Chapter : 88
Su-hyun didn’t think this deal would last long. After all, the Red Pig Mushroom was a limited commodity. It would sell like wildfire once the boom started, but the moment its true nature was revealed, its value would plummet in an instant.
“Just a seasonal business.”
The strategy was to gather as much as possible before the boom, then sell it all in bulk at the peak.
“Try reading it with the translator. Ask if there’s anything you don’t understand.”
“Uh… is it okay to set conditions like this?”
“Why, don’t you like it?”
“It’s not that….”
“I decided to give them a little consideration. We’re used to this kind of thing, but they’re not, right? If they change their mind at any time, let them contract with someone else. Of course, until then, they’ll need to work diligently. Just remember, this deal is entirely my goodwill.”
“Thank you. I won’t forget it.”
Su-hyun added a clause to the contract: after a certain period, the orcs could contract with others if they wished. The orcs were grateful, thinking it generous, but Su-hyun had another intention.
“Once the trend starts, merchants will scramble to buy it, and naturally, they’ll come here too.”
The offers from merchants in a high-price situation would be far better than Su-hyun’s original conditions. The orcs would naturally contract with them, and Su-hyun could end the matter gracefully, feigning regret.
“Hmm. Perfect.”
He could secure profit while avoiding the hassle afterward. Yet, Su-hyun overlooked one thing: Mogok and the other orcs weren’t just profit-driven. They valued loyalty far more than he had anticipated.
“Then let’s go outside. The people who brought the goods are probably waiting.”
Lee Seung-su flinched at the sight of Su-hyun emerging with a group of orcs. Though he had encountered many non-human races, fear still lingered. The wild races were unpredictable.
“Explain what you brought.”
“I want to see the weapons first.”
“Weapons?”
Su-hyun looked at Mogok. It wasn’t unreasonable; considering his personality, human weapons would naturally pique his interest the most.
“No problem. Show them. I’ll explain the weapons myself.”
“Very well.”
Lee Seung-su focused on the other items while Su-hyun and Mogok stood before a stack of guns.
“You’ve seen guns before, right?”
“Of course…”
“The usage is simple: aim, pull the trigger. It’s good to know maintenance, but if it’s severely damaged, just give up. You can’t repair it yourselves. Magazines are sold everywhere, so don’t try making your own.”
“I never thought of that.”
“Good. Some non-humans try to mimic the shape and fire them. Don’t do that—they won’t take responsibility if it explodes.”
“But… that orc Gorgan works as a mercenary, right?”
Gorgan had been standing at a distance during the explanation.
“Yes. On our team.”
“Can I ask something?”
“That’s why I brought him. Go ahead.”
Gorgan wasn’t brought just because he was an orc. Being a mercenary among humans, he could answer the orcs’ curiosity directly.
In truth, orcs had less to offer compared to other races. Elves and dwarves had advantages in flora or minerals, but orcs weren’t skilled with Cameron’s resources. They had strong bodies and fighting spirit. Their lives were mostly about fighting monsters, so being mercenaries or soldiers wasn’t much different—they even had better weapons and support.
Watching Mogok and Gorgan talk, Su-hyun studied Mogok’s expressions.
“I wonder how many more might join.”
A non-human team including an orc wasn’t unusual, but Su-hyun thought further. If possible, he wanted to form a team entirely of non-humans.
“People can be surprisingly rigid.”
In Cameron, the importance of non-humans was recognized, but bold attempts were rare. Ultimately, humans trusted humans the most. But Su-hyun thought differently: trustworthy or not mattered more than race. He found orcs more reliable than worn-out humans.
“If forming a team… better to stick to orcs. Avoid unnecessary friction with other races.”
“Finished talking?” Su-hyun asked as Mogok returned. He nodded.
“What took you so long?”
“Um… asked about mercenary work. Some of our tribe are interested.”
“Fair enough. Risking your life is always involved, though… in Cameron, almost nothing is risk-free.”
“True enough.”
Mogok agreed. Just yesterday, they risked their lives fighting monsters.
“Do you have a plan?”
“Uh? Well…”
Caught off guard, Mogok’s face betrayed his thoughts. Su-hyun chuckled inwardly; reading his mind was easy compared to hardened humans.
“There might be opposition in the tribe.”
“True…”
“But if you decide, let me know.”
“?”
“Gorgan and I are mercenaries. We can help someone new who wants to work.”
“…”
“If you don’t trust us, you can check it yourself. Ask in the city.”
