Chapter 91. Black Market (1)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
Galaxy Agora.
A sanctuary indispensable for players, dealing with everything from buying and selling goods to recruiting people.
Naturally, Galaxy Agora was present in every country, including Korea.
A department store in Apgujeong.
Located above Rodeo Street, the building was extraordinarily lavish and massive, boasting a view of the Han River.
And then, there was its basement.
“This way.”
There was a group heading towards a route entirely different from the basement parking lot. Standing at the forefront of this group was a handsome man with distinct features.
‘It’s been quite a while.’
He looked around the dim surroundings and smiled enigmatically. The rugged man guiding the way halted and extended his hand to the right.
“Shimun-ssi, this way…”
Before he could finish, thud. Shimun moved forward. Upon witnessing this, the guide, Park Jinwook, blinked his eyes momentarily.
Then, “Shimun-ssi, by any chance, have you been to the black market before?”
“Eh? Ah.”
Shimun sighed softly in response to Park Jinwook’s question. He scratched the back of his head slightly and answered, “I just had a feeling it would be around here. My eyes are somewhat special, you know?”
“Ah, those eyes.”
Eyes harboring a strange, golden magical circle. Recalling them, Park Jinwook nodded as if convinced, “I knew those eyes were extraordinary, but I never imagined they could discern the entry route to the black market.”
He exclaimed in admiration and nodded.
“Normally, you can never find it without an entry permit.”
As Park Jinwook mentioned, the route to the black market was impossible to find without an entry permit.
“Shimun-ssi, you know the story about the entrance to the black market, right?”
“The tale about a first-generation ranker getting outsmarted?”
“That’s right, you knew. Exactly.”
After a first-generation ranker was banned from the black market for causing a ruckus and vowed revenge, only to end up running amok for years without ever finding the entrance, becoming a laughingstock. It was one of the infamous anecdotes about the black market.
‘A tracker ranker made it even more chaotic.’
For a ranker with tracking abilities to fail at finding the entrance?
While it was an uncomfortable event for the black market, which valued secrecy, it ironically heightened the market’s prestige. The black market demonstrated its capability to even defy rankers. Its flourishing thereafter hardly needs mentioning.
Thus, “Shimun-ssi, you truly surprise me every time. How did you find the way to the black market…”
The fact that Shimun could see the way to the black market was indeed shocking. Especially from the point of view of an assassin like Park Jinwook.
If Shimun’s process of regression was unknown, it would naturally be astonishing. Shimun chuckled and said, “To be honest, I can’t see it perfectly. It just felt somewhat odd? That’s the feeling I got.”
“Hyung, even that is amazing. I couldn’t feel anything like that.”
A refreshing voice came from behind. It was his younger brother, Kim Shihyuk.
“Sensing even a slight oddity here is in itself remarkable.”
“That’s right, orabeoni. I tried to find it without an entry permit numerous times, but I couldn’t find anything.”
Lee Yujeong, who was beside them, added her thoughts. And it wasn’t surprising.
‘Those kids, trying to find the black market as soon as they became rankers.’
Searching for the black market. After the shameful incident involving a first-generation ranker, it had become somewhat of an annual ritual attempted by almost every new ranker. Of course, not a single ranker had succeeded before.
“Anyway, let’s hurry. If we have time, I’d like to take a look around the black market as well.”
Leading the way, Shimun slowed down and said, “I see. I will guide you.”
Regret lacing his actions, Park Jinwook moistened his lips and took the lead to guide the way. Shimun looked at Park Jinwook and smiled slyly to himself. In reality, ‘So there’s the entrance. The path itself is surprisingly simple.’
Shimun had already found the entrance to the black market. It was not because of Odin’s Eye, which wasn’t even activated. It was, rather, a whisper, a paradoxical whisper that was definitely saying something, though not clearly heard, that had led him. And Shimun knew the identity of this whispering.
‘The void… That’s why even the rankers couldn’t find the entrance, as it’s created from such a thing.’
The void, an energy from the dimension where the Constellation Black Goat resides. Ironically, it wasn’t the Black Goat that allowed him to detect the entrance to the black market through the whispers of the void.
[The Constellation Black Goat twinkles an eye at you for listening to the whispers of the void.]
The Constellation Black Goat took an interest in him, not for any action of the Goat itself, but for another reason. Shimun had a guess about the cause of these whispers.
‘It must be because of the title.’
