Chapter 99
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Let's Become a Sucker! (2)
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“Looks like you’ve been working out lately.”
In the CEO’s office on the top floor of the Heukgyeon Guild building.
I started the conversation as I sipped the brown rice green tea Ju Jisan had offered me.
“Pardon? Working out?”
“You seem to have lost a lot of weight since I first saw you.”
“…”
Ju Jisan was indeed more than half as thin as he’d been when we first met.
He was already on the slender side, so now he was practically a walking skeleton.
He remained silent for a moment, his face a mask of someone holding something back, before taking a deep breath and answering.
“Hahaha, I suppose I’ve lost some weight from being so busy lately.”
“I checked the community forums, and public opinion of you is really good.”
Ju Jisan’s eyes instinctively darted to the monitor behind him.
It was obvious he’d been wrestling with the very same community posts I had seen.
“Yeees… It’s all thanks to you, VIP-nim.”
After replying, Ju Jisan glanced around nervously before clearing his throat with a *harrumph* and continuing.
“But VIP-nim, how long must we continue this… ‘kind sponsorship’?”
“Is there some kind of problem?”
“No, it’s not that it’s a problem, but…”
Ju Jisan’s eyes darted about restlessly. Well, he must be having a hell of a time these days.
He had to purchase items from me at 1.5 times the average market price, only to turn around and practically give them away for free to weak, penniless newbie hunters.
The cash cows he once exploited so viciously had long since vanished with the appearance of a VIP like me.
And under my watch, he wouldn't have the guts to create new cash cows, even if it meant risking castration.
However.
“Still, I hear you aren’t operating at a loss.”
Despite everything, Ju Jisan wasn’t exactly backed into a corner.
The Heukgyeon Guild’s reputation and public sentiment were soaring to new heights, leading to significant profits from an entirely different sector.
“The platform business you’re running, CEO Ju Jisan, is doing incredibly well right now, isn’t it?”
“…Yes, that’s, uh, right.”
The platform business, originally used as bait for predatory sponsorship contracts.
Ironically, that very business, combined with the Heukgyeon Guild’s good deeds, had started to go viral and was now growing rapidly.
This was thanks to the perfectly rational judgment that a sucker guild like this wouldn’t possibly scam people over simple daily necessities.
It was enjoying explosive popularity among the older generation with children who were hunters, especially mothers.
“Of course, it might not be as profitable as the old ‘sponsorship contracts.’ But I doubt you’re struggling for money. Am I wrong?”
Ju Jisan’s face turned a sickly green.
He clearly hadn’t expected me to see through him that far.
But what could he do? I had calculated all of this when I transformed the Heukgyeon Guild into the Sucker Guild.
A harsh whip must be followed by a sweet carrot.
The guild master before me had been dancing in the palm of my hand from the very beginning.
“You’re right. I am truly grateful to you, VIP-nim. I never imagined the platform business would become this successful.”
The soon-to-be eunuch finally bowed his head in surrender.
Seeing him like this, it seemed that while he was a bit uncomfortable, his dissatisfaction hadn't built up enough for him to want to throw in the towel just yet.
On my way here, I had checked various community forums and confirmed that the Heukgyeon Guild's public image had improved dramatically.
In a way, it was to be expected.
The Heukgyeon Guild was providing welfare benefits that even an ordinary small-to-medium-sized guild could hardly dream of, all under the guise of sponsorship.
They were performing an unprecedented act of charity.
‘At this rate, I can move on to the next stage whenever I’m ready.’
My plan to make the Heukgyeon Guild the foundation for my future activities was proceeding smoothly.
So, I decided to stop tormenting Ju Jisan for now and get to the point.
“Then I’ll trust you to continue doing a good job, CEO-nim, and I’ll state the purpose of my visit today.”
“Yes, please do.”
Ju Jisan replied, his expression resolute.
His gaze was fixed on the pouch at my waist.
After all, this was the only reason a VIP would visit the guild in person.
However, instead of untying the pouch, I opened my mouth.
“I’d like you to find some information for me. Preferably within a week.”
“Information?”
“That’s right. First, please look into dungeons where monsters that neutralize healing appear.”
“A power that neutralizes healing?”
“Yes. Monsters that reduce the effectiveness of things like heals or regeneration potions.”
Ju Jisan nodded without questioning it.
“Monsters with healing reduction abilities… That might take some time. Such monsters aren’t common. But well, if I mobilize my informants, I should be able to find something.”
“Good. Please contact me as soon as you get the information. And secondly,”
I paused for a moment before continuing.
“The Jeokryongdan.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’d like you to gather as much information as you can on the Jeokryongdan.”
Ju Jisan scratched his head and spoke.
“Uh, the Jeokryongdan, you mean the one that’s one of China’s top 10 guilds?”
“Yes.”
Obtaining information on a foreign hunter varied wildly in difficulty depending on their home country.
The easiest to check were hunters from Western countries.
In the US and Europe, in particular, the government itself created official websites that published the abilities, stats, and ranks of hunters who gave their consent.
Conversely, the country where it was most difficult to verify information was…
“Wow, this is going to take some time.”
Undoubtedly China.
Since the Great Cataclysm 30 years ago, no country had been as secretive about sharing information on Awakened Beings, gates, and dungeons as China.
All Chinese guilds, including the 10 major ones, were managed by the Party.
Naturally, the detailed abilities of their hunters were not disclosed to the outside world.
According to international treaties, they were required to release personal information for top-tier hunters registered in the world rankings, but it was widely believed that most of this was fake information presented through proxies.
“Is it possible?”
Well, that didn't mean there was no way to get information at all.
The more secretive and guarded a group was, the more frequently the secret buying and selling of its information for money tended to occur.
