NOVEL NEXT Chapter 125: Uh??? (1)
[Meet the Red Merchant.]
As Kim Hyunwoo was contemplating, a notification window appeared as if it had been waiting, causing him to make a strange expression.
“Loria.”
[Yes, My Lord.]
“Did you put up this notification window?”
[No, My Lord. I manage most of the notification windows, but as I mentioned before, there are areas of notifications that I cannot manage]
“…Hmm.”
Hearing Loria’s words, Kim Hyunwoo made a strange expression.
Meeting the Red Merchant was one of Kim Hyunwoo’s goals, and the notification to meet the Red Merchant after meeting the Blue Merchant had already appeared long ago.
In other words, there was no reason for this notification window to suddenly appear.‘…Is it a coincidence?’
Kim Hyunwoo stared at the notification window.
The notification window did not disappear.
It was simply obstructing his view.
“……”
Kim Hyunwoo unconsciously shook his head slightly.
At least to Kim Hyunwoo, the appearance of this notification window seemed too contrived to be a coincidence.
‘…Red Merchant.’
Kim Hyunwoo instinctively realized.
That he could find out something additional by meeting with the Red Merchant.
Moreover, he felt that he could understand even more than he normally thought.
‘I must be thoroughly prepared to buy anything if the tab opens.’
With that thought, Kim Hyunwoo quietly strengthened his resolve.
The day after the Absolute Ruler of Darkness left.
Kim Hyunwoo opened the Detailed Development window that he hadn’t opened before.
[The Detailed Development window is unlocked as the Territory Development Level exceeds 4000.]
As it was his first time opening the Detailed Development window, three lists appeared before Kim Hyunwoo along with the notification window.
[Magical Engineering Research Institute]
[Merchant Association]
[Battle Sanctuary]
“Hmm…”
The list looked quite plain for a Detailed Development window.
However, the Detailed Development window was most important in this aspect.
The future direction of Lartania would be determined by which of these three options he chose.
“The Merchant Association is the most convenient…”
Muttered Kim Hyunwoo.
Honestly, the most appealing option among the three for him was the Merchant Association.
The Merchant Association was the building Kim Hyunwoo chose when he played Arteil ten years ago.
‘It’s good, but…’
However, the reason Kim Hyunwoo didn’t choose the Merchant Association despite his thoughts was because of the difference between ten years ago and now.
As the name suggests, the Merchant Association was essentially focused on trade for territory development.
Naturally, all the detailed buildings were related to trade, and choosing the Merchant Association would provide various benefits in trade.
Moreover, having developed the territory with the Merchant Association ten years ago, Kim Hyunwoo knew exactly how to efficiently develop it, ensuring fast development.
Unfortunately, the current Lartania territory was not trade-focused.
‘In fact, the current Lartania territory is a perfect domestic market with mercenaries involved.’
In short, the Merchant Association did not fit the current development form of the Lartania territory.
In other words, it was only good in terms of efficiency and stability that Kim Hyunwoo had already developed once, with no other advantages.
So naturally, Kim Hyunwoo excluded the Merchant Association and looked at the remaining two buildings.
[Magical Engineering Research Institute]
[Battle Sanctuary]
“…Hmm.”
Kim Hyunwoo didn’t know in detail, but he knew that the Magical Engineering Research Institute and Battle Sanctuary were specialized in ‘development’ and ‘war’ respectively.
In the case of the Magical Engineering Research Institute, the territory itself would become a money-eating hippo, but it would give the territory various advantages, resulting in very stable territory growth.
Moreover, the more the tech was upgraded, the more the weapons that suited the ‘development’ tech would make players scream, but they were known to have amazing performance.
In fact, the Magical Engineering Research Institute was similar to science tech, and the Battle Sanctuary was tech related to combat, as the name suggests.
‘…They were definitely fanatics.’
Kim Hyunwoo recalled the word he cursed at the players who chose the Battle Sanctuary ten years ago and unconsciously frowned.
The Battle Sanctuary tech literally encouraged invasion and looting, and all the benefits from the buildings were related to that.
As a result, players who chose the Battle Sanctuary tech were the only ones in Arteil, where relationships were important, who ignored relationships and destroyed surrounding territories, looting merchant groups.
