Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 32

An elf employee approached, projecting a 3D menu into the air.

“Chairman, would you like to order?”

“I’ll have today’s special. What dishes will everyone else have?”

Beomseok and Emma spoke simultaneously.

“We’ll have the same.”

The elf employee continued with the next question.

“How would you like your meat cooked?”

“Rare for me.”

As the elf employee looked at him, Beomseok quickly added,

“Tell them to burn it like they’re trying to make it well-done, but fail. You know, when the chef accidentally burns the meat? Do it like that.”

“Then the texture will be quite dry.”

“That’s my preference, so it can’t be helped.”

This restaurant wasn’t called ‘luxury’ for nothing. They could accommodate even the most peculiar customer preferences. The employee immediately pressed the memo button on the menu and input a voice message. Then, she continued to ask questions, prompting them to choose their desired items such as bread, soup, drinks, and desserts.

Beomseok, who answered with lighthearted jokes, turned his gaze to Lucas as the employee left.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Alright, let’s get straight to the point. First, I want to address our concerns. Emma mentioned that the elves you own have a history of professional careers in the Wide League. She joined your team because she saw potential for advancing to the professional league. However, after looking into it, we found a different situation. Raymi was nearly abandoned by her team, Oscar was considered a troublesome elf due to his violent tendencies, and Erpina was sold at the Worker Auction Market because of frequent injuries and accelerated aging. Do you really think you can advance to the professional league with these kinds of… kids?”

Beomseok’s expression hardened. He understood the Black Society’s urgency, but he didn’t appreciate them digging into his past. If they discovered he was a player himself, it would create a significant problem.

“Contrary to your concerns, they all possess outstanding skills comparable to active professional players. But if you’re still worried, I’m willing to hand them over. I’ll release Emma from her contract without any conditions so she can find another good team, and I’ll return the 15 million krang [currency unit] I received. Is that acceptable?”

Lucas shook his head. The purpose of this meeting was to find a more constructive path forward, not to undo the agreement.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m asking if you have any ideas for further strengthening the team’s power.”

“Strengthening the team’s power?”

“I mean, would you consider investing funds to recruit skilled professional gladiators?”

That was something Beomseok also desired. The more skilled gladiators he had, the stronger the team would be, so he had no reason to object.

“Well, if that’s the case, I’m all for it.”

“So, how about turning your team into a corporation? The Black Society can then provide substantial funds under the guise of investing in a sports club. If you retain 51 percent of the shares and we hold 49 percent, there won’t be any change in ownership. It’s worth considering, isn’t it?”

Without hesitation, Beomseok refused. If he turned the team into a corporation, all the gladiators he recruited in the future would be classified as team assets. That meant he couldn’t freely manage them, and it would completely derail his plan to build a harem team.

“That’s absolutely impossible. It would completely change the team’s operational direction from my plan.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to bring any elves without owners onto the team. I feel sorry for those who live like slaves, belonging to a team for decades. Only elves I own, or elves with owners, can join our team. Therefore, we can never operate as a corporation.”

Lucas scoffed. Beomseok was being too particular. While he sympathized with his views on elves, the Black Society’s survival was at stake. He had to make Emma a professional, no matter what.

“Ugh, do you really have to be so strict?”

“It’s not ‘have to,’ it’s ‘must.’ I have no intention of negotiating on this matter under any circumstances. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have created a gladiator team in the first place.”

Lucas expressed his frustration at the firm refusal. He had exhausted all avenues of persuasion, leaving him with nothing to say. But after considering it, there was a way to form a corporate team with only elves who had owners. Not all professional teams consisted solely of elves without owners.

The primary goal of a professional team was to advance to the upper leagues and maintain their position. The competition was too fierce to exclude talented elves and cyborgs with owners simply because their salaries were too high. Consequently, professional teams had an almost 50/50 split between elves with owners and elves without owners.

“Then why not just recruit elves or cyborgs with owners?”

“But wouldn’t the salaries be too high? If the team’s finances suffer, it will be difficult to recruit other talented gladiators. Our team’s goal isn’t just to advance to the Area League and make Emma a professional, but to continue growing the team and eventually enter the Wide League, Central League, and ultimately the World League.”

