Chapter 75
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Shareholders' Meeting
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"The business I'm planning to launch is..."
At Ryu Min's words, the other two swallowed hard and paid close attention.
"To create a social open market exclusively for players."
"A social open market?"
"Are you talking about sites like an online auction house, or a marketplace like Amazon?"
Ryu Min nodded at the question.
"That's right. The difference is that it can only be used by players, and they'll be selling items instead of goods."
"Can items be bought and sold for cash?"
"We'll let the seller decide that when they register an item. Whether they want cash or a trade."
"A trade I can understand, but would players need cash?"
"There must be people who need money, right? And as of now, there's no proper way to do it."
"As of now? Does that mean another way will emerge later?"
Ryu Min's eyes gleamed at Ma Kyung-rok's question.
'Sharp as ever.'
He never listened to anything half-heartedly.
"That's correct. I've seen a bit of the future. I saw people over level 40 trading gold instead of cash."
"Gold?"
The two, who had not yet reached level 40, didn't even know a trading function existed.
Naturally, they had never considered that gold could be traded.
"A trading function becomes available at level 40. With this function, players can trade gold amongst themselves. As an intermediary site, we just need to build a system that allows them to trade gold safely. While taking cash or gold as a commission, of course."
"Hmm..."
Ma Kyung-rok crossed his arms, lost in thought.
'A social market for players... Not bad.'
First of all, since no one else had created one, it had the first-mover advantage.
If it hit big, they could establish a monopolistic market in this sector.
His mind was leaning toward the positive, but Ma Kyung-rok didn't let it show.
He still needed to approach this cautiously.
"If we really open a social market, will people use it?"
"Players have accumulated a fair number of items while clearing the current 5th round. As you know, items dropped from monsters can't be sold to the shop, so they're probably wondering what to do with them."
"So you're saying if we create a market where they can trade items at a time like this, players will welcome it with open arms?"
"Precisely. Besides, most are now over level 20, and with the new combination function, everyone will be wanting to try out recipes with various items. What if a site appears where they can easily buy those items?"
"People would flock to it."
"Yes. Now is the perfect time."
Ma Kyung-rok nodded in agreement.
There was no need to hear any more.
'The Prophet is right. If we build the system well, we can hit the jackpot.'
As for attracting users, they could just hire reporters to publish articles or use an advertising agency.
'The important thing is accessibility. We need to develop an app in advance so players can use it easily.'
All sorts of ideas popped into Ma Kyung-rok's head.
"What do you think about creating an auction system? We could let people post items directly and have everyone participate, driving up the value of specific items."
"That's a good idea. It would be great for sparking the players' interest."
"And how about this? In the beginning, we let people register items without a commission fee to draw them in. We could also create a ranking system that gives benefits to more active traders."
"That's also a great idea."
Ryu Min grinned at Ma Kyung-rok's proactive attitude.
'He must really like the business I proposed.'
It was certainly a promising venture.
An era where players would become the mainstream was coming.
Above all, the fact that it would be the first of its kind must have been appealing.
'And with me, the Prophet, guaranteeing it, he has no choice but to go for it.'
Creating a market for players would also benefit Ryu Min.
He would be able to acquire necessary items easily.
'Combination material items whose uses are currently unknown. I need to monopolize them in advance.'
If he bought up the materials, he could craft not just Unique, but even Legendary and God-grade items without difficulty.
"We've decided on a social market as the business type, so what should we change the company name to?"
"Do you have anything in mind?"
Ryu Min asked, but Ma Kyung-rok shook his head.
"Please disregard my thoughts. At times like this, we must proceed according to the future you've seen, Prophet. Besides, aren't you the one with the ultimate management rights in our company?"
"Haha..."
It wasn't untrue, so Ryu Min didn't back down.
"Hmm, then how about this? We'll call it Player Place, as in, a place for players."
"PlePle... It has a nice ring to it. I think it's a good name."
Ma Kyung-rok wasn't sure if it was actually good, but since it came from the Prophet, he considered it absolutely right.
"By the way, I have another idea. Would you mind hearing me out?"
"Yes, go ahead."
Ma Kyung-rok enthusiastically discussed the business.
Ryu Min mostly listened, evaluating and deciding like a final authority, saying whether he liked an idea or not.
The two talked so intently that the sound of the office clock's second hand was drowned out.
Before they knew it, evening had fallen.
"Oh... it's gotten so late already. Would you like to have dinner together?"
"No, I'll eat at home. My sister is waiting for me."
"Ah, is that so?"
Ma Kyung-rok looked genuinely disappointed.
It seemed he had quite enjoyed discussing business with Ryu Min.
"How long will it take to build the system and launch it?"
"At the earliest, it should take about a month."
"So it'll be after the 6th round."
Ryu Min nodded.
A month wasn't too late.
"Speaking of which, I'll give you some information about the 6th round."
"Oh, that's welcome news."
Genuinely delighted, Ma Kyung-rok leaned in.
Ahn Sang-chul, standing beside him, pretended to be indifferent but focused on Ryu Min's voice.
Soon, Ryu Min began to explain the 6th round.
He pointed out things to be wary of and suggested strategic approaches.
After hearing all the information, Ma Kyung-rok's eyes lit up with interest.
"Hmm, so cooperation is needed in the 6th round as well. I've listened well. Thank you for the information, Prophet."
"Don't mention it."
Ma Kyung-rok, who had been bowing politely, smiled to himself.
-I was right to keep the Prophet on my side. Thanks to him, everything feels like it's falling into place. Both in the real world and the other world.
His thoughts were transmitted, but Ryu Min pretended not to notice.
Ma Kyung-rok probably had no idea.
