Black Guild's Exclusive Proposal
Mu-hyuk nodded after taking down five more.
An average of 4 minutes 55 seconds.
The enhancement had drastically slowed his hunting speed.
"Whoa, what the hell? Sub-4 minutes? How are you killing them this fast?"
"Enhanced my weapon to +7."
"Holy shit, no wonder the troll kings are melting."
"Jealous?"
"Hell yeah, for real. Do mine too."
"For free?"
"I'll cover the materials!"
"Kidding, man. It's late today—tomorrow or the day after."
"Sweet, thanks!"
That's when Yerin hooked her arm through Mu-hyuk's.
"Oppa, me too."
"Obviously. Anyway, when are we heading to a new hunting ground?"
"New one?"
"Yeah, like I said earlier—we can't stick around here forever."
"You sure? Don't do it just because of what I said…"
"Nah, I've been thinking about moving anyway."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Troll king hunting was definitely inefficient now.
The issue was distance from the village if they switched spots, but that wasn't a big deal. They could scout around warp-accessible areas.
Plus, with skeleton warhorses, travel time would be minimal.
"Let's hunt around here for a day or two while we find a new spot."
"Okay!"
"Nice, so we're out in three days max?"
"Yeah, gotta go."
"Awesome. Honestly, I was getting bored as hell. Now that we're leaving soon, I'm kinda attached, though. Sucks."
"You're full of shit."
"Joking. Anyway, let's grind hard till then!"
"Yeah, after we eat."
"Oh yeah, it's past 8 already."
"Let's log out."
"Yeah! See you soon, oppa!"
The three logged out of Illusion for dinner.
About an hour later, Sung Min-woo and Yerin reconnected and dove into hunting, while Mu-hyuk focused on enhancements.
*
Black Guild leader Hyuk-su propped his chin on his hand.
"Hm, so he switched to instant sales?"
"Yes."
"Starting yesterday?"
"Correct."
One executive spoke up.
"This makes it tough to snag enhancement items. Jiryang's got a backlog of reservations—even if we book now, we'd wait forever."
"Hold on."
Hyuk-su raised a hand.
"First question: what did you do right when he switched to instant sales?"
"Assigned shifts to monitor the auction house 24/7. Sorted by highest price and kept refreshing."
"And?"
"They tried buying the second an item popped up. But it was already sold."
"Every time?"
"Yes."
Hyuk-su nodded.
"Makes sense. Illusion has too many users…"
"Guild leader, what now?"
Hyuk-su smirked.
"What else? Keep trying to buy first."
"Uh, well…"
"What?"
"Maybe send someone to negotiate…"
"Think he'll bite?"
Judging by Mu-hyuk's known personality, no way.
Hyuk-su knew that too, which was why he'd thrown it back.
But as he finished asking, a spark flashed through his mind.
"Wait…"
"Something wrong?"
"Hmm…"
A brief silence fell.
"Paradox Guild's been gunning for him lately, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"Paradox! Those bastards piss me off just thinking about 'em. You agree, guild leader?"
The guild leader just smiled.
"They even snagged a few items from us. Annoying fucks."
"Totally. No class."
"Manners like trash."
Hyuk-su raised a hand to quiet the executives.
The reporting executive continued.
"Speaking of Paradox, one related update."
"Something good?"
"Yes. Over the last two days, some enhancement items sold. Buyers bragged online, or friends posted about it. Paradox tracked them down, half-threatened, and bought the items cheap."
"Half-threatened?"
"Kill on sight if they refuse."
"Reliable intel?"
"Yes, guild leader."
"Hm, anything else?"
"That's it."
"Good. I'll meet Mu-hyuk user myself and talk."
"Pardon?"
"In person?"
"Yes. Problem?"
"N-no."
"Location pinned?"
"Yes. Troll king habitat."
"Troll kings, huh… Vice leader."
"Yes."
"Mind the guild while I'm gone."
"Got it."
Hyuk-su stood.
"Meeting's over for today."
He left the building and headed for Mu-hyuk.
*
Success on Yerin's weapon to +7 after just two failures. Pure luck explosion.
"Oppa, thank you!"
Mu-hyuk, rewarded with her kiss, eyed Sung Min-woo.
"Hand it over."
"Finally my turn!"
"Less talk. Quick. Gotta keep the luck streak."
"Sorry! Here!"
Sung Min-woo joked as he passed the knuckle gloves.
