SIDE STORY 13
A price negotiation throwing off sparks.
One trying to buy as cheaply as possible.
The other trying to sell for as much as possible.
After a brief exchange of probing moves, the real negotiation began.
"Top-grade mana crystals are used as materials to make enhancement stones. I can't sell them for pennies."
"Hah! Do you know the base price of a hologram phone? At best, one million."
"It's only because enhancement stones can't be auctioned. If these were registered, they'd easily go for over five thousand each."
"Oh! Is that so?"
"I'll make a concession. Let's say 200 per item."
"Then just put them up at the auction house. Ain't that how you sell 'em?"
"…Fine. I'll grit my teeth and say 300 per item."
Click!
Kosak sneered and continued.
"Negotiations are off. Goodbye. You won't get far."
"Th-then 500 per piece?"
"I'll match you with a laborer, so go into the labyrinth instead."
"Ugh…"
Ralph panicked.
"T-then please, you state your terms first. If they're reasonable, I'll—"
Kosak picked his nose and tossed out his words carelessly.
"Thirty thousand top-grade enhancement stones."
"…What?"
That was absurd.
"I think I heard a strange number. Could you say that once more…?"
"Thirty thousand."
"…Pardon?"
"Thirty thousand."
"What?"
"Thirty thousand."
Wow.
Even Juhyeok, who had been listening, shook his head.
Isn't that way too much?
"If it's thirty thousand, we'll give you everything here."
"Th-that's too—"
"It was originally fifty thousand. I cut it by twenty thousand, so be grateful."
"…"
Ralph bit his lip tightly.
Enhancement stone crafting was his unique ability.
Across all dimensions, there was nothing like enhancement stones.
In terms of value, they were far more expensive than top-grade mana crystals of the same weight.
But because they couldn't be sold at auction—a fatal limitation—he was being dragged around like this.
"…Should I break off the negotiation?"
No.
Electronic devices sold instantly as soon as they were listed at the auction house.
That hologram phone alone was proof.
"That's your problem. Why should I care?"
Juhyeok had stayed out of the negotiation.
But it seemed about time to step in.
So he asked Ralph.
"If you have the materials, can you do it?"
"O-of course."
Shhk!
Juhyeok took out about 3 kg of top-grade mana crystals from his inventory.
"How many can you make with this?"
"At least two. Assuming there are no defects."
1.5 kg per piece.
If one of those went up at auction, the base price would be a million.
Even if sold cheaply, it'd still fetch over 700,000.
On the other hand, enhancement stones had nowhere to sell.
They couldn't be auctioned, and direct trade was difficult.
Buying now was the right move.
But still…
"Thirty thousand…"
Could he even produce that many?
Even if he returned to his home dimension and scraped together everything, it wouldn't be enough.
Additional production would be required.
"To manufacture them would take time… and I'm short on materials… If you could reduce the quantity—"
"That's your problem. Why should I care?"
Juhyeok stepped in again.
"If you just have the materials, it's possible, right?"
"Y-yes, of course."
Shhk!
Again, Juhyeok pulled out about 3 kg of top-grade mana crystals.
"With this, how many?"
"Two should be no problem, assuming no defects."
1.5 kg per piece.
Thirty thousand stones meant forty-five thousand kg of top-grade mana crystals.
And there could be defects during production.
"Would fifty thousand be enough?"
"Uh—y-yes."
"I'll provide them."
"…!"
"Th-then…"
At that very moment—
"Wait! Objection!"
What now?
"If we even provide the materials, thirty thousand enhancement stones won't balance out."
"What about my labor costs…?"
"I'm saying this including labor costs."
Then Juhyeok spoke up.
"Wow, you're really stingy."
"Pardon?"
"A person should know how to be generous. Huh? Mutual concessions, coexistence and growth—don't you know that?"
"…Uh, sorry."
Juhyeok turned to Rajiks.
"Dimensional farmhand, put sixty thousand kilograms of top-grade mana crystals into a ticket for him."
"Hwaeng!"
Shhk!
A mana crystal storage ticket was placed into Ralph's hands.
"Use what you need. Consider the rest your compensation."
Ralph was deeply moved.
As expected, Chairman Bong Juhyeok was on a different level.
And then look at that Kosak.
With such a narrow mind, no wonder he'd never rise beyond an executive.
Thirty thousand stones?
