Debuff Master

[Onward! Becoming an Economic Superpower!]

[Description: Exports are the only way to survive for a small underpopulated nation! Hire Quandt and establish a new Bavarian Workshop, turning it into a state-owned enterprise to create an export industry for the kingdom!]

[Progress: 0%]

[Reward: Economic boost for the Proatine Kingdom!]

[Note: Upon quest completion, the user has the chance to drive Avant out to reclaim the original Bavarian Workshop. Doing so will result in a massive economic boost for the Proatine Kingdom.]

“Oh! Export!” Siegfried exclaimed while trembling in excitement after reading the new quest he obtained, Onward! Becoming an Economic Superpower!

The Bavarian Workshop was a global corporation. Their master blacksmiths produced high-quality items coveted by many and sold in shops all over the continent.

This business model was perfect for the Proatine Kingdom, which had a small population, as it would prove to be one of the most effective ways to strengthen its economy.

In reality, the Proatine Kingdom’s economy was extremely unstable. The kingdom mainly relied on one-sided trade deals with its allied nations, and it would have gone bankrupt already if Siegfried hadn't been finding opportunities and making ties abroad.

Thus, a global company like the Bavarian Workshop becoming a state-owned enterprise would be a tremendous help in stabilizing the country’s economy.

“So, you’re saying that the Bavarian Workshop will become a partner of with the Proatine Kingdom rather than the Bayerische Kingdom?” Siegfried asked.

“Yes, that’s correct,” Quandt replied with a nod. Then, he explained, “My relationship with the Bayerische Kingdom is over, and so too for the blacksmiths who follow me. The emotional rift between us is simply too deep to overcome even if we were to reclaim the workshop.”

“That makes sense.”

“So, I want to establish the headquarters of the new Bavarian Workshop here, in the Proatine Kingdom.”

“That’s excellent news for me.”

“And for the next five hundred years, it will operate as a state-owned enterprise under the Proatine Kingdom’s rule.”

“We’d be honored. I’ll be deeply grateful if you choose to partner with the Proatine Kingdom.”

“No, it would be an honor for me.”

“Just give me a little bit of time. I will do everything in my power to help you reclaim the Bavarian Workshop.”

“You will…?”

“Yes, of course.”

Siegfried was fully committed to helping Quandt reclaim the Bavarian Workshop from Avant.

Why?

It was all because using an existing distribution network was far more cost-effective than building a new one from scratch.

“I’ll make reclaiming the Bavarian Workshop the Proatine Kingdom’s top priority.”

“King Siegfried…!”

Thud!

Quandt knelt on one knee before Siegfried.

“From this day forward, I will serve you as my king.”

“W-What?! Q-Quandt!”

“Please accept my loyalty, sire.”

“What are you doing?! We’re business partners!”

Siegfried tried to stop him, but the old dwarf remained steadfast on his knee.

“The head blacksmiths of the Bavarian Workshop were vassals of the Bayerische Kingdom in the past, but now, I, Quandt, pledge my loyalty to the Proatine Kingdom and to you, King Siegfried, as my lord.” Řᴀɴ∅𝐁Е𝓢

“But…”

“Please accept my pledge of allegiance,” Quandt said with his head bowed.

“Please, rise…” Siegfried said, trying to avoid the awkward situation.

Unfortunately, the old dwarf refused to budge an inch despite his best efforts.

“Alright then, I will appoint you as the Proatine Kingdom’s Minister of Science and Technology. Also, I will grant you the title of Marquis.”

“I am deeply honored.”

“Please continue to do great things for us, Marquis Quandt,” Siegfried said, helping the old dwarf to his feet.

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

Thus, Siegfried successfully brought Quandt, the chief blacksmith of one of the top three workshops on the continent, under his service.

***

Siegfried appointed Quandt as the Minister of Science and Technology, and then he ordered the prisoners who passed Oscar’s screening to be assigned to Quandt’s department.

