Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 169

169. A New Order (5)

“Yes, yes! That’s right. What brings you here?”

Song Ji-min had little interest in Hunters or Dungeons, but she knew about Kang Hyun-moo.

He had appeared on the news several times, and more importantly, her younger sibling, Song Yeo-un, had described him with great exaggeration.

According to her sibling’s description, Kang Hyun-moo was more like a monster or a demon king than a human, but Hyun-moo, who had come to visit, just looked like a fit, ordinary person.

“I came to see some art.”

Hyun-moo nonchalantly handed Song Ji-min a ticket.

Taking the ticket, Song Ji-min found her sibling’s contact information written on the back in their handwriting.

She had taken a bunch of tickets, saying she would give them to the team members, but she never thought she would give them to someone as famous as Kang Hyun-moo.

“Yes, ye-es. Welcome.”

Song Ji-min tried her best to smile as she guided Hyun-moo.

Kang Hyun-moo was the first big spender to appear since the exhibition began. This was her chance to sell at least one piece.

Song Ji-min showed Hyun-moo the artworks and began to explain them.

However, Song Ji-min’s image of Hunters was not much different from her image of Song Yeo-un.

In other words, she thought they were likely to be almost completely ignorant about art.

Even if they were interested, most Hunters who earned a lot of money usually bought famous works.

She had some expectations for Hyun-moo, but he also had an expression that suggested he didn’t quite understand.

“So, this wave… it is a wave, right? It expresses the artist’s melancholy and frustration?”

“Yes. It metaphorically depicts the passionate moment of emotion when a wave, which had been gently simmering in the ocean, rushes to the beach without realizing it and shatters itself into pieces…”

“What kind of frustration did the artist experience?”

“A challenge to abstract art that is isolated from the general public and fixated only on the tastes of a fixed art-enjoying class, and at the same time, a clear realization of the limitations of oneself…”

Song Ji-min sighed in the middle of her explanation. When Hyun-moo looked at her, Song Ji-min bowed her head apologetically with a tired expression.

“I’m sorry. Honestly, I didn’t paint this, so I don’t even know what I’m talking about. And it seems like you’re not really interested, so I feel bad that I’m forcing myself to continue.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yes. Quite a bit.”

Normally, she would never have said such a thing.

However, she didn’t want to put unnecessary pressure on Hyun-moo, who had clearly come because of the ticket Song Yeo-un had given him. Perhaps what he needed was peace and quiet.

“That’s good. Then let’s get straight to the point. I just thought it would be awkward to proceed without any explanation, so I tried to listen a bit… This piece isn’t Song Ji-min’s work?”

“Yes? Yes. My works are over here…”

Song Ji-min pointed to the paintings and sculptures on one wall.

“I used to do sculpture as well, but I heard that you have to go to ancient Greece to get a job with a philosophy or sculpture degree…”

“I see.”

Hyun-moo gestured from the beginning to the end of Song Ji-min’s works.

“I’ll buy them all. How much?”

“Excuse me?”

“The price. This is my first time buying art. And there are no price tags.”

“Oh, uh, well…”

Usually, at exhibitions, the creator sets their own price, or sometimes they only charge for the materials, depending on the piece.

In many cases, the buyer suggests a reasonable price. But when that moment actually came, Song Ji-min couldn’t open her mouth. Even to buy everything?

“Thir… thirty?”

“Thirty billion?”

Was this person serious about what they were saying?

Song Ji-min froze when she actually heard a number she had never even considered, or, to be honest, had only imagined.

Song Ji-min was about to correct herself and say 300,000 won [approximately $250 USD] per piece, but Hyun-moo had already pulled out a blank check from his pocket and was writing on it.

In an instant, Song Ji-min received a check with nine zeros after the 2, and she wondered if this was real.

Was her sibling playing a prank? Was this real money? All sorts of thoughts ran through her mind. Then, Hyun-moo snapped his fingers towards the outside.

Immediately, men and women in suits who had been waiting outside rushed in.

“Handle them carefully. They’re precious works.”

White gloves and packing equipment. They weren’t just day laborers hired to move things, but experienced professionals who only handled high-value art.

The last person to enter was carrying two heavy bags.

Hyun-moo received the bags and opened them in front of Song Ji-min. They were filled with stacks of 50,000 won bills [Korean currency, approximately $40 USD].

Seeing the cash, Song Ji-min snapped back to reality.

“500 million won [approximately $420,000 USD] per bag. That’s a total of 1 billion won [approximately $840,000 USD]. I thought this would be enough since you’re still early in your career, but you’re as bold as Song Yeo-un’s sister, calling for that much.”

