16. The VIP Exchange and Wind Cutter (Part 2)
The auction's facilitator led two people in front of a large metal box.
A huge metal box. And through the transparent glass window in the center, the appearance of the A+ grade gear, Wind Cutter, was visible.
The facilitator's expression was filled with tension.
"Both of you know what kind of object this gear is, don't you? So, you want to purchase it?"
"Yes. This level of gear is something that should suit, a member of the White Mage Tower and a knight of the Snowfield Knights. It should be the kind of thing that suits me, Dmitri Vorobyev."
Instead of answering, I simply nodded. The metal box had a display of about the size of a smartphone attached to show the gear's status.
'MCI is 20.'
The facilitator continued speaking.
"As you can see, the will dwelling in the Wind Cutter is not ordinary. Just wearing it normally causes this MCI penalty. If there's any problem with the limit line, be careful..."
"Don't worry! I have outstanding mental strength that suits my status. It's different from that B-rank hunter over there."
If someone lives without any sense, their mental structure would be as simple as a single-celled organism. For Dmitri, that level of mental contamination wouldn't matter at all.
I ignored his reaction and looked at the Wind Cutter beyond the metal sealing box.
The silver blade was sparkling, not like an ordinary dagger. It emitted a sharp aura that seemed to cut flesh just by looking at it.
"Then, since both of you have satisfied the limit and the contract distribution company's qualifications, the only thing left is the choice of this Ancient Gear, the Wind Cutter. However, if we open this sealing box, the Wind Cutter might get hurt by both of you, so be careful."
"You don't have to worry about that! Even if it does, it's just a dagger. It won't be able to do anything to me, Dmitri."
"Understood."
The facilitator placed his hand on the sealing box. At the moment the seal is released, the Wind Cutter will choose its owner.
I wasn't tense. If that Wind Cutter senses Hongok dwelling inside me, it will naturally become interested in me.
"Then, this seal..."
And right at that moment.
The lights illuminating the banquet hall and the stage in the exchange suddenly went out.
In an instant, the place was engulfed in darkness.
"What? Is it a sudden blackout?"
"This building can have blackouts too."
"Well, just wait a bit. For this kind of exchange, they should have emergency generators ready."
The attendees were calmly saying such things. The moment the lights went out, I immediately closed my eyes.
'Just a little more, I need to quickly adapt to the dark adaptation. Just in case.'
That was my habit. My habit of always being on edge. If some sudden situation was due to a villain, I wouldn't miss any villain.
When I opened my eyes again, the scenery of the dark surroundings entered my eyes faster. The Wind Cutter's sealing box, that box was fine.
And when I looked around, there was no special movement inside this VIP exchange.
'Was my worry for nothing.'
But there was still some inexplicable unease. I maintained my senses throughout my body more sensitively and didn't let my guard down.
"What? That one, no, the facilitator. Why the sudden blackout?"
The facilitator's face was lit by the light emanating from the Wind Cutter. He was holding his smartphone to make a call.
"Strange. It says the self-generator isn't working either. That's impossible..."
At those words, I felt even more ominous. There was no reason without cause. And my unease soon became reality.
My smartphone, and simultaneously, other people's smartphones rang.
***
Like a disaster alert message. The intense notification sound from the smartphone rang like a siren.
"Huh, is this a warning? Level 4, 4!"
"Here, the entire exchange building?"
The villain warning posture alert that only certified smartphones from the association can confirm. It was also a 4-level in an instant.
"If it's 4-level... there's a villain in our exchange!!"
The facilitator shouted in surprise. And a security guard quickly attached to the sealing box where the Wind Cutter was. Seeing that, Dmitri clicked his tongue.
"Hah. In this precious moment of becoming one with the Wind Cutter, to interfere... I don't know what pyramid it is... Hey! They said it was a very special exchange. They couldn't even catch a single low-level criminal! What are the security guards doing!"
So, Dmitri scolded the facilitator and the security guards who came out late. But I thought inwardly to myself.
'Low-level criminal?'
The villain warning posture transmitted from the association's control center. This Pyongyang is one of the very large metropolises among Korean cities. The scale of control and censorship isn't small at all.
Just like when I caught Rex last time.
If they had detected even suspicious movement, they would have issued a 3-level warning first, the previous warning posture.
'But the control center also missed that movement, meaning it's a stealthy villain.'
Dmitri kept grumbling as if dissatisfied.
"Villains, you security guards quickly catch them and quickly hand over this Wind Cutter to me. I don't need to see who the owner is, it's already determined."
"That's not possible. Right now it's a sudden situation. So, the final bid for the auction will be after this situation is over..."
"Tsk! Damn it. I came all the way here, and I have to wait more?"
"No, rather... We haven't decided yet which of you will choose the gear as owner, have we?"
The facilitator looked at Dmitri in disbelief.
"Of course it's me. That Lee Minsu hunter over there is a B-rank hunter. Moreover, not even a mage who uses wind-attribute mana like me, he's a fire sorcerer. In the first place, compared to me who has systematically built up theory about magic at the White Mage Tower..."
And at that moment, Dmitri, who was stuttering, fell silent. I too heard someone calling me.
'Is this the will of the Wind Cutter?'
A sharp wind that tickles, no, stings the eyebrows is felt. And that will said to me.
- Prove your qualification to become the owner. Right now.
I simultaneously said to Dmitri.
"Arguably, we should catch the villain first. It seems that Wind Cutter is curious about our strength."
Dmitri didn't refute that. He seemed to feel the same will.
"Tsk. Hey, facilitator. Please protect the Wind Cutter well. I don't know how many pyramids there are, but I'll catch them quickly and bring them."
