Chapter 68. Shh, Don’t Think About the Storage (1)

Where is Seoul?

No one knows.

Of course not.

It was a name they'd never heard before. A place they'd never even heard rumors about. So perhaps Seoul was simply a name his lord made up on the spot.

"..... This way, please, is where our guests will be staying."

The polite voice of the human butler.

The Demon King's adjutant, Zephyros, finally lifted his head, breaking out of his brief reverie. A strange sight then filled his vision.

It was a lavish interior.

"This is the reception room for the guest quarters. If you follow that hallway, you'll see several doors — those will be your individual sleeping quarters."

"..."

A reception room, huh.

Could a mere living space really be this extravagant? The colors and textures finishing the walls, the condition of the furniture — even to an untrained eye, it was obvious that everything was top-tier.

"Well then, please rest comfortably."

The butler who had guided them politely stepped away.

And almost immediately, the voice of the human young master, Reivaj, rang out.

"I'd like... a bit of an explanation."

Had he been waiting this whole time for a moment when only their group remained? Almost as soon as the butler departed, Reivaj turned to his lord and asked.

"Sir Kim Jangcheol, what exactly are you planning?"

"Tsk. I was going to explain once we had a moment to breathe anyway."

With a dry laugh, his lord sank into the plush chair in the reception room. But the words that followed were shocking.

"The owner of this mansion — that is, the merchant Richmond — is a vile hoarder."

"... What?"

"A hoarder. The kind who buys up all the agricultural goods from farmers at barely decent prices, stuffs them in his own warehouses, and when the market prices skyrocket from the shortage, he sells them off to pocket the profits. That sort of bastard."

"Then... does that mean you signed a contract to sell chuno to such a man... No, surely you have other intentions. Am I correct?"

"Yes, more or less."

His lord nodded.

Reivaj furrowed his brow and slowly laid out his own deduction.

"If I were to guess... though we are acting under a royal secret order, ultimately the goal of such a mission must be the kingdom's prosperity. So, Sir Kim Jangcheol, I'd imagine you believe that the Crown would not turn a blind eye to parasites like him who exploit loopholes in the law and fatten themselves by preying on farmers out of sight of royal eyes. I would assume His Majesty too would not wish to ignore someone like that merchant. Am I right?"

"Exactly, yes. That's the gist of it."

"Then you made a deal with that wicked merchant to sell the chuno... so that you could secure solid grounds and evidence to properly punish him later. That's your plan, yes?"

"Yes. Precisely."

"Then... once this is over, the chuno sold today will return straight into our possession."

"That's exactly right."

His lord smiled, satisfied. Only then did Reivaj seem somewhat relieved.

But it was strange.

Listening to their conversation, Zephyros realized his heart was pounding — unusually hard.

Because of his lord's plan?

No.

It was because of what his lord revealed — the identity and deeds of that merchant named Richmond.

'......'

He was angry.

He didn't understand it.

The thought of the abandoned land rose in his mind on its own.

"....."

That barren land where nothing could grow.

A desolate life filled only with wastelands.

People collapsing and dying of hunger wasn't unusual. It was just a common thing. The parched tears pleading for food, the sorrow of tearing into the rotting flesh of one's kin just to survive.

And yet, what of the human world?

Even in a provincial city, it seemed so abundant. There were no starving people dying on the streets. In fact, people were even buying and selling food in the town square, as if it were nothing.

He felt envious watching that.

He thought, so this kind of world exists.

But then, that man named Richmond seemed to sneer at his awe and envy.

'In a world already so abundant... you're hoarding food to control supply just to... earn a bit more money...? Food — something others might desperately need?'

He truly couldn't understand it.

In a way, it felt like a cheap insult. As if all those who starved to death in the abandoned land over countless years — even himself, who had witnessed it all — were being mocked.

Anger.

Was he the only one who felt this?

Zephyros turned his head to the side.

And then he saw it.

Baal, clenching his fists, visibly seething with fury far greater than his own.

….. Crack!

Baal forcefully suppressed his emotions, which felt on the verge of exploding.

