God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 59: Episode 12 _ This Makes Him a Model Citizen (2)
2.
"What... is that? It’s terrifying," Yeseul murmured.
"Does the 60% get doubled?" Hyeonsu wondered aloud.
"What’s the exact percentage, Simin?" Seolah asked.
Ignoring his confident pitch, the clients peppered him with questions. Their eyes screamed, ’I have to have this!’ It seemed he wouldn’t have to worry about finding work.
’Heh. They’re already completely hooked,’ Simin thought with a smirk.
"Wow. Those stats are insane. Absolutely insane." Yeseul stated.
"With this, we could just focus on hunting without needing any other tricks," Hyeonsu said.
"This is a game-changer. Where did you get the ’Buff the Buff’ ring? It seems like it was made for the Ring of Blessing," Seolah asked.
Ah, that. ’Some psycho made it just to screw with me,’ he thought, but saying that out loud would only lower his value. This was a wage negotiation, after all, and the conversation from here on out was critical.
"Let me run the numbers," he said.
They had agreed on how to use the Ring of Blessing over drinks, but they’d decided to discuss the usage fee later, just in case. He had planned to think it over a bit more, but the ’Buff the Buff’ ring had already laid out a clear path for him.
"Hmm."
To determine his own value, he first had to calculate just how incredible the bonus was. So, for the first time, he tallied the total experience bonus. He hated thinking about a bonus that gave him, the wearer, not a single percentage point, but he had to do the math.
’The base option is 60%, plus a 1% bonus for each person in the aura, so that’s another 3%. Assuming we’re fighting monsters ten levels higher, that’s another 5%. And if I add the 10% effect from it being a Legendary-grade item...’
Wait, 68% plus 7% made 75%. And with ’Buff the Buff’ increasing that by 120%, it came out to a staggering 165% bonus experience. It was practically magic—earn 10 EXP and get an extra 16 on top. The terrifying power of the Ring of Blessing made it possible to hunt in places where the bonus experience far outweighed the base amount.
After finishing his calculations, Han Simin looked at the three of them with an empty expression. He shouldn’t have done the math. To think they would receive such a broken effect while he got nothing! A 165% bonus was already mind-boggling, but his own +550% experience penalty was just nauseating. He didn’t even have the courage to hunt anymore.
He was supposed to unseal his Legendary Hammer’s second stage at level fifty, but he had all but given up. Maybe he could somehow manage to hit fifty, but one hundred? One hundred fifty? To have such a broken item and be unable to unseal its full potential would be the regret of a lifetime. Normally, he would have pulled all-nighters for a year to level up, but a 550% penalty was beyond human endurance.
The only way was to get power-leveled by the imperial knights or lure high-level NPCs to his territory, and that was only possible after he developed his dirt-poor land. For now, he was out of options.
"Haaaah."
’Face reality, Simin,’ he told himself.
"The total is 165%," he announced.
They gasped.
"Wow."
"Let’s go hunt right now!" Yeseul cheered.
It was an item that made him more miserable, the happier everyone around him was.
"My fee is hourly. $300 per hour."
They gasped again. It was a bold declaration. The smiles vanished from their faces, but they didn’t argue. The price was strangely convincing.
"It’s expensive, but..." Seolah began.
"For 165%..." Yeseul added.
"If we hunt twenty hours a day, that’s $180,000 a month," Hyeonsu remarked.
"But we’ll be able to pull way ahead," Seolah countered.
"What should we do?" Yeseul asked.
Simin waited patiently for their discussion to end. The number might have seemed random, but he had agonized over it the entire way back. He considered the ever-growing value of Fantastic World, the rising levels of its players, the current price of Unique-grade items, and the stress players felt about leveling. One hundred eighty thousand dollars a month for twenty hours a day was a lot, but the top 0.01% of players in this game stood to make far more.
Hitting that sweet spot in his pricing was crucial. The fact that their conversation was dragging on suggested he’d chosen well.
"Alright," Seolah said after a long discussion, nodding. "It’s a burden, but if you always give us priority, we’re more than willing to pay."
It was a conclusion reached not through friendship, but cold, hard calculation.
"Of course. It’s good for me if you guys get stronger," Simin replied cheerfully.
Where else in the world could he find such a wonderful guild of suckers? Besides, these were players destined for greatness. As long as they kept hiring him, he was more than happy to oblige. They shook hands, sealing the deal.
"We’ll draw up the contract in the real world," Seolah said.
"Sounds good. Just give me a call."
Even if it was for a game, a contract was essential when hundreds of thousands of dollars were involved. After meticulously settling the details, Simin packed his things. He had already gathered the necessary supplies; all that was left was to hunt. The same went for the Specialists.
With hearts full of excitement, they headed toward a new hunting ground. It felt like they could do anything, like they could finally overcome their lagging levels.
"Oh, one more thing!" Simin called out. "This should be obvious, but just to avoid any misunderstanding, I meant that the price is per person."
The glares that shot his way were filled with resentment.
* * *
Even for rich kids, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars was a heavy burden. To be precise, their parents were the rich ones, and while they had received plenty of assets, there was still a limit. So, while their decision might have seemed easy, they, too, were fully prepared. They would get back what they invested. They were especially determined since they hadn’t bought the Ring of Blessing with their own money. It was essentially a pay-by-the-hour cash item—a sunk cost they could never recoup.
"We’re here," Seolah announced.
"What level are the monsters?" Simin asked.
"Level forty-five. I deliberately chose a slightly higher level," she explained with a resolute look as she sent the party invitation.
It wasn’t the most efficient choice, but the more difficult the hunt, the greater the bonus experience would be. Plus, these monsters had relatively low health and defense.
