Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Legendary Gear Bidding War
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Choi Shin-hyeok's declaration that he would immediately accept equipment production requests on the spot left the stunned heads of state and ministers from various countries scrambling to check the conditions.
"How many pieces of Legendary equipment can you produce!"
"How many Unique-grade and Rare-grade items are possible!"
"How much will production cost, and what materials are required!"
"Player Choi Shin-hyeok, please answer!"
These were crucial conditions.
The number of equipment pieces they could commission would determine how the beads on their abacuses would roll.
In response, Shin-hyeok handed the microphone to Se-jin, who hadn't spoken a word until now.
"From here on, Workshop Master Bang Se-jin will explain."
"Uh, um... Hello. I'm Bang Se-jin."
Se-jin, experiencing the gaze of countless eyes for the first time, greeted them with a slightly tense, awkward expression.
His incredibly clumsy demeanor even cooled the heated atmosphere for a moment.
But as they quickly remembered their purpose and urged him on, Se-jin thought for a second before speaking.
"Legendary equipment: up to four per month. For Unique and Rare, once I finish training the artisans under me, it'll depend on their effort."
"...Pardon?"
It was a shocking statement that could blow everyone's minds.
"Oh, is that too few? Hmm, with some effort, maybe five or six—"
"Brother, it's too many for that reason."
"Huh? But with materials, I could make one every four days—"
"Hey, you can't say that here."
"Oh? Sorry. First time at something like this."
"Eh, doesn't matter."
Of course, Se-jin himself had no such intentions.
He even unwittingly suggested it wasn't few and that more could be made with effort.
Still, Shin-hyeok didn't stop him.
Even if they knew, there wasn't much they could do about it.
'Would they pressure us to make more? Boycott? That hurts them. Other countries would love it—their turn comes sooner.'
In the face of absolute dominance, the weak could only bow endlessly.
Even so, the great powers, having confirmed their gains, eagerly extended their hands.
"We'll send our U.S.-held Legendary materials right away. Please start production immediately."
"Japan has them too. Bang master! Please craft from Japan's treasures!"
"China's Legendary materials outnumber both combined. We'll send them all at once—start with us."
"Don't underestimate Mother Russia's might. We have Legendary materials too."
It was obvious that Legendary equipment required Legendary materials.
Thus, countries without them sighed and shifted toward Unique and Rare production.
It was inevitable.
Legendary materials were hard to obtain, and even if secured, selling to others was often better—so most nations didn't stockpile them.
'Damn, if I'd known, I wouldn't have sold those Legendary materials...'
'Sigh, what a shame. No way we'll sell Legendary materials now... How long to gather them? Squeeze our Diamond players?'
The faces of foreign officials, who had gleefully traded Legendary materials for rights, cash, and heaps of Unique materials, darkened.
Originally, Legendary materials weren't treated as especially vital despite their prestige.
Sure, their value exceeded dozens of Unique materials, but compared to the gap between Legendary and Unique gear, it wasn't much.
There was a big reason for that.
No artisans could handle Legendary materials.
Thus, great powers ground through them to raise artisan proficiency.
Eventually, they'd hit the threshold, allowing production—not just acquisition—of Legendary gear.
An investment for the future.
Industry insiders predicted a Legendary artisan from the U.S. or China.
Well, their predictions missed the mark spectacularly.
Anyway, as faces darkened among those without Legendary materials and smiles spread among those with them...
"India's Minister Nakarta. Doesn't India have plenty of Unique materials?"
"Yes? Well, yes, we do. That's why we're inquiring about Unique gear production..."
"No need for that."
"Pardon? What do you mean..."
"Ten Unique materials. That's enough for a Legendary equipment."
"...!"
Displeased with the flow, Shin-hyeok jumped in and shattered the board.
All eyes turned to him at words that demolished the rule: Rare for Rare, Unique for Unique, Legendary only for Legendary.
If looks could pierce, Shin-hyeok would've been Swiss cheese.
But he brushed it off and got confirmation from Se-jin.
"Right?"
"Uh? Yeah. Possible. But the resulting Legendary gear is inferior to one from pure Legendary materials. Like Legendary-minus grade?"
"That's the case. So, players from smaller nations, don't give up. We Koreans understand—we're a smaller nation too. Don't let the great powers steal your rights. We support you."
"...Player Choi Shin-hyeok!"
Tears welled in Minister Nakarta's eyes, moved by Shin-hyeok's consideration.
Of course, Shin-hyeok wasn't siding with them for such reasons.
'Alright, now kill each other.'
Great powers versus smaller nations.
Only if they fought to the death would more fall to him.
And that thinking proved spot on soon enough.
"U.S.: two Legendary materials. China: one Legendary and ten Unique materials. Russia: twenty-three Unique materials. Finally, India: thirty-two Unique materials. These four nations are selected for the first Legendary equipment productions. Thank you for your support."
The four nations chosen for the first Legendary gear slots: U.S., China, Russia, India.
The materials they offered as payment were staggering.
Three Legendary materials alone.
Over sixty Unique ones.
'Plus separate production materials. Ugh, this alone covers a year's revenue.'
The materials for the gear itself were extra.
Likely tailored to the player's aptitude, matching subsidiary Uniques to the main Legendary core.
Anyway, this wrapped up promotion for All Mighty Guild and world-class artisan Se-jin in grand style.
"Brother, good work."
"You did the heavy lifting. Man, how are you so good at talking? Saw them jacking up prices like crazy, hypnotized."
"Easy. Just trust me, brother. I'll make sure your worth is covered."
