Chapter 9: The One Who Eats First Takes It (1)

* * *

After the dream fog disappeared from the Gangnam Station area, the news was filled with reports of the mysterious fog and strange phenomena.

Similar phenomena were occurring around the world, but South Korea was the only country to have recovered, drawing global attention.

Given the worldwide nature of the phenomenon, it quickly became the hottest topic of interest. The internet was flooded with related posts and comments.

– Strange things happen when a country is doomed.

– Are Japan and China still in chaos?

– Haha, that’s funny.

– I was at Gangnam Station, and people suddenly collapsed; it was no joke.

– I was one of those who fell asleep at Gangnam Station and woke up. I had a strange dream where a man appeared and...

└ It’s fake.

└ Weren’t the people who collapsed being examined in hospitals? Where did you get this nonsense?

While reading the news on his phone, Ian confirmed that things were unfolding as expected and then stood up. The time was approaching for the dream fog and the Illusionists to be known to the world.

Bang, bang!

"Hey, when are you going to deposit the rent?"

"I'll only pay this month's rent and then move out!"

Strange phenomena are one thing, but people's daily lives must continue, especially when they need to eat.

'It's time to start making money.'

Money was necessary for everything. It was needed to hire people and to solve many problems easily.

However, simply making money wasn't enough.

'I need to get a step ahead before the Illusionist market fully activates.'

Ian decided to start executing his plans for the future step by step.

* * *

Daeho Corporation is a small to medium-sized company that manufactures batteries and supplies them to large corporations. It was a manufacturing company that Jang Daeho, in his early 50s, had worked hard to build.

Despite the ongoing economic downturn and financial difficulties, Jang Daeho persevered with determination and tenacity.

Recently, something strange had happened to him. It all started when a thick fog enveloped his neighborhood.

'Am I finally going crazy from stress?'

That's what he thought.

He heard strange system messages, and the world of the starting dream was mentioned, along with a quest to clear.

The quest was simple but strange. It involved making some kind of item. For Jang Daeho, who had hardly played any games, everything was bizarre.

However, Jang Daeho, who had always been skilled with his hands, followed the instructions and made the item. He thought it was just a dream, so he didn't mind the oddity.

But then, similar fog appeared in the Gangnam Station area, and people collapsed.

Only then did Jang Daeho realize that it wasn't just a dream, and he wasn't going crazy.

"Mr. Jang Daeho, the CEO of Daeho Corporation, right?"

"Yes, but..."

While the world was in chaos, the fog that appeared in the Gangnam Station area disappeared instantly.

Jang Daeho then welcomed an unfamiliar visitor, a young man with a peculiar aura.

"My name is Ian. My surname is Lee, and my given name is An. You can call me An. Haha."

At that moment, Jang Daeho met someone who would completely change his life.

* * *

Jang Daeho was an Illusionist specialized in production skills, but his combat abilities were very weak.

In the early days of the Illusionists, he gained the respect of many due to his honest and upright character, leading the item trading market. However, he was eventually exploited and died tragically when the association and large corporations, in league with top-ranked Illusionists, took over the market.

Since he couldn't obtain materials directly from the dream fog, he was at the mercy of those who monopolized the materials.

'Then, I should...'

Ian's eyes sparkled as he took out dozens of red jades from his inventory and grabbed Jang Daeho's hand.

"Mr. Jang Daeho, please listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

"Yes?"

If left as is, Jang Daeho would follow the same tragic path. Ian didn't want that. Because...

'I need to take advantage of him first!'

It's often said that people who have been scammed before are more likely to be scammed again, as they end up on the scammer's list of easy targets.

This was exactly the case. Ian knew who Jang Daeho was and what life he would lead, so he marked him as an easy target.

'Isn't it better to be used by me to help save the world rather than be exploited by others?'

It would be a win-win situation, both morally and practically.

With that, Ian started to sell his "medicine" to Jang Daeho.

"Mr. Jang Daeho, the world is currently facing a great crisis. The fog appearing around the world is just the beginning."

"Well, that's true, but..."

Currently, Jang Daeho was a complete novice as an Illusionist. He didn't understand what Illusionists did and lacked knowledge about using the system.

It was natural for him to fear the unknown phenomena.

"First, please look at this red jade. You should know how to handle it."

"Hmm."

