Chapter 47 - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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HG Fashion CEO Go Yeon-ha arrived at the Awakening Management Agency right on time for the meeting.

A temporary visitor's badge hung around her neck, and a staff member guided her into the large conference room.

Pause!

'Hmm...'

Should she go in or not?

Inside the conference room were two people.

Including herself, that made three in total.

Looking at their name tags, one was from Ilseong Apparel, and the other from Daehyun Trading.

Neither was a president or CEO.

She would have recognized those at a glance.

They appeared to be executive directors.

Which meant she was the only one who was a CEO.

'...Was it a mistake coming?'

This was awkward.

It had become a bit of an embarrassing situation.

As Go Yeon-ha stepped inside, the two awkwardly rose and greeted her.

"CEO, n, nice to meet you. I am Kim Seok-jin, Managing Director of Ilseong Apparel."

"Yes, I'm Go Yeon-ha. Is Director Jung busy?"

"He is currently in New York attending a fashion show."

"Ah."

One person is abroad.

Well, fashion shows are important.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yang Se-jun, Executive Director of Daehyun Trading."

"Yes, Executive Director Yang. I'm Go Yeon-ha."

She didn't ask where Daehyun Trading's president was.

That person was also always on the move.

Usually playing around, though.

In the end, she had become the most available person there.

A fashion company CEO with a schedule wide open enough to promptly attend whenever a government office called.

A Managing Director and an Executive Director at least made for a decent lineup.

Not decision-makers, but people in a position to immediately report to their president if something came up.

The atmosphere became awkward.

No one opened their mouth first.

'Should I make up an urgent matter and slip out?'

All sorts of thoughts came to mind.

But right at that moment!

Knock knock.

A person knocking on the conference room door and stepping inside.

"Oh, sorry to be late."

Hmm?

The Deputy Director came in person?

People sprang to their feet and bowed.

Go Yeon-ha did the same.

She bowed her head politely in greeting.

One must never treat even a civil servant carelessly.

The real authority of the Awakening Management Agency, Jeon Kwang-il.

The man who proposed the elite tower climbing team player project, elevating the Republic of Korea to a leading nation in tower climbing, resulting in matching the floor count with the United States.

And during that process, Nam Ga-eun emerged as a star player, filling the void left by the naturalized Yoo Chul-min.

And that wasn't all.

Word was that this very man had been the one to acquire the Holy Sword.

Some even speculated he was acquainted with Korea's S++ clear record holder.

Almost certainly the next Commissioner, he was on a level to match even a chaebol chairman.

No, even a chaebol chairman would struggle to get a meeting with him.

And yet the new Deputy Commissioner Jeon Kwang-il had personally appeared in the conference room. This alone made the visit worthwhile.

'Hmm, I think I may have made the right call coming.'

At that moment, Jeon Kwang-il cleared his throat with an awkward expression.

"Excuse me, I must apologize, but I believe we will have to meet the people from Ilseong Apparel and Daehyun Trading another time."

Managing Director Kim Seok-jin and Executive Director Yang Se-jun exchanged confused looks.

"When I sent the official correspondence, I requested that the CEO personally attend. There was a reason for that.

Then,

"There is no problem. I can maintain real-time communication with our president right here and now."

"I can say the same. The CEO told me to contact him immediately if anything..."

Jeon Kwang-il replied with what seemed like regret, letting out a sigh.

"I apologize again and again. It is an internal policy we've established. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I will speak only with CEO Go Yeon-ha. Then,"

His tone was polite but the content was unmistakably firm.

Kim Seok-jin and Yang Se-jun reluctantly gathered their belongings and went outside.

And so two remained in the conference room.

Go Yeon-ha smiled broadly.

"Have I caught a stroke of luck, Deputy Director?"

"Hmm... I cannot give you a definitive answer just yet."

"I hope it is good luck. I came prepared as well."

"Prepared?"

Go Yeon-ha pulled a document folder from her bag and handed it to Jeon Kwang-il.

He opened it, and inside was a design proposal.

There were photos as well.

A model inspired by Player Nam Ga-eun was wearing leather armor stamped with the 'Wildflower' brand while holding a Holy Sword.

Not only female models but male models as well.

