Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: A Special Guest
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The death of Marquis Bjorn sent shockwaves throughout the empire.
It was understandable, as not only were there gate-related issues, but the six trading companies Bjorn operated had lost their master.
“Nine wives and thirty-two children. Nineteen of them are sons. A war will probably break out over the inheritance.”
“I hope it turns into a big one.”
“That’s what we’re hoping for. And it’s highly likely to happen.”
It wouldn't just be a fight over dividing the assets; the trading companies they ran would also fall into chaos.
Since Bjorn had single-handedly controlled everything, not even Oh Min-jae could predict what would happen to the six companies that had suddenly lost their true master.
“I trust Seon-gi is doing well?”
“In this kind of atmosphere, no one can stop him. Just make sure our escape is ready.”
Despite their relaxed demeanor, they stayed awake, waiting for Sa Seon-gi.
The time was just before dawn, as the sun began to rise.
It had been a long night.
A night long enough for a grim reaper to work.
Silence remained where the shadow had passed.
As the heart, consumed by a heavy silence, grew cold, the stillness of the dark night deepened.
A breeze slipped through the slightly open window and swept across the bed, leaving behind a body that had lost its warmth.
And that was the end of it.
There were no screams, no commotion.
Like the passing of the wind.
Like a shadow hiding in the shade.
A single life had simply vanished.
Sa Seon-gi returned around the time the sun had risen and people were having breakfast.
He took fifteen research journals out of his inventory.
“How many did you take care of?”
“Nineteen.”
The uproar caused by Wang-sik, which revealed the designers' locations, had been decisive. Furthermore, sensing danger, several of them had gathered in one place.
Thanks to that, the damage only grew.
“Then, Seon-gi, you should head back right away.”
“What about you?”
“I need to visit the black market.”
“Now?”
“There’s something I need to check. I’ll take Seon-gi back first.”
Sa Seon-gi met Oh Min-jae's gaze with a stoic expression before passing through the gate.
After confirming that Sa Seon-gi had returned to Earth, Wang-sik went back to the trading company.
“Why are you going to the black market?”
“The Mark of the Guardian gave me a strange message.”
“What message?”
“I think the evolution method has changed.”
When he knocked the soldier off the Hadis, Wang-sik had heard a message.
—Evolution conditions have been unlocked.
—You can now absorb Blood Fragments.
—Blood Fragments required for 5th Stage Evolution (0/1)
“So you can’t evolve through hunting anymore.”
“It seems that way.”
Hearing this, Oh Min-jae frowned.
“To think that killing a person was the condition to unlock evolution.”
“It makes sense, though. It’s a blood relic.”
“*Huu*.”
“Min-jae, that’s enough sighing. We’ve only made it this far because of this. We agreed not to blame fate, remember?”
“Sorry. It just seems too harsh on you.”
It was clear what the Mark of the Guardian wanted.
“It’s actually better this way. I can grow faster than by endlessly hunting monsters.”
“But…”
Oh Min-jae swallowed the words he was about to say. Wang-sik’s desperate fate had come to mind again.
‘He has to chase the past.’
This was what Oh Min-jae had held back. Wang-sik spoke before he could say it.
“It’s a relief that I already know who has one of them.”
“It’s pointless to try and stop you, isn’t it?”
“You know it. I’m not strong enough as I am now. I have to keep growing.”
“But you’ve gotten much stronger than before.”
“It’s still not enough. I know because I faced him myself. To beat that bastard, I need to become much, much stronger. And there’s no guarantee he hasn’t grown stronger too.”
Oh Min-jae couldn't argue with that.
“It was destined to be this way from the moment I obtained the Mark of the Guardian. Besides, it’s something I have to do.”
“Yeah, you have to. For revenge…”
“First, I’ll find our friends. After that’s done, I’ll begin.”
“*Huu*.”
Oh Min-jae sighed once more.
“You might end up facing a grand destiny.”
“A man’s gotta go straight ahead. I don’t care what it is. The important thing is that I’m the one who has to do it.”
The history of the Azelan Continent had three great wars.
