Chapter 105: Times Square (2)
I returned home and met Chairman Kim.
“I’ve wrapped things up with Dorim. We’re taking over their production plant, and the rest… You should invest in the magic stone battery sector this time, Father.”
“Magic stone batteries? Of course, it’s a necessary field as you say… but can we take on America?”
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, right? And we’re not starting from scratch. We’re getting Dorim’s division.”
“Hmm… The price?”
“We’ll have to run it through the executives, but they won’t gouge us.”
Chairman Kim tapped the table thoughtfully, lost in contemplation.
“Is it a cash flow issue?”
“No. Our products are selling like hotcakes these days. We can handle it… but assuming the research succeeds, can we handle America’s backlash?”
He was right. Ilsung alone couldn’t manage it, even if they developed it.
America’s pressure wouldn’t be a joke.
But…
Things change if the Lavish Guild is involved. Right now, we lack the influence to check America, but what about later?
“There’s no reason we can’t. Battery development doesn’t happen overnight. We have plenty of time to prepare.”
“True. I heard Chairman Jo poured money into it for ten years. And even then, he couldn’t beat American batteries…”
“If we develop it, we can claim that market. It’ll be a great cash cow for Ilsung.”
Chairman Kim nodded.
His son was right.
The issue was development, but if they succeeded?
Demand would overflow.
From magic stone vehicles to smartphones, energy storage systems, submarines, electronics, and satellites.
They could sweep it all.
Even if not, using it in Ilsung products was a huge merit.
For the same product, people prefer ones with longer-lasting, faster-charging, more durable batteries.
That’s why Ilsung phones currently used American batteries.
At a hefty price per unit.
‘Minwoo must have something up his sleeve if he zeroed in on that.’
Dorim’s battery division.
Objectively, it wasn’t worth much. That’s why Chairman Jo let it go easily.
But Dorim had plenty of divisions rotting away. Why pick batteries?
In the past, it would’ve seemed like a spoiled brat’s whimsy.
But not now.
After seeing so much, Chairman Kim already trusted his eldest son deeply.
He’d seen proof.
Even without that, he must have sensed something to pick it out.
‘Alright. Let’s do it.’
They couldn’t keep being leashed by America forever.
Plus, Ilsung had EX-rank and SSS-rank awakeners as backers.
By the time they developed the battery, they might have grown enough that even America couldn’t easily stop them.
“Fine. We’ll acquire it.”
“You won’t regret it.”
“Good. By the way, the ads? They accepted?”
“Yes. Both of them.”
“Ha ha. The rates are steep.”
Kim Minwoo nodded.
Five trillion per ad appearance.
Even among world rankers, only the absolute top tier commanded that.
Chairman Kim seemed to be betting on the future over the present.
‘Not a bad deal.’
Connections could form through these ads.
If guild members gradually tied to Ilsung this way, when we soared, Ilsung would reach out first.
“I saw it on the broadcast. Your guild members are impressive.”
“They’re SSS-rank.”
“No worries about foreign scouts?”
“Not for now.”
“Good. I trust you’ll handle it.”
The ads were shooting tomorrow.
Better to knock out the busywork and level up.
After leaving the study, I ran into Hyung-seok.
“Hey, bro.”
“Hey, bro. That match today was killer.”
“Thanks for the praise. Anyway, I need a favor.”
“A favor? What?”
“I have to head back in about a week, right? Go ahead of me.”
“Go back to America first? Why?”
“For skillbooks.”
“B-grade already?”
Hyung-seok’s eyes widened. B-grade skillbook level limit: 251.
Meaning Kim Minwoo’s level was already near that.
Three months since awakening, and that level? He knew he was doing well, but this was beyond imagination.
“Yeah. I’ve been sweeping auction houses on the side, but stock’s low. This isn’t enough.”
Korea, an awakening-weak nation, fundamentally lacked high-rank awakeners.
Naturally, high-grade skillbooks were scarce.
But America was different.
The awakening superpower.
Tons of B-grade+ awakeners.
Just gathering skillbooks there could luckily enable a B-grade 9-reinforcement.
“Sweep them up for me?”
“Yeah. It’s not cheap. If I trust some random, they might take the money and run.”
“True.”
He nodded in agreement.
B-grade 9-reinforcement.
Trillions obviously involved.
Even billions would be iffy; trillions?
They could vanish with the cash, no questions asked. That’s why he asked his brother.
Perfect purchasing agent.
As heir, he wouldn’t bolt over that money.
And family.
‘If I can’t trust him, who can I trust?’
Perfect timing—he was heading to America anyway.
Go first, stockpile skillbooks, hand them over. Beautiful picture. No wasting time waiting for stock.
“Sure. Up to 9-reinforcement?”
“Yeah. I’ve got it to 4 already. Here.”
“Wow. Learning Dullahan Summon—how much stronger will you get?”
