Chapter 71
Anyway.
The catastrophe of posting a shitpost in the Community while drunk somehow seemed to have been resolved, Thanks to the Apostle of Light.
There were still some weird people, but…
Still, it felt like I had regained my image as a dangerous True Ancestor.
“Phew. I really need to be careful when drinking Aged Blood from now on.”
I had learned a great lesson.
Just one glass today. Let’s just safely Level Up.
[You have consumed Aged Medium Blood.]
[Your level has increased by 2!]
My level went up by 2, reaching level 41.
Then, as if it had been waiting, a New Message followed.
[You have reached level 40 and a new Skill has been unlocked!]
[Gate of Darkness (Unique)]
It opens a Gate of Darkness wherever your gaze reaches.
This gate can only be used by the True Ancestor and the Retainers.
It allows immediate travel anywhere without location restrictions, and the entrance and exit can be designated.
(If the entrance and exit are not designated, it automatically connects to Jinjo’s Domain.)
- Blood Power Consumption: 150
- Cooldown: 24 Hours
“Ooh.”
This was a much more incredible Skill than I thought.
What I especially needed to pay attention to was the condition, “wherever your gaze reaches.”
What if I linked this condition with my Skill, [Share Vision]?
It meant that even if my Retainers were far away, as long as I was looking at their location through [Share Vision], I could instantly open a dimensional gate for them.
Even with just a little thought, the applications were endless.
When the Retainers were carrying out missions in different places and encountered an unexpected strong enemy, I could send the other Retainers there.
It could also serve as an emergency exit to safely evacuate a Retainer back home when that individual is in danger.
‘Isn’t this Skill too good?’
I was nodding in satisfaction, but that wasn’t the end of it.
[You have reached level 40, allowing for Skill Enhancement.]
[Enhanceable Skill: Share Vision]
[1 Rune of Skill Enhancement is required.]
Skill Enhancement.
It popped up, saying I could enhance the [Share Vision] Skill that I frequently used.
However, there was one condition.
To enhance the Skill, I needed an item called the [Rune of Skill Enhancement].
“Hmm. I think they sold this in the shop.”
I opened the System Shop to check the price and was startled.
[Rune of Skill Enhancement]
[Price: 5,000,000 Gold]
The amount was a whopping 5 million Gold.
It was a massive sum, amounting to about 5 billion won in Korean currency.
‘Whoa, that’s expensive!’
I did gather quite a lot of money, 1.8 million Gold, from the unintended collection in the Community earlier.
Adding it to my existing balance, the total was about 2 million Gold.
But my balance was still insufficient to purchase it.
I briefly considered asking Solo Play Warrior to buy one for me using the wish coupon I received last time, but I soon shook my head.
I soon shook my head.
It was much more beneficial to use a wish coupon from such a World top-tier Ranker on something that couldn’t be solved with money.
“Then how do I gather the money…?”
The conclusion I reached after some thought was to dispose of the loot I had gathered so far.
There were quite a lot of items and byproducts piled up from running the Tower and gates all this time.
Now that I had an ID and a bank account, trading through official routes was possible.
But since the volume was quite large, cashing it all out would take a considerable amount of time.
“Hmm.”
As I pondered, an idea popped into my head.
“Ah. Should I ask that person?”
I decided to try trading with the Registered User I frequently saw in the Climber Community, “24-Hour Inquiries Welcome”.
* * *
A skyscraper stands in the heart of New York, America.
In the office on the top floor, a woman was leisurely sipping coffee.
“Mmm. The taste of these beans is quite excellent.”
The president of “Midas”, the World’s largest Commercial Guild and a leading conglomerate, is Eliana Taylor.
Hair with a hint of purple and a generous bosom.
Exuding a deeply relaxed atmosphere, she was active in the Climber Community under the nickname “24-Hour Inquiries Welcome”.
Her combat power was around S-rank, falling short of a Ranker level. But Her true weapon was not martial prowess, but financial power.
It wasn’t just on the level of having a lot of money.
She was a big shot in the Hunter Industry, holding a tight grip on Item Trading, services, and information networks worldwide.
Knock, knock.
“President, I have a matter to report.”
Just then, her secretary spoke as he entered holding documents.
“Recently, the demand for the ‘Viper’s Fang’ daggers has been exploding, centered around our special management clients of A-rank and above.”
The secretary added his analysis with a serious face.
“It is presumed that information has secretly spread that Bleed Damage is effective against the recently increased monster types. Accordingly, it seems we need to secure more stock.”
Listening to that report, Eliana wore a soft smile on the outside, but inwardly let out a chuckle.
‘Oh my. That shouldn’t be the reason.’
She knew the real reason for the explosion in demand very well.
It was because of a popular post that had gone up in the Climber Community not long ago.
There was a reason why she, who possessed immense wealth and power, went out of her way to reside and be active in a Community that seemed like a waste of time.
