[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 51: Negotiations (2)
Mr. ck, erasing the flicker of surprise from his eyes, smiled serenely.
"I''d like to say it''s interesting."
"Doesn''t seem to be to your liking?"
"The person assisting Madame is..."
"It’s Cheon Yoojin. I don''t have a business card, so call me by my name."
At Yoojin''s curt reply, Mr. ck smiled even more deeply and changed the subject.
"Mr. Yoojin. Do you know how much manpower is needed to manage the interests held by the Red Spider?"
"Farm management, 20 people. For the North Korean business, about five guides should do."
"You''ll also need people to distribute ck Herb."
"So?"
"I wonder if you''ll be able to manage both the farm and the North Korean business, Mr. Yoojin."
Mr. ck spoke inly, stating the obvious.
Yoojin, with his arms crossed, snorted.
"You seem to have a lot to say."
He wore an indifferent expression.
This attitude, not caring even in front of the representative of the ck Market... it was the rxed air of a powerful person, something Mr. ck had encountered only a few times in his life.
''This man is the real deal.''
There''s a limit to feigningposure. Unless you''re gifted with the talent to hide your emotions like Madame, or have undergone intense training...
Mr. ck instinctively knew that Yoojin''s demeanor wasn''t a bluff.
This was the man who had ughtered two Red Spider executives and over a hundred Hunters.
Even so... Mr. ck remained unfazed.
"The ck Market will help you establish a foothold in Ground Zero."
"And in return, you want something?"
"Entrust us with the distribution rights of ck Herb, and we''ll take care of any troublesome matters for you."
ck Herb, the main ingredient of the drug cocktail ''ck Moon''. The price per gram was lower than Bloodstone, but with a stable supply, the farm held greater long-term value. There was a reason why the second-inmand of the Red Spider had personally stepped forward.
"As you know, it''s a drug. It won''t be easy to find demand."
"There''s also the option of asking Madame to introduce you to some people."
"If you want to do it yourself, I won''t stop you."
Mr. ck replied as if he had no regrets.
"I haven''t heard your answer yet."
"Pardon?"
"The trade routes to North Korea, including Gaeseong."
Mr. ck spoke casually.
"I told you I wasn''t particrly interested in Gaeseong..."
"Suit yourself. I''ll have to leave the trade routes north of the Korean Penins to the ck Market then."
Yoojin cut him off mid-sentence and rose from his seat.
"Leaving already?"
"The negotiations have fallen through. I need to find a new business partner."
"Oh ho. I did my best."
"Consider the reward received."
Yoojin, without a shred of lingering attachment, was about to leave the private room.
Thud— Thud—
Slow footsteps echoed in the private room.
For the first time, Mr. ck''s eyes, which had shown no emotion until now, twitched.
Yoojin''s hand tightly gripped the doorknob.
"Could you wait a moment?"
Mr. ck''s voice was calm. However...
He couldn''t control the slight trembling of his fingertips.
Scoff—
Madame nced at his trembling fingertips and smiled briefly.
＊ ＊ ＊
Yoojin turned around.
Their eyes met.
"You said you weren''t interested. Change your mind?"
"Hahaha. It feels like a shame to see you leave already, after meeting like this. It''s like we have a connection now."
"I have nothing more to say."
"Please, stay and let''s talk a bit more."
Mr. ck gestured towards the empty seat.
Yoojin stared at him for a moment, then slowly walked back.
''I was wondering how long you''d hold out.''
The owner of the ck Market, Mr. ck, was a man Yoojin had dealings with even before his regression.
He had built a Necropolis in Gaeseong, not far from Ground Zero, so it would be strange not to know him.
''The ck Market wants the routes north of the Korean Penins.''
After the Great Cataclysm, the sea was no longer humanity''s domain.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Gates had opened in the ocean as well.
Closing those Gates in the deep sea was near impossible.
And with the Break, many parts of the ocean had turned into Erosion Zones.
''It wasn''t a ce for humans to live anymore. The problem was the monsters.''
Monsters emerging from the Erosion Zones.
Marine monsters that hade out of the Gates showed hostility every time a ship passed by.
