Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Chapter 96: Guild Buff (2)
Translation: godtl
Was he the type who enjoyed being the center of attention?
Under the weight of everyone's focused gazes, Kang Hwa-wi's thick jaw and the corners of his mouth lifted even higher.
"As you know, there aren't many who wouldn't want this guild buff, right?"
"So?"
"But look at the number of people here."
The maximum member limit for a newly established guild was 20.
Excluding Si-mun's group of four, that left 15 spots open.
"Clearly, there are far more people here than those who were pre-approved for membership, no?"
As Kang Hwa-wi said, nearly 50 people had gathered here.
There was no way Park Jin-uk, the Night Hunter who had circulated the guild invitations, could have miscounted.
So what did this mean?
"Let's be blunt—didn't the guilds send all of you here to snatch even a single extra spot?"
At Kang Hwa-wi's words, the prospects exchanged furtive glances.
It was true.
'The Guild Master told us to secure even one more spot by any means necessary.'
'A 30% increase in experience points and a 70% boost in stat growth rate for guild members—that's insane.'
'We have to join no matter what. Only then can I keep my position as a prospect.'
'There's no way I can let that bastard get this growth buff alone.'
Their circumstances might differ, but one thing was clear.
They were all here to join the Sword Saint's guild for that absurd growth buff.
'Thanks to government support, we managed to get a guild invitation.'
'Once we join this guild, we'll keep receiving national funding.'
Guilds that hadn't received the Night Hunter's invitation had even resorted to leveraging government connections to secure a spot.
That was how fierce the competition was to join a guild with this growth buff.
Was that why?
Even without any direct confrontation, the air in the reception room gradually grew heated.
Kim Si-hyeok asked with an impassive expression,
"Player Kang Hwa-wi, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"It's simple. Increase the guild's member limit. Surely you have enough Achievement Points for that, no?"
There was no vocal agreement, but the heated gazes of the prospects all converged on Kim Si-hyeok.
Some among them seemed so agitated that—
Sssss—
A faint, oppressive aura began to seep into the room.
Seeing this, the corners of Kang Hwa-wi's lips curled up.
'With the mood like this, even the Sword Saint won't be able to do anything about it.'
Kim Si-hyeok, the Sword Saint, known as the rival of Fist King Jong-ri Chu.
Naturally, the Continent Guild had thoroughly investigated him.
According to their findings, Kim Si-hyeok had an extreme aversion to anything outside the Arena.
He hadn't even shown the slightest interest in the position of Korea's Association President, which should have been his by right.
Wasn't it common knowledge that the Night Hunter handled all his affairs on his behalf?
'There's no way someone like him would bother locking horns with a bunch of prospects.'
He'd probably just sigh, say "Fine, whatever," and expand the guild limit.
Especially since these prospects had massive factions backing them.
Yes.
That should have been how it went.
"Ha. Unbelievable."
Kim Si-hyeok let out a hollow laugh.
Thanks to his refreshing looks, a few female prospects blushed at the sight—but that was all.
"Listening to this nonsense is just..."
Whoooosh—
A terrifying pressure followed his icy voice.
"Ghk!"
"Hahk!"
"Ugh...!"
Everyone in the reception room hunched over simultaneously, gasping for air.
"Player Kang Hwa-wi. Do I look like an easy target to you?"
Kim Si-hyeok's impassive eyes.
Yet within them, unmistakable fury simmered.
"......"
"......"
The prospects, who had just faced the Sword Saint's wrath head-on, instantly cowered like dogs with their tails between their legs.
Watching the scene from behind, Si-mun let out a quiet chuckle.
'This guy. Even though I warned him in advance, he really can't hold back.'
A player with a gentle and kind personality, matching his refreshing appearance.
That was the public's perception of Kim Si-hyeok, the Sword Saint.
But Si-mun knew better.
That seemingly docile younger brother of his was actually incredibly hot-tempered.
It just hadn't shown before Korea's destruction because of his aversion to taking the spotlight.
Even compared to Jong-ri Chu, once called the Demon Fist, his little brother's temper didn't fall short in the slightest.
Si-mun's gaze shifted to the thoroughly cowed prospects.
'Even if Si-hyeok gets this angry, those prospects won't back down just like this.'
A Ranker's pressure was undeniably intimidating.
Frankly, if his brother so much as swung his sword once, they'd be swept away without even a chance to resist.
But they wouldn't retreat like this.
No, couldn't retreat would be more accurate.
The growth buff from the World Tree was worth that much.
Kim Si-hyeok spoke in a voice that had dropped even lower.
"Why should I waste my precious Achievement Points just to accommodate you people?"
