The Ultimate Business Model

"..."

Tae-hyun was shocked. The skill was just so... normal, and incredibly good.

Right. This is how it's supposed to be!

Having associated only with bizarre cults so far, such a genuinely good skill felt downright awkward. But then, a church's holy skills were supposed to be good!

Sacred Echo was a terrifying skill that duplicated the exact damage of the user's last attack, allowing them to deal it once more. It was a skill that any burst-damage class would drool over.

Why hasn't a skill like this been publicized yet? I don't remember ever seeing it.

Tae-hyun tilted his head.

He immediately recognized its value. If a skill was this universally excellent, the strategy boards should have been flooded with advice like, "If you're a DPS, join the Phytos ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Church and get Sacred Echo first." Yet, there hadn't been a peep about it.

Are the acquisition requirements too steep? Well, even I can't use it yet...

Having to clear Phytos Church's Trial: Stage 5 just to use it was a massive drawback. In Tae-hyun's estimation, there weren't many players capable of beating that trial. Honestly, even that was a generous estimate; in reality, there might be only one or two other players in the entire game who could pull it off.

Anyway, I'm glad I got something good.

Tae-hyun walked out of the Phytos Church in high spirits. To be honest, he had been a bit anxious, but this was a massive success! Once he cleared Stage 5 later on, he would be able to use this incredible skill freely.

"Noooooooo!"

Alcott screamed, slamming his fists against the ground! Of course, he had already half-given up on it, but it was still a massive shock to find out that someone had snatched Sacred Echo, the very skill he had been eyeing and saving up for. Giving up on it yourself was one thing, but having someone else steal it away was downright infuriating!

Who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on earth was it...! Gladiator Mike? Barbarian Warrior McPhil?

Alcott immediately suspected the other rankers of the Guild Alliance. After all, they were the ones who knew best that he was targeting Sacred Echo.

Crawford and Roy watched his dramatic display with utter indifference.

"What's wrong with him?"

"???"

"Kill them! Don't let them get any closer!"

"You bastards! You think you'll get away with this?!"

"So what?! Even if we die, we'll just respawn in the Central Continent! It'll take us another week to sail back here! We're not scared of you at all!"

Boom! Crash! Bang! Bang!

Amidst a deafening din, fierce battles were raging across the sea. Players blinded by greed pulled their ships alongside any opponent that looked like easy prey and initiated combat. Arrows flew through the air, and powerful magic spells blasted against the hulls of ships.

And right through the middle of this chaotic warzone, Chairman Yoo and the Power Warrior Guild's fleet sailed leisurely.

"Haha. Look at those fools, blinded by greed."

"Exactly. If only they knew how to respect and care for one another like we do, none of this fighting would happen. Right?"

The Power Warrior Guild members looked around with warm, satisfied smiles. With the Red Sea pirate ships sailing swiftly alongside them, no player was foolish enough to pick a fight with their fleet. One wrong move, and their entire ship would be sent straight to the bottom of the ocean.

"That ship just sank!"

"Oh, my! Let's go scoop up the loot!"

Splash! Splash!

The Power Warrior Guild members fearlessly dove into the sea and swam toward the wreckage. Once a ship broke apart, any items that floated up were finders keepers!

Chairman Yoo shook his head.

Was coming here with these guys really the right choice?

He had come along because he wanted to fish in uncharted waters, but why did he feel so incredibly anxious?

Ping!

At that moment, a heavy tug vibrated through his fingertips!

"Oh!"

Chairman Yoo let out a delighted exclamation and quickly yanked his fishing rod upward.

"Haha. No matter how heavy you are, you're not getting away!"

Chairman Yoo quickly pulled out and ate a few dishes that boosted his Strength stat while pulling on the rod. He was equipped with all sorts of Strength-boosting bracelets and armguards, not to mention additional active buffs.

"Ugh... Just what on earth did I hook...? Fine, let's see who wins!"

The harder the catch struggled, the more thrilled the fisherman became. Chairman Yoo secured the rod with one hand and activated his skills.

"Aaaargh!"

"???"

A scream echoed from beneath the surface! No matter how he looked at it, that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was definitely not the sound of a fish. Chairman Yoo hurriedly stood up and peered over the edge. Hanging onto his fishing line were several members of the Power Warrior Guild.

"..."

"..."

"Hehe, Elder..."

Snip.

With an utterly indifferent expression, Chairman Yoo prepared to cut the line and release his "prey" back into the ocean. The guild members shrieked in terror.

"Elder! Elder! Please don't do that!"

"We're sorry! We were wrong!"

"If you're going to cut the line and throw it away, just give it to us! That line costs hundreds of dollars!"

Ignoring their pleas, Chairman Yoo pulled out another fishing rod. A nearby Power Warrior Guild member recognized it and gasped in shock.

"T-T-That's...! Didn't that sell for thirty thousand dollars at the auction?!"

"Just how many fishing rods do you carry around?!"

Chairman Yoo's wealth was mind-boggling the more one saw of it! While normal players treated their main weapon like a prized possession, he carried multiple top-tier rods and used them without a second thought. Meanwhile, the voices of the guild members drifted up from below the ship.

