Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Black Market Auction
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Leading the way from South Korea, the Black Market had forged tight connections with the underworld across the globe, and lately, it stood at a pivotal crossroads, poised to leap even further.
This was all thanks to the Pure Gold Ingot that Shin Juha had casually tossed their way.
The ripple effects of that single item had drawn in heavyweights whose names alone commanded instant recognition worldwide, all desperate to claim it.
They'd usually scoff at the invitations, dismissing it as some petty auction run by a minor underworld outfit from a small nation.
But now that something truly extraordinary was on offer, they flipped their attitudes, sending fresh invites and begging to be accommodated.
Naturally, the Black Market's influence swelled in tandem.
Countless organizations and individuals showered it with goodwill, all hungry for that one ingot of gold.
This was their chance to expand beyond South Korea and into the world. And Seo Ye-rin, the Black Market's owner and an S-rank hunter, intended to milk this opportunity for all it was worth.
'The territory I gained from the Abyss is plenty for now.'
She could afford to keep it under wraps since her current holdings were more than sufficient for expansion. It made sense—a whole hidden stage had dropped straight into her lap.
The biggest hurdle, securing enough supply, had been cleared with Shin Juha's firm promise of as much pure gold as needed. Dreams of going global weren't just pipe dreams anymore.
Her lifelong vision of building a shadowy empire on the world stage was finally taking shape.
Best of all, she could finally squeeze dry the leeches—the Korean government sucking the Black Market's lifeblood for cash, and the high-ranking officials who threw tantrums whenever she held back a little.
To that end, Seo Ye-rin had pulled out all the stops in her preparations, even liquidating some of her own stockpiles.
This auction was a prime example. It was designed to keep overseas VIPs hooked during the month leading up to the next Pure Gold Ingot showdown, preventing them from losing interest and bailing.
A new lineup every week, and this third-week climax was no exception.
An ancient-grade rune, no less!
She'd snagged it years ago by clearing a hidden quest deep in the Abyss. Its value was incalculable.
It rivaled the Pure Gold Ingot in sheer magnitude. So she'd fired off fresh invitations to hunters and power brokers worldwide.
And today, the auction was on.
"Rune. Next. Straight to. Pure gold ingot. Bait."
At Seo Ye-rin's clipped words, the branch manager bowed slightly and carried out her orders. This auction wasn't just about its own value—it was priming the pump for the Pure Gold Ingot event next week, exactly one month after the last.
Originally, they'd planned to auction the gold right after acquiring it from Shin Juha. But that risked devaluing it, so they'd tweaked the schedule.
That's when it happened. Someone knocked on Seo Ye-rin's office door and barged in without waiting for a reply—a staffer in a rabbit mask.
He bowed promptly to Seo Ye-rin and the branch manager, then spoke.
"He's arrived at the auction house."
"He? Oh!"
The branch manager caught on immediately. Shin Juha. Only a handful of staff knew about the no-rank card, with strict orders to treat its owner like royalty—but not even they knew who held it.
Hence the vague "he."
Seo Ye-rin realized it too, her face registering surprise.
"Did he come because he knows what's up for auction today?"
"No. He didn't seem after anything specific. He saw the poster next to him and decided to join. As you know, the ancient-grade rune is only mentioned in the invites—not on the posters."
"Then why bother with the auction? He could just ask, and we'd procure it for him."
The rabbit-masked staffer hesitated, then murmured softly.
"Just my personal take, but... he struck me as curious. Like he just wanted to experience an auction firsthand."
The branch manager nodded thoughtfully. "Could be."
"Did you escort him properly?"
"Yes. We gave him VVIP Room 3."
The prime spot in the house, reserved for the absolute elite among applicants during major auctions.
The branch manager frowned faintly. Something felt off, like a minor snag ahead.
"Got it. I'll head there now. Finish prepping the auction."
"Yes, sir."
Once the rabbit mask was gone, Seo Ye-rin finally spoke.
"Not bad. Better. If he. Takes it. Profitable."
Exactly. With over 4 trillion to his name, no ancient-grade rune would break him. Even if bidding went nuclear, it wouldn't top 500 billion.
If he won it, that was pure upside for her—and the Black Market.
