Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Golden Arrow Guild Contract
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"Come in."
"The Golden Arrow Guild members have arrived."
At Shin Yu-hyun's words, the door opened with a creak, and Isia, his secretary, reported in.
"Let them in."
"Yes, sir."
Isia bowed at Shin Yu-hyun's response and stepped out of the office.
A moment later, the people here to discuss today's contract entered the office.
The contract with the Golden Arrow Guild proceeded without a hitch.
Kim Sung-hoon felt like he could finally breathe easy, knowing he'd been freed from the Black Night Wings Guild.
The other Golden Arrow Guild members felt the same.
They were stunned when the Black Night Wings' crimes came to light.
One wrong move, and they could've ended up in the same miserable state.
Not wanting to get tangled with those bastards ever again, they welcomed this contract with open arms.
'Thanks to that, it wrapped up quickly.'
Shin Yu-hyun smiled inwardly.
'The vice guild master seems sharp, too.'
Lee Ho-seong appeared to believe that Shin Yu-hyun had orchestrated the downfall of the Black Night Wings Guild.
He hadn't asked outright, but he seemed half-convinced.
Shin Yu-hyun liked that about him.
The guild master himself was too soft-hearted for his own good, but Lee Ho-seong looked like he could cover for that weakness.
Of course, things beyond their control—like the mess with Black Night Wings—could happen again, but Shin Yu-hyun planned to nip those issues in the bud from now on. No need for them to worry.
'Not bad at all.'
Shin Yu-hyun wore a satisfied smile.
Kim Sung-hoon and Lee Ho-seong probably felt the same.
No other guild would offer terms this good.
For starters, Shin Yu-hyun promised to build a Golden Arrow Guild Hall on Black Tortoise Hall grounds—facilities on par with those of the Black Tortoise Sword Division members.
The Golden Arrow Guild, which hadn't even had proper training facilities until now, looked thrilled.
Shin Yu-hyun also promised that if they recruited exceptional archers or archery guilds in the future, he'd place them under Golden Arrow's command.
'Golden Arrow should handle them well.'
These were the guys who'd cornered a single Getia member with just twelve people. Shin Yu-hyun had no doubt they'd pull their weight.
With the mutually satisfying contract signed, Kim Sung-hoon and Lee Ho-seong took their leave.
Afterward, Shuv headed out to find Dia and Ka-mang-i playing outside the Black Tortoise Hall building, while the rest went about their duties.
'Alright, time to prepare for tackling the Tower of Trials' second floor.'
Shin Yu-hyun was about to stand when—
Knock knock knock.
As if refusing to give him a break, someone knocked on the office door again.
"Hall Leader, I have something to discuss."
"What is it?"
Finance Department Head Kim Jae-hyun hesitated before cautiously speaking up.
"...Our operating funds are looking short."
"What? Did we already burn through Black Tortoise Hall's operating budget?"
Shin Yu-hyun blinked in confusion.
He'd collected plenty of magic stones from hunting magic beasts so far, and just yesterday he'd secured a permanent 3-star dungeon. There was no way funds were tight already.
"No, we're fine for now. But with the costs for the new contractees and building construction, we're projecting a shortfall."
"Ah, I see. For a second there, I thought—"
Shin Yu-hyun let out a relieved chuckle at Kim Jae-hyun's explanation.
"Don't worry about that. I'll secure more funds soon."
Kim Jae-hyun was right—new buildings would strain the budget.
But Shin Yu-hyun already had a plan.
'Just put the Black Tortoise Sword Division to work.'
He smirked.
The Black Tortoise Sword Division members were currently training hard under their division captains and Instructor Choi Hyun-seong.
Grand Dharma Protector Uncle Shin Sung-hyun even dropped by occasionally to oversee their sessions.
And they sparred against the Sabers from time to time.
They'd be noticeably stronger soon enough.
Time to send them into the field.
"I'll dispatch the Black Tortoise Sword Division to dungeons soon."
"The members?"
"Yeah. Their current skill level can handle 3-star dungeons. Real combat training against magic beasts, plus we make money. Win-win, right?"
"Hm. Makes sense."
Kim Jae-hyun nodded in agreement.
'Nothing beats grinding dungeons for real combat experience.'
Train like it's real battle. Fight like it's training.
That's how Shin Yu-hyun had grown strong.
"Once their skills improve, we can even send them to raid dungeons."
