Money Keeps Piling Up No Matter How Much I Spend

Chapter 225

Translator: DreamscribeThe Bilderberg Conference.

It wasn't just a frequent fixture in conspiracy theories; it was a permanent one, an elite gathering that appeared in every last one of them.

Most people assumed it was nothing more than a club for the ultra-rich, but alongside the tycoons came figures from politics, culture, economics, and more.

People from all manner of fields gathered there.

And not just anyone. These were people who had reached the very top of their respective fields.

"So this is supposed to be the nerve center of every conspiracy in the world."

"I mean, yeah. But is it really, though?"

"Well, the influence is undeniable. Starting with President Clinton, European prime ministers always attend a Bilderberg Conference at least once before they get elected."

"So you're saying the Bilderberg Conference is what gets them elected as president or prime minister...?"

"I wouldn't go that far, but it's not like they had zero involvement either."

The Bilderberg Conference had always been under fire as the epicenter of conspiracy theories.

But it seemed those conspiracies weren't entirely wrong.

There were persistent rumors that major global agendas were decided here in advance.

"They actually sent me an invitation last year, too."

"What? This is the first I'm hearing of it."

"Things were way too hectic back then. The U.S. presidential election, the civil war, all that nonsense. Don't even get me started. And on top of that, this year's Bilderberg Conference is here in Washington, but last year's was in the Netherlands. Way too far."

"So basically, you just couldn't be bothered to go."

"If I'm being completely honest, a new Raid happened to drop that same day. I'd promised our guild members ages ago that we'd do an Open Run together. I couldn't break that promise."

"Fair enough."

To anyone else, the idea that a gaming Raid could take priority over the Bilderberg Conference might sound absurd.

"Unless someone's died, breaking a gaming commitment in our guild is a no-go. And if it was last year... that was the Lord of Annihilation Raid, right?"

"Yep. That was the one."

"If you'd bailed on the Raid back then, hyungnim, the entire guild would've rioted. Good call."

"Exactly why I kept my mouth shut about it. Heh heh."

As I chatted with hyungnim, the car arrived at the hotel before I knew it.

"......"

The Bilderberg Conference was held in a different city every year.

They would rent out an entire hotel or resort and lock it down completely so no one could get in during the event.

Given that it was a gathering of the world's most influential people, the precautions against potential terrorist threats made sense.

"Is that a whole army out there? Is it always like this?"

"The sitting U.S. president is making an unprecedented appearance this year. That's why security is even tighter than usual."

"Right. He is the president, after all. Still can't believe that guy is in our guild."

"But I heard he barely gets to play these days?"

"Can't be helped. When he first joined our guild, he'd been a lame duck for ages, so he had nothing to do and could hop on whenever. Now that he's got his power back, he's buried in work."

The man wasn't young, either. Must be tough on him.

Still, this U.S. presidential election had been genuinely entertaining.

Assassination attempts, a civil war, and everything in between.

One completely unpredictable event after another flipping the race on its head. It had been something to watch.

"What's former President Trump been up to these days?"

"Beats me. Probably out playing golf?"

If that man had won the presidency, how differently would world history have turned out?

Honestly, I wondered about it sometimes.

"Before the election, he was threatening the entire world with massive tariffs. Would've been a real spectacle if he'd actually won."

"Come on. No matter how crazy things got, he wouldn't have actually slapped on tariffs that high. That would've turned America from the world's police into the world's bully."

Whether it was true or not didn't matter.

A world where Trump won reelection simply didn't exist here.

"Welcome, Chairman Hwang-nim, CEO Jung-nim."

We followed the staff's guidance into the banquet hall.

Inside, a sizable crowd was already laughing and chatting among themselves.

"......"

But then, as if on cue.

The moment we walked in, the entire banquet hall fell deathly silent.

"......"

Hyungnim and I made our way deeper inside through the awkward atmosphere.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, hyungnim whispered to me.

"Why's it so tense in here?"

"Right? It seems like it's because of us."

"Are they hostile toward us?"

"Could there be a reason for that?"

"Oh, there's a reason. You turned 5 quadrillion into 50 quadrillion. We cleaned them all out. The rich folks here probably aren't too fond of us."

