Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Sealing the Deal
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"Well, did you enjoy the tour?"
As they exited the warehouse and returned to the building, Charlson greeted the two of them.
Standing beside him were the gatekeeper Woojin had clashed with earlier and a hulking man neither had seen before.
"I've heard a lot about Agen Trading Company, and the warehouse lives up to the rumors. Impressive stock."
"Heh, of course. These are the treasures I've spent my life collecting."
On the table next to Charlson sat the Scales of the Earth.
"But nothing worth taking."
Woojin glanced at it dismissively before speaking.
"Did you even check properly? Those items are rare even on the Central Continent."
Charlson seemed flustered by Woojin's cold response, contrary to his own expectations.
"I saw everything, and nothing caught my eye. How about we wrap up the rest of the deal?"
Woojin set the key down in front of him.
"That thing has proper authorization, right?"
Charlson's expression stiffened for a moment before relaxing.
"Keh, sharp as a tack, aren't you?"
Charlson picked up the key with a grin.
"Don't worry. The Scales are a consumable. They vanish after use, so no permit needed."
"Get the permit. Properly."
"...What?"
"Consumable or not, make it official. Unlike the smuggled junk in your warehouse, I want something legitimate."
BAM!!
The gnome's small fist slammed the table with surprising force.
"Smuggled junk? You, who hasn't even set foot on the Central Continent... judging my life's masterpieces like that?!"
"Masterpiece or not, if it can't be used, it's trash."
"You arrogant punk...! I was going to write you a permit for whatever you wanted. And you spit on my generosity like this?!"
"Where's the permit?"
"What?"
"You'd say it's fine. No permit needed for smuggled goods in the Dark Forest. But after?"
Woojin smiled at him.
"After rescuing your son? Or when we head to the Central Continent?"
BAM!!
Woojin's fist made an even louder thud.
"Who told you that? 'Those who get drunk on the power of divine tools end up dead,' right?"
Ratan's warning.
He hadn't expected to repeat it, but no words fit the situation better.
"The moment you mistake a divine tool's power for your own, you can't let it go. That's what you're aiming for, isn't it?"
"Nonsense. I just wanted to provide a better tool as your partner!"
"Then use it."
"...What?"
"Write a permit for any divine tool in that warehouse, right now."
Gulp.
Charlson's throat bobbed.
That was answer enough.
"No tricks."
Woojin pocketed the Scales of the Earth from the table.
"Think carefully, Charlson. You've started our deal on the wrong foot. Whether I bring back your son or his corpse is up to you."
"...Are you threatening me? I told you I'm recruiting others to raid the Ice Cavern if you back out."
"Sure. The question is whether your son survives until they gather."
Charlson fell silent.
"Isn't that why you want my help?"
"Heh, heh."
At Woojin's words, he raised both hands in surrender and shook his head.
"You're right. Forgive my rudeness."
His subordinates—and even Luen—couldn't hide their shock as Charlson bowed to Woojin.
He opened a drawer in the bookshelf beside the table and began writing something.
"This is the permit for the Scales. And..."
Along with a worn sheet of paper from the shelf came a necklace embedded with a blue gem.
For players tackling the Labyrinth Tower, resistance gear was essential.
Items that halved elemental damage were rare even on the Central Continent.
It would fetch a fortune at the auction house.
"This it?"
"...What?"
Anyone would be tempted, but Woojin pocketed only the permit with a disdainful look.
"The warehouse was full of far better stuff. Trying to pawn this off? I'd have given a permit for something real."
"Hrrm..."
Charlson's face crumpled further.
'Damn... I misjudged. Adventurers usually go blind for treasure... What is this guy?'
He sighed deeply.
"Fine. If you complete this job successfully, I'll issue a permit for any item in the warehouse."
'Once my second son returns, I can deal with him later. Cocky bastard...'
He nodded firmly and spoke to Woojin.
"So?"
"...So what?"
"You expect a verbal agreement?"
"Got it! Fine. I can't win this. Are you really an adventurer?"
Charlson fetched a scroll from the shelf and handed it to Woojin.
