Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 71

Weapon-Eating Bastard 71

The black market was situated on a small, village-sized plot of land on the outskirts of Pyeongan Province.

Individuals wearing distinctive masks underwent thorough inspections before being allowed to enter the black market.

Each person entering the black market was required to have their admission ticket verified.

The admission ticket was an electronic mark that was reset each time the black market opened and could not be reissued if lost.

Furthermore, expensive magic circles were spread both inside and outside the black market, and warriors who had mastered mana, seemingly subordinates of Baek Cheol-soo, were also stationed there.

“The location of the black market changes each time for security and safety reasons. The location will be sent only to those with valid admission tickets at midnight on the day of the event.”

It was a surprisingly systematic structure for a group that seemed to consist of local thugs or wanderers.

‘This must be Jung Jin-soo’s work.’

I could be sure of it.

Jung Jin-soo wasn’t performing to his full potential.

There was only one reason for this.

The incompetence of his superior, Baek Cheol-soo.

If Baek Cheol-soo had trusted Jung Jin-soo more and utilized his skills effectively, the black market would have been much more secure, larger in scale, and the system would have been far more reliable.

“All of this is possible because the slums near the Northern Safety Zone are entirely under my control,” Baek Cheol-soo continued his explanation in a polite but confident tone.

“If I could serve the Lord of the Warrior [referring to the protagonist’s alias], I am confident that I would work with unwavering loyalty. I, Baek Cheol-soo, am quite a useful person.”

‘Someone like you?’

Would a butcher like him truly be useful?

If it were the real Seventh Brother [referring to the protagonist’s past life], he would never employ such a person.

He would opt for a cleaner, more refined approach.

“Unlike some, I am confident that I can handle both clean and dirty work as you order. Isn’t your Lord looking for someone like me rather than a goody-two-shoes who pretends to be clean?”

Baek Cheol-soo’s gaze flickered towards Jung Jin-soo.

I understood that gaze and chuckled inwardly.

‘He’s wary. Or is it jealousy? It must be because I only took Jung Jin-soo with me when I went to the warehouse.’

That kind of reaction was actually welcome.

I glanced at Jung Jin-soo, who immediately avoided my gaze.

“The auction will begin soon. Would you like to proceed right away?” Baek Cheol-soo asked with a smile, leading the way.

I nodded.

“Lead the way. And I don’t want to be noticed by those gathered here, so refrain from sticking too close after we enter. You’ve prepared the seat well, haven’t you?”

“Of course. I have prepared the best spot with a full view of the auction house. Please, come in.”

I headed towards the very center of the black market with Baek Cheol-soo.

Now, the real beginning of the plan.

* * *

The auction house was a two-story circular space.

Attendees looked down from their respective rooms, while the host presented the items on a circular table on the first floor.

The atmosphere resembled an audience gathered to watch an opera.

People wearing masks were quietly waiting for the auction to begin in their respective rooms.

‘They’re acting high-class even though they’re attending an illegal auction.’

I put on the Iron Mask and surveyed the scene.

As I sat down and waited for the event, all the rooms in the auction house filled up.

‘They’ve also deployed warriors in case something happens. All around Grade 6 to Grade 5 [referring to a ranking system for warriors]. The White Bone Clan has more power than I thought.’

A considerable number of warriors were stationed in various places, disguised as escorts.

They claimed to be escorts, but their purpose was more likely surveillance.

Then, the host slowly walked to the table on the first floor.

“Now! Today’s items are all truly precious. We have brought in a large number of items for this auction, so we will surely please our discerning customers. Let’s begin right away!”

The auction commenced.

I stroked Black Night, which was hanging on my waist.

“The first item is a spell book. Spells are a special field of study. Modern spells are only learned by those who have trained their mana, but in ancient times, people could cast powerful spells even without mana.”

The first item placed on the table was a tortoise shell with ancient inscriptions.

“This item is an inscription with ancient spells. Let’s start the bidding at ten million won [approximately $7,500 USD].”

The bidding amount, which initially increased in units of one million won, quickly rose to units of ten million won.

