Black Market Cores and Brewing Storms
The black market thrives as a haven for illicit trades, far from the prying eyes of the government. A prime example is monster cores that haven't been officially reported to the Hero Association. Poorly managed cores are a major factor in attracting monsters, so the government keeps a close watch on them, treating them as a special priority.
Three days ago, Baek Sang-woo was browsing the black market when he spotted a sales post someone had uploaded. He laughed at the seller.
Selling monster cores. Have 100+ D-rank, 50+ C-rank in stock. B-rank and above available based on demand.
Sang-woo would have cursed them out too if he hadn't seen the seller's username. Phoenix of the Azure Flame. The villain who sold 19 billion worth of cores, including three B-ranks. Sang-woo hadn't even been authorized to buy the A-rank ones. He messaged Phoenix right away.
And so they met again. Phoenix invited him to Guro, and it just so happened to be the day she seized control of Guro Digital Complex. Seeing her wipe out all the monsters in Guro and bring the whole district under her organization's banner convinced Sang-woo. Partnering with this villain would make him rich. He contacted headquarters immediately, even hopping on a video call for verification. HQ rushed over from Incheon and snapped up the A-rank cores.
Of course, headquarters wanted a direct line to the seller, and the seller wanted to talk to HQ reps. Sang-woo acted as the go-between. And that led to this meeting inside the container.
"So your group's called Cheonghwa-dan, and you wanna trade with our Milky Way?"
"Yeah. This is a gift."
Phoenix kicked her feet playfully on the drum barrel, nudging a duffel bag with her toe. Milky Way's chairman gulped as he saw the monster cores sloshing inside.
"All of that?"
"Yep. All of it. You came all the way yourself, so you gotta cover cab fare, right Chairman?"
The chairman groaned and pulled out one core from the bag. The blue mana membrane enveloping the iridescent core sparkled like a jewel.
"We'll crunch the numbers later on safety and loss rates for this volume. What matters is..."
The chairman tossed the core to Phoenix. She didn't even use her hands—just flicked it back into the open duffel with her instep.
"...if you can really supply this junk on the regular, or if you're gonna deliver the real goods—A-rank and up."
The chairman upended the duffel bag. Monster cores spilled out, rolling across the container floor.
"Selling scraps like this won't make bank no matter how many you push. Pennies don't add up to a check. You know a truckload of D-ranks ain't worth one B-rank, right?"
"Obviously."
"Exactly. So we'd rather skip hauling this crap around and go straight for B- and A-rank cores."
Phoenix slipped a hand into her pocket.
"Like this?"
In her palm were orbs completely filled with green—a cluster of cores. The chairman instantly knew all four were A-rank.
"One from Guro. Three from Yeouido. Head north of the Han River, and we'll clean house, huh?"
"...Yeah. Just cross the Han, and B-ranks swarm like ants."
The chairman scratched his head furiously, then jolted as something clicked.
"Wait. Heard there's an S-rank threat in Yeouido. Rumor?"
"...Puhuhu."
Phoenix reached into her inner pocket and pulled something out.
"Already got it."
A black, round gem smaller than a quail egg. Perched on her fingertip like a Go stone, the core exuded a hypnotic allure. The chairman swallowed hard.
"How much?"
"Not for sale. S-ranks don't pop up like potatoes, you know?"
"I heard about the dimensional gates screwing up Seoul, but nothing about an S-rank hiding in Yeouido getting taken out. Latest news I got was the National Assembly building catching fire a few hours ago..."
The chairman stroked his chin, then grinned.
"That your doing?"
"Yep. Fire was its weakness."
"An S-rank in the National Assembly? ...This is getting juicy."
The chairman licked his lips, digging into his memory. The leader of the first opposition party back then—the one who declared they couldn't abandon Seoul. His fierce resolve to stay shot his party to the top of the polls, but when the government whisked away Gwanggeom to Shin Seoul, his career flatlined. Now missing. Last sighted at Yeouido National Assembly. After his disappearance, the place turned into a mystery dungeon—anyone who entered vanished.
"...The second opposition leader at the time—president's biggest rival. Did the president know?"
"Who knows. But he sure profited big time, didn't he? Rival gone, Seoul residents fleeing monsters to Shin Seoul, boosting its value sky-high. Huge win for the president based there."
"Deliberate? Or lucky? Either way, he milked it good. Scary guy, Seon Ui-cheol."
"Hey, the topic's veering way off course here."
Baek Sang-woo cut in, alarmed at how far the conversation had strayed. Neither paid him any mind.
"So the Seoul reclamation op too?"
"He doesn't want his purged rivals coming back alive. Worried some might be scraping by as vagrants, or holding dirt on his crew, still hiding in Seoul."
"What about the Pine Tree Unit then?"
"Using them to 'hunt monsters' while sniping loose ends he missed. That's why they stick around Seoul. Problem is if they drag their feet on reclamation—"
Phoenix rubbed her fingertips together with a grin. Tiny flames flickered at her hand.
"The Assembly fire lit a fire under his ass. Bet he wants to rush there himself and check if they're alive or dead."
"What the hell kinda conversation is this? Jumping from poles? We came to talk cores, not presidents and rivals!"
Baek Sang-woo wedged in, pointing it out. He'd already lost the thread.
"If we're here for core trades, we should discuss supply chains and deal terms, not presidential what-ifs!"
