Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Blanc Clan's Guild House
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Blanc Clan's Guild House.
"Wasn't too hard, right?"
Woojin leaned back in his chair as he took the materials, then looked up. Peron and his subordinates nodded with awkward smiles.
"Yes, yes! The Enzyme Bracers were luckily available at the auction house, and the Battle Bee's Stinger was procured right away by the subordinates."
"Good. But......"
Woojin glanced slyly ahead as he checked the notifications.
"One's missing?"
"Th-that......"
Peron hesitated at his question.
"The Scales of the Earth is something we can't acquire."
"Why?"
"Because...... the Scales of the Earth has an acquisition difficulty of three stars. From three stars onward, you can only get them on the Central Continent."
Peron pulled a map from his bosom.
"As you can see here, the Scales of the Earth can be obtained from the Snowfield of Fierce Battles in the southern part of the Central Continent."
"Snowfield of Fierce Battles...... Does that mean I have to go to Yongmoru?"
Yongmoru was a dungeon inhabited by monsters crafted through mechanical engineering by the ancient gnomes known as the Steel Clan.
The recommended level was 55 to 60.
It was no easy place.
"Yes. Our investigation showed it's a material dropped by the boss monster Gurtas of Yongmoru."
"Hmm......"
Woojin frowned slightly at his answer.
'Even just leveling up to 50 and heading to the Central Continent will take quite some time......'
"Any other way?"
"By principle, the auction houses for the Dark Forest and Central Continent are separate, so trading between them is impossible."
"By principle, sure. But the traps you used were Central Continent items, weren't they?"
"Th-that......"
'As expected, sharp eyes.'
Peron nodded with a look like he'd been caught red-handed.
"Haha, traps are common items. Plus, there's no level restriction. You can't list them on the auction house, but you can bring them personally or receive them via mailbox......"
He glanced at Woojin before continuing.
"The Scales of the Earth is a three-star rarity material. In terms of grade, it's B-rank, so even bringing it personally is impossible."
Even though the guild house was empty, Peron unnecessarily scanned the surroundings.
"But there is one way."
He lowered his voice a bit more.
"Buying smuggled goods."
"Smuggled goods?"
Woojin tilted his head.
'Smuggling......?'
Peron's explanation left him speechless.
"Unbelievable. Even smuggling happens in a game?"
"Ehh...... Aren't people the same everywhere? Well, it's a method unknown to players."
"Doesn't seem like something to brag about."
"Kek, once you're an expert at anything, you can make a living from it."
Unlike his arrogant demeanor at their first meeting, Peron now bowed his head deeply as he spoke.
"Have you heard of Agen Trading Company, by any chance?"
Peron pulled out a chair from under the table and sat down, his voice growing a bit excited as he continued.
"It's a company run by gnomes at Stonewater Port on the eastern side of the Central Continent."
"I've heard of it. A guild consisting only of NPCs...... right?"
"That's right."
Various factions existed on the Central Continent.
Clans and unions were naturally dominated by players.
But as time passed, players had become involved even in the operations of kingdoms and cities, which were originally part of the game's lore.
Some had become nobles through hidden quests, while others infiltrated the world as guards protecting cities or managers of noble estates.
'At this point, it's fair to say that Evil Tail has built a world where players—the outsiders—and the continent's natives, the NPCs, live together.'
Yet Agen Trading Company was unique in that it had never accepted even a single player to this day.
"That's because Agen handles trades for nearly every consumable on the Central Continent."
From herbs and potions to alchemy materials and magic tools...... it was practically a place where nothing was missing.
'There are those with production-class traits, but 99% of players are adventurers.'
A few joined factions, but the vast majority aimed to conquer the Labyrinth Tower.
It was only natural.
Most people played games to experience things like hunting and combat that they couldn't in everyday life.
The higher the level, the more materials and restoratives were needed, but few players actually produced them.
'In games, buying potions from shops feels normal......'
But Evil Tail wasn't an ordinary game.
In some ways, it was more real than reality itself.
'Because it's not just about hunting and quests—it's a world where money changes hands.'
This was separate from the matter at hand, but for the first time in a while, Woojin's eyes sharpened with the gaze of a seasoned businessman.
'There might be a chance to make use of this someday......'
No one knew the terror of monopoly power better than he did.
"So you're saying Agen is smuggling now too?"
"Yes. The ban on trade between the Dark Forest and Central Continent applies only to players."
