V53C3P1 – Castle Aren in flames
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ON APRIL 24, 2019 BY MIMOSAB
Thanks to Armada & PuszekSE for their work on this new part .
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The battle on the Garnav plains came to an end and the world had changed . Each broadcast network visited Lee Hyun’s house with packs of gifts in hand .
“This is small, but I brought some ginseng . This is the oldest and largest one out of the ones that were released into the market in the last 5 years . I prepared it for you to replenish your energy . ”
“Yawn!”
Lee Hyun stretched extensively . Even for him, the Garnav plains battle had its toll . It was as if the fatigue remained even after a long sleep .
“Isn’t this rare?”
“You can’t afford this with money . ”
“Now that I mention it, my body was feeling weak . It will be perfect in my bibimbap . ”
“Ho-ho . Of course . 200-year-old ginseng Bibimbap is the trend nowadays . When I find something better, I will bring to you . ”
“You don’t have to… I would very much appreciate it, but I feel bad . ”
“No worries . It’s all from our friendship . From our hearts . ”
Chief Kang of the KMC media laughed it off . It was a kind of relationship in that he could convey his true feelings no matter what exchange of words .
– This is ginseng .
– It must be expensive .
– It is hard to put a price on it .
– This is beneficial to the body . I will gladly put it to good use .
– Please enjoy . I will bring more things .
They exchanged thoughts somewhere along this line . After that, Chief Kang took 30 minutes to agree the contract to a special footage compilation from the battle on Garnav plains and request cooperation in Royal Road’s broadcast . He had acknowledged the Arpen kingdom as the new ruler of Versaille continent and had rushed to a negotiation . From CTS media, the new executive director visited in person .
“So, we CTS media will organize more programs about Royal Road and satisfy the needs of different viewers…”
The intro about the broadcast station took a grand 10 minutes .
“I am already aware, but it is surely different for a famous broadcast network . ”
Just when Lee Hyun began to frown, the executive director took out a box .
“That reminds me, I personally brought some mushrooms from France . ”
“I have lots of them…”
“Truffle . This is a rare mushroom . ”
“Then I must put it in my ramen . ”
“Ramen? That would destroy all the scent and flavor . This is the highest quality of truffles . You have no idea how to eat it . ”
Lee Hyun let out a sigh at such an ignorant comment . He was questioning if the person in front of him had lived a naïve way of life .
‘Friendship and business blooms from bribery . Even if times had changed, human relations remain the same . ’
In order to catch the other person’s effort and sincerity, bribery is a must!
‘Bribery is not a bad thing . If you take it and do something illegal, it becomes a problem . There is no problem if taken cleanly and with clear conscience . ’
If there were to be a global sociology magazine, it would have to have a column for conscious bribery theory . In comparison, the other broadcast networks at their base, knew how to entertain their target .
“You said once that you needed a bike for getting around the neighborhood . I had this custom made in Italy . This is a limited edition, identical to the one owned by the champion of Tour de France .
“Hmm . It has a good color to it . ”
“I sprinkled some gold powder into the paint . ”
“We are the newly established RTP . We focus on broadcasting in the metropolitan areas . We brought about a 100 shopping mall gift cards . We heard that you visit the regional market often, so we brought gift cards for the market as well . ”
“How very thoughtful . ”
“This is a small token of gratitude, so please accept it . Hahaha . ”
“Do you like to drink by any chance? I brought the world’s top 5 wines, but they don’t live up to their reputation . Just have some with dried fish fillets . ”
“I brought an exercise machine . It is called the rowing machine… Good for maintaining stamina . ”
“The latest model computer and appliances will arrive shortly . Especially the refrigerator . It costs a bit over 10 million won, but it is a small gift of sincerity . ”
While Lee Hyun was building close relationships with the broadcast network associates, gifts were stacking up by his front door endlessly .
“Oppa! There are so many trucks at the front of the house!”
Hye-youn Lee who had gone outside yelled in surprise . Broadcast networks and fans from all over the world were sending commemorate gifts for overcoming the Hermes guild and Bard Ray . Most were snacks, and some were luxury products . Lee Hyun routinely said that he would not accept any gifts from his fans .
– Nothing less expected from Weed-nim… He is a tsundere . He always says he will exploit us, but he makes sure we aren’t burdened .
– Kyaa… That is character . There hasn’t been one person who had rumors telling the opposite of his actual personality .
– I heard that he was some slaughterer in Continent of Magic .
– It’s probably hoaxes from some guilds around those places . Do not believe what you haven’t seen .
– I guarantee they are malicious rumors . I can bet my eyebrows on this .
In truth, Lee Hyun thought differently .
‘It isn’t just one or two people that have grudges against me from back in Continent of Magic . It’s problematic that the university has been identified and moreover, too many found out the address . ’
He trained his body more diligently since he did not know when he was going to cross paths with an enemy . Every time he gained levels in Royal Road, he believed that he had to get that much stronger in order to protect himself . On top of that, he wouldn’t know what may be inside the presents of his fans!
‘Bombs, chemical substances are worth being weary of . I want to stay in this world for as long as I can . ’
Lee Hyun had thought in such a way and had declined all gifts, but from this point on he decided to accept them . He had become a public figure after having risen to fame in Royal Road . The government were assured to run inspections in mind of terrorist attacks, and police officers were stationed around the vicinity of his house .
‘I will take whatever I can use in the house and the rest I can donate to charity . ’
There were people struggling within the neighborhood . It would have more meaning to distribute these free gifts to the people in difficult times rather than returning them to the senders .
Lee Hyun took Seoyoon on his right, Lee Hayan on his left and marched through his neighborhood . It was a first outing since he defeated Bard Ray and destroyed the Haven empire . He applied hair gel to spiff himself up and put on new, clean clothes .
