Became the Transcendent Monarch of the Corner of the Room - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 46

 

‘Wh-what, how…?’

 

The moment he heard Choi Seung-hyun’s words.

 

Choi Hyun-min’s breathing stopped.

 

This was what it felt like to have your heart sink.

 

‘I didn’t want to reveal it like this.’

 

From the moment he awakened, he never really thought he had to hide it.

 

After all, he was also a member of Manwol.

 

But he had planned to postpone revealing his awakening for a little longer.

 

‘I still don’t know much about the Transcendent Lord myself… If I reveal it from the start, it might just draw attention because of the EX grade.’

 

Though he was easily clearing mazes with the Transcendent Lord’s power.

 

He hadn’t even grasped half of this power yet.

 

Moreover, he had almost no practical experience as a Hunter.

 

He would reveal it at least after gaining experience and establishing a foundation as a Hunter.

 

That’s what he had decided…

 

‘Is there no choice…?’

 

In the end, would he have to reveal it at a timing he never expected?

 

“…”

 

Choi Hyun-min remained silent for a long while.

 

With his eyes cast downward, he slowly nodded his head.

 

Chairman Choi, who was watching him.

 

He stroked his chin and muttered quietly.

 

“As expected. I thought so.”

 

Did he already know?

 

Perhaps revealing it early would have been the better choice after all.

 

When he slowly raised his head, he felt Chairman Choi’s gaze.

 

He was still looking down at him.

 

“I wasn’t trying to hide it… I’m sorry, Fath- no, Chairman.”

 

That’s right.

 

Hiding everything might not be the best approach.

 

At least within Manwol, it would have been better to reveal it by now…

 

“What is there to be sorry about? The ability to borrow another person’s power is also one of that person’s strengths.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

“Well done. No, actually I was a bit surprised. I never thought you had connections of that caliber.”

 

What… how did this happen?

 

I’m definitely hearing Korean, but I don’t understand…

 

Choi Hyun-min struggled to understand Chairman Choi’s words in his head.

 

“Con…nections?”

 

When he asked, Choi Seung-hyun nodded with a satisfied smile.

 

“Yes, connections. The cavalry who conquered the raid. Weren’t they the four people you brought?”

 

“Ah!”

 

Choi Seung-hyun pointed beyond the window.

 

Following his finger, there was a large screen placed there.

 

It seemed to be the device that was broadcasting the raid from outside.

 

‘Could it be… he’s mistaking those guys for outsiders?’

 

Now I understand.

 

The moment he heard the word “connections.”

 

Choi Hyun-min was certain.

 

Choi Seung-hyun-

 

In other words, Manwol’s Master definitely thought the Block Toys were external mercenaries.

 

And ones that Choi Hyun-min had called in using connections he didn’t know about.

 

Elite Hunters summoned through some kind of connection!

 

‘Uh… if you think about it that way… it’s actually a somewhat convincing reason.’

 

Even when assigning this task.

 

Chairman Choi had been giving Choi Hyun-min very high evaluations of his abilities.

 

Of course, the content of that evaluation…

 

‘He’s understanding it completely opposite to my actual abilities.’

 

Someone who spent 10 years cooped up only at home from the beginning.

 

Where would great business acumen come from?

 

And how could tremendous connections be formed?

 

If you thought about it even a little, it was absurd.

 

But what was more deeply ingrained in Chairman Choi’s mind was.

 

His youngest son who couldn’t awaken.

 

Perhaps the ‘awakening status’ that had tormented Chairman Choi and Choi Hyun-min for so long.

 

Was preventing him from even considering the possibility that Choi Hyun-min had awakened.

 

‘Should I call this fortunate?’

 

Thanks to that(?), he definitely knew that his awakening hadn’t been discovered yet.

 

Business acumen and connections were certainly abilities that didn’t suit Choi Hyun-min.

 

But if he thought of it that way, well…

 

“You’re too kind.”

 

He decided to accept it for now.

 

Fortunately, unlike Hunter abilities.

 

These kinds of abilities were abstract ones that couldn’t be measured.

 

Perhaps he could keep up the lie a little longer.

 

‘Not yet… it doesn’t seem necessary to reveal it yet.’

 

Did the answer please him?

 

Pat pat.

 

Choi Seung-hyun lightly patted Choi Hyun-min’s shoulder.

 

“There’s no need to be modest about such things. You did well enough with both the raid and the supply logistics you were originally supposed to handle.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“If it weren’t for you, those Cheongnok bastards… those despicable bastards would have completely ruined this raid.”

