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SPACE 7. Welcome to Nephalim (PART: 2)
“Hoh, Bhurad?”
Ponen regarded Ark with an interested expression.
Ark found himself within a towering structure, the Galactic Federation’s branch in Nephalim. He had come to deliver the letter of recommendation from Bhurad, the manager of R-14’s training center.
This particular branch of the Galactic Federation was not typically accessible to general users. However, Ark had secured permission to enter by presenting the letter.
After navigating through various procedures, he was finally ushered in to meet Ponen, the NPC tasked with supporting pioneers.
“Bhurad isn’t easily pleased, so it’s rare for a friend like him to pen a recommendation for a pioneer. Yes, I believe I’ve heard about you. There was a pioneer who completed R-14’s training with a remarkably high score, which invigorated the other pioneers quite a bit.”
Ark was oblivious to the stir he had caused on R-14. Once training there was complete, returning to the starting area became impossible, so he hadn’t bothered to look up any information.
He simply assumed Ponen’s words were mere flattery.
“I merely tried my best.”
“Your attitude is commendable.”
Ponen nodded, a satisfied smile gracing his features, before steering the conversation to the main point.
“As I mentioned, many pioneers venture into the universe, but few are truly remarkable. Most seem rather weak. However, having earned Bhurad’s recognition, you must be different. You are indeed qualified to receive sponsorship from the Galactic Federation. Of course, even with Bhurad’s recommendation, you must still undergo a review process.”
An information window materialized from Ark’s Nymphe the moment Ponen finished speaking.
[You have completed
[It is possible to be sponsored by the Galactic Federation’s branch in Nephalim.]
[You need to go through an examination process to qualify. If you pass the examination process then it is possible to be sponsored by the Galactic Federation.]
‘It’s a sponsor-related quest, just as I’d anticipated.’
He had surmised as much upon receiving the recommendation letter. In Galaxian, all users ultimately required a sponsor.
Galaxian was a game where humans could not freely navigate the vastness of space, which formed the core of its environment. While the central hub of Istana had been terraformed, only 10% of the planet’s environment was suitable for humans.
The remaining 90% consisted of environments where human life was unsustainable. To explore these other regions and venture into space, human DNA needed to be adapted to extreme conditions through a process called ‘body coating.’
This was precisely why there was no system to select a basic aptitude, such as ‘warrior,’ when starting Galaxian. Unlike other games, basic aptitudes could only be chosen after receiving the body coating, which was then followed by a secondary career choice.
Consequently, the game couldn’t truly commence until the body coating was acquired, and without it, obtaining quests was exceedingly difficult. This explained why R-14 offered only repeatable quests, making the body coating the pioneers’ foremost priority.
The prerequisites for receiving the body coating were reaching level 30 and securing a sponsor.
[+Sponsor+]
[Users in Galaxian can ask various organizations to be a sponsor. A user with a sponsor can live a life on the frontiers. A sponsor and user have a mutual collaborative relationship. The user will gather a lot of information and ingredients for the sponsor and the sponsor will give various products that they developed at a discount. It is a system where the user returns the benefits to the sponsor.]
[Meanwhile, the goal of the sponsor’s organization might change depending on the objectives of the user. Therefore it is important for the contract to benefit both the user and sponsor. Users will have a chance to buy products from the sponsor before it goes on sale and test it out for the sponsor.]
[A sponsor can be divided into 3 different groups. The first is the Galactic Federation. The second is the 4 big companies and the last group are the small and medium sized companies. Each place has different desires for the user they want to sponsor so the screening process is different. The game progress depends on the sponsor so please choose carefully so that you will have no regrets.]
This was the extent of Ark’s knowledge regarding sponsors.
“You might not realize it yet, but having the Galactic Federation as a sponsor is a significant advantage. The Federation’s fundamental policy is to encourage space pioneering, so the support extended to pioneers is unparalleled.”
Ark was well aware of this fact. The Galactic Federation was, quite literally, the epicenter of power.