‘My current standing means I have to be mindful of attention from the people around . ’
He would not wear his spring jeans for 3 years without dry cleaning it like he once did .
‘Jeans are meant to be worn in that antique taste, but from now on I will clean it every 3 months . ’
Lee Hyun’s fashion sense had changed a little enthusiastically . A clean shirt and linen pants . Looking back to his manual labor outfit, this was an acceptable look .
‘The neighbors will be surprised looking at me . To my complete transformation that is . I usually did not take care of myself, but if I washed my face and looked in the mirror, I was quite decent . ’
He stepped out the front door with his heart pounding . Lee Hayan and Seoyoon followed him outside with white shirts and jeans on .
“Wow…”
“You look astonishing . I saw you last year and you are even more beautiful now . ”
“I couldn’t comprehend the Grass Porridge Cult’s level of unity… But now I do . This calls for loyalty . ”
“Your appearance is a crime . You make everyone fall for you . ”
Every single person on the streets lost their minds staring at Seoyoon . Lee Hayan also attracted the attention of men when she roamed alone but became plain at the side of Seoyoon . Everyone’s eyes reflected the appearance of Seoyoon . Lee Hyun’s presence was practically non-existent!
“Does beauty feed you or earn you money? K-hmm… I guess it does supply all those . ”
A dirty world ruled by beauty! Lee Hyun took his younger sister and Seoyoon to visit his usual real estate agency .
“Oh . It’s you . ”
The real estate broker welcomed him invitingly . He had secured basement rental rooms for them several times when they were young, and he had put in his best efforts to find a good place despite their lack of budget . He defended them when the landlord would aggravate them, and those memories led him to use this agency ever since .
“Yes . Was life good to you?”
“Sure . Thanks to you, these parts became a tourist attraction and the shopping district went up a lot in price . The bread shop across the street increased by 200 million in 3 months . ”
“200 million?”
“Yup . Business is running much more smoothly for them, so they aren’t thinking of selling . ”
“Ugh . ”
Lee Hyun suppressed his stomach twisting in jealousy and sat on the sofa . He had purchased a lot of real estate in the neighborhood, but he hadn’t the chance at the shopping mall districts .
“I’ll get a cup of coffee for now . ”
“Are you alright with mixed?”
“Of course . My coffee is always mixed . ”
When Lee Hyun visited the agency, he always drank mixed coffee . The times he didn’t eat, the free black-bean noodles were essential!
“Here you are . ”
The broker man treated Lee Hyun, Seoyoon and Lee Hayan each to a cup of coffee .
“Thank you very much . ”
“I appreciate it!”
The man smiled as he looked at Lee Hayan . He remembered all too well the years of when she was a crazy child, her dark history as she would call it . When he just had begun working in real estate, Lee Hyun and Lee Hayan lived without parents and they had grown so much without him knowing . Especially Lee Hyun, who could be considered the prime example of a self-made man, recognized for his maintenance of the neighborhood .
‘I thought this kid was going to grow up to be a robber or a fraud…’
Lee Hyun spoke after finishing his coffee .
“Mister . I came to purchase the building across from this one . ”
“Building?”
“Yes . The Yeoul building with the 1st floor mart . That is out for sale, right?”
“Yes, it is for sale… But are you really thinking of buying it?”
The reason Lee Hyun brought his younger sister and Seoyoon to a real estate outing was because of a building . An 8-story building that he had been keen on for a year and a half! It was a huge building worth 15 billion won, and he would have more than enough money to purchase it by liquidating the recent broadcast network advertisement revenue and the character enterprises .
‘Money isn’t meant to be borrowed . ’
He wasn’t planning to get any bank loans, and KMC media agreed to adjust all subscription fees right away . Lee Hyun raised one edge of his mouth and smirked .
‘A landlord is the destination of all dreams . It is the final line in life . ’
The last step in becoming a wealthy real estate owner . He had bought bits of land around the neighborhood, but he thought being a landlord was the best . He was planning to collect monthly rent payments from each floor, inscribing his title as landlord Lee Hyun on his business cards .
‘My childhood dream is finally coming true . Even if Royal Road goes down to ruins, my life is guaranteed from what I can rip off this building . If I get a son, he will be the landlord’s son . If it’s a daughter, she will be the landlord’s daughter . Across generations, our family becomes a landlord family . ’
Lee Hyun waited until the afternoon, met the landlord, paid out all the balance and transferred ownership all in one day .
“At last, I did it . ”
Lee Hyun straightened his back as he stepped out of the agency . The heavy burden of poverty that pressed down on his shoulders since childhood . The stress about money that strapped in his mind even when he was asleep had lifted away . He felt the years of hardship had finally come to an end, conversely feeling a mix of emotions .
“Now that I have my own building, I could afford to eat salt 200 won more expensive than the usual…”
He thought that all that was left for him was a bright future .
‘Even so, I will continue hunting and proceed on my quests… hah . Give up my greed for money and live out my life comfortably . ’
He will try new hobbies, bathe in sunlight at the front porch, live carefree .
‘It will all be different starting tomorrow . What is money worth anyway…? No more clinging and enjoy life . Look at just how beautiful the world is . ’
The weather was pleasant, and the breeze was refreshing .
‘To think life was this beautiful . ’
Lee Hyun ate his dinner and fell happily asleep . Then he woke up early morning the next day . He took supplements and vitamins gifted by the broadcast networks and jogged to the dojo .
“I will train hard! To take down as many more monsters that I can . ”
To Lee Hyun, hunting speed was more important than anything . Monsters were money! He had to earn back the levels he had lost recently, and he developed more interest in the combat achievements . During his years as a sculptor, it was difficult for him to earn combat achievements . But by the time he became a necromancer, it turned out a lot easier .
(To be continued…)