Times Square (3)

The eventful commercial shoot was finally over. The group emerged looking utterly exhausted.

"Thank you all for your hard work! Absolutely perfect!"

Beside the director, who was giving them two thumbs up, sat a huge pile of empty potion bottles.

On their way out of the set, Park Siwoo shook his head in dismay.

"Shooting a commercial really isn't easy."

"It's five hundred billion won. You've got to work at least this hard for it."

"True. But it still doesn't feel real, you know? Five hundred billion just for doing this... I'm not sure I should be getting this much money."

"You'll get used to it."

Siwoo nodded at Kim Minwoo's words, then looked at Seo Yerim.

"Yerim?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you going to spend the money on?"

"Well, I'll donate some to Sword Sea Pavilion... and save the rest. I'll need it to buy equipment later."

"But our guild provides all our equipment."

"Even so, there's a limit to what we can get. Equipment you can keep using for a long time is hard to come by."

"True. That stuff is a pain to get."

Equipment that could stay with its wearer for a long time—items that were hard to obtain even with money—was commonly called premium equipment.

That generally meant equipment of Legend grade or higher. Items of that caliber were usually traded privately between acquaintances. Otherwise, governments typically restricted their export.

You're selling that?

Oh, you couldn't find an awakener in our country to buy it?

Then just sell it to the government. We'll pay the full market price.

What? You won't sell?

Is that because you want to see this country fall?

That was the kind of vicious pressure people faced. What made it possible was the very real threat posed by gates.

They were quiet most of the time, but one unlucky gate break could cause countless casualties. Good equipment could make an enormous difference in such a situation.

Naturally, some restrictions on exports were inevitable.

Of course, whoever obtained an item could keep their mouth shut and secretly smuggle it overseas. If they pulled it off, they could fetch far more than its market price.

'But that's easier said than done.'

Individuals rarely obtained equipment like that on their own. It usually dropped for guilds or other groups. Even if everyone involved kept quiet, there was always a risk of the truth coming out over time.

And if they were caught?

First came a torrent of abuse from the public.

It's not like the government is trying to rip you off!

They're offering full market price, and you're selling out our national security out of greed?

Something along those lines.

The sole exception was listing an item at the Sky Auction House.

Each country had to list its allotted quota of items to qualify for participation. What happened if it didn't?

Its citizens wouldn't receive invitations.

That would actually be a loss.

What if a country needed archer equipment but only had warrior equipment?

Rather than foolishly cling to it, wouldn't it be better to list it, attend the auction, and acquire archer equipment instead?

Besides, the Sky Auction House was a stage where money could overwhelm the competition.

'Basically, wealthy developed countries have the advantage.'

That was why no one was condemned for listing items at the Sky Auction House, even if it became public knowledge. In fact, developed countries actively encouraged it.

Awakeners benefited by auctioning off expensive items for a low commission, while governments benefited by securing eligibility to participate.

They would select awakeners attending the auction, give them plenty of money, and have them buy back the listed items.

Of course, they couldn't buy everything back. Not even America could manage that.

The sums involved were no small change. In practice, they fought tooth and nail to buy back only what counted as essential equipment.

'Necromancer equipment should be relatively easy to get.'

Few people used it in the first place, and almost no awakeners could bring out the full potential of equipment of that caliber. Governments had little reason to scramble desperately to buy it.

'Getting swordsman and archer equipment will be the problem.'

Those two classes, on the other hand, were as mainstream as it got. Buying their gear would cost a pretty penny, since other countries would also be going crazy trying to acquire equipment for the mainstream classes first.

"If I get to go to the Sky Auction House this time, I'll try to pick up some swordsman and archer equipment."

"... The Sky Auction House?"

Seo Yerim's eyes widened. Then she nodded in understanding.

"That makes sense. You have the money, Minwoo, and you should have enough fame too. You might qualify. Maybe you'll get an invitation..."

"That's right! You should definitely get invited, Minwoo!"

"Well, we don't know yet."

"But will you be able to get anything? Our equipment is going to be pretty expensive..."

"I should be able to get a few pieces, even if I can't get everything."

The awakeners attending the Sky Auction House had nations backing them.

A nation was a collective entity. As such, it had a great many things to consider when buying items: how to divide purchases among different classes, how to keep the distribution fair, how much it could spend at auction without provoking serious public discontent, and so on.

There was a lot to account for. They couldn't mindlessly bid trillions just because something was a Legend item.

Each item had a more or less standardized price range.

What if they bid above that?

They would have to find the extra funds—usually through taxes. Naturally, the public would be unhappy.

And Minwoo?

He was a wealthy individual. Someone who could pour money into a single item without anyone having a say in it.

'Of course, spending too much would still be a problem for me...'

Even so, he had far greater flexibility when it came to acting quickly. It was a contest worth taking on.

'And I'll have more money soon.'

There were plenty of ways to raise money.

A veteran gamer as far gone as he was had no shortage of methods.

"... If you really do get to attend the Sky Auction House, I'll transfer all the money I got this time."

"Me too, Minwoo. It's not much, but..."

