The initials M.Z. stand for Michael Ziter.
He's the man who, in about two months, will be appointed as the president of the American Player Association.
Although there's no concrete information about his abilities, how powerful he is, or exactly what he did, I've heard that he was appointed as the president because of the overwhelming support he received within the American player community.
Also, I remember seeing a large poster Michael Ziter had put up on the 2nd floor.
It essentially advised taking a potion after receiving a silver or bronze reward and using that potion for intense training.
Regardless of the specifics, Michael Ziter seemed like someone wanting to help humanity. Thus, I began reading his post with anticipation.
< My experience on the 2nd floor was extremely unpleasant. I nearly died at the hands of the city's owner. >
If you're reading this post, you've probably cleared the 2nd floor, right? First off, congratulations. Did my poster stay up? I'd be heartbroken if it fell down.
Friends, my experience on the 2nd floor might differ greatly from yours. I received not just the gold reward but the platinum one. Oh, it was a horrifying experience.
Initially, after witnessing a murderer get struck by lightning and turn to ash, I thought this floor was quite reasonable. Getting bronze and silver badges seemed easy too. For a brief moment, I even thought that maybe this tower isn't a trial but a blessing, like the religious fanatics claim.
But, like everyone else, the real challenge began when trying to obtain the gold badge. The nobles gave tasks that involved harming others.
I don't know how you all judged it, but I believed it was a trap. I don't know if the creator of this tower is a true god or just something pretending to be one, but they made it to judge us, right? Asking us to kidnap someone under that premise just seemed wrong.
So, without realizing, I overpowered a noble. I thought he was a monster disguised as one. Yet, inside his embrace, there was a golden box and around three platinum badges. When I asked another resident, they told me that this golden box was Aladdin's magic lamp that can produce unlimited badges.
I just gave the golden box to that resident. I gave the silver box the resident originally had to the fallen noble, and that was that. If only it had ended with "and then Michael lived happily ever after with his platinum reward~".
Good heavens, I didn't know obtaining a badge would result in a huge mark appearing above my head. I didn't expect people to block my way, taking advantage of the rule against violence between players.
I swear, it was an accident. I didn't intend violence; I was just trying to lift the man blocking my path and put him behind me. But I underestimated my own strength and never imagined I'd break his ribs.
Yes, I committed violence. And yes, I was struck by lightning by the city's owner. (Oh, you know about the city's owner, right? You'd know if you spoke with the residents.) It was electrifying. If there was a slight inconvenience, it was that I should've been unconscious for 12 hours after being struck, but I resisted. Even the city's owner was taken aback.
Taking advantage of the fact I resisted the lightning, I asked her if the gold badge mission wasn't too unreasonable. In response, she just flicked her fingers and said, "If you want to change the rules, try me."
As you know, I'm good at physical confrontations. But when I charged at her with all my might, I couldn't touch her even once. However, I did get hit once, and it was excruciatingly painful. Luckily, she just let me go, saying "No killing." It was a humiliating experience. I believe she could've killed me a hundred times over if she wanted to. If anyone invents a time machine, I hope I never act like that on the 2nd floor.
Oh, by the way, if you have any items or elixirs grade B or higher and you're interested in my gloves, please contact me. I'm open to exchanges.
XXX-XXXX-XXXX
- Good heavens. That was a close call.
- Ziter, speaking as a fan, isn't exchanging items dangerous?
- Buddy, are you worried about Michael? It's clear you didn't go through the tutorial with him. - That was an intriguing story, Ziter.
(...)
The comments continued after that. I wasn’t sure what Michael Ziter had done during the tutorial, but he seemed to hold a significant position in this community. Judging from the comments, everyone trusted him.
And the confidence in his writing, the resilience he showed in withstanding the city owner's attack, and his competence in attempting to replace the noble before I did.
While I, being a returnee, had a firm grasp on the information about the 2nd floor, Michael Ziter seemed to gather so much information in just one attempt.
M.Z. was certainly qualified to be the president of the Player Association. I felt that I could trust his future writings.
"More importantly..."
Among the words spoken by the city's owner, the phrase "If you want to change the rules, come and try" implied a possibility beyond her being confrontational.
That if the city's owner wished, she could modify the rules of the 2nd floor to some extent.
Before I returned, when I had proposed changing the task for the gold rank, the answer wasn't "I can't" but "There's no need to change it."
Meaning... If we could persuade the city's owner, it might be possible to change the rules.
