The List That Bends Brokers
"How did you know?"
"Are there really any secrets in this world?"
"That's not what I asked. How did you find out……"
"You really want to know?"
"No, sir."
"I showed you plenty of consideration, didn't I? Keeping the rumors quiet and all."
"There might have been a way to show a little more consideration, though?"
"The situation's too urgent for that. And my patience is wearing thin as we speak."
"……"
"……"
A silence stretched between them for a moment.
"So what's the job?"
"What else would it be? A murder case. Guide me to Black Shelter."
"With your connections, I'd think you could find it yourself."
"I called you because I want the fastest route possible, didn't I?"
"I assume Youngjae Pharmacy bolted in that direction?"
"You're not entirely without a sharp eye, are you."
"It's how you stay alive."
"Estimated departure was fifty-three to sixty hours ago. Can you catch them? Yes or no?"
"They bolted fast, didn't they. A pharmacy would have plenty to dispose of……"
"They'd have been ready to dispose of it at any moment. So give me a straight answer. Can you catch them or not?"
Kim pulled a small notebook from inside his jacket and spent a few moments running the numbers.
"It'll be close, but doable."
"So that's a yes?"
"Yes. But not on my own."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, then, Dir——"
"Call me Center Head."
"Since Director Gong seems to know about private shelters, I'll explain. Black Shelters are nothing more than clusters of survivors. They're not fixed locations. Why? Because they can post guards to keep monsters out, but they can't keep out everything else."
"Right. If something like a dragon spout rolls through, it'd be a disaster."
"Exactly. That's the biggest difference between official shelters and private ones. So private shelters relocate on a fixed cycle. And right now is when the private shelters in this area are at their farthest point from here. You got lucky."
"So you're saying you can guide us. How much are you thinking, cost-wise?"
"Fixed rate. Three gold coins per head."
Everyone reacted strongly at that. The numbers were far too steep for a business run by a mere pathfinder.
Even Sanghae, who'd been listening quietly to the whole exchange, furrowed his brow. But Won-goo remained perfectly calm—as if he'd already known the price in advance.
"That's steep. Three gold coins per head…… and you're charging a separate shelter entry fee on top of that, aren't you?"
"Separate, yes. My job ends the moment I get you to Black Shelter."
"God, that's filthy expensive."
"Expensive, and yet there are customers who pay it. Desperation drives prices up."
It was a world where most survivors who couldn't reach a shelter simply couldn't hold out and died.
The system had collapsed so thoroughly that living off the land was nearly impossible.
New desperate customers sprang up on a regular cycle anyway, so there was no reason to lower the price.
Gold coins were precious, sure—but no more precious than a life.
"Fine. Three gold coins per head. Do the math that way and let's move."
"Must be something really urgent. Or is that goblin really worth that much to you……"
"Curious about the case? Then you'll have to get a lot more involved."
"No, sir."
"Sanghae. Draw up the contract. On the condition that he hands over exactly thirty gold coins to us."
"……?"
Kim shot up from his chair.
"Leaving? No contract?"
"What are you talking about? Why would I pay you?"
"I'm giving you a discount, aren't I?"
"A discount on wh——"
"Desperation drives prices up, remember?"
"……?"
Won-goo held up a small notebook.
"Because I'm going to release this list. Everyone around here doing business with Black Shelter. You do know there are plenty of people with deep grievances against Black Shelters, right? There's a whole line of folks waiting with numbered tickets to jump up mid-sleep and take their revenge. A few of them I need to meet myself."
"Smooth, I'll give you that. But I'm not falling for it. How on earth would you have that? Even we don't all know each other's business."
"You really think I don't?"
A sly grin spread across Won-goo's face, and Kim's expression turned uneasy.
"Bluffing won't work on me. If anything, you're the one who's more desperate right now, Center Head."
"You keep making things you'll regret. Fine—let me prove whether this is real or not. For every name I read out, the price goes up ten gold."
Kim turned his back without hearing another word. It meant there was nothing more to discuss.
But even with his back turned, a single name slipped out of Won-goo's mouth. And Kim's footsteps stopped.
"One more name and it's fifty gold. If the list goes out, I'll be sure to tell them personally it was thanks to Seokbong."
At the name Seokbong, Kim flinched violently and whipped back around.
"Looks like you finally understand who's the desperate one here."
"Just answer one thing. Where did you get that?"
"That information costs even more. Can you afford it, Seokbong?"
"……"
A brief silence passed, and Kim Seok-bong surrendered. Seokbong was his real name—different from the one registered with the association.
Hearing it spoken aloud made Kim Seok-bong feel as if every hair on his body were standing on end.
"Let's just proceed. On one condition…… nothing about today leaks out."
"Don't worry about that. My people all know exactly how heavy a contract is."
And with that, he flashed a bright, toothy grin. Kim Seok-bong looked at it and shook his head slowly.
"Ha! Son of a—. I got well and truly bitten……"
"The way over Cheonchu Mountain. That's the only answer I can come up with. But Cheonchu Mountain isn't a route I can guide you through myself."
"So we need one more pathfinder?"
Kim Seok-bong nodded.
"Sanghae. The contract?"
"Here. You both just need to sign."
Sanghae held out the contract, and Kim Seok-bong and Won-goo signed it. The terms were simple.
Kim Seok-bong would guide Won-goo's crew to Black Shelter.
Free of charge.
"See you in an hour."
"Yes, sir……"
"Lose the scowl. Just relocate to a different shelter to work, right? Didn't you read the contract? My people keep their mouths shut."
"Handle things this way often enough, and one day someone's going to trip you up."
The corners of Won-goo's mouth curled upward.
"Was that a warning? Or advice?"
"……"
"I'll take them both to heart, so get going. We're short on time."
