Ark the Legend 1-12
Page 85
……If he didn’t include the labour costs.
‘It is different if there are aliens that will work for free.’
Ark looked at the 100 Charenjok and smiled. The northern lake was overflowing with fish that the Charenjok could catch. If the Charenjok didn’t rest and continued catching fish then it was possible to have a 24 hour non-stop operation! And if he rented it to the Charenjok then Ark didn’t need to manage the Space Food Maker machine directly.
‘Charem is an autonomous trade region so pioneers will flock here. Besides, the areas around Charem were wastelands. Of course it was possible to buy supplies in Charem. And Space Food is the item required above everything else! There will be plenty of customers!’
He even created a sales channel already. And Ark would get 30% of the profit. If he left them alone then the octopuses would earn money for him like the SCV (StarCraft Workers)
“However 1,000 gold is a large amount of money so it wouldn’t be easy to make that amount using the Space Food Maker. But that is the best I can do for now. The northern lake is also full of ingredients. If you have patience and work hard then it won’t take as long as you think.”
Bakum nodded after hearing Ark’s words.
–The fact that the Charenjok are enslaved and we have to pay a ransom is deplorable. But there is no point lamenting the situation so I will accept your offer. And one day we might be able to buy a citizenship. However, this isn’t a safe place for us anymore. What guarantee is there that we won’t be caught as slaves?
It was an obvious problem. Naturally Ark had already thought of this.
“Like I said before, Tuntun isn’t Java’s slave anymore. He will stay in Charem to help his friends. However…..Tuntun might be released but he is a refugee so how can he possible stay in Charem?”
–I don’t know.
“It is thanks to this.”
Ark laughed and took out a familiar collar.
-Slave’s Collar
Item Type: Restriction Ring
If you enter the authentication number of your Nymphe into this ring, you can restrict the body of a monster. The collar can tighten to give pain and it will blow up if the monster leaves the designated area.
The collar was developed to train captured monsters but now it is used to capture nationless aliens not protected by the federation. Therefore it became known as the slave’s collar. It is prohibited by law to use these rings on people with a citizenship.
It was the slave’s collar that had been around Tuntun! Bakum was also sensitive to the sight of the collar.
–T-this is?
“Yes, the slave’s collar.”
–W-why do you have this thing…..?
“This will guarantee your safety in the future.”
–It will guarantee our future? Don’t tell me……?
“Yes, by law aliens with no citizenship won’t be protected by the federation. But if you are recognized as somebody else’s slave then no one can capture you. There is no reason to fear slave hunters and you can also freely access the city.”
–We will become your slaves?
Bakum muttered with an unwilling expression. The other Charenjok who heard the word ‘slave’ also trembled. But Ark had no intention of being put off by their unease. Ark had already spent quite a bit of money on this plan. The Space Food Maker was equipped with parts from the warehouse but the inner battery and several motor parts were so badly damaged that they needed to be replaced. He also purchased the slave collars for the octopuses. This was an investment into the octopus SCV so that he could earn a steady income! And Ark knew that the Charenjok couldn’t refuse his offer. If they rejected the proposal then they were giving up on the 34 octopuses, including 5 children who were caught by Java. The Charenjok also had no other plans for their future.
‘The octopuses will understand if I make a reasonable justification……’
“I feel bad even though it is just for show. But this is the best course for now. I received the token as a symbol of the Charenjok’s friendship so can’t you think of these collars as a symbol of my friendship?”
–Okay.
In the end Bakum nodded his head.
–Putting on the collar weighs on my mind…..but it is a symbol of your friendship. No, we will think of it as a token of our appreciation for you. Thank you. Bakum bowed on behalf of his clan.
Bakum then placed the collar on his head. The remaining octopuses continuously used the Slave’s Collar and an information window popped up.
-112 Charenjok have been registered as Ark-nim’s slave.
The federation basically doesn’t admit slavery. However, illegal aliens who are wearing the Slave’s Collar will be treated as the private property of the citizen.
Therefore if someone else tries to capture the slave then they could be punished with unauthorized infringement of private property or theft.
And…..112 SCV were established.
Space 2
CEO’s Responsibilities
-Tuntun!
–Elder Bakum-nim!
The 2 octopuses embraced while crying. They were Tuntun who regained his freedom and Elder Bakum.
-This guy! How much have you suffered during this time? I’m sorry. I’m the elder yet I never knew my relatives were living a life of slavery.
–Not at all. Isn’t this my fault? And now I’ve gained freedom thanks to Ark so it is okay. However some guys are still stuck with Java so I can’t be entirely pleased.
–Hum……that’s right.
Bakum nodded with a melancholy expression.
