The Player Who Eats Steel - Episode 115
115fury.
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[Item information]
- Name: White Lotus Painting Piece No. 8
- Effect: Unknown
"wow! $4.8 million—the highest price of the day!”
Now, the atmosphere at the Black Wood Auction House was gradually becoming overheated..
This was because it had the highest price among the items released today..
- and… … Is there something in that item??
- Well, those two don't seem to have any intention of giving up.?
There were whispers and strange voices coming from all over the place..
The value of most of the items appearing here is unclear..
Therefore, there were rarely cases of excessive bidding competition..
But now, the two were engaged in a heated confrontation..
"Well, the auction continues! $4.9 million, no $4.9 million? ah! This time, gentleman number 14 raised his hand for $4.9 million.!”
Everyone looked at gentleman number 14..
He covered his face with a mask... … It was none other than Lee Hyun-wook..
Meanwhile, an anxious voice drifted into his ears..
- Damn it, this is practically the end. Five million dollars, no more.
- What is that guy? I'm sure he's not a spy for the 'Ndoz Alliance'.?
- I don't know who he is, but he has a lot of money. I can't ask for more funds?
- They say the situation isn't good right now so they can't bring it in any further.…….
They were members of the Humanitarian Player Alliance (HPA) Africa branch and were competing with Lee Hyun-wook for the winning bid..
However, as we overheard earlier, the funds they prepared were up to $5 million. I would have thought that was enough to win the bid, but…….
- Ah-oh! Sophie, should I just go and smack that bastard in the back of the head??
- David, please calm down and… … After—I go to the end..
"ruler! 5 million dollars, don't you have 5 million dollars??”
Soon, one of them slowly raises his arm..
But now those forearms were shaking.
"ah! Lady No. 46 offered $5 million! What's going on? Do you two, numbers 14 and 46, recognize the authenticity of this item? As the race continues between you two, let's go with $5.1 million.!”
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, Lee Hyun-wook raised his hand..
"ah! As expected, gentleman number 14 is going straight to $5.1 million this time.!”
- under… … It's check mate.
- That kid also came out with the right intentions..
"Now it's $5.2 million. So, do you have $5.2 million??”
The auctioneer's gaze naturally turns towards number 46..
But she had no choice but to slowly lower her head.
"Ah, lady number 46, don't you think it's worth this much??”
The auctioneer then bid a few more times, but no one came forward..
"—Now, this secret item will be returned to gentleman number 14.!”
earth—!
In the end, Lee Hyun-wook got what he wanted..
“14Gentleman Byrne graced the occasion today by winning the bid for two items for a total of $5.9 million. Thank you again!"
Lee Hyun-wook won the bid for ‘Northern Merchant’s Belt’ and ‘White Lotus Painting Piece No. 4’, and soon an employee came over and explained how to receive it. Even as Lee Hyun-wook heard those words, he listened to the HPA members..
- Damn it, if you don't have that, you won't be able to receive troops from your guild.?
- Maybe, yes.…….
- Is the search for CAR really over now? The resistance fighters there are probably just waiting for us, so what should we do? Sophie, is there any other way??
CAR and the Central African Republic were poor countries in the center of Africa. It faces the border with the Republic of Chad to the north, but unfortunately, it does not see any special benefits because it is at the edge of the World Tree's influence..
‘And there is currently a fierce civil war going on..’
To be precise, it was under oppressive rule by the player military.,
A few years ago, civil players rebelled and a war broke out..
And they, HPA, were naturally supporting the resistance..
- Did you hear that the Ndoz Federation's container ship is entering Chennai and collecting all the living armor on the black market? When that ship enters CAR, the 'Puppet Master' army will become much stronger. therefore… … If we don't get help from the guild this time, the resistance is truly doomed..
This was the voice of Sophie, the woman who appeared to be their leader..
Looking at this conversation, it appears that they requested military support from one of the influential guilds in the neighboring Republic of Chad, and that the condition was to find and hand over the 'key'..