He didn't know why he felt like this. But he was angry. That merchant named Richmond disgusted him. He wanted to slam him into the ground and kill him right then and there.

Was he the only one feeling this way?

Baal turned his head.

And thanks to that, he saw Asurat, his large lower beak trembling. And beside him, Sirgi, her fluffy fur puffed up in outrage.

"...."

The three of the Four Heavenly Kings and Zephyros exchanged glances.

They could understand how each other felt.

Because they felt the same.

And so, with a shared wish, they turned their eyes toward their Demon King. Hoping that their Demon King's plan would be to royally screw over that despicable human merchant.

"So then, what exactly do you have in mind?"

Reivaj asked.

Kim Jangcheol shrugged.

"If it's a plan, naturally, we'll have to target the enemy's weak spot."

"Weak spot... meaning?"

"From what I can tell, that hoarding wholesaler's ability to pull off these schemes rests on four pillars."

Kim Jangcheol continued.

"One, the protection and cooperation of those in power. Two, loopholes in the legal system. Three, an abundance of funds. And fourth — this one's the most important. Large-scale refrigerated storage facilities."

"Refrigerated... storage facilities, you say?"

"Yes."

Kim Jangcheol nodded.

"When you think about it, it's simple. We're talking about stockpiling vast quantities of agricultural goods. But what happens to those goods if they're not stored properly? They spoil or mold quickly, losing all market value."

"...Ah."

"So a proper cold storage system is essential to keep the stockpile viable over time. And that, my friends, is the practical weak point we can exploit."

"When you put it that way, it makes sense. The people in power, legal loopholes, and abundant capital — those things are all intertwined and mutually reinforcing."

"Exactly. But large-scale storage facilities have a physical presence. That makes them more vulnerable, more within our reach."

"As expected. Remarkable. I didn't think you'd considered it so deeply."

"Not at all. I just thought of it on the spot."

Reivaj expressed admiration.

Kim Jangcheol chuckled humbly.

And watching him in silence, Aged Kimchi thought to himself.

That being is fascinating, the more I see of him.

"..."

Perhaps the one who once controlled him with the Summon of Duty. And now, seemingly, the one who stands as the Demon King. A being that leaves him uncertain of how to deal with.

Should he offer reverence?

Remain wary?

Or perhaps, kill him?

'I...'

Still didn't know.

What kind of scheme that being was hiding. What thoughts gave him such unwavering confidence.

"Then, Sir Kim Jangcheol, how do you plan to approach that refrigerated storage warehouse?"

"I have it all planned out. In fact, we'll be making our move now, so just watch closely."

With a confident stride, Kim Jangcheol left the guest room. He walked down the mansion's hallway.

The group followed behind.

Their hearts thumping in anticipation to see what he would do next. Stepping softly, full of curiosity. And then, finally, as they saw Kim Jangcheol cheerfully wave and approach the merchant's secretary standing in the mansion's front yard, their hearts thudded louder.

"Oh my! Secretary Ruslan? What a fortunate encounter, hmm?"

"......."

Richmond the merchant's secretary, Ruslan, furrowed his brow at the sudden voice calling out to him. Even just hearing the voice behind his back, he had a hunch who it was.

'That rude bastard from earlier.'

The one who had treated him like a mere underling when he'd come to propose a deal. The one who'd blatantly demanded to "bring out the boss."

How could he forget that voice?

And yet, that same rude and shameless brat was now calling out to him with such friendliness — for what purpose?

He quickly composed his expression and turned around.

"…..Sir Kim Jangcheol, was it? I heard you were invited to stay at the mansion by the master."

"Ah, that's right."

"Then what is your business with me?"

"Oh, this right here?"

Kim Jangcheol gestured toward the large cart beside the secretary.

"This cart — it's carrying our chuno, right?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"So, here's the thing. I'd like to check out the facility where our chuno will be stored?"

"That won't be possible."

"Hmm? And why not?"

"Regulations. We do not disclose our storage facilities to outsiders."

"But I'm not an outsider? I'm part of a contracted deal. A guest invited to this mansion?"

