Chapter 16
A player agent?
Kanghan tried to recall what he knew.
‘Agent… aren’t they the ones who help players sign contracts with guilds and get sponsors or advertisements?’
Player agents were basically like sports agents.
Their main job was to negotiate contract terms with guilds on behalf of players.
Normal players didn’t usually hire agents and signed with guilds directly.
But for Platinum- and Diamond-ranked players, hiring an agent had become common.
‘But this is useless to me.’
Kanghan couldn’t join any guild. The only thing he could create was the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Plus, the rumor about his trait being terminal had already spread, so no company would want to sponsor him either.
So what good was an agent?
‘Didn’t think they’d even reach out to Mr. Junghyun to get my number.’
He couldn’t join a guild, so why would an agent bother?
“I can’t join a guild anyway, so I don’t need an agent.”
[Sir! Please wait!!! Just listen to me for a moment!]
“I’m busy right now.”
[T-Then… could we maybe meet sometime later? I really have something important to tell you!]
Ugh. Why is she so clingy?
“Hm. That’s a bit difficult…”
[K-Kanghan! She’s really famous! Haven’t you seen her on TV?]
…Did an older man really just ask him if he watched TV?
‘I mean, I don’t really watch it, but still.’
Kanghan gave a wry smile and decided to end the call properly.
“Okay, I’m a bit busy right now, so how about you call me later?”
[Sure! Can I call this number again later?]
“Go ahead. But I’m hanging up for now.”
Click.
Kanghan hung up right after saying that.
Right after—
Bzzt bzzt…
A text arrived.
Shin Yuri: Please contact me when you’re done! I’ll be waiting in Yongin!
Yongin was a big place.
Was she seriously going to just wait there?
‘Persistent, isn’t she?’
Kanghan: -Okay. I’ll contact you afterward.
Click.
After sending that text, Kanghan splashed cold water on his face to clear his mind.
Now he felt refreshed and ready.
‘Alright. Let’s see if the Goblin Black Market is worth the investment.’
He opened the Ten Thousand Demon Hall again.
[Goblin Black Market Lv.1]
A black market opened through the Infinite Tower, connecting to goblins from other dimensions.
Most items traded are worthless.
But occasionally, you’ll find hidden gems.
Only goblins can be assigned to the black market.
Assigned goblins will earn small amounts of TP based on their level.
You also get the chance to buy valuable items at discounted prices.
If you upgrade the market—
The frequency of finding valuable items increases.
Once the market reaches Level 5—
A goblin can be promoted to a Goblin Merchant.
Compared to the training ground, the black market’s description was much longer.
Kanghan read through it carefully.
Assigning goblins not only earned TP through labor—
But also gave chances to buy valuable items early.
‘And once the market reaches level 5, goblins can change class.’
Even the Goblin Chief had called them “useless idiots” at first.
The only reason the Goblin Tower was hard was because of their swarm attacks in the dark.
Individually, goblins were still weak monsters.
But if he upgraded the market and promoted them into merchants, maybe they’d be useful later on.
‘I like that they earn TP through this too.’
That meant he wouldn’t be wasting 60,000 TP.
Depending on how much the goblins brought in, it might even be profitable later.
‘I should go for it.’
Click.
Kanghan tapped the message and confirmed his choice.
Then—
Clang clang!
A big red portal opened in the goblin area.
Booths and stands were instantly built around it.
Even though it had just been constructed, the whole place looked old and filthy.
But even so—
[The Neutered Goblin Chief is overjoyed.]
[The Neutered Goblin Chief kneels before you voluntarily.]
The Goblin Chief, along with the others, rushed to the market area and bowed to Kanghan.
Very different from their reaction to the training ground.
Kanghan chuckled at the sight.
Then a new screen appeared above the Goblin Black Market.
[Set Goblin Workload]
1. Merciful Master
Work 8 hours and rest.
Low TP income, good work-life balance.
They can level up at the training ground after work.
2. Average Master
Work 16 hours.
Moderate TP income.
Most goblins rest after work.
Leveling is stagnant.
3. Harsh Master
Work 22 hours.
Goblins may collapse from overwork.
Their level will drop upon collapse.
Highest TP income.
Higher chance to find valuable items.
The Neutered Goblin Chief recommends ‘Harsh Master’.
From Merciful to Harsh.
Kanghan gave a bitter smile.
More specifically, it was the Goblin Chief’s recommendation that made him smirk.
‘Wow, even his own kind can be crueler.’
Working 22 out of 24 hours?
Even if they collapse from overwork, they’d just be revived and forced to work again.
That was basically hell.
‘Since TP income scales with level, I should choose “Merciful Master” for now.’
No point in forcing low-level goblins to work to death.
Kanghan decided to give them some work-life balance and selected “Merciful Master.”
Then—
[Goblin #11 is touched by your kindness.]
[Goblin #11 kneels before you voluntarily.]
[Goblin #12 is touched by your kindness.]
[Goblin #12 kneels before you voluntarily.]
…
Starting from #11, every goblin except the chief began bowing one by one.
The Goblin Chief stood quietly, looking sullen.
Then he suddenly looked up at the sky.
[The Neutered Goblin Chief urgently wishes to speak.]
[Connect communication?]
‘Wait… there’s communication now?’
Kanghan pressed “Yes.”
Ziiing…
A screen popped up in front of him.
[Oh Heavenly Demon! Please reconsider the workload setting!]
“Why?”
[Goblins are worthless no matter how much they grow! It’s better to keep them working—even at Level 1!]
“You want 22-hour shifts just for that?”
[Yes!]
Work-life balance didn’t matter.
The Goblin Chief insisted goblins were meant to be worked nonstop.
But—
“Don’t they need to level up to become Goblin Merchants?”
[Merchants… you say?]
