Thumbs Up, Level Up

Chapter 138

“But there is something that I don’t understand.”

?What is it, Master??

“He doesn’t know exactly what my abilities are.”

‘If he can see the future, or if he was a regressor. Shouldn’t he know what my abilities are?’

?Foresight ability is not an omniscient ability. According to the information on foresight skills, they can only know a part of the future.?

“Hm… So he doesn’t know fully about me.”

?Yes, Master.?

“There are too many variables… Now that I think about it, don’t foreign Hunters with foresight skills know information about the destruction of the world?”

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?There are a total of 12,462 prophecy channels on GodTube. This number is also after only choosing channels that had subscribers above a certain number.?

‘I see. We live in a world with an overwhelming amount of information at our disposal. But most of the information is uncertain. There are only a few prophets that have the ability to predict the future stock market. I am good at guessing things like Hunters’ abilities, but even I am not at the level to predict things like the stock market.’

?That is because foresight skills are the most incomplete and unknown among all skills. My theory is that the prophecy skill has the greatest effect where the knowledge of its user lies. Although you have a lot of interest in and knowledge about Hunters, Master, you lack knowledge in the personal finance area…?

‘Ah! Stop it! I don’t want to hear it. I’m just glad I didn’t go all-in on buying skills that are priced at 10,000 Likes. I am self-reliant. I don’t leave my fate to fortune-telling. So let’s just assume that my [Minor Intuition] is good enough for me.’

“Anyway, I guess Ji-Han has an overwhelmingly better foresight ability than other Hunters.”

?Yes, Master. I am sure he knows a lot about the future. Otherwise, there is no way a bastard can turn into a great businessman and Hunter overnight. It is no exaggeration to say that his very nature has changed as well. Otherwise, he could have simply lived a bountiful life with his excellent foresight skill.?

‘That’s true. Instead of wasting his time, he is actually planning every second of his life, which is crazy to me.’

?The same goes for you too, Master. Anyway, if he didn’t know about the end of the world, he wouldn’t have the motivation to be this extraordinary.?

‘You’re right. Ji-Han’s sudden change cannot be explained unless he knows about the end of the world.’

“I think I’ll need to talk to Ji-Han about this sometime in the future. I think we can work together on this.”

?You are right, Master. Even if he hides it, that would be an achievement on its own.?

‘Yup. If that happens, I just have to pretend I don’t know.’

“Okay, so…”

Ji-Cheok got up from his seat. He went to the middle of the living room and took the young World Tree out of his [Shadow Pouch]. It had three branches, and the roots had grown a little and were digging into the large pot. This was the result of feeding it the [Heart of the Lowest-Level Demon] the other day.

‘Now… Shall I give it the [Tears of a Fairy]?’

As soon as the fairy’s tears were dropped onto the World Tree, something changed along with the message that the quest was cleared.

Woong.

A soothing green glow bloomed from the World Tree. The sound of growing roots could almost be heard from inside the pot. And that wasn’t all. What had originally been a branch about fifty centimeters tall, was now one meter tall and actually looked like a tree. Ji-Cheok had bought a large pot for growing trees indoors, where the tree was able to stretch its roots.

‘I was thinking of putting it in the [Shadow Pouch] if it got any bigger. By the way, it has become a perfect indoor tree. There are now eight branches and some of them even have leaves on them. It feels like the living room is filling up with the smell of nature. Let’s see’

[Weak and Young World Tree]

[Class:?

Type: Tree

This is a weak and young World Tree. A young World Tree that has just sprouted. It purifies the surroundings and generates high-purity mana.

Function: It designates the 100 meters surrounding it as a ‘Sacred Site’.

Function: In the Sacred Site, the stamina recovery rate is increased by 100%.

Function: In the Sacred Site, the mana recovery rate is increased by 200%.

Function: In the Sacred Site, it cancels lower-intermediate level curses.

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

Function: In the Sacred Site, negative power is weakened.

Function: In the Sacred Site, the power of Spirits is increased.]

‘It used to be [Weak and Imperfect Young World Tree], but the world ‘imperfect’ is now gone! Ooh, well, I guess it’s a real tree now. Anyway, the functions are pretty amazing… It even restores stamina! And the range increased from one hundred meters to three hundred meters. It tripled! That’s so good!’

?Master, please look at the leaves separately.?

[Leaf of the World Tree]

[Class: Legendary

Type: Consumable (Ingredient)

A leaf of the World Tree. It can be eaten as is or used as an ingredient for potions.

Function: Recovers 20% of stamina when eaten.

Function: Detoxifies poison when eaten.

Function: Removes lower-level curses when eaten.]

‘Wait, what kind of leaves restore twenty percent of stamina? Although there is the inconvenience of having to eat the leaves as is, that can be solved by making it into a potion, right?’

?It is definitely a great item, Master. If you grow it properly, it might be possible to designate an entire city as the Sacred Site.?

‘Should I just buy a piece of land that is as big as a city…? How much money would I need to do that?’

As Ji-Cheok was thinking, Cheok-Liang did all the calculations.

?Currently. The average transaction price of land in Paju city is around 350,000 won per pyeong. People don’t like this place because of how dangerous it is, considering it is close to the barrier of the Imjin River… Even so, it is expensive compared to the southern regions. I think this is because Paju City is close to Seoul.?

‘How much does the southern region cost?’

?The average price in South Jeolla Province is around 250,000 won per pyeong.?

‘Hm… I guess Paju City is expensive because it’s near Seoul…Which region is the cheapest?’

?It is Yanggu County in Gangwon Province. It is about two thousand won per pyeong. In the area, there is a military base, a barrier wall, and a few buildings to support the military base. The barrier wall has been built using Paro Lake as the base for defense. Essentially this area is an area for front-line defense.?

