Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 57: Phoenix Guild
“No, hyung. That… isn't there anything else?”
“What! Why!”
Yoojin shouted.
“Hyungnim, I hate to say this, but just looking at the name, it sounds like a black company.”
“Well, yeah, that's literally what the word means!”
I used my skills to feed you all a hearty meal, and this is the thanks I get! You ungrateful bunch!
Yoojin thought.
Yoojin, who had been silent for a moment, slowly opened his lips.
“Really? Nothing else?”
““No!””
You guys… Did you all gang up on me while eating?
Seeing the group in unison gave him a headache.
‘What's wrong with Black!’
Yoojin, resting his chin on his hand, fell into deep thought with a serious expression.
This was bad. He didn't even think of any other names.
“How about Noir?”
“Sounds like we should be carrying guns.”
“More than that, hyung, that's French for black.”
“I didn't know our partner had a hobby of playing with colors.”
Damn it. To think they'd immediately recognize that it means black in French.
“Don't just criticize, give me some ideas.”
“There are four of us with different surnames, how about Sasung (Four Surnames)?”
“Aren't you going to accept other people later?”
“How about Yeonmaeng (Alliance)?”
“Rejected. Sounds like a newspaper name.”
After that, several other ideas came up, but none of them convinced even Yoojin, let alone the whole group.
“Any more ideas? Then let's go with the original plan.”
Ha…
Shin Joonseok sighed, and the Kang siblings shook their heads.
“It's definitely a black company.”
“You used to have some humanity, hyung. Your naming sense is terrible.”
[Black Company]
In the end, the company was formed with the name that everyone hated.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day.
Yoojin, who had come out of the workshop to rest, glanced outside at the murmuring sound.
"It's a real crowd."
"Those people have no sense of day or night. It must be tiring to be so competent."
Usually, people don't say that kind of thing about themselves.
As if he didn't see Yoojin's puzzled look, Shin Joonseok made an annoyed expression.
"You're not thinking about investment, are you?"
"I received some from my partner, so I'm fine."
"It wouldn't be bad to make the factory bigger."
"I know my limits. If I get too greedy, I'll collapse."
Oh.
What?
Mr. Shin Joonseok, are you this self-aware?
When Yoojin met him before his return, he was the epitome of narcissism, but at this point, he was still within the normal range.
"What's with that look?"
"No, don't worry about it."
Ignoring Shin Joonseok's suspicious gaze, he spoke again.
"Did you hand over the initial production of potions to Arhan?"
"Yes, 101 in total."
"That's less than I thought."
"The initial goal was 200, but it didn't go as well as I thought."
Even with automated production, complete automation was impossible.
Machines can only replace humans in simple tasks such as heating mana stone molten solution to a set temperature or setting up materials.
"You know, partner, alchemy is a bit of a sensitive field."
Alchemy is a field where the results vary depending on minute temperature differences, the amount of ingredients, or even the order or timing of input.
In the end, the final adjustment is up to Shin Joonseok.
This is why the production volume cannot be increased significantly even in an automated factory.
It's actually a big deal that he even achieved half of the initial production goal.
"That's true."
"Anyway, we have to do the second production, but with the situation outside like that, it's troublesome."
"We can't keep those guys outside forever."
"Are you saying I should accept investment proposals?"
"No, I'm saying you should at least choose where to send the second production of potions."
The story of Shin Joonseok rejecting the 30 billion won investment offer has spread to both guilds and corporations.
Many of the people raising their voices outside want the second production of potions more than an investment offer.
"Because Arhan has been diligently promoting the effects of the mass-produced intermediate potions."
"To bother people for that reason..."
"It would be even better if you happen to accept an investment offer."
It's a win-win situation either way, so there's no reason not to raise your voice.
If we choose an organization to handle the second production volume, many of them will leave.
"Do you have any place in mind?"
"Not really. How about either Phoenix or Dawn?"
"Not Arhan, then?"
"Why would I do something that benefits them after I killed their rising star?"
The reason I involved Arhan in promoting the mass-produced intermediate potions was that there weren't many options available at the time.
Shin Joonseok at this point in time is an unknown alchemist.
It would have taken quite a long time to prove the effectiveness of mass-produced intermediate potions.
