Chapter 119: Episode 23 _ Turning Dead Weight into a Feast(5)
He was curious about the options.
What kind of effect would a crystal made from gathering the dust of gems that flowed out from the Demon World possess?
He heard it was the only gem of its kind on the continent, so wouldn’t there be incredible options hidden within it?
Even if it was related to demons.
Han Simin didn’t care.
Whether 『Fantastic World』 collapsed due to a demon invasion and humans beca slaves to demons, or a god-sent hero suddenly appeared to slice up all the damn demons so he could research and sell their corpses to make a fortune—either way, he would stand on the winning side. He would take the profit and choose the path that looked toward the future.
The important thing was change.
And whether he could lead that change.
No, whether he could rise to a position where he could move first amidst that change.
That was why his expectations were high.
Baron Karan hadn’t said much when handing over the ring, and since the family that originally owned it didn’t exactly hide it—even letting people within the family know it was an heirloom—it was hard to hope for a major developnt related to demons.
But still!
’It slls fishy.’
His intuition was shouting.
’There is sothing to this.’
Otherwise, the keywords combined in the ring were too unique.
Central Noble. Family Treasure. Unworn Wedding Ring. Gem of the Demon World.
Naturally, the first thing he did was check the ring’s options.
[Unknown Ring]
Grade: ??
Required Level: 1
Option 1: ??
In fact, this was the biggest reason he held both doubt and expectation.
Wasn’t it claiming its worth too openly?
’I am amazing!’ it seed to say.
So users encountering the ga for the first ti, or those without a keen eye, might ask what this is and throw it away as trash because of these obscured options. But to Han Simin, who had played the ga to so extent, this was no different from a winning lottery ticket he couldn’t afford to miss.
It was like a lottery ticket with at least a third-place prize guaranteed.
Once those question marks were cleared, sothing good had to appear.
Even if this was 『Fantastic World』, it couldn’t avoid that rule.
It was the law of the ga.
Of course, if it looked shabby and worthless on the outside, there might be a slight chance of it being a dud.
But this was not that.
He wore it because he was sure it wasn’t.
’I will unlock it no matter what.’
For the first ti in a while, his competitive spirit was ignited.
The wall of high enhancent he encountered while recognizing and developing his superpower for enhancent suddenly ca to mind.
In the ga, he could assu the desired posture and perform the ritual, but after his accident, his body had stiffened, and he had built a wall against exercise his whole life. Just preparing for the ritual before a successful enhancent took an enormous amount of ti.
The spirit of challenge from back then!
The expectation for a future where he would succeed and beco filthy rich!
The sense of accomplishnt when he finally obtained it.
He couldn’t be sure of anything, but he felt it and was confident.
’The fact that it can’t be enhanced is undeniable proof.’
There was no possibility of success even for
1 enhancent.
What an arrogant and incredible ring this was.
He wanted to lift the veil covering it in so way and see.
Its bare skin.
He fell silent.
’That sounded too perverted.’
Han Simin, who had maintained a serious attitude with a lecherous smile, stretched his limbs.
“Phew. As expected, the road to the Empire is uncomfortable.”
“You could just ride Squeaker.”
“No.”
They were on the way to the Imperial Capital for the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Han Simin, rolling around in the carriage sent by the Emperor with the Specialists, shook his head firmly.
Yeseul’s words had a point, but a massive flaw existed.
“It’s great to ride her, but she starts eating money the mont she gets bigger. Damn brat. Do you know how much money I fed her to raise her skills, grow her, and hatch her? And now she wants to eat money just for giving
a little ride? Of course, if you pay for it, Yeseul, I’ll ride her.”
“...I like the carriage too, Oppa.”
Money!
A case that clearly showed that ideals were just ideals.
It was good when riding, but when they arrived at the destination and she turned back into a bird, her screeching about being hungry created a genuine urge to smack her.
At first, she was cute and reliable, so he fed her a penny or two, but as that amount increased, it beca a consumption he could never ignore. Especially at a ti like this when expenses were rising, he had to refrain from making her large.
“Isn’t there a gold mine popping up sowhere?”
Sigh.
It went without saying, but he had absolutely no desire to carry a Gold Dragon—which he had spent a fortune to obtain—on his shoulder as a small bird every day.
He just hoped.
That a sponsor would appear to support the insurance and gas money for his newly acquired car.
He glanced at the suckers with the highest potential, but seeing them looking elsewhere, he shook his head.
’As expected, they aren’t complete suckers.’
“Oppa, don’t look at us like that. Even if we are your VIP clients, we have standards. Do you think we’d just hand over money because you brought us along with such obvious intent?”
“Tch.”
At the sharp remark, he clicked his tongue and leaned back.
Since he was caught, he decided to go by carriage even if it took a long ti.
After all, offering the Specialists—who didn’t necessarily need to co—a chance to et the Emperor for free and bringing them along wasn’t just to earn Squeaker’s food and fuel money.
Han Simin’s carriage, carrying a man pondering the mysterious ring on his left hand while simultaneously figuring out how to make a living, arrived at the Imperial Capital.
* * *
9.
The Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony was prepared more grandly than ever before.
“It is the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, which happens only once in a lifeti. If I see any negligence, I will not forgive it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
When a doting father used his power to this extent to issue a stern warning, how could they dare prepare it half-heartedly?
A festival more splendid than the Empire’s Anniversary, the Day of Continental Peace, or even the Emperor’s birthday was being prepared, starting from the Imperial Capital.
“Father, you don’t have to go this far...”
“No, this is the promise you made to
after you fell under the curse.”
