Chapter 147

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“By that reaction, it seems you already knew about Astra? Did Luna tell you?”

Diorama, who read Han-bit’s expression, turned his gaze.
Luna, who nodded her head, put her smartphone on the table.

“Rafina and I said we would help with the Snow Drake subjugation right? The recruitment of those raid members will be done in Astra.”

An application popped up along with a star logo.
Looking at the UI and the number of recent posts, it seemed to be a more active community than expected.

“But I can’t use the Astra invitation right? I am not an Advance Party yet.”
“You don’t have to worry. Because this is a privilege that was given to a sponsor.”
“A privilege?”
“Yes. At the time Astra was established, the sponsors who supported capital received one invitation each. It’s been over a year, but when to use it is up to me.”

The community Astra was supposedly created under the leadership of an Advance Party member named Grace.
It seems that in the early days, due to a lack of capital, they recruited a few sponsors and laid the foundation.
Did she want to gather competent Advance Party members that much.

“But will Miss Grace really accept him?”

Rafina, who was listening to the conversation, brought out words worriedly.
That reaction was similar for Luna as well.

“I honestly can’t quite imagine it. If it’s that prickly person, she would flat-out refuse.”

Words closer to certainty rather than a guess.
Han-bit, getting curious, asked the two people.

“What kind of person is Grace that you say that?”
“Elite supremacism? She’s a person who gives off that kind of feeling. Saying she hates even associating with people who don’t fit her level or something.”
“Ah…….”

Hearing her explanation, an image was roughly formed.
It’s an appearance that appeared often from the nobles of the other world, modern times wouldn’t be much different.

“Grace is picky about people, but Black Dragon-nim will be fine. Because you are the person shaking up the RP world the most right now. I will take responsibility and make her accept you.”
“…Representative-nim, aren’t you going to get cursed at again?”

Rafina showed her worry once again.
Just what in the world happened.

“You are saying that because you don’t know Grace well, getting cursed at is rather a good sign. It means her reason is shaking after all.”

Diorama spoke with a confident face.
It seems this person is also not ordinary.

“This discussion also has to have the transaction be successfully concluded anyway right? How is it for you, Black Dragon-ssi?”

Luna asked looking at Han-bit.
The reason Vestige side suggested the invitation as a reward.
It was because they wanted information beyond the Belmora episode.

“Selling the episode walkthrough is fine. I also like the amount of 1.5 billion. But the real…….”
“Wait a moment!”

At that time, a voice was heard from the entrance of the meeting room.
As he turned his head, a familiar face was standing there.

“…Yeon-woo?”

The unexpected appearance was surprising.
He approached the seat next to Han-bit and greeted everyone.

“I am DD Studio Representative Joo Yeon-woo. I am sorry for being late.”
“Hello. I am Rafina.”
“Ah, you came eventually huh? I am Luna.”

A briefly exchanged introduction.
Han-bit asked Yeon-woo who sat next to him.

“What is it? You said you couldn’t come?”
“You didn’t check your phone right?”
“Phone?”

At those words, Han-bit pulled out the smartphone he had put deep inside his pocket.
He had put it on silent, but 20 missed calls were piled up.

“…Something happened.”
“Looking at the condition of the subway station exit I could roughly tell. Anyway it’s a relief you’re not late.”

Yeon-woo was also scheduled to be together for the transaction with Vestige.
However, the attendance fell through as the business trip to Japan he caught beforehand was pulled forward.
Seeing him appear like this, was that schedule canceled.

“Nice to meet you, Loafer-nim. I was just thinking of getting into the transaction talk.”
“Nice to meet you too. Thinking about it, it seems it’s been a while being called Loafer. Could I hear the situation a bit for now?”
“Of course.”

Diorama briefly conveyed the preceding story.
Only the conditions were suggested, so the main point was from now on.

“So you’re saying you will give Astra’s invitation if we provide Vestige with necessary information.”

Yeon-woo organized the contents nodding his head.
The 1.5 billion won Belmora episode walkthrough is a bait.
He made the judgment that the real transaction lies in the ‘necessary information’.

“Certainly, there will be no need to go around in circles.”

Diorama, who didn’t particularly have the intention to hide his intent, nodded his head.

Srrk-
He pulled out a large map from the box below and spread it on the table.

“It is an RP map made directly in Vestige. The quality isn’t bad right?”
“…It’s not at the level of not bad though?”
“This is… amazing.”

Yeon-woo and Han-bit who examined the map up close were surprised.
Terrain expressed so in detail.
It was a map at the level of a treasure recorded up to major places and information that finished verification.

“Because many employees stuck onto it and made it together after all…….”
“It’s fascinating whenever I see it. Our unni’s eyes would roll if she saw it.”

Rafina making a timid boast and Luna admiring even though she had seen it several times.
Diorama watching the reactions spoke with a smile.

“Even when I think about it, making this was a good decision. As it wasn’t published in detail in Adventurer A’s guidebook, we gathered strength on our own.”

He pointed at the map with his finger.
A city at the outskirts of the Bastia Allied Nations in the east of the continent.
It was another starting city, Belmora.

“You may have heard from Rafina, but our Vestige has been focusing on targeting Bastia. Going a different path from Raven whose walkthrough is set. We put power into that possibility.”

A directionality configured reasonably in its own way.
It is an entirely understandable decision, but it was also a difficult path as much as the amount of information drops.

‘It is a place where the expected value is low though.’

The difference between Raven and Bastia is clear.
Because how much opportunity you obtain to get tangled with the Holy State is more important than the value of the reward.
That gap being filled is a story of after quite some time flows.

