Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: A Proposal That Can Be Refused (3)
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Arriving at Chairman Charles's mansion along the now-familiar path, the chairman greeted Suhyun as if he'd been waiting.
He shooed Kim Chang-sik outside and immediately opened his mouth.
"I've heard the story. You've stirred up quite the trouble in the meantime, haven't you?"
"It was nothing much."
"If that's nothing much, then most things in the world must be nothing much. Was it really worth causing such a huge commotion? I didn't know you were interested in justice."
"It wasn't exactly for justice... I just took care of some personal business while I was at it."
"I figured as much."
"What, can't I be righteous?"
"Ah, no, that's not what I meant."
Suhyun was never the type to sacrifice himself for altruistic reasons. At least, that's what Chairman Charles thought.
"Still, be careful. There are already a lot of people paying attention to you. Even within the U.S., several have approached me directly, and it must be worse elsewhere."
Excluding Korea, Blue Bear was still the easiest channel to reach Suhyun. Naturally, contacts would come to Chairman Charles.
"What kind of requests?"
"Well, I turned them all away without hearing the details... but they vary, I suppose. Some are curious about the mage, others want to recruit you... Anyway, I cut them off midway since it didn't seem like it would end well for either side. Why, interested? I could reach out again even now."
"You're saying things you don't mean."
The chairman had been anxious about Suhyun teaming up with someone else. Knowing that well, Suhyun smirked.
"Right, of course. What I really wanted to say is to be careful. As you know, people approaching from the U.S. side are generally not dangerous. Of course, some among them are dangerous, but I don't think any pose a threat to you."
Every country had mercenaries capable of illegal work. The difference was whether the state manipulated them from behind or forbade it.
"But China and Russia aren't like that, right? Plus, you've screwed them over twice already."
'In fact, more than twice.'
Suhyun was starting to think he needed to watch his back. Just from the clashes so far, he was probably on their lists. If China luckily mistook the artifact incident for something else, fine—but if not, he was undoubtedly near the top of that list.
'Well... can't be helped.'
He had braced himself for this much since revealing he was a mage. Now was the time to face it head-on, not hide or avoid.
"Let's leave my worries at that and get to the main point, Chairman. What is this really, really good proposal?"
"Hm? Did I say something like that?"
"......"
"I'm kidding. Before we talk, how about a drink?"
"?"
Suhyun nodded with a suspicious look. At the chairman's signal, a servant carefully brought something in.
"You're still drinking Red Pork Mushroom?"
"Why? It's good for your health. And I didn't call you here to give you this."
'What is it?'
Suhyun felt a bit puzzled. Normally, by now, it should have come out that Red Pork Mushroom had no effect on humans. Yet there was no news, and the chairman was happily consuming it.
Of course, it was harmless as an edible mushroom, so no victims...
'Did something change because of what I did?'
"This is what I brought for you."
A crimson liquid shining like a ruby. A man of Chairman Charles's stature wouldn't pull any tricks, but Suhyun was cautious first. There was no one trustworthy in this world.
'This is...'
"Do you know what it is?"
"Do you, Chairman?"
"The guy who brought it claimed it was dragon's blood."
Suhyun let out a scoff.
"And you believed him?"
"I'd have to have Alzheimer's to believe that. For starters, it's questionable if dragons even bleed. Do dragons bleed?"
"Uh... probably, since they're living creatures."
"Is that so? If you think that, then maybe they do. If you ever get real dragon blood later, bring me some."
"Pass. I'll avoid dragons at all costs."
The gains from hunting a dragon were immense, but it was suicide. Even now, much stronger than before, Suhyun saw no way to face one.
"You could live forever if you drink dragon blood."
"Go get it yourself. Earth Dragon blood has nothing to do with immortality, though. Might be good for virility."
"!"
Charles looked at Suhyun in surprise. He hadn't even tasted it—just smelled it—and he already knew what it was.
"How did you know?"
"Experience and observation."
"Really? Earth Dragons are hard to find around here."
'Shoot.'
But Charles didn't seem to dwell on it. Suhyun was such a free spirit that it wasn't odd for him to have ventured deep into uncharted areas.
"That explorer tried to scam me, but half of it was right, wasn't it?"
"Earth Dragons are still in the dragon family... like the difference between a tiger and a kitten. But you didn't call me here just to drink Earth Dragon blood, did you?"
"Of course not. The important thing isn't this Earth Dragon blood—it's where this Earth Dragon was caught."
"...?"
Thinking about it, Earth Dragons weren't monsters from around here. You had to travel quite a distance in any direction.
"No way?"
"You're quick."
Among the known areas, only one place came to mind where Earth Dragons were easiest to encounter. And if the chairman was making that meaningful face...
Dragonia Basin. The land of dragons.
"You caught it after entering Dragonia Basin?"
"No, not that."
"......"
Suhyun looked at the chairman with a deflated expression. True, no one would enter Dragonia Basin just for one Earth Dragon. Dragons might be lazy, but fear didn't fade easily.
"We caught one that crawled out from the outskirts. Get what that means?"
