[{"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-650":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},1328027,1764,"Chapter 650: Barbarian Business (3)","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-650",650,"\u003Cp>The Chancellor of Rapdonia, Marquis Terserion, sighed deeply the moment he saw me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such behavior—sighing right in someone’s face—is generally considered rude in noble circles, but maybe because it was me, the heir of the nation, this old man no longer cared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Won’t you speak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask just one question first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why have you been avoiding me all this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Admittedly, it was a somewhat weak line even by my own standards, but I felt I had to ask it face to face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Avoiding? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I tried to arrange meetings saying I wanted to see you, but you ignored all my messages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Marquis wasn’t intentionally avoiding me, it was impossible to understand his behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he playing some kind of game of push and pull?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just recently, he had given me a seat at the royal council and even showed interest in marrying off his ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) own daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth I heard from the Marquis was very simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Busy to the point you couldn’t even reply?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t even know you tried to contact me. For the past few days, I’ve been stuck inside the palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the Marquis again, I noticed deep fatigue under his eyes that he clearly couldn’t hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe that was why his voice sounded sharper and more sensitive than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard even your steward explained this to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had heard the explanation, but never thought it would be genuine rather than an excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embarrassed, I kept silent, and the Marquis looked at me as if incredulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re strange too. You come looking for me accusing me of avoiding you. Isn’t that a bit arrogant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t think everyone will drop everything just because you want to meet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I apologize this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not an apology. Promise me. Don’t come looking for me like this again. Some rudeness can be excused as cultural difference, but this is outright disrespect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I said I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because I came in a pitiful state, his stern words scared me into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...I wonder why he’s been so busy lately.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would the Marquis commuting from Hwangdo Karnon be so busy that he couldn’t leave the palace for days?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious but never asked, as he never gave me the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, tell me your business. I can’t waste any more of my precious rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having seen him emphasize his tiredness and lack of time several times during our short talk, I got straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came to ask that the reconstruction of District 7 be assigned to our Yandel family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because I was so shameless, or because no one expected someone like me to make a request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis gave an incredulous exhale and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this really necessary? I don’t know what tricks you used, but I’ve already heard Melbes picked you as their representative.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Melbes’ backing, I wasn’t likely to lose in a legitimate bidding competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But business is business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is a sure way to handle it, so why not take that route?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I agree with your way of thinking, but...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I cannot agree with your attitude of coming just to reclaim what’s been entrusted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a side of him I had never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when joking about smashing my head earlier, he hadn’t sounded this irritated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Did I come at the worst possible time?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret came too late, but I tried to think positively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had I waited too long, I might never have gotten the chance to meet and talk like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me, why should I grant your request?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I responded brazenly with consistent shamelessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Consider it a gift for my lifelong bachelorhood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A gift for being single...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis tilted his head, puzzled by a word he had never heard before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s old people for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since I’ll never marry, isn’t a little gift the least you can give me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I was brought here, our society had cases like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, single people are unfairly treated, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They give wedding money but never get any in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis paused, seemingly considering my logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it sounded like a stretch, as the one who blocked my marriage, he couldn’t just brush it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have a point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, the Marquis understood the give-and-take principle well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I can’t just decide state affairs on my own. What to do...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered as if troubled, but I didn’t sympathize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Marquis was a power-hungry old monster who did whatever he pleased as the nation’s second-in-command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His complaints were just grease to smooth the way before the main topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, how about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, he offered a compromise soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give you a fair chance to compete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A chance...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, five families including yours are the top candidates under consideration. But your chances are extremely slim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected as much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yandel family had never shown anything about construction before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Melbes’ support, we wouldn’t even be among the candidates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t try to wait quietly and meet the Marquis because I knew that well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So? What exactly do you mean by giving a chance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly as I said. I’ll lay the stage, so you prove your qualifications yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How exactly would he ‘lay the stage’?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to picture, but hearing his explanation was truly astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To summarize... the five families gather and have a building contest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s not exactly a contest. It will be more like a demonstration in front of people showing what each family does well and their strengths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sounds like the same thing, but his following words gave me some relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll ensure you produce some results so my reputation isn’t ruined. Then the contract will go to the Yandel family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it fizzled out somehow, I recalled Melbes once tried something similar with a dwarf family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let me know when the date’s fixed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Who knew construction labor competitions would become a thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing with the Marquis, I returned to the sanctuary, where our chief administrative officer was still working late with the lights on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm, or was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shabin, what are you reading so hard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh... it’s a letter. The branch manager of Alminous Bank is asking if I want to transfer there... It’s strange, I don’t even know the person...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be the Count Alminous sending a scouting offer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This old man...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just ignore it. He’s probably a scammer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...That really hurts my pride all of a sudden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just your imagination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what’s the reason for coming at this hour?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do I only come when there’s something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I know you usually avoid this place because you think I’ll make you work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh... she already knew everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling embarrassed, I quickly got to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just had a talk with the Chancellor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...The Chancellor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you look at me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just saying, that kind of person is impressive, but...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shabin hesitated awkwardly, but today wasn’t the day for such talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sharing the conversation with the Marquis, I declared that tomorrow I would personally assess our warriors’ labor skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow... really...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shabin’s trembling voice carried a certain intensity, so I hurriedly explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t have to call many. But don’t just call the best — call them all so you can get an average.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... that’s not too hard then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to be too worried. Just want to see their skills and analyze what else to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it. I’ll prepare accordingly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay, I’ll see for myself tomorrow then...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, I talked more with Shabin about our tribal work, then secretly went back to my temporary quarters and fell asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooooooh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The strongest warrior of the tribe is here to see our skills!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s time to show off my strength!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behe—laaaaaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, from early morning, the barbarians gathered enthusiastically for the test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was completely unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t even there to watch fighting skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Since when did they get so serious about construction?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, I asked Ainard quietly and got an unexpected answer. Or rather...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s thanks to the administrative officer’s brainwashing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As tribe chief, I couldn’t ignore that word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brainwashing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shabin said with proper rewards and constant praise, even goblin beliefs can be changed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wondered what that meant, so I listened more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed Shabin worked hard to change the warriors’ mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gave them rewards after tasks, praised them highly in front of everyone, and fulfilled their desire for recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Fulfilling the need for approval...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nailed exactly what drove barbarians wild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do warriors get so hyped about strength? It’s not just because strength is important in daily life...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its core, it’s because their need for recognition is fulfilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because everyone recognizes the strong, our warriors sweat and bleed every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure, but recently we even had a fast-building competition! The winner gets more popularity from the opposite sex, but I found it tough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad! If I hadn’t entered the labyrinth and learned building skills, I’d be better!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Ainard was mixing up priorities, so no need to explain how high construction’s status was in the tribe...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this good or bad...?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As chief, I worried a bit but tried to focus on the positive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If building skills develop, there will be ways to make a living besides being a warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More options is always good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Maybe I can actually expect something here?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I watched from afar as Shabin Emur prepared a demo building project, evaluating our warriors’ skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can carry three rebars!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I can do four!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For carrying ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Behe—laaaah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?! Just stick it in roughly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Kirita, second son of Mwolka! This window doesn’t fit here. What should I do?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For advanced technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep it up! If we finish today, the chief will pay 10,000 stones each!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For labor cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some notable points:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this it...?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing clear flaws as well as strengths, I licked my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...What should I do now?\u003C\u002Fp>",1711,"2026-06-05T19:33:18.084Z",1,"novelbin.me","b3800b7a1351eeed0e7026205cbe371cb95bd2e0813f01dc149b2ab46ba4421b","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-651","surviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-chapter-649",807,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-game-as-a-barbarian-cover.jpg"]