Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Payment
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I opened the door for him.
The broker stepped inside and gave me a light nod.
“You seem to be in a good mood. Did something nice happen?”
“No, not at all. I was just fighting until a moment ago.”
“Fighting? With who?”
I replied curtively and flopped down into a chair.
The broker looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if he didn’t grasp what I meant.
His gaze naturally drifted to the strange ring on my finger.
“That’s a ring I haven’t seen before.”
“Oh, this? I picked it up in the Tower. Not really my style.”
The broker didn’t pry further and took a seat across from me.
“Well then, let’s get started with the report, sir.”
He said as he pulled out a tablet from his pocket.
Hearing that title made every hair on my body stand on end.
“Hey, I told you not to use formal speech. And what’s with ‘sir’?”
“Why not? You are the sir now. Kim Han-byeol, CEO of One Star Management.”
“Pfft, your naming sense is seriously awful….”
“It’s hearty and nice, isn’t it?”
The broker chuckled. His face was full of mischief.
This guy was clearly teasing me on purpose.
I let out a resigned sigh.
“Fine, whatever.”
“Perfect, sir. Then, about the Orihalcon sale you entrusted me with last time.”
The broker’s expression turned serious again.
He showed me the tablet screen filled with charts and graphs and began his explanation.
After hearing it all, I nodded. I was satisfied.
“China likes this stuff that much? Then why not just dump it all on them at once? I want to get it over with quick.”
I said lazily. I hated anything complicated.
But the broker shook his head.
“Sir, you must never deal directly with Chinese guilds.”
“Why not?”
“China’s major guilds aren’t just hunter groups. They’re massive corporations backed by the state—and predators.”
The broker’s voice dropped low.
“The quantity we have is more than enough to pique their interest. If we try dealing with them directly… they won’t see us as equal partners. Just prey.”
“Prey?”
“They’ll end up swallowing us whole. Even if it means using less-than-legal methods…. The gap in our leagues is too wide. Once they bite, we’re done for.”
“I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“If we were on the same level as them… no, a higher level. Enough that they wouldn’t even dream of swallowing us…. How much firepower would that take?”
“Hmm? China has four S-ranks, so probably around that.”
“I’m still just me, so I’ve got a long way to go.”
Firepower equal to four S-ranks. I engraved those words in my mind.
As I nodded seriously, the broker let out a chuckle.
My serious look must’ve seemed like a kid daydreaming.
“Why are you laughing? I’m serious!”
“Oh, sorry…. I didn’t realize your ambitions ran that deep, sir.”
“Sigh, whatever. So what now? If direct deals are off the table?”
“Of course, I’ve already found ways around it.”
At my question, the broker flashed a confident smile.
“We need to change strategy. Instead of fishing for big game, cast multiple lines.”
He swiped the tablet to show a table. It listed various guild names.
“We’ll approach mid-tier guilds individually. Split the stock into batches, sell with time delays. This hides the total volume hitting the market, stirs competition among guilds for higher prices, and prevents a price crash from flooding it all at once.”
I was impressed by his plan. Pros really were on another level.
“Handle it however you see fit.”
“Of course. And one more proposal.”
The broker said.
“For this deal, we don’t have to take only cash. How about bartering for items?”
“Items…? Hmm, I don’t think I need anything….”
I replied indifferently.
I already had two legendary-grade pieces of gear.
Most items wouldn’t even catch my eye.
“Of course, not ordinary stuff. I’ve pre-selected a few that could help you, sir.”
The broker swiped the tablet again.
The screen showed info on three items.
“First is a custom artifact creation voucher. Commission any function and form from the nation’s top artisan.”
“Meh, not great.”
I was a mage anyway, and I doubted I needed more gear.
Could they make something better suited to me than my current staff? Doubtful.
“Second is a Growth Rune. A rare item that raises a skill’s rank by one level.”
“Oh, that’s not bad.”
My eyes lit up.
Turn Insight or Mineral Devour—skills overflowing with potential—into rainbow rank?
That’d give me three rainbow skills.
A tempting offer.
“And last is this.”
The broker pointed to the final entry.
The screen showed a single photo.
It looked like some kind of egg.
“What’s this?”
The moment I tilted my head.
The sandworm coiled around my finger reacted violently.
The ring vibrated strongly.
[The sandworm strongly recommends that you choose this item!]
I jumped in surprise and looked at my finger.
