Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Chapter 100: Guild Buff (6)
Translation: godtl
"......A total of 15 members have successfully joined."
Despite his gangster-like angular features, the report was delivered with crisp professionalism.
Si-mun nodded as he accepted the documents handed to him by Park Jin-uk.
"You've worked hard. Any notable incidents?"
"Continent Guild lodged a strong protest, but......as instructed, I relayed the full account of Kang Hwa-wi's actions. Strangely enough, their complaints completely died down after that."
"Haha. That's only natural."
From Kang Hwa-wi's rudeness to his disgraceful conduct and eventual defeat—
Had the witnesses been limited to Korea alone, Continent Guild might have stubbornly doubled down.
But with so many eyes watching, how could they possibly refute it?
From America's American Dream to Japan's Masamune and other world-renowned guilds—every major power had witnessed the incident firsthand.
No matter how powerful Continent Guild was as one of the world's top two, in this situation, they had no choice but to swallow their pride.
"Was Kang Hwa-wi's slot auctioned off smoothly?"
"Yes. There was some fierce competition with American Dream, but in the end, Continent Guild secured it."
At those words, Si-mun's eyes widened as he scanned the report.
"This......for this price?"
"Correct. It was sold to Continent Guild for a total of 430 billion won."
Si-mun let out a hollow laugh.
Spending 430 billion on something that should've ended at 40 or 50 billion...
Originally, Si-mun had only instructed them to offer Continent Guild two guild slots.
Even accounting for aggressive bidding, the price shouldn't have exceeded 100 billion.
But thanks to Kang Hwa-wi's blunder, they had to suffer a staggering loss of 430 billion.
And more than that—
"Though it's not my place to say as the lender, but......430 billion per month for a one-month buff on a mere prospect, not even a Ranker? Isn't that excessive?"
Having to pay this amount every month for someone who wasn't even a Ranker—
No matter how wealthy Continent Guild was, this wasn't a trivial burden.
Park Jin-uk nodded in agreement.
"True. In fact, after the auction, the Vice Guild Master of Continent Guild personally reached out. He asked if we could negotiate the membership fee when renewing the contract later."
At that, the corner of Si-mun's lips curled slightly.
Not because of Continent Guild's humble stance.
The Vice Guild Master reached out, not the Guild Master...
Before returning to the penthouse,
he had already spoken with Seo Wi-ryong.
Just as Seo Wi-ryong said, it seems all administrative authority within Continent Guild has shifted to Jong-ri Chu.
It was only natural.
Following Continent Guild's traditions, their Guild Master had lost in a duel for the throne.
Naturally, the guild's overall authority had to change hands as well.
But—
If the former Guild Master's faction regains strength, the story changes entirely.
Even if he stepped down, his foundation wouldn't disappear overnight.
Recalling the proposal he had made to Seo Wi-ryong, Si-mun spoke.
"Jin-uk, when it's time to renew the contract with Continent Guild in a month, stall as much as possible."
"Are you saying you'll adjust the membership fee for them?"
Park Jin-uk's sharp eyes filled with doubt.
"Si-mun. Continent Guild may be one of the world's top two, but wasn't this incident entirely their fault? They'll grit their teeth and pay 430 billion every month—because they'd rather do that than hand those slots to American Dream."
As Park Jin-uk said,
the justification was on their side, so there was no need to negotiate the fee.
Compared to giving slots to their rival American Dream, overspending was the lesser evil.
But—
"No, negotiate with them."
Si-mun shook his head lightly.
At that, one of Park Jin-uk's eyebrows twitched upward.
"You wouldn't say something like this without reason...... Do you have something in mind?"
"As expected, I can't fool you, Jin-uk. That's right."
Setting the report down, Si-mun continued.
"If we stall long enough, someone from Continent Guild will come to us. That's who we negotiate with."
As Si-mun finished speaking, Park Jin-uk's eyes flickered rapidly in thought.
Then—
"Don't tell me...... that 'someone' is Seo Wi-ryong?"
