The Cursed Blacksmith Who Regressed - Chapter 53

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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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Episode 53

 

What was this about now?

 

He had heard correctly.

 

But so suddenly?

 

However, Jang Hae-hyeon’s expression soon became serious.

 

“Shall we sit down first? Han Secretary, please bring us something to drink.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

A seating area was quickly arranged, and Choi Hyun spoke while examining the conquest confirmation documents.

 

“As I mentioned before, my goal is to end the era of great upheaval.”

 

“Yes, I know because you told us. That’s why you pushed for Daesan’s rebranding and redesigned all the existing equipment.”

 

And based on the redesigned recipes, Daesan’s crafting department employees were currently focusing on production day and night.

 

Additionally, large-scale recruitment of blacksmith Players was underway, as announced during the interview.

 

“Yes, that’s right. My first goal was to naturally increase the conquest rate of dungeons and gates by supplying higher-level equipment. So now I’m thinking of implementing the second plan.”

 

“The second plan?”

 

“Yes, of course there haven’t been any significant numerical results from the first plan yet, but I think we should prepare the second plan in advance.”

 

“In advance… I’m curious, could I hear about this plan?”

 

Choi Hyun held out the Black Area conquest confirmation documents again as he spoke.

 

“As you know, dungeons and gates are principally government property. But conquest rights are released to the private sector through various conditions, and one of them is conquering dangerous places like Black Areas to earn bonus points and secure priority conquest rights. Moreover, among the methods I know for securing priority conquest rights, this is the most reliable method.”

 

Jang Hae-hyeon nodded.

 

“Yes, there are methods like donations or volunteer work, but above all, the most effective is using bonus points from Black Area conquests. Black Areas require a lot of tax money for management costs.”

 

“That’s why I’ve been conquering them. Three places just today. The reason I could only do three was because of the Association staff’s work hours – three was the limit.”

 

“What do you mean… So if you had more time, you could have conquered more?”

 

“By my calculations, yes.”

 

“Huh…”

 

What kind of place was a Black Area?

 

Black Areas were places that even renowned guilds in the industry and major overseas hunters had given up conquering, forcing the government to manage them.

 

Yet Choi Hyun spoke of such places as if he were handling simple side tasks.

 

“I thought you wouldn’t believe me if I told you from the beginning, so I brought the actual results like this. Anyway, the reason I wanted to conquer these places is, as I mentioned earlier, for priority conquest rights to New Areas. Our first plan is to increase conquest rates by supplying good equipment at low prices, right?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“But this method takes a long time, has the possibility of unexpected variables, and above all, requires a lot of funding.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“So the idea is to have our guild monopolize New Areas, which are relatively safer than Black Areas, to increase the guild’s profits. Of course, the 500 billion we received from Taeseong and the equipment sales revenue that will accumulate over time will likely solve future funding issues, but it’s better to have one more pipeline just in case.”

 

“It’s a good idea. So you’re saying we should additionally recruit combat hunters for New Area conquests?”

 

“That’s right. I understand that Daesan could become the industry’s 3rd place because we positioned ourselves in crafting, unlike the 1st and 2nd places. Now that we’ve secured the crafting side, I think we could expand into other fields. Of course, besides this reason, there are other reasons why we need to create a new group in the combat field.”

 

“What reasons?”

 

“First, if we directly run areas ourselves, we can obtain various area byproducts at much cheaper prices than market value. As far as I know, Daesan currently purchases and uses all materials needed for crafting from the market, is that correct?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. We don’t do gathering, only crafting.”

 

“Then let’s create an environment where we can do direct gathering too. Actually, didn’t Samsindang, the famous bakery in Daejeon, start farming wheat directly after growing larger to secure stable flour supplies?”

 

“That makes sense. What about the second reason?”

 

“It’s not just about material supply issues, but we can also eat into the combat hunter recruitment market pie. Usually when you join a guild, you get some support funds and share profits through settlement ratios for various events and spoils of war. Since our main base is crafting, we can easily provide equipment support of a quality that other guilds can’t dream of. This naturally enables exclusive business with low-level Players.”

 

“Are you considering exclusive business with low-level Players because of buying low?”

 

“Yes, hunters grow quickly anyway if their equipment quality is good. So we secure seeds of mid-to-high level hunters through buying low from the start.”

