〈 Intermission (3) 〉
It was no coincidence that southern warriors began to frequent the Free City of Dracal.
Now that the wounds left by former warchief Baltheon, a member of the ‘Oath of Reverse Heaven’, were almost completely healed, they also needed to escape from the limited area of the south and take in the wider world.
Above all, the expedition to the northern mountains, which is being prepared under the leadership of the main religious order, is now approaching.
The Kalkos Tribal Alliance, which had maintained a closed attitude for a long time, needed to obtain more detailed information about the outside world in advance, and in that respect, the Free City of Dracal, located at a key transportation point, was the best information gathering place and intermediate stopover.
‘I need to visit the southern part again sometime.’
Harley scratched the back of her head as she thought of Morna and Misty, the great sorcerers who were busy working on his behalf right now.
As I have been busy with Kang Hwan-gye’s work, I naturally had no choice but to become somewhat negligent in this matter.
In fact, if you exclude its symbolism as a fighting king, Harley, a destruction expert who can only destroy things, doesn’t have much to do.
‘I guess you’ll be fine. ‘They are all smart people.’
All you have to do is silently support and believe in them from behind.
Since ancient times, using the right talent at the right time was the greatest virtue of a king.
Harley nodded happily as he glanced at the current status of the Chalcos Tribal Alliance as seen through “The Power of the Monarch.”
Perhaps thanks to the excellent selection, there were no unusual features.
‘After all, management should be left to a professional CEO. If I touch it unnecessarily, things will only get complicated.’
It was not for nothing that he collected useful talent and left them in charge of running the organization.
What would you know if you couldn’t even finish high school because of the accident?
It’s so convenient if you just periodically check whether managers and practitioners are working properly.
‘It’s not the only place I have to worry about. ‘I thought you said preparations were complete here as well?’
Harley walked with great strides in the neatly decorated hallway and headed towards where another slave… or rather, Jae-in was located.
I received notification that the work I had been waiting for for quite a long time was finally completed.
I opened the door without knocking and entered the neat and tidy office.
“hmm? ah! “Welcome, Harley.”
Patrick, the secretary general of the mercenary guild, who was sitting in his seat studying documents intently, stood up with a bright expression and welcomed him.
Contrary to that expression, he had dark circles under his eyes and a tired, hollow look.
‘…Mmm, that’s great.’
Harley expressed admiration at the sight of his subordinates who took the initiative and worked hard to achieve results.
Such a hardworking and sincere voluntary slave.
As expected, it was rewarding to entrust him with his duties without worrying about the fact that he was from Earth.
“I was waiting. “You came at just the right time.”
Meanwhile, Patrick continued to speak.
Because Harley had no foundation in the mercenary guild, he was finally ready to proceed with the work that he had no choice but to postpone.
“oh! Good job Patrick! But you must have had a lot of trouble so far? “My face has become half-faced.”
“Ha… Haha…. Yeah well. “A little…”
“It looks like you didn’t even eat properly? That won’t work! Since ancient times, people have to eat meat to gain strength. To commemorate the day, I’ll give you a treat today! Hahaha!”
Buying meat directly was an expression of tremendous favor for Harley.
Because it meant giving up part of the meat you were going to eat to someone else.
At the same time, with the gentle encouragement of patting his back with his fingertips, Patrick tried his best to smile, swaying like an inflatable doll in front of a store opening.
‘There’s no need for it, so I’d like to just leave it alone to rest.’
I swallowed the words I couldn’t say out of my throat.
Some time after that.
One fact was announced from mercenary guild branches established across the continent.
He is the culmination of countless mercenaries spread across the world and declared to follow the will of the first generation and fight against the Immortal King.
A new mercenary king was born.
***
Perhaps thanks to Patrick’s efforts so far, no one opposed Harley’s inauguration as mercenary king.
With a major war ahead, that symbolic position could no longer be left empty.
Of course, most of the guild executives were hoping that he would die in the fight against the Immortal King rather than truly accepting the outcome, but at least on the outside, everything went smoothly without much friction.
“Congratulations, Harley.”
“Thank you for your continued support!”
“Haha, I believed it. “If not Harley, who else could sit in that seat?”
He used to use the title “Mercenary King,” but he was not a real king, so the inauguration ceremony was not that big.
We simply declared a festival at Dracal, provided food and drinks, and prepared a small banquet for executives and several distinguished guests.
If Patrick hadn’t prepared so carefully, he would have just ignored it and moved on.
