Chapter 45 (2/2)

.

“You told me that because our side was taking up all the C-rank Gates, you were having some issues with new recruit training, right?”.

.

“That’s right . Even if we don’t have a C-rank Gate, we can’t exactly take new recruits into a higher level Dungeon . ”.

.

“And that’s why I’m here . ”.

.

Ahn Sangmin was confused,.

.

“I’m afraid I don’t follow…”.

.

Jinwoo decided he had teased them enough and got to the point,.

.

“We currently have three C-rank Gates reserved . I’d like to sell the raiding rights to the Baekho Guild . ”.

.

Ah~.

.

Hyun Gicheol opened his mouth in understanding . The two men from Baekho finally understood why Jinwoo was here . Ahn Sangmin put away the contract and asked,.

.

“If you wanted to help us, wouldn’t it have been better to just not reserve them in the first place?”.

.

Jinwoo shook his head,.

.

“We have a need to reserve a lot of C-rank Gates for a while . ”.

.

“Then why today…?”.

.

Jinwoo smiled widely,.

.

“Well, I wanted to help you two out . ”.

.

Should they believe him? Ahn Sangmin started to run all sorts of possibilities in his head, but Jinwoo continued,.

.

“Of course, this offer is only for today . We can’t put it off forever after all . If you miss this offer, I’m afraid it’ll be difficult for you to reserve a C-rank Gate for a while . ”.

.

It was the way home shopping channel salesmen would speak when a sale was about to expire . .

.

‘Hmm…’.

.

Ahn Sangmin fell into contemplation . It wasn’t as if Gates only appeared in the capitol area . If they became desperate, they could go to other regions to train their new recruits . However, such a method might invite complaint from that region’s Guilds or private parties . Not only that, doing so would give off a hint of weakness to the other top Guilds . They would basically be announcing that they did not have the power to train their new recruits in their own territory . .

.

‘Hmm… That would be disgraceful . ’.

.

It was the truth . What kind of a recruit would want to enter a Guild that was belittled by the other top Guilds? This is why a Guild’s image was important . .

.

“Alright . ”.

.

After giving it some thought, Ahn Sangmin made a decision . .

.

“We’ll buy the raiding rights . Three C-rank Gates should just be enough for us . How much for all of them?”.

.

Baekho Guild certainly had the funds to fight for the Gates going forward . But it would neither be worth it to get into a battle of finances against Yoojin Construction nor sour their relationship with Jinwoo . So if Jinwoo was offering to turn over the Gates, shouldn’t they be thankful?.

.

They were not thankful for his asking price . .

.

“How about three hundred million per Gate, so nine hundred million total?”.

.

“Huk!”.

.

Both of the employees made a same noise . .

.

“That’s a little-”.

.

Hyun Gicheol started to protest, but Ahn Sangmin quickly stopped him . This was just like their first meeting . Back then, Jinwoo ended the discussion after Baekho was unable to meet his asking price . They could not miss an opportunity like this . If they did, it would become very difficult to reserve a C-rank Gate in the area . Worst case scenario, they would have to go to the other regions to train their new recruits . .

.

‘I’ll atleast have to try a counteroffer . ’.

.

It was too early to end the negotiations . Still, 300 million for a single Gate was too much . According to their recent investigation, Yoo Jinho’s team bought the Gates for 100 million each . Jinwoo was asking for 3 times that amount . Ahn Sangmin was sure Jinwoo knew as much . .

.

‘He probably gave a high number, expecting us to negotiate it down . ’.

.

The division chief remembered his Guildmaster’s words as he left the office . .

.

“I don’t care if it’s one hundred or two hundred million, reserve a damn Gate! Do you understand?!”.

.

This was as good as receiving permission from the company president . Since the rest of the Second Management Division heard the same thing, the Guildmaster would probably not retract his words . Ahn Sangmin gulped and gave a counteroffer,.

.

“Three hundred is a bit hard for us, how about two hund-”.

.

“Works for me . ”.

.

Before Ahn Sangmin even finished, Jinwoo held out a hand . Ahn Sangmin took the hand, flustered . .

.

“So… so we’re in agreement?”.

.

“Yes, two hundred million per C-rank Gate . Please put it into this account . ”.

.

It felt like the negotiation was over too quickly, but Ahn Sangmin was still glad . The man shook Jinwoo’s hand and bowed his head . .

.

“Thank you very much . ”.

.

“It was nothing . ”.

.

