Chapter 250 – The Demon Wave 3 (1/2)
The cost was not a problem anymore, as he properly robbed the demon’s vaults.
However, he didn’t want to cheapen the distribution of the pill or lose any money from it, so Woohyuk set a reasonable price.
‘1 silver per pill should be about right.’
… He based the price based on the pricing in the world where Woohyuk lived before.
In the Eeth Continent, where the concept of patent rights didn’t exist, it was unheard of to sell an effective treatment at-cost. His price point would be looked upon as a tremendous favor upon the Eeth people.
Distributing the treatment would also present quite an annoyance.
“Sell as many of these pills as you can. We should be able to guarantee a reasonable distribution profit,” Woohyuk said to Erica.
“Okay,” she answered.
Erica, the colossus merchant of the Free Seaport City Landium, lifted up her dress and gave a polite curtsy.
She was a person who was knowledgeable about good deeds, as she ran an orphanage Landium with the proceeds of her enormous profits and wealth.
Even if she didn’t make a large profit from this transaction, she didn’t think undertaking this distribution was regrettable.
When Erica left the room, Fiona, the system manager of Inotia, appeared out of thin air and relayed her report.
“Heroic King, it seems that some of the 72 Demon Kings who were recently subjugated came to us.”
“… Let them in.”
He could roughly predict why they came to visit him.
They were probably planning to criticize him for ruthlessly robbing their vaults and safes a while ago.
However, it never crossed Woohyuk’s mind that he’d give back any of the loot he took.
‘I am a demonic tyrant. An absolute monarch like the everlasting sun.’
It was very important for him to tame the 72 Demon Kings, as he would become the Demon Lord one day.
He believed that it would be much more efficient for them to do things voluntarily than for him to force them to do something.
Woohyuk decided to be strict from the beginning because he planned to ultimately guarantee their autonomy once he fulfilled his plans.
“Asura, no matter how justified you are in taking the resources from our territories, you shouldn’t take all the territories’ resources!” a Demon King clamored.
“We don’t expect you to return everything, but please leave us at least half or even a third!” another chimed in.
“Since the earth of the demon world is fruitless and infertile, it’s hard for us to harvest even a single silver coin!”
“Please listen to our heartfelt concerns and be magnanimous in your decision!”
As soon as the Demon Kings entered the room, they implored Woohyuk with requests. They did so in a manner as if they would die soon.
“Please speak!” they answered simultaneously.
“I didn’t take your resources for self-interest. So, don’t give up and start anew. I am hopeful and confident that you all will can overcome this trifling trouble.”
“Ah, Asura! It took us so long to accrue those resources… how could you speak so coldly!”
“Please do not turn away from our difficulties! Please present a suitable resolution!”
“Aigo!”
The disgruntled and embarrassingly open cries of the Demon Kings only grew louder.
Woohyuk frowned and yelled at them, “Are you going to starve to death just because your vaults and safes are empty? If you want gold and silver treasure, do some work.”
“W-What do you mean…” a Demon King asked perplexingly.
“Attack all the ruins in the Eeth Continent, except for the epic level ones. I will give you 60% of the treasure that you find inside the ruins you attacked,” Woohyuk answered.
There were still countless untouched ruins on the Eeth Continent.
Hearing Woohyuk’s words, the Demon Kings bowed their heads down in seeming defeat and continued to vent their frustrations, “Ah, that’s so unfair Asura! Why do we only get to keep 60% of the treasures from the ruins that we attacked ourselves?”
“A 40% tax is too much, Asura!”
“Since we’re doing all the legwork, wouldn’t at least 80% be fair!”
It was certainly unfair to ask for 40% of the total revenue without doing any of the work.
However, Woohyuk didn’t retreat and doubled down on his stance.
“Do you know how much money we need to operate in this chaotic era? If I had my wish, I would take 90% and guarantee only 10%, but I raised it up to 60% because you all are saying that you’re in bad shape financially. If you keep complaining, I will lower the distribution percentage,” Woohyuk said sternly.
“Huh…”
The Demon Kings looked up at Woohyuk, who was sitting atop a throne, with dumbfounded expressions.
When the room fell quiet, Woohyuk continued to speak with a satisfied expression, “Then, since there are no further objections, I’ll consider the matter settled. We will not speak of this topic again.”
“A-Asura. About the large-scale civil engineering project that you mentioned on the Isle of Chaos…”
“Yes? Is there something wrong?”
“On the list of people who are supposed to build the large-scale project, our names were also included… is this correct? Was it a mistake? No matter what, we’re monarchs in the demon world…”
“Wouldn’t the civil engineering work progress better if it is led by the demon monarchs?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Are the Demon Lords dissatisfied because my name was not on the list? If anyone thinks that way, come forward,” Woohyuk said with gusto.
The inside of the room fell silent once more.
No one wanted to reproach and argue against Woohyuk’s weird logical argument.
Woohyuk forcefully coughed aloud and raised his finger towards the door, “If you have nothing more to say, go back. I am busy.”
The Demon Kings left the meeting room without another word.
Leifina, who saw this entire fiasco, said to Woohyuk, “Master, it looks like there will be a severe reaction from this discussion. I think you’ve done enough whipping, so shouldn’t you at least dangle some carrots?”
“Hmm, that’s a good idea,” Woohyuk said after giving her words some thought.
After this civil engineering work was over, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give them a week off.
He was a tyrant who worked his subjects raw day and night for months on end, only to give them a week off.
This was Chun Woohyuk.
***
“How’s the progress on stopping the Flood?” Woohyuk asked.
“The right day to enter the Ark of Knowledge hasn’t arrived yet. Please wait a little longer,” Helena answered.
As Solomon’s direct lineage, Ibn Rusud was allowed to enter the Ark of Knowledge but only on the night of the full moon each month.
Hearing Helena’s explanation, Woohyuk frowned.
“Why is it so complicated?” he asked.
“How should I know. That’s how the system is set up, so don’t blame me,” she quipped.
Helena was also very frustrated.
She knew that if the Great Flood occurred before the next full moon rose, they would all be helpless.
Woohyuk decided to keep that possibility in mind.