Solo Leveling: Ragnarok - Chapter 136

The real fight had started. Ahjinsoft’s legal team, led by Jinho, faced off against the Scavenger Guild’s legal team, headed by Laura. Summoning all the skills they’d built up until now, they exchanged countless documents and engaged in a long, intense debate. This was no less of a battle than the showdowns between hunters and magic beasts were, and tension filled the air as neither side relented. But soon enough, the results finally became clear.

“Suho, we’ve decided to split the net revenue exactly down the middle, fifty-fifty.” Jinho strode up to Suho like a triumphant general. “We will provide the funds to purchase the exclusive rights to the Glacier Dungeon, while the Scavenger Guild will manage everything related to the Echo Forest Spring Water… the logistics, management, distribution, sale, and so on.”

Suho had asked his uncle to arrange his new venture since he didn’t have any employees of his own who could handle such tasks. He was busy enough with leveling up, and he didn’t want to be bogged down with running a business. He nodded and said, “That’s great, Uncle. Is there anything I should be paying attention to?”

“You? You just sit back and rake in the cash.” Jinho winked at him. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to be involved in the process at all. We’ve agreed to station some of my company’s people with them to ensure they can’t mess with delivery quotas or payments.”

Jinho had actually been quite generous. Suho naturally had exclusive rights to the Echo Forest Spring Water, in a sense, and the Scavenger Guild could not acquire a single drop of it without him. But in order for this operation to be possible, of course, Suho first had to purchase the rights to the dungeon from Facade Island—where the dungeon was located—then manage it strictly so that no threat ever reached its inhabitants. The Scavenger Guild had agreed to take care of the management as well, so Suho really had nothing left to do. What was more, Jinho was to buy the rights for him.

In a word, Ahjinsoft had just invested a large sum in a single individual—Sung Suho. The company now had the right to monitor the Scavenger Guild and ensure their investment money was being used correctly.

As he listened, Suho noticed Laura in the distance, giving a tired sigh.

He’s merciless, isn’t he? Laura thought. She had just experienced firsthand how Jinho had earned his infamous reputation in this industry. The process had been long and rough, but in the end, the CEO had gotten everything he wanted, including the 50 percent split. The Scavenger Guild had been forced to agree to his every request.

He gutted us completely.Is this how it feels to be a powerless underdog? The Scavenger Guild was the greatest hunter guild in the U.S., but their fame only really counted among hunters. Jinho’s Ahjinsoft was not a guild, but a company, and Jinho had no fear of negative consequences of this deal or of anything going wrong. He was even a major shareholder in the guild, which meant that he’d had an insurmountable advantage from the get-go. The guild had been helpless prey.

What’s worse, the conditions are not at all bad for us.In fact, we should be very happy. Laura’s shaky gaze moved to Jinho, who was grinning next to Suho and Haein.

The reason that the Scavenger Guild had agreed to all his demands was because he had given them the sweetest offer of all—marketing themselves as the sole distributor of Echo Forest Spring Water. That will boost our brand value among hunters at least twice over, thought Laura. The brand value of a guild was not something that could be enhanced merely with money or power. It was reflective of how much positive impact the guild could have on the hunter world.

He got his way, but it doesn’t feel half bad. Was this what it felt like to work with Jinho, the ruthless businessman?

Recalling the man’s reputation again, Laura breathed a quiet sigh, then approached Suho. The young hunter, who’d been speaking with his mother, turned around. Laura nudged up her glasses and said, “Sung Suho… The business part of the discussion is over. Now all that remains is the personal side, which involves Thomas Andre.”

“What personal side?”

“Our guild master wishes to thank you and your mother for all the help you rendered him. Is there anything you desire?”

“Oh, that’s all right. I was able to find my mother thanks to him. That’s enough,” Suho said, refusing politely. It had been because of Thomas’ request that he entered the Glacier Dungeon in the first place, but as a result, he’d been reunited with his mother, who had been missing for years. Suho felt that he was the one who should be grateful.

Laura, however, did not intend to be dissuaded so easily. She had aided Thomas for years as his secretary and knew full well how long he had suffered from his nightmares and anxiety. The reason he’d gone to the Glacier Dungeon at all was because Norma Selner had advised him to do so, saying that he would find a solution to his problems in the dungeon.

“Thomas, you will find relief from your nightmares if you clear the Glacier Dungeon.But first, you must take a hunter from South Korea named Sung Suho…”

It seemed that prophecy had come true. A smile rose to Laura’s lips as she watched Thomas in the distance, playing pranks on his men using his immense strength and cackling as he did so. “Our guild master has a very competitive spirit. He can’t stand not repaying his debts. Please, ask us for anything. This is my way of saying thank you as well.”

