Level Up Machine

Chapter 111 The Abuse of Power (2)

Yeong-sik, having returned to the guild, immediately created an automatic manufacturing device for the batteries.

Since the battery manufacturing process required almost no materials or time from the outset, he was able to produce the necessary quantity within two or three days by setting up the automatic manufacturing device.

“Ha… I never imagined there would be such a method.”

Han-seong let out a hollow laugh as he watched the laborers of the Goldrun Guild transport the batteries piled up in the warehouse.

A trap that utilized the opponent’s greed against them. A strategy that capitalized on the unique advantage that only he could create the machine.

Yeong-sik’s ability to reverse a situation that seemed beyond saving in one fell swoop was awe-inspiring.

“Luckily, Goldrun Guild acted as we expected.”

Yeong-sik responded with a slight chuckle. If the Goldrun Guild had not been so greedy, the plan would have failed.

‘I had some confidence.’

When Yeong-sik saw Han Jun-man’s expression after hearing Han-seong’s story for the first time, he was certain that Han Jun-man would fall into the trap.

Therefore, he deliberately acted to make him lower his guard.

“But do you think Goldrun Guild will stay quiet about this?”

“They won’t just sit still.”

Yeong-sik shook his head resolutely.

Goldrun Guild wasn’t foolish enough to watch their guild’s wealth being siphoned off without doing anything.

“Then, what do you plan to do?”

In response to Han-seong’s question, Yeong-sik grinned.

“Borrow the tiger’s power.”

“Pardon…?”

“Well, you’ll find out later.”

Saying so, Yeong-sik pulled out a few documents.

They were the contracts regarding the battery prices made with Goldrun Guild.

The contracts had been signed at an absurdly high price of 10 gold per unit, equivalent to 10 million won each.

“I’m off to meet Han Jun-man.”

“Huh? But wasn’t the contract already finalized?”

“I added a little trick to the contract.”

With a broad smile, he continued.

“Since we’ve suffered this much, we should repay them even more.”

“…You’re not planning to extort Goldrun Guild further, are you?”

“Even squeezing a squid yields water. And from the beginning, the batteries were just a means to an end.”

Yeong-sik’s eyes sparkled.

“I have something else I want from Goldrun Guild.”

Han-seong looked at Yeong-sik with an astonished expression. Yeong-sik turned and headed towards the place where the carriage was.

The room was filled with lavish decorations.

The room was filled with the smell of strong alcohol and bottles rolling around on the floor.

There, a man with a bulky body was crouching on the sofa, trembling.

It was Han Jun-man, the vice-guild master of the Goldrun Guild.

“This, this must never be known to the guild master…” He nervously bit his nails, shaking his legs.

Goldrun Guild’s guild master, Park Do-hoon. If he, a man with a terrifying obsession with money, found out about this, Han Jun-man would be finished.

“Ugh…”

Thinking of Park Do-hoon, Han Jun-man curled up and bit his lip.

For now, he had managed to hide the truth by manipulating his assets and books, but if they continued to receive batteries at 10 gold per unit, it was only a matter of time before Park Do-hoon would find out about his mistake.

“Changing the main product to air conditioners…”

He looked down at the densely written ledger, desperately trying to come up with a solution.

Currently, the price of refrigerators sold on the continent was 4 to 5 gold.

Even with simple calculations, buying external batteries every four months resulted in a loss of 5 gold. Adding costs for distribution, production, taxes, and other minor expenses increased the losses even further.

Rather than buying external batteries, he considered purchasing additional refrigerators and using the batteries installed in them.

In that case, he would at least get a battery for the cost of a refrigerator.

However, that wily man named Yeong-sik delivered refrigerators without batteries after the contract was signed.

Since the contract did not stipulate that refrigerators must come with charged batteries, it was impossible to dispute this point.

That didn’t mean that everything sold by the Goldrun Guild was causing huge losses.

While the refrigerators caused significant losses, the air conditioners sold to the nobles were a different story.

The price of an air conditioner sold to nobles was 300 to 400 gold.

Premium products with slightly altered designs were sold for over 1,000 gold.

Goldrun Guild had already established itself as the hottest brand among the nobles.

Because of their competitive nature, the nobles did not hesitate to open their wallets.

“Yes… I’ll sell all products as premium items targeted at the nobles. In that case, even if each battery costs 10 gold, they can still be sold.”

Han Jun-man clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming.

While 10 gold was a huge amount for commoners, it was not much for the nobles.

If he could change the main customer base to nobles, he could avoid Park Do-hoon’s scrutiny and dream of a comeback.

Han Jun-man thought so.

– Knock, knock.

“Master, Sir Yeong-sik has arrived.”

At that moment, he heard a cautious knock and the voice of a maid.

“Ah!”

At the mention of Yeong-sik, Han Jun-man jumped up and screamed. With a panicked expression, he shouted.

