Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Black Juice Auction
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“Hello! Big Brother!!”
On the way back to the palace after leaving the mansion, someone called out to Woojin.
The man, with a friendly face that narrowed into slits when he smiled, bowed deeply at the waist.
“Name’s Ed. Big Brother Peron told me to escort you. Nice to meet you!”
“......What’s with the ‘big brother’ stuff? Just call me Khan.”
“But you’re the one Big Brother Peron serves. How about...... Master, then?”
Woojin nodded, figuring there was no harm in that.
“You mentioned wanting to use the black market...... Any idea what item you’re looking to sell?”
Ed asked as he quickened his pace.
“This.”
Woojin handed him the hallucinogen.
“This...... Don’t tell me it’s Black Juice?”
Ed stared at him in surprise, clearly not expecting this.
“That what they call it? Yeah, probably. It’s a hallucinogen made from Malfuran leaves.”
“How’d you get your hands on this? It’s been the talk of the black market lately.”
“Why’s that?”
“The effects are insane. They say it’s five times stronger than anything out there so far.”
“......Really?”
Woojin glanced at the Black Juice he’d made.
‘This one’s even stronger.’
It was bound to cause a stir once it hit the market.
“Yeah. It sells out the second it goes up for auction—no supply left at all. But......”
As he spoke, Ed’s gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Woojin.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not the supplier. I’m actually trying to track down whoever makes this stuff.”
“Ah, o-of course......! Sorry about that.”
Ed bowed his head hastily at Woojin’s words.
“My bad too. I heard Big Brother Peron’s stepped away from this kind of thing......”
“This kind of thing?”
“Yeah. You were in the Dark Forest before, so obviously no drug manufacturing there...... Anyway, he cleaned up all the shady dealings.”
“I see.”
Woojin felt a quiet swell of pride at that.
‘Looks like he’s doing alright.’
“Yeah. Truth be told, he was a bit worried about introducing me. He’s gone clean, but we’re still taking assassination and extermination gigs.”
“......I see.”
“Not against players like before, of course. We registered with the Adventurer’s Association and stick to their quests now.”
Ed hurriedly added the explanation.
As he said, the Adventurer’s Association wasn’t just about hunting quests.
There were definitely quests involving NPCs, like wanted posters for criminals.
And plenty of players were bounty hunters these days.
“I’m not against PK on principle. I just opposed killing innocent people like back in the Dark Forest.”
“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ed nodded.
“But following Big Brother Peron to the central continent hasn’t been easy. Our goal was to build the top assassination clan, you know.”
“Why not?”
“Our rep’s still too low for the good jobs.”
“Hmm.”
“Plus, the established assassination clans give us hell with their turf wars...... When we came to the central continent, we promised Big Brother we’d gather info on every incident across the lands.”
“Haha.”
Woojin couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
Gathering information.
That was exactly what he’d said when he first brought Peron under his wing.
“Which clan’s the most famous for that?”
“Among player clans, it’s the Blue Dog Clan...... But hands down, the Squall Ring’s the biggest name in info on the central continent.”
“Squall Ring?”
Woojin tilted his head at the vaguely familiar name.
‘Oh, right.’
He’d heard it before—in Charleston’s diplomacy reward list at Baekhwagok.
[Current Available Association List]
1. Basilisk Merchant Guild.
2. Squall Ring.
3. Queen Leather Workshop.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t picked an association yet.’
“That good, huh?”
“Oh man, yeah. They’ve got a lock on eighty percent of the incidents and accidents in the central continent.”
“Hmm.”
“The black market we’re heading to? That’s under Squall Ring’s turf.”
“Really?”
Woojin nodded at his words.
“Yeah. Just...... they’re ruthless bastards, so watch your back.”
Ed warned him repeatedly, but hearing the name Squall Ring actually put Woojin at ease.
“Don’t worry. Might end up resolving this way easier than I thought.”
“Blanc Clan’s Ed.”
They were still using the clan name Peron had created, even without him around.
Woojin thought Peron’s followers must have some real loyalty to keep it going.
‘Makes sense. They went through hell to get to the central continent......’
In a way, no clan might be as tight-knit as them.
“Go to room 34.”
The graveyard basement was packed with rooms like a rundown motel.
Auctions were underway in each one.
Clack—.
Entering the room marked 34, a man with his face shrouded in black cloth greeted them.
“Put your auction item in here.”
The man opened a large cabinet and said to Woojin.
“What’s your preference? You can consign it and just take the gold, or run it yourself.”
“I can run it myself? Different from the Dark Forest.”
“Yeah. Dark Forest handles smuggling for auction items, so specialists run them. Here, it’s direct delivery.”
