Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Bleeding Dagger
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"Then, we'll begin introducing the first item of today's auction."
The host stepped onto the stage and started the proceedings.
"Yu-hyun, come this way."
"Sis, me too!"
"Sure."
Nam Yeon-ah led Shin Yu-hyun and Choi Yuri toward the front of the venue.
They had already reserved a table that was neither too close nor too far from the stage.
"This item's a dungeon loot dagger with an actual option attached—the Dagger of Bleeding. Bidding starts at 50 million won!"
The Dagger of Bleeding, huh.
Shin Yu-hyun stroked his chin as he gazed at the Dagger of Bleeding inside the glass case on the display stand.
It was a magic dagger engraved with ornate patterns along the blade.
Bleeding itself is a solid ability, but...
Bleeding caused continuous blood loss over time, steadily whittling down an opponent's stamina.
However, he had no idea how strong the option actually was.
How long it lasted, or how much damage it inflicted.
Without an appraisal, that info was impossible to know.
But.
- Master, that item's Magic grade. The bleeding only lasts 5 seconds, too.
- Thanks for the heads-up.
Dia, synced with his consciousness from within the shadows, shared the dagger's details. Shin Yu-hyun smiled inwardly.
Now he had the full scoop on the auction item.
Just as I thought—total trash.
Magic-grade items usually started at 10 million won, Rares at 100 million.
Starting at 50 million basically screamed Magic-grade.
"Of all things, a Magic-grade..."
"And on a dagger, no less?"
Sighs erupted here and there as the Dagger of Bleeding came up for bid.
Options on gear were incredibly rare.
Bleeding options were especially scarce.
Who'd expect one on a lowly Magic-grade item?
Even with an option, it's meaningless on Magic-grade. Just jacks up the price for no reason.
Magic-grade options were always underwhelming.
That's why most superhumans ignored them.
- But Master, I think you should buy that dagger.
- What? Why?
Shin Yu-hyun blinked inwardly at Dia's unexpected suggestion.
Buy an overpriced, underperforming Bleeding Dagger?
- You can transfer the option from the dagger to bone gear.
- Wait, transfer the option to bone gear?
- Yep.
- I don't remember seeing that in the skill description...
Shin Yu-hyun was stunned.
Transfer an option from a weapon to bone gear? No way.
- That's 'cause your grade's too low, Master. You need 4-star to unlock that info.
- 4-star minimum?
- Yeah. At 4-star, you'll get way more details. New skills too.
- Superhuman grade really is key, huh.
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled to himself.
He'd figured the Immortal King's powers scaled heavily with superhuman grade.
That's why he'd dumped most of his soul points from magic beasts into raising his grade.
And he'd been right.
Dia just drove it home.
If I'd had more time, I'd have gone all-in on chakra.
Unfortunately, gathering enough soul points for 4-star had taken too long.
He'd needed at least 300 three-star beasts, minimum.
So he'd planned to hit 4-star after stopping the dungeon stampede.
- Oh, and you need to upgrade the bone gear too. At least level 2.
- Bone gear needs upgrading? Should I have reinforced the bone gear instead of bone strengthening last time?
Shin Yu-hyun clicked his tongue inwardly. If he'd upgraded bone gear like Dia said, he could've granted options to the skeletons before the stampede even started.
- No. Even with upgraded bone gear, you still need 4-star minimum to grant options.
- So 4-star is the hard gate for options.
- Yep. Hurry up and hit 4-star, Master. I miss Shuv-unni.
- R-Right.
Shin Yu-hyun broke into a cold sweat at Dia's uncharacteristically pleading tone.
It was like she was begging him to level up already.
But she was right.
The Immortal King's true potential unlocked at 4-star.
Plus, it'd unseal Shuv first, then the rest of the Seven Arcs.
He needed to reach 4-star ASAP.
- Anyway, so skipping bone gear upgrade was the right call.
- Yep. Bone strengthening first is correct for initial skeleton upgrades.
That's why Dia hadn't said a word when he'd reinforced the skeletons' bones. Smart move.
- How's the option efficiency? Wouldn't a Rare-grade option be better than Magic? Better performance and all.
- Doesn't matter. Efficiency scales with bone gear level.
- Got it.
The higher the bone gear upgrade, the better the efficiency.
So any optioned gear would do.
Problem is, optioned gear is rare as hell.
Status-effect options on gear were few and far between.