‘Are there any civilians living in that area?’

?There are some houses with civilians. These are the people who do business with soldiers on the military base. Since there is a military base, there are some Warding Stones in the region, but I do not recommend buying this land.?

‘If I wanted to invest in an area, this might be good since the price of the land might go to the moon in the future. But the downside is that it’s too far from Seoul. The farther from the capital city, the harder it is to meet people and find things. No matter how safe it is in the Sacred Site, having infrastructures to be built in that area is another matter.’

?I think Paju City would be most appropriate, Master.?

‘I think so too. Then… Should I discuss this with Seong Kwang? He is also a member of our team. It would be nice to give him some perks.’

?That is a good idea, Master.?

‘Alright, let\'s wrap up with this topic, and move on to the next one.’

?Yes, Master. Are you talking about installing machines for making potions??

‘That’s exactly it. Let’s go do that right now.’

* * *

“Wow, that guy is so professional…”

It had only taken one day for the employee at Jungjin to find a suitable small-scale production factory. He had gotten it for cheap too. Jungjin simply purchased a building next to the overground railroad of the subway and gave it to Ji-Cheok. They had sent him a list of properties beforehand, and he had picked this one.

?This building is undervalued because the previous owner died in a bad way.?

‘I know. Since then, the owner of this building has changed several times, but they all suffered bankruptcy, so even though this land is in Seoul, it was pretty cheap. Well, technically it is located in Seoul, but it’s nowhere near where I lived.’

It was located near Susaek Station, which was on the boundary between Goyang City and Seoul City. Ji-Cheok came to this building and immediately set out to create his first machine for potion-making.

For this, Ji-Cheok had to acquire the skills [Zentel’’s Arcane Engineering], [Soul of Machinery], [Mechanical Doctor], [Mad Inventor], [Master of Chemistry], and [Machine Production], but it was worth it. He used all of these skills to make his new machine.

“Any news on Scrooge?”

?Nothing, Master. He was sanctioned for violating the terms and conditions last time, and it seems that the sanction period is not over yet.?

Ji-Cheok was disappointed. When he had first bought the [☆★◇◆ Scrooge\'s Alchemy ◇◆☆★] and the [☆★◇◆Scrooge’s Alchemist Survival Camp◇◆☆★], he had been skeptical, but they had turned out to be the most cost-effective alchemy skills possible.

“Cheok-Liang, please search from time to time and tell me right away when Scrooge’s sanctions are lifted.”

?Understood, Master. I will continue searching.?

Without Scrooge, Ji-Cheok had to buy the second-best Arcane Engineering skill, which was from a skill-maker named Zentel. With his help, Ji-Cheok created a large [Automatic Potion-Making Machine] that was about two meters tall and four meters wide.

[Um★Ji-Cheok’s Awesome↗and Marvelous↗Automatic Potion?Making Machine]

[Class: Unique

An automatic potion-making machine created by Um Ji-Cheok himself. If the user sets the potion’s raw material and an empty potion bottle on the machine, it automatically makes the desired potion. All potions made are guaranteed to be of D-grade quality. The machine uses Magic Stones as energy, and even ordinary people other than Ji-Cheok can operate it. It is treated as a summoned beast, not an item.

*You too can be rich! Now is the time to create high◆profit with low?capital!]

“...Maybe it’s because Scrooge’s Alchemy is the main skill, but I think something crazy has just been created.”

The name ‘Mono Bike’ which Ji-Cheok had also created with Scrooge’s Alchemy had turned out normal, but this time, the name given was the direct opposite of normal. Ji-Cheok had gotten the production blueprint from the Likes Shop, but he had bought all the parts from the shopping street in Munbal District. Herbs were also ordered from there, and they were already delivered.

This machine had only one advantage, but it overshadowed all disadvantages. Namely, he could make the right potion at an affordable price!

‘First of all, how much is an F-grade potion?’

?Currently, the price of an F-grade recovery potion is set at around five hundred thousand won.?

‘Wow… Why is it so expensive? I don’t think those potions are worth that much.’

?There are several articles that say the collusion of major pharmaceutical companies is the cause. One reporter released the recorded conversation of the pharmaceutical companies to the public, saying that it is illegal for these companies to do price fixing, but… Oh wait, the reporter was fired right after that.?

‘I see. The common people can’t buy them because they are too expensive, and even the people who can afford the potions are a bit reluctant.’

?Other than the alleged price fixing, the shelf life of these potions is short. It is said that the potions become water in about half a year.?

‘I know about that. That’s why potions in shelters have to be changed frequently. I remember a few years ago, expired potions were delivered as military supplies, and a soldier reported it to the Ministry of Defense.

?Oh, you mean the Expired Potion Incident??

‘Yes. When he didn’t get any response from the Ministry of Defense, he then reported it to the Blue House directly and the whole affair blew up. I wonder what happened after that.’

Potions did not cure diseases, but they were excellent for healing physical damage like getting stabbed or injured by a monster’s claw. That was why whether it was a military base or a shelter, they had to keep replacing the potions once they expired. Ji-Cheok wondered… if even F-grade potions were this expensive, how expensive would potions above F-grade be? With the machine he had created with Arcane Engineering, Jiu-Cheok could manufacture potions that were D-grade at the very minimum.

‘Of course, the essence of this technology is [☆★◇◆ Scrooge\'s Alchemy ◇◆☆★].’

Other alchemy skills were helpful, of course, but it was this alchemy skill that greatly increased the level of his Arcane Engineering.

1. Pyeong is a Korean unit of area and 1 pyeong equals around 35 sq ft.

2. A Province located in the southwest part of the Korean peninsula.

3. Yanggu County is located in the northeastern part of the Korean peninsula and is close to the North Korean border.

4. Korean White House.