I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 59

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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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059-GoGo Casino
59.
【Notice】
We are pleased to announce that “CandyCoin” has been added as a new point exchange method starting today.
Please note that existing exchange methods remain available for your use.
Choi Sung-won, logging into the gambling site once again, simply skipped past the floating notice.
Such announcements were commonplace on gambling sites.
To circumvent the law, they’d pay out in points one day, items the next, merchandise after that.
Now they’d added coins to the mix.
I laughed.
What good did any of it do?
Money only counted when it reached my hands.
The chances of those points actually making it to me were virtually nonexistent.
In fact, I could say they never did.
The reason was simple.
First, winning money was incredibly difficult.
You played and you lost.
You’d win small change, then lose big.
So you’d deposit again, but even then, winning was nearly impossible.
Second, even if you somehow managed to win, they’d do everything in their power to refuse the withdrawal.
System maintenance was underway.
There was a withdrawal period to observe.
There was an error linking with the bank.
The transaction was flagged as suspicious and was on hold.
They’d make excuse after pathetic excuse, dragging things out until one day the site simply vanished.
I knew this.
I knew it all.
I even knew I shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.
Yet I couldn’t stop.
It kept crossing my mind, and I’d find myself doing it again.
So instead of trying to quit entirely, I was doing my best to keep my bets small.
Then I came across an internet post.
【GoGo Casino really delivers on withdrawals. Trust me and give it a try. If you don’t believe me, you can just use the signup bonus points and quit afterward.】
I snorted.
I saw posts like this countless times a day.
Still, since this one mentioned signup bonus points, I figured I might as well click on it and give it a shot.
Huh?
Why is this different?
Usually when you enter these sites, they’re all flashy and gaudy, with popups flying out everywhere—but this one is clean and refined.
Other sites feel like a summer night at a water park.
Explosions everywhere, dazzling displays, eye-catching visuals.
Yet this place felt clean and refined, like a temple cuisine restaurant.
I almost took a bite.
Upon signing up, they gave me 100,000 points.
I playfully tapped the refund button.
A message appeared stating that event points could not be refunded.
Of course they couldn’t.
I started with the familiar card game Baduk.
One game.
Two games.
Three games.
.
.
How many hours had passed?
They’d given me 100,000 points as a service bonus, so my money should have been depleted quickly and I should have recharged multiple times, yet I was still playing with that initial amount.
Moreover, I’d actually won money.
The 100,000 won I started with had become 310,000 won.
This is fun.
A smile spread across my lips.
Choi Sung-won wasn’t a stranger to gambling sites, though I wasn’t a frequent visitor.
But I’d never seen or heard of a site like this.
Over three hours had passed since I entered, and I was still playing with the initial money they’d given me.
And on top of that, I’d actually won.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
I wanted to play more, but I needed sleep for tomorrow.
Though I knew it wouldn’t work, I pressed the withdrawal button.
A message appeared asking if I wanted to create an account with TrustBit, and when I confirmed, an account was created instantly, and my points had been converted to cryptocurrency.
I laughed in disbelief.
Had I been scammed?
Were they pulling this kind of trick again?
They’re getting creative these days.
I didn’t feel disappointed.
It wasn’t my own money I’d gambled with anyway.
Still, with a glimmer of hope, I downloaded the TrustBit app and logged in, and there were 310,000 won worth of cryptocurrency in my account.
They’re actually doing this much?
Anyone could create this much.
It’s just numbers.
It’s merely a display saying you have this much cryptocurrency.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The real question is whether I can actually convert this cryptocurrency into real cash.
I spotted a transfer button and tapped it.
I entered my bank account number and pressed the transfer button, and shortly after, a text arrived confirming that 310,000 won had been deposited.
Wait? This isn’t right.
Weren’t these guys scammers?
I earned 310,000 won without putting in a single won.
I played around with the new member sign-up points and it accumulated to 310,000 won, which I successfully withdrew.
There weren’t even any fees deducted.
The 310,000 won was clearly displayed in my account.
Sleep vanished instantly.
What is this?
I replayed everything that had happened so far.
They’re actually giving me money?
This is insane.
Now is not the time to sleep.
Let’s go for it~~
Let’s goooooooo!!!!!!!!
*******
Lim Yu-na brought the merchandise samples.
Seeing the samples, my heart finally felt at ease.
Yes, this is it.
That feeling I had when I first saw the artwork.
It’s preserved perfectly here.
This was exactly the merchandise I wanted.
“I’m really pleased with this. I love it.”
After commenting on the samples, Lim Yu-na’s face turned red.
Is she unwell?
Now that I think about it, has she been overworking lately?
She doesn’t look to be in good health.
I mentioned wanting it done quickly, but I didn’t mean to push her. I felt a bit guilty.
“This should be sufficient. Let’s hand off the production, and you should get some rest, Yu-na.”
Lim Yu-na’s face turned red again.
What’s going on with her?
Just how unwell is she?
.
.
.
I opened a merchandise shop on the first floor of the Hotel.
Since I had prepared the space from the time we began manufacturing the merchandise,
I was able to display and sell the products as soon as they arrived.
And finally, the merchandise had arrived.
Adorable, round merchandise had claimed a corner of the Hotel lobby.
Postcards, magnets, keychains, stickers, and eco-bags were all on display, radiating cuteness.
Just looking at them lifted my spirits.
But that good feeling didn’t last long.
-SOLD OUT-
It happened just four hours after the merchandise arrived.
.
.
.
I hastily placed an additional order.
I’d received the initial stock thinking it would be sufficient for opening day, but it turned out to be woefully inadequate.
And I felt the sting of regret.
Lim Yu-na’s merchandise was beautiful, certainly, but having only the same types of items made it feel less like a proper merchandise shop and more like a solo exhibition or pop-up store.
