WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B.
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 81: 081
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“This is a Reverse-Aging Potion?”
My sister looked down at the green potion in her hand and asked. I nodded.
“Yeah. It’s a Reverse-Aging Potion.”
“This is the one I’ve only heard about...”
“It’s worth at least tens of billions of won. Drink it gratefully.”
My sister examined the potion in her hand with fascinated eyes.
A Reverse-Aging Potion.
A potion that reversed one year of physical aging when consumed.
Its price was at least tens of billions of won. Every time one appeared at auction, rich people around the world snapped it right up.
Of course it felt strange to be holding something so valuable in her hand.
Then my sister spoke with a hesitant expression.
“But can I really drink something like this? It’s worth tens of billions of won. What a waste. Wouldn’t it be better to sell it...”
“Come on!”
I shouted at her.
My sister.
To think she didn’t understand her own position this much!
“You’re the only blood relative and manager of this Extreme Lunatic Hell Wizard Hunter! You’re also the deputy director of the Extreme Lunatic Hell Power Plant. You deserve to enjoy at least this much!”
“But...”
“Besides, there are already hundreds of billions of won in my bank account, and I’ll probably get hundreds of billions more if I sell the artifacts I got from those Hunter special operations units. Are you really going to tremble over a few tens of billions?”
Too much had changed in just one month.
My sister still hadn’t shaken off her ordinary person’s sense of money.
To feel burdened by a mere few tens of billions.
I could get as many items like this as I wanted, so why did I need to save it?
“If you put it that way... then should I drink it?”
“Try it, try it.”
At my forceful urging, my sister reluctantly raised the potion.
Pop!
The glass bottle’s stopper came free, and my sister slowly drank the potion.
Then...
-Fwoosh...
A faint green glow shimmered around her.
Was the Reverse-Aging Potion taking effect?
About a minute passed like that.
Once the green radiance faded, my sister asked quietly.
“Jiho. How is it? Did I change at all?”
“Hmm...”
I narrowed my eyes and studied my sister’s face.
Honestly.
I couldn’t see much of a difference.
Her face was still the one I knew, and her complexion didn’t look different from usual either.
Her skin did seem a little clearer somehow, but...
Was that because of the Reverse-Aging Potion, or was I just imagining things?
It was hard to tell.
The effect was pretty subtle.
Well, that was only natural.
‘A Reverse-Aging Potion only reverses one year of aging in the first place.’
People weren’t machines.
Their faces didn’t change dramatically every single year, so one bottle of Reverse-Aging Potion wouldn’t create a dramatic difference.
Hyeji seemed to have a different opinion, though.
“Oh my god! Jiye! Your skin got so firm!”
“Really? It does feel like my skin is more moisturized than usual...”
“And the freckles and blemishes you had are disappearing too. Wow! This is incredible. It’s definitely worth tens of billions!”
“Oh...”
“I’m jealous! I want... I want a Reverse-Aging Potion too...!”
My sister and Hyeji chatted excitedly.
As a man, I didn’t really get it...
But apparently there was something only women could see.
Anyway, they seemed happy, so that was a relief.
‘Then I just need to keep farming potions like this.’
Since I had decided to become a firefighting helicopter on the High Floors, I would be able to gather lots of potion loot.
I could sweep up everything that would normally have burned away.
I would probably get plenty of Reverse-Aging Potions too.
“Sis, wait for me! I’ll gather lots and lots of Reverse-Aging Potions and make you completely young again. You’ll become an immortal woman in her twenties!”
“Uh... thanks, Jiho?”
“What about me, Jiho? What about me? I want a Reverse-Aging Potion too...! Please give me one next time!”
“Come on! There’s an order to these things! Hyeji, wait your turn. First, I need to turn my sister into a baby. After I give her baby skin, I’ll share some with you too.”
“Jiho, I don’t need to go that far...”
I felt satisfied.
It felt like I was finally repaying my sister, little by little, for everything she had suffered because of me.
