Chapter 131: The Alchemist's Price
“Uh… so I can’t even go out… something like that?”
“Hey, I’m not that bad of a guy. People need sunlight, right?”
“R-Right?”
“Don’t worry. Even if it’s underground, it gets plenty of light.”
… Underground?
“It’s all custom-built from the ground up, so the facilities are top-notch, and security’s airtight. You can even go outside once every three months.”
“… What?! Once every three months?”
At that moment.
“Choi Yuna.”
“Yes, yes!”
Kim Minwoo’s suddenly serious tone made her snap to attention.
“You know roughly how valuable that recipe is, right?”
“Yes.”
“If word gets out that you’ve learned it, they’ll send people from China right away. Can you protect yourself?”
“No… probably not.”
Her father was the guild master, but that didn’t mean much. He wasn’t strong in combat.
If a proper Awakener decided to come after her, she’d be helpless.
“The best thing is to stay quiet, in a safe place where no one knows. Like a very secluded underground secure facility.”
“W-Where exactly is that place?”
“Let’s go. I’ll show you.”
“I haven’t even contacted my family yet…”
“I’m not saying you have to move in right now, so don’t worry. It’s just a tour.”
He got into the vehicle with Choi Yuna.
It wasn’t long before they arrived.
“Isn’t that… your house, Kim Minwoo?”
“That’s right.”
The massive, sprawling main residence.
It was so vast that the grounds were divided into sections with different facilities. The interior was the same.
As they entered, Mrs. Choi greeted them.
“Come on in. I’ve heard so much about you from Minwoo. They say you’re an amazing alchemist.”
“Oh, hello.”
Choi Yuna greeted her with a dazed expression. After hearing about being canned underground, ending up at the main house was bound to confuse her.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they headed into the underground section.
“Wow…”
Basement level 1.
Basement level 2.
And basement level 3.
Passing through sections packed with all sorts of facilities, they reached basement level 4, where Choi Yuna let out an exclamation.
A vast space filled with all kinds of alchemy tools and production facilities. It was so huge it could accommodate thousands moving around.
“How do you even build something like this underground…”
“With money, anything’s possible.”
If it wasn’t?
Then he just hadn’t thrown enough money at it.
Especially now, with gates overflowing all sorts of materials.
Building facilities like this underground wasn’t that hard.
He’d always found it a huge hassle to manufacture outside, so he’d expanded the place significantly this time.
Bringing in the production facilities was a bonus.
Of course, the chairman had covered all the costs. He supplied the equipment at fair prices without markup, so this much was the least he could do.
As it was the Ilsung main residence, security was top-tier. There was no better place for discreet production.
“But who uses this place? Are you planning to bring in someone else besides me?”
“No. Just you and me, Yuna. So, what’s your answer?”
“… If I accept, do I have to stay only on basement level 4?”
“If you get bored, come upstairs and eat with us. Naye would love that.”
“… Naye?”
“My little sister. She’s smart and sweet.”
“Oh…”
The conditions weren’t as strict as she’d thought.
From what she heard, they’d even let her stroll the vast Ilsung grounds.
“But outings beyond the main residence are once every three months, like I said. And you’ll have escorts.”
“I-I’ll do it!”
Choi Yuna squeezed her eyes shut and answered. Seven years of canned life awaited, but the reward was too sweet.
Plus, would Kim Minwoo stop at just that one recipe?
When he brought more, who would he think of first?
‘Me, the alchemist!’
She’d be the first to suck the honey. Considering that, it was time well invested.
“Starting today?”
“Yes! I’ll live here! So what do we do first?”
That was the moment.
Rumble.
Mountains of materials piled up beside Kim Minwoo.
Stunned for a moment by the sheer volume.
Choi Yuna took the paper he handed her and widened her eyes.
[Top-Grade Elixir Recipe]
[Material List]
[1. Colossus spinal fluid 10mg]
[2. Half teaspoon of demon heart (3mg)]
[3. 2.5 strands of Medusa hair]
[Production Method]
[Pour in 5mg spinal fluid first, add one strand of Medusa hair (8cm), then after 2.73 seconds, add the giant chameleon’s salivary gland…]
‘This isn’t a recipe?’
Recipes triggered a registration message upon acquisition.
Once registered, the body moved on autopilot to produce it.
Like a skillbook.
But this was just a simple memo scribbled forcefully with a ballpoint pen.
“Um, the recipe…”
“You have to find and register it yourself, right? I wrote down the full method.”
“B-But that’ll take forever…”
Blindly following the written steps didn’t guarantee registration.
A single tiny mistake in the process, even a slight timing error, could cause failure.
Especially for top-grade elixirs, the hardest among them.
Without a recipe, it could take ages of trial and error.
Of course, knowing the method was a billion times better than nothing…
‘No way, is that why he gave the method instead of the recipe?’
She’d thought he’d mixed up terms because he wasn’t in the trade.
‘… Guess not.’
At that moment.
Kim Minwoo shrugged.
“There’s more than enough materials over there, so use as much as you want. Failures are fine. I’ll supply unlimited.”
“Uh…”
“By the way, no registration means no walks. Mom will bring meals on time, so don’t skip them. Sunlight’s in that room over there. Alright, I’m out.”
“Uh, wait…”
Kim Minwoo vanished into the elevator in an instant.
Left alone, Choi Yuna stared blankly at the empty space.
‘Huh, what?’
No walks…
Am I trapped here now?
* * *
Choi Yuna.
An alchemist with top-tier talent in Korea. What she lacked was recipes.
In other words, if she had enough good recipes?
‘She could rival any witch.’
Why witches commanded such prestige.
They held top-grade elixir recipes.
And received massive backing from America, the strongest Awakener nation.
