Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 411

413

“Okay. Have a seat over here.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Beomseok sat on the chair in front of the dining table, picked up a spoon, and took a sip of the vegetable soup Yoshiya had cooked and brought out, savoring the taste. It was quite delicious, so he wore a satisfied smile and said,

“Yoshiya, you’re a good cook. It’s not greasy at all, and the aroma of the vegetables is very well infused. You’ll be loved by your future owner.”

“Oh, please. I still have a lot to learn.”

“No, it’s very delicious. It puts most restaurants to shame.”

“Th, that’s an overstatement.”

Yoshiya, with a blush on her cheeks, turned around and went back into the kitchen to get the steak.

Beomseok glanced at her figure as she walked away, expressing admiration. He hadn’t realized it before, only having seen her in her ID photo and suit, but she had a considerable figure. She was more than suitable to be his Elf [a term for a highly skilled and valuable female gladiator in this context].

Vincent, observing his expression, wore a generous smile and said,

“It seems you like her quite a bit?”

“Yes, I do. She’s an Elf who lacks nothing. By the way, is it okay to show me to Yoshiya?”

“Of course. She’s going to the World Walker Auction Market soon anyway, so there’s no problem with her seeing you.”

“Hmm, I suppose so. Even if she doesn’t go to the God’s Knights [Beomseok’s team], she can still find another owner.”

“That’s right. But there’s no problem with her finding an owner early either.”

Beomseok, who had paused with the spoon full of warm soup, glanced at Vincent. He could roughly guess his intentions. Vincent was trying to sell Yoshiya to him.

“That’s right. Elves are eagerly waiting to find an owner. Especially Yoshiya, who has been alone until the age of 30, must want to serve an owner as soon as possible.”

“Of course. That’s why I’m saying, since you’re going to take her anyway, why not buy her from us now instead of going through the Walker Auction Market? That’s why I brought Herbert here. If you come to an agreement, we can hand her over immediately.”

Beomseok licked his parched lips. The real work was finally beginning.

‘Damn it. It’s become clear now. I don’t know how, but that old man definitely knows my intentions. Otherwise, as soon as Yoshiya was mentioned in the phone call, he wouldn’t have dragged me here and presented her to me like this. But how did he find out?’

But that didn’t matter. If he didn’t pull himself together, he would continue to be manipulated by Vincent throughout this transfer season. He had to overcome the current difficulty somehow.

“Hehe. Since she’s the one I wanted anyway, I might as well if the price is right.”

Vincent looked at Beomseok with a surprised expression. God’s Knights needed a considerable amount of funds to ruin his ambitions in this transfer market. There was no need to show such eagerness for Yoshiya, who he could buy later when he had more *余裕 [yoyuu – Japanese for leeway or room to spare].*

“Oh, really? Your boldness is quite impressive. To be so willing to buy Yoshiya, who has quite a high price tag. It seems your pockets are deep?”

“Well, I don’t know if I’m that bold, but I have enough funds to purchase Yoshiya.”

As soon as those words came out, Vincent let out a loud cough. He had something to think about, taking advantage of the moment when Yoshiya brought out the plate with the steak. Beomseok’s attitude was very different from what he had expected.

‘What is this guy thinking, buying Yoshiya?’

If Beomseok bought Yoshiya, it would cost nearly 1 billion krang [currency in this world]. He didn’t know how much God’s Knights currently had, but it would greatly reduce the money they could spend in the upcoming transfer market. It was difficult to rashly offer to buy her.

Director Vincent personally accepted the steak dish that Yoshiya brought.

“Yoshiya, you’ve worked hard. I don’t know if I’m just bothering you by calling you here.”

Yoshiya smiled happily and shook her head. She didn’t know why he had suddenly asked her to cook today, but she was happy to prepare the meal. Now that she would soon have an owner, she couldn’t help but be happy every day.

“No, not at all. I always wanted to treat you to a meal, Director.”

“Oh, how grateful I am. Thanks to you, this old man is living in luxury.”

“Oh, please. If you hadn’t chosen me, Director, getting an owner before the age of 30 would have been a distant dream. I want to repay you for that.”