If the Federation became his sponsor, he could enjoy special privileges and accelerate his growth. This was precisely why most users eagerly sought to contract the Galactic Federation as their sponsor!
Consequently, the area around the federal building teemed with users, which, in turn, intensified the competition, making it exceedingly difficult to meet the screening criteria. Even qualifying for the formal sponsorship test was no easy feat.
Ponen reiterated this point once more.
“This opportunity isn’t granted to everyone. I cannot even quantify the number of pioneers who flock here seeking the Federation’s support. Yet, only a select few—the top 1% elite—ever proceed through the screening process. Among them, you are exceptional. You’ve received the distinct privilege of undergoing the examination without prior qualification procedures.”
‘Privilege’—it felt like a rather superficial word. The Federation certainly wouldn’t sponsor a mere brute like Mald.
However, Ark’s reason for visiting the Galactic Federation wasn’t to secure a sponsor contract. The sponsorship program in Galaxian profoundly influenced a user’s game progression.
Naturally, he needed to choose the optimal path, but he wouldn’t base his decision on the standards of other users. He intended to meticulously vet each sponsor and select the one best suited for him. After all, fine clothes were useless if they didn’t fit properly.
This was the crucial distinction between Ark and the other users! Of course, he couldn’t openly declare that he would ‘compare their quality and return later.’
“I am merely a novice, having arrived in Nephalim from R-14 only a few hours ago. While I am grateful for your words and this opportunity, I require some time to contemplate. I’m still not convinced I’m eligible for such preferential treatment. Despite Bhurad-nim’s recommendation, I would appreciate gaining a bit more experience before participating in the examination process.”
“I can understand why Bhurad favors you.”
Ponen smiled, nodding approvingly.
“Many pioneers possess courage, but a cautious one is truly rare. Yes, you may return after careful consideration. If it is you, then you are welcome through these doors at any time.”
Ddiring, ddiring!
It was the familiar sound of his favorability rating increasing. His specialty lay in boosting his intimacy with NPCs, even when declining their offers! With his silver tongue, he could subtly shift an NPC’s reaction.
Ark, emboldened, cut straight to the main subject.
“May I ask you something?”
“Ask anything you wish.”
“Do you know how to release data locked with a security code?”
“How to unlock data… are you referring to hacking?”
‘Hacking? Ah, I see. Unlocking data would indeed be considered hacking.’
“Yes, that’s right. Can such techniques be learned?”
This was Ark’s true purpose for coming here. He had discovered a memory chip within the toy, but it was locked with a security code.
This implied the existence of technology to unlock it. However, he wouldn’t stumble upon such information by simply wandering through the city.
‘Asking someone will be the quickest way to find the information.’
The Galactic Federation, situated at the city’s heart, would undoubtedly possess such knowledge. Of course, it was typically impossible to simply walk in and interrogate an NPC.
Yet, Ark held Bhurad’s recommendation letter. Furthermore, he possessed a talent for elevating his public image through his persuasive speech. He had assumed it would be easy to elicit technical information, but…
Ponen’s expression abruptly turned frosty.
“Who do you take me for?”
“Huh? Who? That…”
“I am a government official. Yet you are inquiring about illegal technology?”
“I-Illegal?”
“Of course! Hacking is essentially accessing someone else’s information without permission. It is a crime. Asking a government official like me about a criminal technique is outrageous. You’ve just arrived in Nephalim, so I will overlook it this once. But if you speak of such criminal techniques again, your recommendation letter will be meaningless. This conversation is over.”
Ark felt as though he had been slapped across the face. That stinging sensation lingered even after he had parted ways with Ponen and exited the building.
Ponen’s demeanor had performed a complete 180-degree turn, all thanks to Ark’s mention of the illegal technique: hacking.
‘Well, it’s understandable, given his words…’
Hacking constituted unauthorized intrusion into other people’s computers. By definition, ‘unauthorized’ technology was classified as illegal.
‘Based on Ponen’s reaction, it’s clear that hacking exists in Galaxian. I wasn’t entirely sure such techniques were available until I witnessed that reaction. It might be illegal, but the technique still exists. However, being illegal, it will be difficult to find an NPC willing to teach it.’
