Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Spendthrift Necromancer (130)

War of NervesAlthough one month had been specified, the tournament ended much sooner than expected.

In only two weeks, the Awakened from each country finished the tournament and returned.

The results spread instantly.

Korea?

It was turned completely upside down.[(Breaking!) Spendthrift Guild brings glory to Korea! Takes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the Super Rookie Selection Tournament…….][(Breaking!) Spendthrift Guild records 77% contribution in Selection Tournament raid!][(Breaking!) Why haven't they returned yet? Special rewards?!][(Breaking!) Returning Awakened convinced the Korean side received enormous rewards…….]―No fucking way, they swept gold, silver, and bronze? Is this real?―Everyone who participated around the world is saying the same thing, you think they're all lying? lololol―Kim Minwoo hard-carried again lololol Dude practically soloed the raid boss, right?―Holy shit. 42% contribution? Isn't that basically saying he ripped off the boss's arms and legs by himself?―His other guild members were insane too. 20% and 15%;―Three-man raid lol―And every Awakened who joined the raid was basically a national future asset lol―Damn; thought Kim Minwoo's strength was the only crazy part, but his eye for talent is insane too lol He discovered both Park Siwoo and Seo Yerim lol―Yeah. Heard every guild gave up on Park Siwoo because he couldn't Awaken. If not for Kim Minwoo, he'd probably be shoveling dirt at a construction site right now.―Seo Yerim is even crazier lol Went into one Gate, came out, threw away the sword she'd used half her life and changed to Archer lololol―Wasn't Divine Archer noona famous for grabbing a sword at her first-birthday party? lol―That video? lololol Yeah, that shit was legendary lol―Nostalgia lol Sword Immortal's lips twitching upward when he saw it was legendary lol Wasn't the old man still active back then?―Not completely retired like now, but he barely ran Gates anymore.―Fair. He was already in his sixties; that's normal lol―Grandpa please ㅠㅠ―Yeah lol Grandpa's still kicking lol World-record tier in his eighties lol―Kimchi tastes best when it's properly aged lol―Are you insane lol―Anyway we got Divine Archer in the end, right? Drink up~While the netizens joked around.

A massive headline slammed into the news.[(Breaking) China considering ‘export controls’? Risk of resource crisis rises!]―……

What?―Probably because of what happened in the second trial? All the Chinese Awakened died.―Yeah. Only Awakened superpower to get completely wiped.―From what I heard, they deserved to die. They sacrificed fellow Awakened and thought they'd survive? lol―They got judged lol But that's that…… aren't we fucked?―Why?―Look at the list; if they control all of that, we're practically going back to the Stone Age.―Can't we self-supply?―No fucking way lol Freight trucks stop first, then the logistics crisis starts immediately lol―So what do we do?―Another alert just dropped. These fuckers are petty as hell; looks like they're saying they'll actually impose the controls unless Spendthrift Guild formally apologizes?―……

Then do we have to apologize?―Uh…… dunno? Maybe?―We don't have to…… lol but our lives might get a little…… rough.―Eat multigrain rice wrapped in kimchi and endure it, fuck!―Uh…… won't multigrain and kimchi prices explode too……?―That's fucked;; don't tell me ramen too……?―Fuck…… is Korea supposed to apologize again……?

That was when.

Kim Minwoo appeared on the news. Reporters could be seen urgently throwing questions at him.

Then.―……

Guild Master. Are you perhaps considering selling the elixirs to other countries?―Well, depends on the situation?

The moment Kim Minwoo answered, cheers began pouring out.―We're good lol Looks like he completely flipped the board? lol―For real. He comes back with the Highest-Grade Elixir Recipe now lololol―Now we've got a fighting chance lololol―(Newbie Awakened) I know it's rare, but is it seriously that big a deal?―Cute newbie lol Highest-Grade Elixir absolutely is that big a deal lol Why do you think other countries sign secret pacts just to get it? lol―Scatter it to every surrounding country except China~ already tastes delicious lol―Gate Contest is right around the corner, China's results about to sink lol―Nah. Don't even need to spread it around lol Forgot? It's an American strategic asset lololol―What idiot is gonna keep signing secret deals to get elixirs? lol They can just pay Kim Minwoo now lol―Am I the only one who can already hear the U.S. ambassador to Korea sprinting over so fast his eyebrows fall out? lololol―Yep, and the Chinese ambassador's running over so fast he's losing his hair too~ if they leave that alone they're fucked lololol* * *When asked whether he intended to sell the elixir to other countries, Kim Minwoo shrugged. This was probably being broadcast live worldwide.‘Might as well make the board bigger while I'm at it.’China?

Korea would have a rough time taking them head-on.

Export controls would hurt a lot. So he could simply call in other heavyweights too.