The Heavenly-Demonic War, a conflict between the celestial and demonic realms.
The Holy War, where the agents of the gods rose with their own factions.
The Blood War, in which the Blood Lord killed half of humanity.
The Mark of the Guardian was a relic once held by the guardian who protected the Blood Lord.
“I’m heading to the black market. I need to put in a request for the other fragments too.”
The Blood Fragments were a legacy left behind by the Blood Lord's royal guard upon their deaths.
They were treated as highly valuable treasures, not only for their historical significance but also for their special abilities.
“Be careful.”
Leaving Oh Min-jae’s worries behind, Wang-sik headed for the black market.
After seeing Wang-sik off, Oh Min-jae examined the journals in the research lab.
“I have to do what I can, too.”
He had already read more than half of the research journals belonging to Gail, the former leader of the Designer Guild.
“He really was an amazing person. So meticulous.”
His research journals were fascinating. He had been studying both the advancements and weaknesses of the gates.
It was like researching both poison and its antidote at the same time.
“I might be able to create something incredible with this.”
Oh Min-jae became engrossed in the research journals.
Perhaps due to the chaotic state of the continent, the black market was unusually quiet, unlike its usual bustling self.
Wang-sik paid it no mind and went to the room where he usually met Jakal. However, instead of Jakal, a woman with a completely different aura was sitting there.
“Welcome.”
The woman, perched lightly on the edge of the table, wore a sensual smile.
Her thin dress, which clung to her firm figure, had a high slit on the side that revealed a long leg, accentuating her decadent charm.
As if putting on a show, the woman slowly uncrossed her legs, stood up, and approached so close that Wang-sik could hear her breathe.
“Sera. That’s my name.”
Even her scent was captivating.
“Where’s Jakal?”
“Can’t you focus on me?”
“That depends on who you are.”
“Meeting me means you’ve become a special guest of the black market.”
“Good. I had something to request anyway.”
“A request concerning me?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
Sera glanced at him with a look of disappointment and stepped back. Perching on the table again, she watched Wang-sik with her deep eyes.
“Then shall we hear what the client has to say?”
“Before that, I need to know why you’ve suddenly appeared.”
“You certainly have the qualifications to be a special guest. It’s a shame you don’t appreciate my efforts, though.”
“Efforts?”
“I spent quite a long time getting ready because I heard you were coming. A dress like this may be pretty, but it’s not comfortable. As you can see, I even have to be careful how I breathe.”
A small smile crept onto Wang-sik’s lips, and Sera, as if she had succeeded, gave him a wink and picked up a ledger that was on the table.
“This is the ledger of a slave trader who sold off-worlders eleven years ago.”
At those words, Wang-sik instinctively moved closer.
“Don’t threaten me. As you can see, I have a delicate body.”
“Is this a negotiation?”
“This isn’t a bargaining chip. I’m not going to sell it.”
“That sounds like you’re breaking our contract.”
“Was finding the ledger part of our contract?”
Wang-sik’s expression turned demonic, but Sera’s composure remained unchanged.
“We are never rude to our special guests. As long as the special guest observes proper etiquette, that is.”
“Why show me something you’re not going to sell?”
“It’s proof that we can find the whereabouts of the off-worlders quickly from now on. Does it make sense if I say we’re showing our sincerity?”
As she spoke, Sera subtly held out the ledger so Wang-sik could take it.
“This is the only ledger. So, would it be wise to investigate on your own? We would be much faster, you see.”
That was true—if the black market put their full effort into finding them.
“What do you want?”
“We work as much as we’re paid, and we give back as much as we receive. It’s our principle to fulfill contracts thoroughly. We will use this ledger to track down everything possible. Once that’s done, our long-standing contract will come to an end.”
Sera moved in so close their faces almost touched and spoke in a whisper.
“But I don’t want to let you go.”
Her voice was enough to awaken one’s primal instincts, a tingling sensation on the skin. But Wang-sik’s mental fortitude was too strong to fall for such a temptation.
“Am I being tested right now?”
At his cold voice, Sera shrugged and stepped back.
She was a woman skilled at expressing herself with her body.
