Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Shop
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The commission payment hit his account right as the sun rose. Ian grinned at the eye-watering sum stamped on his bank statement. Adding it to what he already had, it was an overwhelming amount.
He'd spent some on buying a house, but even excluding that, he had more than enough financial leeway. He could storm into a department store in Seoul and clean out every luxury boutique without batting an eye...
"Nah, not really."
Ian quickly reined in his excitement. No matter how much money he had, it wasn't enough to cover the insane prices of luxury goods.
Sure, luxury brands carried prestige, but the prices on flimsy bags or rings were downright ridiculous. He couldn't fathom why anyone would buy them. Wouldn't it make more sense to buy a car with that cash?
'Actually, people who buy luxury stuff probably already have nice cars.'
Lost in idle thoughts, Ian twisted the throttle hard. With a roar, the bike shot down the open highway. Beyond his helmet visor stretched the stunning winter seascape of the East Sea.
What was there to hide?
He was out on a motorcycle road trip across the country—a bona fide vacation.
He'd been playing it cool inwardly, but the moon urban legend (not really an urban legend) had left his nerves a bit rattled.
It was only natural. He'd witnessed the world's end firsthand and heard of everyone around him dying as the sole survivor. Staying completely unfazed would have been weirder.
So after wrapping up essentials, he'd hit the road with just a backpack for his first break in ages.
The timing was perfect as the weather started warming up. Nights were still chilly, but days were pleasantly mild—not winter-cold by any means.
His destination: Busan. He'd been there before, but never by bike.
Previous trips had mostly been for business, not tourism. This time, he planned to hit Haeundae Beach and swing by the Cartel's offline shop in Busan.
Seoul had one too, but it ran on reservations, meaning a two-week wait. Busan's was smaller but had fewer bookings, making it easy to drop in.
That Cartel shop was the main reason he'd picked Busan. Sorry to Lee Seo-ah, who was meeting him midway, but his curiosity about the shop outweighed seeing her again. For a mage, a new place beat a familiar face any day.
'Park the bike at Seo-ah's apartment lot, grab lunch together, then head out.'
Checking the bike's dashboard clock, Ian nodded. He activated autopilot via the AI, stretched his stiff wrists, and relaxed. The AI handled lane changes, speed, and navigation flawlessly.
About two hours later, he rolled into Busan. True to its reputation, cabbies swarmed the roads, but the bike deftly avoided them. Ian grooved to the tunes piping through his helmet and steered toward his destination.
He soon arrived, parking at the apartment entrance and calling Lee Seo-ah.
The line rang three times before she picked up.
[Hello?]
"Hey. I'm downstairs. I'll park inside the lot, so come on down whenever."
[Already? Hang on, I'll be right there.]
"No rush."
Ian hung up, parked the bike in the outer lot, and locked his helmet. As he waited, Lee Seo-ah emerged from the building in neat clothes, spotted him, and trotted over.
"Hey. You're early."
Smack!
She lightly swatted his arm. Ian chuckled, looking down at her.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah. First time since the cruise incident? Can't believe it's been over a month."
Lee Seo-ah giggled and started walking. Ian double-checked the handlebar lock and followed.
Early March in Busan felt warmer than Seoul. Cherry blossoms weren't blooming yet, but pink buds dotted the trees. A few more weeks, and they'd burst into a spectacular display.
Chatting idly with Lee Seo-ah, Ian plucked a bud from a branch and sniffed it. A faint fragrance wafted up.
"What do you want for lunch?"
Lee Seo-ah asked. Ian pondered, then set the bud down.
"Pork soup? It's famous here."
"Pork soup? Hmm... not bad. Let's go to my usual spot. It's good."
"Local's recommendation? Sold. Lunch is on me."
"Ooh... then coffee's on me. I don't like freeloading."
Ian gave a wry smile and nodded at her words.
It was nearly the end of lunchtime. They headed straight to a pork soup joint, ordered, and chatted while waiting.
"First time at the Cartel market, right?"
"Yeah. Seoul's booked solid."
"Makes sense—huge crowds. Espers, shamans, Management Bureau, hunters, you name it. Tough to get in."
She slurped her ordered cola.
"Seoul gets tons of foreigners too. Too accessible for its own good."
