Chapter 28: Underworld (1)

The next day, Kwon Oh-Jin woke up and trained early. Afterward, he headed to the association.

“So you’re saying you’re going to work with the Valhalla Guild to investigate the Black Star Society?” Han Jun-Man asked, putting his coffee on the table.

Clack.

“Yes, but most of the investigation will be handled by the guild.”

Han Jun-Man nodded and smiled broadly. “That’s good. This isn’t something you can handle on your own.”

“You’re right.”

The Valhalla Guild establishing a cooperative relationship with Kwon Oh-Jin was great news for the association.

“Thanks to you, even the executives who used to nag me all the time can’t say a word now.”

Not only had Kwon Oh-Jin caught the kidnapper, but he had also forged a partnership with the Valhalla Guild. Up until just a few months ago, such an achievement was beyond imagination.

“That aside, I’ve got a favor to ask,” said Kwon Oh-Jin.

“Go ahead.”

“I’m thinking of getting some new equipment.”

“Equipment?”

“Yes. Custom-made ones.”

Kwon Oh-Jin handed Han Jun-Man a pre-prepared equipment request form.

“I need a spear made entirely of silver, from the blade to the shaft. I’d also like it to be reinforced with Starstones to increase its durability .”

Silver was the most electrically conductive of all metals.

If his weapons were made with silver, it would maximize his Thunderbolt skill.

“

Hmm...

I see. The spear aside, though, what’s this?” Han Jun-Man pointed to a device that looked like a bracelet.

It was too oddly shaped to be just a simple wrist guard.

“In a nutshell, it’s a device that fires wires like bullets.”

“Like how Spoderman shoots webs?”

“Something like that.”

The only difference is that it shoots wires, not webs.

“The entire wire must be made of electromagnets, though.”

That way, it can stick to metal when current flows through it.

“

Oh

, and please reinforce it with Starstones as well.”

“

Hmm...

it shouldn’t be too difficult to make,” Han Jun-Man replied.

The shape was a bit unique, but the technology required was simple. All it had to do was shoot and retract wires.

“Is there a specific reason you need this kind of equipment?”

“There’s a limit to how much I can use the Stigma of Lyra with just a spear.”

Unlike Lee Shin-Hyuk, he had no intention of stubbornly using a spear alone to reach the pinnacle of spearmanship.

I need items that can utilize my Thunderbolt.

That was how he had come up with the wire shooter. If used properly, it could allow him to move freely in the air as if using vertical mobility equipment[1]. He could also use it to bind his enemies.

Once they’re bound, it’ll be over for them.

He could instantly electrify them by channeling his Thunderbolt through the wire.

It’s probably going to be really hard to handle, though.

With enough practice, he thought he could manage it.

“A wire shooter, huh... That kid’s gonna love this,” Han Jun-Man said with a light chuckle, someone seemingly coming to mind. “Alright. I’ll put in a request to the equipment production team.”

“For the price...?” Kwon Oh-Jin cautiously asked and then nervously gulped.

He could feel cold sweat running down his back.

It’s probably going to be hella expensive.

A spear made entirely of silver and an outrageous wire shooter, both reinforced with Starstones. His request wasn’t going to be cheap.

“Don’t worry about the cost.” Han Jun-Man smiled warmly, dousing Kwon Oh-Jin’s boiling worry.

Kwon Oh-Jin’s eyes widened.

Could this be...?

“You made significant contributions in the recent operation with the Valhalla Guild. The higher executives are looking at this in a good light, so the association will cover the cost of the equipment.”

“Team Leader Jun-Man...”

No.

“Jun-Maaaaan!”

In a burst of emotion, Kwon Oh-Jin hugged Han Jun-Man.

“H-Huh?”

The gorilla—no, Han Jun-Man’s eyes widened in surprise.

“O-Oh Jin?”

“We don’t have to be so formal between us!”

“What do you mean, between us?” Han Jun-Man asked as he broke out into a nervous sweat. “

Ahem,

why don’t you calm down for now?”

“

Ah,

yes.”

Kwon Oh-Jin sat back down on the couch and calmed down.

“As for your final request...” Han Jun-Man picked up the last document beneath the equipment request form, cocking his head in confusion. “What exactly do you need this for? I’m assuming you don’t plan to use this.”

Han Jun-Man scratched his head at the seemingly more random request than the wire shooter.

“It’s not for me, but I do need one. You don’t have to rush custom-making or finding it, though. Also, as noted there, make sure it’s the best one you can find.”

“Alright. In that case, the association will also pay—”

“No,” Kwon Oh-Jin firmly shook his head firmly. “I’ll pay for this one myself.”

“Yourself?” Han Jun-Man asked, thinking that was unlikely of him.

It was a difficult decision coming from someone like Kwon Oh-Jin, who had been acting like a miser up until now.

“Yes. I have to buy this with my own money.”

