novelraw Chapter 76 : Delivery Service (1)
Chapter 76 : Delivery Service (1)
Hwang Yong-jae's scholarship was deposited into my account on the same day.
'Good.'
The number of zeros in my account satisfied me.
'With this, my war funds have become abundant.'
No matter how frugally one lived at the academy, there were many expenses.
'Even the practice room usage fees aren't free.'
While many basic items were provided, equipment like weapons and armor had to be acquired by oneself.
'Besides, the quality of standard supplies isn't that great either.'
Among supplies that could be used for a long time, maybe only the costume mask was decent quality?
'I should casually probe Senior Lim Eun-seo.'
She's like a dwarf who produces high-quality equipment if you just bring her materials and money.
However.
The main purpose for this money was something else.
'If you have capital, you should roll it to multiply it.'
I knew exactly what profitable side job a player could do within this academy.
"What's the occasion? Getting coffee from you."
Nam Tae-hoon, happily sipping his latte, chuckled.
"When discussing business, a little fattening up is necessary."
"Huh? What business all of a sudden?"
"Lower your voice a bit."
"!"
Nam Tae-hoon's expression turned serious when he realized this wasn't a joke.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Our academy basically prohibits students from leaving campus privately during the semester."
"Yeah, for security reasons. So what?"
"Instead, the academy provides certain items for the cadets' convenience and arranges for various stores on campus to supply most necessities."
However.
If everything could be solved with standard supplies and the PX, soldiers wouldn't be hauling all sorts of things when returning from leave.
"Even so, when you stay here for over five months, you naturally need things that aren't provided."
"Well, that's true."
"The problem is that there's no way to get those things."
"Hmm."
Nam Tae-hoon finally understood what I was saying.
"So you mean, well, that's completely......"
"Exactly."
It's just like what Morgan Freeman's character did in the classic masterpiece "The Shawshank Redemption."
As a long-term inmate, he built high credibility by providing anything prisoners needed, from cigarettes to rock hammers to adult magazines.
That old man only took some cigarettes as payment.
But when the stakes get higher, the profits grow too, right?
"......so what exactly are you planning to deal in?"
"Anything prohibited by school regulations."
"......?!"
Even the usually unflappable Nam Tae-hoon widened his eyes at such a bold statement.
"This place calls itself an academy, but it's really more like a military school. Because of that, many items are restricted."
In other words, it was a gold mine.
"What, are you going to sell drugs or something?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Right? Then alcohol and cigarettes?"
"This isn't a university. Dealing in illegal items would cause trouble."
"Hmm. Then what are you planning to sell?"
"Many things. Items that could 'undermine the dignity of cadets.'"
For example.
"Entertainment items like gaming consoles and magazines. CD players too. Musical instruments like harmonicas, or even probiotics and diet pills."
"......."
Nam Tae-hoon nodded, realizing he hadn't seen such things in the mart.
'Because the Gate Era swept through, mobile games and music streaming culture couldn't emerge.'
Of course.
It was also because Edge of Gate itself was modeled after a slightly earlier era than when I started playing the game.
"But can you make money selling that stuff?"
"Those are just loss leaders."
"Huh?"
"Once I establish the sales network, I'll bring in items made from demonic beast byproducts."
He licked his lips, finally interested.
"That's where the real money is."
If cadets could attach these to their equipment for upgrades, or purchase various consumables as needed, their inconveniences would be eliminated.
"Currently, only items deemed necessary and urgent can be requested through a review process and purchased on campus. It's annoying and troublesome for cadets."
"That's true."
"It might not matter for third-year students who spend most of their time outside, but second and first-years are all experiencing these inconveniences."
"Hmmmm."
Nam Tae-hoon crossed his arms.
"But why are you telling me this?"
"Your ability is perfect for this kind of work."
"Ahem. I don't know what you're talking about."
Nam Tae-hoon cleared his throat.
"Isn't this basically smuggling?"
"Smuggling? I'd appreciate if you called it a purchasing agency service."
"Wow."
"It's just providing a service for those who have difficulty purchasing directly, taking a small fee for the trouble."