Several plans came and went in my head... I decided to choose the most rational one.
" ... I should try, right?"
After all, fighting wasn’t an option for me...
First, I had to try to persuade her with words.
[ You have taken damage. ]
[ You will return to the moment you first entered the 2nd floor. ]
Right after returning, I went to find the angel in the square first.
"Angel."
"Yes?"
"Can the city's owner change the rules of the 2nd floor if she wants to?"
"... Why all of a sudden?"
The angel seemed momentarily taken aback but eventually provided an answer.
"Archangel Raphael has granted her some authority, as far as I know. Yes, it's possible."
"Then, can she change rules like 'Climbers should get along well'?"
"That's a core rule. Even if the city's owner has been given authority, it's only to a certain extent! After all, she's also part of the 2nd floor, isn't she?"
"And you?"
"I'm just a guide! On a temporary assignment!"
I suppressed the dangerous curiosity of what might happen if I hit this angel.
What if I suddenly got a trait like 'Angel's Curse'? Traits remain even after returning.
Anyway, I confirmed from the angel that the city's owner could change some rules.
"... I hate repetitive tasks."
From there, what I did was identical to the previous loop.
First, I collected the bronze rank badge creators, expanded my territory based on that, consumed one street, then branched out to another.
Although I might not have acted identically, comparing it to the previous loop, the speed of badge collection was slightly slower... But in the end, the situation was the same.
"Nice to meet you. I am the city's owner."
Using 'Flash Vision,' the city's owner appeared in an instant. She asked why I dedicated the city to God, and the same answer came back.
"This city, rich in resources, can become a true utopia."
Up to here, it was the same as the last loop...
But this time my attitude was different.
In the previous loop, I simply dismissed her naive philosophy, but this time I intended to directly confront her.
"You... Have you ever tried to understand the residents' feelings?"
"...?"
"The residents aren’t understanding each other; they're just suffering. Did those people want to understand each other? You emphasize understanding, but you don’t even try to understand others. You just stand by and watch the suffering."
She wanted others to understand each other, yet she herself didn't show any effort to understand them. I was pointing out that contradiction.
"Stop this madness. Or, shouldn’t you also be bound by this 'understanding'?" “... I'm not sure what you're getting at. Why should I understand them?”
But the city's owner tilted her head, puzzled.
"These people... they're all residents of my city, aren't they?"
"...And what of it?"
"I am the owner of the city. Isn't it natural for me to do as I please?"
"Oh, to add some clarification for the Climber... this city is an independent autonomous zone. In other words, the people of this city are all my assets. Do you understand now? I wanted a city that functions ideally; I never intended to become a part of it."
I understood that this city was a city-state. However, our perspectives were entirely different.
The city's owner viewed her residents as possessions. Hence, she felt no guilt and saw no need for consensus.
"You are a Climber. So I respect you. You're not under my jurisdiction. Therefore, you should respect my jurisdiction as well."
"Now, I'll give you this diamond badge... Just drop that bag and go. Or will you fight me to gain freedom for the residents?"
The city's owner, pulling out a diamond badge from the pouch on her right hip, waved it in front of me.
All the arguments I had prepared lost their meaning in the face of her 'resident ownership' theory.
I was certain. Persuading the city's owner was impossible.
Like all madmen, she was entrenched in her own logic.
In the end, the only thing I could do here was to accept the diamond badge and clear the 2nd floor. I intended to obtain the 'Heart of the Island' trait, after all.
[ You have cleared the 2nd floor. ]
[ Please choose a diamond reward. ]
"... Okay."
Yeah, she has no intention of changing her mind easily.
I'd probably have to get into a serious altercation to feel satisfied.
If that's the case... fine.
I have no choice but to resort to my secret weapon.
I selected the 'Heart of the Island' trait, embedded its usage method into my mind, and fiercely stamped my thigh.
[ You have taken damage. ]
[ You will return to the moment you first entered the 2nd floor. ]
“Phew..."
Before the annoying guy could speak to me, I trudged to a corner of the square, took a gentleman's seat, and sat on the ground.
For humanity, there's a need to overhaul the structure of the 2nd floor.
A brilliant strategy to liberate the residents. A way for people to obtain gold-tier rewards and above without committing sins.
And a method to make the most out of the diamond-tier rewards.
I have a plan in mind.
The starting point of that plan is simple.
"...It's late."
To wait.
To claim a spot in this square and wait indefinitely.
Until the most brilliant talent I know arrives on the 2nd floor.