Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 231

“That’s great. I’ll do my best to help, so please work hard.”

Susan wore a pleased expression at Beomseok’s compliment.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Oh, and I think the aftereffect treatment ward should be built in a separate building.”

She widened her eyes and said,

“Are you building a new building? This place is sufficient.”

“Not at all. Aftereffect treatment is an expensive treatment that costs at least 600,000 krang [currency in this world] per session. I think we need a more cozy and well-equipped space separate from this crowded hospital.”

Susan nodded, convinced after thinking about it. Patients coming for aftereffect treatment were wealthy elves or professional sports players with high salaries. They would care about their surroundings, so some investment was necessary.

“Hmm. I guess so, but I don’t have the money to build a building.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll build it for you.”

“Really?”

“However, this hospital will not charge low treatment fees or provide free treatment.”

That was obvious. No matter how nice Susan was, she had no intention of catering to wealthy tycoons or professional sports teams.

“Yes. Of course, it should be like that.”

“And the God Knights team will take the income, excluding operating expenses.”

“Why?”

“The aftereffect treatment business is not a public service, so if team funds are randomly invested, fans will express concern. If this investment is revealed to the outside world in the future, a big backlash may occur. So, we need to emphasize that this investment is for increasing team revenue.”

Indeed, if team funds were invested in a luxury business without any return, fans would protest. The God Knights team was legally 100% owned by Beomseok, but the fans who bought tickets and team emblems had a slightly different perspective. Even if he had complete ownership of the team, he had to be mindful of the consumers. However, Beomseok’s real intention was completely different. He couldn’t pour this valuable business into social projects.

Whether she knew it or not, Susan agreed, seemingly understanding.

“Yes. I see. I understand.”

“One more thing. Susan, please quit being the team doctor and focus on the medical business.”

Susan, surprised, widened her eyes.

“Why should I quit being the team doctor?”

“The team doctor only handles simple treatments, so we can use someone else. But if an aftereffect treatment hospital is built, the medical corporation will be busy, right? I hope you will focus on this.”

There was nothing wrong with what he said, so she hesitated. She would be sad to leave the position of team doctor, but it was not easy to manage the medical corporation at the same time. If she had to manage a medical corporation specializing in aftereffect treatment in the future, she would be even busier, so it seemed better to give up the team doctor position now.

“Sigh~ I understand. Then I’ll dedicate myself to the medical corporation.”

“Yes. You made a good decision.”

Beomseok, having finished the conversation, consulted with Esther about investing in a medical corporation specializing in aftereffect treatment. There weren’t many people to be hospitalized, so there was no need to build a very large building, but it seemed that a large sum of 30 million krang would be required because they had to pay attention to the exterior decoration and environment. It was quite a large sum of money, but he decided to invest without hesitation. If done well, it could become a significant source of funding for the God Knights.

“Okay. Let’s end today’s discussion here. We’ll hold a separate meeting next time to discuss the details.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Beomseok said goodbye to Susan and Venus and left the hospital with Esther. Even though it was the winter vacation season, he, as the chairman, had a lot to do.

As they approached the office building, a communication call came from Beomseok’s arms. Just as he was entering the building through the automatic door, he took out his electronic notebook and opened it, wearing a delighted expression. Erfina’s face was appearing on the screen.

“Yo. Erfina. You’re doing a lot of work.”

– It’s nothing. Master. Have you been well?

“Yeah. I’ve been good. So? What’s up?”

– I wanted to consult with you about recruiting a gladiator.

“Oh, really? Did you find a good one?”

Erfina tilted her head, looking puzzled.

– It’s a bit ambiguous. I don’t know if she’s good or not.

“Who is it?”

– It’s a child named Herse, who is currently 9 years old and will be 10 next year. Her growth potential is very high. She’ll probably be around Matilda’s level.

Beomseok stopped walking, interested, and pulled the screen closer. Matilda’s potential was 936. This was almost unbelievably fantastic.

