The Return of the Genius Ranker’s Myth Warehouse - Chapter 402

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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 402
Chapter 402
Ship tours through Kalbera Territory have become quite famous.
People embark on voyages, go fishing, hunt monsters, or search for Dungeons aboard these vessels.
As Kalbera Territory grew more renowned over time, so too did the ship tours gain prominence, and yet.
“Wow, there’s already a backlog of reservations for half a year?”
“That’s no joke.”
“I heard the Five Major Guilds are even leasing entire ships for their Dungeon tours.”
“There are so many ships—why not operate all of them? Why are they running so few?”
“Because there’s no one to protect them.”
“Protect them?”
“The Sea has quite a few powerful monsters, doesn’t it? If a Sea Serpent suddenly appears during a tour, someone needs to defend the ship.”
“Then why not hire mercenaries?”
“That’s the problem—such mercenaries don’t exist. While there are plenty of mercenaries on land, those skilled enough to defeat sea monsters aboard a ship are rare.”
“Ah….”
“That’s why. If they recklessly expanded the tours and a ship sank, it would cause not only financial losses but also loss of life.”
“Hmm, still. It’s such a shame. I wanted to go too.”
The number of ships in operation was far too small compared to the flood of people seeking passage.
The reason was indeed the escort forces.
While mercenaries could be hired easily enough on land, those capable of fighting at sea were limited.
Even after recruiting water mages from the Magic Tower to their maximum capacity, they couldn’t expand the tours any further.
But then, at that moment.
“Hey, the time has finally come.”
“What time?”
“You said you wanted to go on a ship tour.”
“Huh? Didn’t you say there’s a half-year backlog? Did you actually get a spot?”
“This time, Kalbera Territory has massively increased the number of ship tours. The competition was fierce, but I managed to secure spots. Even one for you.”
“Wow, really? That’s amazing!”
New information had spread.
The number of available ship tours had increased dramatically.
Thanks to this, people who had been merely daydreaming about it suddenly rushed to book their ship tours without hesitation.
“But how did they find mercenaries? Can you even hire enough skilled mercenaries to protect so many ships in such a short time?”
“Could it be they don’t have mercenaries at all?”
“No way….”
“Look here. Kalbera Territory guarantees safety, right?”
“Then we can trust them. Kalbera Territory has never faced any controversy so far, right?”
“That’s true.”
“Let’s trust them this once. When else would we get a chance like this? A cruise we can’t even experience in reality.”
“Yeah, let’s go!”
The number of ship tours had increased dramatically, and spots had become abundantly available, yet.
The ship tour’s popularity exceeded imagination—every available slot was booked within a single day.
And so, on that very day.
The crowds gathered at the Harbor began boarding the vessel in orderly succession, each waiting their turn.
“Wow, what is this?”
“I thought it would be some antiquated ship, but it’s better than I imagined!”
“It’s clean and nice.”
“But where are the mercenaries?”
“I heard mercenaries usually stand on deck, ready to defend against monsters at any moment.”
However, there was one problem.
No matter how much they looked around, there were no mercenaries to be seen.
Could there have been some mistake?
Or had the Kalbera Territory recklessly sacrificed safety to increase ship tours?
Just as people began to panic and were about to rush onto the deck to protest.
“We are departing!”
A thunderous cry rang out.
Splash!
“What?!”
Something burst forth from the front of the ship.
Its true form was a small island.
No.
“A turtle?”
It was a turtle.
A turtle as massive as the ship itself.
It was a monster that appeared like an island due to its enormous size and the trees and rocks that had grown upon its shell.
Startled at the sudden appearance of a monster right from the start.
“Please don’t be alarmed! That turtle is the guardian beast that will protect our ship!”
“A guardian beast?”
“Since the guardian beast will protect us, please relax and enjoy the tour!”
The tour guide reassured the passengers with these words.
At first, it was somewhat puzzling.
It was strange that it was a guardian beast, and it was strange that this guardian beast would protect the ship.
Most of all.
“Then where is the summoner?”
It was strange that there was a guardian beast but no summoner to be seen.
Continuing the tour in a state of half-belief, half-doubt.
“M-Monster!”
A monster appeared.
A sea creature infamous for its notoriety.
A Sea Serpent.
The Sea Serpent appeared right before them, yet the guardian beast that should have been protecting the ship remained completely motionless.
At this, the people were startled.
“… Huh?”
“It’s ignoring us?”
“No, it seems like it doesn’t even know we exist?”
“What’s going on?”
“Wow, this is my first time seeing a Sea Serpent this close.”
“Amazing.”
The Sea Serpent did not attack the ship.
Even as it passed directly in front of them, the ship seemed invisible to its eyes.
And this pattern repeated thereafter.
Thanks to that.
“This is so incredible!”
“To see monsters up close like this!”
“The best voyage ever!”
The passengers could admire not only the natural seascapes but also the sea monsters at close range to their heart’s content.
They disembarked from the ship thoroughly satisfied with their maritime journey.
The news spread rapidly across the internet, and the increased ship tour reservations filled up quickly.
However, it wasn’t only the ship tours that grew popular.
“Ooh! Such a colossal sacred beast!”
“This is my first time seeing a sacred beast.”
“More than that, it’s remarkable! Every time I cast my fishing rod, I feel fish biting!”
“This sacred beast’s aura seems to be drawing the fish in.”
“And yet it completely blocks out the monsters! Such miraculous power!”
