TLTS~34

Chapter 34

Incheon was now a city defined by ‘money’.

The richest city in South Korea.

While its top-tier players weren’t overwhelmingly powerful, it possessed a large number of dungeon gates that yielded an absurd amount of Magic Stone Ore.
Thanks to this, the standard of living for its citizens was unbelievably high compared to the level of its players.
To the point where there was a saying among ordinary Awakened: Incheon was the best city.

The Lord of Incheon, Kim Kang, made a decision.
‘We must bring Sveta to Incheon.’

Incheon had its own unique weapon.
The so-called ‘Money Press’.
Crushing things with money.
‘A debt of gratitude? What’s that little thing?’
So Sveta owed Choi Deok-gyu a favor?
Something like that could be covered with money.

* * *

The self-proclaimed boss of Sullivan Kindergarten, Kim Woo-joo’s father Kim Jun-seok, cursed.
“Why the hell me?”

Kim Jun-seok, who prided himself on ruling the underworld, clenched his fist tightly.
It had been long since the world became one for Awakened.
The underworld’s pie had grown much larger than before.
Kim Jun-seok, who styled himself as the godfather of such a world, had become the manservant(?) of the Legendary Awakened, Sveta.
“I’ll get you someday, Svi…!”
As he was grinding his teeth, he quickly snapped to attention.
“You’re here, Hyung-nim!”
“I told you not to call me Hyung-nim.”
The Legendary Awakened, Sveta.
He approached with a kindly face.
“By any chance, were you thinking about planting your fist in my face?”
“Not at all!”
“Yeees. You can’t have such violent thoughts, you know.”

The tone he habitually used with Chaeri slipped out.
But Davice didn’t seem to notice. Which made it even more bizarre.
“It’s bad for the children’s education.”
“……”
“You understand, right?”

His tone was affectionate.
It was a tone as if the words, ‘right, child Kim Jun-seok?’ were omitted after ‘You understand, right?’
Sveta, with that tone, casually raised his fist.
Kim Jun-seok gulped nervously.
‘Is a warm tone all that matters?!’
But this was the back alleys.
Power was status, and status was law.
“Mr. Sveta. We’ve received contact from the Lord of Incheon. He is requesting a secret meeting.”
“The Lord of Incheon?”
Davice also knew well about the Lord of Incheon.
He was counted among the richest Lords even among the eight major Lords in the country.
‘Good.’
Just as he was getting nagged by the landlady (Pyrion), the fact that the Lord of Incheon proposed a meeting first was good news.
Whether this side proposes the meeting first or that side extends a hand first is a story on a completely different level in terms of social life.
“I wonder why he wants to meet?”
“He said he can give you what you desire, Mr. Sveta.”

The secret meeting between Sveta and the Lord of Incheon.
And so, it was arranged.