- ……Now that things have come to this, there is only one way. chasing that man.
A moment of silence follows Sophie's declaration..
- ……huh? Sophie, what are you trying to do? It's not like I'm trying to take it away.?
- I don't know, shit, you're going to have to get it somehow, right? And that man knows the true value of that item... … He'll never know.
- Well, that's true, we also found out after receiving the quest.…….
- maybe… … Since we didn't give up and went into the auction tenaciously, we ended up winning the bid thinking we could resell it. Auction houses like this are often filled with quick-witted merchants.……
‘I was misunderstood.’
After Hyunwook Lee heard those words, he stood up..
- That guy is moving?
- quietly follows along.
‘As expected, everything goes according to plan..’
There was no way they were giving up on this..
In other words, it took the bait..
However, Lee Hyun-wook was able to capture other movements besides them..
- There are three people in total. Yes, these are the guys who were active in the CAR side..
That was a move to go after HPA members..
- It's on the auction block right now, and I think it'll go out soon..
- okay? It follows naturally..
- ……Do you handle it here today??
- Yes, today is the day..
***
“……It's over there.”
Two men, members of the HPA, were walking down a black market alley..
To be exact, I was following a man.,
For him, both of them had used the 'Stealth' skill..
"That bastard, where did he find his lodgings, that's why he's going down this path??”
The black market here in Chennai was so vast that the alleyways were as complicated as an anthill. And the deeper you go, the more secret shops appear..
"Seeing as he goes to places like this, it doesn't seem like he's a clean guy.?”
- Phil, David, you both watch your mouths. You're following me, right??
The voice of their leader, Sophie, was heard beyond the Mana Messenger..
She went to the other side of the alley and was waiting..
But, at some point…….
“……uh? Where did you go?”
The man disappeared from sight..
- what? hey! I really missed it?
“No, that's it……."
The two men stood awkwardly at the crossroads of the alley and looked around..
It was then.
“……Are you looking for me? It's this way.”
I heard an unfamiliar voice from somewhere.
The second floor terrace of an unlit building on one side of an alley,
There stood the man they were chasing..
Lee Hyun-wook looked down at the two men and waved his hand..
Then a man was startled and pulled out a pistol..
‘Hmm, you look pretty embarrassed.?’
Meanwhile, mana was detected in the gun, and it was also an enchanted item..
“Pfft! Did you know we were after them??"
"Well, if you use stealth magic, it doesn't mean you won't be detected.?”
"If so, then... … Did you lure us in?!”
"no… … This is it, I'm the one being followed, so why do I have to explain it??”
They seemed to be living in a very sensitive environment..
"shut up! you… … Was this the guy sent by the Ndoz Federation??”
Here, the Ndoz League refers to the player military ruling CAR..
Lee Hyun-wook pretended not to know and tilted his head..
"Sorry, I'm a foreigner so I have no idea what you're talking about..”
“……Don't act like a fool! Otherwise, why did they target our goods??”
"When you say it's yours, do you mean the one you won at the auction house??”
Lee Hyun-wook snorted as if he was dumbfounded..
"I don't know why it's yours, I paid for it and won it.?”
At that time, a woman came running from the alley across from me..
"hey! Damn, what are you doing??”
She ran up and pushed the gun away from the man..
"Shit, why are you pulling out a gun all of a sudden? I was crazy about messing things up.?”
"Sophie, that bastard is suspicious! There must be a plan.!”
"hey! We followed them first in the first place, but who suspects whom??”
She made such a fuss and looked back at Lee Hyun-wook..
"I… … I am truly sorry for following you behind..”
Judging from the way he appeared in that position, it seemed like he was planning to negotiate..
"Do you remember number 46, the winning bid at the auction house??”
"So now… … Are you saying they were following me because of that item??”
"yes that's right. that is… … I want to purchase that item again.”
