All Poisons Can Become Medicine (1)
"Thank you so much. All of this is thanks to our benefactor."
"The ones who actually picked up guns and fought did the real hard work. You did great. Congratulations."
Lisa had won. It was an overwhelming victory. They'd wiped out an entire branch of the Devil's Descendants.
That meant more than just killing a few dozen or hundred raiders. Their branches served as hubs for various raider groups. Places where raiders who murdered caravans or settlers and stole their goods could freely sell them for cash, food, or ammo. With that gone, there was no reason for wasteland raiders to prowl the area anymore.
One branch down meant even massive raider groups like the Devil's Descendants wouldn't easily push into the surroundings.
And besides...
In the world of Wasteland 2, raider factions mattered, but preventing internal strife was just as crucial. If happiness got too low, discontent brewed. But even if it was high, rebellions could still erupt. Strategies varied based on the player faction's alignment, the geography and temperament of the subjugated settlers, and their backstory.
But above all, the key was looking strong. Newbies in Wasteland 2 often posted online: "I maxed out happiness, so why the rebellion?" If the ruler seemed weak, no amount of promised prosperity stopped fights over resources and power.
You had to constantly flaunt your strength—powerful backers, large armies, shows of force, victories in battle—to scream, "I'm strong."
So...
The Rangers had annihilated a branch using only their own power, without help from other settlers. Any faction threatening or rebelling against them would need at least as many troops as that branch to pose a real danger to Lisa and her Rangers.
"Please take care of us going forward."
"Yes!"
The comms cut off.
My mind was at ease, but the worries weren't entirely gone.
"Looks like things over there are wrapping up nicely..."
Lisa would provide stable trade scores and goods. All I had to supply was purified water. Hauling heavy water was getting annoying, but it was still pure profit.
Still, I had no intention of stopping there.
"Now, time to tackle my own issues."
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a full-blown crisis. Business was going smoothly, no real problems. I was earning way more than in my old office drone days.
But I wasn't satisfied with this level. Things felt a bit stagnant.
Let's think...
My current revenue streams: two. Gremlin Pistols and Lumikite.
"Pistols are still selling, but honestly, I have no idea why."
I'd heard talk of Shin Yuha promoting them or some trend catching on. But that clunky Gremlin Pistol's main use—passing the expulsion exam—was gone. It was basically just a trinket now. And since the fad was confined to the Academy, it wasn't a reliable long-term income.
"If real hunters bought them... it might change things."
Even so, the market was too narrow. Warriors had no reason to buy my guns. Without crafting magic bullets, they lacked the firepower to take down monsters. Gunners or archers with their own ranged options? Forget it. Mages were a maybe, but—
"Honestly, no reason to use them."
Hunters had money. A million-won pistol was a toy to them. For actual combat sidearms, they'd drop tens or hundreds of times that on real artifacts.
"Lumikite's situation is decent..."
No matter how faint, it was mana-infused metal. Its value wouldn't vanish.
"But... limits exist."
Coldly put, a top guild like Mukseong scrambling for low-grade metal wasn't normal. Eventually—and who knew when—they'd secure proper gate mines and mine their own.
Hmm...
Given Lee Seoyeonn's personality, she wouldn't suddenly cut ties with "We don't need that metal anymore, go your way." But if our trades became inefficient, she'd haggle prices down or reduce volume eventually.
It wasn't irreplaceable. And I wasn't irreplaceable manpower to Mukseong.
"Not enough..."
The ones buying limited in-game resources at top dollar, or supplying precious gate resources? Hunters. Mukseong wasn't at the center of power, but it was a mega-guild. Becoming their "irreplaceable" asset would open doors to far more goods.
For now... just wait?
I had enough scores to unlock a new world. But I wasn't rushing to pick one. Earth needed specific items.
"This is too much! We're not like that, oppa! How could you do this to me?"
I sipped my tea leisurely, letting Shin Yuha's wail go in one ear and out the other.
"I notice it every time, but the aroma is exquisite."
Lee Seoyeonn smiled contentedly and replied softly. "Isn't it? It's not easy to come by. Last time, we did gate volunteer work in Kenya."
"I see..."
Gates were precious resources, but disasters for nations unable to handle them promptly. Even guilds avoided low-profit, unverified gates. Mega-guilds like Mukseong often went abroad to clear gates in poor countries—for honor and justice, not cash.
"Didn't get much money, but enough leaves to last a lifetime."
"Rewarding work."
"Thanks for seeing it that way. People usually get extreme about it."
"How so?"
"Cynics mock us: 'Dragging hunters into unprofitable work.' They say our volunteering devalues hunter pay..."
"Sad."
Untended gates could burst, unleashing monsters. Nations and citizens threw billions at prevention, costs skyrocketing. Some poor countries funneled development funds to advanced nations' foreign hunters. Plenty claimed the Hunter Era revived colonialism.
If mega-guilds like Mukseong cleared them humanely for free, those countries could spend elsewhere. Selfish hunters resenting that? Understandable.
"Overly sentimental types..."
Lee Seoyeonn sighed deeply. "Insist hunters must protect lives, treating our efforts as obvious."
"Tragic."
"But volunteering lets us meet good people. Lucky, right?"
Lee Seoyeonn truly was kind. Before meeting her, I'd figured her media image was PR, even if she wasn't bad. But she was far kinder than I'd thought.
Well, not that I'm complaining.
If I were her subordinate hunter, it might frustrate me. But I was just a partner. I benefited from her goodness, paying not for charity but reaping rewards from her heart.
Stability-wise... no downside.
I'm cautious. More precisely, I know this ability lets me earn steadily, even slowly. Wasteland 2 overflowed with illegal drugs—easy to make, cheap, plentiful. For pure profit, I'd have ditched Mukseong for villain groups, dumping narcotics wholesale.
No need.
For now, it was investment. Strengthening this power with legit goods was enough. Her kindness was pure gain—no loss. Dealing with evil or selfish types carried inherent risk.
"Meeting just with Mom and drinking tea all the time! Not inviting me!"
"If I'd told you, you'd skip class to come."
"W-Well, yeah!"
"Can't pass expulsion exams with my pistol anymore. Listen in class."
"Ugh..."
I gently patted Shin Yuha's head.
"Good. Listen to Isu oppa, study hard, train hard."
"Then... if I study hard, can we go on a trip after semester ends?"
Lee Seoyeonn's gaze chilled. I raised both arms in surrender.
"Not my call, Hunter."
"...Really? I might imagine weird things."
She was a minor. Blurting about trips with a guy was risky.
"Why not? With Mom and oppa... Europe? Japan? Sounds fine."
"Oh, that? Sure, of co—"
Lee Seoyeonn exhaled in relief, then shook her head.
"Sorry. Probably not."
"Why? You said if I finish semester strong!"
"Mom can't step away then."
"Whyyy..."
Lee Seoyeonn glanced at me slyly.
"Um... not for outsiders, but I trust you to keep quiet?"
"Who would I tell? Not guildmates or reporters. Safe bet."
A smile tugged my lips. This was what I'd waited for. Tea was nice, but I had purpose. Real gains.
This info...
Secret even for Mukseong's leader. Vital for plotting my next move.
"Ultra-large Gate confirmed. Burning Abyss... We have to raid it. Tough timing. Sorry, Yuha."
"Mooom! Why at semester end—"
I'd studied gates and hunters for this. Knew Burning Abyss and what it needed.
"I can help."
"How?"
"With effort, I can find something to extinguish the Burning Abyss's flames."
Decided. Next world to unlock, and what it needed.
I could bring what this world lacked.