Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 Player (1)
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An office filled with antique furniture and expensive furnishings.
The space, left empty without its owner, was steeped in silence.
But it wasn't long before the door burst open, and two men entered.
A burly man in his forties who looked like he easily topped 100 kilos, and a young man in his early thirties with an average build.
They were Choi Sung-woo, an executive in an organization that had been smuggling precious metals for the past three years, and his secretary, Ha Kwon-chan.
Of the two, the massive Choi Sung-woo headed toward the desk and spoke.
"How'd it go?"
"We disguised it as auto parts, as planned."
Ha Kwon-chan, standing opposite as Choi Sung-woo took his seat, replied in a calm voice.
"The inspection?"
"We should pass without any fuss. The customs officer guaranteed it."
Choi Sung-woo poured liquor from the bottle on the desk and gestured with his chin for him to continue.
"The goods are worth 1.5 billion on the market, and we can net close to 200 million in profit selling them in Japan."
"200 million... damn, this crap is such a hassle every time."
"But the profit margins are juicy, aren't they?"
"That's why we keep at it."
Choi Sung-woo downed his glass in one go and continued.
"Heh, keep eyes on it until it's disposed of. If we get caught, it's a headache."
"Got it."
Right after Ha Kwon-chan left the office, just as Choi Sung-woo reached to refill his empty glass.
"200 million profit on the smuggling?"
A stranger's voice came from what should have been an empty room.
Choi Sung-woo's body jolted, the liquor bottle still in his hand.
He whipped around, his eyes widening in shock.
"The amounts you're moving are bigger than I thought."
A man stood behind the chair.
He wore a baseball cap pulled low and a mask.
A plain white tee, cargo pants, and combat boots.
His height pushed late 180s, with broad shoulders and solid muscles visible even through his clothes, exuding an inexplicable pressure.
"You, you bastard, what the...!"
As the startled Choi Sung-woo shot up from his seat.
"No need to be so surprised. I'm here with good intentions."
The man clamped his hand over Choi Sung-woo's mouth and said.
'What kind of strength is this!'
He struggled, but the grip was too strong to break free.
"Pleasure to meet you, President Choi. It's inconvenient to give my name, so let's leave greetings at that."
The man then began pressing down on Choi Sung-woo's shoulders.
"Urk..."
He tried to resist, but the downward force was immense.
In the end, Choi Sung-woo groaned and sank back into the chair.
As his shoulders were freed, the man's hand slipped inside his shirt.
Before he could react, Choi Sung-woo shuddered, and the man successfully pulled a small knife from the inner pocket.
"I just want to handle business quietly and go. Can we talk? Or..."
With a snap, the blade flicked out from the handle, and Choi Sung-woo's eyes trembled.
"Should I use force?"
The mysterious man had neatly folded the blade in half.
As the hand over his mouth released, Choi Sung-woo swallowed dryly and answered.
"L-Let's talk it out."
"I think that's best too."
The man's eyes crinkled softly above his mask.
* * *
About three weeks since the Main Server activated.
New players had flooded the community five days ago.
In the meantime, I'd cleared four more Level 2 missions.
Out of five missions total, two featured bipedal fox monsters.
In those cases, around ten of them.
Other monsters came in groups of thirty or forty.
The ones I'd faced: cows with 30cm horns on their heads.
Spiders with twelve legs that spat steel-wire webs.
Bird-beasts with two heads.
After running a few missions, I'd built up enough mana to shop.
[Invisibility (7.19%)]
• Type: Permanent Skill
• Description: Use mana to conceal your form.
Thinking of the price made my neck stiff.
'1090 mana.'
Too pricey for a free coupon, so I paid full.
'Save the coupon for after 3500 at least.'
Considering it's five times your mana, that's the minimum to eye those skills I've been after.
Buying Invisibility at full price to save the coupon left my mana wallet thin.
But the effect was decent, so I shook off the regret quickly.
Unlike Mana Detection, no levels—just proficiency.
It guzzles more mana than other skills, but it's solid.
My physical form vanishes completely.
Traces like scent, breathing, footprints remain, but careful play handles that.
Humans rely on sight more than they think.
Bought it for emergency escapes—just in case—and I'm pleased.
This skill makes hiding my identity in reality easier.
I tailed Choi Sung-woo and Ha Kwon-chan into the office invisibly.
I waited in a CCTV blind spot until Ha Kwon-chan left, then dropped Invisibility moments ago.
'First strike landed.'
Now for the real deal.
I looked down at the visibly tense Choi Sung-woo, reviewing my intel from days of surveillance.
Name: Choi Sung-woo, 47 this year, exec in a sizable smuggling ring.
