Magic Monopoly: Reborn as the Sole Magic Tower Master-Chapter 231: Episode

Berlin, Germany.

“We have arrived.”

The chauffeur opened the door for me. I stepped out of the black premium sedan and straightened my tie out of habit.

It was my first time in Germany, but I had no time for sightseeing.

GreenCare’s executives and employees were lined up to greet me.

“Welcome, Mr. Kim Yusin!”

A balding man who looked like an executive strode toward me. I shook his hand and replied, “Thank you for the warm welcome.”

“Hahaha! When I heard from you, Representative, I nearly fainted! I even canceled my flight to Korea and rushed back to the office!”

My mind went blank for a moment.

’Wait, what is this? Why is he acting like he knows me? Do I know this guy?’

I desperately racked my brain and finally dredged up a memory.

’No way, this guy...!’

Of course. No wonder he looked familiar. He was one of the people who had swarmed me at the hotel in Switzerland, begging me to sign a contract with them.

’So that’s how this was all connected.’ Since GreenCare was a pharmaceutical company, it made sense they would be drooling over the distribution rights for Alchemia’s potions.

I put on a pleasant business smile.

“It is only natural that Alchemia would be interested in Germany’s top pharmaceutical company.”

At my words, not only the executive but also the employees behind him broke into wide grins.

GreenCare, the eternal number two. Being called "Germany’s best" must have been the sweetest compliment they could hear.

“As for what happened in Switzerland, I would be grateful if you could overlook it. There were all sorts of pests buzzing around, so I had to act sternly.”

“Haha! Hahahahaha! So that was it! Well then, this way, please.”

The man, who introduced himself as Max, turned out to be a heavyweight on the level of an executive director.

He seemed absolutely delighted that I had come to visit GreenCare personally and alone.

It was only natural. This was a chance to secure both new drug investment and potion distribution rights in one fell swoop. I was treated like royalty as I was led into the building.

A short while later, an investment presentation was held in the auditorium for me, and me alone.

’...I’m getting sleepy.’

I watched with genuine interest at first, but as time wore on, I grew bored. Future value, investment environments, development policies—it was all irrelevant to my real purpose.

So I spoke up.

“Before we discuss Alchemia, I should remind you that I am here as an investor in new drug development. I would like to tour your research facilities in person. Would that be possible?”

“I’m afraid the research facilities are top secret...”

“Director, I only believe what I see with my own two eyes.”

I cut him off sharply.

“Future value, competitive advantages in cutting-edge industries—none of that feels real to me. I don’t need pie-in-the-sky promises on a PowerPoint slide. I need to see the reality for myself. I want to see exactly what kind of facilities and processes are used to produce your products.”

“I-I see. Please wait a moment. That requires the chairman’s approval.”

Max stepped outside to make a call, which took longer than I expected.

’All right, let’s see how they play this.’

I sipped the civet coffee they had served me while I waited.

If this chairman was connected to the demons, he would never allow it. He would refuse, hiding behind the excuse of top secrecy. If he refused, I would just move on to my next plan...

“The chairman has granted permission!”

’Seriously?’

I hadn’t expected to get approval so easily. I was genuinely taken aback.

’Could this organization have no connection to the demons after all? Was the link to six of them just a coincidence?’

No, it wasn’t too late to draw a conclusion. I would go there myself and see it with my own eyes.

Without further discussion, we got into a car and headed to the research facility.

The facility was located on the outskirts of Berlin, in a building with extensive underground levels.

I had to put on a full-body white cleanroom suit over my clothes and even wear a mask.

“From here on, I will be your guide.”

A female guide in a matching cleanroom suit bowed her head politely.

I caught Max sneaking a glance at her.

I walked through the facility, listening to her explanations. The entire building was so immaculately white that there wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen.

“In this process, we wash the products. At GreenCare, we remove even 0.0001% of impurities...”

However, it was truly nothing more than a “tour.”

Unfortunately, I was not allowed into the drug development section; GreenCare was adamant about refusing me access. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

At this rate, I would just skim the surface and leave.

I activated Deva’s Eye and managed to get a limited view through the walls, but there were clear limits to what I could glean from visual information alone.

-Tower Master.

Just then, Ea’s voice echoed in my mind.

’Yeah. What is it?’

-I have successfully neutralized GreenCare’s firewall. After examining the related data, I discovered something shocking.

After hearing Ea’s report, I immediately issued my next order.

’Tell everyone except Sol and Bora, who are guarding the Seeds of Sealing, to prepare for combat and get over here.’

-Understood.

I lifted my head and looked at the guide, who was in the middle of a long-winded explanation.

“That’s enough. You can stop now.”

“Pardon?”

“To be honest, I’m not here as the representative of Alchemia. I’m here as a certified hunter.”

I continued, watching the panic spread across their faces.

“You’ve heard about the drug discovered in Iceland that turns humans into monsters, correct? I received a tip that this company is currently researching that very drug.”

Max’s face went rigid, and the guide’s expression twisted into a vicious scowl.

Stammering, Max asked, “M-may I ask where you received that tip...?”