Most users would likely abandon their pursuit at this juncture. However, Ark was no ordinary user.
‘This is surprisingly useful information!’
Ark was not the type to blindly adhere to rules. In fact, within a game, he preferred to engage in illicit activities. The reason, of course, was…
Money! It was a regrettable truth, but illegal actions often yielded greater financial rewards! Naturally, such actions might offend the ethically conscious, but sometimes, defying the law produced more positive outcomes for individuals.
Was it not akin to Robin Hood fighting against injustice? Sometimes, even a hero had to resort to illegal means… Ark mentally fortified himself with this thought, despite the NPC’s reaction.
‘That scoundrel Mald relinquished 10 gold for the memory chip. It’s certainly worth undertaking something illegal to access that data.’
He wasn’t distressed by the prospect of learning hacking. The real challenge lay in finding an NPC who could impart the hacking skill.
Ponen, being a government official, was sensitive to illegal activities. General NPCs, however, might react differently. Still, common sense dictated that he couldn’t simply ask just anyone about an illegal technique.
‘If it’s that location…’
Ark pondered for a moment before opening his map. He input some instructions, and a red dot appeared on a corner of Nephalim. As he navigated towards the indicated area, the atmosphere instantly shifted.
The place where he had emerged from the Nymphe—a plaza surrounded by towering buildings—had felt like the bustling center of Seoul. In stark contrast, the area his Nymphe now directed him to was the factory district.
It was filled with factories, both small and large, belching smoke. Aside from the four major corporations and the Galactic Federation, this was the domain of smaller companies.
While the major sponsors occupied grand buildings in the city center, the small and medium-sized companies were not to be overlooked. These smaller businesses didn’t offer the stable economic foundation of their larger counterparts.
However, they often possessed entirely distinct and unique technologies. Depending on a user’s inclinations, these smaller companies could sometimes prove more advantageous than the colossal sponsors. Each had its own set of pros and cons.
Although there were only approximately 100 small sponsors in the area, the overall atmosphere was one of vibrant activity. If the major sponsors represented a department store, then this was akin to a traditional market.
[A new product has been released!]
[This gives special effects to various equipment. Take a look.]
[–Inviting pioneers. I’m registered to support pioneers and am looking to recruit new pioneers.]
Various monitors displayed different advertisements.
“Have you seen those items?”
“It was so frightening it made me laugh. Glasses that make your eyes pop out!”
“This increases attack power. It will be a jackpot if used when hunting in a party.”
“Are there any stores that sell cheap armor?”
“Damn, the Federation and the four big businesses refused me, so I have to look for a sponsor here?”
Users were either scrutinizing products or checking sponsor information. It was also not uncommon to see androids and aliens strolling through the streets. It was a sensory overload.
Ark yearned to explore every nook and cranny, but he had to defer that pleasure for the moment. He had come to the business district with a specific objective.
‘Well, there’s plenty of time to visit.’
Ark pushed his way through the dense crowds. He rounded several corners, and the streets gradually grew quieter.
“The map says it should be somewhere around here…”
Ark checked his map, scanning his surroundings until his gaze landed on the sign he sought.
[
“Here! This is the company Cheksun introduced me to!”
This was the other reason Ark had ventured into the commercial district. He hadn’t just received a recommendation letter from Bhurad. After completing the pipe cleaning quest 300 times—a total of 60 kilometers—he had also received a recommendation letter from Cheksun.
‘This letter of recommendation will also be related to a sponsor, just like the one from Bhurad.’
This was why he hadn’t needed to undergo the qualification process with the Galactic Federation. Beyond the Federation and the four major corporations, there were countless small and medium-sized businesses.
Naturally, it was impossible to investigate all of them. But shouldn’t he at least inquire about a place for which he had received a recommendation?
“This is the ironworks company called Gear?”
Ark’s face twisted into a strange expression as he read the sign. He had only known that Cheksun’s friend, Tori, owned an ironworks company named ‘Gear’ when he arrived.
