Sixty Billion and a Broken Nose
Sixty billion? And that was the lowest market price, they said. Of course, I'd expected it to be pricey, but hearing a sum on an entirely different scale made my head spin.
Come to think of it, the bit I'd heard at the Hunter Management Office—that S-rank hunters could get overdraft accounts up to 10 billion won—suddenly felt like pocket change. S-rank hunters earned big, but they spent big too. They were walking conglomerates, plain and simple. For someone like me, who'd been slaving away at the Dungeon Management Office just a short while ago, this sudden shift in daily life was downright dizzying.
Still, with all these high-flying women around me, I'd gotten good at playing it cool even when I was floored inside.
"At this price, it's not even that expensive, Hunter. The material for this gear isn't well-known yet, but once hunters start competing for it, the price could double or triple. I've been in this business long enough to know. Plus, this material only drops in one S-rank dungeon in Africa. That country plans to milk it for all it's worth—they won't flood the market even if they produce more."
"Got it."
I nodded. The boss lady didn't seem to be lying. Like she'd said herself, she wasn't a newbie in this industry. She wouldn't bullshit an S-rank hunter. If she said the price would rise, it would.
"Double or triple, you said?"
A sudden unease hit me, so I asked her directly.
"Yes, Hunter. It's a golden opportunity. Think of it as an investment and take it. I don't gouge S-rank hunters. Bring it back later, and the profit difference is all yours."
Sure, she'd make her cut on the buy-in, but that was why everyone wanted to cozy up to S-rank hunters. No matter how you sliced it, the gains were on another level. I'd learned that much from my brief stint in this world.
"I'll go with this armor for now. It's free to rent, right?"
"Yes. We'll set the contract at current market rates. If you buy it during the rental period, it's yours at this price."
Not that it was likely, but if the price dropped, I could just walk away. A no-lose deal for me.
"I'll show you plenty of other great stuff too—not quite on this level, but solid."
Beaming, she flipped to another page in the pamphlet. Weapons this time. I pondered what to equip. First, bracelets or necklaces to amplify sorcery. Then, for leveraging Kim Eun-bi's stealth—a dagger for close-range throat slits or heart stabs. And a spear to play to Jo A-young's strengths. That was the rough plan.
"Any limits on renting weapons?"
"Yes, unfortunately. Free rentals are capped: two sets of armor, and one weapon per type."
"Does sword length count as different types?"
"Yes, they're classified by blade length."
"Ah, okay~~"
No issues there. Time to shop freely. Armor up to two sets? I'd grab an extra. One for close combat, one optimized for pure sorcery amplification.
Who knew shopping could be this fun? And it didn't even feel like spending. Hundreds of billions flashed before my eyes and ears, but with potential profits? Dizzying. The S-rank world was a whole different universe from mine.
#
"Na-yeon noona! You're here?"
Kim Hyun-cheol waved enthusiastically at the woman who burst through the underground lounge door.
"I still can't get used to you every time. Feels like watching a thug chug booze with a horse."
"Aw, come on~ It's been ages since I awakened. Still on about that?"
"Tch, punk-ass brat. Fuck off."
Kim Hyun-cheol didn't bat an eye at Seo Na-yeon's crude jabs. Park Hyun-jun, though, couldn't mouth off to him anymore. He knew exactly how Kim Hyun-cheol saw him now. As the guy said, in this world, power was everything. Once the hierarchy was clear, age and experience meant jack shit.
Seo Na-yeon flopped onto the sofa and prodded Park Hyun-jun beside her.
"Hey, you're a rare sight lately. Few weeks back, you were blowing up my phone bragging about who you fucked next, who you'd rape after that."
"Hahaha! Yeah, Hyun-jun hyung's been off his game."
"About time. Gotta pace yourself. Word is, your rep's so toxic, girls run at the sight of your face."
"Hahaha! Perfect!"
Kim Hyun-cheol roared with laughter, piling on.
"Hyun-jun hyung's a eunuch anyway. Tell the girls—no need to fear."
"What?"
Seo Na-yeon furrowed her brow. It sounded like a joke, but the timing felt off.
"Hyun-jun's dick is huge—how's he a eunuch? I felt it myself."
As she slyly reached for Park Hyun-jun's crotch, he flinched and pulled away.
"Hey, hey, what's that about~ Between us? We've seen it all—just never fucked~"
She laughed it off, but his face stayed stiff.
"No way..."
Seo Na-yeon glanced between Park Hyun-jun and Kim Hyun-cheol.
"For real?"
"Yeah. Called you here to spill."
"About Hyun-jun going eunuch."
"Yep. Hahaha! Hilarious! Hear it from him!"
Park Hyun-jun just grimaced at Kim Hyun-cheol's over-the-line bullshit.
"Spit it out already!"
As he sat there, pride wounded and silent, Kim Hyun-cheol barked.
"This fucker!"
Seo Na-yeon snapped in his place.
"Kid, we're all S-ranks, but there's age and seniority here. That's how you talk to your hyung? Hyun-jun, why take that shit?"
She called out his recklessness, but he looked anything but remorseful.
"Just hear him out~ You'll get why."
"Haaa..."
Park Hyun-jun let out a long sigh. Where had it all gone wrong? Kim Hyun-cheol strutting in front of him turned his stomach, but he knew: to reclaim his honor, he had to use this bastard. He hated letting one more person in on his secret, but he opened his mouth anyway.
"So..."
Seo Na-yeon downed shots silently through his long tale. At 180cm, with broad shoulders from her pre-awakening swimming days, one side of her head buzzed short, tattoos snaking her body—she exuded raw intimidation. Even without S-rank status, no guy would dare hit on her. And her striking look? Every Korean knew her face.
"That's for real?"
Face flushed as the story wrapped, she asked.
"Yeah. That's how it went."
Park Hyun-jun smacked his lips bitterly.
"What a joke."
But Seo Na-yeon didn't laugh. She hurled the ashtray at Kim Hyun-cheol instead.
Thwack!
Her throws were signature: ashtray in hand—thwack!—impact. She could nail targets instantly, no matter the distance. Faster than bullets, anything in hand became a projectile.
A normal toss wouldn't faze Kim Hyun-cheol, but an S-rank's mana-coated ashtray? Unshattered. His head snapped back, nose gushing blood.
"Ah..."
Park Hyun-jun felt relief mixed with dread. Seo Na-yeon's temper was volcanic. She might flip tables if outnumbered, but against fellow S-ranks? Rare. She'd raise her voice, sure—but not throw. Today, though, Kim Hyun-cheol had fucked up big.
Park Hyun-jun's worry stemmed from knowing Kim Hyun-cheol well. The guy was elite enough for Jo Dong-geun's favor, with a psycho streak that could snap anywhere. This lounge might turn into a brawl. He'd side with Seo Na-yeon—hated the prick anyway, and she'd jumped in for him.
But Kim Hyun-cheol, staring into space, didn't wipe his flowing nosebleed. He just grinned wide.
"Sorry, noona. My bad."
"Tch!"
Seo Na-yeon tossed tissues at his bloodied face with a pissed-off grimace.
"Sorry. That hurt?"