Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 158: Ashen (2).

Allen promptly began the verification process whenever an inn building near his business was put up for sale.

Since the two Top 10s had a firm grip on most of the businesses in Vermandois, the only gap he could squeeze into was minor inns or commerce. The Top 10 Group Leader Gione had a tight hold on prostitution, gambling, and private loans, while the Top 10 Group Leader Viola controlled logistics, liquor, and various small businesses.

In truth, even the inn business had Group Leader Viola’s slight involvement, but she seemed inclined to hand over most of this business to Group Leader Allen. It appeared she also wanted to focus and concentrate her sprawling business operations, similar to Gione.

Of course, the foundation of all these businesses must be a well-established mercenary operation. However, unlike other businesses, the mercenary business required constant recruitment, transfers, or releases to maintain. This meant there was a lot to pay attention to. One wrong hire could spoil the whole group.

Considering all these factors, finding a decent member wasn’t an easy task. Especially when the name value of the Allen-Mercenary Group was somewhat mediocre.

The Destroyer of the East.

The Sharpshooter of the South.

The Swiftfoot of the Central.

The Blood Hammer of the North.

The Diarrhea Dump of the West.

There were many with flashy nicknames, but they were often empty in substance.

Compared to the members who had been with him for years and were already at a sufficiently completed stage, it was rare for new hopeful mercenaries to join to catch Allen’s eye. Even if they did, their price was too high…

Anyway, recruitment was important, but just as crucial was the renewal of current members’ contracts.

Of course, Allen had no intention of stubbornly sticking to the current salary. As the size of the mercenary group grew, the salary system also needed to change accordingly. It was right to raise the standards somewhat to prevent the outflow of talent. Otherwise, others would sway them with better conditions.

Allen sat at the negotiation table with the members whenever he had time. Now that the mercenary group’s prestige was established, he couldn’t handle things in a haphazard manner like before.

Thus, after negotiating with all the members, he raised the pay to between 5 to 10 gold coins, depending on individual circumstances. However, Old Dog Kalisman expressed his regret to the Group Leader about the decline in his performance.

“It seems I’ve reached the limits of my abilities.”

Allen did not deny this either. His abilities had already reached their limits, and it was clearly time for retirement.

Nevertheless, his experience and ability to unify his comrades were still beneficial. The trust of his comrades was also strong… There was no talent available to fill his vacancy immediately. That was the Group Leader’s judgment.

“I won’t deny it. However, I wish you would keep your position a little longer. It’s still vague to say exactly when, but later, I plan to organize a second group. A mercenary group specifically tasked with escorting merchant caravans. I want you to take the position of the second group leader.”

For typical escort missions, the head leading the mercenary group needed to have ample experience. In that sense, the position of the second group leader was a perfect fit for Kalisman. After all, it was rare to deploy high-level personnel for escort missions unless it was for something extremely valuable.

Even in large-scale mercenary groups, they would cultivate talents in such a way, then selectively promote them to the first group. Allen, aiming for the Top 10, needed such a system to suffer less from chronic talent shortages.

The experienced Kalisman immediately understood what Allen meant. Of course, that didn’t mean retirement had completely vanished, but the lifespan of his mercenary life had certainly been extended.

Anyway.

Allen participated in two competitive bids and gave up on both. The prices had risen too excessively.

With the influx of Eastern mercenaries into Vermandois, the inn business was booming, leading to an overall increase in inn building prices, which were set high from the start. Naturally, Allen wasn’t at a loss. He already owned three inn buildings.

And just then, an inn building in a prime location came on the market. The problem was its astronomical price.

The current spare money he had, after selling the lucky charms and gathering all the profits, amounted to about four thousand gold coins. However, the initial value of the building was close to eight thousand gold coins. Therefore, there were actually fewer competitors compared to other places. It was rare for a mercenary group leader or a trading group leader to mobilize such an amount at once.

…Vermandois is gradually growing. Then, I must seize this place.

Considering the potential increase in price due to competition, the estimated price was about ten thousand gold coins. That amount could only be reached by disposing of two of the three inns he currently owned and combining the surplus funds.