Kim Seok-bong strode out the door without looking back.
Only then did the crew turn their eyes to Won-goo.
"Our Hye-ji's got that look on her face again. What is it this time?"
"Why aren't you taking the gold coins from him……"
"Simple. For now, there's nothing to gain from getting tangled up with the Black Shelter crowd."
Everyone nodded along.
"Hyun-sung."
"Yes, Hyeong-nim!"
"You're picking up the blade today."
"Understood, Hyeong-nim!"
"Listen up, everyone. I'm having the gold coins we've been holding back transferred to Hyun-sung first. This business is urgent enough that I expect you all to understand."
Nobody pushed back. Even Mu Beob-sa, who grumbled about everything, quietly kept his mouth shut.
"Hyun-sung. Go get your milestone trait."
"Yes, Hyeong-nim!"
Milestone Trait.
A special power unlocked upon acquiring thirty or more abilities.
What Lee Hyun-sung would take had already been agreed upon in advance.
Mental Reinforcement.
Since he was the only enhancement-type in the crew, choosing a mind-related trait might have seemed odd.
But all of this had already been thoroughly discussed.
"Curious about the part where he chose that particular trait, are we?"
Mu Beob-sa said. Around him stood Jo Mu-sa and Suwon, firing off questions with curiosity brimming in their eyes.
Won-goo crouched off to the side, smoking a cigarette.
"Is it a part I'm permitted to speak of?"
Mu Beob-sa asked, looking at Won-goo.
"They're going to find out eventually anyway, right? Tell them before Seokbong gets back."
"It's a part that comes down to Lee Hyun-sung's rather unusual Gift. Something about growing alongside a weapon, I believe?"
"Hyeong-nim, honestly…… that's not quite it. It's that he grows with the weapon."
"Ah, is that the part of it?"
"His Kkakdugi Gift works like this: if he keeps wielding one weapon, he gradually synchronizes with it. Stick with it long enough, and even an ordinary weapon transforms into something special."
Everyone's eyes sparkled.
"There's a Gift like that?"
"Never heard that saying? There are as many Gifts as there are stars floating in the universe."
"That many varieties?"
"Plenty. Anyway, it's a fine Gift."
"Th-then why di-didn't you let him h-hold a we-weapon?"
"Because we wanted him to start using a new one, not the one he'd been carrying. Making one weapon your main and steadily growing it is a perfectly good strategy. But right now, he can still swap out that main weapon."
'Because the apocalypse hasn't even properly begun yet.'
Won-goo kept the rest of the sentence behind his teeth.
"So that's why you wouldn't let him hold a blade. If he starts with a better weapon, he can grow stronger far faster, right?"
"Good—you catch on fast. That's exactly the way you need to keep thinking if you want to survive."
"Taking a mental-resistance trait as the milestone…… is it because of the weapon?"
At those words, Mu Beob-sa and Won-goo both turned to look at Jeon Hye-ji.
"Right. A Named item."
Out of the Trailer came the Chinese cleaver. Aside from being considerably larger than an ordinary cleaver, nothing about it seemed particularly remarkable.
A wooden handle and a thick, blunt blade.
"This is a Named item in its own right. Huang Zhiheng's Chinese Cleaver. Wielded properly, it performs at Gold grade or better—and its potential runs deeper than that."
"Does it drive people mad?"
"Hold it long enough and it does. That's why Hyun-sung needed time."
"He had to sever his attunement to the weapon he'd been using all along, too."
Nod.
Won-goo offered no further reply. Lee Hyun-sung, who had gone toward the center, was already walking back.
On the surface, nothing about him seemed changed, but Won-goo caught the difference at once.
His eyes.
Lee Hyun-sung's eyes were shining clearer and brighter than ever before.
"I've returned, Hyeong-nim."
"Good. From now on, you carry it even in your sleep."
"I will, Hyeong-nim."
Lee Hyun-sung took the cleaver in hand and answered calmly.
Just then, Baek Seol arrived.
She still wore her mask, but her outfit had changed—a skin-tight rider suit.
"You need to get over Cheonchu Mountain?"
"Can you manage it?"
"I know the way."
"Then that settles it."
"Although…… you're not looking for a shortcut, are you?"
"Why? Would we have to go around?"
"That route is the safe one."
"No fast way, then?"
"There is one, but you'd have to cross a bridge."
"A bridge? What bridge?"
"The Number Bridge. You may not have heard of it, but that bridge is……"
"I know it."
Surprise flickered across Baek Seol's face.
"You do?"
"Yeah. That's the bridge where Guardians spawn to match your headcount, isn't it?"
"You really do know it."
"That's the fastest route, right?"
"Yes. We could cross immediately. But the Number Bridge is……"
"It's fine. It's possible now."
"Possible?"
"That's right. Lead the way."
"I won't be crossing that bridge myself."
"I'm not asking you to—just guide us. Want me to draw up a contract?"
"No need to go that far."
"You're here, everyone. Introductions. This is Baek Seol. And this is Kim Seok-bong."
Baek Seol and Kim Seok-bong exchanged a slight nod, greeting each other with their eyes alone.
Won-goo sidled up close to Baek Seol and asked quietly.
"How's Poke's education coming along?"
"The training is ongoing."
"Good."
"Don't worry. I won't break my promise with you, Center Head. Once his education is finished, a portion of what Poke brings in will be deposited straight into your account."
"That's not why I asked. Just in case……"
"He has the Appraiser Gift. I can't just kill him easily. I've cut off his legs so he can't run, though."
"Keep a close watch on him. That man's got snakes writhing in his gut."
"Got it."
"Everyone's here—let's move!"
[Current Coin Holdings]
Lee Hyun-sung: 28 → 31
Special Ability Acquired — Mental Reinforcement