Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Calculated Performance
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Four mages entered the drawing room.
Heros, Oh Min-jae's private tutor, entered first, holding the door open and bowing his head until the other three had passed.
“Hmph!”
The one who entered with a cough wore a robe of a different design. His white robe was adorned with a pattern resembling a magic circle, drawn vertically from his right shoulder. It was a magic circle drawn with special dye, and one look at it made it clear he was a mage of the fourth floor or higher.
“This is Mage Mekkanti.”
He was a man who appeared to be in his early thirties.
To be on the fourth floor at that age meant he had a high chance of reaching the fifth floor or beyond in the future. Perhaps for that reason, the two third-floor mages accompanying him followed with the bowed heads of loyal slaves.
“Please, have a seat.”
Oh Min-jae gestured toward the sofa beside him.
Mekkanti’s eyebrow twitched at the sight of Oh Min-jae merely extending a hand without rising from his seat.
Mekkanti, who had expected to be offered the seat of honor, found his tone growing harsh, feeling that this young man was treating him with disrespect.
“Why did you create such an item without the Magic Guild’s permission?”
He got straight to the point as he sat on the sofa.
His words carried several implications.
The most significant among them was the accusation of creating a magical item without the Magic Guild’s approval.
Without even waiting for an answer, Mekkanti pressed Oh Min-jae.
“Is someone helping you? This isn’t something a trading company could create.”
They were a group that possessed power, but not political savvy.
This was especially true for the man before him, who was filled with the pride of a mage. Oh Min-jae, who had intentionally provoked the man, answered calmly, unfazed.
“The only one who has helped me is my tutor, Heros.”
At his words, all eyes turned to Heros.
“Tutor?”
That single word made Heros’s face flush red.
In the eyes of the other mages present, Heros was nothing more than an untalented mage who had just barely surpassed the level of a novice.
Mekkanti, giving him a look of displeasure, turned back to Oh Min-jae and asked with great arrogance.
“Are you really planning to sell such an unstable item?”
Despite the grudgingly formal speech, Oh Min-jae showed no sign of discomfort. Instead, he smiled as he replied.
“I haven’t sold any yet. I plan to perfect the item a bit more before selling it. It needs to have at least fifty percent effectiveness to be valuable as a low-cost alternative.”
“So you do know a thing or two.”
“This is perfect timing, then. I was just thinking I needed to meet the esteemed mages of the Magic Guild.”
Oh Min-jae’s tone softened.
The mages frowned at his familiar tone. An attempt at friendliness when their displeasure had not yet subsided was more irritating than anything.
Aware of this, Oh Min-jae continued to speak with a smile.
“It’s difficult for me to make any more progress on my own. I need your help. Of course, I don’t expect it for free. I intend to offer you a formal stake.”
“A stake?”
“I will pay for your knowledge. Of course, you may feel uncomfortable with the idea of putting a price on knowledge, but as a merchant, money is my creed. Offering you a stake is my way of betting my creed on this.”
The mages didn't understand immediately. Oh Min-jae explained it more simply.
“The three materials I create will be sold for five silver each. Of that, one silver will be your stake.”
It was an unprecedented offer.
It meant they would receive a full twenty percent in royalties. Even mages who knew little of worldly affairs could understand how significant that was.
Typically, in such cases, one would receive one percent, or five percent at most.
But a whole twenty percent.
The mages began to suspect that it was Oh Min-jae who was too ignorant of the world.
‘His negotiation etiquette is lacking, now that I think about it.’
To them, Oh Min-jae didn't seem like a skilled merchant. Combined with the crucial factor of his youth, the situation began to make sense.
‘A greenhorn.’
They concluded that his inexperience as the head of a trading company led him to make such an extraordinary offer of twenty percent.
Reading their expressions, Oh Min-jae smiled and said.
“In return, I have a favor to ask. I need an official endorsement from the Magic Tower.”
The mages considered the proposal.
‘He’s not a complete fool, then.’
