Too Many Fortuitous Encounters in the Game, Chapter 137
Anyway, since he received the text, he had to reply.
The other party was no less than the Prime Minister’s secretary.
If he left it on read, wouldn’t the other person feel bad?
‘What should I send?’
After thinking, Lee Tae-sung decided to send something harmless.
“[Uh… That’s truly unfortunate. I hope it gets resolved well.]”
+ Concern
He had no idea how the Foreign Minister’s arrest would affect Japanese politics or how chaotic Japanese society would become.
He didn’t even understand Korean politics well, so how could he know about overseas situations?
After sending a suitable reply, Lee Tae-sung flopped back onto the bed.
“Let’s just sleep.”
When he woke up, the shock from the stele had largely subsided, but maybe because of that strange text, his head hurt.
It would probably get better after another round of sleep.
And when he woke up again after sleeping much longer, Lee Tae-sung remembered who Foreign Minister Suemori Ryota was.
“…Ah. He was my Mega Factory donor.”
*
Let’s rewind time a bit to when Lee Tae-sung had just sent his reply and fallen asleep.
The secretary who checked the text let out a relieved sigh beside the Prime Minister.
“Phew. It seems he’s calmed down a bit.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions yet. He said he hopes it gets resolved well. What do you think that means?”
“He’s saying he’ll watch to the end to see what becomes of the Foreign Minister.”
“Yes. If they give him a slap on the wrist, he won’t stay silent.”
This wasn’t about naturalization anymore.
Since they didn’t know the principle behind the Black Mist’s formation, they never knew when Tae-sung’s help might be needed again.
“Handle it thoroughly. We need to stay in the good graces of the Taesung Guild Leader, if only for future elixir purchases.”
Even if it weren’t for Lee Tae-sung who eliminated the Black Mist, it was said that the Korean Rankers who accompanied him could also use their skills.
The cause was likely the mana level.
-It’s reported that these people purchased and consumed the 1st and 2nd stage elixirs provided by the Taesung Guild.
They are of course highly capable, but honestly, without the elixirs, there’s a high probability they wouldn’t have been able to use their strength inside the mist like me.
That was Haruto’s report.
Since he too was a highly skilled Japanese Ranker, his judgment should be reliable.
Then Japan too needed to purchase the Taesung Guild’s elixirs like strategic materials.
Until now, it had been an item purchased at the discretion of individual guilds, but from now on, the state would have to step in and help.
“…Perhaps the Foreign Minister’s choice was right? If it had gone according to plan, we might have stolen the Taesung Guild’s elixir manufacturing method,” the secretary asked cautiously.
The Prime Minister nodded in agreement.
“Of course, if it succeeded, that would be the case. We wouldn’t have to worry about a single guild from another country, and we could even show formidable power to the international Hunter community. But if it fails?”
“…”
“You can’t rely on uncertain probabilities when running a country. For now, we have to proceed with the safest method. That bastard Ryota was too greedy.”
“Yes. I’ll make sure the former Foreign Minister receives his due punishment.”
“Good. Speed it up. Make sure we see results quickly.”
Suemori Ryota, who once even aimed for the next Prime Minister’s seat, had fallen in an instant.
*
Former Foreign Minister Suemori Ryota.
He was the backer who had provided full financial support for the factory construction, trying to pull a fast one on the Taesung Guild.
Lee Tae-sung had planned to milk him for all he was worth and then deal with him later, but he never expected him to disappear like this.
Lee Tae-sung worried that this incident might cause problems with the Mega Factory construction.
He had even acquired an intermediate-grade Alchemical Furnace in the Dream World.
According to modern Earth’s classification, he could now produce 3rd stage elixirs. But if the factory construction stopped, mass production would be halted.
‘Who knows where the Black Mist might appear next? I need to supply elixirs quickly.’
Just like it appeared in Japan this time, it could appear anywhere in the world.
Korea seemed fine honestly.
‘Even without me, the top Rankers have all consumed at least 2nd stage elixirs.’
At that level, they could use skills to some extent even inside the mist.
The problem was other countries.
In the international community, it wasn’t just about one country prospering.
If wars broke out moderately or other countries suffered moderately, there might be gains from it.
But if the Black Mist engulfed a country, turning it into a monster paradise and leading to its destruction, the shock would spread to other untouched nations.
Having just begun to settle down and live well, how could he let the social system collapse? As always, Lee Tae-sung aimed for peace.
The first step for that was the Mega Factory, and it would be problematic if it broke down from the start.
Fortunately, the Japanese backer company that supplied the funds for the factory contacted him, saying they would continue to provide capital as before.
Although it was influenced by the Prime Minister’s office, it was a good outcome for Lee Tae-sung.
After resolving one worry, Lee Tae-sung and the Korean Rankers took a day off, received thanks from Japan, and then immediately returned to Korea.
-We can’t know what other problems might arise! Come back at once!
That was the strong request from the Hunter Association.
They even cursed, saying Japan was a cursed country and that staying longer might get them caught up in something else.
Of course, the real reason was to be ready if a similar incident occurred in Korea.
Knowing this, the Korean Rankers quietly accepted the request.
After all, they had only been in Japan for one night and two days, and the Japanese government had promised to give all the compensation they had agreed upon.
Thus they arrived in Korea.
‘Since I’m here, I should collect some tickets.’
He never had enough Ascendant Summon Maintenance Tickets, and they got used up quickly, so he had to keep collecting them whenever he had time.