Suho looked troubled at Laura’s repeated request. It occurred to him that it might be impolite to refuse again. The problem was that he didn’t really need anything else. He’d found his mother, and thanks to the dungeon, he was set to make a lot of money. She could ask him what he wanted, but he couldn’t think of anything right away.

Wait a second… An idea flitted through his mind. “In that case, could you get me some high-quality mana crystals?”

“High-quality mana crystals? Of course. How many do you need?”

“The more, the better.”

“Hm…” Laura considered this for a moment, then immediately nodded. “All right. But they’re hard to find, and it may take some time for me to get my hands on them. Is that all right with you?”

“Of course.” Suho was well aware of the crystals’ scarcity. It had only been two years since the Great Cataclysm, and it was natural for there to be a limited supply of high-quality mana crystals. In addition, such resources were highly sought-after by companies that were developing hunter equipment or engaging in scientific research, and an ordinary hunter like Suho would find it hard to acquire any at all. A large guild like the Scavenger Guild, however, could probably manage to do so with a bit of effort.

Laura turned away with a satisfied look on her face, and Haein, with a puzzled expression, asked, “Mana crystals? Why didn’t you ask for a decent weapon?”

“What do you mean, a ‘decent’ weapon? You saw how surprised Thomas was when he saw your sword.” Suho’s observation was spot-on. It was too soon to expect any useful weapons from the Scavenger Guild. Even if they began developing weapons as soon as they returned to the U.S., it would take considerable time before they could create anything useful.

“Why the mana crystals, then?”

“I want to feed them to Beru.”

“Beru?”

“Yes. He’s also running out of—”

“Kieeek!” There was an immense shriek of delight as the shadow ant, moved to his core, burst into tears. He plastered himself to Suho’s face. “My goodness! To think you would do that for me, Young Monarch! You are all I have! I did well rearing you… Washing your diapers, carrying you on my back, and all of that!”

“My diapers…” Suho looked displeased, but Haein had to laugh. Of course, Beru was not exaggerating—he really had done those things.

In any case, Suho intended to feed any mana crystals the guild gave him to Beru so that the shadow ant could recover his power. He had been replenishing his mana by following Suho around and feeding on magic beasts or mana crystals found in mines, but this method was terribly slow. Beru’s power was originally immense, and no amount of devouring such minor mana sources could really make an impact. High-quality mana crystals, however, would help to fill up his power slightly faster.

***

Having concluded the discussion with the Scavenger Guild, Suho re-entered the Glacier Dungeon with Haein. He stood with her at the gate to the Grave of the Dragons, at the heart of the Echo Forest. Gray ashes blew out of the ominous entrance. Haein passed through it with Sirka, looking around as she did so. “I’ll be seeing you,” she said to Suho.

“Yes, Mother. Please… be safe.” For some reason, the mood felt rather somber, and Suho bowed his head. He was disappointed to be separated from his mother, but as she had said, he had his own work to do. First on his list was staying here and leveling up until she recovered Kaisel’s power and returned. His goal was to at least become stronger than his mother before she came back.

Recent events have taught me justhow weak I am. A clear goal had formed in his mind ever since he’d seen Haein, an S-rank hunter, in battle. In order to be of help to his father, his first priority needed to be becoming stronger than his mother.

He’d also learned another important thing recently, something Beru had always mentioned. His father had always fought alone, in places nobody could recall. But this was no longer true. He has me now, Suho thought. His father no longer had to fight alone.

Not just me… He also has us. This time around, Suho realized that he wasn’t the only person who wanted to help his father in his lonely battles. There was also his mother, his uncle, Thomas Andre, and Woo Jinchul, who Suho was going to meet soon.

Of course, none of these people were strong enough to truly help his father, who was fighting enemies in the Outer Universes at a level far beyond their comprehension. They were not like Suho, who could grow through leveling up. But they had the same sincerity. Although they were not as closely related to Sung Jinwoo as his son was, they were all doing what they could, in their own way, to help the Monarch of Shadows.

“Please…” Suho looked up at the endless expanse of sky above him, his eyes gleaming. Please, wait just a little longer,Father.I’ll be with you soon,fully equipped to be of use to you.

He shifted his eyes to the gate and watched it for a long time until his mother was completely out of sight. “Beru…” he said, turning away.

“Yes, Young Monarch.”

“Let’s go home.”