Even at a Namdu Group auction, they'd be countable on one hand.
"Dagger of Bleeding at 50 million! No other bidders?"
No one had bid while Shin Yu-hyun chatted with Dia.
The other superhumans and hunters agreed—it was junk.
Amid the silence, Shin Yu-hyun quietly raised his hand.
"50 million."
"50 million! We've got 50 million!"
The host's eyes lit up at Shin Yu-hyun's low voice, his tone surging with energy.
He'd been on the verge of giving up on it.
"Oppa, what're you doing? Why buy trash like that? Your taste is unique."
"Yu-hyun, you sure about this? We're the hosts, but it's just expensive junk—performance sucks."
Choi Yuri and Nam Yeon-ah whispered their concerns from either side as he bid.
"It's fine. I need it."
Shin Yu-hyun whispered back reassuringly.
"50 million! Anyone higher?"
The host checked for counters one last time.
Then.
"51 million!"
A voice from the back outbid him.
The superhumans turned with looks of disbelief: Competing over that?
A man wore a meaningful smirk there.
"Looks like he's trying to mess with you over earlier."
Choi Yuri sighed.
Lee Cheon-woo, second son of the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect.
"52 million!"
Shin Yu-hyun raised it again.
Lee Cheon-woo countered without missing a beat.
"53 million!"
"54 million!"
"55 million!"
"60 million!"
He'd jumped 5 million at once.
"61 million!"
Lee Cheon-woo added just 1 million more, a petty trick.
"65 million!"
"66 million!"
Again, 1 million over, smirking like come at me.
Shin Yu-hyun flashed a chilling smile back.
Playing dirty, huh?
Lee Cheon-woo's intent was clear: deny Shin Yu-hyun the dagger at all costs.
But Shin Yu-hyun had an ace—the Namdu Group's 10 billion-loaded black card.
"100 million!"
"100 million!"
The room buzzed.
A Magic-grade weapon hitting Rare prices.
"100 million! No higher bids?"
The host was thrilled.
Unsellable junk about to fetch 100 million.
"No further bids, so the Dagger of Bleeding goes to Shin Yu-hyun! Congratulations!"
The superhumans stared at him in astonishment.
Who shells out that much for Magic-grade?
Lee Cheon-woo scowled but relaxed at his cronies' whispers.
He'd lost the dagger but forced a 50-million-won item to 100 million—victory, in his mind.
But.
Even at 100 million, it's a steal.
Shin Yu-hyun was pleased.
If it were just a Magic weapon with an option, it'd be a loss—but he didn't care about the option's power. Pure profit. Bleeding gear would've cost billions otherwise.
And he had ammo to spare.
"Next up: the latest Barrier Coat from Namdu Group's Genesis brand! Mid-tier with a 4-star mana stone core and cutting-edge mana controls. Starts at 100 million!"
Interest sparked in the superhumans' eyes.
Barrier Coats were lifesavers for superhumans and hunters alike.
Top performance was always welcome.
Genesis dominated Asia and the West as the Barrier Coat specialist.
"That's the new model?"
Shin Yu-hyun eyed the sleek white coat with red-and-black accents on stage.
Every Genesis coat passed through Nam Yeon-ah's hands.
This auction exclusive was her design too.
"Yep, brand-new model. And it's a one-of-a-kind auction exclusive."
"One of a kind..."
Shin Yu-hyun's interest piqued.
His Black Tortoise Hall coat was decent, but this was the latest—and unique.
It stroked his possessiveness.
Nam Yeon-ah grinned.
"Don't worry. The one I'm gifting you isn't mid-tier like that."
"Something to look forward to?"
"You bet."
She flashed a confident smile.
Higher grade, then.
This auction coat was Rare mid-tier with a 4-star core, plus auction premium.
Yet she'd prepped something better.
High-tier Exceptional Rare, maybe?
Can't wait to see it.
Shin Yu-hyun buzzed with anticipation.
"300 million! Higher?"
The coat hit 300 million while he'd bowed out for Nam Yeon-ah's gift.
"No further bids—the new coat goes to Yi Su-ah! Congratulations!"
It sold to a woman who looked like a 4-star hunter.
Moments later.
"Next item!"
The third item appeared on stage.
"...!"
Every superhuman's eyes widened in shock and excitement.
It was something they prized highly, rarely seen even at auctions.
"Starts at 500 million!"