“30 million! Is there 40 million? Ah! Customer number 4 bids 40 million won, currently the highest bid. Customer number 5, I received 50 million.”

When one or two people stopped raising their paddles, the bid was finally closed.

‘The opening is going smoothly.’

I activated my Magic Eye [a skill that allows the user to see the true nature of objects] just in case, but it was merely a plausible relic, not an authentic ancient spell inscription.

It was worth as much as 50 million won, but this was probably just a warm-up before the full-scale item auction began.

“Now, for the next item……”

I did not bid on any item.

Certainly, as it was an auction prepared by Baek Cheol-soo for Baek Jeol, there were valuable items that I had not seen even in the warehouse, but I didn’t bother to get involved.

Soon it was time for the last item.

“Now, let’s finally start the auction for the last item you’ve all been waiting for.”

Two of Baek Cheol-soo’s men carefully carried Baek Jeol, contained in a glass case.

“The seventh son of the Sungmoo Lee family, an item known to have been brought directly from the North Sea by Lee Jae-hak, the Magic Spear Baek Jeol.”

I narrowed my eyes and looked around.

I could feel the expressions of the people hidden behind their masks changing.

And it was around that time.

Buzz-.

The sound of the escort troops located beyond the room whispering could be heard.

They seemed very embarrassed.

‘It has begun.’

I smiled and began to gather my mana.

* * *

Baek Cheol-soo was monitoring all the activity within the black market from a building not far from the auction house.

“There were many visitors originally, but this is the first time it’s been this crowded. Has there ever been a time like this?”

In front of Baek Cheol-soo, numerous screens were installed.

He was able to watch the entire black market through CCTV cameras and drones installed throughout the area.

There were many customers originally, but there were unusually many visitors today.

Jung Jin-soo replied in a dry tone.

“I contacted the customers. I told them that we have prepared many special items today.”

Baek Cheol-soo looked at Jung Jin-soo with a strange expression.

Jung Jin-soo swallowed hard, and Baek Cheol-soo smiled and said, “Hmm, you’ve worked hard, Chief Jung.”

“Then I will prepare the packaging and delivery right away. If this matter is resolved, we will be under the Sungmoo Lee family, right?”

“Haha! Chief Jung, you’ve made up your mind and are full of enthusiasm. It’s good to see.”

Baek Cheol-soo smiled as he recalled what Jung Jin-soo had said a while ago.

“That’s…… not true.”

“Yes, yes, I know. If you can just grab onto the Sungmoo Lee family’s string, you won’t have to do dirty work to suit our noble Chief Jung’s taste, right?”

Jung Jin-soo closed his mouth tightly.

Baek Cheol-soo grinned.

‘Jung Jin-soo. You are still under me anyway.’

He was showing that he didn’t want to do it, but he was working so enthusiastically. He has a good head, but his intentions are clearly visible.

In Baek Cheol-soo’s view, even if the Sungmoo Lee family intervened, it would only get dirtier, not cleaner.

Lee Jae-hak contacted him with the intention of dominating the economy of the underworld, not because he really saw great potential in this black market.

“Hehe, go out. You have to work, Chief Jung.”

“……Yes.”

Jung Jin-soo bowed his head and left the room.

Baek Cheol-soo smiled.

‘Chief Jung personally found out that he is Lee Jae-hak’s subordinate…… If that’s the case, then if this matter is resolved, I will have grabbed a thick lifeline.’

Baek Cheol-soo leaned deeply against the backrest, indulging in his happy imagination.

And not long after.

“Huh?”

One of the subordinates watching the video made a dumbfounded sound.

“Uh, that, uh?”

The moment Baek Cheol-soo frowned and tried to get up, a voice was heard from the walkie-talkie on the table.

Jijik-.

-Ye, here is the entrance to area A…… Kkeuaaak!

-Here is the north wall! Suddenly, a strange guy from somewhere. Su, suddenly! Suddenly……!

-Keoeok!

Urgent screams continued from the walkie-talkie.

Baek Cheol-soo stood up in a flustered expression.

Kwaaaaaang!

At that moment, an explosion that shook the ground rang out.

“What’s going on!”

