Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Solo Mission to the 98th Earth
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“See? That really was the bottom!”
But unlike back then when I had hundreds of billions in hand.
Now, I’m out of money.
‘In the end, things turned out just as I feared. That’s why I wanted to buy the stock back then.’
Even amid the falling stock market, Nemesis’s plunge was particularly severe. I didn’t know the reason before, but now I do.
The cause is me.
Once I acquire Nemesis stock, the company itself slips out of all—or at least most—prophecies.
As a result, the big investors who rely on prophecy abilities pull out, so how could the stock price hold up?
‘But… there’s a limit to that.’
It’s true that big investors reference prophecies, but they don’t blindly trust them. There’s the case of Lucky Strike, the Mage Tower Lord of the Fate School, who went bankrupt by doing just that, so it’s only natural.
Nemesis Soft has almost no debt and boasts top-tier profits even on the famously wealthy 34th Earth.
The CEO, Bae Sarang, is reinvesting over 90% of profits to transform Revenge—from a simple pay-to-win game—into a perfect virtual world that even Ability Users can’t distinguish from reality.
Sales are high, and so is the operating margin.
It’s a company that runs its own R&D lab and develops cutting-edge tech no other group can replicate.
At this point, it’s more than just a blue-chip stock.
No matter the market conditions, a plummeting stock price was the truly strange thing.
‘Yeah. Stocks that are meant to rise eventually do. Investors aren’t all stubborn fools.’
The problem is that I need even more shares. And if Revenge rolls out a major update adding the [Emperor Class]?
The shares I have now would seem insignificant.
Nemesis’s box-office success hinges on Revenge’s popularity… but sadly, not all of that success becomes mine.
‘My’ personal box-office pull is the product of overall success times my ownership percentage.
To fully leverage it, I need a ton of shares—and that brings us right back to square one.
‘I’m out of money.’
Yeah, out of money. The hundreds of billions I earned by working like mad for a while? I blew it all on in-game purchases to dodge taxes.
“Jaeyeon! We’re doing a beach concert this time—wanna come play?”
I smile at Ruby, who bursts through the open door.
“Nope.”
“What! Why?”
“Too busy working.”
Back to the daily grind.
[Fresh and fragrant shampoo! Level up your charm!]
Shooting an ad.
“Pet weapons?”
“Yeah, they’re super popular these days. With the monster incidents and all, interest is sky-high, and related companies are raking it in.”
“Raking it in, huh…”
“Hey, don’t say weird stuff, hyung! Jaeyeon’s interested! You mess around with Jaeyeon’s investments, and you’re ruined!”
Appearing on a variety show.
“Stop! A swarm of Transcendent-grade monsters is coming!”
“We can’t run away.”
“You idiot! You’re thinking of going beyond the void…! Ah! Sorry! Let’s go again!”
Filming a movie.
“Thank you so much for the interview! Jaeyeon’s everywhere these days—you’re working non-stop! What do you think fuels that passion?”
“In-game purchases.”
“Right! In-game… Huh?”
“I have to work harder to afford more.”
“Whaaat!?”
Interviews and documentaries.
Time passes.
[Spike App Alert!]
Nemesis.
Your watched stock is surging (5%↑)!
Director Allen’s new film *Beyond the Void* is a massive hit.
An entertainment article drops saying my pay is number one among all actors.
[Spike App Alert!]
Nemesis.
Your watched stock is surging (5%↑)!
Web novels are generating steady revenue. Honestly, more than my acting gigs.
[Spike App Alert!]
Nemesis.
Your watched stock is surging (5%↑)!
Work.
Work some more.
Before I know it, I’m 27 in real life.
Four years since I first logged into Ardania.
The dropout who couldn’t adapt to reality and welcomed the barbaric world is now a global superstar, a billionaire earning hundreds of billions a year, a lone Transcendent rivaling a starship.
And yet.
[Spike App Alert!]
Nemesis.
Your watched stock is surging (5%↑)!
“Ah… please stop rising already…”
I check the stock app in despair.
[Spike Securities Account Domestic Stock Gains]
+28,331,975,440 won (+11.8%).
“My returns… are positive…”
The 50 billion loss is a distant memory.
Thanks to Revenge’s relentless climb.
Nemesis has finally returned to its pre-crash price.
‘The shares are getting more expensive.’
If I were in it for profits, this would be a dream.
My holdings endlessly rising? Every stock investor’s fantasy.
The problem? I’m not in stocks to make money.
“Ah… I need at least 10% of Nemesis stock.”
But Nemesis Soft has about 23.92 million shares outstanding.
1%—230,000 shares—is around 2 trillion won.