Jang Daeho swallowed hard. Even as a novice, an Illusionist instinctively knew how to use it.

He knew he could use it effectively.

"It's very hard to obtain. I gathered these one by one, risking my life many times... right, Boksil?"

"Meow..."

Boksil, already forming a fantastic duo with Ian, drooped her ears and cried pitifully.

Ian, pretending to be heartbroken, hugged Boksil and said,

"This poor rabbit is my only summon. When she almost died to a monster, I felt like the sky was falling..."

"Even such a small rabbit fights?"

Boksil's small and cute appearance had a way of touching people's hearts, regardless of age or gender.

In Jang Daeho's mind, the dream fog became a dangerous and scary thing, and the red jades Ian brought were rare and valuable.

"Why are you offering such valuable items?"

"You asked a good question."

It was time to get to the point after laying the groundwork.

"Let's make a deal."

To Ian, the red jades were just common items. But in Jang Daeho's hands, the story would be different.

Most importantly, if he could secure Jang Daeho, he could control both production and distribution in the upcoming Illusionist market.

* * *

After leaving Jang Daeho's office, Ian headed to an uninhabited mountain. He then took out the Illusion Stones he had obtained from clearing South River from his inventory.

Illusion Stones were a massive energy source with various applications. However, it took a long time for Illusionists to discover their true value.

'With Illusion Stones, I can go to South River and Southwood anytime.'

For a while, Illusionists treated the dream fog as a one-time dungeon. They thought it would end once the main quest was cleared.

Ian, looking at the Illusion Stones, saw a mist rising and smiled.

There was a reason he treated the red jades as common items.

'Yes.'

Returning to South River Village, Ian and Boksil entered the village, nodding their heads.

"Hey, Village Chief, how are you?"

South River Village, where the missing young men had returned and were living peaceful lives.

The village chief, who had been waiting for the stranger to return, was initially pleased but then frowned upon recognizing Ian.

'Here he is again!'

For the village chief, who prioritized his errands over the missing young men, Ian's appearance was unhelpful.

Despite Ian's polite and gentle demeanor, which was a stark contrast to their first meeting, the chief felt an ominous sense.

Of course, he didn't have the courage to say anything to Ian. The chief's cheeks twitched as he forced a smile.

"Heh, heh. The village's benefactor has arrived. We always welcome the benefactor."

"That's good to hear."

The word "benefactor" made Ian smile. The chief, seeing Ian's ominous smile, flinched, realizing he had made a mistake.

"Please, stay as long as you like..."

"Sure, sure. We're like family now, right?"

'Family?'

While the chief was thinking of how to get rid of Ian, the five young men Ian had rescued ran up to him, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Hey, Mr. Ian!"

"Huff, huff... Mr. Ian, do you have that thing again?"

"That thing?"

"The thing you gave us to eat that time...!"

"I still have some, but not much."

Currently, he had 2,017 rice cakes left.

"Since then, we can't forget the taste of that rice cake. We've tried to replicate it, but we can't even come close..."

The rice cake pounded by the jade rabbit was a heavenly taste that ordinary humans couldn't replicate. It was something only Ian could provide, not found in any other dream world or reality.

The young men, having tasted it, found everything else tasteless and were constantly searching for the rice cake.

"We'll do anything to have it again!"

"What are you saying?"

The chief looked at the young men in disbelief.

On the other hand, Ian's smile grew wider. He realized he could achieve his goal more easily than expected.

"That rice cake is pounded by a jade rabbit. It's not made by humans, so it's naturally rare."

"We don't have anything to offer..."

Seeing the young men's disappointed faces, Ian put a hand on their shoulders.

"That's not true. I actually need something, which is why I'm back. If you can consistently provide it, I promise to give you rice cakes."

Ian could obtain the common items from monsters himself, but he couldn't keep hunting here indefinitely.

The world was vast, and there were many dream fogs.

"Let me give you a taste of the rice cake I have."

"Even just one...!"

Ian took out a single rice cake and gave it to the young men, watching them share it. Everything could be connected to quests and the system. By pioneering new paths, new opportunities would arise.

Realizing the unexpected effects of the rice cake, Ian smiled and secretly gave the chief three rice cakes.

"This is a special gift for you, Village Chief."

Ian's plan was to turn the chief, the real power in South River Village, into a rice cake addict.