“Hehe, our Yoshiya. Your heart is so beautiful. I don’t know who will be your owner, but they’ll be very lucky. Yes.”

Yoshiya, with a shy expression, arranged the last dish on the table and stood politely next to Vincent.

Beomseok glanced at her and opened his mouth.

“By the way, Yoshiya, aren’t you going to eat?”

“I’m planning to go back to the dorm and eat.”

“Is that so? Then go back now. We need to have an important conversation while we eat.”

Then Vincent gestured for Yoshiya, who was about to turn around, to come back. Yoshiya’s presence was a great burden to Beomseok.

“Hey, why are you being so heartless? Since we’re all here together, we should share a meal. And since it’s a conversation related to Yoshiya, there’s no harm in her listening.”

“Ah, is that so? Then let’s do that together. I was going to send Yoshiya away because I thought she was eating separately. It’s quite late for lunch now.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll take that as permission.”

Vincent gave a look, and Yoshiya went into the kitchen, brought out soup and steak, arranged them on the table next to Beomseok, and sat down. Then she picked up a piece of bread from the center of the table and looked around. She roughly understood what they were going to talk about.

If a representative from another team came and it was a conversation related to her, it was likely a transfer negotiation. Although Yoshiya was scheduled to go to the World Walker Auction Market, her goal was to find an owner, so she didn’t mind being recruited by God’s Knights.

No, she could continue to work as a World League Gladiator, so it was very desirable.

Vincent, who was cutting the steak, opened the negotiation.

“Beomseok, let’s continue the conversation we were having earlier. Since when have you been interested in our Yoshiya?”

Yoshiya, thinking that his prediction was correct, maintained a modest posture. Currently, there was a very high possibility that he would become her owner, so she needed to make a good impression.

Beomseok, who was tearing the bread in half, dipped it in the soup and said casually,

“Well, it hasn’t been that long. Probably since the time I faced Director’s Chaplin Whisper [likely a gladiator or team].”

“Hmm, is that so? But how did you know that Yoshiya would be sold at the World Walker Auction Market?”

“I heard it from Diana.”

Diana was a child Vincent had with him when he was the director of Dragon Knights, and she was sold to Beomseok for about 1 million krang because she wasn’t sold at the local Walker Ocean Market.

“I see. Diana is quite a smart girl. But what did she say?”

“Hmm, she said that if a world-class gladiator like Yoshiya went to a mere Central League team, there must be a good reason. Like an early retirement condition.”

“Well, there’s no way a child like Yoshiya would go to a Central League team. Excellent foresight. She’s worthy of being my disciple.”

“Hehe. That’s why I bought her from you, Director. She’s worth that much.”

“Hmph. I think she’s worth more than that?”

Since it wasn’t wrong, Beomseok readily admitted it. The price he bought her for was 1 million krang. Diana was an Elf who far exceeded that value.

“Indeed. Diana’s value cannot be converted into 1 million krang. Director is definitely right.”

“I’m glad you know. Don’t you have any gratitude towards me?”

“Well, it seems like the person I should be grateful to is someone else.”

“Who?”

“Hehe. Who else could it be? It’s Arnold.”

At that moment, Director Vincent’s face contorted. He couldn’t forget the baggage of his life. During his time with the Dragon Knights, he had suffered significant losses in transfer negotiations because of his unnecessary interference.

Then Herbert, who was next to him, asked him a question.

“Director, who is Arnold?”

“He’s the trainer in charge of Dragon Knights.”

“Ah. Are you talking about the gladiator team you were with before, Director?”

“That’s right.”

Herbert looked at the expressions of Beomseok and Vincent and said something meaningful.

“He must have been a great person. Since both Director and Beomseok are mentioning him.”

“Hmph~ In a way, he was a great guy. He’s the one who dragged the Dragon Knights, which I worked so hard to build, into the abyss.”

Beomseok smiled and joined the conversation.

“But he’s like a benefactor to me. A significant portion of the God’s Knights’ growth is due to him.”

Herbert could then recognize what kind of person Arnold was. If he was resented by those he was with and called a benefactor by the people of the rival team, it was obvious without even seeing him.

