Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Whispers in the Marketplace
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Sama Young's head tilted slightly to the side.
It was a habit that emerged when curiosity struck.
The woman before his eyes was exactly as she'd appeared in the photo.
Pretty enough in her own right, but ultimately quite ordinary.
Yet there was something oddly familiar about her somewhere.
"Not only is it hot out, but could you at least mind your manners?"
Yes, those eyes.
Those eyes that seemed ready to use any means necessary for her goals—they ignited his interest.
And so Sama Young decided to extend an unexpected courtesy, one not on his agenda.
"My apologies for the rudeness upon first meeting."
As he withdrew his aura just as the woman wanted, the sound of her shaking her head and muttering pierced his ears.
"What a fire-breathing lizard. Whew, so hot."
She flapped the cheap t-shirt she wore several times, her slender frame flashing into view intermittently.
This woman had moved him to come all the way here.
She'd dragged Sama Young himself right into the heart of the marketplace.
The fact still struck him as rather amusing, and with a soft chuckle, he addressed her.
"Shall we relocate and have a brief chat?"
A shame.
Sama Young found himself thinking that without realizing it.
If only she hadn't been an obstacle to swallowing up the Justice Guild.
Then he wouldn't have had to kill her.
"I've parked the car over there, so let's head that way."
The earring in his right ear grew hot, activating its power.
With the item's creator long gone from the world, it was now an A-grade treasure known only to Sama Young—one that cast 'Charm' upon Nayeo-ju.
It was a skill that drew forth a sense of obedience, making one desperately want to do as Sama Young desired.
But.
The woman spat it out as if annoyed.
"No."
At the same moment, Sama Young's black pupils narrowed sharply.
The Charm... wasn't working?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
'Know as Much as You See (EX)' skill has nullified the attack.
Whew, that was close—I nearly died there.
I blinked to dismiss the system warning that filled my vision.
It wasn't for nothing that I'd gotten so pissed just looking at Sama Young.
The piercing in his right earlobe was a strangely deeper shade of red than before.
In the novel, how many people had fallen to that bastard's item and died?
Whispering Earring (A) Effect: Casts 'Charm,' compelling the target to act as the possessor desires.
It was an item that could exert some effect even on S-grades, ignoring its rank entirely.
But that earring had a critical weakness.
'It doesn't work on anyone who knows of the earring's existence.'
Anyone who had been a reader of [Sejong Screen].
It didn't work on me.
Plus, with my skill activating for double protection, that Charm didn't even get off the ground.
I've seen that bastard use it to charm monsters so many times.
That's why he'd wiped out the item's creator—the only other person in the world besides himself who knew of it, and thus the one person he couldn't control at will.
"No."
Doesn't work on me, you devil.
But that put me in a real bind.
Failing to Charm would've undoubtedly piqued that bastard Sama Young's interest.
Even now, the way his gaze was pinned on me like a thumbtack sent chills creeping down my spine.
'Maybe I should've just played dumb and gone along with moving spots.'
The thought crossed my mind briefly, but I shook my head inwardly right after.
I'd probably have been wiped out the moment I got in that car.
"People can't recognize you anyway, right? Let's just talk here—in the crowd, in the light."
Sama Young was standing right in the middle of Garak-dong Market.
Yet no one could perceive him.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
Sama Young A
🔥 Flame: A
🕵️ Stealth: A
🎖️ Battlefield Commander: A
🐾 Imprint Familiar: None
⚠️ Status Ailments: Desire 40%, Dark Addiction 44%
👔 Equipped Items: Whispering Earring (A), Essence of Life (A), Ghost Sword (A)...
He was using his Stealth skill at full power on himself.
You could tell just from how he subtly shifted his shoulder to dodge someone who nearly bumped into him.
"Very well, if that's what you wish."
Sama Young shoved both hands into his pockets and shrugged his shoulders.
He resembled a predator pretending it had never once stalked prey.
But the assault wasn't over yet.
"Leave the Justice Guild, Miss Nayeo-ju."
"Why?"
"No matter how you struggle, the Justice Guild is a sinking ship. Do we really need a long talk?"
