The government had been secretly hopeful.
They believed this summit would surely bring definite results.
My Home Tower was clearly different from all the towers that had appeared until now—a mysterious tower of the unknown.
Therefore, if they could formally import various items from My Home Tower in large quantities, it would be tremendously beneficial to national interests.
The six delegates dispatched were individuals proven in various fields including politics, law, diplomacy, negotiation, and combat.
They were reading documents containing detailed information about the government representatives dispatched for this occasion.
"Seo Ryu-in abandoned climbing towers in the past, claiming she lacked talent, then prepared for civil service and became a government employee. After that, she spent four quiet years in an office job, but the tower she had climbed was the Tower of Daejeon, still famous for its difficulty. She climbed up to the 20th floor alone. She greatly underestimates her abilities, but she is definitely strong."
"Kim Ha-cheong. He lacks confidence, but gives his all when working. The scheduling of the recent meeting with My Home Tower was also thanks to his quick response. He now stands shoulder to shoulder with the two men in charge of South Korea's top guilds. His lack of confidence must have been sufficiently filled by now."
"Im Heon-beop loves the law more than anyone and protects order. He has never broken the law under any circumstances, and when a climber who committed a crime fled into a tower, he personally entered and brought the criminal back. With his brilliant mind and sound judgment, he will surely lead this summit in a favorable direction."
Government officials believed they would successfully complete the negotiations and return safely, and were already busy planning post-summit scenarios.
The government didn't yet know.
That the entire delegation had already fallen into My Home Tower's terrifying scheme.
---
Inside a VIP room at the Tasty Restaurant on the 19th floor of My Home Tower.
The six government representatives who visited My Home Tower for the summit gathered again.
A six-person formal dinner was set on the round table, with dishes emitting strange aromas stimulating everyone's senses.
Seo Ryu-in, who had thoroughly enjoyed her rest at My Home Tower, cut a large piece of steak, put it in her mouth, and exclaimed with sparkling eyes.
"Aah~! The soup at the Squishy Soft Restaurant was good, but the juices in this 'Hell Flame Dragon Tenderloin Steak' just flow out...!"
She was completely absorbed in the taste, paying no attention to those around her.
But no one reproached her for it.
More precisely, they had no time to care.
"So this is how refreshing it feels to be without fatigue!"
Kim Ha-cheong from the Security Department had been diagnosed with excessive accumulated fatigue during his consultation with a maid and was advised to take a brief rest at the Milky Way Hotel on the 32nd floor.
After moving to the Milky Way Hotel, he fell into deep sleep as soon as he surrendered himself to the cloud-like soft bed.
He woke up feeling more refreshed than he could remember ever feeling before.
And when leaving the hotel, he received sparkling water as a service.
But it turned out that sparkling water was actually [Sparkling Holy Water of the Majestic Angel]!
Thanks to the effects of the carbonated holy water, his skin became smooth and various chronic ailments were cured as if he had been reborn!
At the same time, as energy began to overflow, he felt an inexplicable confidence rising!
And the [Blood Demon] Guild Master was also feeling a similar surge of confidence.
"Hahaha! The taste of dragon meat after completing a mission(?) is exceptional! How was it for you?"
"I didn't do anything like that. I just received psychological counseling."
Geom Heuk-beom and Yun Seo-jin were sitting side by side, discussing their experiences at the Succubus Garden.
Of course, they didn't realize that those memories were "fake memories" manipulated by Cyan Nightmare.
"What? As a fellow man, I don't understand. Is there a reason?"
"No particular reason."
"Why be like that between us? You can tell me, don't hide it."
"...Given our guild relationship, we're not exactly on good terms, are we?"
Externally, there's a perception that the [Blood Demon] Guild and [Glory] Guild have a bad relationship.
Yet Geom Heuk-beom was conversing comfortably with Yun Seo-jin.
"Then how about joining the [Blood Demon] Guild while we're at it?"
"As I said before, I have no intention of leaving the [Glory] Guild."
"Well, you're certainly resolute."
The reason was that Geom Heuk-beom had his eye on the capable Yun Seo-jin.
If he succeeded in poaching Yun Seo-jin to [Blood Demon], it would be like pulling out one of the pillars supporting the [Glory] Guild—truly killing two birds with one stone.
