Ranker's Return

-What is wrong with Jamie Moore?

-He can’t concentrate.

-He seems to be getting beaten up today.

The viewers sighed at Jamie Moore, who seemed to be in a bad condition today. Jamie Moore was constantly being pushed. The opponent was a daily instructor presumed to be an unidentified ranker, but this wasn’t the case. It was because the daily instructor didn’t do his best to adjust to Jamie Moore.

‘It is suffocating. Suffocating.’ Jamie Moore was just as frustrated as the viewers. He couldn’t stretch out his sword when the decisive moment came.

‘Tang-E... how can he swing a sword?’

Of course, Jamie Moore himself knew that no matter what he used, he wouldn’t be able to hurt Tang-E. Even so, he couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable about it. He was inferior in the skills aspect and voluntarily gave up the opportunity to attack, so it was natural for him to lose badly.

‘Hmm... I need to crack down on this one thing today.’ Hyeonu shook his head when he saw Jamie Moore like this. It was obvious what was wrong with Jamie Moore. Knowing the face behind the mask must have made this spar more burdensome and difficult for him. Additionally, he wasn’t allowed to reveal Tang-E’s identity to others.

“Jamie isn’t in good condition today, so I will stop the spar here.” Hyeonu stepped between Jamie Moore and Tang-E and stopped their confrontation. There was no point in trying any longer.

-The one in the wrong condition isn’t Jamie Moore. Doesn’t it seem like the daily instructor has the problem?

-I think he is in a bad mood today...

-It almost feels like he is venting his anger?

-I think they will be talking about it after today...

The viewers nodded at Hyeonu’s words. They also thought it was right to end today’s live stream here. Furthermore, Jamie Moore might even be badly hurt if the spar continued. It was just a series of helpless defeats.

“Then I will finish today’s live stream here. The next Alley Leader Academy will be the graduation episode. Jamie Moore will finally be challenging the bronze medal.”

-Is that possible?

-I’m a bit skeptical.

-He was beaten like this today... Is a bronze medal possible?

-It is possible because the opponents are different. It seems like a must win against sub-bronze specs.

The viewers expressed more concern than expected. It was due to the pitiful appearance that Jamie Moore showed today. However, the viewers who remembered what he had shown so far, rather than what he showed today, thought it was possible.

“The results will be released next week. Please watch it.”

Hyeonu didn’t interfere with the viewers’ discussion. There was no need to explain. The results would be out next week.

Hyeonu ended the live stream, took off his mask, and called out Jamie Moore’s name, “Jamie.”

“Mister Gang,” Jamie Moore replied with a stiff expression.

“I believe in Jamie. I know you are not a person with a loose tongue.”

“I’m pretty tight-lipped.”

“Not enough. This is something that can never be revealed.”

Jamie Moore shook his head. “It will never happen unless Mister Gang leaves Nike.”

He had practical restrictions that weren’t just based on good faith or something like that. Jamie Moore worked as the head of Nike Management, so it was a constraint.

“I believe you, Jamie.”

Hyeonu turned away from Jamie Moore. Suddenly, there was a small bear hanging from Hyeonu’s back.

***

The holiday on Bung Bung Island didn’t last long. It was only for one week in Arena time. Hyeonu rested for exactly that long. Of course, he didn’t just play during that time. He used the time to think about the direction to move forward.

‘I need to have a strong foundation to aim for the position of emperor.’

This was the conclusion Hyeonu came to during this time. He needed the help of people like players to become the emperor, but in the end, it was also important to have the support of NPCs.

‘The source of that reputation will eventually come from my territory.’

In that respect, Hyeonu was in a pretty good position. Phinis, Hyeonu’s territory, was now one of the most prominent territories in the entire Yusma Empire. The territory had been on a pile of debt, but Hyeonu neutralized it by spending his own money. He also installed the demon world movement magic circle, which further developed the territory than before.

‘I opened the dwarf workshop and built many other buildings.

‘Territory status window.’

[Territory Status Window]

[Territory Name: Phinis Dukedom (formerly the empire’s direct territory)

Lord’s Name: Gang Hyeonu

Territory Development: Economy: 98 Military: 97 Magic: 80 Culture: 92

Territory Population: 982,143 people.

Territory Assets: 5,416,438 gold.

Consumption Cost: 32,387 gold.

Levy Amount: 197,847 gold.

Security: Very good.

Owned Facilities: 89 (excluding residential facilities)

Current Status: The Knights of Keon are watching over the territory. The newly joined knights are nurturing troops and preventing the invasion of monsters. Nobles and merchants are flocking from all over the empire.]

The change in the territory was even more astonishing after seeing it in person. The territory, which had been in debt, now had so much gold that others couldn’t think of and the population of the territory had grown by nearly four times. The levy collection amount had also increased. In the past, it was only around 10,000 gold. Now it was almost 200,000 gold, and it had grown by 20 times.

‘I used to have a lot more money than this...’

