Chapter 118
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The First Global Auction
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Four days had passed since the Chapter #4 update.
With the world's borders now open, people expected major wars or trade deals.
But contrary to the expectation that something big would happen, the world hadn't changed much from Chapter #3.
*Bzzzz~*
*Bzzzzzzzz-*
It was just the same old life.
The bees gathered nectar, and Seong-hyeok, the beekeeper, collected the honey.
And the other residents also repeated the actions suited to their respective roles.
To some, it might have felt like running on a hamster wheel.
It could have seemed tedious, but Seong-hyeok didn't think so at all.
“I hope this life keeps repeating.”
It would be one thing if it were a life of meaningless repetition.
But now, it had its own meaning.
The gradually decreasing deaths of the bees and the daily expansion of the shelter's territory.
The more this cycle repeated, the more the bee population would grow, flowers would be in full bloom, and a large amount of honey could be obtained.
In a word, it was a symbiosis between humanity and bees that went beyond the symbiosis of bees and nature.
With nature also recovering significantly in the process, if things continued this way, everyone could enjoy sweet honey without any sacrifice.
However, Seong-hyeok didn't believe such a life could be achieved without effort.
As the old saying goes, where there is wealth, flies are sure to gather.
“That's all the more reason to work harder.”
To protect the bees, he had to become stronger, and to become stronger, he had to keep bees.
In conclusion, continuing this life was the optimal path to survival for Seong-hyeok and the bees—a truly infinite, virtuous cycle.
“Anyway, it's getting tough to even keep the warehouse stocked with processed goods now.”
The number of bees gathering nectar had increased, and with them, new hives and the Poison Elves.
As a result, the amount of honey harvested was increasing, but conversely, the number of processed goods stockpiled in the warehouse kept decreasing.
An irony where the amount on hand decreased despite the total production volume increasing.
But the secret behind it wasn't very complicated.
Coins Owned: 95,210,880
Seong-hyeok's coin balance was now approaching the hundred-million mark.
What more needed to be said?
Despite the increased supply, the honey products sold out as soon as they were listed on the exchange, as if they had grown wings.
Especially in recent days, the volume of honey products being sold had exploded beyond imagination.
*Bzzzz~*
“Looking at the immediate results, the update seems to have been a success for us.”
The most fundamental reason for this was, of course, the Chapter #4 update.
In fact, thinking about it with simple logic, this was a natural outcome.
The honey products had originally been distributed only on the Asian server (excluding China).
What would happen if they started spreading not just throughout Asia, but to the entire world?
【Korea/Jeongrichung: Posting the list of Honeybee's processed goods that I've compiled so far. P.S., I'll update it whenever new items are added. If you have a moment, please give it a thumbs up. Salute ^^7】 - Views 999,99······.
And what if, on top of that, the information team helped generate some buzz?
[The 'Guardian's Seven-Colored Honey Tea (★★★)' you listed on the exchange has been sold.]
[You have acquired 2,800 coins after a 10% fee.]
[The 'Guardian's Star Sapphire Honey Soap (★★★-)' you listed on the exchange has been sold.]
[You have acquired 2,700 coins after a 10% fee.]
[The 'Guardian's Seven-Colored Beeswax Candle (★★★)' you listed on the exchange has been sold.]
[You have acquired 7,500 coins after a 10% fee.]
······.
The answer was obvious.
A case where, according to the principle of supply and demand, demand far outstripped supply.
Thanks to this, the prices of Seong-hyeok's honey products continued to skyrocket with no end in sight.
“Good grief. In the old days, I can't even imagine how much land in Gangnam I could have bought.”
A life turned around by selling honey.
In this bizarre new world, land in Gangnam had long since lost its use, but having a lot of coins inevitably meant having more options.
To give just one example,
[The 1st Integrated Server Auction House has opened. Would you like to participate in this event? YES / NO]
Should I say it was an auction house where people from all over the world gathered, now that all the servers were integrated?
“Daddy's going to do a little shopping.”
*Bzz~*
*Bzzzzzz~*
Honeybee, the representative of the Korean server and the K-Beekeeper everyone knew.
Now, moving beyond Asia, it was time to shake up the global auction house.
He participated in the 1st Integrated Server Auction, bringing with him nearly a hundred million coins.
* * * * *
[You will receive treatment befitting the total amount of coins you possess. Your current treatment is VVVVVIP. Your virtual avatar will be moved to the ★★★★★+ Grade Room - Private (1/1).]
An alert sounded in his ear as soon as he entered the integrated server.
【Korea/Honeybee: So money really is the best, huh?】
In an auction house where all combat was forbidden, the most powerful weapon was, without a doubt, financial power.
Although it felt a bit like being branded a whale, receiving the same treatment on the integrated server was convenient for Seong-hyeok.
After all, it meant he wouldn't get into pointless conflicts like he did with the Emperor from the Chinese server.
But perhaps because his financial scale had jumped from the tens of millions to the hundred-million mark in an instant?
Seong-hyeok had a different thought on the matter.
【Korea/Honeybee: Displaying nicknames for bids and wins is totally intentional, for real.】
Thanks to the auction house's unnecessarily helpful system, every bid he made would mention 'Honeybee from the Korean server.'
Furthermore, Seong-hyeok was more aware of his current situation than anyone.
