The Black Merchant looked at Kim Jin-Woo with dry eyes as if he were searching for something. However, when Kim Jin-Wooâs expression didnât change at all, his eyes suddenly snapped back to life as he said, âI thought this was an unconventional proposal in its own way, but it seems you arenât surprised at all.
Kim Jin-Woo wasnât shaken at all by the Black Merchantâs brazen attitude. He replied, âIs there anything to be surprised about? As you said, you did your job delivering the goods, and I too ended up receiving the goods youâve given to me. After that, whatever happens is up to me, isnât it?â
In the past, he would have been busy trying to read between the lines of the Black Merchantâs words, but now, he naturally returned the Black Merchantâs words as they were.
âAh, looks like youâve got me this time around.â The Black Merchant trembled slightly, as if he had completely surrendered.
âGet to the point. A mere gift canât be the reason why the Black Merchant finally shows himself after a whole yearâs absence,â Kim Jin-Woo said.
âI handed you a Countâs Seal, but to call that a mere gift⊠Seems like things have changed since we last met,â the Black Merchant remarked.
Sensing that the Black Merchant would beat about the bush for the entire day if he left things as is, Kim Jin-Woo stared down at the Black Merchant once more, urging him to move on.
âUnderstood. Iâll get to the point.â In the end, the Black Merchant was finally unable to resist, and he brought up the main purpose of his visit. âWe, the Black Merchants, have broken our long silence to congratulate the rebirth of a Grand Labyrinth.â
As expected, the Black Merchants already knew that Kim Jin-Woo had ascended to the title of Highlord. Since even the 11th Floor Counts seemed to know of that fact, it would have been absurd that the Black Merchants, who were second to none in terms of intelligence gathering in the Underworld, wouldnât know as well.
Kim Jin-Woo had already anticipated that, and accepted the Black Merchantâs expression of respect indifferently out of mere courtesy.
The Black Merchant, who had dragged out his congratulatory message with a playful tone, quickly wrapped up his speech when he noticed Kim Jin-Wooâs bored expression. âI pay my infinite homage to the Highlord, master of all, and wish for the path of the new Lordâs future to reach its fullest glory.â
Kim Jin-Wooâs response was so blunt that the Black Merchant sighed once again with a drained look. âUrgh. With such indifference from the Lord, my efforts and devotion to the Lord seem to have all been in vain.â
The Black Merchant clarified that the Countâs Seal had been assigned to Kim Jin-Woo from the beginning. However, when he had suddenly ascended to the title of Highlord, there was a lot of internal discussion on whether it should still be delivered.
Kim Jin-Woo wasnât sure if that was the whole truth, but since the amount of help he had received from the Black Merchant thus far wasnât insignificant, he decided to play along. âI see. Iâll answer you then.â
The Black Merchant smiled brightly after hearing his response.
âSoâŠâ The Black Merchantâs eyes shone brightly once again, and he rubbed his hands. âCan you tell us what name has been given to you, Milord?â
âIâm not going to reveal it. Wait and see, and youâll find out in due time.â Kim Jin-Woo shook his head resolutely, avoiding mentioning his true name.
However, the Black Merchant remained persistent. It seemed the purpose of his visit was to find out Kim Jin-Wooâs true name.
âThen how about this?â The Black Merchant pretended to look around and sighed. âIf Milord tells me your name, Iâll give you information of equal value.â
Kim Jin-Woo didnât answer. But the Black Merchant quickly continued, as if he didnât need permission. âMy Lord isnât the only newly born Highlord.â
***
The Black Merchant had left. But the conversation Kim Jin-Woo had with him kept replaying in his mind.
âThere are as many Highlord titles as the Underworld is wide.â
The Black Merchant had seemed almost intent on filling him with surprise, as he had revealed more surprising facts one after another.
âThe most recent war wasnât entirely unrelated to Milord.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âRemember what the Underworld was like when Milordâs Grand Labyrinth was born. And now, the hint ends here. Now itâs Milordâs turn to answer.â
ââGreedâ. Thatâs my name.â
Had Kim Jin-Woo been swept up by emotions? The Black Merchant had somehow been surprised when he heard the name âGreedâ. However, Kim Jin-Woo had been too immersed in the topic to pay close attention to the Black Merchantâs reaction.
âMmm.â His thoughts continued to grow deeper and deeper. It seemed there was another secret behind the birth of the Moai, which Kim Jin-Woo had assumed to be just another catastrophe caused by human greed.
âNo wayâŠâ Kim Jin-Woo remembered the moment when the Grand Labyrinth was born, and countless beings who had lost their labyrinths had come to the Grand Labyrinth in search of answers.
What would have happened if he hadnât dealt with the mob, and in what form would they, who had lost their sources of life in the form of the Labyrinth Cores, have continued to wander the Underworld?
His expression hardened as he imagined thousands of beings being engulfed by the evil of the Underworld and turning into Moai. If it had been the birth of a Grand Labyrinth that had made them into Moai, there had to be a terrifying monster beyond the passageway the Moai had initially come from that was the source of them all.
It was almost like a delusion. However, Kim Jin-Woo couldnât shake off that delusion, because he remembered the will of Ustus, a fragment of the One-Eyed Lord.