Even Kim Hyunwoo, who was teching up with the Merchant Association, had been beaten by players with Battle Sanctuary tech several times, so he couldn’t help but frown.
But only for a moment.
Looking at the detailed development, Kim Hyunwoo finally decided to build the ‘Magical Engineering Research Institute’.
At least he thought that what the current Lartania territory needed was not the Merchant Association, but something to quell the anxiousness of the territory residents, which could fluctuate due to mercenaries or various factors.
‘Additionally, the weapons that come out as the tech is upgraded will surely be useful.’
With that thought, Kim Hyunwoo pressed the Magical Engineering Research Institute with his index finger.
[You have chosen the Magical Engineering Research Institute!]
[The Detailed Development window for the Magical Engineering Research Institute is open.]
[The building 'Magical Development District' is accessible.]
[The building 'Magical Arsenal' is accessible.]
[The building 'Magical Administrative Computing' is accessible.]
[The building 'Magical-]
[The building-]
....
...
..
.
Territory: Lartania
Territory Development Level:
4212
[Detailed Development is possible!]
Territory Residents:
[Humans: 29,817]
–Secondary Buildings–
[Magical Engineering Research Institute (Under Construction 0%)]
–Owned Buildings–
[Lord's Castle LV2 >>> Upgrading 99% (Paused)]
[City Wall LV5↑]
[Residential District LV5]
[Blacksmith LV5]
[Barracks LV5]
[Tavern LV5]
[Market LV5]
[Wood Processing Plant LV5]
[Restaurant LV5]
[Leather Processing Plant LV5]
[Stone Processing Plant LV5]
[Trading Post LV5]
[Secondary City Wall LV5]
[Inn LV5↑]
[Administrative District LV5]
[Paved Road LV4↑]
–External Buildings–
[Mercenary Guild LV0 (Under Construction)]
[Mage Tower Branch LV1↑]
[Blacksmith Guild Branch LV1↑]
–Owned Forces–
-Common Soldiers: 1000
-Guards: 200
-Apprentice Knights: 200
Kim Hyunwoo was smiling satisfactorily as he watched the notifications flow out.
A ★★★ Hero 'Golden Witch' has entered the territory.
[The Tienus Merchant Group has arrived in the territory!]
He immediately saw such a notification.
“It’s been a while, Merchant Group leader…?”
About 30 minutes later, Kim Hyunwoo, seeing Adria’s face again after a long time, smiled and greeted her, but unconsciously stopped speaking.
For good reason.
“…No, are you okay?”
At least, Adria’s expression standing in front of Kim Hyunwoo didn’t look good.
Dark circles under her eyes suggested she hadn’t slept for a long time, and her bright eyes had lost their luster.
Moreover, Adria, who had never shown a disheveled appearance even when meeting Kim Hyunwoo, now looked scruffy, as if she had fought on a battlefield.
Seeing her staggering as if she might collapse at any moment, Kim Hyunwoo made a worried expression.
Adria made a very awkward smile, somewhere between a sneer and a smile, and spoke.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m fine, Lord. But- I heard an interesting rumor.”
“…Yes, a rumor?”
“Yes. Uh-”
“No, let’s talk tomorrow. You should rest today…”
Kim Hyunwoo spoke as he saw Adria holding her head.
But‐
“No. I can’t!”
She widened her eyes as if absolutely not allowing it.
Thud-!
“…?!”
Then she grabbed Kim Hyunwoo by the shoulders.
“Lord, are you getting married?”
“What?”
“You’re not getting married, right? Right?”
“…???”
“Please, can you tell me it’s not true?”
Mumbling curses as if spilling malicious curses nonstop from within, she even shed tears as she spoke.
At that point.
At the base of the Red Eyes.
“Hmm- Boss, I think this is all set?”
“…Do I really have to do this?”
“Of course, I told you, didn’t I? First, you have to calmly check how much the Lord likes you.”
“…Even so…”
“Boss, listen carefully. This is a necessary task. We can only execute the plan after roughly understanding how much the Lord likes you. Didn’t I tell you?”
“…Got it.”
“Okay, then hurry up. We’ll be supporting you hard from behind.”
“Okay…!”
Merilda, with a slightly flushed face, strengthened her resolve and began to walk towards the Lartania territory.