Jijijijik-.

A group of people began to be captured on the screens filming the outside of the black market.

Warriors who were moving quickly, each with their own weapons, dealing with his subordinates.

The video equipment could not even properly capture their movements.

“Hey! You bastards! What’s going on!”

Baek Cheol-soo grabbed the collar of the subordinate in charge of the radio and shouted.

“Th, that’s……! I don’t know! It’s definitely not the cops……!”

“Isn’t it the government special forces or something?”

“Bu, but even if it’s them, there’s no way they could come this quickly and quietly, right?”

As soon as the subordinate finished speaking, the ground began to shake again.

Kwang! Kkwareung!

The impact was so great that it could be felt even outside the building.

Beyond the monitors filling the room, the sight of warriors quickly surrounding and suppressing the black market could be seen.

“First of all, it seems like the cops or something have arrived, so tell them to clean up quickly!”

‘Damn it.’

Baek Cheol-soo gritted his teeth.

To interfere at such an important moment.

At this rate, everything with the Sungmoo Lee family would be ruined.

But first, he had to get out.

The ones who infiltrated this place were not mediocre cops.

“Chief Jung! You immediately start with the list and ledgers……!”

Baek Cheol-soo, who had called for Jung Jin-soo, was startled.

Jung Jin-soo was not there.

Because he had sent him out.

The expression and words he had shown just before flashed through his mind.

Jijik! Pat!

And in an instant, the video equipment went out at the same time as if they had made a promise.

Baek Cheol-soo muttered with a blank expression.

“Sungmoo Lee family.”

A blood vessel popped out on Baek Cheol-soo’s temple.

The puzzle pieces fell into place in his head.

“Jung Jin-soo, you son of a bitch! You guys immediately release the kids and catch Jung Jin-soo and that acting son of a bitch! No, I’m going!”

“Yes, yep!”

Baek Cheol-soo gave instructions in an angry voice and grabbed the dagger he always carried in his arms.

* * *

As soon as the attack started, the inside of the auction house fell into chaos.

The auction could not proceed properly due to the explosions and screams heard one after another from outside the building, and the loud noises of things breaking and exploding.

“Uh, ju, just wait a moment and we’ll check the situation right away…… Headquarters. Headquarters. Please answer. What’s going on.”

The host urgently sent a radio message to the earpiece, but it seemed that he was not receiving any response because the connection was cut off.

Meanwhile, I got up from my seat and reached out to Mujin, who was in the form of Baek Jeol displayed on the first floor.

Uuuuuung-!

Mujin began to vibrate in response to my mana.

“Uh, uh, uhuhuh!”

The host next to me seemed flustered by the sudden change and stepped back.

And.

Peoooeeong!

The glass case surrounding Mujin burst out in an instant, breaking the window of the room on the second floor where I was and was caught in my hand.

“You fraud!”

Belatedly, the White Bone Clan guys burst into the room, kicking down the door.

“That bastard has a weapon! Attack!”

In an instant, four people rushed at me.

A narrow room with many obstacles.

The White Bone Clan guys were holding commonly used long swords.

But Mujin can change shape at any time.

“Eueot!”

The eyes of the White Bone Clan warriors, who thought I would swing Baek Jeol as it was, widened.

Ganggi Art, Yeomra [a martial arts technique].

A narrow space, and he even used an Aura Skill [a technique that enhances physical abilities].

The White Bone Clan warriors, who were flustered by the sudden situation, never properly caught the movement of Mujin, which was changing shape every moment and being swung around.

“Hoo.”

The time it took to eliminate all four people was less than a minute.

I quickly headed out of the auction house.

There are too many troops around the auction house.

It’s not a problem to get rid of those troops, but if Baek Cheol-soo comes, the situation will become complicated.

I had to get the stone tablet before that.

“Heoeok, heoeok!”

And a man with a pale complexion, sweating profusely, appeared in front of me as I was leaving the auction house.

“You came quite quickly.”

Jung Jin-soo slowly approached me with confused eyes.

I smiled at Jung Jin-soo and opened my mouth.

“So, Jung Jin-soo. Is the preparation complete?”