Chapter 351: Who are you kidding?!

"So you're asking me if I'm willing to forgive Brachio Iorg~nim now, right?"

-Yes...

Kaiser answered, eyeing Sejun's reaction.

'Why did I even ask?'

He regretted inwardly.

Depending on Sejun's response, he would either be hated by Aileen alone or both Sejun and Aileen.

And if Sejun hated him, there was no way to appease Aileen's anger. Ah. All because I was tempted by the VIP status of Dragon Market...

While Kaiser was internally reproaching his own rashness,

"Of course, I do!"

Fortunately, Sejun forgave Brachio.

From Sejun's point of view, it was more dangerous to just send Brachio back. She might hold a grudge and try to kill him again.

It was safer to make a contract that included an agreement not to harm himself.

-Really?!

Kaiser's voice brightened upon hearing Sejun's response.

"Of course, I can't just forgive her like that. I almost died, so I need to be compensated for my life."

-Of course! Of course, someone who targeted our Sejun's life must pay! How much do you want?

"Let's settle it simply at 500 billion Tower Coins."

Sejun coolly responded to Kaiser's question. The value of Sejun's life had increased significantly over time.

-Understood! But if I make this deal with Brachio, you'll make me a VIP at the Dragon Market, right?

Kaiser asked, his voice slightly strained. Anyone could see he desperately wanted it.

'Isn't this working too well?'

He hadn't expected the response to Dragon Market VIP status to be this fervent. He'd have to mention later that there are higher tiers like VVIP and Platinum.

It seemed like a very bad situation would arise if he even joked about saying no.

"Of course."

Unable to bear the consequences of a refusal, Sejun nodded.

-Great! Hahahaha. Just wait a bit!

Kaiser quickly conveyed Sejun's demands to Brachio.

Shortly after,

-Sejun, instead of 500 billion Tower Coins, Brachio is suggesting settling with these 50 orbs?

Lacking 500 billion Tower Coins, Brachio proposed an alternative, and a statue of a black dragon spat out grape-sized green orbs.

Though Kaiser would have cut off any tacky item, the one Brachio offered was something Kaiser saw as truly necessary for Sejun.

Chuk.

Sejun grabbed the green orb to examine it.

[<Power: Extra Life> can absorb the vitality contained in the green Life Orb.]

[Would you like to absorb it?]

"No."

He hadn't agreed to the deal yet, so he didn't permit it. However, he now knew that he could absorb the vitality.

"Let's see."

Sejun examined the green orb.

[Green Life Orb]

→ An orb created from the abundant life force gathered at the Green Tower.

→ Contains the massive life force of the Green Tower.

→ Usage Restrictions: Stamina over 1500, Magic Power over 1500

→ Grade: SS

The orb contained about three times more life force than the Life Orb he had obtained from defeating the Mantis Queen.

"It seems the Green Tower is overflowing with life force?"

Sejun understood the environment of the Green Tower by reading the description.

That naturally explained why Ophelia had harvested tasteless crops.

Too much nutrition had made them tasteless.

"Kaiser~nim, I'll make the deal."

"Hahahaha. Wise decision."

As Sejun accepted the deal, Kaiser handed him the green Life Orb and looked at him with eyes full of expectation.

"From now on, for 30 days, you, Kaiser~nim, are a VIP of the Dragon Market."

-Hahahaha. Thank you!

Kaiser hurriedly flew away to brag to the other dragons.

Then,

[The Tower's Administrator says that she also want to become a VIP of the Dragon Market.]

Aileen spoke up.

"Aileen, you can't."

Sejun rejected Aileen's request.

[The Tower's Administrator feels disappointed by your words.]

"Aileen, you and I are part of the team that runs the Dragon Market. So, you can't be a VIP. We are a team."

[The Tower's Administrator nods, agreeing that your words are correct.]

[The Tower's Administrator strongly insists that you and she are a team.]

