Chapter 108: Saudi (2)
It was only a moment before entering the palace with the guards.
“There is important business to discuss, so withdraw for now.”
“Your Majesty, it’s dangerous…”
“Out with it. I trust Awakener Kim Minwoo here.”
At the king’s sharp command, the guards reluctantly began to file out of the room.
Now, only the two of them remained.
Abdullah licked his lips as if anxious and spoke.
“… Is awakening really possible?”
“Of course. Why else would I fly all the way here just to spout nonsense?”
He nodded.
It was hard to believe, but he had no choice but to trust it. If it were a scam, there’d have been no reason to come here in the first place.
“Let’s cut to the chase. Awakening probably means a lot to Your Majesty, doesn’t it?”
“… It does.”
Whether the awakened side had the advantage or the unawakened did—in today’s Saudi, the awakened held the edge.
They didn’t persecute the unawakened or anything like that, but naturally, those blessed by Allah would feel more pride and carry more weight in their words.
For a king who never needed to fight personally, becoming a priest would be perfect.
One burst of holy light, and he could boost the people’s loyalty.
It opened the door to subtle deification and idolization—sweet temptations for someone in his position.
“I need a lot of money.”
“Money, huh. For skillbooks?”
“That, and I need to join the Sky Auction House too.”
The king’s eyes widened at that.
“… You already got an invitation?”
“Yes. Participation is confirmed.”
“Impressive. With your fame and funds, it’s no surprise. So, how much?”
“100 trillion. That’s the minimum.”
“… Are you joking?”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
They stared at each other.
He frowned, clearly displeased, then spoke.
“Hah, you’re serious.”
“It doesn’t seem like that much to me.”
Nothing was publicly known about his wealth. Saudi law forbade disclosing royal assets.
But in this world, the Saudi royal family’s total fortune was estimated at around 3,000 trillion.
100 trillion was steep, but…
‘It’s not impossible.’
If awakening was possible, they’d scrape it together somehow. No holds barred.
“Smoke?”
“Go ahead. I don’t mind.”
“Fwooh.”
He lit a cigar.
“… If the people knew, they’d riot.”
“Would they?”
Well, maybe.
Who’d be happy if their king blew 100 trillion on awakening?
Even if it was from personal funds, it wouldn’t change much.
If word got out, the fallout could be huge.
But…
“Then just keep it quiet, right?”
There were plenty of ways to handle the deal discreetly.
“Heh, indeed.”
“I visited the Blue House recently.”
“…?”
“I met the president there. He’s in his seventies but looked so healthy—like he was in his fifties.”
He continued toward the silent king.
“I hear he’s pouring money into biotech these days. 3 trillion a year, was it? Aging is scary, after all.”
“… Do you have two hearts or something?”
Instead of answering, he smiled faintly.
Saudi?
It wasn’t ranked high as an awakening nation.
Unfortunately, it was treated worse than Korea, which was seen as an awakening weakling.
With no strong military might, they’d never dare attack—just walk away from negotiations if they had to.
‘He never planned to anyway.’
This was just some grumbling.
If he truly thought the price outrageous, he’d have stormed out already.
After much deliberation, he spoke.
“… Just to be sure. Can you awaken other royals besides me?”
“Who do you mean?”
Abdullah rattled off dozens of royal names.
Fortunately, he knew their awakening conditions too—users had thrown themselves into figuring them out. Familiar rich folks, all of them.
“They should work. Of course, I can’t guarantee achievement ranks. Same goes for Your Majesty.”
Abdullah and the other royals had bottom-tier talents.
The awakening itself would be the win.
‘That alone is honey.’
How many rich people cried over failing that?
“… Really possible? Then… my wife and children too…?”
“Yes.”
Abdullah’s face lit up.
If not just him, but loyal royals and their families could all awaken, 100 trillion wasn’t so bad.
It wouldn’t be dipping into royal coffers for personal glory—it’d be for the family’s collective security.
Far less backlash.
Even if it leaked, they could spin it.
“Your Majesty. Isn’t 100 trillion basically free money for you?”
“… I can’t squeeze out more from personal funds. But how about this? You’re closely tied to Ilsung, aren’t you?”
“You’ll grant business rights?”
“Construction projects are popping up daily here in Saudi.”
