The Only Enhancer - Chapter 92

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 92
Episode 92 – Private Jet Hijacking (2)
Oliver Baldeck, Chairman of AirRail.
James McQuire, Chairman of Shuing.
And Min-jun, sitting leisurely before them both with a smile on his face.
It was a scene you couldn’t witness anywhere else.
Normally, business wasn’t conducted this way.
Calling competing companies simultaneously and attaching conditions like a wholesale market auction was conduct worthy of condemnation from any quarter.
But Min-jun didn’t mind at all.
Chairman Oliver and Chairman James thought the same way.
After all, in this place—or perhaps in this world itself—it was fair to say that Min-jun held all the power.
“I do feel somewhat apologetic about calling both of you here. However, it just so happened that you both mentioned selling me a private jet, and you each said you had additional proposals to present, so coincidentally I invited you together.”
“Haha, not at all. From a consumer’s perspective, comparing and purchasing from multiple sources is wise consumption. You’re perfectly justified in doing the same, Mr. Reinforce.”
“Ahem, I share that sentiment.”
It was a rare moment when the relatively young chairman and the elderly gentleman found themselves in agreement.
And since James McQuire of Shuing had come with the same purpose as Oliver, both of them had no choice but to accept the situation.
Though Min-jun had arranged this less out of cunning and more because he couldn’t be bothered to meet with them separately and deliberate.
Min-jun asked James, who had just arrived, first.
“Will you present your proposal verbally?”
“Ah, no. I’ve prepared documents in advance.”
James, like Oliver before him, held his breath and swallowed hard.
His body trembled at the overwhelming presence Min-jun exuded, but perhaps he deserved to be called a seasoned veteran of a hundred years.
He endured such pressure with remarkable composure.
Though the trembling of his body was something difficult to suppress at his age.
After Min-jun reviewed Chairman James’s proposal, he set the documents down.
Gulp.
Both their Adam’s apples bobbed simultaneously, and Min-jun observed them both.
Then he spoke with an air of surprise.
“To be honest, I’m quite surprised. Your proposals are remarkably similar. As if you two had coordinated beforehand. Though I know that couldn’t possibly be the case.”
“….”
“….”
Oliver and James glared at each other.
Was it because they were rivals after all?
Their proposals, opinions, and even reasoning were strikingly alike.
Even the conditions they presented were similar.
Both of them were offering the condition of one private jet in exchange for simply applying enhancement to the magic stones they would procure themselves.
And even the condition of providing a qualified pilot was identical.
Apart from a few minor details, the overall framework was completely the same.
In other words, it was ambiguous which side to favor.
Though admittedly, the prospect of acquiring a private jet without spending money was appealing.
“AirRail will provide not only the conditions listed there, but also a newly constructed large dedicated aircraft!”
“Shuing will do the same! If you desire customization, we’ll tailor everything from start to finish!”
Both shouted with fervor.
Min-jun regarded them with a somewhat troubled expression.
If both of them continued to compete so intensely, it certainly benefited Min-jun.
The prices would only drop further, and I would gain profit simply by breathing.
But weren’t these still business partners worth considering?
“Would you wait a moment, please?”
At Min-jun’s words, both ceased their heated discussion and waited obediently for what he would say.
In this place, Min-jun was unquestionably the one holding all the cards.
Min-jun stroked his chin thoughtfully before asking the two men.
“What is the typical price of an aircraft?”
“…It varies depending on the model, but a small dedicated aircraft typically costs around 105 million dollars, or roughly 140 billion won.”
“As for the large dedicated aircraft we just mentioned, since it involves modifying a passenger aircraft capable of accommodating up to 300 seats, it costs approximately 400 million euros, or around 600 billion won in Korean currency.”
James flinched at Oliver’s forthcoming explanation, then belatedly regretted it.
Though the calculation was roughly the same whether stated in dollars or not.
Min-jun listened and fell into thought.
It was far too large a sum to earn through mere enhancement work.
The minimum was 140 billion won.
By my preference, modifying a large passenger aircraft to carry various equipment would be ideal, but still.
Regardless, the price was simply too expensive.
‘A Disaster Level 4 monster’s magic stone costs roughly 6 billion won, doesn’t it?’
Unlike 4-star items, magic stones had excellent utility, but since supply was also quite abundant, their price fell more than half compared to items.
I had considered enhancing them and selling them, but I had estimated the price at roughly 60 billion won.
Yet they were offering ten times that amount.
I found myself hesitant.
Initially, I thought it would be quite profitable to simply enhance once and obtain a passenger aircraft-class dedicated plane, but I suddenly shook my head.
‘Don’t arbitrarily inflate the price. Set it at a fair market rate.’
At the price I had originally planned.
Since I was thinking of 60 billion won, roughly ten enhancements would suffice.
But the question was: which company would I favor?
This was the problem.
If I supported only one company, wouldn’t that create complications?
So after deliberation, I spoke.
“Both of you must be hoping for exclusive rights, correct?”
“…I’m afraid that is our desire.”
“…This old man shares that sentiment.”
Both answered simultaneously, and Min-jun thought for a moment before speaking.
“Exclusivity is not possible. I was planning to sell enhanced magic stones later anyway.”
“…I see.”
“…Ahem.”
I had anticipated this, but both of them couldn’t help but wear disappointed expressions.
However.
“Well, there’s such a thing as first-come, first-served, isn’t there? I’ll offer you both a special discount.”
“Pardon?”
“Did you say both of us?”
Even if it wasn’t an exclusive deal, who received it first mattered greatly.