"Seriously, thanks, man."
"Unlimited materials let me go ham. Won't be possible later."
"Yeah, got it."
"Watch from the side."
"Roger!"
"Hehe, oppa. I'm off to test mine!"
"Cool. Be careful."
"Yep!"
Yerin left to hunt. Mu-hyuk set down the knuckles and gripped the hammer.
Enhancement.
He struck the glowing red dot.
Clang, clang!
After repeating for a while, Mu-hyuk paused. Sung Min-woo, watching intently, blinked hopefully.
"S-success?"
"Nope."
"Ah…!"
"No biggie. One more!"
But it failed again.
"Sorry, failed again."
"+4…?"
"Yeah. Fine. We'll ramp it back up."
"True. You've barely failed at +4."
"Exactly."
Mu-hyuk smiled and started again.
Clang!
Enhancement hit 100%.
Failed once more.
"Hm, looks like Yerin's weapon sucked up all the luck."
"N-no way…"
"Sorry. Failed again. +3 now."
"Impossible!"
Sung Min-woo reclaimed the knuckles and checked.
"Crazy, really +3."
"Yeah."
"F-fine. Keep going. It'll work this time, definitely. If not, scam. Yeah."
No stopping now, so they continued.
Enhancement.
Success this time, thankfully.
"+4 for now."
"Yes! Knew it. Nonstop to +6!"
But it failed at +4.
"Failed…?"
"Haha?"
"Tch, again."
Failed again.
Horribly unlucky today.
"+4?"
Mu-hyuk grimaced at Sung Min-woo's question.
"Why? Why again!"
"Sorry, +2."
"……."
Definitely not his day.
*
Despair and frustration finally lifted from Sung Min-woo's face.
"+6 at last."
"Back to square one."
"Now we start."
"Please."
Mu-hyuk silently prayed for success as he began.
At around 50% progress, a user approached leisurely from afar.
Seemed casual, but suddenly he was close enough to make out clearly.
Sung Min-woo stepped forward, noting the gaze fixed on Mu-hyuk.
"Who are you?"
"Black Guild leader. Here to talk with Mu-hyuk user."
"Black Guild?"
"Yes."
Famous enough that even Sung Min-woo knew it.
"We're enhancing weapons right now. Wait a sec?"
"Sure."
Hyuk-su nodded matter-of-factly and sat on the ground, staring at Mu-hyuk.
Mu-hyuk's work neared completion.
Clang!
Final hammer strike.
"Whew."
Mu-hyuk looked up. Sung Min-woo grinned uncontrollably at his expression.
"S-success, right?"
"Yeah, +7."
"Finally!"
"Check it."
Sung Min-woo snatched the knuckles, confirmed the info, and whooped.
"Hell yeah!"
"Who's the guy sitting back there?"
"Oh, him?"
"Yeah."
"Said he's Black Guild leader."
"Guild leader?"
Black Guild.
A behemoth growing stronger by the day.
Leader had a decent rep too, as Mu-hyuk recalled.
Why here?
Guild recruit?
Mu-hyuk and Hyuk-su locked eyes.
Both stood.
Hyuk-su extended a hand as they neared.
"Black Guild leader, Hyuk-su."
"Ah, hi. Nice to meet you."
"Wanted a quick word."
"Sorry. Not interested in guilds."
"Not here to recruit."
Mu-hyuk tilted his head.
"Then…?"
Hyuk-su glanced at Sung Min-woo—clear hint to step away.
"Mu-hyuk, gonna hunt some."
"Cool."
Sung Min-woo equipped his knuckles and charged a distant troll king.
"You bastards, die!"
As he vanished, Hyuk-su spoke.
"You switched enhancement items to instant sale lately."
Mu-hyuk got it.
Ah, so…
Black Guild had been hoarding them.
"When it was auction, we bought most."
"I see."
"Not asking to switch back. But could you sell us a tiny exclusive portion?"
Exclusive sales.
He planned to refuse.
But.
"Do that, and I'll share some info."
Curiosity piqued at "info."
"No regrets. Knowing it or not could change your near future big time."
"What if it sucks?"
"Then forget it."
That confident?
What could it be?
"Even if I like it and agree to exclusives, it'll be minimal. Out of 10 +5 items, maybe 1 or 2."
"That's fine."
No reason to say no now.
Fine, 1 or 2 out of 10.
"Let's hear it."
Hyuk-su smiled at Mu-hyuk's words.