That his thoughts were being read, word for word, by the Prophet right in front of him.
"Then we'll proceed with the business plan as discussed today. I will convene an extraordinary shareholders' meeting as soon as possible to get the agenda approved. You'll have to come and explain the business then too, Major Shareholder Ryu Min. Will that be alright?"
He was asking if Ryu Min was okay with standing before people and explaining.
"Yes, that's fine."
"Understood. I'll contact you as soon as the date for the shareholders' meeting is set. Manager Ahn."
"Yes, Representative."
"Please escort the Prophet home personally. While you're at it, stop by Actress Seo's house and share the information."
"Understood. Shall we go, Prophet?"
* * *
A few days later.
As midnight struck, Ryu Min opened the shop window as if he had been waiting.
★Today's Item★
[Wanderer's Ragged Clothes]
- Category: Armor
- Grade: Epic
- Defense: 1
- Effect: Attack Speed +30%, Movement Speed +30%
- Durability: 1,000/1,000
- Usage Restriction: Regular Grade or higher
- Description: Dirty, tattered clothes that can no longer serve their function. However, they have their merits.
<Purchase Price: 20,000 Gold>
The Epic item he had been waiting for had appeared.
'The defense is garbage, but its attack and movement speed are outstanding.'
The price was a whopping 20,000 gold.
A price that would feel burdensome to any other player.
'An Epic item for 20,000 gold... what a steal.'
But for Ryu Min, who was overflowing with money, it was no blow at all.
'Until the social market is established, I have no choice but to rely on the shop's items.'
Later, when the business flourished and item trading became active, he wouldn't even need to glance at the shop.
He could just buy any item he needed from the market.
'Then, I'll be able to combine and create as many Unique or higher-grade items as I want.'
The shop only sold items up to the Epic grade at best.
Anything higher had to be made through combination, but finding those recipes was no easy task.
'But I have most of the combination recipes memorized.'
It was because he had checked every single [Blueprint] item, which contained the recipes, over his repeated regressions.
'If it weren't for the Blueprint items, even I wouldn't have known all those combination recipes.'
A Blueprint was a simple information item that listed the combination recipe for a specific item.
'For now, people have to experiment by combining this and that since there are no Blueprints...'
Later, as the existence of Blueprint items became known, more and more people would start searching for them first.
There was a limit to finding recipes by mindlessly combining random things.
'Moreover, certain Blueprints are traded for extremely high prices. Even though they only contain a recipe.'
Imagine learning the recipe for a God-grade item that was otherwise impossible to obtain.
Wouldn't you want to buy it, even for a fortune?
'Plus, once you have the information, you can resell it to others.'
That's how valuable information about combination recipes was.
'To me, who already knows everything, Blueprints are utterly useless items.'
By that logic, the information Ryu Min possessed had a value that was practically infinite if converted to money.
'If my predictions are correct, I should be able to craft a God-grade item before the 11th round.'
Smiling, Ryu Min lay down on his bed.
An extraordinary shareholders' meeting was scheduled for 10 AM.
To attend on time, he needed to go to sleep now.
'As the major shareholder and the one with ultimate management rights, I can't miss the shareholders' meeting.'
Ryu Min closed his eyes early.
Sleep slowly washed over him.
* * *
Murmur, murmur-
The shareholders' meeting hall was crowded with people.
They were all investors in Cheonma Consulting.
"Please take a copy of the company materials here and fill the seats from the front."
At the entrance, Ahn Sang-chul handed a small booklet to the arriving shareholders.
It was a booklet introducing the company's management policies, past performance data, operating profits, and so on.
The shareholders who went inside tossed the booklets aside and stared only at the podium.
They already knew today's agenda from the convocation notice.
There was no way they would be interested in some booklet.
'What? They're changing the business type and the company name?'
'Where's the damn CEO?'
'Let's just hear what he has to say.'
The shareholders were steeling themselves for the representative's appearance.
If he said anything they couldn't accept, they planned to pull their investments the moment they walked out of the hall.
Time passed, many people gathered, and the appointed hour of 10 AM arrived.
Right on time, Ma Kyung-rok, dressed in a neat suit, stepped onto the podium.
"Good morning, shareholders. I am Ma Kyung-rok, the representative of Cheonma Consulting and the chairman for today's meeting."
The applause that would normally erupt at this point was absent.
Smiling as if he had expected this reaction, Ma Kyung-rok declared the meeting open and quickly moved to the main topic.
"The reason we have convened this extraordinary shareholders' meeting today is, as you all know, to address a matter of great importance."
The hall was silent.
It even felt chilly.
"This may be sudden, but our company intends to change its business from consulting and, along with that, change the company name."
"Hah."
Perhaps because they heard it directly from the representative's mouth, sighs erupted from all over.
It was a natural reaction.
They had invested in the vision of a company called Cheonma Consulting, only for it to suddenly announce a change of course.
The shareholders couldn't help but feel bewildered and dumbfounded.
"Things were going so well, so why this sudden nonsense?"
"What kind of business are you even planning to change to?"
"Just stick to consulting like you've been doing!"
"Now, now, please calm down."
A few shareholders who couldn't hold back caused a commotion, but Ma Kyung-rok didn't lose his smile.
"First, regarding the change in business type, our new major shareholder, who has acquired a 51% stake and thus the ultimate management rights, will speak. Major Shareholder?"
At Ma Kyung-rok's call, a person walked up onto the podium.
"Good morning. I am Ryu Min, and I have recently acquired the management rights of Cheonma Consulting."
The shareholders who saw Ryu Min were all shocked.
Because a fresh-faced young man, who looked barely twenty, was claiming to be the one with ultimate management rights.