Aside from his friend’s name, the company was called Gear! Furthermore, having entered the federal building based on Bhurad’s recommendation, he had harbored certain expectations for Cheksun’s introduction.
However, before Ark stood a simple ironworks building. It was a small, shabby factory, far removed from the main commercial district. Bhurad, after all, was the manager of the training district, while Cheksun was merely in charge of cleaning pipes. This was why Ark had visited the federal branch first, but…
“Even so, this is truly dreadful.”
The shocking visual of Gear left him utterly disappointed.
‘That Cheksun bastard, he seems to have misunderstood.’
Most users couldn’t endure even an hour or two of pipe cleaning, yet Ark had lasted a week. Of course, Ark had his own unique circumstances.
However, Cheksun, oblivious to Ark’s internal struggles, seemed to have misinterpreted Ark’s dedication, believing it to be a calling rather than a chore. Thus, he had introduced Ark to an ironworks company.
‘Well, this is a recommendation I received from cleaning.’
He almost felt disinclined to hand over the letter of recommendation after seeing the ironworks. However, Ark’s purpose in coming to the commercial district wasn’t solely for Cheksun’s recommendation letter.
He was here to gather information about hacking skills. Considering that hacking was illegal, it would be difficult to find information in the city center where the major businesses resided.
One wouldn’t expect to find an illegal Samsung dealer in a department store. But the commercial district, with its myriad small businesses, was a different story.
‘Nephalim’s commercial district is like an online shopping mall…’
The answer would surely appear! Ark believed he could somehow learn the hacking technique. They wouldn’t openly advertise an illegal technique, but Ark was confident he could uncover it.
And he was more likely to find illicit things in gloomier, less regulated places.
‘I might find it surprisingly quickly.’
Ark thought as he stepped into the ironworks. He was just about to enter when he bumped into someone at the entrance.
“Hihihihi! Welcome!”
‘Eh? What, what the? This?’
Ark instinctively glanced around. A voice had emerged, so he naturally assumed it was a person. However, it was an animal, approximately one meter in size, covered in black fur.
At first, Ark mistook it for a guard dog protecting the establishment. The beast then moved a hand and chattered away.
“What are you looking for, Customer-nim? Just say the word. As stated on the sign, our ironworks company handles everything from ships to screws. Customer-nim can order whatever you like. Ah, of course, Customer-nim will have to pay for it. Hihihihi!”
‘A hamster? It’s a hamster?’
The bearded beast laughed, rocking back and forth. Initially, it had appeared dog-like, but now he clearly saw it was, in fact, a hamster.
A talking hamster was somewhat startling, but Ark had already conducted business with octopuses. Furthermore, he had encountered various aliens while traversing the commercial district, so there was no logical reason for his surprise.
‘This alien…’
“Are you Tori?”
“Yes, I am Tori, the owner of Gear.”
The hamster puffed out his belly with a proud demeanor. No way… hamster Tori… the ironworks company… it truly was him?
Ark stared at Tori with a bewildered expression. Tori then proudly gestured towards the front of the building, where several machines were busily operating.
“Now, now, please feel free to look around. You can see everything. We have many goods you might need, so just tell me what you’re looking for.”
“I didn’t come here to buy something.”
“Eh? You didn’t come to buy something?”
Tori tugged at his beard, chattering in agitation.
“What? You’re just a spectator? Dammit, why are you peeking into someone’s factory if you don’t intend to buy anything? Do you think this is a zoo? Don’t just assume that I’m a hamster! If you want to gawk without purchasing, then simply leave. How annoying.”
“No, that’s not…”
“What? I said you’re annoying. Buy something or leave.”
The hamster’s attitude completely transformed upon realizing Ark wasn’t a customer. Regardless, Ark had no intention of presenting the recommendation letter to this hamster.
However, he might just be able to learn hacking from this individual. Ark moved closer and spoke in a low voice.
“I came here to obtain something.”
“Obtain something? Is that a joke? Didn’t you just say you didn’t want to buy anything?”
“No, not an item, but a technology.”
