Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Auction Gambit
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Kang Seol stared intently at Shades' Grace.
A crystal orb crafted by mimicking the abilities of the shadow spirit Shades. Meticulous research maximized shadow-handling power, but side effects proved unavoidable.
Basic Abilities: Intelligence +5, Wisdom +15, Mental Strength +2
Special Abilities: Shadow Hand grade +1 step, Shadow Space +30% expansion, Shadow Summon stats -20%
"Ah..."
He let out an involuntary sigh.
The options were fantastic, but one thing nagged at him.
Is this good or what?
Ah... total flop lololol
Why why why???
Use is different.
Different how? It's for Shadow Summoner?
Shadow Summoners aren't all one type.
As the viewers pointed out, the Shadow Summoner path Kang Seol pursued was utterly different from the one suited to Shades' Grace.
'This weapon would only suit a summoner cranking out hordes of low-tier summons...'
Shadow Summoners' shadow summons fell into two main branches.
One was Kang Seol's style: each summon so powerful they operated as a small elite force.
In such cases, abilities focused on boosting or supporting summon stats.
'But this weapon actually drops summon stats...'
The other branch churned out endless low-level shadow summons.
There, Shadow Space expansion mattered more than individual stats. Low-level summons meant the stat penalty barely stung anyway.
Lmaoooo Blaine kekekeke
Trusted Blaine lol what a dud
Can't we skip this? lol Demand an exchange!
Blaine: Prepared just what you need^^ (smug face)
This was the weapon Kang Seol currently wielded.
A staff imbued with the sacred energy of the moon.
A bit on the heavy side.
Basic Ability: Wisdom +10
Special Ability: All stats +5% at night.
The core stat Wisdom was comparable to Shades' Grace, and the special ability was plenty usable.
'That's what makes it a tough call...'
Kang Seol pondered briefly before stowing Shades' Grace back in his inventory.
'No helping it. Have to make a detour.'
Kang Seol finished his preparations and entered Nobira.
He headed straight for the one place that could resolve his Shades' Grace dilemma.
"Hey! No cutting in line!"
"Ah, sorry."
"Hmph!"
The crowd included rough burly men, refined women, and greedy merchants.
"Heard a ton of loot hit the market from that last ruin run."
"You see that treasure item?"
"Yeah, that one? Caught it the second it posted."
"Why's it up for auction?"
"Who knows? Maybe no takers yet."
"Makes sense. Rare as it is, who shells out that price?"
"Word is they want a trade, not cash."
"Nuts... what about auction fees?"
"If it doesn't sell, just the listing fee."
"True. Still a sight to behold."
Nobira's auction house ranked among the south continent's largest.
As treasure central, it drew wholesalers and middlemen like flies.
It even featured an item search function akin to the Adventurer Association's community board.
That kept the massive crowds manageable. Otherwise, it'd be pandemonium.
Kang Seol listed his spare consumables and miscellaneous adventure drops.
Selling to shops meant getting ripped off without negotiation skills.
The consumables sold out almost instantly.
Adventurers must be burning through supplies amid the nonstop runs.
Irrelevant to him, he scanned listings for gear he could use.
'Greaves no-go for summoners... so pants, weapons, accessories?'
Other slots were settled decently, but weapons were low-grade, pants optionless, accessories vacant.
Kang Seol's fingers flew across the interface.
He filtered for desired categories and scrolled rapidly. Then his finger froze.
"Hm? What's this...?"
Auction gear skewed extraordinary, especially equipment.
Special grade commonplace; diligent searches unearthed Rare.
Even Rares flopped without options, commanding true value only when stellar.
The item that halted Kang Seol?
'Treasure grade?'
In the weapon category, no less.
Main-slot gear cost double to triple others.
Kang Seol checked its specs.
Treasure forged from the tongue of the jet-black serpent Gallota. Imbued with the shadow-spewing snake's power. Shadow poison permeates it, risking user poisoning.
Basic Ability: Wisdom +22
Special Abilities: Shadow Summon stats +15%, Shadow Summon inheritance chance +20%, wearer shadow poison risk every 6 hours.
'Gallota's Tongue!'