–But don’t be too concerned about that. They will come back to us in the near future. Soon we will be able to live openly as citizens of the galactic federation. This is all thanks to our friend. He is clearly a friend sent from the heavens during our time of misery.
The person Bakum was admiring was Ark! After concluding the slave contract with the Charenjok, Ark led Bakum and 30 octopuses back to Charem. The Charenjok had left their hiding place in order to transport the Space Food Maker. This was because the Charenjok’s hiding spot was going to be the food manufacturing factory for the time being.
“Jay-nim, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Jay tapped the Space Food Maker.
“There are twenty 100 litre tubes attached. This degree of buoyancy means that you should have no problem carrying it to the lakeside.”
“Are you coming to the Charenjok’s village?”
“Of course. I need to check the machine after it is moved.”
“Then please. It’s only a bit more trouble.”
“Huh? Aren’t we going together?”
“I need to handle some other business.”
“Ah, yes……”
Jay made an ambiguous expression at Ark’s answer.
“What’s wrong? Did you have something you want to say?”
“Something I want to say…..no. Let’s meet at the Charenjok village.”
He shook his head and went to meet the octopuses.
“Come on everybody! Let’s start moving! The main components are fixed firmly but be careful when carrying it. Be especially careful that the circuits don’t touch any water.”
–Understood. Start!
–Yes, Elder-nim! Let’s go! This is our source of income!
The 30 octopuses grabbed the Space Food Maker at Bakum’s command. They pushed it until it reached the waterway towards the lake and started floating. The octopuses plunged into the lake carrying the Space Food Maker.
“Then let’s meet in the Charenjok’s village! Let’s go!”
Jay cried out before heading into the lake. The goal was the Charenjok village. Or the place that would become Ark’s food production factory.
“Now that matter is handled……”
Ark smiled at the receding Space Food Maker and turned around. He crossed Charem as he opened the Nymphe’s information window. Ark smiled and retrieved the list of his belongings. In fact,
Ark had spent quite a bit of money on the food production business. It wasn’t just reassembling the parts of the machine in the warehouse with Jay. Some key parts needed repairing so he had to exchange a few of them. The parts he bought added up to 300 gold! And the slave collars he presented to the Charenjok also weren’t free. It was 1 gold and 50 silver per piece. It added up to approximately 170 gold. Of course it wasn’t just simple expenses. It was an investment so he would eventually get it back.
‘It isn’t a waste but……’
The problem was that it caused a disruption to his plan. The agent registration! Ark had 18,650 gold when he went to meet Java. He only needed 250 gold to do the agent registration. He was expecting the quest reward to settle it but instead he spent 470 gold, making the amount required 720 gold.
‘Damn, does this mean I have to postpone the agent registration?’
In fact, there was no reason he had to do the agent registration immediately.
But money wasn’t the only thing required to do the agent registration. Each city had a certain number of agents that could be registered. Cities like Tatuine with a high rate of development already had more than half of the agent registration spots taken. Charem was a city that had just joined the federation. However it was the first new city since the release of the game. Moreover, it was designated as an autonomous trade region so the possibilities were endless. A lot of users would be drooling to register as an agent in Charem. Of course, the registration fee was 27,000 gold so there were still be some spots left. But Ark still needed to search for the Murat ruins with Milan. If he left Charem then there was no guarantee when he could return. If everybody bought the licenses in the meantime then Ark would lost the opportunity to register at a 30% discount. This was the reason why Ark was in a hurry.
‘The probability of all the agent registration cards being sold out is slim. But there is no guarantee that it will be unsold. I have to register as an agent before leaving Charem!’
That was some time ago. Now a message signalling good news appeared in his Nymphe.
-The
-The
It was the RPG PW-600 and Ray Steel-??? that he obtained from the control tower! He had registered the items at the auction. Sometimes the bids were cheaper than the market price but it meant he could get the money immediately. He also earned 50 gold from the various japtem found in the control tower. Therefore Ark gained 800 gold and his money increased to 18,980 gold!
‘……Finally!’
He managed to prepare the agent registration fee. While he was thinking this, Ark arrived in front of Charem’s registration office. It was a place that his eyes had looked at many times but he had never been able to enter. But this time he unabashedly opened the door and entered.
“I came to register as an agent!”
His voice echoed through the interior. The agent registration that had been Ark’s goal! He judged that it was essential to oppose Lucifer. However, registering as an agent didn’t guarantee success. There was no guarantee that the business would succeed after it was started. It was the risk with all businesses.
‘But nothing can be done until this is started. And everybody needs to take risks in life!’
He had planned the agent registration with that resolution. He had finally came here after all his troubles so it was natural that he would have a loud voice……
The alien official with green skin frowned and said.
“Your voice will damage other people. Can you speak quieter?”
