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chapter 405
Enhancement.
Commonly in games, it refers to the act of increasing an item’s performance.
Enhancement Stone.
A resource used when performing enhancements.
The Enhancement Stone that President Richard had taken out was exactly that kind of item.
“If I recall correctly, anything classified as an artifact can be enhanced with this,” I thought.
Artifacts I possessed—like the one that prevents rain, or the ever-growing spatial artifact… even the Harmonious Divine Sword—could probably be enhanced with it.
Unlike in games, there isn’t a certain probability of success for enhancement.
Simply using an Enhancement Stone guarantees the artifact’s performance will improve.
How much stronger it becomes depends on luck, but there’s no doubt the artifact’s ability will be enhanced.
Given such power, it naturally has a high value.
“…Wasn’t this item strictly prohibited for export?” I asked.
Moreover, Enhancement Stones are extremely rare considering their usefulness.
Only a single production-capable individual in the U.S. can create them, and their output is so limited that I had heard the U.S. even enacted laws to ban their export to monopolize them.
How could he have brought such an item here?
“Except for ‘special cases,’ these items are banned from export. Of course, since this is an official occasion, this is completely legal,” he replied.
…It seems there are exceptions allowing the export of Enhancement Stones.
Or perhaps an exception was made just for this event.
There’s no need to ask for further details.
“Ah, of course, once you receive the Enhancement Stones after signing the contract, refrain from selling them to anyone else. Legally, they must be used only on artifacts you own.”
He didn’t say “don’t do it,” but “refrain from doing it,” which implies it might not matter if others around me use them.
Of course, that would be illegal—so if anyone were to use them, they’d have to do so discreetly.
“That’s fine…” I replied.
Anyway.
Eight Enhancement Stones… this is extremely advantageous for me.
Naturally, the Ironblood Guild members watching from the side were signaling that I should definitely take them.
“President Richard,” I said.
Before signing the contract, I had something to confirm with him.
“Will you allow only employees of the Association to join your guild?”
“All those involved with Association-related work must be included.”
…I see.
“Understood. If that’s the case, the value of eight Enhancement Stones makes sense.”
President Richard planned to accept as guild members everyone under his influence: not just the headquarters of the World Awakener Association, but its branches around the world, and even Albatross PMC, which is almost directly under him.
“Perhaps the awakened individuals who followed President Richard across the Wall will also be included,” I thought.
Strictly speaking, they are his acquaintances, not Association members.
But since they work with him, they too would be accepted as guild members.
Naturally, those learning or working under them would also become guild members.
If he intended to accept so many people as guild members, giving me eight Enhancement Stones suddenly made sense.
“Really… outwardly naïve, but cunning beneath the surface.”
“Indeed.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Chairman Shin Han-ji and Guild Master Yoo Won-hoon seemed to realize Richard’s intentions and muttered to themselves.
Knowing his intention didn’t stop them from proceeding.
After reviewing the contract with the three of them, I signed it.
And I granted them partial guild authority.
*”Oooh…”
*”Hmm… if we do it like this…”
“I’d heard about it, but it’s beyond my imagination. Giving up 10% of the guild was a wise choice.”
Even after their business concluded, the three of them stayed, manipulating the guild system without leaving.
“Chairman, I don’t want to just sit here; can I try it too?”
“Ah, sorry, Sir Sergey. Of course, the other two should try it as well.”
“Richard?”
“Apologies. I was just considering how far we could go with this… let’s see, if we do it like this…”
Not only the three of them but also others who followed them began exploring the guild system.
Sophia, who had been next to me, now stared into empty space.
It seems President Richard accepted Sophia as one of his guild members.
“I believe Guild Master Ji-hyeongman temporarily accepted Sophia as a guild member too…”
It seems possible for one person to be part of multiple guilds simultaneously.
“Hmm?”
However, in that case, would the guildmaster receive such information?
Guild Master Ji-hyeongman alternated his gaze between Sophia and President Richard, seemingly deducing their relationship.
“Wow, you used this only with the Ironblood Guild?”
“…Only a week.”
Yoo Won-hoon’s words interrupted his thought, but…
“Still… maybe I should have joined the Ironblood Guild for real?”
“That would be welcome.”
The Legiones Guild attendants behind Yoo Won-hoon flinched at his words, but Yoo Won-hoon didn’t genuinely intend to switch, rising and saying:
“Then I’ll leave first. If I go out with President Richard, we’ll be crushed by the crowd.”