It wanted something this badly? What the hell was that rock?
***
The next day, I woke up from a nap to the doorbell.
The intercom showed a delivery guy. Hunter-exclusive rocket delivery service.
“Damn, fast shipping.”
I muttered and opened the door.
After a complicated ID verification, I received the box.
It was heavier than it looked.
I set it on the living room table and carefully unpacked it.
Inside, wrapped in shock-absorbing foam, was an egg-shaped stone.
Item name: Spirit Essence. Attribute: Earth.
I’d heard it was extremely rare—not something money alone could buy.
I reached out and picked up the stone.
“So… why’d you make me pick this?”
I muttered, turning it over. No clue how to use it.
No manual included.
That’s when the sandworm on my finger reacted.
[The sandworm explains that it can elevate your rank.]
[The sandworm insists you give it to your first creation, or to itself.]
“Can’t I eat it?”
[The sandworm says this size won’t help much.]
I pondered for a moment.
Then shouted toward one corner of the room.
“Chohogi, come here!”
It was Chohogi’s new room after the fire incident.
Moments later, with pitter-patter footsteps, Chohogi came running.
The moment it saw me, it rubbed against my leg.
I scooped it up and set it on the table.
“Between us two, who gets it?”
Chohogi tilted its head at the stone.
Meanwhile, the sandworm writhed harder, appealing to me.
[The sandworm promises it can become a greater power for you if it consumes this.]
[The sandworm emphasizes its potential far surpasses the sand doll’s.]
I let the sandworm’s claims go in one ear and out the other.
I glanced back and forth between Chohogi and the sandworm. The choice wasn’t hard.
I held the essence out to Chohogi.
“Here, you eat it.”
[The sandworm strongly questions your decision!]
“There’s this thing called seniority. You’re the junior, so suck it up. Yield to your senior first.”
The sandworm fell silent at my words.
Surprisingly, it didn’t complain further. It coiled back up quietly like a ring.
Meanwhile, Chohogi cautiously took the essence I offered.
Then, without hesitation, brought it to its mouth.
Nom nom.
Chewing the stone with its tiny mouth was pretty cute.
The essence vanished into its mouth in an instant.
Right then, the change began.
Woooong—!
“Whoa?”
A brilliant light poured from Chohogi’s body.
Its entire form glowed golden, its shape faintly dissolving.
I watched tensely.
The light lasted a few seconds before gradually fading.
Everything returned to normal.
Chohogi stood there blankly in the same spot.
“…Huh?”
What change happened?
I narrowed my eyes and scanned it thoroughly.
No visible differences.
Size, shape, even the safety helmet on its head—unchanged.
Just one subtle shift.
Its thoughts and intentions felt a bit clearer than before.
Like an invisible wall between us had crumbled one layer.
That was it.
“This is… it?”
I muttered in disappointment.
Such a precious item for this minor change?
Should’ve given it to the sandworm instead.
As I sank into regret.
The sandworm on my finger suddenly uncoiled with a snap.
Then whipped out like a lash, striking Chohogi’s body dead center.
Crack—!
With a sharp bursting sound, Chohogi’s body split cleanly in half.
I couldn’t believe the scene before my eyes.
“Chohogi!!!!!”
A scream burst from my mouth.
Are you insane? I’ll tear you apart.
Rage consumed me. I lost reason and reached for the sandworm.
But before my hand touched it, something amazing happened.
Ssshh…
Sand flowed from the two cut sections of Chohogi’s halved body.
Like magnets, they drew toward each other and fused.
Its severed body restored to original form in seconds.
“What…?”
I froze, staring blankly.
Chohogi, back to wholeness, looked down at itself in disbelief, patting its limbs and belly to confirm it was fine before seeming to sigh in relief.
Then, the sandworm’s will on the floor flowed into my mind.
[The sandworm says your creation has now become a basic spirit, gaining limited resistance to death.]
[The sandworm says its current vessel can withstand up to ten times.]
Ten lives.
I was speechless at the incredible power.
[The sandworm advises feeding more of the same essence to make your creation stronger.]
[Or acquiring a higher-grade essence is also good.]
I nodded.
[The sandworm strongly insists that since it respected seniority and yielded this time, the next essence must go to it.]
I looked down at the sandworm coiled like a ring on my finger. Moments later, a chuckle escaped me.
“Got it. Next one’s yours. Promise.”
I accepted readily.
Now this weird ring was starting to grow on me.