【Korea/Honeybee: Whether they become enemies or allies, it's beneficial to know who they are.】
Seong-hyeok was currently in possession of two Treasure items, the Ring of Greed and the Multiplying Ginseng.
And that wasn't all.
Including the other Treasure items owned by the three High Elves—the Ring of Lust, the Indomitable Shield, and the Solar Flower—he was connected to a total of five, making it highly probable that he would be targeted by those with greed and power.
Of course, maintaining an air of mystery wasn't a bad thing, but as they say, know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.
Seong-hyeok felt the need to grasp the tendencies of his potential enemies.
[★★★★★+ Grade Room - Private (1/1)]
[★★★★★+ Grade Room - 1 (100/100)]
[★★★★★+ Grade Room - 2 (100/100)]
[★★★★★+ Grade Room - 3 (100/100)]
······.
As he made this judgment and looked at the status of the other rooms, Seong-hyeok couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.
【Korea/Honeybee: There are more than I expected.】
An integrated server where people from all over the world, not just Asia, had gathered.
Perhaps due to the increase in the total population, even the 5-star+ grade 100-person rooms were filled to the brim.
Moreover, the fact that there was someone else besides him occupying a private room was quite unsettling for Seong-hyeok.
【Korea/Honeybee: ······This is bad news.】
The fact that their financial power was so substantial couldn't be seen as good news for Seong-hyeok.
In other words, having a lot of coins meant they had hunted that much more.
There were hundreds of individuals to be wary of, plus one person managing funds close to Seong-hyeok's one hundred million coins.
The possibility that they could become enemies made his head throb, but Seong-hyeok soon composed himself.
【Korea/Honeybee: I expected this much. No, this is how it should be.】
The adaptability of humans who had survived from ancient times until now.
In a world as harsh as this one, the survivors were bound to be the elite of the elite, with all impurities filtered out.
And the power held by 'Treasure Items'—precious and limited resources—was the perfect pretext for pitting elites against each other.
【Korea/Honeybee: What's the point of worrying about it?】
Just wracking his brain wouldn't produce an answer.
Through his numerous past experiences, he knew that confronting things head-on was ultimately the best way.
Besides, Seong-hyeok had a reliable element he could count on.
_______________________________
[Yu Seong-hyeok]
* Level: 50
* Strength: 1,705 (+643) Agility: 1,917 (+751) Stamina: 2,563 (+1,205) Control: 1,651 (+820) Spirit: 1,500 (+735)
_______________________________
It was his own body, strengthened by honey products and various benefits.
【Korea/Honeybee: First, I need to identify the ones who show signs of becoming enemies.】
If they were allies or mutually uninterested, it didn't matter, but he would crush any buds that threatened to become enemies and harm his bees.
Seong-hyeok was confident in his close-quarters combat skills, enough to take on a Disaster-class boss monster single-handedly.
Even in a long-range battle, Seong-hyeok was equipped with natural biochemical weapons.
[Your virtual avatar will be moved to the ★★★★★+ Grade Room - 6 (92/100).]
Having made up his mind, he entered the 100-person room.
*Bzzz~*
【Pakistan/Gwarousa: Huh? It's Honeybee!】
【USA/Satan's Doll: Oh my god. It's really him!?】
The unique characteristic of Honeybee, manifested through a life dedicated solely to bees and the karma of being a Honeybee Guardian.
Was it because of the appearance of his avatar, which was a bee itself?
Despite the room already being crowded, the distinctive buzzing of a bee's wings echoed in their ears.
Honeybee, considered a person of interest on the integrated server, captured the attention of everyone in Room 6 the moment he appeared.
* * * * *
Even though it was a non-combat zone, was it thanks to his Control stat of 1,651?
He could feel the various emotions in the gazes directed at him.
Broadly divided into two categories, amidst the interest intertwined with goodwill and hostility, Seong-hyeok realized one thing.
‘...I have more customers than I thought.’
If he were just a rich and powerful person with only money and strength, he might have been met with caution, but Seong-hyeok's case was a bit different.
【USA/Raiden: It is an honor to meet you here. Thanks to your honey products, my aged vitality has recovered significantly.】
【Korea/Attention Seeker NO.1: As the representative of the Attention Seekers, please tell your bees that we are enjoying your products very much.】
【Australia/Anderson Chan: How on earth do you practice beekeeping to produce such masterpieces? I know it's rude to ask, but as someone in the same profession, I'm curious.】
【Russia/Kuma: If you're amenable, I'd like to open a trade deal for your premium products. I'll pay a higher price, so if you're interested, leave me a message here.】
The four days that had passed since the Chapter #4 update.
That time had been more than enough to spread the fame of Seong-hyeok's honey products' efficacy.
As a result, most of the avatars in the room approached Seong-hyeok, trying their best to build a connection with him.
‘Not bad.’
To be honest, rather than making enemies, it was better to have allies. No, to be more precise, from the perspective of a honey seller, having them as customers was a welcome development.
The more whales there were for his honey, the more the value and importance of his bees would rise.
Moreover, the people gathered here were powerful enough to enter a 5-star+ grade room.
Furthermore, these weren't influential figures from just one country; powerful people from various nations were supporting Seong-hyeok like this.
This would serve as a power that would lead to fewer people rashly declaring war on Seong-hyeok, unless they literally wanted to become a public enemy to all these influential figures.