The Only Enhancer - Chapter 91

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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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Chapter 91
Chapter 91 – Hijacking the Private Jet (1)
0.
The aviation industry was one of many sectors that had developed steadily as humanity progressed.
Especially after monsters appeared and vast stretches of sea routes became impassable, it flourished even more.
Transportation remained necessary, so the aviation industry had no choice but to thrive.
Unlike the seas teeming with colossal marine monsters, the skies were virtually free of high-altitude flying creatures.
By nature, most monsters possessed massive bodies.
While flying-type monsters did exist, their distribution plummeted dramatically as Disaster Levels increased.
Furthermore, monsters prioritized territory and rarely abandoned their habitats.
Even flying-type monsters, dwelling on land as they did, produced virtually no high-altitude fliers.
And the aviation industry, which benefited greatly from this circumstance, boasted a titan of a corporation.
AirRail.
One of the dual powerhouses in global civilian passenger aircraft and aerospace manufacturing, it was a company built through investment from the European Union and England.
Though AirRail continued its relentless growth, its current chairman, Oliver Baldeck, deemed it insufficient.
Oliver Baldeck, possessing a youthful appearance and striking blonde hair, harbored ambitions far deeper than his docile exterior suggested.
He desperately wanted to shatter the duopoly, to break through what was called the two-pillar system.
He yearned to surpass the United States’ Shuing and claim the industry’s apex.
‘And the key to that lies conveniently in Germany.’
As Oliver entertained this thought, he recalled Min-jun’s press conference from moments earlier, and a shiver ran down his spine.
He had anticipated it to some degree, but the man was undeniably extraordinary.
To strengthen human potential itself and breach the level cap—it was staggering.
Yet Oliver’s focus lay elsewhere.
What captivated him was the fact that Min-jun had possessed such power for quite some time without revealing it.
Which meant one thing.
‘There are still many hidden abilities.’
After all, hunters didn’t possess merely one or two skills.
If one gained a skill with each level increase, Min-jun should possess seven skills in total.
Yet only five or fewer had been publicly disclosed thus far.
Considering the buffs he’d used came from item-attached skills, the skills attributable to him as an Enhancement Artisan amounted to merely two: the item enhancement skill and the potential enhancement skill.
This implied he could enhance other things as well.
From this, one could deduce.
‘He can likely enhance magic stones too.’
Oliver considered this not mere speculation but near-certainty.
Currently, the only systematic items that could be enhanced were items and magic stones.
Yet enhanced magic stones had never been revealed.
If he could enhance human potential itself—a concept transcending normal enhancement—surely he could enhance mere magic stones dropped by monsters?
Impossible otherwise.
‘Haaah.’
Yes. Oliver’s true objective was those enhanced magic stones.
Ma Hyun-seok’s purpose was to have me strengthen the mana stones while they procured them themselves.
Why had he set such an objective?
It was simple.
‘A phenomenon had been discovered where aircraft equipped with powerful mana stones attracted fewer monsters.’
No matter how scarce flying beasts were, they still existed, and if one happened to be near an airport, the situation became quite dire.
Because of this, modern aircraft manufacturing had begun incorporating mana stones as semi-permanent fuel sources while simultaneously serving the purpose of monster extermination.
However, even with this measure, repelling Disaster Level 3 or higher monsters remained difficult.
Even using Disaster Level 4 mana stones, they couldn’t match the mana wavelength emitted by a living Disaster Level 3 creature—such was the limitation of Disaster Level 4 mana stones.
Even when using multiple stones, they couldn’t be merged into one, so multiple stones produced the same effect as a single stone.
But what if the stones were strengthened?
The results could be different.
And if they were different?
‘I would absolutely want to purchase them.’
Even if I had to meet all of Min-jun’s demands.
Simply manufacturing such passenger aircraft and transport planes would yield astronomical projected revenue increases.
Enough to surpass Shuing, called the twin pillars of the aviation industry.
This was also why Oliver had personally visited the Hotel where Min-jun was staying to conduct business.
Had I not heard that Min-jun was seeking to acquire a private aircraft?
This was an opportunity.
If I approached him this way and presented my proposal.
‘I could monopolize the market for monster-safe aircraft!’
Even if strengthened mana stones produced no such effect, it didn’t matter.
Selling a private aircraft to Min-jun would provide promotional value in itself.
I had considered all such factors.
Not just anyone rose to the position of chairman.
As Oliver waited in anticipation.
His secretary knocked and entered, speaking.
“Chairman, Mr. Reinforce Guild has arrived.”
“Prepare to leave immediately. Also request a meeting with him.”
“I’ll prepare at once.”
After the secretary responded to Oliver’s words and left.
Oliver swallowed hard, his expression showing slight anxiety and tension, before rising from his seat.
Like any other business meeting, yet this felt more nerve-wracking than ever.
I mustn’t make any mistakes.
1.
‘Hmm.’
I sat with a somewhat ambiguous expression, waiting for Chairman Oliver.
Normally, this would be a situation where nervousness was expected.
And for good reason.
I was meeting with someone equivalent to the head of a global enterprise.
Oliver Baldeck was indeed a professional manager, but the fact that he led one of the nation’s largest conglomerates was undeniable.
Meeting with such an executive was mentally burdensome and certainly warranted nervousness.
Yet for some reason, I felt none of those emotions.
So I found myself in an awkward state.
My mind kept thinking—shouldn’t I be nervous?
But my heart was saying, “Huh? Why should I be nervous?”
That’s why I wore such an ambiguous expression.
Then.
“The chairman of AirRail, Oliver Baldeck, has arrived.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I rose from my seat at Jung Ji-hwan’s announcement, and I could see Oliver Baldeck opening the door and entering at nearly the same moment.