“Ah, right. Shall we go too? Chloe… if you want to spend a bit more time with student Geon-woo, you can stay.”
As Yoo Won-hoon rose, Chairman Shin Han-ji signaled his party to leave.
Chloe, blushing, nodded.
“…Wait. Considering the splendid assembly here, I almost forgot…”
Chloe… or rather, the Elf.
When exactly did you cross the Wall?
*”Come to think of it…”
“I thought elves were too weak to enter dungeons and worked only as performers.”
“I heard that besides elemental magic, you awakened mental magic abilities…”
Richard’s group asked while looking at Chloe.
True, Chloe hadn’t been in the media since crossing the Wall, partly because it was a recent occurrence.
Chloe quietly crossing the Wall caused a brief stir in the meeting room, but the awakened individuals present seemed to immediately understand when told she kept it secret to avoid attention.
“Indeed, when I first crossed the Wall, several scammers attached themselves to me.”
“Wise choice. Since she’s already working under Chairman Shin Han-ji, there’s no need to reveal her abilities.”
“Artist, you may enjoy being surrounded by women now, but later… you’ll regret it…”
“What is this old man saying to a kid?!”
Some focused more on the fact Chloe liked me than her abilities, but thanks to the consideration of the awakened individuals, Sophia, Chloe, and I were able to leave the meeting room first.
“Hmm…”
Looking around briefly, the guild’s front and back entrances were filled with people.
Exiting the guild immediately didn’t seem wise, so I headed toward Yeon Mirae’s office.
Sophia and Chloe naturally followed.
Click…
“You’re here? Hmm? Ah, Artist.”
Opening Yeon Mirae’s office, Alex was there feeding snacks to Fafnir.
It seemed Yeon Mirae hadn’t arrived yet, probably off dungeon-hunting.
Kyah-oh…!
Fafnir looked toward us, seemingly on alert.
Specifically, it was Chloe who had followed me.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Grr…!
“Is that stranger strong?”
Fafnir instinctively sensed a strong, unfamiliar presence in Chloe.
“Uh… I should calm him down for a moment. Can we step outside?”
“Do as you like.”
I was relieved. It was too soon to tell him about the Enhancement Stones.
Yes. I planned to use the Enhancement Stones in Yeon Mirae’s office.
I’d never heard of enhancements producing explosions or chaos, so it should be fine indoors.
I watched Alex leave the room with Fafnir.
…Kyahhh…!
“What?! Why is he like this today?!”
From outside came Fafnir’s anger and Alex’s panicked attempts to calm him.
Ah… right now outside…
Fafnir was surrounded by many strong, awakened individuals, all strangers like Chloe.
Even one had him growling; many warranted this outburst.
“Haha! This one’s loud!”
Kyah…!
“Is this the servitude dragon I’ve only heard about? I want to see his grown form too.”
Judging by the voices outside, those following President Richard seemed to be watching Fafnir with interest.
“Hmm…”
It should be fine.
They won’t harm Fafnir, and whatever he does will be no more than a playful dog to them.
Ignoring the outside, I took out the Harmonious Divine Sword and the recently obtained Enhancement Stones from the extra-dimensional space.
“You’re enhancing that sword?”
“Yes. There’s nothing else worth enhancing.”
“I see…”
I realized I made a mistake; besides the Harmonious Divine Sword, Chloe had gifted me another sword.
I had stored it deep in the extra-dimensional space, almost forgetting about it.
“If it’s because of the sword Chloe gave, I have no intention of enhancing it. I want to keep it as is.”
Chloe’s face brightened at my words.
If I had said I wasn’t enhancing it because it was ceremonial, the mood might have soured.
…Munch, munch.
While thinking this, Sophia, wearing unknown 3D glasses, was quietly munching popcorn beside me.
…She’s not entertained by our conversation, right? She’s curious because she’s seeing an Enhancement Stone used for the first time?
“?”
“…No.”
Ignoring Sophia’s fascinated gaze, I placed the Enhancement Stone against the hilt of the Harmonious Divine Sword.
Vuuu…
The sword vibrated, as if rejoicing at the chance to grow stronger.
The Harmonious Divine Sword absorbs my internal energy to strengthen itself.
And then…
Ping…!
The Enhancement Stone, which had begun to be absorbed, slipped out as I removed my hand.
Thud…
“……”
“……”
“…?”
Wait—didn’t they say Enhancement Stones never fail?