“Ah, yes……”
“You came to register as an agent? Input your name and recognition code in the terminal.”
“Ah, yes……”
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
“Your name is Ark. You are registered with the galactic federation as a 1st class citizen. You have achieved some merit in Charem so Ark-nim will be exempt from the tax and will receive a 30% discount when registering as an agent. The calculated total is 18,900 gold. If you complete the deposit then the registration card will be issued. Of course we don’t allow paying in instalments. Do you have the money?”
“Here it is.”
“Please put it in the counterfeit detection machine.”
“Ah, yes……”
Clink, clink, clink.
“18, 900 gold. It is confirmed. Finally, please register the name of the agent.”
“Ah, yes……”
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
“It has been registered. This memory chip contains the registration card, the instructions, obligations and operating manual. When connecting when the Nymphe, you can access the government’s database and get the necessary services. Please inquire with the staff if you have questions about any other matters.”
“Ah, yes……”
“Then next person please.”
Ark was dismissed and left the counter. He gathered the funds from the Royal Guards, suffered while saving Charem, received the 30% discount, gathered the 18,900 gold and he had finally registered as an agent. But the agent registration was different than what he expected. He inputted his name, took out the money and received the registration card. He felt empty for some reason.
“Although what else can I expect from an official servant?”
The officials were just receiving their pay checks and waiting until they could retire. They wouldn’t understand the heart of an average citizen who had to scrape together the money to start a business. And Ark also had no interest in the attitude of the civil servant. Anyway, he had finally completed the agent registration.
“I’m the boss!”
Ark laughed and loaded the registration card onto his Nymphe.
-Agent registration has been completed!
The galactic federation also gives the opportunity to participate in government projects in order to encourage the general public to explore the universe. Usually this requires real estate or businesses but users can skip this if they pay a registration fee. Pioneers who register without a particular business will be registered as an ‘agent.’
If you register as an agent then you are qualified to participate in various quests that will give city merit. In some cases it can also lead to opportunities to participate in quests given by the government. However, the agent’s biggest benefit is the right to invest in the relevant city. In addition, if they succeed in clearing a new frontier for development then they will be given the right to invest in it depending on their contribution. Of course, this contribution will also include the CEO and staff (see terms and conditions of your sponsor). If you invest in a city or a cleared frontier then you can receive the suitable dividends from it. Therefore many agents will recruit promising staff that have the ability to help clear frontiers.
The number of staff hired will be determined by the level of the agent. The CEO and staff can raise the level of the agent through Adventure points.
Therefore continuously develop your business.
+ The right to hire employees.
+ The right to invest in the assigned city.
+ The right to invest in a frontier based on contribution points.
+ The right to receive special quests from the assigned city and the government.
+ Agent: Dark Eden (Lv. 1) +
CEO: Ark (R-02788) Assigned City: Charem
Assigned Employees: 0/15
* Possible areas of investments and investment situation: Charem (0/3%), Beltana (0/5%)
* Regular income from the investment: –
* Regular expenditure: –
* Profit and Loss quarter: –
Dark Eden! This was the company name that Ark decided on. Dark Eden was the name of the organization he built in New World so it would be a solid foundation for a new organization. Anyway! The agent window was a poor contrast to the information window. He felt like he was finally starting after seeing the
information window. But unlike other users, Ark could invest in areas other than the assigned cities. It was Beltana! He was given this right when he became Beltana’s Hero. He had the right to invest in 5% of it!
“Well I can’t do anything yet with no money……”
Ark looked at his bag that was much lighter and clicked his tongue. So far agent registration was his name. But it wasn’t the end once he registered as an agent. He needed 18,900 gold to register as an agent but that wasn’t the end of it. He needed to invest more to generate revenue. In order to fight against competitors he needed to invest more in cities and frontiers in order to get a higher return. It was just starting now! Ark had entered an unlimited competition against other CEOs. He had to tighten his belt even further. It was a long future in front of him but there was an unexpected smile on Ark’s mouth.
“I’m starting to see the path!”
So far he had been wandering but now he had found his direction. He was still exploring the frontier and earning money but his attitude towards it had changed.
“Now, next……”
———————————————————————————————-
–W-well?
Bakum asked with a worried look. Ark grinned and nodded.
“It is beyond my expectations.”
–R-really? Is it really okay?
“Yes, if it is to this degree then we can sell it for 40, no 50 copper.”
–Ooh! That’s it! We did it!
–Now we have some hope!
Cries burst out from the crowd of octopuses after they heard Ark’s answer. Ark also looked at the octopuses with a warm expression. In front of him was a small, rectangular shaped Space Food. After registering as an agent, Ark left Charem to check the food created by the Space Food Machine.