Sea routes weren''tpletely closed, but avoiding the eroded areas required more time and fuel.
And with the need for guards to prepare for monster attacks, the cost of overseas trade had skyrocketed.
''I learned that the Korean Penins, especially with itsnd routes blocked, suffered even more damage.''
35 years had passed since the Great Cataclysm, and things were quite stable now.
But there were still frequent attempts to restore the routes north of the border, beyond the Demilitarized Zone.
''Mr. ck had proposed that deal to me as well.''
When Yoojin turned the Gaeseong area into a domain of death, this man was the first toe with a bag full of bribes.
Not interested in the North, he says?
Yeah, right.
〔Cowardly!〕
''Why? What''s not working?''
〔To cunningly grasp your opponent''s weakness beforehand and exploit it!〕
''That''s called being wise.''
Utilizing knowledge of the future was a regressor''s privilege.
Ah.
This is so sweet, so sweet.
"The ck Market isprised of ck market traders from China."
"I know."
"And yet you''re saying you''ll hand over the northern routes to the ck Market?"
"Where''d the uninterested guy go?"
Yoojin scratched his ear with his pinky.
"Stop begging with that phony patriotism and say what you want to say."
"I need assurance that you can really drive out the Human Hunters."
"Not drive them out, eliminate them."
"Either way is fine. What matters is whether you can do it or not."
"It''ll take some time, but it''ll be possible within two years at thetest."
The Human Hunters'' forces surpassed those of the Red Spider.
They controlled a vast area that stretched from western Gaeseong to Yeonangun County and Haeju City.
They dominated or bred monsters and used them as soldiers, giving them greaterbat power in the border regions.
If, as Yoojin said, he could drive out the Human Hunters...
''Not only the northern routes, but also themercial rights to the coastal areas of Gyeonggi Province could be mine.''
Damn it.
Mr. ck cursed inwardly.
''What basis does he have to mention the northern routes?''
Yoojin''s proposal was a mix of carrot and stick.
Even within the ck Market, no one knew that Mr. ck wanted the northern routes.
Did he somehow read his mind?
Suppressing the unease spreading in his heart, Mr. ck asked—
"Mr. Yoojin. What will you do if you fail to drive them out within two years?"
"Do I have to exin with my own mouth that investmentse with risks?"
"So you''re saying it''s my choice whether to believe you or not."
"Be grateful I gave you a choice."
After a moment of silence, Mr. ck spoke.
"On the condition that we are guaranteed passage near Gaeseong, the ck Market will support you, Mr. Yoojin."
The three major forces that held sway in Ground Zero.
Following the Milky Way Pub, even the ck Market had sided with Yoojin.
＊ ＊ ＊
Mr. ck left the private room with a dazed expression.
As soon as the iron door closed, Madame burst intoughter.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I saw something quite rare."
"What''s there to thank me for?"
"It''s the first time I''ve seen the head of the ck Market so flustered."
"You''ll see it often."
Yoojin replied nonchntly and stood up.
Since Mr. ck had offered to take care of the troublesome matters, it was time to solidify the Necropolis'' control over the farm and the surrounding border areas.
''It''s busy working alone.''
Once he reached 3 stars, he could acquire a more powerful undead creation skill.
Even if it wasn''t a Fafnir, creating an undead with an ego would make managing the Necropolis easier.
"Wait a moment."
"Regarding the remaining members of the Red Spider..."
"Not that."
Madame''s finger pointed at Yoojin.
"Me?"
"The Arhan Guild is interested in you."
The Arhan Guild.
The number one Hunter corporation in Korea, and the nemesis of Fafnir.
In his past life, they had achieved the establishment of a Hunter family, which was his goal.
They were the group that had joined hands with the Romanovs, one of the seven great families, and given them a justification to intervene in Korea.
"Seongcheon Corporation asked me to pass it along."
"The Arhan Guild wouldn''t have moved carelessly. They managed to find out that information, huh?"
"The chairman is always keeping an eye on your movements."
"You''re really sugarcoating the fact that Seongcheon Corporation handed over my information."
Madame just smiled without answering.
Yoojin stroked his chin.
