V53C4P3 β Continental Domination
Sponsored Content
ON MAY 21, 2019 BY MIMOSAB
Thanks to all proofreaders who worked on this part: Armada, evilsanta1423, PuszekSE, Idzuwan, Arvin, Seviper9 and Hezvolog π
βWork . β
βI got it . Master!β
Weed split up the sculptural lifeforms and positioned them in vital locations .
The sculptural lifeforms that were placed at every strategic point served as rulers over each region, securing public order .
βYou guys are the most important . Fly around and take care of the monsters when you see them . β
β I will do as you say .
β If it means protecting the world .
The baraags were savage but obedient . They were keepsakes of the Emperor Geihar, highly reliable in combat and laid many eggs in their nests around cliffs and forests .
βIf I raise these baraags wellβ¦ They will become powerful assets . β
Gigantic creatures capable of flying and breathing fire!
βI should keep about a thousand close to me, those who are most trustworthy . I will use them well in important fights . Should I build some coops so they can breed more easily?β
If needed, he was eager to use some baraag poultry farms . He spoke to his clones .
βArpen Empire . Hahaha . An empire . Splendid . Anyway, I must slay these monsters to protect the Northern Continent . β
Then, Weed-one crossed his legs and turned his head slightly, lifting his chin about 21Β° . His expression with his chin raised high was full of arrogance .
βSo, what do I gain from this?β
βHmm . β
Weed knew from the beginning that orders would not be easy . They were beings identical to himself!
βI made them urgently, but things couldnβt be more horrendous . β
Weed always had a grand speech for any situation .
βIt is for Versailles Continent . What do you think is the purpose of your powers! It is to defeat the monsters and protect the weak . Also, this is a request from me as a parent who bestowed life to you all . β
Peace and beings called parents . The weak-hearted were prone to these words .
Weed-two stretched wide and yawned freely .
βThat is one regurgitated lie . In all honesty, werenβt we betrayed big time the moment we were born? We escaped in order to survive, life is getting a bit better, but youβre giving us a dangerous mission? What kind of parent does that?β
A logical opposition based on past experience!
Weed quickly tried to come up with an excuse, but Weed-seven eagerly followed .
βAbductors with some conscience cannot call themselves kind-hearted . There is no room for trust to begin with . β
Weed-ten pointed at Weedβs mouth with his finger .
βI saw him lick his lips just now! That is the symbol and occupational trait of highly trained liars!β
Weed realized that these subordinates could not be swayed by words .
βI have sculpted them well indeed . They act the same as I would . β
Their intelligence and behavior patterns were similar to a high degree . In any circumstance, they refuse to be at a loss . Thus, he knew exactly how to get through to them .
βYou all know how difficult it is to live without anything in your possession . I will provide equipment according to your levels . β
He had many advanced equipment that he acquired from the Hermes guild at his disposal .
He needed to at least provide them with basic equipment to heighten their hunting efficiency .
βMmm . Good equipment will be expensive . β
βRather than having a rough time with just a bare body, itβs better to use tools . β
βThe conditions donβt seem to be that badβ¦β
Weed observed his subordinates in contemplation and added .
β1 gold per monster . β
βWoah . β
βHuk!β
It was money in the end! The subordinates came down on their knees respectfully .
βWe will swear our loyalty, Master . β
βThis is a fair contract . We can feel your sincerity for our well-being . β
βWe will protect the peace of the continent!β
They changed attitudes so quickly that no one could tell if they were being truthful or pretentious . Weedβs heart ached in the thought of losing a gold each time, but ultimately he was the victor .
βIf they are like me, they will hunt frantically for money . It will be at least 10 times more effective than forcing them into it . β
Stopping the monsters was crucial, but the loot from the hunts will be traded and turned into tax income for the Arpen Empire .
It could also revitalize the production by increasing the loots of leather and minerals .
Considering all the subsequent effects, the 1 gold wasnβt really coming from Weedβs pocket but from what the subordinates would earn themselves . No matter how greedy and manipulative they may be, they were still children .
βHe is surprisingly a good master . β
βWe appreciate the benignity of your majesty . β
Weed smiled as his subordinates continued their flattery .
Fort Odin .
In the past, it was famous for its impregnability located at the borders of the Britten Alliance and Idern Kingdom .
βWoahβ¦ This section is broken . β
βYeah . I thought the walls were high and thick when I saw them through the broadcasts . Now there are only remains . β
The northern merchant Consome was roaming around the Central Continent with its friendly users . They began Royal Road in the north and travelled to various regions that they observed through broadcasts so they could set up trades .
βSelling souvenirs of Fort Odin! Get your wooden golem dolls!β
βStone fragment of the sturdy fortress . Stone fragment that imbue luck and endurance attributes only for 98 gold!β
βThis is a new long sword . The standard Arpen Kingdom long sword has been upgraded a step higher . They are set for level 100, 150, 200 β guaranteed warranty repair from the Mapan Merchant Association!β
After the Garnav Plains battle, the merchants began moving early . The Hermes guild fell and no other alliance could hinder the merchants . Specifically targeted merchandise and expansion of trade routes .
The northern merchants scrambled down to the Central Continent and sold their merchandise .
βAhβ¦ I am jealous . β
βDamn . Has this world gone over to the northern users?β
The merchants that began in Central Continent started with envious eyes . Since their early days, they had been subject to territoriality and tyranny of the prestigious guilds .
βNow that the Arpen Kingdom came out the victor, they will try to get as much as they possibly can . β
βLook . Descending down here to take over everything . β
The merchants could not hide their disappointment .