Of course, the armor was a replica, and so was the Holy Sword.

"What do you think? It is a design proposal that our company's head designer spent several days crafting with great care."

"Ah..."

"Please review it."

It was rather out of the blue.

She just shoved a design proposal at him out of nowhere.

But it was quite pretty.

If armor were made like this, it would be quite popular at the Player Shop.

"I will review it. And CEO Go, if it's alright with you, shall we go somewhere together?"

"Yes."

The two headed outside the Awakening Management Agency building.

They walked to a secluded corner around the back of the building.

Eventually, they arrived at a location.

It was in front of an iron gate with heavily armed police standing guard.

"What is this place..."

"It is the tower materials storage warehouse. Mainly, it is where material items purchased from players are kept."

"Ah-ha."

At Jeon Kwang-il's signal, one of the guards brought two thick, long down jackets.

"Please put these on. With the cooling system running, it will be extremely cold."

The iron gate opened and the two entered.

It was dark.

One couldn't see even a foot ahead.

And as stated, it was very cold.

What would have happened without the jackets.

"I will turn on the lights; please try not to be startled."

"Ah..., yes, yes."

Click! The lights came on.

There was a slight glare.

She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, and.

What was this?

On the floor, something dark and monstrous-looking... a monster? Monster, a monster?

"Kyaaaaa!"

Go Yeon-ha screamed and stumbled backward.

"Please calm down, CEO-nim. Those are all hides. Whole hides. Look carefully."

"...Huh? Hi, hides? Is, is it an animal? Hmm, a lizard? A crocodile?"

"Similar. Except they came from the tower."

What was this supposed to mean?

The tower?

"This one is the Ironclad Basilisk. This one is the Ironjaw Basilisk, and there's also the Long-Tailed Basilisk."

"Basili... sk?"

In truth, Go Yeon-ha didn't know much about what monsters appeared in the tower.

But the names Wyvern and Basilisk she knew well.

Wyvern, assessed as the highest quality leather.

Basilisk, one grade below but reportedly second to none in some respects compared to Wyvern.

So why was this here?

It felt like a prop model for a monster movie.

"Is this, really genuine Basilisk leather?"

"Yes. We have 36 pieces secured and stored here. What you're looking at now is 34 of them."

A person of Deputy Director status wouldn't have gone to all this trouble to prank her.

Only then did she work up the courage and slowly inch closer.

They were certainly whole hides.

Even the head hide had been stripped clean along with the rest.

"We intend to supply these hides to the private sector. Not just for making armor, but since they can also be used in everyday life."

"Su, supply means, does it mean permitting tower materials to go to private enterprises?"

"Yes."

Insane!

"And the supply target is our HG Fashion?"

"As you can see, that is how it has worked out."

"Hmm."

Tower materials and monster leather were extremely expensive and rare.

That was why the limits were also clear.

That was the very reason they hadn't been commercialized until now.

"What about supply volume? If this is everything, commercialization might be difficult."

"A steady and continuous supply is possible. The supply price would need to be negotiated, but."

"Oh!"

"It may even be released on scale comparable to crocodile leather."

A continuous supply is possible?

Like crocodile leather?

If she processed those hides well and made bags or wallets?

Clothes too, and shoes, and hats, gloves, keychains, phone cases...

There was nothing she couldn't make.

It could be made entirely of leather or mixed with other materials.

'With the Wildflower brand stamped on them.'

Good gracious!

Just imagining it sent a thrill through her body.

She realized once again.

She was absolutely right to come.

If she had sent someone in her stead like Ilseong or Daehyun did, she might have regretted it to her dying day.

This wouldn't do.

She needed to take a closer look.

Go Yeon-ha approached until she was right in front.

And then, peculiar patterns that couldn't be found on ordinary wild animals entered her eyes.

Even the finest crocodile leather felt completely different from this.

Incomparably more beautiful, more luxurious, and more distinctive.

The colors also came in three varieties: black, dark brown, and deep gray.

Her mind processed rapidly.

If Jeon Kwang-il's words were true, commercialization was feasible.

At that moment!

A sudden thought.

"Deputy Director-nim."

"Yes."

"You said you have 36 pieces secured in total."

"That is correct."

"Only 34 pieces are in this space."

