Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Bloodsucking Sword Yohee
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It was none other than her older brother, Nam Min-hyuk, the very man who had commissioned Nam Yeon-ah's assassination.
"Nam Min-hyuk, Head of the Strategic Planning Office, bids 1.9 billion! Anyone else?"
The auctioneer scanned the auction house interior as he announced Nam Min-hyuk's bid of 1.9 billion.
Now in his thirties, Nam Min-hyuk had steadily walked the path of succession, taking charge of the Strategic Planning Office at Namdu Group headquarters.
Thanks to that, he spent his days buried in meetings, always swamped with work. Because of it, Nam Yeon-ah had assumed he wouldn't make it to the party.
"2 billion."
Shin Yu-hyun called out his bid in a low but firm voice.
Nam Min-hyuk's appearance was unexpected, but he couldn't let the Bloodsucking Sword Yohee slip away.
"2.1 billion."
"2.12 billion."
"2.15 billion."
"2.3 billion."
Nam Min-hyuk and the other 6-star superhumans joined the bidding, driving the price of the Bloodsucking Sword higher without pause.
Before long, it had broken past 2.5 billion.
"2.5 billion! Nam Min-hyuk of the Planning Office bids 2.5 billion!"
"2.7 billion."
"Shin Yu-hyun bids 2.7 billion!"
Nam Min-hyuk's brow furrowed at the staggering sum of 2.7 billion. It was more than even he had anticipated.
He looked at Shin Yu-hyun with a surprised expression.
And the rest of the people in the auction house felt the same.
After all, Shin Yu-hyun—rumored for years to be incompetent in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan—had suddenly appeared with a fortune and jumped into the bidding.
"2.71 billion."
"Nam Min-hyuk of the Planning Office! 2.71 billion!"
"2.75 billion."
"Shin Yu-hyun bids 2.75 billion! Anyone else?"
By the time it had surpassed 2.5 billion, the other bidders had mostly dropped out.
It was down to just Shin Yu-hyun and Nam Min-hyuk.
When Shin Yu-hyun called 2.75 billion, Nam Min-hyuk fell back. He was no longer participating in the bidding.
"With no other bids, the Bloodsucking Sword Yohee goes to Shin Yu-hyun. Congratulations!"
In the end, the Bloodsucking Sword Yohee went to Shin Yu-hyun, bringing the auction to a close.
After the auction ended, the after-party began. A few attendees left, and Chairman Nam Hyun-chul headed back to headquarters as soon as the auction wrapped up.
Choi Yu-ri sprang into action to clear the remaining chocolate cakes and cookies from the tables.
That left Shin Yu-hyun and Nam Yeon-ah alone at their table when Nam Min-hyuk approached.
"Have you been well, Yeon-ah?"
Nam Min-hyuk spoke to Nam Yeon-ah with a warm smile.
The sight sent chills down her spine.
She knew the man before her had tried to kill her.
Reluctantly, she forced herself to respond.
"Yes."
"Nothing out of the ordinary in the meantime?"
"Yes."
"That's a relief. I was worried something might have happened. Are you heading back to the lab after the party?"
"Yes."
Nam Yeon-ah's curt replies made it clear she had no interest in chatting.
But.
"Then how about dinner together? It's been a while."
"No."
She shook her head firmly, her face hardening at his dinner invitation.
Dinner with Nam Min-hyuk, who was out for her life?
All she could picture was poisoning, vomiting blood after a few bites.
"Really? That's too bad. I had a steak ready at the restaurant—the one you like."
Nam Min-hyuk feigned disappointment.
Watching from the side, Shin Yu-hyun inwardly marveled.
'What a poker face.'
Nam Yeon-ah was drawing a clear line with her one-word answers.
Yet Nam Min-hyuk brushed it off effortlessly, saying what he wanted with that affable smile.
"And who's this?"
Finally, Nam Min-hyuk's gaze turned to Shin Yu-hyun.
"The one who saved me."
"Shin Yu-hyun, in charge of Black Tortoise Hall in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan."
Shin Yu-hyun introduced himself, invoking his clan name to Nam Min-hyuk.
In the old days, he wouldn't have dreamed of mentioning the clan.
He hadn't earned their recognition—only disdain.
"Ah, the one who saved my little sister. Nice to meet you. I'm Nam Min-hyuk, Head of Strategic Planning at Namdu Group."
Nam Min-hyuk extended his hand for a shake.
"Nice to meet you."
Shin Yu-hyun and Nam Min-hyuk clasped hands.
Squeeze.
'Hm?'
Shin Yu-hyun tilted his head inwardly.
'Well, well?'
Nam Min-hyuk wore the same friendly smile he'd shown Nam Yeon-ah.
But now, he was gripping Shin Yu-hyun's hand with crushing force.
While activating Body Strengthening Technique, no less.
The difference in power with and without Body Strengthening Technique was like night and day.
Yet here was Nam Min-hyuk, channeling it to try to pulverize Shin Yu-hyun's hand.
'Can't lose here.'
Shin Yu-hyun instantly activated his own Body Strengthening Technique, pouring strength into his grip.
Surprise flickered in Nam Min-hyuk's eyes.
He hadn't expected Shin Yu-hyun to hold up.
