Chapter 35: Buying (1)
Coming out of the middle zone, a familiar sight greeted him.
The inside of his room.
‘Nice and toasty.’
It was hard to believe he'd just been suffering in the biting winter wind moments ago.
‘They'll hold down the fort just fine.’
He thought of the orcs, dwarves, and elves.
He recalled the final orders he'd given them. He'd be gone for three days, so they should just carry on as usual.
It was nothing difficult.
‘Time to get moving.’
This outing had netted him a lot to acquire.
He pulled out his smartphone and made a call.
“Father. It's me.”
―Gate cleared?
“No. I just made use of the middle zone for a bit. I need to buy a bunch of stuff, so could you handle it for me? I'll pay you back for whatever it costs.”
―What do you need?
“Food supplies.”
―How much?
“A ridiculous amount. Doesn't matter the type—just buy up everything. Start with stuff that's high-volume and filling.”
―Got it. But how are you gonna carry it? One subspace ring won't cut it.
“I'll borrow some from the company. Nine high-grade ones.”
High-grade subspace rings were rare commodities that almost never hit the market.
Better to just borrow them.
Only then did the chairman seem to grasp the sheer scale of food he planned to haul, falling silent for a moment.
―… Middle zone means three days, right?
“Yes.”
―Understood. I'll pull some strings. Anything else?
“Bones.”
―… Bones?
“Yes. Put out a notice. Buying up all Hexar skulls, Iron Knight ribcages, Cockatrice leg bones, Long-Armed Gorilla arm bones, Mutonka vertebrae, Elephant Man pelvises. Fifty per piece. If the company buys them up, I'll wire the funds to match.”
The common thread among those monsters?
All around level 200.
Plus, each part was renowned for its exceptional bones.
Fifty per piece was enough to make anyone regret leaving them behind after a kill.
They'd take the time to harvest them.
A single gate run could net fifty pieces easy.
That made 2,500.
Pretty sweet fixed income for a C-rank gate lap.
He planned to swap out parts on his skeletons with these purchased bones.
‘Doesn't matter which part.’
Capacity limits meant only one swap per skeleton.
For his current skeletons, grafting in a single bone from a level 200 monster was the best bet.
―… Every tom, dick, and harry will be out bone-hunting. You sure you can handle it?
“I'll only buy for a limited time anyway. About two weeks should do it.”
He'd stock up enough before heading in to boost his skeleton forces a bit.
Then after returning, swap out the rest.
Any leftovers could sit until capacity increased, then swap as needed.
―This for a skill?
“Yes. Need to stock up before I go in. Besides these, I need some high-level monster bones too…”
―Heh… How high?
“Dragonkin at 500 or above should work. Just post the notice for this one. Let me know if you get any bites.”
Bones for Cedric.
Gates featuring dragonkin were few and far between. And they weren't even fixed spawns.
Tricky to hunt and random spawns meant their whole bodies were gold mines.
If buying, had to bid high.
―I'll look into it. Higher than 500 is better, right?
“Yes.”
―Anything else?
“A D-rank skillbook or so? Auction house should have some, so just a little help there.”
―Heh, already hit 101?
“Hidden gates are the real deal. Got some good stuff that could help you too, Father.”
―Oh? Color me curious.
“I'll fill you in when I get back.”
―Fine. Oh, right—your mom and the kids are all coming this time. Winter break, yeah?
“Ah, right.”
He nodded.
Come to think of it, at this time, Kim Minwoo's younger brother, Kim Hyung-seok, was…
‘Studying abroad.’
At Harvard in the US.
Accordingly, the chairman's wife and youngest daughter were in the States with him. Winter break lined up perfectly for their return.
―Clear some time when you can. I know you two butted heads, but family's family. See each other face-to-face.
“Was that a thing? I've forgotten all about it. I'll make time when they arrive.”
―Good. Get to work.
The call ended.
‘Food problem solved.’
Buying solo would've had him running ragged everywhere. Better to leverage the family.
Next up: elixirs.
* * *
Inside the café.
Kim Minwoo stepped in, spotting the familiar face.
“Long time no see, Choi Yuna. Almost three weeks, huh?”
“Yeah. You called me here, but what's this about…?”
“Elixirs, what else? Mid-grade ones. How many you got ready?”
“Uh…”
She rolled her eyes.
“W-Well, midway through, Siwoo? Had to make some for him too, so…”
“So how many now?”
“About a hundred fifty…”
“Hmm. Too few.”
“I-I didn't expect you back so soon…”
Last time he'd bought elixirs was roughly three weeks ago.
Even at level 51 then, she'd figured months before the next purchase. Super rookie or not, leveling had limits.
But here he was already, demanding stock?
“If you're buying ahead, just give me a sec to—“
“Need them now. You know elixirs lose potency as levels rise.”
