Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Spendthrift Necromancer (144)

GoldThe 600 points he'd earned from killing Han Baekgil.

Ever since spending those, he'd been holding back and refusing to use any more points.

He wanted to aim for something bigger when the next Shop unlocked.500 points for Silver.3,000 points for Gold.‘No idea how many points the next stage will take…….’But one thing was certain.

Shopping was irresistible.

And now, on top of a limited-sale item for Necromancers, an exchange system had been added too.

How was he supposed to resist that?

That was when.

Isabella tilted her head and asked.

“Did something good happen?”

“Something urgent came up. We'll talk next time. Then, if you'll excuse me.”

“W-Wait…….”

He climbed into a Voltron and started the engine. Fortunately, unlike what had happened with Seo Yerim before, there wasn't some vicious ten-minute time limit.Ten hours gave him plenty of time to examine the items and think things over.

Leaving Isabella blankly reaching after him, he drove toward the family estate.

Once he arrived.

He immediately opened the Shop.[Opening Achievement Shop!][Rank: Gold (Total Acquired Points: 3,030)][Current Achievement Points: 1,530][Exchange System unlocked!]

A healthy stockpile of points.

And.

One additional line had appeared. He immediately checked the exchange rate first.[Entering Exchange System.][Current exchange rate between Earth Credits and Achievement Points: 1 trillion to 1.]

“Wait a second.”

Is this right?

Kim Minwoo blinked.

He'd thought it would be one-to-one, but there was something extra attached behind it.It said 1 ‘trillion’ to 1.

Put simply, to gather 100 points, he'd have to hand over 100 trillion won.

He had 40 trillion left after the Sky Auction House.

On top of that, America had agreed to buy the first 5% stake in his guild for roughly 100 trillion.

After the Guild Battle with Ilseong, Wall Street had offered 60 trillion for 10%, meaning the guild's equity value had more than tripled since then.

That was only natural.

His value had risen even further after the Super Rookie Selection Tournament. As if that weren't enough, he'd demonstrated the incredible function called training too. Honestly, even this price was still on the cheap side.

Either way.They had agreed to transfer the 100 trillion won in roughly one month.

Even if he included everything China would pay next month through its installment plan.‘That's only around 200 trillion.’China had given him plenty of miscellaneous resources, real estate, and other things instead of pure cash. Even if he liquidated all of that and dumped it in, he'd only get 200 points.‘Of course, it's not like Achievement Points aren't worth that much…….’It was difficult to judge whether they were cheap or expensive purely in terms of money, because the Achievement Shop's goods were simply too good.

Equipment draw tickets and S-rank Skill Books were gradually becoming less worth their price.

On the other hand, Limit-Breaking Elixirs and Undead Cocktails were still valuable enough that he'd happily pay trillions for them.

They were that good.

And now that he'd reached Gold, even better items would be unlocked in the Shop going forward.‘Still expensive, though.’Dumping 200 trillion won just to obtain 200 points right now was close to insanity.

It would be different if he had no other way to earn Achievement Points, but SS-rank Necromancers were actively performing around the world.

Every time one made waves, another clean 100 points came in. Considering that, the exchange rate wasn't cost-effective.

Still, there was hope.‘The Earth exchange rate just needs to go up.’Instead of one point for one trillion.Maybe one point for five hundred billion.

Or one point for even less. If Earth's money became more valuable and he could buy Achievement Points cheaply, that would solve everything.

After enough time passed, maybe he could exchange 200 trillion for 2,000 points.

Then how did Earth's exchange rate rise?‘There are a few things I can roughly guess.’Helping geniuses like Seo Yerim and Park Siwoo blossom, or wiping out villains like Shadow.

Actions that awarded Achievement Points were probably also actions that increased the value of Earth Credits.

Awarding Achievement Points was basically the equivalent of handing out ‘Great Job!’ stickers.

“Then creating Necromancers probably counts as increasing Earth's value too?”

The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.

If that had been the starting signal for Earth's destruction, Earth's money should have become worthless instead.

But once the eleventh Necromancer appeared, the exchange system activated?

Earth Credits had risen enough in value to be exchanged for Achievement Points?

Didn't that ultimately mean Earth had taken one more step toward salvation?‘Haa.’Kim Minwoo lamented anew.

Looking back, he really had been a fool who cared about nothing but Earth.‘For now, I should save up some money.’He'd spend what needed spending, but other than that, he should probably focus on saving diligently. Then once the exchange rate improved, he could picture making one huge exchange. As he continued growing, Earth's value would probably rise on its own.

Conveniently, he'd already created one route for duplicating money.

The Slime Battery.

Around 10% of Ilseong's sales revenue would be deposited into the guild.

A perfectly reasonable reward for opening up such an enormous market.

He set the exchange issue aside for now.

This time, he examined the newly stocked product list.[Product List][5. (New!) SS-rank Bound Skill Book.][Required Achievement Points: 1,000][6. (New!) Physical Potential Amplification Potion][Required Achievement Points: 1,200][7. Bloodwater Prison Orb <​Limited Sale, 9 hours>][Required Achievement Points: 1,500][8. Necromancy Secret Manual][Required Achievement Points: 3,000][9. ???][10. ???]..

