Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Black Market
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I was about to slip out of the rooftop room just like that, but I quickly doubled back and bound the five collapsed loan sharks with the sturdiest rope from the construction gear I kept at home.
Slapping that sleazy old classmate's cheek one more time was just icing on the cake.
"Phew... This should buy me about half a day."
No matter how precisely I'd targeted their pressure points under the blessing of Fortune, stunning them with my strikes, these guys would come to in just a few hours.
I hadn't even unlocked my Strength stat yet, and with my ordinary power, there was no way I could keep them out for long.
But tying them up like this would delay the moment they scrambled to report back to the boss once they woke up.
"So, what now?"
The real problem started from here. Well, the money I'd borrowed before? I'd already paid back several times the principal, so I didn't owe them another cent.
Still, I couldn't cleanly cut ties with the boss or these loan shark thugs just yet.
I didn't have the skill or the pull for that.
They were a trash organization steeped in illegal dealings and crime, but their power and influence were immense.
At the very least, within this city, their vast wealth and the network cartel built from it wielded near-absolute authority.
From the small guilds rooted here to certain corporations, all the way to the politicians scraping by in this place—they had their tentacles everywhere.
'That's why they dared to mess with a B-rank hunter's family. They figured their backing was rock-solid.'
In the end, they crumbled before an overwhelming force that even their power couldn't touch, leading to their downfall.
The boss himself was an [E-] rank Player, and even retired, with time passed, he could've grown stronger without issue—a real powerhouse.
In short, with my current abilities, I couldn't even take down the boss alone.
"Guess I have no choice but to run for now."
In my previous life, I'd slaved under them for five years until the organization collapsed, only then able to move to another region.
But now... for my and my sister's safety, we had to relocate.
Since they'd tracked down her hospital, staying here would keep us on edge constantly.
'But where to?'
My sister's illness was an unknown incurable disease without even a name, let alone a cause. So, it had to be somewhere with at least D-rank healers and life-support equipment in the hospital.
After deep thought, one place came to mind.
The capital, Seoul.
Both before and after my regression, Seoul was a place I hated to even spit toward—a land of love and hate.
It was where the people who stole my parents from me lived, the ones who shipped off kids as young as five and four to a rundown orphanage in the boonies for their own greed.
In the end, her condition worsened, forcing us into a major Seoul hospital where I lived on the brink of her death. But it wasn't a good place for me.
'Things are different now.'
As a kid, I didn't know better and had to take it lying down. I had no means to fight back then.
I could only watch wide-eyed as my parents—hailed as Korea's heroes—were used like dogs, discarded in the most pathetic, humiliating way, their fortune seized on absurd pretenses.
That week was my clearest childhood memory, perfectly illustrating the end of a loyal hunting dog.
In their schemes, my heroic parents became traitors who threw their team into the fire—utter scum—and their massive wealth was confiscated under the flimsy excuse of "lion condolence funds."
In reality, all that fortune probably lined the pockets of those who abandoned them.
'Before regression, I had no power or influence, so I gave up on revenge.'
But now it's different. I have a path to power, and infinite riches that can grant me influence.
Compared to the infinite riches in the Golden Treasury, these were mere specks of dust, but to me right now, they were worth their weight in gold.
'With this money, I can cover sister's hospital bills and snag a nice apartment.'
Hell, I could blow it wildly for months living it up and still have plenty left.
Purple Coins currently held a value of about 1,000 won each.
Common [F-] Rank Magic Stones varied by purity but went for 5,000 to 7,000 won apiece.
And 100% pure 'Pure' Gold Ingots? I didn't know details, but from vague memories, they were valuable enough for auctions among the elite.
"But I can't sell them openly."
A non-Awakened suddenly claiming Awakening and dumping this much stuff?
They'd suspect unregistered Awakener status first, then drag me to the Investigation Department assuming illegal dealings—I'd have no defense.
Sure, if I insisted on selling it all, the place I was headed could handle it. But no need to take the risk. With the Misfortune warning and safety first, why chance it?
Of course, for official channels, I'd need a proper Hunter license first. Getting one in half a day? Impossible.
But I needed cash now, so alternatives it was.
"Just sell the minimum."
Enough for sister's bills and a place to live.
With that, I headed down from the rooftop toward my destination.
"Phew... Finally found it."
After wandering quite a bit from the rooftop, the spot I'd barely located was an old, dingy bathroom in a small park.
The kind so gross even desperate folks would hold it in.
But this was a secret spot known only to those in the know.
I headed straight into the bathroom and entered the second stall from the left.
"How did it go again?"
Right. It was supposed to work like this.
Recalling what that chatty E-rank Awakener had bragged about before regression, I opened my inventory, pulled out 100 Purple Coins, and dumped them straight into the toilet.
Then, flushing the lever—something amazing happened.
Kwar-rung!
Just like water swirling down, the 100 coins vanished in an instant, and in their place, a small portal appeared.
"Bingo."
Black Market—the mightiest force ruling Korea's shadows, owned by one of the nation's mere five S-rank Hunters.
Though lumped with dark forces, as a force led by an S-rank Hunter considered national power, it was practically half-legit business.
The strict order and constant Investigation Department presence proved it. Of course! Only in the S-ranker's domain, built for his illicit dealings, did they obey solely his word and ignore all but major crimes.
That's why all sorts of illegal trades could happen here.
With no time for Awakener registration, this was the only place to cash in some of these riches.
