Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 174
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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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Skill Devouring Up to Floor 666 Episode 174
174. New Strategy
“Through an exclusive deal with our Costech, you’ll be able to secure a stable magic stone supply chain.”
Costech headquarters conference room.
Joshua was conducting a meeting with executives from partner companies.
The expressions of the energy company representatives sitting across the table were serious.
“But aren’t the price conditions too harsh? It’s over 30% more expensive than the current market rate.”
“That can’t be helped. We hold the exclusive supply rights.”
Joshua’s voice carried a sense of ease.
In the past, he would have tried to lower prices while watching the other party’s reactions, but now it was different.
Since Costech had taken the top position in the energy industry, there was no need to do that anymore.
‘All of this is thanks to Amon.’
It had already been several months since he started dealing with Amon.
During that time, the exclusive magic stone supply had given them priority in all transactions.
Even when competitors frantically tried to obtain magic stones, they ultimately had to go through Costech.
‘Just six months ago, we were pushed around by major corporations and could barely secure contracts…’
Mid-sized companies struggle to survive in competition with large corporations.
In front of giant energy companies, Costech was just a small fish.
But the moment they secured Amon as an absolute supplier, everything changed.
“Sigh, fine. We’ll accept the conditions.”
“A wise choice.”
After the meeting ended, Joshua remained alone and took out his smartphone.
News notifications had piled up.
[5,755 days remaining until destruction…]
[Survival period of over 15 years calms citizens’ anxiety.]
[Expert: ‘The destruction scenario has essentially disappeared…’]
[World leaders express gratitude to Amon… ‘Humanity’s savior.’]
[Korean economy booms due to Amon effect… ‘Anxiety relief leads to increased consumption’]
[Energy stocks continue to rise despite soaring magic stone prices.]
Just from the headlines, you could tell how much the world had changed.
‘Just a few months ago, fear of humanity’s destruction dominated the entire world…’
Now, hardly anyone worried about such things.
Instead, what would happen when the 666th floor was conquered had become the unprecedented concern.
‘Now I can really feel at ease.’
The stock market was recording daily gains, and real estate prices had also skyrocketed.
As people regained hope for the future, they began increasing their investments and consumption.
Joshua was also at the center of that change.
“Phew… Everything is thanks to Amon.”
Joshua, satisfied with successfully closing the deal, took a sip of coffee.
The bitter taste of americano spread through his mouth.
Just then.
Ding!
A text message arrived.
Looking at the sender, it was Lee Tae Seong.
[I’m coming over there now.]
“Huh? Right now?”
As soon as he said that, the door opened.
“So you were here. Joshua.”
“Tae Seong.”
The person who entered the conference room was Lee Tae Seong.
As if he had surveillance cameras installed, he always found him like a ghost this way.
“Did you come by instant teleportation again?”
“That’s right.”
To travel a 12-hour distance in an instant.
He’d experienced it so much that it wasn’t even surprising anymore.
“But what brings you here? Do you have some new magic stones perhaps…”
“That’s right. Would you like to take a look?”
Tae Seong took something out of his inventory.
A blue crystal that sparkled like a jewel.
But it was different from the magic stones he usually saw.
Not only the size, but the color was completely different.
Joshua naturally took it and his eyes widened at the information window that appeared.
“This is an SS-grade magic stone?”
“Yes.”
Even S-grade magic stones were hard to obtain, and now SS-grade.
“Wow… this is incredible.”
It felt like holding a small universe in his hands.
“It hasn’t been long since we started receiving S-Grade Magic Crystals, and now we already have SS-rank…”
“We’ll need to test it first, but… something like this could easily be worth 50 million dollars, don’t you think?”
50 million dollars was 90 billion won in Korean currency.
50 million dollars is 90 billion won in Korean currency.
If it was SS-grade, it was worth that much.
“Of course.”
Joshua immediately proceeded with the testing and soon returned with the results.
“Quality, purity, reactivity – it’s superior to S-Grade Magic Crystals in every aspect. Just the energy output alone measures three times higher.”
“Quality, purity, reactivity—it’s superior to S-grade magic stones in every aspect. Even just considering the energy output alone, it measures three times higher.”
“Is that so?”
Truly something that could shake up the energy industry.
Since he had received so much from Tae Seong before, it was the highest price he could set.
In Korean won, it was 126 billion.
It was the highest price he could set, considering everything he had received from Taesung so far.
Taeseong gave an okay sign, just like he always had.
“Good.”
“500.”
“I have exactly 512 of them.”
Joshua froze with his mouth hanging open.
Buying them all would cost over 60 trillion won.
Joshua froze with his mouth hanging open.
The Administrators gathered once again.
[I came because you called a meeting, but why did you summon us?]
[What happened to that Demigod fellow?]
[He must be dead, of course. We even used Terra to raise the difficulty that much.]
In infinite darkness.
Unlike his miserable state last time, he had recovered somewhat from his injuries, though they weren’t completely healed yet.
[I came because you called a meeting, but why did you call it?]
[That’s not it.]
[I wonder what happened to that half-body guy?]
[Of course it’s dead. We even used Terra to raise the difficulty that much.]
[Well, with the monster count increased tenfold and skill usage restrictions… no matter how strong someone is, they wouldn’t be able to hold out.]
