“Actually, it’s more convenient to use the government warehouse.”
“Government warehouse?”
“Equipment storage.”
“Ah.”
Seeing Kwon Wook waving his hand in the air, he seemed to be looking into the inventory. He continued his conversation smoothly while searching the system window.
“As Hara’s ability is being kept confidential for the time being, you can’t even use the government’s warehouse. For me to use my authority to retrieve it, I have to explain where it’s being used, but our team’s equipment list is also scrutinised by the government.”
It was a stifling civil servant society. Since the government manages the dungeons exclusively, most equipment that came out of it went to the government’s warehouse. Although dungeon raiding teams rented various gear that was well-suited to them, they ultimately had to explain where the equipment was being used because it belonged to the government.
Team K was no exception. Team K had a total of 12 members. The equipment of all 12 team members were recorded in the Hunter Agency’s warehouse records, and both the identity of the user and how long it would be used had to be recorded down before the equipment could be taken.
“The perfect equipment for Hara is currently in the government warehouse. What a waste, really.”
“What is it?”
“How long ago was it? I think it’s been about two years. A seven-branched sword appeared out of the Buyeo Dungeon. Everyone thought that they’d dug in the wrong place, which was why a relic popped out, but after appraisal, it was found to be Hunter equipment, so it was registered.”
Ah. Hara also dimly remembered it. It was a gate that opened in a small rice paddy field in the outskirts of Buyeo.
She seemed to remember an article with the title ‘Thought to be a relic… A seven-branched sword that popped out of the dungeon’.
“There wasn’t any S-class in Korea that could use it, so it was kept away, tsk-tsk. Well, there’s no point in considering something that you can’t use.”
Even so, Team K happened to have a hunter that had item production skills. Unfortunately, the hunter was an A-class, so it didn’t match with Hara’s skills. But what else could she do? She had to make do with what she had.
“The production materials would be a problem. We’ll have to sweep through Sangam Dungeon for that. The drop rate for production materials is quite low… Should I look through the Hunter Market?”
“Erm, what about this?”
As she spoke to the troubled Kwon Wook, Hara carefully took out the beak and claws she obtained from Georg. Kwon Wook’s eyes widened.
“Did you collect that from that dungeon?”
“Y…Yes.”
Did you collect items from the dungeon in the meantime? You’re quite amazing. Oh well. Hara was quite embarrassed to hear such reproaches.
However, Kwon Wook waved his hand.
“You don’t have to feel embarrassed. It’s of very good quality. You only had five minutes left after finishing off the dungeon’s boss, right? I didn’t even expect that of you. You can just leave the beak and claws behind. I’ll make good use of them.”
“Well, then this too…”
Hara carefully took out the mana stone.
She’d also mentioned it to Jung Yoojin in advance. No matter what, she couldn’t secretly dispose of the mana stones.
When Chief Jung was told about the problem regarding disposal of the mana stones, she said, “Leave it to Kwon Wook.”
Upon hearing that story, Kwon Wook laughed with furrowed brows.
“Our chief, aren’t you favouring me too much?”
“Oh, is it impossible?”
“No, I’ll just buy this as well. You said you had two, right?”
“What?”
Hara blinked, and Kwon Wook crawled underneath his office desk. Then, after opening the safe that was under the desk, he took out a bundle of bills from within and started to pile them up in front of Hara.
The 50,000 won bills were new bills, from how they’re completely stuck together. One, two, three. After stacking up dozens of those, Kwon Wook tapped on the pile of money carelessly.
“This is 300 million won.”
Hara’s eyes almost popped out. Hey, was there anyone in the world that would suddenly bring out 300 million won and slap it down?
Kwon Wook shrugged his shoulders at the sight of Hara, who kept blinking with a gaping jaw.
“From the fact that I’m fully in charge of this, the mana stone is probably Hara-ssi’s. You won’t be able to sell it in the open market anyways. It’s a pain to have to walk on eggshells with the Mana Stone Management Department for the sake of the mana stones required for dungeon raiding, so we’re more at ease spending this sort of money.”
