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CHAPTER 130 – Sharing
Mid-August passed.
During that time, Ma Kyung-rok, as planned, steadily dealt with the trash one by one.
‘He’s already killed close to 300 pieces of trash by now.’
Even so, there were still plenty of worms left in Pleseba.
If left alone, they would definitely harm ordinary people.
So Ryu Min had the chairman work hard printing wanted flyers.
Of course, it was bait—composited deception made with Photoshop.
‘Their guts are pea-sized or something—these fish really do bite nicely.’
A warehouse separate from where Ma Kyung-rok was working.
There, the moment Ryu Min used Trace Erasure, five corpses vanished.
Just like Ma Kyung-rok, Ryu Min was also engrossed in cleaning up the trash.
‘Even if I can’t obtain black magic power, I can still extort items.’
On the bare floor where the corpses disappeared, piles of items lay—things Ryu Min had ripped out of them through torture.
Magic stones, Unique material items, shop equipment items, various junk loot, and more.
Even criminals had managed to survive to Round 8, so they carried plenty of gear.
‘I should combine shop equipment and Unique materials and make some Unique gear.’
Unique materials might appear on the market, but there still weren’t any Unique gear listings.
Because people didn’t know how to make them.
‘The Unique crafting blueprints still haven’t spread enough yet.’
Unique blueprints started dropping in earnest from Round 9.
For now, no one would’ve discovered the recipes yet.
‘And even if someone did make one, no idiot would put Unique gear up for sale.’
Even if they had it, they’d use it themselves. Would anyone really sell that kind of Unique gear just to get a bit of real-world money?
Ryu Min had no intention of making Unique items to sell, either.
Money was already overflowing.
PLPL’s stock price was skyrocketing too, and Ryu Min had enough wealth that three generations could live off it without lifting a finger.
The reason he was making Unique gear was only one thing.
To distribute it to candidates who would become his allies in the future.
‘If they survive, it benefits me too.’
For now, he decided to make items for Min Juri and Christine.
If he combined gear with Agility and Unique materials, he’d get equipment for Min Juri.
If he combined gear with Intelligence, he’d get a Unique item Christine could use.
‘Ah—Ma Kyung-rok might feel slighted, so I should make his too.’
He should make Russell’s as well, and Seo Arin’s too.
And something for An Sang-cheol, Heo Tae-seok, Jo Yong-ho, and even Yamttei.
‘Why are there so many mouths to feed…?’
Thinking about it, this wasn’t right.
There weren’t enough materials to provide for all of them.
Shaking his head, Ryu Min decided he would only take care of the people he planned to bring to Round 20.
‘For now, I’ll only take care of Min Juri and Christine. The rest… whew… I’ll think about it later.’
Right as even thinking about it made him sigh, a call came from Ma Kyung-rok.
“Yes, CEO.”
-Prophet-nim, do you have time?
“Right now?”
-Yes. There’s something I want to give you.
“Something?”
-I’ve been collecting items for you in the meantime.
“Items? Ah… don’t tell me you extorted items before killing the criminals?”
-Of course. Isn’t it a waste to just kill them? Those items.
It turned out Ma Kyung-rok had been doing the exact same thing as Ryu Min.
-I’ve collected a lot of useful stuff, so if you come, you can choose what you want.
“Ah, thank you. You could’ve taken it all for yourself, yet you even saved my share…”
-I’ve been receiving information from you that can’t be converted into money. How could I just wipe my mouth and pretend it’s nothing? People should have give-and-take, you know.
Ma Kyung-rok spoke kindly, but Ryu Min knew there was another intention beneath it.
‘He wants to tie me down materially so he can keep getting next-round information.’
You could call it a bribe.
Either way, it worked out well.
He needed materials to make Unique items anyway.
Given how many people Ma Kyung-rok had killed, he would probably have enough materials.
“Where are you? I’ll come right away.”
In a hotel room, Ma Kyung-rok waited for Ryu Min, sipping whiskey with the night view as his side dish.
On the floor beside him, countless items were scattered—things he’d extorted over the last half month.
