Chapter 16
Chapter 16.
Player agent?
Lee Ganghan recalled the information he knew.
'Agent... aren't they the ones who negotiate guild contracts on your behalf and bring in advertisements or sponsorships?'
Player agents who do almost the same work as sports agents.
The core business of agents was, of course, coordinating contract conditions with guilds.
While ordinary players didn't bother with agents and made direct contracts with guilds.
Platinum and Diamond-grade players had recently been contracting with agents more frequently.
'But this is useless for me.'
Lee Ganghan, who couldn't join guilds and could only establish the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
Moreover, since rumors had already spread that his trait was time-limited, it would be difficult to get advertisements anywhere.
What use would an agent be?
'I didn't expect them to approach Uncle Junghyeon to find out my number.'
Since he couldn't even join guilds, he wondered what need there was for an agent.
"I can't join guilds anyway, so I don't need an agent."
[Sir! Please wait!!! Just listen to what I have to say for a moment!]
"Ah. I have urgent business right now."
[Then... could we perhaps meet later to talk briefly? I really have something important to tell you!]
Ah. Why such persistence?
"Hmm. That's a bit difficult..."
[G-Ganghan! This person is really famous! Haven't you watched TV?]
Well, this is something.
He didn't expect to be asked if he watched TV by an uncle old enough to be his father.
'I don't really watch it much.'
Lee Ganghan gave a bitter smile and then brought out a closing remark to wrap up the situation.
"I understand. I have urgent business right now, so please contact me later."
[Yes! Then may I contact you at this number?]
"Please do. I have urgent business right now, so I'll hang up."
Click.
Lee Ganghan answered that way and immediately hung up the phone.
Then.
Burrrr...
A text message came right away.
Shin Yuri: Please contact me when your urgent business is finished!!! I'll keep waiting in Yongin!
What? How wide is Yongin?
She's going to wait there?
'This person is persistent.'
-Yes. I'll contact you after I'm done.
Tick.
Lee Ganghan sent that text for now and then washed his face clean with cold water to refresh himself.
Now his mind was completely clear.
'Good. Let's see, Goblin Black Market... whether it's worth investing in.'
He opened Ten Thousand Demon Hall again.
[Goblin Black Market Lv.1]
Through the Tower of Infinity as a medium, establishes a black market that trades with goblins from various dimensions.
Most items traded have little value.
However, occasionally items like hidden gems appear among them.
Only goblins can be deployed to the black market.
Deployed goblins earn small amounts of TP in proportion to their level.
Also, opportunities are given to purchase 'valuable items' at discounted prices through deployed goblins.
When the black market is upgraded.
The frequency of deployed goblins finding 'valuable items' increases.
When the black market reaches level 5.
Goblins can change jobs to 'Goblin Merchant.'
The black market description boasted considerable length compared to the training ground.
Lee Ganghan read it carefully.
By opening the black market and deploying goblins.
Not only would they earn TP through labor.
But opportunities to purchase valuable items first would also be given.
'And if I upgrade the market level to 5, I can even change goblins' jobs.'
Goblins, the weakest monsters officially recognized as 'useless ones' by the Goblin Chief himself.
The reason the Goblin Cave was difficult was also because the goblins ambushing in groups from the darkness were troublesome.
But looking at individual specs alone, goblins were indeed weak monsters.
However, if I keep developing this black market and change goblins' jobs to merchants, wouldn't they have utility later too?
'I also like that they earn TP from the market.'
This way, it wouldn't be just throwing away 60,000 raw.
Rather, depending on how much TP the goblins earn, it might turn positive later.
'I have to go with this.'
Tap.
When Lee Ganghan made that decision and touched the system message.
Thud, thud,Thud, thud...
A red portal rose large in the Goblin Territory.
Market stalls began to be created instantly around it.
Facilities that looked dirty and worn despite being newly constructed.
But even those worn-out facilities seemed good.
[Castrated Goblin Chief rejoices.]
[Castrated Goblin Chief voluntarily bows to you.]
Including the chief.
All the goblins flocked near the market and voluntarily bowed to Lee Ganghan.
The response intensity was 180 degrees different from when the training ground was created.
As Lee Ganghan chuckled at this sight.
Whirrr...
Options appeared above the Goblin Black Market.
[Set the work intensity of the black market.]
[1. Merciful Master]
Guarantees going home after 8 hours of work.
Goblins earn the least TP but work-life balance is properly maintained.
Goblins with remaining stamina after work can go to the training ground to level up.
[2. Ordinary Master]
Sets 16 hours of work time.
Earns moderate TP.
Most goblins rest after work.
Level-up stagnates.
[3. Harsh Master]
Makes them work 22 hours.
Goblins can die from overwork at the black market.
When dying from overwork, their level decreases.
Earns the most TP.
