Chapter 505
However, regardless of Aine’s concerns, Choi Yeonseung and Adaquaniel took action immediately.
It was because Adaquaniel said, “I’ll help you as well.”
“I can go alone...”
“No. Since I haven’t seen the future completely, at least let me be by your side and help you.”
“Fine.”
[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ wonders if you are lovers.]
***
-You can’t, Adaquaniel!
-You are abandoning us...!
-Oh, no! The world is coming to an end!
“...”
Choi Yeonseung was stunned to see the employees cry like babies. Were these people really the brightest minds in the field?
Perhaps she was a bit embarrassed, but Adaquaniel averted her gaze.
“I think the humans rely on me a lot.”
“A lot is an understatement...”
“Those who can see the future have always been the subject of powerful emotions. A lot of people used to worship this power in the Abyss.”
‘Despite that, I think there are too few believers of the Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead.’
Choi Yeonseung decided not to think about that too much, as it would sadden him.
“We might be angels with foreknowledge, but after all, we are the same as other mortals. There is no difference between mortals who see clouds in the morning and predict rain in the evening and us angels with precognitive abilities. We can just do it a bit more intuitively.”
“Is that so? But even if I say that, humans won’t listen. Hey. Get out of the way.”
Choi Yeonseung waved his hand, and the tearful staff members moved away.
Upon hearing the news that Adaquaniel would be away for a while, even the employees working in other places came down and bawled their eyes out.
‘If there really is a way to tame monsters... That’s tempting.’
-If you can get your hands on their method, it’ll definitely make for a powerful weapon.
The goddess of sloth said that because breeding monsters in large numbers was quite difficult.
-I’ve tamed monsters before.
-Oh, how did you do it?
-Um...
Choi Yeonseung thought about what had happened with the rock snakes in the Abyss. Defeat them, reconcile and bond...
-...It’s just hard for them to resist me.
-???
Despite the ongoing turmoil on Earth, the human cities in the Abyss hadn’t stopped functioning. If anything, it was precisely because of the chaotic situation on Earth that even more money and people were flocking into the Abyss.
There was already a significant number of people at the Abyss site where Jacob Parker was about to start his new business venture.
Choi Yeonseung was impressed by the sight.
-Aren’t there a lot of humans?
-Ah. Well, I thought that if there are many people, no one will notice when I sneak in and steal their stuff.
-...
Was he really a constellation?
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung! Aren’t you Hunter Choi Yeonseung?”
“Oh, did you and the Korean clan come as well?”
Kwon Yeongseung, the A-grade hunter of the Six-Eyed Turtle clan, came and welcomed Choi Yeongseung. “Yes. This is a big issue... If you can tame monsters, won’t all clans want to learn how to do it?”
Sending well-trained monsters to neatly clean a dungeon—every clan in the world dreamed of being able to conduct raids that way.
“Where’s Seha?”
“Well, given her temper, she can’t come to a place like this,” Kwon Yeongseung answered with a hint of frustration.
Han Seha would be livid if she found out that Choi Yeonseung had come here.
-What?! Why didn’t you call me? Why didn’t you call me?!
-You said you didn’t want to go...
-You should’ve forced me to go!
...The conversation would go like that.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Ah, no reason. I am just admiring the progress of humanity...”
Choi Yeonseung looked at Kwon Yeongseung like he was a weirdo.
Kwon Yeongseung cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
***
“No! No! No...!”
“Please calm down, Miss Parker. It’s just starting...”
“Can’t you shut up?! Companies and clans from all over the world have gathered! Even government officials from all over the world! I can’t imagine how much money they’ll pour in!”
Gloria Parker, another child of the Parker family, stomped her feet as she shouted. Her subordinates bowed their heads and waited for her anger to subside.
None of the Parker children wanted to share the chairman’s enormous power and wealth. They all wanted to take everything for themselves, including Gloria.
Normally, it would’ve been quite difficult for her to assume her father’s power and money, but Jacob’s string of failures had caused him to fall out of the chairman’s favor.
Of course, that was great news for Gloria, but one day, Jacob suddenly received funds from an unknown source and started a spectacular project.
“How on earth did he get those funds? I don’t understand!”
“I wonder if that someone funded him just because of the Parker name...”
“What idiots!”
Gloria bit her lip; she was lost in thought, frantically walking back and forth. She had to stop Jacob at all costs!
She noticed that one of her subordinates was looking at the development area of Jacob’s business.
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung has come to the scene as well? I understand. Keep an eye on him.”
Gloria wondered, “Hunter Choi Yeonseung?”
“Huh? Yes...”
“...That’s great! Take me there!”
***
“Wait!”
“???”
Choi Yeonseung was taken aback when someone from the Parker family called out to him.
“Martial God, Hunter Choi Yeonseung! I know what you’re here for!”
“Really?”
How had they found out...?
“I know you want to be the first one to invest in this monster taming business so you can take over the shares, but please hear me out!”
“...”
Come to think of it, it was natural for Gloria to think that way.
‘Indeed, there’s the strategy of investing ahead of everyone else and taking over the shares.’
Generally, it was more common for businessmen to start negotiations when they found a business that enticed them. Few people took over in an aggressive manner like Choi Yeonseung.
-Well, if that human really signed a contract with the treasure house constellation, there is no way he would’ve accepted your proposal, Successor.
-Yeah, I thought so as well.