Jinwoo was smiling widely . Ahn Sangmin thought that he had scored some small victory here . He had solved the issue of new recruit training and furthered the Guild’s relationship with Jinwoo . .

.

‘A transaction like this is the first step to building faith . ’.

.

Yes . Step by step, he would build a good relationship with Jinwoo . Eventually, he’ll come over to their side . People did not spit in the face of someone smiling at them, nor did they ignore a present that was given . In his heart, Ahn Sangmin pumped his fists in accomplishment . .

.

Jinwoo was the first to rise . .

.

“Then, I’ll see you again someday . Ah, I forgot, here-”.

.

Jinwoo held out a shopping bag with a tumbler in it and returned it to its owner.

.

“Thank you for that . It was delicious . ”.

.

“I’m glad it was to your tastes . ”.

.

Hyun Gicheol took the shopping bag, and Jinwoo left the cafe . .

.

After walking some distance away from the Baekho’s employees, Jinwoo called Yoo Jinho . The young man answered the call with a surprised voice,.

.

- “Hyungnim, the funds really came in . Six hundred million?”.

.

“ . ”.

.

Jinwoo silently laughed . The transaction was a success . He managed to sell the raiding rights that would’ve been thrown away for twice what they paid . It was an incredible deal . Yoo Jinho asked with awe in his voice,.

.

- “Hyungnim, just how did you pull this off? Where did you sell the C-rank Gates?”.

.

“It’s a trade secret . ”.

.

- “Eh?”.

.

“Rest well, I’ll see you in two days . ”.

.

While Yoo Jinho was flustered, Jinwoo hung up . .

.

.

.

That night . .

.

The Second Management Division office . .

.

Hyun Gicheol frantically looked for Ahn Sangmin . .

.

“Chief! Chief!”.

.

“What is it?”.

.

Ahn Sangmin turned away from his computer . Hyun Gicheol held out his phone with a panicked expression . .

.

“Look at this!”.

.

“Just what is it?”.

.

Looking at the phone screen, Ahn Sangmin’s eyes narrowed . .

.

‘This is…?’.

.

It was the Hunter Association’s website available only for Hunters . The website revealed the information on Gates that had appeared . The phone was specifically in the real-time raiding rights reservation section . .

.

“What the?! There are plenty of C-rank Gates in our area!”.

.

“I know! And most of them were reserved for less than ten million!”.

.

“Wait… Are you telling me…”.

.

Ahn Sangmin dreaded Hyun Gicheol’s next words,.

.

“Yoo Jinho’s team didn’t reserve any Gates today . ”.

.

He then recalled Jinwoo’s words from the first phone call they had . .

.

“I’ll have some free time on Thursday . ”.

.

Tomorrow was that Thursday . .

.

From the start, Yoo Jinho’s team had no plans to Raid tomorrow . Ahn Sangmin had forgotten about this and purchased the raiding rights for an expensive price . .

.

“Hah…”.

.

Ahn Sangmin groaned . The facts were all there, but he failed to put them together . It was a grave mistake . Well, that mistake managed to calm the wrath of the Guildmaster . .

.

“I think he got us, chief . ”.

.

As if on cue, Ahn Sangmin received a message . .

.

beep beep.

.

It was Sung Jinwoo . .

.

Looks like we’re even now . I’ll forget about the spying business with this . .

.

‘Ha ha ha, the man’s not to be underestimated . ’.

.

Ahn Sangmin swallowed a laughter . If Jinwoo really meant to overlook the spying, Ahn Sangmin did not feel bad at all about being tricked . Their final objective was to recruit Jinwoo, after all . The amount that they spent today was nothing for Baekho . .

.

“Let’s just consider it an investment into Sung Jinwoo . ”.

.

If only they could gain something worthy from their investment . Ahn Sangmin looked at the message with a smile then put away his phone . .

.

.

.

After sending the message, Jinwoo looked around the surrounding . .

.

There was no one around . .

.

He was in the middle of a forest . .

.

To plan for all possibilities, he had chosen a secluded place . .

.

The time was 5:44 PM . There would be no one hiking at this hour . Just in case, he had still picked a place far away from any hiking trails . .

.

‘Shall I get started?’.

.

Jinwoo opened the System’s message box . .

.

The Class Advancement Quest has arrived . .

Would you like to accept? (Y/N).

.

As if waiting for him, the message appeared in front of his eyes . .

.

Translator’s Notes:.

[1]: In Korea, businesses/individual use official/personal seals to officialize various documents . .