Chapter 176: Befriending a Bear (3)
AngerManagementVodka promised to provide labor to Kyung-joon’s arliv·silva business.
His men would take care of all the miscellaneous tasks, including the management of the arlivs and the surrounding security.
In return, Kyung-joon promised AngerManagementVodka ‘more than before’ profits.
‘But how?’
The amount of money AngerManagementVodka received from NPC Broki, his former source of income, was not insignificant.
He received several million liyans each time he brought an arliv crystal core.
The higher the purity and quality, the higher the price he received.
‘At least around 500 million liyans a month.’
That’s how much he had to earn to make it worthwhile.
In the past, when he was farming arlivs, he was making around 500 million liyans a month.
Of that, 300 million liyans were paid for the maintenance of his subordinates.
Half of the remaining 200 million liyans went to the guild.
And he took the other half.
In other words, when he was at his peak, AngerManagementVodka earned more than 100 million liyans a month, or more than 10 million won in Korean currency($7,189 USD)!
He wondered if Kyung-joon’s arliv·silva business could guarantee this level of compensation.
“I’m only indulging in your amusing imagination for the profit.”
In fact, it was against the guild rules for AngerManagementVodka to secretly make a separate contract with Kyung-joon without even reporting to the guild master.
Nevertheless, the reason why AngerManagementVodka thought of working with Kyung-joon secretly was all because of money.
He and his mafia buddies would do anything for profit.
“I received a reasonable amount of down payment. I’ve also heard about the business.”
The business model Kyung-joon proposed to AngerManagementVodka was as follows:
『1. AngerManagementVodka continues to give the same amount of money to his organization ‘Ruski Komrade’ as before.』
『2. But in reality, he earns much more money working under Kyung-joon.』
『3. (Money actually received from Kyung-joon) – (Sales reported to the boss) = The remaining difference goes entirely to AngerManagementVodka and his gang!』
So far, so good.
“No, I haven’t heard all about the business.”
The problem was after that.
What exactly would they be making and selling at this arliv·silva business, and how much money could they make?
This was what AngerManagementVodka wanted to know the most right now.
For now, he had no choice but to lend his men out due to Kyung-joon’s busy schedule and urging, but he had to see how it went before deciding whether to continue this.
He needed a clear blueprint from Kyung-joon.
Without it, there was no reason to continue cooperating.
“In Russia, we have a saying: 『When money is the highest value, truth keeps its mouth shut』. I need to know if your business has something that will shut my mouth.”
“Well, let’s have some tea and talk about it.”
When AngerManagementVodka asked, Kyung-joon handed him a cup of tea.
“Huh. Tea? The history of tea ceremony in Russia dates back 300 years, so it’s quite profound. Don’t let my appearance fool you, I have a discerning tongue for tea.”
AngerManagementVodka took the tea from Kyung-joon and took out vodka from his inventory.
Then, as he was about to pour it into the tea, his eyes widened.
“This is……”
AngerManagementVodka only then realized after seeing the status window of the tea.
That the tea Kyung-joon gave him was not just any ordinary tea.
[Ceram-style Contemplation Herbal Tea]
▶Herbal tea that can only be completed by precisely matching Ceram’s recipe to the second decimal place. The taste is subtle.
▶Contains all sorts of rare herbs. 『Increases all stats by 2% per second.』
▶Duration: 60 seconds
※After the duration expires and the effect ends, you will be afflicted with a -50% debuff to all stats for the entire day.
▶Item Grade: Unique
AngerManagementVodka couldn’t see the 『Memory & Concentration +50%』 buff.
That phrase was an effect only visible to Infinite Knowledge Seekers with the Infinite Reading skill.
But even excluding that, the effects of the herbal tea that AngerManagementVodka saw were tremendous.
“…….All stats increase by 2% per second, what in the…… Wait, are you telling me you’re going to sell this?”
AngerManagementVodka asked Kyung-joon with a serious expression.
Kyung-joon shook his head, saying no.
“Are you kidding me? How can we sell something with such a severe side effect?”
Contemplation Herbal Tea, which momentarily gave you a whopping +120% increase to all stats.
But the price you pay for it is a -50% decrease to all stats for the entire day.
It didn’t matter much to Kyung-joon because he had only used it for studying, but the side effects were too great to actually use for hunting.
“That’s why I need you guys.”
Swoosh.
Kyung-joon took something out of his inventory.
It was the sap that Kyung-joon had extracted from the arliv and had been processed and refined in several stages.
[Unknown Sap Extract]
▶The sap extracted from the arliv has been processed and refined in unimaginable ways. Only the parties involved know what the method is.
▶Kieeek~! Kiyack! Kereuruk! Keureureureureu~! -Screams of something unknown-
▶Item Grade: Low
It didn’t say that the processing and refining were ‘successful’.
Anyone could see that this was a failure.
Kyung-joon poured that horrible failure into the tea that AngerManagementVodka was holding instead of vodka.
And he took out a teaspoon and mixed it well.
The fragrant contemplation herbal tea instantly turned a deep turquoise color.
Then, thick, bubbling foam began to rise.
It was as if the tea itself was screaming.
“Here you go. Here you go.”