“Really? What’s ambiguous about such a kid? She’s very good.”

– Yes. I think so too, but there’s one thing we need to address.

“What is it?”

– Actually, this child used to be a gladiator with outstanding C2-level skills [Central League, grade 2]. But recently, her condition has deteriorated to I1 level [Wide League, grade 1].

“Really? Since when?”

– Around this time last year.

He blinked and looked at Erfina. It sounded very familiar.

“Ahem. Erfina. Could you send me the data on this child?”

Erfina immediately sent him a message containing the data file. Beomseok soon examined the contents and frowned. It was almost identical to the recruitment data for Iphis that she had sent before.

“Erfina. Aren’t you confusing this data with that of a child named Iphis that you sent before? It’s almost the same.”

– Yes. That’s right. She probably looks the same too.

Beomseok’s mind flashed at her confident words. If the name was different but the physical conditions and face were the same, there was only one possibility.

“Are they twins?”

– Yes. They’re twins.

“Um, excuse me. When exactly did this child start experiencing a decline in condition?”

– After her older sister, Iphis, transferred to another team.

Beomseok’s eyes darted left and right. There were twin sisters, and both of them were showing signs of declining condition as soon as they were separated? Then it was worth considering that there might be some connection between them. If there was a guarantee that they would recover from their slump by meeting each other, Iphis’s price of 240 million krang was not that expensive.

“Erfina. How much is Herse’s price?”

– She’s currently considered to be outside of the main force, so it’s dropped to 190 million krang.

So, the total was 430 million krang, and if Esther’s special ability was used, it would be 408.5 million krang. It was a large sum of money that would make his legs tremble, but it wasn’t money he couldn’t get. He could solve it with 270 million krang of team funds and the rest with a bank loan. Currently, the God Knights had no debt at all, and Beomseok had connections with key figures in the banking industry, so he could easily raise about 130 million krang.

‘If two more Central League-level gladiators are included in the current team, next year will be very promising.’

Analyzing the current main force of the God Knights, there were 7 Area League-level gladiators, 7 Wide League-level gladiators, 5 Central League-level gladiators, and one S-class force. If two Central League gladiators were leased this year, and Iphis and Herse were added again, the force would be beyond imagination. Probably, in the early part of next year, when the Chaplin Whisper team disappears, they would cause a sensation and soar to the top of the league. Of course, if they entered the second half of next year, the leased gladiators would return and the force would be weakened, but it could be sufficiently resolved by the growth of promising players within the team and the recruitment of other gladiators.

Beomseok, having made up his mind, turned back from his way to the office. He was going to look at Herse right now, while the iron was hot.

“Erfina. Which team does Herse belong to?”

“She’s in the Juan Irons team based in Juan City.”

“I see. I’ll go there now, so wait for me. I’ll decide whether to recruit her after seeing Herse.”

“Yes. I understand. Then I’ll be waiting.”

Beomseok, having ended the communication, headed to the parking lot with Esther. He boarded the two team flying cars and headed to the Juan Irons team and the Holy Elves team. If he found out the reason for the decline in condition, he intended to negotiate a trade for both of them.

“Whew~ It’s hot. This is no joke.”

Beomseok, who had landed in the quiet Juan City Citizens’ Sports Park, fluttered the collar of his shirt in the sweltering heat. Thanks to Juan City being in the southern hemisphere, he had to experience unseasonal summer weather. He had been living in winter weather, and suddenly experiencing the heat of summer was not easy to adjust to.

He waited for Erfina, drinking a beverage from a nearby vending machine.

“Master. You’re here!”

Erfina approached him as he was gulping down cola. She was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and red hot pants, and her long legs were incredibly tempting. However, examining Herse’s information was more important now, so he barely showed patience.

Beomseok pulled out another cola and threw it to her.

“Here. It’s hot, right? Drink this.”