Four newly unlocked products.

Perhaps because they were Gold-rank goods, their prices were vicious.

The SS-rank Bound Skill Book was understandable enough. He checked the details of the others.[Physical Potential Amplification Potion][Rank: Special][Usage Restriction: Kim Minwoo][Effect 1. Temporarily unlocks Kim Minwoo's restricted physical potential.][Effect 2. Lasts exactly 1 hour.]‘……

What is this?’Kim Minwoo tilted his head after reading the description. It didn't permanently increase his potential. It merely released the restriction temporarily.

And the effect lasted only one stingy hour.‘That costs 1,200 points?’Did it seriously consider one hour of unlocked potential worth that much?

He thought about it carefully.‘……

Maybe it isn't completely unreasonable?’There were plenty of things he could attempt during that one hour.

First, Thunder-Wind Sword Art.

The Sword Immortal's main sword art.

No matter how much Minwoo practiced it, it had never registered as a Skill, but with that potion, he could at least attempt to make it happen.

Having his horrific potential restriction removed meant, in other words, that he could register Skills through actions like other people did.

There was one variable, however.

Suppose his restricted potential was unlocked.

Just how great was Kim Minwoo's ‘original potential’ once released?

That was the problem.

When he'd fought the Dragon Lord, he had once inflated his swordsmanship potential and stacked every equipment bonus available to shave away half its health.‘That was the highest point I've ever seen.’Even then, no Skill had been created.

Simply loosening the restrictions somewhat wasn't remotely enough to generate Skills.

And even if that potion completely removed the restriction, what if his unrestricted potential was merely that of an ordinary person?‘Then the points are wasted.’Unlocking his potential would barely matter.

Ordinary people didn't suddenly create SS-rank Skills just because they swung swords around either.

He'd be lucky if an A-rank Skill appeared.

Of course, the opposite possibility wasn't zero either.

Maybe once the restriction vanished, Kim Minwoo's potential would go absolutely berserk.

There was still a chance of that happy outcome.

In the end, it was jackpot or bust.‘Let's set this one aside for now…….’He examined the other products.[Bloodwater Prison Orb][Rank: Special][A round orb that imprisons blood.][Effect 1. Absorbs the blood of a desired corpse.][Effect 2. Once enough blood accumulates, its structure can be changed into a ‘Blood Prison.’][Effect 3. Undead placed inside the Blood Prison can be strengthened. However, the amount and type of blood each undead can accept differs. (Applicable Undead: All)]‘……

That's good.’Unlike the ambiguous Potential Amplification Potion, the limited-sale Bloodwater Prison Orb was simply an excellent item.‘It's similar to Bone Replacement.’Blood?

Couldn't he just buy it all up the way he bought bones?

Blood was another unpopular commodity, just like bones.

But money solved everything.

And it had one major advantage over Bone Replacement.‘The range of application is much broader.’Bone Replacement.

Its applicable targets were quite limited.

At best, Skeletons, the Bone Golem, and Cedric benefited from it. Unfortunately, Merhen, Specters, and Dullahans couldn't use it.

If bones weren't the undead's primary structure, it simply couldn't apply.

That had always been Bone Replacement's disappointing weakness.

The Bloodwater Prison Orb was different.

As long as he gathered the right blood, he could strengthen everything. Of course, how much it strengthened them remained unknown.‘But considering it's a 1,500-point limited-sale item, the enhancement should be pretty substantial.’Good.

In some ways, it was even more attractive than the SS-rank Skill Book.

Kim Minwoo examined the final product.[Necromancy Secret Manual][Rank: Special][A book containing secret techniques of Necromancers.][Effect 1. Reading and practicing it may cause something good to happen.]

Secret manual.

He immediately got the general idea.‘It's like a martial arts manual.’Those could also produce something good depending on the reader's talent after studying and practicing them.

For example, creating a Skill.‘Not very useful for me…….’Kim Minwoo's lack of talent was horrifying. And it wasn't something that applied only to sword arts.

Necromancer Skills probably wouldn't be any different.

And yet the Shop sold this?

That meant.‘Am I supposed to drink the Potential Potion and read it?’No matter how he looked at it, that was the only picture that came to mind.

But the price was savage.

Buying both the Potential Potion and the manual together would require a full 4,200 points.

There was no realistic way to buy them right now.‘Whatever.’He should buy the limited-sale item first.[Would you like to purchase the Bloodwater Prison Orb?]

“Of course.”[You receive the Bloodwater Prison Orb!]

The passionate support of SS-rank Necromancers across the world.

All of it transformed into the round orb resting on his palm.‘I should buy blood before going to the Orc Gate.’Just like bones, he could have blood packed into containers and pay by the liter depending on the type.

Since things had come to this, he should probably secure some high-quality blood.* * *Isabella.

She trudged toward Sword Sea Pavilion.‘What the hell am I supposed to give him?’The question kept tormenting her mind. Just as Kim Minwoo had said, money didn't mean much.

