A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 69

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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 69

It was a landing closer to a crash, but I suffered almost no stamina loss.
In fact, I couldn’t fathom how my defense worked, but even the carapace remained completely undamaged.
Since my body was in perfect condition, I sprinted toward the Mountain Stronghold at full speed without any maintenance.
“Arrogant bastards!”
Clang!
Combat was already underway.
Moreover, I could witness quite an intriguing scene.
The Unnamed Guest was fighting most of the Eccentric Merchant’s subordinates alone.
Clang! Clang!
“Hahahaha!”
The order I had given him was clearly to retreat.
Since there was nowhere left to flee, standing and fighting was naturally the only choice available.
Yet the Unnamed Guest’s combat prowess was at a level where retreat wasn’t even necessary.
Clang!
The Unnamed Guest’s small blade clashed against the brutishly large broadswords of the Eccentric Merchant’s subordinates.
It was the Eccentric Merchant’s subordinates—far bulkier than the Unnamed Guest—who were sent flying backward.
“Ugh! What is this, fellow countryman! This is madness!”
“Fellow countryman, you say…”
The Unnamed Guest’s expression turned frigid in an instant.
Just as the intriguing scene was about to unfold in earnest, our eyes met.
Despite my having concealed myself adequately.
Though I had anticipated it, I instinctively realized the Unnamed Guest’s level was far superior to I had imagined.
“Ha.”
The coldness vanished from the Unnamed Guest’s expression, replaced by a radiant smile.
Yet there was unmistakable killing intent emanating from him—I couldn’t have been mistaken.
“Why don’t we pause for now? Since the captain has arrived, negotiation should be possible, no?”
“…”
The Eccentric Merchant’s forces hesitated momentarily, then followed his gaze toward me.
Soon, all eyes turned in my direction.
Now I had no choice but to reveal myself.
“I wondered what the commotion was about, but we’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“Huh? Who is this person?”
The Eccentric Merchant’s thugs naturally recognized me immediately.
After all, I had showered them with enormous tips.
“Master. This person is indeed our guest.”
The Eccentric Merchant himself naturally recognized me as well.
And I still maintained a good relationship with them.
The problem was the thieves themselves.
“What on earth is happening here? I rushed over when I heard the Mountain Stronghold was under attack.”
Since this situation worked in my favor, I responded with composure.
I even added a spoonful of the victim’s expression to my demeanor.
“Ahem. Lower your blades.”
With the Eccentric Merchant’s command, the fighting ceased.
Now it was my turn to greet them.
I maintained my expression of displeasure as the wronged party.
“It’s been a while, though I never expected to meet you here.”
“I ask out of caution, but is this Mountain Stronghold truly your headquarters?”
“Headquarters? Isn’t it far too shabby for that? These are thieves I recently subjugated. First, you need to explain what this is all about.”
Though the Eccentric Merchant’s expression remained hidden behind his mask, his bewilderment was unmistakably palpable.
By revealing that these were thieves I had subjugated, I had effectively made them the property of a VIP—and he had just laid hands on them.
“Ahem. It seems a misunderstanding has arisen between us.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“Our merchant caravan was attacked by thieves. We counterattacked and pursued them to this location.”
“An attack? I never ordered any attack.”
“Is that so? Is this your first time subjugating an NPC faction?”
The Eccentric Merchant seemed to have found an opening.
Moreover, information I didn’t know was about to surface, so I decided to play along while extracting whatever knowledge the Eccentric Merchant was willing to share.
“It’s my first time with humanoid NPCs, yes. Is there something I’m doing wrong?”
“Ah, then this conversation will be easier. When subjugation is achieved through force without periodic management, loyalty continuously deteriorates.”
“Loyalty? There’s a stat for that?”
“Ah, it’s a stat that can only be confirmed with a specific emotion item. For example, this magnifying glass I obtained from the Purple Magic Tower serves the same function.”
The Eccentric Merchant handed me a small magnifying glass.
Could I view an NPC’s status window with this?
There was no reason to refuse an opportunity to use it directly.
I had the other thieves bring the Thief Leader, who was now in tatters, forward.
“Does it have a limited number of uses?”
“Yes. There are two uses remaining, but since I seem to have overstepped, I won’t charge you for it.”
“I understand. Then I’ll use just one.”
Since he didn’t explain the method of use, it seemed the magnifying glass would activate simply by holding it up to the Thief Leader.
“G-Great Chief!”
The moment I held the magnifying glass up to him, a small status window appeared.