“Eh? Technology?”
“Yes, hacking techniques. Do you know someone who can teach a skill like that?”
“What, what the? Hacking?”
Tori looked at Ark with astonished eyes. His eyes widened to the size of baseballs before he suddenly seized Ark’s collar.
“How dare you ask me something like that? Don’t you know it’s an illegal technology? Huh? What are you trying to do? Do you intend to shut down other people’s businesses? No, perhaps that’s your true purpose? Where? What scoundrel sent you? No, it doesn’t matter if someone sent you. You stay here. I’m going to arrest you for interfering with my business!”
Tori frantically manipulated his Nymphe, preparing to summon the guards. Ark was utterly lost, having been so fixated on Tori being a hamster that he never imagined such an uproar.
‘Is hacking a more serious crime than I thought?’
The situation had become incredibly difficult.
“P-please wait a minute!”
“Why should I wait? You’re screwed now!”
“No, that… do you know someone called Cheksun?”
“Cheksun?”
Tori flinched, turning his head.
“Cheksun? Cheksun who works at R-14?”
“Yes, I came with an introduction from Cheksun-nim.”
“Really? You’re not lying? I’m not a naive hamster.”
Ah, he had just called himself a hamster. Hadn’t he just moments ago said not to assume that? No, now was not the time for such thoughts.
Ark produced Cheksun’s recommendation letter and handed it to the suspicious Tori. Tori blinked as he read the letter, then lightly struck Ark’s chest.
“Hey, young friend. If you had this, you should’ve shown it. I wouldn’t have doubted you.”
“Doubt?”
“I mean… just come in for the time being.”
Tori glanced around before entering the ironworks. The interior was even more dismal than the exterior. Trash and old tools lay scattered everywhere, making it look more like a junkyard than an ironworks.
‘Anyway, that has nothing to do with me. I have no intention of seeking employment in a place like this.’
Tori settled onto a dusty chair and began to speak.
“I thought you belonged to the government.”
“Huh? Belong to the government?”
“Hihihihi, it makes sense. I manufacture illegal equipment that the government prohibits from being sold, so sometimes they try to entrap me. White rice might be delicious, but I don’t want to be locked behind bars for the rest of my life. I became upset because I thought your question about hacking was an entrapment.”
“No, I…”
“That’s okay. I can trust you if Cheksun sent you.”
Tori stroked his beard, muttering.
“Hihihihi, it’s been a while since I heard Cheksun’s name. I’ve been living buried in oil and iron, but Cheksun wouldn’t send just anyone to me.”
Tori suddenly became lost in his memories. Then, he smiled and looked at Ark.
“Yes, did you ask Cheksun?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“What? Aren’t you looking for a hacking technician?”
“Yes, that’s right…”
“What? Then you didn’t ask Cheksun about hacking?”
“No, I only realized hacking was necessary after entering Nephalim, and since I had Cheksun’s recommendation, I decided to ask Tori-nim about it. But how is hacking related to Cheksun? Is Cheksun a hacking technician?”
“Cheksun? No. Me!”
Tori thumped his chest, laughing.
“Hihihihi, I’m now the owner of this ironworks, but I was once an excellent hacker.”
His voice exuded an air of elite skill. But that wasn’t what mattered to Ark. The crucial detail was that the hamster was a hacker!
Ark looked at him with an expectant gaze and asked.
“Can you teach me?”
“Of course.”
Tori nodded. He pondered for a moment, then made a grand declaration.
“Since you came with Cheksun’s recommendation, it will be 200 gold! Give me 200 gold! And I will thoroughly teach you the basics.”
“Huh? 200 gold?”
Ark knew, of course, that he couldn’t learn hacking for free. It was common sense for NPCs to demand money for teaching skills. Given hacking’s illegal nature, it was only natural for it to be more expensive.
However, he had never imagined it would cost 200 gold. He understood that mastering the skill would later yield immense value. A technique costing 200 gold might eventually earn him 1,000 gold.
