Second Quarter Settlement
Before the briefing could properly begin, there was something he needed to check first.
"First, let's all check how many Zombie Coins you each have on hand."
He needed to know how much everyone was holding. So they checked.
"I've got 6,624."
Kang Dohun answered first, followed by Lee Dongwoo.
"I have 4,215."
"Wow, that's a lot. Did you sell a bunch of stuff?"
Dongwoo had earned more coins than expected from selling the fish he caught and the crops he grew.
Next came Kim Harin and Lee Gaeun's turn.
"I have 64."
Gaeun said, glancing around nervously. And Harin—
"I don't have any at all."
She answered sheepishly.
Once everyone had spoken, Dohyun finally gave his own number.
"I have 11,170, so altogether we're looking at 22,073."
That settled the total Zombie Coin count for the group.
Having confirmed the total, Dohyun moved to the next step.
"Dongwoo, give Harin 1,000 Zombie Coins, and give Gaeun 936."
He made sure both Kim Harin and Lee Gaeun each had at least 1,000 coins.
Once everyone had a minimum amount, he began his explanation.
"You'll see a shop tab in your Status Window. A new tab will appear next to it."
He explained the new feature.
"Huh? A bulletin board?"
"Yes, a bulletin board."
The new feature was a community system—a bulletin board where users could post articles and leave comments.
"You need to purchase the rights to the first and second bulletin boards. Harin, Gaeun—once it hits 12, pay 100 coins each and buy the bulletin board rights right away."
He gave the two women their first task.
Then to Dohun and Dongwoo:
"We need to buy items again this time. But the competition will be fierce."
The fact that limited-quantity items existed was now known worldwide, so naturally, competition was expected to be brutal.
"Our targets are the same: Random Trait Tickets, Random Skill Tickets, healing potions, and various permanent stat enhancement potions."
"What about the lottery tickets?"
"Skip the lottery this time. We don't know which numbers will win."
And he emphasized firmly:
"The Random Trait and Skill Tickets might be tough, but we need to secure the healing potions and permanent stat enhancement potions."
"Got it."
The two men received their assignments.
He also gave Harin and Gaeun additional tasks.
"Once you've purchased the bulletin board rights, use your remaining coins to buy Condensed Rest Potions and Ancient Blessing Scrolls."
"Condensed Rest Potions and Ancient Blessing Scrolls?"
The two women took notes, and Dohyun added a brief explanation.
"Those two items are also limited in quantity, but there should be plenty available. So find them quickly and buy them. And if Dohun and Dongwoo can't get all their target items, have them buy the Condensed Rest Potions and Ancient Blessing Scrolls instead."
"Understood."
That completed the task assignments for all four.
After confirming his own duties, Dohun asked Dohyun a question.
"Hyung, are you buying the same items as us?"
"No, I'm going to buy something special."
Special items with unique abilities would be added to the second-quarter shop. Dohyun intended to focus on those.
"Alright, six hours left. We'll meet again at 11:50. If anyone doesn't understand their assignment, ask questions now. Otherwise, dismissed."
With that, the gathered group dispersed.
When Dohyun entered his room, Kim Harin followed him in. She hesitated, then asked carefully.
"I... Dohyun-ssi, um..."
She dragged out her words, struggling, before finally saying:
"Can I tell Oppa to buy items too?"
Dohyun answered coolly.
"It's fine. You already told him, didn't you?"
It was true. She had used a note to inform her brother about the shop window before.
"That's... I'm sorry."
Harin apologized sincerely. Back then, she hadn't yet developed affection for Dohyun, and she had shared various information with her brother through notes.
"It's fine. You're my sister-in-law."
Dohyun smiled and continued.
"You can pass along information you've learned. Just tell him not to share it with anyone else."
"I understand. And thank you so much."
At her words of gratitude, Dohyun touched her buttocks and said:
"A woman who gave me both holes deserves at least this much."
He said it playfully, but inside, Kim Harin thought:
*He's a good person. Someone I'm grateful to.*
And then—
Kim Harin's Internal Assistance trait effect has been strengthened.
Dohyun had received the reward he wanted.
Dohun returned to his own room with Gaeun.
"Oppa, but how does Dohyun-ssi know the future?"
"....."
At that question, Dohun couldn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave an awkward laugh.
"Hahaha..."
Seeing how uncomfortable he looked, Gaeun said:
"Hmm... is it something I'm not even allowed to know?"