A strange sense of fulfillment rose from deep in my chest.
I had made all kinds of plans to spoil my sister...
But climbing the Tower, other countries interfering, and everything else had kept delaying them.
Now, I really intended to repay her bit by bit.
‘I’ll bring back lots of Reverse-Aging Potions, move into a flashy mansion in Hannam-dong, and buy her a better car too.’
From now on, I would make time to spoil my sister little by little.
Maybe I should start looking at houses tomorrow.
That was how the day came to an end.
Tomorrow would be Floor 32.
The “small city” floor.
* * *
The next day, I went through my usual routine.
I ate breakfast, dealt with loot, melted my brain a little with shorts and games, practiced magic...
I also called Han Seonga to exchange my Points.
“Hello, Baek Jiho. Good morning.”
Click.
Han Seonga entered through the front door as usual.
I spoke to her.
“Hello, Han Seonga. I’ll exchange my Points first.”
“Please place your hand on the crystal ball.”
I placed my hand on the crystal ball with practiced ease.
[Please specify the amount of Points to transfer to the Republic of Korea.]
“Everything.”
[Transferring 362,100 Points to the Republic of Korea.]
I transferred the Points.
Han Seonga looked at the crystal ball and spoke quietly.
“Hunter Baek Jiho, we have confirmed 362,100 Points. We will deposit 3.621 billion won into your designated account. The Republic of Korea will remember your dedication.”
Bow.
She respectfully bowed from the waist again today.
Was Han Seonga’s back okay?
She was still young, so she was probably fine.
If not, I was willing to give her a bottle or two of Reverse-Aging Potion later if I had any extra.
What if she kept doing those folding bows because of me and threw out her back?
Anyway, I had exchanged my Points.
I was starting to earn billions of won just from Point income alone!
The profits were overwhelming.
My daily income from exchanging Points was several billion won.
And if I sold the potions too, I would surely make tens of billions more.
But...
For some reason...
I didn’t feel much.
‘Hmm. There’s already over 200 billion won piled up in my account. A few billion in income... it’s so-so.’
There were already hundreds of billions of won in my account.
That was why a few billion didn’t feel all that significant anymore.
That was what made thresholds so scary.
Back when I worked at the convenience store, I would have trembled with joy every time tens of billions of won landed in my account.
Now I just felt indifferent...
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
‘But shouldn’t I spend this money quickly? I heard it’s bad to leave money sitting around.’
I had heard on Mutube that leaving money alone was basically the same as letting your assets slowly shrink.
They said I needed to put it into savings, stocks, or something.
Should I try investing?
I should ask Hyeji for advice, since she used to work in finance.
While I was lost in various random thoughts, Han Seonga spoke quietly.
“And the inspection process for the artifacts you entrusted to us has been completed. There are two Grade 1 artifacts, eleven Grade 2 artifacts, and twenty-three Grade 3 artifacts. I’ll have them brought in right away.”
“Oh.”
It seemed the National Intelligence Service had finished inspecting the artifacts they took away.
Han Seonga tapped on her smartphone.
-Thud, thud, thud.
National Intelligence Service agents entered our home.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
They brought plastic boxes and stacked them neatly in front of the entrance.
There were dozens of artifacts, so there were quite a lot of boxes.
It would be a pain to sell all of those.
‘I should make sales posts on the Raid Team board later.’
Two Grade 1 artifacts, eleven Grade 2 artifacts, and twenty-three Grade 3 artifacts...
I could get at least 300 billion won for them.
I could get even more if they were popular artifacts like swords or spears.
I would need to put in some legwork.
Either way, I felt good.
“I’ve moved one step closer to Elon Mengsk’s throne...!”
Just wait, Elon Mengsk!
I would earn all the money in the world and take the number one richest person spot from you!
As I renewed my determination...
“And... Baek Jiho? The date for your formal contract has finally been set.”
“Oh... The date is finally out? When is it?”
“The contract will take place at the Blue House in four days. But there is something I need to tell you...”