“Oh, no. It’s not mistrust… just…”
“Just thinking it over, right? Fine. Think carefully, then decide. Better to come on your own this time. I can’t keep visiting.”
“…I’ll remember that.”
Having planted his hints, Su-hyun finished the item explanations and prepared to leave. Lee Seung-su was almost bursting with curiosity about what the sealed boxes contained.
“What could it be? The weight suggests not minerals… alcohol? Crafts? Drugs?”
The orcs had little apparent wealth, yet they brought out goods in boxes.
“All set. Let’s go.”
“Huh? Oh, yes!”
Arriving at Ames Plains, Lee Seung-su’s expression relaxed. The area was low-risk, and the elves there were friendly to humans. Merchants had already established trade here.
“Why are we stopping here?”
“Curious, are you?”
“Ha, well… it’s work…”
“I just need to talk briefly. No need to buy or sell, so you can stay outside.”
“No, if it’s just the two of us, it looks shabby. I’ll come in with you.”
Brave in Ames Plains, timid in Kebaswak, Lee Seung-su embarrassed Su-hyun. He nodded.
“Do as you like.”
“Good!”
“Stay outside during the conversation.”
“Damn!” Su-hyun thought. He planned to keep Lee Seung-su from overhearing. Soon, a familiar face appeared inside.
“Long time no see. What brings you here?”
“I have a small favor.”
A bright platinum ponytail and unwavering green eyes—this was Ada, an elf he first met in this area.
“You, asking for a favor?”
“Uh… nothing major. Secrecy is key.”
Ada frowned slightly. She knew Su-hyun’s abilities well. A human who single-handedly wiped out raptors asking for a favor meant it might be beyond her capacity.
“I’m glad you trust me… but there are limits. If it’s important, I need my father’s permission.”
“It’s nothing that big. It’s fine. I’ll get permission. By the way… your father? Did I meet him before?”
“He was elsewhere due to work last time. No surprise you didn’t see him.”
“High position, I see?”
“He’s the chief of our tribe.”
So Ada was the chief’s daughter. Su-hyun nodded. No wonder she seemed influential among elves.
“I won’t make it difficult. I’ll get permission myself; please guide me.”
“Can I ask what it’s about first?”
“Hmm.”
Su-hyun’s requests were simple in themselves: convey information while he was in Dokji, supply enough provisions, and provide shelter if needed—all with secrecy. Only a trusted few could know, and even if the Development Planning Bureau inquired, they must stay silent.
He didn’t expect things to go badly. The Bureau wouldn’t suspect he faked his disappearance to avoid the Dragon Slayer project—they’d never imagine a man who carried out reckless plans fearlessly would do that.
Still, explanation required caution.
“What do you think?”
“Is secrecy really necessary? Otherwise, I could handle it on my own.”
“It’s important to keep it secret. Can’t be helped. I’ll have to meet them personally.”
“You’ll guide me?”
As they moved, Su-hyun observed the surroundings. Nothing had changed. Cameron wasn’t all hellish—peaceful areas existed too.
“How have you been?”
“Our lives aren’t particularly special. If you ask if I’ve been well…”
“…I didn’t ask for a long answer. Just greeting.”
“Oh? I’ve been fine. My younger sibling was looking for you but was too young to be sent to the city.”
“Good. Looks like an easy target for kidnapping, so hold them tightly.”
Ada looked uneasy. Her sibling wasn’t that easy to abduct.
“Huh?”
“Why?”
“Nothing, maybe a mistake.”
Su-hyun thought he saw a familiar short platinum-haired figure pass by in the distance.
“Ah, the teleporting ability…!”
He realized why her face seemed familiar—she resembled Ada.
“Do you have other siblings besides your younger one?”
“Why ask? None….”
“Really? I thought I saw an elf resembling you.”
“Oh, you mean elder sister Luiril. She’s visiting our tribe after a long time. A distant relative of mine.”
“Is that so?”
“Your expression is a bit scary.”
“…”
Su-hyun stopped smiling, returning his face to normal. Last time he had smiled to seem friendly, she said it looked scary.
“Small world… meeting like this…”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Let’s go meet the chief.”
Elves, dwarves, humans… Su-hyun had met many people, including handsome men and beautiful women. Yet he had never seen an elf as striking as the one before him now.
“Could be a star if they acted in movies right now.”
Ada Strandal’s father, Ethan Strandal, was a middle-aged elf with long white hair swept back, faint wrinkles hinting at his age.
“Yes, I’ve heard a lot of stories.”