It sounded more like he was declaring his intent to make it sink.
"Is this a threat right now?"
"Yes."
He didn't deny it.
"No matter how much you interfere, the Justice Guild won't collapse."
"Sounds like you're saying you'll die alongside the Justice Guild to the bitter end?"
"Yes."
"Why entertain such a foolish notion?"
Why, indeed.
To survive, you bastard.
"You like money, don't you, Miss Nayeo-ju?"
"......Are there people who hate money?"
For a split second, I nearly blurted out, How did you know?!
"I'll give you money—the kind you like so much."
"I already have plenty of money."
"Ah, that lottery win."
He said it like he knew all about it.
"A mere 25 billion. Can you really be satisfied with that?"
"A mere? You're being too harsh."
"That money's gone now anyway. You poured it all into the Justice Guild. I'll give you 50 billion."
As expected of Sama Young.
He knew how to charm people even without his item's help.
"What do you say? You've got no real ties to the Justice Guild—just shake the dust off your hands and walk away."
"Excuse me."
I had to shut Sama Young's trap before I got any more tempted.
"Stop saying I 'poured it in' or that I'm 'tied to them.' I made an investment."
"An investment? In a guild that's going under?"
"Just like you said, with a mere 25 billion, I turned a guild coveted even by the Sama Guild master into my own asset. Not a bad investment, right?"
"......You're an interesting one."
Ah, damn it.
Without thinking, I'd gone and toyed with my mouth, feeling like I'd just clicked the detonator on a bomb.
I was screwed.
"Want to join the Sama Guild?"
⚔ STATUS ⚔
Sama Young A
⚠️ Status Ailments: Desire 55%...
There were two things you absolutely shouldn't do with Sama Young.
One was becoming his enemy. The other was becoming the object of his desire.
And somehow, it felt like I was doing both.
"I already rejected the Sama Guild's recruitment offer on the day I awakened."
The best move here was to play dumb.
Time to bail.
"If you're done talking, I'll be going."
"Me? Rejected? This is a first."
Sama Young slowly traced his red lips with his index finger and smiled.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
Sama Young A
⚠️ Status Ailments: Desire 60%
"It's not some line like 'You're the first woman to treat me this way,' is it? Hey, don't."
"What can I do? It sure sounds like it."
Sama Young flashed a genuinely beautiful smile as he spoke.
"If Miss Nayeo-ju were gone from the world tomorrow, things would feel even more boring. Such a shame."
"What do you......"
But Sama Young offered no further explanation.
"Bye."
He left it at that short farewell, as if addressing a friend he'd see again tomorrow, then turned on his heel without hesitation.
His long legs carried him swiftly into the crowd, vanishing like a shopper who'd filled their basket at the market—no trace of reluctance.
And that felt deeply ominous.
He wasn't the type to just back off like that.
Besides, what did he mean by me being gone from the world?
That was when it happened.
"Nayeo-ju noona!"
At the sound of Im Cheong-su's voice, I whipped around.
But the face of Im Cheong-su—which had been nicely flushed just moments ago—was now rigid.
"What happened?"
"Guildmaster hyung called. Said he couldn't reach noona."
I hurriedly checked my phone, which I'd set to vibrate. Sure enough, there were several missed calls from Kang Han and the Justice Guild.
"But why?"
There was no way he'd contact Im Cheong-su just because he couldn't get through to me.
And his face wouldn't have gone that stiff for something so trivial.
"Take this."
Im Cheong-su held out his phone to me.
"Hello. This is Nayeo-ju."
[Miss Nayeo-ju, we just got a call from the Association.]
It was Kang Han's voice.
[A guerrilla gate has been assigned to the Justice Guild.]
"Guerrilla gate assignment? Right now?"
[Yes. We're heading out now, so let's meet at the site.]
"Got it. Where is it?"
My face slowly twisted as Kang Han relayed the gate's location.
"......See you there."
I hung up and handed the phone back to Im Cheong-su, then rubbed my dry face with both hands.
'That gate' had been assigned to us.
I glared at the alley where Sama Young had vanished moments ago, grinding my teeth as I muttered.
"Fuck, we got properly screwed."
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