Given Harley’s personality, this kind of cumbersome formality was just a frustrating event.
Harley, who was wearing her usual attire, eagerly eating meat and roughly greeting those who came to greet her, looked around the inside of the banquet hall.
‘Of course, since I decided to do it, I will use everything that is available.’
One of them was that most of the supplies supplied to Dracal were entrusted to Hubert Company.
It wasn’t a big secret that Harley had been in some kind of relationship with Hubert, the head of the company, since she was in Tarak, so it wasn’t that difficult.
In fact, it was no different from a robbery using power, but in this world, kickbacks and work assignments were not particularly flawed.
‘Here, networking and lobbying are also abilities. I am also the co-representative of Hubert Trading Company.’
Thanks to this, the influence of the Hubert Company, which operates based in Tarak, northwest of the Aeon Continent, naturally extended to Drakal, in the southeast.
The Hubert Company had already completely swallowed up the commercial power of the Kingdom Alliance, including the Kingdom of Thalia in the west, and had not only signed a near-monopoly contract with the Southern Tribal Confederation, but was also expanding its power in a friendly atmosphere in the rival Empire and Republic.
“…hmm? This drink… is quite unusual. Something tangy yet sweet…”
“Oh! It’s a very unique flavor. Where did you get this alcohol? We also want to import it separately… Ah, you mean Hubert Trading Co.? I’ve heard of it. “I said it was a top group that has been growing rapidly recently.”
“Oh my, this tablecloth is made of a material I’ve never seen before. It’s such a dense and strong fabric. “It doesn’t seem to be a specialty of the Elven Kingdom. How was it made?”
The magic gradually spread to the high-ranking people near Drakal.
Not only existing traded goods, but also beverages such as cola, fruit juice, wine, and whiskey, as well as raw materials including various textiles.
Earth-made products sold only by Hubert Trading Co., Ltd. and not found in Outerica, offered a tempting hand to them.
‘Premium works everywhere. There is no way those with wealth, who are driven by vanity and want to show off their specialness, can resist this temptation.’
That was the same even in the current situation where the war with the Immortal King was just around the corner.
A fact that proves the growth of Hubert Trading Company, which has been steadily increasing its business so far.
You wouldn’t know it existed if you didn’t even know it existed from the beginning, but when people in a similar position to you started using it one by one, you had no choice but to jump on the bandwagon, at least out of pride that you couldn’t fall behind.
‘And in order to receive goods from here, we have no choice but to cooperate with Hubert Company.’
Bait using special products such as luxury goods from the Earth and minerals from the northern mountains, and strong connections through various avatars.
That was the driving force that raised the current Hubert Company to the status of the best company on the continent, both in name and reality.
In addition, by using the “Dragon Lair”, which can be entered and exited at any time and has a large area, as a transit point, mass transportation of goods between dimensions could be easily carried out, so it did not require much effort.
Thanks to “Savior,” I was able to pass through the previously tight customs, where there weren’t many items I could bring, which also played a big part.
‘very good. The speed at which karma accumulates is no joke.’
In his office at the company’s headquarters building in Tarak, Hubert nodded with satisfaction.
While doing business, he swept up a huge amount of gold coins from all over the continent, but that was just incidental income.
What is truly important to you is the enormous karma that accrues in the process.
The changes that occurred and the resulting influence that occurred while distributing Earth’s goods around the world were truly enormous.
Of course, most of the goods provided in the process were consumed as luxury goods by the vested class, so the impact on the common people, who make up the vast majority of the world, was not that great… ‘If we could properly
popularize the earth’s medicine… ..’
Hubert, who was tapping the paper with the fountain pen in his hand, stroked his chin.
In fact, the alchemists hired separately for that purpose had already begun a suitability test.
I didn’t know that if I carelessly sprayed medicine here, it might cause side effects that don’t exist on Earthlings.
‘There’s no need to go to specialized medicine. Even simple household medicines or vitamins could have a huge impact on society as a whole.’
Medical practice in this world relied heavily on mystery.
Holy magic used by priests, magic by wizards, potions made by alchemists, etc.
Naturally, it was difficult for the poor to receive medical care, so they had no choice but to rely on folk remedies that were no different from superstitions.
“…Still, we should proceed with the utmost caution.”
Since pharmaceuticals are not just luxury items, they need to be handled with care.
If all goes as planned, it goes without saying that the impact will be great, but you never know what kind of unexpected accident could suddenly occur.
