How Much Is This Worth? (2)
Relics from the Age of Destruction were expensive.
Of course, some might think they were pricey simply because time had passed and they'd gained antique value.
Well, in a way, that wasn't wrong.
There were collectors who actually sought them out.
But the real reason relics from the Age of Destruction commanded such high prices wasn't their collectible appeal—it was because they still had practical uses.
Uses that could yield massive profits with a bit of luck from just one activation.
...If there's a constellation linked to this relic, or even one that likes it even a little...
The reason these relics from the Age of Destruction fetched such exorbitant sums even now?
Constellations.
After the Age of Destruction—when the world had teetered on the brink of true annihilation—the newly emerged constellations showed a bizarre fascination with items forged in that era.
To the point where, thirty years ago, an ordinary person with no power whatsoever had contracted an S-grade constellation simply by possessing one such relic.
S-grade constellations.
They were on par with guardian constellations, unbound by the limitations of relics unlike other constellations housed within holy relics.
Anyway, that man who contracted an S-grade constellation went on to operate as the S-grade contractor "Alchemist John" even thirty years later.
Of course, not every relic drew that kind of attention from constellations just by existing.
Some, despite being genuine relics from the Age of Destruction, garnered zero interest.
Others got some notice but failed to inspire the absolute favor needed for a True Incarnation Contract, like Alchemist John's.
Yet even the faint chance of forming a True Incarnation Contract with an S-grade constellation—something even family heirs struggled with—made these relics incredibly valuable.
Especially to merchants like him.
No matter how slim the odds, if it meant a shot at power, the rich folks in this market would open their wallets without hesitation.
...It's the real deal.
The tiny ring clutched in Morris's hand was undoubtedly a relic from that era, no matter how many times he checked.
His mana-sight glasses and thirty years of market experience easily confirmed it as authentic.
And above all, relics from that era don't have fakes.
Items that survived the Age of Destruction bore faint but distinctive traces of mana.
Rumor had it they were microscopic remnants etched by the mana surge after the catastrophe was averted—and this ring carried them, dim but unmistakable.
So, after silently inspecting the item over and over without responding to Kim Joo-hyuk, he finally spoke.
"...This is beyond what I can handle with my current stock."
Honestly, Morris agonized over the treasure before him but ultimately spoke the truth.
He'd seen too many merchants choke on bites too big for them over thirty years.
Plus...
Judging by the young voice and the item brought in, Morris's instincts told him this wasn't an ordinary customer. Better to stick to his principles.
"So where do I go to get paid properly?"
"No one in this market can match its price right now. How about an auction house?"
"Auction house?"
"Yes. They'd give it a fair value—maybe even more than I imagined, especially as an Age of Destruction relic."
"Roughly how much are we talking?"
Morris pondered Kim Joo-hyuk's question, then quietly wrote a figure on the slate he held and showed it.
"Something like... this?"
"...?"
Kim Joo-hyuk stared at the slate, counting the zeros, his face twisting in disbelief.
It's that expensive?
Of course, he'd expected the jewelry to fetch a good sum.
He'd been among the elite three hundred years ago, after all, and these were handpicked treasures from his vault.
But he never imagined a single piece would command this price just for hailing from the Age of Destruction.
"Of course, that's assuming real bidding wars at auction. Normally, expect 10-20% less."
"How long does an auction take?"
"Varies, but usually two to three weeks on average."
"Why so long?"
"Auction houses are always packed. Still, wait just two or three weeks and participate yourself—you'll get what I quoted."
"So I have to show up in person after two or three weeks?"
"Exactly. Reserve it now, come back when the auction's set."
Kim Joo-hyuk nodded at Morris's words, pondering briefly.
Then.
"You can't pay full price here, right?"
"Correct."
"How much short?"
"...About a quarter."
"Sell it at that price, then."
"...What?"
Morris blurted out a dumbfounded reply before he could stop himself.
The next day.
In Valhalla's training room, Kim Joo-hyuk—who'd been grinding away at his workout—glanced at the balance in his anonymous market account and couldn't help but grin.
Money's always right.
Bonus: just looking at it made him happy.
A conviction he'd held since three hundred years ago.
Of course, lately, with the Tower of Destruction handled, he hadn't obsessed over cash—and he didn't need it right now anyway, his focus elsewhere.
But money was still great.
Someone might ask why, if he loved it so much, he'd sold the ring at a discount.
And Kim Joo-hyuk had a simple, ironclad answer.
Lazy.
He liked money.
But he wasn't greedy.
Sure, more was always better, but he wasn't the type to scrape every coin like a money-mad demon, enduring hassle and time sinks.
That would just be annoying.
Besides, stuck at Valhalla with outings limited to once or twice a month, syncing trips to an auction was a pain.
Well, actually.
Truth be told, the real reason he'd offloaded the ring quick was the sheer volume of jewelry he had.
Age of Destruction baubles he'd buried three hundred years back!
Just the rings I pulled out: eight already.
Plus whatever remained in the vaults—easily over twenty pieces, unpawned.
Bottom line: Kim Joo-hyuk never had to worry about money again.
Unless he did something stupid.
Hodl coin's looking sweet~
With that thought, he pocketed the account statement and started training in high spirits.
"Joo-hyuk! Wanna grab food?"
"...Teacher, it's the weekend."
"I came in on the weekend to help with your paper, so keep training!"
"You're a real psychopath."
"Would a psychopath be your assistant?"
"..."
He'd barely resumed when Lilya barged into the training room, leaving him gaping blankly.
A private room in a famous restaurant near Jamsil Station, Seoul.
"Long time no see, little bro."
Rockdil Ventrek eyed the man grinning across from him: Disera Ventrek.
Like Rockdil, he had blond hair, but their looks differed vastly.
For starters, Disera's face was scarred all over, unlike Rockdil's.
He was also massively obese—twice the size of Rockdil's average build.
And the scars peeking from his bulk and clothes screamed a brutal life.
But Rockdil felt no pity for Disera.
Hell, if asked whether he liked or disliked his distant Ventrek branch kin, it'd be dislike.
The guy was too dim and dumb to claim relation without shame.
Yet Rockdil kept in touch, meeting like this, because—
"Long time no see, big bro."
—Disera had solid skills and handled any job perfectly for the right price.
After greetings and some food.
Disera spoke up.
"So, why'd you call this time? The girl you were after turn out feistier than expected?"
As Disera's lecherous gaze drifted to distant Yuria de Palis, Rockdil clicked his tongue inwardly but smiled and continued.
"Nah, you handled her so well she's tame now."
"My work's pretty flawless. So what's the job?"
"It's about—"
Rockdil dove into the story about Kim Joo-hyuk. After listening, Disera smirked obligingly.
"So, to sum up: you got humiliated by Valhalla's first-year rank one, Kim Joo-hyuk, and want payback?"
"Exactly."
"Rank one's gonna sting a bit."
"True, but nothing compared to you, bro."
Rockdil smiled.
Disera chuckled, nodding as if agreeing, then said,
"So you want him dead?"
The brutal word slipped out casually.
Rockdil smiled back.
"Up to you, bro. I'd be grateful."
"Fine, I'll handle that. But you've set the stage properly this time? Not like last time, expecting me to rampage without prep? Palis family was easy, but Valhalla's tougher."
Rockdil smiled reassuringly at Disera's words—
"Don't worry, bro. Give me a little time—I'll lay the groundwork myself. You just do whatever to the guy."
—flashing his signature sleazy grin.