Chapter 82
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Incheon, Demon World, Black Market - 3
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The world today was an ecosystem where the 'underground economy' was destined to flourish. There were many reasons, but at its core, it was because the power of Players—that is, the guilds—had grown beyond the government's control.
It was also because Players could easily use their skills to evade the long arm of the law.
In other words, it was a world where Players could run rampant, ignoring the rule of law.
‘Korea is relatively well-controlled, but the situation abroad is dire.’
For instance, in regions with weak security like Latin America or Southeast Asia, the underground economy was dozens of times larger than the legitimate one, with the 'black market' as its cornerstone.
Moreover, black markets across the globe communicated with one another, forming a transnational information network. The black market here in Incheon was a key pillar in that vast 'underworld'.
‘That's why, to protect this country, I need to expand my influence over the black market.’
Otherwise, Villains would one day use these clandestine channels to threaten South Korea. Lee Hyun-wook intended to seize control of this place as well, leaving them no opening to exploit.
Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-wook walked through the desert, occasionally scanning his surroundings.
"Hmm, this place wasn't originally a desert, was it?”
Withered, twisted trees dotted the landscape, catching Lee Hyun-wook's eye.
At his question, Go Jin-hwa nodded.
"That's right. It was once a fairly fertile grassland. We were self-sufficient, farming a vast expanse of land two and a half times the size of Yeouido. That was before the black vines started growing in the swamp north of the dungeon, yes..."
The plant colony monster known as 'Swallow', or the black vine, was a creature that sucked up all moisture in the vicinity—a catastrophe that could turn several square kilometers into a desert upon its appearance.
At first, it simply absorbed water from nearby sources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater. But after it had drained everything, it would begin to feed on the sap of trees, and eventually, it would start targeting the bodily fluids of living creatures.
In essence, the land was destined to become uninhabitable as these man-eating vines overran everything.
Lee Hyun-wook remembered one global crisis caused by this horrific monster.
‘In four years, a similar Swallow will spread through the Amazon, triggering a global state of emergency.’
Swallow would take root in the Amazon. With the lungs of the Earth on the verge of withering away, the world would unite to find a solution to the unprecedented disaster.
The world’s best Analyst Players and Alchemist Players gathered, conducting extensive research.
As a result, they succeeded in developing an 'Object' that could inhibit Swallow's growth.
And Lee Hyun-wook knew exactly how to make it.
"But I have one question... How do you know all this?”
"Pardon?"
"About the crisis we're facing. We've never told anyone on the outside."
Go Jin-hwa asked with a hint of suspicion, and Lee Hyun-wook gave a pre-planned answer.
"Hmm, didn't you consult 'Black Hertz' about this a few years ago?"
Black Hertz was a secret channel where high-level information was exchanged among black market VIPs.
"Ah, we did, but... No, surely... How on earth did that information leak?”
Lee Hyun-wook didn't answer, merely shrugging his shoulders.
"N-No way. Black Hertz has ironclad security. W-Who in the world are you?"
She seemed to think he was someone capable of bypassing even Black Hertz's security.
In truth, he had heard all of this directly from Go Jin-hwa herself, who had become his colleague in his past life.
"I will explain the details after we meet the Gatekeeper."
At his words, Go Jin-hwa frowned but nodded.
Her mind was growing increasingly tangled.
'This man appeared out of nowhere and speaks as if he sees through everything. He's clearly a big shot.'
The mask covering his face made it impossible to guess his identity. But seeing as he was aware of their most hidden secrets, she knew he was no ordinary person.
The more she realized this, the more tense she became.
This man claimed to have a way to save Red Hole Village, but...
‘If, by some chance, the opposite is true... this is very dangerous.’
Hoping that wasn't the case, Go Jin-hwa led the man to the village.
"Ah, we've just arrived. Look, that's our village over there.”
They had finally reached their destination. It was a basin of dark red earth in the center of the dungeon.
And in the middle of it, a sizable village had formed.
“A village inside a dungeon... It's bigger than I thought. It's called Red Hole Village, right?”
