Chapter 74: Cheong-ho (2)


    The value of an item varies from person to person. To me, its value lies solely in being an antique, so I am willing to transfer it to you.


    Thank you.


    However, its not possible at this very moment.


    I waited silently for Cheong-hos next words.


    Its not for any other reason but that the item is stored in the main houses warehouse. Since its in a different region, could you wait a bit?


    This sounded like a lie. Yet, Cheong-ho didnt seem the type to joke around with non-existent items. Though not certain, I couldnt help but wonder if Cheong-ho was using the book as a pretext to meet me again.


    Theres no rush, so thats fine. If you happen toe across any information rted to such grimoires elsewhere, Id appreciate a heads-up.


    Ha! Id be more than happy to help with that. Is there anything else you need? Perhaps ess to a ck market where you might find grimoires  Yes, how about that? I could help you get in.


    Cheong-hos efforts to win my favor were almost touching.


    If thats possible, Id like to ask for your help with that as well.


    Heh It might be difficult right away, but Ill arrange something good before long.


    Thank you.


    But Mage-nim, your name was Kim Shin-hwa, right?


    Yes.


    You may think this is out of the blue but may I make a proposal?


    A proposal?


    Not something like ess to the ck market, but rather, how about working together with me?


    Mages are often seen as slow, expensive, shady, and even unlucky and arrogant. Oh, my apologies. I mean other Mages. But Kim Shin-hwa-nim is different. You possess remarkable skills and are both agile and trustworthy.


    Um


    The name Triad might sound grand, but in reality, its nothing special. Back then, the times were so dangerous and chaotic it was possible to forcibly unite things that shouldnt be mixed. But its not like that anymore, right? In Paju, which is slowly finding peace, the name Triad has be not a shield but an ufortable shackle.


    Surprisingly, Cheong-ho spoke of the division within Triad. I wasnt surprised because it wasnt my first time hearing this. Ive encountered this event several times before. However, there were conditions for this event to happen.


    First, you must form a firm alliance with one of the three heads of the Triad.


    Second, the yers level must be 50 or above.


    My level is currently 28. Why has this event suddenly urred? Does this imply my abilities are now equivalent to those at level 50?


    Considering the abilities I possessed and the enemies I could challenge, it seemed usible that I could be around that level. But it felt premature. And above all


    The reason weve been hesitant to make a move is because there are two of them. The other two must be thinking the same. I can deal with either one, but I cant deal with both at the same time. However, with Kim Shin-hwa-nim by our side, I believe we can even take on three, not just two. What do you say? Ill offer you the best treatment I can.


    Thank you for your offer, but I have no intention of joining any organization or group for the time being.


    I had no desire to fall under Cheong-hosmand.


    Nor was I interested in any other factions within the Triad. While the human resources and underworld infrastructure of the Triad were appealing, those were merely on a human level.


    This was evident even in the case of Chae Tae-won, a senior figure in the Triad. His character and abilities were respectable, but they were still within human limits. Evenpared to Curtain Call, who was no different from a wild caveman, Chae Tae-won was far behind.


    The entities I would face in the future were beyond human capabilities, andpared to those monsters, the Triads minions were nothing more than a swarm of ants.


    Is that so Well


    Cheong-ho wore a bitter expression on his face. He seemed to think it was because he showed too much desperation. But that wasnt entirely incorrect, so I didnt bother to correct his thought.


    And this is a piece of advice, separate from your proposal


    Advice?


    Dont think that Paju is now at peace.


    What? What do you mean?


    Finally, the honorifics disappeared from Cheong-hos speech. It wasnt that his attitude had changed because I had rejected his offer. Rather, he was so taken aback that he couldnt maintain his formal tone.


    It may sound like a prophecy, but soon, an issue unlike any before will not just affect Paju but the entire world. For that time, whether to keep the Triad going or


    If you want to fight, move faster than anyone else. I didnt explicitly say it, but it seemed Cheong-ho had caught on to what I was implying without me having to state it outright.


    But with the current forces at my disposal


    I will continue to work solely through Vasilisa for the time being. If the conditions are right, I mighte to greet you again.


    I understand Alright A grimoire? Fine. I can procure as many of those as you need.


    Cheong-ho made a bold im, but it was merely a boast since he was almost as ignorant about grimoires as anyone else. Should he truly start to search, hed realize the difficulty of acquiring one and likely be shocked.


    The conversation that followed my refusal of the coboration offer was hardly important. Perhaps unable to let gopletely, Cheong-ho brought up the topic of his grimoire several more times. It wasnt until I promised to meet in person again on the day he would deliver the grimoire that I was finally able to leave.


    <em>**</em><em>*</em>


    Two more weeks passed.


    There was no word from Cheong-ho, who had promised to deliver the grimoire.


    Instead, I received apensation of three hundred million won through Tudor.


    Setting aside everything else, the fact that Cheong-ho and I had be firm allies hadnt changed, so I decided to wait for him without any sense of urgency. Anyway, he wont betray me if nothing out of the ordinary happens.


    In the meantime, I kept myself busy by resolving a few requests.


    They were mostly jobs that paid pocket money. I captured a few wanted criminals, covertly blew up a mercenary groups base that had upset a major corporation, and stole a cherished idol from a cults sacred site.


    Thest quest I undertook was particrly significant.


    In the process of stealing the idol, I managed to sweep up all the relics they had gathered.