He cherished her so much that even when the princess stepped forward to tell him to moderate it, he firmly refused.
It reached the point where jokes that the budget of an entire average kingdom had been spent were circulating as truth.
That wasn’t the end of it.
“Convey this to each kingdom: invite the renowned adventurers. I will personally comnd them, as they will be a great strength to the continent in the future, and show them the dignity of the Empire.”
Unprecedented treatnt for adventurers who were usually treated coldly by NPCs!
Of course, the adventurers who could participate would be those who had built up at least a little intimacy with high-ranking NPCs in each kingdom, but even that could only be seen as an exceptional benefit.
For users who had just passed level 50 and were debating whether to challenge Act 2 of the Main Quest, showing their faces in such a big pond ant an opportunity would arise to use sothing beyond the power they currently possessed.
For example, a noble title.
Anyway, since it was an RPG, raids were inevitably included in the Main Quest, but there was no rule that they had to grow their characters and join forces with fellow users to defeat them.
The advantage of 『Fantastic World』 having a high degree of freedom!
One could beco a noble, acquire a territory, organize soldiers, and complete the quest through a large-scale war.
Naturally, the risk involved would be lower.
Or, based on the noble title, one could incorporate adventurers who were good at solving quests into their own forces.
Whatever it was, the Emperor’s unconventional declaration was like a lucky event that suddenly descended upon the users.
The Specialists were included in that target group.
“A noble title?”
“Yes, how about it?”
“It would be good if it happens, but is it sothing that can be done so easily?”
“Well, it is difficult. But today is a bit of a special day. I feel like if I just talk well enough, it might work out.”
“Hmm.”
As soon as they arrived at the capital, instead of heading straight to the Imperial Palace, the devil’s hand reached out to grab Seolah!
Although he hadn’t heard that the Emperor had invited adventurers, Han Simin, who had obtained an item that would unconditionally please the princess, was confidently selling sothing he hadn’t even gotten his hands on yet.
“I like it! I’ll buy it!”
“Think a bit before you speak. Do you even know how much it is before saying you’ll buy it?”
“Hmph. Whatever the price. I bought a skill for 6.1 million dollars, so what’s the big deal about buying a noble title? You have to buy when the opportunity cos.”
“Of course~ Yeseul is smart. A very smart dog.”
Seolah was speechless.
A noble title!
At best, it would be a Baron, but unlike Han Simin who was on a roll and even obtained a Viscount title, for other users, even a Baron was like a pie in the sky.
Especially since it wasn’t a Baron of another kingdom, but a Baron of the Empire!
Considering the difference between the Empire and a kingdom, it was undoubtedly a position that could be counted as at least a Viscount of a kingdom, or perhaps even higher.
To say he would get them that if they just paid money made Seolah hesitate.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him.
It was just that the counterpart was an NPC in too high a position.
’Can he really do it?’
Seeing how he beca the son-in-law, obtained a title, and even won a territory against the Emperor gave her confidence.
But there was no guarantee that would apply to the Specialists, who had never even t him.
A short and intense deliberation.
However, the hesitation didn’t last long.
“Alright. If it really works out like that, it’s not a bad deal.”
“Call!”
Seolah was quicker at calculations than anyone.
To Han Simin, money was the currency of trade that was more important and prioritized than anything else, but to her, if she could buy sothing others couldn’t with money, it was a profitable deal regardless of the cost.
Moreover, seeing Yeseul buy a skill book for 6.1 million dollars a while ago, hadn’t her supportive father also handed her a blank check?
—“We can’t lose to the Hanshin Group. Being carried on that kid’s back? I can’t stand to see that even more. Seolah, I trust you, but if you need help, tell
anyti.”
For her, there was nothing to hold back.
In any case, it was a deal where she would break even at worst.
If Han Simin couldn’t get them the noble titles, she simply wouldn’t give him the money.
With an expression that suggested such a failure would absolutely never happen, Han Simin smiled and held out his hand.
Hands t.
The deal was concluded!
“For the price, I’ll specially add a guild discount, a connection discount, and a discount for our puppy, so I’ll only take half of what I’d charge a sucker.”
“A sucker?”
“Yes, I’m going to ask for your spot this ti.”
“...Perhaps Kenji.”
“Yes.”
Seolah remained silent.
Why?
Seolah didn’t ask.
Asking wouldn’t change the result anyway.
And she also knew the answer.
’Simin doesn’t have any particular hard feelings toward that man.’
Rather than not having any, he was the kind of person who would beco friends even with a guy who stabbed him if money was involved.
Or perhaps he relieved his bad feelings by ripping them off with exorbitant prices.
Whatever the mindset, Seolah could realize one fact from Han Simin’s words.
His true intention, which was hidden but could only be caught by her, who understood Han Simin better than anyone.
’He’s not giving us a 50% discount; he’s planning to charge that person double.’
Smirk.
Laughter escaped her lips.
He was truly a con artist she wanted to drag to the group, pick a subsidiary for, and seat as the CEO.
How had a person like this lived just playing gas until now?
She fell silent.
Watching the back of Han Simin, who was walking confidently toward the Imperial Palace after concluding all the contracts he wanted, Seolah realized how foolish her thoughts were.
“Haa.”
“Unni, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Who was worrying about whom when three second-generation chaebol heirs—who wouldn’t be enough even if they jumped into managent right now to grow their companies—were throwing their youth away on a ga?
She hurriedly followed behind Han Simin, who took a plaque from his pocket and kicked open the massive gate of the Imperial Palace.
* * *
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