Chapter 365
Chapter 365
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 365
Chapter Title: Famous Realm (3)
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Rumble.
Establishing the White Soul Tower wasn't all that difficult.
As soon as Rokan scouted out a suitable plot of land on the surface and designated it, a massive tower rose up there all on its own.
The tower took shape without any construction work whatsoever.
Of course, it wasn't in the capital or any major stronghold.
Who knew when those sinister ghosts might come stabbing them in the back?
The White Soul Tower was built deep in human territory—somewhere safe, but not a place many people frequented.
Just one.
After meticulously reviewing every condition for potential contingencies, exactly one White Soul Tower was established.
[Level up.]
[Incredible achievement! You are the first human to form an alliance with the Famous Realm.]
[Acquired title: Ally of the Pale Flame King.]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Unique][First][Ally of the Pale Flame King]
A title signifying your alliance with the Pale Flame King, one of the rulers of the Famous Realm.
Should the alliance with the Pale Flame King be broken, this title may be revoked.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-Immunity to hostility from Famous Realm entities
-Reputation increase in all regions managed by the Pale Flame King
-Intelligence +50
-Mental Strength +50
His level went up by one the moment the White Soul Tower was built. But the title was practically trash.
As expected from the Famous Realm—they really knew how to skimp. Aside from the non-hostility effect they'd advertised upfront, the rest were pretty useless.
On top of that, the title vanished if the alliance broke? Pretty petty for a quest reward.
That's why he pocketed the 50 million coins without a second thought.
Sure, there was a 30% tax on the White Soul Tower's revenue, but hey, they were offering it, right?
50 million coins were chump change to Rokan anyway, but you never knew when trouble might strike, so best to grab what he could.
"Build shop."
And so, Rokan's shop was constructed in the Famous Realm too.
In case the alliance with the Pale Flame King fell through and he had to abandon it, he didn't invest much effort.
He kept it simple—just enough to recoup costs in a few days—stocked it with items, and called it done.
Specifically, "tamer" items sold on the surface. More precisely, pets and eggs he'd bought and filled it with.
Why else would Famous Realm denizens risk invading the Phantom Demon Realm? To acquire physical bodies, of course.
The ghosts—who had lost their flesh—were obsessively fixated on it. Enough to invade the Phantom Demon Realm, risking annihilation.
Considering that, a pet's body might seem frail, but it was the easiest way for them to gain a physical form.
Their souls were mighty, after all; they'd overcome the body's weakness in no time.
"Wow?"
And that hunch paid off. The moment he stocked the shop, the items flew off the shelves.
They hesitated at first, worried about weakening, but ghosts driven by base instinct couldn't be expected to show much patience.
Once a few shelled out big coin for pets and possessed them, the rest panicked that stock might run out and snapped up everything.
Here's the trick Rokan pulled.
With the ghosts' consent after possession, he relocated them to the surface.
"Pretty profitable."
The instant they possessed the pets, the original pet souls died, turning them into full-fledged pets. He shipped them topside to find new owners.
In exchange? Everything they had.
If they picked an owner while holding onto stuff, it all transferred anyway, so handing over every last coin was no issue.
Then Rokan sold those ghost-possessed pets to users at premium prices.
Their soul tiers were downgraded to match the body's limits, but like unsealing a seal, they'd regain power as the body strengthened—endless potential.
Sure, skills would be limited to mental types, but those were solid skills in their own right.
Rare ones at that, so users had no reason to complain.
The one concern? Pets getting too overpowered later. But even that was fine—ghosts level 400+ trying to possess caused the body to burst.
Even if they fully regained power, they'd top out at high master rank.
If they leveled up steadily like Kai past 400, maybe they'd surpass their old strength, but how many would actually manage that?
No need to worry.
[Acquired Pale Flame King's Wish Token.]
That wrapped it up, leaving two rewards.
The Pale Flame King's gift and the wish token.
It had restrictions like some weakling's half-hearted wish, but it seemed usable enough.
[Acquired Random Soul Skill Chest.]
"Random skill chest?"
"Kekeke. Well? Fun, right? I hear humans love this sort of thing."
And finally, the random soul skill chest.
A random box containing a soul-type skill, given as a gift.
Offering a random chest mostly full of duds to the bitter end. Good thing he hadn't trusted them.
If he'd bitten at the start, he'd have built and protected the White Soul Tower for nothing.
Rokan tossed the random chest into his inventory and bid the Pale Flame King farewell.
"Huh? Not opening it now?"
"I'll handle it my way. Butt out."
