Even if I Make It Roughly, Ex-rank Items Continue to Accumulate - Chapter 62

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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 (62)

Pouring Rewards

“This part was quite a concern for our Association as well. We threw out the bait of rewards to encourage active participation from the participants, but it was a difficult matter.”

That would be the case. After all, the people gathered here weren’t at an ordinary level to begin with.

“So, after countless meetings, this is the list we came up with.”

Swoosh. The employee gently slid a tablet across the table.

When he picked it up, the screen displayed a total of 4 items listed.

[1. Exclusive usage rights to Association’s large-scale mana facility (Matter Accelerator)]

[2. 14 highest grade magic stone samples]

[3. Free research authorization for 37 types of specially stored Legacy Artifacts]

[4. S-Grade Gate Core Essence]

“Huh…”

An exclamation escaped without me realizing it.

It couldn’t be helped. Each one was insanely precious.

The cutting-edge mana facility owned by the Korean Awakener Association, the ‘Matter Accelerator’, is considered nearly world-class.

‘It’s a facility that ordinary researchers can’t even dream of, let alone foreigners.’

And that’s not all?

The highest grade magic stone samples and Gate Core from an S-Grade Gate are materials whose value simply cannot be calculated.

“…Which Gate was this S-Grade Gate Core discovered in?”

“It’s from the Jeju Island Gate that was conquered 3 years ago. It was recovered by the ‘Sword of Baekryeong’ Hunter back then.”

“Wow.”

It was discovered only 3 years ago.

Then the research progress would still be insufficient, making its value astronomically high once again.

Although Lee Si-hyeok could now create Legacy Artifacts as much as he wanted, simply observing them would be of great help in broadening his knowledge.

The employee watching Lee Si-hyeok’s continuous amazement smiled and said.

“You seem quite surprised.”

Only then did Lee Si-hyeok look away from the tablet.

“…Yes. It would be strange not to be surprised by this.”

These were too precious to be seminar rewards.

Naturally, since the participants’ level was high, the rewards should match that level, but this far exceeded common sense.

“Could it be because of that? What you said at the opening ceremony about this seminar being a different kind of attempt?”

So was this such a bold attempt? Thinking that there had to be something at stake for change?

However, the employee gave an ambiguous answer.

“That reason isn’t entirely absent. A true place of exchange. That’s what our Association hopes for.”

“…But what do you mean by ‘isn’t entirely absent’?”

“It means that’s not everything.”

His eyes looked at Lee Si-hyeok.

Though it was currently ‘Choi Hyeok’s’ face, the employee was gazing at the being that would be inside that shell.

“Lee Si-hyeok, you participated in this seminar, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s why.”

“Pardon?”

Because of that? What does my participation in the seminar have to do with the rewards being spectacular…

‘Ah.’

At that moment, Lee Si-hyeok felt like he understood something.

The employee continued as if reading his thoughts.

“Actually, the initially selected reward list was at a much lower level compared to now. Forget S-Grade Gate Core, even A-Grade was barely manageable. So there was even an opinion to eliminate the voting rules altogether.”

“…”

“But then news of Lee Si-hyeok’s participation came. Do you know what the first thought that came to mind upon hearing that news was?”

The employee’s lips curved upward.

“First place will be Korea. It has to be Korea unconditionally. That was it.”

“…So you raised the reward level drastically?”

“Yes. Since the Korean team with Lee Si-hyeok would take first place in the first session anyway, we didn’t need to worry about filling someone else’s storehouse.”

Lee Si-hyeok inwardly swallowed hard.

It was a ruthlessly rational judgment.

As the employee said, once he decided to participate, no matter how the situation unfolded, the rewards would ultimately go to the Korean team.

In other words, there was no loss for the Association. The growth of domestic researchers was directly connected to national development.

At the same time, it was also fascinating in a way.

‘To trust me to this extent.’

They had staked rewards that could shake a nation, trusting only in him.

After a moment, Lee Si-hyeok calmed his mind and spoke.

“Then what happens to the rewards on this list? The team members said they would transfer them.”

“Hmm. Originally, we planned to proceed with each person choosing one out of the four. But given how things turned out, as Song Hyeon-gyu suggested, it would be better to simply upgrade the rewards anew.”

At those words, Lee Si-hyeok felt a slight disappointment.

Actually, he had quite coveted these four rewards too. Especially things like the mana facility usage rights and top-grade materials.

Still, they were offering better rewards.

He should know how to be satisfied, he thought while not showing it, when the employee added as if he had forgotten something.

“Ah, you don’t need to worry. We’ll provide all the rewards on the list, and then additionally give you new ones on top of that.”

