Chapter 87

──Hanging the necklace on the 【Subspace Workbench: Advanced】, she stroked her tempting neck.

──The "Quality to Quantity Conversion" has started.

Thus, the breathless "Hot Hand" looting continued.

Feeding the jewelry received from <Tiffany> to Coco.

Feeding what came out of that to Tam.

Feeding the Tier 1 products combined by Tam to Coco.

Feeding the Tier 2 products refined by Coco back to Tam.

──Pewpewpewpew!

──Korororororo!

The kids were really excited.

With the high-efficiency "Quality to Quantity Conversion" progressing simultaneously, experience points and levels increased rapidly.

──The level of 【Subspace Workbench: Basic】 has increased. (Lv.3 → Lv.4)

──The level of 【Subspace Workbench: Advanced】 has increased. (Lv.3 → Lv.4)

After leveling up,

It seemed like their fur had become even fluffier.

The magic arrays also seemed to shine brighter.

But that wasn't the main issue.

Continuing the work on both sides, the products started to mix.

‘This is the ring I refined... This one has larger diamonds, so it must be the highest quality... right?’

Sometimes it was difficult to distinguish the products just by a quick look, as the jewelry was so intricately made.

Of course, if there had been more time, I would have organized and proceeded step by step.

──The hands are cooling down.

──Remaining time: 1 minute 22 seconds

Even as I was thinking, my hands were cooling.

“Wait!”

As calmly as possible,

I organized the same items and fed them to Tam.

I fed the ones that looked like the best to Coco.

Still, mistakes were inevitable.

──The material items are different, so the "Quality to Quantity Conversion" cannot be performed.

Sometimes something went wrong, but the solution was simple.

‘I’ll use a combination. It’ll work, right?’

──The "Combination" skill has been activated!

──The "Quality to Quantity Conversion" has started.

──The "Hot Hand" effect applies an enormous bonus efficiency!

Okay, just combine them.

Creation is the mother of destruction, after all.

‘No, isn’t it the opposite?’

There was no time to argue about that.

──The hands are getting cold.

──Remaining time: 0 minutes 17 seconds

It was almost the last operation.

I put the quite piled-up necklaces from one storage cabinet into Tam’s magic array.

──The "Quality to Quantity Conversion" has started.

──The "Hot Hand" effect applies an enormous bonus efficiency!

At the same time, I picked up a bracelet from the opposite storage cabinet. It was the one Tam had just made.

‘...It’s really amazing.’

Clearly SSS-grade. Tiny diamonds were embedded all over the platinum bracelet.

‘Should I keep this instead of refining it? Or sell it?’

Though I don’t know much about jewelry,

If the set from <Tiffany> was worth 20 million won, this bracelet seemed to be worth several times that.

However,

‘Coco...’

I wanted to make as many bracelets as possible.

‘I’ll give this to...’

──【Subspace Workbench: Advanced】 gulps, looking at the bracelet with diamonds spread like the Milky Way.

Suddenly, the nightmare of the last pottery came to mind.

‘Don’t eat it! You need to work, only 5 seconds left!’

──The "Quality to Quantity Conversion" has started.

──The "Hot Hand" effect applies an enormous bonus efficiency!

Phew... At least today, they listened well after being fed.

──The "Quality to Quantity Conversion" has been completed.

──The "Quantity to Quality Conversion" has been completed.

The items Tam and Coco were working on last flew out of the magic array.

──The hands are as cold as ice.

──The "Hot Hand" has ended.

──A 24-hour cooldown has started.

──The number of "Quantity to Quality Conversion" operations performed with the "Hot Hand" effect: 28 times

Did I really do 28 operations in 3 minutes? Crazy...

But this time it was just a tutorial and a test.

Next time, I think I can do better.

After all, I didn’t buy the "Hot Hand" for 20,000 glory just for the jewelry.

However,

──Kororororo! Kororororororo!

──Pewpewpewpew!

Seeing the foxes jumping around excitedly, I looked at my feet.

“...Ugh.”

What are all these shiny things?

Did I refine all of this?

