“Landmark? Eh, I don’t need that.”
Yayoi’s sudden request was utterly ridiculous, considering she hadn’t even established any rapport.
Why would I leave my collection items in someone else’s country when it’s not safe? Who knew they’d get stolen!
“I-I thought the same thing… but everyone said it would be fun… and insisted I had to tell you…”
“Ahh, please don’t cry!”
I quickly rushed to stop the ultra-timid Yayoi from starting to sob like Titosso.
“I’m on Yayoi’s side! If you cry because of me, I’ll be super sad!”
“You’re supporting me…? Why would you do that? I’m nothing compared to my sister, and I can’t even lead the faction she left behind…”
“Well, that’s because Yayoi is an incredible hard worker and a character that’s king-like!”
“King-like…?”
Yayoi’s complexion turned pale.
“Are you saying I should claim I’m a king?! My sister Masugaki and I are on good terms! I could never do something so unjust!”
“No, king-like doesn’t mean that! It means there’s a useless burden sucking the life out of the team, but suddenly comes back unbelievably strong to save everyone!”
“That sounds even more hurtful than before…”
“Wait, I’m losing it here!”
It couldn’t be helped.
“To show the sincerity of my apology, I’ll accept that suggestion!”
“Really?! Is it okay to take such an unreasonable request for that reason?”
“I don’t have to move all my collection items there, right? I can just fill it with those inconvenient low-grade items that take up space.”
Hmm… thinking about it that way does tempt me.
In the game, after collecting items, I could browse them in the catalog when the chapter ended, but that’s not available here yet.
Should I develop a function that helps me make my own collectible catalog, letting people know what I collect?
Hmph. It feels too annoying to do all that!
Suddenly, I realized I didn’t have to endure all this hassle myself.
I had a friendly assistant who always took care of my annoying tasks.
Rustle rustle.
During the lecture time, Reap made some noise as if expecting something from the bush.
“Reap.”
“You called?”
“Please tell Jezel I have some work for her!”
“…Understood.”
Reap’s back looked unnaturally lackluster.
*
“I was feeling a bit down for not receiving the golem materials, but it seems another project has come along. Honestly, I’m surprised.”
Of course, it would be surprising.
I’d handed over the construction of a massive theme park called ‘Collection Center of the Nation’ and material hunting to the Dark Trading Company completely.
Reap thought to herself.
Jezel.
Among the “friends” hanging around the lady, he was the most suspicious figure.
Someone whose past seemed completely scrubbed clean or who could suddenly appear out of nowhere, making it impossible to gather information about him at a certain point.
Whenever she saw him, Reap would think from time to time.
His enigma was akin to that of the lady’s arrival.
Is the lady trying to see this man’s true worth through this opportunity?
It’s a good chance.
Honestly, it would be better if his true colors were revealed.
The enigmatic trust that the lady had in Jezel would come to an end.
That trust would ultimately return to the rightful recipient.
Who would that be, you ask?
Of course, the Maid and the Butler.
The minions serving the lady.
“It’s a tough task, but since I’ve been asked, I’ll have to meet expectations. Let’s push ahead.”
Jezel was the first to purchase simple, easily obtainable items of various types.
The items purchased were filled into the warehouse established in the Kingdom of Troy, and soon a display stand and inventory list were generated there.
This is a task of gathering all items in the world. No matter how wealthy the Dark Trading Company is, there are limits.
When the supply capabilities of the Dark Trading Company hit a wall, that’s when the financial support from the Kingdom of Troy will be needed, marking the end of the item collection.
However, when there’s a shortage of money in the world, it’s where a creation economy comes into play, producing money from somewhere.
Reap, the Maid, didn’t know about the dark merchants playing a game of money.
“I’ll sell basic weapon collection sword sets. Buy them and you’ll collect items instantly, plus we’ll store them for you with our convenient service!”
“Why should we buy that?”
“Because it’s a chance for commoners to enjoy the collection hobbies of Dark Princesses and royals at a low price. In fact, the Dark Princess is the adopted daughter of the Seonhwang. She’s royalty.”
“!!”
Those who first understood the value of the collection items but lacked the necessary storage space or funds made purchases.
As the funds depleted, Jezel used that money to buy a basic weapon collection bow set, and when the bow set was sold, he could gather a spear set too.
As he added the sale of the sword, spear, and bow triple set, the money invested by the Dark Trading Company was completely recovered, and new investment funds were secured.
