Chapter 164
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Shinwa Guild Meeting
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Shinwa Guild.
Sa Jae-hyeok sat at the head of the table, holding a meeting with his executives.
"Hmm, alright. What about the grades of the new recruits?"
"Yes. We've brought in two who advanced to first-job Epic grade."
"Not bad."
Advancing to Epic grade on the first job change meant they had a shot at a Legendary job like his down the line.
Of course, most people failed to seize that opportunity.
The path to Legendary was incredibly narrow.
Still, since there was a chance one of them could break through like him, these were must-hires.
"More importantly, what about Hwarang? We were certain he'd be the only one to reach Legendary grade, weren't we?"
Sa Jae-hyeok let out a sigh.
He was right.
He had no doubt that with Lee Hwarang's potential, he'd hit Legendary on the fifth job change, 100.
But right now, Lee Hwarang couldn't even log into the game.
"It's fine. It's down to nine months now instead of twelve."
Nine months, he said.
Truth be told, that was more than enough time to drop out of the rankings.
The executives inwardly cursed Sa Jae-hyeok for his ridiculous bet but didn't dare show it.
Pointing it out would cost them their heads.
"Speaking of which, it looks like Park Jin-hyuk jumped ship to Hoyoung."
"We really should've held onto Park Jin-hyuk no matter what..."
"But he's a level 339 Lord Knight."
The executives truly regretted his departure.
Even overshadowed by Lee Hwarang, he was a Unique-grade player over level 300.
His skills were the real deal.
Sa Jae-hyeok would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed by Park Jin-hyuk's exit, but his actions were utterly outrageous.
Posting on Welcom that he was leaving Shinwa.
It was as good as threatening Shinwa.
"The bastard tried to blackmail Shinwa. I'd love to slit his throat. If that punk's name shows up on the rankings again, I'll rip the mouth off whoever put it there."
Killing intent poured from Sa Jae-hyeok's frame, and the executives clamped their mouths shut in unison.
Welcom was ablaze in real time.
Whoa... There's a dungeon that gives 150 million EXP
-Where the hell is that?
Gotta be at least level 400 for that, right?
150 million? What, is that your dog's name? lololol
Why not share the location?
fml, it's a hot tip
The firestorm was all because of HoneyTube.
He'd cleared an undiscovered dungeon as a "hot tip," which was fine, but then he ended the stream without revealing the location of this 150-million-EXP jackpot.
A full day later, Welcom was still burning with the same topic.
"Think it's time to drop it?"
Jeong Hoon was out of his capsule right now.
To share the dungeon's location.
It was 3 p.m.
No more delayshe logged into the community and posted.
HoneyTube here. Time to reveal the dungeon location.
"Warrior's City!"
"Son of a bitch! It's there!"
As soon as Jeong Hoon shared the dungeon, countless players flooded into Warrior's City.
Those under level 200 shed bloody tears and gave up, but anyone 201 and up was raring to raid it.
"What? Why are there so many?"
"What's going on?"
The resident warriors of the city looked utterly baffled.
"Where'd it say the exact spot was?"
"Border area?"
"Okay!"
"Grab the search quest first. More EXP that way."
As the players headed out to conquer the dungeon, Jeong Hoon left Warrior's City.
Feels empty and quiet.
Normally, these fields are packed with outsiders fighting over spots.
On a typical day, the field would be full of players bickering over territory.
But thanks to the stream's aftermath, he witnessed the rare sight of no such squabbles.
Jeong Hoon passed through the field and arrived at the heart of Leas: City of Peace.
He hadn't gone straight to Archer's City.
He'd come here for one specific NPC.
NPC Info
-Nickname: Nagast
-Level: 205
-Job: General Store Owner
He ran a general store in this City of Peace.
"Hm? What are you looking for?"
Nagast greeted Jeong Hoon politely, like a proper merchant.
"I want to buy monster feed."
"Hm? You look like a Martial Artist. Why are you after something for Tamers?"
Nagast tilted his head.
"I need it."
"Fair enough. What species?"
"Wolf."
"Then how about this?"
What he recommended was meat made from monsters.
Giant Pigwhich resembled a wild boarwas the prime example, and it was famous as a food people actually enjoyed.
"Hm. Give me 50 kg of that."
"F-Fifty kg? Don't have that much... Got just under 30 kg."
There was a little less than 30 kg of Giant Pig meat left.
He used to stock 60 kg batches, but sales were low, and freshness mattered, so he'd cut imports to 40 kg.
And now, right after, a customer wants 50 kg.
"Got any other meat? The pup's a bit big, so 30 kg won't cut it."
"How big can it be...?"
"Too big to explain easily."
"Hrm. How about Gold Snake meat, then?"
Gold Snake was a snake-like monster.
They hunted it, removed the head and bones, dried it, and sold the meat.
"Yes. That'll do."
Jeong Hoon bought a total of 60 kg of Giant Pig and Gold Snake meat.
This should be enough, right?
Unlike Michael, Fenrir needed regular feeding.
That made Tamer a job that required deep pockets.
You could command massive, powerful summons like Fenrir, but the downside was sourcing huge amounts of feed.
Michael's the easy one.
As a former soul, Michael didn't need food and was fine without itno expenses there.