“Oh, oh! Wait a minute. I think there’s been a misunderstanding!”

“There’s no misunderstanding, Song Ji-min.”

Hyun-moo handed Song Ji-min the bags. The heavy weight made Song Ji-min’s back sway.

“If it’s inconvenient for you to carry, I can assign someone to help.”

“Ah, no, that’s not it! You, you don’t know anything about my work! You didn’t even look at it properly! So why are you buying it at such a high price? Is it, is it because of my sibling? Did something happen to Yeo-un?”

“Song Yeo-un is fine. And will continue to be. Just take good care of them.”

Then, Hyun-moo said as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, perhaps… are you offended as an artist because I’m collecting your work without knowing its true value, like a nouveau riche [new money]?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, no matter how much money you have, you can’t trade it for an artist’s pride. I’m ashamed that I tried to win over a great artist with my vulgar way of thinking. If you’re too uncomfortable, we can cancel the deal…”

Song Ji-min, who had been hoping that someone would recognize the value of her work until just five minutes ago, grabbed Hyun-moo’s hand.

“No.”

It was too much money to refuse just because it was sudden.

For Song Ji-min, who hadn’t even finished paying off her student loans, it was an amount that could guarantee not only her immediate debts but also her retirement.

“Rather, I’m really grateful that you appreciate my lacking work so highly.”

Hyun-moo smiled slightly.

“I’m glad the deal is done.”

“Oh, but could you at least tell me why you’re buying my work like this?”

Hyun-moo stared at Song Ji-min.

“Do you happen to like spiders?”

“Excuse me? Sp, spiders? I can’t even look at anything with more than six legs!”

Hyun-moo, who had been wearing a complicated expression for a while, patted Song Ji-min on the shoulder.

“Well, let’s just say it’s because you show signs of becoming successful in the future. Rest assured and focus on your art. Even if you awaken, don’t be interested in Hunters or anything like that, and never look at spiders. Oh, and contact me whenever you create a new piece. I’ll buy it at whatever price you call.”

Hyun-moo left, leaving Song Ji-min speechless once again, along with the artwork he had bought and the bags full of cash.

In the suddenly emptied exhibition hall, only Song Ji-min and the bags full of cash remained.

***

When Kang Hyun-moo, who had even been rumored to be dead, resumed his activities, the Hunter community, as well as various sectors of society, took great interest and paid attention.

Kang Hyun-moo was already a figure with considerable influence not only in the Hunter community but also in the industrial and political spheres.

The industrial sector is dominated by the high-quality items produced by JeonNeungRyeon [All-Powerful Union] and the high-purity crystal mosses that are supplied only in extreme secrecy.

The political sphere has connections with Park Gyu, a key figure in the regime, as well as the power to control even the Seoul mayoral candidates, and even has command of the military.

Those with quick wits were already feeling that Hyun-moo was unknowingly casting a shadow over the entire Republic of Korea.

When Hyun-moo, who had been missing for nearly 50 days, appeared and immediately bought artwork, attention quickly turned to the artist named Song Ji-min.

“What does she do?”

“She’s an artist, sis.”

The top floor penthouse of the Taesung Group headquarters.

Originally intended for receiving guests, it was actually used as the personal office and living space of the Taesung Group’s leader.

Among the company’s employees, this office space was secretly referred to as the throne.

The occupant of this office was none other than a woman in her mid-thirties.

The woman lit a cigarette in her mouth and said.

“Do you think I didn’t understand that? I’m asking what kind of artist she is that Kang Hyun-moo is interested in.”

Lee Ji-tae frowned and looked at his older sister, Lee Seo-yeon.

“I heard she’s a recent art school graduate. I checked to see if there were any works left, but auction officials swept them all up, besides the ones Kang Hyun-moo bought. I heard they bought them for thousands more.”

“You’ve only looked at it roughly. There were still graduation pieces left at the school. I bought them just in case, but they weren’t worth that much.”

Lee Seo-yeon chuckled and continued.

“Kang Hyun-moo seems to be deep down, but he only does things that are hard to understand. If you pay attention to this type, you’ll get caught up in it. Like you.”

“Sister.”

Lee Ji-tae suppressed his anger and looked at Lee Seo-yeon.

However, Lee Seo-yeon tapped the desk and snapped at Lee Ji-tae.

“You’re the one who suggested paying attention to Kang Hyun-moo and investing in him. But instead of making progress, he’s only doing things we can’t understand. I’ve been indulging you in your Hunter games, but if you continue like this, I won’t be able to anymore.”

“Games?”

Lee Ji-tae was the number one Hunter in Korea and the only 5-star ability user in Korea until Kang Hyun-moo appeared.

