Seong-un to America, so shouldn’t they receive an appropriate welcome?
“Yes, this is Miller.”
A familiar voice came through the receiver.
“...Chairman Miller.”
It was Park Gang-sik.
For someone who had supposedly been celebrating South Korea’s successful clear of the 31st floor with great fanfare until just moments ago, Park’s voice did not sound good.
It was low and subdued, and the ease that would normally have colored it was faint.
Miller noticed, but pretended not to.
“Chairman Park Gang-sik. What an honor to receive such a valuable call. Come to think of it, I heard you had some good news today.”
Several employees subtly raised their heads.
No one laughed aloud.
Instead, they struggled to hide their expressions.
“The world’s first clear of the 31st floor. Congratulations.”
Miller spoke as though he meant every word.
“As expected of South Korea. America still has much to learn.”
“Thank you for your kind words. More importantly...”
“Yes. I’m listening.”
A brief silence followed through the receiver.
Miller leaned back comfortably in his chair.
“...I would like to discuss the authority of the 25th-floor Guardian in depth.”
There it was.
Miller’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Which matter are you referring to? The tolls?”
“The boss.”
If it was South Korea, the strongest Awakener nation, it could only be that.
“I heard that challenging an entity called Karganon requires the Guardian’s approval.”
“The Tower announced it directly, so that would be correct.”
“South Korea requests approval to challenge that boss.”
Miller looked at the ceiling for a moment.
A request.
What a welcome word.
It was a word America had repeated endlessly to South Korea over the past several years.
We request the sharing of strategy guides.
We request the dispatch of experienced Vanguard personnel.
We request the allocation of rare resources.
And every time, South Korea had demanded a fitting price.
Miller slowly tapped the desk with his fingers.
“...That is possible.”
The tension on the other end of the line eased ever so slightly.
Miller continued.
“Ten Elixirs of any kind.”
“...What did you say?”
“I said we will accept ten Elixirs as payment for approval to challenge Karganon.”
“Did you say ten Elixirs? As payment for permission to challenge a boss once?”
“You heard me perfectly.”
“Isn’t that an excessive demand, even if America has obtained the authority over the hidden trial? Just because you have a monopoly over Tower information...”
“A monopoly?”
Miller gently cut Park Gang-sik off.
His voice remained polite.
“I believe you have chosen the wrong word, Chairman Park Gang-sik.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Has America hidden any information?”
“...”
“The Tower announced it directly to the entire world. Karganon’s existence and the approval authority were both made public.”
Miller took off his glasses and placed them on the desk.
“What we possess is not information, but authority.”
“Even so, ten Elixirs is excessive.”
“Is it?”
Miller tilted his head as if he were sincerely puzzled.
“How strange.”
“What is?”
“I was wondering whether my memory has failed me in my old age.”
He continued calmly.
“I recall that when America requested South Korea’s cooperation in clearing the Tower, you demanded Elixirs even for a bundle of strategy guides.”
“...”
There was no response.
“You also required high-grade relics just to dispatch an experienced Vanguard member for a short time.”
He raised another finger.
“I also seem to remember providing Elixirs in order to receive the latest clearing materials for a particular floor first...”
Miller pretended to think for a moment.
“...Am I remembering incorrectly?”
“...The situation was different then.”
“Of course it was different.”
Miller immediately agreed.
“This is not some mere strategy guide. This is the right to challenge a hidden monster, a boss that could provide enormous rewards.”
There was no answer.
The words had struck home cleanly.
Miller continued while hiding his smile.
“I actually believe I have made a very affordable offer.”
“Ten Elixirs is affordable?”
“Yes.”
There was not a moment of hesitation.
“This is the first hidden boss discovered in the world. The exact rewards it offers have not yet been publicly revealed.”
Miller’s gaze briefly moved to the system record.
“Of course, America knows.”
And those rewards belonged to Kang Seong-un, who had contributed greatly to clearing the 25th floor.
“I cannot say because it is highly classified, but the rewards are truly enormous. It is such a shame that I cannot tell you.”
“...”
Park Gang-sik did not answer.
Miller knew what that silence meant.
What South Korea truly feared was not the loss of resources, but the gap.
The existence of a means of growth that they did not know about, and another country obtaining it first.
For South Korea, which saw itself as the world leader, that would hurt far more.
Miller pressed exactly where it hurt.
“To be honest, there are opinions within our organization that we have no need to give South Korea the first opportunity.”
“...What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Miller looked down at the official documents piled on his desk.
France.
Germany.
Japan.
China.
Documents from many other countries were stacked on top of one another as well.
“We are receiving inquiries from countries around the world. Some are asking us to approve them first, while others have sent very proactive offers in order to meet the conditions for first approval.”
“...”
“And even in the midst of that, we are offering South Korea the first challenge.”
That one sentence was the most important.
“South Korea is the first country in the world to clear the 31st floor, is it not?”
A subtle laugh colored Miller’s voice.
“And the strongest Awakener nation in the world.”
He gave back the very slogan Park Gang-sik had proudly displayed at the press conference earlier.
“If such a South Korea were to challenge the hidden boss later than other countries...”
Miller trailed off.
There was no need to explain further.
South Korea had celebrated clearing the 31st floor while declaring itself the world’s strongest, only to fall behind China, Japan, or European countries in a new opportunity for growth?
There was no way Park Gang-sik could bear that image.
“That is why I am making this offer first.”
“Is there no room to negotiate the ten Elixirs?”
“No.”
Miller answered naturally.
“I am giving you a special discount.”
Someone in one corner of the meeting room finally turned away.
Their shoulders trembled slightly.