“Martial God, Hunter Choi Yeonseung. I...”
“Remove the Martial God part...”
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung, join forces with me to start a new monster taming business.”
“!”
Choi Yeonseung was surprised once again.
“Do you also have a way to tame monsters?”
“No, I’ll steal Jacob’s idea and use it for ourselves.”
“...”
Choi Yeonseung was dumbfounded.
How could she say so nonchalantly that she would steal a business project from her family and use it for her own benefit?
‘She’s literally a thief.’ -Successor...
“If you were planning to steal Jacob’s project, you could’ve done everything yourself. Why include me in the project?”
“Even if I had the means, I wouldn’t be able to start a business,” Gloria replied as though she found Choi Yeonseung’s question absurd. “Besides the huge amount of money required, I need someone to stop Jacob from going ballistic.”
Indeed, it was impossible for an ordinary entrepreneur to enter the market with the same business idea as someone else.
Not only did Gloria need to take away the business project, but she also needed the strength to endure the attacks from the political world and the media.
Furthermore, in this raid era, many entrepreneurs and politicians hired clans to overwhelm their adversaries. Thus, Gloria needed all the additional help she could get.
“Indeed... That’s true.”
“Think about it. It won’t be bad for you. How much can you trust that arrogant Jacob? Even if you want to invest with him, you’ll be at a disadvantage if you compete with those who are already involved in the business!”
“But I don’t like the idea of using illegal means...”
-...
[The ‘Chef of Endless Gluttony’ finds it absurd!]
The other constellations were dumbfounded when they saw Choi Yeonseung acting in such a righteous manner. However, Gloria didn’t know why Choi Yeonseung had come here in the first place, so she was getting more anxious.
“It’s not illegal! I’m going to steal it in a legal way. Don’t worry!”
“But the Dragon Industry’s image...”
“You don’t need to involve the name of Dragon Industry in this! I’ll be the one to go forward. Just give me the money and your support!”
“Uh, I don’t know... It’s a very tricky situation...”
“I’ll hand over the shares to you first...!”
‘Will he keep getting better terms by just standing still?’
The goddess of sloth was amazed by this novel method of negotiation.
***
Hunters from the New York Fires clan went on patrol with nervous expressions. Naturally, Jacob Parker’s new business was the kind that required hunters.
Raising monsters was similar to developing walking nuclear bombs. This business wouldn’t work without a force to handle an emergency situation.
Jacob Parker had gathered several famous clans, one of which being the New York Fires.
“Wow... To think he’s collected monsters like this”
The hunters were genuinely impressed as they stared at the high-tech cage made from new materials from the Abyss. This masterpiece, which was being enchanted by all sorts of spells, could be considered the crystallization of science and magic.
This area was filled with numerous such cages that contained monsters. It was a monster breeding farm!
“Hey. Don’t take out your phone.”
“Huh?”
“You swore an oath of secrecy, remember?”
“Oh... I can’t even take photos?”
“This whole situation is tense. Don’t get into trouble.”
Naturally, businessmen usually required the clans they were contracting with to take an oath of secrecy. However, some of them were so strict that they didn’t even allow the hunters to take photos.
The hunters grumbled but they complied for now. After all, they were getting a boatload of cash out of this!
Having patrolled the whole area, it was time for a break.
The hunter called Arenas was puzzled when he received a call from an unknown number.
“Hunter Choi Yeonseung? It’s been a while. I’m glad you contacted me... Yes. That’s right. I’m still a member of the New York Fires. The monster taming business? Yes. I happen to be working at the development site.”
Arenas was excited to speak to Choi Yeonseung, but his colleagues were casting him strange looks.
‘Why does he keep bowing when there’s no one in front of him...?’
‘Did his parents call him?’
-Can you meet me and tell me what’s going on there? Arenas paused at Choi Yeonseung’s request. He had taken an oath of secrecy before coming here. If he were to break that oath, and subsequently the contract, his individual reputation could be ruined along with the credibility of the New York Fires clan...
“Yes! Of course! I’ll come and tell you. Is it okay? If the clan doesn’t let me, then I’ll quit! It’s not like I have nowhere else to go!”
Obviously, it was fine. Wasn’t this what the hunter industry was all about?
***
“It seems that they’re using an artifact to brainwash monsters that have yet to hatch or have just hatched to make them obedient. That’s what I heard.”
“I see...”
The New York Fires clan was very kind to allow Arenas to help Choi Yeonseung. Jacob would grab the back of his neck out of frustration if he found out, but what could he really do?
This S-grade hunter was the most powerful man in the US. No hunter would refuse to help him just because they received money from one business.
In addition, Choi Yeonseung was the kind of person that never forgot a favor. Even if Jacob gave the New York Fires a bunch of penalties, this was still a very beneficial deal for them.
“It looks like he’s found a great artifact from somewhere.”
Sometimes, things like that came out in the Abyss... Ancient relics that even constellations had forgotten about would occasionally pop out of nowhere. Those kinds of artifacts were so powerful that even constellations would be impressed.
Choi Yeonseung expressed his gratitude while looking at the photos that Arenas had secretly taken.
“Thank you, Arenas.”
“No problem! It’s an honor to help you. You saved my life...”
“!”
Choi Yeonseung suddenly paused.
‘Aren’t those... rock snakes?’
There were some familiar monsters at the breeding grounds.