Genius Blacksmith’s Game - Chapter 175

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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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The Genius Blacksmith’s Game
Enhancement (3)
At the king’s command, Prime Minister Volson led a group of talented individuals to the banks of the Malson River.
“This river sits directly behind the capital. It’s a headache for the Goyad Kingdom—in a nation already modest in size, we have a river spanning twenty percent of our entire territory. Does anyone here have a method to utilize this place as an asset?”
For over a century, the Ancestors had attempted to exploit the Malson River to fill the royal treasury, only to fail repeatedly.
Eager to impress Volson, the talented individuals offered their suggestions.
“Fill the river and construct numerous residences, then sell them to the people to replenish the treasury.”
“Or perhaps fill the river to create a grand swordsmanship arena? We could allow the entire continent to use this Arena.”
“By utilizing that river….”
Listening to their words, Volson clicked his tongue in disapproval.
For a century, answers to this unsolved riddle had always come back the same way.
“By the time we finish filling the river, we’ll all be dead.”
….
A fact.
“And we’d need to spend fifty percent of our kingdom’s treasury just to fill it.”
There was no profit whatsoever.
Of course, Volson harbored no real expectations.
He had merely asked out of a faint hope that such a method might exist.
As Prime Minister, Volson bore the responsibility of managing the treasury and filling its coffers.
‘Is there truly no way….’
This vast, useless river. A place that consumed a quarter of the nation’s territory.
Then.
“One need only think of how to utilize it.”
A single voice emerged from among the talented individuals.
Volson’s expression shifted with curiosity.
It was Bark.
The one who had come from the Balas Territory.
And his thought was not to fill it, but to utilize it.
This aligned perfectly with Volson’s own thinking.
“How do you propose to utilize it?”
He gestured for the man to step forward.
Bark.
In Reality, he was a legendary figure in real estate—a man who had built ninety billion in assets from ten million Won.
“Build houses here.”
The surroundings erupted in commotion.
“Build houses in a place infested with insects, sweltering in summer and freezing in winter? This man is mad.”
“By the look of him, he seems to be a Knight. What would Knights know of such matters?”
“Hahahaha, where in the world did this fellow come from?”
Yet Volson paused, intrigued.
‘Build houses?’
He raised his hand to silence them, then spoke.
“Elaborate on that for me.”
“If we construct homes in This Place—where insects swarm, summers scorch, and winters freeze—we can obtain what the wealthiest nobles in the world desire.”
What do nobles desire?
“Breathtaking vistas and the envy of their peers. If we fashion expansive windows, their homes will seem to cradle the river itself. Build a thoroughfare along this river, and it becomes a promenade where nobles can ride while admiring the waters.”
Volson paused to envision it.
Noble estates sprawling before the river!
“In my world, there is a saying.”
He leaned in, utterly captivated.
“A river view is truth.”
“…!”
Volson’s mercantile mind whirled with feverish calculations.
“First, construct ten homes as a trial—they will sell swiftly. Then land values around them will skyrocket, and other nobles will clamor to build. Charge them tenfold the original price. As more estates rise, nobles from other kingdoms will covet them. Then, under the guise of foreign buyers, sell to them at twenty times the price.”
Twenty times?
Yet it was entirely feasible.
After all, every inch of land along this river belonged to the Royal Palace.
Volson heard the sound of the royal treasury swelling.
Dismissing the other talents, he pressed close beside Bark to continue their discussion.
“The Capital holds many ancient estates. Can we exploit them?”
“Simple. Demolish them and construct new ones. Simply declare that nobles will inhabit these new residences.”
“Won’t the common folk resist fiercely?”
“Not at all. Upon hearing that magnificent new estates will rise, the impoverished former owners will eagerly sell to the nobles at premium prices. The commoners profit, the nobles gain their grand homes, and we collect the taxes. Three birds with one stone.”
“Then this could be…. And that could be….”
“This shall be done thus…. That shall be accomplished so….”
“Magnificent, truly magnificent!”
Bark received a notification.
[You have greatly contributed to the Kingdom’s development project.]
[You have acquired 42% Contribution.]
Bark felt a deep satisfaction.
‘At last, I am laying groundwork for the Guild.’
Balas Territory suffers from insufficient military forces.
How fortunate to raise my standing with the Royal Palace and obtain reinforcements through this Quest?
Yet Volson’s examination was far from over.
He addressed the assembled talents.