Should I do that…?

Before making the decision, Allen participated in the competitive bidding. The final bid might rise higher than expected, and he might have to give up the property.

The starting price was seven thousand five hundred gold coins. Naturally, the amount rose rapidly by the hundreds.

The fever of bidding began to cool down the moment it surpassed nine thousand gold coins. Allen’s final limit was also ten thousand gold coins.

“Nine thousand seven hundred!”

When the hesitant, plump merchant leader called out nine thousand seven hundred, before the number was even finished, Allen called out almost at the last moment for nine thousand eight hundred.

“…Nine thousand eight hundred!”

Even ten thousand gold coins was a burdensome amount for a fairly wealthy merchant group. Most of the merchant groups and mercenary groups in Vermandois didn’t even have five thousand gold coins.

Allen’s hands and feet trembled with tension as the numbers called by the auctioneer grew smaller and smaller. Facing a demon beast felt more comfortable than this moment.

…And then, nobody raised a bid card, and the number reached zero. Simultaneously, the hammer struck the wooden board, thud, thud, thud.

“Nine thousand eight hundred gold coins, sold!”

Phew.

Allen let out a deep breath he had been holding and smiled brightly as the gavel fell. Rising from his seat, he responded to the congratulatory handshakes offered from all directions.

…Of course, this was merely the first hurdle cleared; a much larger wall still awaited him.

Currently, Allen’s spare funds amounted to four thousand one hundred gold coins, disregarding the tens unit. This meant he needed to secure an additional six thousand two hundred gold coins, comprising the remaining five thousand seven hundred and the intermediary fee of five hundred.

Naturally, other than disposing of the inn building, he had no immediate way to magically produce six thousand gold coins.

Of course, there was the option of taking a loan for the remaining amount, but the interest was so exorbitant that it was out of the question. On Earth, it might be just a few percent, but here, an interest rate of 50% is considered favorable. With an average exceeding 70%, that said it all. That was why Allen, even after playing [Guild Master] for over ten years, could count the number of times he took a loan on one hand. After all, loan sharks were intent on turning people into human slaves with loans as bait.

Anyway, thus, Allen put two inn buildings up for sale. As they were quite cheap compared to those on the main street, there were quite a few competitors.

And a week later, the two were sold for 4,100 and 4,500 gold coins, respectively. In conclusion, he ended up with one less building, but since the one on the main street had a higher usage price and turnover, overall, his income increased.

The next decision was the location of the hideout.

…In fact, moving the hideout to a building on the main street would decrease profits, but Allen decided to go through with it.

The hideout’s location should match the stature of the mercenary group. That way, it would instill more trust in clients and could aim for an increase in value.

Thus, the Allen-Mercenary Group settled on the fourth floor of an inn building with a clear view of the river scenery. After moving everything, Allen felt quite emotional as he looked at the beautiful river, tinged with the colors of the sunset outside the window.

…Is this what it feels like to move into a Han River-view apartment…?1

Although in Korea, he had to live with a wall view instead of a Han River view, now he lived in a hideout with a river view. He achieved something unimaginable on Earth, here… Finally…

Haaah.

He gazed at the serenely flowing river with a distant look, letting out a sigh filled with stories untold.

After a while of watching the river, he went to the meeting room upon hearing that the meal was ready.

In the meeting room, made by remodeling a large room, the members gathered around a large rectangular table, waiting for the main character.

As the Group Leader appeared, everyone stood up from their seats. He walked to the head of the table with a faint smile.

“…I…”

He continued, pressing his palm gently on the table.

“It took four and a half years to get here.”

His gaze, which had been looking into the distance, refocused on the members.

“This is not the achievement of just one person. It’s the achievement of everyone. It was possible because we did it together.”

He gently clenched the hand that was pressing on the table.

“Of course, we still have a long way to go, just like our lives.”

The Group Leader raised his glass high.

“But let us rejoice in today’s happiness, and bless the glory of the future.”

Everyone raised their glasses.

“May this happiness continue.”

Cheers.

TL/N: Han-river is a river in the central region of Korea and runs across the center of Seoul ↩️