There are fewer than ten teams in the world that have cleared a 5-star dungeon. But Lee Seo-yeon was calling it a game.

“It is a game. Then what else is it?”

Lee Seo-yeon scoffed and said.

“If I had your abilities, I wouldn’t do it that way. I would be achieving results you couldn’t even dream of. You don’t know what kind of power you have or how to use it. You’re just absorbed in playing a righteous role. So how can I not call it a game? I’m just letting you do it because it helps with image marketing; otherwise, I would have stopped you a long time ago.”

Lee Ji-tae clenched his mouth and glared at Lee Seo-yeon.

“In that respect, Kang Hyun-moo is better. At least he knows how to use his power. And he uses it very actively? Unlike someone else, he’s not bound by his own unnecessary rules.”

Lee Seo-yeon is not an ability user. But she could awaken at any time, but she just isn’t doing it. Because she can awaken at any time if she has money.

However, she took over the position of the actual ruler of Taesung without any abilities.

Originally, Taesung, which had a clear tradition of primogeniture [inheritance by the eldest son], did not give the position to a woman.

Lee Seo-yeon, who was only the third daughter, was lower in the line of succession than Lee Ji-tae, who was the youngest. But that’s not how it actually turned out.

After her father, the previous manager, suddenly passed away, the second son went to jail on charges of drug smuggling within a year, and the eldest brother was hospitalized in an unconscious state.

After that, Lee Seo-yeon took over the position of vice president and became the actual manager.

She was the biggest beneficiary, but there was no evidence anywhere that Lee Seo-yeon was involved.

However, Lee Ji-tae was convinced that if he had not declared that he would only work as the leader of the Hunter Clan and had no interest in managing the Taesung Group, he might have been in a similar situation.

‘Of course, she can’t physically do anything to me…’

There are many ways to socially ruin a person. Because humans are not solitary creatures.

Lee Ji-tae had tried to find out if he could sense anything from Lee Seo-yeon, but he couldn’t sense anything.

Lee Seo-yeon was more difficult to understand than his eldest brother, who was in an unconscious state.

Lee Ji-tae said as if making an excuse.

“Taesung is already dominating Korea. Even if Kang Hyun-moo exerts a lot of influence, it won’t matter, will it?”

The Taesung Group had been dominating Korea long before Hyun-moo appeared.

What Hyun-moo was trying to do was what Taesung had been doing for decades.

No matter which regime or force dominates Korea, Taesung will firmly cast its shadow.

However, Lee Seo-yeon didn’t seem to have any intention of letting it go slack.

“We shouldn’t give Kang Hyun-moo any room to become an alternative to Taesung. If we can’t prevent him from becoming an alternative, we have to make him our ally.”

Lee Seo-yeon raised both hands and said.

“Congratulations! In that respect, you may be right. Your delusional prophecies can be helpful at times. But I can’t leave it all in your hands anymore.”

Lee Seo-yeon took a deep drag on her cigarette and continued.

“So I contacted the Howan Mama Clan. JeonNeungRyeon has now risen to second place, so I thought we should shift the balance of power.”

“You contacted Park Do-ryeong?”

Lee Ji-tae raised his eyebrows and strode towards Lee Seo-yeon.

“I did. Then what?”

Lee Seo-yeon answered, raising the corners of her mouth.

“I can’t let Taesung lose any more money because of your pride. Howan Mama will also participate in the Northern Expedition as an ally of Taesung. He’s been crouching for a long time, so he probably wants to stretch a little. I think he was going to move anyway.”

Lee Ji-tae gritted his teeth and approached Lee Seo-yeon’s face.

The power and hatred that could crush Lee Seo-yeon at once flickered from his fingertips.

However, Lee Seo-yeon looked at Lee Ji-tae with gloomy eyes without any change in expression, even as she felt his deep anger.

It was a familiar gaze to Lee Ji-tae.

A look of pity.

Lee Seo-yeon took a deep drag on her cigarette and blew it in Lee Ji-tae’s face. The cigarette smoke collided with his face and scattered.

“You’re thirty years old and still acting like a child. Ji-tae.”

“…….”

“Yes. That’s why you’re still alive because you’re so kind. But you can’t be Kang Hyun-moo’s opponent. It’s the same reason you always lose to me.”

Lee Seo-yeon grabbed Lee Ji-tae’s hand and pulled it in. It was a hand with the power to turn Lee Seo-yeon into mincemeat right away.

But Lee Seo-yeon put out the cigarette butt on that hand.

She squeezed the cigarette butt into Lee Ji-tae’s hand and said.