Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]

Come. And take me.

—

“It is drawing people in.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“It’s clear that the current 《Matan’s Shooter》 isn’t typical. Kaztor was involved, and there are Elizabeth and Brown too—so it’s drawing people in to change the generation.”

“One word at a time! I can’t keep up!”

Could Kyle not be controlled at will?

Perhaps the penalties were not working properly.

‘Yes. It was strange from the beginning. How could Elizabeth use the gun exclusive to Matan’s Shooter? That gun is only for Matan’s Shooter to use…’

It was already revealed in Max Hescok’s journal.

The points that seemed strange indeed were actually behaving strangely.

“Blaugrunn, we need― to go… to the new continent…”

“Now? Shall I prepare teleportation?”

“That― umm…”

Ha Leeha gritted his teeth.

Teleporting to the polluted World Tree’s forest immediately, and then heading east to the new continent?

‘Kaztor, not to mention Chiyou and Bluebeard, might be in unknown circumstances. Moreover, it’s confirmed that Kaztor has joined hands with Bluebeard.’

That’s why he felt the urgency, but that also raised cautious thoughts.

The second class change was completed.

Currently, Leeha was a 〈White Reaper〉.

Kidd and Luger might have also completed the second class change, even though Leeha did not know their titles yet.

What about Ram Hwajung?

She was a 〈White Snow〉.

With skills different from before, she might be able to handle them.

‘But I still…’

He had no skills.

Though he had penetrating eyes and breath that blended in, those were merely auxiliary.

A perfect shot.

That was what Ha Leeha desired.

“I need to quickly learn 〈White Reaper〉.”

Panrind, the chairman of the tribal council, heard Ha Leeha muttering. He nodded quietly.

“There’s something I need to tell you in relation to that.”

“Yes?”

“The skill that the White Reaper can use… it is said that it requires certain weather conditions.”

“Oh, ah. Yes, that’s correct.”

He saw it in Francis’s memories.

Without the specific gun used by Matan’s Shooter, this was the only type of bullet that could be used, and even then, the weather conditions had to align perfectly.

“Fortunately, we know how. Maybe because we know the method, it was passed on to us… perhaps as a secret technique.”

The chairman pulled something out from his pocket.

It was a snowball the size of a fist. He shook it, and inside the transparent glass, model snow began to fall slowly.

“That’s…”

“It’s a simple offering for invoking snowfall. If you, as the White Reaper, know how to use this, you’ll become the true White Reaper. This must be what he wanted.”

“Y, yes. Probably… I think, that’s why Francis left such memories—”

“Francis?!”

The chairman’s eyes widened.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you. I’ve been… experiencing his memories. Naturally, I heard his name too.”

“Oh, oh!”

“My goodness—how can this be—”

“W, what is his name?”

The Panrind elders and Aner began to murmur. Their most important concern might have been this very fact.

Leeha blamed himself for his lack of delicacy and told them their hero’s name.

“Francis Pegamanabo. He was a sniper called Francis.”

『Panrind Tribe: Truth』

Quest completed.

Swoosh…

A hologram window appeared before Leeha’s eyes.

* * *

『Panrind Tribe: Wish』

Description: “Francis Pegamanabo. Francis Pegamanabo. We will never forget that name. Though we cannot know his full story, even if we fall under a curse that prevents us from remembering his name, we will never forget it… even if we have to erect a statue of the great man. However, as newly self-sufficient people… we have a request. If Ha Leeha finds a way for us, we will give you the 〈Legendary Snowball〉, and our people will dedicate everything to you.”

The impoverished Panrind Tribe desires financial aid to sustain their life after becoming self-sufficient.

Content: Support the Panrind Tribe with over 20,000 gold.

Reward: 〈Legendary Snowball〉

Do you accept?

“Wow…”

Leeha inadvertently let out a peculiar exclamation. To avoid uttering a curse, he had to make some sound.

“We, we know it’s shameless of us. We are embarrassed to ask this from someone who secured our rights and provided a foundation for us to live proudly, but…”

The chairman lowered his head.

Leeha suddenly remembered a phrase from Francis’s book.

‘Those who have grown accustomed to groveling… have a habit that cannot be cured for old NPCs.’

To put it more bluntly, it was like saving someone from drowning only for them to demand your possessions.

However, from another perspective, it was also true that they seemed endlessly pitiful.

Francis’s intention to foster a sense of independence in them and his feelings of empathy were somewhat understandable.

‘But 20,000 gold? Are you kidding me? That’s insane! Middle Earth’s gold exchange rate—though it has dropped a bit recently—is still over 90,000 won per gold! It could easily be seen as 100,000 won!’

There was a period when gold, which had once gone over 120,000 won, fell back to about 80,000 won.

However, Middle Earth was exceedingly adept at ‘subtly’ reclaiming currency and always managed to adjust the in-game money supply so that 1 gold had a value comparable to 100 USD.

But 20,000 gold?