“Ten is excessive. Let us make it five.”
“Then we will proceed with the approval process for other countries first.”
It was an immediate answer.
“...”
Park Gang-sik was speechless for a moment.
Miller casually opened the next document.
“As it happens, I need to review Germany’s offer, France is awaiting a response, and I hear China keeps calling as well.”
“Chairman Miller.”
“Yes?”
“Are you trying to do business with South Korea right now?”
The pride of the strongest Awakener nation.
Miller almost laughed at those words.
Still, he kept his voice polite to the end.
“Chairman Park Gang-sik.”
He slowly put his glasses back on.
“You call it doing business when we ask an appropriate price for a valuable opportunity to be gained in the Tower?”
He paused briefly.
“Where do you think we learned that method?”
The other end of the line fell quiet.
The corners of Miller’s mouth rose slightly.
“Wasn’t this business the thing South Korea did best?”
He was giving back the exact words America had heard over the past few years.
Rare information has value.
The experience of leading countries is not free.
If you want it, pay an appropriate price.
Back then, it had all been perfectly natural market logic.
Now that America said the same thing, it had suddenly become an excessive demand.
Miller did not bother to point out the contradiction.
It was enough to say only as much as Park Gang-sik would understand.
“And do not misunderstand.”
Miller added,
“I am treating South Korea quite favorably.”
“In what way are you treating us favorably?”
“You sent us Mr. Kang, did you not?”
The corners of several employees’ mouths twitched at once.
Miller continued in a deathly serious voice.
“How could we forget such a great kindness?”
“...Chairman Miller.”
“Thanks to you, we cleared the 25th floor, set a world record, discovered the hidden trial, and even obtained Guardian Authority.”
Thanks to you.
There was no revenge more satisfying than that.
“That is why we must give South Korea special treatment.”
“And that means ten?”
“That is correct.”
Miller smiled.
“We intend to charge other countries even more.”
Of course, Park Gang-sik had no way to confirm that.
More importantly, the choice belonged to America.
That was why Miller did not rush.
The side that could not endure the silence would lower the price first.
It was a lesson America had learned over the past several years at a very expensive cost.
After a long while.
“...Can we definitely receive approval?”
Miller’s eyes smiled.
The negotiation was effectively over.
“I will request that Mr. Kang consider South Korea’s application as the highest priority.”
“You mean, not that you will approve us first?”
Park Gang-sik was as sharp as ever. Even in the midst of this, he did not miss the distinction in a single word.
Miller smiled.
“Approval authority belongs to the Guardian.”
“Are you saying the country has no authority to manage it?”
“I do not know how South Korea handles things, but America is sensitive about private property. I cannot promise someone else’s authority as though it were mine.”
“Are you saying we might still be rejected after offering ten Elixirs?”
“If that possibility concerns you, then you do not have to make the deal.”
Miller spoke very comfortably.
“We are fine with that.”
Then he added gently.
“There are many countries waiting, after all.”
Miller slowly tapped the desk with his fingertips.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
When he tapped three times.
“...We will prepare ten.”
Miller’s expression did not change in the slightest.
“A wise decision.”
“South Korea must be the first country to challenge it.”
“We will show the utmost consideration.”
“Give me a definite answer.”
“Chairman Park Gang-sik.”
Miller gently cut Park Gang-sik off.
“South Korea is the strongest Awakener nation in the world, is it not?”
“...”
“It would be troublesome if I carelessly made a promise to such a country and caused you disappointment.”
The corners of Miller’s mouth curled upward.
“We will do our best to serve you.”
And with that.
Click.
The call ended.
Miller looked at the receiver for several seconds before carefully returning it to its place.
Every employee in the meeting room was looking at him.
After a moment, one employee asked,
“Mr. Chairman.”
“Yes.”
“Wasn’t five Elixirs originally the standard price for the deal?”
Until just moments ago, the price for boss approval had clearly been five Elixirs.
“Tsk.”
Miller clicked his tongue.
“It’s South Korea. Considering how many Elixirs they have taken from us until now, they should cough up at least this much.”
“What if they find out the conditions offered to another country?”
“Then, naturally, every deal must be strictly confidential. No one should be able to find out about the others.”
Transactions between countries were extremely sensitive.
That was why he intended to make confidentiality mandatory for the approval conditions.
Only then could America adjust its deals with those favorable to it and those who were not.
“But why Elixirs?”
Another employee asked curiously.
“With authority of this level, relics could be included in the deal as well.”
Elixirs were important, but relics were also a significant factor in increasing combat power.
They wondered why he insisted on Elixirs alone as the condition.
“Because Mr. Kang wants them.”
“Ah!”
There were no more questions after that.
If Kang Seong-un, the person who had created America’s current position, wanted them, then of course they had to do it.
“All right, everyone. Come up with measures to obtain as many Elixirs as possible, as much as Mr. Kang wants.”
“Leave it to us.”
“If Mr. Kang wants it, I am confident we can squeeze the marrow from other countries.”
The employees laughed.
The corners of Miller’s mouth had no intention of coming down either.
Until now, America had always been the side asking whenever Tower matters arose.
It had been walking on eggshells around South Korea.
It listened to China’s conditions.
It accepted the prices demanded by the leading countries.
But today, South Korea, which had boasted of becoming the first in the world to clear the 31st floor, had called first.
And it had accepted the price America named.
Miller slowly smiled as he looked out the window.
You really do live long enough to see everything.
Who would have thought that South Korea, which had once held its head so high, would now bow first in order to pass through a single door held by America.
And the name hanging on that door was Kang Seong-un, whom they had sent away themselves.
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