Chapter 2472 – 2472. God’S Atlantis
It had been a while since the executives of Helten had gathered in one place. Unfortunately, not all of them were present.
Though it was the Heavenly Demon who suggested the meeting, with the appearance of a volcanic island affecting the entire Atlantis region, it was necessary for the executives to convene. Helten also needed to communicate their future policies.
Samuel, the head of Helten, surveyed the atmosphere. Unlike before, everyone was conscious of the Heavenly Demon’s presence.
It was inevitable.
The Heavenly Demon had revealed himself to be a regressor, and as proof, he had predicted the appearance of the volcanic island. Thanks to this, Helten’s executives had gained considerable benefits. Of course, the biggest beneficiary was Sparkle, also known as Harmo, the giant of the West.
“Hahaha! It’s a truly wonderful day! Isn’t it, everyone?! Even the air feels sweet. Hahahaha!”
Harmo looked incredibly cheerful, as if he were high on drugs. Of course, everyone knew that drugs weren’t the cause.
He had been preparing for the volcanic island’s emergence for a long time. His most dedicated preparation was for the mask business. That mask business had been a huge success. It felt like the Bitcoin he had been holding onto for years had skyrocketed tenfold.
“There’s ash mixed in the air, though.”
A lion wearing a cracked mask chuckled.
“Hahaha! Don’t worry about such trivial things! I’ll give you an A-rank mask as a gift! It’s something even nobles can’t easily get!”
“I don’t need it.”
“It’s a really good item, though…”
After a brief exchange, Samuel clapped his hands at the right moment, drawing the executives’ attention.
“Alright, we’ve gathered today at the Heavenly Demon’s request. Heavenly Demon, do you have something to say to us?”
The Heavenly Demon, wearing a clown mask, stepped forward.
“To put it bluntly, the exiles, centered around the Eustia Empire, will gather to attack the volcanic island. I want to hinder this attack.”
“Why? Frankly, if the volcanic island’s curse lasts too long, it won’t be good for us either.”
Raccoon, with his gruff voice, stepped forward and asked.
“It’s not about leaving the volcanic island alone forever. It’s about buying time. The reason, of course, is for our benefit. If we’ve invested, we need to get a good return. Just buying about a year will be more than enough to make a profit.”
“I agree with the Heavenly Demon’s opinion! This is our chance to rake in more money! Are you just going to sit still when money is being duplicated?!”
Samuel ignored Sparkle, who was excitedly ranting, and asked the Heavenly Demon,
“Wouldn’t too many people die if we wait a year? It’s not good for human forces to weaken. This Atlantis could end quickly.”
“Don’t worry about that. I, Sparkle, and Mirror have invested heavily and prepared. Fewer people will die than in the future I know.”
“Ah, yes. We’ve gathered enough masks, water, and food. We’ll sell them a bit expensively, but not so expensive that they’re impossible to buy. This is the time to sell in bulk.”
Though it was called selling in bulk, it was still disgustingly expensive.
“I see. So you’re prepared. If you weren’t… many people would have died.”
Hindering the volcanic island’s attack was synonymous with antagonizing the entire Atlantis. Of course, none of them cared about that. Helten was already the worst criminal organization in Atlantis, a public enemy. Adding another evil act wouldn’t change anything.
“Hmm. Personally, I don’t think it’s bad. What do you guys think?”
Samuel looked around at the other executives.
“I agree.”
Mirror said plainly. She wasn’t as much as Sparkle, but she was also making a huge profit from this. There was no reason to oppose it.
“I’m not inclined to. I’ll pass on this.”
Raccoon turned and disappeared. No one cared.
“I’ve been itching for a fight. This is perfect. I’ll stretch my muscles for a while.”
The Lion shook his spear, exuding a fierce aura.
Samuel confirmed the executives remaining in the room and asked the Heavenly Demon.
“Heavenly Demon, let’s hear your plan first.”
• • •
Three days after the volcanic island appeared.
“Cough, cough.”
Most people living in Atlantis were coughing. Exiles and mainlanders were no exception. The fine volcanic ash mixed in the air was truly terrible.
“It feels like my throat and lungs are rotting in real-time.”
“Damn it. I’m starting to envy animals and monsters.”
The volcanic ash didn’t have much of an effect on animals and monsters. At least, there were no direct harmful effects.
“Selling D-rank masks that completely block fine volcanic ash! Only 100,000 pennies! Buy them before they sell out!”
A merchant wearing a mask shouted. Judging by his attire, he was a merchant from the West.
When the volcanic island first appeared, people didn’t even glance at masks. 100,000 pennies for just one mask? Was that even reasonable? That was 1 million won in Korean currency.