I plunged both hands into the pile of jewelry and lifted them up.

...It was very heavy.

Ching, ching──

Ching──

It was truly the sensation of platinum and diamonds.

[ Sir, are you inside? I need something. ]

Then came the unexpected visitor.

“Yes, just a moment.”

I put all the jewelry into a bag for coffee grounds. It was indeed very heavy.

I left the white room with the bag.

“Use it, Miss Yu.”

“Okay!”

Did Alibaba feel like this when he looted the treasure cave?

‘No.’

Since I’m about to give out surprise gifts, I should be called Santa Claus, right?

Whatever it is,

‘This... is amazing.’

It was worth 20,000 glory. The thought of getting a good return made me hum a tune.

‘Tomorrow is the factory. The day after is Saint Han River Forest. Wow!’

As long as the 24-hour cooldown is over, that’s it.

Holding the treasure bag, I walked to my car.

I opened the 【Shop】.

And I bought as many "Lucky Strike" coupons as I could.

My hands were going to be hot for days.

Don’t think too far ahead.

The first place I went with the jewelry bag was the Tiffany store on the first floor of the 'HN Yeouido' department store.

A neatly dressed employee politely asked me,

“Are you the customer who just called?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Shall we proceed with the engraving service as you inquired?”

Engraving? They make it sound so complicated when it’s just engraving.

“Yes, is it correct that it can be done within 2 weeks?”

There’s a Tiffany store in Sinchon too, but when I called, they said it would take a month for engraving, so I came here. Yeouido wasn’t that far from the cafe.

“Yes, it will take about 2 weeks. The item is the Tiffany 1816 Platinum Narrow Cuff, and the quantity is 30, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I don’t really know the model names.

When the "Hot Hand" was activated at the Sinchon store earlier,

It was the bracelet that Coco said looked like a diamond galaxy.

Although the diamonds were scattered,

‘To me, this still looks amazing.’

Just by looking, it was clearly high-end.

The platinum material was more transparent and had a subtle glow compared to silver, and small diamonds were embedded like teardrops at both ends of the cuff.

The cuff design itself was simple and neutral.

Not too round, not too thin, a circular band.

It looked like something chosen ones in an SF world would wear as an identification mark on their wrists.

‘Perfect for us, perfect.’

“Then, please choose the engraving font.”

The employee opened something like a spellbook.

There were examples of engraving fonts.

I chose a modern and clean font. It was more suitable for my purpose than the cursive script often used for wedding jewelry.

“I’ll go with this one.”

“Understood. Will the text be the same?”

The employee pointed to the service application I had written, which only had five letters.

[ A M U S E ]

A platinum bracelet engraved with "Amuse."

It was a symbol of becoming a member of our Amuse community and a way to express gratitude to them.

‘Hehe... so cool.’

It was an idea that came to me when the jewelry was pouring out yesterday. Well-known hip-hop labels often give their artists thick gold necklaces or Rolex watches. Why can’t we do the same?

‘We’re going with Tiffany!’

Of course, I didn’t plan to give them to all the employees.

First, to the essential duo who helped open the cafe.

Then, one each to Manager Jung Ha-eun at the Heungjeong Station store.

And one each to Kim Deok-san and Kim Gyu-tae, who will be founding members of Amuse Investment.

I’ll keep the rest and give them out slowly.

‘They need to be rare. They’re not cheap.’

The same model in the store was priced at over 300,000 won.

I planned to give them to long-serving employees and annual outstanding employees in the future.

“Yes, I’ll contact you at the number you provided when the work is finished.”

“Okay, thank you!”

Of course, these bracelets weren’t all.

There were still many pieces of jewelry left in the bag to give to important people like my parents, Yujin, Min Chae-yeon, and Choi Jung-hyun.

Just off the top of my head,

There was a laurel-shaped ring with tiny diamonds embedded in each leaf, and a simple circular ring with a single diamond.

And most importantly,

The necklaces Tam made by grabbing whatever was at hand at the end were the highlight.

At first, I thought it was just a round chain without a pendant.

‘Turns out it was all diamonds.’

