Chapter 64:Money and Talent Pour In

 Chapter 64: The Tarot Card of Destiny (2)

He had made a memo of the phrases from the tarot card to ensure he wouldn't forget them.

He had to maintain his current position.

And he had to draw the card the exact moment the sun set.

Those were the two most critical factors.

Searching for the sunset time online, it was listed as 7:35 PM.

It was currently 5:41 PM.

With about two hours remaining, Ryuseong took a lap around the convenience store to buy a few more snacks.

"Enjoy your meal!"

"Thanks."

As he replied, he held out a drink.

"Part-time work is tough, isn't it? Have this while you work."

"Oh? Ah... Th-thank you...!"

The part-timer’s face flushed as they accepted the drink.

He was going to be here for a long time. He figured it would be more comfortable to "squat" in the store after earning a few brownie points.

Rummaging through his snacks, he returned to his seat.

"Two hours, huh..."

As expected, watching Nutube was the best way to kill time.

He started by scanning through economic information, but a recurring story caught his eye: the atmosphere between the US and China didn't look good at all.

**[US-China Trade War, Starting Again?]**

**[The Countdown to a Trade War!]**

He saw many similar headlines.

*Hmm.*

If a trade war really broke out, the stock market would certainly be shaken. It wouldn't change the intrinsic value of the companies themselves, so it wasn't something to worry too much about, but...

*Will it drop a lot?*

He shook his head to dispel the negative thoughts.

"Well, it's only about 300 million won."

Since he hadn't invested his entire 4 billion won, he had plenty of liquidity to endure. If prices fell sharply, it would actually be an opportunity to buy at the bottom, so that wouldn't be bad either.

"More importantly..."

He felt like he had been studying for ages, yet an hour still remained. Usually, the things he enjoyed were fun, but today, strangely, he couldn't concentrate. He forced his way through the time.

Perhaps finding it strange that he was staying in the convenience store for so long, he felt the part-timer’s gaze on him, but he pretended not to notice.

Another 30 minutes passed.

He still felt the occasional glance from the part-timer, but each time, he focused even harder on Nutube.

*This is a bit embarrassing.*

It was at that moment.

*Vrrr, vrrr.*

The long-awaited alarm finally went off.

"...It's time."

He had endured the long wait.

7:25 PM.

The sky boasted a beautiful crimson glow, influenced by the setting sun. He tidied his seat, stepped out of the convenience store, and looked up.

He saw the sun sinking between the buildings to the west. Half of its mass had already disappeared. He stood still, waiting for the sun to vanish completely.

The traces of the sun faded away.

Finally.

The moment it vanished entirely, he drew the card.

> **[You have selected an 'Unranked Item'.]**

> **[You have obtained the ‘Web Novel Master Box’ as a reward.]**

> **[This will not be updated in the Shop.]**

> 

Ryuseong froze for a moment.

*Wait...?*

It was a reward slightly different from what he had expected.

It wasn't an Information Right.

"..."

Of course, since it was an unranked item, it was bound to be extraordinary. It was a bit strange that it wouldn't be updated in the shop, but since the Tarot Card had also appeared as an unranked item, it wasn't time to give up hope yet.

*Alright, let's just open it.*

He opened the box in his hand.

> **[Opening the Web Novel Master Box.]**

> **[You have acquired the talent: ‘Writing Muscle’.]**

> **[This is a permanent talent and will not be updated in the Shop.]**

> **[It harmonizes with your existing talents. Your lacking talents become more perfect.]**

> **[A Special Linked Quest has appeared.]**

> 

He calmly read through the various descriptions.

A permanent talent.

That was definitely a good thing, but the text below it was unique. "Harmonizing with existing talents."

And a Special Linked Quest was a first for him, too.

"Interesting."

After finishing his initial impressions, he checked the specific details of the ability.

> **[Writing Muscle]**

> One of the most essential talents for a web novel writer. It allows you to produce the best results with maximum concentration within a set time. Using it for more than 3 hours a day may cause mental fatigue.

> 

> **[Special Linked Quest]**

> **1. Register a work on Moontopia.**

> **Reward:** Prerequisite Points

> 

It was a peculiar talent and a fascinating quest.

"Hmm."

But well, it looked like it would be fun.

That was enough for him.

Besides, reflecting on the tarot reading made it all the more convincing. The "Information Right" had just been his own assumption—"Pen and Paper" actually suited a novel much better.

> *"A firm decision creates pen and paper, and they will turn into bundles of cash fluttering down like rain. You are destined to sit on a throne, buried in infinite money."*

> 

If he followed this Special Linked Quest, money might truly pour down like rain.

He had read his fair share of web novels, so he had some confidence. Above all, wri

ting a novel was a romantic dream that almost everyone had harbored since childhood.

"I guess I'll know once I try it out."

He was quite looking forward to it.

As soon as he entered his room, he sat down in front of his laptop and tested his newly acquired talent, 'Writing Muscle.' Since this talent was permanent rather than a consumable, there was no reason to delay.

The moment he activated the talent, he shifted into a state of intense focus. Every thread of his thought began to converge on the concept of web novels.

Various web novels he had read in the past flashed by, and popular dramas based on web novel originals came to mind. Their pacing, unique characteristics, and diverse elements began to lock into place in a corner of his mind like pieces of a puzzle.

Yet, something was missing.

A desire to fill that void welled up within him.

*I need to check out some of the latest works.*

Naturally, he logged onto a web novel site.

**Moontopia.**

It was the very platform mentioned in his quest—a place overflowing with the "Professional" subgenre of Modern Fantasy, which Ryuseong found most intriguing.

