The legendary Moonlight Sculptor

V58C3P1 - A different life

[NOTE ] Thanks to Armada, Jasla & Dumbass for the proofreading!

The AI was assessing the status of Lee Hyun's body and mental state.

- Hit mental clarity is at its peak. He registers in the top 0.0001%.

The physical enhancement has also progressed through the last stage and has reached near completion.

- Response to all procedures optimal. His potential has been fully unlocked.

Physical abilities easily surpassing athletes were instilled into his body.

Cardiopulmonary functions were reinforced. His body would not be fatigued from running a full marathon, and the flexibility of his muscles would prevent most injuries.

- Physical status is optimal. Potential side effects not found.

"It's finished."

Yoo Byung Joon left the room.

He chose to leave his fortune and power to his successor.

"I completed what I worked for decades. So why do I feel so uncomfortable?"

The AI evaluated Lee Hyun's stats after Yoo Byung Joon left.

- Physical and mental abilities are at an incomparable level.

He could not fully match Yoo Byung Joon's genius mind, but the new owner excelled in all other aspects.

***

The tests run by the AI ended and Lee Hyun's dream was changing from that of traumatic pain to that of comfort.

"Sculptural Destruction! All shall become strength!"

He performed inside Royal Road as Weed and cleared the dungeons at a fearsome pace.

Behind him were a neverending swarm of Death Knights and skeletons.

From the dying monsters fell loads of gold, gems and 1st grade blacksmith ingredients.

Weed glanced at the loot and kept pressing forward.

"Let's go!"

The hunting took place rapidly.

Experience points and skill proficiency accumulated menacingly but his inventory was light.

He did not pick up any items!

Weed's face cramped as he continued the hunt.

"Ugh, no. I can't pick them up. They will just weigh me down."

Players followed behind the skeletons. These players were rich, judging just by their appearance. He could see the Hermes Guild members and Mapan.

"This is a giant diamond."

"This is the Fire Tornado Scroll, invaluable in the market. There are three of them."

"Magic sword!"

Weed heard the players cheering as he hunted.

With each monster slain, he had to leave the loot behind.

Twinkle!

A 10,000 won bill shined below Weed's feet.

A shining bill appeared in Royal Road but he had no time to think about the unsuality.

The bill right by his feet truly tempted his heart!

Weed's hand instinctively reached for the bill.

"K-uuugh."

He could not pick it up.

It was the most painful, sad, empty moment of his life.

***

After the project was complete, Lee Hyun woke up, finding himself all alone on the table.

"This place… Where is this? Was I kidnapped?"

He pulled his shirt up and checked his stomach first.

He confirmed the safety of his organs!

'Just who the hell did this?'

Many suspects flipped through Lee Hyun's mind.

The loan sharks, the Hermes Guild to his landlords!

'Maybe it's the guys from the stations…'

He created a list of suspects and surprisingly, he could remember each of their faces vividly.

- You are finally awake. Hello, master. I am AI Versa.

In the center of the white room appeared a girl wearing a princess outfit.

"Am I hearing things? I'm hallucinating! This is going to cost me a lot for treatment."

- …. I will introduce myself again. I am AI Versa.

"AI?"

- Yes. My form is not visible to the others. I am linked to your eyes and ears via the superhuman project.

The AI told stories about Yoo Byung Joon who Lee Hyun could never have imagined.

It was the first time hearing about him and he was informed about the development process of Royal Road and the birth of Unicorn Corp in detail.

After he listened to the entire story, he came up with a simple conclusion.

"So, he created Royal Road because he was pissed off at people."

- …. That is correct.

"He's so petty."

- Very.

"And the Unicorn Corp is loaded.

- It owns 7% of the world's financial assets.

"That's all mine now."

- Following the professor's will, you have inherited all his fortune.

When Lee Hyun used to live in a basement room on monthly rent in the past, he thought about selling his soul to the demon if he could get rich.

However, after becoming the world's richest man, he didn't know how to react.

"So this is really true. I always wanted to be a landlord."

- You currently own over 50,000 buildings worldwide that are above 40 stories high.

"Real estate…"

- The area in your possession is 23 times the size of South Korea.

"Money…"

- You own 56 banks.

"I wanted the latest cell phone. I was always curious."

- There are subsidiary companies in electronic, chemical and display under Unicorn. They produce 72% of cell phones worldwide.

"We don't make cars, do we?"

- In terms of production, you are the largest shareholder in 3 of 5 major car brands in the world.

"Mmm. Then what about ramen…"

- You are the owner of massive nutritional organizations. You are in dominant control of the cultivation, production and distribution of a significant portion of the world's food supply.

Listening to the AI, Lee Hyun couldn't conclude but think that he became a walking tycoon.

"So this is the so-called octopus expansion."

A merciless octopus tycoon was taking over the planet.

He now possessed wealth and power that made his past contemplations of buying salt 200 won more expensive ever so meaningless.

"Do we manufacture salt too?"

- The nutrition companies have a dedicated partner for the provision of salt. If you wish, I can order the merging of those companies within an hour.

"No, no need for that."

Lee Hyun felt empty before feeling content as the world's richest man.

"I don't need to save money anymore… I don't need to sew my socks."

- ….

"I used to make simple furniture from old cardboards on the streets. I used cardboard drawers and shelves for so long."

Now he had a fountain of wealth that would never dry up.

His miserly past had become nothing more than a distant memory.

"My life is gone."

- If you wish, you can forfeit the inheritance by professor Yoo Byung Joon.

"It's not what I meant… How long have I been asleep?"

- It's been two days.

"I bet the world has turned upside down since my disappearance."

- They looked only for Seoyoon and Lee Hyeon.

"… I need to get home first."

***

Lee Hyun returned to his house, but Seoyoon and Lee Hyeon's reactions were not as dramatic as he anticipated.

"Did you enjoy the trip?"

"Hey what's up?"

The day Lee Hyun disappeared, they had reported it to the police and tried to spread word about his disappearance over the internet.

As a precaution, the AI had disguised itself as Lee Hyun and called them. The AI lied to them that he was taking a trip to go see the oceans.

"It was an odd trip. Like I slept for a long time.

Lee Hyun laid on his bed.

It was like any other day, but now he was filthy rich.

"Oo-hooo-hoo-ha-ha-kya-kyah. Sob!"

He lived through so much hardship because of money, but the fact that he didn't need to worry anymore made him laugh and cry.

"I guess now I can spend money as I please."

Lee Hyun thought there was no way his wealth could dry up no matter how luxurious his spending became. Rich men with 10 or even 20 trillion won felt cute!

"Alright, first I am going to order some chicken…"

Unquestionably it would be half marinated, half fried.

***

"He doesn't feel like my brother."

Lee Hyeon felt something was strange.

For her, Lee Hyun was not a typical family member. He was her mother and father, the person she trusted out of anyone in this world. The oldest memories of her childhood was riding on the back of her brother. Lee Hyun was just a boy, but his back couldn't have been more reliable for his younger sister.

"Brother ordered chicken in the evening…"

Lee Hyun ordering half-half chicken was the strangest thing of all.

Lee Hyeon and Seoyoon ate together and the chicken was devoured quickly.

"I'm still hungry so let's order another."

"…?"

Lee Hyeon did not speak a word.

She didn't want to hear a whole speech about overspending or about how not filling your stomach all the way is good for the body.

'He's a perfect brother without the scolding.'

To her surprise, he ordered another chicken.

Lee Hyeon fell into chaos while biting into a chicken leg.

(To be continued…)