Chapter 19: The Transaction (2)

Sang-woong was well aware of the usual transaction customs, but he had no intention of following them blindly.
The detox potion, crafted with care from ingredients painstakingly grown by the Afua Tribe, was exceptionally effective.

Moreover, he had no intention of handing over a potion worth 5 million won without proper assurance.

There were plenty of other black markets if this one didn’t work out.

Above all, he refused to be swayed by these brazen men who tried to intimidate him from the start to gain the upper hand in the deal.

Behind the sunglasses, the man’s brow furrowed deeply.

The man with prominent cheekbones, already stern-faced, scowled even harder, glaring fiercely at Sang-woong.

“Hey, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? Checking the product is standard procedure, and you’re demanding payment upfront?”

His menacing gaze pierced Sang-woong, his aura suggesting he might throw a punch at any moment.

But for Sang-woong, who had faced all kinds of challenges, such clumsy threats were laughable.

He shrugged lightly at the cheekbone man and turned to walk away without hesitation.

If the terms didn’t suit him, there was no need to force the deal.

Just as Sang-woong took a step, the sunglasses man’s low, gravelly voice stopped him.

“Fine. But the effects better be as you claim.”

His tone carried a clear warning: if the potion’s effects were even slightly exaggerated or fell short, he wouldn’t let it slide.

The cheekbone man didn’t miss a beat, shooting Sang-woong another sharp glare.

Without responding, Sang-woong silently handed the detox potion to the sunglasses man.

Clearly a seasoned hunter, the man snatched the potion from Sang-woong’s hand and, without hesitation, opened the bottle and downed it in one gulp.

His expression shifted subtly.

Though he tried to mask his emotions, he was visibly shocked by the unprecedented taste.

This is leagues better than standard detox potions!

Sang-woong’s email had mentioned that the potion tasted far better than conventional ones.

But the sunglasses man hadn’t taken it seriously, assuming it would only be marginally better than the notoriously vile detox potions.

Yet, this taste shattered his expectations.

It was like a rich broth crafted over days in a renowned restaurant.

He wanted another bottle.

Lingering on the deep, savory aftertaste, he unconsciously smacked his lips.

Quickly pulling up his status window, he checked his contamination level with trembling eyes.

His eyes widened.

Remarkably, his contamination had dropped cleanly by 0.1%.

Instinctively, he knew this extraordinary potion was a deal he had to secure.

An item of this quality would generate massive buzz.

It would undoubtedly boost the site’s credibility and reputation.

Increased sales would naturally follow.

“Not bad,” the sunglasses man said, softening his sharp gaze and offering an awkward smile as he praised Sang-woong.

Sang-woong found the man’s quick attitude shift amusing but kept it to himself.

However, the change prompted Sang-woong to adjust his approach.

The veiled site, responsible for the transaction, needed to secure some profit too.

Initially, he planned to sell each bottle for 4 million won, but their clumsy intimidation had annoyed him, leading him to raise the price.

“My price is 4.5 million won per bottle.”

The sunglasses man stared at Sang-woong through his shades, pausing as if calculating.

The higher-than-expected price made him hesitate.

Typically, they marked up items by at least 25%.

At Sang-woong’s price, their margin would be only 10%.

After a brief pause, he agreed readily.

“Alright, deal.”

Unless he was a fool, he recognized the potion’s immense value.

Sang-woong handed over 50 bottles.

In an instant, he pocketed a staggering 225 million won.

“Man, making money is too easy.”

Earning such a fortune just by simmering shiitake mushrooms warranted the sentiment.

What special gift should I give the Afua for their hard work? Food’s always the best bet. I’ll make something extraordinary tonight.

Sang-woong drove excitedly to a large supermarket.

With his newfound wealth, he tossed necessary ingredients into his cart without checking prices.

This must be how the rich shop.

Buying what he wanted without worrying about cost felt great.

Loaded with ingredients, he returned to the restaurant.

As he passed through the dungeon gate, Aria greeted him with a bright smile, waving enthusiastically.

“Master, something good happen today?”

She studied his noticeably brighter expression, asking cautiously.

Her large, curious eyes sparkled with innocence.

“Haha, our Aria’s so perceptive. How’d you know?”

He grinned, gently patting her head.

“I can tell just by your face!”

Aria puffed out her chest proudly, her face radiating affection for Sang-woong.

“I made a ton of money today. I’ll cook something really special tonight.”

He spread his arms wide, sharing the joyful news.

Aria’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Something delicious?”

“Haha, I’ve got something extra special planned, so look forward to it.”

Winking at Aria, he headed to prepare the meal.

Turning toward the hearth area, he saw Chief Zepha waiting.

“Sang-woong, I was waiting for you, hua!” Zepha called out warmly.

His face held an unusual seriousness.

“What’s up? Something wrong?” Sang-woong asked, sensing something off.

“Today’s the big day we choose our new chief, hua!” Zepha said, his eyes shining with emphasis.

Sang-woong’s eyes widened in surprise. “Already? So, I’m judging again like last time?”

“Hua!” Zepha nodded vigorously, his face showing deep trust in Sang-woong.

“What’s the event this time?” Sang-woong asked, brimming with curiosity.

Zepha hesitated briefly before exclaiming in his bright voice, “It’s spinning tops, hua!”

“Tops?”

The tops were toys Sang-woong had recently gifted the Afua children.

They were a massive hit, with kids gathering on flat rocks to spin them all day, playing joyfully.

It seemed the children’s suggestion had luckily been chosen for the chief selection.

“So, even kids can become chief with tops?”

The chief was a vital role, representing and wisely leading the tribe.

Even the once-playful Zepha had earned deep trust and respect, guiding the tribe with wisdom.

“Of course kids can be great chiefs, hua! We’ve had many young chiefs before, hua! When a child becomes chief, we unite to support them wholeheartedly, hua!”

“That’s amazing.”

The Afua were pure, innocent, and clumsy outside farming, but sometimes showed profound wisdom.

A child chief might have shortcomings, but the Afua understood and filled those gaps.

They valued a child’s fresh perspective and boundless potential, supporting and growing together.

“This chief selection is gonna be exciting. And since you all helped me earn big today, I’ll prepare a lavish, delicious feast tonight. Look forward to it!”

“Delicious food? Huaaa!” Zepha raised his arms like an excited child.

The Afua gathered in the wide plaza, and the thrilling chief selection tournament began.

“Let’s all compete fairly and give it our all!” Aria announced in a booming voice.

The Afua responded with even louder cheers.

Teams of five were formed fairly by drawing lots.

The first team stepped onto the wide, flat rock with solemn expressions.

As the first match, they were visibly tense, focused on the game.

“Start!”

At Sang-woong’s spirited signal, the five Afua threw their tops simultaneously.

The tops, launched with force, spun rapidly on the smooth rock, humming.

The players fixed their eyes on their tops, skillfully whipping them.

When a whip struck a top’s side accurately, it spun faster, bouncing forward.

But not all tops spun smoothly.

A misaimed whip caused one top to wobble unsteadily.

“Huaaa!”

The flustered Afua tried to whip again, but the whip tangled, sending the top flying off the rock.

The first dropout emerged.

More followed in quick succession.

“Oh!”

The watching Afua sighed with disappointment each time a player was eliminated.

“I won, hua!”

The first team’s winner was, astonishingly, Bebe, the youngest Afua.

Unable to contain her joy, Bebe jumped and cheered wildly.

“Bebe, great job!” Sang-woong smiled brightly, giving her a thumbs-up.

The second team’s thrilling match began, with an entirely different atmosphere from the start.