Chapter 80 – The Peanut Contract

“I’m sorry for testing you. I did that because receiving only raw peanuts felt a bit of a waste. Knowing that if it goes through Team Leader Lee’s hands, the six-hour quality is guaranteed.”

Hee-won quickly grasped the Guild Leader’s roundabout meaning.

“So, rather than raw peanuts, you want to receive the peanuts Hee-na roasted herself? The ones with the six-hour effect in a single nut?”

Hee-na opened her eyes wide at her brother’s words.

‘Going through my hands too?’

It was an unexpected trading condition, but in a way, it was natural. Since they were purchasing anyway, it was natural to want high-quality goods even if it cost a little more.

Finally, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee showed her cards.

“If Team Leader Lee does the post-processing as well, I’m thinking of proposing 20 million won per 100g.”

At that proposal, Hee-won glanced at his sister. Hee-na answered promptly.

“I’m fine. No, I like it.”

Anyway, all she did at the company was cook meals for Kang Jin-hyun and cast the ‘Comfortable Bed’ skill on his sleeping bag. She had plenty of time.

Hee-na’s willing permission, Hee-won clicked his tongue as if slightly displeased.

“Peeling peanut shells, roasting… it takes too much of my sister’s labor. Let’s make it 25 million won, and have the Blue Dragon Guild remove the shells before handing them over.”

Meanwhile, he briefly made eye contact with Hee-na. It was a question saying, ‘Does this seem doable, is it okay?’ Of course it was doable.

‘It’s not bad to pass the time by roasting peanuts.’

As Hee-won said, peeling the peanut shells was a bit hard because her hands hurt, but roasting was fun.

“I wonder if it’s okay without going through the intermediate steps by Team Leader Lee’s hands.”

At Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee’s question, Hee-na scratched her cheek.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to call it cooking… but I think a synergy effect was attached to the peanuts by receiving my cooking skill. Even if I only handle the final step, the six-hour effect will probably be the same.”

As she added further explanation, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee smiled broadly.

“Okay. Let’s do it that way.”

Except for appearing a bit creaky at first, the peanut negotiation ended very cleanly.

The siblings, Hee-na and Hee-won, contracted to supply roasted peanuts exclusively to the Blue Dragon Guild.

The Blue Dragon Guild paid a price of 25 million won per 100g and promised to keep all of these matters confidential.

If information leaked by any chance and endangered the siblings’ safety, they also decided to take care of all the post-processing and aftermath. This was also Hee-won’s proposal.

Although other minor conditions still needed to be adjusted, at any rate, it was a negotiation satisfactory to both sides.

After wrapping up the situation, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee uncrossed her legs in the opposite direction and spoke.

“Now. Shall we move on to the next topic? It seems Mr. Lee Hee-won has more to say.”

Hee-na and Hee-won exchanged glances.

Now it was time to talk about what was truly important. Conveniently, in order to keep the secret, Hee-na was also doing her best to avoid thinking about anything other than peanuts.

Hee-won slowly opened his mouth.

“There are several crops I am cultivating. Other than peanuts.”

“Hooh.”

Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee leaned forward, showing curiosity.

“I am curious if the other crops you raise also possess special efficacies like the peanuts.”

“They do.”

“For example?”

“For example, efficacies such as temporarily increasing stats when consumed.”

“…What did you say?”

At that answer, the Guild Leader’s expression changed. And looking straight into Hee-won’s eyes, she asked again.

“So… you mean Mr. Lee Hee-won’s crops can act like a kind of stat-increasing potion?”

“That is correct.”

Although Hee-won’s grade was merely D-class, his grit was certainly not average. Hee-won did not back down against Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee’s momentum.

In the tense atmosphere, Hee-na swallowed hard.

“If you want proof, I can show you.”

He pulled out a young spinach leaf from his inventory and placed it on the table.

The grass the size of a fingernail looked really shabby. However, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee picked up the young leaf with a cautious attitude and examined it.

Her gaze quickly read through empty space. The Guild Leader was probably reading the spinach description window.

Humans lie, but the system never lies.

This was the first proposition believed by all awakened people.

Hunters trusted the system entirely. Although they didn’t know by what principle it appeared or why it helped, the system had never deceived them even once.

‘Although it does dump the blame on me by not telling the full truth, or commits housing fraud…’

Of course, Hee-na had some personal grudges against the system. However, in any case, to most Hunters, the system was virtually omnipotent and perfect.

