Chapter 65

Chapter 65.

With this, I decided to become the exclusive supplier of the artifact holy water.

It was a natural conclusion, since I was the only one who could make the essential nutritional supplement, the “White Elixir.”

Happy, unable to hide her excitement, asked with her eyes shining.

“Would an auction be better for sales?”

“It would not be the best option.”

Kang Hyojun gave a cool assessment.

“It would be better to design the sales strategy around inheriting the brand the holy water already had.”

To summarize, this was what he meant.

Let us sell it at an even higher price to the “wealthy elites” who were already obsessed with holy water!

They were people who had willingly bought ordinary holy water at high prices, so if they heard it had even become an artifact, they would buy it at an even higher price.

On top of that, the holy water’s original identity as a “luxury good” that only the upper class could drink would become even more firmly established, driving the price up even further.

“So you are saying it is a method aimed at maximizing profit?”

“That is correct. Running the foundation will require an enormous number of points.”

Kang Hyojun’s point was valid.

For a mere foundation to normalize a country that was on the verge of starving to death, it would need an absurd number of points as a baseline.

But…

I did not particularly like it.

“If we sell it that way, it will take too long.”

The people called elites were not exactly known for moving quickly.

When I showed a lukewarm reaction, Happy, who had been listening from the side, quickly added her opinion.

“That is true. We would need to arrange meetings and negotiate prices, so it would take some time. But since this is an item being introduced to the market for the first time, narrowing the target market would be much safer and more reliable. So… I think it would be best if you gave us at least one week.”

Happy went on to explain that, because it was an item being introduced to the market for the first time, there were many more details to consider.

“Let us say we sell it that way. How long would it take after that?”

“Once a month. That would be appropriate.”

As expected, it was slow.

“No.”

I firmly rejected Kang Hyojun and Happy’s proposal.

Then the Saintess, who had been mentally tapping away at a calculator beside us, smacked her lips.

“Ah, what a waste… We could make a fortune if we sold it that way…”

The Saintess grumbled regretfully, but I ignored that just as firmly.

“Shut your mouth, Saintess.”

“…You only act like that to me.”

Watching her pout and grumble like that made her look exactly like an immature younger cousin I had met during a holiday.

Perhaps that was why I kept feeling an urge to tease her.

‘Is it because of the gap between her appearance and personality?’

Now that I thought about it, another person who showed a strange gap in the opposite sense came to mind.

Han Seol-ah.

She was 170 centimeters tall, with white hair and blue eyes.

At a glance, she looked like a cool, icy beauty, as cold as a snow leopard.

But once one actually got to know her, she gave off the cute, upright air of a small animal clutching sunflower seeds.

‘I wonder if her training is going well.’

“Then how quickly would you like us to proceed?”

Kang Hyojun asked.

“First of all, your premise is wrong.”

“Pardon?”

The foundation’s goal was to save the Republic of Korea.

Points? They were merely a means required for that salvation.

Kang Hyojun was looking at this holy water only as a means to turn it into points.

That, from the very beginning, was the trap Kang Hyojun had fallen into.

“How much would a single one of these increase a tanker’s survival rate?”

“!”

Kang Hyojun’s eyes shook greatly.

It was the reaction of someone who had not thought that far and had just been struck from behind.

Of course, that was only natural.

He had only been thinking as far as earning points to operate the foundation.

‘Kang Hyojun. And Happy. Neither of you is trying to “save” anyone at all.’

But the important thing was not “operating the foundation.”

‘It is saving the Republic of Korea.’

“My goals are threefold. First, as quickly as possible.”

“…Yes.”

“The reason is simple. We do not know when a Tower Break will occur. And this Tower Break… will truly become a disaster this time.”

“….”

“So we must raise the survival capabilities of tankers as quickly as possible.”

The best case was to finish our “preparations” as quickly as possible so that we would not be caught off guard by a Tower Break.

That was why we were preparing as quickly as we could right now.

But we might still be too late.

If that happened, a true catastrophe would occur.

‘At the very least, I have to prevent a game over.’

