Greed Realized – The Holy Water Auction
After obtaining the Holy Grail, I realized just how greedy I really was.
The desire to maximize profits with holy water.
The desire to win over the world's public opinion.
I couldn't let go of a single one.
Exploit the situation set up by America, China, and Japan?
Do the same and dominate other nations with holy water?
Honestly, becoming the world's richest person would just be a matter of time.
But I couldn't do that.
As I said before, playing the lifeblood trade game would make me no different from those American, Chinese, and Japanese bastards.
Plus, lost public favor could come back as some unpredictable storm later on.
"We must avoid earning the resentment of other nations and ride the current as much as possible."
Cha Minhyuk's wise words.
Mm, spot on.
And my conscience toward the lower-tier nations in a situation similar to old Korea played a part too.
Profit. Public favor. Momentum. Mutual prosperity.
What conclusion did we reach after debating all that?
An auction.
In the early stages with limited supply anyway?
Pull in maximum profits through auction.
Then gradually increase supply in line with Lumentia's expanded production lines.
Prices will stabilize over time.
Might even shift to general sales format.
And the most important part?
Announce it all in advance.
"First, I extend my sincere thanks to all the distinguished guests from each nation."
The hall was deathly silent.
Everyone focused on Cha Minhyuk's words.
"Before we begin the auction, I'd like to address the issue currently rocking the international community."
Whew.
"We in Korea are deeply outraged by the hoarding and collusion on antidotes by America, China, and Japan."
Nods rippled through the crowd.
Ridiculous antidote prices.
The intent to make the world line up.
No nation present could stomach the blatant thuggery from those three countries.
Cha Minhyuk's voice spread like waves.
"Such actions threatening the peace and safety of the international community deserve condemnation, and Korea holds the firm belief that all nations must unite their strength to overcome this crisis."
Therefore.
"We will devote all efforts to securing additional holy water supplies. I assure you, the second batch will be far larger than today's first batch, and the third even larger still."
The message was clear.
Holy water prices would keep dropping, so today's inaugural batch represented the peak—think carefully before bidding.
"However, securing these supplies requires substantial resources, so there will be at least a one-week interval between batches."
Another clear message.
Preserving some value for the peak-price buyers today.
A one-week head start.
More than enough time to use holy water ahead of others and devise superior strategies.
An enormous advantage in itself.
Today's peak prices?
Just the early adopter tax.
And furthermore.
"For the second and third auctions, we will do our utmost to ensure no nation is left out. That is the value Korea pursues."
A bow.
Thunderous applause erupted.
Clap clap clap clap clap──!
The faces of lower-tier officials who'd worried about missing out due to budget constraints lit up.
Even the mid-to-upper-tier officials who'd come ready to sweep up everything.
"Splendid."
"A model posture."
They nodded, deeply impressed.
To put it crudely, they could've gotten backstabbed.
Sell limited stock at exorbitant prices, then dump supply later and wash their hands of it.
But clear advance notice?
What a gentlemanly response.
A moment when trust and goodwill toward Korea skyrocketed.
"That country definitely would've backstabbed us."
"Supporting Korea at the assembly was the right call after all."
Officials whispered in agreement.
The auction then proceeded swiftly under Cha Minhyuk's silver-tongued eloquence.
"All stats buffed by 100 percent. Equivalent to 5 million national achievement points."
"One 500ml bottle provides a full day of effect, and it can be taken in divided doses as needed."
"Meaning you don't have to chug it all at once—you can use it flexibly by situation."
"It can even be stored in inventory like tower items, so no worries about hygiene or preservation."
"I trust you distinguished guests appreciate these advantages better than anyone."
Could've been a top salesman too.
With every pitch, participants' eyes turned demonic with greed.
Look at those guys.
Bodies all leaning 45 degrees toward the holy water stacks on stage.
─Master! We gotta buy this right now!
Why are you getting swept up too?
You've been chugging it nonstop at home—what's the big deal.
