Chapter 172: Pertinax Auction House (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 172: Pertinax Auction House (1)
"If you have an auction house membership card, you can bring one person with you? Is that really possible for a secret auction house?"
[Yes. No matter how secret an auction house is, they still have to constantly attract new customers.]
"So existing members act as intermediaries to bring in new clientele."
[Yes! Exactly.]
Even a secret auction house had to constantly attract customers to keep generating revenue. After all, money was what the underworld scum loved most. For them, a steady stream of cash was an absolute necessity.
However, they faced the dilemma of not being able to advertise openly.
That was likely why they chose 'referrals' as their recruitment policy.
[But are you really going to the Pertinax Secret Auction House? A lot of nasty people go there... They don't filter their clientele at all. Murderers, you name it—even villain executives show up from time to time.]
I already knew this, but hearing it directly still made me shake my head in disbelief.
"Wait, can't the government do something about it? Why do they just leave it alone?"
[From what I know, the government tacitly permits it. It's like how casinos are places for gambling, but they're left alone! It's a similar concept. As long as they pay their bribes, the higher-ups keep quiet. Besides, high-ranking officials often visit the place themselves.]
In the game, the Pertinax Secret Auction House had only appeared as a single episode.
But now that the detailed settings were fleshed out in reality, it was nothing short of a den of insects. It was disgusting.
This place was no different from Earth. Even with a common enemy like the Demons looming over them, corrupt humans were scattered everywhere.
It was a moment that made me realize once again that this world was reality.
Whew. I let out a sigh, venting my rising anger. I needed to calm down first. If I kept this mindset, I felt like I'd draw my sashimi knife the moment I stepped into the auction house.
Patience, patience, patience, patience, patience...
I calmed my racing heart and continued the call.
"About what I asked earlier—how much do you have in savings?"
[...My pockets are seriously empty. Like I told you before, an Academy instructor's salary is peanuts, and after they rip away life insurance and taxes, the money that actually lands in my hands is...]
Choi Seol-ah made excuses. I lowered my voice and pressed her.
"If you have a Pertinax membership card, it means you must have some decent money."
[...W-Well, that's...]
Even over the phone, I could clearly picture her face turning pale. I kept up the momentum and pushed her harder.
"And you say you have no money, yet you're bragging about luxury goods on Starstagram? You bought a brand-new Loi Vuitton bag just the other day. Is that even possible on an instructor's salary?"
[That was with Bitcoin...]
"Don't you know it's a breach of duty for an Academy instructor to double-dip in crypto? You're lying to the very end. That's all dirty money, isn't it?"
[......]
There was no reply. Silence meant assent. Soon, a sniffle and a tearful, damp voice drifted through the receiver.
Even if she had regained a bit of her humanity, Choi Seol-ah wasn't the type to shed tears of genuine repentance in this situation. This was an act. Crocodile tears.
She still hasn't kicked her habits from her villain days.
I clicked my tongue. The moisture in Choi Seol-ah's voice increased as she blatantly began to squeeze out tears.
I briefly considered giving her another round of mental discipline, but soon shook my head. I had been threatening her too much; it was time to throw her a bone.
After all, I was in a position where I needed her help for this matter. If I did nothing but scold her, she might become uncooperative. Even a highly loyal dog could sulk, after all.
For the record, I treated Choi Seol-ah like a pet dog. That usually gave me the answer on how to handle her.
I spoke in a tone somewhere between stern and gentle.
"You told me before that you wanted to work as an instructor until retirement. If you want that, it's only right to spit out all that dirty money. Think about it. Are you confident you can keep that money hidden forever? If an audit happens, you'll definitely be fired from the Academy."
[Sniff, I suppose so.]
"So, let's shake off the dust right here. And I hate to bring this up, but I did save your life. You have multiple life insurance and funeral service plans, yet you can't even spend that much on me? Your savior?"
[......]
The sound of swallowing saliva. Silence stretched across the airwaves.
Choi Seol-ah closed her eyes tightly and opened them, like someone who had made a monumental decision. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them with determination, nodding.
[Yes, I understand. Consider it my way of clearing away my dark past. I will offer the 1 billion won I've saved up to you, my Lord.]