If I weren’t interested in this matter, he would be a complete stranger, but since I’d already received a report from Jung Ji-hwan, his face was quite familiar.
I smiled at Oliver in a friendly manner.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Kim Min-jun.”
“Though I fall short of expectations, I’m Oliver Baldeck, leading AirRail. It’s an honor to meet you, Mister Reinforce. Just moments ago I was seeing you at a press conference, but to see you in person like this—I’m not sure if this is a dream.”
Watching him speak with such flowery language, I thought he certainly had much to teach about business.
I spoke with that thought in mind.
“Please, have a seat and let’s continue our conversation.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll take the liberty.”
Even the way he sat was like that.
Every action of his resembled a textbook of business etiquette, and I was observing it carefully.
‘Interesting.’
Indeed, the way he conducted himself had both dignity and courtesy.
Especially those seemingly good manners—they must be built from countless small actions, right?
I’d like to have that.
It’s not as if I can learn it just by watching, but it’s better to try than not.
I observed Oliver carefully.
At the same time, Oliver felt his breath tightening under my gaze and let out a soft cough.
“Ahem.”
Though it didn’t ease his tension, it was better than before, so.
Taking a small breath, Oliver broached the subject first.
“First, I heard that you were seeking to acquire a private aircraft, Mister Reinforce, so I’ve come to visit. I’m truly grateful that you’ve accepted our proposal so readily.”
“Ah, it’s no trouble. After all, I’m one of your potential buyers.”
“Ha, who would ever think of Mister Reinforce as merely a buyer?”
“Hmm.”
Now that he mentioned it, that was true.
I was young, but I wasn’t foolish.
I understood my position well.
I also understood why Oliver was speaking that way.
Oliver continued his words while cold sweat dripped down his back.
“As you might have anticipated, this meeting isn’t merely for sales purposes. I wanted to ask you directly whether I might be so bold as to propose something to you, Mister Reinforce, which is why I took the liberty of requesting this meeting.”
“Yes, please speak freely.”
“Thank you so much. Fearing my words might be misconstrued, I’ve prepared documentation beforehand. I hope you’ll consider it.”
Though Min-jun might have felt burdened by such courteous treatment, he accepted it naturally and took the documents Oliver offered.
Having spent considerable time reviewing and evaluating various documents lately, I’d grown capable of reading through them reasonably well without Jung Ji-hwan’s assistance.
There were clauses and various conditions, but one premise stood out immediately.
This entire proposal was constructed upon a single assumption.
And as I read that assumption, I smiled faintly.
‘How amusing.’
The proposal assumed that I could reinforce magic stones, and that these reinforced stones would have amplified mana, making them effective for repelling monsters.
This was the assumption upon which the proposal was built.
A proposal Oliver had created with near certainty.
‘Impressive.’
On the surface, it was a deduction that could seem natural if one considered certain facts, but since it was a concept that hadn’t existed until now, it was a difficult inference even if one knew the conditions.
Yet he’d arrived at this conclusion with near certainty.
Was this what separated someone who commanded a global enterprise?
Now that I thought about it, Jung Ji-hwan had mentioned that around the same time, various energy company executives had sent me love calls.
‘I’d told him to reject them all, thinking they had nothing to do with me.’
It seemed they’d all reached similar conclusions to Oliver.
Many coveted reinforced magic stones, regardless of whether their purpose was monster repulsion.
I’d decided not to sell reinforced magic stones yet, judging it still too risky.
And look at this.
It was exactly as I’d predicted.
As I read through the documents one by one, Oliver felt his breath growing tight.
What if I suddenly took offense and changed my demeanor?
Of course, I knew I wasn’t that kind of person.
‘Seeing him in person, his presence is truly formidable.’
He swallowed hard, barely able to meet my gaze.
Once I finished reading every page, Oliver looked at me with trembling eyes.
“The conditions are quite substantial, aren’t they? Of course, these are conditions that would only apply if the magic stones are reinforced and prove effective at repelling monsters.”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
As Oliver barely managed to respond, I smiled and spoke.
“That was quite an impressive deduction.”
“…Does that mean…”
“Yes, exactly as you suspected. When I reinforce magic stones from Disaster Level 4 monsters, even Disaster Level 4 monsters become reluctant and avoid them.”
“Ah!!!”
Oliver’s face broke into a smile brimming with joy.
I smiled quietly as well.
If this proceeded all the way to a contract, it would be wonderful.
Oliver, however, wasn’t quite so optimistic in his thinking.
I’ll do whatever I can to work something out.
But I’m prepared to accept any terms.
It was at that moment Oliver was thinking such thoughts.
Jung Ji-hwan spoke from behind.
“Chairman, we have a visitor.”
“What? Oh!”
He was announcing a visitor’s arrival right in front of Oliver?
It was somewhat discourteous, but if the visitor was urgent enough, it was understandable. Oliver decided to let it slide.
However.
“Chairman Baldeck, if you don’t mind, could we invite them to join us here?”
“What? Oh, I don’t mind at all. Please, do as you see fit.”
Though Oliver spoke politely, his heart stung a little.
But Oliver was someone who needed to maintain appearances.
It was an unavoidable choice.
Not long after, a knock sounded, and someone opened the door and entered.
An elderly gentleman who appeared considerably older than Oliver.
Oliver’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of this elderly man, and the gentleman himself stared back at Oliver with wide eyes as if he’d seen a ghost.
The identity of this newly arrived elderly gentleman was James McQuire.
He was the chairman of Shuing, one of the twin pillars of the aircraft manufacturing industry.
“Then shall we hear the conditions together?”

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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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