Park Jin-uk had hit the nail right on the head, and Si-mun could only respond with a knowing smirk.
"Aha! Now I finally see the bigger picture you're painting, Sir Si-mun."
Kang Hwa-wi and Seo Wi-ryong.
Park Jin-uk was well aware of the dynamics between those two within the Continent Guild.
"So you're planning to sow discord within the Continent Guild. To prevent Fist King Jong-ri Chu from consolidating power too easily."
"I can only say 'as expected' of you. You're absolutely right."
Si-mun let out a hearty laugh as he spoke.
"I had a chat with him after the spar. That Seo Wi-ryong fellow turned out to be a much better person than I expected."
"Naturally. Seo Wi-ryong belongs to the Guild Master's faction, and the current Guild Master of the Continent Guild is a staunch moderate, isn't he?"
"Exactly. Pushing him forward would bring us multiple benefits. And as a bonus, it keeps the Fist King in check too."
Though in truth, restraining Fist King Jong-ri Chu was the primary objective.
But Park Jin-uk seemed to be considering another angle.
"My... how in the world did that damned bastard manage to get himself such an incredible older brother...?"
He sighed deeply and shook his head repeatedly.
"Jong-ri Chu, that son of a bitch, crossed the line every time he encountered Si-hyeok in the Arena... But I never imagined you'd personally exact revenge like this."
"Oh... is that how it comes across?"
"You don't need to hide it from me. If anything, you should be proud of it. Tsk, if only I'd had an older brother like you..."
Had he been that deeply impressed?
Park Jin-uk's eyes sparkled with an almost childlike admiration as he looked at Si-mun.
Though combined with his rough, intimidating features, the expression came off as somewhat threatening.
"Hah, haha! You flatter me too much. Speaking of which, about the Black Market distribution quantities..."
Si-mun quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
A private jet emblazoned with a red emblem.
Inside the Continent Guild's exclusive aircraft, the tall, handsome man propped his chin on his hand, grinding his teeth.
'Mr. Seo Wi-ryong, how about we make a deal?'
The voice that wouldn't leave his mind.
Seo Wi-ryong once again mulled over the conversation he'd had with Kim Si-mun.
Though lengthy in detail, the conclusion had been simple.
'He said he'd back me fully...'
That he would throw his complete support behind Seo Wi-ryong himself.
He hadn't dared ask how a mere Gold Player like him could possibly provide such backing.
Or more accurately, there had been no need to ask.
'Who would've thought he was the Sword Saint's older brother...?'
The Sword Saint, Kim Si-hyeok.
A Ranker among Rankers, famous not just in Korea but worldwide.
To think the man was the older brother of Kim Si-hyeok, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Jong-ri Chu, the Continent Guild's strongest—the Fist King himself?
'So that's why the Iron Wall Saintess and the Night Hunter treated Sir Si-mun that way.'
Though they were guildmates of the same nationality.
Lee Yu-jeong and Park Jin-uk had always seemed to treat Gold-ranked Kim Si-mun with inexplicable deference.
Lee Yu-jeong in particular was famously known as the "Iron Wall" for keeping men at arm's length—yet she alone acted strangely warm toward Kim Si-mun.
Now it all made sense.
Seo Wi-ryong gazed out the window at the cloud-filled sky.
'Even setting aside his connection to the Sword Saint... he's fully capable of helping on his own merits.'
From financial support to influence over future contract renewals.
Despite promising assistance in numerous areas, Si-mun had only made two requests of Seo Wi-ryong.
The first:
'Just keep doing what you've been doing. Grow as a prospect.'
To continue focusing solely on his growth as a player, just as he had been.
He didn't question why a foreign player would care about his development.
'Probably to counterbalance the Fist King's faction.'
As a rising star belonging to the moderate faction opposing the Fist King.
The problem was the second condition.
'Do you happen to know about the research the Continent Guild is conducting in secret?'
To uncover the clandestine research being conducted by the Continent Guild.
