episode_0672

Black market.

A public secret that most people don’t know about, but those who should know about it all know about.

Those ‘people in the know’ also include government officials.

This means that the government is also aware of the existence of the black market and is keeping a close eye on it.

Here we need to think about it for a moment.

Why doesn’t the government deal with the illegal black market, but just sits back and watches?

The biggest reason is that the black market makes money.

There are two main ways to use the black market.

When you want to purchase items that are not readily available on the market or are illegal.

When you are wanted by the world or a country and are hiding in the black market.

Either way, the profits earned are enormous.

Items that are difficult to obtain on the market or whose distribution is illegal have considerable rarity, so you have to pay several times the cost price.

As the saying goes, a thirsty man digs a well, because the lodging fees for lodging facilities operated for wanted criminals are dozens of times higher than those for ordinary lodging facilities.

Some of the enormous profits thus earned are used to grease the black market’s wheels to ensure frictionless operation.

The oiling mentioned here obviously means bribery or kickbacks.

I’ve heard that the uses of these bribes vary from country to country.

If the influence of an individual is strong, they give to the individual, and if the influence of the government is stronger, they also give to the government.

How is our country?

I don’t know.

If I had known, I would have killed all the guys who took the money back then.

Anyway, for this reason the black market is in a very ambiguous position.

It could be said that they are making huge profits in a clever gray area that is both illegal and not illegal.

So here’s the problem.

Is the black market ultimately only supported by money?

No.

That can’t be possible.

More than 80% of black market customers are criminals or potential criminals.

It is impossible to deal with those who value their fists more than the law with money alone.

Do you know what one of the rules of running a black market is?

‘You may forget a favor, but you never forget a grudge.’

It’s a really petty rule, but it’s an effective rule in a world where fists are the norm.

Once they have a grudge, they don’t discriminate against anyone.

Wherever you touch yourself, you get hit first.

Even if my guys try to attack me, isn’t that a big deal?

no.

The guys know.

The fact that the most effective means of protecting money is force.

So they have two very solid symbols even in the non-military sphere.

Their names are ‘The Swordsman of the Back Alley’ and ‘The Witch of the Dark World’.

Two people, each of whom has risen to the top in swordsmanship and magic, are watching over the black market.

To be exact, I would say it’s almost like a pack.

There is a very gruesome anecdote related to them.

About 10 years ago, a country attempted to clean up its black market, and a few days later, the leader who led the effort was assassinated the night before and found dead.

Some say that a blacksmith from a back alley sneaked in and killed him, while others say that a witch from the underworld cursed him and killed him.

The truth is, no one knows.

What is certain is that the black market is supported by two people who are so good that they can assassinate the leader of a country without any trouble.

Since then, the country has become more inclined to view black markets as a means of transaction rather than a target for purges.

In a way, it’s natural.

There is no reason to beat up people who regularly give money when the time comes, and if you mess with them wrong, you will face backlash, so is there really any reason to be hostile towards them?

Anyway, the two reasons above are the biggest reasons why black markets are operating safely in many countries.

A state of gray area where law and disorder coexist in a subtle way.

It is probably for this reason that the cult that worships the Goddess of Jealousy established its base here.

If you focus on criminals, that’s fine, and if something happens, you can ask the black market side and they’ll take care of most things.

That’s what it means to be on the upper floor.

By making huge donations or investments, you get the full support and protection of the black market.

In other words, messing with those guys is no different from messing with the black market.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

None of the reasons why you shouldn’t mess with the black market that I’ve been diligently reciting apply to me.

Am I getting paid on the black market?

no.

Are you afraid of the black market’s boastful two-horse carriage?

at all.

So why can’t I touch the black market?

“No.”

Beep!

[Verified.]

I opened the door to the upper floor with great ease and stepped inside.

I think I’ve done some maintenance on the device since the last mess, but it’s no use.

Security made up of magic power, whether one or a hundred, is useless to me.

The upper floors still dazzled people’s eyes with their appearance that did not resemble a black market.

Just looking at the distance, it feels like you’ve come to a bustling downtown area.

Actually, it’s not that different from a real downtown area.