"How do I meet them?"
Peron twitched his eyebrow as he spoke.
"Do you know of Baekhwagok?"
He had heard of it before.
A small village right below the dimensional gate leading to the Central Continent.
It had originally been a rest stop for those crossing between continents.
But at some point, mid-level players who couldn't adapt to the Central Continent began gathering there.
"It's where failures who graduated from the Dark Forest but lack the ability to survive on the Central Continent congregate."
From those expelled from parties for lack of skill, to those who lost their gear to PK, or fugitives who fled after warrants were issued......
"They gathered for all sorts of reasons, but they're all people who've set foot on the Central Continent. No courage to level a new character, but they still want to play, so they settle there."
People called the place one thing.
"The Village of Failures."
That made it the most secretive and clandestine spot on the continent.
"But it's not easy. Getting to Baekhwagok is one issue, and buying smuggled goods requires......"
He formed a circle with his thumb and index finger.
"A ton of money."
"How much?"
"Well, for a B-grade material, at least 300 gold, I'd say?"
"3—300 gold?!"
Luen shouted in shock at Peron's words.
And rightly so—when players hit level 50 in the Dark Forest and moved to the Central Continent, the amount they'd typically saved was around 20 gold at best.
"The price gap between the Central Continent and Dark Forest is enormous. Unless you're dropping real cash...... it's tough."
"How about this?"
Thud—
It was then.
Woojin pulled something out in front of him.
It was a large gem he'd never seen before.
"What's this?"
"Take a look."
Peron examined the gem Woojin had taken out with a puzzled expression.
"......!!!"
At that moment, his eyes went wide.
"Cough! Ke—kek!!!"
Too shocked, he choked while trying to speak and let out a fit of coughing.
"An item that raises magic rank...... I've never seen anything like this."
Peron marveled at the [Dragon Mana Stone], turning it over several times before speaking to Woojin.
"Planning to sell this."
"Whoa...... You're serious?"
Unlike Peron, who looked regretful, Woojin had brought the [Dragon Mana Stone] from storage with the intent to sell it from the start.
'As Ilurin said, there are far better ones out there.'
And as if to prove it, the prefix "low-grade" was attached to the [Dragon Mana Stone].
'If low-grade exists, then high-grade must too.'
There was no need to be swayed by its immediate effects—he just had to wait and acquire something better.
"Peron, do you know why I spared you that day?"
"Well...... Because you needed a subordinate?"
"Half right."
"Haha...... Then what's the other half?"
Peron smiled awkwardly at Woojin.
"Your information network."
"......My information network?"
"Yeah. There are few in the Dark Forest who've set foot on the Central Continent. Honestly, I'm impressed by your abilities."
"Haha, it's not much of an ability. I just handled odd jobs on orders from the Central Continent, that's all."
"So? You don't plan to rot away in the Dark Forest doing odd jobs forever, do you?"
"......Pardon?"
At that moment, Peron's eyes wavered.
He had taken on Woojin's assassination commission in the first place to safely cross over to the Central Continent, teeming with massive clans.
"Really...... Do you want to join hands? What makes you trust me enough...... to say this?"
"I'm not trusting you yet. It's just a proposal—you have to prove you're worth it from here on out."
Woojin pointed at the [Dragon Mana Stone] and told Peron.
"Sell this for me."
"Entrusting it to me? I could just run off with it. Sell it and start a new account."
"True. You could. But then you wouldn't get to go to the Central Continent with me."
"......With you?"
Gulp—
Peron swallowed dryly without realizing it.
'What an amazing guy.'
It had only been two meetings at most.
And those were tied to a kill-or-be-killed commission.
Instead of seeking revenge, he was offering to team up......
But what amazed Peron wasn't Woojin's magnanimous attitude.
He couldn't understand why the words of a mere level 35 felt so trustworthy as a backer......
'His strength is beyond common sense, sure......'
But he was just one man.
'Beating Colson was huge, but Genesis Unit is full of guys stronger than that.'
Challenge the Central Continent, packed with clans of hundreds, relying on one person?
It was nonsense.
And yet......
"Can I believe you?"
Peron realized he was falling for this absurd proposal.
"After you prove your ability, sure?"
"......Understood."
Peron tucked the [Dragon Mana Stone] into his bosom.
"Any expected price in mind?"
"Why? Planning to hit that price?"
Peron smirked at his words.
"No. Whatever you expect, I'll bring back more."