Chapter 388
Chapter 388
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 388
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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After banging the fifth dancer, the day began to grow dark.
"Were you satisfied with the dancers' fortune-telling?"
"Yeah. Their skills were impressive. Extremely satisfying."
"I'm glad to hear that. Do you have plans for dinner or a place to stay?"
"Guess I'll have to look around."
Lomreng's eyes lit up.
"Inspector Sung Yu-jin, I would like to invite you to our Pishang family estate."
"...Well, I suppose I could impose on you."
"Impose? It's a great honor just to have you stay at our mansion."
"Send the next dancer."
"...Ah, yes. Oh, come to think of it, there's a new dancer who's recently arrived in the city."
I glanced at him indifferently. He knew not all dancers were the same.
Lomreng, who had been chewed out by me a few hours earlier for guiding me to a dancer I didn't like, spoke in a tense voice.
"Her beauty is exceptional. Not just the sturdy young men of the city, but even the elderly and nobles are all interested in her."
"Oh?"
Lomreng wouldn't dare lie, so I was intrigued.
"But there's a problem."
"A problem?"
"She's different from the regular dancers. Maybe because she's new... she's far more aloof than the others. Even when several nobles invited her to their estates, she turned them all down. One of them even proposed to her."
In other words, unlike the dancers I'd encountered, she didn't spread her legs easily.
"And she gets away with being that haughty?"
"Her combat prowess is quite high. And she's become so famous... thousands are watching her. No one can touch her easily."
"Good. I'd like to see this dancer. Where can I find her?"
"Every evening, she dances on a temporary stage in the plaza. Noble or commoner, as long as you pay the fee, you can watch. I'll guide you."
A dancer captivating thousands. I was quite looking forward to seeing what kind of woman she was.
???
Thousands of men gaped stupidly at the dancer on stage. But I couldn't blame them. Her beauty was so stunning that even their dumbstruck faces made sense.
Long indigo hair, deep blue eyes. Snow-white skin and delicate features. Her slightly upturned eyes seemed to express her high confidence.
Her outfit clung to her body, revealing her figure. But unlike typical dancer attire, the design evoked the wings of a fairy.
Her breasts were perky, her waist slim. Her hips curved in perfect proportion. Her arms and legs were ideally proportioned, with no flaws whatsoever.
"Thank you all for coming today!"
Her voice was like jade beads rolling— the classic beauty's tone.
"Yeeees!!"
The thousands of men gathered here responded in unison. I was briefly dumbfounded. Was this an idol concert?
"We'll hold an auction! If you'd like a fortune-telling from me today, please join the bidding! Starting at one million pennies!"
For reference, entry cost 20,000 pennies.
20,000 pennies—200,000 won in Korean currency. No burden for me, but burdensome for commoners just to see a dancer's performance.
Something doesn't add up. She's definitely a stunning beauty, sure. But not so gorgeous that people would pay 20,000 pennies to watch. Does she dance insanely well? She's not doing a strip show in front of this crowd.
The bidding quickly surpassed three million pennies.
I turned to look at Lomreng beside me. He stared at the dancer with the expression of a man in love.
"What's that dancer's name?"
"Ah, she hasn't revealed her name."
"An unusual dancer. What happens if you win the auction?"
"You become a special guest and receive her fortune-telling."
"Worth it?"
"No, not particularly. But you get the privilege of seeing her up close."
"......"
I was even more baffled.
The bidding was now over five million pennies. 50 million won. Paying 50 million to a fortune-teller who wasn't even accurate? Was being a "special guest" that desirable?
Even merchants are bidding without hesitation. Unless they're wealthy, merchants don't splurge on entertainment like this... plants?
As the heat reached over seven million, it cooled rapidly.
"7.21 million! Anyone higher?!"
"7.22 million!"
"7.23 million!"
"No way! 7.24 million!"
"Grr... damn it. If only I had more money...!"
"I wanted to see her up close too!"
"7.5 million!"
One man shouted like he was driving the final nail. A middle-aged guy with a mustache and a protruding belly. His flashy red coat marked him as a noble.
"7.5 million! Anyone higher?!"
The dancer looked around. Was it my imagination? Her eyes seemed to meet mine.
I stood up and shouted.
"8 million!"
"......!"
The crowd gasped in shock at the sudden 500,000 jump, staring at me.
The middle-aged noble twisted his face and shot up, glaring at me like I'd dealt him a grave insult.
He spat out.
"8.01 million...!"
He was saying without words: stop here. Or regret it.
I sneered and shouted.
"9 million!"
"......"
The noble glared at my face once more, clamped his lips shut, and sat down.
"9 million! Anyone higher?"
The crowd was silent.
"The one who bid 9 million! Please come to the stage!"
I walked toward the stage amid the men's envious and jealous stares.
