Chapter 19
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 19. Transaction
Leaving the countless notifications rising behind, I headed home first.
It seems today was the hardest day of my life.
As soon as I arrived home, I checked what I received as rewards.
Skill: [Item Summon Lv1]
- * Summons 1 possessed item behind the back.
- * Can use 1 ability of the summoned item.
- * Summoned item exerts only 50% of its original power.
Custom Production?
As I said that, an explanation window appeared before my eyes.
Since only I was at home, I tapped my chest.
Hmm...
First, it seems choosing myself doesn't work.
I'll try this next time when there is a chance.
Next, I tried using the new skill 'Item Summon'.
Two weapons popped up, and I selected the Pale Moon Sword.
Then, with a vwoom sound, the Pale Moon Sword was flying behind my back.
The abilities the Pale Moon Sword possesses appeared in the selection window.
"So it's like this?"
Wow, then does it mean I can use Low-Grade Swordsmanship while holding the Mithril Greatsword?
Conversely, it means Area Slash is also possible while holding the Pale Moon Sword?
In this battle, I realized the importance of Low-Grade Swordsmanship properly.
Since my wretched body couldn't even properly do the 'S' of Swordsmanship, Low-Grade Swordsmanship was like sweet rain in a drought.
Although it only exerts 50% power, isn't this something?
I dragged my tired body to the workshop.
It is to treat my beauties who became rags.
Wait a bit?Daddy will fix you?
Like that, the sound of hammering rang in the workshop for several hours, and I fell into sweet sleep.
"Mmnnya..."
I fell asleep right there in the workshop while repairing my beauties.
Being in front of the furnace, it was warm so sleep came well.
Come to think of it, time flows differently here, right...?
Even without this, I stay in the workshop for several hours every day, so aren't I using up my lifespan several times faster than others?
Unless I really have to work, I should reduce the time in the workshop as much as possible.
Just when I'm about to shine, I might age in an instant and have to prepare for old age without even enjoying it.
That absolutely cannot happen.
Tonight, I should meet Hong Chae-yeon and dispose of the equipment that became sacrifices for making high-grade equipment all this time.
Come to think of it, the 10th Floor guide video must have been uploaded, shall I check the gallery reaction?
[Title: 10th Floor Wave Difficulty, is this for real? (+What is this crazy Barcode guy?)]
[Author: oo]
Hey, I searched the Association database and wiki, but a quest called 'Oath of Guardianship' has never existed on the 10th Floor.
Usually, it's standard to catch one Orc Chief and end it, but this tells you to protect an entire castle?
Look at the state of the mobs coming out.
Orcs, Ogres, Steel Hide Trolls...
These bastards are mobs that appear after passing the mid-20s~30s floors originally.
Not one or two, but thousands of these guys are rushing in a swarm, and they threw this to a 10th Floor newbie to block.
It's at the level where the Tower decided "You die here" and pushed his back.
But this human Barcode is even crazier.
He's grinding all that nonsensical volume alone lolol
No matter how good the gear is, it's normal to lose mentality and run away in that situation.
Look at him swinging the greatsword without blinking an eye.
His combat sense is just beyond human level.
Conclusion: The Tower gave a nonsensical difficulty, and Barcode chewed it up with skill.
"Right, it looks like crazy difficulty in your eyes too?"
My body trembled recalling the raw suffering I experienced on the 10th Floor.
Seeing comments saying beyond human level or chewed up with skill, I didn't feel bad.
Because the atmosphere is subtly acknowledging my skill.
I hummed and moved to the next post.
[Title: Wow but did you see him scattering items in the middle?]
[Author: oo]
He emptied his inventory and scattered gear to NPCs.
Looking at the sheen, seemed at least Rare grade or higher?
He just throws that...
Isn't that bastard actually a hidden son of Mansour?
If I stand in line, will he throw me one too?
[Title: 10th Floor Boss: Can't sleep because of injustice...]
[Author: oo]
Boss: No f*ck, I used the skill but why do you hit harder?