"That's... I'll tell you someday. Definitely. But for now, please don't ask any more."
"Okay."
Gaeun already knew Dohyun was no ordinary person, so she decided not to press further.
At 11:50, the five of them gathered in the living room again.
"Ten minutes left. Everyone, get ready."
Following Dohyun's instruction, they waited for midnight. And the moment it struck 12—
"12 o'clock!"
Dohyun shouted, and everyone began their tasks.
Harin was the first to call out.
"I've purchased the rights to the first community bulletin board!"
"I've purchased the second bulletin board too."
The two had secured the rights to the first and second community bulletin boards as their initial targets.
Shortly after, Dohun announced:
"I bought 3 Random Skill Tickets!"
"Wow! Nice work!"
The Random Skill Tickets had been expected to be hard to get due to fierce competition. Yet Dohun had found and purchased them.
"I got 4 healing potions!"
Dongwoo reported the good news that he'd secured four healing potions.
There was a brief silence. Everyone was busy searching for their next purchases, and Dohyun was equally occupied.
*Why is this so expensive.*
The special items he was looking for were equipment with attached effects, and the average price was 2,000 coins.
*Let's buy this one first.*
The first item he decided to purchase was:
◈ Description: Reduces Strength when worn, but increases training effectiveness.
The description simply stated it increased training effectiveness, but it was Unique grade. An item he absolutely had to buy.
As soon as he selected the Training Bracelet for purchase, the remaining stock vanished instantly.
*Can't buy two of these. Then I'll get this one next!*
The second item he decided to purchase was:
◈ Description: A coin carried by a special being.
An item with no apparent effect, but Unique grade. Dohyun knew how to use this item later, so he purchased it immediately for 2,000 coins.
*This one... let's get this too.*
It was a bit questionable, but he decided to buy it anyway:
◈ Description: A sword too heavy for humans to wield. Possesses powerful attack power.
A Unique-grade sword that was practically unusable, but it could serve as material to strengthen the Chungmu Soul Sword.
While he was busy shopping, good news came from the others.
"I found a Condensed Rest Potion!"
As Gaeun announced she'd found one, Harin called out almost simultaneously:
"Me too! I found an Ancient Blessing Scroll!"
"Everyone, use your remaining coins to buy Condensed Rest Potions and Scrolls."
Gaeun and Harin purchased the Condensed Rest Potions and Ancient Blessing Scrolls with their own coins, then informed Dohun and Dongwoo, who also used their remaining coins to buy the same items.
By the time everyone else had spent all their coins and completed their special-item purchasing tasks—
Dohyun was still focused, carefully selecting items.
*These gloves? They'd be good for Dohun, but... not worth 2,000 coins.*
*Do I need a shield? This one's nice, but not right now.*
*Let's get this cloak.*
The fourth item he decided to purchase was:
◈ Description: Reduces all noise generated when worn.
Not immediately essential, but the Cloak of Silence had many versatile uses.
And the next item he purchased in succession was:
◈ Description: Slightly increases attack power during close-range attacks.
A ring that slightly increased attack power. The word "slightly" was disappointing, but since rings could be stacked with no penalty, it was a decent item.
*That leaves 1,100 coins. So...*
He no longer had enough coins for Unique-grade items. So Dohyun quickly selected an item he'd been considering earlier:
◈ Description: Very slightly reduces the wearer's fatigue consumption.
After buying one pair—
*Wait, I can buy one more?*
The Rare-grade item had a stock of two. So he bought two pairs, one for Dohun as well.
"Done!"
That completed all of Dohyun's purchases.
Just ten minutes. In that short span, the five of them had focused intensely and made their purchases.
"Alright, everyone, put everything on the table. Let's sort it out."
Once all the purchased items were laid out:
3 Random Skill Tickets, 4 healing potions, 31 Condensed Rest Potions, 10 Ancient Blessing Scrolls.
Plus the items Dohyun had bought: the Training Bracelet (U), Someone's Lost Lucky Coin (U), Heavy Sword (U), Cloak of Silence (U), Ancient Warrior's Ring (U), and 2 pairs of Artisan's Failed Special Shoes (R).
Looking at the table filled with items, Dohyun was satisfied.
"Everyone did well. This is excellent."
As he gathered the items, he added:
"I'll redistribute the items to those who need them. So everyone, rest up today."
At Dohyun's words, everyone exchanged "Good work" and "You worked hard" before dispersing to their rooms.