“… You're 101?”
“Yeah.”
“No way—what the hell did you do to level that fast?”
Barely a month since his level 1 record?
In other words, 100 levels in a month.
Beyond common sense.
Isabella had taken a month to hit 49 and challenge records.
Three months later, she reached 101. Top-tier awakeners took four months—what took them four, he did in one?
‘He's straight-up a monster.’
Her jaw dropped.
“I'd prefer buying direct from you, Choi Yuna. But at this rate… might be trouble.”
“Uh, how long do you need them for?”
“Three days. Possible?”
“Eight hundred?”
“Yeah. That should cover it.”
Six hundred fifty for three days.
Pulling all-nighters, doable.
Crafters unleashed superhuman feats near deadlines.
“I'll make them.”
“Appreciate it.”
“No sleep. Awakeners' stims got my back.”
As expected.
People needed a whip crack to bring their A-game. Kim Minwoo nodded, satisfied.
“And you know?”
He pressed a finger to his lips. Choi Yuna nodded furiously.
“Yes, yes! Personal order anyway—only me and Dad know who requested. No worries. Lips sealed!”
“Reliable as ever.”
“Um, but.”
“Yeah?”
“Didn't hear you'd hit a gate—where'd you level like that? That hidden piece from the tomb last time?”
“Something like that.”
“Whoa… Lucky…”
Envy dripped from her eyes. Crafters leveled via crafting attempts.
Didn't mean they skipped gates entirely.
Higher gates demanded bigger parties.
Non-combat roles joined too.
Force alone wasn't enough—many factors.
Crafters could stumble on fortunes too.
Lost ancient crafting methods, recipes, special mentors. One find, life changed overnight.
‘Probably swimming in that hidden piece right now.’
Jealous.
Wanted in on it.
But she wasn't crazy enough to say it aloud.
‘Still, knowing's half the fun…’
Quiet since his record, Kim Minwoo sparked endless community speculation.
Even so.
No one'd peg him at 101 now.
Mid-to-late 50s tops.
Intellectual superiority from secret knowledge tugged her lips into a smirk.
When his true power surfaced, the world might flip again.
“Gotta head out. Elixirs to make.”
“Yeah. Good luck.”
She grabbed her handbag and dashed off.
* * *
[(Breaking) Ilsung Group Bulk-Buys Food, Bones? Bizarre Moves!]
[(Breaking) Auction House D-rank Skillbooks Swept Clean? Kim Minwoo Nearing D-rank?]
[(Breaking) Ilsung Wants Dragon Bones! Announces Purchase of 500+ Level Dragonkin Remains! Experts: All Likely Tied to Kim Minwoo…]
News flooded in.
Makes sense—a quiet Ilsung Group and Kim Minwoo suddenly stirred.
Communities ignited too.
―Where'd all the punks go who called quiet Kim Minwoo a flash in the pan? lol Already near D-rank? lol
―Bullshit lol Buying D-rank books means he's really 101? Stocking up early, chill lol
―Early stock or not, past 51 for sure? F-rank dude got no reason to snag D-rank yet yeah.
―Plausible. Isabella hit that line in a month-ish. No way he can't.
―So what's Kim Minwoo's level now? He even hitting gates? Would've hit news if so.
―Necro buying bones after ages. Bound skill maybe?
―Bet he found a hidden gate? Said he got a hidden piece from that tomb. Ties in? Food for that too. Ain't donating it lol.
―Damn, hidden gate; Skills from there too?? So jealous. When do I get one?
―Dream on lol You'd die sword-to-throat at your skill lol
―For real, what's his level now ffs.
―How tf we know lol Guessing 60ish. 70 tops.
―Yeah, around there. 51 was meh vs Isabella, just hater bs. Level speed nuts tho. Mid E-rank already;;
―But bones for what? No clue.
―Look at 'em—feature parts per monster. Custom summons from bones? lol
―Maybe? But assemble those? Chimera vibes. Can't even picture combined lol
―Won't mesh. Balance shot. Rag-golem tier lol
Communities buzzed with Kim Minwoo chatter when a bombshell dropped.
[(Breaking!) Sword Sage Breaks Seclusion! Heads to S-rank Gate, Dragon's Tomb!]
[(Breaking!) Korea Avengers Form? Roster Includes Divine Spear, Venom Demon, Fist King, and more…]
―No way. Dragon's Tomb—infamous hellhole right?
―Yup. Top-tier S-rank. High dragonkin boss random spawn. Snag one, drag corpse out—life set lol
―This for Kim Minwoo? lol Ilsung hunting dragon bones lol
―Whoa, roster insane. All-time Korean top dogs. Divine Spear, Fist King, Venom Demon 😨 All Sword Sage's crew.
―Avengers class 😨
―Avengers my ass crazy bastard lol