episode_0124

Expo (2) ― ‘Seoul Expo’ in Jung-gu, a neutral city

[No. 1 VVIP 30,000 points. Successful bid.]

[The ‘Return Stone’ is moved to VVIP number 1’s inventory.]

30,000 points.

Points you can get by killing 6,000 regular zombies.

It was a point that could be obtained by killing 60 mutants that gave 500 kill points.

It was clear that even for an awakened person with superhuman strength, there were points that were difficult to obtain.

Obviously that’s true… … .

I slowly looked around the auction house.

Since I was in the back row, I could clearly feel everyone’s eyes on me.

Those who are watching me now are not ordinary awakened people.

The rulers of the new era carefully selected and invited by the system.

They were the leaders of a group who led people and groups.

They run the race, raising 100 points each.

I was shocked to see 5,000 points pop out at once.

‘under!’

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The smile that was barely suppressed from the corner of his mouth fell to his shoulders and burst into laughter.

Those guys were the enemies I was pounding on stone bridges and being cautious about.

Those guys… …

“… … This is ridiculous.”

In the end, the silent auction house, which had been soaked in silence, became even more burdened by the unbearable whispers.

[Religion: 1,361,600 (4100/H)]

The number of followers of the Church of Salvation increased explosively as they stabilized Paradise and harvested Incheon.

In proportion, their faith soared to the heavens.

The faith that is quantified has long since passed the million point mark.

A considerable amount of faith had already been consumed to maintain paradise, and all mutant kill points had been given to the vigilantes, but there was still a million points left.

There was no need to mention Flex, who had reached max level of Seong Ga-eul’s skill yesterday using her skill, ‘Non-Ik Yeon-ri’.

[The next auction item is 1 ‘Skill Growth Ticket’. The starting price of the auction is 3,000 points. Please enter your bid using the numeric keypad located on each handle.]

There’s no need for the last sentence anymore.

Tiring—!

[No. 1 VVIP 30,000 points.]

One bid printed on screen.

────.

The silence that seemed like it would never end continued.

[No. 1 VVIP 30,000 points. Successful bid.]

No one could touch my bid.

[The next auction item is 1 ‘Skill Evolution Ticket’. The starting price of the auction is 5,000 points… … ]

[No. 1 VVIP 30,000 points. Successful bid.]

[The next auction item is a general building ‘high-rise apartment (capable of accommodating 100 households).’ The starting price of the auction is 6,000 points… … ]

[No. 1 VVIP 30,000 points. Successful bid.]

[The building is moved to the awakened person’s inventory in the form of a usable ‘card’.]

The solo continued.

Some awakened people took their hands off the keypad and just looked at me blankly.

[The next auction item is a special building ‘Blacksmith’. The starting price of the auction is 7,000 points… … ]

[No. 1 VVIP 30,000 points. Successful bid.]

From Hearthstones to special buildings.

I was able to get a glimpse into the thoughts of the system guy as I monopolized the items coming up for auction.

Hearthstone, skill growth ticket, skill evolution ticket, general and special buildings.

He was emphasizing to us features that had not been used or unlocked until now by showing them as items.

The importance of competition is emphasized through the format of an auction.

‘So the fair. So the auction.’

In particular, as can be seen from the fact that Guro-gu has become a paradise and a new tab has been created.

It was highly likely that other rulers also obtained a system to manage their cities.

So, it would be like showing regular buildings and special buildings in the form of an auction.

The so-called ‘Morning in Seoul’ tutorial, which is unique to the system and is done indirectly.

Of course, there are no tutorial rewards.

Because I will get all the rewards.

────.

An auction house where not even the sound of breathing could be heard from earlier.

[…] … .]

The system that was busy outputting sentences was blinking white dots as if preparing something.

I leisurely took my eyes off the screen and looked around.

Their eyes are round and pierced by white masks.

Number 2 was staring at me with eyes filled with astonishment.

I briefly glanced at her chest, which gave a sense of perspective even when viewed from a distance, and then looked at the other awakened people as well.

Knock- Knock-

A quiet tapping sound.

