Chapter 90

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 90

Chapter Title: Business Partner

The world isn't fair.

Even if you have talent, without connections, success is tough.

Even if you have power, without justification, it's hard to step forward.

But on the flip side.

If you have connections, you can succeed without talent.

If you lack justification, you can manufacture it to wield your power.

Connections are talent, power, and justification all in one.

I was born into such a world, and everyone lived in it.

So no matter how capable I am right now.

I can't just take down that Blue Dragon Guild bastard on my own whim—I'm stuck watching my step like this.

I have talent and power.

Thanks to the Synthesis (EX) skill I gained upon awakening as a Climber, I've gathered all sorts of useful things.

Martial prowess? I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I'm not weak enough to get pushed around everywhere I go.

I have justification too.

That Blue Dragon Guild scum is threatening and trying to extort my people, so splitting him in half would be legal.

No, I'm definitely going to split him in half.

To be blunt, just banishing the guy would resolve this mess.

But if I did that, I wouldn't forgive myself. Something precious inside me would shatter for sure.

However, to split him in half, I lack connections.

Strictly speaking, I do have that fabricated identity as the ninth cousin of the doctor that popped out of nowhere.

But in the current situation, it wouldn't help much—practically nonexistent.

The Changseong Group wouldn't clash with Blue Dragon Guild over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just me alone.

They didn't know my value.

They had no idea of my capabilities.

Well... to be precise, it's mostly my fault for hiding my light until the time was right.

I didn't know back then.

No matter how important connections are in the world.

Who could've guessed lacking one would make things this frustrating?

That's why I'm suffering like this right now.

To gain those connections.

I'm walking right into what might be the tiger's maw of my own accord.

"This is Jeong Jae-ho from the Changseong Group Chairman's Secretariat."

About three minutes had passed since Tabula contacted the chairman's secretary.

The reply came that they accepted the conversation and were sending a few people.

Soon, a stern-looking secretary in a black suit and glasses came to find me.

The fact that he arrived so quickly meant they were probably monitoring me as usual.

Or maybe a staff member happened to be nearby.

Or he might have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a skill or tool that lets him cross space.

"Nice to meet you too."

Anyway.

That's not what's important right now.

"So. What exactly do you mean by 'conversation'?"

I hadn't expected the chairman himself, sure.

But sending just one secretary and calling it a conversation?

Curious about their thinking, I asked outright...

"The chairman is positively considering Yi Ronun's proposal."

"Is that so? He seems more interested in health than I thought."

"That's part of it, but he's even more shocked that you uncovered Secretary Kang Cheol-jung's Gallery ID."

...Gallery ID?

I just asked Tabula to find it.

Why be shocked about that?

"You must have quite the capable mage on your side. Forcibly cracking multiple layers of security to initiate contact... Our magic department went on high alert because of it."

"Ah."

Come to think of it, Park Hyun-soo had a similar reaction.

He said hacking a Gallery is tough even for high-rank mages, so wasn't there an incredible mage with me?

They apparently saw Tabula as an ultra-high-rank mage.

And they were positively inclined toward talking with me because I had such a mage as backup.

"Well... I have a bit of reputation, you see."

"I see."

In truth, no mage of that caliber existed.

But the more cards I seemed to have, the better, so I decided to play along.

But anyway.

"..."

"..."

...This secretariat guy.

Isn't he going to talk to me?

I stared at him blankly, my expression saying, "Why are you just standing there staring instead of speaking?"

Reading my gaze, the secretary kindly explained.

"Ah, I don't have decision-making authority here. Executives with authority will arrive shortly."

"Then why did you come, Secretary?"

"No authority, but I'm handling the practical matters for this case."

"Ah."

Roughly, the executives decide.

And they dump the grunt work on this secretary handling operations...

"I don't have much time."

"Ah, as for the 7th floor issue, we've sent our people, so no need to worry."

"...You knew?"

"This much is required to enter the secretariat."

...This guy.

He seems so competent in every way—I'm a bit envious.

Looks strict, probably handles work meticulously too.

Is everyone in the chairman's secretariat like this?

If there's a chance, I should see if I can poach him.

But such thoughts were fleeting.

"Grandpa, looks like we're a bit late."

"That guy's just fast; we're not late."

Turning toward the approaching footsteps.

An elderly man with graying hair and a girl who looked like his granddaughter.

And.

"Aigoo, as expected of the secretariat. I came as fast as I could, but still a step behind?"

A wolf beastkin with a scar over one eye, built like me, slowly approaching.

"Master."

"Yeah."

...That wolf beastkin.

Was the strongest Climber I'd seen so far.

Maybe even stronger than the doctor.

Beastkin.

Climbers who gained beast-like forms due to special skills or traits.

Extremely rare even among Climbers.

But they all shared one thing in common.

"This is Cheon Kang-hyeok, team leader of the Changseong Group Security Team."

"Long time no see, Secretary Jang. Ah, this must be the young alchemist? Whoa...? I don't usually say this, but kid, you're ridiculously handsome!"

"Security Team Leader..."

Their physical abilities skyrocketed, making them insanely strong.

The issue is that average includes non-combat roles and still hits B-rank.

The wolf beastkin before me didn't look non-combat at all.