With that condition, twenty percent made sense. After all, the name of the Magic Tower was the most reliable seal of approval in the world.
“That won’t be easy.”
Mekkanti said with a firm expression. No trading company had ever been allowed to formally use the name of the Magic Tower.
Not only was it unlikely to be permitted, but Mekkanti was not in a position to make that decision.
‘This is sure to be profitable, though…’
The reason they had come to the trading company in person was because the item Oh Min-jae created had that much value.
Its efficiency was a remarkable thirty percent compared to the genuine article. Moreover, he claimed he could raise it to fifty percent.
And the price was a mere five silver.
Considering the genuine article currently sold for one gold, five silver was an absurdly low price.
Although the genuine article had overwhelmingly superior effects, the story changed when the price was only five silver. At one-twentieth of the price for fifty percent of the effect, there was no need to even consider which one to use.
Excluding crucial final experiments or actual magic demonstrations, Oh Min-jae’s item would be used for the research process, practical training, and minor experiments for theoretical deduction.
Most importantly, research would flourish.
Mages who couldn't even attempt experiments due to the cost would begin to do so. It was easy to predict that the demand would be enormous.
‘Even so, it will be difficult to allow him to use the Magic Tower’s name.’
It was not a name to be lent out to endorse a trading company.
“It seems that will be impossible.”
Oh Min-jae spoke as if he understood.
“Then how about this? You can endorse it with your names as mages.”
Oh Min-jae presented an easier proposal.
“If I can use the names of five mages in total, including one residing on the fifth floor of the Magic Tower, I will proceed with the contract as originally proposed. On the condition that you assist with the research.”
“Hmm.”
Mekkanti was lost in thought again.
‘This is a possibility.’
A fifth-floor mage would take a large share of the money, but the remaining amount would by no means be small.
‘Even if I only get half, that’s ten percent of the sales.’
Of course, they wouldn't take as much as half. Perhaps thirty percent would be enough to satisfy them?
Having finished his calculations, Mekkanti nodded.
“I’d like to examine the item once more.”
“Of course, you should. In fact, there are some things I was just working on. Shall we go to my laboratory?”
Following Oh Min-jae’s lead, they rose from their seats.
Everything was going according to Oh Min-jae's plan.
‘He’s good.’
Wang-sik, who was observing from behind a wall, had to admit that Oh Min-jae was doing far better than he had expected.
* * *
The mages from the Magic Tower left with smiles on their faces.
The men who had arrived like stern officials determined to conduct a thorough inspection were the first to extend their hands for a handshake upon parting.
“We’ll meet again with good news next time.”
“Thanks to you, I think I’ll be able to complete the item quickly. I’ll prepare a gift for you next time.”
“A gift? Don’t be silly. All we did was share a little knowledge.”
“I’d like to host you for dinner, but I’m eager to start my research with the knowledge you’ve shared. My hands are itching to begin.”
“Haha. My goodness! A man like you should have come to the Magic Tower! Should I write you a letter of recommendation?”
“Thank you for the thought.”
Even after the mages had completely disappeared, waving their hands, the smile on Oh Min-jae’s face did not fade.
“You did well. When did my little brother get so big?”
“I have to fight hard, too.”
“I know. And your act in the laboratory was truly brilliant.”
“Right?”
Ten minutes earlier, a situation had unfolded that had impressed Wang-sik.
The mages, impressed by the well-equipped laboratory, had spoken up.
Looking at the tools used in the experiment, one of them offered a simple piece of advice, mostly out of a desire to show off his own knowledge.
But at that simple remark, Oh Min-jae reacted as if he had gained a great realization.
“It was a trap, wasn’t it?”
“Of course.”
He had intentionally set it up that way.
Upon receiving the advice, he immediately conducted the experiment with the improved method, and to their surprise, the results were much better.
“This will make them move more proactively. It’ll feel as if they accomplished something themselves.”
“You’re a scary one.”
“I’m still a long way from catching up to you, brother. You’re staying the night, right?”
