Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: The Weakest Link
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The Bellaten Black Market.
Returning to the black market after the promised ten days, Wang-sik thought for the first time that Sera might be dangerous.
“Was it perfect this time?”
Their little game.
Today, Sera wore a tight-fitting black dress.
The material was so thin it starkly revealed her curvaceous figure, yet not an inch of skin was actually exposed.
Unlike her previous outfits that teasingly showed glimpses of skin, this one covered most of her body, but her legs were accentuated with red fishnet stockings.
It was a look that perfectly targeted Wang-sik's preferences.
“Is it because of your pride? Why are you trying so hard?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I want to have you.”
Until now, he had thought of it as just Sera's weapon. After all, there was no weapon more potent than charm for seizing the upper hand in a deal with a client.
But today, his thoughts were different.
“You weren’t joking?”
“Oh my! Of course not. Did you think I put this much effort into every client? I’m a little hurt.”
Seeing Sera’s genuinely disappointed expression, Wang-sik felt a bit uncomfortable.
“Why do you want me?”
“I can’t tell you that right now. What I can tell you is that if you just set your mind to it, you can have many things.”
“And that includes you?”
“Let’s be honest. You can’t have me forever. But I can give you enough time to leave you satisfied.”
At her blunt reply, Wang-sik spoke with a serious expression.
“I refuse.”
And yet, Sera’s expression didn’t change upon hearing his answer. Instead, she looked at Wang-sik’s face and offered a faint smile.
“You. You’re wavering.”
“It’s true that my mind is getting crowded. But it’s not because of your charm.”
“Can you be so sure?”
She stepped forward, standing close enough to touch, as if to prove her point. Wang-sik didn’t push her away, meeting her gaze as he answered.
“You’re captivating.”
“Are you finally being honest?”
“Not you. This organization, the black market.”
Sera frowned.
“If I start taking an interest in you people, our deal will become inconvenient, won’t it?”
“You could also find yourself in danger.”
“So let’s just stick to business. I think this distance suits us. Close enough to see, but not to touch.”
Sera stared at Wang-sik, then turned away with a sigh.
“You truly are a difficult man. But you will seek this place again, and I’m a woman who always gets what she wants.”
“Why are you so certain?”
“Because you will be, once you see this.”
Sera handed Wang-sik three books that were on her desk.
They were files packed with information on the Magic Tower.
Wang-sik confirmed their contents and passed her the crystal sphere.
“I think we’ll be having a much deeper conversation next time.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Just you wait. We will meet again.”
Leaving Sera’s enigmatic smile behind him, Wang-sik left the black market.
* * *
—Why did the emperor begin to keep the Magic Tower in check?
Wang-sik had been pondering this question.
The Magic Tower was an organization gifted by the emperor himself to a hero who had performed incredible feats as the Imperial Archmage during the Unification War.
Since the organization began as a gesture of respect for the retired archmage, the emperor’s wariness seemed strange at first glance.
It was the emperor’s nature to always bestow excessive privileges upon war heroes.
And yet, he had begun to overtly check the Magic Tower.
If not for its past as a war hero’s legacy, he would have taken even more drastic measures.
Why?
That question was answered the moment he reviewed the files on the Magic Tower.
“This is incredible.”
The information on the Magic Tower received from the black market was translated into Korean at Mad Castle and distributed to all key agents.
When they gathered in the conference room the next day after reviewing the files, everyone wore a similar expression.
“I had no idea the 9th-Floor Mages were this wealthy. At this rate, our trading company won’t even need to invest.”
Oh Min-jae was astonished by the personal assets of the 9th-Floor Mages.
“Their connections can’t be ignored either.”
Wang-sik was concerned about the web-like network the Magic Tower had spread.
“I see why the emperor wanted to keep them in check.”
The Magic Tower literally possessed financial power and connections that surpassed most nations.
“And they have an army.”
Each mage was a powerful force on the battlefield.
“They have everything needed to threaten the emperor.”
It had reached a point where keeping them in check was no longer an option but a necessity. If anything, the emperor was a little late.
“So they have money, power, and military force…”
That one sentence summarized the complex situation. Oh Min-jae pointed out the only weakness he had found.
“Everything is concentrated among the 9th-Floor Mages. If we can just shake them up…”
The flow of funds, in particular, was severely skewed in their favor.
The research budget for a 9th-Floor Mage was a staggering one hundred times larger than that of an 8th-Floor Mage.
And that was just the official funding; when donations and special research grants were included, the gap was even wider.
“In a situation like this, the 9th-Floor Mages are bound to be even more obsessed with the Magic Tower. The resistance might be far greater than I anticipated.”
It was only natural that the greater the profits, the stronger the resistance to an invasion.
“We need to use their greed…”
Despite possessing such vast assets, the 9th-Floor Mages had still requested an investment from Oh Min-jae.
It meant they weren’t willing to part with their own wealth.
They continued to discuss various points based on the files, but the mood was not optimistic.
As the stifling atmosphere dragged on, someone spoke up.
“I think we need to investigate this part.”
The Chief Secretary, who had been listening silently until now, stepped forward.
She stood before a whiteboard and drew a simple relationship diagram of the Magic Tower.
Below the 10th-Floor Archmage, whose recent activities even the black market couldn’t track, she wrote eight names.
There were originally ten 9th-Floor Mages.
Of them, Lilia had been assassinated, and the black market predicted that another member, a pioneer in basic magic, had also died.
That left eight.
“What I’m focusing on is the new 9th-Floor Mage, Falcon.”
Unable to find a weakness in the overall picture, the Chief Secretary had looked at the individuals.
