Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Second Auction
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The golden goblins’ tremendous work rate had completely conquered the first floor.
But the joy over it was fleeting.
After all, he knew.
Goblins.
And among them, the golden goblins, gleaming with a lustrous sheen, were all possessed by an immense greed.
“Kikik! We are competent! We will not start working until we are treated accordingly!”
“Honey! Give us honey, human!”
“And fluffy bee butts! Kkik!”
Perhaps for that reason, the moment he arrived at the mine, he was met with the screeches of the golden goblins.
Their attitude suggested they were willing to go on strike until their demands were met.
[The Transcendent Being, Golden Goblin Lord Macherati, advises that their demands are just and that you, their employer, should handle it.]
Hearing that Macherati had no intention of helping this time, Seong-hyeok silently checked the mine's status.
* Working Golden Goblins: 5 / 7 (All are dissatisfied with their current situation. They are demanding maintenance costs and better treatment following the conquest of the 1st floor!)
* Wage Adjustment: Current Satisfaction 0% (To raise satisfaction, you must increase maintenance costs and provide the gifts they desire.)
※ Work will commence when satisfaction reaches 100%.
In short, it was the golden goblins’ firm resolve not to begin working until their satisfaction was met.
The minerals they produced were of high purity, so even if he raised their coin pay, it certainly wouldn't be a loss for Seong-hyeok.
“Alright then…”
First, the quickest and simplest method.
Seong-hyeok raised the maintenance cost from the original 300 coins per hour per goblin to 500 coins.
[The golden goblins' satisfaction reaches 40%.]
[The golden goblins are not yet satisfied.]
“This isn’t enough!”
“More! Give us more, kkik!”
Even though he’d nearly doubled their pay, the golden goblins shrieked and rolled on the floor, throwing a tantrum.
Just as he was about to raise the maintenance cost even further at the sight,
Seong-hyeok recalled their conversation and changed his mind.
‘There’s no need to force it by only raising the coin amount, right?’
Looking at the current situation, 100 coins equaled 20%.
Meaning, to fill the remaining 60%, he would have to add another 300 coins.
An amount like 800 coins might seem trivial to Seong-hyeok, but considering it was per hour and per goblin, the total amount lost per day was nothing to scoff at.
“I’ll give you one in the morning and two in the evening, along with honey tea, and the chance to pat the bees’ butts once a day.”
“H-Honey tea?”
“B-Butts!?”
“We welcome that offer, human!”
That's why he chose to offer honey and the bees.
The effect was greater than expected, as all the golden goblins reacted positively.
It made sense, as they still remembered the sweetness of the honey tea Seong-hyeok had given them before.
The result of offering such a thing was beyond imagination.
[The golden goblins' satisfaction reaches 92%.]
[The golden goblins want the conditions to be met a little more.]
A 52% increase, even more than what a 200-coin raise would have provided.
But with 8% still remaining, he briefly considered raising the coin amount.
“Hmm, but I think just one in the morning is a bit lacking.”
“I agree, Goldo 1. One should eat a hearty breakfast to be healthy, kkik.”
Hearing the golden goblins grumble, Seong-hyeok took a shot in the dark.
“Then how about two in the morning and one in the evening?”
“Ooh! As expected of the human who caught Lord Macherati’s interest, kikik!”
“An excellent decision! Kkik!”
“Brilliant, just brilliant!”
[The golden goblins' satisfaction reaches 100%.]
[Wage adjustment has been successfully completed.]
[The golden goblins hurry to prepare to start work.]
“…”
Seong-hyeok looked down at the golden goblins, a momentary expression of ‘Did that really just work?’ on his face.
Even if they were cunning and colored in gold, were goblins still just goblins in the end?
They were no match for the petty tricks of humans, the lords of all creation.
“Oh, right. Before you guys go to work, come over here.”
After hiring two more golden goblins, his body reacted with the urge to experiment.
Besides, to raise his skill level, Seong-hyeok took out his bee sting needle.
“Hiiik!”
“G-Go away! We don’t need it, human!”
“Put that bizarre tool away right now!”
The golden goblins had already experienced being used as test subjects, having their pressure points poked once before.
So while they continuously screamed their refusal,
[The golden goblins' satisfaction reaches 120%.]
[The golden goblins enter a state of extreme happiness. Due to their satisfaction exceeding its limits, the number of minerals they mine will be increased.]
The body is indeed an honest thing.
* * * * *
On the 45th day, the world had become a kaleidoscope of chaos.
One might think it was just an ordinary day, but for Seong-hyeok, who had been preparing numerous processed honey products made from high-grade byproducts for this very moment, that was far from the case.
[List 'Guardian's Tricolor Honey Cheonram Bee Venom Tea (★★★+)' on the Auction House with a starting bid of 15,000 coins? YES / NO]
[List 'Guardian's Tricolor Honey Lilyzer Bee Venom Propolis Cosmetic (★★★+)' on the Auction House with a starting bid of 12,000 coins? YES / NO]
[List 'Guardian's Tricolor Honey Royal Jelly Pills (★★★)' on the Auction House with a starting bid of 10,000 coins? YES / NO]
….
The second Asia Server Auction House was scheduled to open today at 6 PM.
Could there be an easier day to make money than in this environment, where countless chaebols from the Asia server spent their money like water?
Especially for someone with a production class like Seong-hyeok, it was the perfect place to release the premium items he had been holding onto.
“Damn it! Just like last time, I can’t believe how high the registration fee is!”
“It really is an unconscionable amount.”
“Ah, if you haven’t registered them yet, please let me handle the listings. I should have mentioned it sooner, but my registration fees are waived, and the commission is reduced by 10%.”
“Oho. Is that really true?”