So 10% is…
“…Holy crap. 20 trillion.”
A curse slips out. An insane amount, different even in scale.
And the problem is, it’s still climbing.
I earn money like crazy every day and buy shares with every bit, but I can’t keep up with the price surge.
‘I need to buy before it rises more…’
And to do that.
I need to grind even harder for big payouts.
‘Ads and acting are fine, but real money comes from mercenary work.’
But missions aren’t infinite.
In this chaotic universe gripped by monster outbreaks, jobs are plentiful… but not everyone can pay 34th Earth space mercs their [fees].
I recall Merlin’s words. I’m a professor at Uroboros, the galaxy’s top academic institution.
“What? Only 660 trillion!? Wait, does that mean… your 1 Geralt is 3,000 won?”
“No, Geralt prices have skyrocketed lately—3,000 won? How much for a meal? 100 won? 120?”
“Wow, insane! Minimum wage gets you 4 Geralts an hour? Is this the paradise I’ve heard about? Wow, the rumors didn’t do it justice.”
Other civilizations gripe that the universal currency Geralt is overvalued.
But 34th Earth runs specials like [Low Exchange Rate: Is This Okay?] because our currency holds such high value.
Since 34th Earth is so powerful and wealthy, hiring its space mercs costs lesser civilizations a fortune.
‘That’s not the only issue.’
Unlike me, who can chain missions endlessly, the elders need a month off after each one. Injuries mean even longer.
And that’s not all.
Every mission requires Giggas inspections and repairs. Damage to the Iron Heart means more time, and worst case, shipping it via galactic railway to the Candler tribe for service.
Me? I barely get hurt, and as an Extreme Physique user, I heal fast. Even if I need real recovery, I just rest in Ardania.
“And so…”
I organize my thoughts.
Then head straight to the Mercenary Administration.
“…You want to run missions solo?”
“Yes. I’m fine with discounts—10% minimum, 50% max. But I need as many jobs as possible.”
“Missions outsourced to distant space mercs because locals can’t handle them… you wanna do them on thin margins?”
“Exactly, Director.”
“No way…”
Director Cheon Hyun-il stares at me in disbelief. That rich expression on his burly polar bear face is a rare sight.
“You’re not taking missions too lightly? Even Transcendents shouldn’t solo them. The elders are your safety net.”
My merc teams range from five to ten members.
As a Transcendent, I shine brightest, but after ten missions, I know how skilled they are.
They may not be Transcendents, but their combat prowess and experience are no joke.
And beyond that?
Space merc elders have [Special Armaments] built with national budgets. They avoid using them to prevent waste, but if they go all out, even I couldn’t take them lightly.
‘The Transcendent monsters that hit 34th Earth didn’t get wiped for nothing.’
Director Cheon’s words about them being my ‘safety net’ aren’t exaggeration.
“Director.”
But I state firmly.
“My specialty isn’t high mobility. Or destructive power. Or diverse attributes.”
“…Then what?”
“Survival.”
“Survival, huh…”
Hyun-il’s face hardens as he ponders.
Zing!
Then, out of nowhere, my Transcendent Weapon Zero Sum vibrates.
‘Ah, this.’
Having used one major event to revert Grand Angel to Harmony, I can now sense that unique [flow].
In other words, [Event Points].
‘But… is this good or bad?’
I can’t tell positive from negative. Grand Angel reverting to Harmony? It effectively erased one Transcendent.
But on the flip side.
Better to use it and find out.
Saved mid-size events: 5 -> 4
As expected, nothing happens right away. Hyun-il’s still tapping his desk with dagger-sharp claws, lost in thought.
Then.
Beep!
“Hm?”
Hyun-il’s brow twitches as he reads something. His gaze shifts between the desk and my face.
‘What is it?’
He mutters as I look on curiously.
“No way, this timing…? And this location is too coincidental…”
“Director?”
He frowns at my question but waves lightly.
“Meow!”
Cheda cries. Checking it, a mission has arrived.
“Perfect timing. Clear it with 4+ points, and you get solo op approval.”
“Thank you!”
“Wonder if you’ll still be thanking me…”
I leave, hearing his mutter.
Tapping Cheda’s belly pulls up the details.
[Advanced Mission. Urgent. Reward: 20 million Geralt]
Hashtags: Breakthrough, Investigation, Rescue.
Details: Researcher missing after entering danger zone. Last rescue signal 31 hours 30 minutes ago. Full reward for live rescue. Half for body recovery.
I read closely. No elders this time—I have to handle it all.
And as I do.
I understand Hyun-il’s ‘coincidental’ comment.
98th Earth.
That’s the dispatch location for this mission.