The Civic Crown
The atmosphere at the guildhouse the next day was heavy.
Kim Jun, feeling crushed by it, glanced around cautiously before asking Choi Muhyun, but even he knew nothing.
Kang Jin-gu was tight-lipped, as were the others.
After the successful dungeon raid yesterday, he'd expected celebrations and laughter today, like a festival.
Just before lunchtime, Go Cheolmin made his decision.
He called O Ung-ho over and eyed him as he moved to sit on the sofa.
"You're close with Cheonroehoe, aren't you?"
"...What are you talking about?"
O Ung-ho played innocent.
"I know everything."
"About what?"
"Jeong Sang-mok and Kim Cheol-su spilled it all. The car accident yesterday—you did it on purpose, right?"
O Ung-ho glared at Go Cheolmin wordlessly before crossing his arms.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"We do all the grunt work, but you Raiders take all the rewards."
O Ung-ho was already prepared to leave Uramata Guild. This was his last chance to deal a blow to Uramata and bolster Cheonroehoe.
If yesterday had gone as planned, the payout would've been handsome.
But some rookie carrier had shown up out of nowhere and joined the raid, ruining everything.
"You mean the Raiders?"
"Yeah, Raiders! Awakened bastards! Just because you have powers doesn't mean you can discriminate like that."
O Ung-ho bellowed.
Go Cheolmin instantly grasped the reason and sighed.
O Ung-ho was trying to sow discord right up to the end.
By Dungeon Association rules, an uncrossable line existed between Raiders and carriers. Basic salaries alone made carriers' conditions abysmal by comparison.
It wasn't an exaggeration to call it exploitation.
Still, people flocked to the job because while carriers earned less than Raiders, it paid better than a regular office gig.
Go Cheolmin let O Ung-ho rant on.
The guy has nowhere to go.
Cheonroehoe would face a Dungeon Association audit and penalties for this plot. No way they'd take in O Ung-ho and the two carriers to cover it up.
As O Ung-ho was dragged out of the guildhouse by the others, Go Cheolmin sank into his seat and sighed.
Last year, he'd tried doubling carrier salaries.
The finances could handle it, but the Dungeon Association had stepped in. Raising salaries at Uramata would pressure other guilds, they said.
Go Cheolmin had met with Association higher-ups in person to explain, but they wouldn't budge. If he didn't back down, they'd indirectly penalize Uramata—or even revoke their dungeon licenses, they hinted.
He couldn't stubbornly push it in that situation.
Go Cheolmin had gotten drunk on soju with Kang Jin-gu, the carrier division chief responsible for them, spilling the full story.
That was the first time Kang Jin-gu had teared up in front of his younger guild master. No guild master anywhere proactively raised carrier pay without being asked.
The heavy mood vanished clean away when he checked the raid results email.
Go Cheolmin shoved O Ung-ho from his mind and grinned wide.
Five kilograms of gold came to about 200 million won.
Five thick diamond raw stones sold for 90 million. Five Geludium cores fetched 100 million each—500 million total. Four Pyrodium cores went for 150 million apiece, totaling 600 million. Grand total: 1.39 billion won.
A massive success.
After fees, they cleared 1.4 billion.
The guildhouse take would be at least 800 million.
The rest—nearly 600 million—went to raid participants.
Distribution ratios were set by Dungeon Association rules.
Factoring in dungeon grade, participant levels, and contributions, the Socrates team awakeners would each pocket at least 100 million in dividends on top of salary.
"...Damn."
The problem was the two carriers.
For an E-rank dungeon, each carrier got 5 million won.
Current carrier dividends: 3 million for F-rank, 5 million for E, 10 million for D, 20 million for C, 50 million for B and up. Bonuses for contributions maxed at double the base.
So the most Kim Jun could get was 13 million.
Try giving more to the carrier who'd made a decisive contribution, and the Association would block it like last year.
As guild master, he couldn't break the rules.
Go Cheolmin started racking his brain for a way to get money to Kim Jun.
* * *
Checking his bank account, Kim Jun was speechless.
The balance, 120,000 won yesterday, now showed a staggering 240 million.
He counted the zeros again. It was real.
"Whoa."
A gasp escaped Choi Muhyun beside him.
"Must be a mistake."
Kim Jun pulled out his phone and called guild master Go Cheolmin.
―Surprised, huh?
Go Cheolmin teased.
"Looks like an error. My account has..."
―Not an error.
"Huh?"
―Wanted to give you more, but that's the max realistically. Squeezed every last won. You earned it in Bukaksan Dungeon. Blew my mind.
"...I don't get it. Carriers get 3 million per raid, right?"
To Kim Jun, a high school senior not yet graduated, 3 million was big money.
―True. But there's the Civic Crown. Teammates share profits with someone who helped in the raid. Shows gratitude. Has side effects... Anyway, the whole team agreed you're the beneficiary. So that's that. And hand the money to your mom if you can. Nosy advice, but I've seen kids your age ruin themselves with sudden windfalls. Got it?
The call cut off abruptly.
"Not a mistake, then?"
"Nope."
Kim Jun pondered briefly.
"Know what a Civic Crown is?"
"Civic Crown?"
"Yeah."
"Why? You get one?"
"Apparently."
"Ooh, impressive! Thought they were gone."
"So, what is it?"
"Civic Crown."
"Civic Crown?"
"Yeah. Ancient Rome gave wreaths of oak leaves to those who saved a fellow citizen."
It only got murkier. As Kim Jun blinked in confusion, Choi Muhyun continued.
"Old talk. Now it's a system where you share prize money to show thanks. Not simple, though."
"How so?"
"Whole team has to agree. One no, and it's off."
"Ah. How'd you know so well?"
"My dad. He got one once. Treasures it."
Choi Muhyun recalled Choi Min-su polishing his Civic Crown. The man shrugged off most things, but doted on that wreath fiercely.
"Won't even let anyone touch it."
"Mine's touchable."
Kim Jun said.
"Show-off!"
"Yup."
Kim Jun giggled mischievously, and Choi Muhyun grabbed his neck, flicking his forehead. As they horsed around, the phone rang again.
Go Cheolmin.
―Just in case you worry—Kang Jin-gu got a Civic Crown too. Slightly less, but. So don't sweat it.
Call ended.
Kim Jun beamed. It eased his mind; he'd have felt guilty getting the huge sum alone after everyone worked hard.
"Steak. Now."
Choi Muhyun demanded.
"Where to?"
Kim Jun asked boldly.