Kyung-joon handed the ghastly tea back to AngerManagementVodka.
Then he raised his hand in a gesture of drinking something.
As if urging him to drink the tea he had just handed him.
“As they say, failure is the mother of success.”
What is the most important thing in a pharmaceutical company?
It’s so obvious you don’t even have to think about it.
The most important thing in making a successful drug is clinical trials.
The data accumulated through countless clinical trials, failures, and side effects ultimately leads to the creation of a successful and innovative drug.
Of course.
In reality, it’s not as easy as it sounds due to various human rights and ethical issues……
“Come on, drink up. You’ll come back to life even if you die, right?”
……It’s different in the game.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
A week after AngerManagementVodka and his gang started working at Kyung-joon’s arliv·silva business.
[『『a12b1847』is afflicted with the unknown status ailment.]
[HP decreases by 50 per second.]
[All stats are decreased by 30%.]
[MP recovers by 30 per second.]
“Kkeureuraagkakat….!”
“Test drug B126 symptoms: chills, dizziness, flushing, tremors, sprouts on the skin!”
“Continuous MP recovery effect observed!”
“Proceeding with the next test drug B127 experiment! Test subject!”
“Yes! Test subject a12b3429 reporting for duty!”
“Good. Drink the tea right in front of you. Remember exactly how you felt, and if you’re forcibly logged out, write down the symptoms right there and send them to me in a note.”
“Yes! Test subject a12b3429! Proceeding with the experiment! Gulp gulp gulp! Kkrayakayaathak….!”
There were numerous experiments, countless failures, and endless deaths.
Of course, everyone was a player, so they came back to life after 24 hours.
▼a12b1342
“Man, I wish I could just die from a strong side effect.”
▼a12b1333
“Dying is surprisingly fun, you know?”
▼a12b1344
“At least it’s nice to be able to log out quickly and rest.”
▼a12b1232
“I’m starting to get used to dying like this.”
AngerManagementVodka’s subordinates rather enjoyed being test subjects.
It wasn’t that hard to endure the pain since it was a game, and if they were forced to log out due to strong side effects, that was it for the day’s work.
And they were getting paid regularly, so what more could they ask for?
At least their salary had increased and their work was easier than when they were farming arlivs before.
“Kyung-joon-nim! Here’s today’s data!”
“Okay. Just leave it there. And take the same thing to Ceram.”
“Yes! Understood!”
The data from the experiments piled up.
As a result, some progress was made.
[Unknown Doping Potion: A2.39/L4.57/B4.55/R3.27/M1.98]
▶A potion concocted by mixing arliv sap, Wind Lavender, Sun Basil, Shade Rosemary, and Skycliff Mint in a ratio of 2.39:4.57:4.55:3.27:1.98. It contains the effect of amplifying all stats for a certain period of time. The side effects have been somewhat mitigated by the harmonizing power contained in the arliv’s sap.
▶Increases all stats by 0.77% per second for 30 seconds.
▶After the doping effect ends, you will be afflicted with a -37% debuff to all stats for the entire day.
▶Item Grade: Rare
“What do you think?”
“Hmm……”
AngerManagementVodka admired the unknown potion Kyung-joon showed him.
It still had side effects, and its grade and effectiveness were lower than Ceram-style Contemplation Herbal Tea, but that wasn’t important.
“We’re making progress.”
“Right?”
What was truly remarkable was the fact that 『they were gradually controlling the side effects.』
As a tree spirit that balances nature, the arliv’s sap contained the power of harmony, and Kyung-joon’s arliv·silva business was using it to research 『herbal tea without side effects.』
As the research continued, there would surely come a time when the side effects would be minimized.
If they could eliminate the side effects altogether, it would be a huge jackpot.
“If there are no side effects, it will sell even if the effect is halved. It will sell like hotcakes.”
As AngerManagementVodka said, even a 5%~10% increase in stats from doping potions was a must-have for boss battles.
That small difference in stats was the difference between defeating a boss and not.
And this was a 30% increase to all stats, not just one?
It was nothing short of a revolution in doping potions.
“But I don’t think it will happen as fast as we think.”
“Hmph. Contemplation Herbal Tea is enough for now.”
“Well, that’s true.”
In fact, it would be enough to mass-produce and sell 『Ceram-style Contemplation Herbal Tea』 without doing any research.
But then there would be no progress.
The Contemplation Herbal Tea recipe that Ceram’s master ‘Rimi Nuhu’ taught him was just one of many, not necessarily the best or most optimal one.
That’s why they were doing this research to find a much better recipe.
And if they could use the arliv’s sap to eliminate the side effects, that would be the icing on the cake.
Of course, all this talk about the future was just a blueprint for now.
“For now, we need to raise research funds with Contemplation Herbal Tea. It’s not a good idea to take money from other businesses.”
“……Other businesses? What else are you planning? It’s not just one?”
“It could be one, it could be two?”
“…….”
AngerManagementVodka, frowning slightly, glanced at Kyung-joon sitting next to him.
Gulp gulp gulp!
Then he downed the vodka in his hand.
Phew!
“By the way.”
Then he said, exhaling the strong alcoholic fumes of the vodka.
“What did you mean when you told me to rip off my boss?”
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