Chapter 113
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Hidden Quest: Reward Enhancement
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Hidden Quest: Reward Enhancement
-Requirement: Complete the quest to stabilize the Monster Wave and ascend as a hero.
-Reward: Reward Enhancement
-Description: Report that the circus troupe possessed the mark.
Ah, I went to the pond but didnt get anything good. Epic was the maximum.
The pond in the Merhen Kingdom wasnt first discovered by Jeong Hoon.
Bruce Willis.
He was an early user and the first one to visit the pond.
And he obtained an epic consumable from that pond.
Even after his dazzling performance, he was quite disappointed to get just an epic consumable.
Bruce Willis shared this fact with early users, and as a result, the pond was shunned by players.
However, there was one thing they had overlooked.
Mentioning the mark was the final step.
Jeong Hoons words were tantamount to saying that the circus troupe in the heart of the Merhen Kingdom was keeping the mark.
Wasnt it too contrived?
The reason was simple.
This was a test.
The mark wasnt a treasure of the kingdom but a device created by New World for those seeking to qualify for the royal castle quest.
If Bruce Willis had seen through this device and mentioned it, he would have had a chance to obtain something better than an epic consumable.
Yes. I thought this mark might be meant to test otherworlders like us.
After accepting the quest, Jeong Hoon immediately struck at the opening.
Kaiserck Vs face went blank for a moment before he burst into hearty laughter and confessed the truth.
Haha! Youre right. Its a device we made on purpose.
As expected...
Sorry about that. We just need a little verification for those entering the royal castle.
Jeong Hoon glanced at Ragan.
Ragan, who already seemed to know, subtly avoided Jeong Hoons gaze.
The faces of the others, excluding a select few, were filled with shock.
Looks like only a handful, including Ragan, knew.
He could now understand why Ragan had personally come out to the stables.
Jeong Hoon smiled brightly.
Good thing. I was worried some thief might have stolen and kept the mark.
What would you have done if there was?
I wouldve gone right over, beaten them down, and recovered all the marks.
It was a statement brimming with heroic spirit.
Ragan listened to Jeong Hoons words with deep admiration, his face moved.
The knights felt the same.
Some of them even clapped lightly.
Ugh... look at that awful acting. The stench of feet is so strong Im dry-heaving.
Mukho was still itching to scratch at peoples nerves.
Tough job... I could never flatter with such cringeworthy acting.
Anima consoled Jeong Hoon with pity.
Somehow, Animas consolation made him feel even worse.
Huhu, no need for that, thankfully.
An exclamation mark blinked above Kaiserck Vs head.
You have completed the quest.
Reward is enhanced.
Perfect.
Now he could aim for higher-grade items.
Earth Korea management team.
Team Leader Oh Jin-su dropped the coffee he was holding.
He broke the record...
At his words, the employees, who had frozen like broken machines, let out a collective gasp.
Wow! Approaching 90!
Insane!
Merhen Kingdom royal castle entry.
Various players from the Korean server had entered the royal castle so far.
And after tasting bitterness from that Monster Wave quest, they had left the castle.
No further quests were given after the meager reward.
The previous record was 79. The only one who visited the pond exclusive to the king!
The pond.
The pond that only one player was known to have visited so far.
A place where you could drop an item and receive a new one in return.
A pond that seemed inspired by Korean folklore.
However, this pond hadnt received good reviews.
Epic-grade consumable.
Even with a insane 79 contribution from mowing down the Monster Wave, it was just an epic-grade consumable.
On top of that, the consumable was a one-time item that temporarily boosted all stats by 1.3 times.
The reward was too meager compared to the effort, so the reviews were bound to be poor.
But the management team staff, including Oh Jin-su, thought differently.
Thats the upgraded reward, right...?
Seems like it...?
Insane... Who knew mentioning the marks origin was part of earning the reward.
Reward enhancement meant at least an epic-grade item or higher.
This player, who had only produced shocking scenes so far, was sure to cause another stir.
Huh? Why is there coffee here...?
Ah! Team Leader! How could you spill coffee here?!
The employees, distracted by the monitors, finally noticed Oh Jin-sus spill and screamed.
Ah, sorry...
Oh Jin-su apologized belatedly, but the employees didnt accept it.
No! Is this the time to apologize?!
The problem was that it had spilled on the desk.
They hurriedly grabbed rags to clean the keyboard, mouse pad, books in front, and all the coffee-soaked mess.
After waiting briefly in the reception room, Jeong Hoon visited the pond under Kaiserck Vs guidance.
It wasnt much different from an ordinary pond, but the water inside shimmered with golden light.
A blessed pond.
Blessed?
Yes. Of course, receiving that blessing requires a corresponding price.
I see.
He already knew.
The pond wasnt a place where you could just take the opportunity and leave.
Equivalent exchange.
A place for trades between items of equal value.
Why would I settle for an epic consumable? To take something better, Id have to give something of equal value.
At the time, Bruce Willis had nothing worth discarding.
So he ended up throwing in a worthless epic item to get the consumable.
