The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 359

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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 359
Chapter 359
After arriving in Rabelth and the Emperor’s speech concluded.
Not long after, I received an invitation from the Emperor and was able to enter the Audience Chamber.
The moment I did.
“Hahahaha! Marquis Mir! Did you find my gift to your liking?”
“…It was a gift I never expected.”
“It’s all thanks to your achievements! The Aristocratic Faction, who would have normally foamed at the mouth in opposition, couldn’t utter a single word because of your standing as a war hero!”
The Emperor’s laughter echoed through the chamber.
He seemed to be in quite a good mood from our victory against Cronion.
“In truth, I believe even this is insufficient. The military forces that entered Cronion were a burden even for me.”
“I’m fortunate, then.”
“It’s more than mere fortune. The monsters in the north have been growing stronger recently, you see. Thanks to you, I can now dispatch additional forces to the northern front.”
“…Could it be.”
“Hahahaha, don’t worry! Though the monsters have become more ferocious, I have no intention of imposing unreasonable demands upon you.”
Now that I thought about it, when I arrived at the Imperial Palace, I hadn’t seen the three Knight Orders who had returned from the war with me.
It seemed they had immediately departed for the northern front without rest.
The Imperial Army that had finished the war was no different.
Since the war had ended, they accepted discharge requests from those who wished to leave, but the Imperial Army’s military salary and benefits were quite generous.
Because of this, a considerable number of soldiers chose to remain in the Imperial Army and immediately headed north.
“Let’s set aside these troublesome matters and discuss your rewards.”
“Was the title itself not the reward?”
“How could that alone suffice? Now that Cronion in the east has fallen, we can obtain the abundant underground resources of the eastern region.”
Indeed, Cronion alone had mined enormous quantities of minerals from the east to build its magnificent mechanical civilization.
One could easily predict just how abundant the underground resources of the east truly were.
When one considered that the Dwarf underground city of Mueldum was also in the east, it was only natural.
“First, I must bestow a reward befitting a Marquis!”
I had become a Marquis before I knew it.
However, becoming a Marquis didn’t suddenly make everything wonderful.
A Marquis’s title only shines when the Emperor grants territory and other holdings befitting that rank.
“First, I must grant you territory! Just tell me—is there anything you desire?”
The Emperor asked for my opinion before simply bestowing rewards as he pleased.
To be honest, I didn’t know much about this, but I wasn’t foolish enough to overlook the core resources of the eastern continent.
“Could you grant me mining rights to the eastern underground resources?”
“Mining rights? But your territory is in the southern region, is it not?”
“If possible, I would like to receive the Lower Front Line garrison that I occupied, along with my territory.”
“Haha, I see. So you plan to mine minerals heading east by sea from the Kalbera Territory.”
“If it’s too difficult…”
“Difficult? What difficulty is there? I shall approve it at once. Furthermore, I shall also expand your territory in the southern region.”
“Thank you.”
Mining rights to the Eastern Region.
And I was granted the Lower Garrison to be used as a harbor.
By establishing a temporary base at the Lower Garrison in the Eastern Region through the maritime route, and mining ore, the Kalbera Territory would be able to develop at an even faster pace.
Beyond that, I received various rewards as a war hero.
Tax reductions paid to the Empire, development support, and more.
In truth, while my title was Marquis, judging by the size and benefits of the territory I was granted, it was no different from being one rank higher—a Duke.
“Is there anything else? Speak while I’m in good spirits. Hahaha!”
We continued to share many stories after that.
It wasn’t merely about the rewards; most of it was about the war itself.
How were Cronion’s mechanical weapons, how did the Imperial Army perform, how powerful was the Evil God, and so forth.
As I recounted the vivid tales of war that reports alone couldn’t fully convey, the Emperor—unbecoming of his station—delighted in them like a child.
And shortly after.
“Thanks to your generosity, our Knight Order brought back something quite valuable.”