"Truly grateful!"
Nagast was beaming.
"Yes. And one more thing I'd like to ask."
"Go ahead. I'll tell you everything I know."
A customer who'd bought heaps of meat.
How could he not answer one question?
"I want to visit Archer's City. Any way to do that?"
"Archer's City? You're no Archer. Why go there?"
Nagast cocked his head again.
Most outsiders visiting Archer's City were Archers.
"I've got business there."
"Hm... Why not just go to Warrior's City? They probably won't let you in easily."
All cities were like that to some degree, but Archer's City especially shunned non-Archer players.
Archer bastards are so damn petty
-They won't even let you into their city? lololol No wonder Warrior's City took their territory and they're fuming
shut up asshole go hunt in your own city
You an Archer OP? Anyway lololol NPCs and players both so narrow-minded
I can't even with them lol Other cities let you in after a quest, but Archer's City won't even give quests
That was true.
In Warrior's City, you could just complete a quest from the gatekeeping NPC to enter.
But Archer's City didn't even offer quests.
Just because you weren't an Archer.
"That's why I came here."
Jeong Hoon grinned.
"Hm? Why here?"
Nagast played dumb for a moment.
"Why do you think? Heard the general store here does great disguises."
"...Damn, where'd you hear that?"
"1,000 gold. That cover it?"
Disguise.
No fixed price.
Name your price.
"...Follow me."
Nagast led him to the store's warehouse.
Unlike the junk piled in the front, this one was neatly organized.
It was packed with mysterious items you couldn't see from outside.
He used to be a Mage, right?
Nagast was a merchant now, but he'd once been a highly skilled Mage.
Jealous rivals framed him, plunging him into doubt that made him quit magic.
After that, he'd settled in City of Peace as a merchant.
He pulled a sub-space pouch from the shelves and reached inside.
"In there?"
"Yes."
Nagast rummaged for a while before pulling out a bag full of potions.
The bag brimmed with vials of green liquid.
Top-Grade Disguise Potion
-Type: Potion
-Grade: Unique
-Disguise your appearancejob as desired for one week.
-Duration: One week. Drink more to extend.
-To dispel: Say 'release.'
A Unique-grade potion, no less.
This would get him into Archer's City.
"About twenty, please."
"1,000 gold each. Can you swing it?"
Unique-grade potion.
1,000 gold was about 10 million won.
Twenty made 200 million.
No small sum, but Jeong Hoon paid 20,000 gold without hesitation.
"...You've got money to burn."
Beyond the million gold from Sa Jae-hyeok, steady reinforcement commissions had piled up his gold.
This was pocket change.
"Thanks for the compliment."
"Ahem. Care to see other items?"
Someone who could drop 20,000 gold on the spot? Rare.
Nagast didn't want to miss the chance.
"No. This is plenty for now."
But Jeong Hoon shut it down flat.
"Is that so...?"
Nagast fiddled with the sub-space pouch, crestfallen.
He had so many self-made potions besides disguises.
"Take care."
Jeong Hoon pocketed the twenty disguise potions and left the store.
Open Random Rune Chest (Unique)?
Out of City of Peace, Jeong Hoon opened the rune chest right away.
Acquired 'Rune of Strength (Unique).'
Rune of Strength.
Rune of Strength
-Type: Rune
-Grade: Unique
-Strength 5
Not as overpowered as Rune of Annihilation, but 5 Strength was plenty satisfying.
After his third job change, he could equip up to six runes. Filling the other four would mean massive growth.
Jeong Hoon slotted the Rune of Strength and summoned Fenrir.
"......"
The summoned Fenrir eyed Jeong Hoon warily.
Gone was the massive form from their first meeting. Now it was Pomeranian-sized baby wolf, baring teeth at him.
"Begged to live, but now you're growling? Break the Taming and delete you?"
"......N-No."
Tricked by Serion, sealed for ages.
Humans sparked rage in him now.
But defy this one? Death.
Pretend to obey to survive.
Decision made, Fenrir flopped over, exposing his belly.
Submission.
"Hungry?"
Jeong Hoon pulled 60 kg of Giant Pig and Gold Snake meat from his inventory.
Seeing the mountain of meat stimulated Fenrir's salivary glandsdrool dripped from his jaws.
"......N-No, not hungry."
Obeying to survive, sure, but he didn't need human slop.
"Suit yourself."
Jeong Hoon started stowing the meat back without a second thought.
Fenrir's eyes twitched.
"What're you doing with that meat...?"
"Oh, sharing with people."
Giving it to humans...?
Wait. Better I eat it than fatten those damn humans, right?
Yeah. Can't let their bellies grow.
"I want it...!"
"Really?"
Fenrir nodded furiously.
"Then eat."
With permission, Fenrir pounced on the meat pile and devoured it ravenously.
How long since he'd last eaten?
Jeong Hoon had shrunk him, but his true size was 15 meters at the shoulderhe could polish this off easily.
Hm... Why'm I full already?
But after a few chunks, his belly swelled.
Eat more? 100 puke.
Fenrir backed off, unable to finish.
"Shrunk, huh. Can't eat as much as I thought."
Jeong Hoon's words bruised Fenrir's pridehe scowled.