Raid dungeons were a whole different beast from regular ones. Clearing one took days.
They didn't turn permanent either.
But the rewards were massive.
'That's for later, though.'
Raid dungeons started at 4-star difficulty. Bigger scale than regular dungeons, swarming with magic beasts.
Simply put, 4-star dungeons came in regular and raid varieties.
The current Black Tortoise Sword Division couldn't handle even a regular 4-star, let alone a raid. Most were 3-star level.
So, grind 3-stars for now.
'Or clear out magic beast territories.'
Take Gangneung, seized by 6-star magic beasts. It was a goldmine.
Magic stones aside, it had Earth-rare metals like mithril, adamantite, orichalcum.
Their value dwarfed the cost of building annex halls.
But unless you had the overwhelming force to crush it, better leave it alone. Poke it wrong, and who knows what happens.
Even villains hiding in beast territories treaded carefully there.
"Don't worry about funds. I've got ways."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled reassuringly.
Once he got stronger, found one or two more Seven Arcs, bolstered his undead... he might even drive out Gangneung's beasts.
Still, further in the future.
'Worst case, ask Nam Yeon-ah for investment.'
Her personal funds had to be enormous.
"Understood."
Kim Jae-hyun nodded, thinking, 'No wonder he's recruiting mages and archers—he's got plans.'
As Kim Jae-hyun left, Shin Yu-hyun leaned back in his chair.
"Time for a short break."
Soon after, he headed to Black Tortoise Hall's underground training ground.
He had something to check before entering the Tower of Trials.
"So, what'll you pick?"
Down in the underground training ground, Shin Yu-hyun summoned one skeleton from each class.
Saber No. 1 had ditched his sword and shield for dual blades. Lancer No. 1 and Archer No. 1 still wielded their basic gray bone weapons.
He skipped the basic Skeleton Caster—no staff.
'Gotta get Lee Chae-hwa to snag a rare-grade staff later.'
Shin Yu-hyun eyed the three skeletons before him.
In front of Lancer No. 1 and Archer No. 1 lay various spears and bows on the floor.
War trophies from raiding the Iron Forge Group base and the Black Night Wings Guild.
Among them, the only rare-grade weapons: the frost bow Frost Bite and the cursed venom spear Akad.
Weapons once wielded by Iron Forge execs Ariza and Sasori.
'Wonder which ones they'll choose.'
Previously, he'd just handed them basic common-grade weapons.
No choices, no rares.
Now, the floor held everything from common to magic and rare.
Clank, clank.
Lancer No. 1 and Archer No. 1 weaved through the weapons, inspecting them.
Definitely more engaged than when just handed one.
They showed interest in the magic-grades.
Then, their steps halted.
Before them lay the glowing red cursed venom spear and the frost bow emanating icy blue chill.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Lancer No. 1 and Archer No. 1 whipped their heads back and forth between the rare weapons on the ground and their gray bone ones.
Thud.
Suddenly, they dropped their bone spear and bow to the floor.
Then picked up Akad and Frost Bite.
'These guys...'
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled wryly. He'd suspected as much.
"So you were just holding back, huh?"
Immortal King's undead skeletons, alright.
Ignoring common and magic-grade for rares? Bold as hell!
Once equipped with rare weapons, the skeletons seemed to brim with greater presence.
But unlike Saber No. 1's basic dual-wield unlock, no new messages popped for Lancer or Archer—probably because they already knew their weapons' basics.
'Nice.'
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction.
Cursed Venom Spear and Frost Bow were top-tier weapons.
If they powered up the skeletons, it was a win.
'Might be good to stockpile more weapons.'
Rares at minimum, or exceptional/unique ones. Equip the skeletons, and they could get way stronger.
Better yet, swapping weapons didn't erase their bone equipment bonuses.
Seemed like class-wide buffs.
Shin Yu-hyun stored the skeletons back in his shadow, finishing prep for the Tower of Trials.
"Alright, time to conquer the second floor?"
He no longer needed Shuv to teleport there.
Transfer ring handled it.
"Basic undead?"
That meant Ka-mang-i or the skeletons.
Kairang, White Wolf, Shuv, and Dia counted as boss-tier.
"Wanna come along, Ka-mang-i?"
Kyuu!
Ka-mang-i, with him, cried out happily.
Right then, Shin Yu-hyun activated the transfer ring.