Chapter 195: The Otherworld Miracle Exchange Rate
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: The Otherworld Miracle Exchange Rate
“There are too many people. I feel like I’m going to puke.”
The main thoroughfare of the capital was a literal sea of people. If you let your guard down for even a second, you’d be hopelessly lost.
“It really is a sickening amount of people, isn’t it?”
Ambersteel was radiating a thick aura of killing intent while keeping one hand resting on her pommel, which managed to carve out a bit of breathing room. Still, it was terrifying that even with a sword-wielding lunatic right there, people were still packed close enough to brush against me every few steps.
“But isn't this better than the festivals back in the Home Country? You can’t even find a place to plant your feet there.”
“I’ve never been, and I have no desire to go anywhere that crowded.”
“You have no sense of romance~.”
I pointed toward a fabric shop ahead of us. Gyu Cheol-hwa scanned the surroundings before nodding, and I began to look over the silks on display.
“Oh my, a noble young master has graced us with his presence! Is there something specific you’re looking for~?”
Ignoring the overly friendly shopkeeper, I ran my hand over some purple silk. My family wasn't exactly wealthy, but since my mom’s friends were, I wore high-end fabrics fairly often. Even so, the texture of this silk was extraordinary.
“How much is this?”
The shopkeeper gave me a rough price. I didn't know the exact market rates here, but considering the cost of the meals I’d eaten in the well-policed mid-sized towns on the outskirts, the price was absurd.
“Then, what about the cheapest one?”
“The Young Master is simply doing a bit of market research. We’ll take this silk first.”
Seeing the shopkeeper’s eyes narrow, Amber stepped in and purchased the silk I had been fiddling with.
“Please, come inside.”
The shopkeeper, who wore heavy eye makeup, led us in and began explaining the characteristics of their stock, ranging from the highest grade to the lowest.
To my touch, the differences didn't seem that extreme, yet the price jumped ten to fifty times higher with every subtle variation. These people were playing for keeps.
By the time we left the shop, Amber had bought five bolts of the highest-quality silk.
“I appreciate the help, but what are you going to do with all that silk?”
“Well, I have the excuse that I bought it to help the Young Master, so the Boss won't say much… I’m going to take it back and sell it on the black market.”
“Does that actually make money?”
“Yes, yes. It’s the kind of item you can only sell for its true value once you reach the upper crust of society, but honestly, there’s so much demand we can’t keep it in stock.”
Since the existence of the Murim was a secret to the general public, the movement of goods seemed to be strictly controlled.
What she was doing right now looked a lot like stuffing contraband into a diplomatic pouch to bypass customs, but it was best for me not to get involved in such dirty, petty, and underhanded business.
“So, what information did you gather at the fabric shop?”
“It’s hard to understand how this place functions based on luxury goods. The prices for that stuff are beyond common sense everywhere you go.”
“The prices in the capital are abnormal, so it’s probably not the best place for market research. To eat the same food we had this morning with the same quality, you’d have to pay at least four times as much here.”
For someone who claimed to have grown up in the Home Country, she knew way too much about the Murim.
“Do you come here often, Amber?”
“I may not look it, but I’m one of the brains of our company, you know? The Boss sends me here on errands quite often.”
It seemed there was a reason she kept using the rustic name Gyu Cheol-hwa.
“Do you pick up smuggled goods every time you come here?”
“I wouldn't even dream of it if the Young Master weren't by my side. Would you like to stop by a ceramics workshop or a jeweler next?”
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’m going to tell them to confiscate that silk.”
“Hmph….”
I walked slowly ahead, leaving Ambersteel behind. Looking at the people’s attire and expressions, everyone seemed bright and energetic. I worried that after seeing such a positive side of this place, I’d be disappointed when I returned to the Home Country or Earth.
“Is there somewhere a bit darker? Somewhere I can see the true nature of humans? But, you know, not dangerous.”
“Hmm… Among the safe places… there is one, but….”
Gyu Cheol-hwa trailed off.
“I’m a grown man, you know. Just take me there. If it’s safe, there’s no problem, right?”
“No, it’s just… even if it is, I feel like the Boss will scold me if I take you there….”
“I’ll tell Marika not to scold you. I’ll protect you! If you get fired, I’ll hire you as my private secretary!”
“Hmm… Mom’s honor?”
Gyu Cheol-hwa suddenly extended her thumb and pinky, shaking them lightly in a "pinky swear" gesture. This "Mom's honor" girl was trying to turn my mother into a whore.
“I’m telling my mom.”
“Ack! Wait! It was a joke! A joke! If you tell the Senior Superintendent General, the Chairwoman will find out, and I’ll literally die!”
Whether she lacked human dignity or just had no shame, Amber knelt right in the middle of the main street and clung to me.
Thinking back to how she was beaten by Lisar last time, she really might be beaten to death by Hindel if this got out.