After finishing the conversation with Aileen,

"Absorb."

Sejun absorbed the life force contained within the green Life Orb.

Then,

[<Power: Extra Life> absorbs the life force contained in the green Life Orb.]

Along with the message, green energy was absorbed into Sejun's hand, and the green orb vanished.

[The Life Orb is 100% complete.]

[One Life Orb of <Power: Extra Life> has been filled.]

[The Life Orb is 100% complete.]

[Two Life Orbs of <Power: Extra Life> have been filled.]

[The Life Orb is 23.5% filled.]

Suddenly, two Life Orbs of <Power: Extra Life> were filled.

One green Life Orb had given him two additional lives.

"Hehehe."

For Sejun, who had been completing the Life Orb by 0.2% daily, this was very welcome news.

***

Beneath the land where the nine towers and the tenth tower stood.

[It's hard... but let's hang in there a little longer!]

Flamie, tired, encouraged herself to exert more effort as she moved her gigantic roots.

Flamie's roots extended to several towers.

The fiery energy absorbed by the roots connected to the Red Tower flowed to the roots connected to the Blue Tower,

And the life force absorbed by the roots connected to the Green Tower flowed to the roots connected to the dying Brown Tower, which lacked life force.

The roots connected to the Purple Tower detoxified poison and burned it.

The other towers were issues beyond Flamie's control, so she simply extended her roots there.

Thus, Flamie was taking care of five towers.

[Hehe. This will make things a bit easier for Master later, right?]

For Sejun.

Around Flamie's gigantic roots were ents that possessed much stronger and larger energies than what could be seen in the tower, assisting Flamie.

While tending to the towers like this, Flamie

[Ah, I can't do this anymore. I need the master's touch today!]

Exhausted, Flamie declared a break and decided to seek out Sejun. Simultaneously, the movement of energies through the roots also stopped.

And in the meantime, the situation in the Brown Tower and Green Tower worsened significantly.

Fortunately, thanks to the Flame Bean, drought-inducing Watermelon, and Detoxifying Green Onion, the situation in the Red Tower, Blue Tower, and Purple Tower did not worsen significantly.

***

"Zelga, go back and grow watermelons again."

"Yes! I will enjoy the potatoes!"

[Blue Tower's Tower Farmer Zelga is being sent back.]

Zelga, holding a boiled potato dearly, returned to the Blue Tower.

As Zelga left,

"Meow... it's a pity, meow..."

Theo felt dejected as he couldn't eat the giant grilled fish.

"I'll grill some fish for you later."

"Puhuhut. Alright, meow!"

He quickly regained his energy at Sejun's words.

And,

"Chairman Park, let me borrow this, meow!"

Theo, who needed to burn Sejun's treasures for better efficiency, picked up one of the gold lumps he had given to Sejun.

"Alright. I'll lend it to you."

"Puhuhut. Thank you, meow!"

Thus, Theo borrowed wealth from Sejun.

Poof.

"Puhuhut. Now I am truly Golden Cat Theo Park, meow!"

He shone brilliantly as he burned the gold.

"Hmph! I can shine brightly too if I eat Sunflower Seeds!"

Crunch.

Reacting to Theo's boast, Ajax ate the Sunflower Seed he had been saving for later, causing his body to light up.

Kueng!

[Cuengi wants to shine too!]

Cuengi looked on enviously at Theo and Ajax.

"But Cuengi, you can eat a lot instead."

Kueng! Kueng!

[That's right! Cuengi can eat a lot!]

Cuengi's expression brightened immediately upon hearing Sejun's words.

Kking!

'Hey! It's blinding!'

Just then, Fenrir covered his eyes with his paws due to the light emitted by Theo and Ajax, making Cuengi feel even better. The light only hurts the eyes!

Then,

[Master!]

Flamie called out to Sejun from the palm of Veronica, who was approaching from a distance.

And,

Hop.