The probability of finding 'valuable items' increases.
Castrated Goblin Chief recommends 'Harsh Master.'
From merciful master to harsh master.
Lee Ganghan looked at the three options and gave a bitter smile.
Precisely.
After seeing the Goblin Chief's comment recommending harsh master.
'This one is worse to their own kind.'
22 hours of work out of 24 hours.
Moreover, even if they die from overwork, only their level goes down.
They revive again and get put back into the black market, repeating labor.
This is complete hell, isn't it?
'Since TP income also increases in proportion to level, I should go with merciful master mode for now.'
There's no need to impose 22-hour labor already at this low-level stage.
Lee Ganghan decided to maintain work-life balance and selected 'Merciful Master.'
Then.
['Goblin #11' is moved by you.]
['Goblin #11' voluntarily bows to you.]
['Goblin #12' is moved by you.]
['Goblin #12' voluntarily bows to you.]
.
.
.
Starting with number 11.
All goblins except the chief began voluntarily bowing.
The chief stood glumly and then suddenly looked up at the sky.
Then.
['Castrated Goblin Chief' urgently offers counsel.]
[Will you connect communication?]
A new message he had never seen before appeared.
'Communication works too?'
When Lee Ganghan pressed yes.
Whirrr...
A screen appeared before his eyes.
[Heavenly Demon! Please reconsider the work intensity setting!]
"Why?"
[Goblins are utterly useless no matter how much they grow! It's fine if their level becomes 1, so they should be continuously deployed to work to fulfill their value!]
"So you're saying to do 22-hour labor?"
[Yes!]
What's important about work-life balance?
Goblins should be worked to the bone to be worthwhile.
Though the Goblin Chief argued that way.
"But the kids need to level up to change jobs to merchants, don't they?"
[Merchant... you say?]
"Yes. I heard that when the black market is upgraded, goblins can change jobs to Goblin Merchant."
[......]
Upon hearing that there was a possibility of changing jobs to 'Goblin Merchant.'
He remained silent for a moment and only rolled his eyes.
Then.
Thud! Thud!
[I shall follow the Heavenly Demon's great will!]
The Goblin Chief changed his attitude 180 degrees.
He no longer brought up the topic of work intensity setting.
And when the screen disappeared.
['Goblin #1' discovers hope for the future.]
['Goblin #1' completely settles in Ten Thousand Demon Hall.]
Starting with Goblin 1, who had turned gray after falling to his death from the tower.
['Goblin #2' discovers hope for the future.]
['Goblin #2' completely settles in Ten Thousand Demon Hall.]
All the remaining goblins as well.
Messages appeared saying they had completely settled in Ten Thousand Demon Hall.
'So they were temporary residents until now.'
Even though their bodies were in Ten Thousand Demon Hall, they didn't have the heart to completely settle down.
But now that the possibility of changing jobs to 'Goblin Merchant' arose, their hearts changed?
He didn't know merchant was such a good profession.
As Lee Ganghan tilted his head while looking at the completely loyal goblins.
[Over 50 individuals have settled in Ten Thousand Demon Hall.]
[Heavenly Demon Constitution trait is enhanced.]
[Skill 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' is enhanced.]
[Skill 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' upgrades to 2-star.]
'Huh?'
Before his eyes.
A message appeared saying Heavenly Demon Divine Art had been upgraded.
***
'When monsters settle in Ten Thousand Demon Hall, Heavenly Demon Divine Art gets enhanced?'
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Actually, Lee Ganghan had only used it as a skill.
He had no particular knowledge about the details.
Even after obtaining Heavenly Demon Constitution, when he looked up Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
It was just described as either an internal cultivation method used by the Heavenly Demon in martial arts novels.
Or a divine art that encompassed all of the Heavenly Demon's martial arts.
'I wondered how to enhance the grade when I didn't even know the basics of internal cultivation methods...'
Who would have thought Ten Thousand Demon Hall had such a close connection?
Lee Ganghan examined the upgraded Heavenly Demon Divine Art skill.
[Heavenly Demon Divine Art - 2-star]
The divine art of the Heavenly Demon.
Draws up all the power of the Heavenly Demon, manifesting the demonic power that defies heaven.
Can only be used by those with Heavenly Demon Constitution.
Compatibility with Heavenly Demon Constitution is over 90%.
Even when Heavenly Demon Divine Art is in cooldown state, 15% of its power can be used constantly.
2-star stage.
Skill duration is extremely short.
Cooldown time is 24 hours.
Skill Duration: 15 minutes
Auto Setting: Off
Heavenly Demon Divine Art had changed in two aspects compared to the beginner level.
'The duration only increased by 5 minutes, but... the power that can be used constantly during cooldown increased by 5%.'
Lee Ganghan, who had been bursting goblins in the Beginner's Tower with just 10% power.
