[Trantor - Hestia]


    [Proofreader - Kaya]


    Chapter 50: Negotiations (1)


    Ssh—Ssh—


    A fishing boat, the kindmonly called a "Tongtongbae," rocked with every wave. A man aboard gazed eastward.


    Thend stretched across the horizon, shimmering in his vision.


    "Damn it."


    Kim Jaewoo, the former boss of the Red Spiders, muttered under his breath.


    Rage boiled within him. If he followed his instincts, he would smash the boat to pieces.


    At the peak of 6 Star, if he wanted to, he could pulverize the Tongtongbae with a single kick and return tond.


    However...


    ''Madam… that damn bitch!''


    There was no ce left for him in Ground Zero.


    "Boss, is it okay to run away... I mean, retreat like this?"


    One of the two remaining executives emerged from below deck.


    "Do you want to stay there and die?"


    "N-no, sir."


    "Choi Hyungtae, that bastard, and 150 dead Hunters! One hundred and fifty, not fifteen!"


    Half of their Hunter force had been annihted in the border region.


    By the time the few survivors had informed him, Madam had already made her move.


    "The rumors about the Human Hunter must havee from Madam, too."


    "Could it really have been the Trait group?"


    "It doesn''t matter now. The problem is that we were yed by that bitch."


    The Red Spiders were able to control Ground Zero because of their overwhelming numbers. Even if Madam had the funds, there was a limit to the number of mercenaries she could mobilize at once.


    But that advantage had vanished due to Choi Hyungtae''s blunder.


    "If we had stubbornly tried to defend our territory, it would have been a dog''s death."


    Even escaping Ground Zero didn''t offer muchfort.


    The Red Spider executives were all criminals. They had swaggered like kings in thewless zone because they couldn''t step into the legitimate world.


    "Boss, but if we go down to Busan..."


    "Hey, do you think Madam would just let us slip away?"


    Madam''s influence in the underworld was even greater than that of the Red Spiders. Kim Jaewoo''s influence was limited to Ground Zero and its vicinity, but she had a much widerwork.


    "Busan? We''ll be lucky if we don''t get stabbed before we even leave Gyeonggi Province."


    "So going to China was the best choice."


    "You exin it to the others. I''m too tired to talk anymore."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yes, sir."


    The executive retreated back into the boat.


    Kim Jaewoo watched him with a look of disdain.


    ''That idiot, calling himself an executive.''


    Kim Jaewoo wasn''t happy about leaving Ground Zero either.


    Giving up everything and crossing over to China?


    If there had been any other way to survive, he wouldn''t have joined hands with the Nine Dragons'' Hall.


    ''Now I have no choice but to be their subordinate.''


    His position was different from when he was the leader of the Red Spiders.


    When the Red Spiders were powerful, they were at least nominally partners. But now, having fled to China in debt, he would have to submit to the Nine Dragons'' Hall.


    Were there other options?


    The Nine Dragons'' Hall wasn''t a pushover organization that would simply watch the remnants of the Red Spiders scatter.


    ''What''s done is done. All I can do is n for the future.''


    He would even lick their shoes if necessary.


    If he proved his loyalty and worth to the Nine Dragons'' Hall, an opportunity would eventually arise.


    A day to plunge the knife of revenge into Madam.


    ''If they want to build a criminalwork, they''ll have to reach out to Korea eventually.''


    When that time came, he would return to Ground Zero as the vanguard of the Nine Dragons'' Hall.


    Kim Jaewoo vowed revenge, gazing endlessly eastward until thend disappeared beyond the horizon, unaware that a necromancer had been behind the downfall of the Red Spiders.


    ＊ ＊ ＊


    The seemingly endless night came to an end.


    As the sun rose above the horizon, the carnage of the previous night was revealed.


    Dark red stains sttered across the ground.


    All of it was blood spilled from the bodies of the Red Spider members.


    "Congrattions, Madam."


    A man in a suit offered a faint smile.


    "I didn''t expect to see you this early, Mr. Ji."


    "Please call me Mr. ck. This is a professional rtionship, isn''t it?"


    "I''ll try, Mr. Ji."


    The man''s lips twitched slightly.


    Though it was the name given to him by his parents, he didn''t particrly like his real name.


    Since bing the leader of ck Market, he preferred to use the alias Mr. ck.


    Very few people knew his true identity.


    "What brings such a busy man to me so early in the morning?"


