Chapter 197: Manage Your Money Well
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 197: Manage Your Money Well
I’d put on airs and told Shizuka to prepare for war, but there was still plenty of time until then.
Tyran Energy had to manifest first, and while Akito would eventually obtain things through his Luck Magic, I had to secure them with my own two hands. I needed to prepare step by step.
“Yeon-woo, it’s been a while. We didn’t get a chance to talk last time because things were so hectic, did we?”
“Yes, I was disappointed too. Thank you for your help back then, Chairman.”
The first thing I did after returning from Barbat was visit the people who had helped me to express my gratitude.
It’s the basics of networking, and since these people would be my strength when I eventually went up against the Amagi family, I had to be diligent in my visits.
Moai Technology hadn’t provided massive assistance, but they were the ones who stepped up immediately when I asked for help.
Despite his gentle grandfatherly appearance, the Chairman was an auction addict who had invested boldly after seeing the potential in my recipes.
“Yeon-woo, do you have any plans to release a new product?”
“Oh, come on. It hasn’t been that long since the Acceleration Potion came out. Is it not selling well?”
“It’s a product made by you, Yeon-woo—how could it not sell? Thanks to you, I haven’t had to worry about the company lately, so I’ve been sleeping like a baby.”
The Chairman let out a boisterous laugh.
Moai originally specialized in magical tools, but thanks to me, they had expanded into potions and were doing quite well.
I was releasing them at a moderate pace, so the variety of potions Moai sold wasn't huge, but because they were high-effect potions verified by the game, they were constantly sold out.
Since I made money for every unit Moai sold, I wanted to produce more, but the Chairman was likely controlling the volume with his business savvy.
The only thing I’d learned at my previous company was politics, so I figured I should leave the business side to the experts.
I was there to manage my connections, so we spent time having a typical conversation peppered with a bit of flattery. Eventually, the Chairman took a slow sip of his tea, lingering for a moment.
What was this? Whenever this man paused like that, it was always because he had something important to say.
“About that Defense Ointment you gave us.”
“Yes, is there a problem with it?”
It was a top-seller—a potion that increased resistance to all attributes just by applying it. What could be wrong?
There hadn't been any complaints about its effectiveness so far, and the ingredients weren't hard to source.
The Chairman stared down at his teacup, paused again, and then spoke with a small sigh.
“Someone else has created an ointment with the exact same effects.”
“…”
I see. In the end, since I only knew the recipes that Akito was supposed to research and create, overlap was inevitable.
“By any chance—”
“Oh, I’m not doubting you. We’ve already verified when and how they made it. They’re far behind you, Yeon-woo.”
Of course they were. The Defense Potion I’d provided required a lot of research points and a long tech tree, something usually only possible in the mid-game.
“If it were just for personal use, I wouldn’t make an issue of it. But they’ve already sold several units… This is the Defense Ointment they made.”
I checked the ointment the secretary brought out. From the scent to the texture, it was identical.
Well… it had to be.
Akito wasn't a business entity. However, even in the game, you’d sell items if you were short on cash.
It seemed the Defense Ointment had leaked out during that process.
“I’m not accusing you, but have you ever shared the recipe with anyone else?”
“No, never.”
“Then it’s a perfect copy. In fact, the talent required to replicate it this perfectly is nothing short of amazing.”
Actually, I’m the one who did the copying.
Regardless, in this world, I was the one who discovered the recipe first and released it, so it belonged to me.
Wait… does this mean Moai is going to sue Akito?
“The biggest problem is the person who made this.”
“The person?”
“Yes. That’s also why I called you here.”
Seeing my unease, the Chairman gave a bitter smile.
“The source of the ointment is Daihara Akito. It was made in the Yggdrasil club.”
“Wow…”
Wow. I wasn't surprised, but I had to act the part, right?
The Chairman was even worried that since I was also in Yggdrasil, Akito might have approached me under the guise of friendship to steal my recipe.
Sorry, Akito. I’ve made you the villain for no reason.
When I defended him, insisting that such a thing would never happen, the Chairman looked at me with warm eyes.
He looked at me as if I were an incredibly kind and wonderful person who cared deeply for his friend… My conscience was really taking a hit.
“I was originally planning to file a lawsuit, but…”
“No, that… you shouldn't… uh…”
Dammit, what excuse should I use to make him stop?
He had clearly caused damage to the company, and circumstantially, it looked like Akito had stolen the recipe.
“That’s why I’m asking… Yeon-woo, could you go meet him once?”
“Me?”
“I’ll be honest. You know the power the Daihara family holds, don’t you?”
“It’s impossible not to know.”
