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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 347: Affiliated Businesses (3)
- A congratulatory gift… Did you say it’s an exhibhition?
Kobu stared blankly at Yeongwoo and then casually glanced around at the panoramic view of Gwangjin-gu.
It felt like a notion that wouldn’t arise on such a remote planet.
- If it’s Lemu, they’re already at a legal grade of Level 4, and President Dogo is… Level 3 under cosmic law.
In other words, Kobu was trying to convey that he shouldn’t dare play games with such entities.
“Oh, so Lemu is pretty famous? If Kobu knows not just the company’s name but also its grade, it must be.”
- It’s not just Lemu. All the guests you just mentioned are in the danger category.
Kobu muttered something while alternating glances between Tobu and Chobu.
He seemed to be saying that they’d gotten themselves into serious trouble today.
“Kobu.”
- Yes, boss.
“Once you start thinking about something like this, you’ll never begin. Just build it.”
- …?
Before Kobu could respond, Yeongwoo moved to the spot where the entrance to the wedding hall would be constructed.
Click, click.
“Since there’s a chance cosmic merchants might attend, the entrance has to be built as large as possible.”
Accommodations had to be made for all sorts of bodies: giants, enormous insects, and massive blobs of oil.
“And for regular guests, I want them to feel an overwhelming sense of foreboding when they walk down the passageway to the wedding hall entrance. Something that makes them feel like they’ve made a serious mistake.”
When Yeongwoo made this request, Kobu finally began taking the project seriously and offered his skilled opinion.
- If the maximum height of regular guests is about two meters, simply building a large lobby will have enough of an effect.
Then he gestured vaguely above Yeongwoo’s head.
- The space itself should suggest that it wasn’t built with them in mind. Excessively high ceilings, unnervingly empty spaces that feel unnecessary, almost as if something has been prepared for them.
“Oh…”
Hearing this, Yeongwoo could now appreciate the fact that the individuals in front of him were experts in constructing prisons across the universe.
- Many beings feel small in spaces that don’t consider their presence. It’s like how a three-legged being panics when given a chair with only two footrests. An oppressive space should exclude the subject’s characteristics.
At this, Jiseon leaned in close to Yeongwoo and whispered softly.
—Remember this well. You never know when you’ll be standing before a chair with only one footrest yourself.
This was a jab at her son’s reckless behavior, suggesting that it wouldn’t be surprising if he ended up imprisoned one day.
Yeongwoo retorted immediately.
“But if I lose a leg, I’ll only get stronger.”
—What did you say, you punk?
While Jiseon growled, Yeongwoo was already imagining the grand scale of the wedding hall lobby as he walked off somewhere.
Click, click.
“In my lobby, there must be an execution platform and a congratulatory podium. Guests will approach the podium, sign their names in the ledger, and pay their gifts.”
- A ledger, you say…?
“It’s like a guestbook. A record that says, ‘I attended this event.’”
Hearing this, Kobu nodded.
- Like a prison inmate roster. We can prepare that immediately.
“Well, it’s similar enough.”
The project proceeded smoothly.
Having constructed numerous cosmic prisons before, Kobu was a veteran who even understood the nuances of an interstellar guestbook.
- However, there might be many who don’t leave their names.
“What do you mean by not leaving their names?”
- Different cultures have vastly different ways of signing guestbooks.
According to Kobu, some species drew lines with swords to sign, while others left parts of their bodies as their signature.
In other words, they would need methods tailored to each culture to collect guestbooks from everyone.
“So, should we stockpile tiles or iron plates or something?”
- Fortunately, we have specialized signature sheets prepared by type.
“You’re a true professional.”
- However, there will be additional charges.
“…?”
The pattern was becoming clear.
So Yeongwoo asked outright.
“Kobu, the additional charges don’t apply to the Dogo special rate, do they?”
Kobu hesitated briefly before confessing.
- That’s correct.
“Well, it wouldn’t be fair to do all this work at cost after traveling so far. I won’t be stingy—after all, this is a family celebration.”
Yeongwoo spoke magnanimously.
Given the malicious structure of the wedding hall, the competition among guests to give gifts was bound to intensify.
Thus, any additional costs for the hall would essentially be passed on to the guests.
“Just don’t let them whine about competing within the same grade.”
- …Understood.
Kobu exchanged glances with Tobu and Chobu again.
Seeing this, Yeongwoo pointed west and made a suggestion.
“How about putting the execution platform over there?”
- …What type of execution method are you considering?
“The actual act would be beheading, but adding a gallows for intimidation might also be effective. You know what a gallows is?”
Yeongwoo mimicked a choking motion with his hands, and Kobu leaned back, appalled.
- I’m familiar.
“Just hanging an empty noose on the gallows can send a strong message. Personally, I hope no one has to be executed.”
Hearing this, Jiseon asked, worriedly.
—In the worst-case scenario, are you really going to execute the guests? That’s not just intimidation—if you do that, public opinion will turn against you.