“Stronger than before. Oh, and while you’re there, grab some attribute items too?”
“Attribute items? Oh, that bird eats items, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll wire plenty. Buy what you can afford.”
With investment secured, time to boost Hayangi’s attributes.
America, with many high-rankers, should have decent attribute items.
“Got it. I’ll go first for this. You coming to America direct? Nah. I’ll buy everything and swing back to Korea.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Time’s gold for an awakener like you. A college kid like me can spare it.”
“Thanks.”
Now skillbooks would be easy to procure.
* * *
Next morning.
Headed to the ad set.
Heard the concept roughly.
‘Awakener performance?’
Using skills at night for a show.
But audience extras.
‘Half people, half skeletons.’
Something like that.
No big censorship issues, probably.
Necromancers had aired on broadcast TV before.
Non-mainstream class, but plenty of TV appearances.
Same in the West.
Zombies or ghouls crawling with maggots? Maybe not. But skeletons? Fine on TV.
Zombies/ghouls could air too, but gross while eating.
For repulsive undead, mosaics were standard.
Skeletons had cute charm, dodging edit beams.
‘They’re dressing them too.’
Skeletons in casual clothes like people, shaking phones next to humans like concert fans.
‘Might work?’
Fresh, at least.
No company had tried necromancer summons in ads before.
Usually, hot male/female awakeners for clean ads.
Safe but no huge hits.
This? Fresh enough for boom or bust.
Suddenly recalled Chairman Kim’s words from months ago.
—Get famous, and they’ll applaud you shitting.
Roughly that.
‘Might be true.’
Steadily growing NewTube subs.
Peaked after yesterday’s guild battle.
70 million subscribers broken.
Comments mostly begging for Cedric and Merhen.
Both starring in the ad too.
Soon arrived at the venue.
Smaller than Sangam Awakener Stadium.
Couldn’t fill Sangam with skeletons inside.
Rented a fitting stadium.
Seo Yerim and Park Siwoo already waiting inside.
Reading scripts repeatedly.
‘Yerim will handle it.’
Famous awakener.
Ad experience.
Park Siwoo the issue.
‘Barely any lines, though.’
Performance simple.
No dance/song. Just flashy skills to fill stage.
Then hold phone, shout “Ilsung.”
“Mr. Kim Minwoo! You’re here?”
Director rushed out barefoot to greet.
Top Korean director, bodyguarding himself number two.
“Siwoo, me, and my summons are ad newbies. Go easy.”
“Oh my! Of course! Everyone starts somewhere! We get it. Ha ha. Reshoots dozens, no, hundreds of times possible. Don’t worry.”
…Hundreds?
No way it’d take that.
Summoned skeletons.
“Go get dressed.”
Thousands of skeletons bustled. Cedric donned his outfit too. Black suit.
Merhen kept her dress.
Skeletons got quick training. Easy.
Shake phone same speed as neighbor human.
“Alright, let’s shoot! Minwoo! Place skeletons next to audience!”
Half people, half skeletons filled seats amiably.
“Shooting starts!”
Then.
As planned, filming began.
Dark night.
Stage lights exploded.
First, Dolsae appeared. Giant bone golem, Park Siwoo on shoulder.
He leaped into air, summoned holy sword.
Pure white sword trail slashed mid-air.
Ilsung logo bloomed along trail.
Crowd cheered response; skeletons shook Ilsung phones like glow sticks.
Uniform movements.
Seo Yerim’s turn.
Summoned divine bow, rapid-fired skyward.
Hundreds of arrows arced down, drawing massive shape.
Ilsung phone.
Between screen, giant water dragon appeared. Merhen’s newly revealed magic.
Aerial camera caught Merhen and Cedric atop it.
Telekinesis awakeners essential for billboards.
Easy shooting.
Ground shots too.
Skeletons and audience filmed airborne undead with phones.
Merhen and Cedric landed.
Park Siwoo first, phone up.
“Ilsung.”
Seo Yerim held phone.
“Ilsung.”
Cedric held phone.
“Ilsung.”
Merhen’s turn.
“Ilsung.”
Kim Minwoo held phone, smiling.
“My joy, Ilsung.”
Then.
“Cut! Perfect, perfect! Absolutely wonderful!”
“Done?”
“Too perfect! One more for comparison? Great idea. Rest 2 minutes, reshoot?”
“…Sure.”
“Straightforward! Good! One more!”
Short break.
Park Siwoo approached grinning.
“First ad, but easy. We’re done quick?”
“Think so?”
“Huh? Why? Director loved it.”
“…Look there.”
Where Kim Minwoo pointed.
Near director’s seat, dozens of top-grade mana potions stacked.
“Uh… what’s that?”
“Our mana for today?”
Park Siwoo paled.
Yeah.
Shouldn’t have jinxed it.
Hellish all-nighter filming continued.