âI have one last present for you. The Usurper wonât be able to follow you for the moment, so please strengthen your troops. I wish you all the best.â
Kim Jin-Woo hadnât put too much thought into those words at that time. He had thought that it was just information meant to shake and confuse the Deep Floor Counts, forcing them to question the information they had.
No matter how hard the Deep Floor Counts tried to conceal every bit of information, it would have been impossible to conceal it all when not even the scattered fragments were able to completely blindside the feared Usurper. But as the Usurperâs gaze had yet to reach the 9th Floor, it was more convincing to think that something more important had gotten his attention.
âDamn fragments. How much has this blown out of proportion?â Kim Jin-Woo muttered. As much as Ustus had openly talked about reuniting the shattered Underworld into one, perhaps it was the fragments of the Ancient Lord that were behind all of this.
He let out a long sigh at the unsolvable situation. But no matter how much he thought about it, he realized he couldnât waste more time trying to think of a solution to a problem he had no answer to, and thus, he turned his attention to more immediate tasks at hand.
The Countâs Seal, which was different from the other Nobleâs Seals he had come across thus far, was in his hand.
With a sigh, he headed to the master room. No matter the circumstances of the Underworld, what was important now was to build up his strength.
***
Kim Jin-Woo sat on his throne and immediately absorbed the Countâs Seal.
[The power of the Highlords, who once ruled the Underworld, was split and scattered to become the Nobleâs Seals.]
[The Countâs Seal is a true Nobleâs Seal that is incomparably stronger than the seals of other, lesser Nobles.]
[Do you accept the Countâs Seal into the Seal of Greed?]
âI accept.â With Kim Jin-Wooâs short answer, the Countâs Seal that he had been gripping tightly melted away without a trace, being absorbed by the Seal of Greed.
[The Countâs Seal has been completely absorbed by the Seal of Greed.]
[Unlike the Seals of the lesser Nobles, the properties of Seals belonging to Counts and above are predetermined.]
[The property of the absorbed Seal is âFrost on the Surface of an Unwavering LakeâFrost (æ°·ćŻ)â.]
[The properties of the newly absorbed Seal are perfectly suited to the noblest of NagasâLord of Nagas and Nagaraja (Dragon King).]
[According to the unique properties of the Seal, your breath is infused with the chill of frost.]
[The elemental ability, âBreath of Frostâ, has been combined with the Nagarajaâs power to become a new ability.]
The fact that the Sealâs properties were fixed was something not even Kim Jin-Woo had been aware of. If it hadnât matched well with the Nagas, it could have been a disaster. Fortunately, what had been contained in the Seal was cold, frosty air that matched the nature of the Nagas, who preferred cold and wet places.
It was almost as if this relationship had been predetermined, but it was fortunate that the benefits were greater than any losses.
[You have acquired a unique ability, âFrost Battlefieldâ. Once a day, you can create a battlefield just for you and the Nagas. The Nagas on the Frost Battlefield will become much more valiant.]
[The cold attribute has been added to the Nagasâ attacks. Enemies that have allowed the Nagas to strike them will withdraw from a chill that seeps deep into their bones, preventing them from exerting their power.]
[The Naga Sorcerersâ spells have become more powerful. Their spells will now freeze even the souls of their enemies.]
[The healing magic of the Naga Priests has reached a point where even a dismembered body can be completely restored.]
There was no time to rejoice at the fact that he had acquired a new ability, as messages kept appearing one after another.
[You, who have absorbed the Countâs Seal, have become more powerful.]
[You have obtained the ability âFrost Armorâ. You can temporarily increase your defense by enclosing yourself in cold armor. Frost Armor regenerates constantly as long as your energy remains.]
[You have obtained the ability âFrost Bladeâ. A blade made of the coldest and sharpest frost is now available. Even if the blade of the Frost Blade is broken, it will grow back immediately.]
[Congratulations. You have now become even more suitable to be the Naga King. With the addition of your frost abilities, you are now the Naga King in the eyes of all.]
[The Nagasâ loyalty to you has become deeper and stronger. Their loyalty has gone beyond the limits, to the point of fanaticism.]
[The Nagas will now be unyielding against any psychological pressure, and will fully obey your orders.]
The power of the Countâs Seal was greater than Kim Jin-Woo had expected. Reading all the messages that had appeared, Kim Jin-Woo smiled with satisfaction.
[The Frost attribute has been added to the Seal of Greed.]
[A considerable amount of energy has been accumulated in the empty power source. The accumulated energy can be used to raise the rank of the Seal or to utilize unique powers.]
[Although the Countâs Seal has great power, it is somewhat insufficient to improve the Seal of Greed.]
[At least one additional Countâs Seal is required to improve the Seal of Greedâs rank.]
[The power source has been charged to 63%.]
The Sealâs light disappeared, and in its place, a chilling aura pierced into Kim Jin-Wooâs flesh.
âMm.â The vitality and energy overflowing through his body was a new experience for Kim Jin-Woo. He exclaimed in admiration as he witnessed crystals of cold air forming at his fingertips before quickly fading away.
However, he quickly started to freeze from the cold that didnât dissipate no matter how much he waited. He remarked, âLooks like Iâve taken in more than I can handle for the moment.â
There was a bigger problem than that, however. It was that winter had come to the Grand Labyrinth.