Chapter 363. No Way [5]
Anyway, even if you're telling the truth, if the other person doesn't believe you, where on earth are you supposed to vent this frustration?
"Are you even making excuses for our sake?"
"No, Haseong-ah."
"H, Hunter, you've been so honest all this ti. How is it that, even when you give a reason......"
"I really don't have any money."
"Look at Hunter Seo—she's so stunned she can't even speak."
"Even today, I have to go ho and eat rice soaked in water."
A brief conversation continued in the hallway.
Then go earn so money at a C-rank gate or sothing. Don't even think about touching high-rank gates.
"CEO Seo Esther."You're not a person who lives extravagantly, so that should be enough for living expenses. What's your complaint?
Their opinions were barely narrowed down.
"No, it's just that I have so debt. Actually, I forgot to pay taxes, so the amount the National Tax Service is going to claim is quite substantial..."
"Excuse for a mont, Hunter Kim. Co to think of it, before working as a hunter, didn't you work at a bathtub factory?"
"That's right."
"But how could soone with that much social experience completely forget about taxes?"
"..."
The idea that an S-rank esper could have no money was simply unacceptable to the Earthlings.
"How did it co to this..."
Therefore, Jung Haseong and Seo Esther continued their misunderstanding and stuck to their original stance. They intended to ended up the high-rank gates across the country, and they promptly told Kim Giryeo to stay away from hunting work and just go ho to feel so tangerines. Though undoubtedly a kind-hearted idea, it was quite awkward for the alien.
'Last year, the whole world was actually pushing to work.'
To think that heavyweights like Jung Haseong and Seo Esther were teaming up to snatch all the work!
'Nothing ever goes right. Why is it that ever since I ca to Earth, a crisis shows up every winter?'
However, even with so many opposing him, reversing his retirent was essential. Kim Giryeo had to return to hunting. Moreover, considering that he needed to amass hundreds of billions in assets by next February, hopping between low-rank gates alone would make it nearly impossible to clear his debts.
'Ha.'
If I had known it would be like this, I should have moved to a planet without the concept of money. But since he had to migrate using a native body, no matter which world he went to, he couldn't escape this problem.
'Because of taxes, I feel like opening my notebook again... but is that too shaless a thought?'
Money. Wealth. And finances. Even wizards who perform all sorts of magic can't escape this problem. If it's like this, can magic even be called magic?
'Well, if I'm going to live with my feet planted on Earth, it's only right to follow this world's rules. So let's stop thinking about city-destroying magic...'
Kim Giryeo briefly glanced out the window with clouded eyes. The sky of the planet he stood upon with both feet was just as dim and hazy. That was because snow was expected to fall today.
***
Before long, the full winter had arrived. And yet, in this fine season when trees donned their white coats... Who could have expected such tyranny from fellow professionals in the industry?
'The snow's fallen all white.'
It was a few days after Jung Haseong had issued his threat. The alien leaned on the small screen of his phone and briefly checked the situation.
[Today again, Gate Breaks: '0'. The first streak of good fortune since the Shock.]
For reference, as shown by the ticker scrolling at the bottom of the news screen, the S-ranks Jung Haseong and Seo Esther were keeping their word to the letter. Claiming they disliked seeing a sick man worrying about the field, they had slaughtered every last monster.
'It almost feels like it just happened to coincide with the ti when the Gisinche fell.'
And the result of this altruistic act was the unprecedented phenonon of a Break Zero. What's more, in the capital, there wasn't a single high-rank Gate left, and even the A-ranks ended up going on a group vacation.
'For the feeding box to vanish in such a densely populated place.'
Then how was he supposed to overco this predicant? Having failed in his negotiations with the S-class hunters, Kim Giryeo returned for the ti being to his new base. It was the seaside villa he had purchased just recently, draining what little wealth had remained in his account. And since he had co all the way out here, far from Seoul, he had planned to leisurely target other gates in the area... but.
"Huh?"
At this point, the part the alien had overlooked ca to light. In truth, being in the provinces didn't automatically an there was a shortage of work. Regions of Earth with smaller populations also tended to have fewer gates.
'At this rate... am I, an ex-S-rank, going to be stuck drifting between only low-tier gates?'
For example, as with the "Faith" Guild in Chuncheon, in the provinces most profitable dungeons—whether Red or Blue—already had their owners. Thus, Kim Giryeo was rapidly being driven to the edge of crisis.