“Yeah. If we upgrade the market, goblins can become merchants.”
[…]
Hearing the possibility of a class change, the chief paused, his eyes darting.
Then suddenly—
Thud! Thud!
[I shall follow the great will of the Heavenly Demon!]
The Goblin Chief completely changed his attitude and dropped the topic.
As the screen disappeared—
[Goblin #1 has found a dream for the future.]
[Goblin #1 has fully settled in the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.]
Goblin #1, who had turned gray from falling in the tower, was the first.
Then—
[Goblin #2 has found a dream for the future.]
[Goblin #2 has fully settled in the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.]
One by one, all the goblins showed the same message.
‘So before this, they were just temporarily staying?’
Their bodies were here, but their minds weren’t committed.
Now that they had the dream of becoming merchants, they were all in.
Who knew “merchant” was such a desirable job?
While Kanghan tilted his head in confusion—
[More than 50 monsters have fully settled in the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.]
[‘Heavenly Demon Physique’ is strengthened.]
[Skill ‘Heavenly Demon Divine Power’ is enhanced.]
[Skill ‘Heavenly Demon Divine Power’ upgraded to ★★ (2-Star).]
‘Huh?’
A new message appeared, showing that his Heavenly Demon Divine Power had upgraded.
[Heavenly Demon Divine Power – ★★ (2-Star)]
The ultimate power of the Heavenly Demon.
Unleashes the might to rule the heavens.
Only usable by those with the Heavenly Demon Physique.
Your compatibility is over 90%.
Even during cooldown, 15% of its power is always active.
Duration: 15 minutes
Cooldown: 24 hours
Auto-activate: Off
Compared to the beginner version, two major changes had occurred.
‘Duration only increased by 5 minutes… but now the passive power is 15%.’
Kanghan had already wrecked goblins in the tower with just 10% power.
An extra 5% was a big buff.
And—
‘It seems to work in the real world too.’
Powers from the tower usually only worked inside the tower.
But this 15% seemed to apply outside too.
‘I need to test this right now.’
A run would show the difference clearly.
Kanghan smiled.
He had spent 90,000 TP on the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.
Now, from 123,000 TP, he was down to just 33,000.
But it didn’t feel like a waste.
The results were more than worth it.
“This is the most money I’ve ever spent in my life.”
90,000 TP = 117 million won.
It was a massive sum.
But if it gave him this much power, it was a good investment.
‘Time to test it out.’
As he got dressed to go outside—
Ding ding.
His phone buzzed with a message.
Kim Jooyoung: Yo, I finished editing the video. Check your email.
It was from Kim Jooyoung, the one he asked to edit his gameplay videos.
Kanghan: -Okay, I’ll check.
Kim Jooyoung: Oh, also send today’s video too.
Kanghan: -Today’s?
Kim Jooyoung: Yeah, it’s short but should have some good highlight moments.
It was Monday today.
When did he watch the livestream?
Kanghan: -Don’t you have work?
Kim Jooyoung: ? I am working. Editing.
Kanghan: -I mean your actual company job.
Kim Jooyoung: lol
That “lol” had so many hidden meanings.
Kanghan chuckled and opened his email.
Video files were large, so downloading would take time.
While waiting, he remembered the earlier phone call.
‘Jooyoung works in the industry. Maybe he knows about agents?’
The agent had introduced herself as Shin Yuri from GLASS.
He remembered her name because the company name and her name were the same.
Kanghan: -Hey, you know GLASS?
Jooyoung: The agent? Why?
Kanghan: -The CEO called me.
Jooyoung: No way. You got a call from Shin Yuri?
Kanghan: -Yeah. Is she famous?
Jooyoung: She’s the daughter of the Tower Management Director Shin Kyungchul. Don’t tell me you didn’t know who Shin Yuri was;;
Judging from the reaction, she was definitely famous.
Kanghan searched her name online.
Pictures and articles popped up immediately.
Daughter of Shin Kyungchul, the director of Tower Management.
CEO of GLASS, Shin Yuri.
‘Wow… she’s really famous.’
Shin Yuri had a dazzling appearance and a confident expression in all the photos.
There was even a photo of her shaking hands with a famous Diamond-ranked player.
‘Is she really the same person who called me?’
Could it be an impersonator?
Sure, the Heavenly Demon Physique set a new world record.
But after his E-rank result, people thought it was a terminal trait.
And now, a famous CEO was calling him herself?
While Kanghan was still in disbelief—
Buzz buzz…
Shin Yuri: This is Shin Yuri, following up from earlier!
Please contact me when you’re free! I’m still in Yongin!
A text from an unknown number.
‘…Wow. She’s really persistent.’
Could this really be the same famous person?
Still—
‘I said I’d call her. I should keep my word.’
Kanghan: -I’m done with my errands. Are you still in Yongin?
Shin Yuri: Yes! Near City Hall!
She really was waiting in Yongin?
Kanghan was impressed by her dedication.
‘Guess I’ll just meet her today and get it over with.’
If it wasn’t a big deal, he’d end it quickly.
Kanghan: -Okay… Let’s meet at a café near City Hall.
He named the café he used to go to and left his house.
‘On the way, I’ll test the new Heavenly Demon Power.’
With the passive at 15%, he had to try it out.
He started running.
‘Oh. I’m definitely faster.’
Kanghan had always been quick.
But now, with Heavenly Demon Divine Power – 2-Star, his body felt lighter and faster.
As he ran to the café—
‘Already here?’
He arrived earlier than expected.
He figured he’d wait a bit and walked inside.
Then—
“Hello, Mr. Kanghan.”
At the entrance of the café—
A woman appeared, as if she had been waiting for him.
“I’m Shin Yuri, the one who called earlier.”
The same woman from the online article…
Smiling faintly and politely greeting him.