“

Hmm

. Alright. We’ll send you an invoice for this later, then.”

Han Jun-Man organized the equipment request forms and placed them into a folder.

Remembering something, he then suddenly clapped.

“Oh, right. We’ve received the appraisal results of the Astral Relic you gave me a while back.” He slid a picture of the blue chalice that the Black Star Society had switched out over the table. “It’s rated three stars, and it has the ability to speed up mana recovery.”

Kwon Oh-Jin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Three stars?”

He had expected it to only be one or two stars. This far surpassed his expectations.

Man, those guys are generous!

He couldn’t even begin to guess how much money he had gotten from the Black Star Society alone.

“What would you like to do with it? Will you be using it yourself?”

“No. Please sell it off with the Starstone.”

He had no need for mana recovery; he already had more than enough mana reserves. Hence, it was better to convert it into money in this case.

“Understood.”

“And while you’re at it, please sell these off as well.”

Kwon Oh-Jin handed over the two high-grade Starstones that he had obtained from Yoo-Jin.

“Wow, these are top quality.”

“How much do you think all of this will fetch?”

“Adding all of the items you’ve given so far into the calculation, around 1.7 billion won? If you’re lucky, you might even get up to 1.8 billion.”

Holy shit. Including the reward I got from Lee Woo-Hyuk, I’ve made around 5 billion won.

His clenched fists lightly trembled.

I’m almost at my goal.

A thrilling sensation spread down his spine.

Including the amount of money that he had saved up over the past few years, he had earned just barely enough to get the item he wanted.

Barely enough isn’t going to cut it, though.

He needed exactly ten billion won to secure it, and he had already decided where he would earn the remaining amount of money.

“Team Leader Jun-Man, would it be okay if I asked you for one last favor?”

Han Jun-Man nodded willingly. “Of course.”

“I need a map of the sewers beneath Seoul Station.”

“What?”

Han Jun-Man stared at Kwon Oh-Jin, dumbfounded.

What on earth could he possibly need that for?

“I’m planning to go on a little treasure hunt,” Kwon Oh-Jin replied with a sly grin.

“I still have no idea what you’re thinking.”

“

Hahaha

. Don’t let it bother you.”

Han Jun-Man sighed.

I really can’t figure out what’s on this man’s mind.

He had never met an eccentric quite like Kwon Oh-Jin.

“Alright. Let me see what I can do.”

As an organization directly connected to the government, acquiring something like that wouldn’t be too difficult.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Kwon Oh-Jin smiled in satisfaction and rose from his seat.

As he stepped outside the association building, the bright sunlight beamed down on him.

Just three billion won more to go.

If he could get his hands on the giant Starstone embedded in the forehead of the flesh monster that he had seen in Lee Shin-Hyuk’s memories during his third enlightenment, he would finally reach paradise—something he had long craved.

***

A week had passed since Kwon Oh-Jin had requested the equipment from the association.

As usual, he went up to the rooftop early in the morning and trained relentlessly, performing acrobatic moves that no ordinary human would even dare attempt.

“Hoo, hoo!”

His breaths gradually became rough and heavy.

Balancing on one arm in a handstand, he spread his legs wide apart. Thirty-kilogram weights were strapped to his ankles.

“Hup!”

After a while, he brought his legs together and straightened them. He then lightly pushed himself off the ground with his left arm and shifted to his right arm, going back and forth.

Thud!

As he transferred the weight from one hand to another, his center of gravity wavered slightly. Beads of sweat on his forehead dripped down.

After twenty reps, he finished with a backflip, landing upright.

The cold December air cooled his heated body.

“Next is...”

Just as he grabbed his spear to begin training his Stigma, a brilliant light radiated from his silver necklace.

Woooong!

“Huh?”

His eyes widened as he lifted the necklace hanging around his neck. His confusion only lasted a moment; it wasn’t hard to figure out what this light meant.

She’s finally coming back.

The noble goddess he had been waiting for was back.

The silver light from the necklace gathered into the form of a small woman, about thirty centimeters tall. Her radiant dress shimmered, her long silver hair flowed down, and her golden eyes gazed directly at him.

Kwon Oh-Jin’s lips curled into a smile.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Hey!”

Vega folded her arms and glared at him.

“Didn’t I tell you to speak to me casually?”

“

R

ight.”

Now that he thought about it, she had said that before they parted ways. With everything going on recently, it completely slipped his mind.

“

Haha!

My bad.”

He chuckled softly and extended his hand toward Vega, who was floating gracefully in the air.

“It’s good to see you, Vega.”

“

Hehe

.”

With a light flutter, Vega flew over and sat down on his hand. She then crossed her legs. Excitement flared as a puff of breath escaped her.

Straightening her back, she triumphantly shouted, “I have returned!”

They had reunited for the first time in three weeks.

1. vertical mobility equipment is an Attack on Titan reference ☜