This trial served not only to strengthen the nation but also to test talented individuals from across the realm.
“I believe that a truly exceptional minister or merchant must be capable of mobilizing vast sums within an hour when necessity demands it.”
In other words, how much capital one could raise in a pinch was the true measure.
It revealed how influential and resourceful a person truly was in financial matters.
The talents released messenger birds.
The allotted time: one hour.
At that moment, a man logged out.
It was Risel.
Risel, the youngest of a wealthy conglomerate family, made a phone call.
“Yes, I need some Gold. Ah, I’m not going to use it—I’m just planning to deposit it temporarily and withdraw it later.”
Then he logged back in.
Gold could be converted into checks if the amount was large enough.
Risel presented the check to Volson.
“I’ve arranged it.”
Volson was taken aback.
‘One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million…? Wheeeew!’
He carefully entertained this thought.
‘I need to stay on good terms with this guy.’
The power of a wealthy family’s youngest son!
Then Risel received a notification.
[You have greatly impressed the heart of Prime Minister Volson of the Kingdom.]
[You have gained 27% Contribution.]
Meanwhile.
The Royal Knight Training Center.
A place where multiple Knight Orders were training.
Philip spoke.
“Our kingdom has established various Swordsmanship techniques, spear arts, Archery, and hand-to-hand combat. These are the most excellent and efficient. We are willing to accept anything superior to these at any time.”
A considerable number of martial artists from across the realm used techniques passed down through their own families.
If any of these were exceptional, they would be applied to Soldiers and Knights, making them stronger and thereby strengthening the kingdom’s power.
‘What is this?’
‘Why is this…?’
The talented individuals were bewildered.
Philip fitted them with bracelets.
“These are bracelets of mana control. The moment you put them on, everyone’s strength becomes equal.”
They understood that much.
What they didn’t understand was that dozens of Knights holding Wooden Swords were surrounding them.
“The Knights who will assess your abilities are also wearing bracelets of mana control. I want to see your pure Swordsmanship technique, so please understand.”
Understand?
In that instant, the greatest Knights of Goyad, known as the Land of Swords, rushed forward with Wooden Swords in hand.
“Get ’em!”
The talented individuals had high pride.
They knew they were the best.
They were attempting to seize the initiative first.
“Uuuaaargh!”
“P-please, s-spare me, not there…! Gack!”
“Oh no, I’m done for!”
Philip stood with his hands clasped behind his back, observing the scene.
But then.
Thwack, thud-thud-thwack, crack, whack, swoosh—
Slash.
“…?”
Philip’s expression grew puzzled.
A single man wielding a wooden sword was systematically striking down every last Knight.
The moment the bracelet regulating magical power was donned, all strength became equal.
In other words, it came down to skill.
And the Swordsmanship this man displayed was nothing short of extraordinary and magnificent.
He was Han-ul—a gold medalist in Kendo.
“?”
Watching the Knights sprawled across the ground, Philip found himself bewildered.
Han-ul spoke.
“By crossing blades with them, I’ve come to understand the shortcomings in the Swordsmanship techniques your Knights employ. If I examine the relevant manual and refine it, I believe it will prove tremendously beneficial to your Soldiers and Knights going forward.”
Han-ul then took the Swordsmanship manual and, standing before Philip, began revising it.
“Execute the swing like this, and adjust the wrist angle to….”
Philip marveled.
He was methodically addressing every weakness in their Swordsmanship while inscribing only new advantages.
Another notification reached Han-ul.
[You have made a significant contribution to the foundational Swordsmanship of Goyad Kingdom.]
[You have acquired 28% Contribution.]
For strengthening national power meant strengthening the Soldiers and Knights as well!
And then, at the Archery testing grounds.
Whoosh—!
“…!?”
Whoosh—!
“…!!!?”
Whoosh—!
“…!!!!!???”
The Knights could not suppress their astonishment.
The woman named Hye-ji had fired an Arrow that struck the exact center of the Target.
Remarkably, the second Arrow pierced through the first.
More remarkably still, the third Arrow burrowed through the space where two Arrows overlapped.
Someone swallowed hard.
‘The divine archer has returned.’
In the silence of the Knights, Hye-ji spoke.
“Observing how you gentlemen draw your Bows, I noticed your stances require correction. Should any of you wish to receive posture instruction from me….”
“Let me go first!”
“No, me first!”
“I arrived first!”