“I cannot disclose my source.”

“T-then it must be a smear campaign! A plot by a rival company to endanger us...! And more importantly, do you even have the authority to investigate? Even for a certified rank 2 hunter, this is a serious overreach of authority for a foreigner!”

Of course he would say that.

Now I had two options.

The first was to secure solid information, obtain authorization from the Alliance and the German government, and then raid the place. And the second...

“Why should I care?”

...was to go completely off-script.

“Do you really think I’d do this without solid evidence?”

I kept my eyes on the guide.

She had been trying to maintain a poker face, but she was clearly anxious.

And her heart had been beating the fastest in this very room.

“The situation is urgent, so this can’t be helped. If no evidence turns up, you can sue me or file a complaint with the Alliance. Do whatever you want.”

I slipped my gauntlet over my fist and slammed it into the keypad lock.

With a deafening crash, the lock shattered, leaving a gaping hole in the door. I grabbed the door and yanked it open.

“Stop.”

Click.

I felt the muzzle of a gun press against the back of my head. Max screamed and fell on his butt, while I turned back to her with a cold, bloody smile.

“Go ahead. Shoot.”

She actually pulled the trigger. The bullet struck a blue barrier that materialized just before the muzzle, where it spun harmlessly in place.

Ignoring her gunfire, I walked inside.

“H-hah...!”

“Who are you?”

“What was that gunshot...?”

Researchers in cleanroom suits flinched and scrambled to their feet.

“I am certified rank 2, Kim Yusin. I need your cooperation with an investigation.”

“A h-hunter?”

I rummaged through the glass vials they had been working on. One in particular caught my eye. It contained a viscous, murky liquid that looked very similar to what I had seen in Antarctica. I picked up the vial.

“Wow, where have I seen this before?”

I stopped talking and lowered my head.

A flash of light streaked past, and the glass wall in front of me split apart with a perfectly clean cut.

The guide’s arm had transformed into a blade.

Not just her arm. Her clothes shredded as she transformed into an insectoid monster with hundreds of eyes.

“Eek!”

“A monster! There’s a monster here!”

The terrified researchers bolted out of the lab in a panic.

Ki-ki-kiik!

The mantis-shaped demon spread its wings and lunged, its two razor-sharp arms scything through the air.

I twisted my shoulders and tilted my head back, dodging with ease.

“So you finally show your true colors, demon.”

As I jumped back to avoid a diagonal slash, I flicked my fingers. Three sixth-order magic circles unfolded around the mantis’s torso.

<Flame Taurus>

The magic circles exploded, and the creature screamed in agony.

In that brief window, I tore off the cumbersome cleanroom suit and tucked the precious evidence into my subspace pouch.

Even with its carapace charred black and blood pouring from its wounds, the demon charged at me relentlessly.

VROOOM!

The moment its right arm slammed into the floor, I shifted Specter onto it.

Then, I brought my leg down hard on the spectral blade.

With a clean slice, the demon’s arm was severed.

“Talk. How many other demons are in this facility?”

“Yeah, I figured. Bye.”

Spears of ice materialized around it, piercing its body from all sides.

I wiped the green fluid from my cheek and gathered all the research data in the room.

Kieee!

Grr!

As the researchers fled, a pack of demons who had also transformed into monsters charged through them.

Judging by the scraps of white cleanroom suits still clinging to their bodies, they had been posing as researchers. I clapped my hands once.

“Everyone! Time to work.”

Behind me, Samia’s warp gate opened. A spear of crackling lightning shot through it and impaled a demon.

“Fourth-Floor Team, reporting in!”

Led by Na Daeyong, the Fourth-Floor Team emerged from the warp and engaged the demons. Water, light, and poison magic exploded throughout the lab.

BOOOOM!

Seo Shimhee, transformed into Andras, displayed overwhelming physical strength.

She barreled through the demons like a human tank, clearing a wide space before grabbing demons with both arms and ripping them in half.

“So it was you! Kim Yusin!”

I turned my head toward the charging orc demon.

The huge axe it swung came down, and my hand snapped up, catching it with a solid thunk.

“The weakness of a gray orc is...”

On the other side, Jeong Seojin drew back his fist and finished my sentence.

“Well, I suppose there’s no need to strategize.”

CRACK!

A huge gash opened across the demon’s face as it went flying. Watching the Fourth-Floor Team cut down demons like fish in a barrel, Jeong Seojin called out, “Everyone, fight all you want, but keep facility damage to an absolute minimum.”

“Yes, sir!”

After giving his orders, he turned back to me.

“Tower Master, have you secured the evidence?”

“Of course. It’s in my subspace pouch.”

I slowly walked over to Max, who had wet himself and collapsed on the floor.

“Executive Director Max. Are you a demon, too?”

Max shook his head frantically.

“Mmm, with this many demons around, it’s hard to take your word for it.”

I cast third-order Wind Port.

Air swirled around the handgun on the floor, and it flew neatly into my hand.

“Maybe if I put a few holes in you, you’ll transform into a monster?”

* * *