Chapter 100: Charity Event (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: Charity Event (5)
"Congratulations. Your price is higher than the previous two parties combined."
Despite my praise, Kwon Ye-jin wore a dazed expression.
I suppose that’s only natural. She had just fetched a price of 4 billion won all on her own, surpassing all those prominent party leaders and attackers.
While such figures are common in countries like the United States, where massive corporations are everywhere, there are fewer than ten people in Korea who have ever broken the 4 billion won mark—including Lee Ru-da.
And among defenders, Kwon Ye-jin was the only one.
"Master... who is that person...? Am I being sold off to that woman?"
"You're not going anywhere. She’s someone who’s going to help us, so just be grateful."
Once she reaches A-rank or S-rank, figures in the hundreds of millions won't be so shocking, but since she’s still young, the sheer scale of 4 billion won seemed to have overwhelmed her.
Of course, I’m one to talk—I’ve never even seen that kind of money in person either.
I didn't even want to calculate how long it would take to save up 4 billion won on a soldier’s meager salary.
Well, it’s not like it’s my money anyway; it’s all being donated under their names.
I just hope the charity receiving it actually uses the money properly.
I wonder if there’s some shady deal going on where they donate it and then secretly get it back?
No, for people like them, the money spent here probably isn't worth the risk of getting caught.
It’s better for them to build a "good corporation" image and win the favor of a hero. The tax breaks are just a bonus.
I guess being stuck in a "jungle" of deception for so long has made me suspicious of everything.
I stepped onto the stage, suppressing my true emotions and putting on a smile for the crowd.
Wow—I can't see a thing.
The stage pinlights were so intense that I could only see the silhouettes of the people in the audience.
Unless I channeled mana into my eyes, it was impossible to see through this glare.
"Hello, I am Jeong Yeon-woo, the leader of Black Unicorn under Square Garden. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone here who is contributing to world peace in their own way."
I can see why even an attention-seeker like Kwon Ye-jin would be nervous.
Standing under the pinlights and speaking to a sea of people whose faces you can't even see was quite overwhelming and nerve-wracking.
Singers and actors must have hearts of steel in a different sense.
"Though we are receiving more attention than we deserve, Black Unicorn will strive to deliver results that exceed those expectations. I would like to thank Clan Leader Lee Ru-da of Square Garden for her trust and support, my colleagues in Black Unicorn, and the staff members who silently support us from behind the scenes."
...Wait, was that an acceptance speech?
I mentioned their names because I knew they’d appreciate the shout-out at an event like this, but I ended up sounding like I’d just won an award.
The audience was clapping, but I couldn't tell if they actually liked it or if they were just being polite.
I signed the back of the card—a skill I’d spent three days practicing under Lee Yu-na’s special training—and placed it in a transparent case.
The more I looked at the photo on the card, the more embarrassed I felt.
It was a pose where I was showing my back with one hand holding a pistol behind me, looking back over my shoulder. The look in my eyes was honestly nauseating.
And now this thing is going to be sold to the world?
I looked away from the cringeworthy, try-hard photo and placed it on the podium.
Selling a scrap of paper printed with a humiliating photo. Signed, too.
I stepped back and watched the auction unfold.
In truth, the auction participants weren't just corporations.
There were collectors, and then there were people like Park Su-jin, who was frantically raising her hand out of personal obsession.
There were so many people bidding that they couldn't even call out prices like before.
"980 million, 990 million, 1 billion! Since there are so many bidders, we will increase the increments to 100 million from now on. 1.1 billion, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5!"
The MC was rattling off numbers like a countdown, and the price just kept climbing.
"Bids over 2 billion will move in increments of 500 million! 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0..."
Huh? While I was spacing out for a moment, the price had already surpassed Kwon Ye-jin and hit 5 billion.
The number of competitors dropped sharply once the increments changed to 500 million, but there were still plenty of people showing interest.
Aren't you guys spending a bit too much?
I haven't made any backroom deals, I'm telling you, it's just a piece of paper!
As the price hit 5 billion, Park Su-jin raised her sign with a trembling hand.
However, her effort was immediately buried by another bid, and the current price soared to 8 billion.
Lee Ru-da is the only person in Korea to have ever broken 10 billion, right?
I really wished they would stop.
As I stood there silently, sympathizing with how Kwon Ye-jin must have felt, the field of competitors narrowed down to about four.