The king smiled slyly.
Not bad.
Saudi’s construction sector was massive.
Ilsung getting in would mean big profits. Oil money was sweet.
“No commissions, of course?”
What’s left after kickbacks everywhere? The royals, fresh off awakening, would crack down hard.
“Well, if you awaken all these people as promised… no one will breathe a word about it.”
Done.
He’d forged ties with the royals. In Saudi, nothing was impossible with their influence.
“Agreed. But again, no guarantees on achievement ranks. If the royals or their families get low ones, you’ll have to accept it.”
“No issue. Just receiving Allah’s blessing is miracle enough. Mind if I verify?”
“Go ahead. I’ll write down the others’ conditions—test them as listed.”
Not just one or two.
Guiding each personally would eat up all his time.
For these scrubs, they could figure it out themselves.
“… You really know all this?”
“I do.”
“How?”
“Isn’t prying into trade secrets rude?”
The king smacked his lips.
Moments later.
He handed over a document with the details.
“Do this, and it’ll work.”
“Hoo…”
Abdullah marveled at the royal and family awakening conditions.
He didn’t know about the rest.
But one thing was clear.
If these were real, there’d been reasons they hadn’t awakened yet.
Bizarre methods galore—one royal even needed to eat cow dung.
“… Stay here tonight and rest well.”
“Sure.”
Probably to test if they were legit.
He could wait forever.
Some time passed.
Abdullah urgently summoned him.
His eyes were wide with shock, staring intently.
“How in the world…!”
“Told you not to ask. So, saved face?”
Abdullah nodded.
He’d picked a few royals with easy conditions to test.
And they actually awakened!
Bonus: that royal now looked at him with reverence beyond mere thanks.
‘No way…’
Not one or two—five awakenings.
The document was real.
‘Then me too…’
He could really awaken?
Abdullah swallowed hard.
‘Who the hell is this guy…’
He’d thought him just a strong fighter.
But this went beyond.
Knowing awakening conditions—in the global awakener era, that power was insane.
‘Terrifying ability.’
His peak was already unknown; it’d only grow.
Imagining where Kim Minwoo would climb was impossible. Their eyes met.
“Your Majesty’s awakening condition is…”
“What is it? Don’t tell me I have to eat shit like that guy?”
“Nothing like that.”
He glanced at him and said.
“Get shot in the thigh.”
“… What?”
“Shot in the thigh, and you awaken.”
Users had volunteered as bodyguards for Abdullah. During one terrorist attack, he awakened—and they learned the truth.
Shot in the thigh.
Wild condition, but difficult?
‘Not really.’
Not the heart or head—just the thigh.
Even rubber bullets could work.
If it required real danger-level shots?
Park Siwoo’s expedition route would’ve been blocked ages ago.
No one risks their life on a stranger’s word, no matter how bad they want awakening.
Conditions tempting enough to ignore suspicions were the ones that hooked you.
Telling him this, the king sighed in relief.
“… Easier than I thought.”
“Awakening’s simple once you know the condition.”
Finding it was the issue.
With endless variations per person, even helper teams hit limits.
Who’d experiment by shooting the king?
Rare condition anyway.
“… So low-power shots mean low achievement rank?”
“Probably. But that doesn’t matter.”
“True.”
F-rank or B-rank achievement.
Unless S-rank, it was all the same to a king.
“Not aiming for S-rank, are you?”
“That’d take dozens of live rounds, right? Near-death to trigger it…”
“Just taking a hit won’t cut it. Use a rubber bullet, one shot, awaken.”
Heal right after, done.
Easy.
“I’ll do it.”
Eager Abdullah moved quickly.
Probably assigning a trusted guard secretly.
‘He’ll handle it.’
Soon, he returned beaming.
“Haha! To think the lifelong thorn in my side resolves so easily! Beyond my wildest dreams!”
“Congratulations on your awakening.”
“Thanks, truly! You’re Saudi’s hero!”
The king clapped his shoulder, eyes dripping honey.
“All according to Allah’s will.”
“Allah’s will. The promised sum will hit your account soon.”
“Thank you.”
His balance swelled nicely.
Add Park Siwoo and Seo Yerim’s pocket change…
‘Game over.’
He could already hear the auction participants’ wails.