Chapter 9
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 009
Chapter Title: Outrageous Proposal
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[Achievement: Transcendent Clear! (In Progress)]
[- Upon achieving SSS+ grade clears (2/5), obtain ■■ ■■ as reward.]
"Hm."
He mulled it over from every angle, but there was only one interpretation.
"Collect five SSS+ clears and you get something?"
Three more to go.
He had to clear the tower SSS+ grade three more times.
Then he'd get the reward.
Whatever it was.
"...Anyway, looks like it's not just some meaningless decoration."
Plus, it was something worth looking forward to.
Achievements were always tough nuts to crack, no matter the type, and they always came with solid rewards.
Even more so since...
"It blasted a global announcement for every single step of the way..."
Haegyeom couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation for whatever that hidden '■■ ■■' turned out to be.
And then.
"...There's this one too."
He had one more achievement in progress.
[Achievement: Dragon Lair Owner (In Progress)]
[- Dragon lair owned (Complete), Dragon owned (Complete), Bond with dragon (89/100) achieved: Obtain 'Title: Owner of the Dragon Lair' as reward.]
Just a bit more bonding with Drong, and this one would be done.
Titles were rare treasures with killer rewards, especially one handed out as an achievement prize.
"It's already almost finished...?"
What was wild was how close it was to completion.
He'd only met Drong two days ago. How had their bond shot up this high already?
"......"
He wasn't sure.
But he had a hunch.
"...Inventory."
His unique ability, Inventory Master, had turned the place 'big and spotless.'
Drong clearly loved it there.
Speaking of which, Haegyeom opened his inventory.
Beep?
Drong's head swiveled over from where it had been resting.
"Oh? Still up?"
He figured the little guy would've crashed after all that hard work.
Pweh!
Ah, that explained it. The little guy's stomach was rumbling.
"You hungry, Drong?"
Nod.
"Wanna blast some breath?"
Nooood.
"Then time to eat."
At the word 'food,' Drong hopped up and scampered over.
...Was that tail wagging? Nah, must be his imagination.
But those sparkling eyes? Definitely real.
Haegyeom pulled out some mana stones and tossed them into Room 101.
Thanks to Drong, the second floor had been an SSS+ clear too, so he had mana stones to spare.
Pwehaa~!
Yawwn.
The stones vanished into the hatchling's gullet amid sounds of pure bliss.
About 5kg gone again.
"Five million won... Felt like a fortune yesterday."
Today? Not so much.
That SSS+ clear had left him with 24.5kg still in inventory.
Twenty-four point five million won in cash value.
Plus the sponsorships from Tower Stream added up to tens of millions more.
There'd be a small exchange fee, but it was still a hefty sum...
"No worries about feeding you anytime soon, Drong."
With this, snack money was no issue.
Haegyeom grinned warmly as Drong yawned, belly full and eyes drooping.
This little guy really was a lucky charm.
"Debt'll be cleared before long too."
That ever-growing pile of debt? He could finally start chipping away at it.
Shaking off that toxic tie felt refreshing just thinking about it.
So now...
"Time to make contact, huh?"
The massive sponsorship had made it impossible to ghost them.
The Korea Awakening Management Bureau.
His turn to reach out.
Haegyeom dialed the number from before.
-H-Hello?
"Hi there."
-Uh, may I ask who this is...?
"Kinda awkward saying it myself, but it's the guy from yesterday. The vicious viewer."
-......!!!
He could hear the sharp intake of breath over the line.
Moments later.
-Th-Thank you for calling! I've been dying to meet and talk! When and where works for you!? We'll make it happen...!
The words tumbled out at machine-gun speed.
"...Calm down first."
"Ah...! S-Sorry."
"Strike while the iron's hot, right? Let's meet now. Location..."
There was a spot nearby he'd been meaning to try.
Pricey, but whatever.
'Should be fine.'
Perks like this were a thing.