There was a collector—or rather, a "successful otaku"—who collected hero cards, and a few people who looked like corporate representatives, all eyeing each other warily.
In particular, the Vice President of H&K was fervently bidding while staying on the phone with someone.
Was she calling headquarters to ask for more budget?
As the competition thinned, the otaku woman held up three fingers.
"10 billion."
Now, Lee Ru-da and I were the only ones to have ever crossed the 10 billion mark.
The startled Vice President of H&K barked something into her smartphone and then raised her hand.
"Yes, we have 10.5 billion! Next bid..."
"12 billion."
Just start a company with that money.
Or give it to me, and I'll make you a whole photobook. I'd even let you work me like a slave for a week for that much.
The H&K Vice President looked around tentatively and weakly raised her hand.
Immediately, the otaku held up three fingers again.
"15 billion."
And that was that.
My card was sold for 15 billion won.
This world is insane.
Or maybe I’ve just lived so poorly that I can't comprehend the financial sensibilities of the rich.
Then again, when I remembered how paintings with a single dot on them sold for tens of billions in my previous world, it suddenly made sense.
Though I’d thought of her as an "otaku," the woman who won the bid was actually quite sophisticated and polite, despite her age.
"It’s a pleasure. I am Lana Grace. It’s been over ten years now, but I also participated in the auction for Hero Lee Ru-da’s card back then. I had just started my business at the time and unfortunately lost out, but I succeeded today."
The woman who introduced herself as Lana Grace looked at me with a smile.
"I thought I might have to bid a similar amount to Lee Ru-da’s, or perhaps even higher, but it seems God was on my side today."
Come to think of it, this person didn't say anything about being happy to donate to society.
She was making it clear that she bought it solely out of her own desire.
Lee Ru-da’s card went for about 22 billion won.
She was a "Special-Grade Prospect" who was guaranteed to become an S-rank as long as she didn't die or suffer mana pollution, so she had attracted global interest.
Now, Lana was evaluating me on the same level as her, delighted that she’d managed to buy me for a "cheaper" price.
Lana wore the smile of a victor as she looked at the dejected bidders, but was she the real winner?
I looked over at Scarlet, who was grinning so wide she looked ready to dance.
She had defeated their rival, H&K, for 4 billion won and even secured a promise from me, so she must be over the moon.
After a brief hug with Lana, the woman who bought my card, I stepped down from the stage.
As the MC told everyone to enjoy the party, I returned to Lee Ru-da, who offered her congratulations.
"Too cheap."
That is a compliment, right?
"Ahaha, Fist said you’d fetch a higher price than her. Must be nice, having even Fist’s expectations on you."
Sunwoo Se-rin gave me a suggestive smile as she joined in the congratulations.
With a brief instruction to go and enjoy ourselves, Lee Ru-da and Sunwoo Se-rin moved to another spot.
"15 billion! That’s insane, Master!!"
"I think I might have underestimated you, Yeon-woo... I feel embarrassed for predicting 4 billion."
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations, Leader. You looked so cool on stage."
My party members each took turns congratulating me.
I was grateful that they valued me so highly, but it’s not like that money was mine.
I knew I’d earn plenty once my rank went up, but seeing 15 billion won brush past me and vanish was still a bit painful.
After chatting for a bit, we scattered according to the unspoken rules of ship parties.
Lee Yu-na disappeared while bickering with Kwon Ye-jin, promising to keep a better eye on the kid this time, and Yoon A-young and Anna left together to enjoy the food.
Why does no one ever look after me?
I felt a bit like I was being subtly ostracized, but it couldn't be helped.
The three of us who participated in the card auction couldn't stick together, and Kwon Ye-jin needed someone to watch over her.
I watched the "Angel" Anna and the surprisingly well-matched Yoon A-young walk away before I started making my rounds.
Actually, it was more like people flocked to me even if I stayed still.
I grew exhausted from dealing with people talking about the 15 billion won bid and my status as a prospect, so I slipped away.
I still needed to talk to Lana, who bought my card, and Scarlet, who helped me, but I was already drained.
Oh, and I had to check on Park Su-jin too.
Where was our poor business partner, who had turned into a total wallflower among all these formidable tycoons?
"It’s been a long time."
As I was catching my breath in a corner away from people’s eyes, a man approached me and acted like he knew me.
He was wearing a suit and a watch that looked expensive even at a glance.
