Chapter 308

Chapter 308. Spotlight (10)

“Since they couldn’t see me from the outside, let’s keep our meeting secret today. Did you really discover something, given that the hole hasn’t been sealed?”

While in the US, I kept my phone completely off to avoid any accidental records of Wi-Fi connections or such.

Hence, I hadn’t received any additional reports.

“Yes, that’s correct!”

Fortunately, I managed to supplement this lack of information through Toma.

His party had completed their investigation about an hour ago.

Thanks to their efforts, we confirmed that this place was located near the Begol Mountains in the southernmost part of the already demolished Angrimart Empire, situated in the northern continent.

They also discovered an abandoned spirit stone mine inside the mountains.

The implication of this finding was simple.

Rather than sealing this place off, we needed to endure and continue mining spirit stones.

This was bound to cause multiple frictions.

“The branch manager is having talks with the government! The official statement from the Palao Guild insists that the hole is essential for enhancing player strength and should be maintained! However, no information about the mine found inside the hole has been released! If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask! I will answer them earnestly!”

Once Toma’s booming speech finished, the area fell silent.

During his rapid-fire speech, not a single word was stuttered or slurred.

‘Choi Seongwu would surely throw a fit of jealousy if he saw this.’

The player’s diction was indeed perfect.

I thought about the player’s stats that I unexpectedly realized once again while trying to reply as nonchalantly as possible.

“… You’ve handled this smoothly. You all must have been busy with the purification and investigations, but thanks for taking care of external matters.”

“I’m honored to contribute to the guild!”

“And where is the location of the mine…”

“I’ll guide you!”

“For now, your voice… It’s audible even at a regular volume.”

His tone was overwhelming to hear with normal ears, so I added that remark.

Toma immediately lowered his voice and responded amiably.

“Yes, understood.”

I couldn’t comprehend why every reaction of his was so extreme.

I shook my head, following Toma toward the location of the mine.

“Although there were no messeos near the mine, several general-rank beings were stationed there, so we eliminated them.”

Upon arriving at the destination while listening to additional explanations, I sensed a tingling mana at my feet.

Since reaching the Mana Domination stage, whenever spirit stones were nearby, I could feel this inexplicable mana that hadn’t taken on a specific attribute yet—a raw, attribute-less mana.

‘The deposits… are substantial.’

It would be enough to strengthen players with attribute mana and also serve as materials for the magic tools made by the dwarf race.

This might be due to them being left unmined for so long.

‘I didn’t expect to be so fortunate.’

Thinking about the magnitude of mana I was sensing beneath me, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Just what were the odds that the hole assigned for purification by the Palao Guild was near the Begol Mountains, close to a spirit stone mine once lost to enemies in the past?

‘I did send a notice to each branch about areas like the Begol Mountains known for high-value loot.’

I never thought they’d actually discover one.

How coincidental this was.

‘No.’

Was this really just a coincidence?

I questioned myself, glancing back at Toma who was standing a step behind me.

I concluded that the situation wasn’t mere coincidence.

It was the result of deliberate effort.

The result of Toma’s excessive dedication to me, attentively memorizing the notice I sent, and meticulously surveying the surroundings every time he entered a hole.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have recalled the Begol Mountains the moment he entered the hole.

Even if suspicion arose, that wouldn’t have immediately been reported to the Korean headquarters.

Once I realized it, I couldn’t help but ask.

“… Why are you doing this for me?”

“Pardon?”

“You, aren’t we meeting for the first time? Why are you trying so hard to impress me?”

It seemed Toma was startled by the unexpected question, evident by his flustered expression.

But only for a moment. He soon set aside his surprise and answered with a booming voice.

“Because the Guildmaster saved my life!”

“… Did I?”

“Yes, absolutely!”

The story that followed was simple to summarize.

Having been a first-generation player, he was terrified of death, unable to challenge missions.

However, he found no way to escape the Damned System’s requirement of completing at least one mission every ten days.

As he trembled with fear and faced the enforced missions, he said my posted guides were immensely helpful.

“Without the advice and information provided by the Guildmaster, I wouldn’t be here today!”

Apparently, it wasn’t just him. There were numerous other players who survived thanks to the information I shared.

They occasionally gathered to socialize when Bihar was still intact.

“……..”

To be honest, I hadn’t posted the guides with the intent of saving those people.

I aimed to increase the players’ power and numbers and to boost my Reputation to receive discounts at the shop instead.

Posting those guides was indeed beneficial.

The players’ death rate drastically decreased, growth rates accelerated, and the shop’s discount rate for me had surpassed 50%.

Thanks to this, I could use potions at exceptionally favorable prices compared to others.

In such a manner, the Damned System’s guides were posted for myself and for my objectives.

Therefore, I shouldn’t have felt any significant sentiment upon hearing words of gratitude at an unexpected moment.

Yet, standing before Toma, who claimed to owe his life to my guides, brought a swirl of emotions.

A bit of pride? Maybe some embarrassment too?

Watching Toma silently, I turned my head amidst the tinge of awkwardness I felt.

‘I should perhaps provide him some incentive.’

Efforts should indeed be rewarded.

“Do you have an attribute?”

“Yes, it’s desert.”

Based on earth with a fire element added, it was an attribute with a decent balance of offense and defense.

Thus, it was certain that the rewards I would give would benefit him.

“As a reward for the discovery, your party will receive a percentage share of the mined amount.”

“Yes…?”

“As for the distribution among yourselves, sort it out within the party.”

Toma, his eyes nearly doubling in size, spoke again with a booming voice.

“Thank you! I will strive to be a more developed player!”

“… Quietly, please, speak quietly.”

“I will be careful. I’m sorry.”

Despite becoming a whispering voice due to my pointed remark, I fell into thought while watching Toma, who looked slightly dejected.