"We still don't know whether I'll be going..."

Just as he said that, a golden ticket suddenly appeared in his hand.

[Conditions fulfilled!]

[You have been invited to the Sky Auction House!]

"Huh?"

He inspected the item.

[Sky Auction House Ticket]

[Grade: Special]

[A ticket that allows its holder to participate in the Sky Auction House.]

[Effect 1. Allows entry to the Sky Auction House on May 5.]

Seo Yerim and Park Siwoo stared in surprise at the ticket in his hand.

"Is that..."

"A Sky Auction House ticket?!"

"Yeah. They're giving it to me already?"

It was early March. As far as he knew, tickets normally began going out in April, so his invitation had arrived almost a month early.

'Is it because I got that sixty-trillion-won investment?'

That had probably fulfilled the financial requirement. But his fame...

'The commercial hasn't even aired yet.'

Perhaps that meant the impact of the guild battle had been that great—enough to fulfill the fame requirement before the worldwide commercial had even aired.

'Well, fair enough.'

Seventy million NewTube subscribers was hardly insignificant.

As for his level...

'It's a little low, but I'm still a powerhouse, aren't I?'

In any case, there was no downside to receiving it early.

"We'll transfer everything we got this time."

He looked at Seo Yerim and Park Siwoo. For some reason, seeing the two of them solemnly declare that they would each transfer five hundred billion won made him smile.

Well...

It was a huge sum from their perspective. Actually, to be honest, it was a huge sum for most awakeners.

Together, it came to one trillion won—enough to try buying some reasonably good Legend items.

'What should I replace for them...?'

Accessories would probably be difficult. Sorry, but accessories were really expensive.

'Replacing some of their gear would be good.'

Both were currently decked out in Rare equipment. Giving each of them even one Legend piece would make their combat strength skyrocket.

It would be a boost almost on par with the Death Spirit Sword.

"Keep working hard on leveling while I'm away."

"Are you going somewhere, Minwoo?"

"Yeah. Looks like I need to take a trip overseas."

"... Overseas?"

Kim Minwoo nodded.

The Super Rookie Selection Tournament would take place in April. Less than a week after it ended, it would be time to attend the Sky Auction House.

'This is the only free time in my schedule.'

In other words, he had to rake in a fortune during March if he wanted to go wild at the Sky Auction House. Since the event only happened once a year, he needed to make the most of it.

Sixty trillion won felt a little short.

If a decent accessory appeared, bids jumping by trillions would be the bare minimum.

'If I don't have enough, I can just multiply it.'

So he really was going to multiply his money.

* * *

[(Breaking) Ilseong Phone Commercial Takes the World by Storm! Preorders Surpass Five Million Units...]

[(Breaking) Ilseong Phone Takes Over New York's Times Square!]

[(Breaking) Money-Blowing Guild's Modeling Fees Estimated in the Trillions?]

[(Breaking) Advertising Costs Already Recouped! Ilseong Overwhelmed With Joy!]

—Holy crap. The new Ilseong phone costs 50% more than the last version, and look at those preorders. That's insane. At that price, you're paying Apple phone money.

—All of Ilseong's products are going premium lately. Looks like they're really committing to it with the phone this time. That's how Apple makes those huge margins too lol.

—And it's actually selling that well lmao.

—It did look slick in the commercial. They changed up the clunky design too. The skull logo on the back probably helped a lot. It's already got a nickname overseas.

—A nickname?

—The skeleton phone lol. Skelphone for short, apparently.

—They went all out upgrading the features too. Some are better than Apple's lol.

—Wasn't a million preorders considered a good result for these? How are they starting at five million? This Kim Minwoo craze is seriously nuts.

—Park Siwoo and Seo Yerim earned their keep too, didn't they? That commercial was pretty awesome lol.

—Surely none of you idiots missed that our girl Merhen carried the whole thing?

—For real lmao. America's magic community is absolutely boiling right now. She drew all the aggro by herself lol.

—Yeah, and what are they gonna do about it? It's a fact that they suck at magic lol.

—Do they feel nothing watching her summon that water dragon? She's just on a different level lmao.

—So true lol.

—Mages? Kim Minwoo's summon alone wipes the floor with all of them lol.

—Seeing it all like this really gets me pumped. The Mangnani channel passed a hundred million subscribers after the commercial aired too. Is the age of Kim Minwoo really coming? Damn.

—A hundred million lmao. Twice the population of Kimchi Land lolol.

—Here's the truly scary part: he's a newbie who only awakened three months ago. Holy shit.

—Three months? Not thirty years? That's actually insane lmao.

—We're living in the age of Kim Minwoo...

—So what's the Money-Blowing Guild doing anyway? Shouldn't they be leveling up?

—Park Siwoo and Seo Yerim have been going into gates on their own. But where did Kim Minwoo go?

—Is he running another hidden gate?

Just then, a breaking news alert appeared.

[(Breaking) Kim Minwoo Leaves the Country? Destination Reportedly Saudi Arabia!]

—Huh?

—Saudi Arabia?

—Why the hell is he suddenly going to oil country?