“I’ve only just made them, so I haven’t conducted precise experiments yet, but I guarantee that their efficacy will be similar to or even better than the Healing Potion I gave you before.”
Sang-woong said in a voice full of conviction.
At those words, Kyung Yoon-seul judged that this was beyond her authority and had exceeded the size she could handle alone.
A transaction this significant deserved to be handled directly by the Guild Master, the top person in charge of the Taeseong Guild.
“S-Sang-woong-ssi! I am so sorry, but……. I’m just going to go make one phone call to my brother!”
Kyung Yoon-seul, unable to hide her excitement any longer, stood up from her seat and rushed out of the restaurant as if running away.
“Haah, haah… This is crazy.”
The cold outside air barely managed to soothe Kyung Yoon-seul’s face, which had grown hot with excitement.
Panting, she took out her phone with trembling hands and called her second brother, the Guild Master Kyung Taeyoung.
“Taeyoung Oppa! Come here right now!”
Kyung Taeyoung’s heart sank at the behavior of his youngest sister, who started shouting as soon as he picked up the phone.
He was certain that something big must have happened to his beloved youngest sibling.
He tried his best to stay calm and asked.
“Yoon-seul, what’s the matter? Where are you? I’ll come right away, so stay calm and tell me slowly.”
“No, it’s not that something happened! No…… wait, yes! Oppa! Something incredible has happened! Oppa, listen carefully! From now on, don’t miss a single word I say!”
In a voice mixed with excitement and tension, Kyung Yoon-seul began to pour out the shocking story about the potions she had just heard from Sang-woong to her brother, without missing a single detail.
Beyond her agitated voice, an immense reaction erupted from her brother, Kyung Taeyoung.
It was only natural for him, leading the Taeseong Guild, to have a more intense reaction than his youngest sister.
This was a massive opportunity that might determine the fate of the guild.
“Yoon-seul. I’ll come right now, so wait for me. I’ll get there as fast as I can.”
“Oppa, Sang-woong-ssi isn’t going anywhere, so don’t get too excited. Don’t drive yourself, leave it to the driver! Got it? You have to arrive safely!”
Even amidst her excitement, Kyung Yoon-seul worried for her brother’s safety first.
“I got it, I got it. I’ll get there as safely as possible.”
After hanging up with Kyung Taeyoung, Kyung Yoon-seul finally felt a sense of relief.
The massive transaction that had been too burdensome to handle alone was now entrusted to her brother.
All that remained was to enjoy the delicious Sanggye-tang and the fine liquor while sharing a pleasant conversation with Sang-woong.
‘This is great. I should get closer to Sang-woong this time.’
Actually, after being invited to Sang-woong’s restaurant last time, she had wanted to return soon, but she hadn’t had a proper excuse to come.
But since such a massive business opportunity had arisen today, allowing her to visit again, she planned to use this chance to have a good time with Sang-woong before leaving.
“Ah~ this place always makes me feel good no matter when I come. The scenery is great, and the air is even better. I feel like my whole body is being purified just by breathing here.”
With a face that had shaken off all burdens, Kyung Yoon-seul stretched her arms out wide and took a deep breath.
It was only natural that the air here, where the energy of the land was spread, would be healing in itself.
“Since I’m already here, should I just stay for about 3 or 4 days and get some proper rest? Eating plenty of the delicious food Sang-woong-ssi makes too.”
Kyung Yoon-seul returned to the restaurant while indulging in pleasant imaginations.
She informed Sang-woong of the fact that she had called her brother.
“He must be busy, so there’s no need for the Guild Master to come all the way here.”
Sang-woong said, sounding a little apologetic.
“Not at all! Sang-woong-ssi! No matter how busy he is, what could be more important than this? Although I can’t say for sure, I bet Oppa’s heart is even more anxious than mine right now?”
Kyung Yoon-seul said with shining eyes.
