Ranker’s Return

A man rose from behind the mounted knights. The man crossed through the group of knights and landed lightly on the ground.

“Who do you think it is, Disciple?” The identity of the man was Lebron, Hyeonu’s master. He arrived in Phinis with the support of the empire.

“You came, Duke Lebron?” The commerce group owner, who was standing in front of Kale, bowed to Lebron.

“Since you’ve already arrived, I’m going. Things should be done by experts.” Lebron waved his hand.

“Master, what is this?” Hyeonu pushed Kale toward the commerce group owner and approached Lebron.

“What do you think it is? I came to keep my promise.”

“So why bring the knights?”

“I brought them to leave them here. There are no proper soldiers here, so accept them properly.”

As expected, his master was his master. Hyeonu was impressed with Lebron’s gift. The urgent fires were put out one by one.

‘Money and troops came…’

“Master, you should take a few days off. Aren’t you just going to train if you return to the capital?”

“What break? I would rather lie down and sleep in my training ground. This place will be noisy soon...”

“Well, that’s true. So when are you leaving?”

“There are a few places I need to make stops at, so I will go soon. Work hard for my share. This way, there is no need to talk to me later, right? It’s why I took care of you.”

After this, Lebron left after being sent off by Hyeonu.

“Everyone, the duke of the empire is so kind.”

-I admit it. The devilish Lebron...

-There is no other tsundere like him.

-His words are tough, but he took care of everything that should be taken care of.

-Giving money and knights... As expected, the duke class...

The viewers were fascinated by Lebron.

“The knights can stay in the knights’ quarters at the lord’s castle. Go there first. I will visit you later.” Hyeonu first sent the knights to the lord’s castle.

He had no intention of revealing the knights’ capabilities in the stream.

‘I have to distinguish it.’

What to show and what not to show—Hyeonu was clearly drawing a line.

He felt it was enough to disclose the development of the territory. It was better to hide the knights because he didn’t know how he would use them in the siege.

“I will show you the redevelopment site now.”

Hyeonu predicted what would be seen a moment later.

*** 

-It really looks like a place where a war occurred.

-Isn’t this really the case? It looks like an area that appeared in the 5th main scenario. No wonder the name was familiar.

-Ah, how many places have been crushed? It was barely blocked.

Some of the viewers realized where Phinis was. It was one of the cities in the finale of the fifth main scenario.

-Is this really the redevelopment area?

-It looks like the buildings have already been demolished. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Even the walls need to be restored. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ The construction noise must be crazy!

Previously, the viewers hadn’t seen the surroundings properly because Hyeonu had run to the east gate too quickly. Now, Hyeonu was walking leisurely, so they could observe the surroundings. It was a city that was worth being called ruins or a post-war city. This was Phinis.

“Kale, how is it going?”

The conversation was already in full swing when Hyeonu visited the commerce group. Johnny had also made it and was sitting next to Kale.

“They are coming out very actively.” The answer came from Johnny, not Kale. “Kale doesn’t know because it is his first time doing this, but I know it. Things learned in the academy are completely different from what is actually experienced while working. It feels like I’m undertaking construction related to the imperial family.” 

Johnny had a hard time hiding his feelings throughout his talk with the commerce group. It was because there was a reaction completely opposite to his own past experiences.

Usually, when talking about construction, the commerce group would use shallow tricks to gain more money, and ordinary projects might become difficult. All the commerce groups responded in the same way, so it was always necessary to fight in order to proceed with construction within the set budget.

However, this time was completely different.

‘I can’t believe it is so comfortable.’

This was his first time having such a smooth experience in his 10 years as an administrator after graduating from the academy. Johnny had to speak up because everything was being accepted.

‘If I can work this way...’

Then this place, Phinis, was heaven.

Hyeonu opened his mouth and said, “In any case, it’s good. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, My Lord,” Johnny replied.

Hyeonu nodded at Johnny’s confirmation. If things progressed quickly, then Phinis would recover soon.

“That’s it... Then I’ll ask you something. Which commerce group are you…?” Hyeonu turned away from Kale and Johnny toward the man from the commerce group. Hyeonu was asking for the name of the man who seemed to be the leader of the commerce group.

“I am Jerry of the Goldberg Commerce Group. Gang...”

The man who introduced himself as Jerry was about to say Hyeonu’s name, but Hyeonu hurriedly raised an index finger to his lips.

“It is a great honor to do business with the earl of Phinis.” Jerry was the leader of a large commerce group for a reason. He understood what Hyeonu wanted and never mentioned his name to the end.

“I will call you Jerry. Can I do this?”

“Just call me as you please.”

“So how far has the conversation gone?” Hyeonu asked about the progress of the conversation.

Hopefully, it hadn’t progressed far.

‘Please only say a little bit, please!!’

Otherwise, there would be no point in revealing this half-broken city in today’s stream. The results of the discussion would be released later after a spectacular restoration.

