Thumbs Up, Level Up

Chapter 179

“But they’re the ones who started this war. Let’s not worry about this. I just got a call from Ji-Han and he said that he set up a wall of security teams around our potion factory,” Ji-Cheok said.

It seemed that Ji-Han had secured the entire perimeter by using a literal human shield.

“That’s reassuring, but… I’m sure they are not going to go bankrupt just from this.”

“Well, of course. They still have C-grade potions.”

The limit of mass-produced potions in factories was known to be C-grade. Starting from B-grade, mass production was no longer possible, and the only potions available were made by small private workshops. Anything above B-grade required a high-rank alchemist to make, so it was not even a question of profit at that level.

‘Cheok-Liang, what is the domestic consumption of C-grade potions?’

?I am searching for it right now. The consumption of C-grade this month is about 8,500 bottles. SL Chemical dominates about forty percent of the market. The average price of a C-grade potion is around 10 million won per bottle, but the price slightly fluctuates every month.?

D-grade potions were around two million won, so a C-grade potion was five times more expensive. The total monthly sales were around eighty-five billion won.

‘Wow… That’s a big market.’

Still, it was inevitable for companies like SL Chemicals to have their profit cut in half. And it was going to fall further down.

?Master! You have been safely placed sixth in the Elixir Replica event! You could be fifth very soon!?

‘I heard that the previous sixth place Hunter’s fandom was having a hard time finding another fandom to make an alliance with, I guess they still couldn’t find anybody?’

?Yes, actually, the fandom that they were planning on forming an alliance with broke the promise. And since Master is doing a rather generous potion giveaway, their fans seemed to have decided to join our side.?

“...Why would they stab each other’s back over such a meaningless popularity vote?”

?I have never seen anything like this before, Master. Even the last presidential elections were not as intense as this.?

“Don’t say things like that. You should be the one who gets the Elixir Replica,” Mu-Cheok said.

“Are you also streaming my content?” Ji-Cheok asked.

“Of course, I’m even using the satellites for help.”

The cutting-edge technology controlled by Mu-Cheok, which even Reable praised, was being mobilized to help his brother.

“Wow… That feels strange.”

Ji-Cheok wondered if it was okay to waste that kind of technology on an event like this. He felt embarrassed… But what could he do?

Mu-Cheok nodded.

“I wish I could just sit back and watch those pharmaceutical companies plummet to their death… But I know they’re not going to go down easy. They’re definitely going to attack again.”

Ji-Cheok agreed. Those guys had to be planning an attack. The fact that they were already using media outlets to tear him apart was proof of Mu-Cheok’s statement. Thanks to that, Ji-Han-Baba and his forty lawyers were extra-busy.

‘Well, even for this streaming event, I bet they will find and interview some fans from other fandoms to drag my name in the mud.’

?That is… definitely what is going to happen. Still, it is unprecedented to give away potions like that. So there are many people joining our side.?

‘And thanks to that, other fandoms are going to find ways to curse me.’

There was only one thing he could do from here.

‘I just need to survive and do my thing.’

The reason his fans were sharing his content was that they wanted him to go up in the views ranking and win an Elixir Replica. There certainly were people who solely streamed because he was giving away potions, but those fans who started streaming his content before Ji-Cheok had announced the giveaway were just doing it out of their love for Ji-Cheok, without demanding any reciprocation.

‘If that’s the case, I just need to continue doing interesting livestreams and stay healthy.’

?That is pretty straightforward, Master.?

‘Well with my dumb head, I can’t think of anything deeper than that.’

?That is what all fans want from their Hunters. They want you to always have fun and not change who you are. That is also the reason they are using their time and energy to help you.?

‘Hm… You’re right. All I can do is send coffee carts for the fans or do a giveaway event like this one, but that’s not enough.’

?Yes. And in the current situation, even staying healthy may not be easy.?

‘You’re saying I need to be prepared, right?’

?Yes, Master. And I think you need to set up some traps.?

‘Traps?’

?A lure is always an effective ploy.?