“We can’t just touch them recklessly. Even if they shamelessly claim it’s theirs, we’re at a disadvantage. We might win, but the act of beating the Daihara family itself would draw unfavorable attention.”
Has anyone ever called Akito a "shameless guy" before?
“Normally, we should be the ones to handle all of this. That was the contract. If you wanted to fight, Yeon-woo, I would have fought aggressively.”
“Ahaha… You don’t have to fight…”
“But if they keep selling it and it starts circulating in the market, problems will arise even if we don’t make an issue of it. It’s better to prevent that in advance.”
I suppose so.
The Defense Ointment was just the beginning; all sorts of things would start overlapping from now on.
Since I had developed and released most of them first, Moai might let it slide this time, but they might charge in head-first next time.
After telling him I’d handle it, I left the company and immediately checked Akito’s location on the app.
How should I persuade him?
Hey! I made that, why did you steal it?!
Talk about having no conscience. I’m the one who stole it.
While pondering various approaches, I arrived at the Magic Research Club.
Looking at the size, it seemed they had completed the second expansion.
The second expansion… isn't that a bit late? Well, I guess it’s different from a player who only thinks about efficiency.
When I stepped inside, the people there looked at me.
Shiori, the Samurai, the Elf, the Pauper… Huh? Where’s Akito?
The once-cheerful atmosphere turned cold in an instant, and Shiori stood up with a scowl.
“What is it?”
“Where’s Akito?”
“What are you planning to do to my brother?”
Wait, why is the premise always that I’m going to do something bad?
I’ve done nothing but help so far. This is too much.
I pulled the Defense Ointment made here from my pocket and showed it to them.
“I wanted to talk about this.”
“…”
Shiori stared at the ointment without a word.
It seemed they knew how the situation was unfolding.
They must be flustered.
They worked hard to research and create a useful potion, only to find it was already being sold on the market.
Furthermore, since the recipe and effects were perfectly identical, they probably wondered if Moai had been the one to copy them.
Shiori glanced behind her and then told me to sit in a chair further inside.
Where was she look—ah.
Akito, you crazy bastard. You’re enjoying yourself in the Sex Zone in broad daylight with everyone else right there?
No matter how the system works, doesn't this clash too much with Akito’s "forced good-guy" image? How on earth did the others accept this?
The existence of that Sex Zone alone was why I didn't join the research club.
How could I watch him come out all sweaty with a flushed heroine while everyone else is working hard on research outside?
As I sat down, the Elf nearby glared at me.
“What kind of trick are you trying to pull this time?”
“Why does everyone always think I’m pulling a trick?”
“Wouldn't you know if you looked back at everything you’ve done so far?”
Ignoring her pointless provocation, I waited. Shiori pulled up a chair in front of me, sat down, and glared.
To think I put my cock in that small mouth… Get a grip, man. Akito is in the Sex Zone.
“I didn't know you were involved with Moai.”
“I’m the one who gave the recipe to Moai.”
“You… how did you know the recipe?”
“Shouldn't I be the one asking that?”
At my words, Shiori fell silent.
If they knew everything, they must have investigated.
The recipe and effects were identical as if copied, but the ointment I made had been released much earlier.
That said, I didn't intend to scold them for this.
If I blocked the path of the Great One who was supposed to save the world, the people around me would be the ones to die.
While Shiori bit her small lips—the ones that had sucked my cock—and agonized over the situation, I looked around.
The Elf’s expression crumpled as if my gaze were disgusting, and the Pauper looked wary but gave a small, cute wave.
The Samurai still had that dog-like glare… and their equipment was worse than I thought.
The equipment in the research club was all cheap stuff.
From the perspective of someone like me who made a lot of money and lived large, it wasn't just "cheap"—it was actually low-tier equipment even in the game.
Akito, aren't you investing in the research club?
Come to think of it, the Defense Ointment was a high-efficiency item that there was no reason to sell.
It was an item you’d keep 999 of because it remained useful until the late game. There was no reason to sell it.
…Are they short on cash?
The biggest moneymaker in the game was exploration.
Requests were for stats, items, and unlocking maps. You had to send parties other than the main one on exploration grinds to gather experience and money.
If not that, you had to use the system called "stocks," which was basically gambling.
Ah, that would be hard since they can’t save and load.
Exploration outside the Barrier by licensed mages was possible because it was a game, but it was difficult in reality.
Exploration permits weren't easy to get; even I had to ask Frey for a favor. No matter how much of a Daihara Akito was, he was still just a student at Yggdrasil.
Plus, since I had taken quite a few of the characters, they were likely short on manpower.
Village management was more for gathering materials than making money…
I’d heard that Akito had taken over management of a village through a request recently.