Kim Si-hyeok's oppressive aura continued to weigh heavily on the reception room.
Kang Hwa-wi, struggling against the pressure constricting his entire body, managed to speak.
"W-we're not asking for this without compensation! We're offering hundreds of billions of won per month of contract duration!"
"So?"
"From that standpoint, I believe we're entitled to make these reasonable demands!"
"If you don't like it, don't join. I never forced anyone. There are plenty of people willing to pay extra just to get in."
It wasn't a lie.
There were things in this world that money couldn't buy.
And most things related to a Player's growth fell into that category.
Kang Hwa-wi, who knew this fact all too well, bit his lip slightly.
"I'm aware of that. But there's a flaw in your argument."
"A flaw?"
"When the Night Hunter first extended the invitation, our Continent Guild clearly expressed our intention to purchase all remaining slots in your guild."
"American Dream and other guilds made similar offers, didn't they?"
"Perhaps. But can you honestly say any other guild matched our financial offer?"
Perhaps it was confidence in their financial power.
Kang Hwa-wi's previously subdued expression regained some composure.
"One trillion won per person. Double that if you allow Rankers to join—we even stated our willingness to pay beyond that amount."
"W-what did you say?"
"One trillion?"
Gasps of astonishment erupted from the prospects throughout the room.
It was only natural.
"But the contracts would renew monthly... Wait. That means just ten people would exceed 10 trillion won?!"
"Insane! You're willing to pay that much every month?"
"And they said they'd pay even more if Rankers are allowed to join."
"As expected of the Continent Guild..."
Ten trillion won monthly for just ten people.
And they were willing to double or even exceed that amount if conditions were met?
Even the prospects backed by major guilds were stunned by these figures.
Then—
"Hold on."
A handsome blond man seated at the front raised his hand.
"Mr. Kang Hwa-wi, how can you be so certain no other guild offered better financial terms than yours?"
"Who dares—!"
Kang Hwa-wi's eyes flashed with anger as he whipped his head around.
But he couldn't finish his sentence.
The reason was simple.
"At American Dream, our minimum offer per person was two trillion won."
It wasn't just because the blond man who countered him was Andrew Burns, a famous American prospect.
"Depending on negotiations, we're willing to pay even more. If Ranker participation is allowed, we can go up to three trillion per person."
American Dream.
Along with Continent Guild, they were the twin titans currently dominating Earth's guild scene.
Moreover, the figures he proposed were at a level difficult to even imagine.
"M-madness!!"
"Three trillion per person?! And monthly?"
"What am I even hearing right now...?"
The prospects were even more shocked than when Kang Hwa-wi had spoken earlier.
Observing this situation, Si-mun quietly shifted his gaze sideways.
Right toward a man who resembled a gangster.
Park Jin-uk happened to be looking back at Si-mun at that moment.
'Is that for real?'
A slight movement of lips.
Park Jin-uk, who had no trouble reading the silent question, gave an almost imperceptible nod.
'Yes.'
"Ha."
Si-mun pressed his fingers to his forehead.
Not because of the absurd sums proposed by Continent Guild and American Dream.
'You carried out my instructions exactly as given, even after receiving offers like that?'
These were amounts that would make even the privileged prospects of major guilds gasp in shock.
Yet they simply followed his orders without question?
'They didn't even mention it.'
You'd think they'd at least bring it up once, right?
That these two guilds were willing to pay over 10 trillion won monthly just to lease growth buffs.
But neither Park Jin-uk, whom he'd entrusted with the task, nor Kim Si-hyeok, whom he'd appointed as acting guild leader.
Not even Lee Yu-jeong, who might have known about this.
None of them had breathed a word about these conditions.
They'd simply carried out Si-mun's requests in silence.
At that realization—
'This is... kind of touching.'
Si-mun felt his chest tighten.
Even if all three of them were financially comfortable.
You'd think sums like that would make anyone waver.
As Si-mun was feeling moved—
"Lies!"
Kang Hwa-wi's enraged voice cut through the air.
Andrew let out a derisive laugh.
"Lies? Are you suggesting I, a prospect of American Dream, would lie in a formal setting like this?"
"You Americans always have lies dripping from your mouths! You'd do anything for your own benefit!"
"My God, listen to who's talking."
"What did you say?!"
The two prospects were heating up.
Then, a voice weighed down on their shoulders.
"Enough. If this commotion escalates further, both of you will be expelled."
Kim Si-hyeok's icy tone crushed the tension.
At that, Andrew let out a small sigh and turned his head away.
"Sword Saint! How can you do this?!"
Kang Hwa-wi's face flushed red as he roared.