The reason he involved Arhan was to save 'time'.
"I don't need it anymore."
"You were planning this from the beginning."
"Keuh-huh. That's how business relationships are."
The two headed towards the fence.
"Master Alchemist Shin!"
"Hunter Cheon Yoojin is there too!"
Murmurs arose.
"You've become quite popular too, partner."
"It's tiring to be competent."
When Yoojin returned the words he had uttered earlier, Shin Joonseok's face flushed red.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Wow. How did you know? Is it because you're the alchemist who succeeded in mass-producing intermediate potions?"
"Forget it. I'll stop talking."
While Yoojin was chuckling, a woman saw him and was startled.
"You. Perhaps the Forgotten Temple?"
Yoojin's head snapped up at the familiar voice.
Long, neatly tied hair and clear skin.
The moment he met eyes with the woman with a sword at her waist.
Yoojin let out a short groan, "Hmm."
'Jang Miseon?'
A Hunter called the next Sword Saint, and the hope of Phoenix.
In his previous life, she was also the one who conquered the [Forgotten Temple].
'Thanks to her, I'm putting the Dragon Scale Armor to good use.'
If he hadn't remembered the contents of Jang Miseon's interview, he wouldn't have been able to solve the secret of the [Forgotten Temple].
It was all thanks to the Dragon Scale Armor that he was able to overcome the lack of power in the [Crimson Lair] raid and spider hunting.
〔Khahahaha. You are the original owner of the opportunity she snatched away.〕
'She didn't use the Dragon Scale Armor anyway.'
Armor that freely transforms according to the user's will.
To maximize its power, it had to take the form of heavy armor, which didn't suit Jang Miseon, who focused on speed.
In the end, the owner of the Dragon Scale Armor became Kim Youngsoo, the master of the Phoenix Guild.
'It suits Fafnir better anyway.'
Whatever.
It wasn't stealing someone else's opportunity, but giving it to someone who needed it more.
〔How shameless.〕
'If you're unhappy, why don't you send her back too?'
You're a noisy little backcountry ghost.
He had encountered an unexpected person, but that made it all the more certain.
"Is the Phoenix representative there?"
"I am."
The man next to Jang Miseon raised his right arm.
He seemed quite tense and stiff.
A sneer appeared on Shin Joonseok's lips.
"Even when I was at Daesung, the people from Arhan and Phoenix held their heads high."
"The name value of the group you belong to is your weight."
"That's why it's even more amazing."
Even when he was working as a senior researcher at Daesung Group, he didn't receive this kind of treatment.
It seemed like just yesterday when his colleagues tried to stop him from resigning after his results were stolen.
'It's all thanks to Yoojin-nim.'
Shin Joonseok hid his inner thoughts and let the Phoenix members who raised their hands inside.
＊ ＊ ＊
The two members of Phoenix were led to a reception room set up in one corner of the workshop.
Since it was a remodeled abandoned factory, it was only called a reception room in name, and it looked like it would collapse if the wind blew.
"The workshop is in this state. But please make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you for welcoming us."
The Phoenix salesperson bowed his head so deeply that it looked like he was going to bury it in the ground.
The rumor that Arhan had obtained the [Mass-produced Intermediate Potion] had already spread throughout the industry.
It was a great achievement just to have a one-on-one meeting with the person at the center of the topic.
"But who is the person accompanying you?"
"It's Hunter Jang Miseon."
"I didn't expect to see the next Sword Saint at the workshop. It's an honor."
Shin Joonseok didn't exactly welcome her with open arms.
Apart from her reputation as the next Sword Saint, she was not related to the potion trade.
Sensing the thorns in his words, Jang Miseon smiled bashfully.
"I'm sorry for being rude. But I had a reason to come to this workshop."
"Could you tell me what that reason is?"
"I once had a spar with Song Myeongseok and lost."
Ah...
A sigh escaped Shin Joonseok's lips.
"And I heard that Hunter Cheon Yoojin is also at the Paju workshop..."
The three people's eyes turned to one person as if they had promised to do so.
Snort.
Yoojin snorted nonchalantly.
"Um, so, Hunter Cheon Yoojin."
"If you're asking if we've met before, then yes."