 

Cheongnok?

 

That’s right.

 

The moment he heard Cheongnok’s name, Baek Sang-hyeon-

 

That detestable bastard’s face came to mind.

 

That attitude as if there was no one above him.

 

He didn’t just stop at ignoring Choi Hyun-min.

 

He was the bastard who dragged Manwol down and insulted them too.

 

Choi Hyun-min hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket.

 

Then he held it out to Choi Seung-hyun without any warning.

 

Flutter.

 

The piece of paper swayed weakly.

 

“What’s this?”

 

Choi Seung-hyun tilted his head at the suddenly offered paper.

 

Choi Hyun-min slightly raised his head to meet his eyes.

 

At the same time, he smiled softly, barely visible.

 

“It’s about why Cheongnok was absent from this raid.”

 

Chairman Choi immediately frowned upon hearing those words.

 

There was a reason?

 

His anger toward Cheongnok had already reached the top of his head.

 

It was fortunate that it succeeded.

 

If it hadn’t been Choi Hyun-min, the raid itself might have failed.

 

“Let me take a look at this.”

 

He took the paper and began reading it carefully.

 

From top to bottom.

 

His brow furrowed more and more as his gaze moved down.

 

By the time he finished reading the contract—

 

“Ha.”

 

“That’s the reason Cheongnok didn’t participate.”

 

“Ha. Haha. Hahahahahaha!”

 

As if finding it absurd, he threw his head back and burst into laughter.

 

They say you can’t read a person’s true feelings.

 

But at least this wasn’t laughter born from joy.

 

Choi Hyun-min watched him without making any movement.

 

Choi Seung-hyun, who had been laughing for a while.

 

His laughter stopped as if it were a lie.

 

Hmph—!

 

“This document… did you obtain it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why?”

 

Sharp eyes shot toward him.

 

Choi Hyun-min answered calmly.

 

“Because they insulted Manwol.”

 

“For that reason?”

 

“And… because I was confident I could win the bet.”

 

“Ha! What nerve you have.”

 

At those words, Choi Seung-hyun snorted as if amazed.

 

Of course, the emotion contained within wasn’t criticism, but pure surprise.

 

And admiration.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Well, if you could bring the rumored EX-grade player to the raid, such confidence would be natural.”

 

A very satisfied smile.

 

It was an expression Choi Hyun-min was seeing for the first time.

 

A feeling of something welling up inside.

 

Though the method was slightly different from what Chairman Choi understood.

 

‘Well… as long as the results are good, that’s enough.’

 

Chairman Choi, who had been rereading the contract several times.

 

He called in Secretary Kim who had gone outside.

 

“Did you call for me, Master.”

 

“Contact Cheongnok immediately.”

 

“Cheongnok… you mean the place that didn’t participate in this raid?”

 

At Secretary Kim’s question, Chairman Choi brushed the dust off his shoulders.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Uh… what should I tell them?”

 

Choi Seung-hyun pondered for a moment at those words.

 

Glance.

 

He looked this way briefly, then opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

 

“Tell them if they don’t want a red mark stuck on their guild signboard, they should come running immediately.”

 

“Pardon…?!”

 

“Ah! And Baek Sang-hyeon. Tell that friend to come along as well.”

 

***

 

Manwol’s reception room.

 

With the table in the center, the one sitting in the head seat was

 

none other than Manwol’s master, Choi Seung-hyun.

 

And beside him, Choi Hyun-min stood at attention.

 

“The guests are arriving.”

 

The secretary’s voice could be heard from a distance.

 

Coming inside with him were familiar faces—

 

Cheongnok’s Baek Sang-hyeon.

 

And Heukpung’s Im Ye-seo.

 

‘Why did Im Ye-seo come?’

 

Just as he was tilting his head in confusion.

 

Thud.

 

“I’m sorry!”

 

Baek Sang-hyeon dropped to his knees as soon as he entered.

 

Because of that, Im Ye-seo who had been following behind.

 

She quietly stepped aside from Baek Sang-hyeon and walked to where the sofa was.

 

“Nice to meet you. You’re Im Ye-seo from Heukpung, correct?”

 

Baek Sang-hyeon had made a dramatic entrance.

 

Surprisingly, Chairman Choi didn’t even glance at him.

 

Instead, he warmly greeted Im Ye-seo who had followed behind.

 

“It’s an honor to meet Chairman Choi, the master of Manwol, in person.”