The current U.S. and Korean territories were bounded by the southern Euterpe region, the Karkrita Valley pass further south, and below that, Dragonia Basin.
Dragonia Basin, which should have become the second city, had turned into an off-limits zone because of the dragons. No one went near it.
"Around Dragonia Basin, bypassing it to the bottom?"
"Exactly."
The chairman clapped in satisfaction. Cameron was vast. If you couldn't trespass Dragonia Basin, the dragon domain, you could just bypass and cross around it.
Of course, this was the thinking of someone safe and sound. It was nearly a law that monsters didn't stray from their territories, but no one would do business within wingbeat distance if a dragon decided to stir.
No one except Chairman Charles.
"Humanity's cowering too much because of the Dragon Slayer Project. They're truly terrified of dragons. Do you know how much the migrants dropped after the Dragon Slayer Project?"
"Not interested. I'm not leaving here anyway."
Those living on Cameron Planet all harbored primal fear.
Monsters were quiet now, but what if one went mad and charged the cities where people lived?
A regular monster might be one thing, but a dragon attack would be a catastrophe. No one could avoid fearing that.
"Right, only fools fear what hasn't happened. The problem is even those who should be on the front lines are scared. Despite all the money I've thrown at it, the explorer teams heading there can be counted on one hand."
"Well, no one wants to die. Don't make such shameless requests when you're the same, Chairman."
"Hey. Don't paint me as the bad guy. Despite appearances, I hire them properly, paying what I owe. I haven't forced anyone."
Charles activated a holographic 3D map on the table and pointed with his finger.
"Going down from Karkrita Valley, this is where Dragonia Basin starts. As long as you avoid this area, no problem. The Dragon Slayer Project was shocking, but people forget and overcome eventually. For a place that'll be developed someday, the first to claim it always has the advantage, right?"
"You're not wrong."
Of course, avoiding one dragon on Cameron didn't solve everything. If Dragonia Basin's only issue was that one dragon, other areas teemed with monsters excluding dragons.
"I want to stake a claim here, the Insurin Sector southeast of Karkrita Valley."
"Chairman. Do you know what's there?"
"You knew too? Korea's intelligence isn't to be underestimated."
'I know because I sent explorers.'
The chairman, who had learned from sending explorers, smacked his lips in disappointment. His plan to surprise Suhyun had failed.
"Right, Dark Elves."
Orcs, elves, and dwarves were other races friendly to humanity. But Dark Elves were never friendly. Shaia was an exception among Dark Elves. That's why people were startled seeing her.
"But when have we ever backed down from that? If they attack first, we hit back."
"Who says Americans aren't like that... Chairman. If that's your really, really good proposal, it's a bit disappointing, and I'll have to take what you say next with a grain of salt."
Insurin was tempting, sure, but not worth sustaining against constant guerrilla attacks from Dark Elves and monsters. Let the desperate ones handle that. Suhyun had no need now.
Chairman Charles reached out. He looked confident.
"If that was all, I wouldn't have called you. I have Blue Bear too. The explorer brought back some very interesting info."
"What?"
"They say the Dark Elves there have a potion. A Superpower Enhancement Potion."
Suhyun's expression turned subtle. Items from other races were always half-doubtful. Some truly worked, but others were mere superstition.
Noticing Suhyun's look, Chairman Charles asked.
"Why? No interest in something that enhances superpowers?"
"No. Of course I am."
The consensus was superpowers grew through training, but it was irregular with no set theory. Cases like Suhyun's sudden telekinesis growth were extremely rare.
'And that was probably because I awakened as a mage.'
For Suhyun, currently悩ing over his time manipulation ability, a Superpower Enhancement Potion was honestly enticing.
The problem was how enticing it was.
'This guy... He wouldn't be scheming with prior knowledge. No way.'
No matter what, Chairman Charles couldn't know Suhyun had awakened time ability. He wouldn't act like this if he did.
A hugely tempting item rolling right to him. That's when you had to be careful. Even without hidden motives from Charles, this wasn't simple.
No, did this potion even exist?
"If I take it on, how would we move?"
"I'm thinking of sending your team with Blue Bear's top teams. Scout the dangers around there, eliminate if needed, secure anything useful, and return. Blue Bear will cooperate on the potion matter during that, and you can monopolize it."
"......"
Suhyun pondered for the first time in a while. It wasn't a trap. Sending Blue Bear top teams ruled that out.
From the personnel, the chairman's goal was clear. Insurin was inherently unstable, so include near-top combat power like Suhyun to quell internal and external threats.
Suhyun's team plus Blue Bear top teams would be overwhelmingly strong compared to most.
The chairman's gains were clear, but Suhyun's were vague.
What if the potion didn't exist?
Intended or not, Suhyun would lose out. Money and rights would come, but was he in a position to jump in for that now?
Ultimately, Suhyun had to decide. Was the chairman's info credible enough for him to dive in personally?
"Show me what that explorer brought."
At Suhyun's words, the chairman grinned. Suhyun was finally showing interest.