He started by reading the top-ranking work.

It happened to be an "Actor" story.

Perhaps it was because the skill was active, but the content materialized in his mind as if it were being drawn. Scenes connected to scenes like a movie. However, the imagery wasn't perfectly vivid.

It was certainly a work worthy of the #1 spot.

And yet.

The shortcomings were also clearly felt.

The descriptions of the acting were good, and the plot of the film within the novel was solid, but the lack of reactions from the surrounding characters left the sense of anticipation feeling subtly thin. This manifested as a blurriness in the mental imagery.

"If I were the author..."

In Chapter 13, he would have described the audience watching the movie.

He would have conveyed the emotions they felt and the stunned silence at the end where no one could get up from their seats.

He would have had an audience member pull out a smartphone to post a review immediately upon leaving the theater, expressing the public's sentiment through overheard conversations.

Furthermore, if the author had shown even a few internet comments marveling at the protagonist's performance, the hollow anticipation felt in Chapter 13 would have been richly filled.

In an Actor story centered on the protagonist, providing even a shallow glimpse into the world's reaction would have created a deeper sense of immersion by making the setting feel alive.

"Mmm..."

Regardless, he couldn't easily put it down.

It was interesting enough.

Before he knew it, the skill had deactivated, but he was so absorbed in the unique charm of the web novel that he lost all track of time.

For several days, he lived and breathed web novels.

Now, it was time to write.

The components that make up a web novel lay scattered in a messy array in his mind. What exactly was the common thread among hit works? He decided to jot down whatever came to mind first.

**Interest. Anticipation.**

Hit works had a different atmosphere from the very beginning. One might call it a "steadily flowing anticipation." That current surged beneath the surface.

It was clearly a standard story.

It didn't deviate much from the countless things he'd already read, yet strangely, he found himself looking forward to the next part.

That peculiar feeling.

*Then where does that anticipation come from?*

**The Protagonist.**

Anticipation stems from the story's lead.

Specifically, the protagonist's future.

The future in which they grow.

The future they will build and achieve through that power. The glories they will eventually reach.

That is anticipation.

"Ah...!"

So that was why authors used Regression, Possession, or Reincarnation as a foundation. Regressing to the past meant knowing the future, and using that future information meant growth.

The moment regression occurs, a natural expectation of growth is established as the baseline.

If the setup involves a betrayal followed by regression, the protagonist will inevitably vow revenge. That becomes the character's identity and the element that makes readers look forward to how they will grow and how they will take their revenge.

Ryuseong's eyes gleamed as his thoughts raced.

*Story is important, too.*

The world-building, the flashing tropes, the setting, and the direction are all indispensable.

But the start, after all, was the Hook and the Character.

*What should I write?*

*What kind of character should I use to draw what kind of story?*

"...Something I like."

Movies, dramas, webtoons, and web novels—various types of content. The business that encompasses them all.

*Writing an Entertainment industry story mig

ht be good.*

And so, the trunk of the story was formed.

Before he knew it, the end of the month was just around the corner.

"Time really flies."

The regular donation was a quest that would clear itself automatically in a few days, so he decided to start serializing his web novel while he waited.

He accessed Moontopia.

He logged in.

He went into his library and created a new work. After writing the title and synopsis and uploading a default cover, he clicked the "Complete" button.

> **[You have successfully registered a work on Moontopia.]**

> **[You have earned 1 Prerequisite Point.]**

> **[Special Linked Quest updated.]**

> **[2. Upload at least 5 chapters.]**

> 

With that, the first Special Linked Quest was cleared. He earned 1 Prerequisite Point and moved on to the second quest.

"So that's how it works?"

His interest intensified. He was already curious to see what kind of quest would appear after he hit the 5-chapter mark.

*This is going to be fun, seriously.*

The serialization itself was exciting, but the quests added a layer of stimulation that he couldn't ignore.

*First, let's post.*

Since he had already pre-written some material, he uploaded Chapters 1, 2, and 3 simultaneously without hesitation. He didn't expect much of a reaction. It was "Free Serialization," after all. Until he at least got promoted to "Regular Serialization," expecting high view counts was unrealistic.

"Doesn't matter."

He decided not to care. This was his first time. Of course, that didn't mean he lacked confidence, but for now, he planned to focus on following the quests and gathering points.

And yet.

"*Ahem.*"

He found himself checking it more often than he cared to admit.

Even when he tried to study the stock market, the information wouldn't sink in. By the time he snapped out of it, he’d realize he was already back on Moontopia. He knew what he was doing but couldn't stop his hands. Only after checking the view count in his library did his curiosity finally settle.

*...Better just go work out.*

He headed to the gym to sweat it out and forget about it. There, he ran into the man who had left an impression on him—the one he’d received a business card from a while back.

"Hello."

"Whoa, it's been a while!"

They had a light conversation and worked out together. Having run into each other at the gym several times, they had reached a point where they traded tips on various exercises.

"Hnnngh...! Phew, it's still tough."

"You’ve improved a lot, though."

"Haha, thanks."

Thanks to the distraction, he managed to forget about Moontopia for a while.

But it was short-lived.

On his way back home after the workout, Ryuseong unconsciously tapped the Moontopia app.

"...This is an addiction."

There was an addictive quality there far stronger than cigarettes.

The view count for Chapter 1 was currently 11. He spent the rest of his day wondering when it would hit 12 an

d what kind of comments might appear.

If you want to read advance chapters, you can go to my Kofi page.👉Money and talent pour in