[Name: Luman]
[Soul Force: 62]
[Loyalty: Pragmatic Obedience]

Soul Power is probably a level system.
Since NPCs created this, NPC notation standards seem to have been applied.
And loyalty was marked as ‘pragmatic obedience level’.
It was an apt description.
From the Thief Leader’s perspective, he had to preserve his life, so he would have chosen ‘pragmatic obedience’.
“Certainly, loyalty management will be necessary.”
Of course, I didn’t mention the term ‘pragmatic obedience’.
In my plan, the chief’s loyalty needed to be even lower.
“I see. Was the attack on us an independent order from this NPC?”
“Hmm.”
It depended on how the Thief Leader responded.
If I had said I ordered it here, I would have called him a liar and cut off his head.
“I didn’t order this! My subordinates acted on their own! I even joined the scene to handle the situation! This is unfair!”
Fortunately, the chief didn’t make the worst move.
Now I had something to say.
“So that’s what happened?”
“…Hmm. The thieves who first attacked us were certainly not the same ones.”
“Did you find the first attacker?”
“Yes. My deputy killed him directly.”
There weren’t many thieves left in this place.
If it weren’t for the Unnamed Guest, the remaining thieves would have been wiped out cleanly and the Mountain Stronghold would have been suppressed.
He already had a track record of suppressing nearby Thief Gangs.
“Come to think of it, I don’t see Mac around. He was a promising fellow.”
Of course, I had no idea if a thief named Mac even existed.
It was a name I’d made up on the spot.
Because it was for building narrative.
“Ah. I was planning to take him along and put him to use.”
The Eccentric Merchant had suddenly ended up executing a promising thief named Mac.
“It seems he was an NPC born with great potential but an unfortunate disposition. I offer my humble condolences.”
“Sigh….”
Indeed, the Eccentric Merchant was quick-witted.
Seeing how he offered condolences instead of an apology, knowing he might end up paying compensation.
“Using people rather than NPCs has many advantages in various ways. Though you likely already know this.”
The Eccentric Merchant’s gaze turned toward the Unnamed Guest.
He was clearly a user, and he was strong at that.
The other user, Chung-geom, turned out to be a genuine novice user, discovered hiding awkwardly in a corner.
“Eek.”
A user who could be resurrected even after death.
And an NPC who ended once they died.
I knew that even the Empire, the world’s strongest nation, could resurrect NPCs, but users were clearly overwhelming in terms of utility.
As long as I can handle it properly.
The Eccentric Merchant’s argument is sound.
“….”
It works because what the Eccentric Merchant sells offers tremendous returns relative to the risk.
So I decided to approach it from a different angle.
“Still, raising NPCs is way more fun, isn’t it?”
Pure enjoyment.
This too was an important factor.
Especially since those who pursue fun for its own sake exist in abundance—both among my circle and among the Eccentric Merchant’s representative clientele.
Because of this, the Eccentric Merchant can never diminish the value of fun.
“…This is stressful.”
The Eccentric Merchant’s momentum began crumbling at a rapid pace.
The perfect moment to press the offensive.
“Would I toy with NPCs without knowing that? I’m grateful you taught me about loyalty, but did you really have to kill them? At the very least, if my people caused you losses, compensation would’ve settled it. On top of that, you’re all players. Do I look like someone without money? According to your own words, doesn’t money solve everything?”
“…I’ve overstepped.”
From this point forward, I decided to keep all possibilities open.
The Eccentric Merchant would do the same.
This was a fight where my next move would be determined only after gauging the opponent’s full strength.
“Overstepped? Is that what you should say?”
For the Eccentric Merchant, the Unnamed Guest would be the greatest variable.
A person capable of facing most of his subordinates alone.
What if I, another variable, became even more formidable?
Boom!
I drew Sumoq and struck the ground with it.
The reason for drawing it was simple.
Sumoq’s value surpassed even the finest goods the Eccentric Merchant dealt in.
“It’s the weapon I use when pursuing efficiency, as you said. It’s Mythic grade. If I were to wield this, what do you think would happen?”
“…!”
Thanks to the Black Dragon Faction concept, I’d grown accustomed to playing the role of a formidable figure.
And I’d gained the ability to add new concepts.
Crackle. Snap.
I wrapped myself entirely in jet-black scorpion carapace.
Where before I’d appeared as a suspicious executive with a practical air, now I looked like a Black Dragon Faction executive in full combat stance—clad in pitch-black full-body armor.
I’d given this concept the name: Black Dragon Faction Executive Form 2.
“Still think I’m overstepping?”
Behind the mask, the Eccentric Merchant’s complexion began turning pale.
At the very least, it meant the Eccentric Merchant fell short of the Black Dragon Faction’s caliber.
“Answer me. Eccentric Merchant.”
At the very least, it means the Eccentric Merchant doesn’t measure up to the Black Dragon Faction’s level.
“Answer me, Eccentric Merchant.”
Thump!
Only then did the Eccentric Merchant drop to one knee, exposing the crown of his head.
His subordinates followed suit, and even our Rogues began kneeling as well.
“My sincerest apologies. I failed to recognize your esteemed station.”
“We failed to recognize you!”
By now, I had grown comfortable enough to speak freely.
Yet my lips remained sealed.
The Unnamed Guest’s posture remained rigidly upright.
‘The Black Dragon Faction approach won’t work on him?’
It seemed I had brought the wrong person along.
Perhaps he had come seeking me out deliberately.
For now, I decided to release the scorpion carapace and discuss matters calmly.
“Have you given thought to the matter of compensation?”
“Yes, of course. Is there something you desire?”
I remained wary of the Unnamed Guest’s demeanor, but decided to broach the subject nonetheless.
“The Farming Operation. Show me around.”

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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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