Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 4

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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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Even Hastily Made Ones Keep Stacking Up as EX-Rank (4)

It’s a Kind of Investment

Monday morning. Termion Corporation’s building.

Lee Si-hyeok, who got on the elevator, pressed the button for the 55th floor with an awkward motion.

Whirr.

The elevator ascended at high speed with a slight noise.

Si-hyeok was so tense right now that even this small sound pierced his ears precisely.

‘I’m really going crazy.’

He was heading up to the Chairman’s Office for a meeting with the Chairman.

While he usually only wore the Transportation Team uniform when going to work, today he had ironed and put on a suit that had been buried in his closet. The undershirt he wore underneath was gradually getting soaked with cold sweat.

How the company operated, who the key internal personnel were.

Originally, he hadn’t cared about any of that at all. He just focused on his assigned duties and his ‘magical engineering’ interests.

Even Si-hyeok, who had been like that, couldn’t help but be nervous at this moment. The feeling of going to meet the owner of a large corporation where you commute daily – you really wouldn’t know unless you experienced it yourself.

―The doors are opening.

“What brings you here today?”

A secretary asked from the Secretary Office, which was arranged like a counter in front of the Chairman’s Office.

Si-hyeok showed the employee ID he was wearing.

“I’m driver Lee Si-hyeok from the Transportation Team. I received word that a meeting with the Chairman was scheduled for today.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The secretary checked the computer.

“You’re confirmed. You may go right in.”

“Thank you.”

Si-hyeok straightened his clothes once and opened the door.

In the center of the spacious room.

The Chairman was already sitting at the meeting table, waiting. Si-hyeok hurriedly sat down across from him.

“Nice to meet you. Driver Lee Si-hyeok from the Transportation Team.”

“…It’s an honor to meet you, Chairman.”

When he politely responded while shaking the hand the Chairman extended, the Chairman smiled slightly.

“Haha, the honor is mine. That makes me feel burdened. It’s fine to treat me comfortably.”

A softer tone than expected. Respectful language rather than casual speech.

Si-hyeok raised his eyebrows slightly while observing the Chairman’s appearance.

Chairman Lee Young-hoon.

A late-blooming businessman who had been active as a Hunter and later jumped into the Artifact business.

However, with his characteristic rational and cool judgment, he succeeded in elevating Termion Corporation to the ranks of globally renowned major corporations.

The aura of a big shot could be felt from his sharp gaze, sturdy build, and neat posture.

“I heard the news. Driver Lee Si-hyeok saved Hunter Lee Gang-mok, didn’t he?”

“Yes. But… the reality is a bit different from the rumors going around. It was closer to cooperation rather than unilaterally saving him.”

Si-hyeok spoke honestly rather than embellishing what had happened. However, Chairman Lee Young-hoon slowly shook his head.

“Cooperation, cooperation you say. Driver Lee Si-hyeok. I also saw the video posted on the internet. Since it was filmed from the middle, I couldn’t know the initial situation.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“But I could grasp the overall situation. Hunter Lee Gang-mok screaming for help while running away, and Driver Lee Si-hyeok silently dealing with the monsters chasing behind him. Who could call that ‘cooperation’?”

“…”

“Even I, his father, couldn’t have done that.”

At Young-hoon’s words mixed with slight lamentation, Si-hyeok swallowed inwardly.

‘It seems like there are complicated family circumstances.’

He wasn’t particularly interested, but he could sense that their relationship wasn’t simply a harmonious father-son relationship.

“Ah, I said something unnecessary. Whenever my son comes up, nonsense keeps leaking out.”

“Not at all, Chairman.”

“Ahem. Anyway, let me get straight to the point about why I called you to the Chairman’s Office. I want to express my gratitude to Driver Lee Si-hyeok. Is there anything you want?”

While Si-hyeok pondered for a moment, Chairman Lee Young-hoon continued speaking.

“I heard you awakened recently. Department Head Yoon Seo-jin said it was a Crafting-type Skill. It seems you were active this time with an Artifact made using that ability.”

He stared into Si-hyeok’s eyes.

“So what I’m saying is, how about joining Termion Corporation’s Research Department?”

“…Research Department?”

“Yes. If you want, I’ll even give you a position in Research Department 1. That’s the department Department Head Yoon Seo-jin belongs to. I’m not just saying this out of goodwill either.”

Young-hoon crossed his legs.

“I’m sorry to say this, but I’m a businessman, you know. The Artifact in the video where Driver Lee Si-hyeok was active – even from my perspective as someone Combat-type, the craftsmanship was extraordinary. I thoroughly ran the calculations. I also sought advice from employees.”

“…”

“What if Driver Lee Si-hyeok became Researcher Lee Si-hyeok. Both the calculations I ran and the answers the employees gave were all positive. On top of that, it’s also a token of gratitude for saving my son.”

He counted on his fingers one by one as if calculating profit and loss.

“What do you think? If Driver Lee Si-hyeok just gives the okay sign, you can start commuting to the Research Lab from tomorrow.”

It was an insanely groundbreaking proposal. Si-hyeok judged it as such.

First of all, Termion Corporation’s Research Department was notorious among numerous companies for its fierce hiring competition.

Written and practical exams of hellish difficulty. Even if you passed those, there were interviews where almost everyone was eliminated.

It was worlds apart from the Transportation Team.

Si-hyeok knew this well since there was once a time when he too had dreamed of awakening and admired being a Termion researcher.

And among those, the place said to be the most intense was Research Department 1. The fact that Yoon Seo-jin, one of the 11 researchers selected by the Association, belonged there proved this fact.

‘He’s telling me he’ll give me that position?’

Even though I saved his son…

At such an absurd proposal that could be dismissed as nonsense, Si-hyeok’s fingertips trembled slightly.

At the same time, goosebumps ran through him.

Could this person have perhaps recognized the true value of an EX-rank skill? Is this the insight of a global corporation owner?

“There’s plenty of time. You can think about it slowly.”

Young-hoon said after sipping his tea.

Si-hyeok nodded calmly while calming his wildly beating heart.

‘If it were the old me, I would have said okay immediately, but…’

The situation is a bit different now.

As far as Si-hyeok knew, excluding himself, there was ‘no one’ on Earth who possessed an EX-rank skill.

At most S-rank. If that’s the case, he was really in a position where he could receive proposals from companies around the world while being bowed to, and directly negotiate those tempting conditions.

Would it really be the right choice to just dive under Termion Corporation like this?

It wasn’t about money.

The reason Si-hyeok had dreamed of being a magical engineer and Artifact creator from long ago was.

Because he wanted to make ‘his own Artifacts’.

Although he awakened a skill called 『Mimicry』 that copies others’ things, that dream was still valid.

However, if he became a corporate researcher, he would have no choice but to proceed with research as directed by superiors, as they commanded.

That would be the same for other companies besides Termion.

If he had awakened an insignificant skill, even that would have been enjoyable, but now it would be happier to develop things alone instead.

And he happened to think of something else he wanted.

“Chairman.”

Si-hyeok, who had carefully considered and reached a conclusion, opened his lips.

“I’m truly grateful for the proposal, but I don’t want to join the Research Department. I’m satisfied being a Transportation driver for Termion Corporation.”

“…Are you serious?”

Chairman Lee Young-hoon looked noticeably surprised.

“What’s the reason? Do you have another company that made you an offer?”

“No. It’s not that.”

“Then what on earth… Ah, that’s it. Reward money. How much do you want? I’ll send you whatever amount you want right away.”

He let out a hollow laugh as if to say ‘I thought so’. The anticipation that had been lingering on his face disappeared in an instant.

Nevertheless, Si-hyeok deflected once more.

“My circumstances aren’t that comfortable, but I’ll just accept the sentiment for that as well, Chairman.”

“Huh… Driver Lee Si-hyeok. What do you want? You refuse when I offer you a position, you refuse when I offer you money. Are you deliberately trying to make my situation difficult?”

The Chairman’s face gradually hardened.

If he delayed any longer, even what could be done wouldn’t happen. It was time to get to the point.

“I apologize for rambling, Chairman. If I could choose just one thing I want, I would like to receive purchasing rights for the Gate Byproducts that Termion Corporation possesses.”

“…You want to buy the Magic Stones and Gate Cores in our company’s Underground Warehouse?”

“Yes. That’s exactly right.”

Since this might be a bit difficult to understand with just that, Lee Si-hyeok quickly added an explanation.

“Of course, the research position and reward money you offered earlier are also tempting. I’m human too, after all. But there’s something more important to me than that.”

“What would that be?”

“My dream.”

“Dream?”

“Yes. Even before awakening, I wanted to become a magical engineer who develops things. But a few days ago, I actually awakened. And in the crafting field, no less.”

A faint smile crossed Lee Si-hyeok’s lips.

“I’m still bewildered. Every time I look at my Status Window, it feels like I’m living in a dream. But now that things have turned out this way… I have somewhat different thoughts.”

“Different thoughts.”

