Chapter 59

Is it also adding "Special"?

- When you complete the quest, you will be given 'Glory,' a currency that can be used in the "Shop."

- Use Glory and the "Shop" to upgrade your workbench, skills, and coupons.

Complete the quest to receive Glory.

And use that Glory to buy things in the shop?

Oh, spending is my specialty!

- Your first quest and the "Shop" will be revealed 24 hours later.

- I wish you a bright future.

First quest in 24 hours?

I'm all for it.

Isn't it just like clearing the tutorial, where I complete all the quests? I'll probably get more rewards too.

'Awesome! Looking forward to it!'

At that moment, Kim Gyu-tae approached.

"Now you can receive the artwork."

"Ah, thank you. By the way, can I get the artist's profile?"

"Yes, just a moment."

Of course, the "Nameless Nameplate" is now mine.

I could do whatever I wanted with it.

I had paid the fair price, and the artist would continue their work with that money, so it was a win-win.

'But I feel a bit guilty.'

Coco would tear the artwork to shreds.

Moreover, if it was something Coco would like, it meant the artist had talent. It wouldn't hurt to know who they were.

"Here it is."

Kim Gyu-tae handed me a piece of paper.

I scanned the name written on it.

'Melanie Floyd... ...'

Ms. Melanie, I'm really sorry.

Your artwork has become Coco's food.

Coco, let's go!

*

Hotel room.

I opened the hard case I received from Christie's.

The silver brooch, the "Nameless Nameplate," was revealed, and Coco was already in a frenzy.

- Coco: Koro-koro-koro!

- The "Advanced Subspace Workbench" twists its body in admiration of the silver brooch's artistry.

Watching it made me feel good too.

So I decided to commend and thank her. After all, she had earned me 7 million dollars with a 730,000 won investment!

"Coco, thanks to you, I'm rich now. Really, thank you. You're amazing."

...But Coco wasn't interested in what I said. She flew around the case, emitting blue-white light rays randomly.

"Alright... eat it!"

I lightly tossed the brooch into the air.

Coco flew over like in a frisbee game and swallowed the brooch.

- The power of "Quality Conversion" is activated.

- Item: Silver, Bronze Brooch 59g

- Quantity: 0.99

- The estimated processing time is 1 minute 15 seconds.

- Do you want to start the conversion process?

Even if the preview shows something, I'll tear it apart anyway, but I'm curious.

- The "Preview" skill is activated!

- Please select the result.

- A. Pure Silver 32g

- B. Bronze 27g

- C. One sketchbook discarded by Melanie Floyd

The "Preview" option was a bit strange.

'Hmm?'

I understood options A and B.

They were options where the material was directly "Quality to Quantity Converted."

Like A4 paper turning into premium A4 paper.

But option C was a sketchbook discarded by the artist.

Did it convert the information and artistic value contained in the artwork into "Quality to Quantity Conversion"?

The choice was easy.

There was no point in getting a few grams of pure silver.

"C, let's go with C."

- "Quality to Quantity Conversion" begins.

- "Lucky Strike" is activated, applying a bonus efficiency to "Quality Conversion."

Coco flew around like a drugged stag beetle, and after a while, emitted a rainbow beam.

- "Quality to Quantity Conversion" is complete.

- The "Advanced Subspace Workbench" has gained experience.

- The "Advanced Subspace Workbench" has leveled up. (Lv.2 → Lv.3)

Oh, level up! Now I'm the same level as Tam!

But feeding them soy sauce from the countryside or the best batteries didn't level them up.

'Expensive... ...'

Indeed, high-end is high-end.

It seemed that feeding them the right things was more important than the number of times they worked.

- Please "consume" the converted item.

Then, a 5-section sketchbook fluttered down. It was torn and dirty, as if it had been buried in a trash pile.

'Why didn't it turn into silver, and why a sketchbook? Is there something in common?'

Curious, I picked it up and opened the first page.

"Ah... ..."

There was a sketch and concept art of the "Nameless Nameplate." The drawing made before the artwork was created.