“?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
Han Seonga had lowered her head as though she felt ashamed.
Then she continued.
“There is a high chance that someone from another country will attend the signing ceremony.”
“Someone from another country? Is someone coming from London?”
“Not London. President Trump of the United States has decided to attend.”
“Torumph? The U.S. president? Why is that man coming to my contract signing?”
The president of the United States.
Why would he come to another country’s Hunter contract signing?
“I heard President Trump made a strong request. He wants to attend your signing ceremony before the summit... He asked us to arrange a conversation.”
“Isn’t it obvious he’s trying to recruit me?”
“That is highly likely. Our government tried to refuse President Trump’s request as well. But... the condition they offered was too significant.”
“A significant condition? What kind of condition could it be...”
“...They said that if we allow President Trump to attend your signing ceremony and speak with you, the United States will establish a currency swap with Korea.”
“...?”
A currency swap?
What the hell was that, you nerd?
I was completely ignorant when it came to finance and current affairs, so I had no idea what a currency swap was.
Still, judging by how tense Han Seonga looked as she explained it, it seemed like an incredible offer.
Maybe she read the confusion on my face.
She quietly explained.
“A currency swap... in other words, an exchange arrangement between dollars and won. If this agreement is made, we will be able to dramatically lower the exchange rate.”
“How much would it lower?”
“This is not an ordinary agreement, but a standing currency swap... They expect it could lower the rate by around 300 won in a short period.”
“...!”
I was shocked.
If we did this currency swap thing...
The won-to-dollar exchange rate would drop by 300 won?
That was incredible news.
The economy of the Great Awesome Republic of Korea had reached an exchange rate of 2,600 won per dollar.
Consumer prices were hell.
Companies everywhere were going bankrupt one after another or being sold overseas.
In an era like this, a 300 won drop in the exchange rate could be a ray of hope for Korea’s economy!
We had no choice but to accept that offer.
“So... I apologize, Baek Jiho, but it would be best if you accepted...”
“Anyway, if I meet Torumph, the exchange rate will drop by 300 won, right? Fine, I’ll accept. As the Extreme Lunatic Hell Patriotic Admiral Yi Hunter, there’s no way I’d refuse something that helps our country! It’s only talking to a foreign president for a few minutes... It’s not that difficult.”
“Thank you, Baek Jiho! But, are you perhaps considering going to the United States...”
“Hey. What do you take me for?”
“I’m sorry. I misspoke.”
Anyway.
It seemed the United States wanted me badly.
To offer an exchange rate collapse just for meeting me and exchanging a few words.
They really knew how amazing I was!
They were even offering a currency swap or whatever just to meet me once!
I would use this chance to make the exchange rate crash and save the people of my country from economic suffering.
“MAKE KOREA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
“...Hunter Baek Jiho? Why are you repeating President Trump’s slogan? Do you perhaps admire President Trump...?”
“Bring me a red hat at once!”
“Hunter Baek Jiho... You’re not abandoning Korea, are you? Surely not? Could you please tell me you’re not...?”
Han Seonga fidgeted and shook her leg nervously.
I thought about Torumph.
If Elon Mengsk was the number one attention seeker in the business world, Donald Torumph was the number one attention seeker in politics.
He was a world-class attention seeker who could compete with Elon Mengsk.
And I was the Extreme Lunatic Hell attention seeker!
When it came to craving attention, I was second to no one.
I clenched my fist and raised my fighting spirit.
‘It’s a showdown, Torumph. Let’s see whether your MAGA is stronger, or my MKGA!’
In four days, my formal contract would take place, and my face and personal information would be publicly revealed to the entire world.
Then I would come face to face with Torumph, a world-class attention seeker.
I needed to climb diligently in preparation for that day.
If I climbed even one more floor, I would feel a little less inferior, right?
I waited for porter Na Hyeji and fairy Iing Iing.
A little later.
[Entering Tower Floor 32.]
The raid on Floor 32 began.