‘Yes! That’s why you are my advisor! You are saying we should lure them in to expose their true intentions, right?’

?My plan is…?

Cheok-Liang whispered his plan into Ji-Cheok’s ears, and upon hearing it, Ji-Cheok immediately discussed it with Mu-Cheok. They had decided to go with the plan.

‘You bastards. I will show you Cheok-Liang’s?stratagem of Sangokchuje!’

* * *

Sangokchuje literally meant luring enemies to the roof, letting them come up, and then removing the ladder that they had used. In other words, it was a strategy to kill enemies by making them crawl into traps and then blocking their escape route. To make this plan successful, Ji-Cheok needed to deliberately show a blind spot to his enemies.

Stabbing the opponents where it hurt the most was the fundamental attitude of a villain. The hard part was to lure the enemies into stabbing Ji-Cheok where it hurt.

“So that’s the reason why you chose this place?”

Listening to Ji-Cheok’s calm explanation, Seong Kwang stared at him as if his plan was absurd.

They were standing on a piece of land right next to Seong Kwang’s ranch. Originally, it had been farmland, but after the Ghoul incident, it was now abandoned.

“Yes,” Ji-Cheok answered.

Seong Kwang’s face was saying ‘I think Brother Ji-Cheok has gone insane…’.

“Seong Kwang, just believe in me. It’s gonna be fine~ Trust me.”

“I’m not okay, Brother Ji-Cheok. If you do this right next to my ranch, won’t I get involved in the fight? The livestock on my ranch and the children in the orphanage might be at risk.”

“That’s why I told all the children and the teachers to go on a vacation together. For a month! There’s a giant pool for the kids and a breakfast buffet every day!”

It was certainly a luxurious vacation for them! The kids and the staff were all excited.

“Ha… Brother. That’s not the problem! My ranch could be destroyed.”

“It’s fine! I have a plan!”

“I really want to hear this plan.”

“I am going to revive this real estate.”

“Pardon me?”

“You know that I have the World Tree, right?”

Most Hunters had video skills. A Hunter that had recorded a video of the battle in the [Eight-Legged Wanderer] dungeon had released the full content afterward, and everyone now knew that Ji-Cheok possessed a World Tree. Of course, they did not know what exactly the World Tree did; only Ji-Cheok knew the details. Besides him, Ji-Han, who could see the future or something like that, was probably the only one who knew what the tree was capable of.

“So?” Seong Kwang asked.

“The most important thing about the World Tree’s abilities is that dungeons are prohibited from appearing within a radius of one kilometer, and Spirits will actually appear to protect the World Tree.”

“I see…”

“In other words, it is also possible to protect the ranch from being destroyed. And even if it’s a little bit wrecked, I can fix it. You just need to evacuate the livestock in advance.”

Now that the Tutorial was almost over, dungeons were randomly appearing all over the place, mostly ignoring the Warding Stones. But the World Tree was no mere Warding Stone.

[Function: In the Sacred Site, the appearance of dungeons is absolutely prohibited.]

If Earth versus Dungeon was a playground fight, this function was like the epic comeback that canceled out all other insults. Since it contained the words ‘absolutely’ and ‘prohibited’, it was clear enough that the rule admitted no exceptions; just as Ji-Cheok had required an incredible amount of energy, plus the World Tree, to destroy the previous dungeon’s Core, anyone who wanted to open a dungeon within the World Tree’s range needed something of similar power.

?I think Master is the only person in the world who understands it like this.?

‘But I don’t know any big words to explain it in a better way. And if you think about it, I’m not wrong, am I?’

?You are absolutely right, Master.?

This function fundamentally decreased the possibility of a Dungeon Gate opening down to zero. And that was not all.

“The Spirits will come out to protect the World Tree. That’s like a built-in automatic security service! And since it detoxifies, cures curses, and restores mana, the land price will definitely go up. And even better, this is a World Tree that hasn’t fully grown yet! As it grows bigger, the Sacred Site range will become wider,” Ji-Cheok explained.