    "I need to make a good impression, now that you''ve swallowed the Red Spiders'' territory."


    "Ho ho. I wonder if you truly intend to make a good impression."


    A cold air flowed between them.


    Even the lingering heat of the battlefield couldn''t reach Madam and the man.


    "What does ck Market want?"


    "The bnce of power must be maintained."


    The man went straight to the point.


    "And if I intend to take over the businesses the Red Spiders were running?"


    "ck Market will step in."


    "Ho ho. It would be unwise to touch someone else''s rice bowl."


    "Wouldn''t it be a bit too big for your small mouth, Madam?"


    "We''ll see about that."


    The bnce in Ground Zero had crumbled.


    The Red Spiders controlled various profitable businesses besides the bloodstones and the ck Herb farm.


    Smuggling people from North Korea.


    Managing illegal Gates.


    Even smuggling goods to former North Korea and China.


    The two businesses Yoojin had targeted were their biggest source of funds, but the remaining ones couldn''t be ignored.


    Taking over even one of these businesses would be enough to livefortably in Ground Zero.


    "Please tell me what you want."


    "Me?"


    "I know you have no intention of taking the Red Spiders'' interests, Madam."


    "Then will ck Market take them?"


    "Depending on the situation, yes... but haven''t I told you our intentions?"


    Ground Zero was a gathering ce for all sorts of criminals and people with shady pasts.


    If one faction grew toorge, it would be difficult to restrain them.


    It was a chaotic abyss entangled with all kinds of illegal interests.


    After Madam, ck Market, and the Red Spiders established their power in their respective fields, a semnce of order had emerged in Ground Zero.


    "Ho ho. I feel the same way."


    "Does that mean..."


    "If there''s someone to manage the Red Spiders'' territory, Mr. ck would be satisfied, wouldn''t you?"


    Madam smiled slyly.


    The man, deducing the whole situation from that single sentence, almost blurted out the thought that had just struck him.


    ''Did she have a coborator?''


    The war of nerves between the Red Spiders and Madam.


    Mr. ck judged that the situation wouldn''t escte to the point where one sidepletely copses.


    The bartender at the Milky Way Pub was a 6 Star Hunter, just like Kim Jaewoo.


    Madam was also a shrewd businesswoman, so even if the Red Spider pressured her, she wouldn''t suffer significant damage.


    Conversely, if Madam wanted to fight the Red Spider head-on, she would have to hire mercenaries, but even gathering enough people would be difficult.


    ‘Huh. I''ve been had.’


    Mr. ck gave a wry smile.


    He had schemed, worried about the growing influence of one organization in Ground Zero.


    The Red Spider''s swift copse was the oue he least desired.


    ‘The problem was showing my cards too early.’


    Madam''s attitude had a clear meaning.


    There was a coborator who yed a decisive role in bringing down the Red Spider.


    And she was handing over various interests that the Red Spider had controlled.


    “Is it the Legion?”


    “Ho ho. Kim Jaewoo eradicated an organization called the Legion two days ago.”


    “Then, the Ghosts? Or…”


    “If you''re so curious, why don''t the three of you have a drink together and talk?”


    Madam turned her head away, indicating she wouldn''t say more.


    ‘Huh. I''ve really messed up.’


    Information imbnce.


    There was a hidden truth behind the incident that even he, a schemer, hadn''t grasped.


    A coborator who could inflict severe damage on the Red Spider and force even Madam to share her profits.


    ‘Could it be someone outside Ground Zero?’


    Limited information.


    In this critical situation of dividing the Red Spider''s assets, theck of data felt like a choking sensation.


    He finally raised the white g.


    “Alright. I''d like to meet as soon as possible.”


    “Today at noon. Come to the Milky Way Pub.”


    A subtle smile spread across Madam''s face as she turned away.


    ＊ ＊ ＊


    The Milky Way Pub, located on the outskirts of Ground Zero.


    Even when the sun was high in the sky, the usually bustling establishment was quiet today.


    【It looks like they''re not open for business right now.】


    “Of course they are. The sign''s lit up, isn''t it?”


    【I can barely see it because of the sunlight. Maybe they forgot to turn it offst night?】


    Creak—


    A giant of a man opened the door and entered.


    Following behind him, Yoojin headed straight for the lounge.


    “You are open, right?”


    “Madam is waiting for you.”


    Old Man Jeon pointed towards the inner part of the pub.