When I turned my head to where the sound came from, I saw a man in military uniform watching me.

Knock- Knock-

Fingers tapping the handle in a steady rhythm.

I also faced his cold, sunken eyes.

[This is the last auction item.]

However, the brief exchange of glances ended with the guidance sound immediately ringing.

At the same time, the eyes of the awakened people move to the screen.

I smiled at the system’s announcement that it was the last item.

Still, when I first bid 10,000 points for the Hearthstone, number 4 caught up with 11,000 points.

I held my breath as the 30,000 point bid continued to sound, but I could clearly see what he was thinking.

‘Originally, the climax of an auction is the last item to be auctioned.’

He must be trying to beat me, who continued to spend points in the last auction.

[land mark.]

The system displayed only four characters without any explanation and then printed the following message.

[The status of landmarks appearing in ‘Seoul’, where the first city was founded, has been raised.]

Paaah!

A picture appeared on the screen, which had been displaying only simple letters, with a bright light.

A tower that rises as if to reach the sky.

White clouds were floating next to its majestic exterior, as if to emphasize its height.

[We will begin the auction of the landmark ‘Tower of Babel’. The starting price of the auction is free.]

The climax of this auction and the best reward offered by the system.

‘A tower that will reach the sky.’

It is a tower that symbolizes human arrogance that appears in Genesis, and a symbol of the tower that has been borrowed from countless subcultures.

Even though the system only said the name and did not provide any explanation, the auction house heated up again.

[No. 4 VVIP 30,100 points.]

However, getting the atmosphere heated up and having a point were two different things.

Number 4, waiting for an opportunity as if he had been waiting for it.

No one could keep up with the 30,100 points that came out at once.

As expected, like a hyena, he was silently waiting for the right moment to snatch the meat.

“Ha.”

I couldn’t bear the ridiculousness.

[No. 1 VVIP 100,000 points.]

“… … What?”

A one-syllable question echoes through the auction house.

Everyone turned their heads again and looked at me.

Their eyes, all filled with astonishment, fill with emotions that have been suppressed for so long.

[I will ask for number 3. 100,000 points.]

As always.

[100,000 points.]

The unknown breeds fear.

[No. 1 VVIP 100,000 points. Successful bid.]

Paaah!

As soon as the guidance sound ended, the pictures on the screen began to glow and gathered in the center.

Particles of white light turn into ‘cards’ and cross the auction house where silence reigns.

The card, emitting a bright light as if everyone could see it, slowly landed in my hand.

The Tower of Babel depicted on a rainbow-colored card.

And one line of sentence written underneath it.

[Originally, human language was one.]

Just from that sentence, I could see what effect the landmark Tower of Babel had.

At least it would be a large-scale interpretation system.

This is the last and best reward that the system presents in the form of an auction house.

Clearly, the landmark will not end with the ‘Tower of Babel’ held in my hand.

I suddenly remembered what the system had said when it invited me that it was a fun event.

‘What, are we competing for landmarks?’

Just like the special base in Guro-gu, a special base will be created in Seoul itself.

‘Not bad?’

While I was shaking my head thinking that it might be more fun than I thought…

widely-!

The spotlight illuminating the center turned off and an information message was heard again.

[This concludes the first stage of the ‘Seoul Expo’, ‘Auction’. Please move to the next stage according to the instructions, starting with VVIP number 1.]

It’s a profit –

As soon as the explanation was over, the door opened.

She faced me again, bent down, and pointed politely with both hands out the door.

I nodded to Shim So-young, who was waiting behind me, and walked towards her.

Trap – plod –

Eyes fixed on me as I gently passed through the auction house.

It was an act to make sure they knew who the No. 1 VVIP was.

‘Is it going in the reverse order from when you came in?’

It’s a profit –

“Did you enjoy the auction? Number 1?”

She naturally closes the door and asks me in a friendly way.

I answered as I put the landmark card in my hand into my inventory.

“Very much.”

“Thank goodness. Well then, I will continue with the guidance, number 1.”

Togak- Togak-

I started taking steps, following the sound of high heels sounding neatly.