‘This is indeed a significant opportunity.’

The spirit stones extracted from here would become another source of income for the guild and also increase our influence.

With this, the ship I’m aboard will sail faster, propelled by the wind.

‘However, I should take out some insurance just in case.’

The world I have lived in was not a paradise repeating only good events.

Surely, adversity capable of offsetting today’s boon will eventually surface.

‘Flourishing leads to ruin, thriving leads to decline.’

There’s a saying about the rise and fall that wasn’t coined without reason.

Perhaps it’s also a rule of causality striving to maintain the flow and balance of the world.

Hence, I decided to prepare for the impending adversity following the current boon.

There is a fitting way to serve as insurance.

‘Bring other large guilds in, besides the Palao Guild.’

Feasting alone is poison, but sharing it with many turns it into medicine.

By stationing several escort ships around the primary vessel I am aboard, the adverse moment of ruin and decline would inflict reduced damage.

After concluding my contemplation, I spoke to Toma.

“Soon, we’ll move messeo to the mine and establish a security force centered around this point.”

Considering the evolved species were eliminated, monsters would swarm around messeo again.

Arrangements for a security force should be made in advance.

Setting the mining point as the line of defense should suffice.

“One more thing, ensure that individuals not permitted by the guild do not approach during this period.”

“Yes, I will also rigorously ensure the party maintains confidentiality, preventing any concerns you may have.”

After hearing Toma’s satisfactory answer, I met with the branch manager of the Philippine division, who had entered the corrupted area, to discuss future plans.

“Spreading the news will prompt large guilds to send personnel right away. Then…”

Several notes of caution, procedures, and follow-up actions were discussed.

After continuous discourse, the branch manager inquired again.

“Are you really registering everything at the Guardian Auction except for the share given to Toma’s Squad 7? Guildmaster, are you…”

“I’m good. From now on, what’s crucial is nurturing Bronze-ranked players with attributes. Once they become Silver-rank and eventually Gold-rank, our overall strength will be remarkably enhanced.”

“Ah…”

“Thus, set stringent conditions for auction participants based on the grade of the extracted spirit stones. Lower rank spirit stones should not be swept up by existing Silver and Bronze ranks.”

“You truly are…”

The branch manager’s eyes became inexplicably bright.

All I intended was to distribute the discovered stones to the market and secure funds since I had my own share elsewhere.

‘He seems to have some strange misconception, but there’s no need to correct it.’

After all, my decision would indeed aid in boosting Earth’s power.

That, too, aligns with the right choice for the greater good.

If this misconception positively impacts my reputation, it could well be utilized.

After wrapping up the work in the Philippines, I donned my cloak and exited the hole.

“To the guild office.”

Once I rejoined with Gilenios, we returned to Korea.

“We need to move one more time, so stay on standby.”

I then began scrolling through the contacts list on my smartphone.

This was to select which guilds would partake in the spirit stone mine matter.

‘The Philippines is an island. Its geographical characteristics cannot be ignored.’

The Guardian Guild’s auction merely supports the computational procedure.

The transportation of traded items, naturally, occurs offline, not online.

Even if players directly transport the cargo, there always exists the risk of theft.

Especially in an island setting requiring airplanes and ships, such risks amplify.

With all these factors considered, it was beneficial to include the guilds in the receiving country for the transported cargo as well.

Taking various peculiarities into account, I contacted a total of 3 guild masters.

And within less than 5 minutes, I received affirmative replies from all of them.

The meticulous details thereafter could be entrusted to my staff.

Of course, for that to happen, at least a basic guideline should be established.

‘Let’s swiftly draft a plan.’

After opening a file with the planning template used in the company, I spent about 20 minutes crafting a concise yet precise plan.

Following a thorough proofread for typos, I dispatched the plan via email.

With that, the immediate tasks I needed to handle on Earth were concluded.

I stood up from my seat and called out to Gilenios, who had been leaning against the room’s wall.

“To the entrance of Gate 1.”

“Yes, right away.”

Arriving through another rift at the entrance linked to the gate, I found myself recalling how it was the first entrance set up during the time of rescuing the refugees, the one I went through with Rashar and Ahel.

Since enough time had elapsed, I planned to go pick up the last things I needed from Bihar.

Approaching the entrance abandoned in the middle of the forest without any guard forces, I felt reassured because I had already changed the option to disable use, eliminating the need for guard personnel.

“It’ll take a while, so head back first. I’ll call you when I return, so keep your phone with you.”

“As you command.”

The instant he replied, Gilenios’s presence vanished.

I then approached the entrance, placing my hand upon it. The tightly shut entrance responded to my will.

Switching the entrance option back to active, I entered inside.

It seemed like the Damned System had sensed my presence, appearing after days of absence.

“Perfect timing.”

I had something to say to the Damned System anyway.

“After this trip, let’s close this.”

Damned System, which exuded a sharp aura while floating around me, instantly altered its mood upon hearing my words.

Relaxed, like a well-fed cat lounging.

It seemed my suggestion to close the gate was exceptionally pleasing.

“Well then, allow some divinity inside and update the translation program, would you?”

Albeit the mood sharpened again following my next words, I continued unabated.

“After all, we need to tweak it to allow Bihar’s people to cross the hole. Might as well update the translation while we’re at it. This works and that doesn’t, it’s really inconvenient…”

Seemingly reluctant to entertain my demand, the Damned System vanished before I even finished my words.

I sighed deeply.

‘Why does it seem more like handling a brat?’

Previously, it threw a fit just because things didn’t go its way.

‘How is that any different from a child stomping his feet in frustration?’

And what about turning the capitalist trait into a rascal?

Pulling such childish acts makes me forget it’s indeed a god at times.

Shaking my head, I closed the entrance I had just entered and crossed the gate.

Damned System