The only problem is that most of the people walking on this street are criminals.

“What is this world going to become, tsk tsk.”

It is just regrettable to see criminal bastards walking around the streets so confidently.

Does it make sense for a fugitive to live a life where he is as safe as he can be because he has money, and enjoys everything he wants to enjoy?

“It’s the end of the world, it’s the end of the world.”

Clicking your tongue, you pass the downtown area and turn slightly to the right. A street with a completely different atmosphere than the streets you have passed so far unfolds.

If it had been a bustling downtown area a while ago, this place was extremely quiet and had a reverent feel.

It’s not normal, but maybe it’s because there’s a building that’s been decorated so well that it looks like a church.

A church building that boasts an overwhelming size compared to other buildings.

As we approached the firmly closed door, two large men standing guard in front of it extended their arms and stopped us in our tracks.

“Sorry, brother. Church entry is prohibited outside of worship hours.”

His words are extremely polite, but his eyes are fierce.

I feel like I’m going to be slaughtered if I don’t go back right away.

Ask him.

“I came here because I had something to do, but I can’t go in?”

“… … .”

The two large men exchanged glances, then asked me a question.

“Have you made an appointment in advance?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“… … .”

what.

Why do I become so dumb whenever I talk?

“It will be difficult to get in, brother. Please make an appointment in advance and come back later.”

A big guy who says that while holding back his anger.

I see

You’re saying you can’t go in.

Well then, there’s nothing we can do.

If you can’t get in, you have no choice but to get out.

He took off the hood he had been wearing to hide his identity and spoke to the guys.

“Then tell your boss to come out.”

The eyes of the guys who checked my face with distorted gazes gradually grew bigger.

“, you are… .”

“… Kim Do-jin?”

“Oh, it’s Dojin.”

So choose.

“Let me in or tell your boss to come out.”

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A cozy room with a crimson carpet.

As I sit there drinking tea that a nun has given me, a group of people come in.

Crunch!

Three paladins armed from head to toe in black armor.

And a middle-aged man dressed in Catholic attire.

He bows his head politely and greets me.

“Cardinal Brian. It’s an honor to meet you, Kim Do-jin Hunter.”

She really looks like a bride.

A kind, polite, and gentle face.

But there is a dark aura stirring within it.

A typical example of a two-faced person, with two faces and two minds.

After greeting each other, he sits across from me and asks me a question.

“It’s surprising that an S-class hunter is on the upper floor of the black market, but how did you find out about this place?”

Brian tries to acquire information right away.

How did you get here?

“I’ve been here once before.”

His smile hardens slightly.

“Have you ever visited a church…?”

“Uh. There was a time before when there was a lot of noise because of an intruder, right?”

“Ah… , I guess you were upstairs at that time.”

“That’s true too.”

It wasn’t just there.

“I was the one who hid in the church at that time.”

“… … !”

The atmosphere changes to a tense one in an instant.

As the Paladins standing behind him quickly tried to bring their swords to their waists, Brian muttered with a stern face.

“Do not draw your sword.”

Swords that are half-pulled out and then returned back to their original positions.

“Ugh.”

I’m feeling regretful and my mouth is watering.

It seems like my true intentions have been revealed.

It would have been easier if I had just rushed in.

“That intruder at that time was… Hunter Kim Do-jin.”

“Even so.”

“… I see.”

A conversation that ends on a sour note.

It was a gap created because the other person wanted to end the conversation unilaterally.

Even if they stumble and fall, they won’t realize that there’s nothing they can do.

“Enough with the past story, let’s get to the main point.”

Brian hurriedly changes the subject.

He asked me.

“What brings you here?”

I answered.

“I have a question.”

“Please speak.”

“December 31st – January 1st. Times Square, New York.”

I take them out one by one, but there is still no significant change in the guy’s expression.

Well then, let’s raise the bar a little bit.

“Sewerage.”

“… … .”

“Apostle of Jealousy.”

“… … !”

okay.

I’m starting to get the urge to bite.

He delivers the finishing blow with a smirk on his face to the guy who is having a hard time hiding his expression.

“Invidia bitch.”

“Kill me!!”

Paladins in black armor rushed in.