'Huh? How am I supposed to make 40 billion off low-level gates? That's like trying to buy an apartnt by selling soju bottles.'
To be active in a small city ant running into conflicts with the local hunters. But heading to Seoul, where there was plenty of work, wasn't an option either—there, the S-ranks who had "good intentions" were blocking off dungeon entrances so tightly it felt suffocating.
Kim Giryeo sank into thought. One way or another, he would have to clash with Earthlings if he wanted to make money, and that alone was enough to leave his mind in turmoil.
But then, only a few hours later...
[Jang Youngja Accounting Firm]
To be precise, it was around the ti he hurriedly sought out a professional with Seonwoo Yeon's help. At this place he had co to in order to resolve his tax issues, the alien unexpectedly found a glimr of hope.
"Oh, so you an I don't actually have to pay the entire 40 billion?"
"Yes, that's right. Cases like that are rare. Since hunters have a lot of business-related expenses, the actual tax amount ends up being much lower."
"Oh."
Earth, befitting its advanced world, had tax laws that were intricately and carefully designed.
"The more money I spend while working, the less tax I have to pay."
Well, if you think about it, it's only natural. Sitting on the sofa in the tax office, Kim Giryeo ntally estimated the total cost of the potions he had used last year. However, even at this mont when a faint ray of hope had appeared, the sa problem still remained.
"Um. By the way, sir."
"Yes, yes."
"Looking at the bank transaction history you brought, there's a record of 100 billion being withdrawn all at once. What exactly did you purchase with that?"
"..."
"If you can just account for this expense, honesty, you won't need to worry about this foreign inco tax."
Because the alien had a secret he could never reveal.
"Sir, why aren't you answering? I'm asking what you bought with that 100 billion."
"..."
"You weren't buying hunting supplies, were you?"
The atmosphere instantly beca awkward. This was exactly why the saying "a woman's heart is like a shifting needle on water" existed.
'Damn it. Just because I bought that one [Midnight Shard], I'm really in a bind now.'
In the past, when he was powerless, he had been so delighted that such a precious item could be bought with re money. Now, he had grown strong enough that he no longer needed the hassle of absorbing another's magic. Thus, to the alien, the completed [Midnight Glove] could only be seen as nothing more—and nothing less—than a botherso fashion accessory.
'Just losing it carelessly would cause quite a stir. On top of that, I don't even feel like I can take it off recklessly when I'm outside...'
But no matter how much he thought about it, revealing this information for financial gain was—
"Hmm."
The mage calmly prevented a crease from forming between his brows. If it were revealed that the [Midnight Shard] had been transford into the [Midnight Glove], Earthlings would undoubtedly show imnse interest. It was obvious that research into this artifact would accelerate as a result.
"It's too early for a process like that to take place in this era."
The technology to store miracles held too much industrial value. The figure, who had folded his arms in place of using his tentacles, soon reached a conclusion. As expected, the whereabouts of the [Midnight Shard] couldn't be revealed recklessly.
Then, naturally, only one choice remained.
"Is there any other legal way to reduce my taxes besides that?"
The expression man spoke imdiately. Even with that face, he asked the question with a certain urgency.
"Ah, I I see. So this 100 billion is the portion of expenses you can't account for."
At this, the tax law expert gave an intriguing answer.
"In that case, there's only one piece of advice I can give you, sir. Establish a guild!"
Guild. To be precise, this referred to the collective term for any corporation that generates profit through the activities of hunters.
"A guild... you an?"
"Yes. You can establish a company yourself, or, in fact, you could even join any existing organization as a mber."
"Hmm."
"But what I recomnd is for you to establish the corporation yourself. That way, the tax benefits you can receive through policy will be much greater!"
Moreover, if you establish the guild yourself, even a rough calculation shows that you could gain as much as 20 billion in profit in the first year.
"To think that my debt could be cut in half without clashing with monsters like Jung Haseong and Seo Esther."
Kim Giryeo decided to obediently follow the expert's advice. Honestly, there was no reason to refuse.
"Yes!"
But, as expected, this casual remark caused a stir in society...
[Hunter News 24]
[Exclusive Breaking! S-Rank Awakened Hunter Kim Giryeo Found to Have Inquired About 'Guild Establishnt' Through Official Channels]
A weekday afternoon at 3 P.M. A report appeared on an online page accessible to all Koreans. This was the reason the Hunter industry had recently beco so stirred up.