[What?]
[We raised the difficulty. But he’s still alive?]
Abysalon blinked in affirmation.
[Yes. He didn’t suffer a single wound.]
[It seems the Labyrinth is like a playground to him. He’s currently reached Floor 579, clearing everything far too easily.]
[My precious Terra went into that! How does this make sense?!]
[But we couldn’t inflict a single wound on the Demigod?]
[The demigod… is still alive.]
They were enraged that their precious Terra had been used in vain.
[So that’s why you called another meeting? To apologize to us?]
[Abysalon should take responsibility!]
The atmosphere began to turn hostile.
That’s when Beriak stepped forward.
[Enough, all of you. This isn’t the time to fight among ourselves, is it? What’s important is stopping that Demigod.]
[Think about Terra later. First, we need to come up with a plan.]
Beriak looked at Abysalon.
[Abysalon. Do you have any other strategies? It’s been proven that just raising the difficulty has its limits.]
[What is it?]
Abysalon spoke confidently.
[So you called another meeting? To apologize to us?]
[You think an apology will fix this? Give me back my Tera!]
[Absalom should take responsibility!]
The atmosphere began to turn hostile.
A torrent of resentment poured out toward Absalom.
That’s when Beriak stepped forward.
[Stop it. This isn’t the time to be fighting each other, is it? What matters is stopping that demigod.]
[But our Terra…]
[I’ll think about Terra later; first, I need to come up with a plan.]
Beriark looked at Absalom.
[Absalom. Is there perhaps another strategy? It’s been proven that just increasing the difficulty has its limits.]
[I actually have a strategy in mind.]
[What?]
Absalom said confidently.
[It’s a strategy I used once before, using souls.]
[Souls?]
[Injecting Terra into abandoned souls to turn them into living explosives.]
[But would that be effective?]
[Isn’t that a method that already failed?]
[And you’re going to use Terra again?]
The Administrators’ reaction was lukewarm.
They didn’t like the idea of using Terra again on a method that had already failed once.
But Abysalon looked confident.
[It will definitely succeed. If we prepare more explosives in advance on the 600th Floor.]
[Someone has conquered Labyrinth Underground Floor 579!]
[Labyrinth Underground 580th Floor is now open.]
While Amon continued breaking through the lowest floors and setting records.
Weihao was also diligently working on his conquest.
[You have cleared Labyrinth Underground 160th Floor!]
“Did everyone receive their rewards?”
“Yes. We did.”
“What about you, Weihao?”
At Hiromune’s question, Weihao nodded.
“I got it.”
Weihao’s voice was dry.
Although he had cleared the 160th Floor with his party members, honestly he wasn’t satisfied.
‘These guys don’t suit my taste.’
Joshua was too kind, and Wang Ho Wei was overly cautious.
Hiromune was somewhat better, but still didn’t match Weihao’s temperament.
But he had no choice.
It would be difficult to break through the 160th Floor alone.
“But isn’t this reward a bit unusual?”
Hiromune said as he took out a black orb from his Inventory.
“Orb of Darkness… It says we can use the Dimensional Shop, but does anyone know what this is?”
“I’ve never seen this item before either.”
“Could it be that we can buy items from other dimensions?”
Hiromune offered his speculation.
Weihao just listened silently.
Actually, he wasn’t interested.
Right now his mind was filled with other thoughts.
‘I want to kill someone…’
Weihao’s true nature was that of a psychopath.
The urge to kill was always boiling within him, but right now he was suppressing that urge.
He was substituting it by fighting monsters.
But that alone wasn’t enough to satisfy his desires.
It felt like filling his stomach with health food instead of stimulating takeout?
Looking at his party members, Weihao muttered to himself.
‘Normally I would have killed all of them instead of forming a party…’
Right now he had to endure that urge.
He had no choice.
‘Otherwise the Death God would take my soul.’
Even now, the Death God that Amon had assigned was probably watching him.
He had no choice but to endure since he was told his soul would be taken immediately if he killed innocent people.
He was properly leashed.
‘I’ll have to console myself with killing monsters…’
That’s why he hadn’t paid attention to the message that appeared earlier.
[All Apostles are given the item ‘Orb of Darkness’ to commemorate conquering the 160th Floor.]
‘Orb of Darkness? What’s that?’
According to the description, it allowed access to a shop, but that wasn’t what he currently wanted.
“Shall we end today’s conquest here?”
“Yes. Good work everyone.”
“Then I’ll press the Return Button.”
He also pressed the Return Button and returned to Earth.
Then he headed to the Amon Guild, which was practically his current residence.
While walking along the way.
‘Wait, it said I could use a shop, right?’
His attention turned to the Orb of Darkness he received as a reward.
‘I wonder if there are any items that could satisfy my murderous urges?’
I thought I’d take a look at what they were selling and decided to try using the item.
Then.
Kwaaa!
Black smoke swirled and soon a single figure appeared.
[Greetings, human? I am Luiker, Amon’s faithful subordinate. Did you summon me to use the Dimensional Shop?]
“….”
Weihao couldn’t continue speaking.
A fluttering black robe, a giant scythe, and a skull face.
The being was clearly a Death God.
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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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