Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 237

239

Before the start of the Spring Season, the Gods Knights faced an unexpected challenge: a wave of transfer requests. The sudden influx of talent had unsettled some gladiators, who felt their playing time threatened by the addition of five Central League-level players. While their salaries were guaranteed regardless of match participation, they would miss out on appearance fees and win bonuses, significantly impacting their income.

Consequently, Sylvia and Lilith both left the team, further depleting the already thin roster. While the team secured 3.8 million Krang in transfer fees, there was little to celebrate, as their overall strength had diminished. This sum barely covered half a year’s interest on their recent 100 million Krang debt.

“Alright! No need for a fourth round! Let’s finish this here!”

Bum-suk’s roar echoed through the Rima City Colosseum. The Gods Knights gladiators, spurred by his command, relentlessly pressured the opposing Nise Orions. Despite being a strong team ranked 6th in the league, the Nise Orions were crumbling against the newly reinforced Gods Knights.

“Everyone, hold the line! Don’t let the formation break!”

The Nise Orions’ defense, usually their strength, was buckling under the assault. Seizing the opportunity, Oscar brought his greatsword crashing down, cleaving through the center. Matilda and Bum-suk surged forward to widen the breach, allowing Iphis, Herse, and Emma to penetrate the weakened line.

“Kyaaaa!”

Gladiator number 7 was swiftly taken out by Emma’s precise swordsmanship. Caught off guard by a thrust as she lost her balance against the combined assault of Iphis and Herse, she was defenseless. Annoyed, Herse glared at Emma, having aimed to secure the kill herself.

“Emma! That’s too much!”

“Hehe, sorry. I’m in a hurry too!”

Emma, sticking out her tongue in apology, scanned the arena for another target. Spotting gladiator number 4 struggling against Lapine, she stealthily approached.

– Amazing! The Gods Knights are incredible! Is this really the same team from the first half of the season?

– It is! It’s no joke. They’re toying with the Nise Orions, a strong team, like they’re children. The Gods Knights truly improve every day.

The commentators’ enthusiastic remarks reverberated through the Colosseum, electrifying the fans. Emboldened by their team’s dominance, they rose to their feet, singing cheers and amplifying the electric atmosphere. However, their joy was short-lived. The Nise Orions gladiators, utterly demoralized, collapsed, and the third round ended swiftly, securing the Gods Knights’ victory.

“Gods Knights, you’re awesome! You’ll be the strongest team soon!”

“Keep it up! I’ll open my wallet anytime!”

Bum-suk, hearing the fans’ adulation, removed his helmet as he entered the dugout, basking in the pleasant March sunshine. With this victory, the Gods Knights’ record improved to 11 wins, 7 draws, and 11 losses, placing them 7th in the league. The losses against Chaplin Whisper and Sea Mobidicks in the second half of the season were regrettable, but ultimately insignificant. Since the second half began, Agelia had been the captain in every match, a decision made to test the team’s adaptability, so they hadn’t always fought at full strength.

Inside the dugout, Bum-suk approached Agelia and patted her on the back.

“Agelia, you did very well today.”

She removed her helmet and scratched her head, feeling awkward. She hadn’t made any significant plays during the match and felt undeserving of the praise.

“I’m embarrassed, I didn’t do much.”

“Hehe. The captain shouldn’t be too active. The captain’s role is to stay in the back and focus on self-preservation until the worst-case scenario. And you survived the Nise Orions’ special attack team in the 2nd round. That’s more than enough.”

Agelia raised her dual shields.

“Well, that’s because I’m a dual-wielder.”

“No. Even with two shields, there are limits. You survived because you played exceptionally well.”

Agelia blushed, pleased despite her embarrassment.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Yes, you need to keep improving. Your position as captain is currently the team’s weak point. Unexpected attacks will continue, so you must focus on survival. Run if you have to.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll work hard.”

Bum-suk patted her back again, then turned his attention to Herse and Iphis. They were the driving force behind the Gods Knights’ recent surge. While Lapine was the strongest individual player, Iphis and Herse, when paired, were even more formidable. Their synergy and coordinated skills were devastating.

‘Iphis and Herse are amazing. Bringing them in, even with the loan, was the right call. And pairing Emma with them to support their attacks was brilliant.’

Bum-suk’s gaze shifted to Emma. He had a hunch that her killer instinct would complement Iphis and Herse’s attacks, and the resulting synergy exceeded his expectations. The opposing gladiators, pressured by Iphis and Herse, were often finished off by Emma’s blade, making the matches significantly easier. Herse was occasionally disgruntled, but Bum-suk was satisfied with the overall outcome.

He approached Emma.

“Emma, you’re doing great. How many kills did you get today?”

She held up seven fingers.

“Seven.”

Bum-suk smiled, pleased. That meant Emma had secured about one-fifth of the team’s kills. While still developing her skills, her current performance warranted a starting position.

“Oh, seven? As expected of our team’s killer.”

Emma, glancing at Herse’s expression, spoke carefully.

“It’s all thanks to Iphis and Herse. I just extend my sword at the last moment.”

“Hehe, yes, Iphis and Herse did well too. But your contribution can’t be ignored. Anyway, you did well today.”

“Yes, thank you for the compliment.”

Bum-suk nodded and turned to address the entire team, announcing a celebratory dinner.

“Alright! Everyone, tonight we’re having dinner at the Rainbow Hotel buffet. Don’t fill up on snacks beforehand!”

“Yes!”

The team responded with enthusiasm, the joy of victory amplified by the prospect of a company dinner. Oscar, in particular, was ecstatic. Bum-suk allowed moderate alcohol consumption at these dinners.

Later, the Gods Knights team members, showered and refreshed, made their way to the Rainbow Hotel in Aaron.

Gloria, the owner of the Rainbow Hotel, greeted them at the entrance upon learning of Bum-suk’s arrival. He was a benefactor to the Rainbow Group and the father of her daughter, Jenny.

However, the anticipated reunion was disrupted by an unexpected scene in the buffet restaurant. Jenny, held in Bum-suk’s arms, burst into tears, frightened by the unfamiliar face. His busy schedule had kept him away, and the baby didn’t recognize him.

“Wahhh! Waaah!”

Bum-suk tried his best to soothe the infant, who wasn’t even a year old, but eventually conceded defeat and handed her to the nanny. He feared turning the quiet hotel buffet into a chaotic marketplace. He attempted to stroke Jenny’s hair one last time but stopped when she began to cry again. His daughter clearly disliked him.

“Oops. It seems Jenny doesn’t like me.”

Gloria, smiling, seized the opportunity to express her disapproval. A father should visit and play with his daughter more often, but he had been too absent.

“That’s what happens when you don’t come to see Jenny often enough.”

“Hahaha. I’ve been a bit busy. I’ll visit whenever I have time in the future.”

“Yes, you definitely should.”

Gloria winked at the nannies, signaling them to take Jenny away. The sound of a crying baby could disturb the other hotel guests.

Bum-suk, now composed, sat down and gestured for her to join him.

“Alright, Gloria, please sit down too.”

Gloria pointed towards the buffet.

“Aren’t you going to get your food?”

“Hahaha. How can I, with several elves here, carry my own food? They’ll bring it soon, so let’s talk.”

Gloria, acknowledging the truth in his statement, sat down and looked at him.

“By the way, the Gods Knights seem to be doing well lately. They’re 7th in the league today, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Our strength has improved significantly, so it’s only natural.”

“Hoh, are you perhaps aiming for the promotion tournament next year? With your recent performance, it seems possible.”

Bum-suk smiled brightly.

“If we’re lucky, it might be possible.”

“What kind of situation would that require?”

“Hmm, if the Chaplin Whisper team gets promoted in this year’s tournament, and none of our gladiators get injured. The Gods Knights’ squad is actually quite fragile.”

Gloria nodded in agreement.

“I suppose so. The skill gap between the starters and the substitutes is significant. But you don’t need to worry about the Chaplin Whisper team. I can’t imagine them losing in the promotion tournament. They’re practically guaranteed to be promoted this year.”

“Yes, I think so too. But you never know until the end.”

“I guess so. What about Sea Mobidicks? They’re behind Chaplin Whisper, but still in 2nd place.”

Bum-suk answered immediately, having already considered the team a major competitor for the Wide League next year.

“Sea Mobidicks seems manageable.”

“Really? The Gods Knights lost to them three weeks ago.”

“Well, that’s because we’ve been using Agelia as captain recently. Two of the three rounds we lost were because Agelia was caught off guard. We probably would have won if we had used the experienced Erpina as captain.”

“Oh, so we can look forward to next year?”

“Hmm, maybe.”

Gloria, studying him intently, asked a sudden question.

“I’m curious, though. Why is the Gods Knights’ development so rapid? Founded only two years ago, they’re already aiming for the Central League.”

“Well, what could it be? First of all, it’s because I’m here. Hahaha.”

Bum-suk began to explain with a boast. He genuinely believed the Gods Knights wouldn’t have achieved this much without him. Gloria seemed to agree, nodding.

“I suppose so. Your swordsmanship and eye for gladiators are both excellent. Especially with Iphis and Herse. The fans were worried about their careers, but you hit the jackpot.”

“Hehe, that’s right. But the team management system also played a big role. As you know, the Gods Knights aren’t a corporation, so we don’t have to pay dividends to shareholders. All that money goes into transfer funds, allowing us to recruit useful gladiators. And most of our starting gladiators are my elves. This keeps salaries, the largest expense for professional teams, extremely low, freeing up funds for recruitment. Plus, most of the Gods Knights gladiators have owners. They train and fight hard for their owners, which naturally makes them stronger.”

“Ah, I see.”

While they talked, Diana and Remy arrived with two plates piled high with buffet food and placed them on the table. While other elves were present, Diana and Remy’s age and experience granted them the honor of serving Bum-suk’s meal.

“Master, here’s your meal.”

“Gloria, please have this too.”

Bum-suk, picking up his fork and knife, thanked them.

“Thank you. Go and eat.”

“Yes, enjoy your meal.”

Gloria, picking up a piece of sushi, subtly observed him before speaking.

“By the way, Bum-suk, I heard a hotel in this area has been put up for sale recently.”

“Oh, really? Which hotel?”

“The Rimasta Hotel.”

Bum-suk repeated the name, looking at her.

“If it’s the Rimasta Hotel, isn’t that the largest hotel in the Avand area?”

“Yes, that’s right. Moreover, it’s a lucrative hotel, generating nearly 11 billion Krang in sales annually for the past five years.”

“Ah, is that so? It’s quite a good hotel. Why was it put up for sale?”

“The parent company, Star Group, is planning a large-scale real estate venture in Senoside City. They need funds and decided to sell the hotel.”

Senoside City was the world’s capital, a promising location with high land prices. He didn’t know the scale of the venture, but it would require considerable capital.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

Have a nice day, everyone. I’ll see you again next time.