In that sense, the soon-to-be eunuch was someone I could trust with this task.
“Hmm, I do know a few brokers who gather information on Chinese hunters…”
Ju Jisan answered after a moment of thought.
“It will take some time, but it should be possible. Especially since the Jeokryongdan is a popular guild among the people. There’s relatively more information available on them compared to other Chinese guilds.”
“That’s a relief.”
“This may be an overstep, but may I ask why you want to know about the Jeokryongdan?”
Ju Jisan posed the question and thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers as if something had occurred to him.
“Ah, is it because of the upcoming exchange event? Are you participating in the expedition, VIP-nim?”
Just today, the news had officially broken that the exchange event would be with China’s Jeokryongdan.
Because of that, the community forums were abuzz with debate.
“I have no intention of participating, but I’ve become interested in the Jeokryongdan.”
That was all I said.
It was true that I had become interested in the Jeokryongdan. But it was to prepare for any potential mishaps.
My brief encounter with a Jeokryongdan executive in Yu Wolha’s office had been a major factor.
‘Even though I was wearing a mask, I don’t know what his abilities are, so I need to be prepared. He might have seen through the mask to my face, just like Yu Geonha.’
We had only passed by each other for a moment.
But the aura emanating from that man was by no means to be taken lightly.
Of course, it could just be my paranoia, but there was no harm in being prepared.
“I understand. I’ll look into the Jeokryongdan as well.”
“Thank you. The Heukgyeon Guild Master is truly reliable.”
Was it because he hadn't been praised in a while? Or was it because I was a VIP?
Ju Jisan, already thoroughly tamed with a perfect slave mentality, squared his shoulders and laughed.
“Hahaha, not at all. As your VIP-sponsored guild, this is the least I should do!”
Seeing the guild master’s gaunt face light up with joy, I felt a slight twinge of bitterness.
But that feeling was fleeting.
“Ah, speaking of which, VIP-nim. I was thinking of expanding the platform business a bit. I could steal dungeon information from other guilds and make and sell strategy guides…”
“Hold on.”
I smiled and cut him off, realizing this guy was still a lost cause.
It seemed he wouldn’t come to his senses until he was worked past gauntness and truly down to his bones.
“We can talk about that later. For now, let’s finish my business since I’m not done yet.”
“Business?”
Ju Jisan’s face, which had been sparkling with his new business idea, hardened.
“Yes. You see, I happened to…”
With a smile, I took out the pouch hanging from my belt.
“Get some good loot again.”
* * *
Right after selling the potions and crafted items made from Idic’s byproducts and returning from the Heukgyeon Guild.
I received an unexpected message.
[Viewer 1: Knock knock~ Hanul-nim, do you have a moment?]
“…This butler is at it again.”
A message had arrived through the status window from someone who was, by all accounts, a butler.
I was about to take the Andro summoning bead from my bracelet but instead turned on my computer.
It was obvious that even if I summoned and questioned him, he would just feign ignorance and frustrate me.
Even if I sent a broadcast-specific message, there was no telling when he’d read it, so I chose the method that would get the quickest response.
As soon as I started a private broadcast, ‘Viewer 1’ hastily joined.
“What is it this time, Butler-nim?”
[Viewer 1: Butler, you say? Hoho. I have no idea what you’re talking about, CrappyGame-nim. I’m not a butler, just a viewer who happens to be able to check on the situation in the Lord’s Castle.]
A long-winded excuse followed. If he was going to do that, he could at least not add a laugh like ‘hoho.’
He was indeed a black butler, faithful to his concept.
I cut through the unnecessary fluff and got straight to the point.
“So, what problem is the Dream Lord agonizing over this time?”
[Viewer 1: As expected of CrappyGame-nim. To think you’ve seen through everything with just a single message from me. Your insight is truly remarkable.]
“That’s because you’re such a meddler, Butler-nim.”
[Viewer 1: I am Viewer 1, CrappyGame-nim. In any case, you are correct. A problem has arisen in the Audience Chamber.]
A problem?
I quickly linked to MonMonMak to check, but nothing seemed to have changed.
Meanwhile, Viewer 1 started typing a series of messages.
[Viewer 1: Of course, my Lord wishes not to trouble you, CrappyGame-nim, and is enduring it alone, but how could I simply stand by and watch! Especially when all the problems would be solved if you were simply present, CrappyGame-nim!]
“If I were simply present…?”
Wait a minute. What did he mean by ‘if you were simply present’?
[Viewer 1: Yes. CrappyGame-nim, I can secretly open a path for you to the Audience Chamber. Of course, it will require a tremendous amount of power, but if I can alleviate my Lord’s worries and troubles by sacrificing my own body…! This Andr—no, Viewer 1 will make it happen!]
The Audience Chamber. That meant I could meet the Dream Lord.
It was an offer I had no reason to refuse.
I sat up straight and replied.
“Alright. Let’s go right now.”
[Viewer 1: Understood, CrappyGame-nim. Please wait just a moment.]
Viewer 1’s messages stopped.
*Woong!*
In the middle of my living room, a rift the size of a person appeared.
Without even turning off the computer, I stood up and walked towards it.
*Fwoosh!*
The Sage quickly attached itself to my shoulder.
Its eyes were sparkling with interest, just like mine.
‘The Audience Chamber.’
I was finally going to meet the Dream Lord.
My heart pounded with anticipation.
And the moment I stepped into the rift.
[Viewer 1: Knock knock~ Hanul-nim. If you happen to run into the Lord, you must absolutely not say the butler invited you! I’m not a butler, I’m Viewer 1!]
With the meddlesome butler’s message as the last thing I saw, my vision went black.