A stronger ally meant fewer headaches for them down the line. Sure, drop-ins like this were a hassle, but...
"No. Even better. Perception block. Mask. Give him. Reveal openly."
"Hmm... True. We already built him a private passageway. Flaunting him as the gold's owner wouldn't hurt—with the mask, anyway. And it could help Shin Juha build personal ties."
Seo Ye-rin nodded. She knew what he wanted: justice for his parents, the celebrated heroes, and vengeance on their killers.
Raw power alone wouldn't cut it. He needed backers, connections.
"Black Market. Shin Juha's. Side. Overseas. Powers. Shin Juha's. Side."
"It'd give him more room to maneuver. But if it goes too far, it could backfire. Those people aren't much better than the scum who killed his parents—gluttons devoured by greed. They'd do anything to uncover who he is."
"Vet them. Profitable. Ones. Inform him."
"Yes. I'll sort the helpful allies from the ones to watch and pass it along right away. I'll be off, then."
The branch manager moved swiftly. An unexpected wrinkle, but not a bad one. Shin Juha would play a key role here too, fueling the Black Market's ascent.
Finding ways to benefit him came first. He ducked into his office, scanned the list of big-name participants, and started sorting.
Minutes later, tablet and item in hand, he headed to VVIP Room 3.
Knock knock.
The door swung open at the knock, revealing a familiar face... or rather, mask.
"Branch manager?"
"Not quite long enough for 'long time no see,' but still a surprise. A heads-up would've been nice."
His words carried a subtle edge.
"I've been laid up in the hospital twice lately with some business. Woke up needing something urgently, so I came. Lucky for me, the poster's advertising it as an auction item—figured I'd kill two birds and get the experience too."
"Tch. Fair enough, but the situation's not all rosy. One of my guys made a 'mistake' that's not quite a mistake."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. I'd already dealt with Black Money staff causing issues once before.
"Ah! Pure ignorance on his part. He saw your card and assigned you the best room in the house."
That explained it—the room faced the auction stage dead-on, prime real estate.
The branch manager paused briefly before continuing.
"Hmm... So, how about we use this to put you a bit more in the spotlight? You've got that private tunnel. With a little caution and your top-tier concealment barrier blocking even Seo Ye-rin's scans, no real risks. Here..."
I examined the mask he handed over. Rare-grade, S+ item. Simple effect.
Perception interference—a spell ensuring others couldn't identify me.
"Wear this, and we'll subtly let the VIPs and VVIPs know you're the Pure Gold Ingot's owner. Explains why you're in this room, and more importantly, it'll benefit you."
"Benefit?"
He nodded calmly and passed me the tablet.
"Your goals—avenging your parents, righting their wrongs. The folks here, craving your gold, could lend a hand. They're not just deep-pocketed obsessives; they wield insane power and influence."
I nodded. That first ingot consignment had snowballed way beyond expectations... Somehow, I'd become the Black Market's biggest whale.
A client who'd netted 4 trillion in one deal, no less.
"Truth is, this auction's a deliberate lead-in to the 30-ingot Pure Gold batch in two weeks, to keep eyes on it. Even this ancient rune is from the boss lady herself. She figures it'd be ideal if you snagged it."
"I was planning to buy it anyway. Good timing on my part."
"Right? Might not match pure gold auction prestige, but today's got top-tier players. Worth building bridges with a few."
With that, he bowed lightly and delivered his client-facing line.
"Then I wish you the stars you seek, sir."
"Should be smooth sailing. I'll enjoy the show."
He left with a nod. As I pondered the catalog again...
Ding~ ding~ ding~ ding ding!
A jaunty knock echoed. I tilted my head.
Who could it be? Everyone who might visit already had.
'Room service?'
"Come in."
The door opened at my okay, revealing a woman who screamed anything but ordinary.
Her outfit was distinctly Chinese martial robes, hugging her stunning figure perfectly.
Five escorts trailed her, radiating dangerous auras.
"Ho~! So you're the golden owner's the one?"
She peeled off her plum blossom-patterned mask, and I had to catch my breath.
She was too famous for that.
Known as one of China's S-rank hunters, but even more so as the daughter of one of the country's three SS-rank hunters.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Xiao Ling. You're the golden owner, right?"
And there she was, greeting me warmly.