“According to the black market’s data, Falcon was recognized as a 9th-Floor Mage after Lilia’s death. But the strange thing is, the vacancy left by the previously deceased basic magic expert was never filled.”
She then wrote down the name of an 8th-Floor Mage.
“Even though there’s a basic magic expert on the 8th floor who made a name for himself long before Falcon did.”
Now that she mentioned it, it was certainly strange.
“Furthermore, Falcon had a massive failure in the most recent Gate project. So why was he promoted to the 9th floor?”
Oh Min-jae answered that question.
“Because unlike basic magic, there’s a lot to be gained from Gate magic.”
When a 9th-Floor Mage died, their research was sealed. Until a new 9th-Floor Mage was appointed, only the 10th-Floor Archmage had rights to it.
“We’ll need to look into it more closely, but there’s a high chance Falcon is just a puppet. The question is, will a man like Falcon be satisfied as a puppet?”
Oh Min-jae recalled the Falcon he had seen before.
Just seeing him on the podium, presenting his achievements, was enough to tell how stubborn and conceited the man was.
“In any case, Falcon is currently the foremost Gate expert in Azelan. If we can use him, it will open up several options for us.”
For the first time, the mood of the meeting began to change.
* * *
The meeting with Falcon was arranged ten days later.
Oh Min-jae promised the largest investment in history, but in return, he demanded to hear an explanation of the Gate project directly from Falcon.
“Consort, why are you so nervous?”
Just before the meeting with Falcon, Aisi was straightening Oh Min-jae’s clothes.
“Because I went and made a huge offer. I promised a full three million gold coins.”
“Is that a dangerously large amount?”
“No. What worries me is that money going to the Magic Tower. If things don’t go according to plan, I’ll be forced to hand over the cash.”
“It will go as you wish. Don’t be anxious.”
“Hoo. Alright. Wish me luck.”
“I’m always by your side.”
Buoyed by her kiss, Oh Min-jae waited for Falcon in the reception room.
Falcon arrived with three other mages, all of whom were specialists in defensive magic.
This was a change that had come about after Lilia’s assassination.
Now, whenever a mage of the 7th floor or higher moved about, they were escorted by defensive magic experts.
“I’d like to speak with you alone.”
Reminded that he was inside the Mirje Trading Company, Falcon dismissed the mages who had accompanied him.
“I was told you required my explanation.”
Falcon was not pleased about today’s meeting. He had never had to explain himself to anyone first, with the exception of his mentor, Lilia.
His pride already wounded by the situation, Falcon began to speak with a blank expression.
“This Gate is…”
But his words were cut off by Oh Min-jae.
“I have promised the Magic Tower three million gold coins.”
At the words that prodded his ego, Falcon scowled openly. Despite seeing this, Oh Min-jae continued without a hint of hesitation.
“That’s not a small sum, so I want to be certain. Are you, Falcon, the one in charge of this project?”
Falcon almost lost his patience.
He hadn’t expected to be disrespected so directly. He was not a man accustomed to this kind of negotiation.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I just want to be sure. I’m asking if you can take responsibility for whatever is discussed here. For three million gold coins, I believe I have the right to demand that much assurance, don’t you?”
“I am in charge. I will soon be listed as a 9th-Floor Mage.”
“Ah! I see! Congratulations.”
Falcon was caught off guard by Oh Min-jae’s sudden smile and change in demeanor. In his state of confusion, another question came like a surprise attack.
“Then there will be no interference from the others, correct?”
Falcon was at a loss for words at the question that suddenly pierced his defenses. Seeing his reaction, Oh Min-jae was certain.
‘Something is definitely going on.’
Without revealing his inner smile, Oh Min-jae began the speech he had prepared.
The real conversation started then.
“If my question was rude, I apologize. The thing is, I met with a certain mage yesterday. Meeting him gave me something to think about. I’m starting to wonder if it would be better to invest my three million gold coins in him.”
“What are you talking about?”
Forgetting his anger, Falcon asked again.
“I’ve started to think that it would be better to invest everything in one talented mage rather than being led around by the Magic Tower.”
“Who is this mage?”
“Frankly, it doesn’t matter who. As long as they have the skill.”
Oh Min-jae watched Falcon closely as he spoke. Realizing the intent too late, Falcon’s expression turned uncomfortable.
But his eyes wavered at the words that followed.
“Three million gold coins is not the issue. I’m a man who dislikes half-measures. When it comes to business, whatever it may be, I prepare perfectly. In fact, if things go my way, I’m willing to invest over ten million gold coins. To conduct the research you want in an environment far better than the Magic Tower, with no interference.”
Oh Min-jae looked Falcon in the eye and drove the point home.
“Without having to worry about what anyone thinks.”
Seeing that Falcon couldn’t immediately refuse, Oh Min-jae smiled.
“I will pretend I didn’t hear that.”
A refusal that came far too late.
“What did I say that you need to refuse? I was merely stating the direction of my investment.”
Falcon felt himself being drawn in, but lacking experience, he reacted emotionally.
“I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Very well. The three million gold coins will be invested as planned. It will be delivered to the Magic Tower in ten days.”
“Understood.”
As Falcon turned to leave, Oh Min-jae spoke to his back.
“Remember. Ten days. If you have something you want to discuss before then, go see Marquess Lennox Vega.”
“Lennox?”
It was one of the names the Magic Tower hated most.
“You won’t regret it. If you meet with him, your worries will disappear.”
Falcon left the reception room without another word.
“His expression says it all.”
Oh Min-jae was certain that Falcon would go to meet Wang-sik.