"Does the chairman of Seongcheon Corporation know about this?"
"Considering the gravity of the situation, I haven''t told him separately."
"I guess no one knows except the ck Market."
"I didn''t know how the negotiations would turn out. I''m still keeping it under control."
"Then keep it under control a little longer."
The corners of Yoojin''s mouth twitched.
〔You''re making that undignified smile again.〕
''Quiet, you ipetent constetion.''
〔What kind of insidious n are you thinking of this time?〕
''I''ll use everything I can.''
The reason Arhan was interested in him was obvious.
Defeating the new recruit instructor in a spar.
And the connection to the mass-produced intermediate potions.
"Are you waiting for Arhan to approach you?"
"They''ll bite soon enough."
"Oh ho. Then let''s put in more effort."
"Informing Seongcheon is fine, but get my permission for major issues."
"I''ll ask you once before selling to others."
"Oh, how touching."
Yoojin grinned and left the private room.
＊ ＊ ＊
Tap— Tap—
The man tapped his finger on the armrest. It was a habit Baek Seonghyeon, the vice president of the Arhan Guild, often disyed when lost in thought.
One name lingered on his lips.
"Cheon Yoojin, Cheon Yoojin."
A promising Hunter who, despite being only a 1 Star, had defeated Jeong Jinsu, the instructor in charge of new recruits.
Moreover, this Hunter seemed to be connected to a manufacturer capable of mass-producing intermediate potions.
As soon as Baek Seonghyeon received the report on the spar, he ordered a background check on Yoojin.
"Has it been a little over a month since I gave the order?"
"Yes, Vice President."
"The gathered information is quite impressive."
"I understand why you''re paying attention to him, Vice President."
He formed a 1 Star party and frequented the border area. He provided the key ingredient for mass production of intermediate potions to an alchemist. And recently, he even treated the youngest daughter of the Seongcheon Corporation''s chairman, who was suffering from Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
"Heh. Should I believe this or not?"
"We cross-checked, but it was all true..."
"I''m not doubting it. I asked you to investigate because this guy is extraordinary."
Baek Seonghyeon nced at the tablet containing the information.
"Are you sure he doesn''t belong to any organization?"
"Yes. There''s a Hunter team he worked with in the border area, but they also don''t belong to any guild."
"The ''Little Runts'' team."
"Just in case, I''ve also prepared their information."
"They turned out to be worthless bugs."
His voice was tinged with coldness.
Hunters like the Little Runts team were asmon as pebbles on the road. His interesty solely in Hunters with high potential.
"What''s the status of recruiting the new alchemist?"
"He won''t ept any offers other than handing over the initially produced intermediate potions."
"So he didn''t change his mind even for 30 billion won."
Baek Seonghyeon''s face turned cold.
He wasn''t even asking for the potion recipe. It was an amount offered with the intention of investing in Shin Joonseok''s alchemy workshop.
To think that even an investment offer would be rejected.
"He has quite the spirit, Alchemist Shin Joonseok."
"I''ll submit another proposal."
"No need. It wouldn''t do for Arhan to lower its head twice."
The secretary grasped the true meaning behind his words.
"I''ll apply pressure during the potion distribution process."
"It would be better if defects were found. We''re short on verification cases."
If they couldn''t have it, they would destroy it.
The second-inmand of Arhan had always adhered to that principle.
"When the new alchemist needs Arhan,fort him warmly."
"Understood."
"By the way, have youe up with a n to recruit Hunter Cheon Yoojin?"
"Yes. ording to the report submitted by the recruitment department, this method is the most effective."
After listening to the secretary''s exnation, Baek Seonghyeon let out a shortugh.
"Wow. Even bugs have their uses. It wasn''t for nothing that I had them investigated."
"Thank you, Vice President."
"Then proceed."
At Baek Seonghyeon''s dismissal, the secretary retreated with a relieved expression.
"I''m looking forward to it. How much it will benefit the guild to recruit such a brilliant talent."
The photo remaining on the tablet screen, showing Yoojin with one corner of his lips slightly raised, was reflected in Baek Seonghyeon''s eyes.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]