“I won’t deny it. You’ve shown your trustworthiness for a long time, and now you’ve earned the right.”
“And not because I’ve paid a lot of money?”
“That’s a given. Most people who come here are like that.”
“Then what are you looking for?”
“Don’t be so guarded. I just want to talk. You need to be a little kinder. Don’t you feel like being kind when you see me?”
Sera spread her arms and spun around once. Watching her, Wang-sik spoke honestly.
“You’re beautiful. Almost perfectly my type.”
“Almost?”
“One thing is missing.”
“What’s that one thing?”
“Since you’re not perfect, there’s no reason to tell you. Isn’t finding out information about your clients what you do best?”
“Alright. I’ll be sure to find that out. One day, you’ll see the perfect me. I hope you’ll be kinder then.”
Sera sighed as if in defeat, and Wang-sik, wanting to end this conversation, asked.
“Now tell me what you really want. This is getting tedious.”
“The Gorgon’s Crystal Orb.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s the key you asked us to look into last time.”
The crystal orb discovered in the Ironclad Spider’s nest.
He hadn’t known its use, but it seemed the black market had never stopped investigating it.
“Isn’t that something I’m entitled to hear about? I already made a request for it.”
“That’s right. You are entitled to the information. That’s why I want to negotiate.”
Wang-sik waited for her to continue.
“We want to receive the crystal orb without disclosing the information.”
“I guess I’ve been acting like too much of a pushover.”
“Don’t misunderstand. You have every right to refuse. You won’t suffer any loss for it. However, let me make one thing clear. You can’t gain anything from the Gorgon’s Crystal Orb. At best, it would lead to some relics scattered in a dungeon. I can assure you that what we want has nothing to do with you.”
“Relics aren’t of little value.”
“What if we were to recognize that value for you?”
“How?”
“This meeting is a test for 3rd-grade VIP status. But if you hand over the crystal orb, I can promise you 2nd-grade status immediately. 2nd-grade status in the Under Grave. That should be an attractive offer.”
Her expression showed she was confident of a successful negotiation.
“I might consider it for 1st-grade.”
“Don’t be greedy. There are fewer than ten 1st-grade members, including insiders. Oh! I seem to have revealed a secret.”
Sera, who had feigned surprise, quickly returned to her composed smile.
It was an act to show she was in a position where such a slip-up was permissible.
“There aren’t even thirty clients with access to 2nd-grade information. The conditions are quite strict, you see.”
“What about client protection?”
“It’s perfect. No matter what conditions are placed, we will never leak information about a 2nd-grade client. All requests from others related to you will also be rejected.”
Now, it felt like a proper negotiation was underway.
There was one question.
‘Is the crystal orb really of no value to me?’
If what Sera said was true, Wang-sik had no reason to refuse.
‘Information from the black market…’
With 2nd-grade status, he could probably access most information.
‘What if there’s a mythic-grade item in the Gorgon’s nest?’
Wang-sik considered this possibility and weighed the value.
‘The information is far more appealing.’
Considering what he had to do in the future, this was a great opportunity.
Having made his decision, Wang-sik took the crystal orb from his inventory and placed it on the table.
“A wise choice. In truth, special opportunities like this are rare.”
As Sera reached for the crystal orb on the table, Wang-sik spoke.
“The Blood Fragment.”
Her hand stopped at that one phrase.
“Is that your next request?”
“Find the off-worlders first. I’ll start after that’s done.”
Sera stared into Wang-sik’s eyes for a moment before picking up the crystal orb.
“Perhaps we’re fated to be. The request you just mentioned is 2nd-grade information.”
“Good. Then we’ll both get what we want.”
“I’ll tell you in advance, we only provide the location of the item. Retrieving it is not our job.”
“How many can you find?”
The Blood Lord commanded a royal guard of ten.
This meant there were ten fragments in total. But it was unknown how many had been discovered.
“We will tell you everything we can.”
This meant she couldn't say more for now.
“Fine. I accept.”
Sera smiled and extended her hand.
“It’s an honor to be working with you.”
Wang-sik took her hand.