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Chapter 10
I had an older brother who was seven years older than me.
Unlike someone like me, he’d been brilliant since childhood.
He was what people called a genius—or a gifted child.
The kind of person everyone admired.
Naturally, our parents placed enormous expectations on him.
Perhaps too many.
The unfortunate part was…
Our family wasn’t exactly well-off.
They couldn’t pave the difficult road that a genius like him had to walk.
Instead, despite our circumstances, they kept pushing him forward, telling him to endure.
So why was I suddenly remembering all of this?
Because…
“When I came home after happily playing with my friends as a kid…”
“My brother wore that exact same expression.”
He had been sitting silently beside more than a dozen empty soju bottles, staring blankly out the window.
Ian could never forget those hollow eyes.
Eyes filled with despair…
Unable to accept the gap between reality and expectations.
Unable to fulfill the hopes his family had placed upon him.
Back then…
Young Ian hadn’t understood.
Now, as an adult…
He thought he understood, at least a little.
“…”
Perhaps that was why…
He couldn’t stop looking at the despairing young man inside the cage.
Ian crooked a finger toward Yongpal.
“How much gold do I still have in my vault at Amilreur?”
“After selling those three High Elves recently, you had thirty-seven thousand gold. Subtracting today’s twenty-six purchases…”
“You currently have exactly 32,150 gold remaining.”
“Thirty-two thousand…”
“Then I still have plenty of money.”
This was why having financial freedom was wonderful.
The more resources you possessed…
The more choices you had.
And so…
Ian decided to approach things differently.
Cedric Conrad had been valued at 10 gold.
Yongpal had even offered to throw him in for free.
A slave with those absurd abilities…
For nothing?
Most people would’ve happily accepted the bargain without another thought.
But…
That wasn’t the right answer.
“Just like my brother used to tell me…”
“If you widen your perspective…”
“The same situation begins to look completely different.”
Instead of seeing things through his own eyes…
Ian imagined the situation from Cedric’s perspective.
What would Cedric notice first?
The answer was obvious.
His own worth.
Zero.
How loyal could someone become…
If they’d been given away for free?
Loyalty began when someone acknowledged your value.
Ian understood that better than anyone.
He had worked for a company that treated him like disposable trash.
He hadn’t possessed even an ant’s worth of loyalty toward them.
He had no intention of becoming another President Cheon—the kind of employer who expected devotion while giving nothing in return.
Besides…
There was a saying.
Money never lies.
“Yongpal.”
“Yes, Lord Ian. Have you made your decision? Then, under my authority, I’ll include that slave free of charge instead of charging ten gold—”
“No.”
“I’ll buy him.”
“For ten thousand gold.”
“…”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even though Yongpal stood right beside him…
Ian couldn’t hear the man breathing.
Was it really that shocking?
Apparently…
It wasn’t just Yongpal who was stunned.
“So he can make that kind of face.”
For the first time…
Emotion appeared on Cedric Conrad’s expressionless face.
Only for a brief moment.
Then it vanished.
“Maybe ten thousand gold really is enough to surprise anyone.”
A family of three reportedly spent around one gold per month.
That meant…
One gold was roughly equivalent to one million won.
Ten thousand gold…
Was nearly ten billion won.
“Not a bad price for a promising rookie entering free agency.”
Strangely…
That thought made Ian smile.
His move had worked.
Unfortunately…
Someone else reacted even more dramatically.
“H-Huuuuuh?!”
“What was that?”
“Did someone just slaughter a pig?”
“Damn, you scared me.”
“S-Sorry! B-But…”
“What are you hesitating for?”
“I said ten thousand gold.”
“Y-You really mean it?!”
“What?”
“Have you spent your whole life getting tricked?”
“Should I just take him for free instead?”
“N-No! That’s not…”
Gulp.
“You keep forcing yourself to swallow like that and you’re going to choke.”
“I’m kidding.”
“If you still don’t believe me…”
“Want a written contract?”
“Give it here.”
Without waiting for permission…
Ian snatched the parchment and quill from Yongpal.
Then he wrote a single sentence.
I purchase Cedric Conrad for the sale price of 10,000 gold.
Finally…
He signed his name.
Ian Blake.
Then tossed the parchment back.
“You sign too.”
“W-What should I write?”
“Write this.”
No matter what happens in the future, Amilreur guarantees that ownership of Cedric Conrad belongs to Ian Blake.
“Y-Yes!”
“Of course!”
The quill danced rapidly across the parchment.
Its tip trembled the entire time.
Yongpal was so excited he could barely control himself.
“He thinks he’s getting ten thousand gold for free.”
“Poor idiot.”
Still…
Ian didn’t feel like ruining the man’s celebration just yet.
After confirming the contract several times…
He gestured toward Cedric’s cage.
Yongpal immediately understood.
With a hurried wave…
The masked wardens arrived once again.
This time…
Their treatment was completely different.
Earlier, they’d dragged the slaves out by force.
Now…
They respectfully escorted Cedric outside.
“Money really does make all the difference.”
“Kind of depressing.”
Ian chuckled.
Cedric staggered out of the cage.
Their eyes met again.
Ian looked directly at him.
“Take responsibility for him.”
“Feed him.”
“Get him decent clothes.”