"Mm."
One forkful in, and the plate was already empty.
"First time at a fancy place like this, but it's kinda meh."
"Ahaha... R-Really?"
"Yeah. Portions are tiny."
Haegyeom smacked his lips.
He'd boldly picked fine dining figuring it was on someone else's dime, but it wasn't hitting the spot.
Then the woman who'd introduced herself as Team Leader Yeowon Han from the High-Rank Hunter Management Division raised her hand.
"Here!"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Triple the portions on everything. Bring it out."
"Uh... ma'am, sorry, we can't..."
"We'll pay triple too."
"Right away!"
Portions were suddenly plentiful.
Haegyeom blinked, a bit thrown.
"You sure that's okay?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"It's already pricey, and now you're doubling down."
"No issue. For a tower conqueror like you... ahem, what should I call you?"
"Haegyeom's fine."
"Got it. Haegyeom, you're VVIP."
Yeowon said it without a hint of hesitation.
Haegyeom thought.
'They really came locked and loaded.'
The Korea Awakening Management Bureau.
Government-backed meant stability and perks galore.
Downside? Salaries couldn't match top guilds.
But...
'That casual mega-sponsorship, and now the internal policy shift?'
The way they were treating him screamed more than just buying an SSS+ clear with cash.
'This level of deference? Worth seeing what else they offer.'
Maybe this meeting would pan out great. Haegyeom cut to the chase.
"Alright, let's hear it. How much is the Bureau willing to invest in me?"
"Kuh, cough."
Yeowon choked on her water, eyes screaming 'Already?' But tough luck.
Wasn't that why they'd met today?
Haegyeom shrugged.
"...Right. Here's the pitch: We're offering treatment beyond top prospect—straight to 60th-floor hunter level."
"......60th floor?"
"Yes."
This blew past his expectations.
The world's number one hunter was on the 69th floor.
Korea's Sword Emperor sat at 67.
This was basically second place nationwide, right below the Emperor.
"...Whoa."
Haegyeom was speechless now.
The Bureau had sharpened their blades—this was huge.
"To get specific: Annual salary of 100 billion won. Tax breaks mean you take it all home net."
"..."
"Secure company housing, free loans from our item vault. Private training room. Unlimited access to shared facilities, obviously."
It just kept piling up.
"If you want help with non-hunter busywork, we've got you. Think personal assistant."
All killer perks.
"...But it's not all upside."
"Naturally. Designated gate raids, some national events mandatory. However..."
Yeowon paused dramatically, then smiled.
"None of that applies until you break 60 floors or a year post-contract—whichever first. Just focus on growing strong."
"...Got the contract? Let me see."
"Here."
Haegyeom scanned it.
'Holy shit. Legit.'
No traps. Pure player-friendly terms pushed to the limit.
'A government agency pulling this off?'
Mind-boggling. He had to ask.
"How's the Bureau even swinging a contract like this?"
"Well..."
Yeowon hesitated, then answered.
"You know Hunter Baek Jihun?"
"Yeah. Korea's top dog, the Sword Emperor."
"He insisted we snag you, no matter what."
Haegyeom nodded.
Sword Emperor's pull, got it.
'Guy like that? Untouchable.'
Still, one word from him unlocking this budget? Wild.
"...To be precise, he didn't just suggest. He twisted arms."
"......"
Ah.
That tracked. Cough up the cash, then.
"Anyway, that's our best offer. Nowhere else beats it, guaranteed."
"Can't argue there."
Even against giants like Woosung or the overseas guilds that'd sniffed around, nothing topped this.
They were handing over the farm, roots and all.
No real dilemma here.
Yeowon, sensing victory, leaned in with eager eyes.
"So, you in? We promise top-tier treatment!"
But.
"Hmm."
Haegyeom pondered.
Not quite the absolute best yet.
"Give me three days."
He needed to peek at that '■■ ■■' before signing.
Right?