As she got closer, she jumped towards Sejun.

"Flamie, you're here?"

Sejun caught Flamie and gently stroked her slightly withered leaves.

[Hehe. Yes!]

Enjoying Sejun's touch, Flamie felt rewarded for her hard work.

However,

[Farmer's Warm Touch Lv. 7 activates.]

[While touched, the apple tree's leaves heal slightly.]

Seeing the message, Sejun became worried about Flamie.

"Vice Chairman Theo, heal Flamie, please."

"Puhuhut. Leave it to Golden Cat Theo Park, meow!"

Kkuk. Kkuk.

Theo, emitting golden light, worked hard alongside Sejun to heal Flamie's leaves.

Despite Sejun and Theo's diligent healing for an hour,

[Farmer's Warm Touch Lv. 7 activates.]

[While touched, the apple tree's leaves heal slightly.]

They were not fully healed. The healing power of the two was too weak compared to Flamie's newfound enormous strength, even in her small body.

"What's going on?"

[Hehe. Master, I'm fine now.]

Just as Flamie, who felt a prick of guilt, tried to escape from Sejun's hands,

"It can't be, meow! My pride as Vice Chairman Golden Cat Theo can't allow this, meow! Chairman Park, lend me some wealth, meow!"

"Alright."

Fwoosh.

With Sejun's permission, Theo burned the gold from Sejun's void storage.

Talent: Burning Power of Treasure with Worthless Wealth, this time he infused the power into healing instead of attack.

Kkuk.

"Puhuhut. This time it's a complete recovery, meow!"

Theo, glowing as bright as the sun from the wealth he burned, pressed down on Flamie's leaves with his brilliantly shining golden paws.

Flamie's branches and leaves were dyed with the golden light flowing from his front paws.

[Farmer's Warm Touch Lv. 7 activates.]

[While touched, the apple tree is fully healed.]

[While touched, the apple tree grows slightly.]

Flamie's leaves were healed.

At that moment, the land of the tower and the spaces between the nine towers briefly glowed golden.

[Hehe. Thank you, Theo~nim.]

Flamie thanked Theo and, after thoroughly enjoying Sejun's touch, returned.

A little later,

"Vice Chairman Theo, did you burn all the wealth in the storage?!"

As Sejun entered the void storage to prepare lunch, he discovered that the wealth he had accumulated in the corner of the storage was completely gone.

Theo had burned all the wealth in the void storage to heal Flamie.

"Puhuhut. That's right, meow! I, Vice Chairman Theo, know that I'm great, meow!"

Theo, thinking Sejun was praising him, spoke arrogantly as usual. I burn wealth well, meow!

However,

"What?! It wasn't a compliment?!"

It was not praise.

"Meow?! It wasn't a compliment, meow?!"

"Yes."

"Meow! Then praise me quickly, meow! I need Chairman Park's praise, meow!"

Theo boldly lay on his back on Sejun's lap, showing his belly. Praise and pet me, meow!

"Alright. Good job."

Although Sejun was annoyed that all the wealth was burned, he praised Theo for healing Flamie and stroked his belly.

Then, next to Sejun, Cuengi and Ajax also lay down and showed their bellies.

Shush. Shush.

Sejun busily alternated his hands, petting the bellies of all three.

Kking!

'Hey! Those hands should only be used for petting me!'

Fenrir got angry at Sejun.

"Alright. Let's eat, Blackie."

Sejun quieted Blackie by giving him dried sweet potato and continued petting the three bellies for a while.

"Come to think of it, I'm glad I didn't receive money from Brachio."

Sejun suddenly realized this. If he had received 500 billion Tower Coins from Brachio, Theo would have burned them all just now.

As Sejun was smiling,

[You have overcome misfortune with a mental victory.]

[Your soul feels fulfilled.]

[Mental Strength increases by 5.]

The message appeared.

"Who are you kidding?!"

Sejun got furious at the message.

*****

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