Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Lucky Box, Information Asymmetry
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The life of a celebrity is truly wondrous.
On the surface, it looks like they've claimed an endless spring of milk and honey.
Nyaaang!
“Ugh…… Is that for real?”
Nyaaang!
But every now and then, there's some seriously spicy flavor waiting in store.
Looking at it this way, it feels just like a beehive.
Of course, if you want to suck the honey, you have to be prepared to get stung by the bees.
But not right now.
“Toss it out the window.”
Woo-ee!
Hearing my words, Mini hoisted the box up and chucked it straight out the window.
Thud. The box hit the ground.
A fierce reaction erupted from inside, and soon enough, pitch-black objects began swarming out.
“Eugh… Gross.”
Hornets.
Someone had sent a hornet's nest.
If Kami hadn't checked the contents, I would've been stung to hell and back.
Parcels like this arrived at our factory from time to time.
They fell into two main categories.
Returns.
And gifts.
Returns were no big deal. Just check them and issue a refund.
Gifts, however, were the problem.
‘It's a total random box.’
You never know what's inside.
Normally, random boxes should give you that thrilling anticipation before opening……
Weeeeng!
But this? No way.
Thrilling anticipation? More like a straight-up disaster.
And sure enough, there were always assholes sending malicious crap like this.
Misguided fandom?
Or jealousy-fueled sabotage?
Either way, it's illegal.
A form of terrorism, really.
I remember it getting crushed hard and vanishing about 15 years ago…
But lately, it seems to be rearing its head again.
“How’d it go?”
Nyaaang.
Kami No.2 shook its head on the smartphone screen.
Meaning the sender was a suspended account again.
What's a suspended account?
One that's been dormant for ages.
Hunters held immense value just by existing, so companies were desperate to profit off them.
That's why Hunter Gallery accounts were linked everywhere, including telecoms.
And sadly, in Korea, we constantly hear news about our telecoms getting hacked left and right.
Those leaked suspended accounts get used for crap like this.
A clever workaround.
‘Tsk tsk tsk. You think you won't get caught like this?’
There are ways to handle everything.
I'll save the proper schooling for later.
Kimchi's best when it's properly fermented!
Of course, I'll pull it out before it overferments. Right around when the Molrangmol skyscraper tops out.
Then I'll deliver the finishing blow.
In the meantime, I was steadily building up my ki orbs.
Anyway.
“Ugh…… Still a ton left.”
The piled-up boxes were like a mountain. And wouldn't you know, last week was my birthday.
[Influencer of the Month for 3 Consecutive Months]
[Influencer Lighting Up Year-End and New Year]
[No. 1 Preferred Model]
I'd achieved a terrifying triple crown.
Molrangmol SNS followers had already surpassed 1 million.
So, getting a flood of birthday gifts was only natural.
Even conservatively, at least 500,000 were fans of model Han Sae-byeok.
Weeeeng!
“…If only there weren't assholes like that.”
One loach can muddy the whole pond.
Because of them, I end up viewing all the other gifts through tinted glasses.
Even though most were surely pure-hearted.
Nyaaang!
Kami checked another box and handed it to me.
Sigh. I should announce I won't accept them anymore.
I'm already so busy—when am I supposed to open all these?
Of course, I'd check them all today.
Couldn't ignore the fans' sincerity.
“Oh?”
And this time, jackpot.
Inside the lucky box was a figure. A figure modeled after me.
Hold on.
Have I…… ever worn clothes like this?
Oh, right. During that special photobook shoot.
“…….”
This is insane. My face is burning up.
Was I dressed this embarrassingly feminine?
During the shoot, I just wanted to wrap it up quick, so it didn't feel like much.
But facing it now? Total enlightenment. My eyes are sparkling.
I wanted to recall every copy of the photobook right then—
“Whew…….”
I swallowed it down hard.
Sae-byeok. You're a pro. Endure it, and blessings will come.
**
Roughly 5 hours.
