A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 52

“The Royal Room is this way.”
Following the inn staff’s guidance, I arrived at the Royal Room.
Far more people were waiting here than the staff members themselves.
They were all members of the Seo-gwang Guild.
Unlike the others, a man with a dragon emblem on his shoulder board approached Sung-chul (Elder).
“Nyx. Is this the person?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
Judging by his apparent rank, even Sung-chul (Elder) was being quite cautious.
The man nodded briefly, then greeted me with a respectful bow.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Yoon Sung-ho, and I’ll be participating in this negotiation. I serve as both the leader of Support Team 3 and the chief attorney of the Seogwang Law Firm. I go by the nickname Hoin, so please feel free to call me by that.”
There was indeed a reason why Sung-chul (Elder) had been so cautious.
Even in that brief introduction, I instinctively sensed countless calculated moves hidden beneath the surface, all designed to assess me.
This gaze—it was the gaze of a hunter observing its prey.
“Pleased to meet you, Hoin. I’m honored to participate in such an important gathering. Please call me Kael.”
In reality, I might have been uncertain, but within the game, I possessed a certain confidence.
After all, I had once reigned as an absolute being.
That’s why I asked to be called Kael.
The identity of Lee Seo-jun wouldn’t necessarily be an advantage in this situation.
“Very well, Kael. Shall we head inside?”
“Of course.”
Even so, he occupied a subtle position as the leader of Support Team 3, which received relatively less spotlight within Seo-gwang.
This person must be overwhelmingly more powerful in reality.
Zing.
A magic circle was inscribed on the room’s door.
Watching Hoin channel mana directly into it, it seemed certain he had indeed changed his class to a support-type job.
“By any chance, Hoin—are you a Buffer?”
“…Yes. That’s correct.”
“Thank you.”
“I beg your pardon?”
A social apex predator and a Buffer class to boot?
This man truly deserved VIP status.
Of course, I wouldn’t make the reckless move of immediately requesting a friend addition.
After all, I already had Bella, a capable Buffer with whom I maintained an excellent relationship.
Hoin was someone from whom I could receive help in reality instead.
If I concluded my business with Seo-gwang well, a natural connection would form.
Besides, I now possessed sufficiently generous commission fees.
This is precisely why one must observe people once they’ve accumulated wealth.
“Shall we proceed inside?”
“Ahem. Yes.”
Perhaps I’d succeeded in seizing the initiative to some degree.
At least the preliminary skirmish had gone smoothly.
Thus we entered the Royal Room where the negotiation table awaited.
“….”
It was a world apart from the room I’d been using.
One corner of the room even held what was unmistakably an expensive glass bottle filled with water.
It was likely the Fountain water from each Beginner Village that had been mentioned earlier.
“Welcome, Kael.”
“Hello.”
The only person who addressed me from the head seat was neither Hoin nor Sung-chul (Elder)—just one man.
“I’m Cheon Sang-hyun, representing this negotiation. I’m the Vice Master of the Seo-gwang Guild.”
Vice Master.
In other words, Vice Guild Master.
The second-in-command of the guild had come forward.
I had no shame to ask “Where is the Guild Master, and why are you here instead?” so I decided to simply listen.
After all, a Vice Guild Master of Seo-gwang was an extraordinarily high position.
“You’ve discovered quite a remarkable dungeon. A magic stone dungeon that yields large magic stones despite goblins appearing.”
“Yes. I was fortunate.”
“As you’re aware, Seo-gwang wishes to monopolize that dungeon. And we intend to conduct a transaction with you, the original discoverer, to secure the legitimacy of that monopoly.”
There was one contradiction in Cheon Sang-hyun’s words.
The owner of the hidden dungeon I’d discovered was the Belhard Kingdom.
“Without going through the Belhard Kingdom?”
“Of course we plan to negotiate with the Belhard Kingdom as well. That side presents no real issues. And that’s also thanks to you, Kael.”
“Me?”
“Yes. The hidden classes ‘Double Agent’ and ‘Turncoat.’ Seo-gwang has secured both of these professions. The conquest of Belhard has essentially already begun.”
Asking further would cross a line.
The conquest itself was Seo-gwang’s internal policy.
Rather, since the other side said there were no issues, it truly meant there were none.
If there were issues, they lay in my negotiation.
“Please, sit down.”
“Ah. Yes.”
Overwhelmed by Cheon Sang-hyun’s presence, I found myself standing and asking questions, answering without realizing it.
Everyone, including Sung-chul (Elder) and Hoin, was already seated.
“….”
Only now did I notice that Cha Eun-kyung and Eden were here as well.
The upper echelon of Seo-gwang had converged in this Beginner Village.
At this level, the Guild Master must be making separate moves elsewhere to divert outside attention.
This was hardly a casual gathering.
There was no time to concern myself with the refreshments laid out on the table, and I needed to do my best to elevate the value of the Dungeon.
“This is an unprecedented discovery of a Dungeon. So many Guild members have shown interest that we’ve been forced to assemble like this. If it’s inconvenient, I could hand it over to someone else, but…”
Unlike Hoin, whom I’d encountered earlier, the eyes, expressions, and atmosphere of the others were quite favorable.
I wondered if any of them had acquired the Apostate or Double Agent classes.
Moreover, the Guild members who were clearly dark mages were sending me bright, eager gazes, so there was no one who seemed uncomfortable.
“It’s fine.”
“Thank you. Then shall we first verify the item you requested?”
“Yes.”
What I’d requested was simple.
Water from the Fountain in the Beginner Village, excluding China and Liam.
It was contained in the elegant bottle I’d seen before.
“May I examine it?”
“Of course.”
Ordinary water.
In reality, it would be material I could easily manipulate.
But water in this world was special.
Not only Fountain water, but even river water possessed unique properties.
And all information about water was displayed through the status window.