***
[Hunter News 24]
[Exclusive Breaking! S-Rank Awakened Hunter Kim Giryeo Found to Have Inquired About 'Guild Establishnt' Through Official Channels]
So the fourth S-Rank has established a corporation.
[Live Chat]
[#1: Hey, isn't this basically turning into Garion Season 2?]
[#: For real = =]
[#: Wow— the guild master is actually coming to the interview in person? This is amazing- Ugh- I But suddenly my head feels... weird...]
[#: A couple of trucks' worth of hunters are going to regret confidently submitting their resus, yep.]
In truth, it all started from trivial intentions. But for those in the industry who didn't know the truth, this report was sothing that could cause any uproar.
From [Inevitably Malice] to [Kagoshima Black Dragon], and so on. An S-rank with achievents dazzling enough to be considered an idol has established a guild, and if there was even a chance that one could beco part of their team, who would remain like a stone? Of course, unless an official recruitnt announcent was made, it was all just wishful thinking. Nevertheless, many hunters refused to dismiss the possibility and each began preparing in their own way.
Especially affected by this storm were the large guilds that had many affiliated hunters.
"Um."
So, the topic eventually surfaced among them.
"Team Leader..."
On a quiet afternoon, a cautious voice echoed within the Neo Sisters headquarters. The person who had just brought up the topic was close enough to a certain individual in the guild. She had finished her dungeon run for the day, and just before leaving, relayed the news to her superior.
"By the way, did you hear the news? S-Rank Hunter Kim Giryeo is starting a guild."
"Ah, that commotion on the internet."
For the most part, soone starting a guild wasn't particularly important to them. Park Seunghye, the leader of Neo's regular Team 3, finally expressed her concern.
"Exactly. From what I've heard people say, it seems like it's not just a simple rumor..."
There was only one reason her expression had darkened.
Ahn Yoonseung.
Now that he thought about it, her team did include a capable, defense-type superpower, but...
If Kim Giryeo were to beco the head of any company, the first person to leak information would inevitably be that young man.
"Hmm."
The Regular Team 3 had spent a lot of ti synchronizing perfectly with each other, and on top of that, each mber's character was solid, making them a group capable of lasting a long ti. So what would happen if suddenly one of them were to leave?
She muted over the problem. But since the key person regarding this matter was walking nearby, the team leader of the regular team decided not to struggle alone and instead consult directly with them.
"Hey, Ahn Yoonseung!"
"Yes!"
Anyway, if the guild is going to be transferred, it would be better to inform the team mbers quickly.
"Yeeee? If Kim Giryeo creates a guild, are you thinking of transferring there?"
But it was at that mont. Ahn Yoonseung, having received the question from the team leader, showed a surprisingly shocked reaction. He was close enough to a certain individual to know the contact information of that rare S-rank Hunter. So, using this connection, he had always been the first to relay rumors whenever the other person was said to be starting a guild.
"Oh, that? I actually asked him directly. He's not planning to run it seriously like Hunter Esther—he's setting it up as a one-person guild."
"Really? Ah~ I see. Then I was worrying for nothing. So it really was just Garion Season 2 after all."
Ahn Yoonseung had no intention of joining the newly ford company.
"Haha. But even at this mont, my worries don't stop. It's like a sickness. I was nervous thinking you might say you'd join, even if it ant being just a low-level grunt."
As the conversation that followed revealed, he had absolutely no intention of transferring.
"Don't worry, Team Leader. Even so, that would be a bit much, wouldn't it?"
"Right?"
"Sure, I used to daydream about things like that without thinking, but lately I've co to my senses and fully understand the reality."
"Huh?"
"I respect you just as much now as I did before, but to put it taphorically... it's like getting a chance to bow before the Buddha, and, well, that feels a bit overwhelming..."
For context, they were on their way ho from work. Saying this, Ahn Yoonseung gave a slightly embarrassed expression but casually continued speaking again.
"In simpler terms, I ant that I wouldn't have the confidence to work properly if I was constantly on edge. But since he already announced himself as a one-person guild, there's no way I'd be transferring anywhere anyway."
"Huh?"
"Of course, if Hyung-nim suddenly needed a helper, I'd step in. But there are so many people in this world more capable than , so whether I could compete with them is honestly sothing I worry about."
"Ahn Yoonseung, did you quit smoking and start drinking...?"
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