Lee Tae-sung immediately headed to the office.
He planned to check which guild members were free and run Party Missions with them.
Party Missions gave fewer mission rewards, but they gave three special reward tickets each, making them more efficient.
When he arrived at the office in Pangyo, he saw a few guild members: Go Hyeon-seok, Jeong Ki-tae, and Yang Fei-fei.
“…”
“G, Guild Leader. Hello, haha…”
Go Hyeon-seok and Jeong Ki-tae averted their eyes as soon as they met Lee Tae-sung’s gaze.
The two had been really struggling ever since they ran Party Missions with Lee Tae-sung recently.
-P, Please, no more Party Missions!
We’ve done ten in a row today…!
-Just stay still.
I’ll handle everything anyway, so relax and think of it like going to a theme park.
-T, Theme park! What kind of hellish theme park is this?!
When they entered missions together, Lee Tae-sung did most of it alone.
That was fine.
But missions weren’t just about killing monsters.
Sometimes they had to split up from party members to break through a labyrinth, and other times every party member had to kill at least one monster.
Even if their role was minor, fatigue accumulated.
Lee Tae-sung, that monster, didn’t care how many missions he ran in a row, but normal people found it mentally exhausting.
Being constantly exposed to life-threatening situations, they couldn’t help but be on edge.
Lee Tae-sung spoke not to Go Hyeon-seok and Jeong Ki-tae, but to Fei-fei.
“Miss Fei-fei? Are you busy?”
“No. I’m free.”
As soon as Lee Tae-sung asked, Fei-fei answered as if she had an auto-responder turned on.
Actually, she was busy.
The Taesung Guild was gradually growing in scale, receiving enormous funds from elixir sales.
Naturally, the guild was growing rapidly, and its members received various benefits. Recently, a Strategic Support Team had been newly established, and she had been reading a report on how to train going forward.
It was important, so she was concentrating on it, but Fei-fei immediately covered the paper.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to come on a mission with me?”
“I’ll prepare right away.”
Fei-fei, who had been captured by a human trafficking ring and then brainwashed by a strange Hunter, found life in the Taesung Guild like a dream compared to back then.
Party Missions with Lee Tae-sung were tough but rewarding.
Moreover, as a buffer, her skill proficiency increased depending on the ability of the target she buffed. Lee Tae-sung was truly the best partner!
“Alright. Let’s go right away.”
“Yes!”
Go Hyeon-seok and Jeong Ki-tae watched Fei-fei move energetically with pity in their eyes.
*
In the end, Lee Tae-sung practically lived inside missions all day.
When Fei-fei couldn’t take it anymore, he brought Go Hyeon-seok and Jeong Ki-tae along, and later rotated Kang Woo-joo and other guild members.
Being with Lee Tae-sung wasn’t all bad for the guild members.
Running Party Missions with a powerhouse like him was exhausting, but there was definitely a lot to learn and observe.
Many experiences led them to a higher level.
-P, Please… I can’t anymore…
-Time to clock out soon…
-Report to the Labor Ministry… quickly…
-We’re a Hunter Guild, so reporting to the Labor Ministry is useless.
As a trade-off, their bodies were worn out…
Finally, when all the guild members had collapsed, Lee Tae-sung stopped.
‘It’s a bit regrettable, but I should wrap up for today.’
He could do more missions alone, but efficiency would drop, and more importantly, he had other things to do now.
Arriving home, Lee Tae-sung.
“Ascendant Summon.”
He sat in the living room and activated the skill.
The air shattered, and from within, people walked out: the Flame Emperor, the Strange Monk, and the Mad Demon.
“What is it, disciple? Why did you call? I’m a bit busy right now.”
“Amitabha. I was distracted by the drama, almsgiver.”
Unlike the previous times when they came eagerly, they seemed less enthusiastic this time, probably busy watching a drama.
The Mad Demon was similar, though slightly less so.
“But since I’m here, please recommend a drama! I’m enjoying the one you told me about last time, the one with heads exploding, quite a lot.”
The Mad Demon smiled brightly.
“Could you take a look at this?”
Lee Tae-sung took out the stele he had obtained in Japan from his Pouch Subspace.
Clatter
It was related to the entity that created the Black Mist—the Outer God’s Vanguard.
Reading the inscription had dealt him immense mental damage.
It seemed dangerous, and since it was hard to figure out on his own, he had called his strongest assets, the Ascendants.
Just as Lee Tae-sung carefully set down the stele, making sure not to look at it directly,
“!”
“……!”
The relaxed expressions of the Ascendants changed in an instant.
The Strange Monk, pulling out a golden Fire Palm, pointed it at the stele, and a golden sphere enveloped it.
The Flame Emperor drew something like blood-red threads from his ten fingers, covering the entire space around the stele.
The Flame Emperor came in front of Lee Tae-sung and blocked him.
“Don’t look at it, disciple. Your mind will be tainted.”
“Do you know what that is?”
“An object praising the Outer God. Where in the world did you get such a cursed thing? It’s hard to make, and if you touch it wrongly, chaos will spread everywhere. Did it appear near your place or something?”
“Uh… No. It was overseas.”
“Then why do you have it? Did you fall for a scheme of the Outer God’s Vanguard? Did they force it onto you?”
“No, I picked it up…”
“…? Why would you bring that?”
Not just the Flame Emperor, but even the Strange Monk and Mad Demon stared at Lee Tae-sung with bewildered eyes.