“But don’t force anything.”
“Everything I just said…”
“…only if he wants it.”
“You understand what I mean?”
“Yes!”
Yongpal answered immediately.
“I’m not talking to you.”
“…”
A brief silence followed.
Cedric slowly nodded.
That was enough.
Considering how intelligent he was…
He had understood perfectly.
“Good.”
Ian smiled.
“We’ll talk properly once we’re back home.”
He turned toward Yongpal.
“Is that enough?”
“It certainly is!”
“With today’s purchase history, you fully qualify.”
“Once I submit the report, you’ll immediately regain your Gold Rank.”
“Good.”
“I’m counting on you.”
“You seem awfully happy.”
“Haha!”
“It’s all thanks to you, Lord Ian!”
“No need to thank me.”
“If you’re happy…”
“I’m happy too.”
“Thank you!”
“Please follow me!”
“I’ll escort you back to the lobby.”
“If you wait there a moment, I’ll process the paperwork and return immediately.”
With a grin stretching nearly to his ears…
Yongpal hurried toward the lobby.
Ian followed behind him, smiling brightly.
“Now…”
“It’s finally time to collect my payback.”
***
After escorting Ian back to the lobby…
Yongpal sat at the reception desk organizing a mountain of paperwork.
The smile never left his face.
Twenty-seven transactions.
Even excluding the ridiculous ten-thousand-gold deal…
He’d earned nearly 2,000 gold in pure profit.
A 40% profit margin.
Just thinking about it made him grin.
And with the extra ten thousand…
“I’ve never seen such an idiot.”
“It’s almost impressive.”
If his own son had behaved like that…
The family fortune would’ve disappeared within a week.
Probably less.
He shuddered.
“No wonder he’s called the legendary sucker.”
With this much money…
He wouldn’t just be buying a nice house in the capital.
He could afford a luxurious mansion.
Or perhaps purchase the title of a minor baron and retire comfortably in the countryside.
Really…
What couldn’t he do now?
Whenever he needed money…
He’d simply fleece another blind, spoiled noble.
“Maybe if I butter him up a little more…”
“I could even afford a real noble title.”
Lost in his fantasies…
Yongpal finally burst into loud laughter.
“Hahahahaha!”
Then—
A flat mechanical voice echoed from the voice amplifiers installed throughout the corridors.
Host Number 42 of Hall Seven, Jonsen Jonparis. Please report immediately to the Central Administration Office. I repeat…
“…The Central Office?”
“Me?”
His smile disappeared.
The Central Administration Office oversaw all of Amilreur’s operations.
Just hearing its name made people nervous.
“Relax.”
“Hosts skimming profits is practically tradition.”
“Besides…”
“That idiot doesn’t know enough to file a complaint.”
“There’s no way he could prove anything.”
So it had to be something else.
Grabbing his coat…
Yongpal hurried from the reception area.
He crossed several hallways.
Descended another staircase.
Finally…
An ornate door engraved with the symbol of a blue lake stood before him.
Gulp.
His face stiffened with tension.
But even then…
He had no idea.
“I’ve arrived in response to the summons.”
“I’m Jonsen.”
The instant he opened the door—
“Oh!”
“Yongpal!”
“There you are!”
Ian Blake…
Who was supposed to be waiting in the lobby…
Sat inside the Central Administration Office.
Smiling broadly.
Even waving cheerfully.
Only then…
A terrible feeling crept into Yongpal’s stomach.
Something…
Had gone horribly wrong.
And then—
“Come in.”
“Take a seat, Jonsen.”
“V-Vice Manager?!”
Sitting at the head of the room…
Was the Vice Manager of Amilreur.
A man whom most employees saw only once every six months.
His expression was icy.
“I’m screwed…”
At this point…
Anyone could see it.
He was utterly finished.
His clenched fists trembled uncontrollably.
The room resembled a courtroom.
Its seating arrangement.
Its atmosphere.
Everything.
Only one person remained relaxed.
Ian Blake.
He was still smiling.
“Vice Manager Arka Jerdin.”
“…Yes.”
“The defendant has arrived.”
“Shall we begin?”
The vice manager sighed.
“…Very well.”
“But understand this.”
“If you fail to prove your accusation…”
“Amilreur will formally lodge a complaint with House Blake.”
“Do whatever you like.”
“But you know…”
“Even if Venon—”
“No.”
“My father isn’t here.”
“And yet this is how little respect I receive?”
“Am I really worth that little?”
Ian laughed.
Arka answered expressionlessly.
“I believe your own words contain the answer.”
“So…”
“The impressive one isn’t me.”
“It’s Venon Blake.”
“…”
Arka said nothing.
His silence was answer enough.
The atmosphere became even colder.
Ian merely smiled wider.
“Fine.”
“I admit that much.”
“But…”
“I’d like to have a talk with you afterward.”
“…I look forward to it.”
“Bring in the slave appraisers.”
Before his words had fully faded…
The office doors opened again.
Three men entered.
“We’ve responded to the summons.”
“First-Class Appraiser, Tullang.”
“First-Class Appraiser, Ben Bennett.”
“Special-Class Appraiser, Maalks Jackson.”
They were…
The finest slave appraisers Amilreur had to offer.