"I know you have more."
[T-Two billion!]
"......"
[T-T-Two point three billion!]
"We'll do the bidding at the auction house. Tell me the truth if you don't want your tongue cut out."
Chring— I unsheathed my sashimi knife by a span, letting the blade ring out.
[Three billion...]
Man, Choi Seol-ah was filthy rich. What on earth had she been doing in her past? But whatever the case, this was more than enough ammunition.
With just a single phone call, I had secured both the "membership card" and the "bidding funds." The corners of my mouth curled up on their own.
Unless the third fragment turned out to be a one-of-a-kind diamond, three billion and five million won would be more than enough.
Lucky me.
[...Um, I have one question.]
"What is it?"
Choi Seol-ah asked cautiously. I readily accepted her question with an elated expression.
Since she had shown the resolve to part with three billion won, I could answer as many questions as she wanted.
[By any chance, my Lord... are you on your second life? No matter how much I think about it, you don't seem like a teenager...]
Click.
I hung up immediately. Feeling a bit uneasy, I looked up at the night sky.
"This is why I hate quick-witted kids."
* * *
Friday, the day before departing for the Pertinax Auction House. We held a Travel Club meeting for the first time in a while.
The venue was Starbox, and as always, I ordered the cheapest menu item, an espresso.
Weapon chattered excitedly, boasting about his heroic exploits.
"When the manager was in a tight spot at the mart, I stepped right in and said, 'Excuse me, what do you think you're doing? You must speak through me for everything.' Can you believe it?"
Ryozo blew on her Sweet Red Bean Jelly Dolce Latte, completely ignoring his words with a refreshing indifference.
"Hey, Saki! Are you even listening to me?"
"Nope. Not at all. And Weapon, you were such a huge fan of All Mute, so why are you so happy about her getting utterly crushed by the Sword Demon?"
"......"
Ryozo's retort left Weapon completely speechless.
Slumping, he cast a pleading look toward Senior Hana for support. She responded with a soulless smile.
"Wow! As expected of Weapon! Oh! You totally turned that mart upside down. Seriously! The best sidekick ever!"
"If you're going to be like that, don't even bother comforting me, Senior!"
"Sorry. Was it that obvious?"
Senior Hana playfully stuck out her tongue. With a tearful face, Weapon forlornly wet his lips with his coffee. It tasted exceptionally bitter.
Ryozo took a sip from her mug and stealthily glanced at me.
She quietly dragged her chair closer. Then, she whispered softly.
"I was thinking of buying you some Korean sushi to pay you back for the Kimchi Stew you bought me before. Are you free tomorrow?"
"Sorry. I have plans."
I awkwardly scratched near my eyebrow. Ryozo's cheeks puffed up like balloons.
"Ever since the Joaquin Disaster, you've been so busy I feel like I have to take a number just to see you."
After grumbling with her puffed-up face, Ryozo soon let out a deep sigh. Her swollen cheeks deflated.
"Well, now that I think about it, you did visit the Association with the Principal before. Getting dragged around for this and that every weekend must be exhausting. Tomorrow's probably something like that too, huh?"
"Ah... yeah, something like that. Anyway, thanks. You're the only one who worries about me."
Ryozo's dimples flushed a soft pink.
"Ahem. Well, whatever it is, be careful. Call me anytime if something happens! There might be things I can solve for you remotely!"
* * *
A day passed. I rode in a car driven by Choi Seol-ah, heading to the city where the auction house was located.
Our destination was 'Geodam,' a city that didn't exist on Earth. Its motif was unmistakably that place from the bat-man comics.
...After driving along the highway for several hours following the GPS, lantern lights began to flicker like fireflies along the damp, dark road.
A short while later, a pleasure district that arrested the steps of passersby revealed itself. The alleys, packed with hedonism and entertainment, boasted dazzling, multicolored neon lights. My impression was simple:
Fucking awful.
At a glance, nobles steeped in corruption roamed the main street. Every single one of them hid their faces behind masks or hoods. Yet, the rotten stench wafting from beneath them could not be concealed.