Since it was a description window shown by such a system, this single contact was bound to be much more persuasive than Hee-na and Hee-won explaining it a hundred or a thousand times to the Guild Leader.

“This is…”

Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee looked down at the young spinach leaf with slightly enlarged eyes. It was quite different from her usual self, who always showed a relaxed attitude.

“Since it is still undergrown, the effect is minor. However, if we grow it to full maturity, you will be able to see a much grander effect than this. We can supply it to you at a cheaper price than potions. And just like the peanuts, if it receives Hee-na’s touch, it will obtain a better effect.”

“Hmm…”

Hee-won did not stop at this. He continued to speak about his skills and possibilities.

“Besides this spinach, there are many crops that have not sprouted yet. Of course, I don’t know yet what effects each will have. However, I can guarantee that they possess a value not a waste for the Blue Dragon Guild to invest in once.”

“So, what Mr. Lee Hee-won means is that you want to trade production items other than peanuts with our guild?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

Hee-won replied calmly, and Hee-na sat beside him, shrinking her body. It was due to tension.

‘If we don’t sign an exclusive contract with the Blue Dragon Guild, the situation might get complicated.’

Even if they took a slight financial loss, it was more important for the siblings to find a business partner who would keep their secret.

Furthermore, Hee-na had not yet thought of an alternative after being rejected.

‘Should we go to another guild and proceed with the transaction using an intermediary cushion?’

Of course, Hee-won had patted his chest in advance, telling her not to worry about this matter at all.

Therefore, it was highly likely that Hee-won had thought of another alternative in case they were rejected. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but feel tense.

“Hmm. Okay. Proceeding with an exclusive contract with our guild in exchange for secrecy and safety…”

Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee started speaking.

Hee-na grabbed her pounding heart and stared intently at her lips.

“…Very well. We can’t let other guilds snatch away such good items.”

With that, Guild Leader Kim Kyu-hee extended her hand.

She shook hands with Hee-na and Hee-won in turn and said.

“We will purchase all the items produced by Mr. Lee Hee-won. We promise strict security regarding this. Shall we decide the price per item after the crops are fully grown and their complete effects are confirmed?”

“Good. We will be seeing each other again next time.”

Hee-won smiled refreshingly and nodded.

‘That’s great.’

Hee-na also let out a sigh of relief at the Guild Leader’s proposal.

“Guild Leader, please take good care of us in the future.”

“We look forward to working with you too. Thank you for introducing a good trading partner, Team Leader Lee. You have a great brother. He is bold and capable.”

It was a compliment uttered by none other than the Guild Leader of the Blue Dragon Guild. She felt proud enough to make her heart tingle. There was never a day she felt her brother was as cool as today.

Hee-na and Hee-won settled the remaining contract with mana stones and returned home with proud hearts.

* * *

“Wow, the money is in.”

Hee-won showed his cell phone screen. The account balance had ballooned enormously.

“How many digits is this…? One, ten, one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million, ten million, one hundred million… Gasp, nine zeros?”

Hee-na was so shocked she almost fell backward. A ten-digit number. It was no different from astronomical to a commoner.

“You earned this much just by selling peanuts?”

She couldn’t believe he earned this enormous amount of money with just a single sack of peanuts.

“I’m a cash-rich guy now.”

Hee-won rolled around the house happily looking at his cell phone screen. Badugi, who was watching that sight, also curled his enlarged body into a ball and rolled along.

Osaek-i evaluated the behavior of the person and the plant like this.

A total mess.

Hee-na wanted to agree with Osaek-i’s opinion, but her surprise came first. Hee-na stopped her rolling brother by placing her foot on him, thump.

“Wow… Oppa, can’t you just play and eat now without farming anymore?”

Hee-won answered as if she was asking something obvious.

“No, I’m going to keep farming. I didn’t farm to earn money in the first place… Farming is really fun. Money is money, but once I harvested, I couldn’t stop. Harvesting the guys I raised gives an incredible pleasure. The process of growing them is enjoyable too. And on top of that, earning money makes it the icing on the cake, killing two birds with one stone.”

He stood up from his seat, sat down, and scratched his head.

“And honestly, the money that came in is so huge that it doesn’t feel real. Should I say it doesn’t feel like my money? Unless there is a big issue, I will continue to live with you in a normal two-room house, wearing a stretched-out T-shirt and rolling around on the floor…”

“Oppa, you speak like someone practicing asceticism.”

“Honestly, aren’t you the same? While your hobby is still looking at mart sale items.”

The Homemaker of the Dungeon