 

“As expected, Heukpung’s people always have courtesy and elegance ingrained in them.”

 

“You’re too kind.”

 

“Please take a seat. Now that the raid is over, it’s time to discuss the rewards.”

 

At those words, she glanced at Baek Sang-hyeon.

 

Then Im Ye-seo took a seat across from them.

 

“And that person over there… didn’t need to come to a meeting about discussing achievements.”

 

Then Chairman Choi turned his gaze to look at Baek Sang-hyeon.

 

At his words, Baek Sang-hyeon’s face turned pale.

 

“I’m, I’m sorry! My arm was injured so I couldn’t…”

 

“Ha! Your arm was injured. Well, that’s quite a good excuse.”

 

“I, really—”

 

“Even if that’s true for you. Don’t tell me all twenty people from Cheongnok who were supposed to participate together also broke their arms on the same day?”

 

“…”

 

If it were the usual Chairman Choi, he would have vented his anger as it was.

 

Surprisingly, he was calm.

 

Of course, the barbs in his words showed he couldn’t completely hide his anger.

 

Perhaps it was because he belonged to a different guild and was a promising rising star.

 

“I’ll speak directly.”

 

“Pl, please speak, Chairman…”

 

At the cold words, Baek Sang-hyeon raised his head.

 

His lips were parched.

 

Toward him who was waiting and watching for the next words.

 

Instead of answering, Chairman Choi held up a piece of paper.

 

“How, how is that…!”

 

“If you made a contract with someone from Manwol, didn’t you think it would naturally come to me?”

 

“That, that’s—”

 

“5 billion.”

 

“Par, pardon?!”

 

“This is the total amount Manwol spent for the gate opening this time.”

 

Eyes widening as if about to burst the moment he heard the figure.

 

Baek Sang-hyeon shook his head in disbelief.

 

“Th-that’s ridiculous…”

 

“I’m not finished yet. The total value of supplies provided to your side amounts to 5 billion, so that’s 55 billion total. This is the amount Cheongrok needs to pay in a lump sum.”

 

55 billion in cash was an amount that even Manwol, the number one guild, would find burdensome.

 

But this wasn’t even a guild in the 2nd or 3rd rank.

 

There was no way Cheongrok, which fluctuated around the 10th rank, would have that kind of cash.

 

Hissss-

 

Baek Sang-hyeon’s body grew cold.

 

He turned pale as if all the blood had drained from his body.

 

“Th-that amount is…”

 

“Ah, of course you don’t need to pay out of your own pocket. This is guild business, so Cheongrok Guild can pay.”

 

That seemed to be more of a problem though.

 

Baek Sang-hyeon’s hands began to tremble.

 

Along with that, moisture could be seen gathering in his eyes.

 

Perhaps it was natural, as Baek Sang-hyeon was a hunter who had just turned twenty.

 

To him, Chairman Choi’s words must have sounded as terrifying as death itself.

 

“I’m, I’m sorry! I, I was wrong, Chairman!”

 

“I’m not finished yet. And since the results of this raid were paid to me in bulk, they were scheduled to be distributed to all guilds in bulk, but-”

 

Chairman Choi paused mid-sentence.

 

He slightly bowed his head toward Im Ye-seo, who had been sitting quietly.

 

“According to the contract, all of Cheongrok’s compensation has been transferred to Manwol.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“Converting to approximate figures, that’s about 15 billion total. Of that, Heukpung will receive spoils worth 3 billion.”

 

Im Ye-seo bowed her head in response to Chairman Choi’s words.

 

Investing about 1 billion and receiving three times that amount.

 

For Heukpung, who were legitimate participants, this was like striking gold.

 

“What about our Cheongrok…”

 

Baek Sang-hyeon spoke with tears welling up, holding onto a sliver of hope.

 

Choi Seung-hyun looked at him and added one more mocking remark.

 

“If you’d like to pay 55 billion plus an additional 3 billion, I’ll provide you with the spoils.”

 

The moment he heard those words.

 

“Ah…”

 

Baek Sang-hyeon.

 

The young hunter’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed right there on the spot.

 

White foam was even coming from his mouth.

 

It was merely a meeting to discuss some numbers.

 

But it was clearly a bit too much for a twenty-year-old hunter to handle.

 

Choi Hyun-min quietly stared at the collapsed figure.

 

He spoke coldly to the secretary who was waiting on the opposite side.

 

“Please clean this up.”

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