With her mind now at ease, she shared various stories with Sang-woong while enjoying the hot Sanggye-tang and the golden Elf Liquor.
The time spent sharing delicious food and fine liquor with a good person brought her an unparalleled sense of happiness.
“Should I just quit the Underground Market business…?”
To be recognized as a half-sibling in a chaebol family, and to be helpful to her brothers, she had worked hard in her own way to establish her position in the Underground Market.
She had endured through numerous dangers and dirty deals, but this current transaction with Sang-woong was far more important than all the deals she had done until now combined.
No, there was simply no comparison.
Sang-woong was an immense existence, enough to change the priorities of her life.
“What are you thinking about so deeply, Yoon-seul-ssi?”
Sang-woong asked softly, seeing Kyung Yoon-seul suddenly grow quiet while holding her glass.
“Ah…… it’s nothing, Sang-woong-ssi. I just felt so good having such a nice time after a while. Being treated to delicious Sanggye-tang and such wonderful liquor……. Truly, I have nothing to envy in this world.”
Kyung Yoon-seul said with a bright, unadorned smile.
Escaping from the breathlessly spinning Underground Market, the time spent here at Sang-woong’s restaurant was a true sense of rest and comfort for her.
Sang-woong gave a kind smile at her words.
“You go through a lot of trouble too, Yoon-seul-ssi. The work I do is simple, but your work is always filled with danger and tension…… come here once in a while and get some rest. You’re always welcome.”
“Yes… I will do that, Sang-woong-ssi.”
Kyung Yoon-seul felt her heart swell at Sang-woong’s warm words.
It had been a long time since she had received such sincere consolation and warm hospitality.
While they were sharing stories like that, the restaurant door burst open and a man entered.
Seeing his slightly flushed face and the beads of sweat on his forehead, one could guess how urgently he had rushed over.
“Oh, Oppa! You’re here early? You didn’t, like, speed the whole way, did you?”
Kyung Yoon-seul asked with a worried expression, fearing he might have driven dangerously.
“No, no. I was in a nearby city because of a business trip.”
Kyung Taeyoung tried to act nonchalant as he stroked his sister’s hair once.
He immediately bowed his head politely toward Sang-woong.
“Sang-woong-ssi. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Kyung Taeyoung, the Guild Master of Taeseong.”
“It’s a pleasure, Guild Master Kyung Taeyoung. You’ve made quite a journey.”
Sang-woong also stood up and offered a handshake.
His voice contained a sincere respect for the other person’s status and character, without any exaggerated friendliness.
Perhaps because they had briefly crossed paths once during the previous Night Club incident, it wasn’t completely awkward.
“Please, have a seat, Guild Master.”
Sang-woong invited Kyung Taeyoung to the seat next to the bar table.
“You’ve likely heard the general story from Yoon-seul-ssi… but let’s sit down and talk through the details step by step. Have you eaten by any chance?”
“Ah, yes. I already ate before coming.”
“Then shall I give you a cup of coffee? Or… would you like a glass of liquor?”
Sang-woong asked gently.
“Then coffee…”
The moment Kyung Taeyoung instinctively tried to say ‘coffee’, Kyung Yoon-seul, who was sitting next to him, cut him off and quickly jumped into the conversation.
“Oppa! Oppa loves liquor! And he said that even if he’s eaten, he can still eat Sang-woong-ssi’s food!”
Kyung Taeyoung tilted his head at Kyung Yoon-seul’s sudden behavior.
However, he felt a sense of unknown desperation and coercion simultaneously in his youngest sister’s eyes and voice.
He cleared his throat and decided to follow his sister’s lead.
“Ahem, ahem. That’s right. Then I will request a meal and… some liquor.”
“A good choice.”
Sang-woong said with a kind smile.
He prepared a fresh, hot Sanggye-tang set and Elf Liquor for Kyung Taeyoung.
Kyung Taeyoung took a spoonful of the Sanggye-tang broth without much thought.
