God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 201: Episode _Become a Well-Treated Sucker (2)

Chapter 201: Episode 201_Become a Well-Treated Sucker (2)

3.

Power. Honor. What is it about them that makes people spend so much money? Everyone has their own answer, but it all boils down to one thing: appearances. It’s about showing off, puffing out your chest, and standing tall. For that, people will spare no expense.

After all, humans are social animals. More than the self-satisfaction that comes from wealth, they crave the respect of others, the feeling of being on top, the power to command. This is why class systems are born, and why, in the real world, people aspire to become politicians or presidents.

Of course, not everyone is like that. Many people care more about their own well-being than how others see them. They are the ones who choose reality over ideals, who are content with a full stomach. Such people don’t covet power or honor. They value money above all else, so what’s the point in trading it for something intangible?

For them, the honor guaranteed by a VVIP membership held no interest. Or rather, it hadn’t.

“This is nice. Very nice,” one noble remarked. “The private attendant is not only beautiful but also more perceptive than most secretaries. I’m tempted to take her back to my own territory to work for me.”

“A service truly worthy of an emperor,” another agreed.

“And we get to enjoy this for the next six months.”

“We have to tip, of course, but to be able to relax without lifting a finger? It’s a small price to pay.”

“It’s enough to make me want to upgrade my VIP membership to VVIP.”

What was once of no interest had suddenly become desirable. It was inevitable. This was an honor that came naturally with the money they were already spending for their own satisfaction, at no extra cost. They weren’t about to refuse such a perk.

The more they enjoyed this complimentary service, the more it felt like an elevation in their quality of life. This, in turn, began to shift the perception of the membership program for both its holders and those who looked on.

“There is a VIP banquet. Would you care to attend?”

“A special VIP discount has been applied. Thank you.”

“Would you be interested in purchasing a special new arrival with your mileage points?”

The service was so exceptional it could make onlookers burn with jealousy. In monetary terms, the quality was so high that it felt like getting a full refund on all their expenses. How could they not see it in a favorable light?

Over time, the nobles grew more and more interested in the membership. Even those who had previously cared for nothing of the sort were drawn in. As the Rich Territory’s fame spread across the continent, the value of its membership soared. If it were transferable, it would have traded for a price far exceeding the money spent to acquire it. To the NPCs, it was like a luxury brand with only a few items in existence on the entire continent—rarer, even, than the title of an Imperial noble.

However, as word of the membership’s benefits spread, it was the players, not the NPCs, who took the most notice.

[Title: I’m a player who somehow became a VIP of the Rich Territory.]

Hello. I’m a player who was drawn to the vastness of Fantastic World rather than just hunting. I was enjoying exploring the wide continent when I came across the Rich Territory, built by a player named Simin. Yes, I spent a lot of money. But it was a theme park so well-made that I have no regrets. It felt like a place you could see in the real world, yet it was exquisitely infused with the unique charm of Fantastic World. It was a territory where my time felt well spent.

Thanks to that, I became the first player to receive a VIP membership, and I fell even deeper in love with the place. I can say, though it’s a bit embarrassing, that I’ve lived a comfortable life in the real world, but lately, I’ve been exchanging so much gold it feels like my back is about to break. That’s how many benefits there are. It doesn’t matter much to me, but I wanted to list a few perks that might be useful for those of you who focus on hunting.

...(excerpt)...

The Rich Territory membership seems to be structured favorably for players, though the services provided are satisfying even for those who don’t need the combat perks.

Anyway, I’m determined to pour money into the Rich Territory this term, even if it’s excessive, with the goal of becoming the first-ever VVIP player. I’ll be back with another verification post in six months.

The post spread like wildfire. The benefits listed for players were simple, yet extraordinary.

- A +13 Enhancement Ticket?

- You get that just for getting the membership?

- Besides that, there’s a 30% discount on enhancement fees.

- What’s this Experience Buff Purchase Ticket?

These were services that couldn’t be bought with money, things that offered a glimpse into a whole new world of gameplay. Players were far more interested in these perks than the long-winded story in the post. They had every reason to be.

- Looking at it again, it’s incredible.

- I really want that +13 Enhancement Ticket.

- You have to spend more money for the Experience Buff Purchase Ticket?

- It’s the right to buy time with money.

A privilege once enjoyed only by the Specialists was now available to anyone willing to invest in the Rich Territory. The anticipation was palpable. How much stronger could they get if they played with those benefits? Of course, it was limited to those with deep pockets, but there were more of them in Fantastic World than one might think.

Players began to flock to the Rich Territory, their bags stuffed with gold. An event? The main quest? This was like a side mission they could tackle simultaneously without hindering their progress—one that would be immensely helpful for their future. An unintentional competition for membership began between players and NPCs.

*

Before the membership program, the Rich Territory was a place of frequent disputes. It wasn’t so much conflict as it was the inevitable friction that arises in the class-based society of Fantastic World.

“What? You dare overcharge me? You cur! Are you tired of living?”