The title ‘He Who Attracts the Gaze from Beyond’ had surprised not just the Black Goat, but other high-ranking Constellations as well, allowing him to hear the whispers of the void.
‘The description didn’t mention any of this; what a beneficial title it turns out to be.’
Indeed, the title had been surprisingly helpful in various ways. Anyway, “Shimun-nim, we’ve arrived.”
Shimun, who hadn’t unraveled the secrets of the black market’s entrance in his past life, declared, “Make sure your hoods are up. Let’s go.”
and stepped into the black market.
* * *
The black market, a place where anything could be bought or sold for the right price. Initially, even human trafficking was possible here due to the crimes of villains. However, for some reason, human trafficking was swiftly eradicated. Of course, Shimun knew why.
‘It was because of the change in ownership of the black market.’
A fact known only to a very few in his previous life. Unlike the original owner who established this place solely for monetary gains, the new owner of the black market did not tolerate any form of trade that suppressed human freedom.
‘Not that it changes the fact this place is full of illegal activities.’
Shimun’s gaze turned towards the unusually bright lights of the shops in the dim black market. There were, “Oppa~ Take a rest here! I’ll treat you well!”
“Hey, pretty lady! Stop by. I’ll make sure you get a good rest!”
Men and women beckoning customers, scantily dressed to reveal much of their flesh. On the other side, “F*ck! Is there something wrong with this? Huh? Does this outcome even make sense?!”
“If you’re caught cheating, it’s your hands we’re taking, get it?”
“These people must be crazy. I’ve lived on the credibility in this industry, you know?!”
People were engaged in makeshift gambling, while, “Ugh… More! More!”
“Please, just give it to me! I’ll pay… Whatever it is, I’ll pay!”
“Heh, hehe!”
Others were rolling on the ground, intoxicated by drugs. From prostitution to gambling and drugs, the black market was teeming with everything that could stimulate the primal desires of humans. Shimun chuckled wryly.
‘So, these are openly allowed. Well, according to them, it’s not oppressing human freedom, after all.’
Buying, selling, enjoying— all these acts were chosen by their own free will. The master of the black market had no place for the ‘oppression of freedom.’
As they passed through the streets filled with decadence and pleasure, it was curious that they encountered neither trouble nor solicitation. The reason was simple.
“Ni-night hunter?”
“They said he had recovered, and it really was true.”
“You’re quite out of the loop, aren’t you? The night hunter has been back for a while now.”
“Shush! They seem to be with a large group, let’s not make eye contact unnecessarily.”
Park Jinwook, the night hunter.
Thanks to the presence of a famous player in the assassin’s world, who was the only one in the group not wearing a hood, their stature was well known even in the black market.
Shimun and his party passed through the streets without any confrontation, making their way to the heart of the black market with ease.
Shimun asked with a hint of amusement, “You visit the black market quite often, Jinwook-ssi?”
“Ha! Given the nature of my job, I’ve frequented it since the old days,” he replied, true to his word.
Having been involved in various underworld businesses, including detective agencies, Park Jinwook was all too familiar with these dark worlds.
“Plus, the black market is always shrouded in darkness, which suits my attributes perfectly.”
“I can see that,” Shimun nodded, looking up at the dark sky of the black market.
‘With void everywhere, there’s no way sunlight could penetrate here.’
Upon entering, Shimun felt it – not just at the entrance but throughout the black market itself, it was under the influence of the void. Naturally, Park Jinwook’s attribute of the night’s blessing could be fully operational here. The night hunter’s fame in the black market likely had something to do with this.
Just then, “What work are you talking about? You’ve been gambling all this while.”
A refreshing voice cut in sharply.
Caught off guard by Kim Shihyuk’s sudden interjection, Park Jinwook hurriedly responded, “Th-that was just a hobby I occasionally enjoyed! I’ve long since quit that!”
“Senior. It’s not that you’ve quit, you just didn’t have the money to continue. I still remember how you wanted to win back your initial investment and ended up causing a mess at the arena the next day.”
Was it a fact?
“Ah, it was terrifying. Waiting alone for senior till the very end, how much I got scolded by the other team members.”
Under Kim Shihyuk’s relentless teasing, Park Jinwook couldn’t even muster a reply, merely glancing at Shimun cautiously. Ignoring him, Shimun looked straight ahead at a building.
“This is the place, right?”
A particularly dazzling and tall building stood in the center of the black market, home to the main auction house, as well as the residence of the owner and managers.
Shimun looked back at his companions.