I don’t know much about carats or anything, but I had never seen a necklace with diamonds set all over the platinum chain.

‘Even Go Ji-hyun doesn’t have something like this.’

When I came to the store, I checked if this model was available, but it wasn’t.

‘If I sold it, it would easily fetch several thousand.’

But I’m not a fence.

I don’t need quick cash.

There’s no reason to sell it.

When the time comes...

‘Hehehe...’

I chuckled to myself, then stopped, thinking I shouldn’t think too far ahead, and left the store.

I was immediately amazed.

“Wow, this place is incredible...”

When you think of the first floor of a department store, you usually think of luxury brands. Large brand letters, beige or gray-toned interiors, grand marble and columns.

To me, the first floor of a department store was

Grand, but also suffocating and bleak.

‘There’s no other modern temple like this.’

But this place was different from the start.

A white-toned interior.

Sunlight streaming in through the windows.

Green garden trees visible everywhere.

And,

Whoosh──

Who would have thought to put a waterfall on the first floor of a department store?

The waterfall water falling from a height of over 10 meters combined with the naturalistic interior to create a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.

While there were often decorative fountains or waterfalls in department stores and shopping malls, none matched this place.

‘Impressive...’

There was a reason it had captured the attention and wallets of the MZ generation right after opening.

I had heard a lot about it, but this was my first visit.

I wanted to stay a bit longer.

‘Maybe I’ll sit for a while.’

I sat on the bench right next to the waterfall and looked up.

The open space extending to the upper floors.

People on the escalators and in the upper floor corridors were visible at a glance.

‘It’s a nice view.’

But in that view,

“Meeting here, huh?”

A familiar face appeared prominently.

Neat short hair.

Delicate features.

A luxurious blouse and jacket.

A coffee cup in one hand.

And the large nostrils looking down at me... Ah, that’s not right.

I jumped up.

And gave a formal bow.

“Hello, Mother!”

“Why are you in such a hurry to get up? Did you get a shock?”

“No, no. I wasn’t shocked.”

Ah, I ended up giving a strong denial without realizing it.

But what could I do about being genuinely surprised?

‘How do we keep meeting like this!’

In this big city of Seoul.

It was already absurd to meet by chance at Saint Han River Forest, but how could I meet her again here?

“Sit down. I’ll sit for a moment too.”

“Yes, Mother!”

As soon as I sat down, I took a parade rest, and Mother Min Chae-yeon asked in a dignified tone,

“What are you doing here? Waiting for someone?”

“No, I’m not waiting for a woman. I came here for some personal business.”

“Hmm? I didn’t ask that.”

“Oh, right?”

Last time, I tried to act confidently to protect Min Chae-yeon.

Today, being alone made me even more flustered.

‘Pull yourself together, Shin Yu-won.’

I couldn’t look like a fool.

I took a deep breath.

And looked into Mother’s eyes and said,

“I guess I was too nervous. I wanted to make a good impression on you.”

“Hoho, I like your honesty. That’s understandable.”

“Are you here for shopping, Mother?”

“Ah...”

Mother Min Chae-yeon paused for a moment and then said,

“I was just having a cup of tea and chatting with some friends. We just parted ways.”

She showed me the coffee cup she was holding.

Unfortunately, it was from Blue Place.

“Oh, I see.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Then, the conversation faded away.

It had only been 10 seconds.

I felt suffocated.

What could I bring up to keep the conversation going?

Ah, I should answer her question from earlier.

“I was just sitting here, admiring the space. It’s really beautiful.”

“Yes, it is. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes, I’ve never seen a department store like this in my life.”

“Oh, in what way?”

Mother showed interest in the department store.

‘This is it!’

Feeling encouraged, I started talking.

“Department stores are usually all the same, right? Square buildings with luxury brands on the first floor, food courts in the basement, and various shops upstairs.”

“And?”

Mother crossed her legs and rested her chin on her hand.

She looked at me with interest.

I continued enthusiastically.

“This is really the first time. A department store that doesn’t feel like a department store.”

Whoosh──

The sound of the waterfall was clearly audible.