[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian":3,"chapter-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-648":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Surviving the Game as a Barbarian",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1328025,1764,"Chapter 648: Barbarian Business (1)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-648",648,"\u003Cp>Maybe it was because I sounded too much like a scammer when making the proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big money... you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect leader narrowed his eyes with a skeptical voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I weren’t the one speaking, I’m sure he would have kicked me out immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, just say it. How do you plan to make big money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he allowed me to speak, I quickly added explanation before his negative image of me grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is an investment opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Investment? Do you have a merchant guild in mind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s not investing in a guild.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Invest in the land in District 7.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Land... you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect leader reacted as if I was spouting nonsense again, but it wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected as much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, buying land is not very attractive. Or more precisely, as an ‘investment product,’ it’s not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Land ownership is only possible for nobles...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And is basically a financial product that provides steady ‘monthly rent’ income.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most nobles with spare land lease their properties and collect rent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they rarely profit from price appreciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this bizarre city where magic stones replace all resources and consumption and circulation happen simultaneously, the value of money rarely fluctuates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Rapdonia’s real estate prices always remain stable at a high level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you know, the situation in District 7 is far worse than you can say. If you buy now, you can get it cheap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that too simple a view? Surely they know District 7 will be rebuilt within years. No one will sell at a loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most nobles would choose to hold out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were a normal situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, aren’t you looking at it too simply?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The labyrinth closure was a huge event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And District 7 borders Viphron, which Noark forces occupy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard many families are trying to save money and not spend lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncertainty about the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And anxiety from that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I explained this clearly with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you look carefully, there will definitely be nobles wanting to sell. Once consumption drops sharply, noble businesses will take a big hit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed... more people will need money urgently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect leader seemed to agree with me now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it didn’t mean I had convinced him fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the same applies to us. Even if we buy cheap land, the investment won’t pay off for a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you said, in these uncertain times, we don’t have the luxury to wait. Neither I nor anyone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp comment from the experienced sect leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like other noble families eager to sell land, the Melbes families were also in need of money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they couldn’t afford long-term investments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looks like he’s almost convinced.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grinned and lowered my voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if you could buy land and immediately secure that money? What then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a lifelong Rapdonia native like him, this probably sounded like the delusion of a mere barbarian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reaction was predictable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s... a meaningless assumption.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, answer me. What would you do if that were true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under my persistent questioning, the sect leader had no choice but to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why ask me? If that were possible, no noble would refuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But how could that be realistic? Buying land and still preserving your money? There’s no way to get land for free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him mumble skeptically, I spoke firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, it’s not free land, but almost the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then tell me. What is this method?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lease out the land without charging rent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No monthly or yearly rent at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? No rent? That sounds absurd—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey, stop interrupting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen to the end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cut him off and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t charge rent on purchased land. Instead, you charge a sum equivalent to the land’s value and give them the right to use it freely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect leader, listening seriously, suddenly burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! You mean proxy land purchase? That’s clearly against the kingdom’s land laws!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Proxy land purchase is a method wealthy merchants or rich people use secretly to hold land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since there’s almost no crackdown, it’s rarely caught, but can cause problems if someone objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strictly speaking, it’s not illegal. Proxy purchase contracts must specify permanent rights to the land, but I don’t plan to include such clauses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Then couldn’t this be interpreted that way? But who would enter like that? Just paying rent is cheaper and better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They will enter. Unlike proxy purchase which demands triple the price, I don’t intend to take any premium at all...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And when the contract ends, the money is returned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the lifelong Rapdonia native didn’t grasp this new concept at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Return the money? So they rent the land free without paying rent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm... Is this really so hard to understand?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect leader only thought this method would cause losses for us, so I had to spend more time explaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sect leader, listen carefully just once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Koreans interested in real estate are divided on whether this is good or bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why jeonse (long-term deposit leasing) benefits us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My plan was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buy land in District 7 from noble families in need of money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then rent it out to guilds or wealthy people for a large deposit without charging rent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Use that money to buy more land.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Repeat the same process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sect leader doubted if this would work, but after persuasion, he accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Certainly... if proper buildings are erected on ruined land, it won’t be hard to find tenants willing to sign contracts. Long term, it’s much cheaper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeonse requires a large lump sum upfront.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if you have enough money, it’s economically advantageous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Because you don’t pay monthly rent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, this isn’t a world where banks pay interest on deposits, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my guess is right, some might even take loans from banks to pay monthly rent and choose jeonse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I plan to coordinate this with Count Alminous, the bank president, to see if ordinary people can get loans backed by the contract for money return—.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“T-That’s... nonsense...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the explanation was about halfway, the sect leader muttered that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the tone was different from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before it was critical; now it was more like amazement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The royal family agreed to bear most of the cost for rebuilding ruined buildings!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this plan goes well... with money enough to buy a small street, we might buy all of District 7...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though a bit rigid in thinking from being local-born, the sect leader was also business-savvy, and seemed to understand the ‘business’ I described.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, not perfect in my eyes though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems you misunderstand, sect leader. My goal isn’t to buy all of District 7.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To buy all of District 7 and then sell it later when prices rise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the core of the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because just buying land and renting it out at jeonse wouldn’t bring me any benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If land prices don’t rise, I’d only lose money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if prices rise, the profits could be huge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sect leader, you know too, right? Once the situation calms and District 7 normalizes, prices will return to previous levels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a surefire win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only the Noark bastards don’t come out beyond the walls again and wipe out District 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Uh...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That really won’t happen, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook off the anxious thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, think about it, viscount. How much do you think we’d make then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........What can I do to help?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Okay, that look tells me no more persuasion is needed...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I honestly told him everything I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This plan was impossible to execute without the active support of this sect leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From finding nobles willing to sell land, to funds for purchase, to capital to hold until buildings go up and tenants come...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything required his help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I don’t have many connections, I’d get stuck at finding sellers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once again, don’t buy unless you’re sure not to sell cheap. There’s no sane person besides us trying to buy land now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry about that. I’ve done countless negotiations like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, this was it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A family with thousands of years of history, their network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And seasoned political and business negotiation skills. I expected the sect leader to handle things as hoped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, it’s hard to make such a big decision now. [N O V E L I G H T] I’ll think more and contact you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he tried to back out subtly at the end, I nodded coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could tell his eyes were already turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely I’ll hear from him soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creating the jeonse system in Rapdonia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sure to bring me definite profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My only worry was whether such capitalist moves might look too evil...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not even a special technique; jeonse is something anyone can think of.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Koreans familiar with jeonse might be suspicious of my move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There are only three Koreans here anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ibaekho, Hyunbyul, and me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though there might be others hiding somewhere in this world...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That risk was worth taking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t the same me who trembled before the evil spirit hunters of the secret security agency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now I had at least the minimum means to protect myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above all, I had laid some insurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this all really your idea, Baron Yandel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not! Our chief administrative officer came up with this! Building houses at the sanctuary made his mind work that way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Administrative officer Shabin Emur, you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. He was recently promoted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......I just don’t get it. Is it luck these talented people gather around Baron Yandel? Or do they shine because they are by his side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a hint of envy mixed in the sect leader’s gaze, making me slightly embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a seasoned warrior never misses any opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, we’ll see which it is directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled and added a closing remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re one of my people now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, emotional words like that work well on elders who have seen all kinds of hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>",1680,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.084Z",1,"novelbin.me","64cfeed717b6cca173b61cf855b377f16fd5aba28288005773b3d8a04c76def1","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-649","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-647",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]