“….!!”
His eyes widened at the deep, rich taste of the broth spreading in his mouth. Even though he wasn’t that hungry, it was incredibly delicious.
The more he finished it, the more the deep flavor of the Sanggye-tang emerged, making him feel as if his energy was surging.
‘Ah…. So this is why Yoon-seul said I could eat again even after having a meal.’
Kyung Taeyoung felt his sister’s warm and wise affection.
However, when he subsequently took a sip of the Elf Liquor, his reaction was incomparable to the Sanggye-tang.
Kyung Taeyoung’s face instantly stiffened at the mysterious fragrance and overwhelming taste.
This wasn’t just liquor.
It was a mysterious liquid that seemed to have concentrated the essence of nature itself.
‘My god. To think such a liquor could exist in this world.’
He finally understood with his whole body why Kyung Yoon-seul had been so excited.
If he had gone back without tasting this liquor, he would have regretted it for the rest of his life.
He set down the glass and looked at Sang-woong seriously.
“You’ve probably heard the general story about the Detoxification Potion and the Healing Potion from Yoon-seul-ssi. And…”
Sang-woong opened the door to the conversation.
As soon as his words began, Kyung Taeyoung’s and Kyung Yoon-seul’s eyes widened simultaneously.
The story they had just heard was already shocking enough, but Sang-woong looked as if that wasn’t the end.
Just as they guessed, a story beyond imagination came out of Sang-woong’s mouth once again.
“I am now also able to produce Mana Potions and Stamina Potions.”
“Heok!!”
Kyung Taeyoung and Kyung Yoon-seul gasped at the same time.
The Healing Potion was already amazing, but Mana Potions and Stamina Potions were like the most basic lifelines in dungeon raids.
If they could replenish depleted mana and stamina, it would theoretically be possible for a Hunter to fight indefinitely without getting tired.
Moreover, since it was a potion made by Sang-woong, there was no doubt that its efficacy would be far superior to any potion on the market.
“You likely all know about the Stamina Potion. This Mana Potion…. has the effect of permanently increasing the Mana Stat if consumed continuously.”
At Sang-woong’s final words, Kyung Taeyoung received a shock as if he had been hit in the head with a hammer.
Not just recovering depleted mana, but actually raising the Mana Stat itself!
Mana was the foundation and core of a Hunter’s power.
Even at the same level, the side with a higher Mana Stat could exert much more powerful strength.
This meant that with Sang-woong’s Mana Potion, one could become stronger without having to laboriously hunt monsters.
“Thi… This… I can’t clear my head. Just a moment…..”
Kyung Taeyoung could no longer maintain his formal appearance.
He loosened his tie and unbuttoned even the top button of his shirt before his expression finally looked a bit more comfortable.
His face was filled with excitement, shock, and a surging sense of anticipation.
“First……. Sang-woong-ssi. Thank you sincerely for proposing the opportunity for transactions of such incredible potions… to our Taeseong Guild first.”
Kyung Taeyoung bowed his head to Sang-woong in an attitude that could not be more respectful.
It was the sight of the second son of a leading domestic conglomerate and the Guild Master of one of the top 10 guilds in the country bowing deeply to an individual businessman.
“Not at all. Guild Master Kyung Taeyoung. It’s my principle to go a long way with those who have shown me Fidelity.”
Sang-woong spoke calmly, without pretense.
Kyung Taeyoung was deeply moved by Sang-woong’s words.
The Hunter world was a cold and ruthless place where betrayal was rampant according to each person’s interests or understanding.
In such a place, meeting someone with the firm principle of ‘going a long way with those who have shown Fidelity’ was a very rare and precious thing.
Especially even while facing such an unimaginable and massive business opportunity, Sang-woong’s attitude of mentioning the principle of Fidelity before profits or contract conditions was enough to earn Kyung Taeyoung’s deep trust.