 

“This is also a good idea. Especially if we let them experience our new products first as a business strategy, it would be even more appealing.”

 

“We could naturally bring promotional effects too. You know advertising costs aren’t small expenses, right?”

 

“Right. One of the factors in product price increases is large advertising costs. But what about mid-to-high level hunters, not just low-level ones? Are you giving up on them?”

 

“Of course not. High-level hunters are easier. No, whether they like it or not, they’ll have no choice but to be interested in us as time passes.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because we’ll be holding most of the priority conquest rights for New Areas through Black Area conquests.”

 

“Ah!”

 

“While hunters are very grateful beings who fight for humanity on the front lines, dungeon and gate conquests are still their main source of income. Of course, things might get complicated later making complete monopolization of New Areas impossible, but bidding competition for new areas will become even more intense.”

 

“Then naturally, to avoid stress, they’ll have no choice but to consider transferring to our Daesan.”

 

“Right. If we match conditions similarly to other guilds, but Daesan has many priority conquest rights and provides equipment support, what reason would there be to hesitate more?”

 

“Especially since Choi Advisor, the rising star with full potential who first conquered the Growth Tower, is also with us.”

 

“I won’t deny that fact either. After all, who belongs to a group is also important.”

 

Some people became fans because they liked the team, but others became fans because someone they liked belonged to that team.

 

In that sense, Choi Hyun’s presence would be a very powerful weapon.

 

‘People who are just starting to dream of being hunters or have romantic notions about Black Area conquests would likely admire me and come to Daesan.’

 

He wasn’t worried about defection.

 

Loyalty and devotion naturally develop when you manage people well without problems.

 

Many groups cause problems because they can’t do that.

 

Jang Hae-hyeon nodded.

 

The explanation was sufficient.

 

Unless he was a fool, what businessman would refuse this venture when someone of Choi Hyun’s caliber would be the main pillar leading from start to finish?

 

Especially when he had reinvested the 500 billion in capital.

 

After thinking for a moment, Jang Hae-hyeon spoke.

 

“Good, Advisor. But I have one condition.”

 

“A condition?”

 

“I’m not really in a position to impose conditions, but it’s a condition I really want to request. I’ll establish a guild as you proposed. It can be independent or I can make it a subsidiary if you prefer. However, if that happens, I’d like you to take the position of guild leader for the new guild.”

 

As they had discussed, Choi Hyun’s presence would have a huge impact on the newly created group.

 

That’s why he made this condition.

 

So Choi Hyun didn’t refuse either.

 

No, he had expected Jang Hae-hyeon to make this proposal from the beginning.

 

“Understood. Then let’s make it a subsidiary. That would be more convenient for both you and me to manage.”

 

“That’s good for me, but are you okay with it, Advisor?”

 

“What aspect?”

 

“Just… various things?”

 

He smiled at those words.

 

Because he knew what he was trying to say.

 

But it was a bit awkward to mention directly.

 

For example, personal desires like ambition for position or possessiveness.

 

“It’s fine. I have no greed and convenience in management is most important. My goal is to end the era of great upheaval anyway, so I have no other desires.”

 

“I’ll do my best to help you without any inconvenience.”

 

“Then what about the title issue? Since a subsidiary will be created, should I call you Chairman instead of President now?”

 

“Haha, no. Chairman is too much… No. Just keep the titles as they are. What should I call you? Since a subsidiary president is also a president, should I call you President as well?”

 

“It would be inconvenient if titles overlap. Then you stay as President, and since I’ll be sitting in a president position anyway as a subsidiary representative, how about calling me Director as a representative director?”

 

“I’ll do that.”

 

“Then I think the title arrangement is settled, and I look forward to working with you.”

 

“I’m the one who should say that. Oh, do you have any company name in mind?”

 

“You can decide, President.”

 

“I don’t have great naming sense… How about Paragon?”

 

“Paragon?”

 

“It means model, example. Since it’s a guild created to end the era of great upheaval, I think it will become the most ideal guild for humanity’s salvation.”

 

“Paragon… That’s good, let’s go with that.”

 

“Understood. Then I look forward to working with you, Director.”

 

The two men smiled and clasped hands together.

 

At the same time, it was also the moment when humanity’s strongest guild would be born in the future.

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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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