The Healing Solaris Cleric

Chapter 241: A Bigger Deal (1)

Kai unknowingly pinched his own cheek.

“Ow...”

The skin pinched between his fingers compressed like real flesh. Although it didn’t hurt much since it was a game, it was enough to confirm that this wasn’t a dream.

It’s not a dream.

4.2 million gold. The two emperors paid the auction fee shortly after it concluded.

Of course, I didn’t receive the full 4.2 million gold.

He had to pay a 10% auction fee of 420,000 gold to the auction house. 42 billion won had been taken as a commission fee, and even now, it felt like a bit of a loss. However, it wasn’t enough to make him mad. After all, a lottery winner wouldn’t mourn a few billion lost to taxes.

With billions in my hands right now, worrying about fees is pointless.

3.78 million gold was roughly 378 billion won. The first thought that crossed Kai’s mind upon receiving this fortune was taxes. But after a quick internet search, his expression brightened.

Thankfully, there’s still no legislation regarding taxes on virtual game currency.

Governments were known for pouncing at any chance to collect taxes. However, virtual reality had already become deeply embedded in the everyday lives of citizens. One wrong move could clearly lead to a significant drop in approval ratings and severely impact the next election. Because of this, the government was handling legislation related to virtual reality games with caution, as if handling a baby.

Besides, they still need a valid justification.

For a government to impose taxes, it needed an appropriate reason. But what services could they claim to have provided to players gaming in their rooms? Thus, governments worldwide had spent the past year sweating over how to justify such taxes.

I’ve even heard talk of officially recognizing players as a legitimate profession.

For now, no matter how much money he earned in the game, there was no need to pay taxes to the South Korean government.

“Hehe.”

No matter how many times he thought about it and checked his inventory balance repeatedly, he couldn’t believe this situation. It felt like walking on soft clouds on a crisp, chilly day.

I’m too scared to log out.

The thought of this money disappearing or being stolen if he logged out filled him with fear. It was, in its own way, a form of paranoia.

I should convert at least some of this gold to cash.

However, dumping such a massive sum into the exchange market at once would be foolish. Releasing nearly 400 billion won worth of gold at once would undoubtedly attract attention. Moreover, although he wasn’t obligated to care, it would also likely impact the gold market rate.

I should probably start with around 2 million gold.

Kai hadn’t placed much hope or ambition on Libertia until now. To him, it was simply a territory that generated steady tax revenue every month—nothing more, nothing less.

But if I’m this loaded with resources, everything changes.

He had realized something after observing the emperors’ spending habits during the auction.

The emperors can casually spend 2.2 million gold in less than an hour.

The reason was simple. They were emperors.

I’ve heard countless stories about the power of the empires, but I didn’t think it was to this extent.

To put it simply, understanding the empire was easier when comparing it to modern-day America—a nation that spends several times, or even dozens of times more than others, solely on military expenses. Naturally, its annual national budget is beyond imagination.

And this isn’t even the modern era.

Power and wealth were passed down through generations. The strength of the emperors was not built overnight but stemmed from the centuries-long histories of the two empires.

Then, what if my territories grow far beyond their current state?

There was no need to aim as far as becoming an empire or a kingdom. Even just nurturing the three territories he owned—Libertia, Arkan, and Haveros—would allow him to live comfortably without envy.

Of course, I’m not envious of anyone even now.

Who would a super-rich individual who had become a multi-billionaire overnight have to envy? If Kai were someone whose sole purpose in life was money, he would have sold all his items today, converted the billions into cash, and lived a boastful life.

But I don’t want that.

Kai liked the world of MID Online. He knew it was an artificial, created world, but it was one that had turned his broken life around.

I want to see the end of this world.

Of course, MMORPGs had no such thing as an ending.

Letting out a small chuckle, Kai groaned.

“Oh! Come to think of it, that player earlier...”

He had intended to ask the player wearing the black robe who had bid on the Dark Spear a few things but got so distracted by the billions that he completely forgot.

Oh well. If it’s fate, I’ll meet him again.

With an unbothered shrug, Kai turned and headed for the exchange office.

***

Kai started by exchanging 3,000 gold. It was just a small exchange of roughly 300 million won.

I’ll exchange a few million at a time each day.

This way, he could avoid drawing any unnecessary attention. Even the staff at the exchange office barely reacted to the 3,000 gold.

If anyone finds out that I was the seller of Lucifer’s Black Wings and Heart, it’ll be a massive hassle.

Rumors about the multi-billion gold items had already spread through the community by the rankers at the auction. Most players were curious about what effects could result in such an outrageous price tag. Because of this, Kai had also asked Minerva to ensure the members of the Pray guild kept their lips sealed.

“If I want to properly develop Libertia, I’ll need to expand its territory...”

While Kai was pondering the direction of his territory’s growth, a sudden shout came from behind him.

“Oh! Kai!”

“Hmm?”

Turning around, Kai saw a man with a distressed expression. @@novelbin@@

Wait, that guy’s name is...