"I’ll start the timer once the hunt begins. Breaks are included. When you’re done, I’ll bill for the full hours used and carry the rest over to next time," Simin explained the rules. He had no intention of taking their expensive money for nothing. He would deliver what they paid for.
As he took out his hammer, a hopeful look appeared on their faces.
"Are you going to hunt with us?" Yeseul asked.
"Me? Why?"
"Come on, isn’t there a ’hunt together’ service? We’re VVIP customers, aren’t we?"
"That’s true," Simin mused. "Now that I think about it, that’s not a bad idea. It gets boring just watching you hunt. And with my gear, I could smash these level forty-five monsters in no time."
"Right? Right? You should hunt with us when you have time," Yeseul urged, moving closer as she saw him wavering. Simin’s items spoke for his skill; if he joined them, their hunting speed would skyrocket.
"Alright," Simin said.
"Really?"
"Yep. I’ll enthusiastically accept your suggestion and add a special service."
He went on, "The Hunting Helper Service! Han Simin, with his +15 full set and +13 Legendary weapon, at your service! A tenfold hunting speed, guaranteed! A special chance offered only to customers who’ve added the leeching option! For the low price of $300! Don’t miss out!"
’Wow. To think of all that in such a short time. I’m a genius,’ he praised himself.
In contrast to his self-admiration, the Specialists simply ignored him. Simin hadn’t expected them to agree anyway, so he moved on nonchalantly. The money he was getting from the three of them was more than enough. Besides, the "hunting service," despite the grand sales pitch, was a lot of work. As boring as it was, there was no comparison between lying down and watching and actually having to move your body to hunt.
"It’s better for me if I don’t. It’s not like my level goes up anyway," he muttered. Considering his 550% experience penalty, he was already being generous just by being there. "Let’s just get to hunting."
’Well, they’ll call if they need me later,’ he figured. The party, with their leech in tow, entered the vast plains.
3.
The imperial knights returned safely to the Imperial Palace, their once-spotless armor and keen-edged swords now thoroughly filthy.
"We have returned from carrying out Your Majesty’s command," the Knight Commander reported.
"Well done," the Emperor replied. This was an unusual sight, so he had to ask. "Did you enter the secret tomb?"
"No, Your Majesty. As you commanded, we only escorted him to the entrance and stood by."
"And yet you have so many minor wounds."
"We did some hunting with him."
"Oh? Hunting, you say?" The Emperor’s interest was piqued by the honest answer. His knights, the proudest on the entire continent, went hunting? Why?
"We learned that it is possible to grow through hunting."
"That is hardly a new discovery."
"Yes, but with the help of the artifact he wears, we were able to achieve visible growth."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. So, after he finished his business, we asked for a moment of his time and received his help." The knight’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke. He could not lie before the Emperor, but if he were to be punished for abandoning his pride as a knight, he would have no excuse.
"Well done," the Emperor said, much to his relief. "I’m glad that bastard is useful for something."
"...Thank you." Fortunately, the Emperor was not the sort of man to punish him for such a thing.
All that remained was to ask for permission. But the words were not easy to say. The knights’ duty was to protect the Emperor 24/7, 365 days a year. To ask for leave was to admit negligence. After a moment of hesitation, he swallowed the words. His responsibility to protect the Emperor was greater than his desire to become stronger as a knight. He would have to be satisfied with this brief stroke of luck.
"Do you wish to take the knights hunting?" the Emperor asked with a smile, having read his commander’s mind. After all the years they had spent together, how could he not know? 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
"When that man returns, I will grant you a two-week leave."
"That is too long, Your Majesty."
"He is not one to offer his services for free. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The Knight Commander knew the Emperor well. His word was final. Besides, the commander’s heart had pounded the moment he heard the offer. The realm of the Grand Sword Master, a state spoken of only in legends! Perhaps he could reach it. Not in just two weeks, of course, but still.
"Plan your training schedule well," the Emperor continued. "I’ve been displeased with the other kingdoms getting bolder lately. If you grow stronger, I will hold a knightly duel or a tournament to elevate the Empire’s prestige."
"Yes, Your Majesty. As you command."
A faint smile touched the Emperor’s lips. This was, of course, not out of pride for his son-in-law. It was more like the pleasure he felt each time he managed to pry something away from that detestable boy. Considering what had been taken from him—and calculating the theft of his greatest treasure, the Princess—he was still far from even. But from the territory to the knights, he would take things back one by one. He believed the day would come when Han Simin would tremble in rage.
"Ah! And Your Majesty. He asked me to deliver a message to you."
"Speak."
The Knight Commander delivered the message—no, Han Simin’s exact words—as the Emperor smiled satisfactorily.
The Knight Commander hesitated, trying to recall the exact phrasing. He hadn’t forgotten, but should he really be relaying this to His Majesty? Perhaps it would have been better not to bring it up. But Simin had threatened that if he didn’t deliver it, there would be no more experience bonus. He had no choice. ’He won’t kill me, will he? I’m just the messenger.’
Taking a deep breath, he recited the message.
"Your Majesty, you’re happy the knights got stronger, aren’t you? If you thought you’d get away with giving me that crappy territory, you’re absolutely vile. The day will come when I suck you dry, so you just wait. And take good care of our princess. Oh, and one more thing, since I know your type will just play dumb and try to get it for free: I’ll bill you for training the knights when we meet later. I’ll give you a discount the first time for old times’ sake, but long-term deals will be calculated separately, so think carefully. That is all."
The Emperor was silent.
"I will take my leave now."
Not daring to look at the Emperor’s face, the Knight Commander fled.
"Pfft."
In the Emperor’s office, only the sound of the Princess’s stifled laughter remained.
* * *