“No. I don’t have time.”
Oh Min-jae looked disappointed.
“Then at least stay for dinner.”
“Alright.”
Afterward, for the first time in a long while, Oh Min-jae postponed his experiments and talked with Wang-sik.
Most of it was idle chatter, but he naturally got to hear about his plans for the future.
“I’m going to develop various kinds of materials. They’ll be born with the help of the Magic Guild, so they won’t arouse suspicion. As I naturally get closer to the mages, I’ll be able to get involved in their research processes, which will broaden my own knowledge.”
It was a method that achieved several objectives at once.
“You clever bastard.”
“That’s so obvious it doesn’t even sound like a compliment.”
Oh Min-jae’s plan didn’t end with the mages.
“Once my relationship with the Magic Tower deepens, I’ll naturally be able to approach the nobles. I plan to create magical items that will entice them. At that point, I’ll be able to obtain high-level information naturally, so I’ll organize it and send it to you periodically.”
“Don’t rush things.”
“Don’t worry. I’m doing everything according to a thorough plan.”
“Alright. I’m counting on you here.”
“Hehe. That’s what I wanted to hear.”
After dinner, Wang-sik talked with him for another hour before leaving Majit, with Oh Min-jae looking on with a wistful expression.
* * *
Late at night, Bellaton's black market grew even more lively.
Passing through the noisy central hall, he arrived at a familiar stone chamber.
The person sitting before him was the same as always. However, the atmosphere was quite different from before.
“Jakal. You disappoint me.”
On the table between them were two gold bars.
It was the down payment for finding his friends.
It was a contract that had been maintained for three years now.
Two gold bars every three months.
Until now, Wang-sik had never voiced any objections to this contract, but today was different.
“It’s been almost a year, and you haven’t found a single person.”
“It’s not easy to find them anymore.”
“If it were easy, I wouldn’t be using this place.”
Jakal was at a loss for words.
“And I wouldn’t be paying such an expensive fee.”
There were still many friends left to find. He needed to hear some news, at the very least.
But for a whole year, he had heard nothing.
“I’ll consider this the last time. If the result is the same in three months, I’ll have no reason to come here anymore.”
“I will find them for certain. But you should know as well. As the difficulty increases, so will the fee.”
“Show me results first.”
Wang-sik stared at Jakal and spoke with a mocking tone.
“Do you think I’m short on money? It’s your lack of skill that keeps you from earning it.”
Jakal’s eyes sharpened.
His pride was wounded. But in the end, they were continuously failing the request.
“Next time will be the last of the free money.”
Wang-sik twisted the knife one last time before leaving the black market.
After he left, Jakal, sitting alone, clenched his fists before slamming them on the desk, unable to contain his rage.
The loud bang echoed off the walls of the stone chamber, creating an echo before fading back into silence. Just then, someone entered the chamber.
Seeing the person who entered through the door used by the manager, Jakal quickly bowed his head.
“You’re angry.”
Her voice was soft and low, her tone sultry. Her deep sapphire eyes, framed by long lashes, held a charm that stirred primal instincts.
“I apologize.”
*Click, clack.*
At his apology, the woman slowly walked toward him.
Her dress, so tight it revealed every curve of her body and made of see-through lace except for the most crucial parts, created an even more decadent atmosphere under the dim lighting.
“Why was your pride hurt?”
As her blood-red lips parted, Jakal answered reflexively.
“He dared to look down on us…”
“Tsk, tsk. Jakal. You still don’t get it.”
The woman, who looked to be in her late twenties, raised a finger and scraped it across Jakal’s cheek. A red line appeared on his face, and blood began to flow.
Startled, Jakal froze, not daring to resist.
Her words, mixed with her breath, reached his ear.
“Your pride should be hurt because you failed to deliver what you were paid for. If you take the money, work like a slave. Don’t waste your time with pathetic emotions.”
After patting Jakal’s bleeding cheek one last time, the woman turned away.
She licked the blood from her fingers as she left the stone chamber.