5 million gold…

For some, it might be a dream amount, but at one time, Hyeonu had more gold than that. The demon world movement magic circle, the health recovery potions sold during the demon world war, the magic power recovery potions, and even the taxes—the money he earned was truly beyond imagination. The problem was that as the wealth of the territory grew, so did the number of people who wanted to use that wealth.

‘These damn NPCs...’

They spent money like it was water. However, they were all people who worked for Phinis, so Hyeonu couldn’t get angry even when he saw his wealth decrease. He had told them to put the development of the territory first.

‘It is because of me...’

Nevertheless, the money wasn’t wasted. Nearly 100 types of buildings were built on the territory that was close to ruins.

‘This much... It should be okay?’

He wasn’t certain. In the status window that Hyeonu saw, Phinis was a city comparable to Yusma. He just didn’t know what it was like from the perspective of the NPCs who actually lived here. Hyeonu closed the territory status window and left the internal affairs office. He walked on the walls of the inner castle and examined the entire territory.

“Do you have any concerns?” An administrator, Johnny spotted Hyeonu walking on the inner walls and moved his heavy body to approach Hyeonu.

“Johnny... It\'s been a while.” Hyeonu smiled at Johnny, who wasn’t much different from when they first met. “Have I been too indifferent to the territory?”

Johnny shook his head. “Duke, news about you was heard from many places. I also heard that you recaptured the imperial cities from the undead in the north and that you were more prominent than anyone else in the war in the East Continent.”

His lord, Duke Gang Hyeonu, was a hero of the empire. It might’ve been fortunate for the residents if Hyeonu paid attention to the territory, but in terms of the entire empire, it would’ve led to devastating damage. The more talented the person, the more likely they were to have a position well-suited for their abilities.

“How is the territory these days? It is very different from when I was given the territory by His Majesty. Do the residents feel the same way?”

“Many people have crossed over from the surrounding territories. It means it is a good place to live. In addition, numerous merchant groups are competing within the territory. It is impossible for it to be hard to live here,” Johnny told Hyeonu about life in the territory that he had seen.

It was even said that Phinis was now the second capital. Phinis was such a culturally and economically developed city now. In accordance with Hyeonu’s policy, as little taxes as possible were being collected. The security was also perfect. The knights Hyeonu brought in were doing a lot of work inside and outside the territory.

“This means I’m a decent lord, right?” Hyeonu asked while making eye contact with Johnny.

“Duke, you aren’t just a decent lord but a savior. Not many people can revive a ruined territory,” Johnny replied while carefully bowing his head. It was a very dangerous act to make eye contact with the lord.

Johnny bowed his head and added, “The people of the territory will support you no matter what you do. That is how much they believe in you.”

“Go and bring Kalui back.” Hyeonu raised Johnny, who leaned down as if he were prostrating. Then he gestured for Johnny to stop with his hands.

“I understand, Duke.”

Johnny led his heavy body down the walls.

“I didn’t get caught, right?” Johnny muttered in a very small voice as he descended the walls. Johnny was visited by someone a few days ago. He knelt down on the ground as soon as he saw the person. Then the person stuffed a few requests into Johnny’s head as if he should never forget them.

‘I can’t believe I’m raising the duke’s self-esteem...’

Johnny still didn’t understand it. Why did he have to do such things?

‘What is His Majesty thinking...?’

He couldn’t understand it.

***

“You’re here?” Hyeonu asked as he stared at Kalui, who climbed up the walls.

“You called, Duke?” Kalui bowed deeply and spoke a greeting as soon as he saw Hyeonu.

“How are the others?”

“Everyone is doing well. It is much better now than living in the barrier. I just have one concern...”

Hyeonu frowned at Kalui’s answer and asked back, “Concern? What’s the problem?”

‘Is there something wrong?’

There was no place for something to go wrong. The existing knights were too weak to provoke a conflict. The Knights of Keon were external personnel, so they weren’t interested in internal power. Yet contrary to Hyeonu’s concerns, Kalui’s answer was completely different. “I think they’ve become a bit lax.”

“You have to put up with this much. They have been trapped for countless years. Even if they play around, isn’t it just for one or two years?” Hyeonu quickly waved his hands. They had to be at least this understanding.

“I’m glad you think so, but...”

“But don’t let them play too much. It isn’t known when they’ll need to draw a knife,” Hyeonu said softly.

“Perhaps...” Kalui’s eyes shone. The fact that there would be a knife…

It meant the resurrection of the Luos Empire.

“I understand. I’ll take care of it,” Kalui replied with a flushed face.

Hyeonu waved his hands. “Don’t be too mean. I don’t know when it will be. Instead, I just want to let you know that my willpower is stronger than before.”

There was no need to set the date for now. This was a big picture that he had been drawing for a really long time.

“I understand, Duke.”

That was what he said, but Kalui didn’t seem to have any intention of holding back. There was a strange heat in his eyes.