After executing the electronic servant.
Razix began sweeping and cleaning the spacious apartment like a fish in water.
With a determination to not allow even a speck of dust.
The top-floor penthouse also had a small garden on the rooftop.
Before anyone noticed, he had gone out to the garden and neatly trimmed the branches with garden shears he pulled from his backpack.
Gyeon Dallae watched him with a pleased expression.
“He must be happy with his elevated status.”
“…Pardon? Elevated status?”
“He’s become a servant in a noble household. Isn’t that every servant’s dream? This maiden is also pleased.”
So that’s what she meant.
Well, compared to the officetel, this penthouse is indeed a noble household.
He too once desperately wanted to be a servant for a big corporation… no, a noble household.
“I thought you meant his rank had been elevated. From R to SR.”
“One cannot measure a servant by such trivial ranks. Observe the SSR-ranked Kozak and Gobang,”
Turning to look at them.
Gobang was in the kitchen.
Fascinated by the faucet that automatically released water when hands were placed near it, he kept putting his hands in and out.
Kozak was lounging on the spacious luxury sofa, leaning on his arm.
He was flipping through TV channels from 0 to 999 with the remote control, yawning repeatedly.
When his eyes met Juhyeok’s,
“No dinner party today?”
“My, my…, tsk, tsk, tsk, see, Young Master? What use is being SSR-ranked when one doesn’t even know a servant’s proper duties?”
Kozak seemed to have quickly adapted to the new home.
“Of course we’re having dinner.”
“Hehehehehe, that’s our Summoner Bong. Shall we order delivery?”
“Come on, should we order delivery food on a day like this? We should go with room service.”
He already had something in mind.
The luxury apartment’s concierge service.
The basic maintenance fee alone is 3 million won.
These places have their own restaurant system, even providing breakfast service in the morning.
Of course, room service is available too.
“From now on, our dinners will always be room service.”
“Yay! Summoner Bong is the best!”
Juhyeok opened the service guide placed on the living room table.
Looking at the room service menu items.
He was speechless.
There was no choice.
‘What kind of menu is…’
The prices were astronomical.
30,000 won for a plate of organic vegetable salad, 60,000 won for a plate of pasta, 150,000 won for a plate of tenderloin steak,
Even a boiled egg cost 15,000 won each.
‘What, did a phoenix lay these eggs?’
Gobang alone would eat about 300 eggs.
And he could easily devour 100 plates of steak.
“Why are you troubled?”
“There’s n-not really any menu that appeals to me. The food doesn’t even look appetizing.”
Tak!
Juhyeok closed the service guide.
“Oh no no no, then we shouldn’t order. Food is very important. There’s even a saying that the Black Tower is best viewed after a meal.”
“For once, Sir Kozak is right. A servant works best when well-fed.”
“The warrior will eat anything. Cheap and plentiful.”
Juhyeok nodded as well.
“Let’s order delivery. That would taste much better.”
“Yes, sir!”
Anyway, this place has everything one could need.
He could move in right away.
This apartment’s price is approximately 15 billion won.
Including acquisition tax and one year’s maintenance fee.
When he asked why it was so cheap,
He was told it was based on the government-assessed land value, not the market value.
Since the government-assessed value is set by the state, they had no choice but to sell at that price.
He knew it was just an excuse, but well, he should accept this much.
In any case, there’s no need to drag things out.
Tomorrow, he’ll move out of the officetel.
And diligently collect basilisk hides.
Though he doesn’t know how much the hides will sell for, he needs to secure inventory to transfer immediately when needed.
And from the day after moving.
Juhyeok and his summoned beings conducted repeated conquests of the 45th floor.
***
Go Yeon-ha of HG Fashion visited the Awakened Management Office.
It had been three days since she received the basilisk leather supply proposal.
“Excuse me, Deputy Chief.”
“Welcome, CEO Go Yeon-ha.”
After exchanging greetings,
“So? Have you reached a conclusion regarding the leather’s value assessment?”
For the evaluation, Go Yeon-ha had taken leather samples and even photos of the basilisks three days ago.
But,
“To be honest, we couldn’t find an answer either.”
“Hmm, it seems valuing it is difficult.”
“But I have a proposal for you, which requires some preliminary explanation….”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
What kind of proposal?
“Taking alligator leather as an example, typically the skin of about 3 alligators is needed to make one high-end bag.”
“Just for one bag?”
“Yes. When processing alligator leather, parts that can’t be used for products are cut away. There are quality differences, and above all, the pattern and design are important.”
“Ah! I understand what you mean.”
“Of course, basilisks are several times larger than alligators, and since patterns and designs cover their entire body, there won’t be as many parts to cut away.”
That’s obvious.
How could alligators even compare to basilisks?
“We plan to create products in three lines using this leather.”
“Three lines…”
“An affordable mid-to-low price line that’s accessible to people, a high-quality line that requires a significant decision to purchase, and a high-end luxury line that not just anyone can afford.”
“Each with different leather quality, I assume.”
“Yes, the high-end luxury products will incorporate Rainbow Basilisk leather.”
