TRGS 51

Chapter 51
Black Market

The black market had never stopped operating since the era of Hunters began.

Nothing was unsellable—so much so that there was a saying that the only thing they didn’t sell was children.

They didn’t even pay taxes to the IRS in the U.S., yet somehow avoided being caught—one of the few groups capable of this.

The founder and first operator of this black market had never seen anyone like Han Yoojin before.

“What kind of guy is this?”

An hour before contacting Han Yoojin, the owner of the black market tried to soothe his disbelief.

Why would someone bring an S-rank Hunter to a mere test?

If this person were an S-rank Hunter themselves, that would make sense—but the likes of this Hunter? He had never seen one in his life.

It would at least be understandable if he were wealthy. Isn’t this capitalism? With enough money, people could be persuaded.

Before the Hunter era, only oil-rich elites like Bin Salman could pull off such extravagance.

But now, mana had surpassed oil in value as an energy resource, and related businesses had grown so large that even billionaires of the past couldn’t compete. The old rankings no longer mattered.

Now, overwhelmingly rich people were few—precisely because there were too many, and many had died, rendering rankings meaningless.

“How on earth did he get an S-rank Hunter?”

Was he lured with money? Or with his body?

Looking at the profile they had received in advance, it wasn’t entirely unbelievable.

He was reasonably handsome. Even someone who had seen countless Hunters, some extraordinarily beautiful, could acknowledge that.

A little thin, but not a major flaw.

“Not this year’s photo, but good enough to check facial features.”

Only one recent photo existed: a single image of him wearing a coat, turning slightly away. A scene so cinematic it might rival paparazzi shots.

The flaw? His face was blurred—as if he had anticipated being photographed and deliberately avoided it.

“If only we had gotten Korean CCTV footage…”

Still unavailable? Well, the head of the Korean Hunter Association would have to be exceptionally skilled to get it.

Since he was an A-rank Hunter, he couldn’t be handled recklessly. An S-rank Hunter? Untouchable, except maybe through indirect means.

“Whoever took this photo must be cut.”

The other photos of him were equally poor. None showed his face clearly. Had he deliberately avoided all of them?

Without supernatural perception or prior experience, it would be impossible to notice. He wasn’t a former celebrity.

“Just an incompetent photojournalist, then.”

Fantasizing over this here? Wasting film? And money.

He had more money than top-tier wealthy elites, and he clicked his tongue in frustration.

The photojournalist would be cut from future operations.

“He’s a prize worth raking in money for.”

Baek Ah-rin—perhaps a bit naïve?

One of the few S-rank Hunters in Korea. She was a Reawakened Hunter, and because of an absurdly unfair contract, she was blocked from going overseas. He had kept her vaguely in mind.

If the timing was right, he might have attempted to steal her away. Freelancers like her adapt easily, after all. She wasn’t cruel at heart, but responsible and moderately motivated by money.

“Maybe this woman should go freelance too…”

Currently, Baek Ah-rin had left the Dark Knight Guild—or rather, the guild had disbanded, freeing her.

FA. Now was the chance to lure her in.

The black market owner was also acting as a broker. Bringing her in completely could generate a fortune.

“Even if not, it doesn’t matter.”

His eyes darkened.

Baek Ah-rin. A famous Reawakened Hunter.

“Candidate for Heart Holder.”

The Heart appeared rarely in high-level dungeons, granting great power to its holder.

No immediate side effects had been identified, but no power comes without a price.

Strong Hunters had responsibilities: to defeat enemies. Breaking that duty wasn’t a problem—unless one killed allies, then it became serious.

Many freelancers were former criminals. Usually manageable, but Heart Holders were unpredictable—they could go berserk at any time. Extreme caution was required.

If a freelancer committed acts like devouring human hearts, instant execution followed. Even high-tier freelancers would be prepared for such cases.

If Baek Ah-rin were such a holder—

“She’d have to be killed.”

Han Yoojin? Well, S-rank holders didn’t exist below the S tier, so excluded.

They had cleared the Burning Horizon dungeon, where a Heart might exist. Baek Ah-rin could get it—but Yoojin? No chance.

With that, the owner examined the tiger he had received. Frozen, stuffed, and preserved.

Not bad. Taxidermy required freezing, after all. With professional processing, a huge tiger would be complete.

“The article title could be: ‘Baekdu Mountain Tiger Returns from Dungeon!’”

Maybe more sensational?

“Or: ‘Baekdu Mountain Tiger Returns from Dungeon—Is the Nation Responsible?’ Not bad either.”