Woojin checked the details and finally nodded.
"Now it feels like a deal. We'll be off."
"W-Wait! Leave that behind!"
"Why?"
"...N-No, never mind."
Woojin brazenly took the necklace from the table and left the room.
"Hoo..."
Only after exiting the building did Luen press a hand to her chest and exhale the breath she'd been holding.
"We just talked. Why am I so exhausted? Feels like I aged half a year."
"It wasn't just talk."
Woojin chuckled at her words.
"Deals are fought with words sharper than blades."
"How are you so good at it, Master?"
"Eh... It's what I've always done."
"Before adventuring?"
"Something like that."
'It's been ages since I had a real war of words.'
Unlike the tense Luen, Woojin had found the exchange with Charlson oddly enjoyable.
It reminded him of himself as Kim Woojin, not Khan.
"Hope everyone's doing well!"
Entering the inn from the message, Peron welcomed them.
"Job done?"
"Yes. Spotted tails leaving Parta. Handled them quietly."
Woojin nodded.
Few in the Dark Forest could match Peron.
"You look different."
"Haha, all thanks to you, bro. Never dreamed you'd leave me 50 gold."
"Shopping spree, huh."
Peron's gear had upgraded noticeably.
New pieces layered over his old armor, and a gem adorned his sword hilt.
"Gotta look sharp for Agen Trading. Stay on your toes—Charlson's no ordinary NPC."
"Know. Just came from there."
"You went?!"
Peron sighed regretfully.
"Why go alone? Should've taken me. Hope he didn't rip you off."
"Just took it."
"...Pardon?"
"Necklace too."
"No way... for free?"
"For now."
Peron gaped at the Sapphire Necklace in Woojin's hand.
'What the hell did this guy do?'
Charlson of Agen was infamous in the community as a sleazy NPC.
Handing out free items? Unheard of.
"Dude!! I can't respect you enough!!"
Woojin shoved off Peron's clinging head and asked,
"Peron, what's your level?"
"49. Holding back from 50 on purpose."
"Perfect. Fancy some real adventuring for once?"
"Real adventuring?"
"Hold up!! Ice trolls and ogres?! No way! I'm out! Can't do it!!"
Peron shot up, bowed to Woojin, and bolted for the door.
"Guided you to White Flower Curve—job's done. See ya..."
"Know the Uldoa Union?"
"...Pardon?"
"Their guy Gareth came here to conquer the new dungeon."
Peron's hand froze on the doorknob, turning stiffly.
"...Uldoa Union?"
Like Kimchan, Peron—who tracked Evil Tail clans—couldn't hide his curiosity.
"Leveled down for it, too."
His hand dropped naturally.
"Ice Cavern's a new dungeon. If I'm right, nothing like previous Dark Forest ones."
Charlson's Request
▶ Grade: B
▶ Rescue Charlson's second son from the Ice Cavern.
▶ Minimum party: 1
▶ Maximum party: 30
Different from his previous quests.
From that, Woojin inferred the Ice Cavern's nature.
'Party size on the quest.'
Up to 30 for rescuing the son meant...
"Ice Cavern's a raid dungeon."
"...For real?"
Peron asked incredulously.
"My quest allows up to 30 simultaneously. That number ring a bell?"
"...Raid party size."
"Exactly."
"Thought raids were Central Continent only... In the Dark Forest?"
"Not just any new dungeon. Why else would Gareth level down for it?"
No matter the rewards, it was still Dark Forest level.
Worth a Central Continent player leveling down?
"Not the quest. Something else."
"No way... Conqueror reward?"
"Bingo."
Conqueror: Honor for the first team to clear a dungeon.
"Newbies like us never get the chance."
Woojin eyed Peron.
"Gonna pass on this golden opportunity?"
"...You don't worry about failing?"
"Why would I?"
"..."
Peron stared at Woojin.
His eyes said: Need more explanation?
"Urgh...!!"
He grimaced and flung open the door.
"Where to?"
"Where else? Selling this junk!"
Peron waved his gaudy sword.
"Can't go naked. Need cold resistance gear!!"
Woojin chuckled.