America, for example, which used this as a strategic asset.

Or the allied countries that had signed secret pacts and imported it only among themselves.

Awakened superpowers like those.

Not long after he finished the interview and returned, meeting requests began flooding in.

The first to arrive was the American ambassador.

He'd apparently rushed over so quickly that sweat glistened across the bald crown of his head.

“Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kim Minwoo. I'm Steven, the United States Ambassador to Korea.”

“Pleasure to meet you too. But what brings you here?”

Steven ground his teeth when Kim Minwoo asked with a sly smile, as though he already knew everything.

Only briefly.

Like a professional, he composed his expression and asked carefully.

“……

Did you truly obtain the Highest-Grade Elixir Recipe?”

“They gave out quite a lot of good stuff there.”

“……

We still require at least some minimum verification. You understand?”

“Of course. But surely you aren't asking me to show you the Recipe…….”

“Just tell me three ingredients related to demon-type monsters and two related to humanoid monsters.”

“Colossus spinal fluid, Atango tail feather, Demon heart, Medusa hair, Centaur Chieftain eyeball. Things like that?”

“…….”

The ambassador's face stiffened.

He didn't know the entire Recipe himself. He'd simply asked based on information the President had personally given him.‘Identical.’From the monsters Kim Minwoo named down to the exact body parts.

They perfectly matched parts of the Recipe the President had mentioned.‘……

He really got it.’At this point, he had no choice but to acknowledge it.

“Let's get to the point. What America wants is probably for only Korea to use it, correct?”

“……

Yes.”

Strictly speaking, the ideal outcome would be limiting it only to Kim Minwoo and Spendthrift Guild…….‘That's impossible.’Even America couldn't realistically restrict it that far.

Kim Minwoo had openly announced that he possessed the Recipe.

Koreans?

Naturally, they'd want some of the benefits to reach their country's Awakened too.

Taking that into account, America would at minimum have to allow Korea, the country possessing the Recipe, to use it.

But beyond that was unacceptable unless absolutely necessary.

America would become extremely troubled.

“Surely you didn't come here expecting me to agree for free…….”

“……

What do you want?”

“Well. What do I want? If I sell this, it's literally money duplication, but now I'm supposed to stop? Hmm…….”

“……

Do you want money?”

“Would something that small really be enough? I wouldn't be able to use the influence either. There are plenty of things in the world worth more than money.”

Cold sweat ran down Steven's face. Honestly, his pride was a little hurt. Even Korea's President wouldn't dare act this arrogant in front of him.‘Damn it…….’But the situation was awful.

What if he raised his voice here and Kim Minwoo suddenly announced he was meeting the Chinese ambassador?

That would be a disaster.

Korea was at least an ally, while China was practically a hostile state.

From America's perspective, few things could become more exhausting.‘What the hell do we give him?’If they paid money, he had no clue how much the bastard would demand.

And judging by the atmosphere, money alone wouldn't be enough to control him anyway.

Seeing the silent ambassador, Kim Minwoo smiled.

“America and Korea are friends, aren't they?”

“Y-Yes, of course.”

“I'd rather friends get along well whenever possible.”

“Haha…… is that so?”

Naturally.

Make an enemy of America, the strongest Awakened nation?

He'd rather slap China in the face a hundred times.‘And there's nothing to gain from becoming enemies right now.’The best approach was to give what needed giving, take what needed taking, and move on.

“China's been making quite a lot of noise.”

“They'll become quiet soon.”

“That's obvious. But would you mind if I sold them some elixirs?”

“……

To China?”

“If I charge ten times the price, America wouldn't exactly lose anything, would it?”

“……

Excuse me? Ten times?”

What the hell was this bastard talking about?

Steven tilted his head.

Even America only charged allied countries under secret agreement around 1.5 times the cost.

Plenty of countries screamed that they couldn't even afford that 1.5 multiplier.

And he wanted to sell at ten times?

Common sense said nobody would buy…….‘Wait. Those guys actually might.’With the Gate Contest right around the corner.

They might buy them for a handful of their very top Awakened.

Six hundred pills at eighty billion won each.‘Forty-eight trillion…….’If they squeezed hard enough, they might somehow feed a few people…….‘No matter how I look at it, that's insane…….’If America bought elixirs at that price?

An impeachment motion might go up before long.

But China's structure was different.

Their flow of funds was opaque to begin with. Add a political structure bordering on dictatorship.

How many dictators had ruined entire countries throughout history?

Taking that into account, it wasn't completely impossible.

Still…….

“……

Would they really buy at that price?”

“It's not about whether they'll buy. We need to make them buy.”

Kim Minwoo answered with a grin.

“And there's no rule saying I have to take payment only in money.”

“…….”