‘The Prophet will probably be shocked when he sees this, right? Or… maybe he already saw it through prophecy.’
Given that he hadn’t sounded surprised on the phone, that was likely.
‘Then does he know this too? That I plan to give him everything.’
He’d said to come and choose, but if Ryu Min wanted, he intended to give him all of it.
That way, he could keep extracting information in the next round, and the round after that.
‘A kind of debt.’
Ma Kyung-rok smiled, unaware of the truth.
That the one dancing in someone else’s palm was him.
Knock knock—
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, CEO.”
At Ryu Min’s voice, Ma Kyung-rok rushed out in his socks to greet him.
“Welcome, Prophet-nim.”
“Calling me to a hotel room at night. People might misunderstand if they saw.”
“Haha, what a joke. This way.”
Still smiling, Ma Kyung-rok turned and the corner of his mouth twitched.
‘He even knows how to throw jokes now. He’s grown, huh?’
Outwardly he praised him, but inwardly Ma Kyung-rok still regarded him as someone he could handle.
Because, truthfully, without prophecy, Ryu Min’s combat ability looked pathetic.
Hadn’t Ryu Min admitted that himself recently?
That he wasn’t confident he could beat Ma Kyung-rok in a fight.
‘Come to think of it… how does the Prophet even fight? Does he just barely survive based on future information?’
It was a question Ma Kyung-rok hadn’t really considered until now.
“Prophet-nim. Something just occurred to me… how do you fight?”
“Ah, me?”
Ryu Min, already having read his thoughts, answered brightly without a hint of fluster.
“It’s a secret.”
“Huh?”
“I should have at least one secret, shouldn’t I? If I spill every bit of information, what am I supposed to live on?”
“Ahh, that makes sense. Haha.”
Ma Kyung-rok hadn’t expected him not to answer.
‘Even if his combat is one thing, I shouldn’t underestimate that slippery inner nature.’
He told himself to stay wary, but his heart was already almost open.
The fact that he’d let Ryu Min into his space was proof.
“Is this it? The items you extorted from those criminal bastards?”
“Yes. There are quite a lot, right?”
Ma Kyung-rok grinned, not realizing—
Ryu Min had extorted plenty himself, too.
“Pick whatever you need. I’ll give you all of it, no matter how much.”
“Haha, in that case…”
Ryu Min selected items without hesitation.
Mostly Unique material items.
“Hm? What are you planning to use those for…?”
“CEO Ma. I told you before, didn’t I? When you see prophecies, you end up learning all sorts of things.”
“Yes, but what does that—”
Ryu Min answered with action instead of words.
He opened the crafting window and placed the Unique materials inside.
Using an Expert-grade armor as the main material, he hit the combine button.
Fwoosh—
The materials vanished in light, and a splendid item was born.
Ma Kyung-rok’s eyes went wide.
“Th-this is…?”
“A gift.”
Ma Kyung-rok received the armor, checked its options, and jolted.
“An Expert… Unique grade?”
The best equipment Ma Kyung-rok had right now was just shop-bought Regular-grade Epic gear.
Yet here, right before his eyes, were options a full step above that—across the board.
His pupils trembled.
“H-how did you make this?”
“I told you. I end up seeing all kinds of information, whether I want to or not.”
“You saw the Unique crafting method… in the future?”
When Ryu Min nodded, a groan escaped Ma Kyung-rok.
‘So I wasn’t wrong… he can even know crafting recipes…’
The value of the Prophet rose another level.
And so did the certainty that he had to maintain a tight relationship with Ryu Min no matter what.
“Um… Prophet-nim. Are you really giving this to me?”
“Yes. You gave me items because you were thinking of me, so I should repay you at least this much. It’s also so you can hit level 40 quickly and equip it. And while I was at it, I made one for your fiancée too.”
“Christine’s as well?”
“Please give it to her yourself.”
“Ah, thank you. Really.”
Ma Kyung-rok couldn’t take his eyes off the Unique armor.
He truly liked it.
“Can I take the remaining materials too? I have a use for them.”