“I want to create my own work, that is, Artifacts. I want to freely unfold the concepts I’ve been thinking about. That’s what I’m thinking. Well, it might be closer to greed in some ways.”

It was a paradoxical wish, considering his skill was 『Mimicry』.

However, for Lee Si-hyeok, who had only practiced copying others’ work until now, it was also a wish he wanted to reach.

“That’s why I declined the research position. The reward money is similar in context. No matter how much money I receive, in the end, there’s no way for me to squeeze into the Gate Byproducts monopoly competition among large corporations.”

“Ah, don’t tell me…”

“Yes, that’s right. If companies like Termion don’t sell me high-grade Magic Stones, I’ll only be able to use cheap materials sold on internet Shopping Malls for the rest of my life. They say a craftsman doesn’t blame his tools… but I guess I’m not at that level yet.”

“…”

“Position, money? Rather than that, I want to unfold my dream. That’s why I proposed purchasing rights for the Gate Byproducts that Termion possesses.”

It was a proposal that was bold to the point of being audacious.

‘How old was Hunter Lee Si-hyeok again? Twenty-eight?’

Could that really be a 28-year-old? Chairman Lee Young-hoon thought it was absurd.

His gentle yet clear way of speaking that firmly conveyed his intentions.

The confidence in himself that emanated from beneath his upright posture and eyes.

From his days as a Hunter to growing his company, Lee Young-hoon had experienced all kinds of hardships, but such presence was truly rare to see.

The master of Artifact creation he had dealt with once in the past, who was now in seclusion.

He had emitted a similar aura to this.

It certainly wasn’t a proposal that would benefit Termion.

In the fierce byproducts monopoly competition they were maintaining, giving those purchasing rights to an individual.

But why? The intuition he had built as a businessman was shaking his cold rationality.

It was telling him that providing purchasing rights to Lee Si-hyeok would be closer to profit than loss.

Dream.

That getting entangled together in the distant dream that young man spoke of would never be a loss for Termion.

“Very well, Hunter Lee Si-hyeok. I’ll provide the purchasing rights.”

In the end, Lee Young-hoon sided with the intuition that had brought him to this position.

“…Really?”

“Yes. There’s no need to be nitpicky about it. Didn’t Hunter Lee Si-hyeok save my son?”

“That may be so, but… thank you for accepting.”

“Not at all. It’s a kind of investment. An investment in that dream Hunter Lee Si-hyeok spoke of. However, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“A request?”

“If Hunter Lee Si-hyeok… no, should I call you researcher at times like this? Haha. Anyway, if Researcher Lee Si-hyeok creates Artifacts in the future, could our Termion have the first look?”

Since Artifacts would be developed using his company’s materials, he wanted to be the first to obtain distribution rights and such.

It wasn’t a bad story for Lee Si-hyeok either.

“Of course I should do that.”

“I like how straightforward you are. It seems like we’ve finished discussing everything. Now then… ah.”

Lee Young-hoon raised his eyebrows as if something had occurred to him.

“Money will be deposited into your account within a few days.”

“Huh? I said I wouldn’t accept the reward money…”

“It’s not reward money. It’s a bonus.”

What’s this about now? Lee Si-hyeok tilted his head.

“Department Manager Yoon Seo-jin submitted a report. There was apparently a defect in the prototype production line of Termion Hex-9. And it was Hunter Lee Si-hyeok who discovered it.”

Only then did the memory come back.

Last week, in the Underground Warehouse, Lee Si-hyeok had pointed out the prototype’s Mana Circuit, and Yoon Seo-jin had brushed it off casually.

He had wondered why she just let it slide, but apparently she had secretly submitted a report.

‘She’s been treating me warmly for some reason these past few days.’

Was that why? Because she felt sorry for dismissively brushing it off?

She was hysterical, but also a thorough superior in this regard. Irritable when busy and gentle when free.

She had been on edge these past few weeks developing new products.

“If I receive the bonus, I can use that to purchase Magic Stones from the Warehouse.”

“Haha… Yes. Good opportunities have coincided.”

“It’s thanks to Hunter Lee Si-hyeok working hard. I’ve finished all the stories I prepared. Do you have anything you’d like to say?”

“No.”

“Then you may go now. You’ve worked hard.”

They shook hands and Lee Si-hyeok left the Chairman’s Office.

The room with Chairman Lee Young-hoon alone.

‘Did I make the right choice?’

He thought while drinking the cold tea. He didn’t know. Still, judging by Lee Si-hyeok’s attitude, he was a sufficiently trustworthy talent.

…If only my son could be even half as good as that young man.

Lee Young-hoon let out a sigh mixed with regret.

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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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