‘If you convert that based on 100,000 won per gold, that’s 2 billion won, you crazy bastards! Hey, this is insane—damn it—’

There were no failure conditions for this quest, no penalties for failing. It was impossible to fail.

This couldn’t even be considered a quest.

It was more like they were offering money in exchange for items, an attempt by Middle Earth to reclaim its gold through a pseudo-quest.

‘Gaza City barely has any surplus funds aside from its operational costs. Even with partial revenue from Castle Dale, gathering 20,000 gold is out of the question. What, am I supposed to collect 2 billion won? At this rate, I might as well quit the game. When would I ever gather… gather? Why should I gather this money?’

Ha Leeha’s expression changed from worry to resolve. Why should he collect this money just to give it to them?

“Hehehe… Chairman?”

“Yes, yes? Ha Leeha-ssi.”

“Of course, I’d like to help. If I help you, it will be much faster, easier, and simpler. It will be enough to set up a statue, and the Panrind folks who are currently hiding could open their own stores and stand proud without needing to transform! Isn’t it much better if they can become self-sufficient by running their own businesses? Of course, that would be ideal.”

“Yes, indeed! So if Ha Leeha-ssi could assist a bit—”

“But would that really be… self-sufficiency?”

“What?”

The Chairman and the other elder NPCs of the council tilted their heads in confusion.

The relatively young Aner looked embarrassed and didn’t meet Ha Leeha’s eyes.

‘Well, at least the younger generation is more aware.’

Regardless, he had to give them money somehow.

However, Ha Leeha was reluctant to spend his own hard-earned money, and he didn’t have enough spare funds at the moment either.

So what were his options?

“True independence means… accumulating money little by little and starting from scratch.”

“True, that’s absolutely right, but considering our current situation—”

“I will help you with that.”

“… What? How…?”

“I will help you pave the way to gather funds. Whether you gather 20,000 gold or 30,000 gold, I can’t say. You might even be able to gather 100,000 or 1 million gold with your capabilities.”

“Is there such a way?”

“Yes, there is.”

The elderly NPCs, who had been completely drawn into Ha Leeha’s pace, stared at him with sparkling eyes.

Ha Leeha quietly recited a skill name.

‘〈Bargaining〉’

Bargaining skill activated.

Persuasion probability increased by 55%.

Skill 〈Expert Bargaining (Lv.7)〉.

Starting from the initial 20%, it increased 9 percentage points per skill level (1-9) in the novice grade, another 9 points in the intermediate grade (1-9), and 7 points in the expert grade (1-7), totaling up to 45%.

Additionally, an extra 5% cumulative point was added for each grade the skill advanced from novice onwards, resulting in a current total of 55% persuasion probability.

“You’ve heard the news that the Giants have started developing new resource mines in the north, haven’t you?”

“Of course. Several veins have already been found—”

“I have the rights to share those profits… I’ll give you a part. Why not collaborate with the Giants and work together? Since you can now live proudly in Shazrashian, it’s a good opportunity to start with them in collaboration, isn’t it?”

The 『Northern Continent Resource Mine Development Profit Sharing Rights』 achievement had granted Ha Leeha 10% shares.

That authority was granted solely as the proxy of Shimo, not as a representative of the Panrind race!

Shimo would have given everything to the Panrind race if he were present. But where was he now?

Considering Shimo’s inability to communicate with the Panrind race?

‘It means I can do as I please to some extent. Hehe. After all, I received it, so I can decide how to use it.’

This was why Ha Leeha could act confidently.

“Col…laboration…”

The Chairman mumbled, echoing Ha Leeha’s words.

However, if he was at the level of the Chairman, his intelligence wasn’t low. He was probably calculating the gains and losses in his mind.

“I’ll give you 3%.”

“Th-three percent? That’s too little for our people to stand on our own—”

“I don’t have many shares myself. Naturally, as the ‘White Reaper’, I don’t want to do business with my beloved Panrind friends. If you’re not satisfied with 3%, I can give you 5%.”

“Fi-five percen—”

“But!”

Ha Leeha always intended to give around 5% from the beginning.

By motivating their labor willingness and collaborating with the Giants, resource development would accelerate.

In the end, who would benefit?

Ha Leeha himself, who held the remaining 5% shares.

Yet, there was another reason why he engaged in this ‘push-and-pull’ strategy from the start.

“The condition is that you give me the 〈Legendary Snowball〉 right now.”

As Ha Leeha finished speaking, the Chairman NPC glanced at the other elderly NPCs.

All the council elders rolled their eyes, realizing there was no other viable option.

Five percent of the profits from forever-developed resources versus a one-time support of 20,000 gold.

They weren’t fools.

“We sincerely thank you for saving our people once again…”

Even if they seemed ready to give everything, perfection never existed in Middle Earth.

Ha Leeha realized this once again as he received the 〈Legendary Snowball〉 handed to him by the Chairman NPC.

Ba-bam—! With the sound of alert fanfare, a white light emanated from Ha Leeha’s body.

You have leveled up.

『Panrind Race: Wish』

Quest completed.