Then she had to give him something else.‘……

Nothing I have is worth enough.’Everything seemed trivial compared to Mind Fist. Even the Ancient-grade equipment covering her body.

Kim Minwoo wasn't a martial artist.

Giving him those items wouldn't have much meaning beyond converting them into money.

The one thing that seemed to hold some value to Kim Minwoo was…….‘……

Should I become a brand ambassador?’Isabella knew perfectly well what kind of standing she possessed in the advertising industry. Every product she endorsed was recognized as the best.

Naturally, she had her own philosophy and pride regarding that.

Voltron?

It was certainly a decent vehicle.

If she had to score it, perhaps 91 out of 100. For an East Asian vehicle, it was unquestionably good. But was it the best in the world?

No.

Something like the Slime Battery was what deserved a perfect 100.

That was why she'd refused.

But…….‘No matter how I look at it, that refusal seems to have stuck with him…….’The subtle disappointment he'd shown.

For Isabella, who desperately wanted something from him, it was impossible not to flinch at that.……

What if she became brand ambassador not only for Voltron, but for the entire Ilseong Group?

Wouldn't Kim Minwoo be pleased then?

The instant that thought appeared.

She jolted in shock and shook her head violently.‘What the hell am I thinking……!’At the smallest level, it violated her conscience. At the largest, it meant deceiving consumers who trusted her when buying products.

“Calm down, Isabella…… it's just greed.”

She spoke as though trying to reassure herself. Yet her eyes still trembled slightly. That was how shocking the Mind Fist shown by Fist King had been.

The pure desire to become stronger.

It was powerful enough to shake her very heart. She couldn't remember the last time she'd wanted something this badly in her entire life.‘Still…… that's not it.’Kim Minwoo had to want something too, just like she did.

It didn't necessarily have to be brand ambassadorship. There had to be other things.

She only needed to find one.

That was when she entered Sword Sea Pavilion.

The inside had become unusually noisy. Through the translator in her ear, she could make out fragments of conversation.

Kim Minwoo, purchasing, Ilseong Group, Dragon, blood, and so on……. Her eyes lit up as she listened. The articles she checked on her smartphone said the same thing.

Purchasing blood of all types.

And offering far higher prices for Dragon blood.‘He needs blood?’Especially the blood of Dragons.

She'd finally found it.

Something he needed!

It felt like a single ray of light had pierced the darkness. She had finally discovered something the other party wanted. Dragons were difficult monsters to locate, but not impossible.

Of course, merely supplying Dragon blood probably wouldn't be enough to earn enlightenment of that caliber.

But didn't every journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step?

If she supplied Kim Minwoo with things he wanted one by one, perhaps one day she could learn that enlightenment too.‘I need to move quickly…….’That was when.

She saw four familiar old men hurrying outside. She had been staying at Sword Sea Pavilion and had learned at least a little Korean during that time.

She asked in clumsy Korean.

“Where, go?”

The four old men stopped at her question.

Fist King answered.

“Hm? Ah, we're making a delivery.”

“……

Delivery? Deliver what?”

“Blood. Minwoo said he needs it.”

“Minwoo, blood?”

“That's right! Dragon Blood!”

Isabella's eyes trembled violently.

“……

A lot?”

“Of course. Plenty. We've been collecting it bit by bit. Our inventories are packed with the stuff.”

The translated words slammed into Isabella's mind like thunderbolts striking the crown of her head.

“……

Why?”

Why the hell had they collected something like Dragon blood?

Of course, it wasn't completely useless. As a byproduct of Dragons, it had applications here and there. But even taking that into account, it wasn't something worth obsessively stockpiling.

So why did they have so much?

“Miss Isabella. Here in the East, we have a saying. Foresight. We've been preparing bit by bit for several months precisely for a moment like this.”

Divine Spear answered with a gentle smile.

They weren't Ancient Dragons like the one they'd given Minwoo last time. No Dragon of that caliber had appeared again in Dragon's Grave. But plenty of other Dragon-type Bosses had appeared.

So whenever they had time, they entered Gates, beat them down, and diligently stored the Dragon corpses.

Kim Minwoo's Class was Necromancer.

There was nothing particularly strange about a Necromancer needing corpses and various byproducts.

All four elders were extremely high-Level, so their inventories were enormous as well.

Inventory was one of the mysterious benefits granted by the System. In every way, its internal storage surpassed even Spatial Rings. It could preserve even corpses perfectly.

They had worked hard gathering all of that.

Now it was time to give Kim Minwoo the gifts.

“I-I should give some too…….”

“Come on. We appreciate the thought, but there's no need for you to get involved too, Miss Isabella. The four of us already collected plenty. This much should keep him supplied for a while, at least. You must be exhausted from all that driving, so just rest today. Think of our eldest brother's house as your own.”

Fist King answered cheerfully.

Then he glanced at the old watch on his wrist and shouted.

“Oh dear, at this rate we'll keep our Minwoo waiting too long! Let's go, brothers!”

If they truly wanted to, the four could reach the Ilseong family estate in moments.

And just like that, the four old men's figures vanished in an instant.

“Ah…….”

Isabella stared after them in utter dismay.