* * *
Washington, United States.
The White House West Wing.
The Oval Office, the president’s office.
“I arranged the meeting you wanted perfectly, Minister Scott.”
Across a large desk, a burly white man spoke.
His name was Donald Torumph.
He was the president of the United States of America.
He twitched his eyebrows as he asked.
“I threw in a currency swap just to make this happen. A standing currency swap! It’s a huge deal. A big deal. Those Koreans wouldn’t accept any other conditions, so I had no choice but to give them this much.”
“A currency swap is a price we can afford to pay. At least they did not demand Points as well.”
“Seriously... That’s why I’m asking. Is Baek Jiho really worth that much? Not even recruitment terms, just the chance to attempt to recruit him, and we’re putting up a currency swap?”
To arrange a meeting with Baek Jiho, Torumph had offered the bait of a standing currency swap.
The European Union, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
A standing currency swap was a privilege granted only to America’s closest economic allies.
To maintain the dollar’s dominance.
And to protect its own interests.
The United States had only established standing currency swaps with currencies that had been thoroughly verified and could be trusted.
But they were promising a standing currency swap with Korea, a country on the verge of collapse.
With the won, which would soon be little more than worthless scraps of paper...
It was practically a one-sided loss for the United States.
Was that Baek Jiho really worth so much?
Did they really need to attempt recruitment while risking a decline in trust in the dollar?
Minister Scott replied.
“Mr. President. Our dollar dominance is no longer what it once was. At present, we can barely suppress the expanding influence of the yuan.”
“I know our dollar isn’t what it used to be. Everyone knows that. So what? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Baek Jiho is already earning Points comparable to the late Highest Floors, despite only being on the High Floors. If we recruit him and help him grow, he will earn an unimaginable number of Points. If we can recruit Baek Jiho... we can easily bear a decline in trust in the dollar.”
If they could recruit Baek Jiho.
It did not matter if the value of the dollar suffered.
Minister Scott sincerely believed that.
After all...
“Isn’t this a world where Points determine everything? Any decline in trust in the dollar will be easily resolved once the recruited Baek Jiho earns enormous amounts of Points.”
In this era, gold and dollars were not what mattered.
Points were the most important resource.
Torumph frowned.
“Hmph. He’s that amazing? So what? We already have David! Captain David is a real hero. A beautiful hero. That Baek Jiho can’t even compare to David!”
“Baek Jiho is the only Hunter currently expected to conquer the Tower. His potential far exceeds David’s. I must emphasize again, we need to recruit Baek Jiho at any cost.”
“Just how amazing is this guy that everyone’s making such a fuss...”
Torumph clicked his tongue and pressed a button on his desk.
It was the cola button.
Soon after he pressed it, an aide approached and set down a can of Zero Cola.
Torumph drank the Diet Cola as though his throat were burning.
Bang!
He slammed the can down roughly and spoke.
“Fine! I’ll recruit him in consideration of your judgment. And don’t worry about failure. Why? Because the great me is personally stepping in! If I go there and say one thing, he’ll cry tears of emotion. He’ll say, ‘Oh, Torumph! You’re the best!’ and immediately run to America. It’ll be Yuuuge news!”
“...Baek Jiho is clearly a patriot. Recruitment will not be easy.”
“You don’t trust me? I’m Torumph! No one in the world can get things done better than me! There’s nothing I can’t do! Losers like CMM spread fake news every time, saying I’ll fail, but I always succeed!”
Torumph passionately spoke while pounding his chest.
Minister Scott quietly sighed.
‘Please let this man recruit Baek Jiho.’
President Trump.
A man with immense self-love, impulsive and emotional tendencies, and the drive of a bulldozer.
He was not particularly suited to recruiting others.
Still, he possessed the dazzling position of president of the United States of America.
All Scott could do was hope Baek Jiho would show interest.
Four days remained until Baek Jiho and Torumph met.
The clash between two attention seekers was close at hand.
Footnotes:
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