It felt as if the depraved air was penetrating my skin. Because my sensory perception was too highly developed, even this hideous sight made my stomach churn.
Choi Seol-ah parked in a suitable spot. Right before getting out of the car, she handed me a hooded mask. It was a mask with a bird's beak.
"You have to wear a mask from here on out. It's not strictly mandatory, but you are a celebrity, my Lord, and your appearance is quite eye-catching."
I nodded, then pulled on the mask and hood. Looking in the mirror, I looked exactly like a crow.
At that sight, Choi Seol-ah let out a barely audible giggle before putting on her own mask. It was a squirrel mask adorned with a ribbon.
Having finished our preparations, we made our way to the auction house. Soon, we arrived at a plain, unremarkable building. I had imagined a place decorated with jewels in every direction, but its exterior actually felt somewhat modest.
At first, I wondered if we had come to the wrong place. However, seeing the crowd of masked people lined up in a long queue, it seemed we had arrived at the right spot. We joined the waiting line.
I suddenly asked Choi Seol-ah.
"All the other buildings are so flashy, so why does the actual auction house look like this? It looks so run-down."
"It's because this was originally the birthplace of Pertinax, the Emperor of the Underworld 200 years ago. They say he requested that his birthplace be used as a dark auction house after his death."
What a bizarre fellow. Instead of the Emperor of the Underworld, wasn't he just a chuunibyou consumed by the Dark Flame Dragon?
While we waited, Choi Seol-ah explained things about the underworld. Since it wasn't very useful information, I just gave her a casual nod.
The number of people ahead of us visibly dwindled, and finally, our turn came.
At the entrance of the auction house, a man wearing a rabbit mask welcomed us. Placing a hand over his chest, he bowed and spoke.
"Welcome to the Pertinax Auction House. Excuse me, but may I verify your membership card first?"
Choi Seol-ah held out her membership card. Her gesture was needlessly elegant. The rabbit examined the card closely, then bowed once more.
"Confirmed. Squirrel Princess."
Squirrel Princess? I reflexively turned my gaze to the side. In response, Choi Seol-ah whipped her head away, whistling as if embarrassed.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, the rabbit tilted his head.
"And what is this gentleman's relationship to you, Squirrel Princess...?"
"You do not ask about a companion's privacy. Does the Pertinax Auction House not manage its staff properly these days?"
Choi Seol-ah sharply cut him off. At her cold tone, the rabbit waved his hands in defense.
"Of course not. It's just that there have been ominous rumors lately about those shadow bastards poking around. Because of that, the auction house policy has changed slightly."
"How so?"
"We do not ask for the companion's identity, but they must be closely related to the member."
"For example?"
"At the very least, a close relative, though family is highly recommended. In case of any issues, we will verify the member's identity records."
Simply put, the companion was acting as a guarantor rather than serving the original purpose of attracting new clientele.
The man scratched his rabbit mask and said,
"But according to our membership database, we couldn't find any other family members listed under Squirrel Princess's personal information. Even after checking repeatedly... you don't seem to have any siblings either."
As the situation grew awkward, Choi Seol-ah let out a sultry chuckle. She wrapped her arms around my right arm, pulling it close.
The moment my arm brushed against her skin, goosebumps erupted all over it. My instincts violently rejected the contact.
Choi Seol-ah pressed herself even closer to me and spoke nonchalantly.
"This man is my husband. We registered our marriage today and came here for a little outing. Squirrel Princess and Crow Young Master. Doesn't that make a lovely picture?"
"......?"
I stared at Choi Seol-ah with wide eyes. Her arms, which were wrapped around mine, were trembling slightly. But having already crossed the line, she decided to ride the momentum.
"Or do we need to take off our masks and show you a passionate scene right here? That sounds great. But make sure to call the auction house manager to watch too. Good things should be shared, right?"
The effect was spectacular. The man hurriedly straightened his crooked mask and tried to salvage the situation.
"My goodness, I have committed several impolite blunders today. Please, enter. Squirrel Princess, Crow Young Master."
We entered the auction house, arm in arm like a cozy couple.
Under the fairy-tale-like names of Squirrel Princess and Crow Young Master... Fuck.