"Busan's more laid-back."
"Plenty of people, but few in the anomaly scene compared to Seoul. Cartel hasn't built much infrastructure here."
The soup arrived mid-conversation. They seasoned to taste and dug in slowly.
"When are you heading back to Seoul?"
"After the school urban legend."
School urban legend.
One of the words in the last message Lee Seo-ah had sent before dying in that timeline. Ian sprinkled shrimp sauce into his broth and grunted.
"Some commission?"
"Kinda. The shaman association begged me as a group. 'Please handle the school ghost story.'"
"...Shaman association?"
"No big deal. Just a club shamans formed or whatever."
Lee Seo-ah tied back her slightly grown hair and crossed her legs.
"It was their commission originally, but three died trying to handle it. So they asked me to take over."
"Sub-subcontracting. They okay with you being outed as a mage?"
"Eh? Anomaly folks know about mages anyway. Just dodge muggles and the Bureau."
Ian nodded at her explanation.
True—anyone deep in the shadows knew mages existed. Aside from the Bureau hunting them, no real downside to being known.
Retaliation was a risk, but not mage-exclusive.
"School's Sayo High. Used to shine in history books with 'yo' for brilliance. Now it's tainted by death and chaos thanks to the anomaly."
"...Rare case. Hardly ever twists a name's meaning."
"Heavy anomaly involvement can do that. Anyway, I'm leaving Busan soon, so I'll wrap it up like volunteer work."
"Pay?"
"Around 100 million won?"
"...Low for the risk."
"Told you—volunteer vibes. Not in it for the cash."
She grinned cheekily.
"Ghosts are the real prize. Used some up on the cruise, so restocking big time."
"...Figures."
"Win-win-win. I get evil spirits, school gets rid of the legend, shamans dodge danger."
She shrugged and spooned more soup. Ian smiled bitterly and followed suit.
After eating, they grabbed drinks to go from a nearby café. Shop reservation time loomed, so no lingering.
The sun still shone brightly. Just past 3 p.m. Ian followed Lee Seo-ah's lead toward the Cartel shop.
"Used the offline shop much?"
"Three times? Nothing fancy—think corner store."
She led him into a pharmacy on the first floor of a building housing ENT, ophthalmology, and dental clinics. A mild-mannered pharmacist greeted them with a smile.
"Welcome. Looking for something specific?"
"Ghoul blood activator and stamina tonic from prisoner nails."
Lee Seo-ah rattled it off. The pharmacist's friendly smile vanished into blankness—instantly mechanical.
"Confirming reservation. Names?"
"Lee Seo-ah, Shin Ian."
He tapped his terminal. Nodded.
"Confirmed. Welcome drink?"
"Got drinks. Something to chew."
"Got it. Staff at the door downstairs. Grab it then."
The pharmacist bowed slightly, handing them a small silver coin stamped with the Cartel symbol. Lee Seo-ah pocketed hers deftly; Ian examined both sides.
'Nothing special.'
Identical front and back. Odd texture, maybe treated, but otherwise ordinary.
"Elevator: hold 1st floor 12 seconds, release, then 2nd, 3rd, 3rd again, B1 in sequence."
He eyed Ian. Ian pocketed the coin and listened.
"Show the guards the coin."
"Same for Seoul?"
"Variations, but similar."
Ian nodded. They exited to the elevator, inputting as instructed.
Clunk!
It shuddered and descended. The red LED displayed "Welcome."
"...".
30 seconds later: "Come on in." Doors slid open.
"Welcome."
"Welcome."
Beyond stood two women with tentacles instead of heads above the neck, in crisp suits, hands outstretched toward Ian and Lee Seo-ah.
"The coin."
"The coin."
Identical voices, tones from the tentacle heads. Ian stared uneasily until Lee Seo-ah handed hers over, then placed his in the anomaly's palm.
"Verified. You may enter. Happy shopping."
"Verified. You may enter. Happy shopping."
They pocketed the coins, bowed deeply, and stepped aside. Lee Seo-ah strode through casually; Ian followed, muttering.
"...Cartel raises anomalies too?"
"Heard they were staff who broke rules. Don't know details."
"...".
"Cartel, though. Probably messed with money or something."
Ian clicked his tongue at her reply.
What an inscrutable company.