Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 337

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A new morning dawned, clear and blue with not a single cloud in sight, typical of autumn. Beomseok rose, quickly changed, and headed out for his pre-breakfast training.

However, an unexpected visitor disrupted Beomseok and Sheila’s training: Vice Chairman Lewis. As a welcome guest, Beomseok led him to the chairman’s office for a chat.

“I wonder if I arrived too early. I seem to have miscalculated the time difference. Heh heh heh.”

“Hahaha. Not at all. It happens. But what brings you here?”

Lewis, glancing at Sheila beside Beomseok, replied, “I came for several reasons. I was curious about my daughter’s well-being, and I wanted to check on the progress of the work. And there’s another reason…”

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. Everything is going well.”

Vice Chairman Lewis nodded, reassured. Sheila, who struggled to adapt to the team until last season, was now thriving in God’s Knights, and the 500 million Krang [currency unit] he had entrusted to Beomseok had grown to 2.5 billion Krang. On the surface, everything was excellent.

“Indeed, you’ve done better than I expected. I’m very grateful.”

“You’re welcome. I’m also getting a lot of help, thanks to you. I have enough funds to counter the Black Society, and Sheila is a great asset as the team’s vanguard.”

He was right. Lewis’s funds were crucial in blocking the recent Black Society attacks, and Sheila was a powerful vanguard for God’s Knights.

“Hoo-hoo-hoo. That’s a relief. I’m very proud. But how did you manage to persuade my wild daughter? I’m curious about that.”

Beomseok’s smile wavered slightly. He could never reveal that he had “solved it in bed.” Some things were better left unsaid, even between father and daughter. He decided to navigate this with a vague answer.

“Well, what could have happened? Sheila is naturally straightforward and strong, so she must have overcome it herself. I just created a comfortable environment for her to thrive in her gladiator life.”

Sheila quickly agreed, finding it awkward to tell her father the truth.

“Yes, yes. Mr. Beomseok is right.”

Lewis chuckled. The nuance in “Mr. Beomseok” was undeniably soft.

It wasn’t just because she was his daughter; she was a terrible liar. Usually cheerful, her voice always became subdued when deceiving someone. And as a father, he knew Sheila performed best as a gladiator when she was dating someone.

She was always depressed and underperforming when single. But it didn’t really matter. It was better for her to be with Beomseok than some other jerk.

At least he wouldn’t harm Sheila.

“Hmm, I see. Anyway, I’m relieved you’ve regained your energy.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve come to my senses now.”

“Yes, yes.”

Lewis nodded and looked back at Beomseok. He had a few important things to discuss.

“By the way, do you know about that?”

“About what?”

“About a new team called Angry Bombs being created in the amateur league recently.”

Beomseok looked surprised. Countless teams formed and dissolved daily in the amateur league. It wasn’t something he usually cared about.

“Hoo-hoo. Amateur teams are just neighborhood guys gathering their elves [referring to the game characters], right? Nothing special.”

“But this one is a bit different.”

“How so?”

“Their gladiator recruitment is unusual. Angry Bombs claims to be a team with a personal company character and is recruiting professional gladiators indiscriminately.”

Beomseok waved it off. More than 80 members in Ilsimhoe [Beomseok’s organization] had such teams.

“There are many teams like that these days, aren’t there? Some rich guy wants his own team and is throwing money around. Harem teams are every man’s dream.”

“But the gladiators’ composition is suspicious.”

“Really? In what way?”

“Looking at the transfer status, two of them are from gladiator teams belonging to the Black Society.”

Beomseok clasped his hands. The mention of the Black Society made him uneasy.

“Two? What about the others?”

“The rest are elf gladiators from other professional teams.”

“Then can’t we dismiss it as a coincidence?”

“That’s true, but the transfer details are unsettling. Only those two were recruited at a low price. Both are area league starting gladiators who are at their peak, but they were traded for 3 million Krang and 4.1 million Krang, respectively.”

Beomseok’s brow furrowed. Something was definitely amiss.

Area League gladiators nearing retirement were worth at least 5 to 6 million Krang. Of course, Beomseok had bought Reimi, then a Dragon Knights gladiator, for 3.5 million Krang early on, but that was only because he agreed to buy Oskar, a troublemaker, for 6.5 million Krang.

“Have those two shown any mental issues recently?”

“No. They were very diligent in their games.”

“What about their performance?”

“Their performance was also very good.”

Then it was a steal. No matter how amateur Angry Bombs was, their original teams wouldn’t sell starting gladiators so cheaply unless they were crazy.

“Then we can assume it’s a team connected to the Black Society.”

“I think so too. I secretly had someone investigate, and they said a Black Society member often meets with the team officials.”

Beomseok grabbed his forehead, a headache brewing. If Angry Bombs was a secret weapon of the Black Society, it was serious. They were targeting his Achilles’ heel.

“This is going to be a headache.”

“Indeed, it will be a very serious matter for you. If they mobilize huge funds and indiscriminately recruit gladiators from existing teams through public opinion, it will cause you great damage.”

Currently, a gladiator team with a personal company character that recruits a gladiator through direct contact or media play without permission faces severe penalties. Depending on the severity, they receive minus points or even relegation. Therefore, most personal teams are extremely careful in recruiting gladiators.

However, the Black Society was different. Their goal was the downfall of God’s Knights and Ilsimhoe, so they wouldn’t care about relegation or minus points. Moreover, Angry Bombs was an amateur team, so relegation was irrelevant.