“I, I see. It seems like someone I don’t need to know.”

“No, he’s someone you must know. He’s the kind of guy who only does things that a trade manager shouldn’t do. If you observe him well and do the opposite, someone like you will be very successful in this field.”

“Hahaha. That’s probably true. I agree.”

Herbert wore an awkward expression at the simultaneous remarks of Beomseok and Vincent. He was truly curious about what kind of person he was that they, who were second to none in the gladiator world, were saying such things.

Vincent shook his head and changed the subject. Thinking of Arnold was making him lose his appetite.

“Okay. Let’s stop talking about him and get back to the main point. Beomseok, how much are you thinking of buying Yoshiya for?”

“Hey, Director. Why are you acting like you don’t know? When have you ever seen me say the price first? I never do anything that would be a loss for me.”

Vincent crossed his arms and wore a subtle smile on his lips. It was definitely true that you would inevitably suffer a loss if you spoke the price first in a deal.

“Hehe. Well, there’s no way you’d do anything that would be a loss for you. Then can I suggest a price first?”

“Of course, I’d like that.”

“How about 800 million?”

Beomseok paused the knife he was using to cut the steak. Yoshiya was a gladiator who could fetch close to 1 billion krang if she went to the World Walker Auction Market. She was not only skilled, but also young for a retired gladiator. But now Vincent was not only suggesting a price first, even at the risk of losing money, but also setting a lower price than expected.

‘What is it? Is it to prepare funds in advance to recruit Irolita’s Bormia [likely gladiators]?’

It was a convincing reason, but it wasn’t a strategy that Director Vincent would take. He had a tendency to sell his gladiators at the right price in any situation. He wasn’t the kind of person to take this kind of action first unless there was another important reason.

‘There’s definitely a reason. It’s too pathetic to say no to Director Vincent’s actions so far. It seems like he’s trying to approach this deal from a macro perspective.’

If it was a macro perspective, it meant connecting the recruitment of Irolita and Bormia with this deal with Yoshiya. That meant that Director Vincent was thoroughly keeping him in check. If Beomseok bought Yoshiya here, the two teams would have a financial difference of 1.6 billion krang.

Beomseok, who had clasped his hands together, gave Director Vincent a bitter smile. If so, he had an idea too.

“Hehe. 800 million… Isn’t that too expensive?”

“800 million is expensive? You don’t know how much Yoshiya will sell for if she goes to the World Walker Auction Market, do you?”

“Well, she’ll probably sell for close to 1 billion.”

“Are you saying that knowing that? 800 million means you’re making a profit of about 200 million.”

Beomseok said, shining his eyes.

“But no one knows the price of the auction. I’m expecting it to sell for about 1 billion krang, but there’s a high possibility that it will be traded below that.”

“That’s right. But there’s also a good chance that it will sell for more than that.”

Beomseok put down the spoon in his hand and spoke in a serious tone.

“Director Vincent. Why do you keep doing this? It’s difficult for me if you, who know everything, do this. The transaction price in the professional world is not determined by value, but by the interaction between the parties involved in the transaction. Especially this case.”

“Well, that’s probably true. Then tell me the price you want.”

Beomseok spread three fingers on the spot.

“It’s 300 million krang. This is already a very generous offer.”

Vincent snorted and immediately put down the bread he was eating. Saying that he would buy Yoshiya for 300 million krang was no different from saying that he would not make a deal.

“Hmph. 300 million… Are you trying to play with me?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Then why does the amount of 300 million krang come out?”

“Well, if it’s traded at that price, Chaplin Whisper will make a huge profit.”

Then Herbert, who was next to him, turned red and got up from his seat. He couldn’t understand Beomseok’s remarks at all.

“Mr. Beomseok! Why would selling Yoshiya for 300 million krang benefit us! It’s obviously a loss!”

At that, Beomseok looked at Herbert as if he was pathetic.

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

It rained for the first time in a while. So I thought it would be cool now, but it wasn’t. It’s still stuffy. It seems like I’m going to have a hard time this summer no matter what.

Then everyone have a nice day. I’ll see you again tomorrow.