"Sets of 20 bottles, starting with Set 1! Opening bid: 10 billion!"
And so the auction began.
"11 billion!"
"12 billion!"
"15 billion!"
Smooth start.
"18 billion!"
"22 billion!"
"25 billion!"
Ooh, climbing steadily.
"30 billion!"
"35 billion!"
"40 billion!"
Still going up from here?
We're barely into the early auction?
─Master! 50 billion! Kyaaak!
─That's about 16 million bottles of makgeolli.
Uh, yeah.
I honestly had no clue what holy water would fetch.
Why? Because pre-awakening, I'd never even touched 100 million won.
Couldn't expect any sharp financial instincts like an analyst.
I did make some calculations, though.
One bottle of holy water? At least worth 100+ antidotes minimum.
'Factoring in extras, vaguely thought maybe 2 billion per bottle.'
But nope. Already over 2 billion per bottle.
"60 billion!"
"70 billion!"
Think of it as blasting through one upper floor per bottle—actually seems cheap?
Plus, according to Cha Minhyuk.
"Most of the first batch will go to top nations, and it'll likely fetch far more than you predict, Hitchhiker."
"Even after announcing prices will drop?"
"Yes. Includes the cost of aligning with your nation."
Indeed, politics ran deep.
Every action carried layers of meaning.
"75.5 billion!"
The auction raged on in heated fervor.
Set 1 final bid: 75.5 billion.
"Sold to Germany!"
Joy and despair crossed the hall.
Tension, anxiety, excitement.
Whoa, even I'm sweating.
Can't skip the beer for this.
Then Set 2 began.
"30 billion!"
"35 billion!"
"40 billion!"
The anchor from the previous set shot the opening bids sky-high even faster.
Thus concluded 100 rounds of auction.
Average bid: 100.5 billion.
Total sales: 1.005 trillion.
My 95:5 share comes to...
Is this for real?
The numbers feel unreal.
Even lining up Korea's top personal fortunes, it'd easily crack the top five.
─Want me to pinch your cheek, cult leader?
─Ow! I wanna pinch it! But you're too far!
Heretic, that's heresy.
[Grah, grah.]
─Your cheeks are softer than expected.
Nosferatu and Lumentia.
No money worries for supporting other planets or starting ventures there.
'And Manchuria too.'
Officially Korean territory, but effectively under my control.
Korea government's just waiting for Hitchhiker's orders.
Not right now, but to develop it? Probably need unit-scale funds.
"That concludes the auction for the first batch. Thank you."
Clap clap clap clap clap──!
Another wave of applause.
All participants looked satisfied.
Spends from 100 billion minimum.
Up to trillions per nation.
Not insignificant even at national scale.
But no complaints.
Korea set no prices.
100 billion? Purely what each nation threw in voluntarily.
Above all, holy water was worth it.
Clap clap clap clap clap──!
'Support our top ranker Dawood with this, and we could breach uncharted upper floors.'
'For repeated clears, divide doses—prioritize analyzing per-floor clear times.'
Dopamine already surging. Eager to get back and test holy water.
As applause died down.
Someone raised a hand.
"Mateusz, head of external cooperation for Poland's management bureau. One question."
"You strongly supported Korea at the assembly. I remember. Go ahead."
All eyes focused.
Envy, jealousy, etc.
Mateusz felt his shoulders rise as he pressed on.
"Is the holy water Korea secured related to Hitchhiker?"
The hall went silent.
The question everyone wondered.
Cha Minhyuk smiled and opened his mouth.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Krunch!
The monitor Nakayama hurled split in half and tumbled away.
His secretary, hearing the commotion and rushing in, blanched at the office scene and retreated.
"Hoo... hoo..."
A fistful of yanked-out hair in his hand.
Extreme stress.
Everything around him.
America went radio silent post-info share, survival of the fittest.
China pressuring with "this is all Japan's fault."
But the most infuriating nation?
Who else? Korea, obviously.