At those words, Lee Hyun-wook tilted his head..
"I don't quite understand, but the bid failed because there wasn't enough money, right? But you're saying you're going to buy it back from me, but that doesn't seem like a very trustworthy claim.?”
Since 'humanitarianism' is their core ideology, they probably have no intention of robbing them, but Lee Hyun-wook showed signs of anxiety and took a step back..
"No, we have no intention of taking it by force. And I don't have any cash right now, but I can get it, so let's talk slowly..”
But Lee Hyun-wook stubbornly shook his head..
"Well, I also need that item, so I won the bid. Otherwise, you're not a fool and you wouldn't have invested a huge sum of $5.2 million.?”
She couldn't hide her dumbfounded expression at Lee Hyun-wook's words..
"Now, I'm not planning on reselling it, I just needed it.?”
"huh? Isn’t that natural??”
"So, it means you know what it's used for.?”
The mockery that appeared on her face was an expression that showed she had seen through the lie..
The potential item was a key to a hidden stage inside a gate that was open to CAR. In other words, you wouldn't know unless you went there..
"No, that can't be possible. It's some kind of quest item. It's something we've been looking for for a long time, and it's something that many people's lives depend on. So, we're going to pay more than $5.2 million. Otherwise you won't be able to sell it anywhere for full price..”
She pushes ahead with confidence..
At those words, Lee Hyun-wook shook his head without hesitation..
"No need for money, the item is……."
The three people couldn't help but be surprised by what Lee Hyun-wook said next..
"……It must be a puzzle-type key to a hidden stage inside a certain gate.?”
The three didn't answer, but they couldn't hide their hardening expressions..
It was a secret known only to a few people. No one knows except CAR's resistance leadership, the Old Peace guild master, and those who relayed the information between them..
‘no way… … Was the information leaked from the guild??’
In their silence, Lee Hyun-wook spoke first..
"If you know the location and are collecting this... … I also want to join you in conquering the hidden stage, what do you think??”
An incomprehensibly bold proposal suddenly arrives..
They looked at Lee Hyun-wook with blank expressions..
The plot changed so suddenly that it was difficult to understand the context..
"No, who are you to make such a strange suggestion??”
"If you do a joint strategy with me and let me keep at least ten percent of the hidden stage rewards, you don't have to pay anything..”
Lee Hyun-wook paid no heed and continued to make suggestions as he pleased..
"that… … This is a problem that cannot be accepted so easily..”
The reason that didn't work was simple. This was because they did not attack directly, but signed a contract to hand over the right to attack to the other side..
"okay? then……."
Lee Hyun-wook took out ‘White Lotus Painting Piece No. 8’ from his pocket..
The moment their eyes were focused on it, I put it back in my pocket..
"This negotiation is broken.”
gulp—
their eyes flutter.
"no! The question you just suggested cannot be decided here. Well, we also have to talk to the higher-ups, so we'll negotiate slowly........"
But then, Lee Hyun-wook raised his left hand..
"Wait, I guess we'll have to talk about this later..”
"yes?”
"What, I didn't know they were being followed while they were following me.?”
Lee Hyun-wook shook his head as if he was pitiful..
"yes? tailing… … What the heck……."
"It's not just one or two people, so you better be careful..”
At those words, they turned their heads and looked around..
"Damn, it's real……."
Soon, about a dozen assailants began to appear in the darkness of the alley..
“—Ah, who is this! Hahaha!”
Among them, a large man wearing a Hawaiian shirt shouted:.
"Hey, these are the kind-hearted human rights group friends I often see in Africa, right? No, how can I meet these friends here like this??”
He trudged over, joking..
Behind them stood people armed with automatic rifles..
A total of 7 people, and 4 people are approaching from the alley across from me..
"Damn it, William Tell… … Since when have you been chasing us??”
Sophie growled and asked:.
And Lee Hyun-wook also recognized him..
‘William Tell, the eye remover, was not a villain as far as I know..’