“Let’s gather shields, blunt weapons, and firearms next.”
Once the weapon collection rate seemed to have risen, Jezel even created a weapon catalog.
“This catalog lists how many of the currently existing weapons you’ve collected and what effects you can expect depending on your collection rate. Those who collect more catalogs show off greater wealth and strength, while those with rarer items hold valuable catalogs even if their collection rates are low.”
After selling the weapon catalog set, the leftover money went toward armor catalog sets, and after selling the armor catalog sets, the leftover money was put into furniture catalog sets, gradually increasing the fields one by one.
At this point, Jezel’s catalog no longer required investment.
Item makers started begging to have their products featured in the catalogs, sending items along with cash.
What the heck is going on?
Reap felt a sense of absurdity wash over her.
They merely spent a lot of money, yet money keeps coming in, and even those who voluntarily bring collection items have emerged!
Jezel explained the principle to the confused Reap.
“This is the simple principle of gathering items. When the list is small, it costs a lot of money, but once a certain level of catalog completion is reached, more and more people want to put their items in the catalog. That’s because items in the catalog are regularly sold with guaranteed quality.”
No one makes shoddy collectable items.
There’s no place that can neatly create and store such a variety of goods all at once either.
The moment convenience is secured, cost is no longer an issue.
Affordable catalog sets.
Expensive catalog sets.
Catalog sets and items you can buy at various price ranges have diversified significantly.
“Whoa! The finances of the homeland burst through the graph and skyrocketed! Out of all the choices I made during my reign, entrusting this work to you was my best decision! My son Hector has truly accomplished something great!”
Even the King of Troy was so delighted that he threw a feast due to Jezel’s souvenir business hitting it big.
The terrifying fact is that he still has plenty of catalog varieties left to expand into.
“Space is a concern. Let’s not just stop at selling collections but also public displays of the items through the exhibition hall, and offering rare collectibles through various events within the collection center to attract visitors and secure high-end consumers.”
At last, Jezel began dipping into the tourism business as well.
The theme park that Masugaki had dreamed of was truly starting to be built.
Moreover, the theme park’s system incorporated challenges experienced in the Gift Academy one by one.
“This airdrop will automatically lower the safety bar when it reaches a certain height, but customers with high strength can lower it themselves. Those who challenge to the highest height to safely lower the safety bar will receive a daily [Gauntlets of Strength (+5 Enhancement)] as a reward.”
If luck permits, one could become the strongest person of that week and get a treasure for free!
Greedy adventurers flocked to the Kingdom of Troy.
“I’ve already wasted my entire fortune trying the airdrop 13 times!”
“Since I’m here, I might as well get to work, right? What else can I do?”
Thanks to that, the performance of the Adventurer’s Guild headquarters in the Kingdom of Troy soared 500% compared to the previous year!
With the high demand from tourists, the food and lodging businesses naturally experienced a boom.
“Now’s the time! Recruit chefs from all over the world! Seek unique chefs with their own signature dishes, regardless of skill level!”
“Is it okay if they’re not tasty?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s all part of the ‘collection’.”
Even the most awful dishes could be purchased by chefs as ‘collectibles’ at least once!
Right at this moment, Jezel and the Dark Trading Company were growing at a terrifying pace.
What if the Dark Trading Company becomes as powerful as the Wahyhiemhai Foundation…?
Reap felt uneasy.
The problem caused by Jezel’s tremendous success wasn’t just the threatening position towards the Foundation.
As there’s more to have, there’s more to covet.
The golem manufacturing technology promised by Oknodie has now become a necessity, not a choice.
Right now, every surrounding country is starting to eye the gold mine where money brings forth more money.
“Seriously. What’s up with Jezel making such a big deal? To protect that, doesn’t she really have to sell the golem technology now?”
“Haha. I gained some ambition, but things have gotten too big. I’m sorry, little lady.”
“It’s fine. Just because you give away manufacturing techniques, doesn’t mean anyone can replicate it. Even if you share the materials, that doesn’t mean anyone can find them, right?”
“Oh, well with that, there are so many artisans wanting to barter for collectibles that the supply has ended.”
“Even if you get rare materials, you still need a blacksmith to make them!”
“So many blacksmiths came to sell their collectibles that artisans also gathered, boasting they’re the best blacksmiths ever!”
“What in the world is going on?”
In just under two months, a nation had emerged that had grown into a monstrous being capable of even shocking Oknodie.