“Ha… This frustrating young man… Why are you so worried when the Black Society will help you? We’ll definitely help you grow, so trust us and follow our lead.”

“Trust you? People change their minds as easily as they go to the bathroom and come out. The Black Society is in a hurry now, so you’re saying this, but who knows how you’ll change in the future? I’m going to build the team according to my own plan.”

“Really? What’s your plan?”

As they spoke, the first amuse-bouche [a small, single-bite appetizer], served on a blue ceramic plate, was placed on their table. Beomseok crammed the bite-sized food into his mouth in one go. He wasn’t in the mood for polite eating.

A moment of silence followed. Breaking it, Beomseok suddenly said,

“I’m going to create a team with only elves I own. Then there’s no need to pay salaries, so I can recruit gladiators with excellent skills based on abundant financial resources. Eventually, the day will come when I achieve my goal.”

Lucas looked dumbfounded. While it sounded plausible, there was one major flaw. When the owner of the elves died, they couldn’t overcome the sadness and eventually took their own lives. If he died, the team itself would collapse.

“Seriously? Then the team will disappear when you die, right? Would you be happy if the team you’ve worked so hard to build collapses?”

Beomseok chuckled inwardly. It might be different in reality, but this was a game. If he died, it would just be the ending, and there would be no further flow of time. Even if the team remained, there would be no honor to return to him. But he couldn’t say that honestly. He fabricated a reason to explain.

“Why worry about the future when it’s over when you die? I exist, and the team exists. Does the team exist, and then I exist?”

“But what about your children? Wouldn’t they be upset that their father’s huge fortune disappeared into thin air? They probably won’t even hold memorial services for you.”

Beomseok laughed inwardly. The persuasion was pathetic.

“You don’t have to worry about my children, Lucas. I’ll raise them well so that doesn’t happen. And wasn’t the Black Society’s reason for existence to feel pride in being reborn without the halo of their parents? So why are you forcing my children to have the halo of their parents?”

Lucas was speechless, as if he had swallowed honey. Those words were one of the Black Society’s mottos, and he constantly nagged his children with them.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Just as the fish dish with a crispy surface arrived, Beomseok used his knife and fork to cut out a large piece of the flesh. It was quite elastic and glossy, and it seemed like fresh seafood. He put it in his mouth with a fork and savored the taste. He seemed to be in a better mood as the story progressed as he wanted.

“Hmm. It’s an expensive dish, so it tastes good.”

Lucas glared at him with narrowed eyes. He was anxious, but Beomseok was acting so relaxed, which he didn’t like. But the reason he was here was to eat, so he started eating as well.

“So, are you going to half-heartedly raise the team as it is?”

“I’m not raising it half-heartedly, but I have no intention of changing the current team management policy.”

Lucas gritted his teeth. He didn’t like the way Beomseok was constantly talking back.

“Then I’m going to report to the Black Society meeting that your team is not a suitable team for our work. Is that okay?”

“That’s just your opinion, Lucas. It’s not a problem I can interfere with. Do as you please.”

“Even though you have to return the 15 million krang you received before.”

Beomseok sighed deeply and looked at Emma. She was worried that the conversation wasn’t going smoothly, so she couldn’t even eat properly and was anxious. She was the one who informed the higher-ups that God’s Knights was the most suitable team for the Black Society’s work.

“Tsk. I don’t mind the 15 million krang at all, but I’m very sad that Emma has to leave the team. She’s quite a promising kid. If I raise her well, she could grow into a World League-level gladiator.”

“Hmph. She couldn’t even hold a sword until recently, and suddenly she’s a World League-level gladiator… Are you making excuses because you need our support?”

Perhaps because he had touched a nerve, Beomseok put the fork and knife he was holding on the table. There was no reason to continue sitting here listening to such rude words. He’d rather go home and eat bread dipped in soybean paste stew.

“Okay. I’ll send you 15 million krang tomorrow. And I’ve already terminated Emma’s contract, so you can take her whenever you want. And let’s split the bill for the meal. Then goodbye.”

Beomseok immediately got up and went to the counter. He loudly told the employee, who was initially hesitant, to calculate his portion of the meal. It came to a whopping 2,600 krang, but it wasn’t worth sacrificing his pride.

———————-

I’ll be back again next time.