He wouldn’t be able to provide medicine forever.
“Okay then, next time…”
The moment Hubert had roughly organized his thoughts, he put down the fountain pen in his hand.
“Are you Hubert?”
An unfamiliar man’s voice flowed into his ears.
Inside the office where he was alone just a moment ago.
“……”
Hubert’s eyes narrowed.
At the same time, “Bright Scenery Index” and “Nervousness” were activated, and the surrounding time stretched out.
A feeling that expands in an instant and sweeps over all directions.
But there was still no sign of being caught.
“It’s pretty good. Does this mean that he is not an ordinary merchant? But it’s useless to this body.”
And then I heard words that seemed to mock myself one after another.
As if he could clearly see what he had just done.
‘how?’
However, Hubert’s spinning thoughts did not stop.
Using his enormous mental power as fuel, he quickly grasped the situation while time almost stopped.
‘This is the headquarters building of Hubert Corporation. You can’t dare to invade at a certain level.’
This building was literally like an iron fortress.
The barrier that used all kinds of mysteries, including magic, alchemy, and incantations, was Yakgwa.
In addition to an organ that imitates Jinbeop, there is even a deadly poison and trap curse that will send you straight to the underworld the moment you pass by it.
Above all, didn’t he have hybrid vampires as escorts 24 hours a day?
‘Besides, the person in charge is a vampire of the highest class, Jinhyeolui.’
The power balance between Earth and this world, where people who had overcome all kinds of hardships while receiving system corrections from numerous worlds, gathered together, was on a different level.
Currently, the estimated number of transcendental people on Earth is over 100.
There are so many that the name Transcendence is meaningless, but there are less than five Transcendents in Outerica, let alone ten.
Of course, the number may increase if dragons hiding somewhere are included, but it is true that there is a limit to that.
‘In a place like this, the ultimate powerhouse is practically the strongest in the human world. However, if you are skilled enough to avoid the attention of such people and hide here….’
A strong man who has reached transcendence.
It was also an unknown opponent that even he himself, who had all of Outerica at his fingertips, could not understand.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind. Have you finally figured out the situation?”
At that time, an unfamiliar voice was heard again, as if it already knew what he was thinking.
It was a voice that was intimidating just hearing it because of its strange energy, but Hubert, who was immune to mental attacks, paid no heed to such shallow tactics and calmly opened his mouth.
“…Okay, thank you for waiting. So, for what reason did you come to me without an appointment? I don’t know if you know, but I’m a very busy person. “There are countless people who make appointments and wait weeks in advance just to have a word with me.”
“Hoo? “It’s pretty good too.”
The other person let out an exclamation as if he was interested in that calm answer.
It seems surprising that his attitude does not change even in the face of someone who could take his life at any time.
However, the other person seemed to have no intention of wasting any more time here and got straight to the point.
Suddenly
something fell on the desk where all kinds of documents were placed.
Although my senses were still at their peak, I could not feel any signs or presence.
An object that suddenly appeared as if it had been there from the beginning.
That was something Hubert was also very familiar with.
“Where did this stuff come from?”
There was no way I didn’t know.
This is because it has been distributed countless times to high-ranking people here for business purposes.
A high-quality lighter made entirely of metal and with ‘MADE IN USA’ engraved on one side along with various English sentences.
It must have been popular in this world as well, and it was very well received by the gentlemen.
As I thought about that for a moment, an invisible hand tapped the fountain pen on the desk.
Naturally, it was also an Earth product.
As an Earthling, the most comfortable products for me had to be Earth-made products with ergonomic design.
“Are you from Earth?”
And the other person seemed to have reached a similar conclusion.
‘Anyway, Hubert is an easy person. I’m sad about this, so I need to come up with some other solution.’
Hubert didn’t bother to reply to the confidence in the other person’s voice.
They just take their time and carefully use the means they have secretly prepared.
“Analysis” can be said to be the best skill he has.
And “limit breakthrough” that will amplify that performance.
Immediately after that,
the flow of logic and cause and effect that filled the world that did not fit the body of Hubert caught my eye in an instant.
At the same time, the pain that felt like my brain was melting began to stimulate the “Mind Herb” incessantly.
He couldn’t pay attention to anything else anymore.
‘…is that?’
What is reflected in the eyes that overcomes the limit and allows you to see even things that should not be visible.
Although it had the appearance of a human, the two horns sticking out on either side of its forehead…
no matter which way you looked at it, it had the shape of a devil.