I swallowed hard as the portal grew, eventually large enough for a person to jump through.
"Misfortune could hit anytime, so stay sharp."
Honestly, I was uneasy. Misfortune? Hadn't all my pre-regression woes stemmed from this curse?
'No clue who hung this curse on me, but...'
My innate Fortune ability had become a power and grown stronger, so hopefully no more constant bad luck.
The stat grades were Legend and Myth, a whole rank apart, right?
"Still, it warned of incoming Misfortune, so I should stay vigilant."
Thinking that, I donned the robe I'd brought, masked up, and leaped into the portal.
Shwooo!
About 10 seconds of falling sensation passed, then light appeared, and my vision shifted.
The grimy bathroom was gone, replaced by a massive, sprawling market.
'This is the Black Market.'
Even pre-regression, I'd only heard rumors.
Frankly, not a place for an [F-] rank Hunter scraping goblins and drowning in poverty like me.
Folks here fell into three types usually.
First, criminals unable to use legit channels or those fencing stolen goods.
Second, people seeking what sunlight couldn't provide.
Third, those granted land rights by the S-rank Hunter to do business.
If I had to categorize, I was the first—selling near-stolen riches as an unregistered non-Awakened.
The 100,000 won entry fee was steep, but not regrettable. It was the rightful toll to the land's owner.
'In a way, this place was originally part of the Abyss too.'
Similar to my power, the Golden Treasury. Pretty famous worldwide too.
That S-rank Hunter lucked into owning a region during Abyss exploration and turned it into the Black Market.
"So why can't I enter the Golden Tower?"
Reason? Probably ownership rights.
"I'll get in someday."
The Golden Treasury holding infinite riches and miracle elixirs was just the first floor.
So floors 2, 3... however many above, no doubt packed with wonders. I just needed to pour everything into raising ownership.
I moved slowly, casually, avoiding newbie vibes, heading to the Black Market center—the biggest building.
[Black Money]
That enormous structure bore this name.
"Right place."
Black Money: the Black Market's sole company directly run by the S-rank Hunter. A bank for shadow funds and riches, also hosting major auctions and sales.
"And the bank converts shadow cash to legit currency too."
Fees were hefty, but my only shot at quick cash right now.
I stepped inside without hesitation.
"Welcome. How may I assist you?"
"I'd like to visit the bank."
"This way to the second floor."
Following one of the stationed guides, I ascended to the second floor, revealing a grand bank.
From there, it resembled any normal bank, save everyone hiding behind masks or robes.
Post-Abyss, banks added coin and magic stone buyback services—this Black Money bank did the same.
Ding!
A brief wait, then the alarm signaled my turn. Entering the directed room, a fox-masked guide sat waiting.
As I shut the door and glanced away briefly, the fox eyed me over with a strange glint.
Chill!
A creepy sensation hit; when I looked, the fox greeted me with a warm smile as if nothing.
"Welcome, customer. How can I help?"
"......I'd like to exchange coins and magic stones for cash."
"Convert to legitimate currency, you mean."
"Yes."
The fox mask began smooth guidance, his face now beaming pure courtesy, making me doubt that earlier vibe.
"Do you have a Black Bank account? One usable in both shadows and light?"
"No."
"Then, let's open one first. Account creation costs one million won—shall I proceed?"
"Please."
Pricey, but worthwhile for repeated use as my rank rose and Black Market visits increased.
Of course, with government and association oversight here, no using for tax evasion.
Get caught, and penalties multiply.
Plus, part of Black Money's steep fees surely went out as "taxes" to the light.
In essence, a wink-and-nod deal—overlook some illegality, both sides profit.
"Account opened. Here's your card. No transaction history yet, so it's F-rank. More and bigger deals auto-upgrade it. Now, shall we appraise your items for exchange?"
Taking the card, I opened inventory and withdrew 5% of each: 5,000,000 Purple Coins and 50,000 Rank [F-] Magic Stones.
The massive haul poured into the guide's offered pouch, and settlement began.
"Tha... that's a lot."
"Yes."
No amateur— the fox swiftly used skills to appraise and tally.
"Purple Coins at 1,012 won each, settled at 1,000: 5 billion won. Magic stones all high purity, so 7,000 won each full buyback: 350 million won. Total: 5.35 billion won."
I just stayed silent at the sum.
A lifetime's earnings pre-regression wouldn't touch that.
Inside, I wanted to leap up cheering, but I merely nodded calmly.
"Proceed with the deal? Meeting ---- conditions jumps you straight to A-rank. Fees drop by 5% per rank: from 45% to 25%! Note: S-rank at 10 billion, VIP at 100 billion, VVIP at 1 trillion—three ranks left!"
The fox mask, thrilled at such a rare big deal, rattled off rapid-fire.
"Deal. Deposit all to account. And this is a tip."
"4.0125 billion won fully deposited! Thank you! This has been Consultant Fox!"
The transaction closed smoothly. My card shot from F to A-rank, account fattened instantly.
'Yeah, this amount's optimal.'
Max a wealthy mid-upper hunter could offload at once, below Inspection radar.
One task left here. I followed the guide to the 7th floor, consigned 10 Pure Gold Ingots to auction, then left the Black Money building.
-Is that guy the one for sure?
-Yes. Don't you trust the fox? This is premium intel, staked on my position and career!
And I had no idea.
That the Curse of Misfortune had already crept right up to my nose.