“Second. As cheaply as possible.”

“Yes.”

This was a foundation meant to save the Republic of Korea.

It would make no sense to fleece the Republic of Korea instead.

However.

“Third. Expensively to foreign countries.”

“…Pardon?”

I was absolutely not a pushover.

I had no intention whatsoever of suddenly being filled with love for humanity and dumping holy water across the entire planet at a bargain price.

It was also true that operating the foundation would cost an enormous number of points.

So we would fleece foreign countries.

Thoroughly, and mercilessly.

‘You have all been fleecing our country until now.’

The corner of my mouth curled up with a bitter edge.

‘Those X-bastards. I will make you spit out more than you took from us.’

When I revealed my plan, a strange silence settled over the reception room.

Kang Hyojun swallowed dryly as if a shiver had run through him, Yeriche’s mouth was slightly open as if she had been overwhelmed, and Happy, while breaking into a cold sweat, could not hide a strange excitement.

Breaking that silence, Happy confidently raised her hand high.

“I understand. Then I will take charge and proceed with it!”

Happy confidently raised her hand.

“?”

What were you talking about, Happy?

“Have you lost your mind, Happy?”

“…Pardon? Ah, no. Holy water is something I have handled until now…”

“That was when you were still in the Black Market.”

“The existing distribution network is also in my hands…”

“Ha ha.”

Happy. You still did not understand.

“Happy, you need to help Kang Hyojun build the foundation.”

“…Th-then who is supposed to take charge of selling the holy water? Yeriche?”

“….”

Yeriche fell silent. No, she went beyond silence and leaned back as if trying to sink into the sofa.

She looked as though she wanted to get as far away from this table as possible.

When her eyes met mine, she shook her head violently.

“She knows how to save money, but she does not know how to earn it.”

Happy raised her voice as if that alone was absolutely out of the question.

“She would definitely sell it at an absurd price and then send it to an orphanage…”

“Happy!”

Yeriche, who had been shrinking in on herself, suddenly shouted.

“Ah. Um. Please pretend you did not hear that.”

Happy stammered in panic and hurriedly wrapped up the conversation.

‘An orphanage?’

The Saintess was running an orphanage?

‘Were you actually a good person?’

Yeriche noticed my suspicious gaze and hurriedly waved her hands as she shouted.

“…N-no, I am not! Th-that was all for tax… I mean, I made it to avoid taxes!”

‘Of course.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly. People who made a lot of money always used tricks like that.

When I nodded and showed that I had accepted her explanation, Yeriche finally let out a relieved sigh and quietly avoided my gaze.

In any case, I understood that I should not leave it to Yeriche.

‘If a person is good at something, there are bound to be things they are bad at as well.’

I had never expected much from her in that area to begin with.

“There is someone in our country who is famous for being good at business, is there not?”

“…Golden Mine?”

“Yes. That man.”

He seemed to be trying to entrust his entire fortune to me and go into seclusion…

I could tolerate being forced to take on my own work.

But I was the kind of person who could not forgive someone else dumping work on me.

“Let us bring him in. As the person in charge of selling the holy water.”

Kang Hyojun’s face visibly brightened.

“Are you planning to have him handle only sales?”

A terrible workaholic greed flashed behind his glasses.

His expression made his pitch-black intentions obvious, as though he intended to separate Golden Mine’s bones from his flesh and grind even his bone dust into the foundation.

“That is up to the future chairperson of the foundation.”

“Hu… huhu.”

***

“Happy. Come here for a moment.”

After leaving the reception room that had become the Saintess’s quarters, Happy, who had been getting dragged away by Kang Hyojun with his eyes wide open and blazing, was called over by Special One.

‘Lucky!’

‘Damn it.’

Happy’s lips twitched as she rejoiced inwardly, while Kang Hyojun lost a worker he had almost secured and furrowed his brow hard.

The two of them showed starkly contrasting expressions.

With lighter steps, Happy followed Special One into a small room beside the reception room.

For a brief moment, she was delighted, thinking she had been able to escape from work hell.