"Still, if we get caught, it's definitely grounds for disciplinary action. And if my image gets bad from doing this......"
"Nam Tae-hoon, you're acting like an amateur today."
"?"
"If we get caught, you'd face disciplinary action too, wouldn't you?"
"!"
He was an informant who infiltrated with a purpose, and I already knew his identity.
"Hey, what's this? Are you threatening me now?"
"Of course not. You kept refusing, so I'm just asking for your honest opinion."
"Haha."
Nam Tae-hoon relaxed his tense expression and scratched his chin.
"I don't particularly need to do this. I'm not short on money."
"People who say they don't need money are usually the ones most obsessed with it."
"No, really! Why don't you believe me?"
"Let's do a 7:3 profit split."
"What should I start with?"
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While Su-hyeon and Nam Tae-hoon were conspiring.
"Huh?"
"Why are you guys here?"
Hwang Ji-su and Kwon Seung-yeon, who came for coffee as usual on the weekend, spotted the two.
"Hmm. Is there a problem with us being here?"
"You come often, but it's the first time I've seen Nam Tae-hoon here."
Nam Tae-hoon evaded Hwang Ji-su's comment.
"Just, you know. I was bored so I came out."
"You seemed to be having an interesting conversation. Let's join in."
Kwon Seung-yeon quickly pulled up a chair and sat next to Su-hyeon.
"What's this? Are we sitting here?"
"Hehehe, what's the big deal?"
"Hmph."
Hwang Ji-su, looking displeased, tried to sit next to Su-hyeon but ended up sitting at a distance next to Nam Tae-hoon.
"That reaction is a bit hurtful."
"Whatever."
Hwang Ji-su dismissed him.
"So what were you guys talking about?"
"We weren't really talking about anything."
Nam Tae-hoon tried to change the subject, but.
Su-hyeon had no intention of treating this like some illegal drug cartel.
"I was thinking of starting our own purchasing agency service."
"What are you talking about?"
"What, are you planning to smuggle or something?"
"No. It's something everyone knows about but doesn't mention because they all recognize the need."
And in case of any trouble, he could use Nam Tae-hoon as a front and slip away.
'A true businessman sometimes works from behind the scenes.'
And.
'This worked out well.'
In Su-hyeon's experience, Kwon Seung-yeon was surprisingly a good business partner.
Above all, her being short on money due to her family situation was her biggest motivation.
"So what we're going to do is......"
When Su-hyeon finished speaking, Kwon Seung-yeon said with a determined face:
"I want in too."
"Sure."
"Huh?"
While Su-hyeon nodded readily, Nam Tae-hoon, who had been playing it cool and creating tension, was taken aback.
"What? You're going to work with her?"
"I can work with both you and Kwon Seung-yeon."
"Will that still be profitable?"
"You have to think long-term. Besides, this is just a side job. I'm not looking to make a fortune."
The most important benefit was establishing connections with various named characters through this.
"Hmmmm."
Nam Tae-hoon, growing anxious, cautiously brought up:
"So, if I work with you both, my cut stays the same, right?"
Kwon Seung-yeon immediately became sensitive to this.
"What's your percentage?"
"7:3."
"So what, you get 3 but I only get 1?"
"Why are you twisting my words?"
"Then what, should we do 4:3:3? When Su-hyeon planned everything and is looking for partners, isn't it a bit shameless to take that much?"
"Ugh."
Nam Tae-hoon scratched his chin, intimidated by Kwon Seung-yeon's fierce defense of Su-hyeon.
"Then what split do you suggest?"
"Su-hyeon should get 5, and we should each get 2.5. Wouldn't that be fair?"
Nam Tae-hoon objected to Kwon Seung-yeon's proposal.
"Then I'd be better off working alone and taking 3."
"Well. In the long run, taking 2.5 while reducing risks and workload is probably the better choice."
Once money became the topic, Kwon Seung-yeon's expression completely changed.
'A bit scary.'
Su-hyeon thought quietly.
When it came to money, she was all seriousness.
That was Kwon Seung-yeon.
'Has she always been this articulate?'
Even Hwang Ji-su was bewildered watching the two.