He seemed way stronger than Park Hyun-soo, who was borderline S-rank.

At minimum mid S-rank, at max top-tier.

"Ah! I'm just here as security, so don't mind me and talk~!"

Affiliated with Changseong Group's Security Team, and the team leader at that.

He undoubtedly had power to match.

'...First person I've seen stronger than the doctor.'

Of course, I'd never seen the doctor's full power.

So this was just a gut feeling.

But hearing Lavris, it wasn't entirely off.

'The doctor is a domain-creating mage among mages. It's natural for raw power to fall short.'

'But if preparation is complete, the doctor wins hands down.'

'Battles are decided not by raw power, but by how meticulously you've prepared.'

'In that sense, domain mages are among the most dangerous.'

Strength isn't just about raw power.

Anyway, setting aside those complications.

To sum up the situation roughly.

This wolf beastkin was the strongest Climber I'd met yet.

'Can I beat him?'

'Depends on what you want, Master.'

'...What does that mean?'

'If you go all out, you win for sure. But the aftermath would sweep up and kill innocents around.'

'If not full power?'

'You won't win, but won't lose either.'

'Your physicals dominate, but you lack combat experience while he's a seasoned warrior with tricks. Of course, if it drags, he'll tire first, but that wouldn't count as a win.'

...Something like that.

Honestly, I listened hard, but I don't really get it.

How could I imagine when I've never properly fought?

Ironic that I don't even know my own full power.

'Recommend testing your full power now.'

'...? Didn't you just say it'd affect bystanders?'

'One strike's aftermath? Their shaman can block it.'

'Shaman...?'

Oh right.

There were two more executive-level people.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Da-som."

"I'm Kim Byeok-san. Here to decide whether to accept your proposal."

The elderly man and granddaughter greeted me.

Lavris's shaman was probably the old man.

Hmm... but.

These two... look familiar.

Elderly man and granddaughter...

.

.

.

- "Grandpa, this building. You said it belonged to that shut-in sage, right?"

- "Right. That old hag handled construction to design. Swore she'd never sell even if I begged."

- "But those kids say it's this big bro's?"

.

.

.

...Ah!

"You're the ones watching me from the railing yesterday, right?"

"...You saw that?"

"...We were on the 8th floor?"

"I'm a bit sensitive to gazes."

"Heh heh... We had perception hindrance and concealment spells, and you saw through...?"

"Intriguing big bro...?"

"...Pardon?"

No, what are they talking about?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Perception hindrance and concealment spells?

No, I just saw because it was visible.

...Ah.

That hazy mist around their faces was the spell?

"An alchemist seeing through this... Rumors said summoner and warrior too—guess that's true."

"So alchemist plus summoner and warrior classes?"

"Not sure on warrior, but the natural aura suggests high chance of spirit-summoning summoner."

"Elder, warrior fits too. Face aside, the young alchemist's body is a warrior's honed to the limit."

"...Then it's settled. He's a triple."

...Starting from the Tabula mage misunderstanding.

Misconceptions keep piling up...

"Whoa... Doubles are common, but a triple's a first. Elder, we can't let go of this alchemist kid?"

"I agree. He's worth it."

"You brats. Still, we need to check his alchemy skills first."

...Seems to be going well, so I'll keep quiet.

They whispered about me for a while.

Soon, opinions aligned, and the old man spoke as representative.

"I'd love a demo right now, but that worm bastard downstairs is stirring trouble—no time, right?"

Worm bastard? Blue Dragon Guild?

Tabula could whip one up instantly, but normal alchemists couldn't, and time was tight, so I nodded.

"And this is your potion."

This was also one I asked Tabula to make.

So I nodded.

"Nodding without hesitation. In 10 years climbing, I've never seen Recovery (Supreme)."

"Of course—it's mine."

"Fair enough. Here's my proposal: Show other potions you've made. If two of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠us three approve, we accept. If you're sending these out for free, you must have plenty more like it, right?"

Hmm... I get the intent.

If fake alchemist, can't show similar—fail.

If real, they'll keep asking under pretext of "not satisfied," probing types, numbers, limits.

"Sure, fine."

Just convince two of three?

Easy.

"No time, so quick."

"...You seem oddly confident."

"Naturally. What's hard about it?"

I turned back briefly, hand in pocket, murmuring softly.

"Tabula. 'That one,' please."

Pretending to rummage my pocket.

I pulled out 'that' from before, saying.

"Ah, here it is."

"!!!"

"!!!"

"...?"

Yeah, just convince two (men) out of three?

"Do you approve?"

"...I approve."

"Team Leader?"

"What about you, Elder?"

"...I approve."

"Grandpa too...?"

And so that day.

"From today, Changseong Group stands with you. Those worm bastards won't dare touch us."

"There's one I need to kill... Is that okay?"

"If you want it."

I gained the Changseong Group as my backing.

Meaning I now had legal means to kill that Blue Dragon Guild-backed scum.

"By the way, kid. Got any spares of this...?"

"Only a few left, but since it's fate, I'll sell specially. Later, hit up 'Angel Daddy' for 1:1 trade."

"Ahem... Will contact soon."

"Um... Could I too...?"

"Elder, feel free to reach out."

"Ahem... Thanks."

"...Men are all the same."