But since the person in question had no intention of leaving the [Glory] Guild, Geom Heuk-beom turned to Crow, unable to hide his disappointment.
"Crow, what do you think? Don't you think it would be better for Seo-jin to join our side?"
"...We should at least hear the [Glory] Guild Master's opinion."
Crow was still drinking a milkshake made from Minotaur milk through a straw without removing his mask.
This was already his fifth glass.
"Why do you keep drinking only that?"
To Geom Heuk-beom's question, Crow slowly put down his straw and answered.
"My sugar levels dropped after exercising for the first time in a while. Sugar replenishment is essential to maintain combat power."
There was a reason for him saying this.
Having sparred with Yurining all day on the 49th floor, his body's sugar and calories were severely depleted.
He was now quickly replenishing them.
And—
"......"
There was one person who hadn't touched his food and was sitting blankly.
It was Im Heon-beop, a climber from the Justice Department.
The food on his plate had long since gone cold.
He was staring vacantly into space without even picking up his utensils.
He was still confused by the "fake memories" swirling in his mind.
The content of those memories was as follows:
———
"Oppa, you have trauma from not being recognized by your parents when you were young, right?"
"......"
"You didn't receive proper love, couldn't act spoiled, and always heard nagging, so you've lived constantly whipping yourself."
"...Can succubi see such things too?"
"Yes, so..."
Suddenly, the succubus girl placed her hand on his head and began stroking it.
"Good, good, you did well."
"......!!!"
"I'll accept all your desire for recognition, lack of affection, childish needs... I'll take care of it all."
At that moment, tears of joy rolled down from his eyes.
A lap pillow filled with praise and gentle stroking.
Warm embraces and whispered words of praise in his ear.
Endless extreme petting.
"It's time for you to sleep now... Of course, if you want, you can act a little more spoiled...?"
———
With those words——
The memory was completely cut off.
Normally, it would make sense if he had just fallen asleep and woken up after that.
An excessively convenient development.
That was the problem.
'What if... I did something more after that?'
Anxiety turned into guilt, and guilt into fear.
'Wait, what if the memory itself is false?'
He even considered the possibility that his memories had been manipulated.
With his exceptional mind befitting someone from the Justice Department, he used remarkable deductive skills and came very close to the truth of the incident, but.
"Are you alright?"
"......"
"He's completely lost his mind. Come to think of it, the succubus who went in with you was definitely... ahem."
"...?"
"...I'll respect your preferences."
"Ugh... Aaaagh!!"
Im Heon-beop couldn't properly refute Geom Heuk-beom's words that flew at him like daggers, and took the hit directly.
With his mental state shattered once again, he ultimately failed to reach the truth.
---
After the meal, a maid quietly approached the delegation.
"Distinguished delegates, the summit will begin shortly. I will guide you to the conference room on the 99th floor."
Instantly, the atmosphere in the banquet hall changed.
Relaxed expressions hardened,
Each looked at one another and carefully nodded.
"Then, let's move."
Six delegates.
Some for their country, some for their honor.
Others simply following government orders, and some to clean up their own mess.
...The last one had even forgotten the purpose of the summit.
Each carrying their own emotions and burdens——
They stood before the warp point heading to the 99th floor.
---
The six delegates arrived at the conference room.
"This is the conference room...?"
Seo Ryu-in looked around with doubt.
The atmosphere was too dark and strange.
It felt more like an altar prepared for an ancient ritual than a conference room.
The ceiling was completely submerged in darkness, and even the faintly flickering candles on the walls seemed about to go out at any moment.
In the darkness that seemed ready to swallow all light, only the massive straight table in the center exuded presence.
At the very front center of that table.
Snow-white hair, dazzlingly white skin, an angel with large pure white wings.
[Tower Administrator] Eriel Tricia was seated there.
She was looking down at the delegation with the most serious expression they had ever seen on her.
"Welcome, human delegation sent by the government."
Her clear yet resonant voice filled the entire conference room.
As Geom Heuk-beom was about to respond, Tricia raised her hand to stop him.
"Before that, let me introduce our tower's 'Guardians.' Please come forward one by one."
As soon as she said that,
Tricia's friends and colleagues, or floor managers.
And—those who had received the new title of Guardian began to appear one by one.