Finished with my business at the Association.
I tucked the slip of paper with the location of the S-rank Red Dungeon into my pocket.
“I’ll be going, then.”
“Ah, wait, take this as well.”
Lee Changgeon handed me the latest model of cellphone.
“It was hard to get in touch with you, so I got this ready. If you need anything, contact me at my number in there. And if an SS Rank dungeon is discovered, I’ll send the related data, so check it.”
“Thank you, I’ll make good use of it.”
I took the cellphone and used Teleport.
I moved to the front of the Golden Tower, outside the Association.
“Whoa!”
“…Huh? Goblin?”
In front of the tower, the area was packed with Hunters who had gathered to request enchantments.
As the crowd surged towards me, I cast a spell.
I formed a barrier of wind to block them from getting any closer, then made my way to where the Golden Tower stood.
As I walked forward, a massive Potion Shop built on the right caught my eye. It looked exactly like the photo the President had shown me.
‘He said I could start business from today, right?’
The reason I was visiting the Golden Tower before heading to the Red Dungeon was because of this.
To begin the Potion Business in earnest.
‘Should I leave some promotion before I go?’
I changed direction from heading to the Golden Tower, and went to where the mages from the Golden Tower were handling Reception.
From the Dragon Lair, I took out four boxes filled with potions.
Thud!
Thud!
“Please hand one to everyone registering for enchantment. If they need more, let them know that from today they can buy them at that Potion Shop over there for a low price.”
“Eh? Yes!”
“Everyone, please make good use of it.”
I walked again, opened the door of the Golden Tower, and entered inside.
Passing through the entrance made of light.
A space about 5 pyeong appeared, with stairs leading upward. As I walked to where the stairs were, I found a button.
The instructions on how to use it flowed into my mind the moment I saw it.
‘It’s like an elevator.’
I pressed the number 40 on the wall and went up the stairs. Soon, the laboratory where Yoo Seolha was appeared.
She sat at a large desk, diligently calculating something.
She was so absorbed that even as I entered the lab, she didn’t react.
I sat on a nearby chair and waited a bit.
Before long, a message popped up saying the research was completed.
[Completed 5th Stage Apostle Tracking Research.]
Yoo Seolha, having finished her research, let out a deep sigh and turned her head to see me.
“Oh? What brings you here?”
“I have a favor to ask, and something to give you.”
“Is it because of the Potion Shop that was just built next door? The President told me a little about it.”
“That’s right. Please run the Potion Shop with the mages from the Tower.”
“Running it isn’t hard… But it’s still impossible to produce potions in the Tower yet.”
“Don’t worry about that. The production will be handled elsewhere.”
I took out all the lowest-grade potions from the Dragon Lair.
Each box contained 300 bottles.
A total of 100 boxes.
Yoo Seolha looked at the sheer amount of potions that filled the lab and asked me,
“How many days’ supply is this?”
“One day.”
“What?”
“Just try selling them for now. If it’s not enough, tell me then. I can bring more.”
“You mean you can produce this much in one day… No, even more?”
“Price them cheaper than the Chinese potions. And the President said he’d connect overseas distribution channels, so get those ready as well.”
At the mention of overseas, Yoo Seolha looked puzzled.
“But China has a tight hold on the overseas market.”
“You didn’t see? This morning, China announced they won’t be exporting anymore.”
“No, I was up all night researching. I didn’t have time to check the news.”
“They know they’re in a position of power and are trying to take advantage of it. I plan to pay them back for everything we’ve received until now.”
“Are you sure I can accept all of these without limit?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. I’ll talk with the President and proceed.”
“Here. For your trouble.”
I took out the Level Stone I’d been carrying and handed it to Yoo Seolha.
A rare stone that sometimes dropped when clearing Red Dungeons.
Using it granted tremendous growth, like leveling up. You could say it elevated you to a whole new tier.
“You’re giving me something this precious… as a reward?”
“That’s why you need to work hard. In research, magic, and business.”
“Can I really accept this?”
“Yes.”
I had tried using it myself,
but only got a message saying I couldn’t use it.
It couldn’t be used by the Guardians either, so after considering who to give it to, I thought of Yoo Seolha.
The higher the Golden Tower’s level rose, the more it helped me, and Yoo Seolha’s abilities needed to grow in order to create branches of the Golden Tower.
—Raise the Golden Tower’s level quickly and increase the number of branches.
Rose’s advice came to mind, so I decided to give it to Yoo Seolha.
“Well then, I’ll leave it to you.”
I stood up and exited the Golden Tower. Outside, a long line had formed in front of the Potion Shop.
“Did you see the effect of this potion?”
“It’s the lowest grade, but it’s S-rank. Isn’t that crazy? I’ve never seen a potion like this.”
“But isn’t it a bit expensive?”
“Look at the effects. It gives a buff when you drink it, and there’s no penalty. Even if it’s a bit pricey, you have to buy it no matter what.”
“I was really worried when I heard the Chinese stopped selling potions. This is a huge relief.”
“Ah… I want to buy one quickly.”
Now that the customers would handle the promotion themselves, all I had to do was make sure the shop was well run.
‘Guess it’s time to get my body moving.’
Remembering the location of the first dungeon written on the note, I used Teleport.
An S-rank Red Dungeon appeared near Cheoin District Office in Yongin.
Flash!
Crossing space, I arrived at a place where a crimson portal shone brightly.
A place that looked like a mountain.
Association staff were guarding the area around the Red Dungeon.
