"You Want to Buy <em>That</em>?"
Near the northern wall of Ifrit, in an empty restaurant. The owner standing at the entrance pointed incredulously at the rundown shack in the corner.
It was because the adventurer who had shown up out of nowhere had declared his intent to buy the place.
"Yeah. You're the owner, right?"
"...Well, yeah, I guess."
[Merchant Bollibo]
The man in front of him looked like a simple restaurant owner. But in reality, he was one of Ifrit's major capitalists. Almost no one knew that.
-Who is this guy?
-Never seen him before?
-Who even comes out here lol
-Even that pervert Banga skips dumps like this.
[Avant-garde has donated 10,000 won.]
[Viewers? Sorry, but I've been here a few times! I haven't talked much with Bollibo, but seeing the number of properties he owns, I figured he had some serious backing. Of course, whatever Black Dragon knows... I wanna see it firsthand right next to him......]
Tap—Hanbit flicked his finger, cutting off the long donation message. It felt like it would've gone on for a full minute.
-lmao
-TMI cut lol
-He really is a pervert.
「Black Dragon」
「I'll show you the fun stuff later. For now, focus there. From here on, the outskirts are the most important.」
Since he'd gotten 10,000 won, Hanbit sent a consoling message to Avant-garde. The reply came right away.
「Avant-garde」
「Oh! Then I'll wait expectantly! Truth is, I have a lot of love for Ifrit, and I wasn't satisfied with the known story progression! It felt like it ended so frustratingly......」
Tap—Hanbit closed the message window and turned back to Bollibo.
Bollibo, who had been sizing him up, stroked his chin and asked, "New face. Adventurer?"
"Yep. First time in Ifrit."
"That makes it even weirder. Why would you need that falling-apart shack?"
Bollibo narrowed his eyes slightly and pointed at the hut. As he said, it was in horrific shape—on the verge of collapse. Comparable to the ruins he'd seen in the uncharted zone.
"Outsider looking for a quiet place to crash. Can I buy it?"
"Hmm."
Bollibo scanned Hanbit up and down again. This time, much more slowly. It was his habit to gauge how much money someone might have.
"Just so you know, I'm not selling cheap just 'cause it's a wreck. In Ifrit, the real value's in the land."
"Of course. Oh, by the way, I heard a rumor."
"Rumor?"
Bollibo echoed quizzically at the sudden topic change. Hanbit grinned and said, "Heard there's a guy selling illegal luxury goods outside. Made a ridiculous fortune over the years?"
"...What?"
The unexpected truth behind the rumor momentarily shattered Bollibo's composure. But only for a second.
"Rumors fly about everything."
He consciously regained his calm and brushed it off. "You don't know it?"
"With all the gossip in the city? No need to track every ridiculous one."
"Is that so?"
Bollibo waved it off like it was worthless. A man who'd lived his life like a sly fox—but Hanbit knew him too well. He even knew exactly how much he'd made off those illegal luxury goods.
"Ifrit's luxury items. They pursue perfection, so lots of rejects don't pass standards. Market rules say burn 'em all."
"...An outsider knows a lot. So what?"
"If those leak out, it's a problem. Especially with the 'Ifrit' label attached... what happens then?"
"......"
Bollibo shut his mouth at the slowly unfolding story. His sharp instincts had already clocked it. Hanbit had approached knowing his secret.
"You're right—Ifrit-branded defects are dangerous. They'd tank the whole luxury market's rep."
"You know it well. How risky it is. What happens if the market finds out."
"...Yeah, that'd be a real disaster."
Bollibo's eyes were ice-cold as he replied flatly. He turned toward the shop entrance and glanced back. "Come in first? Seems we have things to discuss."
"Sure."
Hanbit nodded and followed him inside.
"Sit."
Bollibo went to the center table and sat. But Hanbit walked a few more steps in.
"Plain shop. Nothing to see."
"You already know, so cut the crap."
"Young adventurer's too reckless. An outsider with that attitude won't last in Ifrit..."
"Wanna smash this spot?"
"What?"
Next to the fourth table. Hanbit stopped and tossed out the question. Bollibo's eyes widened—he'd realized the spot.
"Wh-why there...? Smash? What nonsense is that? Baseless accusations and now crime?!"
His emotions shook despite trying to stay cool. Hanbit smirked and reached toward the floor.
"Crime?"
"Obviously! Outsider gets executed on the spot and exiled! Step back before I call the guards!"
"Call 'em. Fire Burst."
Boom!—A fireball erupted with the incantation. Shattered wooden planks flew everywhere.