    While none of the items were immediately usable, I ended up with a bounty of versatile catalysts and materials that could be used for various purposes.


    Phew Its about time I got a proper workshop or research space.


    Or more urately, what I needed was a warehouse. Warehouse! The small studio apartment I had was far too cramped for all the items I had umted.


    Now, there were cursed fake gold turning ck, fragments of bizarre creatures, magical tools, various catalysts, and shimmering magic stones, not to mention a golden dancers head disyed in one corner as if it were a piece of decor.


    The items here alone could build a decent alchemy workshop if I take good care of them.


    Whatever it is, this isnt the ce for it.


    Of course, I had conducted some limited work and magical experiments here, but even that was reaching its limits.


    As time passed, both my collection of items and my wealth grew significantly. At the same time, my reliability with Tudor and my reputation as a fixer had solidified which paved the way for more dangerous quests toe my way.


    Furthermore, if I were to advance further in this line of work, my reputation as a fixer could very well develop into notoriety. That would certainly bring about exciting times; Id be a wanted man, with bounty hunters and assassins trailing me.


    Taking all of this into ount led me to a simple conclusion.


    Its about time I moved my base of operations.


    With the money at my disposal and Tudors cooperation, securing a safehouse-level residence wouldnt be a difficult task.


    However, I needed a ce that was more spacious than what could typically be acquired through such means.


    Ideally, a residence with unique features that would benefit its upant would be preferable.


    Should I go for [Home Usurpation]?


    If I wanted to, I could easily kill an easy NPC and take over his house. Although its an outrageous crime, its a brilliant system that reflects the ruthless nature of the [Cthulhu World].


    But I need to choose carefully. The better the house, the more likely it was to have formidable defenses or a highly capable owner. Moreover, the closer to the city center, the higher the chances of getting caught by the police or even the immigration bureau


    <em>Tsk, how did ite to this?</em>


    Despite justifying it as part of the games system, what I was thinking about was essentially murder and theft. If I were still living in the real world as Kim Shin-hwa, I would never even consider such things, let alone carry out such a n.


    Ah, fu*k it. What was I going to do then? Had I not taken lives until now? Was there another way? If I kept dying, the path to ruin would begin to advance, leading to an ending engulfed in doom. To escape this world before that main event triggers, I have to amass power by any means necessary.


    No, wait. I dont have to kill anyone, right?


    Yes, that was it. There were homes I could take without having to murder innocent people. In fact, some even pleaded for me to take theirs


    There was this one particr house that seemed perfect. It wasnt bad at all and it offered many beneficial options for a mage.


    Although there were some challenging parts, oveing them could grant me a level of power usually not attainable until muchter in the game.


    At this point, I made up my mind about my next course of action. I left the overcrowded house behind and headed towards Vasilisa.


    As I entered the caf, a hush fell over the ce.


    Everyone nced my way while whispering quietly among themselves.


    No full sentences were distinctly audible, but words like Je Mu-gyeong, The Triad and Wild Guns asionally reached my ears.


    This was a recent change. Now, there was no one in Vasilisa who didnt know me.


    Outside of Vasilisa, the name Kim Shin-hwa and the Carcosas mask I wore had be quite well-known too.


    I ignored their gazes and turned to Tudor. And as she usually did during her free time, she was sprawled in a corner of the cafe and reading a fantasy novel.


    Oh dear, youre here? I didnt call for you today, yet here you are.


    Yes, this time I have a favor to ask of you.


    Oh, a favor from you? Thats kind of scary.


    Whats so scary about that? Ignoring Tudors joke, I continued.


    Id like you to narrow down the conditions for my next request.


    Narrow down the conditions? Ah, it seems you have something specific in mind?


    Exactly.


    There was one particr request I had in mind among those Tudor could arrange, but it would be odd to directly pick that one out, wouldnt it?


    What should I say to gloss it over?


    Ive recently acquired some items rted to necromancy, and Id like to experiment with them.


    Ahaan, so you did manage to pick up something from that mess, didnt you?


    The mess referred to the sacred site of the cultists that I recently raided. The mission waspleted sessfully, and I was able to recover the idol. But buildings copsed, fires broke out, monsters suddenly flew from the sky, and all sorts of things happened.


    I hadnt expected to encounter a genuine cultist capable of summoning magic. Nevertheless, I made sure not to bring back anything that could be traced back to us.


    Its unlike you to leave traces that could lead to being tracked. As for necromancy, what exactly do you wish to aplish?


    Im not particr about the level of difficulty; if there are any requests to resolve psychic phenomenon, Id like you to arrange them for me.


    Any psychic phenomenon?


    Lets avoid possessions theyre troublesome. Id prefer something rted to a property or real estate that can be resolved with a wide-reaching suppression.


    Hmm


    Tudor ced a finger on her lips and started thinking.


    Given the current circumstances, there should be a few requests that fit the criteria.


    I recall there was something like that on thework I think I probably skipped it because the conditions werent that good.


    Im not too concerned about the payment.


    So, shall I look into it and get back to you with the details? Youll probably hear from me by tomorrow at thetest.


    Sounds good.


    Necromancy, though Should I start considering that area for future requests?


    What a troubling kindness. Practicing necromancy was merely an excuse to convince Tudor.


    As I mentioned, its for practice, so lets see how this goes and then decide.


    What I really want isnt to practice necromancy. Im simply looking for a quest that allows me to acquire what I need and earn a decent reward in the process.