After passing through the hallway and going down the first floor, I entered the hallway again.

Just like when we went to the auction house, this time we walked to the end of the hallway and saw a door in front of us.

[Banquet Hall No. 1.]

“Banquet?”

“Yes, number 1.”

“Well. With the current atmosphere, it wouldn’t be a banquet if I were there.”

Let alone a festival, it would probably be full of guys who would want to hit me with a fork in their hand.

I was naturally reminded of the egregious silence like at an auction house.

It’s a profit –

She didn’t pay attention to my playful question and opened the door to the banquet hall.

Numerous tables laid out under bright lights and food decorating them.

Our expressions didn’t change much despite the delicious smell wafting in.

A familiar sight that I saw every time at Salvation Church.

She gave me a belated reply with a mysterious smile.

“Well. I think that’s their choice, number 1.”

She leaves an ambiguous statement and looks back at the lobby.

It looked like he was leaving to guide number 2, just like before.

thud-!

We slowly entered the banquet hall and turned around when we heard the door closing automatically.

“… … Huh?”

Shim So-young, who was staring at the closed door, hurriedly approached the door.

There was a keypad in the same shape as the auction house on the back door.

Explanation written below it.

[Select the banquet hall you wish to participate in.]

Shim So-young’s hand tapped the keypad.

“So you said that?”

‘It’s their choice.’

I laughed lightly, recalling what she said when she returned to guide number 2.

That’s why they went out in reverse order.

So that other awakened people remember the number of awakened people they want to meet.

I looked around the spacious banquet hall.

This vast space could have been a secret secret meeting or a fancy dinner, depending on the awakened people’s choice.

In the worst case scenario, it will be a lonely banquet for oneself.

“Come here and get some rest. It must have been uncomfortable to stand.”

He sat down at the table and pointed to the chair.

Again, I looked at Sim So-young running over and sitting on the chair, and then checked the inventory.

The intention was to check the items obtained through the auction this time.

“Perhaps no one will come?”

I slightly raised my head in response to her question.

“ Well, I got rejected like that at the auction, so who will come? ”

“Why? Do you want to meet people outside after a long time?”

“I-C! Why do you interpret words like that?”

She, like a ghost, figured out that he was going to tease me again and shouted loudly.

“I just asked that because we were in no danger! They will unite without us!”

I comforted her, who was fuming and angry as if she had been wronged, and made her sit back down.

“It’s okay. Because I don’t think it will work out the way you think.”

“… … Why.”

Shim So-young calms down and asks bluntly, as if she was curious about that again.

I smiled slightly and tapped the mask.

“First of all, we can’t talk openly because we don’t know who each other is.”

Even so, it is difficult to discuss the future with those who see it for the first time today and can only know fragmentary information such as clothing.

Of course, it is possible if anyone becomes the focal point.

These guys have been putting in quite a bit of effort in their own homes, so who do they want to fall under at once?

Absolutely not.

If it were me, a slightly different thought would come to mind.

A suspiciously large amount of money was encountered in a neutral city where safety was absolutely guaranteed.

An unidentified rich person with points.

If you are an awakened person with a future in mind, this is the number one VVIP that you must know.

It’s a profit –

“Am I the first?”

It was rare for a ruler to miss this opportunity.

Chuck- Chuck-

The sound of military boots echoed in banquet hall number one.

Shim So-young immediately got up from the chair and moved behind me, making it easier to move around.

I naturally made eye contact with the man in military uniform sitting across from me.

The guy’s eyes are as cold as ever.

“Nice to meet you, number 1.”

“Okay, number 3.”

I gave a short answer on purpose to get on his nerves, but he didn’t seem to be fazed at all.

“If you are number 1, then you probably also did the message about the first city that the system said.”

This is a fact that everyone has now realized and there is no need to hide it.

“That’s right.”

I shrugged my shoulders and answered, and a familiar sound came out.

Knock- Knock-

He tapped the table like he tapped the doorknob.

“Ask directly.”

Knock- Knock-

“Who the hell are you?”

Tok-.