If China truly bought the elixirs at that price, America would be thrilled.

They'd be wrecking their entire country just to gain some stats for a handful of Awakened.

A few elite Awakened growing a little stronger wasn't enough to overturn the strongest Awakened nation in the world anyway.

“……

I'll need to discuss this with my government, but if you truly sell under those terms, I believe there may be room to consider it.”

“Tell them to think carefully. I believe Korea growing is still more aligned with American interests than China growing.”

“Honestly, I agree.”

“Then shouldn't we get to the main point?”

Selling the elixirs to China at absurd prices was one thing.

He still hadn't received what America owed him.

Steven's bald crown began shining again.* * *“It was a pleasure, Ambassador.”

“Likewise. Just in case, I should mention…….”

“Don't worry. The Chinese ambassador won't even see my face. Well, maybe on TV?”

“I believe we can develop a good relationship, Mr. Kim Minwoo.”

“I quite like you too, Ambassador.”

“Then I'll contact you again after discussing matters with my government.”

Steven left.

Not long afterward, one of the bodyguards approached and whispered.

“Young Master. The Chinese ambassador has been waiting for some time…….”

“Didn't anyone tell him to leave?”

“Of course we did. But he keeps insisting that he absolutely must meet you…….”

“Throw him out politely. If he refuses to leave, drag him out if you have to.”

“Will that…… really be all right?”

“Of course. It's fine.”

Wasn't that the whole reason he was coordinating with America?

Even if China imposed export controls over this.‘China's the one that'll bleed out.’The current situation?

China versus America's allies + America + Korea.

Even if China imposed controls, Korea might suffer for a month or two.

China, on the other hand, would suffer for years because of that choice.‘Whatever. Let them bark on their own.’Until America's answer arrived, he needed to keep moving diligently.

The Highest-Grade Elixir Recipe.

He used it on the Skeletons.

With materials, they could use Alchemy to make the elixirs.‘The problem is the garbage quality.’Highest-Grade Elixirs?

Their crafting difficulty was near the absolute maximum.

Meanwhile, the Skeletons' Alchemy was only D-rank. Even if they attempted it, the failure rate would be enormous, and even if they succeeded, all they could produce right now would be crude products.

Their Alchemy would need to reach at least A-rank before they could properly manufacture the elixirs.

To raise it that far, he'd probably have to work the Skeletons nonstop for months.

He didn't have that kind of time.

His current Level was around 270.

Level 300, when he could consume the elixirs, wasn't far away.

It was time to find someone who could manufacture them.‘Still, if I give someone the manufacturing method, they can make it.’The problem was not knowing exactly what materials went in or how to make it. As long as they knew the ingredients and method, they could make as many attempts as necessary.

Eventually, the Recipe would register.

Conveniently, one person came to mind. Korea had a fairly useful Alchemist too.

He opened his smartphone and called.

Soon.―H-Hello……?!

A trembling voice answered urgently.‘Makes sense.’At least if she was an Alchemist.

She must understand exactly what it meant for Kim Minwoo to call her at this very moment.

“Ms. Choi Yuna? It's been a while. Yes, this is Kim Minwoo. You've probably already seen the news. I happen to need some Highest-Grade Elixirs, so how about we meet and talk?”

Lowest-Grade, Low-Grade, Mid-Grade, all the way to High-Grade Elixirs. Alchemist Choi Yuna had been extremely useful because she crafted quickly and accurately.

Afterward, he'd given Siwoo spending money and had him buy elixirs from her.

Looks like he'd be relying on her for Highest-Grade Elixirs too.

Kim Minwoo left the house.

“Nice to see you, Ms. Choi Yuna.”

“M-Me too!”

Seeing Kim Minwoo wearing a cap inside the cafe, Choi Yuna fidgeted nervously.

The Highest-Grade Elixir Recipe.

When she'd seen on TV that Kim Minwoo had obtained it, she'd nearly fallen over from shock.

Of course she had.

Wasn't it a Recipe previously possessed only by America's Witch?

She wanted it so badly she was going insane.

Yet she hadn't dared contact him.

The Kim Minwoo she'd first met and the man he was now lived on completely different levels of status.

Lately, Park Siwoo was about the only person she remained in contact with.

And even that had ended once she finished supplying his High-Grade Elixirs. She'd thought they really would never meet again…….

“Let's get to the point. I know the manufacturing method, and you know how to make it.”

“Y-Yes!”

“But obviously I can't just teach you this for free.”

“R-Right.”

“Ever heard of ‘canning’ someone?”

“……

C-Canning?”

Choi Yuna tilted her head.

Wasn't that the thing where you locked somebody somewhere and made them keep producing things?

“Seven years. Let's live like that for exactly seven years.”

Kim Minwoo said with a pleasant smile.