But Ark’s wallet presented a significant problem. He possessed 80 gold from selling weapons acquired in R-14. Mald had prevented him from selling the remaining items, which would have only amounted to 100 gold in total.
He was short by 100 gold.
‘Damn, does this mean I can’t access the data on the memory chip until I collect another 100 gold?’
The thought of being unable to check the data made him increasingly anxious. Now, he didn’t even have the funds to learn the hacking technique? Ark sighed at the disheartening realization.
“Hihihi, you seem panicked. You panicked. I suppose so. Yes, didn’t you just arrive from R-14? It’s impossible for you to possess 200 gold.”
‘What? That bastard, he said this knowing I have no money?’
Ark glared furiously at Tori. But Tori merely smiled.
“That was a joke just now. Normally, it would be 200 gold, but I can’t do that to someone who came with Cheksun’s recommendation letter. I’ll teach you the hacking technique for the moment.”
“R-really?”
“Of course, it’s not for free.”
“Huh? But I don’t have 200 gold.”
“I know. So I’ll make you an offer.”
“An offer?”
“Clean-up. You need the hacking technology, and I need resources to operate the ironworks. So, I’ll teach you hacking if you gather resources for me. It usually takes around 20 attempts to successfully learn hacking, so I’ll teach you every time you gather resources worth 10 gold. I don’t make this offer very often. I’m only offering you this support because you came with Cheksun’s recommendation letter. You can learn hacking, and I can gather resources, so isn’t it a mutually beneficial arrangement?”
‘Certainly…’
Ark understood, after hearing Tori’s explanation, that hacking was not an easy skill to master. It required multiple attempts. Even if he eventually accumulated 200 gold, he would still need to invest considerable time in learning the skill.
However, Tori’s system presented an opportunity to save both time and money. The proposition wasn’t bad from Ark’s perspective. In fact, it was an excellent suggestion.
‘When I think about it, I earned a lot of money from the paid hunting ground, and the compensation for the repeatable quest led me to Tori. So, doesn’t the initial mistake of breaking the dagger seem like a good thing now?’
The encounter with Mald had been completely purged from Ark’s mind. Ark quickly nodded.
“Yes, I will accept.”
“I’ve been feeling lonely, so having a pupil doesn’t feel bad. But learning hacking isn’t easy. I’ll give you the basic hacking tools now, but not everyone can become a hacker. The hacking tools are just that—tools. They’ll have no effect if the person doesn’t know how to use them properly. So, you will need to directly write your own hacking tools. This is arduous work and will demand a lot of time, so are you prepared for it?”
“Yes!”
“Okay. Then let’s begin.”
Tori stood up, lifting his Nymphe.
“Bring me your Nymphe. I will immediately transfer the hacking tools to you.”
Tori touched his Nymphe to Ark’s and manipulated something.
[Tori has wirelessly connected to your Nymphe.]
[Are you sure you want to allow the wireless connection? Y/N]
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The data was uploaded onto his Nymphe, and an information window appeared.
[The hacking tools have been downloaded onto your Nymphe.]
[All data has been initialized by the hacking tools. In order to properly use the tools, you need to manually upgrade the user settings.]
‘That’s it! I got the hacking tools!’
Hacking was a technique so obscure that even finding information on it was difficult. The hacking tool was the very foundation of these techniques. It was a truly unnerving feeling to see everything fall into place so seamlessly.
That was the problem. Things had worked out so well, it was almost frightening… Because Ark had forgotten a crucial fact. He realized it when he examined the information window that appeared next.
[You have completed the
[Congratulations!]
[Cheksun, who is the manager of R-14’s facilities, has sent a recommendation letter to Tori in Nephalim for a sponsorship offer. You have accepted Tori as a sponsor and entered into a contract with a small company. This contract is a binding…]
Ark had received the
Ark had been so consumed by the prospect of learning the hacking skill that he had completely forgotten it was tied to a quest. Tori had spoken of ‘support’ when presenting his proposition to Ark.
This meant Ark had unwittingly accepted a sponsor contract! The contract had been sealed the moment the hacking tools were downloaded.