[Eternity increased by 1.]

Therefore, the water here could only be genuine.

[Active Buffs]
[Pelton’s Eternally Undrying Water]
[Health Recovery Speed Slightly Increased]
[Duration: 10 minutes]

The water’s inherent performance wasn’t particularly impressive, so I felt no need to convert it to permanent duration.
However, there was no reason to leave the buff slot empty either.

[Pelton’s Eternally Undrying Water]
[Health Recovery Speed Slightly Increased]
[Duration: ∞]

As my stamina recovery speed accumulated layer upon layer, I would eventually possess regenerative capabilities comparable to a troll’s.
Before me lay countless bottles of water, spread out in an impressive display.
“I’ll try three more.”
“Of course. As many as you’d like.”

[Active Buffs]

[Melbourne’s Inexhaustible Water]
[Stamina Recovery Speed Slightly Increased]
[Duration: ∞]

[Kanin’s Inexhaustible Water]
[Stamina Recovery Speed Slightly Increased]
[Duration: ∞]

[Anuram’s Inexhaustible Water]
[Stamina Recovery Speed Slightly Increased]
[Duration: ∞]

The items were flawless.
This was a perfect transaction.

[Name: Kael]
[Class: Eternal Adventurer (Hidden)]
[Level: 59]
[Unused Points: 0]
[Strength: 46 Agility: 71 Stamina: 50 Wisdom: 35 Luck: 49]
[Eternity: 12 Mana: 3]

Before I knew it, my Eternal Adventurer level had reached double digits.
What made this experience even more precious was that I’d gained these levels without sacrificing any stats whatsoever.
Yet dozens of water bottles still remained before me.
“They’re all genuine. It must have been an odd request, but thank you for accommodating it.”
“Not at all. I gathered the water as you requested, without any burden. We have Guild members stationed in each village.”
Had Seo-gwang been aiming for world domination from the very beginning?
I didn’t know why they were scattered across the Beginner Village.
Or perhaps they’d personally gone out of their way, but readily accepted such a trivial request.
Regardless of the truth, the fact that the Fountain water was genuine and that I could secure dozens of Eternal Adventurer levels remained unchanged.
“Yes. So, what price range are you anticipating for the Dungeon?”
“We’ve appraised the Hidden Dungeon discovered by Kael at 6.2 billion won. Of course, that’s the cash value, and the funds can be deposited over several months.”
6.2 billion.
Just hearing the number made my hands tremble.
It was incomparable to a lottery jackpot, and even if paid over several months, it far exceeded an annuity lottery in scale.
Having been offered such an absurd amount, I decided not to be greedy.
Rather, I needed to pursue safety.
“Is it possible to receive it in in-game currency?”
“Yes, of course. We can split it between cash and in-game currency, or alternatively provide treasures we currently hold within the Guild.”
What would happen if I accepted the full 6.2 billion right here?
What would be different between who I am now and who I’d be after receiving that money?
‘That ultra-luxury premium residence in Pyeongchang-dong that appeared on variety shows once—how much was it? I think it was around 7 billion even ten years ago.’
With 6.2 billion, I still couldn’t afford the finest house I envisioned.
As a result, I couldn’t envision a positive future.
I harbored a dream of acquiring even greater wealth and prestige.
“You seem quite interested in the treasures?”
I felt Cheon Sang-hyun’s eyes gleam for a moment.
It was probably the intuitive domain of my character.
I decided not to miss this feeling.
Fortunately, Cha Eun-kyung’s expression was also brightening.
“Ah yes. Weapons, armor, accessories. Beyond that, we possess various artifacts we’ve secured. Of course, most were discovered from places other than Meriam Kingdom Territory.”
It seemed I’d given a decent answer.
Multiple paths of future possibility unfurled before me.
What did I need in this moment?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure about armor.
It boasted such excellent performance that I could feel how much care Bella had put into it.
Moreover, I was reaping substantial benefits from the “Contempt for the Weak” trait, so there were no major losses.
The one thing I found lacking was a weapon.
The Mauro wooden sword was still a sufficiently good weapon, but against monsters with powerful durability, its attack power felt inadequate.
‘What if, right here, I wielded a weapon worth hundreds of millions of won.’
That was the moment the answer became clear.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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