OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 64  Secretary

"Just know that I myself am surprised by how much I got, so don't start jumping around too much, alright?"

Lily didn't reply but just nodded repeatedly like a broken record.

"511,799,000 UC." Emir revealed, struggling to stop himself from smiling at the amount.

Their reactions matched his when he first checked his balance.

Priceless.

Lily jumped up and down, clapping her hands in excitement.

"That's amazing, old man! You're like a real-life treasure hunter!"

Laura joined in the fun and exclaimed, giving him a proud smile:

"You're really making a name for yourself in the hunter world."

He shrugged and said, "It's just luck with the relics really… Though the work getting to it was tough, I can say that it was worth it at least."

"So, what's next for you, dear?" His mother asked, eyes shining with pride.

"Are you going to start exploring ruins?"

"Yes, but with a twist. Since I've got Lyra, we'll be exploring new, uncharted ruins, but for now, I have a certain ruin in mind."

"Ah, your little partner in crime," Laura said with a wink.

"Or rather, jailer would be more fitting."

"Anyways, you know well that I would support you in whatever you do. If you need any help, just let me know."

Emir nodded, always grateful for her support.

"But be careful, okay? I don't know much about ruin exploration, but make sure to prepare all that you can before going in."

"Don't worry, Mom," he assured her.

"I'll be careful. Oh, and I'll actually be taking you up on that offer, I was wondering if you'd be interested in helping me out."

"In what way?" She asked, her interest piqued.

"I was thinking that instead of selling the relics I find to the Hunter Association, we could sell them to other groups like merchants or smaller companies for a better profit."

"And I was wondering if you would be down to help me out with the business side of things."

"You know, the negotiations, transactions, and the like, maybe even starting a company one day." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

His mother raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"You want me to be your business partner? I don't know the first thing about selling relics."

"You don't need to worry about that," Emir said.

"I'll teach you everything you need to know. And besides, you're smart and resourceful, Mom. I know you'll do great."

Laura smiled, looking pleased with herself.

"Well, alright then. You've got yourself a business partner, dear."

He grinned, feeling a sense of relief that his mother was on board.

"Thanks, Mom. I knew I could count on you."

Laura's face lit up as she said:

"It sounds so exciting!"

"Instead of watching shows all day, I would much rather be of help to you, so thanks for inviting me, sweetie. I'd love to help."

"Of course, Mom, of course."

"Now, let's talk about the basics of what you should know."

After seeing her nod, he launched into his explanation.

He began with what the dealer had told him, outlining the two types of appraisals, the risks and benefits involved, and how most hunters gambled.

Then he moved on to explain how a relic's value was determined based on the amount of old-world technology and knowledge that could be extracted from it for research purposes.

The market for relics was driven by a diverse group of individuals, including connoisseurs, collectors, and affluent customers.

These groups seek out various types of relics, and relic merchants purchase them with the hope of striking it big.

Ultimately, the value of a relic was determined by demand in the market, with certain relics in high demand due to their potential for extracting old-world technology and knowledge.

It's possible to hit a home run with a seemingly worthless relic, potentially netting hundreds of millions in a single day.

After his long-winded explanation was over, she asked:

"But wouldn't your rank-up pace slow down considerably if you do this?"

"I see what you're getting at. But, the advantages of being a high-ranking hunter aren't enough for me to ignore the extra money we'll be bringing in."

Being a higher-ranking hunter came with several benefits in this world.

One of the significant advantages was the ability to decide on shares in a team.

Higher-ranking hunters had more experience and were trusted to make better decisions, so they were given the power to determine how the team shared the loot and the profit earned from monster hunting.

Another significant benefit was the discount on high-quality ammunition.

The price of ammunition was regulated by the UEF, and it was based on corporations' and the government's profits.

This meant that high-quality ammo was expensive and only accessible to a few people.

However, higher-ranking hunters were given a discount on these bullets, making them more accessible to them.

This discount policy not only encouraged hunters to aim for a higher rank but also increased the value of a hunter's Rank.

So the ability to buy high-quality ammunition at a discounted price was not just a perk; it was essential for higher-ranking hunters who fought powerful monsters, at least for those below rank fifty.

It also served as a way for the association to control hunters who tend to go against their management.

It's a reminder that if they wanted to get better benefits and cheaper bullets, they should never go against the UEF.

However, there were risks involved in this system.

These bullets could be dangerous if they fell into the wrong hands and could cause problems for both the sector management and the hunter association.

So there existed a strict policy to combat handing out and reselling ammo, especially so if it was for profit.

It could even lead those hunters to work under the UEF for life.

Emir understood the ins and outs of most things as Lyra taught him quite a lot about the world of hunters, but he didn't know what system was in place for those who had true strength.

He always noticed her dodging the subject so he kept quiet not wanting a repeat of what happened before.

So now, all he knew was that the maximum rank achievable was fifty, with any further progress being blocked after reaching that milestone.

The only way to exceed this limit was to accept a job request on the front lines in the north.

It was a well-known fact that most who undertook this mission did not return, and only a select few managed to survive..