But once she sat beside Special One, who naturally took the seat of honor, Happy belatedly realized one fact.

‘…This seat is not comfortable at all!’

Being alone with Special One was a position even more difficult than work hell.

“…What is the matter?”

“Hmm.”

Special One simply looked at Happy without saying a word.

‘….’

Happy gradually felt as if her breath were being squeezed out of her.

‘What is this? What does it mean?’

For now, Happy lowered her eyes.

His eyes were like an abyss from which no emotion could be read.

When she faced that pitch-black abyss, it felt as if, in turn, even the most shameful secrets buried at the very bottom of her soul would be dug up. A chill ran down her spine.

She could not find the courage to look directly into those eyes.

Instead, she glanced sideways and observed Special One’s mood.

‘…Could he be angry? Because I stepped forward a moment ago and said I would supply the holy water?’

It was possible.

‘No. Making me suspect him like this and scare myself is Special One’s intention.’

Calling the other party in and then maintaining silence to gain a psychological advantage and lead the negotiation in one’s favor.

Based on her own experience of countless deals, this was clearly a struggle for initiative.

‘I cannot let myself get dragged in.’

Damn it. Happy swallowed a curse along with a dry gulp.

The moment she had already lowered her eyes, she had completely lost the battle of nerves.

‘I was too frightened.’

…Though it was impossible not to be frightened after seeing those eyes.

Reassuring herself like that, Happy composed herself.

She prepared herself so that she would not be shaken no matter what he attacked with.

“Is Yeriche an orphan?”

“…Ghk!”

At the unexpected question, Happy choked.

“Cough, ghk! Cough! Cough!”

‘Wh-what! What in the world is he saying?’

Although they hated each other in a business relationship because they had fought for control over a product called holy water…

Happy had been by Yeriche’s side since childhood, like a real older sister.

And now that little sister was being insulted like this…!

“Ah, I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you. I heard the orphanage mentioned earlier, so I asked because I was curious.”

“….”

But Happy’s anger quickly subsided. That was because she felt sincerity in Special One’s attitude as he immediately apologized.

Once Happy had collected her emotions, Special One continued in a dry voice.

“Was it for tax avoidance, as Yeriche said a moment ago?”

“…No, it was not.”

“You said earlier that she only knows how to earn money and does not know how to spend it on herself. So what is the truth?”

“Wh-what would change if you knew that?”

“More than you think would change. So answer me.”

Realizing that there was nowhere left to run from that gaze, Happy finally opened her mouth.

“…Yeriche’s parents both died during the attack on the Italian Tower. The orphanage came up because… Yeriche operates one.”

“Why does she operate an orphanage?”

“That is… something I cannot tell you without Yeriche’s permission.”

At that firm answer, which was meant to protect the secret, Special One instead let out a small, amused laugh.

“I think I can understand without having to hear it. She is pouring all the enormous wealth she earned from selling holy water into the orphanage.”

“…….”

“While resenting the Tower that took her parents from her, she ultimately gathers and supports orphans so they can climb the very same Tower that the adults abandoned, does she not? She is raising them as the future Italian climbing team. It is a terrible contradiction, and a suffocating sense of responsibility.”

“……!”

Happy’s lips trembled.

Yeriche’s guilt-ridden plan, in which she had to drive children into death for the sake of her homeland.

This man had grasped it all.

“There are many orphans in the Republic of Korea as well. Did you know that?”

“…I suppose so.”

Italy’s situation was serious too.

But the Republic of Korea’s situation was so terrible that calling it horrific would not be an exaggeration.

“I am considering making the foundation’s first project an orphanage…”

“….”

Special One smacked his lips.

“Do you not think it is a waste to have the Saintess only making holy water?”

“….”

‘This man, surely…’

“We have even tied her down with the nutritional supplement as bait, so it feels like a waste to leave such high-level personnel idle.”

“…I-I see.”

“What do you think about having Yeriche take charge of the orphanage?”

Happy quickly finished her calculations.

‘Since she has already been caught by the nose by that devil-like man, it would be better for Yeriche to take on the work she would feel most comfortable doing. She is happiest when she is with orphans, after all.’

