#15 Auction (3)
The day of reckoning had dawned.
The auction was exclusive, open only to select individuals. But I was the exception. I could simply lie to anyone blocking my path, claiming I had an entry pass.
The real challenge was finding suitable attire to conceal my mask. While wandering hotels or streets, I'd throw on a hoodie to hide my face somehow. But auction participants couldn't stroll in wearing such casual gear.
And with late summer heat, thick clothes were out of the question.
So, I opted to infiltrate as a laborer.
Not glamorous, but it would do.
To get inside, I chose the role of a chef.
Me, with my abysmal cooking skills, posing as a chef.
But it allowed a hood, and the high-necked chef uniform covered everything up to my neck. No choice.
Plus, the kitchen connected directly to the waitstaff area.
Of course, given the astronomical values traded at this auction, security on laborers was airtight.
When someone blocked my path, I tossed out a random name.
"Kim Moo-jae, hired to work here today."
"Didn't hear about any new hires."
"Guess they added extra staff last minute with all the guests coming."
Normally, that flimsy excuse would prompt a check elsewhere. But the man who'd heard my Lie talent was no exception to its power.
"Ah, yeah. Makes sense."
He waved me through without suspicion. Once inside, I bluffed my way further using the same trick.
Non-awakeners fell for my talent so easily. At least human-dependent security couldn't screen me out.
Artifacts might pose a problem—like with Ray—but I'd probably punch through those too.
Ray, who'd watched me bypass layers of security, muttered in my ear.
No matter how I look at it, that's one hell of a cheat skill.
I snorted.
Sure, nothing beat my talent for petty theft like this. Or cult leader scams, con artistry, door-to-door sales.
Why are all your examples shady as hell?
"That's what the academy jerks who teased me suggested as career goals."
Ugh.
Ray finally shut up.
Whatever. If it helped now, great.
I'd memorized the building's blueprints over days—hand-drawn by Han Seohyun, who skimped on sleep to revise them.
Such venues always underwent remodels post-construction, diverging from original plans.
Why? To thwart thieves like me.
It was always true, but with awakeners, these auctions were prime targets. They shuffled layouts constantly to keep intruders out—even sealing a breached wall yesterday.
Poor Han Seohyun woke up crying to update the map. I suffered memorizing it... nah, not really.
Vent two steps ahead.
I had a state-of-the-art ego artifact, after all.
I crouched as directed, slipping into the vent. Just 3 meters to the target.
Vents had traps for intruders midway. Crawl blindly, and you'd end up skewered.
I used it to bypass one wall, emerging in the waitstaff changing room.
Ditching the chef gear, I donned a prepped wig, turtleneck, then waiter uniform. Perfect disguise. For good measure, I adjusted my mask. Hmm, interchangeable faces on demand—Geum Doctor was a genius.
As I suited up, something tiny scurried onto my shoe: Han Seohyun's rat scout.
"Made it inside safely. Wait at the spot I mentioned until I say."
The rat formed an O with its body—like "got it"—then vanished. It'd watch from somewhere.
I exhaled and stepped out.
If anyone inside pierced the artifact or spotted me, the plan failed.
But the dim auction hall wouldn't reveal my mask easily.
I caught my breath.
Tension prickled my skin. Without clenching my fists, my fingers trembled.
Nice poker face.
'Gotta act the boss and leader part. Can't look weak to a seventeen-year-old kid.'
Truth was, I was scared shitless.
Flipping a venue packed with Korea's elite? Yeah.
Glancing at my watch, I swallowed hard.
Two hours until auction start.
Then, a new message from Han Seohyun.
I perked up.
"Weird device?"
Hearing about it, I grinned.
"Play this right, and we're golden."
This high-floor section of the auction house held a special viewing area for the elite among elites.
Entry required status: top guild execs or major power players in Korea. Seol Rokjin qualified via the latter, stepping through the parted crowd at the entrance.
Many recognized the congressman and approached.
"Good day, Congressman."
"Ah, Congressman Seol."
Flashing a practiced smile at the porky face before him, Seol Rokjin scanned the seats. His target hadn't arrived yet, so he mingled with the nobodies, eyes roaming.
Hunters and politicians were thick as thieves. Like old scandals tying pols to chaebols, now it was hunters and pols.
Today's trades topped billions. Where money flowed, flies swarmed.
Seol Rokjin humored them patiently. Waiting for the real star. And finally—the door opened, and his awaited woman entered.
Her outfit clashed wildly with the venue.
Tiny frame under 160cm, perpetually half-lidded eyes, slurred speech. Even the baggy, pilled hoodie screaming disdain for the crowd.
No one dared dismiss her.
Jin Yeonhwa.
The woman dubbed Sirius's second pillar.
Tailing her was her taller shadow: loyal guard Lee Hyewon.
"Vice Guild Master Jin Yeonhwa!"
"Hiii, everyone~"
In her chick-yellow hoodie, Jin Yeonhwa waved greetings everywhere upon entry.
The crowd surged like starved koi at feed.
Seol Rokjin hung back, observing. She was a key connection he'd value, but not amid that mob.
Opportunity struck soon.
Dispelling her suitors, Jin Yeonhwa spotted him and beamed.
"Congressmaa~n Seol Rokjiiin~"
He returned a flawless smile.
"Well met, as always."
"Not well at all! That news hit on us last time was too muuuch~"
Two months old, yet she brought it up.
"My apologies."
"Asking for strategy tips? That's crossing the liiine~"
"And it worked."
Seol Rokjin didn't yield an inch.
"Anyone with brains knows Sirius leaking walkthroughs is absurd."
True. Backlash was brief; no one seriously called out Sirius.
But Jin Yeonhwa grumbled on.
"You painted us as total villaaains publicly~"
"Didn't I say staying villains suits Sirius better?"
"For that big twist reveal?"
"Heroes can't sustain images. Do bad, occasional good—the seesaw tips slightly good, folks forgive. But one black speck on white paper? Ruined."
Jin Yeonhwa smirked.
"Yeeah, fair~"
"Sirius gets hate anyway. Too elite. If unavoidable, steer it your way."
Pre-Seol Rokjin, the world gnawed at Sirius nonstop. Envy, whatever—they wanted it crushed.
He corralled the biters, guiding teeth to harmless spots.
Jin Yeonhwa eyed him slyly.
No one matched his public sway.
"Got it, but this time the seesaw feels off-balance baaadly~"
Still, warn once for satisfaction.
Sipping champagne, Seol Rokjin replied.
"That orphanage with gate break rescue kids is hurting for funds."
"Ooh, pretty PR pic together?"
"Delighted."
Grinding fodder for nobodies irked, but mere seesaw play. Last tilt bad? Swing good now.
Once habituated, Sirius's deeds—good or ill—won't faze them.
'Sirius is like that. Does good sometimes too, right? Next~'
'But Red Dog Guild gets no next~'
She liked Seol Rokjin. Ally with him, and Red Dog plummets.
Not hating Kim Myeong-cheol enough for that, though.
"Vice Guild Master seems uninterested in this auction, coming up here."
A congressman tested waters.
"These? Total duds. Tasteless junk~"
Awkward laughs. Duds to Sirius execs were treasures to them.
One reason to ascend: this.
"Gate taxes..."
"...More gate development rights."
"Next gate in Cheongsung..."
"Bidding process..."
They climbed for backroom deals. Cleaner alibi than secret meets: "At the auction."
The auction merely veiled their filth.