Come to think of it, he was right.

Plenty of people here must have taken a hit from the fallout of the Great Depression.

Meanwhile, Kwangwoon had raked in an astronomical profit. Honestly, there were probably many who resented us, thinking we'd robbed them of their money.

"......"

No wonder the atmosphere was suffocating.

The stares directed our way felt ice cold.

"...Hyungnim."

"Yeah?"

"How about we show our faces for a bit and head out?"

"Ahem. Shall we? Now that I think about it, our U.S. branch guild members are waiting for us in Washington."

The thought of having to discuss heavy topics like economics, politics, and culture in this atmosphere was already making my head spin.

Hyungnim felt the same way.

At the end of the day, the two of us were more comfortable with people we could kick back with, chugging drinks and yelling our heads off while gaming, than with this upper-crust crowd.

* * *

"......"

How to put it.

It was as though the very air had shifted in an instant.

When they saw Jung Jin-ho walking in behind Hwang Dae-woon, every one of those proud, haughty elites froze in place.

Like subjects who dared not even breathe before the emperor who ruled the world.

They stared at Jung Jin-ho with eyes full of dread.

A few mustered the courage to approach and greet him, but they quickly fell away. They'd probably been too nervous to even form a proper sentence.

"And they've already left, you say?"

"Yes. We just received word that they exited the hotel."

The Bilderberg Conference covered more topics than one might expect.

Yet those two hadn't stayed to listen to a single one. They'd simply made a circuit, exchanged greetings, and walked out.

"They don't need to stay and listen. No matter how long we sit here talking amongst ourselves, nothing will come of it unless Kwangwoon gives its approval."

There was a reason they had kept their appearance brief, showing their faces only for a moment before leaving.

It meant that a mere flash of their presence, of that overwhelming pressure, was enough.

"A short, intense display of dominance leaves a far deeper impression than lingering for hours. The longer you're around someone, the more people get used to it. But brief, repeated exposures, those never let anyone get comfortable."

As expected of Jung Jin-ho.

He seemed to understand better than anyone how to get under people's skin.

"What's more, if you don't know any better, CEO Jung's smile makes him look like the kindest person in the world."

That was the most chilling part.

That harmless expression, as though there wasn't a single gram of malice in him.

"But Mr. President, Kwangwoon's power has grown far too immense. Everyone gathered here today may not be showing it outwardly, but they're deeply concerned. Didn't Kwangwoon just seize control of every critical company worldwide through a Great Depression they themselves engineered?"

Aiden carefully surveyed the faces of the magnates who had gathered around him.

Every one of them was a victim who had lost their company to Kwangwoon or had their management rights stripped away during the Great Depression.

But none of them had dared let it show in front of Jung Jin-ho.

Only now that the two had left were they voicing their grievances.

"I'd advise everyone to watch what they say. The fact that those two dropped by only briefly today means they're already listening to everything said here through other means."

"......!"

Several people flinched and covered their mouths.

"But don't worry too much. They're more merciful than you'd think. Surrender your ego and do as you're told, and you'll get the carrot far more often than the stick. Just look at me. I'm living proof, aren't I?"

"......"

Aiden had spoken in a joking tone, but everyone listening knew it was anything but a joke.

Then someone mustered the courage to step forward.

"Mr. President, are you truly... just going to stand by and watch Kwangwoon take over the world?"

"And you're going to stop them? Let me be frank. No one in this room, no power on earth, can stand in the way of Kwangwoon's plans. With this Great Depression, Kwangwoon has seized all of us by the throat."

Kwangwoon was using a staggering 50 quadrillion to dominate the world's key corporations.

If any particular nation dared to resist, Kwangwoon had the power to completely obliterate that country's stock market.

No one could even think of defying them.

Because doing so would push that nation and its people to the brink.

"Besides, I'm not just standing by. I'm actively and enthusiastically helping them. Because frankly, I think that kind of world is better."

"!?"

Their faces registered considerable shock.

They had always assumed Aiden cooperated with Kwangwoon because he had no other choice.

But from what he was saying now, it had been entirely his own will.

"I tried to stop Kwangwoon from seizing control at first, too. But at some point, it hit me. What if the world Kwangwoon is trying to build is the only way to save it?"

