Chapter 99: Proving Worth (6)
1.61 trillion won.
That was the balance in Kang-hoos account after he had sold all the orange magic stones.
Considering that Grade 2 items typically go for around the 100 billion won mark, purchasing them was now easily within his reach.
Finally.
He could proceed with acquiring the item he had been eyeing for some time.
Its sad to part ways, oppa.
Well see each other again.
We wont see each other if theres no dungeon, right?
I cant deny that.
As the moment to part ways approached, Ban Se-yeongs face was etched with regret.
Typically, such emotions are kept hidden, but Ban Se-yeong seemed to have no desire to conceal her feelings.
Ill pick a good dungeon and clear it thoroughly for Se-hyuk oppa.
Se-yeong, Im listening.
Help me, oppa! Okay?
Maintain your dignity, man!
Hohoho.
Kang-hoo also allowed himself a slight smile at the banter between Ban Se-yeong and Jeon Se-hyuk.
Such moments were genuinely enjoyable to witness.
Of course, this was a demeanor that didnt quite fit him. He wasnt one for jokes.
Nevertheless, Kang-hoo promised to meet Ban Se-yeong again and they parted ways.
From Jeon Se-hyuk, he received a referral to a VIP market in Busan.
This was a special market one could only access after proving they had more than 50 billion won.
It involved a balance verification, but it came highly recommended due to its selection of high-quality items.
Busans VIP market is renowned. It receives many items from abroad.
This concept wasnt new in the original story.
With some effort, finding a suitable Grade 2 weapon was feasible. The challenge was finding a dagger.
An hour later.
While waiting for the VIP market to open in the evening, Kang-hoo checked into a nearby hotel.
He reached out to Yun Sang-mi.
To achieve level 100, Yun Sang-mi was currently the quickest option.
Was she anticipating his call?
Yun Sang-mi answered the phone before it could even complete its first ring, almost as if by accident.
-Oh, oppa? That was quicker than I thought.
Thats right. I finished my business earlier than expected. Is the dungeon raid still on?
-What are you talking about? Hey, Mr. Jung Sun-kyu! I kept my schedule open for you; how could it not be?
Dont take it so seriously.
-Kukuk. Whos taking it seriously?
Thinking about it, Yun Sang-mi was indeed joking.
Was it because of worn-out emotions? He hadnt noticed the cheerfulness and playful tone.
It was also a characteristic of the inevitable human, Shin Kang-hoo, so Kang-hoo shook his head as if resigned.
Then, he changed the subject.
Ill buy just one item here in Busan and then take the KTX back. Where should I go?
-Its on the outskirts of Daejeon. Ill let you know the place when youre about to leave.
Lately, it felt like he was visiting Daejeon quite often.
Still, since it was close to the capital region and relatively safe, he did not hesitate to go there.
Looking at the power dynamics in the Daejeon area, it wouldnt be surprising if it exploded at any time.
The delicate balance of power paradoxically maintained peace in Daejeon.
Ill contact you around dawn.
-Got it. I should probably get some sleep.
Take care of your condition.
-Ill be waiting.
Okay.
The brief call ended.
There seemed to be no issue with the dungeon raid, so reaching level 100 was a certainty. It was just a matter of time.
Then, Kang-hoo received a text from Jeon Se-hyuk.
It was a detailed guide about the location and related matters of the VIP market.
Although Kang-hoo already knew about it, he reviewed the information once again.
You must verify having more than 50 billion won in your account. And the VIP market only deals with items of Grade 3 and above.
In other words, it was a place frequented by well-off clients. There might be unexpected encounters.
Was it around this time?
Kang-hoo suddenly remembered something and searched for a keyword on the desktop in his room.
The Hell of Judgment.
It was about a large-scale dungeon raid that the Jeonghwa Guild was expected to post a recruitment notice for soon.
As expected, recruitment posts and related videos were uploaded.
The person who opened the video was Jang Si-hwan, an individual who always exuded a peculiar aura.
[Dear respected and beloved hunters, hello? Although I am unworthy, I am Jang Si-hwan, the representative of the Jeonghwa Guild.]
[The huge dimensional gate discovered at Ground Zero three months ago has led us to an unknown world.]
[We have decided to call it the Hell of Judgment. A place where death is trivial, this place is undoubtedly hell.]
At first glance, Jang Si-hwans words might seem like he was quite scared of the dungeon.
But the reality was different.
It was a thoroughly intentional comment.
To stimulate the curiosity and desire of hunters who enjoy challenges and adventures, he pretended to be scared.
Because mercenaries who rush in like moths to a flame, not afraid of danger but seeking stimulation, were exactly what the Jeonghwa Guild needed.
In fact, it was a recruitment notice for cannon fodder, but almost no hunter would realize its true nature. Maybe none at all.
[This vast and unknown world is not something the Jeonghwa Guild can handle alone.]
[We want to offer the opportunity to challenge, to share trials and hardships, and to grow together.]
[We are waiting. We are recruiting heroes to participate in the raid of the Hell of Judgment with the Jeonghwa Guild.]
