Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Goldian's True Master
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A few days after the auction house incident.
- The Three-Eyed Convention terror incident—was it targeting the Goldian auction? Who’s behind it…?
- Attempted theft of a legendary item; the black domain, a precursor to the Black Gate or…?
Everyone was talking about the event where the heart of Seoul had been engulfed in darkness.
Those who had even slightly stepped foot inside were said to be unable to recover from the fear, and even without their testimonies—
- Black Gate: Approach with caution.
Concerns and worries about this first gate incursion since the emergence of gates and players were dominating public opinion.
- Goldian issues statement.
And right on cue, Goldian made its move.
- As you might have expected, the terror at the convention was indeed an attempt to steal a legendary item. What followed after…
Richard attended the press conference not with his usual lighthearted demeanor from before, but with a polite posture, as if consoling those who had been injured that day.
- The legendary item is presumed to be what we call an "Evil Object."
- What’s an Evil Object? Could you explain what that means?
- The Black Gate—as is well known—is the discovery of a new type of monster called demons. And demons themselves manifesting as objects. That’s all I can say for now.
- That’s hard to understand. Do you know more about Black Gates or demons?
- I can say just one thing.
Even though no discussions had taken place with Goldian yet.
“Is the head of a place like Goldian something like that?”
It was as if they had precisely grasped what Go Yohan wanted.
- Do not recklessly pursue Evil Objects. They are not tools for your growth but the hands of evil that lead to ruin.
It was a clear warning.
At the warning from no one less than Goldian, the excitement buzzing around the new gate began to subside bit by bit.
- Here is the image of the person who participated in the terror and grasped an Evil Object.
A body so brutally mangled it seemed to require mosaicking.
It was truly the appearance of a body that had been corrupted by the Evil Object itself.
- I warn you sternly. All players must clearly recognize this incident.
Perhaps thanks to that.
- Word that Go Yohan appeared at the Goldian auction house.
- Sanctity had already declared non-participation in the Goldian auction…
Talk about Go Yohan was mentioned very simply, nothing more.
Late at night on the day of the press conference.
Richard and Samuel visited Yohan Church discreetly.
“Did the press conference meet your satisfaction?”
A confident voice and attitude.
But the one who spoke those words was not Goldian’s chairman Richard, but his personal bodyguard Samuel.
“It was satisfactory.”
“May I call you Yohan?”
Since Richard had been granted permission, Samuel asked again.
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
And then.
“Master.”
Richard stepped back with an extremely cautious expression, replacing his usual arrogant face, and spoke.
“Please converse at ease.”
In that moment, one of the world’s unknown secrets, its truth, was revealed.
Goldian’s chairman, Richard, was merely a figurehead.
The true chairman of Goldian was.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. Yohan, I am Samuel Golden, the true owner of Goldian.”
Samuel.
*
*
*
Samuel walked through the church, taking in its appearance.
Nothing was overtly revealed, but.
“Indeed… impressive. Even Goldian’s headquarters doesn’t compare.”
As a top-tier ranker, he seemed to sense something.
Though that was merely a fragment.
“I’m not sure where to begin, but first, allow me to ask. Yohan, what is Temple’s relation to Sanctity?”
“There is none.”
“I see.”
Samuel nodded.
“So Sanctity is just like Richard to me.”
In that instant, a subtle change crossed Go Yohan’s face.
“Please don’t misunderstand. Though Richard calls me Master, in truth, we’re partners. Inseparable.”
Samuel explained.
“I believe you understand. Yohan, now that you’ve revealed yourself.”
Samuel stopped and spoke.
“It began with the movements of vast capital. Very secretive and dangerous movements.”
It was around three years ago.
“And we learned that a portion of Goldian’s shares had fallen into the hands of an Eastern girl.”
That was when Samuel first saw her.
“The deeper we secretly dug, the more astonishing it became.”
Wealth-wise, Goldian was among the world’s elite.
“Twenty percent of the American player world in someone’s grasp, and that hand also clutching parts of Europe.”
“…….”
“And the starting point.”
Greed had said.
“Being this small nation of Korea.”
Samuel was one of the very few who had glimpsed Greed’s true nature through his own efforts.
“And moreover.”
Tremble.
Samuel shuddered.
“I was thrilled.”