Those vile bastards! Shameless scum!
No auction invite for Japan?
No fair play spirit?
Leaked intel confirmed the first holy water batch was legit.
Plus announcements for second and third batches.
'Hitchhiker? Connected to Hitchhiker after all? Or secured a producer awakener? But holy water? Performance defies logic.'
He gnawed his nails.
But that wasn't all.
Sintaro, infiltrated in Korea.
"Kwaaaaaah!"
Connection cut after the horrific scream.
Bodycam destroyed instantly—situation unclear, but obvious.
High chance he was dead.
One of Japan's core forces, vanished pointlessly.
"Hoo...! Hoo...!"
Thud!
No clue how to report this mess to the Prime Minister.
Fail to contain it?
Only ruin awaits him.
Panting heavily, Nakayama pulled an item from inventory.
He stared at it a while, then messaged all senior management bureau officials for assembly.
"Kyaaak! Ugly monster dead!"
"Straight to the Lord's side in one shot!"
Boom! Crash! Boom! Crash!
The hobgoblin legion commander bounced through the air like a ball from my two allies' skills.
Our eyes met through his helmet.
Now... please... kill me...
Whoosh.
Nothing I can do. Blame your high HP settings.
Soon enough.
Tower 30th floor world ranking updated.
The two allies gulped holy water refreshingly, like workers after a grueling shift.
"Hoo-ha! Definitely sweeter and cooler than Roas River holy water! Same water, yet!"
"If we fuse Earth and Lumentia tech well, couldn't we make a river of makgeolli or beer?"
Please don't say such alcoholic heretic things with a holy face.
"Master! I got a question!"
"Yes. Go ahead."
"When do you reveal you're the holy water's owner? I want the world to know your feats faster!"
Simple answer.
"Not the right time. Need to hide longer for dramatic reveal."
I recalled Cha Minhyuk's agreed response from yesterday's auction.
"We cannot disclose the holy water's source."
Textbook response.
Any need to reveal?
Just ensure steady supply.
My next goal: Widespread access for civilians too.
First all of Korea.
Then the world, minus enemies.
A form of elevating national prestige.
Better Korea image makes rivals like America hesitate more.
Of course, grabbing fair profits along the way is natural.
Then Carmina made a fuss.
"Master! This! Check! Check!"
Additional quest generated.
Who's this?
Additional quest?
Was bummed no sign after 20th floor, against expectations.
"Super welcome. Let's challenge right away."
"But what's this below?!"
30th Floor: Consecutive Overwhelming High Score
Difficulty massively increased instead of additional quest.
Extreme challenge available.
"Too easy clears, so upping to harder mode! DLC-free extra content!"
"Rude message. Daring to say 'impossible' before an omnipotent god?"
Whoa, calm down. Messages are holograms—hammer won't kill 'em.
Details unknown.
Monster types.
Objective format.
Time limits.
But not zero info.
Due to extreme difficulty, mid-challenge forfeit possible.
No forfeit penalty. Clear reward: Tactical item never supplied to planet-Earth.
Mid-forfeit option.
And clear reward.
"Ah, tactical item?"
"Like China's Lycanslope ticket or Japan's Tartarus ticket."
Reward's insane.
Top 3 per round required for those.
Can't pass this up.
"Know the command that moves men worldwide?"
"Buy chicken! Buy pizza!"
"Finish mission good, kiss reward?"
What did I just hear.
"Ever actually said that?"
"No? Saw in movie?"
"......"
Anyway, the answer is.
"Ah, this is a hard pass even in death."
"Ooh, hard pass even in death... Memo."
"Hard pass even in death, when cult leader moves... Me too memo."
Hard pass? Step aside.
I'll handle it.
New skill acquisition available.
Time to unlock new skill too.
Mid-forfeit possible.
And tactical item on clear.
Challenge 'Impossible Mission'?
[Y/N]
Any reason not to?
'This first.'
I moved my finger.