    A private room essible only to VIP members.


    Yoojin nodded and ced his hand on the tightly shut iron door.


    【I don''t think you can open it with your strength alone.】


    “You idiot. This isn''t a door you open with strength.”


    Rumble—!


    The iron door slid back with a heavy sound.


    【What the...? Did you eat some miracle elixir or something while I wasn''t looking?】


    “Don''t be ridiculous.”


    He was still keeping the Inseolsam he''d received from Seongcheon Corporation, unable to consume it yet.


    There was no need to give it to Fafnir anymore.


    While it would be right for Yoojin to take it…


    ‘If I eat that now, my heart will freeze and I''ll die.’


    It was the ultimate elixir for those who wielded otherworldly magic power, like Necromancers.


    It was the same for Yoojin, but he wasn''t ready to fully ept that power.


    ‘At least 4 Star. And I need to improve my physical abilities before I can even try.’


    Fortunately, thanks to the effects of Life Drain, his physical abilities were growing stronger day by day.


    The day woulde soon when he could consume the Inseolsam.


    Stopping his thoughts, Yoojin stopped Fafnir, who was following behind him.


    “Fafnir, wait outside.”


    【Hmm. If that''s an order, I have to follow it.】


    If he took his subordinate into the private room, who knows what kind of insults Madam would hurl at him.


    ncing at Fafnir standing in front of the iron door, he went inside.


    ‘Quadruple? No, a quintuple barrier.’


    Soundproofing, anti-eavesdropping, anti-irvoyance, magic resistance, and shock absorption.


    The private room within the pub was filled with magic circles installed to protect the secrets of its guests.


    “You''ve arrived.”


    “I came as you asked. Who is that?”


    The man in the suit stood up and immediately offered a business card.


    “If it''s ck Market, you must be from the underground auction house.”


    “You''re well-informed. It seems you''re familiar with Ground Zero.”


    “Enough with the probing. Mr. ck.”


    Wow. To meet that gentleman here.


    The owner of ck Market, Mr. ck.


    He looked much younger than Yoojin remembered, so he didn''t recognize him right away. But after observing his tone of voice and demeanor, Yoojin soon recalled him.


    When Yoojin nced at Madam with a questioning look, she didn''t avoid his gaze and winked.


    ‘She''s as ambitious as ever.’


    The share of the Red Spider he had demanded as a reward for the request.


    One of the three organizations that controlled the flow of Ground Zero had copsed.


    And with the leaders of the remaining two groups gathered in one ce, the stage was perfectly set.


    ‘Madam said she would support me, but this is more than enough.’


    Yoojin knew the man in front of him well.


    He was someone he had interacted with frequently during his previous life, when he was building Necropolis.


    The location of Necropolis was Gaesung.


    Because it was close to Ground Zero, he knew a fair bit about the man.


    “No need to beat around the bush. You know what I want.”


    “You''re talking about the Red Spider''s territory and shares.”


    “I''m not saying I''ll take it all. I''ll just take the ck Herb farm and the North Korean business.”


    At Yoojin''s shameless words, the man let out a heartyugh.


    “Haha. You''re an interesting one.”


    “This is the first time I''ve realized I have a talent for making peopleugh.”


    “Would you mind telling me why our ck Market should support you?”


    “I took care of 150 Hunters, including Choi Hyungtae.”


    The man didn''t bat an eye.


    He had investigated the situation after being persuaded by Madam, so he had anticipated this to some extent.


    “Are you demanding a share for bringing down the Red Spider?”


    “You understand well.”


    “That''s something you can demand from Madam. But it has nothing to do with ck Market.”


    The man''s eyes quickly scanned Yoojin''s entire body.


    ‘The Hunter who wiped out half of the Red Spider. It''s safe to assume he''s a 6 Star.’


    A nameless powerhouse who suddenly appeared.


    He was a suitable person to fill the void left by the Red Spider''s copse.


    However, he couldn''t just hand over the Red Spider''s shares to someone whose origins were unknown.


    ‘I''ll grant some of his demands to keep him tied to Ground Zero.’


    Just as he finished his calctions and was suppressing a smile…


    “I''ll eradicate the Human Hunters and open the path to Gaesung for you.”


    “What?”


    “Wouldn''t this be a decent deal for you too?”


    At Yoojin''s nonchnt tone, the man''s eyebrows twitched subtly.


    [Trantor - Hestia


    [Proofreader - Kaya]