Chapter 209: Parking Lot (Part 1)


    Ryu Min decided to meet Russell since he was already overseas.


    There were some things he wanted to discuss in person, and he was also curious about Russell’s financial situation.


    “Mr. Ryu! Long time no see!”


    Russell waved enthusiastically as he approached Ryu Min at New York’s JFK International Airport.


    Ryu Min came with a smile and shook his hand.


    “Did it take long to get here?”


    “Oh, not at all. I just watched a movie and took a nap, and it went by quickly.”


    It takes seven hours to travel from the UK to the US.


    It was quite a distance, so Ryu Min had initially nned to visit Russell, but Russell had insisted oning to meet him instead.


    “Are you hungry? How about we talk over lunch?”


    “Oh, how did you know I was hungry? Let’s do that!”


    Ryu Min took him to a steakhouse at the airport and ordered a variety of dishes.


    “You seem pretty hungry. Think you can eat all this?”


    “Oh, of course. If I want to keep up my strength, I need to eat this much.”


    “Don’t worry about the bill. I’ll take care of everything.”


    “Hey! What are you talking about? I should be the one paying. I can’t just freeload after getting a free prophecy. I’m quite wealthy, you know?”


    When money was mentioned, Ryu Min remembered the advice he had given before.


    “By the way, did you sell the stocks?”


    “Oh, yes! I sold them as soon as I heard your advice. Thanks to that, I made quite a bit of money. It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen such arge sum in my ount.”


    “How much did you make?”


    “Forty thousand pounds.”


    Russell had invested 14,000 pounds in Ma Kyung-rok’spany.


    Now, the investment had nearly tripled, bing a substantial sum of 40,000 pounds—about 65 million Korean won.


    With that money, he wouldn’t have to struggle with the cost of materials and could continue his crafting for years.


    “You made quite a bit.”


    “For someone like me who didn’t have much money, handling such arge sum… it’s all thanks to you, Prophet. So, about that bank ount…”


    Before he could finish his sentence, Ryu Min shook his head, as if he already knew what Russell was going to say.


    “That money is all yours, Russell.”


    “Huh? But you provided the initial capital, didn’t you? I should repay the loan…”


    “Do you remember what I said when we first met?”


    Russell thought for a moment and then nodded.


    “You said you were investing in me based on my potential.”


    “Yes. I’ve already ced an investment in you, Russell. I have no intention of withdrawing it until you reach the pinnacle as a cksmith. Besides, I’m not someone who needs money.”


    “…”


    “Money should be with those who need it. So, use it, Russell. If you feel ufortable using borrowed money, just keep the principal and spend the rest as you see fit. After all, you earned it through your own investment.”


    Strictly speaking, both the initial capital and the investment information hade from Ryu Min, so the money couldn’t really be considered Russell’s. However, since Ryu Min preferred to treat it as an investment, Russell could only ept it with gratitude.


    “I understand your intentions, Prophet. Though I feel a bit shameless, I will use this money for my living expenses. Thank you, truly.”


    “It’s nothing to be thankful for, really. But there’s something important I need to tell you, Russell…”


    “Ah, that’s why you came here, right? Go ahead.”


    Russell listened intently, prepared to hear what Ryu Min had to say, as Ryu Min spoke with a serious expression.


    “Have you heard of the nickname ‘ck Scythe’?”


    “ck Scythe? Of course!”


    Russell wasn’t unaware of the rank one yer.


    “In the next 13th round, ck Scythe wille looking for you.”


    “What? B-ck Scythe?”


    Not only was it surprising that the top-ranked yer woulde looking for him, but how could someone he had never met find him?


    “How does he know me?”


    “He doesn’t, but he soon will. I’m going to tell ck Scythe to meet you.”


    “What?”


    The meaning behind those words was clear.


    “W-Wait, do you mean you know ck Scythe in real life?”


    “Yes. Somehow, we ended up bing acquainted.”


    Russell’s stunned expression gradually changed to one of understanding.


    If Ryu Min was truly a Prophet, then it wouldn’t be strange for him to know the true identity of ck Scythe.


    “To think you have the terrifying ck Scythe as an acquaintance… Haha, you must have nerves of steel too, Prophet.”


    “Is ck Scythe that scary?”


    “Of course. While others have justpleted onep around the track, he’s already finished tenps on his own. He takes first ce as easily as eating breakfast. In many ways, he’s a frightening person.”


    It was understandable that others might feel that way.


    “But what am I supposed to do when I meet ck Scythe…?”


    “For you to grow in the 13th round, you’ll need ck Scythe’s help. To be specific…”


    Ryu Min exined in detail the strategy for the 13th round and what Russell needed to do.


    “Ah, so that’s why I need to meet ck Scythe… I understand.”


    “I’ll talk to ck Scytheter as well, to make sure hees to help you.”


    “Do you think ck Scythe will agree to help me?”


    “Since it’s my request, he’ll probably help. But just in case, prove your worth when you meet him.”


    “My worth?”


    “If you cast buffs with your cksmith ss, he’ll see the need to help you.”


    “Ah, I see.”


    Russell nodded, and as he did, Ryu Min smiled to himself.


    ‘With this, I’ve established a connection between Russell and ck Scythe.’


    By ying the matchmaker, he had forged a link between them.


    ‘The cksmith ss is specialized in support, like a buffer. If we stick together until the 20th round, he’ll be extremely useful.’


    As Ryu Min smiled, his phone rang.


    The caller was Ju Seong-tak.


    ‘It must have started.’


    He couldn’t stay seated any longer.


    “Please excuse me for a moment.”


    “Of course, take your time.”


    After excusing himself from Russell, Ryu Min walked to a corner and answered the call.


    “What’s the situation?”


    -Ma Kyung-rok just arrived at a secluded warehouse. He’s pacing outside, smoking, as if waiting for someone.


    “He’s probably waiting for the offering. What’s the location?”


    -It’s at Bongbaesan in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.


    Hearing the location confirmed his suspicion.


    It was Ma Kyung-rok’s usual hideout.


    “Good job. Send me the exact location via text. Keep watching, and when the timees, join Jeffrey and follow the n.”


    -Understood.


    After ending the call, Ryu Min immediately contacted Jeffrey.


    “Jeffrey. What about Christine?”


    -She just arrived in Korea a little while ago.


    “Good. Lead her to the location I’m sending. You remember what to say, right?”


    -Of course.


    “Then proceed immediately after this call.”


    -I’ll carry out your orders.


    After sending the location to Jeffrey, Ryu Min called Seo Arin.


    This time, using the voice of ck Scythe.