For example, funneling all decent recipes to the witch.
‘Her name has no hype. It’s all real.’
Nurture Choi Yuna well, and she’d deflate the witch’s bubble nicely.
Skeletons took time to level up to high ranks in alchemy.
For now, skeletons for mass production, Choi Yuna for high-grades. Perfect split.
‘With her canned…’
Considering her quick, skilled hands, results in two days maybe. She’d work hard for walks.
‘Now then…’
Time to set up the big play.
Kim Minwoo’s eyes gleamed.
Selling top-grade elixirs at ten times the price.
No proper nation would buy at that markup, no matter how good.
‘But China’s different.’
Fund flows?
The top brass decides.
Simple conclusion.
‘Make it so the bosses have no choice but to buy.’
Time to work some magic.
Ilsung main residence training grounds.
Seo Yerim and Park Siwoo were already gathered.
Not just them.
The entire Ilsung first-string was assembled.
To conduct the training Nam Cheolmin had requested last time.
He summoned Merhen and Cedric and approached them.
“Everyone, good to see you.”
The Ilsung guild members bowed politely. A sign they’d treat the instructors with respect.
‘Mentally geared up.’
Maybe from the shock of last defeat.
Eyes sharp, hungry to learn anything extra.
Makes teaching easier.
Soon, Kim Minwoo spoke.
“Even as Donjiral Guild grows, Ilsung has no intention of abandoning you. We’re ramping up investments even more.”
“… Investments too?”
“Really?”
The Awakeners perked up.
Kim Minwoo.
An Awakener representing Ilsung. His words were Ilsung’s official stance.
No wonder they lit up.
He smiled warmly.
“Of course. Top performers in training will get top-grade elixirs.”
“T-Top-grade elixirs?”
“Yes. Enough to max out your stats completely.”
Gulp.
The Awakeners swallowed hard.
Top-grade elixirs.
Rumored to have insane effects, known only to a tiny few.
They were strictly controlled, so few had seen one.
Even those who had and absorbed them kept silent, as if by pact.
Just vague words of “amazing effects.”
Common knowledge.
After the witch got the recipe, America dominated every tournament.
Kim Minwoo had said production cost per pill was 8 billion.
Unlike others, average 200 pills meant 1.6 trillion per person.
Invest 1.6 trillion each?
Unclear how many would benefit, but one thing certain.
The big investment talk was real.
No burden for Kim Minwoo.
‘Not my money anyway.’
Top-grade elixirs?
Unlike others, he knew the details.
Total stat boost: 600.
600 pills for full power.
Cost per Awakener: about 4.8 trillion.
‘America’s supplying the materials.’
One price for not selling to other countries.
Not unlimited, of course.
Roughly 200 people per year.
They’d match materials to that quota.
‘Of course they will.’
For America, better block leaks and supply materials than lose allies’ trust and bleed in a spending war.
Estimated at 960 trillion.
Cheap price to keep hegemony.
Of course, not the only condition.
Just the first.
Several more.
Anyway.
With tons of materials incoming, he’d pass benefits to Ilsung too.
‘It’ll all come back.’
Tenfold, no less.
“Let’s start class.”
Method same as second exam.
While assigning roles, he called out to Nam Cheolmin as the archer approached Seo Yerim.
“Guild Master Nam.”
“Yes.”
“Come to me.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve got a lot to learn from me.”
Nam Cheolmin tilted his head.
But soon approached.
“Vice Guild Master, you too.”
Kim Minwoo gathered ten in total: the top S-rankers from the first team.
Drawing his sword, he said.
“Let’s begin. All rush me.”
“… No undead summons?”
“Nope.”
Park Siwoo had ended ten vice guild masters.
This side wielded sword better, higher stats.
No undead needed to win.
With skilled Nam Cheolmin, maybe five minutes.
Stung pride, they hesitated briefly.
“… Here we go!”
Ilsung first-string charged.
Result in under five minutes.
All down, sword sheaths to temples.
Nam Cheolmin held longest; otherwise under two.
He gathered the guild members.
“First, Guild Master Nam.”
“… Yes.”
Stunned by anticlimax, weak reply.
“You mix feints with Phantom Step. Like this.”
“… You know Phantom Step?”
“I do.”
Fifteen years gaming.
Kim Minwoo knew nearly every skill.
“Mixing like that’s meh. Try wind-riding style.”
Swish swish, demonstrating.
Nam Cheolmin puzzled briefly.
Then mimicked with skill.
That instant.
[Title, ‘Greatest Master’ effect activates!]
[Imparting teachings!]
[Target’s learning effect greatly increased!]
Messages flashed, Nam Cheolmin’s moves visibly improved.
Title from Sword Sage.
‘Works like a charm.’
Popped during spars with Siwoo too.
Same here.
“… Huh?”
“Way better, right?”
“Why is this…”
Nam Cheolmin stared, dumbfounded.
Necromancer advising archer skills? Mind-blowing.
Kim Minwoo shrugged.
World ranker archers fought countless times in game.
Experienced against tricky Awakeners, advising Nam Cheolmin-level was easy.
“And when shooting arrows, you have a few bad habits…”
Advice poured out in seconds.
* * *
China’s export control buzz died down after two weeks.
As the frothing, Korea-biting China went suddenly quiet. April seemed set to end uneventfully…
[(Breaking!) Ilsung Guild throws down gauntlet to Nine Dragon Guild!]
[(Breaking!) Confidence with Cause? Ilsung Gives Top-Grade Elixirs to Every First-Team S-Ranker!]
[(Breaking!) Guild Master Nam Cheolmin vows to show changed form! Declares he’ll smash Nine Dragon via guild war for world first-string recognition…]
The massive scoop ignited Korea-China communities.