Then, he decided to take a short, well-deserved break.

“Hey, Hamchi.”

“Kyu?”

“Why am I so busy lately? I’m really exhausted.”

Siegfried was lying down on the palace lawn, complaining to his pet hamster, Hamchi.

“Kyu? Then take a break!”

“Do you really think I can?”

“You’re secretly a workaholic, aren’t you? Kyuuu!”

“Me?”

“Yes! Kyuuu!”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t you have a life back in your world? You should take a few days off and spend more time there! Kyuuu!”

“Maybe I should…? I mean, I could afford to take a few days off…”

“Kyuuu! You need to rest! You’ve been way too busy lately!”

“True. I guess I’ll take two solid days off.”

Thus, Siegfried decided to take a break from the game and head back to the real world for some much-needed relaxation and to manage his growing assets.

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 0.001!]

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 0.0003!]

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 0.1!]

The growth of the mysterious energy source, Divine Power, seemed nonstop, and he'd see countless notifications about it popping up in front of his eyes.

“Hmm… This is starting to get annoying,” Siegfried grumbled under his breath.

He adjusted the settings to turn off the notifications for minor increases in Divine Power. Yes, it was true that even a bit of something would eventually accumulate, but the increases were so minuscule that they only irritated him every time they popped up.

“But why is my Divine Power rising?” Siegfried muttered.

It was then.

“What are you doing standing around?”

Deus appeared with a fishing rod in hand.

“Hello, Master.”

“Hmm?”

“I was just taking a little rest.”

“Good. Even the strongest of men needs to rest from time to time.”

“I agree, Master.”

“But tell me, what’s that curious energy swirling inside of you?”

“Huh?”

“You seem to be carrying a peculiar power.”

As expected of Deus, he immediately detected Siegfried’s newfound energy source, the Divine Power.

“I was actually hoping to ask you about it, Master.”

“I’m sure you were. You have no idea where it comes from and it doesn’t seem particularly useful, as you don’t know how to use it, right?”

“It is precisely as you said, Master. I have no clue what is going on.”

“You will understand it in due time.”

“Pardon me, Master?”

“Well, I suppose I could tell you now, but… that would only spoil the fun, right?”

“Haha…”

“You’ll eventually learn everything you need to know in time,” Deus said, smiling warmly. Then, he added, “You’re doing great.”

“Eh?” Siegfried muttered, blinking twice. Then, his eyes grew large as he said, “C-Could it mean… that you already know everything about this Divine Power, Master?”

“Hohoho!” Deus let out a hearty laugh and strolled off, disappearing from view without even answering Siegfried’s question.

“What was that all about…?” Siegfried muttered to himself. He could never quite figure out what Deus' thoughts. However, one thing was clear, and it was the fact that the mysterious energy source, Divine Power, was all a part of Deus’ plan.

***

Han Tae-Sung thought he’d finally get some rest in the real world, but unfortunately, life had other plans for him. Tax, building maintenance, and managing his streaming channel as well as his social media accounts.

He had little time to really relax, as there was no end to his work.

Later that night…

“Ugh… I’m dying… I can’t even get an hour of nap these days. How am I supposed to live like this?” Tae-Sung groaned while slumped over the table as soon as he met up with Cheon Woo-Jin.

This was the first time he was meeting Cheon Woo-Jin in real life after what felt like ages.

“Man, you’re going at it too hard. Are you trying to become a dollar billionaire or something? You already have enough money to last a lifetime, you know?” Cheon Woo-Jin replied.

“Whose fault do you think this is? You were the one that messed with my personal information and started this whole—” Tae-Sung snapped.

Cheon Woo-Jin sensed danger and suddenly sipped his coffee.

“Whoa! The coffee here is awesome!” Cheon Woo-Jin exclaimed with exaggerated interest in his coffee.

“You son of a bi—!”

“Ack! Help! Someone call the police! The famous gamer, Han Tae-Sung, is hitting me!”

“Shut it!”