“Of course. You can take all of it. If there’s anything you don’t need, leave it. I’ll sell it on the market and send you the money.”
“You don’t have to go that far… thank you.”
When Ryu Min smiled, Ma Kyung-rok smiled too.
“Would you like a glass of whiskey?”
“No. Alcohol doesn’t suit my palate. I’ll head home first.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Ma Kyung-rok looked genuinely disappointed.
“If you didn’t bring a car, should I have Manager Ahn see you off?”
“I appreciate it, but I brought my car.”
“Ah.”
“Then I’ll see you next time.”
Once Ryu Min disappeared, Ma Kyung-rok smacked his lips.
He’d almost gotten a drinking buddy. The thought left him a little regretful.
After making Unique items with the materials he got from Ma Kyung-rok, Ryu Min went to find Min Juri.
“Here.”
“Huh? What’s this?”
“I made it for you to wear.”
Min Juri glanced at Ryu Min, then looked at the item info, and her eyes widened.
“Th-this is Unique!”
Ryu Min explained the same way he had with Ma Kyung-rok.
If you bring up prophecy, it makes everything convenient.
“Round 9 information, and now an item this good…”
Min Juri looked moved, but then suddenly shook her head.
“I can’t take it. You use it.”
“It’s an item I don’t need. I already made mine.”
“Still, I can’t accept it. I already owe you, and you help me every round—how could I accept this shamelessly?”
‘Help? I’ve gotten plenty of help too.’
Min Juri’s buffs had helped Ryu Min break records again and again.
You could say he’d more than gotten his return.
But he couldn’t tell her that.
How could he say now that he was Black Scythe?
“Just take it.”
“No. I can’t.”
When she stayed firm, Ryu Min had no choice but to use a firm approach too.
“Then let’s do this. Consider it a debt, too. You’ll grow and pay it back later. That works, right?”
“……”
He wasn’t giving it.
He was lending it.
Said that way, Min Juri couldn’t help but waver.
“You can pay it all back later. It’s an item that’s useless to me right now.”
“Haa… If you’re going to say it that far, fine. I’ll borrow it gratefully. But make sure you understand this. This debt I’m taking on now—I’ll pay it back later, multiplied several times over.”
“Fine. Pay it back big later.”
Ryu Min held it out, and Min Juri, unable to refuse any longer, took it.
After distributing Unique items to his comrades, Ryu Min returned home.
“Hyung, if you haven’t eaten dinner yet, wanna eat together?”
“Eat first. I’ll eat later.”
“Huh?”
Watching his brother skip dinner and go into his room, Ryu Won tilted his head.
“Is something going on?”
Ryu Min entered his room and flopped onto the bed.
This wasn’t a time to lazily eat.
Because he had to decide what he would do next.
‘The Pleseba purge will be finished by the end of this month. It’ll transform—not into a criminal faction, but into an ordinary player group.’
But the problem was society’s perception.
Right now, the way citizens viewed players was a ticking time bomb that could explode any moment.
If he couldn’t change that perception, it would become an obstacle to fixing a society that was already collapsing.
‘That can’t happen. My goal is to make Black Scythe a national-leader-level powerhouse.’
In the real world, Black Scythe’s name value wasn’t as big as you’d think.
He was well-known among players because he always ranked first, but among ordinary people he was often treated like a nobody.
‘The name Black Scythe has to carry influence in the real world too. Only then can I rally and control the world’s players with a single sentence.’
If he could control the rampaging players, the world would be less ruined.
To do that, he needed to wield overwhelming power not only in the other world, but in reality as well.
He had to elevate Black Scythe’s status to the level of a president.
‘And what I need for that is Assemblyman Lee Seong-hyeon’s bill.’
A bill to form a major player organization and execute criminal players on the spot.
It had already passed, but implementation would take time.
‘I need to shorten that time.’
Ryu Min sat up from the bed.
He grabbed his phone and called immediately.
“Hey, Yamttei. I’ve got an order for you.”
-Yes, master.
How could he shorten the time?
“There’s someone I need you to seduce. And not just anyone—someone big.”
You simply dominate a figure with high authority.
Like the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency.