Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 14

“Reimi. Are you excited?”

Beomseok and Reimi were on a flying bus headed to Herby City. Herby City was a mid-sized city with a population of 2.48 million, rapidly developing with numerous industrial complexes and techno towns located on its outskirts. Why were they going there? Because the Dragon Knights team, to which Reimi belonged, was based in that city. Beomseok intended to make Reimi his woman there, through a master-servant relationship.

And this was Reimi’s lifelong wish, so she couldn’t calm her excited heart.

“Yes…”

Beomseok watched Reimi’s cheeks, flushed red with excitement, and gently put his arm around her shoulder. He now fully recognized her as his lover. Reimi didn’t show any signs of rejection either. She was eager to devote her body and mind to the master she would serve as soon as the trade was completed that day.

Looking out the window, Reimi exclaimed, her voice filled with anticipation.

“We’re almost there!”

Soon, the flying bus arrived in downtown Herby City. After getting off the bus, they caught a taxi in a nearby entertainment district. The Dragon Knights team’s club office and training camp were located in a quiet area on the outskirts of the city, so there was no flying bus service.

After a few minutes of driving, they arrived at a remote road that could be described as a desolate field. Nearby stood a three-story red brick building that appeared to be a dormitory, a two-story cement building that looked like an office, and an indoor gymnasium. In front of it was a circular stadium covered with blue artificial turf.

Beomseok, who got out of the taxi, examined the sign on the firmly closed main gate.

‘Dragon Knights GC.’

It seemed to be the abbreviation for ‘Dragon Knights Gladiatorial Bout Club,’ so it seemed to be the right place. Beomseok soon brought his face to the intercom on the main gate and spoke.

“Hello.”

– What’s going on?

When the answer came, Beomseok immediately stated his business.

“It’s about the gladiator trade. I would like to have an interview with the person in charge…”

– Oh, is that so? Did you make an appointment in advance?

Beomseok realized his mistake. He had come in a hurry for Reimi, who was looking forward to it, so he had forgotten to contact them in advance to make an appointment. It wasn’t like buying squid at a fish market for dinner. Rushing into a 25 million krang [currency unit in this world] deal like this could negatively affect the negotiation.

However, he couldn’t just go back like this, so he continued the conversation.

“I didn’t think about it, so I didn’t make an appointment, but is there any way to proceed?”

– Then, could you tell me which gladiator you’re interested in scouting? I’ll contact the person in charge.

“I’m trying to recruit a gladiator named Reimi, who is currently dispatched to the Lima City Demon Sports Center, and I would like to discuss it.”

– Is that so? Then please wait a moment.

When the intercom sound was cut off, Reimi, with a worried expression, approached.

“I’m sorry. If I hadn’t rushed things this morning…”

“It’s okay. It’s a trade that’s good for both of us anyway. Surely they won’t cancel the negotiation just because I didn’t make an appointment in advance.”

Soon, as if Beomseok’s words were correct, a new voice was heard from the intercom.

– Hello. I’m Arnold, the trade manager. I heard you have something to discuss with me?

“Yes. My name is Oh Beomseok. I want to recruit the gladiator Reimi.”

– Yes. I understand. Please come in, and we can discuss the details.

Click.

The main gate slowly opened, and a straight concrete road leading to the main building came into view. Following that, a square four-seater unmanned car appeared. When Beomseok and Reimi got in, it quickly sped to the office building, kicking up dust.

“Welcome, Mr. Oh Beomseok.”

A blonde man in his mid-30s, who appeared to have gotten out of the unmanned car, was spreading his arms wide to welcome Beomseok. Judging from his voice, it seemed to be the man named Arnold who he had spoken to just now.

“Are you perhaps Team Leader Arnold?”

“Yes. That’s right. I’m glad to meet you like this.”

“Yes. I’m glad to meet you too.”

Reimi also greeted him.

“It’s been a while, Team Leader Arnold.”

Arnold smiled brightly when he finally saw her.

“Oh, yes, it’s been a long time. I haven’t seen you since you left Lima City, so it’s been over a year? Anyway, it’s nice to see you.”

Reimi gave an awkward smile. She had greeted him a few times when she came to this office for business reports. She was a little sad that he had forgotten her, who had contributed a lot to the team, but there was no need to upset someone who would influence this trade.

She smiled more brightly and greeted him.

“Yes. It’s nice to see you too.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Arnold opened the front door to the office building.

“Come on, let’s go in first. Reimi, come in quickly too.”

Guided by Arnold, Beomseok and Reimi entered the building. Passing through the entrance and along a short hallway, they entered a small reception room with a low square table and long sofas placed on each side, facing each other. Arnold, sitting on one of the sofas, asked someone through the intercom to bring tea and information about Reimi. Then, he looked at Beomseok and repeatedly gave a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha. Oh, come to think of it, I didn’t ask which professional team you came from.”

“Um. I didn’t come from a professional team. I came from an amateur team called Gods Knights.”

Arnold’s eyes flashed as if he was puzzled. He couldn’t understand why someone who wasn’t from a professional team would buy a professional gladiator like Reimi. Of course, it was called an amateur team, but there was no way that such a team would have enough purchasing power to buy a professional gladiator. Thinking that he might be a passerby, Arnold frowned and opened his mouth.

“Excuse me, but I would like to ask if you have the financial capacity to purchase Reimi. In my opinion, I think she would cost at least 5 million krang… Do you have that much financial capacity?”

A deep smile appeared on Beomseok’s lips at that moment. For some reason, an unexpectedly low amount of money came out of Arnold’s mouth. As far as he knew, the Dragon Knights team had set Reimi’s price at 25 million krang. There was a difference of about five times the price he had expected. A very golden opportunity to save a lot of money. Beomseok immediately blurted out.

“Oh, is that so? It’s not much different from the amount I expected. Then, let’s sign a contract right away for 5 million krang without having to adjust our opinions.”

“Yes, y-yes?”

Arnold was greatly embarrassed when the negotiation progressed rapidly with a few words he had thrown out without thinking. The amount he had just said was a very reasonable amount considering Reimi’s experience, skills, and age, but there was always room for negotiation when doing business. It was a good thing for him as the seller, but he felt that something was going wrong because the other party was immediately jumping in without hesitation.

“Why? Do you perhaps not want to sell Reimi?”

Of course, that wasn’t the case. Currently, the Dragon Knights team had a considerable level of gladiators thanks to their efforts. Therefore, they could predict the possibility of winning the season as well as the possibility of promotion, so it was necessary to gradually start rebuilding the team. It was to prepare the team to survive in the league that year when they went up to the Central League.

Thanks to this, a lot of money was needed, and the most efficient way was to sell gladiators who were classified as outside of the core team, such as Reimi.

“Ah. That’s not it… It’s just that you’re suddenly asking to sign a contract…”

Knock knock knock.

Arnold, who had nothing to say, immediately reacted to the knock.

“Come in.”

The person who opened the door and came in was an elf dressed as an office worker. She had an A4-sized electronic document under her shoulder and a plate containing black tea with a fragrant scent in both hands.

“Here are the documents and tea you asked for.”

“Okay. Give me the documents and serve the tea to the guests.”

The elf office worker, who greeted him lightly, put down the electronic documents and tea and immediately left the door. Arnold offered tea to Beomseok and slowly read the documents containing Reimi’s information. Then, he saw the price set by the team and jumped up so hard that the sofa shook. It was a whopping 25 million krang. There was even an option that negotiations were absolutely prohibited without the director’s permission, so he couldn’t proceed with this trade as he pleased.

At that moment, Arnold recalled the past and gritted his teeth severely. He had forgotten about it because he had been ignoring it until now, but he remembered seeing this content before. At the time, he had a brief argument with the director over the absurd price, and that was Reimi.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

Arnold shook his head excessively at Beomseok’s worried words. It was impossible to say that Reimi’s price was 25 million krang. He was so surprised when he saw the price, so he could fully expect how the person who came to buy her would react. It would be a relief if he didn’t immediately leave the seat after hearing it.

“Ah, no. It’s not a big problem. There was a slight misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Ah. Yes. To proceed with the sale negotiation for Reimi, we need the permission of our team’s director.”

Beomseok, sensing that something was wrong, tapped the table with his finger as if he was nervous. He thought the negotiation was going well because he met a naive guy, but he had to face an unexpected variable called the director. He was worried that he might have to cough up all 25 million krang as it was initially.

“Oh. Is that so? Then does that mean we can’t proceed with the negotiation now?”

Arnold waved his hand urgently. Beomseok was a customer with purchasing power enough to sign a contract right away. It wasn’t like they were the only ones who had a gladiator like Reimi, and if they sent him away like this and he bought a gladiator from another team, there would be a significant loss.

Also, he was a person who was thinking of founding an amateur team, not coming from another professional team. Due to the nature of the transfer market, which strongly dislikes selling gladiators who are a threat to rival teams, Beomseok was truly a golden customer. They were a team preparing for the Central League, and he was only in the stage of creating an amateur team, so there was no way that a competitive relationship could be established.

“Ah, no. Please wait here for a moment while drinking tea. The director happens to be at the training center, so I’ll go and coordinate opinions for a while.”

Then, Arnold hurriedly left the reception room. Beomseok, who watched this with meaningful eyes, picked up the teacup and sipped it.

———-

To be continued.