“Are there also people who started in Belmora among the Advance Party members belonging to Vestige?”
“There are two. They are both doing their best, but lately it feels like their blood points aren’t being pierced.”

They, who rose to Investigation Team candidates representing Bastia, poured time and effort.
However it seemed they were experiencing frustration in the recent progression.

“They are receiving the verification of the Investigation Team right now, correct?”
“Yes. Similar to those originating from Raven, they are tied up at the eighth episode.”

Players who completed each nation’s episodes rise to Investigation Team candidates.
And after going through the verification progressed in the Investigation Team, they rise to formal Investigation Team members, and from this point, obtain a status that exercises influence over the world.
The known Advance Party members are presently suffering a headache in this ‘verification’ process.

“So, what information do you want?”

Yeon-woo who was listening to the situation threw a question.
Diorama, who moved his finger, pointed at the uppermost end of Bastia and spoke.

“What we want is the solution to the stagnated episode. Advancing further, obtaining advice regarding the future directionality of progression.”
“…Directionality of progression?”

The solution was sufficiently as expected.
However, the words that followed were a bit ambiguous in content.
Han-bit asked Diorama.

“By advice do you mean you want to receive consulting?”
“Yes. We want to find the advantage of starting in Bastia while not falling behind those originating from Raven.”

In Vestige’s RP business, not only the Advance Party but general players also belong in large numbers.
As most of them are active in the Bastia Allied Nations, they seemed to want to utilize this place as much as possible.

“Of course this is merely a hope, if you don’t have information on this side we will adjust the transaction. Although Astra’s invitation would probably be difficult to give.”

Diorama’s words were not a provocation.
Even if a person named Black Dragon has different information from others, that limit will also be clear after all.
He was not a businessman foolish enough to cling to stories grasping at floating clouds.

“Hmm.”

Han-bit pondered for a moment.
The reason he doesn’t release all the information he has was quite complicated.
The speed at which he grows and the disparity that occurs when another Advance Party goes ahead.
Of course the standard of information’s value becomes himself, and there were also many things to take regarding the title of First.
Leaving aside the distinction between Raven and Bastia, if a player becomes an Investigation Team member they will exert influence across the entire continent after all.

“To tell you just the conclusion, all the information you want is in my head. Information detailed enough that a transaction is possible.”
“…Is that so.”

In an instant, Diorama’s atmosphere changed.
Even if his eyes were not visible, some will of decisive battle was felt from his voice and posture.
It must mean he is sincere about RP and the growth of the affiliated players that much.

“What do you think?”
“It’s a bit worrying. Because we don’t know how much the Advance Party members affiliated with Vestige will grow according to the information hyung provides.”

Yeon-woo who nodded his head looked at the invitation on one side of the table.
And turning his gaze to Diorama, he spoke.

“To tell you honestly, I don’t know how much value Astra’s invitation will have to a player named Black Dragon. Information regarding RP will be shared there too, but I think most of it will be in this hyung’s head.”
“…That is difficult to deny.”

The representative of Vestige obediently nodded his head and accepted it.
Even if it’s an exclusive community for the Advance Party, the main purpose is the exchange of information.
There was no way Han-bit wouldn’t know the information within RP.

“What do you think, Luna-ssi?”
“Me?”

Han-bit looked at Luna out of the blue and asked.
She, who received the question, picked up a candy on the table and spoke.

“Personally I want to give one vote to the side that it’s necessary. Because the reason Astra is useful is that verified Advance Party members are joined.”
“You are saying it’s helpful in gaining connections?”
“Connections of course, and as Black Dragon-ssi’s standing goes up, the scope you can utilize will widen. Like recruiting attack members for this Snow Drake, you could use people as resources right?”

She focused on the utility value of players called Advance Party members rather than RP’s information.
It would definitely be convenient if he can use verified human resources.
Making decent connections in the process is also a good thing if looking far.

“But the value falls slightly to exchange it with the information Ahjussi wants. Since it will be a half-baked reward to Black Dragon-ssi who is full of RP information.”

Luna flatly said that the current transaction is not fair.
The representative of Vestige with whom she has frequent interaction with her friend Rafina.
Even in front of those two, there was no appearance of taking sides at all.

“It certainly was a condition favorable to our side. I thought it was a surprisingly surprising transaction item in my own way, I apologize for not checking beforehand.”

Diorama apologized saying his thoughts were short.

“No. It’s because my situation is a little special.”

One invitation received as an early sponsor.
Using that as the price of a transaction is a harder decision than expected.
Because for someone, it will be an opportunity they want to obtain even giving huge amounts of money.
Why does Ranger’s face come to mind for some reason.

“Then how should we do the transaction? If there is something Black Dragon-nim wants I want to prepare that for you…….”

Rafina was also wanting Black Dragon’s information all the same.
Because she was desperately hoping the difficulties of the company she held affection for and her colleagues would be resolved.

“Hmm.”

Han-bit holding the key to the choice pondered for a moment.
Thinking simply he just has to demand more money.
The Tower of Whirlpool materials too, there will be many places to spend in various ways.
However it was a little a waste to use this opportunity simply.

“……?”

At that time, something entered Han-bit’s eyes glancing at the map.
Memories of the past naturally rising up.
Han-bit looked at Diorama and asked.

“Vestige’s affiliated Advance Party members are finding clues here right now correctly?”
“That’s right. They were logged in together since the morning today as well. They are active in this base camp over here.”

Diorama nodded his head and pointed out the exact location.
Checking that place, Han-bit made a smirk and stated his condition.

“Then could I borrow those people’s 24 hours?”