Lee Si-hyeok’s eyes widened greatly.

“Is that really okay?”

“Of course. Honestly, we could provide this much anytime, even without the seminar. It’s not just anyone, but Lee Si-hyeok himself.”

“Wow…”

Even so, he hadn’t thought to directly request it.

Requesting things one by one leads to dependence, and dependence leads to being bound. As always, Lee Si-hyeok wanted to pursue his own magical engineering.

After checking someone’s contact for a moment, the employee said.

“It seems approval came down from above. Now I can tell you.”

He took the tablet and brought up a different screen before handing it back.

“This is Lee Si-hyeok’s newly upgraded special reward.”

[Nari Basin Gate, Ulleungdo, Gyeongbuk]

[1. Exclusive ownership of Gate byproducts]

[2. Authority to directly explore inside the Gate]

“Nari Basin Gate?”

Lee Si-hyeok muttered.

It was a name he had heard somewhere before.

“Isn’t that the Gate that Hunters are currently conquering?”

“Oh, you know about it as expected. That’s right. A conquest team is currently organized and making great progress.”

But why were the rights to this Gate suddenly given as a reward?

“Then do you also happen to know that new types of byproducts that haven’t been discovered before are appearing in droves inside the Gate?”

Lee Si-hyeok answered that he did. The reason he knew about the conquest news in the first place was because he had seen that content while searching for information about magical engineering.

“The grade itself was measured as A-Grade. But strangely, new colonies appeared, including magic stones and monsters never seen before. And we estimate that their value probably far exceeds S-Grade Gate byproducts.”

“S-Grade?”

“Yes. It’s a case we’ve never seen anywhere. That’s why we made this proposal. To give Lee Si-hyeok the ownership and exploration rights of all byproducts that will be discovered there.”

Lee Si-hyeok stroked his chin and slowly leaned back in his chair. He needed time to think.

‘Probably, others would have refused.’

Because this proposal had quite a strong gambling element.

This is because the proposal has a strong element of gambling.

They would much prefer to receive clearer and more certain compensation rather than taking ownership of byproducts whose exact nature they don’t even know yet.

No matter how much they claim it’s S-rank or higher, that’s just the Association’s judgment. Since no one can know what will happen until they see it directly, it was obvious that practically no one would take on this gamble.

So normally, they would ask for plenty of high-quality magic stones or something similar.

‘…But I’m different.’

However, Lee Si-hyeok was an exception.

His dreams were aimed toward higher places. Moreover, wasn’t he currently eyeing Origin Artifacts, which were a step above Legacy Artifacts?

If that was the case, it would be right to venture into unknown territory rather than pursue familiar things.

Now that he had encountered the new substance ‘Ether’, it would be of even greater help.

‘In the end, no matter how I weigh things, this one item has much higher value.’

Lee Si-hyeok readily nodded to the employee who was waiting for his answer.

The employee then said it was fortunate and immediately contacted his superiors, then carefully asked again.

“Is there anything else you need? We received a reply, and given the opportunity, they told us to help Mr. Lee Si-hyeok as much as possible…”

“There is one thing.”

Fortunately, Lee Si-hyeok had been thinking about something recently as well.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing major, but it’s related to this place, Eterion Magical Engineering Academy. I’d like to obtain access permission to the Central Records Hall.”

“The Central Records Hall?”

The employee was slightly flustered by the unexpected request.

However, this was currently the most urgent matter for Lee Si-hyeok.

The Central Records Hall.

According to Isaac’s investigation, it was a place where not only visitors but even students’ access was restricted, allowing only key personnel of the academy to enter and exit.

There was likely a high possibility that more detailed records about past incidents were stored there.

Seeing the missing people trapped in the Rift made him feel strongly that he had to check it out.

‘I was trying not to make separate demands to the Association if possible.’

This case couldn’t be helped. The risk was too great for a secret infiltration.

“Hmm, I don’t think I can give you an immediate answer on this. We’ll need to discuss it with Eterion as well. Could you wait a bit for this matter?”

“Yes, well. That’s fine.”

“Thank you. Then we’ll contact you as soon as the discussion is finished.”

The employee bowed his head and retrieved the tablet.

He said the Nari Basin Gate conquest would likely be finished around the time the seminar ended, and they would discuss it again then. The existing 4 rewards would also be given simultaneously at that time.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

Lee Si-hyeok felt excitement in one corner of his heart as he took a sip of the tea that had already gone cold.

A bland sweetness.

For some reason, the Kyllis Tea he had drunk in Orbes suddenly came to mind.

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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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