Since he had to consider village facilities, this was likely a period where more money was going out than coming in.
The reason the Defense Ointment appeared was probably because the supply of materials became smoother once the village was established.
Sigh… I thought this guy was doing well, going on requests and all, but he was rotting from the inside.
If I left him like this, he’d hit a Game Over halfway through instead of saving the world.
I was short on cash myself because of the Whitening Phenomenon elixir, but… it couldn't be helped.
* * *
“Sigh…”
When Yeon-woo let out a sigh, Shiori flinched and watched his reaction.
She had no way of knowing why the ointment they made was identical to Moai’s.
It was an ointment they had struggled to create for Akito’s sake.
With Justina joining the Magic Research Club, the Elf’s knowledge had been incorporated, and after weeks of hard work with her friends, the result was an ointment identical to Moai’s.
When she first found out, Shiori was shocked and immediately thought about how to fix the situation.
She was smart, so she could predict what problems would arise if Moai protested.
If an identical product had been released by Moai two months prior, it meant the recipe had existed since before then.
If it didn't become known, there wouldn't be a problem.
It would have been fine if they just used it among themselves, but the problem was that they had already sold the ointment to raise money for expanding the club and bringing in equipment.
By the time she realized it was the same as Moai’s, she tried to recall them all, but she couldn't get them all back.
And now, this hateful man had brought one of the ointments circulating in the market.
He wasn't just involved with Moai; he claimed it was a recipe he had created.
She had done it for her brother, so why had it turned out like this?
The time and effort spent developing the ointment were now choking her.
The club and the family were currently desperately short on funds.
They were running a village, and with the club, equipment, and training costs, there were endless places for money to go, but limited sources of income.
If they were sued now, she might have to beg her sister, Chika.
Under Yeon-woo’s gaze, as he seemed to be deciding how to deal with her, Shiori curled her body inward.
She didn't want to show this side of herself to this man, but her mouth went dry with fear of what this wicked human might demand.
While Shiori was tense and frightened on her own, Yeon-woo, who had been staring at her, finally spoke.
“Give me an email or an address where you can receive files.”
“…Are you planning to send a lawsuit…?”
“A lawsuit? What are you talking about?”
Shiori was bewildered by the genuinely baffled expression on Yeon-woo’s face.
As she hesitated, unlike her usual self, Yeon-woo continued to demand it as if frustrated. Once Shiori handed over her email address, Yeon-woo made a call to someone.
“Yes, you got the email address, right? Send over every single recipe we’ve researched so far. What? No, why would we close the lab? The project isn't even finished yet. We have plenty more to research. Yes, good work. Ah, right. The non-disclosure agreement? Send that along too.”
As Shiori opened her mouth to ask what he was doing, Yeon-woo raised a hand to stop her and made another call.
“Yes, Manager. Please draft a contract giving half of the profits we receive from Moai. For all products. And treat them as equal partners, not a subordinate relationship. Yes, ah—it’s an individual, not a corporation, so please handle the tax issues and such on your end. The name? Akito Daiha…”
Yeon-woo trailed off, looked at the dazed Shiori, and changed his words.
“Shiori Daihara. Yes, that Daihara family. Yes, thank you.”
Yeon-woo hung up, but Shiori just stared at him, unable to understand the situation.
However, Yeon-woo stood up without saying a word.
“Ah…”
“Manage your money well. I’m investing because I trust you. And save the world while you’re at it.”
Shiori couldn't understand what he meant, but with those final words, Yeon-woo left the club.
While Kurumi and Justina were cursing Yeon-woo, Shiori checked her email.
“…”
An unbelievable, massive amount of recipes.
Shiori knew the value of a single recipe, so seeing nearly forty recipes sent via a simple email left her stunned.
Some were recipes Shiori had considered in theory, but most were things she wouldn't even dare to touch with her current research capabilities.
Ding—
A contract followed shortly after.
The content about sharing half the profits was delivered in legal jargon, but Shiori was more horrified by the projected profit amount to be shared.
It said that if she just signed this, an amount of money that would be hard to come by even for the Daihara family, let alone a student, would flow in every month.
Shiori searched for any unreasonable "poison pill" clauses, but the contract was filled only with favorable conditions for her side.
It even said they would list her as a co-developer of these recipes.
It meant Moai would protect them even if a lawsuit was filed.
‘But why…?’
‘Manage your money well. I’m investing because I trust you. And save the world while you’re at it.’
Why did he say he trusted her when she hated him so much?
And what was that about saving the world?
She couldn't understand a single thing Yeon-woo said.
However, the recipes and money Yeon-woo sent would be an immense help.
Shiori signed the lifeline that would save them.