The Returned Genius Blacksmith has Awakened as an all-Master - Chapter 58

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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 58
058. Declaration
‘The Assassination Sword and Tracker’s Boots? I could just sell those. But where does this PK god keep finding such items?’
While Geumson pondered PK god, his smartphone on the desk suddenly rang with an insistent blare.
Hey! Geumson! Where are you right now!
The voice on the other end belonged to his only friend, Chang-su.
His tone mixed excitement with urgency.
“What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
What do you mean what’s happened! Aren’t you watching TV? The news!
At Chang-su’s insistence, Geumson picked up the remote and turned on the television.
A familiar face filled the screen.
Kang Mu-jin—Lepion Korea Server’s number one Ranker.
He was answering journalists’ questions live within Lepion.
[—Player Kang Mu-jin, how does it feel to have obtained the Moonlight Viper Sword after such fierce competition?]
[—It’s a joy beyond words. I must express my deepest gratitude to the craftsman ‘Geumson’ who created this blade. If you’re watching this broadcast, I’d be grateful if you’d contact me personally.]
So Kang Mu-jin had held a press conference with the Moonlight Viper Sword in hand.
That’s why Chang-su had called him in alarm.
Kang Mu-jin had mentioned the name ‘Geumson’ directly from his own lips.
Chang-su’s voice grew louder.
—Hey! That’s you, isn’t it? You’re that Geumson! What exactly are you doing in Lepion! How did you manage to get Kang Mu-jin to mention you by name!
Chang-su clearly didn’t know that Geumson had become famous within Lepion.
He’d been too busy launching his own business to keep track of such things.
‘A Currency Exchanger, was it?’
The work of converting a game’s gold into real money, or vice versa.
Chang-su had only just begun running that brokerage business.
“As a Currency Exchanger, shouldn’t you at least pay attention to Lepion?”
—Come on! Lepion’s the only game out there! I’ve been keeping my eye on it because Lepion-related transactions have been surging lately…… I just didn’t realize that Geumson was YOU.
Chang-su, calming his racing heart, pressed for details.
But instead of answering, Geumson made a request.
“Never mind the lectures. How much can you exchange right now?”
—Exchange? Ah! The money from selling the Moonlight Viper Sword—could it be…… That! Leave it to me! I’ll handle it!
“It’s a pretty large amount. Can your operation handle it? If not, I’ll look into other options.”
—Don’t worry. Just tell me. How much are we talking about?
“Can you do 5 million gold? Actually, let’s start with 3 million gold.”
Geumson decided to convert some of his Lepion funds to use in the real world.
Chang-su responded with what sounded like shock.
—Three, 3 million…… Wait! Let me do the math here!
Over the receiver came Chang-su’s audible gasp.
Normally he would have cracked some glibness at such a figure.
But 300 million won—the weight of that number—was not something to joke away.
—Hey, you…… you’re not messing with me, right? It really is 3 million gold?
Chang-su asked for confirmation several times, as if he couldn’t believe it.
A moment of silence, then his voice rang out with sudden resolve.
—It’s possible! Of course it’s possible! Hey, don’t you trust me? How long have I been grinding in this business! A measly 300 million—I’ll handle it somehow! But…… I gotta take a decent commission on this one, you understand?
“No friends and family discount?”
—I love you! You’re my benefactor! Of course I need to be handsomely rewarded!
Geumson chuckled and hung up the phone.
He knew Chang-su was boasting, but also knew the man would somehow pull it off.
For someone just starting his business, 300 million won was undoubtedly a heavy burden.
Yet at the same time, it was the perfect opportunity to put his fledgling operation firmly on track.
‘If I funnel capital into Chang-su’s hands…… he’ll get stronger in Lepion too. This is just the first transaction after all.’
Taking care of Chang-su in his own way, Geumson stared blankly at the television screen.
Kang Mu-jin’s interview was still ongoing.
[—Isn’t 500 million won a steep price to pay?]
Kang Mu-jin smiled faintly at the journalist who’d posed the question, then slowly drew the sword from his waist.
Shing—
Every sound in the conference hall ceased as if it were a lie.
When the blade’s soft luminescence—like captured moonlight—and the violet aura flowing across its serpent-scale patterns became visible beneath the lights, soft exclamations burst from every corner.
[—Not at all. 500 million wouldn’t be excessive.]
As the hall stirred once more at Kang Mu-jin’s words, a sharp-minded analyst from a gaming media channel posed a pointed question.