Mana even rippled from their locked hands—a rare phenomenon when powers were evenly matched.
"Impressive, as expected from the man who saved my sister."
"You're no slouch yourself, aren't you, Head of Planning Nam Min-hyuk?"
The two smiled as they conversed.
But their thoughts differed.
'Not bad.'
Nam Min-hyuk was startled that Shin Yu-hyun withstood his strength.
'Still only this much?'
Shin Yu-hyun felt his own lack of power.
He'd thought he could pressure Nam Min-hyuk, but no.
It was inevitable, though.
As heir to Namdu Group, Nam Min-hyuk wielded real strength.
Neither had gone all out.
Too many eyes around.
They couldn't gauge how much the other was holding back.
But they knew neither was a pushover.
"Thanks again for saving my sister, even if it's late."
"No need. Just did what anyone would."
They chatted with smiles.
But Shin Yu-hyun sensed it.
The hostility hidden behind that affable smile.
Undoubtedly because he'd foiled the assassination.
"Please keep looking after her from now on."
"Of course. Don't worry—I'll ensure Nam Yeon-ah's safety."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled back at the insincere request.
Emphasizing "ensure" just a bit.
He did it to twist the knife in Nam Min-hyuk's gut.
Because.
'I don't like you.'
Nam Min-hyuk's two-faced nature grated on him.
In truth, Nam Min-hyuk was a traitor who had sold humanity to the Getia. Shin Yu-hyun had placed him high on his hit list.
For the day he'd pay the price.
And right now, he'd commissioned Getia Worshippers to assassinate Nam Yeon-ah.
So he had ties to them, somehow.
'Problem is, no hard evidence.'
Without proof linking him to the Getia Worshippers, he couldn't press the issue.
"With someone like Hall Leader Shin Yu-hyun around, I feel at ease."
Nam Min-hyuk replied with his people-pleasing smile.
Though inside, he was seething.
"And congrats on the Bloodsucking Sword. I wanted it myself, but lost out to you, Hall Leader."
Nam Min-hyuk brought up the sword with a wry smile.
He'd arrived late to the auction party.
Normally, a delayed meeting would keep him away.
Not this time.
Three reasons, probably: Shin Yu-hyun, the Bloodsucking Sword, and Nam Yeon-ah's presence.
He'd met Shin Yu-hyun and Nam Yeon-ah, but the sword slipped through his fingers. He'd yielded to Shin Yu-hyun.
"Do you need the Bloodsucking Sword, by any chance?"
"No, not essential. Just wanted to add it to my collection."
The Bloodsucking Sword Yohee was a dangerous cursed blade.
And he wanted it for his collection?
Was that really all?
"What about you, Hall Leader Shin Yu-hyun? Do you need the Bloodsucking Sword?"
"Something like your reason, Head of Planning Nam Min-hyuk."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled, tossing back the vague answer Nam Min-hyuk had given.
"I see. Well, keep it close at all times, anyway."
'Keep it close...'
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled inwardly.
Nam Min-hyuk clearly planned to kill him and Nam Yeon-ah, then claim the sword.
Why else stress carrying it everywhere?
But the sword would never reach his hands again.
'I'll grind it to dust for my skeleton soldiers.'
The moment he hit 4-star, he'd pulverize it into the Phnacoic Bible.
"Enjoy the party, then. You too, Yeon-ah."
Wrapping up, Nam Min-hyuk smiled and turned away.
"You too, Head of Planning Nam Min-hyuk."
Shin Yu-hyun saw him off with a cheerful smile.
"Yes."
Nam Yeon-ah, who truly despised him, gave her final one-word answer with a cold stare.
As Nam Min-hyuk departed, Nam Yeon-ah let out a sigh of relief.
"Thanks for dealing with that guy."
"Dealing? It was nothing. You probably had it worse."
Shin Yu-hyun had only a brief talk, but he got the measure of the man.
A hypocrite, plain and simple.
"Really... thank you."
Nam Yeon-ah bowed her head.
Among Namdu Group, only a handful knew Nam Min-hyuk's true face.
She'd suffered endlessly because of it.
Everyone else thought he was the perfect, kind brother.
Never dreaming he'd try to murder his sister.
And now Shin Yu-hyun understood her plight.
"Stay at the lab as much as possible. If you need to go out, contact me first."
"Yes."
Nam Yeon-ah nodded gratefully.
Nam Min-hyuk wouldn't dare act in Namdu Group buildings or downtown.
But better safe—the lab was untouchable, even for him.
'Nam Min-hyuk's an issue, but first things first.'
Priority: stop the dungeon stampede off Incheon's coast.
Then, hit 4-star and claim Shuv, one of the Seven Arcs.
Nam Min-hyuk could wait.
'Hitting 4-star first is key.'
Around the Incheon stampede—that was the crux.
Only at 4-star could he effectively counter the Getia Worshippers.
"Can I pick up the auction items today?"
"The items? Yes, you can take them right now."
"Perfect."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction at her answer.
Items on the same day? Couldn't ask for better.
'Now, one thing left...'
He glanced around.
Post-auction, people mingled in small groups, chatting and bonding.
Among them was someone he wanted to meet.
"Yeon-ah, do you know Lee Chae-hwa?"