(Image of Barcode shining)
Does this make sense? lolol
What meta is killing the boss with reflection damage?
[Title: If NPCs die, does clear rank drop?]
[Author: oo]
If not that, there's no reason to protect them to that extent.
Is 'All Survival' attached to clear conditions?
Isn't it profit to just take the boss's head quickly and come out?
Why bother fixing the gate and spoon-feeding them, frustratingly.
Everyone's reaction is hot.
Rather than that, NPCs...
People who watched the video won't know, but what I saw and felt didn't feel like NPCs.
Thinking of the soldiers and commander who trembled in fear but came to help, a contented smile appeared.
"Yeah, so what if they are NPCs? Saved them anyway, right? Cheers."
Dawn when darkness settled thickly.
I pressed the [Cloak of Night Shadows] deep down and left the house.
The night air was quite chilly, but my steps were lighter than ever while my head was complicated.
What is the most important thing in a transaction?
Trust?
Loyalty?
Bullsh*t.
In the bottom where I lived, credit meant 'Money'.
The days of scanning barcodes sitting at the convenience store counter came to mind.
Boss Man-deuk.
That human said like a habit.
"Si-woo-ya, you know our store's situation, right? I'm saying this because I think of you like family...."
Talking like family my ass (sounds like f*ck).
This year's minimum wage is 20,000 won.
But this gentleman gave only 10,000 won making excuses about probation period or whatever.
I thought about stabbing him to the Labor Administration dozens of times.
I gathered all evidence, and if I reported, I could make him pay the unpaid money as well as fines.
But I quit.
Why?
Even without that, I'm doing this sh*t because I don't want my identity caught, do I have to fight in the mud?
Right now, items worth hundreds of millions are sleeping in my inventory.
Stress myself out seeing the boss's face again and going back and forth to the Labor Administration for a few million won now?
The boss bastard was despicable, but it was a waste of time and emotion.
I shook my head.
What's important is the transaction with Hong Chae-yeon I'm meeting from now on.
I intend to make her sell my goods instead.
She is taking on the troublesome work.
Then how much commission should I give?
Of course, there is no free lunch.
There must be appropriate compensation for there to be no betrayal and full loyalty.
How should I set the ratio?
8:2?
7:3?
Considering general management contracts or consignment sales commissions, that might be appropriate.
But my goods are irreplaceable 'exclusive' products.
I am A (Gap) and she is B (Eul).
"Let's go with 8 : 2."
I made a bold decision.
Honestly, just 20% of the sales proceeds is a huge amount.
"Let's throw 8 : 2 first, and if the expression isn't good, act generous and lower it to 7 : 3."
It's a perfect strategy.
Raising the corners of my mouth, I headed to the meeting place.
The meeting place was the deserted alleyway where I first met her last time.
From afar, I saw red hair shimmering under the streetlight.
Hong Chae-yeon was pacing around biting her nails as if anxious.
She wasn't crying like last time, but she still looked desperate.
I caught my breath and lowered my voice as much as possible.
Let's not forget the concept of a mysterious Maker active in the shadows.
"You came early."
When I appeared suddenly from the shadows, Hong Chae-yeon was startled and turned back.
"Mr. SW...!"
Her expression brightened in an instant.
I could check how desperate she was from her expression.
"I was waiting. Since there was no contact, I worried if you changed your mind."
"It just took some time to prepare the goods."
I crossed my arms with an arrogant attitude.
It's time to get into the main subject.
"It's as I said last time. I make the goods and you sell them. My identity is kept strictly confidential, and you handle all tax and legal issues. Is it possible?"
"Of course! I promise on my guild's honor and my everything. With Red Scale's information power and distribution network, we can handle it without any problems."
There was no hesitation in her answer.
Good, she took the bait.
Now is the timing to bring up the most important ratio story.
"And regarding profit distribution...."
I paused.
I saw Hong Chae-yeon swallowing dry saliva.