Instead of buying masks, people covered their mouths and noses with cloth. Some even made their own masks. The problem was that they were completely ineffective. You needed at least a D-rank mask to block the fine volcanic ash.
“Even so, 100,000 pennies is too expensive. Can’t you lower the price a bit?”
“Customer, if you don’t like it, don’t buy it. I’m not forcing you.”
The merchant smiled. Only his eyes, curved by the mask, were visible. That made him even more infuriating.
“Damn it! Are you saying those without money should just die?!”
“What’s so new about that? If you don’t have money, you die. Isn’t that obvious?”
“I heard the Baldert family is selling masks for 10,000 pennies!”
“That’s only within the Baldert territory. This isn’t Baldert territory. And you’re not a citizen of the Baldert family either. Ah, sometimes a Baldert family merchant comes and sells masks for 50,000 pennies. But the quantity is very small. And you don’t know when a Baldert family merchant will come. If you really don’t have money, you can wait for a Baldert family merchant to come.”
The merchant smiled.
The time one could survive without a mask was about a week. After that, you would die.
“…Give me a mask. I guarantee you won’t find peace in death.”
“To worry about my afterlife… Thank you so much, customer.”
「Anti-Pollution Mask
Can filter out fine dust and toxic fumes.
Rank: D」
The man immediately put on the mask. His stinging throat felt better. Even though it was an insane price of 100,000 pennies, he felt relieved that he was safe for now.
“Customer, do you need water? We have very clean water from the West. It’s 10,000 pennies per liter. If you buy now, I’ll give you 300ml for free.”
The man’s brow furrowed.
“Now you’re selling water at such ridiculous prices? How obsessed with money are you?”
“I’m just selling at market price. It might have been different before, but now water is a precious commodity. Isn’t that right?”
“……”
He couldn’t argue with that.
After the volcanic island appeared, the water became contaminated. Clean water had fine ash mixed in it. If you drank that water, the ash would enter your body and accumulate. The same was true for rainwater.
“Exiles cursed by the volcanic island need to drink 3 liters of water every day. That’s how they can maintain their original condition. And you need to drink clean water so that the fine ash is excreted when you urinate. Do you really not need water?”
Even if you boiled the water, the contaminated ash wouldn’t disappear. What about collecting the steam and turning it back into water? It was useless. The ash that contaminated the water wasn’t ordinary ash, but something closer to a curse.
There were limited ways to obtain clean water. Magicians could create new water or purify contaminated water with magic. Thanks to this, the value of water-type magicians, who had been previously neglected, had skyrocketed.
“…If I buy 2 liters, do I get 600ml for free?”
“Haha. What nonsense. Do you think we’re digging up money from the ground? No matter how many liters you buy, the free service is only 300ml.”
“Damn it. I heard that clean water is free in the western desert. Are you bringing that water and selling it?!”
“Well, that’s true. But even if it’s free, the management is strict, so the amount of water each person can get is limited. And it’s not free if you’re not a resident of the desert. It was 2,000 pennies per liter, wasn’t it? It might be more expensive now.”
“You’re selling 2,000 penny water for 10,000 pennies? You shameless bastard…!”
“This isn’t the desert, so of course it’s more expensive. If you’re not happy, go buy it in the desert, customer.”
The merchant smirked. The man trembled, but he couldn’t dare say he would go to the desert. The desert was a dangerous place. The monsters there were feared even by veterans. Moreover, the security was terrible. The desert warriors were ignorant brutes who wouldn’t hesitate to commit murder.
“Ah, customer. If you’re thinking of going to the desert… you should also check out the Vagina Tower. You’ll be stunned the moment you see it.”
“…The tower’s name is quite unique. Surely it doesn’t mean what I think it means?”
“I don’t know what you mean, but if you’re talking about a woman’s vagina, then yes, it’s correct. The tower’s exterior looks exactly like a vagina. And it spouts a fountain once a day… it’s truly a spectacular sight. The height of the imperial towers is about 300m, but the Vagina Tower is over three times that, at 1,000m. Exactly 1,000m, I tell you.”
“How vulgar. As expected of the uncivilized brutes of the desert… tsk tsk.”
The man clicked his tongue, pretending to be refined. But the words “Vagina Tower” wouldn’t leave his mind.
Vagina.
A word that made the man’s heart race. A giant structure in the shape of a vagina? He was honestly a bit curious.
‘What kind of structure is it? Does it really look like a vagina? If it spouts a fountain once a day… does it come out from there?’
Vagina… vagina…
The Vagina Tower. His curiosity kept growing.