“Help! Han Tae-Sung is assaulting me in broad daylight!”

“You’re dead—!”

Taesung was about to lose it after seeing Cheon Woo-Jin yelping dramatically and shielding himself, but a group of young men in their twenties suddenly approached the table.

“Excuse me… Are you Han Tae-Sung?”

“Hmm? Yeah, that’s me.”

“We are huge fans of yours!”

“Oh? Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Can we get a picture with you? Just one picture?”

“Sure, no problem.”

Tae-Sung smiled brightly and took pictures with each one of his fans. Then, he signed autographs for them without making a fuss. The way he switched from rage to charm was so quick that it was actually pretty impressive.

He finished up with his fans and reached for his coffee when…

“Excuse me…? I am really sorry to bother you, but could I get a photo too? I am a huge fan.”

A beautiful woman shyly stepped forward with her phone out, claiming to be his fan.

“Oh, sure. Do you want me to turn on your camera for you?” Tae-Sung asked, his voice sounding smooth and his expression warm.

“Yes!”

“Alright, here we go!”

Tae-Sung met and greeted his fans. By the time he was finished with all of them, his coffee had long gone cold.

“Wow! Han Tae-Sung is a celebrity now. He’s too busy giving fan service to even notice that his coffee is cold,” Cheon Woo-Jin teased with a grin.

“What can I do? I have to give what the fans want, right?”

“Ooooh? Look at you!”

“Shut it.”

“Hey, Tae-Sung.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you think it’s about time you got yourself a management company?”

“A company?”

“I mean, don’t you need a team of professionals to handle your streaming channel, events, schedules, and all that stuff?”

“Hmm… I guess you’re right?”

Tae-Sung had been handling most of his responsibilities with a few freelancers up until now.

“I mean, you’ve got the money, so why not start your own company? That way, you can just focus on gaming, right?”

“Maybe I should…”

“I can hook you up with some people to help you set up a corporation. It’ll make everything a lot easier.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“By the way. There’s something I’ve been dying to ask,” Cheon Woo-Jin added, his tone growing more curious.

“What?”

“Why are you still obsessed with making so much money?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, you’ve already earned more than you could spend in a lifetime. And you’re gonna keep raking in more.”

“That’s true…”

“Then why not slow down? Why do you keep pushing yourself like this?”

“I’m not obsessed…”

“Oh please, you? Not obsessed with money? The entire gold market is like a rollercoaster because of you. The prices shoot up or crash down if you so much as sneeze.”

Cheon Woo-Jin was not wrong. Han Tae-Sung controlled about fifteen percent of South Korea’s BNW gold supply, and a single move from him could send the market into chaos, causing massive fluctuations in the price of gold.

“Just mind your own business. I’ll take care of my own money,” Tae-Sung replied nonchalantly. Then, he pulled out his phone and discreetly bought more shares of the beehive while Cheon Woo-Jin was not looking.

Tae-Sung had been steadily buying up stocks from the beehive under the radar these days.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Cheon Woo-Jin said, pulling out his phone and placing it on the table. Then, a holographic video projection popped up from his phone, showing a press conference taking place.

Tae-Sung tilted his head in confusion and asked, “What’s this? Is there something today?”

“Huh? You didn’t know?” Cheon Woo-Jin asked in response. Then, he grinned and said, “Today’s the official press conference.”

“What press conference?”

“Just watch.”

“...?”

“It must be nice being so popular.”

“What the hell are you talking about—”

It was then.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

The flash of camera shutters echoed as three men walked into the press conference room. They were a white man and two Asian men that Tae-Sung recognized.

“Huh? Hold on… N-No way…?”

Han Tae-Sung’s eyes shot wide open as he instantly recognized them.

Diesel, Chae Hyung-Seok, and Palchuck.

They were the guild masters of the Oberg Guild, the Genesis Guild, and the United Guild. The three guild masters who had fallen from grace at Siegfried’s hands were now gathered in one place.

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