He had the vibe of a second-generation chaebol—completely different from the entrepreneurs who were here to hustle.
If I had to compare him to someone, he had that same arrogant confidence as Park Su-jin.
As I stared at him, not recognizing him, the man stood beside me as if it were the most natural thing in the world and continued.
"Wow, a dragon really did rise from Dongseong High. Who would’ve thought you’d become this famous?"
Okay, but who are you?
Since he mentioned Dongseong High, he must be a high school classmate, but I couldn't find anything in the body owner’s memories.
However, as I tried to dig through those memories, a sudden chill ran down my spine, and I felt a wave of disgust.
Why?
When I continued to stare blankly, the man let out a smirk.
"Wow, our Yeon-woo really has grown up. You can even look me straight in the eye now."
"Who are you?"
Who the hell are you to be looking down on me?
The man looked momentarily taken aback by my words, then laughed as if he found it absurd.
"Ha—wow. Did you get amnesia or something? Does pretending not to know me make the past disappear? I guess I was too easy on you."
"I don't have amnesia, but I really don't recognize your face. Are you one of those people who acts close even though we weren't friends in school?"
"...You’re starting to piss me off. No, we weren't friends. I’m Han Byeong-su. As if you and I were on the same level."
Ah.
The moment I heard the name, it clicked.
Come to think of it, I... no, the body owner was a victim of school violence.
Calling it just "school violence" was an understatement; it had gone as far as rape, crossing the line by a mile.
And this guy was the reason he became a victim.
What kind of nerve did he have to show up in front of me?
Since the body owner was exceptionally handsome, he had grown up being loved by everyone.
People who grow up surrounded by kindness and care usually develop one of two personalities.
They either become arrogant brats who expect to be worshipped, or they become pure and kind souls whose upbringing is evident in their very smile.
The body owner was the latter.
He was a bright, social kid who was popular at school, and that didn't sit well with this piece of shit, Han Byeong-su.
You know the type.
The villains who bully the beautiful and popular protagonist.
In movies or cartoons, they usually get their comeuppance, but reality wasn't like that.
As a second-generation chaebol who thought he was the king of the world, the body owner was an eyesore to Han Byeong-su.
He used his money to command the iljin bullies to torment the body owner bit by bit, and seeing him succumb, the female bullies eventually went too far and raped him.
The reason his face didn't immediately come to mind was that the body owner had always kept his head bowed in front of Han Byeong-su.
That victim had entered the Break Line, vomited in his first dungeon, and after handling recruitment, ended up in Square Garden as a promising prospect everyone was watching.
Seriously, what kind of nerve?
If I were in this dipstick’s shoes, I’d be trembling with anxiety that I might come for revenge, yet here he was, approaching me with total confidence.
"I remember now. Han the Piece of Shit."
"Piece of shit? Has this motherfucker lost his mind? You want me to refresh your memory?"
"And how are you going to do that?"
As I stared at him intently, the once-boisterous Han Byeong-su flinched for a moment before putting on a disgusting smirk.
"Jin-ah and Yu-jeong are really interested in you, you know? They said the kid they ate up has really grown."
I see. So he’s acting tough because he’s relying on them.
I had been keeping an eye on those two ever since I took over this body.
The body owner had awakened in his senior year of high school, but his body was weak, while the two women Han Byeong-su mentioned were already active as heroes.
Even though they didn't need to complete formal education once they became heroes, the two of them apparently enjoyed reigning like queens at school, so they balanced their clan duties with their studies.
Not studies, more like playing bully.
They were considered prospects who had awakened three or four years earlier than the body owner and were currently eyeing B-rank.
They’ve been at it for three or four years and they’re still C-rank? Can you even call them prospects?
Anyway, it’s good to meet an old acquaintance.
I looked at Han Byeong-su, who had regained his confidence after mentioning those two, and smiled.
"I was planning on looking for you anyway, so this is perfect. Did you enjoy your brief moment of peace?"
"What?"
"From now on, I’m going to make your lives a living hell. Look forward to it. And give my regards to those two."
I patted the dazed Han Byeong-su on the shoulder and headed back toward the crowd.
I’m glad. I was worried they might have come to their senses and become decent people.
But of course, there was no way that would happen. They were still the same bastards as always.
What would be a fitting punishment for such scum?
I engaged in pleasant conversation with the people around me, a bright smile on my face as I indulged in delightful imagination.