The Emperor began to broach the main subject.
When he spoke of something valuable the Knight Order had obtained, there could only be one thing.
‘A Mythic-grade material—a gear from the Purple Mechanical God.’
I wondered if he might be asking me to surrender other Mythic-grade materials I possessed, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case.
“It’s quite a remarkable item. Even our Imperial Palace Blacksmith hesitated when examining it.”
“Isn’t the Imperial Palace Blacksmith the finest craftsman in the Empire?”
“Indeed, but one must have the opportunity to work with such materials. He said that as a blacksmith, he couldn’t afford to waste such precious material.”
In the current world of Second, Mythic-grade materials were nothing short of legendary.
Even the dwarves of Mueldum, renowned as the greatest blacksmiths, had rarely handled Mythic-grade materials, and they were startled when they saw the ‘Lion Hide of the Red Beast God’ that I had brought.
In such circumstances, no matter how skilled the Empire’s finest blacksmith was, there was no way a human craftsman had ever worked with such materials.
“Then I thought of you.”
“I’m not a blacksmith, Your Majesty.”
“But didn’t you personally process Mythic-grade materials in Mueldum and create that coat?”
The Emperor pointed to the equipment I was wearing—’Shadow of the Silent Lord.’
“And that’s not all. The accessories that appeared at the Auction House were also made by you, were they not?”
The Emperor knew everything.
That I had processed Mythic-grade materials in Mueldum, and that afterward I had crafted various items using materials from the Evil God.
Given as much, his request was.
“I would like to entrust you with item crafting.”
“Hmm….”
“Together with our Imperial Palace Blacksmith.”
This was it.
He wanted me to process the Mythic-grade material and create a proper Mythic-grade finished product, while simultaneously teaching the Imperial Palace Blacksmith how to process Mythic-grade materials.
I hesitated somewhat.
“The compensation will be more than satisfactory. I hear you’ve been collecting high-grade mana stones? I’ll prepare enough to satisfy you, so I ask for your assistance.”
The reward the Emperor offered.
High-grade mana stones were quite appealing.
In this war as well, no matter how many premium mana stones we accumulated, it was never enough.
The Eternal Crystal can be recharged and used repeatedly, but it can only be deployed once per battle.
Furthermore.
‘I need to process materials anyway.’
I currently have three Mythic-grade materials in my possession.
I have no intention of selling them as-is, so I’ll need to craft items from them regardless.
So.
“Understood.”
“Haha! I knew you’d agree!”
I couldn’t afford to miss such a fortuitous opportunity.
* * *
Kalbera Territory.
Though Mir was the Lord of this land, the true power behind the scenes belonged to another.
Namely.
“Administrator!”
“Is the organization complete?”
“Yes, I’ll prepare the briefing right away!”
“Have everyone gather in an hour. Oh, and what about the surrounding Dungeon survey I requested earlier?”
“We’ve submitted a request to Dark Shade. They’ll update us soon.”
“Push them on it. We’re running low on Dungeons to assign to the players.”
“Yes, Administrator.”
It was Ena, who managed both the Heukryeom Guild and the administration of Kalbera Territory.
During Mir’s absence, she effectively held the positions of Guild Master and Lord in his stead.
Acting Guild Master and Acting Lord, one might say.
Her influence was immense, and the gold she received was astronomical.
Most of all.
“I’ve grown so much.”
Her own sense of accomplishment was extraordinary.
The first Territory ever granted to a player in Second.
She had developed it to this point with her own hands.
Moreover, thanks to Mir’s exploits in this war, the Heukryeom Guild had transcended the Five Great Guilds and was now hailed as Korea’s premier Guild.
With each passing day, her standing rose ever higher.
Her inbox overflowed with scout inquiries, yet none satisfied her.
No matter where she went, she could never receive treatment like this or manage a Guild and Territory as freely.
Above all, the Heukryeom Guild and Kalbera Territory still possessed boundless growth potential.