“Then what do you plan to do with such a formidable weapon? Your activities have been sparse lately—are you perhaps targeting the Nightmare King, the creature holding back the rankers?”
A confident smile played at Kang Mu-jin’s lips.
“Indeed, you’re perceptive. That’s correct. My next target is the Nightmare King.”
His declaration sent a shockwave through the press corps.
Just then, the specialist analyst who had posed the question reclaimed the microphone.
His voice was electric with excitement.
“The Nightmare King, you say—it’s known to be on par with the Lich King, which has been holding back Panteria, the number-one guild on the US Server! If this raid succeeds, the Korea Server would become the first in the world to conquer a dungeon of that tier. Is this move a direct challenge to the US Server?”
Every camera and eye fixed on Kang Mu-jin.
This was no mere raid announcement.
It was a declaration to the world, a matter of server pride.
Kang Mu-jin fell silent for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“I’m not challenging them.”
He ran a finger gently along the blade of the Moonlight Viper Sword, his gaze fixed directly on the camera lens.
“I intend to create an overwhelming gap between us.”
His final words froze the entire conference hall.
It was the unshakeable confidence of a superior force—arrogant, yet undeniable.
“With this blade, nothing is impossible. Watch as Yeokcheon, and the nation of Korea, rises to the peak of the world!”
The moment the press conference ended, his remarks spread across every server at the speed of light.
Geumson. The Moonlight Viper Sword. The declaration to subjugate the Nightmare King.
And Kang Mu-jin’s provocative message—to surpass the US Server and create an overwhelming dominance—paralyzed Lepion Net and plunged the Korea Server into a fever of euphoria.
* * *
Around the time that interview broadcast in real time, at Panteria guild in America:
“How dare that monkey—! Speaking of gaps to me, to Panteria?”
He surged from his seat.
A frame approaching two meters tall, corded with trained muscle.
Cain’s face flushed crimson with rage.
The guild executives seated nearby swallowed hard without meaning to.
Cain’s face burned scarlet with fury.
Master of Panteria guild. Rank one on the US Server.
He was acknowledged by all as the supreme champion who had never once relinquished his top position to another.
And yet this Kang Mu-jin, from some minor nation in distant Asia—
The fool had dared to challenge him directly.
Him, Cain of Panteria.
“Megan! Megan! Report! How’s the contact with that ‘Geumson’ coming? Bring him before me at once! I don’t care how much it costs!”
Cain’s bloodshot eyes turned toward a woman standing at one end of the conference room.
Megan, Panteria’s strategic analyst.
She showed no sign of disturbance at Cain’s fury, her voice steady as she pulled data onto the tablet screen before them.
“Guild Master, please compose yourself. Currently, contact with the player Geumson is virtually impossible.”
“Impossible? There is no such thing in Panteria! If money won’t work, threaten him—do whatever it takes!”
“That will be difficult. Every time we attempt contact, a major Korean corporation called Mirae Group blocks every channel. It appears they’ve already taken sole responsibility for Geumson’s personal security.”
At Megan’s report, Cain’s brow deepened with a scowl.
Mirae Group.
The name had surfaced multiple times in Panteria’s intelligence network—Korea’s top-ranked corporate titan, a monster of finance.
“Mirae Group? So they’ve moved into Lepion too. Are they working with Yeokcheon guild then?”
“No, quite the opposite. According to our intelligence team’s analysis, Mirae Group appears to be monopolizing Geumson to checkmate HS Group, Yeokcheon’s parent company.”
“Then Mirae’s interference with us is also…”
“Yes, likely the reason they’re blocking our approach. However…”
Megan paused and gestured toward the interview footage.
“This interview by Kang Mu-jin could actually become an opportunity for us.”
“An opportunity?”
“By acquiring the Moonlight Viper Sword, Kang Mu-jin has demonstrated overwhelming power. This will become a significant threat to Mirae Group—their primary reason for monopolizing Geumson was to prevent exactly this situation. But ultimately, they’ve failed.”
Her blue eyes glinted with sharp intelligence.
“Now Mirae Group needs a new card to counter Yeokcheon. And that card can be us—Panteria. The enemy of my enemy is my ally, after all.”
Megan’s analysis was flawless.
But Cain had no interest in such complex political maneuvering.
His mind held only one thought: to crush Kang Mu-jin and subjugate the Lich King, achieving the world’s first triumph.

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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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