"Come on, let's think broadly. For a business to grow, isn't having two reliable partners better than one?"
"Hmm."
"Would you rather take 30 percent of 100, or 25 percent of 200? In absolute terms, the latter means taking 50, so......"
"Hmmmm."
Watching this, Hwang Ji-su turned to Su-hyeon.
"You really do all sorts of things. How do you have the energy?"
"You should stay busy while you can."
"But why are you suddenly doing this?"
"Because I got some capital."
"!"
Finally guessing the source of Su-hyeon's funds, Hwang Ji-su laughed dryly.
"You're going to use your external scholarship for such mischief?"
"Isn't that pleasing to you too?"
He was right.
For Hwang Ji-su, who disliked her father, wasn't it somewhat satisfying to see Su-hyeon use money from him rather than being indebted to him?
"That's not bad. It would be even better if you just squandered it all."
"......That's a bit..."
Seeing the two of them, Kwon Seung-yeon sent a sharp, wary glance.
"What's going on? Ji-su, you're not joining us, right?"
"I'm not. You guys do it yourselves."
Hwang Ji-su sighed.
"Good, I thought so."
Kwon Seung-yeon nodded with satisfaction and moved closer to Su-hyeon to whisper:
"I understand the plan now, so shall we start by making a catalog?"
Not wanting to lose, Nam Tae-hoon quickly jumped in.
"Great. I'm good at that kind of thing."
'As expected of Nam Tae-hoon.'
Su-hyeon nodded, thinking that his experience writing reports for his superiors was clearly showing.
'With these members, I might surprisingly have little to do myself.'
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What are the essential elements for a distribution business?
While one could list various factors like supply sources and demand sources, for this kind of somewhat secretive business, above all else.
The most important thing was establishing a solid import route connecting the two.
Consider, for example, the business of drug cartels.
There's no product that people beg to buy more than drugs, so finding demand isn't difficult.
Supply sources?
Finding people who want to make and sell such high-value products isn't difficult either.
The problem is how to bring in dangerous goods that are taboo in any society, evading the eyes of enforcement agencies.
They say where there's a need, wisdom follows.
Drug cartels made enormous profits by concealing goods in unimaginable ways—in shoe soles, car engine compartments, even inside human bodies.
'But we don't need to go that far.'
Su-hyeon thought.
'How much effort I spent finding this route.'
Su-hyeon had continuously tried to establish various routes through teaching assistants responsible for patrol, external staff in charge of security, third-year cadets who frequently went on external assignments, and more.
But this is EFAC, with its proud and strict academic culture.
It meant that if a mere first-year cadet tried such an impertinent act, the common sense here was to scold them and report to an instructor.
However, after multiple attempts across different playthroughs, Su-hyeon finally succeeded in finding the optimal route.
'The delivery person who visits the campus mart daily.'
The answer was right there.
"Good day, security officers!"
The security guards exchanged familiar greetings with the driver who lowered his truck window.
"Working hard today as well."
"Yes, I'm heading in!"
After years of making deliveries faithfully, no one bothered to search him anymore.
As always, his only thought was to quickly unload the goods and move on to the next location.
"You're here."
"Yes. Please check this list."
After handing the ledger to the mart's unloading staff, he hurriedly left.
"I need to use the bathroom......"
"Hahaha, drank too much water?"
"If only it were just water! I nearly died on the way here."
Shortly after.
"Phew."
Sitting on the toilet and finally finding peace, the man was horrified to discover the toilet paper had run out.
"Damn it! Today's luck is terrible."
It was at that moment that a lifeline descended to him.
Knock knock.
"Are you out of toilet paper?"
"Huh?"
A voice came from the next stall, which had definitely been empty.
'......What's going on?'
"Take this toilet paper first."
The man cleared his throat as he saw the premium tissue being passed under the partition.
"Ahem. Thanks for this."
"You're welcome."
"......So, thanks for the tissue, but what exactly do you want?"
"No need to be so tense."
Hearing the man swallow nervously.
Nam Tae-hoon quietly lowered his sunglasses and smiled.
"I've come to make you an offer you can't refuse."