“Perhaps they’re aiming to re-present the regulations mentioned at the annual banquet of the Federation Professional Gladiator Association?”

“That’s right. That regulation is the easiest way to hit God’s Knights. If they start working, general professional gladiator teams will be filled with anger and will strongly support preventing personal company teams from entering the professional league. I probably won’t be able to stop the individual actions of our faction members either.”

Beomseok scratched his head, annoyed. He had no immediate solution.

“Look at these despicable bastards. They’re trying all sorts of tricks now.”

Lewis sighed deeply, looking at him with pity.

“Do you have no way?”

“I don’t have a way to overcome this difficulty right now. But from the perspective of the entire gladiator world, there is a way to minimize the damage.”

“What is it?”

“It’s to implement a three-out system. If a team intentionally engages in media play or contacts gladiators without their team’s permission more than three times within a certain period, the team will be shut down.”

Lewis nodded, seeing the logic.

“Hmm, not a bad idea.”

“It’s not a bad idea, but it will cause great damage to us.”

“Why?”

“The Black Society may be aiming for this and trying another trick. For example, they may plant people to record our trade negotiations and intentionally leak them to the media. If we suffer that three times, God’s Knights will be kicked out of the professional league.”

Lewis’s expression turned serious.

“That could happen. But would the Black Society go that far?”

“They’re even creating Angry Bombs for this kind of trick, so what wouldn’t they do? It’s a mud fight now.”

Just then, a short alarm sounded from Beomseok’s pocket. He had set an alert for specific keywords in real-time text news, and this was it. He quickly pulled out his electronic notebook, his face astonished.

– This is the morning economic news. The lead story is about the Vermilion Company’s corruption.

At 6:30 a.m. our time, 3:30 p.m. local Senoside time, a joint investigation team from the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, the National Tax Service, and the Financial Supervisory Service raided the Vermilion Building and began a surprise search and seizure. A large number of prosecutors and financial authorities were involved, and a large amount of bank transaction data, accounting documents, and data storage equipment were secured.

The financial authorities plan to summon and investigate the chairman and senior executives of Vermilion Company as soon as they analyze the data.

– The world stock market reacted negatively, with chemical-related stocks and Vermilion stocks experiencing significant declines. Vermilion’s stock price is currently 2,040 Krang, down 410 Krang from the previous day. Investors, please be aware.

Beomseok, after reading the news, clenched his fists, trembling. The Black Society had launched an all-out war. Vermilion Company was a leading member of the Economic Association. An attack on them would provoke a strong response.

‘These bastards are going for broke. This is no joke.’

Lewis, observing his serious expression, quietly asked, “Isn’t Vermilion Company a member of the Economic Association?”

“Yes. That’s right. It seems the Black Society has launched an attack.”

“The Black Society? Why?”

“Vermilion Company is the link between me and the Economic Association. By eliminating them, they’re trying to prevent you and the fraternity members from uniting with the Economic Association through me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Vermilion Company is central to the Economic Association. Attacking them means a full-scale war with the Economic Association is inevitable.

If they’re taking on that burden now, it can only be to isolate me and the fraternity members. If you and the Economic Association join forces, the balance of power will be completely broken, and the Black Society will have to surrender.”

Lewis tapped the table, considering.

“So, they’re preemptively attacking and eliminating the Economic Association?”

“Yes.”

“Hoo-hoo. If what you say is true, it’s a classic divide-and-conquer strategy.”

Beomseok nodded calmly. It wasn’t certain, but it was better for Lewis to see it that way. It aligned with the idea that the Black Society considered him and the fraternity members enemies.

“Yes. You can think of it that way.”

“This is interesting. Very interesting. Wilkins and Balbar will be furious when they hear about it.”

Beomseok’s eyes lit up. He realized he could potentially draw Vice Chairman Lewis and the fraternity members into this war. If Wilkins and Balbar got involved, the entire financial world would attack the Black Society.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“Well, I’ll have to wait and see. If Balbar and Wilkins get involved, the world economy will be shaken. I can’t move recklessly yet.”

“What if the Economic Association gets hit?”

“That probably won’t happen. The Black Society and the Economic Association are evenly matched. If you’re worried, you can take the lead. You’ve expanded your influence quite a bit.”

Beomseok made a troubled face. Ilsimhoe had grown, but unity was an issue.

“It’s still difficult. The organization isn’t fully under control.”

“Is that so? What’s the reason?”

“Except for a few, most Ilsimhoe members joined after the incident at the last annual banquet of the Federation Professional Gladiator Association. They don’t particularly cooperate unless it’s gladiator-related. It will improve over time, but it’s not the right time now.”

“Is that so? I disagree. The Black Society is trying to drive out gladiator teams with a personal company character. If they don’t drive out the Black Society, their position is unstable. An enemy completes the organization’s unity. That’s why the Black Society and the Economic Association are fighting. If you use the current situation well, Ilsimhoe will quickly reorganize.”

That was true. Other Ilsimhoe members were facing difficulties due to Angry Bombs.

Reminding them of this might encourage cooperation. And Beomseok was in contact with the Economic Association. Having an alliance with a large organization would offset the fear of the Black Society for Ilsimhoe members.

“Yes. I know what you mean. I’ll give it a try.”

“Hoo-hoo. Yes. I have no doubt you will succeed.”

Lewis stood up and left the chairman’s office with Beomseok and Sheila, planning to have a meal with his daughter nearby.

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

It’s quite chilly outside. Everyone, be careful of the seasonal flu. Then I’ll see you again tomorrow.