Chapter 33.2
Dagon was tempting, but Park Chan-woo simply scoffed. Some things held timeless value, no matter how times changed.
But even with all its miraculous effects, the World Treeās Fruit wasnāt worth twenty million.
“Ten million.”
Half, at most.
In truth, even that was generous.
To avoid bankruptcy, Dagon had to find a way to reduce the debt from twenty million.
“Fifteen million. I canāt go lower. Even a demon needs a way to survive.”
“I thought demons didnāt eat.”
“ā¦I need to maintain a minimum rank to continue operating as a merchant.”
“The Rare rank, I suppose?”
“ā¦Correct.”
Dagonās rank was already set to dropānow he was merely at a crossroads between bankruptcy and survival.
āThis human really knows everything.ā
It was hopeless.
To know the conditions for maintaining a merchantās status meant he truly knew it all.
Realizing deceit was futile, Dagon closed his eyes tightly.
“Let me be frank. If my existence is valued at fifteen million, I owe you twenty million, leaving a five-million excess. I need to earn that surplus in this deal to survive.”
Hearing Dagonās admission, Park Chan-woo considered his optionsāto bankrupt him or spare him for future use.
āBankrupting a demon merchant only yields a single coin.ā
If Dagon chose to dissolve his existence rather than fulfill the trade, all Park Chan-woo would gain was a single coin.
So, he spoke in a low voice.
“Considering the minimum grade you need, I suppose Iāll leave you with six million in value.”
“Right. Without that allowance, I have no reason to trade with you. I might as well disappear.”
His expression was resolute, as if heād rather face extinction than be pressured any further.
āDagon is a surprisingly capable merchant.ā
In the future, Park Chan-woo had dealt with several demon merchants.
Even among them, Dagonās abilities were quite formidable.
Though lacking the rank, he was able to present the World Treeās Fruit, which normally required higher permissions.
Each demon merchant specialized in certain goods, with items available based on their rank.
For a merchant to retrieve an item outside their field or above their rank required the Demon Merchant Guildās approval.
āHe summoned the World Treeās Fruit instantly. Does he have backing within the guild?ā
That might be the case.
To obtain items without guild approval indicated either a high personal rank or powerful backing.
Moreover, it was rare to see a demon merchant so honest about their own value on the brink of bankruptcy.
Taking all this into account, Dagon was too valuable to dispose of so easily.
“How much would you have left if you traded the World Treeās Fruit for ten million?”
“ā¦Nothing left.”
“Nine million.”
“That would be a lossā¦”
“Eight million.”
“Damn it, fine! Seven million! Thatās the absolute value of the World Treeās Fruit!”
Dagon practically shouted in exasperation.
Park Chan-woo smirked. Even now, Dagonās instinct to squeeze out a profit was undeniable.
Then Dagon explained urgently,
“As you may know, I canāt sell items below their base value. Also, I canāt conduct a trade without some profit, and the smaller the profit margin, the more it impacts my rank evaluation. If I only make around a 10% margin, Iād lose my rank and wouldnāt even be able to maintain the minimum.”
A demon merchant typically takes at least a 1.5x margin.
A 10% margin? That would be an embarrassment to any merchant.
Park Chan-woo tested the waters.
“What if we made an exclusive contract?”
“You meanā¦ you would only trade with me?”
“Thatās right.”
“Hmm. To form an exclusive contract, Iād need at least two million worth of transactions every thirty days. Then, thereās room to negotiate.”
Dagonās face showed contemplation.
An exclusive contract goes both waysāDagon could only trade with Park Chan-woo, and vice versa.
“But can you keep up with that? I can tell youāre not just an ordinary human, but earning two million in value is no small feat. Even so, I canāt go lower than a 30% margin.”
“Five million with a 20% margin.”
“ā¦What?”
“Iāll guarantee at least five million in value per month. In return, we set your margin at 20%.”
“If you fail to meet that, a penalty of ten times the value will be enforcedā¦”
Ten times five million was fifty million.
If he couldnāt pay that, his entire body would disintegrate into dust.
But if he could meet it, the 20% margin would net Dagon one millionāenough to maintain his rank without needing to trade with anyone else.
āNot just enoughāitās more than enough. With a net of one million every thirty days, I could even rise to the next rank.ā
Dagon, still skeptical, asked,
“Why should I trust you enough to form a contract?”
“You need real assurance?”
“Obviously. An exclusive contract means I canāt trade with any other humans.”
Doubt lingered in Dagonās gaze.
Park Chan-woo then pulled out a small bundle from his pocket.
Simultaneouslyā
Gaspā¦!
Dagon was genuinely astonished.
All the surprises so far paled in comparison.
“Isā¦ is that all coins?”
Everything Chan-woo pulled out was coins.
Not just one or two, but dozens.
Twenty-one coins sat in his palm.
“Is this enough to earn your trust?”
“ā¦More than enough.”
Dagonās eyes gleamed with greed.
To demons, coins were beyond priceless. The urge to possess them was overpowering.
“W-Wait a moment.”
Dagonās body trembled as he realized something elseāsomething far more serious.
“Twenty-one coins? How many Creatorsā¦ have you already bankrupted?”
Shock mixed with fear.
Creators were the rulers of the Abyss. For a human to bankrupt even one was a Herculean feat, nearly impossible.
And the Abyss had only just begunā¦
āā¦Could this guy possibly beā¦ā
Dagon arrived at one possible, terrifying conclusion.
Gulp!
Dagon swallowed nervously, his entire body trembling uncontrollably as if he were having a seizure.
There was one slight possibility, but it was a conclusion that made everything add up.
āC-could he actually be Sephiro himself?ā