The addition of 5% more was quite a significant enhancement effect.
Moreover.
'It seems to affect reality too.'
Abilities gained in the tower could only be used in the tower.
But this 15% power seemed to be applied even now.
'I should try running once.'
If I run, I'll definitely feel the difference.
Lee Ganghan smiled brightly.
He had poured 90,000 TP into Ten Thousand Demon Hall.
123,000 TP had instantly shrunk to 33,000 TP.
But he didn't regret it at all.
He had gained more.
"Still, this is the day I spent the most money in my life."
90,000 TP was 117 million won in Korean currency.
It was an enormous amount of money.
But thinking that Heavenly Demon Divine Art was enhanced because of it, it was a profitable deal.
'Then shall I test it right away?'
When Lee Ganghan was changing clothes to go outside and run once.
Ding. Ding.
His phone vibrated and a messenger message came up.
Kim Juyeong: Hey, I sent the edited video, check it out
It was a message from Kim Juyeong, whom he had commissioned for video editing.
-OK I'll check it
Kim Juyeong: Oh and send today's video too
-Today's?
Kim Juyeong: Yeah, the play time was short so there might not be much to edit, but there seem to be some highlight scenes worth saving
Today should be Monday.
When did he watch the live video?
-Don't you work?
Kim Juyeong: ? I do work, editing
-I mean company work
Kim Juyeong: lol
A 'lol' that seemed to contain many meanings.
Lee Ganghan chuckled and went to his computer to check his email.
Even though it was called an edited video, it was a video file with considerable size.
'It'll take some time to download.'
As Lee Ganghan downloaded the video, he suddenly remembered the phone call he received earlier.
'He's also someone in the industry, so he might know about agents too?'
He definitely said he was Shin Yuri, CEO of 'GLASS.'
He remembered it because the company name was exactly the same as the CEO's name.
-Hey, do you know GLASS?
Kim Juyeong: The agent? Why there
-Their CEO called me
Kim Juyeong: Really? Shin Yuri called you?
-Yeah, is she famous?
Kim Juyeong: She's the Tower Management Office Director's daughter, Shin Yuri lol You didn't even know Shin Yuri?
Judging by the reaction, she seems to be a famous person.
Lee Ganghan searched for Shin Yuri on a portal site.
Then.
Daughter of Tower Management Office Director 'Shin Gyeongcheol.'
Photos of GLASS CEO Shin Yuri and articles about her appeared in a row.
'She's a really famous person.'
Shin Yuri boasted glamorous looks.
In the photos, she consistently showed confident expressions and dignified appearances.
Lee Ganghan looked at her shaking hands with a famous Diamond-grade player in a photo.
'This person is the same as the one who contacted me earlier? I can't believe it.'
Isn't this impersonation?
His thoughts naturally flowed that way.
Even though Heavenly Demon Constitution was certainly a powerful trait that set a world record.
After the E-grade appeared, everyone had been thinking of it as a 'time-limited' trait.
The CEO herself, not even an employee, from this successful agency called directly?
As Lee Ganghan tilted his head.
Burrrr...
Shin Yuri: This is Shin Yuri who contacted you earlier!
Shin Yuri: I would be grateful if you could contact me at this number when your business is finished and you have time!
At that moment, on Lee Ganghan's phone.
A text came from a number he'd never seen before.
'...Wow. Really persistent.'
That famous person wouldn't go this far to meet, would she?
Lee Ganghan tilted his head but.
'Since I said I'd contact her, I should at least listen.'
Since he had given his word.
He decided to keep it.
-My business from earlier is finished. Are you still in Yongin by any chance?
Shin Yuri: Yes! I'm near City Hall here!
She was really waiting in Yongin?
Lee Ganghan was amazed by the other person's persistence.
'I should meet today and end this.'
Meet in person, listen to what she has to say.
If it's nothing special, I'll cut it off.
-Ah... then let's meet at a cafe near City Hall.
Lee Ganghan suggested the name of a cafe he had frequented and left home.
'Then I should try running on the way to City Hall.'
The effect of Heavenly Demon Divine Art increased to 15%.
I need to test it quickly.
He left home that way and tried running.
'Oh. It's definitely faster.'
Lee Ganghan, who was already fast originally.
After Heavenly Demon Divine Art upgraded to 2-star this time.
He could continue sprinting in an even lighter state.
As he ran straight to the promised cafe.
'I arrived already.'
Realizing he had arrived earlier than the scheduled time.
Thinking he should wait a bit, he entered the cafe.
At that moment.
"Hello, Mr. Lee Ganghan."
At the cafe entrance.
A woman appeared as if she had been waiting.
"I'm Shin Yuri, who contacted you a little while ago."
And Shin Yuri, whom he had seen in the internet article earlier.
Was politely greeting him with a mysterious smile.