-What is this lol
-Classic Black Dragon
-Sudden GOAT
-Art is an explosion.
The loud blast didn't matter. The shop was completely isolated from other buildings.
"You madman...!"
Bollibo lost all composure and rushed over. But Hanbit had already dropped lightly through the hole in the floor.
"So much stuff."
Piles of crates lined the vast underground space. Everything exposed in the open was luxury goods. Statues, jewelry, gems, glasswork—too many kinds to list. Even the obscene ones crammed in the corner.
"You actually did it!"
Bollibo's shout echoed through the dust from the hole. In that instant—
Shing!—A sharp wind sliced through.
Swish—Hanbit sidestepped casually. Simultaneously, a man dropped beside him.
Crunch!—A thug landed on one knee, his sword piercing the wooden floor.
"Dodged that?"
The man gaped—the attack should've been unavoidable. He was one of Bollibo's mercenaries.
"You idiot! Finish him quick!"
Bollibo yelled in frustration. The man finally snapped to and tried to stand.
But—Whoosh!—A foot was already flying into his view.
Crack!—Hanbit's powered kick slammed into his face. Unbalanced, the man blacked out from the impact.
"......?"
The mercenary crumpled. Bollibo couldn't even speak at the blink-of-an-eye takedown.
"Should've hired better mercs. Stingy much?"
"Urgh......"
Slumped by the hole, he ground his teeth and trembled. Not surprising, given the risks of his illegal biz. If he hadn't holed up in peaceful Ifrit.
"So, how about a deal now?"
"Ridiculous! Think a nobody adventurer's threats work on me? You picked the wrong..."
Suddenly, Bollibo's rant cut off. His eyes locked on Hanbit's finger—and the golden bracelet dangling there.
"H-how do you have that?!"
"Got it from the mayor. Wanna go verify? Tell him our story too."
Hanbit spun the bracelet teasingly. Despite the provocation, Bollibo couldn't react. He just pictured his future crumbling.
That movement felling his merc, and the distinctive golden bracelet—they weren't fake.
Thud!—Hanbit leaped back to the first floor. Standing before Bollibo, he patted his shoulder.
"See? Makes me look like the bad guy. I'm here to deal."
"No......"
-So who's the villain now?
-Black Dragon just lives up to the name.
-Hey, self-defense.
-Punch first, expect to get hit.
The viewers were thrilled again at the clear hero-villain dynamic. But this was a big deal. Bollibo would be a seriously useful funding source.
His business wasn't even technically a crime outside Ifrit.
"Not here to sabotage your biz or snitch to the mayor. Hell, I could help expand it."
"...For real?"
"Obviously. It's a deal."
In a situation where one-sided blackmail could've stripped him bare, 'deal' changed everything. If true, he had to play it smart. Shocked or not, Bollibo was a veteran businessman clawing for an out.
He looked up. "What do I need to do?"
"Need that shack right now. And your workers."
"Workers?"
"The ones the mayor tossed. You've hired a bunch, right? Stop other jobs, pool the manpower. Oh, hire all the dwarves too. I'll tell you what else I need bit by bit."
"......?"
Bollibo's face hardened at the barrage. Hesitating, he asked carefully, "Hire all the dwarves? Me? Personally?"
"Can't have an outsider like me do it. They'll work hard, don't worry."
"That draws too much attention! Too risky!"
Money wasn't the issue for Bollibo. He was even prepared for hush-money payouts. But hiring dwarves? Unforeseen. Dragging in those bottom-of-the-barrel types would draw eyes for sure.
"What, scared the mayor'll notice?"
"Duh! A plain restaurant owner hiring dwarves? Instant suspicion!"
"Better than me ratting you out directly? Wanna go see him now?"
"No, wait...!"
As Hanbit turned, Bollibo blocked him desperately. Hanbit patted his shoulder again.
"Think of it as an investment. No worries for you."
"...Really?"
"I'm leading it anyway. And it's for Ifrit, so no one's hanging shit."
"For Ifrit?"
"Lives of everyone in the city are on the line. Hard to believe? Wait a bit. I'll show you."
"......"
Bollibo clamped his mouth at the firm words. His fixed gaze tried to read Hanbit's intent. But there was no reason for this adventurer to lie. Blackmail alone left no outs.
"Hoo."
Looking away, Bollibo sighed. No other choices from the start. Might as well help fully and aim for future gains. Especially if danger hit Ifrit—his life and biz would tank.
"Got it. I accept the deal."
With his thoughts sorted, Bollibo looked up and said so. Right then, an alarm rang in Hanbit's ear.
Ding!—
[You have completed Main Quest #4.]