Go Yeon-ha picked up the teacup in front of her, moistened her throat, and continued.
“So, I was thinking, rather than us paying for the materials, what if we split the final product sales profits at an appropriate ratio?”
“Ah!”
That’s a good idea.
After all, it’s difficult to determine the leather’s value.
Dividing the final profits might be the easiest and most reasonable solution.
Go Yeon-ha briefed Jeon Kwang-il on her proposal.
Accepting what could be accepted, modifying what needed to be modified.
And the conclusion they reached.
First, create a new corporation and brand.
Brand name: Wildflower&Basili.
From the total sales of Wildflower&Basili products, deduct the costs for leather processing, product manufacturing, labor, distribution, equipment, marketing… everything.
And the production cost settlement would be audited by the Management Office.
What remains is net profit after taxes.
“The Management Office takes 80% of the final net profit. How does that sound?”
80%, meaning HG Fashion would take 20%…
“Let’s make it 95%. We’re talking about net profit distribution, not gross sales.”
“5% is too…”
“You’ll be selling other things too. Plus, the brand value of Wildflower will also increase.”
“We need something left over for facility investments too…”
Jeon Kwang-il casually dropped a bombshell.
“Wildflower&Wy.”
“…Pardon?”
What is he talking about?
Wildflower&Wy?
“I wonder what ‘Wy’ could be short for?”
“Ah!”
“Instead of Wildflower&Wy, it could be Ilseong&Wy, or Daehyun&Wy…”
Holy hell!
“W-Wy… Are you saying wyvern leather is possible?”
“Absolutely possible. When wyvern leather comes in later, we can renegotiate the profit-sharing ratio for Wildflower&Basili.”
Go Yeon-ha quickly responded.
“Yes, we’ll take 5%.”
Only a fool would hesitate on this.
Besides, Ilseong&Wy, Daehyun&Wy?
The very thought is terrifying.
Jeon Kwang-il was satisfied too.
If the net profit was 100,000 won, the Management Office, or rather Player Bong, would receive 95,000 won for the leather, and HG Fashion would get 5,000 won.
HG Fashion shouldn’t have major complaints either.
It’s net profit distribution after all.
They’d also develop and sell accompanying items.
For example, selling clothes that match the basilisk leather bags.
They’ll work to maximize profits too.
Plus, he had dangled the Wildflower&Wy carrot.
“Is there anything else I can help with?”
“There is one thing.”
“Please tell me.”
“We processed the sample leather you gave us through chemical treatment. It took some time, but it was adequate as material for products.”
“That’s good.”
“But cutting and crafting it is extremely difficult. Even with just an A4-sized piece, it doesn’t cut well with regular tools. So we need tools mixed with tower metal. Many of them.”
Tower metal.
It’s as rare as the leather.
Perhaps even rarer.
Players occasionally bring it back as ingots from tower conquest rewards, but honestly, there’s not even enough for making weapons.
“I understand. I’ll inquire at the craft workshop. And let’s finalize the contract after the Director approves it.”
“Yes.”
Now all that’s left is to make and sell the products.
The only downside is that money won’t come in immediately.
They need to get permission.
Though he told Go Yeon-ha it was the Director’s approval, in reality, it was from someone else.
***
They had been conquering only the 45th floor for four days.
Entering the tower twice a day.
It might seem tiring and time-consuming, but it wasn’t at all.
First, they didn’t need to worry about achieving S++ grade conquests.
They were just repeating conquests they’d already accomplished.
The amount of leather they could take in one go was 6 regular pieces and 1 boss piece, totaling 7 pieces.
Twice a day meant 14 pieces.
Every other day, Manager Lee Min-ah would come to collect 28 pieces with her inventory, and that was it. Not difficult at all.
If there was any challenge in this process, it was meeting Manager Lee Min-ah—she talked so much that he almost died trying to respond.
Anyway, after finishing the conquest and resting at home, he received a call from Jeon Kwang-il.
It was about the leather supply contract.
“Oh, 95% for me? Didn’t they call me a thief?”
- They accepted it readily.
Is the HG Fashion CEO a pushover?
“Well, I have no complaints. Rather, I’m grateful. All I have to do is supply the leather.”
They sell leather products and share the profits.
95% of the net profit.
Money earned while doing nothing.
- I understand. Then we’ll proceed with drafting the contract with HG Fashion. Just to clarify, Player Bong Juhyeok’s name won’t appear on it. Outwardly, it’s a contract between the Management Office and HG Fashion.
“That’s even better. And don’t forget to take one piece of leather for the Management Office’s share each time you collect.”
- Thank you very much. Oh! And there’s something I need to ask… I’d like you to suspend leather collection for a while.
“What?”
Stop skinning the leather?
“Why?”
- Let me explain. First of all…
Jeon Kwang-il gave two reasons for suspending leather collection.
First.
The leather processing facilities weren’t fully equipped yet.
So they couldn’t process any of the incoming volume.
Second.
Scarcity value.
If too much leather accumulates, its value will inevitably decrease.