It was quite interesting, but it didn't have much significance.

'Now it's worthless.'

The "Nameless Nameplate" had disappeared into the subspace.

After a short prayer of apology, I turned to the next page, wondering if there were more drawings.

"Hmm?"

But there were drawings I hadn't expected.

'...Was she a painter? Not a metalworker?'

Flip, flip.

Continuing to flip through, I only saw painting practice works.

Abstract paintings with industrial paint scattered like Jackson Pollock. Pop art studies with printed materials pasted like Andy Warhol. Sketches that were provocative and kitschy like Jeff Koons.

'There's a feeling, but it seems a bit derivative.'

But as I flipped through the pages, it became harder to say whose style they resembled.

Moreover, with each page, I found myself unknowingly falling into appreciation mode.

'...There's a real feeling here.'

I hastily searched my bag for the profile I received from Christie's and read it again.

[Melanie Floyd]

[School of the Art Institute of Chicago]

[Bachelor of Fine Art: Painting and Drawing]

Oh! I immediately translated it.

[School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bachelor of Fine Art: Painting and Drawing]

She is a painter.

So the "Nameless Nameplate" was just something she made as a hobby? But she made it to the level where it could be sold at Christie's?

'She's talented... ...'

Melanie Floyd.

I don't know how well she will do or how famous she will become in the future. Most artists, whether talented or not, are buried for various reasons.

"Coco."

Just in case, I should keep this sketchbook safe.

"Did you do it again?"

Coco just flew around, making koro-koro sounds, without any interest.

*

The next day.

I boarded the plane with Kim Gyu-tae.

In first class.

"Wow, it's definitely different."

"You're right, hahaha. Thanks to you, I get to experience this too."

"No, you've worked so hard. Stretch out your legs and enjoy it!"

"Haha, thank you."

First class felt a bit like a capsule room. But it was a very, very nice, top-of-the-line capsule room.

'Really, it's really good.'

A mini-fridge and a fairly large screen.

The seat was so wide that it could be used as a bed.

There was an automatic door to separate the space from the surroundings.

Moreover, a dedicated flight attendant introduced themselves and explained the flight schedule in detail.

Of course, I didn't understand much.

"Pajama? Pajama good. Give me."

Instead, I got a pajama set!

As a welcome food, I was treated to luxurious almond pastries and specialty coffee.

'Right! How much did I pay for this? This is the least they can do.'

The in-flight meal options were almost restaurant-level.

Beef tenderloin, salmon steak, caviar and crackers, chocolate tart... ...

I ate until I was full, laid down the seat, and slept soundly.

"Excuse me, Sir?"

When I woke up, it was time to eat again.

Since it was a flight to Incheon, they said there were Korean dishes, so I ordered one.

A short while later, a bowl of abalone stew and an eight-dish set was served.

'What is this, really... ...'

I greedily ate it and decided to order a drink. But looking at the champagne and wine menu, someone came to mind.

'Mr. Big... ...I'm going to Korea!'

While some people go on romantic dates with unknown women when they travel abroad,

Meeting Mr. Big was better for me.

He was the one who showed me the direction of my future.

[ I love whiskey. Naturally, I love the best whiskey makers. What's wrong with spending money on what I love? ]

'Right, not now.'

Now, about 10 hours until Korea.

I wanted to carefully organize the things I needed to do when I returned.

I took out a memo from my bag.

The first thing that came to mind was Amuse.

'Amuse has to succeed.'

It's not just because it's my café.

Talented and passionate people.

High-quality, affordable coffee, the best desserts.

'It's really good... ...'

Such good things should be enjoyed by more people, shouldn't they?

I scribbled on the memo.

[1. Promote Shinchon branch: SNS management, influencer marketing, linking with Hapjeong station branch + meeting Jeong Jung-hyun]

Ah, don't do the promotion half-heartedly.

Spend a lot of money and invite about 10 influencers.

I can get an introduction from Chae-yeon.

And if I'm going to spend money somewhere,

I want to spend it on people who are trying to create valuable services and good products, not on something like coins that