"I'll come back later too."
The two of them looked into each other's eyes. And soon turned their bodies and quickly descended the stage.
'This exchange is a place where skilled hunters also come and go a lot. Yet, a villain intruded boldly. Does that mean it's something very tempting?'
Expensive gears are traded at this VIP exchange now, so it's not about hunting for gears. And it's not a building that ordinary citizens can enter, so it's not indiscriminate terrorism.
'The purpose is undoubtedly the item. If it's not the gear... is it the acquisition from a monster?'
My purpose in coming here was because of the gear, but due to the transaction with Pyotr and Solaris, I was interested in other items traded here.
If there are high-level dungeon acquisitions in the future, there will be cases where they supply to here. And I recalled a recent acquisition that was put into this exchange.
'Evil Dragon's Horn. Could it be that?'
A special monster, dragon, found in high-level dungeons. Of course, compared to dragons from the legend in Eyletan, the other world, it was no different from a subspecies.
The horn of that corrupted pseudo-dragon is a very tempting item for villains.
And, information obtained from Hong Kong. The famous martial artist of the martial nation, Talhonma Seomun Yeom. It was also that very item that their subordinate clans have been very interested in recently.
'Seomun Yeom. That guy is definitely related to Red Lake.'
Yeon Se-hwi, one of the Five Heavenly Stars and the Heavenly Demon, is an ultra-extreme high-level expert and a very dangerous wanted criminal. It might be that his subordinate intruded here.
While thinking so quickly, I arrived at the table where Soso and Pyotr were. At that time, the facilitator shouted.
"Dear participants, please wait at this seat! This place is a waiting spot for hunter security guards, so it's safe! So, don't move carelessly! And if you are a hunter with free time, please cooperate with us!"
At those words, Pyotr said to me.
"Is a place called safe the most dangerous cliché?"
"No. If a villain intrudes, it will be dangerous anywhere. Just stay here, Pyotr."
"Wait. Do you think you'll catch the villain yourself?"
I nodded my head. Since it's an opportunity to get clues about Red Lake, and the Wind Cutter is testing me, I couldn't just stay still here.
"I will move together."
At the mention that Soso is also leaving, Pyotr's expression turned to shock.
"Anyway, if we just stay as the facilitator said, it will be safe. Don't worry too much."
Leaving Pyotr behind, I came out of the exchange. Dmitri seemed to have already left outside. Outside the exchange, the security guards who had blocked us were there.
"Cr, it's a big problem!"
***
The security guards' conditions didn't look good.
There were quite a few injured people. And the hunter who drew his sword to Soso seemed to have serious injuries. The leader also seemed to have injured his leg.
"What happened?"
I asked the leader, and he said urgently.
"Another floor's monster byproduct exchange. Villains intruded aiming for the goods there."
"The villain is now...?"
"The Evil Dragon's Horn was stolen and already escaped. It doesn't seem like an ordinary villain. While blocking them, my subordinate staff..."
The leader looked at Soso. Soso is an A-rank hunter. And since the security guard knew Soso's identity, it was clear what it meant.
'Meaning it's not an ordinary villain.'
There was an exchange where the Evil Dragon's Horn was, so there were security guards there too. Meaning they stole the goods leisurely and dealt with the security guards as well.
'They intruded even here where the perimeter is tight. And if it's a villain related to Seomun Yeom... could it be that guy.'
I checked my smartphone. The control center that issued the 4-level warning seemed to have confirmed the villain with the recent attack data.
"Ghost Step Jang Gyesin? A-rank villain, and of all things, a subordinate of Seomun Yeom."
At the same time, Soso who checked her smartphone said. My prediction was correct. Ghost Step Jang Gyesin. Among A-rank villains, it's a villain specialized in stealing items rather than terrorism.
Of course, it's different from a pickpocket. It's a robber. And among them, if it's a subordinate of Seomun Yeom, someone who has mastered dark arts.
"Team Leader, let's hurry up to the upper floor."
At those words, the leader was surprised.
"How did you know that guy escaped upwards?"
"Since it's a 4-level warning posture, the lower floors of the building should be full of hunters supported by the association. So, the escape route can only be upwards. Maybe they might meet up with other colleagues on the rooftop."
"Exactly. That Jang Gyesin, since he was in a hurry, fought with us with swords and hurried up..."
"We have to move quickly."
Soso nodded her head. The leader shouted at us.
"Jang Gyesin... was not a simple thief. It's a guy who comes with extremely dangerous and stealthy attacks. You must be careful..."
Leaving those words behind, the two of them moved their positions. The place they were heading to was the emergency exit. Maybe through there to go up, there were already traces of people entering there.
"We have to hurry."
Soso tried to jump up the stairs as is. But I grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Wait a moment. If it's that Jang Gyesin, he might have set up traps."
"Trap? Are you talking about Gimunjin? If that's the case, just break them all."
I shook my head.
"It's different from the case of the old man Yeon Moon-woo. Villain traps are always lethal traps that kill people. It's not just that the trap breaks, it's a double trap that is common sense."
Still, Soso seemed to want to go up blindly, but soon realized I was holding her wrist and her face blushed.
"Minsu... If you say that... Ah, I understand."
So, instead of Soso, I took the lead. And at that moment, there was a wind that tickled my forehead.
'Is it the Wind Cutter.'
Like testing me. A wind full of provocation ruffled my bangs.
'Then, I will satisfy you.'
So, Soso and I hurried up the stairs of the building. A short while later, the two of us encountered a hunter's corpse.