"I'm sorry, what do you...?"

"If Kwangwoon hadn't existed, the world would have ended with us all shooting at each other. But Kwangwoon emerged as a new order, and we no longer have to live under the constant threat of war. Division and conflict have plagued humanity since the beginning, but now Kwangwoon will keep it all in check."

There was only one way to eliminate war and conflict.

Someone had to take control of the entire world.

As long as each nation had different leaders and different ideologies, wars and disputes would never cease. But if a force emerged that unified and ruled over all of them, everything could be controlled.

"That's delusion. Someone will resist eventually. For the sake of human freedom."

"Maybe in a previous era. But you all know what's coming, don't you? Kwangwoon is going to implant chips in every human being on the planet before long, and use them to control people. Resistance won't even be possible."

"And you're just going to let that happen?"

"Would you rather every country keep selfishly hoarding for itself while we all shoot each other to death?"

"......"

"I'm not saying this because I'm an old man with not much time left. I simply, wholeheartedly support the new world order that Kwangwoon is building. I'm tired of the bleeding and the endless power plays."

Some wore expressions of understanding. Others glared at Aiden with faces that said they could never accept this.

"If Kwangwoon had been focused solely on dominating humanity, I would have fought them to the bitter end. But what they're doing isn't simply about ruling over people."

"Then what is it?"

"It's a step toward building a better world, a better future. The very first thing Kwangwoon did after taking over the global markets was acquire every subsidiary Milon Tusk owned. And they've been pouring enormous sums into them, I'm told."

"You mean...?"

"Kwangwoon is preparing to go beyond Earth. To plant our flag in the cosmos, beyond this planet, and birth a new civilization. If their true goal were just toying with us like playthings, would they have made that kind of investment?"

Watching Kwangwoon's subsequent moves, Aiden had come to understand their true intent.

Their desire to rule the world wasn't about playing king.

It was about achieving the evolution of humanity.

And what was the evolution of humanity?

Not mere physical transformation.

It was uniting all of humanity's will and resources to accelerate scientific progress at a radical pace.

And through that, to conquer not only this Earth but the far reaches of space itself.

"If anything, we shouldn't be mourning. We should be celebrating."

Aiden raised his champagne glass high.

"Because humanity, once on the brink of annihilation, now has hope for a brighter future."

* * *

[Today, the Kwangwoon Group announced that it will soon collaborate with national governments to distribute the Safe Biochip free of charge to everyone enrolled in public health insurance. The Safe Biochip was deployed early in Africa and North Korea, where medical infrastructure is lacking, and has been highly praised for its safety and performance. Thanks to its ability to detect diseases at an early stage and enable timely treatment, there has been massive demand for the chip. As a result, Kwangwoon......]

Several years had passed since the Great Depression.

They say humans are creatures of forgetting.

Back then, everyone had been in a frenzy as though the world would end tomorrow, but now those days were nothing more than a fading memory.

The world was turning again, same as before.

No. Better than before.

Because at the very least, war had disappeared.

The war between Russia and Ukraine had ended. The conflict between Israel and the Middle East had been mediated as well. China and Russia remained fractured into various factions, but they had ceased their civil wars and shifted focus to reviving their economies. In the end, the Chinese and Russian stock markets I had so desperately wanted finally opened.

"......"

And the 50 quadrillion that Kwangwoon had invested was still growing.

Not that I was pulling any of it out.

I knew the shockwaves that would send through global markets.

"Tsk."

So unless something truly important came up, instead of going into the office, I sat in front of my computer and gamed, just like the old days.

"......"

I was staring holes into my screen.

On it was a blacksmith, and beside him, an array of gathered materials.

"......"

One press of this button and those materials would be used to craft what was currently the game's Ultimate-grade Weapon.

[Dude. Vice Guild Master-nim. You're still sitting there like that?]

[Hasn't he been doing that for hours?]

[You still haven't clicked it? When are you actually gonna press it?]

"Shh. Everyone be quiet. You're breaking my concentration."

[Stalling like that just jinxes it.]

[Just press it already!!]

But I wouldn't be swayed.

I had one principle.

The principle that had built the life I had now.