Lee Hyun-wook had seen it once before, but he feigned admiration as if it were his first time.
Beside him, Park Jun-mo muttered, "Wow, a village in a dungeon..."
"Yes, we call it Red Hole because the red basin looks like a giant red hole."
The Red Hole organization, the cornerstone of the Incheon black market, was in fact this very village.
As Lee Hyun-wook and Park Jun-mo appeared, the villagers began to emerge onto the streets one by one.
"—Huh?"
"Holy crap... What are they!”
Their reaction was hostile, going beyond mere wariness.
‘I understand. Given this village's history, it's only natural.’
They had been cast out from the outside world, forced to live a wretched life in these shadows...
"Hey, Chief Go! Who are those people? Can you just bring them here like that?”
They even began to question Go Jin-hwa.
"Ah... There's a reason for this, so don't worry and go back inside."
Go Jin-hwa reassured them and then guided Lee Hyun-wook and Park Jun-mo to the Gatekeeper's residence.
It was a surprisingly humble place, a small house no different from the others in the village. It was a humble, single-story house with a roof of wooden shingles held down by straw ropes.
"I need to speak with my father—I mean, the village chief. Please wait here for a moment.”
Go Jin-hwa said before entering the house.
"Hmm... His place is a bit small for the boss of an underground organization.”
That was Park Jun-mo's assessment.
‘It makes sense. The master of this place is more of a village chief than a boss, anyway.’
But that didn't change the fact that he was a formidable figure who ruled the underworld.
A moment later, Go Jin-hwa came out and beckoned for Lee Hyun-wook to enter.
As soon as Lee Hyun-wook stepped inside, his eyes met with a white-haired old man standing in a corner of the living room.
“...So, you're the traveler who claims to know the cure for our secret affliction?”
As he spoke, he placed a kettle on a mana burner and ignited it by infusing it with mana.
The dark interior brightened, revealing the old man's face in greater detail.
This white-haired old man was Go Jun-cheol, the boss of Red Hole, one of the three major powers of the underworld.
He was also a 'Red Player' with a one-billion-won bounty on his head for various crimes.
But contrary to his infamy, his actual appearance was... just a pot-bellied old man.
‘Still, he was once the 6th ranked Player in South Korea.’
He was one of the first-generation Players and had once led a major guild in South Korea.
However, for political reasons, he was persecuted by the establishment and eventually forced into the shadows.
That was a full eleven years ago.
‘The reason... is that he's a Necromancer.’
The persecution of necromancy began twelve years ago...
Today, necromancy skills are classified as evil, and their 'acquisition' is legally forbidden.
‘But such systems are artificial, and it wasn't always like that.’
After it was revealed that necromancy skills, taken to the extreme, involved borrowing power from 'demons' or 'evil gods', a massive movement to regulate necromancy arose, led by the Paladins, and the expulsion of necromancers began.
‘But not all Necromancers are consumed by evil.’
There were those like this man, Go Jun-cheol, who, despite being a Necromancer, did not misuse the evil aspects of his power.
But the world—especially Go Jun-cheol's enemies—relentlessly clung to that point. Given the social climate at the time, he, along with other Necromancers and their families, had no choice but to hide in a place like this.
‘The world had just turned into a game, and in the chaos, a witch hunt was carried out.’
Red Hole Village was a place where those with such a sorrowful history had gathered.
"Hmm... But you two, are you not going to show your faces?”
He had a point. Lee Hyun-wook and Park Jun-mo were still wearing their masks.
"Ah, my apologies.”
Lee Hyun-wook said as he lowered his mask.
At that moment, the eyes of both Go Jun-cheol and Go Jin-hwa widened simultaneously.
"Well, look who it is..."
"Huh? W-What! You're... you're that guy, right?”
Go Jun-cheol grinned and extended his hand for a handshake.
"Lee Hyun-wook, the Savior of Seoul and the Sword Saint Beater, isn't it?”
He was well-versed in outside information, mentioning both of Lee Hyun-wook's nicknames.