But it was clear that he was an equally vicious person..
He was a mercenary and Red Player active mainly in Africa, and now appears to be employed by extremist forces supporting the Ndoz Alliance..
And if Lee Hyun-wook had not caught Shadow Baron and Okita Kaito, the three would later come together and form an international criminal organization..
"No, I was just looking at the market and I heard a familiar voice.?”
William Tell grins, takes off his sunglasses and winks..
"This dog, a ridiculous sound……."
Soon, three people, led by Sophie, took out weapons..
"Wow—Sophie Green, does something like this exist in someone else’s country??”
"Then your hometown is CAR, so you're causing such a fuss??”
"Oh, can you call that a country too? It wasn't an animal cage.?”
At this, a burst of laughter erupts among the gangsters..
"Oh, Sophie, don’t do this, you have to go back to the African continent anyway, right? There's a boat here at the dock, I'd like to take it back with me?"
"I know, your fucking belly! I know you're buying a lot of toys to give to the 'Puppetmaster' bitch, so it's best not to get on that boat, because you'll end up as food for the fish.—!”
After Hyunwook Lee heard that far, he opened his mouth..
"Hey, sorry, I did this.……."
However, Sophie slightly pushed Lee Hyun-wook as if to tell him to stay back..
Do not worry. We got you caught up in this, so we'll get you out of here no matter what, even if it means we die..”
Then he held out a cell phone and whispered very softly..
"If I have this, my higher-ups will contact me. At that time, that item… … Please negotiate with us. I really need that.”
After leaving his last words like that, he looked at his two subordinates..
"If this person dies, we will be committing a big sin..”
The two men also nodded at her words..
But Lee Hyun-wook sighed and shook his head..
"Did you say Sophie Green? Looks like a member of HPA, is that right??”
“……yes that's right.”
"So, Sophie, you're doing a good job, aren't you? But if I……."
Lee Hyun-wook’s left hand slowly rose..
“……If we deal with them, will the contract ratio be adjusted to 20%??"
She looked like what did that mean?.
"Hey, what are you talking about??”
Guns were coming from all directions..
"Since we don't have time, we'll have to negotiate later..”
Lee Hyun-wook’s left hand stretched forward..
That moment—
Tongue!
2An unidentified iron box was placed on one side of the terrace on the first floor.,
It opened and 30 adamant stars poured out..
And then it flew in all directions and attacked the approaching assailants..
Sh—sh—sh—sh—sh——!
It flies precisely at 12 targets scattered here and there..
it never goes astray.
Because ‘Hugin’ was floating in the darkness of the sky..
In Lee Hyun-wook’s perception, their positions and critical points clearly stand out..
Chow—now—now—now—now——!
There wasn't even a small scream during the process. The heads of 13 gunmen, including William Tell, were cut off cleanly with a single blow........
Two-two-two-two-two.......
Just the sound of the body collapsing is heard repeatedly..
"......."
The three people watched the scene with mesmerized expressions.,
I slowly turned my head and looked at Lee Hyun-wook behind me..
Around his body, adamant stars were back and spinning..
Wham—wham—wham—wham—wham——!
And before he knew it, Hugin was sitting on his shoulder..
"ah… … You stand, no way……."
Sophie's mind was filled with only one thought..
A player who uses metal freely and powerfully... As far as is known, there was only one such person..
He spoke first..
"If I knew who I was, would the contract be a little easier??”
He took off his mask, and three people shouted at the same time.
“—Hyunwook Lee!”
He nodded and spread four fingers..
"From what I just heard, it looks like there's a troublesome ship here... … If we take care of that, is it possible to reduce the contract terms by 40%??”
He was still making arbitrary suggestions..
And Sophie thought as she looked at Lee Hyun-wook..
‘Wait a minute, if this person is with you... … There is no need for the Old Peace Guild.?’
That the contract figure may not be 40%, but 100%.…….
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