"......Yeah, you're right?"
"...Ah. Sang-woo, pretend you heard nothing."
Phoenix and the chairman exchanged glances and snickered.
"We'll pick this up later when we got time. For now, let's do what he wants. So, how you planning to supply going forward?"
"Take south of the Han centered on Yeouido. Gather vagrants, hunt monsters."
"That's it?"
"Of course not. Once the group's solid, push monsters out to northern Gyeonggi. Hold the line at the old 38th parallel. Hunt whatever comes south, steady core supply."
The chairman grimaced, jiggling his leg.
"Everyone's plans sound good till reality hits. You got time to conquer south of the Han? Over a hundred heroes coming for reclamation."
"Anyone shows, fine by me. I'll beat 'em all."
Phoenix puffed up proudly. The chairman pulled up a screen and jabbed at it with his chin.
"You beat Snow Flower Princess?"
The screen showed an S-rank hero appearing in Shin Seoul. Next article featured Hwagwon Lee Seung-hyung too.
"Hmm. Snow Flower Princess and Fire Fist... So two S-ranks incoming?"
"Yeah. Word is Fire Fist's got Round Table-level talent."
"Ahahaha!"
Phoenix doubled over laughing. The chairman looked embarrassed instead.
"Plan falling apart got you losing it?"
"Ahaha, no, not that."
Phoenix calmed down, waving it off.
"Was worried about Gwanggeom showing up. This works out great."
Phoenix chuckled lowly.
"Those two? I could toy with 'em one-handed."
Meanwhile, at the Hero Association HQ cafe in Shin Seoul.
The white-haired girl sat with earbuds in, eyes closed, lost in her music. ♩♬♪ Humming along, she radiated youthful energy fitting her age. Seung-hyung's heart sank knowing the song.
"Why you got military marches on your phone anyway?"
The girl scowled, pulling out one earbud and opening her eyes. Her irises were a deep navy, like ocean depths.
"Got a problem?"
"Just playing random tunes? Wanna share?"
"Nah. You're just pissed 'cause you know it's marches to troll me."
"Tch."
She clicked her tongue in disappointment. The blaring bugle from the freed earbud dried Seung-hyung's mouth.
"Cut the jokes. Why're you really here?"
Seung-hyung got serious, so she pocketed her phone and straightened up.
"Duh, to take back Seoul."
S-rank hero Seok Ha-rang. Better known as Snow Flower Princess, she'd left her hometown Busan for Shin Seoul. Shin Seoul cheered the surprise visit from the S-rank who'd holed up in Busan; Busan trembled at the monster risks without her. Especially since her goal was 'Seoul reclamation'—she might be gone a while.
"You're S-rank now too, right? Can't let monsters play in Seoul forever. Pull the iron horns while hot, yeah?"
"...Haa. Really."
Seung-hyung rubbed his temple. Ha-rang's fighting pose was casual as a stroll, but her mana brimmed with battle lust. Matching her rank now, Seung-hyung's eyes narrowed at the aggression wafting from her.
"This about that city hall dragon? Revenge?"
"Ugh."
Ha-rang wrinkled her nose, hit dead on.
"W-what's wrong with that? Finishing what you couldn't!"
"Plenty. A barely adult kid diving into central Seoul battlefield. Risking your life. At twenty."
Ha-rang slammed the table with her palm at the age jab.
"I'm twenty-one now! And you're twenty-six! Not that big a gap!"
"Not big, but 'ajusshi'? Kinda harsh?"
"Hmph. Your old-man vibe kills it. Wanna hear 'oppa'? Get stronger than me first."
"Don't say stuff that'll make me cringe..."
Seung-hyung sighed, eyeing nearby heroes and reporters eavesdropping.
"Why stick me as your escort..."
"Means come to Seoul with me. Government's one thing, but Association's desperate this time."
Ha-rang slurped her iced tea.
"Rescuing vagrants and holdouts, sure. But they wanna uproot villains hiding in Seoul too."
"Villains?"
Ha-rang nodded.
"Dimensional gates, fire dragon. Seoul's already hell—villains who prize their hides won't stick around. They'll bolt to Incheon or southern Gyeonggi."
She broke down villain behavior.
"Already spotting wanted villains in Gwangmyeong and Seongnam. Villain exodus starting."
"...Nightmare."
Pretty much all Korea's villains were holed up in Seoul. Lawless zone government ignored, but prime for core jackpots from monster hunts. If they scattered, chaos. Hunt villains, plug gaps with descending monsters. Better nab 'em all now. Rehabilitate the useful ones for the team.
"That's why Association sent the Executioner to Busan to drag me up."
"Gonna freeze 'em all?"
Ha-rang shrugged. Her touch chilled the sun-warmed iced tea.
"Nah. Capture villains. Freezing to death's for monsters only."
Her low chuckle sent a chill through Seung-hyung. Room temp dropped a degree, felt like.
Clink. Ha-rang stirred her iced tea, then pointed the straw at him.
"So quit dodging, ajusshi. Come to Seoul. Perfect chance to practice mana control now you're S-rank."
"Appreciate the advice."
Seung-hyung sipped his coffee.
"But do we both need to go? One's enough, no?"
"...Gwanggeom said all three must go."
Ha-rang pouted, poking her ice.
"Big threat in Seoul, gather max power. I could solo it."
Confidence overflowed in her cool smile.