"Yes, I've been called by various names like that lately."
"Haha—To think the most talked-about young man of our time would visit this humble shack."
Fame certainly had its advantages in moments like these.
It not only skipped the need for introductions but also secured a certain level of trust.
*Wheee—*
Just then, the kettle began to whistle. He poured the tea and offered it to them.
"So, for the hero of the outside world to grace us with his presence, you must have important business?”
"Pardon?"
"Even if you truly can eliminate the black vines, I doubt you came to this dangerous place out of pure goodwill, like some hero from a fairy tale. Am I wrong?”
"Ah, of course I came expecting fair compensation. I'm no philanthropist."
Lee Hyun-wook's primary goal was to find 'personnel' to operate Laputa.
But he intended to gain much more than that.
"Right, payment is a given. But... is there really a way to get rid of them? We've tried almost everything, and nothing has worked..."
His eyes shone. Despite the stranger's sudden proposal, there was more hope than doubt in his gaze.
‘It shows just how cornered Red Hole Village is right now.’
As a major pillar of the black market, the people of this village likely had coffers overflowing with dirty money.
But since most of them were wanted criminals, leaving this place to live elsewhere was difficult in many ways.
In other words, they would want to protect their home at any cost.
"Yes, I have reliable information. You can trust me.”
Lee Hyun-wook nodded confidently.
"But I want to ask a few things..."
At that, Go Jun-cheol's eyes sharpened.
"So, what is this method to remove the black vines, and where on earth did you learn of it?”
He was still going to verify things before committing to anything.
"There is a precedent for dealing with the black vine, Swallow."
Lee Hyun-wook deliberately mentioned 'Swallow' to add credibility.
To get what he wanted, he had to win over this old veteran with just a few exchanges.
"Oh, is that so? I wonder why I couldn't find it, despite searching through all the information in the world.”
“...That is a state secret, so I'm afraid I can't say.”
State secret. This, too, was a deliberate choice of words.
And at that, Go Jun-cheol's eyebrow twitched.
"A secret, you say... a state secret... Does that mean you have access to government information?”
As a Red Player living in the shadows, Go Jun-cheol reacted sensitively to the word 'government'.
"Yes, I belong to a confidential government department. But there's no need to be alarmed.”
A confidential department... At those words, Go Jun-cheol stared intently into Lee Hyun-wook's eyes.
"......."
After about ten seconds, he slowly nodded.
"Fine... I don't care what it is, as long as you can 'save' us..."
He took a sip of his tea.
"So, what is the price you desire?”
One of the prices was people. F-rank Players to manage Laputa. However, since the man currently believed him to be an F-rank, he wouldn't consider such personnel particularly valuable, so Lee Hyun-wook decided to omit that for now.
Instead, he brought up a more sensitive issue first.
"What I want... is related to the Taesan Guild.”
"Hmm, Taesan, you say..."
This village, Red Hole, would one day become a pawn of the Taesan Guild.
‘But not yet.’
Fortunately, for now, they were merely 'partners' in shady business.
But after Go Jun-cheol's death, they were destined to fall swiftly into Taesan's grasp.
“...I heard the government is determined to shake up the Taesan Guild. This must be part of that effort, then?”
"Yes, and I am the one leading it.”
"You're a much bigger deal than I thought. At first, I wondered if you were just a clown Woo Seong-mun was propping up..."
Thus, in just a few exchanges, Lee Hyun-wook successfully inflated his own presence.
The reason was to make a very weighty demand.
"Then let me be more direct. I need information that will completely destroy Taesan.”
“...What?”
Ki Baek-jun and the Taesan Guild had expanded their power through all sorts of illegal means.
‘...Those bastards operated mana extraction facilities, cultivated hallucinogenic herbs, and even engaged in Player trafficking.’
As their partners, Red Hole would surely hold crucial information.
Some kind of 'evidence' that could once again shake the barely-standing Taesan Guild to its core.
"As you know, the Taesan Guild will soon be purged from the legitimate world.”