It was the best judgment she could make for the little sister she truly cared about.

“I think she would do very well.”

Special One also nodded in satisfaction.

He took out a sheet of paper and a pen, then began writing something.

Happy wondered what he was writing and cautiously stole a glance. He simply slid the paper slightly toward her, as if openly telling her to look.

[Golden Foundation Organizational Structure]

[Chairperson Kang Hyojun]

[Secretary-General Happy]

‘…Secretary-General? Me?’

It was an unbelievably rapid promotion for someone who had not even become a “director,” but only an ordinary person in charge.

‘And this foundation… is not being funded by the entire fortune of Golden Mine, that point-rich man?’

It was not on the level of a small corner store. Its starting capital alone was the entire fortune of “Golden Mine,” that point-rich man.

On top of that, the founder of this foundation was… this endlessly mysterious man, “Special One.”

Ignoring Happy’s puzzled reaction, Special One continued writing smoothly.

[Head of Special Projects “Golden Mine” Lee Hyeongje]

‘Special Projects… That sounds plausible.’

She could easily predict that he would begin by handling holy water for now, then later take charge of every business operated by the foundation.

And on top of that, it would be handled by Lee Hyeongje, “Golden Mine,” the legendary merchant.

There did not seem to be anyone more suitable for the position.

‘Hmm, hmm. Considering he made me the Secretary-General as well… he has quite a good eye for people.’

[Director of Orphan Affairs Headquarters Yeriche]

‘…Orphan Affairs Headquarters?’

It was a disastrous naming sense.

But it was also that intuitive.

‘With Yeriche’s personality… if the position had a grand and holy-sounding name, she would have refused it by any means necessary.’

If it had been something like Director of Strategic Humanitarian Affairs or Chairperson of Sanctuary Operations, Yeriche would certainly have shuddered.

But “orphan affairs” would likely appeal to Yeriche.

Yeriche truly liked orphans.

“What do you think?”

“I think it is perfect.”

That was Happy’s sincere opinion, without the slightest flattery mixed in.

“However…”

As Happy examined the organizational chart again, she noticed an empty space.

“Where is Special One’s position?”

Special One placed a dot beside [Chairperson] and drew a long line to the side.

And there, he wrote:

[Inspector]

“This is me.”

“…I see.”

This, too, was a perfect arrangement.

It was the role of monitoring whether the foundation was operating properly.

‘But that will not be all.’

Just as the inquisitors did, he would be someone who held the power of life and death, able to execute summary judgment if he saw signs of heresy.

That meaning was probably included in the title of Inspector as well.

Happy naturally reached out to take the paper.

“Wait.”

“?”

Special One stopped her.

Then he tapped one place with his pen.

It was the place where [Secretary-General Happy] was written.

“Why…”

“Happy.”

“Yes.”

Tap. Tap.

Ink spread from the tip of the pen that tapped at regular intervals, gradually darkening the section that read [Secretary-General Happy].

As she watched the ominously spreading ink, accompanied by a sound that felt as if it were tightening around her neck, Happy’s shoulders flinched.

“I heard… you use a rather good graphics card.”

“…That is true.”

“Now that you are going to be busy with your work as Secretary-General of the foundation, you will have no time to use it. Right?”

“…?”

Work and hobbies were separate matters.

Happy was the type who tried not to let her work-life balance collapse, no matter how busy she became.

Her graphics card was absolutely essential for that hobby.

‘Wait…’

Why was he asking about that now?

Tap.

Special One tapped the pen a little harder.

“Then it should be all right for you to lend it to me. Correct?”

That gesture felt like a threat.

As though he were saying, “If you do not hand over the graphics card, I will blacken out your name completely.”

‘Do you know how hard it was for me to get that equipment…?’

She felt like crying tears of blood, but unlike Yeriche, Happy had no condition she could put forward. The only lifeline she had to replace the Black Market was this foundation.

“Answer me.”

“Understood!”

Happy had no choice but to squeeze her eyes shut and answer that way.