* * *

Davice had one biggest worry.
“How can I make Chaeri the happiest?”
To answer that question sincerely.
As her guardian, he always maintained a gentle and kind attitude.
There was a reason for using polite speech with Kim Jun-seok and always responding with a smiling face.
What leaks from the inside, leaks to the outside too.
Davice always acted by that standard.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Kim Kang, Lord of Incheon.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Sveta.”
The two sat facing each other.
Davice precisely sensed the presence of the snipers surrounding them.
Since the Busan Guild incident hadn’t been disclosed to the public, the methods Kim Kang employed were still just that level.
“I’ll skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point.”
The content was simple.
It was a proposal for him to join the Incheon Guild.
As the wealthiest guild, it would be a great help for Davice’s growth, he said.
“As a signing bonus.”
Kim Kang held out a lottery ticket.
Upon entering the New Civilization era, the jackpot amounts had become much larger than before.
“It’s a first prize. 30 billion won after taxes. Clean money. I’ll give this to you as a signing bonus.”
How about it? Do you think you can refuse this?
He wore a confident smile.
“As for the annual salary, I promise at least 100 billion won or more.”
“What happens if I refuse?”
“Refuse?”
“Will that sniper hiding behind there shoot me?”
Kim Kang’s eyes twitched slightly.
“W-what are you talking about…?”
Davice flicked his finger.
*Koo goo goong-*
The temporary wall collapsed, and the sniper hiding behind it fell to the floor.
“There’s one on the ceiling too.”
*Thud!*
A man fell from the ceiling too. Unconscious.
The moment Kim Kang was lost for words, Davice was still smiling brightly.
“I only negotiate with people who are courteous.”
Now, who’s the one in a hurry, really?
Truth be told, this side is in a hurry too. (Pyrion’s nagging is fierce)
But he didn’t show it.
“Next time, please come again politely.”
As Davice stood up, Kim Kang gritted his teeth.
“Sit down, Sveta.”
“No.”
“I said sit down.”
“I said no.”
“This is my last warning. Sit.”
“Final answer. No.”
Kim Kang bit his lip tightly.
‘How dare you ignore me?’
He had reigned as one of the eight great Lords, the leader of the wealthiest city.
“Shoot him!”
Actually, this was better.
If he eliminated a Legendary-grade Awakened, he could inherit that power under his own name.
Since the snipers were bound by a Lord contract, whoever made the kill, Kim Kang himself could inherit the L-grade awakening.

*Poof—*
A smoke bomb detonated.
Bullets flew incessantly through the hazy smoke.
Around the time Kim Kang thought, ‘Did we get him?’
A voice was heard.
“That stings a bit.”
The smoke cleared.
Davice was standing right in front of him.
“I’ll forgive you once.”
His tone was still kind.
The same tone as when he’d say, ‘child Kim Jun-seok~’.
Davice remained nonchalant even seeing the red dot on his chest.
*Bang!*
Another bullet flew in.
Davice caught the bullet with his finger and crumpled it.
“My name is Sveta.”
Davice had his convictions too.
He did nothing but righteous theft.
“A righteous thief, you see.”
Davice’s body disappeared.
Along with the 30 billion won lottery ticket.
A crumpled bullet lay alone in Kim Kang’s hand.

A long time later, finally coming to his senses, Kim Kang shouted furiously.
“That son of a bitch!”
He grabbed the collar of Kim Jun-seok, who was dithering behind him, not knowing what to do.
“Hey! How dare you do a runner?”
“I-I didn’t do it, did I?”
It was unfair, but this world wasn’t a place that cared about fairness.
“Take responsibility and get it back.”
“……”
“No answer?”
Kim Kang’s eyes gleamed murderously.
Kim Jun-seok seriously felt his life was in danger.
‘Well, that’s that.’
As he stepped out of the office, he was drenched in sweat.
He took a long, deep breath and fell into thought.
‘Should I stand by Sveta’s side, or Kim Kang’s side…?’
Which line should he join to suck up the honey? The scene from moments ago came to mind.
A man who caught a bullet with his hand and crumpled it.
How many existing Awakened could do something like that?
Moreover, Sveta was still low-level. What about when he becomes high-level?
His spine already felt chilly.
He quickly made a call.
“Mr. Sveta!! I’ll be your foot-wiper! Please save me…!”

* * *

Meanwhile, Davice felt a slight sense of accomplishment.
“Pyrion. I’m back.”
“Shh. Chaeri is watching a materialization video right now.”
“……”
Chaeri was completely absorbed in the 4D materialization video <The Brave Turtle, Kkobuk>.
Her eyes were sparkling. She clenched her small fists tightly.
“Ichae-ri likes carrots too.”
The scene where the villainous rabbit gives carrots to the善良 turtles.
At first, he gives them out for free, but later reveals a scheme to sell them for 300 won each.
“Not buying.”
Chaeri was serious.
She was upholding justice with her whole body.
Davice carefully sat next to Pyrion and whispered.
“It’s 30 billion after taxes, Pyrion.”
The income earned in just a few hours, in a righteous manner.
“I suppose this level is acceptable for a start, right?”
However, Pyrion’s reaction was shocking.