I realized I needed to diversify the product range.
After mulling it over, I called Patrick.
“Patrick, do you know anyone who could help organize an art competition or something like that?”
“Of course, sir. Our Philippine university alumni are everywhere.”
.
.
.
Bohol Provincial Government.
The Provincial Governor’s office.
Sigh.
Why am I sitting here again?
What am I going to do with Patrick?
What exactly did he say to arrange a meeting with the Provincial Governor?
I just needed someone to handle and run the competition.
I needed a partner to send official notices to more places and help with promotion.
But the Provincial Governor, of all people.
And if Patrick has connections to arrange meetings with the Provincial Governor, wouldn’t it be better if he did something else?
Rather than working under us.
“Thank you so much for coming all this way.”
“Not at all. Of course I had to come. Thank you for the invitation.”
“I’ve heard that your business ventures are thriving. Congratulations. It seems Bohol is developing day by day because of your efforts.”
“Not at all. It’s only possible because you govern Bohol so well. Bohol truly seems like an excellent place to do business.”
“I’ve lived in Bohol for a long time, but I’ve never met anyone who employs and treats Bohol’s citizens as well as you do. As Provincial Governor, I offer my deepest gratitude.”
“What are you saying? I’m simply doing what should be done. My employees are so positive and hardworking that our sales have increased significantly. If anything, I should be thanking you.”
“If you encounter any difficulties while conducting business in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll do my best to help.”
“Haha. Then I’ll reach out without reservation.”
“Haha. I’ll be waiting. By the way, I heard you’re hosting an art competition.”
An art competition?
When did the contest get renamed to an art competition?
I’m really going to… Patrick, this bastard.
“Ah, not quite an art competition. I was thinking of holding a contest targeting Bohol citizens and tourists.”
“A contest?”
“It might be faster if I just show you rather than explain it.”
I pulled out my tablet and showed him the paintings Lim Yu-na had created,
along with the merchandise products we’d manufactured this time.
The Emerald Canyon and Lumina Lake were mystical, but
when familiar landscapes like the Chocolate Hills, spectacled monkeys, and whale sharks appeared, the Provincial Governor’s eyes widened in wonder.
“Ah~ this is truly fresh. I’ve seen these things often, but I’ve never thought about them this way. There’s something charming about how round and cute they are.”
“Exactly. That’s precisely what I was hoping for.”
“That is?”
“This is how one tourist saw and depicted the landscape. Doesn’t looking at this make you want to visit here?”
“I do want to visit. I’m very curious now.”
“Right. But what if many more people depicted many more places from diverse perspectives?”
“It would provide fresh stimulation.”
“Exactly. Bohol’s tourism industry would enter Phase 2. Tourists who come to Bohol and purchase merchandise won’t just have wonderful memories—they’ll become walking advertisements, drawing in new visitors.”
“Ah, a positive cycle.”
“And on top of that, we could discover new tourist attractions in Bohol and uncover fresh appeal in existing destinations.”
“There’s clearly a reason your business thrives, Young Boss. I don’t know how you come up with such ideas. It’s remarkable.”
“You’re too kind. I’m just thinking the same thoughts anyone would have.”
“Then what can I help you with?”
“Would you be willing to oversee and manage the contest?”
“Me?”
“We don’t have experience in that area, so I’d like to ask for your help. We’ll cover the prize money and operational costs. Everything else—I’d like you to handle. All we need is the right to select works that can be turned into merchandise later.”
The Provincial Governor’s eyes changed at my words.
He probably met with me initially worried about getting tainted by association with a state-linked business.
If it succeeds, he gets some benefits,
and if it fails, he at least makes a connection.
But if he’s the organizer—if it’s the Bohol Provincial Government—that’s a different story entirely.
Planning and running an event with citizen participation?
It would be an enormous boost to the Provincial Governor’s career and image.
I continued speaking to those eyes gleaming with ambition.
“I’m anticipating around 20 winners. First place: 1 person, second place: 3 people, third place: 6 people, fourth place: 10 people. Like this.”
“What’s the total prize pool you’re envisioning?”
“I’m thinking around 1 million pesos—about 24 million won total.”
“Ah! That’s truly wonderful. It will be an enormous help to Bohol’s art community.”
“Separately from the awards, for works that are manufactured as merchandise, we’ll pay 50,000 pesos each—about 1.2 million won. And we’ll provide 2% of net profits as royalties.”
“Wow~ that’s more generous than I expected. I might have to enter myself.”
“Welcome. There are no restrictions—photographs, paintings, illustrations, anything goes. I’d be delighted if you’d consider participating yourself, Provincial Governor.”
“Hahaha. Excellent. I’ll absolutely make sure to participate.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll continue to oversee the competition personally. As Provincial Governor, I’m deeply grateful for planning and sponsoring such an event.”
“I’m equally pleased to contribute something beneficial to Bohol. I do hope we can organize more events like this in the future.”
“You’re always welcome to do so.”
The conversation had concluded successfully, but
my instincts told me otherwise.
It wasn’t truly over yet.
As I organized the shopping bag containing the merchandise, I withdrew money from my inventory and placed it inside.
I’d added roughly ten thousand dollars.
I put in about a million dollars.
“These are the merchandise items we’ve produced. They might prove helpful in preparing for the competition, so I’ll leave them with you.”
I conveyed this to the Provincial Governor with a glance, and
he responded as if he understood perfectly.
“Of course. This will be an enormous help to us. Hahaha.”
The Provincial Governor flashed a grin, revealing yellowed teeth.
His mood appeared to be in excellent spirits.
.
.
.
A few days later.
Posters and advertisements for 【The 1st Bohol Tourism Competition】 appeared throughout the province.
The competition had officially begun.

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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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