The lord of the territory was the Emperor’s son-in-law and a viscount, but the residents selling goods were not. Though they were protected by Simin and had even been trained to conduct business this way, they were still commoners by birth. When they tried to price-gouge nobles, incidents like this were common. Each time, they had to bow their heads while the Aide stepped in to resolve the issue.

The introduction of the membership program shouldn’t have changed much. But it did.

“Eek!” a waitress cried out.

“Hmph. A mere commoner!” a noble sneered, harassing her as she served his table. In this world, it was a prank so minor it wouldn’t even be considered sexual harassment, but the atmosphere in the hall was different now.

“What!” an adventurer exclaimed.

Of course, a change in atmosphere alone wouldn’t have been a problem. The fact that adventurers looked down on such behavior wasn’t enough to make a noble of a much higher class feel threatened. But it wasn’t just the atmosphere.

“That’s Marquis Anigos of the Empire.”

“Hah!”

Someone had stepped forward. And it was an Imperial Marquis! The offending noble, who was likely no more than a viscount from some backwater kingdom, scrambled to his feet and bowed his head.

“To commit such a vulgar act in the Rich Territory... I will not tolerate behavior that diminishes the dignity of this land.”

“My-my apologies, my lord.”

There’s a saying among nobles that everyone is connected if you go back far enough—a famous adage in Fantastic World. Although there was a vast difference between a great noble of the Empire and a titular noble from a peripheral kingdom, a single huff from the Marquis could have the viscount harried until he lost his title. It was like the relationship between a major corporation and a subcontractor.

Incidents like this began to occur all over the territory. It was a voluntary movement. The nobles who had earned memberships began to clean up the territory of their own accord, without anyone asking them to. It was a result that not even Simin had anticipated.

“Please put in a good word for me with the Lord,” a noble would say to a resident.

“Gasp! Of course, my lord!” the resident would reply.

Naturally, it wasn’t for free. The members who helped raise the territory’s prestige would then smile kindly and curry favor with the residents. Although they couldn’t fully utilize all the benefits Simin provided, they had found another perk of equal value.

“I would like to have a meal with the Lord sometime.”

“Is a VIP membership not enough? Then please tell him I will be sure to become a VVIP next term.”

It was a path to success, a way to connect with the Emperor’s son-in-law. For the NPCs, that was the meaning of the membership.

Players sought it for power. NPCs sought it for advancement. The black magic mages sought it for the destruction of the Sanctuary. The Rich Territory was spreading its wings and beginning to soar.

4.

“The Gamer Sitting on a Pile of Money. The First Player to Own a Territory. Who is He?” Yeseul read from an article.

“Who else? A crazy, broke-ass beggar who wouldn’t see a single coin even if a mountain of money fell on him,” Simin grumbled.

“Still, once you pass the break-even point, won’t you start making some money? I heard sales have gone up quite a bit,” Yeseul said, trying to cheer him up.

“They’ve gone up, sure. More than triple what they used to be.”

“Then how much is it?”

“I don’t know. It’s too painful to ask. What’s the point of hearing it? It’s all meaningless anyway.” Simin sighed.

He had seized the opportunity, at least. Who would have thought the Aide would install such a useless Sanctuary in the territory? He had saved the territory from the brink of collapse and used that as leverage to foster its growth. Yet, while sales climbed daily, the money flowing into Simin’s pockets remained consistent: zero.

He couldn’t even get angry, because the Aide was showing him with perfect transparency where every single coin was going. The accounting was so transparent that he could see the bottom of a pit that should have been bottomless. The Aide seemed ready to pull an all-nighter just to explain it all, forcing Simin to cut him off. That’s how meticulous the Aide was when it came to money. The only problem was that his affection for the territory was far greater.

“He said he’s not taking the Sanctuary away, but he was disappointed with how things turned out this time, so he’s investing more,” Simin explained.

“That Aide is really something,” Yeseul remarked. “How does he manage to squeeze so much money out of you?”

“Like master, like servant. They all start to resemble each other.”

“The residents seem to be taking after you more and more, too, Simin,” Seolah added.

In any case, it was a pie in the sky. It was a good thing he hadn’t invested much to begin with and had already decided to write off that amount.

’Just think about the future. The future,’ he told himself.

If things continued like this, the money would eventually start rolling in. Besides, hadn’t he already devised a way to generate supplementary income? Construction had begun to develop the area around the Rich Territory into a residential zone. The Sanctuary’s influence didn’t reach that far, but if he created a residential area like a suburb, he was sure he could secure a decent side profit.

As he was enjoying the calm before the storm, Nodaji returned.

“Whoa! You’re alive,” Simin exclaimed.

“It’s been a while,” Nodaji said.

“Ah, hello.”

He looked as if he had just single-handedly dug a 100-meter tunnel. In the old, rustic version of the town, he might have blended in, but in the newly polished town, an adventurer in such a state was a spectacle. Of course, no one bothered him. The Rich Territory may have changed, but it was still a town frequented by adventurers.

“Boss! I did it!” Nodaji declared.

“Yes?” Simin replied, confused.

“I’ve brought back a Special item!”

With that, Nodaji proudly pulled a small ore from his tunic and held it out.

Simin was stunned into silence.