Chapter 178. Black Market (2)

I entered the house and got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

"Do you happen to know about the black market?"

At that, Kang Changho stopped drying himself with the towel and reacted.

"Black market?"

"I thought you might know a few places about it, Hunter."

I spoke towards the silent S-rank.

"Actually, I'm personally interested in such markets."

The black market, or underground market. It's a place where goods are traded secretly, avoiding government control and evading legal oversight.

As I just mentioned, I was currently gathering information on illegal transactions. And I had already confirmed the existence of a black market specializing in magical tools. There were reports about merchants evading taxes by selling dungeon items on the black market. There were also cases where ordinary people, without proper qualifications, secretly acquired dangerous equipment and committed crimes. Just a quick search would bring up plenty of examples.

"Even Korea isn't a safe zone."

If the black market was a place where illegal items ran rampant, there might be some ingenious tool that could help my situation. First of all, I clearly need a 'certain item' that was only distributed there.

So, I originally intended to check out the black market myself, but unfortunately, it's not easy for an ordinary person to access the underworld. These days, in our IT-driven society, even risky transactions mostly take place online. In particular, their method of attracting customers—creating anonymous chat rooms using a highly encrypted messenger app, repeatedly dissolving and reforming them—was anything but friendly to an outsider like me.

"I gave up on doing it alone a long time ago because it was too difficult."

Kang Changho had been a VIP client of awakened kidnappers in the past. Wouldn't it be natural to assume that he already knows how to access the black market as well?

"If it's okay, I was wondering if I could get some help from you, Hunter Changho..."

I came here with that expectation. There was no one else who came to mind as someone who might know about the criminal world.

"Black market."

As expected, Kang Changho seemed to know something about this topic.

"Kim Giryeo, you have a good relationship with the association, so you shouldn't have any problem using the regular markets, right?"

"There's no problem."

"Then why are you interested in places like this?"

The hair, which turned bluish due to the common condition of Awakener known as hyperhidrosis, I continued the conversation while observing the moisture on the person's hair drying.

"It's a little embarrassing to say because it's such a trivial reason, but it's actually half out of curiosity."

The truth is that I'm looking for the materials to use for the revised plan... But I'm not obligated to report every little detail. Honestly, part of me is just genuinely curious about the black market.

"Curiosity? You're not looking for a specific item?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

"Would it be difficult for this reason?"

I lied nonchalantly and made a request to the landlord, who was standing by the window.

"If you just help me enter the market, I can repay you as best as I can. For example... I can appraise items for you. Now that I think about it, didn't you say you needed a personal appraiser before?"

I'm not trying to get something for nothing, and I'll certainly pay the proper value for the information. I'd say this is more than enough in terms of politeness.

"...I never thought it was a request like this."

Kang Changho seemed to ponder my words for a moment, but the silence didn't last long.

"Okay."

He soon gave a positive answer.

"I'll connect you to a black market I know. So that you can be on their customer list."

"Oh."

"Is that good enough?"

The S-rank hunter finished drying his hair with the dry towel and added it to the sentence.

Anyway, this is nothing, so I'll just tell you out of goodwill between contractors. But don't get your hopes up too high. It's a small-scale place, practically a low-class flea market...

"I've already found an appraiser a long time ago. So don't waste your time, and if you're done, just leave."

"Ah, yes yes."

Surprisingly, Kang Changho was quite generous. He granted the request without asking for anything in return. After all, aside from the flaw that he might do anything depending on his mood, he's a pretty useful human being.

"Until I regain my strength, I might as well try to please this guy."

I thanked the person once again and began preparing to leave.

But just then, Kang Changho suddenly approached and picked up the beverage box that had been placed to the side, saying.

"By the way, what's the occasion for bringing all these gifts?"

Isn't it a bit late to be giving your thoughts on that?

"It's the first time I've ever received a gift from a fellow hunter."

"Is that so?"

Sask.

The S-rank hunter with blue hair quickly lifted the gift set of drinks to eye level.

"Let's see, the weight of the sincerity that Hunter Kim Ki-ryeo brought..."

He stared at one side of the box quietly and then spoke.

"13,000 won."

As expected, I guess I should have removed the price tag.

***

How is the black market operating today? There was a time when transactions were common through delivery or mail. However, the items that come from dungeons are generally large and detect magic, so the methods of the past can no longer be used.

So, the black market traders came up with another trick. To be precise, they started using the new technologies that appeared in this world.

"Hello."

I am currently standing in front of a gate in Seoul. And this gate is the very identity of the black market I was introduced to. I've heard that some bold black market traders occupy such monster nests and use them as their places of business.

'After clearing out all the mobs in a low-level dungeon and leaving only the boss, they remodeled the remaining space into a marketplace...'

"Please show me your raid certificate."

At the entrance of the F-grade dungeon, located in a secluded area, a security guard in a suit stood. I handed them the invitation I had prepared.

Originally, to get this invitation, one would have to access a place called the 'Dark Web' and go through all sorts of trials...

"But are you really Hunter Kim Giryeo?"

"..."

"Ah! O-of course, I was told in advance that you'd be coming. But just to be sure... I apologize, but I'll need to do one final check to confirm whether the illusion skill is applied."

Thanks to an S-rank awakened individual, I was able to become a member relatively easily.

Soon after, the guard applied a potion that interferes with magic on her finger and rubbed it on my cheek. But when nothing happened, she hurriedly bowed her head and spoke.