If her son truly planned to dominate Earth, he would need to consider not just domestic sentiment but international sentiment as well.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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But Yeongwoo was firm.
“Of course, I don’t want to execute anyone. But threats only work if they’re ‘real.’ The guests coming to this wedding are likely hardened veterans. A half-hearted threat won’t make them pay.”
— …
Jiseon had much to say but couldn’t muster the courage to speak.
“Our wedding’s gifting system uses a two-strike rule.”
—Two strikes?
“Guests who come empty-handed are detained in a special prison set up in the lobby.”
—What?
“Then we send messengers to their respective nations, demanding ransom from their leaders if they want their people released.”
—That’s just kidnapping… You’re saying guests will be taken hostage if they come empty-handed?
Jiseon sighed deeply.
However, Yeongwoo had his own justification for the executions.
"Anyway, the big money is coming from the guests from space. The money we get from Earth guests is really just pocket change."
—What? Then why are you extorting money to the point of executing people?
"First, it's a test of sincerity. Second…"
Yeongwoo's gaze shifted somewhere.
He was probably imagining the ‘special prison’ that would be set up in the wedding venue lobby.
"We’re assessing that person’s reputation and value."
—Reputation?
"The Earth guests are the top names from various regions, so if they’re kidnapped at the wedding venue, there’s no way their home countries won’t pay. At this point, a national powerhouse isn’t a simple asset you can replace with mere pennies."
—Th-then?
"Even so, if no one comes forward with money to rescue the detained individual, it boils down to one of two things."
Yeongwoo raised one finger as he spoke.
"Either their people want them to die and disappear because they’re a tyrant…"
He extended a second finger.
"Or it means there’s an equally powerful second-in-command ready to replace them."
—Th-that’s plausible?
"Even if there’s a third reason, whatever it may be, it’s still enough justification to kill them. They didn’t bring any money, after all."
This was, essentially, Yeongwoo’s real intention.
—…….
"For whatever reason, if tribute isn’t paid even after giving them one more chance, the detained individual will be executed immediately. And we’ll use their equipment to make up for the tribute."
As Yeongwoo spoke with excitement, Kobu, who had been quietly listening, cautiously interjected.
-So, where exactly do you plan to set up the tribute display area?
Kobu scanned the vicinity near where the execution stage and the tribute platform were likely to be placed.
Naturally, he assumed it would be somewhere in the wedding venue lobby.
But Yeongwoo…
He turned his head in a completely different direction from where Kobu was looking.
"I’m planning to use the entire front wall inside the wedding hall. When my parents exchange their wedding gifts, I want the tribute rankings displayed in the background."
-What?
—Excuse me?
Kobu and Jiseon were both startled at the same time.
This was a system neither the wedding venue nor the prison had ever seen.
—Hey, take it easy... Just how far are you planning to take this?
"How far? To space, of course."
Yeongwoo looked up at the sky—or rather, to space.
"Think about it. Dogo and Lemu, who don’t get along, are gathering in one place, and Dogo will have no choice but to compete in the tribute battle to avoid losing his advertising model to Mara. I don’t know much about space, but I’m certain countless factions will be watching this wedding."
The fact that Dogo had come to Earth, newly opened due to the Reset, to stick advertisements everywhere was proof enough.
In space, any place where issues arise becomes ad space.
In that sense, this wedding Yeongwoo was orchestrating was an incredible advertising opportunity.
"For ordinary guests, giving a tribute is just like paying a tax, but for the bigwigs coming from space, it’s more about saving face. That’s because not only will I reveal the tribute rankings, but I’ll also create enormous disparities in seating arrangements based on those rankings."
—Hah.
At her son’s ruthless business plan, Jiseon felt her hand trembling slightly.
"But at the same time, they’re essentially paying for advertising. While Mara might be an exception, all the other guests—our chairman, Lemu, Toma—are all businesspeople."
Of course, competing for the top spot in tribute rankings wouldn’t be easy, especially with Mara planning to visit in an attempt to buy Yeongwoo07.
"That’s why we have to do our best to make every chairman and president visiting the wedding venue desperately want to claim the top spot on the tribute rankings."
—…….
It was a clever scheme that not only played on corporate pride but also turned the unique setting into a bidding war for exclusive advertising space.
—But… isn’t the tribute ranking only visible after entering the wedding hall and making a contribution?
"Exactly. At first, we’ll just announce the existence of the tribute rankings and hold a closed bidding. They’ll only see the rankings after making their initial contributions."
—And? What else is there?
"Double-charging."
—Double-charging?
"Once they’re inside the wedding venue, there will be another tribute platform."
—What?
"Then the chairmen can check their rankings. If they don’t like their position, they can make another tribute to change it."
—You lunatic bastard.
"That’s why you have to create a product so irresistible that they’ll curse while buying it anyway."
Yeongwoo grinned wickedly.
"By tomorrow, everyone will leave with empty wallets."
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HELHEIM SCANS
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