‘Oh my god! This is…’
Ark was utterly disheartened by the shocking turn of events.
“Then let’s start work.”
Tori laughed, continuing.
“Ah, what perfect timing. In truth, I’ve been needing someone to collect metal parts. These days, there are many pioneers, but not many would agree to a contract like this. I’ve been fretting about the penalty if I don’t meet the due date, but fortunately, you’ve arrived. Thank you, thank you. Hihihihi!”
“Huh? Contract? Penalty? What…”
“Hey! Tori!”
Then, a voice boomed from behind him. Ark felt his breath catch, his jaw dropping. A group of ten individuals, clad in primitive armor and wielding strange-looking rifles, were heading their way.
The person who most captivated Ark’s attention was the colossal figure at the front of the group. His entire face was obscured by hair, leaving only his eyes and mouth visible, and his physique was powerfully muscled.
The human-alien, a woolly individual, approached Tori with great enthusiasm.
“Oh! Clem, you came!”
“Hah, I don’t particularly enjoy being greeted by a hamster.”
“Hey, hey, don’t be like that. We’re in the same line of business, after all.”
“A business partner… but why did you call?”
“I told you the other day that I wanted to find a worker to help me. I’ve found him. Here!”
Tori laughed, gesturing towards Ark. The alien, Clem, looked at Ark and scoffed.
“Sheesh, what the? You want us to bring along a human who can’t even properly carry baggage?”
“You were the one who said humans weren’t so bad.”
“Well, I suppose so. But did you make the contract properly? It would be troublesome if issues arise later.”
“Of course. He agreed to work diligently until he collects metal parts worth 200 gold.”
“200 gold… that condition will take quite a while, so it’s fine.”
Clem nodded, then addressed one of his men.
“Hey, take this guy.”
And with that, heavily armed warriors seized Ark’s left and right arms. Ark stared at Tori and Clem, his expression stunned, and stammered.
“Eh? Eh? W-wait a minute! What on earth is this? Where are you taking me?”
“Hey, Tori?”
When Clem frowned, Tori quickly approached Ark and said.
“What? What nonsense are you spouting? Didn’t you agree to a contract to gather metal worth 200 gold in exchange for learning the skill? Why are you acting like this now?”
“No, I understand, but these people…”
Ark stammered in confusion before his words caught in his throat. An information window had materialized from Tori’s Nymphe.
[-Sponsor’s Technology Transfer Contract (Tori-Ark)]
[The sponsor Tori will teach Ark a technique if he gathers metal parts worth 200 gold. Tori will only pay for the metal parts and Ark will work with a contractor to gather the parts. If the contract is violated then the sponsorship between Ark and Tori will be destroyed and Ark will pay a penalty.]
“This is the agreement.”
Tori said with a smile.
“Eh? But I’m gathering metal parts…”
“It’s difficult for one person to gather metal parts alone. I even secured you a job with the suppliers who collect metal parts, so why are you complaining?”
“Eh? Eh? Eh? W-wait a minute! Wait a minute!”
Ark screamed, but the heavily armed warriors merely dragged him away. Then, Ark witnessed a shocking scene.
“Now, I’ve provided you with a cheap worker, as promised…”
“Okay. We will purchase all the necessary supplies here while we’re in Nephalim. This time, it should take three days, so give me 10 repair tools and ammo.”
“Hihihihi, thank you! Thank you! I’ll load it up!”
Tori happily twisted his hands and bounced around. Ark realized it in that moment. There was a contract between Tori and Clem.
Tori would introduce Clem to a worker in order to secure an exclusive supplies contract. That was why Tori had agreed to accept metal parts in exchange for the hacking skill!
Now Ark…
‘I… was sold?’
Nephalim was a minor city on Istana! It was rife with thugs who monopolized trading spots and a hamster who had scammed him.
“T-this is a scam! This contract is invalid!”
Ark cried out futilely.
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, The Heroines Were Supposed to Stay Female, So Why Did They All Gender-Swap? is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : The Heroines Were Supposed to Stay Female, So Why Did They All Gender-Swap?