"It's still not allowed. No client is permitted to enter the storage facilities. Also—"

The secretary spoke coldly, eyes narrowing as he looked at Kim Jangcheol.

"You have no clear reason to enter our storage facilities."

"A reason? Of course I have one. Why wouldn't I?"

"You do, you say? What is it?"

"I need to check. I have to see in what conditions our precious chuno will be kept."

"...Excuse me?"

"Oh yes, our chuno. Even though they may look a little ugly, like they've been stepped on just before harvest, they're actually very delicate little things, you see."

"Delicate... you say?"

"If they're not stored properly, they spoil quickly and must all be thrown out, that's what I mean."

"What the..."

"So I need to confirm. Whether you folks are actually capable of storing our chuno properly. I just can't stand seeing the fruits of our blood, sweat, and toil being neglected and left to rot."

"...But I'm afraid the answer is still no."

"Oh come on, why not!"

"It's the rules."

The secretary replied firmly, like scraping off a piece of gum stuck to his shoe.

"I believe I've made this clear already. As a matter of principle, clients like you are not allowed into our storage facilities."

"Oh come on, how are we even 'outsiders'!"

"Even if you whine, no is still no. Besides, our storage facility is among the finest in the entire kingdom. Do you think we've never handled delicate produce before? Countless varieties of crops, beyond your imagination, have passed through our facilities. So just rest assured and leave it to us."

The secretary spoke with maximum patience.

But it didn't work on Kim Jangcheol.

"Oh ho? Tsk tsk? In my experience, anyone who talks that fancy never stores chuno properly. It's always a mess. Hearing that just makes me trust you even less!"

".....So what more do you want me to say?"

"Just let me take a peek inside the warehouse, yeah?"

"No."

"Just once! Come on!"

"Haah….."

Unbelievable.

How shameless and thick-skinned must someone be to whine like that without batting an eye?

Secretary Ruslan fought the urge to slap Kim Jangcheol across the face. And when Kim Jangcheol finally sprawled himself in front of the cart, he felt the added temptation to stomp on his head like it was a 1+1 bonus deal.

"Oh come on! Why won't you show us! What are you hiding! You bastards trying to mistreat our chuno! You can't! This cart won't move until you show us! You'll have to walk over my body! Aaargh!"

"......"

Should I just stomp him for real?

Would it be fine to do that to someone like this?

Secretary Ruslan struggled to hold back the flames inside him. Then he turned to the cart handlers and gave an order.

"Move out. Make sure you don't step on that man."

"Where do you think you're going! You can't! Aaargh!"

"...Someone get this guy — I mean, assist this gentleman and help him up."

"Hey! Don't you touch me! I'm not letting go! Damn it, you bastards are trying to kill me in broad daylight! Uwaaagh!"

"Haah..."

Let's never deal with him again.

Let's just get out of here.

The secretary swallowed every ounce of frustration as he left with the cart.

Thanks to that, only Kim Jangcheol — who had just finished throwing one of the most legendary tantrums in history — and his group, who quietly stepped a few paces away in embarrassment, remained in the mansion's front yard.

And then, sitting messily on the ground with his clothes in disarray, Kim Jangcheol quietly curled his lips into a calm smile.

"Phew."

He was satisfied.

A huge success.

Because he made the secretary back off with his outrageous tantrum?

Because he made everyone in the group feel second-hand shame?

No.

Ding-dong!

[You have succeeded in observing your target without blinking for 200 seconds.]

[Skill 'Bloodshot Eyes (Lv.1)' has been activated.]

[Target of Observation: Secretary Ruslan]

[You have read Ruslan's current state, psychological condition, and forecasted mental changes for the next 6 hours.]

All while no one had a clue.

Through a performance of shamelessness that hijacked everyone's attention, the result of successfully activating the Bloodshot Eyes skill now vividly appeared before Kim Jangcheol.

It was the detailed information and exact location of the storage facility — the very thing the secretary had insisted over and over again he could never reveal.

[T/L: I am not getting any support from webnovel platform, so please support me and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]