He'd make them, no matter what.
"I'll do my best to craft them and deliver quickly."
Even if he had to grind down his soul to do it.
"By when?"
"Three months—no, please give me just two months. I will absolutely meet the delivery deadline."
"That's a bit long…"
"That's the minimum. It's thirty thousand. I'd need to produce five hundred per day."
There was no helping it.
If pushed too hard, quality would suffer.
"Fine. We'll wait."
"Thank you. I'll begin work."
"Here?"
"No, I need to return to my own dimension."
Thudududud!
Ralph dashed off like an arrow toward Mezpol.
I felt a little sorry.
No matter how cutting-edge Earth's electronics were, could they really compare to enhancement stones?
"That's how it is. A product's scarcity value changes depending on time and place."
True enough.
Why drinks sold on mountaintops are expensive.
"If Chairman Bong puts that electronics set up for auction, he'll earn at least five million."
Exactly.
"But do you think Ralph could buy electronics in just two months?"
Not a chance.
"It's a win-win. A fair trade."
Juhyeok nodded.
Let's wait and see.
Six hundred beastfolk laborers wearing +10 golden pickaxes and +10 golden safety helmets.
It was as if their booming battle cries echoed in his ears.
Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk!
It was immensely satisfying.
Time passed quickly.
Two months went by in no time.
Thanks to CEO Seoksoong and Executive Director Seok's deft management, the Rabong Trading Company continued to grow.
One day, after Executive Director Seok toured Mezpol with Kosak and Menochief Chairman Enix, he seized control of Mezpol's commercial district almost overnight.
He signed contracts with all but five major trading companies, as well as mid- and small-sized merchants, street shops, and workshop owners.
Now even wholesalers dealt with Rabong.
Traders, processors, and craftsmen in leatherworking, smithing, and alchemy all flocked to Rabong.
The continent's common currency piled up in warehouses.
It was raked in by the heap.
Did they just let the money sit?
No—they boldly released it.
They bought supplies for the company in bulk.
They invested in workshops, small trading firms, and transport companies.
They carried out relief efforts in the slums.
As a result, money flowed smoothly.
The citizens of Mezpol began to realize something.
They'd thought Rabong's monopoly would make the economy worse.
But it actually felt better.
Better than when the five trading companies had split everything.
Naturally so.
Back when the five companies controlled the labyrinth industry, nearly all resources flowed outward.
They were sent to their respective backing nations.
That was the entire purpose of those companies.
Now?
Everything circulated within Mezpol.
Through Rabong to wholesalers, then through distribution networks across the continent.
The transport industry developed.
Secondary processing industries flourished.
Retailers gradually increased as well.
Production, processing, consumption, distribution—
Nothing was stagnant.
Before long, the grasslands outside Mezpol were taking on the shape of a city.
Perhaps it could be called a satellite city of Mezpol.
The headquarters building was already complete.
The rapidly changing Rabong headquarters.
Today was a day off.
Rabong operated on a five-day workweek.
But even on a day off, Rajiks and the beastfolk didn't rest.
"Hwaek!"
Workers gathered in one corner of the grasslands, training.
Taeng! Spiiiin!
When Rajiks flipped through the air—
"Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk!"
They shouted and tried to imitate him.
But it wasn't easy.
For toddling, waddling beastfolk, the movements were far too difficult.
Thunk! Spin! Thunk! Spin!
All they managed was bouncing off the ground and rolling.
"Hwaeeeeek!"
When Rajiks finally snapped at them,
they bowed their heads low in shame.
Still, they were gradually improving.
"Admirable."
"As expected of diligent beastfolk."
"With +10 equipment, the workers will be unrecognizable."
"Just look at the dimensional farmhand…"
Rajiks had achieved another leap in growth through equipment enhancement.
The +10 golden pickaxe displayed performance that put even the continent's greatest weapons to shame.
They tested it briefly on the 125th floor of the labyrinth.
With a taeng!spin!
Rajiks alone smashed the skulls of small Apophis winged serpent monsters without mercy.
Just a tap—thud!—and they shattered.
A pickaxe with multiple options:
Stats like vitality, strength, agility, and dexterity.
Skills such as ore destruction, consecutive strikes, and automatic retrieval after throwing.
And the +10 golden safety helmets?
As expected, they came with defense-related stats and skill options.
They didn't merely protect the head.
