Arena Chapter 51:

Chapter 51 Flames of Life (Part 1)

Chairman Park Jin-seong had yet to find a skill that could cure his illness . It is possible that such a skill does not even exist .

But even so, there is a possibility with me .

Skill synthesis!

With the special skill that I have, the skill synthesis, I can create skills that don’t exist .

As long as I synthesize correctly, that is .

In my head, I can think of one way of going about it .

The healing potion!

‘It said I can use an item for synthesis . ’

In the item bag, there is still some of that healing potion left over . If I use that as the item in the skill synthesis, it might create a skill that can cure illneses .

If I can get a skill like that, not only can I use it for curing chairman Park Jin-seong, but it will be beneficial to me too . Wandering around a foreign world, I can pick up all sorts of diseases . Starting with food poisoning .

I have thought it up to here when I address chairman Park Jin-seong .

“I have one thing I would like to try out, could you wait a moment?”

“Of course . ”

Chairman Park Jin-seong’s gaze changed . As if he is putting expectations on me .

I don’t want to show others my skill synthesis so I go into the woods .

“Board retrieval . ”

The board appears .

First, I retrieve the healing potion from the item bag . Then I say to the board .

“Karma prize, I want to turn this healing potion into an item . ”

-Turning the healing potion (160/200 ml) in your possession into an item will cost 150 karma . Would you like to itemize it?

-Remaining karma: 300

150 karma? It’s too expensive .

But I get it .

The value of the healing potion is at least worth that . Pouring it onto even a fatal wound will heal it so it is kind of like a spare life .

“I’ll do it . ”

-Healing potion (160/200 ml) has been itemized .

-Remaining karma: 150

I sigh . I’ve used up 150 karma, so I have to succeed .

“Skill synthesis . ”

-Please select the skill or item .

Skills capable of being synthesized: spirit summons (Sylph), spirit summons (Kasa), physical buffer, guider . Items capable of being synthesized: Mosin-Nagant, item bag, healing potion (160/200 ml)

*A synthesized item will be used .

“I synthesize the spirit summons Sylph and the healing potion . ”

-Synthesizing spirit summons (Sylph) and healing potion (160/200ml) .

-Synthesis failed .

‘Damn . ’

My heart thuds as it fails .

Is synthesis not possible? Then there’s no point in having turned the healing potion into an item .

I become anxious and continue the trial .

“I synthesize the spirit summons Kasa and the healing potion . ”

-Synthesizing spirit summons (Kasa) and healing potion (160/200ml) .

Pat!

A light started to shine from the board .

-Synthesis success . You have acquired the flame of life (synthesis skill) .

-Healing potion (160/200ml) has been used .

-Flame of life (synthesis skill): breathe the flame of life and sprout life . Possible one use per day .

*Entry level 1: weak effect on revivification and age prevention .

‘It worked!’

I shudder .

A skill that warms the cockles of life!

Right now, at entry level one, it can only weakly effect the revival and anti-senescence, but as the level increases, the skill may become more powerful and be able to cure diseases as well .

I return to chairman Park Jin-seong .

“How did it go?”

He asks right away .

“I got a result . I will show you . ”

“Hurry and show me . ”

I nod my head and directly follow by saying the skill name .

“Flame of life!”

Then,

Hwaluk!

Atop my palm, a flame, small like a glimmer, forms itself .

“What is that?”

“It is a flame that revives life . Um, would you like to try it?”

“You want me to eat it?”

Chairman Park Jin-seong suspiciously looks at the flame floating in my hand .

“I’ll try it . ”

“Okay . ”

I hand over the flame . Chairman Park Jin-seong stares blankly at the flame, blinks his eyes shut, and puts it in his mouth .

After eating it, chairman Park Jin-seong opens his eyes and is amazed .

“Feels hot . ”

“How do you feel?”

“My fatigue is completely gone . This truly is amazing! Can you make me another?”

“I can only make one a day . The explanation said it gives a weak boost towards revival and anti-senescence, but I think it may work for you in maintaining your health for now . ”

“You say… one a day…”

Chairman Park Jin-seong’s eyes change again .

So, the meal is but one . If he wants another, shouldn’t there be more to the price?

I calmly await chairman Park Jin-seong’s answer .

“One a day, I wish to purchase these . ”

“If the conditions are right, I have no problem providing these for you . ”

“$100,000 each . ”

(TN: He says 100,0000,000 South Korean Won but USD is easy to understand)

“Excuse me?”

I’m completely surprised .

A hundred thousand dollars for one?

Does that mean he’s going to pay me 100k every single day?

At a number far larger than what I was expecting, and being an ordinary person, of course I’m surprised .

“Even though you haven’t quite experienced what its full effect is yet?”

“Doesn’t matter . Even if it cannot block the degeneration from my disease, I will pay you at least $100,000 . ”

Chairman Park Jin-seong gets up from his seat and stretches out his arms and stretches some more . And he continues speaking .