While the first condition made perfect sense considering the relationship between his younger brother the Sword Saint and the Fist King.
The second did not.
'Research? There's research happening within the Continent Guild that I don't know about?'
A promising talent of the Continent Guild.
And yet, there was an experiment even he—a rising star of the current Guild Master's faction—didn't know about?
In fact, it was Seo Wi-ryong himself who had reflexively repeated the question back to Kim Si-mun.
Ah, so he doesn't know about this either. Then it's definitely Jong-ri Chu's independent doing.
As if it had been a leading interrogation from the start.
He had nodded to himself then.
How utterly humiliating.
An outsider knowing guild affairs that even a promising talent like himself—aligned with the Guild Master's faction—was unaware of?
It made him feel like a complete, incompetent fool.
At the same time—
What a terrifying man. More so than the Sword Saint.
Unlike the Sword Saint, who flaunted his overwhelming martial prowess, this was the moment Wi-ryong realized Kim Si-mun was someone who could never be judged by rank alone.
"Haaah..."
Wi-ryong pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead.
Regardless—
The more dire the situation, the simpler my approach must be. Especially for the second condition—this is something I must uncover no matter what.
From Wi-ryong's perspective, he absolutely needed to uncover the details of this secret research conducted by the Continent Guild.
Not only was it guild business that even his own faction—aligned with the current Guild Master—knew nothing about, but—
Si-mun mentioned that Kang Hwa-wi's sudden surge in strength during their duel must be connected to that research.
Wi-ryong's eyes sharpened momentarily.
He had an inkling now.
The Dragon Blood Elixir. If he's a promising talent under the Fist King, he must have taken it.
It was common knowledge that Jong-ri Chu, the Fist King, bestowed his faction members with a precious elixir known as the Dragon Blood Elixir.
Wasn't that precisely why those under Jong-ri Chu's banner fought so fiercely and loyally?
The Dragon Blood Elixir is almost certainly tied to the research Si-mun spoke of.
No—it had to be.
The Dragon Blood Elixir wasn't crafted by the Continent Guild's alchemists.
At some point, it had begun to be independently produced by Jong-ri Chu's faction.
"First, I should focus on the Dragon Blood Elixir—"
"What are you mumbling about all by yourself?"
"Ghk—?!"
Wi-ryong startled at the sudden voice.
At his reaction—
"Goodness! What's wrong with you? I made sure to announce my presence!"
The woman who had spoken flinched back in surprise instead.
"Ah. Sorry, Sa-mae. I was lost in thought."
"Ugh, can't blame you, I guess."
The woman called Sa-mae sighed deeply and set down a teacup she had nearly spilled in front of Wi-ryong.
"Some people keep causing trouble, and others have to clean up after them. And yet, it's always you, Sa-hyung, who gets the cold shoulder."
"Don't be like that. Kang Hwa-wi hyung just isn't in good condition—"
"That 'condition' of his is always bad! And why call him 'hyung'? He's just a blockhead."
"Sa-mae."
"Hmph."
Even under Wi-ryong's stern gaze, she crossed her arms and sharply turned her head away.
Chuckling at her antics, Wi-ryong asked,"Any word from the main guild?"
"Yes. The medical team from Korea said he needs at least three more days of hospitalization, so the main guild is sending a private jet in three days."
"Really? That's a relief."
"Relief, my foot! As I've always said, Sa-hyung, your personality is the problem! Being too nice is just—"
Wi-ryong sipped his tea to the familiar tune of Sa-mae's nagging, gazing out the window at the billowing clouds.
Perhaps it was the effect of the finest tea from the Arena Mountains.
His tangled thoughts quickly unraveled.
First, I'll expose the Fist King's secret research.
Then all these questions would be answered.
And I'll uncover Kim Si-mun's true intentions as well.
Having steeled his resolve, Wi-ryong—
"Sa-hyung! Are you even listening to me?!"
"O-of course! Sa-mae, I was paying full attention."
—hurriedly snapped back to reality.
Tap.
A crisp sound.