"Heh, thanks to you, materials are piling up. Now I can hole up hammering. Oh, want me to make you gear from this haul? Your armor looks shabby."
"Nah, it's growing-type. But I'll take a third of the Unique materials. For its growth."
"Fair, couldn't have gotten them without you."
After the press conference ended.
Having wrapped up with Se-jin, Shin-hyeok approached the Chief of Staff—arguably Korea's government number two—waiting nearby.
The Chief bowed lightly in greeting.
"Ah, no need."
"Player Choi Shin-hyeok is the nation's treasure. With regime change, I'm a kite cut loose—no way I treat you casually. Plus... I'm a Shinwa Kid."
"Ah."
Behind it was his Shinwa Kid background.
Shinwa Kids.
Shinwa Group's seed money for future influencers in politics, prosecution, academia, etc.
Even great trees start as sprouts.
Sprouts need fertilizer and water—here, money.
Having grown on such funds, they couldn't escape Shinwa's influence.
Confirming another reason for the Chief's deference, Shin-hyeok nodded casually and asked.
"Both here?"
"Yes, both. They watched the entire conference on TV from the prepared room inside."
"Good. Let's go."
"I'll escort you."
"I can go alone..."
"I'm the Chief of Staff. Hard to find better for this."
"Fine."
Amused by the regime's number two wagging his tail like a puppy with a bell, but his skills and connections were solid, so Shin-hyeok ignored it.
Engraving the name Eom Sang-taek in mind as useful, he headed to All Mighty Guild's top floor—his future guild master office.
There, two men awaited.
"My nephew! You were amazing! Dealing with national bigshots that even made your little uncle shake—brilliant!"
Flame King, Choi In-ho.
Shinwa family's second son.
Shin-hyeok's little uncle.
And opposite him—
"...You've grown a lot in that short time."
Sword King, Lee Ho-seok.
Oseong family's firstborn.
Shin-hyeok's rival (self-proclaimed) Lee Joo-ho's father.
He was there.
The reason for his presence, despite no good ties with Shin-hyeok, was simple.
"Thank you both for accepting my invitation."
"Hmph, dangling Legendary gear production like that."
"Haha, if one of us skips, the other can't go alone."
Legendary-grade equipment.
A lure even the Three Emperors Five Kings would drool over.
As In-ho jested and Ho-seok scowled...
"Who'd think my workshop birthed such a genius artisan and gear! As your little uncle, a heads-up would've been nice, eh?"
In-ho sidled up, slinging an arm around Shin-hyeok's shoulder familiarly.
Acting like long-time family, Ho-seok's face stiffened.
He was here solely for Legendary gear rights.
If In-ho leveraged family ties or workshop claims, Ho-seok lost out.
Knowing this, In-ho grinned at Ho-seok.
Like showing the gap between them.
Ho-seok ground his teeth, veins bulging on his hand, but stayed seated.
He had to hear the terms, even if he lost the rights.
As In-ho smirked mockingly at the seething Ho-seok...
"Let's sit first."
"Ah, yeah, sure."
Shin-hyeok shrugged off In-ho's arm and plopped into the head seat.
In-ho's face soured slightly, but Shin-hyeok ignored it.
Gazing calmly, he smiled faintly at them and spoke.
"I gathered you two fellow Koreans to help each other."
"Help?"
"Yes. Separate from the four rights sold worldwide, I'm offering one extra."
"Oh!"
"Hm..."
Other nations paid fortunes for those rights.
In-ho reacted with glee, assuming it was his; Ho-seok with resignation, knowing he couldn't claim it.
"Haha, thanks. Grateful for growing my workshop. I'll slip 10 billion into your account quietly. Clean money—use it well."
Thus, In-ho laughed openly, tossing out 10 billion like charity.
10 billion.
Big money.
But compared to other nations' offers?
A firefly before the sun.
Shin-hyeok's response?
"Why is Shinwa Workshop under Shinwa Guild Master?"
"...Huh?"
"Shinwa Workshop is my workshop."
"...You—"
"Didn't you see the press conference? Grandfather confirmed it. Shinwa Workshop is fully separated from Shinwa Guild, assigned under my All Mighty Guild."
Why is this your workshop—
As In-ho gaped in disbelief, Shin-hyeok turned to Ho-seok.
Completely ignoring In-ho.
In-ho's face flushed like an erupting volcano, but Shin-hyeok dismissed him.
"Oseong Guild Master."
"...?"
"I don't like my family much. Even if I did, this is business, not personal."
"...Meaning?"
"You saw the conference. You know."
"...Haha."
Now Ho-seok got it.
The young tiger before him never called In-ho "little uncle" once here.
Not him either.
Only Shinwa Guild Master and Oseong Guild Master.
'For real. He'll sell to the highest bidder. Worth playing.'
Sensing Shin-hyeok's intent, Ho-seok eyed In-ho.
Feeling it, In-ho barked.
"Sword King. You joining this nonsense—"
"Fellow Koreans—any room for a discount?"
"...What?"
Ho-seok ignored In-ho completely.
As In-ho blanked, Shin-hyeok nodded with a smile.
"Yes, possible. We Koreans help each other. We can cut price or upgrade gear."
"Good. Oseong Guild starts with five Unique materials."
"What the hell—"
"Oh, Shinwa Guild Master not interested? Then selling Legendary production rights to Oseong for five Unique materials?"
"...Six!!!"
Watching the unfolding scene, In-ho had no choice but to join the bidding.
Hand over Legendary rights for five Uniques?
Insane.
Thus, the second round of the cutthroat auction erupted, and Shin-hyeok sank into the plush leather chair with a satisfied smile.
'Alright, now kill each other again.'