An hour past my self-imposed quitting time.
“Uwaaaah……!”
Only after the sun dipped below the horizon did the box-unboxing marathon finally end.
There were just that many.
At least the dud boxes were limited to that hornet nest, so that was a relief.
For the record, Puffy took care of the remaining hornets.
It was still the season when winter was throwing a tantrum.
Puffy, deprived of fresh bugs for so long, finally got a proper feast.
Makes me a bit jealous seeing this.
If they'd sent other bugs instead of hornets.
Then I wouldn't have to worry about Puffy's food.
Creak!
As soon as I entered the rooftop room, a toasty warmth welcomed me.
“This is what flexing is.”
24-hour boiler running.
I've got deals with America too— I deserve this much.
Satisfied, I sprawled on the floor, wriggling around.
Soaking up the warmth, I headed to the workroom.
The workroom isn't anything fancy—just a computer setup.
I even added a bookshelf for show.
Tap tap.
[★★ Big One Incoming ★★] [Author: DragonWantToRaise]
Did everyone wait long?
Molrang Park is finally reopening after a short break!
And get this!!!!!
Molrang Resort opens alongside it!
You all saw the news, right?
The hot spring resort that Earth's Landlord personally raved about!
Topped off with cuisine from Korea's top chef!
The world's best hot springs await you!
Check the additional notice for room details.
And there's an event!
We'll draw five lucky guests who use Molrang Resort during the event period……!
Han Sae-byeok figures!
Made personally by a figure artisan who's a huge Sae-byeok fan! (Got permission to use as prizes hehe)
So come one, come all!!!
- Earth's Landlord going viral on Molrang Resort? Can't resist this…
└Looks insane up close lol
-HanSaebyeokNo1Fan: FML hope I win the figure
-HanSaebyeokNo1Fan: Gonna live at the resort for a week straight
└Yeah it's mine~ go away
└HanSaebyeokNo1Fan: Fine
└Damn but I do wanna collect it, it's insanely well-made
Reactions are on fire.
Molrang Resort's future as a total hotspot was crystal clear.
‘Good thing I made friends in America.’
Maybe as thanks for my gift, FHA jumped on promotion.
From Molrangmol products to Molrang Park, all of it.
Laying the groundwork, too.
Since the Molrangmol trio was about to set foot on US soil.
The approvals were already in— just needed to sell.
Their efficiency is unreal.
‘Volume is what matters in the end.’
America's awakener population is easily 10x Korea's.
Had to ramp up Molrangtex and Molrangtail production ASAP.
Of course, top priority was Molrangtori.
Had to meet the FHA contract: 200,000 units annually.
Molrangmol stuck faithfully to a 5-day workweek.
Factor in holidays……
‘Roughly 800 a day.’
800. 800……
Truth be told.
It was an insanely cheap deal.
I'd haggled them down hard.
Even in Korea alone, over 1,000 Molrangtoris were made and sold daily.
No need to build a whole factory for that volume.
Even with new Molrangtoris, three No. 100 fusion Black Slimes could handle it.
But how would the Americans know?
They just figured we'd match Korea's output……
‘Ah! So that's how much a new factory produces!’
Information is key.
Just knowing that gave me total leverage in negotiations.
But good is good, right? America wasn't losing out.
Think about it.
Instead of the promised 200,000, crank out a neat 1 million.
America would be thrilled! Hell yeah!
Our ties would grow even tighter.
They'd think Molrangmol was honorably fulfilling the deal.
As volume and demand ramp up, America gets hooked on Molrangmol.
Slowly domesticate them.
Hook them on Molrangtex and Molrangtail too……
‘And I'll stand atop the heavens.’
“Mu-hu-hu…….”
Nothing scared me anymore.
Who could stop me!
Ding!
Right on cue, it arrived.
The master key to give Molrangmol wings.
[Baek Seo-ha: Are you available to talk?]
[Baek Seo-ha: There's something I want to report.]