"Elder! You might think we interfered with your fishing on purpose, but you'll understand once you hear our story!"

"..."

"Elder! Please listen to us!"

"...I'm listening. Fine, speak."

Chairman Yoo replied in a lukewarm tone. He suddenly missed the employees at his company. At least those folks weren't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this unhinged...

"We were trying to salvage items from that sunken ship over there."

"Yes, I know."

They had literally screamed that at the top of their lungs before jumping into the water, so of course he knew!

"Phew, pant, pant... Hey. Don't you think this is enough?"

"No! Endure it!"

"How often do we get an opportunity like this?! We have to grab everything we can!"

"But... it's too heavy... and exhausting..."

Even in virtual reality, the sensation of heavy limbs remained all too real. With massive bundles strapped to their backs, the Power Warrior Guild members gathered as many items as they could from the wreckage.

If only they channeled that passion into leveling up...

The Power Warrior Guild members, who worked hard at literally everything except leveling up! Just then, a voice called out from the wreckage.

"W-Who are you guys?"

"...?!"

The players who originally owned the ship! They stared at the Power Warrior Guild members in utter shock.

"What do you think you're doing...? H-Hey, isn't that the cargo from our ship?"

"You thieves...!"

Their ship was already in ruins, so they were in no mood to look kindly upon scavengers looting their cargo. Clinging to broken wooden planks, they began aiming their weapons at the Power Warrior Guild members.

"Wait!"

"...?"

"We came here to negotiate with you!"

Choi Min-soo, a member of the Power Warrior Guild, quickly used his wits.

"Negotiate?"

"Not steal?"

The players were utterly bewildered by the unexpected turn of phrase. What negotiation? The other guild members were equally dumbfounded.

"What negotiation?"

"Is it a negotiation where we give them all the items in exchange for our lives?"

"Shut up, you idiots. Quiet."

Choi Min-soo silenced his guildmates and shouted back.

"You guys are in a tight spot right now because you don't have a ship! If you stay like this, you'll drown. Even if you try to swim to the nearest island, it'll take days. Plus, everyone else is too busy with their own business to let competitors on their ships. That's why we're here! Give us some gold, and we'll give you a ride!"

"?!"

"?!?!"

It was an idea that shocked both the stranded players and the guild members! The players eyed them suspiciously.

"Aren't you guys here for the treasure too? Why would you let us, your competitors, on your ship just for some gold?"

"Hmph. We have no interest in some imaginary treasure! What we want is cold, hard cash right now!"

*Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—*

At Choi Min-soo's words, the other guild members instinctively began to applaud. He was the absolute model of a Power Warrior Guild member! However, the stranded players still looked skeptical. They asked for their identity.

"Who... who are you guys anyway?"

"We're the Power Warrior Guild!"

"Ah, then they're trustworthy."

"Right. It's that guild."

"Since it's the Power Warrior Guild, they aren't even at the level to compete here anyway."

"..."

"..."

The players believed them instantly! It was a bit insulting, but the Power Warrior Guild members didn't care. Gold came first!

Hearing the explanation, Chairman Yoo wore an expression of utter disbelief.

Those rascals will never starve to death, no matter where they go!

They were the kind of people who would go to the freezing northern territory of Frozeland and successfully sell handmade refrigerators!

"Since we have plenty of pirate ships left, can't we let them on? We can split the gold 60-40, or maybe 70-30..."

"..."

"80-20?"

"Forget it. Just get up here."

Chairman Yoo clicked his tongue and gave his permission. At his words, the guild members hanging from the line cheered.

"Wow! Elder, you're the best!"

"We knew we could count on you, Elder!"

"I said, just get up here."

"Um, Elder. Actually, we're carrying so much loot right now that we can't climb up the side of the ship... Could you reel in the fishing line a bit...?"

"..."

The Power Warrior Guild had discovered a lucrative business model that had nothing to do with the underwater kingdom. It was threatening... no, persuading and rescuing players stranded on wrecked ships!

"Step right up! Step right up! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We'll rescue all five of you for a bargain price! Twenty percent off!"

"W-We'll pay!"

Desperate players naturally accepted the offer. They had to shell out some gold, but it was incredibly cheap compared to the harsh death penalty!

Broad grins spread across the faces of the Power Warrior Guild members.

"I love this place!"

"I hope they keep fighting forever. Hehe."

The income was incomparable to what they made on the Central Continent! They just had to wait for a fight to break out, sail over to salvage the items, rescue the players, and pocket the gold!

The other guild members back on the continent were green with envy.

"By the way, you guys..."

"Yes?"

When Chairman Yoo called out to them, the guild members turned their heads.

"Is it really okay for you to gather this many?"

"Gather what?"

"Never mind."

"???"

Chairman Yoo waved it off and turned back to focus on his fishing. Just as the Power Warrior Guild members were having the time of their lives, Chairman Yoo was also thoroughly enjoying himself.

Ah!

The ultimate dream of a fisherman! Even though he occasionally hooked a Power Warrior Guild member by mistake, catching rare fish he had never seen before was absolutely wonderful.