They traded even the simplest items and expanded their accounting, trades and transport skills . Then again, there were no other jobs as powerless as the merchants .
Due to their low combat abilities they are looked down upon by warriors and are stolen from by other users at times .
βHow unfair . β
βI chose to be a merchant because I enjoyed facing people in the city and selling goods . I never thought I would come to regret it . β
The Central Continent merchants all huddled up in the corner grumbling .
βGroan!β
That moment, they saw a female user approaching them with a pile of goods on a wagon .
βAhβ¦ That user . Iβve seen her in broadcast . β
βYeah . Thatβs Gamong-nim . β
βThat is Gamong-nim who trades everywhere . β
Gamong!
She was a famous merchant user next to Mapan in the north .
βGamong-nim also came down . β
βIt means the Central Continent is that popular . β
βTake it all why donβt they? Just take it all away . β
The Central Continent merchants were exchanging a bitter conversation . Then Gamong spoke out to them gathered under a shade .
βArenβt you folks gonna sell anything? All sold out already?β
βWe are not listed under the Arpen Kingdomβ¦ Arpen Empire I should say . Anyway, we arenβt registered . β
βRegistered?β
βYes . Merchants or associations must be registered and make a payment in order to trade . Now, trade goods must be registered and receive permits . β
βWhat do you mean by that?β
Gamong asked in confusion, and the Central Continent merchants were stunned .
βFor goodness sake . Youβre a merchant like us and you do not know about the registration system?β
βI donβt . Is there such a thing?β
βOf course you have to be registered to sell goods in the city and trade goods with other regionsβ¦ . Wait . Arpenβ¦ kingdom? Empire? Never mind that, there is no such system in Arpen?β
βYeah . We donβt have anything like that . This is the first time Iβm hearing about it from you all . β
The Central Continent merchants were dazzled . They had their own intel network, but since they always resided in Central Continent they were uninformed about the situations in the north . They heard that the north was a heaven for trades but since they had no opportunity to travel there, they never looked into the procedures .
βHold onβ¦ This was originally enforced by the prestigious guilds that ruled the Central Continent . β
βRight . That is the case . β
βSo, this did not exist since the very beginning?β
The merchants were surprised, but they needed solid evidence . They had the carpet slip underneath their feet far too many times throughout their experiences .
βCan you confirm for us whether if we can truly sell goods?β
βYes . One moment . Let me ask Weed-nim . β
Gamong whispered personally to Weed .
βWeed-nim . Is there such a thing as merchant registration? You canβt sell goods unless you are registered in advance?β
As she whispered to Weed, the Central Continent merchants waited nervously .
After a few moments, Gamong spoke with a smile .
βHe says there is no such thing . β
βIt doesnβt exist?β
βYes . You are all free to conduct business in the Arpen Empire as merchants . But, there are regulations that northern merchants must abide by . β
βI knew itβ¦ What are they?β
βDo not leave too many consumables or novice-level items . β
βMmm . What else?β
βThis is all there is to the regulations for merchants . β
βWhat? Thatβs it? Then what about the tax rate?β
βItβs 2% . β
βYou mean novice-level items and consumables are 2%? That is low tax rate . β
The Central merchants were content enough for having taxes lowered to a tenth of what they usually paid .
βSo, the tax rates for other products will be higher I assume?β
βWhen you trade at the center, it is 2% . It is Arpenβs official tax rate applied to all products . When you sell to users, tax is not applied . β
βNo wayβ¦ What about toll fees?β
βWe donβt have such things . β
βThis is insane . β
The merchants felt a huge relief of freedom and satisfaction . They could feel the world that they live in had changed completely . WIth a tax rate of 2% and unrestricted trades meant that they could trade a tremendous amount of goods . A world they dreamt for in their choice for the merchant job class had finally come .
βI am off to trade right now . β
βI need to get myself a wagon first . β
βLetβs pour all our money and get a fresh start . Now we can live like real merchants!β
The merchants kicked off from their spots highly motivated .
They had saved up a ton of fortune in the Central Continent since the early days . The world was now open for these merchants to be active wholeheartedly .
Just when they were about to scatter for trade and sale, they bowed in gratitude .
βThank you, Gamong-nim . β
βNo worries . All I did was just relay the message . β
βMay I upload the footage of the conversation that we just had with you? I bet there are more of us that will want to know about the policies of the Arpen Kingdom . β
βYes . As often as you need . β
The Central Continent merchants uploaded their conversation with Gamong on the internet and the response was explosive .
β As expected of the Arpen Kingdom . No, that is Arpen Empire!
β This is Weed-nim taking care of the users .
β This is heavenβ¦ heaven has come forth .
β Insaneβ¦ I am a merchant and I almost broke tears . I am logging in right now to take a load of products and sell them .
β It lives up to the expectations . Royal Road has truly become paradise .
β Weed-nim is on different level than those people who confiscate everything . I had faith in him .
β I also contributed at the Garnav Plains . For the Arpen Kingdom, for Weed-nim .
β How could this be possibleβ¦ Hurray! Amazing!
β I can understand why the merchants in the barren north roamed around so diligently .
β Oneβs true character becomes apparent in their treatment of those weaker than himself . Weed-nim is unchanging even after becoming the emperor . He is truly an admirable person .
β I began on the first day of Morata . I am always rooting for Weed-nim . I knew this day would come .
β It is Weed-nim . Because itβs Weed-nim . Heβs βtheβ Weed-nim .
β I am a common user who started out in Kallamore . I am deeply touched . I understand whyβ¦ the Grass Porridge Cult exists .
(To be continuedβ¦)