"8 to 2."
"......Yes?"
Hong Chae-yeon's eyes grew round.
Was it too strong after all?
True, after deducting taxes and whatnot, she might feel 20% is a bit salty (stingy).
I tapped the calculator quickly in my mind.
Should I correct it to 'Just kidding, let's do 7 to 3' even now?
No, if I lower my tail too hastily, the mood (Gao) won't live.
Let's hold out a bit more for now....
"Excuse me... Mr. SW?"
"What is it? Are you dissatisfied?"
When I lowered my voice and asked threateningly, she hurriedly waved her hands.
"N... No! Dissatisfied, how could that be! Absolutely not!"
Her face flushed red.
And her subsequent words completely missed my expectation.
"Just handling Mr. SW's goods is a huge profit for our guild. But how can I take 20%? I don't need profits!"
She waved her hands and shouted urgently.
"Let's just do 10 to 0! If only the potion supply is smooth, I won't receive a single penny...."
"What?"
Instantly, my eyebrow twitched.
10 to 0?
Won't receive a single penny?
Is this woman planning to make me a Man-deuk (Boss A**hole) right now?
Man-deuk's face overlapped, and anger surged up.
There is no free labor in the world.
If you worked, you should receive money, why not?
Is she planning to make me a vicious employer exploiting labor?
"Don't make me laugh!"
At my shout, Hong Chae-yeon flinched and trembled her shoulders.
"S... Mr. SW?"
"10 to 0? Won't receive a single penny? Are you kidding me right now?"
"Don't ignore my iron rule. People who work must receive proper compensation. That is my standard."
"B... But...."
"I won't accept any more objections."
Hong Chae-yeon looked at me with a blank expression.
I opened the inventory wide to not give her a chance to refute.
—Rumble!
[Iron Sword (Normal)] 50 pieces
[Iron Armor (Normal)] 30 suits
And hundreds of potions poured onto the alleyway floor.
In front of the mountain of items, Hong Chae-yeon opened her mouth wide.
"A-All of this...?"
I handed over the equipment and potions and activated the skill without a word.
[Shadow Movement]
My body melted into the darkness and disappeared in an instant.
I heard the sound of Hong Chae-yeon calling "Mr. SW...!" from behind, but I didn't stop.
Phew... I thought she would ask for more money, but she says she won't take money.
Trying to say something else later for sure.
Getting rid of the accumulated equipment made my steps back home light.
Left alone, Hong Chae-yeon stared blankly at the spot where SW disappeared.
At her feet, a mountain of items in an amount hard to even convert to money was piled up.
"......"
She couldn't close her mouth.
What just happened?
She could do this much work unpaid as much as she wanted if only she could get the potion to save her sister.
Rather, selling goods received from him was itself an act of raising the guild's fame, so there was no justification to receive money.
But SW cut her off and got angry.
As if 'I cannot make my people do free labor'.
"8 to 2... I won't accept objections..."
His firm voice hovered in her ears.
Hong Chae-yeon clutched her chest with trembling hands.
Her heart was beating strangely.
'Did he... consider me?'
If it's a capable person like SW, places to sell goods were lined up even if it wasn't her.
Let alone 8:2, there were plenty of large guilds that would accept even 9:1 while bowing down.
But he bothered to find her, and even though she declined, he nailed down that he would forcibly give 20% of the profit.
Even throwing the goods and disappearing as if running away so as not to give a chance to refuse.
"He is... a clumsy person."
A faint smile spread across Hong Chae-yeon's lips.
He armed himself with a cold tone, but hidden inside were upright beliefs not to exploit others and warm consideration.
"Not knowing he was this kind of person...."
She picked up one potion bottle scattered on the floor.
The touch of the cold glass bottle was felt, but for some reason, it was warm.
At this moment, a strange palpitation was blooming in her chest.
"Like a fool..."
In front of the pile of items under the night sky, Hong Chae-yeon swore.
That she would definitely repay the trust he showed with the best results.