Why give the bastard any entertainment by opening it here?
Since he hadn't expected much anyway, Rokan shrugged it off and hit the road.
He left the Pale Flame King's territory quick, not wanting to deal with the taunting.
"Can't just leave empty-handed."
He'd left the Pale Flame King's domain, but not the Famous Realm entirely. Why abandon a honey pot like this?
While setting things up per their contract, he'd picked up a side quest to hunt neighboring territories' ghosts.
[Soul Collection][Quest]
Collect Soul Orbs.
-Completion condition: Collect Soul Orbs
-Completion reward: Rewards scaled by number of Soul Orbs collected
-Progress reward: 1.1x experience gain during quest
The soul collection quest.
Gather the Soul Orbs left behind when ghosts died, and the Pale Flame King would resurrect them as his subjects. Mutual benefit.
Rokan got extra EXP, the Pale Flame King grew his flock.
Sure, he'd have to see that ugly mug again on completion, but it was just annoying, not a big deal.
"Mass Slaughter."
Boom boom boom!
Rokan's flurry tore the ghost's spirit body apart.
The severed parts vaporized like evaporating mist, ultimately leaving just one orb.
A Soul Orb.
Each one collected slowly filled his EXP bar.
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
A week. After exactly one week holed up hunting, he leveled up again.
Level 435.
450 was right around the corner now.
"Hm?"
Following the route the Pale Flame King provided, Rokan tilted his head while collecting Soul Orbs.
This one should've dropped a Soul Orb, but it was different.
Not white, but pitch black, radiating ominous energy.
[Orb of Grudge][Quest Starter Item]
Putting this orb in your mouth will trigger the quest.
'No matter that it's candy-sized, they want me to put this in my mouth?'
Felt off. Looked straight-up inedible.
As a quest starter, it probably inherited the grudge of the ghost he'd just killed, but he had no clue on rewards and zero interest in that without knowing.
'Which one was it?'
For now, he recalled the ghost he'd slain.
Knight class, sword wielder. Level barely scraping past 400.
Face... regrettably fuzzy. With how many ghosts he'd killed, no way he'd remember each one.
Remembered it being poisonously venomous despite not being a berserker. Felt like something to steer clear of, but curiosity nagged too.
"Hmm, maybe?"
So Rokan pulled a little cheat.
"Nightmare, summon."
He summoned Nightmare and tossed it the Orb of Grudge.
Reading his intent, Nightmare snapped it up.
[Curse of the Vengeful Spirit activates.]
[The curse has no effect on Nightmare.]
[Nothing happens.]
As expected—curse triggered on contact, but against Nightmare? Master of curses and nightmares. Curse nullified, quest window remained.
[Moteron's Grudge 1][Quest]
Avenge the heavenly knight Moteron, who met an unjust end.
-Success condition: Investigate heavenly knight Moteron 0/1
-Success reward: ???
-Failure penalty: None (curse nullified)
"Hmm."
He'd uncovered the quest, at least. But reward was ???, and as a chain quest, no clue on follow-ups.
Take it? Heavenly knight was unexpected and intriguing, but seemed like a hassle.
"Accept."
Gulp.
After a moment's thought, Rokan accepted it.
Penalty was already gone, no time limit—why not?
He could investigate slowly; if it sucked, just drop it.
Filed it away in memory and dove back into ghost hunting.
"Hm, time to bounce?"
Nearly a month glued to the Famous Realm. Two more levels, but Rokan decided to leave.
Leveling slowed, and his rampage made mob farming tough.
Even the Famous Realm rulers like the Pale Flame King sent warnings to chill out.
No need to make enemies, so he shifted territories, but ghost hunting was getting stale.
A month of nonstop grinding for two levels? No reason to stick around.
"Abandon quest."
Time to leave the Famous Realm. Cross the border to the next world.
Decision made, Rokan canceled the soul collection quest last.
It failed, but no penalty.
At worst, Pale Flame King's favor dipped?
No harm picking a fight, but with what he'd taken, he wanted one last troll.
"Evil Spirit Domination."
Quest gone, but items remained.
Soul Orbs galore.
Inventory so stuffed it nearly burst; he'd dumped extras constantly. The count he held was insane.
Enough to tempt any Famous Realm king.
That's why he used Evil Spirit Domination to capture ghosts, then sent messengers to all.
Gather at the Famous Realm border where he was.
A mere human bossing around world kings? Insolent. But turnout was 100%. He had what they wanted.
"Everyone here? Let's get started."
Rokan kicked off an auction with his massive haul of Soul Orbs.