Even if they normally seemed like frivolous people with a screw loose, in reality, they were a group of superhumans who were each a big deal around the World.
To her, that place was the best marketing stage, and an information network where the fastest and most accurate information was exchanged.
And The person she had been coveting the most was there recently.
Undoubtedly, the “True Ancestor”.
The dominant assessment was that she was an incredibly dangerous individual, but…
Eliana, a merchant to the bone, knew.
That high risk meant high return.
She wanted to create a point of contact with her no matter what.
She was vigilantly watching for an opportunity like that.
Ding.
A Community Private Message Window popped up in the air.
[True Ancestor: Mortal, are you there?]
In that moment, her eyes widened.
“The True Ancestor contacted me directly…?!”
This was an opportunity she couldn’t miss.
She had to make this deal happen no matter what it took.
Now, every deal starts with the first conversation.
To lower the other Party’s Guard and build trust, a thoroughly calculated stance was necessary.
‘Tailored to the True Ancestor’s arrogant disposition, with a seasoned conversational Skill that maintains the utmost formality while not giving an inch…!’
Her mind spun more fiercely than ever before.
* * *
[24-Hour Inquiries Welcome: Oh my~✿ True Ancestor-nim~! You came looking for me~!]
I stared at the message that came as a reply.
This cloyingly sweet online persona…
Unlike some registered users whose identities I could roughly guess, I had no idea who this person was.
Are they an older person?
[True Ancestor: I intend to dispose of some junk piled up in my warehouse. Can you give me a price for it?]
As soon as I conveyed my purpose, an amiable reply came immediately.
[24-Hour Inquiries Welcome: Of course~! Since it’s True Ancestor-nim, I’ll generously throw in some extra service~ and match you with the absolute best conditions~!]
“Oh. Nice.”
I immediately called Katarina.
“Katarina, Bring the loot and tributes we’ve gathered so far to the living room.”
“Yes, Liege.”
A moment later, the living room floor was completely covered with miscellaneous equipment and mana stones obtained from the Tower of Trials and gates.
I took a picture of it and sent it.
[True Ancestor: I have about this much.]
Silence fell for a moment as if she was checking it.
[24-Hour Inquiries Welcome: Oh my, the condition of the items is so good~
✿
I’ll be generous and buy them for 2 million Gold~!]
2 million Gold!
A purchase price much higher than I expected was offered.
‘Ah, right. And while I’m thinking about it, should I ask?’
[True Ancestor: Do you perhaps also handle the Rune of Skill Enhancement?]
[24-Hour Inquiries Welcome: I happen to have it in stock~✿
I’ll specially give it to True Ancestor-nim for 4 million Gold~!]
It was a whopping 1 billion won cheaper than the System Shop.
Huh? Then I can buy it right away?
Adding my existing 2 million Gold and the 2 million from the sale makes exactly 4 million.
I immediately made a proposal.
[True Ancestor: If so, could I exchange the 2 million Gold I possess, plus the sale proceeds of this junk, for that rune?]
[24-Hour Inquiries Welcome: Yes~ ^_^ Of course! It’s totally possible~✿]
“Good, good.”
The trade was agreed upon without a hitch.
But suddenly, a practical problem came to mind.
How do we do the shipping for this?
Do I have to send the items by courier?
While I was worrying about that, a message arrived with good timing.
[24-Hour Inquiries Welcome: Oh, don’t worry about shipping~✿ I have a Unique Skill. If we sign a contract under mutual agreement, the items are instantly exchanged according to the conditions, you see?]
‘Wow. That’s a really convenient Skill.’
As expected of a World-class Registered User merchant, huh.
Soon after, a Parchment Contract System Window was sent to the Community chat window.
I meticulously checked the contents.
The Gold I would pay, the list of items spread on the floor, and even the [Rune of Skill Enhancement] the other Party would hand over would be exchanged.
It was identical to our conversation.
Relieved, I pressed the Accept Button.
Then
Paaat - !
A blue light flashed before my eyes, and a single stone engraved with a mysterious pattern dropped from the air with a thud.
[Rune of Skill Enhancement (A+)]
- A mysterious rune that can increase the rank of a Skill by one tier.
“It really got delivered?”
I picked up the rune and marveled.
This Skill is truly convenient for instantly delivering an item worth billions.
The moment I turned my head, I thought I had concluded the trade pleasantly like that.
“Huh?”
I became bewildered.
The items I had spread out on the living room floor remained intact in their place.
Furthermore, the Gold balance I checked by opening the System Window was the same.
It hadn’t decreased by even a single gold and remained exactly as it was.
I waited a little bit, wondering if perhaps there was a delay in the system processing.
Even after one minute and three minutes passed.
The items didn’t disappear, and the money wasn’t withdrawn.
The item was delivered.
But the money I was supposed to pay didn’t go out.
“Uh-oh…?”
Did I suddenly become a secondhand trading scammer?!