"That is right."

"Then the remaining 2 pieces?"

Jeon Kwang-il smiled faintly.

"Please follow me."

The place he went was the section on the other side separated by a single wall.

And the moment she turned the corner!

Go Yeon-ha had no choice but to stop dead in her tracks.

"Ah-ah-ah-ah...."

There were 2 of them in total.

A hide emanating diverse light on a silver backdrop.

Flashy, yet not excessive.

Not cheap, not vulgar.

As if the colors were alive, fading then deepening, like oil paints floating on water, not completely mixing but harmonizing with each other, swirling together only to merge and separate again.

"Is, is it true this is a hide?"

"It is a Rainbow Basilisk. I guarantee that even Wyvern leather cannot match this."

"Is this leather also a su, supply target?"

"Of course. Making armor from this leather is a bit impractical; it's too flashy, after all."

Her mind went dizzy.

If this were introduced to the market, it would turn the global fashion world upside down.

Was she too excited?

Let's settle down for a moment.

"Since only I came as a CEO representative, the first right to purchase these hides belongs to HG Fashion, correct?"

"That would be the case. For the first batch at least..."

"I'd like our company to be first for the second batch too."

"That I cannot decide immediately, but first, there are conditions."

"Anything."

"Until HG Fashion has commercialized this leather, please keep it as confidential as possible. It won't be easy, of course."

"I'll try."

Commercialization of the leather would take considerable time.

Existing leather-working tools wouldn't do the job.

First, tools incorporating tower metal would need to be secured.

The craftsmen would need training too, and those craftsmen would all discover the leather's existence.

Well, a confidentiality agreement could be drafted.

"Then there is only one thing left. At what price will you supply them?"

In response to Go Yeon-ha's question, Jeon Kwang-il sighed and said.

"Sigh, that is the most difficult issue. This is what players normally receive as clear reward leather."

Jeon Kwang-il showed Go Yeon-ha a hide the size of a seat cushion.

"This is also Basilisk leather."

"That's right. But there's a difference, isn't there?"

There was.

The patterns and markings were smudged, and the color had faded slightly.

"We purchase this at 10 million won per piece. We then sell the armor made from this to players at cost."

Go Yeon-ha nodded.

Even that kind of leather was rare and difficult to obtain in the civilian market.

There wasn't even enough for the players' own needs.

"So I'll need your help."

"Help, meaning?"

"Your company has leather specialists and craftsmen, correct?"

"Of course."

Jeon Kwang-il handed her two envelopes.

One envelope contained a regular Basilisk hide piece in A4 paper size.

The other contained a Rainbow Basilisk hide piece half the size of a banknote.

"These are samples."

"Oh!"

"Please discuss with those experts and determine the value of the hides."

He understood what that meant.

Not the seller setting the price, but the buyer coming back with a price.

"What if I lowball it?"

"Well then, I'd suppose we'd have to try other places."

Go Yeon-ha broke into a bright smile.

"Don't worry. I have absolutely no intention of lowballing the value of the leather. If anything, I'd rather it be set higher."

The short-term profit wasn't the concern.

They had to think long-term.

"I'll discuss it with the experts at our firm. And don't worry about confidentiality. I'll make absolutely certain it doesn't leak."

"I will trust you."

Jeon Kwang-il was curious himself.

If released to the civilian market, just how much would the hides' value be?

* * *

Late in the evening.

Cheongdam Arc Hill Apartment, Seoul.

Joo-hyuk stood in front of the penthouse exclusive elevator with an apartment management employee.

The apartment registration transfer had been completed.

The new owner of Arc Hill Apartment was now Bong Joo-hyuk.

The reason he came here today was to spend one night as a celebration of the apartment becoming his property.

The security was definitely thorough.

"To use the exclusive elevator, you must pass through this door using your keycard. You must also press the button while holding the keycard to the reader. Without it, the door won't even open."

"If I lose it... what do I do?"

"Please report the loss to the management office. The existing lost keycard will be cancelled and a new one will be issued."

Joo-hyuk rode up the elevator with the management employee.

The door opened and a space came into view.

What appeared to be luxurious tiles on the floor, elaborate lighting, and a large front door.

"This is the entrance. To enter inside, you'd use the keycard as well."