“I just heard a small explanation. There was nothing big,” Jerry said.

Hyeonu sighed with relief at Jerry’s answer and looked at Kale and Johnny before asking, “Can I explain it instead? I am the master of Phinis after all.”

Kale and Johnny nodded. Hyeonu said he wanted to do it himself, so they had no intention of stopping him. They didn’t even think about it.

‘It is because the big framework was made by me...’

In any case, the plan for restoring the estate was entirely drawn by Hyeonu.

Nike just focused on external aspects such as the shape and design of the building.

“It will be a long story. Let the others in the group take a break, and come with me. I will explain in the lord’s castle.”

Hyeonu led the three men to the lord’s castle.

*** 

-Isn’t this the initial location?

-Why come back here?

-Is he threatening us for money?

-Ah, it isn’t to that extent. Our Alley Leader...

The viewers saw that Hyeonu’s intentions weren’t good when he returned to the administrator’s room.

‘I have to bear with this dissatisfaction. It is a good opportunity for publicity.’

The reason for returning here was simple. As he gave Jerry a presentation on the development of Phinis, Hyeonu would also promote it to the large number of stream viewers and subscribers who would watch the video.

‘It will properly show the merits of Phinis. I will suck up money before it is completed.’

Hyeonu hadn’t forgotten about the 20,000 gold he placed in the territory warehouse. So he was thinking of bringing players to Phinis in order to earn money.

‘This is just the beginning.’

Hyeonu opened his mouth with a solemn heart and said, “Now, let’s take a look. This is the current Phinis. Broken, broken, and broken... All sorts of negative modifiers are attached to it.”

Hyeonu displayed a map of the Phinis’ entire territory in the administrator’s room. However, there was a difference. Previously, it was a 2D map. This time, a 3D map appeared like a hologram. It was a function that Hyeonu discovered after playing around with the Territory Administration window for several days.

-Ohhhhh!

-This is a hologram!

-This looks like a scene from a movie?

-I think I’ve seen this scene in Mithrilman.

The spectacular sight of the map was enough to evoke the admiration of the viewers.

“However, this is just what it is now. The Phinis I plan to recreate is different.” Hyeonu reached out with his right hand and waved it.

Then the map changed. It wasn’t the broken territory but the model planned by Hyeonu and created by Nike.

“Phinis will bring in a lot of the culture from the East Continent. There will be food and items from the East Continent. In this way, we will bring the East Continent to the West Continent.”

Based on Hyeonu’s words, the map enlarged and shrank repeatedly. It focused on the point that Hyeonu explained and then changed when he spoke about other places.

“East Continent...? Earl, have you been to the East Continent?” Jerry’s eyes widened as he heard Hyeonu’s explanation.

“The reason I received Phinis is related to it.”

“So this is why it happened...”

Hyeonu cocked his head at Jerry’s words. “Is there something...?”

“Not long ago, all the top commerce groups were commissioned. We will receive large rewards if we bring goods from the East Continent, especially alcohol, to the imperial family...”

Hyeonu fully grasped the story from Jerry’s words. ‘Maybe it is due to the alcohol I gave him.’

“Does His Majesty like to drink?” Hyeonu asked.

“It isn’t just enjoyment. It is almost an addiction, addiction. You can just assume that all the best alcohols in the West Continent are in the imperial palace. Thousands of high-quality alcohol enter the imperial palace every year.” Jerry turned his head to the left and right as he spoke, seemingly anxious. 

“By the way... what about the development plan? Does it look okay?”

Jerry replied, “I think it might be the best outside of the system. I don’t know about the East Continent, but I know this plan will definitely succeed.”

Jerry was actually shaking. He had also been shaking as he listened to Hyeonu’s explanation.

‘There is no way for it to fail.’

The adventurer earl’s plan was perfect. It was impossible for the city to be destroyed once it was completed, and it was obvious that the nobles who were crazy about new things would flock to it like crazy. What about the earl’s background? He was the only disciple of Duke Lebron, the best knight of the empire. Additionally, he himself had the title of earl. Throughout the empire, few people had a higher title than this adventurer earl. Moreover, just how deep was the emperor’s trust in him?

‘It is frightening,’ Jerry thought. There was no other reason why the Goldberg Group made a deal with Phinis. A few days ago, Jerry rushed to the imperial palace at the emperor’s call. 

On the spot, he had heard the emperor’s threat-like request: “I will support you regardless of the budget, so take charge of the Phinis restoration work!”

It was no wonder that Lebron came here.

‘His love for his disciple is terrible...’ Jerry remarked inwardly.

Duke Lebron had accompanied Jerry to Phinis and didn’t speak openly. He just repeatedly said to ask his disciple.

“We will take charge of the Phinis project with the mentality of betting on it everything we have in our Goldberg Group, Earl.” Jerry bowed deeply.

6th Anniversary Event Link (Submission Final Date: 15th November)