Failing to recall the man’s name, Kai put on an awkward smile and said, “How have you been? Um...”

“It’s Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo.”

Kai had met him before. When he applied a one-week immortality buff and went on a dojo-clearing spree, leading to suspicions of using a bug, Pegasus purchased Kai's gameplay recordings to protect its company's reputation and dispelled the bug allegations.

I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.

Of course, the reason why he had come running out of breath like this was something Kai could easily guess.

“Well, Kai, by any chance...” Glancing alternately between the exchange office and Kai, Kim Jun-Pyo gulped and asked, “D-did you perhaps exchange gold?”

“Yes.”

“A-aahhhhhh!” Reminiscent of The Scream by Edvard Munch, Kim Jun-Pyo’s scream seemed to transform his entire body into a performance art piece. “It’s over for me... A report? Or termination? Whatever it is...”

Muttering to himself, Kim Jun-Pyo grabbed at his hair in despair.

Quietly watching him, Kai smiled.

Should I stop teasing him now?

The fact that Kim Jun-Pyo had come here meant Pegasus was looking for him. Dumping millions of gold into the market at once was certainly a headache for the company. Naturally, they would want to offer Kai something to negotiate the matter of currency exchange.

I thought the last time I power-tripped Pegasus would be my first and last.

One never knew what was ahead in life, and now another golden opportunity had come knocking.

Kai patted the back of Kim Jun-Pyo, who was now on the floor. “Get up. I’ve only exchanged 3,000 gold so far.”

“Wha—!” Kim Jun-Pyo looked at Kai with an expression as though a lifeline had descended from heaven. His eyes widened, he hastily stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes. “I-is that really true?”

“Yes. I still couldn’t believe this was real, so I tried a small amount first. I was just about to exchange the rest.”

Of course, that was a lie. But considering he would soon have to negotiate with Pegasus over the gold, there was no need to reveal that he didn’t plan to exchange it all.

The reaction came quickly.

“N-no, no! Please, just a moment of your time, please! I’m begging you!” Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo clasped his hands together and bowed repeatedly at a 90-degree angle.

“Is it President Kang Min-Gu again?”

“Yes, on my behalf, please...”

“Hmm...” Kai dragged out his response as much as possible. “Now that I think about it, I’m not really inclined. If I meet him, all he’ll do is ask me not to exchange the gold.”

“Th-that’s...” At a loss for words, Kim Jun-Pyo hesitated before speaking again. “We’ll definitely offer something equivalent in return.”

“But I don’t really need anything.”

Once again, Kim Jun-Pyo was left speechless. Who was the man standing before him? It was the top-ranking player in MID Online, a wildly successful gamer, and as of today, a multi-billionaire. Like he said, there was nothing he could possibly need. And even if he did, he could easily acquire it on his own.

“W-we’ll do our best to meet your terms. Please, let’s at least go and talk about it.”

“Well, since you insist so earnestly, I do feel a little soft-hearted...”

While Kai's lips were smiling as he spoke, his eyes were not.

But these guys are under a huge misconception.

Going to talk really meant they wanted him to go to them. The thirsty person should be the one digging the well, so why should he go over there and help dig it too?

Though I can understand President Kang Min-Gu’s perspective.

He was a young man in his early thirties who had risen to the position of CEO. Naturally, his surroundings would be filled with subordinates, so he was likely accustomed to summoning others.

But in a situation like this, that approach won’t work. Maybe it’s time I taught him that.

Feeling the need to firmly establish the hierarchy, Kai said, “Alright. I’ll spare you some time. But I can’t give you much—maybe fifteen minutes?”

“R-really? Even that is more than enough! Thank you so much!”

Fifteen minutes would be enough time to have a general discussion, so Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo's face brightened.

He handed a teleportation scroll to Kai in a respectful manner. However, Kai, staring at the scroll, rubbed his chin and let out a groan.

“Hmm... Is this the scroll that leads to the office from last time?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“The weather’s so nice today, let's talk outside. I’ll wait over there. Let him know to come meet me.” Kai said as he headed toward a quiet beach in Aquaria.

Taken aback by this, Assistant Manager Kim Jun-Pyo unconsciously grabbed Kai's shoulder. “W-wait a moment!”

“What is it?”

Kim Jun-Pyo opened his mouth to protest that he couldn’t possibly summon his boss here, but then abruptly closed it.

Wait, then what about Kai?

At this moment, it wasn’t Kai who was in need—it was them. Realizing this simple fact, Kim Jun-Pyo immediately understood his mistake.

If one made a mistake, it was only proper to offer an apology. Lowering his head, Kim Jun-Pyo offered a brief apology.

“My apologies. I will bring the president right away.”

“Take your time. I only said fifteen minutes as a figure of speech.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

After a polite bow, Kim Jun-Pyo tore the teleport scroll and vanished from sight.

“Looks like he got the message.”

With a satisfied smile, Kai perched himself on a rock by the beach.

Moments later, a courteous voice came from behind him. “My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

It was Kang Min-Gu, the head of Pegasus Korea.