Follow my gut.

But my gut hadn't given me the signal yet.

[At this rate, the whole day's gonna be gone.]

"Go hunt or something, all of you. I'll post an announcement if it works."

With that, I waited for the feeling to come, and just as I was about to put my hand on the mouse...

"Daddy~!"

A voice from behind made me jolt and turn around.

"Playing games again?"

"Oh. Y-yeah. Se-yoon. Sorry, buddy. Let Daddy just finish this, and then I'll play with you."

Life really was unpredictable.

Back when all I did was game in my room, I never could have imagined I'd have a family of my own.

But now I had the most beautiful wife in the world and the cutest little son.

Se-yoon crawled up onto my lap, wiggling his way up.

I'd cried so hard the day this little guy came into the world.

But kids, they grow up so fast.

He was shooting up like a weed.

"I wanna do it too."

"Oh. Well..."

Se-yoon looked up at me with those bright, sparkling eyes.

How could any father say no to a look like that?

"Fine... go ahead. Even though it took me months of grinding to get these materials."

"Hehe."

Se-yoon had no idea.

No idea that his father was agonizing over crafting an Ultimate-grade Weapon that no player on any server in any country had ever managed to create.

From gathering the materials to the abysmal success rate, there was a reason it was called Ultimate-grade.

"Okay. Just press this button."

"Okay."

Honestly, I'd half given up, expecting Se-yoon to just mash it immediately. But...

"...Se-yoon?"

He didn't click the mouse right away. He just sat there, staring blankly at the screen.

"Se-yoon. You just press it."

"......"

But he didn't answer. He just kept staring at the screen.

Something felt off, but I decided to wait.

Some time passed.

Right about when the leg Se-yoon was sitting on started going numb...

"Se-yoon. Why haven't you..."

Click-! Click-!

Se-yoon started rapid-firing the mouse.

The screen erupted with dazzling effects, and a server-wide announcement declared the craft a success.

"!?"

World chat exploded.

-Wait. Isn't that an Ultimate-grade item?

-Someone actually made one?

-Are you insane? The odds on that thing are brutal.

Guild chat was no different.

[WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!]

[No way this actually happened?!! You're lying!!]

[The pride of our guild, ladies and gentlemen!!]

[Never doubted you for a second!!]

I was so stunned I couldn't even scream.

"S-Se-yoon. How did you do that?"

"Hm?"

No. Asking that was ridiculous in itself.

Was this some kind of beginner's luck? A child's blessing?

"I just... felt the right moment. Hehe."

"Felt it?"

"Yep."

Felt it?

Wait. No way...

I looked back and forth between Se-yoon, grinning without a clue, and the screen.

And then, a phrase engraved on the sword caught my eye.

A legendary blade said to have been left by a king of ancient legend to his heir, his son, before he died.

Upon its blade were inscribed these words.

[The throne shall carry on.]

Money Keeps Piling Up No Matter How Much I Spend

-The End-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note

Hello. I'm the author, LuckyGuy.

At long last, "Money Keeps Piling Up No Matter How Much I Spend" has reached its conclusion.

Without all of you readers who stayed with me until the end, I never could have made it this far.

I wasn't able to reply to every comment individually, but I read each and every one of your precious comments carefully. Whenever there was feedback that could improve the story, I took it to heart and incorporated it right away, and I think that's how I managed to get here safely.

When I first started writing this story, I thought it would be a miracle if I even made it past 100 chapters.

But thanks to all of you, I made it to chapter 225.

Now that it's actually ending, I feel a strange mix of relief and wistfulness.

Still, with the first paid release hitting an unbelievable milestone of 20,000 purchases and receiving so much passionate love from readers, I was overjoyed and at the same time felt a deep responsibility to write something worthy. I gave it everything I had.

With a heart full of gratitude, I'll keep studying and working hard to bring you stories and subjects you'll enjoy.

Lastly, I know many of you have been asking about side stories.

I won't be able to write too many, but I'm currently brainstorming ideas.

Nothing has been decided yet, but if I do serialize side stories, they'll most likely go up on Munpia first.

Thank you all once again, truly, and I'll be back soon with a new work.

Sincerely,

LuckyGuy

*****

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