Hara, who worked in the Mana Stone Management Department, also had rough knowledge about this fact.
The first thing that dungeon raiding teams would usually do was to place mana stones in a circle around the gate, to prevent it from widening.
However, the higher the grade of the dungeon, the more easily the inlaid mana stone would break. In the case of the Sangam Dungeon, which Team K was in charge of, it was an S-grade dungeon, so it obviously required dozens of mana stones.
“I know that 200 million won per mana stone is the original market price, but this is a black market deal, so let’s settle at 150 million won per mana stone. That’s the current market price. If you don’t believe me, you can go and check the market price first.”
Would you please stop talking about black market dealings in such a cheerful manner… However, it was still an astonishing sum.
When Hara nodded her head dazedly, Kwon Wook smiled brightly and took the mana stones.
“Let’s settle the rest slowly. Since even if Hara-ssi is able to get more money, there’s nothing you can do with it. After all, it’s money that you can’t even deposit into your bank account.”
“What? Why?”
“Why? It’s because next month is November, after all.”
Kwon Wook’s eyes widened.
“Isn’t it time for civil servants to declare their assets?”
“Ah.”
“Also I heard that Hara-ssi was originally a member of the Mana Stone Management Department.”
“Ahh!”
Hara made a loud exclamation. She didn’t realise that it was due to the civil servant’s asset declaration, which took place at the end of each year. The very declaration that robs the detailed accounts. It didn’t occur to Hara, since she’d always lived from hand to mouth.
In addition to the civil servant’s asset declaration, it was always the yearly time where the Mana Stone Management Division would conduct randomised checks on the employees’ accounts and rob them like it was public property. This was because there were actually a lot of employees that embezzled expensive mana stones.
“If you receive a large sum of money in your bank account, you’ll have to explain the source. As far as I know, explanations are required if it exceeds 100 million won.”
“You’re rather well informed…”
“You’re aware of this. S-classes are robbed much more frequently.”
You’re giving me this much money when you’re frequently robbed? Kwon Wook smiled slyly as Hara stared at the 300 million won that was on the table.
“In order to manage a team, I have to embezzle appropriately and make black market deals in moderation. There’s no choice but to set some money aside.”
Is that so?
“I see…”
But for some reason, Hara was still a little hesitant. Hara was just an ordinary citizen. This wasn’t 300 won, but 300 million won that she couldn’t even deposit in her account. When she only had two mana stones, she thought that she could sell them as much as she wanted, but the sight of bills piled up in front of her made her slightly odd.
“What’s wrong, is it because you feel uncomfortable?”
Kwon Wook noticed Hara’s hesitance precisely and took the mana stones out again.
“I’m fine either way. You can also sell it later, so do whatever you want, Hara-ssi.”
“Yes……”
Hara thought that he would say she’s being a fool. While Hara kept dawdling, Kwon Wook left two bundles of bills.
“It’s the money for the beak and claws.”
“You were going to sell it to the health centre anyways,” he said with a smile, making Hara embarrassed. Apparently, the beak and claws will be used to make Hara’s weapon.
However, Kwon Wook shook his head.
“It might not end up in Hara-ssi’s weapon. Well, just think of it as a bribe.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
Kwon Wook grinned.
“In any case, Hara-ssi needs to go out with Yoon Seheon to become an S-class, right?”
“Oh, yes…”
“But to tell you the truth, I really want Hara-ssi.”
Hara listened to Kwon Wook blankly because she didn’t know what he was saying.
Kwon Wook said that he had a very good idea, and explained his plan.
To Hara, the plan sounded decent, but it was pretty embarrassing. Anyways, as long as Yoon Seheon was the designated user in her quest, she had to continue the relationship somehow.
* * *
Seheon has been extremely busy since this morning. It was as though being drawn into a dungeon and coming out unscathed was but a dream.