Then take this.
This is?
Kaiserck V handed Jeong Hoon a pouch.
Inside the pouch was a small amount of golden powder.
Golden Dust
-Type: Consumable
-Grade: Unique
-Sprinkle the Golden Dust into Merhens pond to raise the maximum exchange reward to Unique grade.
It was the reward for completing the quest.
For the hero who achieved over 75 contribution and dutifully reported the marks origin.
...Thank you.
I hope you get good results.
Kaiserck V left to allow Jeong Hoon to focus.
Now, Jeong Hoon was alone at the pond.
Then lets get started.
Jeong Hoon carefully sprinkled the golden dust from the pouch into the pond.
The crystal-clear water instantly glowed golden.
Reward is enhanced.
You can obtain a maximum Unique-grade item.
The reward enhancement message appeared.
Jeong Hoons lips curved up.
What are you gonna discard?
Me too, curious.
Mukho and Anima showed strong curiosity.
They were wondering what item Jeong Hoon would offer for the equivalent exchange.
Shall I offer you up?
A sudden playful impulse struck.
Jeong Hoon looked ready to strip off Mukho right then.
Argh! Did you get shot in the head? Why are you like this?!
Mukho freaked out.
If you sacrifice yourself, theyll give an item worthy of it.
This is ridiculous? Am I just like any other item?!
Hmm, a bit different.
Fine! Then offer that Anima bastard instead.
Animas off-limits.
Even without full power, Anima showed this level of performance.
Considering when Anima regained full strength later, she was an indispensable partner for Jeong Hoon.
Heh, good eye as expected.
Bullshit. What does an eye that cant tell shit from soy paste see...
Mukho sulked openly.
He had lost his abilities due to long sealing, but purely in terms of performance, he was no slouch compared to Anima.
I was just kidding. Why would I discard you guys?
His reliable allies hed never betray.
Jeong Hoon had already decided what item to exchange at this pond from the start.
A title item slumbering in the corner of his inventory.
Recognized by the Instructor
-Type: Unique Title
-Grade: Rare
-Martial Artist-related passive skill effects 3
-Martial Artist-related active skill effects 3
The unique title earned by defeating Instructor Altio at the Hall of Martial Arts.
Unique title... If used at the pond, you could get an equivalent item.
Bruce Willis later regretted endlessly not using a unique title for equivalent exchange at the pond.
He realized too late that possessing a unique title allowed the best reward from this pond, regardless of grade.
The pond could only be entered once, and Bruce had already entered once.
Now it was Jeong Hoons turn.
Finally, time to use this guy.
Low grade but top-tier in rarity: a unique title.
No better item to offer at a pond that valued rarity.
Jeong Hoon tossed the title item into the pond.
The pond turned golden, and an old man suddenly popped up from it.
Oh! This guys got quite the rare item!
Pleased with the unique title, the old mans face bloomed with a innocent smile.
When I tossed mine in, the old mans face soured completely... He was so grumpy. Well, dont set epic as the max then.
A reaction 180 degrees different from Bruce Williss story.
Yes. Id like to exchange it for an equivalent item.
Tsk tsk, fine. The grade... isnt great, but since its one-of-a-kind in the world, Ill trade it for something equivalent.
The old man pondered briefly, then snapped his fingers.
A jet of water rose from the pond, and an item floated up atop it.
It was an item in the form of a skillbook.
Skillbook: Plunder (One-time)
-Type: Skillbook
-Grade: Unique
-Using the skillbook allows you to learn Plunder (One-time).
Plunder...? Whod have thought itd come out here.
Plunder.
An item whose traces hed barely confirmed before his regression.
That item was now right in front of Jeong Hoon.
But Jeong Hoon didnt show greed.
The moment desire slipped in, the old man would notice and instantly take the superior position.
He had to remember this was purely a trade.
I offered a unique title, and youre giving just one skillbook?
Jeong Hoon asked with a sullen face.
The old man snorted.
Ha, youre just a greenhorn? Do you even know what that is?
I know roughly. A skill that lets you plunder someone elses item?
Plunder.
A skill that could plunder items below Unique grade.
Such an absurdly overpowered skill existed only in theory, not in reality, and shouldnt exist at all.
You know well. But youre saying its not enough?
Irritation flashed in the old mans eyes.
Even if one-time, anyone who knew the skills value wouldnt react like that.
Damn, this ones pretty sharp.
Especially the uniform the guy was wearing.
The old man could tell at a glance it was no ordinary uniform.
If such a guy had a unique title, he must have plenty of other decent items.
A tough customer had come.
Yes.
Tch, so what do you want?
Having judged, the old man changed his attitude and asked what he wanted.
In this equivalent exchange, the old man was the one coming up short.
He didnt like one-time items much to begin with.
They disappeared after one use, which was a turn-off.
But a unique title was different.
No matter what, it never vanished, and no duplicates could be obtained.
For that reason alone, the old man couldnt let go of the unique title that had come in.
Ones not enough. Give me another Plunder.
What...?