The response was explosive.
Whether the comments on the video were genuine or not, they were full of praise for Jang Si-hwan.
The response was embarrassingly positive, marveling at the Jeonghwa Guild for sharing an opportunity they could have monopolized.
However, due to the Jeonghwa Guilds excellent external image, it sounded plausible.
The intention is clear, but the temptation is irresistible. I dont want to passively watch opportunities go by.
Kang-hoos goal was clear.
During the raid of the Hell of Judgment, Jang Si-hwan was set to experience significant growth, gaining two very meaningful fortunes.
In essence, it was a magnificent stage crafted by the author for the protagonists development in the original story.
He had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by.
It was only logical to seize it.
Especially since the beneficiary would eventually become an adversary, there was even more reason not to relent.
The interview is the problem,
Kang-hoo said, frowning.
Mercenaries recruited from outside had to undergo an interview process.
During such a process, some personal information naturally gets transferred, and all records are stored in a database.
If one stands out during the raid, theres a high likelihood that the Jeonghwa Guild will take notice.
Jang Si-hwan and Chae Gwanhyeongs interest would be piqued as well. That was a worrisome aspect.
Still, lets go for it.
Kang-hoo busily moved his mouse, beginning to prepare the mobile application.
The method was straightforward.
All that was needed was a pseudonym, a photo, a brief career introduction, and level information. Including class information would be a bonus.
The rest would be up to the interviewers to determine during the interview process.
If I write too little, I could be eliminated during the document screening, so maybe I should list the types of skills a bit more generously.
Hiding too much could result in not even being considered.
Although it was regrettable to have to reveal some skill information, it wasnt as if he planned to live his life without utilizing skills.
Kang-hoo began to list the skills he deemed safe to disclose.
Most likely, the document reviewers would be skeptical of this content. They would find it unbelievable.
That was precisely what Kang-hoo was counting on. Curiosity would drive them to invite him to the actual interview.
At that moment,
Outside the range Yun Sang-mi could detect, a man was stealthily following her.
Strong power, yes, but not accompanied by the requisite agility.
Maintaining a safe distance, Yun Sang-mi seemed unaware she was being followed.
During this time, she finished a call, and the man instinctively sensed the connection.
The mans identity was that of a fixer.
The mana traces thickly surrounding Yun Sang-mi matched those identified in the Kimcheon Liberation Area.
If they were that closely related, then it was highly likely the person on the other end of that call was involved.
Then the picture became clear.
All he had to do was wait.
Keeping Yun Sang-mi within surveillance distance, he was confident the counterpart would soon reveal themselves.
Interesting. I look forward to confronting them. Its been a while since something made my heart race like this.
The fixers lips curled up awkwardly, expressing as much emotion as he could muster.
He was eager for a confrontation.
Although Shin Jun-hos instructions meant he couldnt kill, they implied that as long as he didnt kill, everything else was fair game.
In other words, a full-on power struggle was not out of the question.
The fixer licked his lips and disappeared back into the shadows.
Yun Sang-mi still seemed unaware of anything.
Given his specialization in concealing his presence, it would be more surprising if she did notice.
That night.
Theyre quite thorough.
After undergoing the procedure of balance confirmation and facial photography at the entrance, Kang-hoo was entering the VIP market.
The VIP market lived up to its reputation by occupying an entire 10-story building.
The buildings owner and the person in charge of operating the VIP market was named Kang Bok-hwa.
It wasnt a name common among the younger generation, suggesting a middle-aged woman.
It was an unfamiliar name to Kang-hoo. It was definitely not mentioned in the original work.
Upon entering, he noticed quite a few foreign hunters in the lobby.
There were Japanese and Chinese hunters, of course, but also hunters from the United States and Germany.
Especially, there seemed to be many magic-oriented hunters, as the proportion of magic items among the sale items was high.
Overhearing conversations among the customers, it seemed Kang Bok-hwa had brought in a lot of items from overseas.
It almost feels like a behind-the-scenes player Who could it be?
He couldnt guess.
To airfreight items for sale in the VIP market from overseas would require more than modest capital.
Of course, they wouldnt have bought everything outright, likely brought in on consignment.
Still, a 20% appraisal fee as a deposit was required, which was no small amount.
To consign a Grade 2 item, a deposit of 20 billion won was necessary.
Everyone was dressed to the nines, exuding an aura of luxury everywhere.
However, Kang-hoo, who came in rather plain clothes, attracted many hunters stares.
To put it nicely, they were looking at him; to put it negatively, they were close to ignoring him.
Of course, Kang-hoo didnt care.
Fights could break out here too, and his current outfit was optimized for any potential combat.
Just then.
A man in front, drinking champagne and tightly holding a woman by the waist, was warmly greeting the surrounding hunters. Every hunter he faced bowed their heads.
He was curious.
Glancing at the mans face, his identity became clear.
Right. It would be disappointing if such a person wasnt here.
The third-ranked member of the Jeonghwa Guild.
It was Shin Tae-seok.
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