When I approached and spoke the secret password, they lowered their weapons and opened the path to the Red Dungeon.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Standing before the Red Dungeon, I checked the information.
[Red Dungeon (S)]
- Eliminate the Fallen Apostle (S) who failed to receive the Fragment of God.
- The Fallen Apostle’s power is lightning.
- Strong against water attribute, weak against earth attribute.
- Fallen Apostle 0/1
- Reward: A-rank Skillbook x2, S-Rank Mana Stone x30.
The number of S-Rank Mana Stones obtainable from a single dungeon was impressive.
‘For a while, I can get enough food for the Dragon’s Egg from here.’
Though S-Rank Mana Stones could also be obtained from the Dragon Lair’s dungeon, the amount was so small that I’d considered buying more to feed it.
With this, everything was solved.
Both Mana Stones and Sacrifice.
[Entering the Red Dungeon.]
The scenery changed.
The sky, filled with gray clouds, rained down black lightning strikes incessantly.
Kwagagagang!
Kwagagang!
Lightning bolts crashed to the ground, shattering everything and echoing thunder in all directions.
On the ruined land.
A place filled with the presence of death.
I created an Absolute Barrier to block the lightning and advanced.
“Perception.”
I spread Mana in all directions to search for enemies.
Sensing multiple presences caught by the detection spell, I moved my body.
As I ventured deeper into the dungeon,
I saw the enemies I had to defeat.
Golems wreathed in lightning all over their bodies.
Noticing my presence, the Golems glared with shining eyes and charged at me.
“Dragon Fang Spiral Spear.”
I fired powerful wind arrows, infused with a storm, in all directions. The arrows swallowed the Golems and exploded them on the spot.
Boom!
Boom!
Smashing through the endless waves of Golems as I advanced, the master of this dungeon finally revealed itself.
A monster without a form, its whole body made of lightning.
“MORE”
“I’ll finish this quickly.”
A post went up on the Community.
—Did you see the Potion Shop next to the Golden Tower? They’re selling potions there now.
—They’re starting a potion business in our country? Do we even have the technology?
—Why couldn’t we?
—All our country’s potion technicians moved overseas long ago. Besides, we can’t even compete with Chinese capital.
—Isn’t it because China stopped selling potions? Maybe that’s why the business started? If they snatch up the Chinese market now, isn’t that a jackpot?
—All the more reason not to start. The reason Chinese potions were famous was the solid effects and crazy cheap prices…
—Right. The World’s Top Five didn’t stop their potion businesses for no reason.
—China knows that too, so they’re putting on a show. Using potions as hostages to get the labyrinth regulation lifted in the first place.
—Exactly. Sure, right now people can manage with the leftover potions, but after a little while, everyone will be desperate for them. In the end, there’s no choice but to lift the restrictions.
While everyone looked at things negatively, someone posted a certified review.
—Potion effect is insane. It’s a lowest-grade potion, but the rank is S. Gives a stat buff for 10 minutes. And no side effects. Crazy.
—What nonsense. Where’s a potion like that?
—Even if it exists, that’s a problem. With effects like that, the potion would be insanely expensive. If it costs that much, I’d just buy an intermediate or high-grade one instead.
—But the price is insanely cheap. For Korean Hunters, it’s the same as the Chinese potion price.
—What the…
—Bullshit.
—For real?
—I bought ten. Price is really cheap.
—Wow… It’s only been an hour and they’re sold out. I bought the last one.
After that, the news spread across all the news portals.
Potion Shop operated by the Golden Tower.
An extremely cheap, yet highly effective HP Recovery Potion that could be bought there.
Hunters who learned of this news all regretted bitterly.
—They say they sold thirty thousand bottles.
—Wow… It was really Black Friday. It’ll probably take months to buy again, right? They say it takes forever to make potions…
—They’re selling daily. I just went to the Golden Tower and checked.
—Really?
—Really?
—From what time?
—From 1PM.
—Don’t get fooled. They said it’s from 10AM.
—Ah… dammit. Hey!
This news also spread to every country abroad.
Especially.
Countries like the World’s Top Five, unable to produce potions themselves, began contacting the Korean Hunter Association.
While clearing S-Rank Red Dungeons, I farmed items and offered Boss Monsters as Sacrifice to activate Stage 2.
[You have cleared the dungeon.]
Using the blue portal, I returned outside.
After briefly greeting the Association staff, I immediately left the site.
‘Sacrifices are sufficient.’
With the Eye of Bluecat’s second stage, I could use the ability about twice.
This time, what I needed to obtain—
A powerful Sacred Relic related to divine power.
Having that would make dealing with the Black Order much easier.
“Let’s see if I can find it.”
I took out the Eye of Bluecat and activated stage two. As I pictured what I wanted in my mind, the world turned black and a white line appeared.
A line showing the path to what I desired.
I calmly waited for the line to spread out. The pure white line rapidly spread, drawing a picture.
The place indicated by the completed drawing was the Dragon Lair.
‘Dragon Lair?’
Opening my eyes, I teleported to the Dragon Lair, and the white line began to move in earnest, sketching out the location of the Sacred Relic.
A line shot straight ahead, pointing to where the Third Forest was.
A massive lake located there.
Inside it was the Sacred Relic I sought.
‘The Third Forest, huh.’
To get there, I’d have to conquer the Fourth Forest.
[Ding!]
[The three Lords of the Sleeping Forest have formed an alliance.]
[You can now access the Central Area of the Forest.]
With this,
I could go straight there.
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