The long, pale fingers responsible for it flicked a few more times before finally stilling.
"Haa... This should be nearly complete now."
The handsome man with striking features wiped his brow.
Si-mun examined the sculpture before him with satisfied eyes, tilting his head this way and that.
The sculpture gleamed with a silvery-white radiance.
Though reminiscent of a human skeleton in form, it was far more intricate and beautiful than mere bones could ever be.
The voice resonated from the center of his chest.
At the Philosopher's Stone's question, Si-mun nodded.
"Yeah. But I won't make them purely from Dragonium."
"Exactly. Though I'll need to run some tests to be certain."
"Mhm. I'll make everything from alloy."
The Philosopher's Stone whistled with a voice brimming with anticipation.
Si-mun chuckled wryly as he replied.
"I'm looking forward to it too. But... about the Wellspring of Mimir—you're absolutely sure?"
-I told you, yes. Big bro, don't you trust me?
"It's not that. The story's just too unbelievable, so I had to ask again."
The Wellspring of Mimir, obtained as a reward for clearing the Special Arena "Nature's Fall."
A mere S-rank material item with no description attached.
"Giving a golem self-awareness... it doesn't make sense."
The Philosopher's Stone had claimed it could be used to implant ego into a golem.
For a golem, possessing ego—
Was no different than granting artificial intelligence to a machine.
"Or control the golem from start to finish like conventional models."
But giving ego to something that labor-intensive?
Si-mun's gaze drifted toward the Mithril Golems diligently working throughout the room.
'Even these guys could only have detailed behavioral patterns inputted thanks to their Mithril composition...'
The delicate tasks the Mithril Golems performed to manufacture Arena Disease treatments.
Though most of it was just packaging and miscellaneous chores.
Even that was only possible because Si-mun had painstakingly programmed their detailed behavioral patterns.
Yet even for production golems capable of diverse behavioral inputs depending on materials—
'Who would've thought they could generate actual ego...'
Possessing self-awareness was an entirely different dimension.
'Now I understand why it got so excited when we obtained the Wellspring of Mimir.'
Nodding faintly in realization, Si-mun examined the Mithril-crafted skeletal framework.
"Let's pause production until the materials arrive from the Black Market. We've done all we can with current resources."
-Mhm mhm. You'll make the head then too, right?
"Yeah. For the cranial section, I'll blend all four metals. There'll be special polishing and additional processes too."
No matter how much the Wellspring of Mimir could generate ego—
'If the vessel can't support it, the resulting ego would likely be worthless anyway.'
Snap.
As Si-mun turned and flicked his fingers—
Rumble.
The laboratory walls shifted and swallowed the Mithril framework whole.
Removing his white coat, Si-mun stretched out on the bed in the corner of the lab.
Then he picked up the Arena goggles resting beside the bed.
The Philosopher's Stone immediately questioned him.
Si-mun nodded in response.
"I didn't do much today anyway, so I'm not particularly tired."
-But you've been busy with guild registration and all that.
"Pfft, what do I even do? Jin-uk handles all the actual work."
Si-mun himself only set major directions and gave final approvals.
All detailed operations of the guild "Simdrasil" were handled by the Night Hunter, Park Jin-uk.
-Well. That hulk really has it rough. Didn't he say in your past life he was just cleaning up after our young master? Guess some things run in the family.
"Haha! True enough."
Whether in their past lives or current one—only the Guild Master differed.
Park Jin-uk's role of handling all guild affairs remained identical then and now.
"At least I treat him better than Si-hyeok did. Whether it's business or Spirit Elixirs."
-Hmm~ Typical 'I'm better than my little brother' complex. Well, I'll allow it since it's cute.
"You little..."
The corner of Si-mun's mouth twitched.
Finally letting out a soft laugh, he shook his head and donned the goggles.
Upon connecting to the Arena—
[Gold-rank MMR can no longer regulate matchmaking for Player Kim Si-mun.]
[You will be placed in a Platinum-rank Promotion Match.]
A series of system messages appeared.