“Aren’t you a better shot than me!?”
The Knights surrounding Hye-ji looked ready to come to blows with one another.
“What are you all doing!?”
Philip, witnessing this, glared with fierce intensity.
Philip was known as the coldest man in the Goyad Kingdom.
He fixed them with a penetrating stare and spoke.
“Let me go first.”
“???”
Everyone harbored the desire to grow stronger, and Philip was no exception.
[You have made a significant contribution to the foundations of Archery in the Goyad Kingdom.]
[You have acquired 27% Contribution.]
Elsewhere, those interested in hand-to-hand combat swarmed around a man who had felled five Knights with a single kick.
It was Tae-hoon, a gold medalist in Taekwondo.
“Channel your power through your rear leg….”
Scratch, scratch—
Nod, nod.
The Knights were taking notes so they wouldn’t forget.
[You have made a significant contribution to the foundations of Hand-to-Hand Combat in the Goyad Kingdom.]
[You have acquired 19% Contribution.]
Yet another location.
“???”
Bella was bewildered watching the scenes unfold throughout the Capital.
“Would you care to share a meal with me?”
“I’ve already had lunch.”
“But it’s not even lunchtime yet…? Then perhaps some tea?”
“I have a caffeine allergy.”
“Such an allergy exists…? Then, perhaps we could ride in a Carriage together….”
“I have a Carriage allergy.”
“???”
The Chancellor, eager to befriend the wealthy man, and Risel, who seemed quite accustomed to this.
“Bark, where have you been? Tell us about that real estate concept….”
Chancellor Volson rushed toward Bark with questions.
He was not a man of such nature.
‘But if it meant the Kingdom could prosper, he would do anything.’
That was why Volson stood in that position.
Bella found it remarkable.
Upon surveying the Training Center, she identified what they lacked.
Archery, Swordsmanship, Hand-to-Hand Combat.
Knights who possessed knowledge of these disciplines formed groups and gathered around the three, beseeching them for instruction.
‘So they were protecting Hyeon-su all along….’
Bella marveled at the true power of her second sun.
Just then, a woman approached.
It was Nel, the Chancellor of Balas Territory.
Bella nodded in agreement.
“Our kingdom is pouring all its efforts into developing the Royal Capital, but because we are called only the Land of Swords, few visit the Capital except for swordsmen.”
In other words, many people were not visiting the Capital.
When many Outsiders and NPCs visit the Capital, the kingdom collects taxes.
What they wear, what they eat, what they drink.
Taxes are embedded in all of it.
But it was not easy.
The power that other kingdoms wielded to draw people in was lacking in the Goyad Kingdom Capital.
Nel, deep in thought, spoke.
“Build a grand and magnificent tea house in the Royal Capital.”
“A tea house? Tea houses already overflow in abundance, and losses mount each year, providing no benefit to the Capital’s development.”
Nobles could enjoy fine tea in their own homes and had no reason to visit tea houses in the Capital.
The Outsiders were even worse.
Why would they visit a tea house in this world?
But then Nel spoke again.
“Have His Majesty and Lady Bella visit that tea house each morning to drink tea.”
“…What do you mean?”
“A tea house that His Majesty and Lady Bella visit daily will draw nobles from across the continent, and Outsiders who love taking vanity shots will pour in like a flood. Moreover, charge ten times the usual price for tea there.”
“T-ten times… Is that even possible?”
Bella could not fathom what Nel was saying.
Nel smiled softly and replied.
“His Majesty and Lady Bella need only say one thing.”
“What would that be…?”
“After drinking the tea from that tea house, His Majesty and Lady Bella’s swordsmanship improved and their health flourished. Once people hear that, they will pay ten times the price and drink it. Furthermore.”
Nel gazed at the panorama of the Royal Capital and smiled.
“The tea’s cost is 150 Silver. The base price is 4,000 Silver. At ten times that, the profit margin exceeds 250 times the cost.”
Bella was bewildered.
‘Isn’t this a scam?’
Nel, gazing at the panorama with a knowing smile, spoke.
“This is how you conduct business.”
And so Bella, together with Volson, opened the kingdom’s largest tea house.
A month later, that tea house’s revenue exceeded the combined sales of all other tea houses throughout the Goyad Kingdom.
Moreover, visitors to the Goyad Kingdom Capital increased fifty-four times over.
[You reap what you sow.]
Where there was genius, other geniuses gathered.

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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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