It’s better to supply slightly less than demand.
Juhyeok agreed.
There’s no point in continuing to collect if they can’t process or monetize it immediately—it would only decrease the item’s value.
After gathering his summoned beings and telling them about the call with Jeon Kwang-il,
“I knew this would happen. Thanks to this, only our worker Razix has labored in vain. How frustrating it must be for you, Young Master. This maiden can only feel sorry.”
Gyeon Dallae glared at Kozak as she said this.
“Money should be flowing into the account, you said? That’s what I desperately wanted too. But now the money is tied up. Who knows when it will be converted to cash.”
“Hoeng!”
“How will you take responsibility? All that effort wasted. We should have collected and sold magic stones instead.”
“Hoeng?”
“You were so confident during the briefing, but you don’t even understand how production, distribution, and sales work.”
“Hoeee!”
Kozak’s face turned completely red.
He kept glancing at Juhyeok, asking for help.
After all, Juhyeok had approved the briefing.
In truth, no major mistake had been made.
It just meant the money would come in later.
Eventually, it would come if they waited.
It was simply that Gyeon Dallae, who had been looking for Kozak’s mistakes all along, saw this as an opportunity to tear into him.
But seeing Kozak’s desperate gaze as he was backed into a corner,
How could he ignore it?
“Come now, what’s done is done, so let’s not discuss it further. Instead, shall we try racing to the 50th floor? Let’s start conquering the 46th floor tomorrow.”
“T-that’s good. I agree.”
Kozak responded as if he’d been waiting for this.
“Don’t worry. This SSR-ranked Kozak, Summoner Bong’s right-hand man and loyal confidant, will finish it with S++ grade.”
“Sounds good. I’m counting on you. We’ll start conquering the 46th floor tomorrow. But! We’ll conquer the 50th floor only after the random summoning cooldown resets.”
Kozak raised his hand as if remembering something.
“…Um, sh-should I do a briefing?”
“No. Please don’t.”
“Yes, sir!”
Gyeon Dallae and Gobang agreed too.
“As expected of the wise Young Master. This maiden also agrees.”
“The warrior agrees too. I’ll do whatever I’m told.”
Then,
“Hoeng?”
Razix also raised his hand high.
“Speak, Laborer Razix.”
“Skin scorpion exoskeleton shells?”
Hmm, what to do?
Exoskeletons also need processing, just like the leather.
But maybe they could take a few as samples.
“Just skin one or two. We don’t need many.”
“Hoeh, yes.”
And so, the conquest of unconquered upper floors was decisively set.
***
[Entering the 46th floor of Korea’s Black Tower.]
Floors 46 to 50 are the giant scorpion zone.
Each floor has scorpions with different attributes.
The environment is all the same.
Bald mountains with not a single blade of grass, plains that are all desert, and house-sized rocks scattered here and there.
What kinds of scorpions would appear?
Poison is standard equipment, and their attributes are determined by the type of poison they carry.
Neurotoxin, hemorrhagic poison, hallucinogenic poison, acidic poison, and the King scorpion carrying all these poisons.
This is the section where healing potions are consumed the most.
The outcome of the conquest depends on how many potions you have secured.
[46th Floor Mission: Eliminate 15 Paralysis Scorpions.]
[Completion Time Limit: Within 13 hours.]
[Failure Conditions: Death or mission abandonment]
They have poison in their tails, in their pincers.
They even spit poison-mixed saliva from their mouths.
“Those scorpion bastards, they spit saliva. Get hit and you’re paralyzed. If paralyzed, you can’t move your body. So…”
“Should I stay out of it?”
“You’re so wise. Summoner Bong is like a genius.”
“I can’t do that though? What about Gobang and Kozak? They’ll get paralyzed just the same.”
“Gobang is immune to paralysis poison. Look at that stupidly thick skin. And I’m an expert on poisons. Even if hit, I can easily expel it.”
Gyeon Dallae nodded.
Razix also nodded… before rolling over.
Poor Razix, sad because he has no neck.
“…”
Just wait and see.
Whether I move or not.
The conquest began.
Ttagagaga, kkadeudeudeu,
A blue giant Paralysis Scorpion appeared, raising its pincers and tail.
Gobang truly was unaffected by the poison.
Even when his entire body was soaked with saliva spat from the scorpion’s mouth, far from being paralyzed, he moved even faster.
Gobang tore off the scorpion’s pincer and used it to beat its head.
Ppaak!
Kozak, hiding cunningly above Gobang to avoid poison, would deliver the finishing blow when the opportunity arose.
Gyeon Dallae’s buffs were as effective as ever.
But…
“Huh?”
Razix, this guy disappeared again.
What if he gets covered in poison,
Just then!
Turning to look.
Razix was already holding a pickaxe and diligently breaking rocks in front of a large boulder with his short arms.
And from between the rocks, he picked up a lump twice the size of an adult’s fist and put it in his backpack.
I think I know what it is.
“Ore, huh?”
The scorpion zone.
Besides exoskeleton shells, there were other things to collect.