“It has been a long time since my body has been so energized and full of vitality . For giving me one lively day, the price of 100k is cheap . ”

“…”

“I will take one a day for a week and then get assessed by my doctor and see its effectiveness . If it is shown to have an effect on my disease recovery, I will raise the price I pay . In regards to payment, you won’t be disappointed . I am Park Jin-seong . ”

This country’s wealthiest man, Park Jin-seong .

Then again, 100k for a day probably isn’t a big deal for him . His life is on the line so he’s probably willing to spend even more .

“But there is one problem . ”

I seriously delve into the ‘real’ deal .

“Problem? Is the price not enough?”

“No . I have no issue with the price . The problem I wish to convey might be a problem for you as well . ”

“Do tell . ”

“I have a high chance of dying in the next exam . ”

“What?”

“I lost all my comrades in the third exam . Going forward, I have to clear the exams alone . ”

Chairman Park Jin-seong’s face is in shock .

“I heard your team is very bright and promising . There was that fellow, a Kang something, an impressive martial artist . But they all…”

“They all died . The chances are high that the Korean Arena Research Center will give up on me . ”

“Oh my…”

Chairman Park Jin-seong’s face is beyond dismayed .

If I die, he has no way of getting more flames of life . He’ll lose what hope he has just found .

“It’s possible that including the one you just ate, 19 may be all that you can get . ”

“That won’t do . I have finally found hope, I cannot lose it so easily . ”

“I, of course, have no intention of dying . I am alone, but I will fight tooth and nail to live . ”

“You, you haven’t given up yet, have you?”

“Of course not . I will live no matter what . I am informing you just in case, so you are prepared . ”

“…”

He will get it . He will understand what it is I want .

I can save you, so you save me too . That’s what I’m saying .

“You, what is your location?”

“What do you mean, location?”

“The district you are in in Arena .

“I have just escaped the forest at the southeast corner of the continent . I ran west, straight through the forest of red apes and lycanthropes . I lost all my teammates to the lycanthropes…”

“I understand . I will find a way . ”

At those words, I make a fist of happiness .

If chairman Park Jin-seong will step up to aid me, there is nothing stronger that could back me up . If anything, he may support me better than the national Korean arena research center .

“The research center will contact you before the day is up . ”

“Contact me?”

“There is no need for you to stay with them anymore . Those **** want money more than businesses do . Examinees without hope get rejected as worthless . ”

Chairman Park Jin-seong shares the same opinion as Cha Jin-hyuk .

“Speaking of which, you were unemployed, right?”

“… yes . ”

Poked in a weak spot, I flinch .

“Tsk, a young lad . ”

At chairman Park Jin-seong’s scolding, I hang my head in shame . Compared to chairman Park Jin-seong who made a fortune from his bare hands, my life is embarrassing indeed .

“Get a job in the morning . ”

“A job?”

“Yes . You want to get pat down by the National Tax Service? You need a reason you are getting 100k a day . I will hire you on as my personal attendant and set your monthly wage at 3 million . ”

That’s 36 million a year .

This net worth is similar to some premier league soccer player .

“You may have guessed by now, but Jinseong group is recruiting examinees and attaining majeong as well . We are researching how to turn the majeong into a new source of energy . Even though there is another purpose . ”

The real purpose is to cure disease .

“Formally, the government does not approve businesses related to the Arena but it doesn’t forbid anything either . I have put a lot of support funding into the Korean arena research center so there won’t be a problem getting you out . ”

And so, I am abruptly hired into Jinseong Group .

***

I have returned home and am resting when I really do get a phone call .

The person contacting me is none other than Cha Ji-hye .

-Hello .

“Hi . ”

-A request came in for you from Jin-seong Group and it caught me by surprise . What relationship do you have with chairman Park Jin-seong?

“This and that . ”

I spare my words .

Cha Ji-hye doesn’t dig deeper .

-Anyhow, Jinseong group is a big supporter of the research center and thus we couldn’t really refuse his request . In following with his request, we, the research center, will sever our contract with you, Kim Hyun-ho, do you agree?

“Yes, I agree . ”

-Okay, in that case, from today onwards, our contract with you is void . And personally, I am glad . I don’t know the details of the situation, but for you, Mr . Kim Hyun-ho, receiving chairman Park Jin-seong’s aid will be more help to your survival than from us .

“Thank you for everything so far, miss Cha Ji-hye . ”

-I am rooting for your ultimate survival .

“Thank you . ”

And the phone call ended just like that .

Wow, how quickly this relationship with the research center wrapped up . Chairman Park Jin-seong’s power is indeed powerful .

And then a few moments later, a call comes from chairman Park Jin-seong .

-Did you get the call?

“Yes, the contract with them is gone . ”

-Good, good . I will send a person tomorrow, so we can chat then . I am looking for examinees who can help you in Arena . I have asked various national centers, so the results will be in shortly .

‘Woah . ’

He is really fast at getting stuff done .

Meeting him for the first time, hunting, and eating together was just this morning . And now, not even a half a day has passed and he has already moved things along this far .

I can feel what kind of person chairman Park Jin-seong is and how desperately he wants to live .