“And as a result, the price of my ranch will also go up…”

“Exactly! You can be rich! Then you can build better facilities, and children can study in a better environment.”

“Hm…”

“Then, they might build a convenience store.”

“A convenience store…?”

Ji-Cheok felt Seong Kwang was being persuaded little by little.

“Yes, and it won’t end there. If they start building other stores nearby, delivery services like Super Eats might start coming in.”

“...Super Eats?”

“It is good when people start to come together. You never know. They might build a giant supermarket nearby. I heard that even sending a parcel from the orphanage is a chore.”

“...Postal service?”

Seong Kwang eventually surrendered.

“I mean I have always wanted to try the tuna and mayo onigiri from those convenience stores. Brother Ji-Cheok, thank you so much.”

“Good thinking. I’ll buy you all kinds of onigiri.”

“No, it’s okay. A convenience store… That’s such a lovely word. I’m not even thinking about supermarkets.”

“Okay. Then just trust me and have a good vacation with the kids.”

Seong Kwang shook his head. His silver hair was gently swayed.

“No, I will stay with you, Brother Ji-Cheok.”

“What?”

“Please let me lend a hand too.”

“It’s going to be dangerous. Are you gonna be okay? The mercenaries hired to kill me will not go easy on you because you’re young.”

Seong Kwang was an excellent priest. Ji-Cheok would be lucky if such a proficient healer helped him out. But Seong Kwang was still a kid. Those mercenaries hired by pharmaceutical companies would never go easy on him—if anything, he would be their first target.

“It’s not like the monsters go easy on me. And it’s not like a kid like me can’t go into dungeons.”

“......”

When Ji-Cheok tried to say no, Seong Kwang cut him off.

“In exchange for my help, I want to take ten percent of the profit of the surrounding land.”

“Hm?”

“I’ve learned from running an orphanage that it takes money to protect my people. According to your calculations, ten percent is going to be quite a lot, right?”

“You’re not greedy at all.”

‘He is so innocent! He’s definitely the type of person to get scammed in the future...’

?Master, I think you should accept his offer. I am sure a proper fight will not happen. Also, if our plan fails somehow due to an unknown variable, it will be good to have Seong Kwang by our side.?

‘Okay. I guess this is our best option.’

“I am going to write a contract. It’s not going to be just a verbal promise, and I won’t profit from you just like that. Since you’re helping me out, you will be rewarded for it.”

Seong Kwang nodded again.

“And I’ll say it again, the enemies won’t care if you’re a kid or not,” Ji-Cheok said

“The scriptures say that ‘the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep, and he who seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth is no shepherd’. If I fail to protect the land, I will give up ownership of it,” Seong Kwang said.

“Okay, well, that’s a religious issue, so I’ll let you do your thing.”

Seong Kwang looked happy.

[Zealot, Seong Kwang is very happy to be able to follow the scriptures.]

[You have received 3 Likes.]

Zealot. That was what the System called Seong Kwang.

“And let’s buy you a new pair of shoes. Those look way too small for your feet,” Ji-Cheok said.

“Yeah, my feet are getting bigger.”

“Alright, I’ll buy you a new pair.”

Ji-Cheok looked again at his Likes count, which showed a whopping 7.2 million. He started to feel the power of his fans’ support, further stimulated by his potion giveaway, which was attracting even people that were not his fans. Like a snowball, it had started very small, but now there were a massive number of people involved.

?This is because of the streaming event. The number of Likes you get will probably go back to normal when it is over, Master.?

‘Then I should take advantage of the situation. Cheok-Liang, tell my salon manager to clear her schedule for two people. I noticed that Seong Kwang himself has some fans, since he looks like a kid. Seong Kwang~ how would you feel about getting a fandom of your own~?’

1. Like Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves

2. Sangokchuje (original Chinese 上屋抽梯—shàng wū chōu tī, “climb the house and remove the ladder”) is the twenty-eighth of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, an essay on tactics written by Wang Jinze, a general of Southern Qi in the 6th century.

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