Both of them had been hoping for that advantage.
A special discount for both of them?
Oliver Baldeck and James McQuire simultaneously exchanged glances and let out quiet sighs.
It seemed we would never escape the reputation of being a two-horse carriage.
Of course, we would widen the gap with other companies, but….
What good was that? We couldn’t overtake our rival and secure the industry’s top position.
The two men were disappointed, but the moment Min-jun continued speaking, they couldn’t help but be taken aback.
Min-jun had organized the situation before speaking.
Since I was thinking of 60 billion won from selling enhancement stones.
Originally, I had planned to ask for one passenger aircraft per ten stones, but upon reflection, the price for enhancement services and selling enhancement stones couldn’t be the same.
“If you can procure only tier-4 magic stones, I’ll enhance up to twenty of them. In exchange, I’d like you to customize a 300-seat passenger aircraft as a private jet and send it over. Of course, I’ll send you the customization details separately.”
Though it was called a first-mover advantage, it was still quite a generous price.
Per stone, wasn’t I offering enhancement services for 30 billion won?
Of course, if one only considered the price, it was substantial, but when thinking about obtaining twenty tier-4 disaster-level monster magic stones that could repel calamities, the price felt far too cheap.
Even Jung Ji-hwan flinched in surprise at my statement.
It was an exceptionally generous offer.
However, after saying that, I simultaneously gauged the reactions of both men.
The two seasoned chairmen understood my implication well.
“We’re incredibly grateful, but wouldn’t Mr. Reinforce be at a loss with such terms?”
“Ahem, I share that concern.”
With that, Chairman Oliver Baldeck and Chairman James McQuire exchanged glances and sighed quietly.
How should we adjust this?
We needed to offer more, but I couldn’t quite grasp the right approach.
Seeing that, Jung Ji-hwan seized the opportunity to interject.
“If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion to you chairmen, even if both of you began manufacturing immediately, it would take considerable time. What if you each provided an additional smaller private jet that you could offer right away?”
“Oh!”
“That does seem like a reasonable suggestion.”
Both nodded at Jung Ji-hwan’s proposal.
Both had several private jets waiting in their garages, so that much was entirely feasible.
However.
“And rather than dispatching a captain and first officer, what if you dispatched maintenance crews capable of performing constant maintenance?”
At Jung Ji-hwan’s suggestion, this time Min-jun tilted his head in confusion.
Wouldn’t that mean I’d need to find someone else to pilot it?
Min-jun looked at Jung Ji-hwan with confusion.
“I can pilot an aircraft, and Isabella can as well.”
“…???”
I wondered why they could do such a thing, but I supposed Min-jun would accept it as is.
Jung Ji-hwan had been an extraordinary agent, and Isabella, having been raised within the Saint Guild, was comparably skilled.
Min-jun nodded as if he understood.
The guild leaders had no choice but to nod along, caught off guard.
They provided a small private jet, and even dispatched maintenance personnel capable of handling constant upkeep.
At first, I thought we’d acquired it at a remarkably cheap price.
I still thought so now, but why did something feel off?
‘I feel like I’ve been taken advantage of.’
‘It’s as if I’ve been enchanted.’
Both were thinking along similar lines.
Min-jun finalized the contract with the two guild leaders, signed the documents, and completed the transaction.
Upon receiving his signature, both leaders expressed their gratitude simultaneously.
“…Thank… you.”
“…Much… obliged.”
In any case, Oliver and James rose from their seats looking at least five years older than when they’d arrived.
Though they’d obtained twenty enhanced level-4 magic stones at a bargain price, the transaction had drained them of their vitality.
Both appeared utterly exhausted.
“I’m satisfied with today’s transaction. Should I need anything else, I’ll be in touch.”
“Please do! We hope to hear from you!”
“I too shall await your call!”
Watching the two scramble to their feet and offer handshakes as if they hadn’t been exhausted moments before, I realized that business truly wasn’t something just anyone could do.
The two guild leaders, without hesitation, ordered their secretaries to retrieve the level-4 magic stones they’d been preparing.
Though their energy had flagged somewhat, this was an opportunity to open new pathways to the heavens.
Both moved with urgency.
As they moved about, neither could shake a certain thought.
It was supposed to be a transaction, so why did it feel this way?
‘Somehow….’
‘…it feels like I’ve been robbed.’
This sensation of having been plundered.
Thanks to the two guild leaders’ swift action, it wasn’t long before private jets arrived at Berlin Airport for each of them.
Though modest private jets, they were perfectly suitable for immediately transporting guild members.
Just this alone exceeded a hundred billion won in value, so it was certainly no trivial matter.
As Min-jun inspected the private jet and smiled with satisfaction,
Isabella arrived, summoned by Jung Ji-hwan, and he spoke.
“Shall we conduct a test flight?”
“Oh? That sounds good.”
At Min-jun’s response, Jung Ji-hwan and Isabella hurriedly boarded.
Shortly after, we took off.
“Hm.”
I hadn’t felt this way when boarding the German Government’s private jet.
Now that it was my own aircraft, something about the experience felt distinctly different.
However.
“By the way, where are we headed?”
Min-jun asked the two pilots in the cockpit over the radio.
Jung Ji-hwan answered.
-My apologies. We haven’t received landing clearance yet, so we’re currently drifting in the sky. I was planning to land back in Berlin, but would you prefer to go to another country? I’ll do my best to secure approval.
“…No, let’s just head to Berlin.”
-Understood, sir.
Min-jun seemed utterly deflated.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————