"V, verified! You may enter right away."

The guard must have seen me as an S-rank Hunter, introduced by Kang Changho, so it was only natural for her to be intimidated.

'If I had come with him, that guard would probably be fainting by now. I'm lucky I asked to shop quietly.'

I put the invitation the guard had politely returned back into my pocket. But it seemed that the process wasn't quite finished yet.

Just before crossing the gate, the guard suddenly pushed an item toward me.

"Oh, customer!"

"Hmm?"

"We prioritize our customers' privacy. Therefore, it is a rule to wear masks within the market to ensure that everyone's identity remains concealed."

"Aha."

The item in question was an Earth-made product, a mask designed to cover the entire face. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"If everything is blocked like this, will I even be able to see what's ahead...?"

When I put on the mask I was handed, surprisingly, my vision only dimmed slightly and there was no real problem. It seemed like the lenses near the eyes were something like sunglasses. The long fabric at the back of the head completely covered my hair, and at this point, if I didn't speak, it seemed like it would be difficult for anyone to recognize me.

'Of course, I was aiming for that, which is why I paid attention to every detail of my outfit.'

Ssshk.

I lowered my head to check today's outfit. A black short-sleeved t-shirt and dark blue denim pants. Since I deliberately wore clothes I usually wouldn't, this should be enough to keep my identity hidden for now.

"Are you done?"

"Yes, yes!"

After completing the formalities, I stepped into the gate without hesitation.

"Huh."

But the view was spectacular.

Bright daylight. Signboards placed here and there. Young men actively trying to attract customers. And among them, various masked guests filling the space.

"This is beyond what I imagined."

Indeed, this place was perfect for setting up a marketplace. The dungeon's structure, with buildings made of mud bricks, resembled an old village, so as long as the monsters were well-managed, the existing architecture could easily be turned into stores.

'Just as I heard, the scale is small, but it still has everything it needs.'

I scanned the surrounding earthen-walled buildings one by one. Some places were selling weapons, while others dealt in items from various categories, like a knight's oath.

"Oh my?"

Some were even priced outrageously high. Maybe these sellers, being hunters by trade, didn't usually source their items from regular markets and simply didn't understand standard pricing.

'What are other people thinking, paying this much?'

Still, it was a black market, and some stalls were selling forbidden magical tools that the government had prohibited. However, what I actually needed was nowhere to be found.

"Hmm."

Do they not deal with that here? With a sense of disappointment, I moved to another spot. I then entered a small stone-wall house on the outskirts...

"Ah."

At last, a welcome sight. The letters were written in large letters on a thick cardboard signboard.

[Blueshell – 0.5 per set]

The blue grain-like symbol drawn here was the very same fruit I had seen before.

'It was here!'

Blueshell! That's right. The reason I took the risk and came to the black market was because of that fruit.

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Preparation 3. The internal magic required for the activation of five different spells.

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The lung exchange technique requires a significant amount of magic.

'A fruit that can unleash a person's magic...'

In fact, even now, a small amount of Blueshell is circulating in my body. The Alphawet were skilled in such techniques, able to maintain a temporary state of awakening, similar to the effects of caffeine, for an extended period of time.

But I had to increase my magical power by a level far beyond the 10-point boost I had achieved before. That's why I was planning to purchase more Blueshell.

'The problem is that, based on my calculations, I'd have to overdose to the point where people could die just to barely meet the required amount.'

Well, it's better than having no options, right? I finished my brief thought and approached the shopman at the stall.

"How many are there in one set?"

"They are sold in sets of five."

By the way, the '0.5' written on the sign is slang for five million won.

"That's so damn expensive..."

I cursed inwardly as I diligently moved my arm. I pulled out cash from the bag I had been holding.

"Give me 8 sets."

"Thank you, customer!"

A bundle of fifty thousand-won bills, the size that a grown man can hold in one hand. When I handed over about four of those bundles, the black market dealer eagerly presented the hidden goods. Since Blueshell is a substance that can be stored in an item box, there was no need to wrap it in a bag.

'Alright. I've got what I need, so I might as well check out a few more shops before leaving...'

I transferred the Blueshell into my item box and turned my body around.

But then.

"Oh my, welcome, customer!"

Kliek

. With the sound of an old door creaking, a new customer entered the mud house. A woman wearing a party mask with a drawn on mustache. She closed the door behind her and scanned the interior, and before I knew it, cold sweat began pouring down my back in a frenzy.

"Uh-oh?"

I had already figured out the identity of the customer from the magic flowing out from the other side.

'Why is that person here...?'

Thump, thump, thump.

I had a bad feeling. I tried to ignore the cold sweat dripping beneath the mask as I subtly prepared to leave. But it seemed like it was already too late to escape.

"Sir."

A few seconds later, the woman pulled out her weapon without warning.

"We will be conducting official duties for a moment."

What on earth was going on?

Push!

What came out of the customer's arms was none other than a gun. As she pulled the trigger, a silent burst occurred.

"Ugh..!"

What was fired wasn't a metal bullet. It was an orange substance that turned into gas upon contact with the target. The merchant who was hit by it suddenly fell to the ground helplessly.

With a thud, the customer, after confirming the merchant's paralysis, immediately turned the gun toward the next target.

"Wait a minute!"

However, the finger that had been on the trigger could not bring itself to pull it any further.

"Don't shoot! It's me."

The other person probably wouldn't have forgotten this voice in such a short time either.