It was a shiver indistinguishable from fear or ecstasy.
“For it felt like beholding a colossal monster lurking in the shadows of the world.”
Pause.
“From a past of manipulating global capital, to now wielding global martial might itself. A massive force incomparable to Goldian…”
Go Yohan looked at Samuel.
“Temple.”
Something.
“When did Temple even come into existence as a group? Is the starting point really Korea? It doesn’t make sense.”
There seemed to be a misunderstanding.
“At least centuries old. Or is its predecessor the Illuminati? Freemasons? Or the Bilderberg Club…? Or something hidden in Asia?”
Go Yohan had no chance to respond.
“We took note of Temple’s movements. They weren’t just hoarding power and money; it seemed they had some grand purpose.”
Samuel spoke as if intoxicated.
“The will of God?”
Once more, Go Yohan paused.
“You all…”
“Wait.”
“Yohan, what is your position in Temple? What you showed that day is an achievement no player in the world could accomplish.”
Samuel stepped toward Go Yohan.
“Are even you just a part of Temple? Or…”
It was then.
Flinch.
Samuel, sensing something, froze in place.
“I won’t forgive any disrespect toward the Captain.”
Lee Ha-yeon emerged from a corner of the church and said.
“…Captain. I see.”
Samuel nodded deeply.
“I want to become part of it too.”
The talent that had built Samuel’s vast fortune.
“If you wish, I’ll offer Goldian to Temple.”
It was what his instincts told him.
“Investment… I’ll invest everything I have.”
That Temple’s immense power would become an unstoppable current.
“Captain, leave this to me.”
Greed, who had approached unnoticed, said so.
*
*
*
Goldian departed.
“There are quite a few like Goldian out there.”
Lee Ha-yeon said wearily.
Samuel had been visiting the church persistently for days.
She had shouldered all such matters.
And on the day of departure.
Shudder.
He trembled like an old man struck by the wind, bowing deeply toward Go Yohan.
If Go Yohan wished, he looked ready to kiss even his feet.
“What did you tell him?”
Go Yohan said, gazing at Vermouth’s nail floating in the air.
“Just the necessary parts. As you saw, he’s quite useful.”
Useful.
“Three-tenths of the world’s item market flows through Goldian. It’s obvious he’ll be a huge help in locating and managing Evil Objects.”
Of course, she said they hadn’t fully brought Goldian under their wing.
There would be screening and control over him, apparently?
Whatever the case.
“You’ve worked hard.”
It seemed he had to acknowledge that the efforts of Lee Ha-yeon and the other Apostles exceeded expectations.
Whoosh.
At Go Yohan’s praise, a smile bloomed on Lee Ha-yeon’s face like a flower.
Anyone who knew her would be shocked by the sight.
“If it helps the Captain…”
“I mean it.”
Go Yohan grasped Vermouth’s nail in his hand.
Vrrr!
It trembled violently as if rejecting him, but eventually submitted and quieted.
“I don’t have talents like yours. Not in the past, nor now.”
“…Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth. All I can do is.”
It was then.
Crack!
A fracture began to spread across Vermouth’s nail.
“Break and sever things.”
When Evil Objects first appeared in the world in the past.
- It’s mine.
- How can a holy knight covet another’s possession?
Michael hadn’t known what to do.
By the time he hesitated, the Evil Object had already spread into the world.
“I won’t stop you.”
The Apostles had already proven their skills and abilities.
“Do as you wish. If you need a sword, I’ll be your sword.”
They would know best what they themselves desired.
At that moment.
Crack!
Vermouth’s nail shattered completely, scattering fragments across the floor.
This was merely a portion of what could be called the authentic Vermouth’s nail.
‘Among the recovered items, none qualified as true Evil Objects.’
However, among those not recovered.
‘There is the real Vermouth’s nail.’
Its emergence would bring another wave of chaos.
Fortunately, with this fragment here.
“Prepare defenses. So you can protect this place even when I’m gone.”
The authentic one would pursue this fragment here.
“…When you’re gone?”
For the first time, Lee Ha-yeon wore the face of a girl her age.
As if anxious at words like a parent departing on a long journey.
“The demons’ invasion is only the beginning.”
And.
Whoosh!
His shining divine eyes.
“The next one will come soon.”
He could sense traces of a Black Gate incomparable to any before.