Tailed jewelry dealers day and night for eight straight days to snag this guy.
"I'll say it upfront: no plans to report you. I'm here to be a customer."
I patted his shoulders as he swallowed dryly in his seat and set down the bag from my back.
"No questions on provenance. Can you dispose of these?"
Hesitant but opening the bag, Choi Sung-woo's eyes went wide.
"M-May I inspect them...?"
"Of course."
His eyes changed as he pulled out the spoils.
One earring, necklace, rings, and other jewelry, six gold coins, one 1kg gold bar in ingot form.
The bar was deformed but weighed true.
After examining the contents briefly, Choi Sung-woo gave an awkward smile.
"May I get the appraisal gear...? It's in the desk drawer."
I nodded readily.
But kept eyes on his hands.
Doesn't make sense not to watch someone unhappy about your visit.
'Who knows what he'll pull.'
Luckily, he just fetched gear from the bottom drawer.
He inspected jewelry with a loupe, scratched the bar and coins on a stone, dripped solution.
As he worked, his trembling eased.
'Not just a thug.'
He seemed knowledgeable about precious metals.
I waited leisurely, observing him.
Minutes later, he set down the loupe.
"All pure gold."
"What's it worth disposed?"
"If sold at market with gems... one big bill, five or six small ones."
I paused, then asked.
"150 million?"
Eight diamonds and a 1kg bar—I aimed high, figuring millions.
"Yes."
Choi Sung-woo nodded like it was obvious.
'Billions?!'
I nearly yelped, clenching my fists and grinding my teeth.
Never had that much cash since Mom and Dad passed.
A thrill surged from deep inside.
Composing myself stretched the silence.
Misreading it, Choi Sung-woo sweated bullets.
"Th-the gold is pure, but the shapes... can't circulate like this, needs melting. Factoring that, 60-70 million tops."
He upped it himself—perfect.
I tamped down my rising grin and replied flatly.
"Then 170 million. Oh, forgot to ask: interested in buying?"
"Naturally. Dispose now? How for payment?"
Like I'd take a wire transfer.
"Cash, please."
"I'll need a few days..."
Before he finished, I shook my head and chin-pointed left.
Beside his desk: the safe.
Two days ago, scouting, I saw him open it.
Packed with 50,000-won bundles.
'Easily billions.'
He should thank me for not grabbing it and running.
Dealing with smugglers while staying clean might seem laughable.
But earning through effort versus theft? Different.
Not about others' eyes—about facing my siblings proudly.
So I left the safe alone, despite temptation.
But Choi Sung-woo wasn't budging.
I could hear his brain churning.
Not waiting around.
"Let's make this quick—we'll see each other again."
As I finished, I gripped his shoulder crushing hard.
Crack—his shoulder bone cracked.
"Keuk!"
"Uh..."
First time using strength on a person since becoming a Player—couldn't control it.
Not intended, but... it got him moving faster. Fine.
Soon, stacks of 50,000-won bills piled before me.
'Gonna take the kids department store shopping.'
Eyes on the windfall, I planned lavish spending.
Bought laptops for new semester, skimped elsewhere.
'Martial arts dojo drained a chunk.'
That age, they need new shoes, bags, clothes—everything.
Weekend trip, pronto.
Humming, I packed the cash into the spoils bag neatly.
Grabbing the last bundle—
Ding. System alert.
Reflexively eyed the minimized window.
「Progress 100%」
Two patches running: one started during my Level 2 mission.
The other after first Players' tutorials ended.
The former just finished.
Latter at 99.9%—should wrap today.
Checked bottom progress bar, opened messages.
「Patch completed.」
「Item management program activated.」
「Real item info viewable.」
Unexpected words.
'Items?'
Patch from mission zone is item-related?
Paused mid-pack, I lunged.
"Hold up!"
Grabbed Choi Sung-woo's wrist as he snatched spoils.
"Hik!"
He yanked back in panic.
"Wait—recheck the goods."
Tightened grip instead, pulled items back.
Picked nearest, hoping—a semitransparent window popped, unlike before.
[Expensive Necklace]
Necklace crafted from pure gold and diamonds.
Can fetch a high price if sold.
'These are items too?'
Not shop-bought, looted from mission.
Snapped out, checked others.
[Exquisite Gold Coin]
Gold coin made by intricate methods.
Likely used as currency somewhere.
[Single Earring]
Expensive jewelry from a craftsman.
Finely cut emerald will trade high.
Necklace, coin, earring—then the ring.
[Mysterious Ring]
Sapphire infused with someone's mana.
Seems to hide special functions—keep it.
Totally unexpected text.
What the hell.
Damn system