In emergencies, a defensive barrier spread across the entire body.
If all the beastfolk were to wear bound +10 equipment?
At the very least, they'd have enough strength to protect themselves in the labyrinth.
By the way… when is Ralph coming back?
Did he just take the 60,000 mana crystals and run?
He'd better hurry up and bring the enhancement stones so we can upgrade the equipment already.
Why did Juhyeok invest so much effort into the beastfolk?
There was only one reason.
To prepare for the moment they would part ways.
He couldn't stay here forever.
When the day came that they could stand on their own?
That would be the moment of farewell.
"Before leaving, I should clear floors 125 to 150 of the labyrinth in a single night."
That's what the three-man dimensional travelers did, right?
Why couldn't we do it too?
We have greater numbers, after all.
There were even 110,000 newly summoned recruits now.
While he was lost in thought, El approached Juhyeok and spoke.
It was a report on the movements of the Five-Nation Allied Forces.
"The allied forces are currently gathering about 50 kilometers away from Mezpol."
Spit!
A hologram rose from the smartwatch.
Images taken by a low-orbit satellite.
"They've come pretty close, haven't they?"
"Yes. That seems to be their assembly point. They haven't fully gathered yet—some units haven't arrived."
Quite a large force.
'They really brought all that just to catch me.'
Cowards.
Overwhelming with numbers.
Either way, something had to be done before they reached Mezpol.
Wouldn't want to startle the workers.
At that moment!
From the direction of Mezpol, a man came sprinting toward them like an arrow.
"Chairman Bong Juhyeok!!!"
Oh!
"Traveler Ralph!!!"
The 30,000 enhancement stones had arrived.
Exactly two months, as promised.
But why was he empty-handed?
That amount should be massive.
"Uh… where are the enhancement stones?"
"They're in a subspace bracelet artifact. Here…"
Thududududud!
Enhancement stones poured out in a torrent.
"The goods are solid, right?"
"I poured my soul into making them. After thorough inspection, all defective items were discarded—and I even threw in a few hundred extra as a bonus. Hehe."
Ah, much appreciated.
This guy really knows his stuff.
Right.
Hitting the exact number would be stingy.
Generous bonuses show generous character.
"Mr. Rajiks!"
"Hwaeng!"
"Take out the auction set for him. All of it. Including the manuals."
Shhk, shhk, shhk.
A tablet, a hologram phone, a hologram game console, a smartwatch, a mana-crystal generator—and even manuals translated into the continental language.
"…The generator's a bit big. Will this even fit?"
"Huh? You can't put this in?"
"Even subspace artifacts have limits. I'm not a laborer, you know."
Our Rajiks could store even giants.
Same for me.
"Just cram it in as much as possible…"
Creaaak, creaaakkkk.
"Got it!"
Ralph cheered.
The deal was finally complete.
But then—
"You're not leaving?"
"No. I'd like to observe."
Ralph was curious.
What exactly were they planning to do with 30,000 enhancement stones?
The real enhancement began.
Would it succeed?
A +10 enhancement that was said to fail even with 1,000 stones.
But Juhyeok was confident it would work.
Why?
First, the racial traits of the beastfolk.
Whether it was the Black Tower or the labyrinth, they had an uncanny knack for finding treasure.
Why was Rajiks ranked number one among the summoned?
Because he hit jackpots constantly.
Just recently, he'd used only 20 enhancement stones to succeed in +10 enhancing both a golden pickaxe and a golden safety helmet.
That couldn't be explained by skill alone.
There was something more.
Luck.
Treasure hunting was also tied to luck.
Perhaps the beastfolk's racial trait was luck itself.
From that idea came the method:
Using Gyeondallae's talisman.
Luck talismans had been prepared in advance.
Every beastfolk stuck one to their chest.
All the beastfolk gathered on the grasslands.
A stage with large speakers was set up before them.
"Ahem! Mic test. Ahem!"
Kosak grabbed the microphone.
"Scatter and you fail, unite and you succeed—the founder of collective enhancement methods, presenting a new roadmap for enhancement. Do this and you too can become the owner of +10 equipment. Enhancement guide, enhancement drill instructor—Kosak here."
Kosak wore a red cap pulled low over his eyes.
"Owls, are you ready?"
"Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk!"
"Good. We'll now begin collective enhancement of pickaxes."