I paid the staff at the front of the stage and sat in the chair onstage.
The dancer strode over.
A dizzying scent wafted over. Not perfume. Having embraced countless women, I recognized it as her natural body odor. I hadn't expected such a scent from a fully clothed woman.
My dick twitched slightly. She glanced at my crotch and smiled seductively. I felt the urge to pin her down right then.
A familiar impulse.
I always felt the urge to ravage beauties I saw.
"What would you like to know?"
"I want to know about you."
"Boooooo!"
Jeers erupted from all sides. I bristled but ignored them. All they could do was envy me.
"Hehe. You sure know how to joke."
"Tell my fortune about whether I can achieve my goal."
"What's your goal?"
"......"
I couldn't say it was fucking her.
As I shut my mouth, she smiled and moved to the center of the stage.
Music started from outside the stage. Slow, soothing melody.
The dancer began to dance slowly.
All the men, including me, stared entranced. Her outfit wasn't very revealing—just calves and some wrists. Yet watching made my lower body tense and my heart race.
Her dance was slow and graceful, impossible to look away from. With each hand gesture, clouds swimming in a blue sky appeared. Her steps evoked flowing waterfalls.
"......!"
At some point, streams of water rose on the stage.
The water moved ignoring gravity with her motions—like a dragon ascending to the heavens, or spinning like a top.
We and the audience stared blankly.
And soon, her dance ended.
Sweat-drenched, she approached me.
"The fortune is in! The water told me. Your goal will be achieved!"
"Thanks."
I didn't miss the note she secretly slipped me as she spoke.
She went to the center and shouted.
"That's all for today's fortunes! Come back tomorrow!"
Without hesitation, she left backstage. The audience grumbled in disappointment and dispersed. The plaza emptied of thousands in no time.
I glanced at the note in my hand.
[1 AM. I'll wait at the western fountain.]
Kuhuhu... Fell for my wealth? Or... she glanced at my crotch earlier... maybe fell for my dick. Not your average bitch.
Maybe she knew I was an inspector.
"You bastard!"
The pot-bellied middle-aged noble stormed toward me on stage, stomping to vent his rage. Sturdy men with swords at their waists surrounded him—guards, probably.
Behind them, Lomreng, who had been sitting dazed, came running over in a panic.
"......"
I stared silently at the noble.
Thinking I was scared, he smirked arrogantly.
"You bastard! Do you know who I am? I'm Viscount Hartong, one of the eight pillars ruling this district! Don't think the insult you gave me will slide! You'll lose at least an arm!"
"......"
The noble screeched at his three guards.
"What are you doing?! Why do I pay you?!" Grab him!"
"...Bro. Your luck's rotten. You got money, so how about settling with cash?"
"Oh! Not bad! Ten million pennies! Pay ten million, and I'll forget the insult."
"You've crossed the line."
Pow!
I smashed my fist into the noble's face. He rolled on the ground, spitting blood and teeth.
Shing!
The guards drew swords. As they poised to charge, Lomreng shouted from afar.
"You fools! Dare to harm the inspector?!"
"......Inspector?"
The guards faltered, gripping swords but not advancing, glancing around.
"D-Don't lie! Where'd you get that bullshit?!"
The noble jumped up and pointed at me.
I chuckled and flashed Elena's appointment letter in his face. Color drained from his instantly.
"N-No way...! You're Duke Balderth's inspector...?!"
"Said I lose an arm? You'll lose everything."
I snatched a dazed guard's sword and sliced off Viscount Hartong's arms and legs.
"Gaaaaahhh!"
I roughly poured a potion on the writhing, screaming viscount. I'd acted on temper, but no intent to kill.
Spending 8 million pennies on a dancer means he's rich and woman-crazy. His wife must be a beauty.
The remaining people, including guards, stared at me in shock.
"I-Inspector Sung Yu-jin!"
"Shut up, Lomreng."
"H-He's Viscount Hartong, a council noble!"
"He insulted me. Tried to extort my money and kill me. Lomreng, guide me to Viscount Hartong's estate. By inspector authority, I'll audit everything. And since his crimes are clear, I'll hold his trial tomorrow at noon."
"Tr-Trial? Inspector doesn't have that authority..."
"I do. With five or more nobles besides Hartong, I can convene a trial. I'm the judge. Don't forget—he tried to kill Inspector me."
"......"
Judging stretched authority a bit, but inspectors are temporary anyway—might as well.
And Thousand-Year Duke and Elena won't care about this trash. Especially Thousand-Year Duke has no interest, and I have justification.
I called the dumbstruck Lomreng again.
"Lomreng."
"Y-Yes!"
"Don't want to guide? Fine, I'll find the estate myself."
"No! I'll do it!"
How pretty would Viscount Hartong's greedy wife be? I quietly smacked my lips.