The jet-black serpent Gallota was an infamous monster.
Its shadow poison and ironclad hide had claimed countless players.
Not a lone beast, but the collective for massive black snakes haunting ruins near the Great Forest.
'No wonder it's not targeted.'
In the Great Forest, Gallotas appeared randomly—encounterable anywhere or nowhere.
Kang Seol had no reason to hunt specifically.
'Wait, more shocking—a drop of Gallota's Tongue?'
Gallota dropped Treasure gear at low odds.
Most boasted stellar options; a few bore brutal drawbacks.
Like this tongue.
The periodic poisoning risk seemed minor but spelled disaster.
'Shadow poison isn't fatal, but no known cure.'
It dulled senses gradually.
Remedy unknown to the public; ingredients scarce near the Great Forest.
'Hence the auction listing.'
The wearer was likely poisoned already.
This caliber could've moved via black-market direct trade; any Shadow Summoner would pay dearly.
Unsolds screamed one reason.
'Anyway... who owns it?'
Gallota's Tongue wasn't casual loot. Its bearer—a person or group—was a local powerhouse.
'Ruin hunter faction top suspect.'
Others rarely raided ruins, let alone felled Gallota.
Source screamed them.
'Gather intel. Contacting the owner could...'
His motive? Simple.
'Way out of my budget.'
All his coin fell short of the minimum bid.
'No choice...'
Kang Seol queued up and approached a manager.
"Manager Rita here. Listing an item?"
"Yes, Rita."
"Place it here."
Kang Seol reluctantly set Shades' Grace down, shielded from prying eyes.
Click.
Rita's face hardened.
"Th-this..."
"Problem?"
"No. Given the item... minimum bid?"
Kang Seol quoted Gallota's Tongue's floor.
"200 platinum."
"B-but buyers might not bite?"
"It's fine."
Time was plentiful; weapon swap unhurried.
Best case: owner sniffed his play, proposed swap.
'Slim odds, but.'
Either outcome worked.
Shades' buyer funding a Gallota bid, or owner trading for Shades'.
Rita queried.
"Proxy sale?"
"Yes, please."
"Understood. Item's caliber—daily check-ins best."
"Got it."
Kang Seol grabbed a few items, then exited.
Moments later, Rita ducked backroom, slipped a scrawled note to a scowling brute.
While away, Kang Seol hit the Association to gauge Nobira's shifts. Community reigned for intel.
‘JDwatta’-nim's Post
Posted: Just now
Title: Those clowns who said it'd be peaceful post-Borgo
Reflect hard ㅡㅡ Nobira's gone insane;
New Cold War?
For real, scared to walk streets anymore—knife any second.
Ruin Lion Heca total asshole fr
Say that to Heca's face?
'Heca?'
Kang Seol recalled bits from prior Cao intel hunts.
Pre-Borgo demise, Nobira's ruin-hunter elite split five factions.
Borgo's wiped by Kang Seol's hand, leaving four in tense deadlock.
'Something snap in the standoff?'
‘HecaDie’-nim's Post
Posted: One week ago
Title: How it went down. Knowers know.
Heca & Doju teamed up, Kibo & Shuru opposed? Dual power held till Kibo side blew up. Staggering, so Heca/Doju swarm to devour Nobira. Get it? Scum hub sure, but cash tsunami means winner balloons huge.
What blew on Kibo/Shuru side?
Kibo side def glitched. Shuru fine.
Lone wolf Kibo sensei ㅠㅠ
Save Nobira, Kibo-chan!
Driving me nuts; Kibo's chill with natives, Heca crew just cannon fodder bait ffs
How'd natives root here... sigh gotta bail Nobira too?
Kongori? One Korean guild union supposedly livable now.
Stuck debating base move—party drought fear.
Kang Seol pieced it together.
'Balance shattered. Cold war vibes.'
Ruin hunts weren't his jam; pure sideshow. Besides, he was beyond faction fodder now.
He skimmed for more news.
'Hm?'
Then spotted one tied to him.
‘BreakingNews’-nim's Post
Posted: Just now
Title: Unannounced Arrival in Nobira.
Posts about a secret landing began flooding the community.
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