Due to the annex’s collapse, the broadcasting station that he works at has become rather complicated. As the annex’s radio department and various broadcasting teams were temporarily evacuated to the main building, he walked through the refugee camp-esque lobby of the main building and received dozens of greetings.
He was originally in charge of the weekday 9pm news, so he would only go to work in the afternoon, but his previous absence left him with a lot of work to be completed. He’d monitored the news while he was absent, and took annual leave for the days he was absent. It was ridiculous. He couldn’t believe he had to use his annual leave when an accident had occurred!
He went to the first floor’s cafe in the lobby to buy some coffee to take a breather, and his father called him on his way back.
[Rep. Yoon]
When he saw the name, which was saved as Rep. Yoon, and not Father, he tried to turn off his phone.
“Sunbae.”
“Oh, Gyunjong.”
Bang Gyunjong. He was the main anchor for the weekend news, one notch below Seheon. He was also the junior that was in charge of weekday news while Seheon was away.
“You’ve worked hard while I was away. Was it taxing?”
“There’s nothing hard about doing the news daily. How are you feeling, Sunbae?”
The corners of Seheon’s mouth curled up.
“It’s only for the weekend, so what do you mean by daily? I’m fine. I’m sorry for making the person that’s working twice a week suffer.”
Bang Gyunjong’s eyebrows wriggled.
That’s right. He was a junior that fought often with Seheon, ever since their time as local news reporters. Although he was older than Seheon, he had to speak formally to Seheon because he joined the company later.
While that was the situation, he was only sharp towards Seheon. It was no wonder that when he was required to take a so-called ‘line’ after joining the company, he intentionally fell into a line that’s different from Seheon. In terms of family background, it wasn’t actually enough to share similar joys and sorrows with Seheon.
Of course, Seheon would politely decline it.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“It’s fine. I’ve already had some.”
There was no reason for them to drink coffee together, but a rejection was immediately given to the offer that was raised out of courtesy. There weren’t any hints of amusement in Seheon’s eyes either.
“Has your usual workload been fine?”
“I respect you a lot, Sunbae.”
“Then you could’ve left it to Minyoung, right?”
Normally, the position of the weekday news’ main anchor could have been subbed in by another junior. In the first place, there wasn’t such a tight schedule. However, the weekend news’ main anchor had to continue the weekday’s news. Part of it was due to Gyunjong’s volunteering, which made his greed evident.
“Ey, Minyoung is also having a hard time, so I obviously have to help her.”
“I didn’t know Minyoung would have such thoughts. Minyoung is about to get married soon, so be careful.”
His history with the weekday news’s sub-Anchor, Minyoung, who he’d liked and pursued for three years, but ended up being dumped in front of everyone at a company dinner caused Gyunjong’s forehead to furrow.
“Oh, sunbae. I’m afraid that others will hear you.”
“I’m just kidding. I’d barely managed to return from the dead, so won’t you allow me to joke about this much?”
The two young Anchors seemed to be happily chatting on the surface. However, a spark that only they knew of was kindling.
In fact, there was no reason for Seheon to accept Gyunjong’s checks. More than 20 times of News Reporter of the Month Award, the News Reporter of the Year Award, unprecedented selection to be the main anchor of the 9pm weekday news, etc.
Just looking at his achievements, Bang Gyunjong wasn’t capable of picking a fight with Yoon Seheon. However, Seheon would also intentionally scratch Bang Gyunjong once in a while, because he keeps following him persistently.
But Bang Gyunjong suddenly made a broad smile.
“Well, yes. Sunbae also needs to relax and smile.”
This was rather unusual. Bang Gyunjong’s pattern was, if he was scratched this much, he’d usually become irritated and then belatedly come to his senses and leave. Seheon’s eyes narrowed.
“Take it easy. Let me help you. Hm?”
He added soon after.
“Oh, beware of fire.”
Those final words were what Bang Gyunjong would always add to Seheon, so it didn’t matter if it was disregarded. But if he had to be that sarcastic…
He clearly had some ulterior motive, or something else was happening. And Seheon soon discovered what that ‘something else’ was.