"Right, with Director Woo Seong-mun relentlessly pursuing them, it'll be hard for them to escape..."
"Yes, that's right. And perhaps... Red Hole might suffer some collateral damage, don't you think?”
In other words, if you're not careful, you'll go down too... It was a subtle threat.
Go Jun-cheol seemed to sense it too, as he frowned.
Just then, Lee Hyun-wook delivered the decisive line.
"I am telling you now, sir, to side with us.”
"What? When you say 'us,' you don't mean... the government?”
"Yes, to some extent. If you do, this village will be safe.”
“Hah—Are you saying the government will take us in? Does that even make sense?”
Go Jun-cheol, along with a significant number of Red Hole's residents, were Red Players—wanted Players. So being asked to cooperate with the government... It was a difficult proposition to trust.
"Sir, there will be no problem. I guarantee it.”
At those words, Go Jun-cheol showed a look of open cynicism.
"What? Hahaha... Who in the world do you think you are to make such a bold proposal?”
"......."
"Look here, young man... I only started hearing your name a few days ago, and now you're boasting in front of me as if you're on that level? Hahaha... Unbelievable..."
"......."
"Yes, when a hot-blooded youth achieves something, they get drunk on their own success and think they're all that. But trying to pull rank on an old man like me just makes your accomplishments seem trivial, you know?”
Yes, it was a reasonable assumption.
But Lee Hyun-wook's expression remained calm and composed.
Although Go Jun-cheol wore a mocking smile, he was carefully observing Lee Hyun-wook's reaction.
‘Oh, look at this. He's got something up his sleeve.’
Lee Hyun-wook leaned back against the sofa, a posture of pure ease.
"Sir, you just called me by two nicknames: the Savior of Seoul, and the Sword Saint Beater.”
"Right. I don't know if it's true, but that's what the world calls you.”
"Those are all true. And in the future... a few more nicknames are scheduled to be added.”
“...Hmm? What are you trying to say?”
Lee Hyun-wook took something out of his pocket.
It was some kind of black sphere...
*Vweee—*
It opened, transforming into a single crow.
"Th-That's Hugin—!”
Go Jun-cheol recognized the item. It was a legendary-grade item owned by the South Korean government.
But it was an item no one could operate, one with a crippling handicap.
Go Jun-cheol couldn't understand why this man possessed such a remarkable thing.
"It's a bit awkward to say this myself, but I am currently considered a core asset of the government. This is the proof."
“...You couldn't have stolen it, so yes, I suppose that's true.”
"So, my list of nicknames will soon include things like 'Operator of Hugin'."
Lee Hyun-wook then pointed his left index finger to the sky.
"And one more. Manager of Laputa..."
At that, Go Jun-cheol's eyes blinked rapidly.
"What? D-Don't tell me..."
"Yes, Manager of Laputa. That's what I will be called.”
Laputa. That name carried a different weight.
Lee Hyun-wook nodded and lifted his teacup.
That wasn't all.
"And finally, I will be called the 32nd S-rank Player.”
And at that point, Go Jun-cheol's jaw dropped unconsciously.
Doubt flickered across his face at first, but soon he had no choice but to nod.
Because once the piece called 'S-rank' was added, he realized that all the rumors about this man, Lee Hyun-wook... all the circumstances that didn't quite add up, suddenly fit together perfectly.
"Of course, there's no way an F-rank Player could have accomplished such incredible feats... You've been deceiving the world, haven't you?"
Go Jun-cheol's expression had changed completely.
S-rank. It carried a different dimension of aura.
Lee Hyun-wook slowly let a smile grace his lips.
"In that case, let me propose something a little different.”
"Hmm?"
“...I'm not asking you to side with the government. I'm asking you to side with me.”
When negotiating to get what you want, sometimes you need to make a show of force.
"......."
Looking at Lee Hyun-wook, Go Jun-cheol began to feel a new impression forming in just a few seconds.
‘If what he says is true... then the future power of this nation is standing right before my eyes.’