Ed pointed to a box next to the cabinet, like a mailbox.
“Once the auction ends, put the item in there, and the bidder gets it instantly.”
“Convenient. Can I chat with the bidders during?”
“Uh...... Yeah. Auctions run via chat anyway, so short talks are fine.”
Clink—.
Woojin placed four [Black Juice] vials in the cabinet.
“You run it. Don’t put them all up at once—one by one. For the fourth, start at double the third’s final bid.”
“......Double? That’ll start sky-high!”
“Doesn’t matter. Say it’s double because it includes the recipe.”
‘Bidders will test it right away. Once they realize it’s way better......’
They’d do anything for that recipe.
“But the recipe’s handed over in person only. To keep it from getting resold.”
“Got it.”
“Tell me when it’s done.”
“Not watching?”
“Nah, they might bolt once results are in.”
Woojin left the graveyard.
Night had fallen.
Perfect time for a talk.
“Take good care of His Highness. Contact me if anything comes up.”
“Yes, sir.”
The servants bowed to Hansen.
“Exhausted......”
He headed to his quarters outside the palace.
The only time he could rest after being tied down in the palace from dawn till dusk.
“Tough day, huh? Must’ve been a long wait.”
“......!!”
It was then.
As he reached for the door, a voice came from behind.
“W-Who......!!”
“Quiet. Wouldn’t want to make a scene.”
Hansen gulped involuntarily at the sharp prod against his back.
“......How’d you get in?”
“Gate guards are as loopy as your king. No clue why, but makes smuggling a breeze.”
“What are you......”
Woojin emerged from the shadows.
“Wasn’t a cakewalk for me, though.”
A fresh scab marked his wrist.
He’d cut himself to activate [Black Guardian].
“So you’d better make it worth my while.”
“How dare you......!! This is the palace!”
“And?”
Stab—!!!
“Guh...... Uuugh!! Mmph!!!”
Woojin clamped Hansen’s mouth from behind and pushed the blade in slightly. Hansen writhed in agony.
“Think anyone in this drugged-up place will save you? You know better than anyone.”
“P-Please, spare me!!!”
“Talk. You’re the one who linked the alchemists to Esten Kingdom?”
“......Th-That......”
Squelch—.
Woojin pressed harder into Hansen’s back.
“Aaaagh! I’ll talk!! They paid me just to get them an audience with His Highness. That’s it!!”
“You knew they were using drugs?”
“Uh...... Th-That......”
Hansen’s face paled further.
That was enough.
“Why not report it? Planning to let them take over the kingdom with them?”
“No!! I’d never!!”
“Then why ask if the alchemists were safe? Trying to check if they were alive?”
“I-I was scared.”
“What?”
“After they came, His Highness and the ministers changed. Y-Yeah, they were all doped up.”
He shook his head frantically, shouting.
“I couldn’t stop it! And attacking the kingdom...... I swear I didn’t know!”
His legs gave out, and he slumped to the floor, clawing at it as he yelled.
“When you showed up, I realized too late something was wrong.”
“And?”
“When I mentioned the Great Forest, I figured they’d already dealt with the alchemists there. Thought scaring you with diplomacy talk might make you leave......”
“Foolish. You think a servant’s word sways someone here to see the king?”
“......Sorry.”
“What about them fleeing? Truly didn’t know? A king hooked on their drugs wouldn’t just let them go.”
“Th-They did bolt suddenly. Looking back, they’d been planning it before the incident blew up.”
“Why?”
“Something about...... experiments failing...... Great Forest about to erupt...... Weird stuff.”
‘Great Forest erupting?’
Was he talking about that human golem in the lab?
Impressive, but not eruption-level.
‘Something else...... still there?’
To uncover the real intent, he had to find the alchemists.
“Last one. They foreigners?”
“Y-Yes.”
‘As expected......’
“Names?”
“I...... don’t know.”
Hansen trembled, not daring to turn.
Setsuna had scanned Hansen with [Concentration Eye] and whispered to Woojin.
Just in case ties to them meant alchemy traits.
‘If players, maybe a clan.’
Woojin recalled the [Alchemist’s Bracelet] from the Great Forest.
‘Can I track them with that?’
Ding—.
[Yeah?]
Not luck—they were still hiding nearby.
[Good. Say recipe in person. Suggest west outskirts.]
[Got it!!]
“Hansen, you’re coming with me.”
“Y-Yes......? M-Me?”
“Obviously. You’re the only link to the alchemists.”
“H-Hiiik......”
Hansen flinched as Woojin grabbed his nape.
“We’re fine. We’ll bring our own monster.”
-Huh?
Woojin lightly shook the flare from his pocket.