“Fine, I’ll keep it a secret. Let’s go!”
“Huh? Where to?”
How was I supposed to save this idiot? I’d swear on my own mother, but I didn't have a clue.
The place we eventually arrived at was…
“Dice 5! Dice 5! Dice 5! Odds payout 1.2!!! Dice 5 payout 2.1!!!!”
A gambling den.
“It’s not high-end; it’s basically a low-end joint, maybe a bit below that. You can see the human nature of the ambiguous trash and maggots you wanted to see!”
Amber’s booming voice drew everyone’s attention. They were all glaring at us as if they wanted to kill us.
“Amber! Apologize!”
“I’m not wrong, though… but if you’re offended, my bad. Here’s some hush money.”
Amber casually reached into her pocket and scattered silver coins.
As if time had stopped, everyone stared at the silver on the floor.
“It’s mine! I said it’s mine!”
“You bastard! I picked it up first!”
“Aaaagh! Get out of the way!”
And then, chaos erupted.
“Interesting, right?”
“Can I go pick some up too?”
“If you took that back to the Home Country… you wouldn't even be able to buy a bowl of soup at the restaurants you go to with the Chairwoman.”
“The currency value must be vastly different.”
“Gold and silver are everywhere in the Demon Realm, after all.”
It seemed the Home Country was sucking up all the resources from the Demon Realm to wreak havoc on Earth and this place.
“Even so, causing a scene like this is bound to cause problems.”
“The person who can tell the Young Master what he wants to know is the owner of this place. Oh, here he comes. Right there.”
Gyu Cheol-hwa pointed to a middle-aged man rushing down toward us.
“You damn wench! You’re still alive and back to turn my place into a madhouse again!”
“Old man, you must have been eating some good elixirs lately.”
The middle-aged man let out a long sigh and wiped his face with hands covered in thick calluses.
“What is it this time? No, let’s go upstairs and talk first. Who’s the one next to you?”
“He’s the… son of the person my boss serves? Man, trying to explain this is really weird.”
Since he was the son of the wife (as Hindel claimed) of the person (Hindel) her boss (Marika) served, he could be considered a son. Even I felt dizzy trying to explain it.
“It’s something like that, so let’s just go with it.”
The term "Papa" might be more accurate, but I just went with that for now. The middle-aged man’s eyes sparkled, and he suddenly knelt before me.
“I greet the noble one…!”
“Wait, why are you suddenly bowing like that…?”
Seeing the middle-aged man prostrating himself, everyone else watched with stunned faces.
“Hey! Close the doors for today! No, wait. Just do whatever! Come, come, I shall escort you. This way, please.”
The middle-aged man began striding outside, and Amber giggled, gesturing for me to follow.
Surrounded by the middle-aged man’s guards, we arrived at a high-rise pavilion. As soon as we sat down, an array of side dishes began to fill the table.
“It is embarrassing to welcome a noble guest from the Western Region in a place like this. For what reason have you sought out this humble country bumpkin…?”
“Our Young Master said he was curious about the culture and social life of the Eastern Region, so I brought him to see Mr. Wang.”
“…Gyu Cheol-hwa, please shut your mouth in front of the noble guest.”
The middle-aged man, Mr. Wang, gritted his teeth and growled at Amber’s antics.
“So, what is it you are curious about? Ah, there were rumors that the Blood Hand Demon King had arrived in the capital. Did you come together?”
“Who’s the Blood Hand Demon King…?”
“The Boss’s nickname.”
“Wow, that’s so tacky!”
Amber nodded in agreement.
“The Boss seems to like it herself, so if you say that to her face, her feelings will be hurt.”
“No, tacky is tacky. What does 'Blood Hand Demon King' even mean?”
“The Boss is a martial artist, so I guess it’s because her hands get soaked in blood when she swings her fists.”
'Blood Hand' was tacky, and 'Demon King' was tacky. I could tell the naming sense of the people in this neighborhood was rock bottom.
“That… Blood Hand Demon King? What was Marika’s name here again?”
“Lord Hahou.”
“Yes, yes. It’s true I came with that Lord Hahou.”
I mean, her nickname was something as tacky and salty as 'Blood Hand Demon King,' but her name was Lord Hahou? That actually sounded kind of cool.
“I see…. I will tell you everything I know. Though, the cost might be a bit high….”
As Mr. Wang rubbed his hands together, Ambersteel tossed a small silk pouch in front of him.
“That should be enough. It’s not like he’s asking for state secrets or the movements of masters; he’s just purely curious about the Eastern Region.”
“Haha, I can tell you whatever you wish.”
Mr. Wang beamed as he looked at the yellow gold nugget inside the silk pouch.
“How much did you get from Marika…? A gold nugget seems like a lot….”
“That’s about a tenth of the price of the steak and non-alcoholic wine you and the Chairwoman usually have.”
My mind went blank at the shock of the Otherworld Miracle Exchange Rate.