The fishing tour.
A sacred beast had come out as an escort here.
It was a whale with wings instead of fins, and it enveloped itself and the ship in a luminous barrier for protection.
The barrier blocked out monsters while allowing fish to pass through into its interior.
The anglers participating in the fishing tour could not help but marvel.
And one more.
“Now, it’s time to hunt!”
“Sea hunting! How thrilling!”
The hunting tour.
On the ship’s deck, where one could enjoy naval combat with monsters—the most dangerous tour—there was.
“Grrrrrrr….”
“Wow, what is that?”
“A shark?”
“It’s not just a shark! It’s a mystical beast!”
“A, a mystical beast?”
A shark-shaped mystical beast had joined them.
During the hunting tour, when things seemed dangerous while hunting monsters, the guide would give instructions to the mystical beast.
“Grrrrrowwwl!”
The mystical beast lunged forward, tearing apart every monster in the vicinity.
Terrifying as it appeared, there was no more reliable ally when facing monsters.
Moreover, the way the mystical beast hunted looked incredibly impressive to the onlookers.
“Incredible!”
“That’s so cool!”
“More, more!”
“Captain! With that mystical beast here, shouldn’t we venture into areas with even stronger monsters!”
“Haha, that does seem promising.”
“Excellent!”
The people enjoyed the sea hunting tour with even greater enthusiasm.
And finally, one more thing.
“A ghost ship…?”
The escort summon for the vessel named the Deep Sea Tour was quite extraordinary.
It was none other than a ghost ship.
Rather than the ghost ship moving separately ahead or behind, it had overlaid itself onto the existing vessel, transforming the ship itself into a ghost ship.
The ghost ship remained in that state.
“Waaahhhhh!”
Splash!
“Glub, glub…”
“Hey, snap out of it. You can breathe, right?”
“Gasp, huh…! Wait? Really?”
“How fascinating.”
They submerged into the sea.
Whether due to the ghost ship’s effect, the people could breathe even while submerged in the water.
That wasn’t all.
Thanks to the ghost ship’s inherent death aura, monsters didn’t approach, and when stronger monsters appeared, the ghost ship fired its cannons to repel them.
Thus, wandering through the surrounding Deep Sea, they could enjoy a truly authentic Deep Sea Tour.
With various other tours gaining tremendous popularity, users began flocking to Kalbera Territory.
“This is amazing.”
So Ena’s face never lost its smile.
* * *
The vessel tour utilizing summons was a resounding success.
In fact, calling it successful was an understatement.
It was such a massive hit that Ena’s face never stopped smiling.
“Mir, look at this. These are the profits we’re generating from the vessel tours right now.”
“Is it really this much?”
“Originally, we had to pay large sums to hire escort mercenaries, but now that’s unnecessary. The profit margins are far greater than expected.”
Looking at the revenue statement, I could understand Ena’s smile.
Even I, unfamiliar with such matters, could see that the figures on the statement were beyond imagination.
In particular, there were tours not just for the mines but also for the nobility, and the revenue generated from those was equally impressive.
“At this rate, I suspect we’ve already surpassed Labelt’s income.”
“You mean the great city of Labelt?”
“Yes. Whether we’re talking about population or revenue sources, our Kalbera Territory is outperforming them in every way.”
The place where the Emperor resides.
The great city of Labelt.
As befits a city called “great,” the tax revenue flowing into Labelt is beyond imagination.
Yet Kalbera Territory has constructed multiple revenue streams—not just taxation, but tourism and more.
Admittedly, the investment costs are substantial, so if we deduct those expenses, the numbers shift somewhat. But the actual revenue itself has certainly exceeded Labelt’s scale.
“What should we do with the profits? If you wish, I can withdraw any amount you’d like.”
“Is that acceptable? It’s more the territory’s public funds than my personal money.”
“In reality, that would be problematic. But this is a fantasy world, isn’t it? Here, territorial funds are essentially the nobles’ personal purses. You can withdraw and spend as much as you like without issue.”
In a real-world corporation, such a thing would be unthinkable.
But this is a world within a fantasy game.
No one would object if I withdrew and spent as much of Kalbera Territory’s funds as I pleased.
However.
“Doesn’t the Eastern Region require substantial investment?”
“It does, indeed.”
“Then let’s increase the investment funds for the Eastern Region.”
“Understood. I’ll increase the investment in the Eastern Region’s mine development. There’s still surplus remaining—is there truly nothing else you desire? Other lords and nobles indulge in extravagance quite heavily.”
“Extravagance is unnecessary.”
What good would indulgence do me?
A diamond necklace doesn’t even come with any proper abilities attached.
I have no interest whatsoever in mere pretty ornaments.
Since I have no pressing need for funds at the moment, it’s better to reinvest the money into the territory’s development.
If I invest money now, it will return to me as greater wealth later.
Actually, now that I think about it, there is something I need.
“Hmm, could you procure more premium-grade mana stones?”
“Ah, that’s right. You mentioned needing premium-grade mana stones, didn’t you?”
“Top-tier mana stones would also work. Please acquire as many as possible.”
“Understood. I’ll secure them even if it costs more. I’ll also increase the investment in the Eastern Region to search for mana stone mines.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. I should be thanking you. You remember my incentive, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Just converting the incentive I’ve received into cash is enough to make the gold exchange rate fluctuate—it’s almost burdensome, really.”
Mana stones.
I need more mana stones.

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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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