“Tell him I’m not here right now! Ask him to come back later!”

Saying this, he moved to hide inside the wardrobe.

_Crash_

“Ah, uh, you can’t just do that.”

The locked door burst open as Yeong-sik walked into the room. The maid standing nearby tried to stop him with a flustered voice.

“Haha. Why say such disappointing things when you’re clearly here?”

“Ah, hahaha. I’m, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well…”

“Of course you don’t feel well after drinking like that. Excessive drinking is bad for your health.”

“Haha… I’ll keep that in mind. I’m sorry, but for today…”

“Sit down.”

Yeong-sik’s low voice directed at Han Jun-man, who was desperately trying to avoid the situation, made him hurriedly sit down with a pale face.

“Isn’t it rude to avoid an important business discussion just because of a little overdrinking?”

“Of course.”

“Haha. I knew you would say that. You’re indeed an excellent merchant, Jun-man.”

Yeong-sik smiled warmly and sat across from him. Han Jun-man, nervously rolling his eyes, cautiously asked,

“So, what brings you here…?”

“I’m here to discuss adjusting the battery prices. But more importantly… aren’t you going to call those ladies from last time?”

Yeong-sik asked with a mocking smile. Han Jun-man answered with a panicked expression.

“I’m sorry! I’ll call them right away…”

“Oh, no, it’s fine. If they hear this conversation, they’ll just end up dead to keep their mouths shut anyway.”

Looking at Yeong-sik, who spoke as if it were nothing, Han Jun-man firmly closed his mouth. Just as Yeong-sik said, he had killed two maids to silence them about the previous battery contract.

“Now, let’s get to the main point.”

“Yes, understood.”

“First, here’s the contract you personally signed regarding the battery prices. Have you reviewed it?”

“Ah…”

Han Jun-man trailed off. Since the last incident, he had been drowning in alcohol and hadn’t had the chance to read the contract he signed.

Yeong-sik chuckled and continued.

“If you look at the contract terms, it states, ‘The price of external batteries can be adjusted at any time according to the conditions of Party B.'”

“What, what did you say? What nonsense is this…!”

Han Jun-man frantically examined the contract. Just as Yeong-sik had said, the contract allowed for price adjustments at any time based on Party B’s conditions.

“This, this clause is absurd! What is the point of negotiating prices if this is the case?”

“Hmm? Didn’t you sign it knowing all of this? Surely, you didn’t sign such an important contract without reading it first, did you?”

At Yeong-sik’s sly remark, Han Jun-man firmly shut his mouth.

At the time, his head was on the chopping block, so how could he have paid attention to the contents of the contract?

Naturally, he signed the contract without having time to read it.

However, he couldn’t admit that outright. No matter what he said, the fact that he had personally signed it would not change.

“Wh-what kind of price negotiation are you suggesting now…?”

Even selling each battery at 10 gold meant he had to sell them at a loss.

“Why are you acting like you don’t know?”

“Air conditioners. It’s not easy to make the batteries that go into them. As you know, air conditioners consume a lot of electricity, don’t they?”

Han Jun-man looked incredulous at Yeong-sik’s words. Although air conditioners used a lot of electricity, they were nothing compared to refrigerators that had to run 24 hours a day.

“Wh-what price are you thinking of?”

“That depends on you, Mr. Jun-man. Isn’t that what negotiation is all about?”

Watching Yeong-sik’s relaxed expression, Han Jun-man clamped his mouth shut. It was an arrogant attitude that could hardly be expected from someone labeled as ‘Party B’ in the contract.

“Th-then, let’s start with around 15 gold…”

“100 gold.”

“What?! A hundred gold! That’s ridiculous…”

“200 gold.”

“Wa-wait a minute, Mr. Yeong-sik. This method will only harm both of us. Business should be considered in the long term, not just short-term gains…”

“300 gold.”

“A-ah…”

Han Jun-man felt his head spin and collapsed onto the sofa. Moving his bulky body, he fell to his knees on the floor. He banged his head on the ground and cried out in a desperate voice.

“P-please! Over ten thousand air conditioners have already been sold! The guild can’t afford to pay that amount right now!”

“Hmm. That’s unfortunate. In that case, I will stop the supply of batteries for air conditioners.”

“P-please, not that!”

Most of the buyers of the air conditioners were nobles with power or executives of large guilds.

If they were to rise up, the Goldrun Guild would be reduced to ashes overnight.

Yeong-sik smirked as he watched Han Jun-man, who was desperately pleading with tears in his eyes.

“Hmm. Hearing you say that makes my heart ache.”

“Then…”

“If you give me something other than gold, I will supply the batteries at 10 gold each.”

“Something other than gold…?”

Yeong-sik leaned in to meet Han Jun-man’s eyes.

“Hand over all the iron ore mining rights and the magic ore mining rights that the Goldrun Guild possesses.”

A devilish smile crept across his lips.