“Then I’ll ask you to handle this, Seong-hyeok.”
“P-Please do mine and my sister’s too, mister.”
“Seriously, Mr. Seong-hyeok, you always have so many amazing things about you.”
Furthermore, Seong-hyeok had acquired the title 'Original Big Spender' through his frugal spending in the previous auction.
* Dignity of a Big Spender: Transaction fees on the Exchange are reduced by 10%, and Auction House listing registration fees are waived.
Among the title's effects, the fee waiver from 'Dignity of a Big Spender' was particularly lucrative.
Most importantly, the Auction House listing fee was a cost incurred 100% of the time, whether the item sold or not, so one had to be cautious. But now, there was no need for such caution.
“Thanks to you, young man, we don’t have to bear the risk of an item not selling. There’s no need to worry about listing things now.”
“If the listed items sell, you should take the amount that would have been the commission fee.”
“I agree as well.”
Do all those with lifestyle classes consider it natural to offer compensation based on 'risk'?
The residents expressed their intention to pay Seong-hyeok the corresponding fees.
Indeed, starting with Su-hee's completed dishes and Yeon-bun's gukbap,
to Seok-cheol's plywood, Cheol-gang's armaments, and the twin sisters' processed goods.
These high-quality items, crafted without fear for their lives in the safe apiary, would surely fetch a handsome sum of coins when sold!
If Seong-hyeok could take even a part of that commission, it would bring him immense profit in his future coin-earning endeavors.
However…
“No. If the sale is successful, I'll only take the amount of the listing fee. Other than that, I'll just accept your kind thoughts.”
“A-Are you sure? You’re already selling us the processed honey products at wholesale prices.”
“Yes. Please just focus on growing stronger quickly. Your growth is also a way to greatly reduce the bees' sacrifices.”
Seong-hyeok decided to invest in solidifying the trust between the residents rather than in his own greed.
After all, people tend to remember the help they receive during difficult times.
Coins Held: 1,210,825
Besides, ever since his products were heavily promoted at the auction house,
thanks to the market expanding from the Korean server to the Asia server, he was already earning more than enough coins from his processed honey products alone.
In that case, it would be far more beneficial to win the hearts of these people with great future potential than to cling to a few extra coins.
“…Thank you, truly. I will never forget this kindness.”
“I’ll repay this favor to the point where you won’t regret giving it, young man.”
“I’m already grateful enough for the mineral support. My goodness. I’ll create the greatest masterpiece I possibly can and gift it to you someday.”
To be honest, he wasn't entirely without worries.
Just like the saying that if a favor continues, it comes to be seen as a right.
He worried about the possibility that they might take his goodwill for granted and no longer see the great significance in the bees' sacrifices.
“Yes, I’m counting on you.”
But it was also absurd not to extend a hand at all and keep a potentially beneficial method to himself.
You had to roll what you could to make the snowball grow as large as possible.
Moreover, them getting stronger was the fastest shortcut to minimizing the bees’ sacrifices,
Bzzzz— Bzzzzzz—!
“Hello, bees!”
“Thank you, always!”
and they were continuing to get along well with the bees.
‘I’m not trusting human nature, but the choice of the bees.’
Sometimes, in matters of trust like this, it was better to believe in instinct rather than reason.
Seong-hyeok decided not to trust himself,
but to trust the instinctual choice of the millions of bees that formed his legion.
And was that choice proving to be correct, to some extent?
Clang— Clang— Claaang—!
Oink, oink!
“Hah, hah!”
“Alright, alright, eat your feed.”
“Power of the fairies!”
As if to prove the bees' choice was right,
the group worked even more diligently, not resorting to any tricks, to repay the kindness they had received.
Drenched in sweat, adults and children alike did their best, and whenever they made eye contact with the bees, they would show a genuine smile.
“Seong-hyeok oppa. Please list this too!”
“Young man Seong-hyeok. Me too, please!”
After listing a few more items that were added before the 2nd Auction House opened,
“Well then, I hope everyone has a satisfying shopping experience.”
“We’ll be hoping for good results for you too.”
[The 2nd Asia Server Auction has begun.]
The Asia server auction, where Honeybee's honey had been massively promoted.
Its second iteration was now underway.
And as they say, a presence that made a huge splash once is bound to make a fitting one the second time around, right?
[You have won the bid for 'Orhal's Steel Saddle (★★★)' for 95,000 coins.]
[You have won the bid for 'Macherati's Golden Goose Egg (★★★+)' for 113,820 coins.]
[You have won the bid for 'Bo's Elixir Controller (★★★+)' for 130,000 coins.]
[You have won the bid for 'Grios's Fine Spiderweb Gloves (★★★+)' for 250,000 coins.]
….
Once again, the result was him snatching up most of the items the Chinese Emperor had his eye on.
Naturally, the Emperor, who failed to secure most of the items or had to pay a much higher price due to the bidding war, threw a fit,
【China/Emperor: Y-You damn bee bastard! I’ll tear you to shreds and dismember you!】
【Korea/Honeybee: Yeah, come and get me.】
A war had already broken out anyway, and thanks to Honeybee's grace, the Korean server wasn't facing any major fallout.
Seong-hyeok had nothing to fear.
[The Transcendent Being, The Patient Sion, cannot hold back and bursts into laughter.]
[The Transcendent Being, Insect King Phrainkito, cheers 'Manse' three times with someone.]
[The Transcendent Being, Golden Goblin Lord Macherati, acknowledges your magnificent splurging.]
….
Finally, with the acknowledgment of numerous Transcendent Beings, Seong-hyeok once again made his mark as the star of the 2nd auction, showcasing the power of K-Honey as the Korean server's beekeeper.