"Right? The Forgotten Temple!"
"It was more like we brushed past each other, but you remember well."
"I got the feeling right then! I thought you weren't an ordinary person. Really, wow. To think of it as a coincidence..."
Wait a minute.
Is this person usually this talkative?
Their only connection was that their eyes met during a Gate raid.
Even before his return, when Yoojin was actively working, she was already deceased, so they had no point of contact.
Is that why?
'She's a bit too chatty.'
〔Khahahaha! To be flustered. That's not like you.〕
'I didn't know she was this kind of character.'
If he left her alone, she would go beyond the second and third verse and even reach the fourth.
Ahem, he coughed briefly, and Jang Miseon, who had been chattering non-stop, opened her eyes wide.
"What's the reason you wanted to see me?"
"I wanted to see the Hunter who defeated Song Myeongseok."
"Then your goal has been achieved."
"Now that I'm here, I have one more reason."
A question mark appeared above Yoojin's head.
"That, the one who defeated Song Myeongseok was the summoned creature you used at the Forgotten Temple, right?"
"You remember that well."
"It's our first time meeting, no, it's our second time meeting, but I'd like to ask you for a spar."
"Do I have any obligation to listen to you?"
Yoojin leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
"Partner. They came all the way from Phoenix, so there's no need to be so negative."
"No. It's a personal request to see Hunter Cheon Yoojin. Not from the Phoenix Guild."
Jang Miseon drew a clear line.
It meant that even if he didn't accept this request, the Phoenix Guild wouldn't retaliate.
Ooh.
Yoojin slightly straightened his back, which had been half-lying down.
'She may be a bit talkative, but she seems to have a good heart.'
He didn't know much about Jang Miseon.
- A talent who was recognized as the next Sword Saint.
- The Hunter who solved the secret of the unconquered Gate, the Forgotten Temple.
Those were the only two anecdotes that came to mind.
Before she could blossom with her brilliant talent, she fell into a trap set by the Arhan Guild and became a soul lost forever.
'She must have quite a bit of talent.'
Even when he deliberately provoked her by sitting crookedly or crossing his arms, she just smiled brightly.
She didn't even use the authority of her guild and drew a line.
〔Such a small human, yet possessing the qualities of a hero!〕
'Don't judge her just because you've seen her once.'
If he left her alone, she would even stamp her seal on a request to be a guarantor.
The world of mortals is too harsh a place for a backcountry ghost to survive.
〔Are you trying to insult me!〕
'She's naive, that's true.'
〔I'm not speaking without any basis.〕
Is that so?
Well, let's hear why a backcountry ghost made such a judgment.
〔For that little human to deceive you, there must be a corresponding benefit, wouldn't you agree?〕
'Hmm. That makes sense.'
〔She drew a line with the potion contract, so accept it as a pure intention.〕
'...I can't be so at ease, but since it's the constellation's words, I'll try.'
Kronos' words were the truth.
Unlike the times when he always sang praises of heroes and spouted sophistry, he nodded his head unconsciously.
"Yoojin-nim?"
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking for a moment."
Right.
There's no need to push her away just because there's no information.
It would be better to ask for what he can get in this situation.
'It's not too late to deal with her after observing what kind of person she is.'
Just as he put Song Myeongseok on the kill list but didn't immediately go to kill him.
It wouldn't be bad to take some time to observe the variables he didn't see before his return.
"What do I gain if I spar with you?"
"I'll give you the Heartstone I have."
"He-Heartstone!!!"
Shin Joonseok, who had been listening quietly, screamed.
A catalyst with an energy amplification effect, similar to the bloodstone mined from the [Crimson Lair].
Bloodstone was more expensive than gold by the same weight, but...
Heartstone was a powerful catalyst with an amplification effect several times that of bloodstone.
"I don't need that."
"Pa, Partner!!!"
I even got you the [Paracelsus' Magic Cylinder].
Heartstone is a powerful catalyst, but there's no use for it right now.
"Does that mean you're okay with something of similar value?"
"You're quick-witted."
"I'll give you anything I can get my hands on within my ability."
The answer came out without a second of hesitation.
You.
I kind of like you.
Yoojin finally smiled with satisfaction.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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