The unit was immediately accessible as soon as one stepped off.

"There is also a guide on the living room table for your reference. Please reach out any time if you have any inquiries. Then, I'll take my leave. Have a wonderful time."

"Thank you."

Joo-hyuk opened the door with his keycard and stepped inside.

With cautious steps.

"Wow!"

A gasp escaped naturally.

'Magnificent' was the word that fit here perfectly.

Word from Jeon Kwang-il was that the penthouse had been completely redone from scratch.

Tiles, wallpaper, sink, bathroom, bathtub, toilet, sink basin, built-in furniture...

Apparently, anything that might have Yoo Chul-min's fingerprints on it was demolished.

At this point, Joo-hyuk used Designated Summoning for all the summoned entities.

"Sir! The right-hand man and trusted confidant of Summoner Bong... gasp! He, here?"

Cossack had visited once before.

"It's our new home. Is it alright?"

The eyes of Gobang, Gyeon Dal-rae, and Rajix went wide.

"Oh my, how extravagant; indeed it seems worth the price."

"Wide and tall, comfortable."

"Ho-e... it's lovely."

Joo-hyuk pressed the switch and turned on all the interior lighting.

"Now, look around freely."

Thud-da-da-dak!

The summoned entities scattered.

"The, the bathroom please, sir. One could sleep in there, sir. Even the toilet is a work of art, sir. Defecating there feels like committing a sin, sir."

"Oh, there is even a small sitting room attached to the bedroom."

"The ceiling is high. My head won't bump it."

The TV was so enormous, it felt like being in a movie theater.

The appliances seemed to be replaced with new ones as well.

They were all busy touching this and that.

They opened all three refrigerators, marveled at the top-of-the-line kitchen sink, and kept switching the chandelier lights on and off.

Just then.

Who knows who operated it,

With a soft whirring, the living room curtains opened on their own.

Everyone's eyes turned that way.

The Seoul night view visible through the massive panoramic window.

Joo-hyuk slowly approached.

The Han River of Seoul flowing gracefully.

The line of car lights passing along the road beside it.

Buildings large and small, each lit floor by floor.

Ah, why is this artificial scenery created by people so beautiful.

He couldn't tear his eyes away.

"How beautiful."

"Indeed."

Cossack and Gobang also approached the window and gazed at the scenery outside.

"...This world must never fall, sir. This one will not allow it, sir."

"The warrior will also protect it for certain. The summoner too, together."

"This humble one will also give her body to the cause."

They stood like that for a long time.

No matter how long they looked, he couldn't tire of it.

But what was Rajix up to?

Joo-hyuk turned his head and looked back.

"Hm?"

Rajix stood stiff, facing off against something.

Body trembling intensely as if very upset.

Even the hat on his head shook from the force.

How could even the sight of him being angry be so adorable?

"Ho-ek!"

"Vroom, rooom, room!"

"Ho-e-e-ek!"

"Vrrrooom!"

It was a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Unbeknownst to when it had been running, Rajix was blocking the path of the robot vacuum.

Blocking it did nothing.

With its AI, it was navigating around obstacles and cleaning the floor.

"It seems to be an electronic servant."

"It appears our chief servant feels a sense of rivalry toward the electronic servant."

It certainly looked that way.

Every time the electronic servant, that is, the robot vacuum, sucked up dust, Rajix was stomping his feet and getting upset.

When it came to laundry or dishwashing, he'd let the washing machine and dishwasher run, but house cleaning was always something Rajix did himself.

To him, that robot vacuum must seem quite threatening.

Perhaps he feared losing his job.

He understood.

Cossack had been the same.

He too had been anxious with the fear that he might lose his job.

'We cannot threaten our Rajix.'

Joo-hyuk whispered into Gobang's ear.

Gobang nodded.

He strode toward the robot vacuum.

Reaching out with both hands.

Crack! Crunch!

He crushed it just like that.

"Ho-eng?"

Rajix's expression lit up brightly.

Then, he retrieved a broom and dustpan from somewhere and swept up the shattered remnants of the robot vacuum.

"Ho-e-e-e..."

The electronic servant was gone.

This house had only one servant, and it was him.

Rajix wore an extremely satisfied expression.