He'd said he'd drastically raise the success rate, so permission was given—but was this boot camp?
"Owls, enhancement round chambered!"
Huk!
Each beastfolk held up one enhancement stone.
"Prepare for +1!"
At the command,
they thrust the hand holding the stone straight forward.
"Right-angle enhancement, commence!"
Clack!
With disciplined motions, they pressed the stones against their pickaxes.
Hwaaaaah!
Brilliant white light erupted.
All succeeded.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Thunderous applause broke out.
No failures up to +3.
With the luck talismans attached, it was a straight highway to +5.
Hwaaat! Hwaaat! Hwaaat! Hwaaat!
"Owls, congratulations. All achieved +5. This is thanks entirely to your instructor's excellent training. Don't forget that."
But the other summoned watching felt their stomachs churn.
"Tch. Like that's thanks to him? Honestly, isn't it because of Princess Dallae's luck talismans?"
"I'm starting to get annoyed. She does the work, he takes all the credit."
"He acts like he did everything."
"And what's this 'right-angle enhancement' nonsense?"
"Did he even serve in the military?"
"He's never enlisted."
"What's General Bae doing, letting this slide?"
"Should we blow his head off with a magic cannon? Even a heavy round probably wouldn't shut him up."
"Good idea, General Bae."
But Kosak paid them no mind.
"Now comes the difficult gate. Owls, focus… prepare for +6!"
"Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk…!"
"Execute!"
Clack!
Hwaaaaah!
Purple light flooded the area.
But—
"Huek?"
"Huh, huh?"
"Eh…?"
Black light flickered here and there.
Eight failures.
"Failed owls, roll on the spot!"
Roll, roll, roll.
"This is punishment. To sharpen your focus. Re-enhancement!"
Hwaaaaah!
Thankfully, all succeeded.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Truly worthy of top-grade enhancement stones.
Even if you failed, you could just try again.
'The goods are solid.'
Meanwhile, Ralph could only gape in disbelief.
Rubbing enhancement stones onto pickaxes was absurd enough.
In all his life as an enchanter, he'd never seen anything like this.
Collective enhancement?
What was this, a mass wedding?
And now he finally understood why they'd demanded 30,000 stones.
It was for this insane stunt.
Enhancing all beastfolk equipment to +10.
By common sense, it should be impossible… so why did it feel like it might actually work?
He was glad he stayed to watch.
When would he ever see something like this again?
Then came +7.
Flashing crimson light.
Less than before, but black light still appeared in places.
"Failed owls, roll on the spot!"
Failures increased as they went higher.
Some re-enhancements failed too.
"We continue until it works. There is no such thing as a +10 dropout in this instructor's dictionary."
At last, +7 completed.
Then onward to +8.
They charged ahead relentlessly to +9.
"Princess Fairy, how many enhancement stones have we used?"
"Likely over 8,000."
The expected consumption might exceed 10,000.
But it was within estimates.
They had plenty.
"Prepare for +10!"
Determination filled the beastfolk's faces.
"Execute!"
Clack!
Hwaaat—
Only a tiny fraction shone with rainbow light.
Most were black.
"Failed owls, roll on the spot!"
Roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll.
"Re-enhancement!!! Do not give up!"
Hwaaaaah!
One-third succeeded.
Two-thirds failed.
But success had already been decided.
After several retries, all pickaxes finally reached +10.
Enhancement stones consumed: 10,158.
"Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk!"
The beastfolk rejoiced.
Whirr!
Some swung their pickaxes, others struck the ground, and some slipped them into their subspace with a shhk.
…Wait.
What was that?
Shhk? Into subspace?
Rajiks, sure—but beastfolk couldn't store items unless they were labyrinth items.
"Why does that go in?"
Ralph answered the question.
"That's because they're bound items. When an item is bound, the user's attributes are imbued into it."
"Ah!"
"Beastfolk are a labyrinth race to begin with. Once bound, the labyrinth attribute seeped into the pickaxes."
I see.
Perfect.
Store them in subspace when not in use, pull them out when working.
'If this can be utilized…'
Something to think about later.
Next was helmet enhancement.
The results were as expected.
All helmets successfully reached +10.
Enhancement stones consumed for helmets: 9,977.
Even fewer than the pickaxes.
"Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk! Huk…"
The beastfolk's cheers filled the grasslands.
They were loud enough to reach all the way into Mezpol city.