Then the Heukryeom Guild departed for war.
Left alone, she managed the Territory in a frenzy.
“Administrator. The war has ended.”
“It was a victory, yes?”
“Yes. Mir received 75% of the contribution points, and the Heukryeom Guild’s contribution was also significant, so we’ve received considerable rewards.”
“Because it’s Mir.”
News of the war’s victory had arrived.
In truth, it was hardly surprising.
Given the remarkable accomplishments Mir had demonstrated thus far.
I simply assumed he would return having achieved something equally extraordinary this time.
Then came more.
“Mir has been promoted, they say.”
“To Count?”
“Yes.”
“I hadn’t anticipated that. It seems like only recently he became a Marquis.”
Fresh tidings arrived.
Mir had ascended from Marquis to Count.
This was no trivial matter.
While a Marquis held considerable rank, a Count could formally establish a noble house.
Of course, for an adventurer who would never bear children in this game, such distinctions held little practical weight.
Yet the moment one became a Count, one’s influence and standing within the Empire transformed entirely.
But that wasn’t the crucial part.
What rewards would accompany the promotion to Count?
That was what mattered.
“The Eastern Harbor and mining rights?”
“Yes, the Empire has officially granted them.”
“You’ve learned to handle these matters without my counsel now. I was prepared to mention the mining rights as soon as you contacted me.”
The outcome proved immensely satisfying.
With the Eastern Harbor and mining rights secured, I could now freely extract the subterranean resources of the Eastern Region by ship.
Since the Southern Territory had expanded considerably, the resources obtained from the East would allow my domain to flourish even further.
As a result, the Kalbera Territory had become virtually the master of the Southern Region.
Marveling at such gratifying developments, I awaited Mir’s arrival.
But what returned was not Mir himself—only his whisper.
– Ena.
“The fact that you’re contacting me this way suggests you won’t be returning to the domain for some time?”
– …I apologize. Something has come up.
“There’s no need to apologize. Consider the benefits this war has brought to the Guild and the domain. But what is this matter? Will it take long?”
– I’ve accepted a crafting commission from the Emperor. While I’m at it, I intend to forge my own equipment as well. It will likely take considerable time.
“A crafting commission? Isn’t the Imperial Palace Smithy the finest in the Empire?”
– The smithy I’m visiting isn’t the finest in the Empire—it’s the finest on the entire Continent.
“The finest smithy on the Continent? Ah. I see now.”
She came to understand belatedly.
Where Mir intended to go, and why it would require such time.
For if her suspicion was correct.
“You’re heading to Mueldum, the underground city of the Dwarves, aren’t you?”
– Yes.
Mir’s destination was Mueldum.
When speaking of the continent’s greatest Blacksmith, one naturally thought of Dwarves, and Mueldum was where the Dwarves’ Smithy stood.
“I heard you obtained three Mythic-grade materials this time. You’ll be crafting something extraordinary again.”
– Yes. While I’m at it, I’m planning to use other materials to prepare gifts for the Guild members as well. Is there anything you’d like, Ena?
It was always like this.
He seemed more comfortable alone than in groups, yet he looked after every Guild member better than anyone else.
That’s why I couldn’t resent him for being away from the Territory and Guild for so long.
Hearing Mir’s words, always trying to take care of me until the very end, my heart softened.
Ena smiled brightly and replied.
“I’m not even a combat class anyway. I don’t need anything.”
– Then I’ll give you a bonus instead.
“The incentives alone are already more than enough. Besides, I’m moving this time, you know?”
Perhaps, no matter how good a scouting offer she received, she would never leave the Heukryeom Guild?
With that thought, I ended the call with Mir.
“Ena, the briefing is ready.”
“Let’s go. Our Lord has brought back quite a lot, so we need to organize it quickly. We should review the expanded Territory first, so please call the construction team and have them begin the survey.”
“Yes!”
I threw myself back into my work with renewed focus.

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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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