“Yes. I’ll enjoy it.”

He asked Erfina, who was opening the can,

“By the way, did you contact the Juan Irons team that I was going?”

“Yes. There happened to be a trade manager, so I arranged an appointment.”

“Good job.”

“But. They told me to cover your face a bit when you come.”

Beomseok took out the fedora he was holding in his left hand and the sunglasses that were tucked into his shirt pocket. His face was widely known through the LKS Broadcasting program, so disguise was essential to visit other teams now.

“Don’t worry. I came prepared.”

“Then are you going now?”

“Well? What time is the appointment?”

“We agreed to meet in two hours. You can go before that. The person in charge there wanted you to come before the upcoming lunch break. He said it wouldn’t be good to show Master’s face to other elves.”

“I guess so. Okay. Then I’ll go now. By the way, where is the training camp?”

Erfina pointed to the east of the Citizens’ Sports Park and said,

“If you go straight for 3 kilometers in this direction, you’ll see it right away.”

“I see. I understand. Then I’ll go. Wait for me in the car. If you’re bored, you can go sightseeing in the city.”

She nodded. Her face was also known through broadcasting, so there was no point in going in.

“Yes. I understand. Then have a good trip.”

Beomseok immediately took out his electronic notebook and called a taxi. He had no intention of walking 3 kilometers. He watched the flying taxi slowly descending from the sky and drank all the beverage in his hand in gulps. Then he boarded and headed to the Juan Irons team training camp.

“Welcome. Beomseok. I’ve been waiting for you. I’m Hobbs, the trade manager of Juan Irons.”

Beomseok, who had entered the Juan Irons team office building, took off his fedora and sunglasses and shook hands with Hobbs.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Oh Beomseok.”

“Yes. So, you came to see Herse, who is a candidate on our team?”

“That’s right. Our team’s scout said that Herse would be suitable to play on our team.”

“Oh? Is that so? Well, let’s go inside and talk in detail. I’m afraid there might be prying eyes.”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Hobbs, having received permission, guided him to the reception room on the second floor. It was a rather small room, but it was clean and well-heated, so it wasn’t bad for conversation.

Beomseok, who was seated, looked straight at Hobbs across the table.

“To be honest, let me start by saying that I’m not yet convinced about recruiting Herse. Our team’s scout said she’s not bad, but I’m a bit concerned about the recent decline in her condition.”

Hobbs accepted it with an indifferent attitude, as he had already expected it. Herse was such an expensive gladiator that this flaw was having a significant negative impact on the trade. Several teams had expressed their intention to recruit her last summer, but everyone dropped out of the negotiation table due to the decline in her condition. To make matters worse, she was pushed out of the candidates in this fall season, and no teams had shown interest in her recently.

“I understand your concerns, but if you only look at that point, it would be like not recognizing a jewel in the mud. In fact, Herse is a gladiator with very high growth potential. I don’t know why she’s been showing a decline in condition for the past year, but I’m confident that if she continues to train, she will overcome her current slump and grow into an excellent gladiator someday.”

“Of course, I agree with you on that point. Our scout said that her growth potential is quite useful. That’s why I came to this place today. However, I looked at her recent plays on the way here, and her skills have deteriorated too much, even considering the decline in condition. I want to know the cause.”

Hobbs clasped his hands and wore a troubled expression. If they knew that, they wouldn’t have put such an absurd price of 190 million krang on Herse. If she regained her former skills, she would be worth approximately 350 to 400 million krang.

“Well. We have no particular way of knowing either. However, since this happened after her twin sister, Iphis, transferred, we are predicting that it is due to that cause.”

“So, are you saying that sudden loneliness has interfered with her gladiator life?”

“Yes. That’s what we think.”

“But, loneliness can’t cause physical abilities to decline, can it?”

Hobbs couldn’t answer readily, as he had nothing to say here. It was true that her inherent physical abilities could not decline due to the influence of lonely emotions.