The preserved animals were transported. Only the most expensive skins had been sent.

Astute. That alone was enough to qualify as a freelancer.

“Start from a lower-tier freelancer, I guess.”

Yoojin called it a “deal,” but that term was for top-tier freelancers. A mere D-rank Hunter wasn’t in that league.

“…But the skins? Why send separately?”

Were they specially slaughtered?

That was a deduction. Quantity was met, but if skill hadn’t been exceptional, the skins were a loss.

“Without professional skill, they can’t even be sold separately.”

The quality was surprisingly high. Better than usual.

Professional equipment must have been used. Another specialist involved, perhaps?

Maybe an Enchanter did minor work. Enchanters rarely worked as freelancers. At most, they assisted in production.

If Yoojin went freelance—truly the first.

“The skins… even better?”

[“Tiger hide: tough, resilient, and bouncy.”]

Even named as a reinforced item.

The owner immediately made a call.

Target: Han Yoojin.

“This one’s talent!”

An item alone could reshape the market. His eyes burned.

Yoojin laughed softly after receiving the call.

“Good thing I only did one thing.”

He sent only the captured tiger and the separately removed skins, reinforced. All done with a skill click—but it counted as reinforcement.

Others would have to drain a soul to achieve similar results, but Yoojin only needed mana.

• “Who… is this guy?”

“If I’d sent the rest, he’d have passed out.”

An Easter Egg always appeared in tiger-related dungeons: a dungeon within a dungeon, one-time entry only.

Later entry required conditions, so truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

“What a guy.”

Not yet used, so one more entry possible.

“This one will make you a fortune.”

Persuasion possible.

“Its value has already doubled, just from this.”

• “…Reinforcement can do this?”

• “This isn’t even a weapon. Much less burden for me.”

• “…How long did it take?”

Greed laced the voice—typical money-obsessed type.

“About an hour?”

Usually, reinforcement took a day per item. Even the skilled ones.

Renaming the item? That was extraordinary.

“Here’s my proposal. I’ll make you rich. But let’s make a contract.”

• “…If I send an item, you reinforce it.”

• “That’s only demanded by Hunters.”

Yoojin clicked his tongue at ignorance.

• “They don’t know yet. If you consider the growing market, aim for Hunters.”

• “Sure, big money circulates. But only Hunters? That’s not all.”

Hunters were a minority. The rest were ordinary citizens. Many suspiciously wealthy. Targeting their demand wasn’t bad.

• “Expensive, but must-buy? Guess what it is?”

• “…Buildings?”

• “No. Something older folks like.”

• “?”

• “Side-effect-free vitality tonic.”

• !!!

The reaction from the other side intensified. Yoojin smirked.

• “Want to buy it at a high price?”

A monster deal.

Tigers appeared in dungeons—sometimes in special conditions.

“…Changgwi? My nickname… odd.”
“Seol-gwi has a bad meaning too, so no issue.”

Whack!

“Painful.”

Seol-gwi—Baek Ah-rin—smacked Yoojin’s back. Controlled strength, but still painful.

Wiping the struck area, Yoojin looked up.

An intentionally uncleared dungeon. Ice remained frozen, bright white.

“…What are we looking for here?”
“Wild ginseng.”
“Why?”
“Because it sells for a lot.”

Mostly forest environments. Though Korean dungeons were often forests, ginseng didn’t naturally grow.

Here, due to the tiger-related Changgwi phenomenon—souls of those devoured and bound to tigers—special ginseng grew.

“…But everything’s frozen… will the ginseng survive?”
“Normally no, but the ginseng areas are fine. Find a nearby village, please.”
“Hmm… any idea where?”
“B-rank or higher exists. If not, just look for the golden cord.”

An amusing Easter Egg, preserved from the original game popular in Korea.

“Found it! …Frozen, but okay?”
“Yes. It’ll thaw.”

Holding the golden cord, Yoojin applied slight force. The ice covering it melted. Lightly frozen, luckily.

Adjusting the temperature, Baek Ah-rin looked on curiously.

• “What is this for? Like a tiger leash?”

• “No.”

Yoojin gripped the golden cord. Normally, repair and processing would be needed, but not for him.

• “This is the ‘door’.”

[Skill: Soul Reinforcement activated.]

Weaknesses would be strengthened. As the cord regained light, the view shifted.

A field appeared before them. Eerie, suited for the dead. Tigers walking and tending the field.

Whoooosh—

[Entered Changgwi’s Field.]

A field of tigers’ victims turned into spirits, even killing parasitic tigers that had clung to them.

They had arrived.