“You guys can go check out the items. It’s enough for me to meet with the owner alone.”
“We can’t do that, hyung,” Kim Shihyuk immediately protested with a worried expression.
“You’ve already been targeted for assassination twice. Once in Korea, and now in the black market?”
“Right, orabeoni. We can look at items later, let’s go together.”
“I agree. You might be strong, but you’re too careless,” added Lee Yujeong, followed by an unusually quiet Go Malsuk.
The three of them made it clear, shaking their heads in unison to express their refusal.
Shimun’s lips curled into a gentle smile.
‘It feels so good. Why?’
The worry of loved ones was undeniably heartwarming.
‘I remember now, it was like this in my past life too.’
His younger sibling who always looked out for him, the friend who shared everything with him even as they turned against the world for revenge, and another sibling he had left without really resolving anything.
‘Right. Even though many things have changed through regression, some things remain the same.’
A sense of enlightenment washed over Shimun as he smiled faintly.
“Though your concern is appreciated, you know what the black market is like, don’t you? And this place, the main auction house of the black market, even infamous villains keep the peace here.”
Wasn’t there the well-known anecdote of the disgrace of a past first-generation ranker?
Criminals, especially those with unstable identities in the real world, tread carefully in the black market. After all, they, too, are human beings at the end of the day. At the very least, basic necessities were needed.
Moreover, “I wasn’t planning on letting them in from the start.”
The owner of the black market was infamously difficult to meet. No matter how renowned or high-ranked you were. There would be no reason for him to allow a meeting without a purpose.
‘Truthfully, I could make it happen if I really wanted to…’
But the main goal of this meeting was to find a cure for the Arena disease. He held the upper hand in this situation. However, ‘There’s no need to start off on the wrong foot.’
There was no need to unnecessarily create friction with the owner of the black market. Even though the black market was known for its lawlessness driven by money, ‘There’s no better place to find what I need.’
After all, wasn’t it the place where you could buy all sorts of rare materials if you had the money?
With golem production on the horizon, the black market was essential.
Once Shimun firmly drew the line, “… If you say so, hyung.”
“Should anything happen, please contact us immediately, orabeoni.”
“Be careful. If anything happens, cause a big scene. I’ll come running immediately.”
The three reluctantly stepped back.
After parting with his group, Shimun walked towards what seemed to be the reception desk.
As if expected, “We’ve been waiting for you. You are Player Kim Shimun, correct?”
A towering figure in a suit, menacing with sunglasses on, approached from behind the desk.
Despite his intimidating appearance, like that of Park Jinwook, “The owner has been waiting. I’ll show you the way.”
Shimun nodded silently and followed him.
As they neared the owner’s location, following the tower of muscle, ~~~~~.
The whisper of the void grew denser. Though the structure of the language was still unclear, there was a sense that the whisper contained a certain melody. Soon, ‘So, that’s it.’
Shimun realized from the continuous whispering.
‘This isn’t just whispering.’
The consistent whisper of the void, it wasn’t just whispering, but rather, ‘The pattern of the void that constitutes this place.’
If one were to categorize it magically, it could be considered a kind of barrier spell designed for concealment, the noise produced by the constant friction of the void.
At that realization, [You are the first on Earth to decipher the Whisper of the Void.]
[You have earned 2,000 Achievement Points.]
[As a result, your understanding of human alchemy reaches its maximum current level.]
[The completion level of the ‘Obsidian Tablet’ increases by 5%.]
[Your alchemy energy has increased by 2.]
‘This is…!’
Messages appeared in front of him as a series of knowledge melded into Shimun’s mind.
The understanding level of human alchemy, nearly at its peak, and the Obsidian Tablet’s completion rate, previously at 40%, now reached 45%, elevating the level of human alchemy even further.
‘This is an unimaginable gain.’
Gaining an additional 2 in alchemy energy, bringing his total alchemy energy to 130, Shimun couldn’t help but smile, having also secured an increase in the Obsidian Tablet’s completion.
‘This secures 5,000 out of the 60,000 points needed, doesn’t it?’
To pass the quest of the Constellation, the Black Goat, he needed to achieve a 60% completion level for the Obsidian Tablet.
With this growth, he had gained 5% completion, Effectively skipping 5,000 points out of the needed 60,000.
A smile naturally came to his face.
Just then, “We’ve arrived.”
Had they already arrived?
The towering man opened a door standing alone in a pitch-black space.
“Welcome, Shimun-ssi.”
A sweet voice greeted Shimun.