"You should think carefully about which country is closer to Korea! Our Continent Guild never forgets debts and favors!"
"I fail to see how this constitutes a debt, and my stance remains unchanged."
"T-then are you saying you'll monopolize such a growth buff all for yourself?"
"You're twisting my words, Kang Hwa-wi. How is this a monopoly?"
Kim Si-hyeok's impassive eyes gradually sharpened.
"Just look around at the attendees. I'm trying my best to distribute it among multiple factions."
"T-that's..."
"On the contrary, the real monopoly was the proposal your Continent Guild made to me. Didn't you just admit to suggesting a monopoly earlier? Or am I mistaken?"
"......"
Kang Hwa-wi's mouth clamped shut.
"Since we're on the subject, let me ask you this."
Kim Si-hyeok propped his chin and continued.
"If the Continent Guild had obtained this growth buff, would you have extended guild membership offers to multiple factions like I did?"
"Hmph, as if. You'd probably sell it even to your own guild members for money."
Andrew's retort came instantly.
And the surrounding prospects merely watched Kang Hwa-wi's reaction,
each nodding in agreement.
It was entirely plausible that the Continent Guild would do exactly that.
Kim Si-hyeok calmly pressed on.
"Frankly, it's already unusual for me to extend such offers to foreign countries. There's already backlash brewing in Korea over this. The media's up in arms about 'draining national power.'"
It was true.
The Seongsam and Myth Guilds had no complaints since they secured spots for their own talents like Lee Yu-jeong and Choi Jin-su.
But other guilds expressed discomfort,
and some even played the media game.
Only the Sword Saint's title and the hundreds of billions in monthly rental fees prevented them from gaining much traction.
"And didn't I show special consideration to the Continent Guild?"
Kim Si-hyeok glanced at the man and woman seated beside the Continent Guild's delegation.
"Despite everything, I reserved two slots each for two guilds—yours and Japan's Masamune Guild—out of respect for our shared East Asian ties. Isn't that right?"
"...That is correct."
"And yet you speak of debts? Tell me, Kang Hwa-wi, who really owes whom here?"
"......"
Kang Hwa-wi had no rebuttal to Kim Si-hyeok's cold logic.
Then came the final blow.
"Given the disrespect I've endured, I'll revise my offer to the Continent Guild. The two slots I promised? I'm reducing it to one."
Kang Hwa-wi paled.
"W-wait, Sword Saint! What kind of—!"
"Excellent. Then we'll take that vacant slot for the American Dream."
"I agree~ If you give it to our Masamune Guild, we'll meet any condition you desire~."
"The Luten Guild would also like to—"
Seizing the opportunity, Andrew, Riko, and other prospects rushed to present their offers.
Kang Hwa-wi's face turned deathly white.
'No, this can't be!'
Why had he provoked the Sword Saint in the first place?
Wasn't it because the Vice Guild Master ordered him to secure as many guild slots as possible?
'If our Continent Guild loses a slot here...'
But it wasn't an absolute order—just a "if possible."
'I'm finished.'
If he returned having reduced their slots instead, his future was doomed.
Gulp.
Kang Hwa-wi's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
Fortunately—
"If we've offended you, I sincerely apologize, Sword Saint."
The tall, handsome Seo Wi-ryong, who had grasped the gravity of the situation, hastily intervened.
"This matter is of such importance that Brother Gang misspoke momentarily. He never intended any malice toward you. Isn't that right, Brother Gang?"
Seo Wi-ryong's eyes bore into him with pressure.
Under normal circumstances, Kang Hwa-wi would have bristled at such audacity.
"O-of course! My junior speaks the truth! Sword Saint, I never meant any disrespect!"
Too desperate to even consider pride, Kang Hwa-wi clung to the lifeline Seo Wi-ryong threw him.
"That's none of my—"
Just as Kim Si-hyeok was about to dismiss Kang Hwa-wi's groveling—
[Kim Si-mun: Si-hyeok, hold on.]
A message appeared before him.
A whisper from Si-mun.
[Kim Si-mun: You've done well so far, but let's tweak the finale. For the Continent Guild...]
Kim Si-hyeok skimmed the incoming whisper as if he hadn't seen it.
Sigh."Fine."
With an expression that clearly showed how little he wanted to do this, he spoke.
"I'll return the Continent Guild's membership count back to two digits. But since my mood hasn't improved, I'll set a condition."
"I-I'll do anything! Just tell me what it is!"
Unlike his arrogant demeanor from before, Kang Hwa-wi immediately wagged his tail in response.
To this, Kim Si-hyeok read aloud the message from his brother that had appeared before his eyes.
"The condition is......"