Chapter 1717 – 1717. The Black Trader
I received the fruit containing vanilla mana seeds and examined it. I’ve heard quite a few rumors, but it was the first time I’ve seen it myself, so it was quite amazing. These things are not easily obtainable even if you have money.
Concentrate on the fruit and feel the mana. But it was weaker than I thought.
‘This is the magic medicine…. It’s nothing compared to the elixir of the Ascension Sword.’
It doesn’t seem to be of much help to me right now.
“Are you disappointed when you see it yourself?”
“Uh. Dissappointed. I don’t think eating it will help.”
“Everyone with A-level or higher skills says that. But not B and C. For them, this mana seed is hope itself! A filthy expensive hope!”
Park Jeong-gu additionally talks about the use of mana seeds.
It is said that mana seeds are used for various things besides direct use. Typically, it is the manufacture of special potions, and there are many families and companies that have special and secret recipes using mana seeds.
“In short. Vanilla’s mana seeds are very useful. They say dog poop is also a matter of writing, right? How about a mana seed that can’t even be compared to dog poop? It’s got a lot of fucking uses!”
“Let’s go to work. Can HB-1 mass produce mana seeds? As far as I know, with HB-1, I heard that special plants such as elixirs are not very meaningful.”
In the first place, the reason why elixirs are special is that they contain mana. Even if the plant grows fully with the power of the accelerator, it is meaningless if the mana has not matured.
“You know quite well about HB-1. Wasn’t it not interesting?”
“Answer me.”
“You’re right. That’s what’s officially known. But mana seeds can be produced with HB-1 as long as the environment is right. I guess I suggested it without knowing this.”
“Is it proven?”
“According to the information.”
Park Jeong-gu grins. There was also information among the items sold by Park Jung-gu, a black trader. So there is reliability.
“What are the conditions? Tell me in detail.”
“Fertile land. Of course, not just fertile ground. It must be a land where mana is melted. The higher the mana in the air, the better.”
“It’s a land that doesn’t exist on Earth.”
“Even if it’s not on Earth, it’s in the dungeon.”
I narrowed my brows. The environment of the dungeon is diverse. Most dungeons have higher mana concentrations than Earth, but there are also dungeons with lower mana concentrations. Even if the mana concentration is high, there are many cases where the environment is made of frozen ground or rocks, so plants cannot grow.
“You’re not saying to find a dungeon with an environment suitable for vanilla mana seeds, right?”
“They say they’re going to catch people… Not today.”
Park Jung-gu took out a map from a drawer. This is a map of Korea. It was marked on the map in several places.
‘I thought I was used to it somehow… I marked open dungeons.’
Open dungeon. Unlike closed dungeons, it is a dungeon that anyone can enter if they are qualified. It is this open dungeon where hunter crimes occur most often. At the same time, there is much more open information than closed.
‘Because open dungeons are managed without clearing them on purpose.’
Open dungeons were similar to natural resource mines in that mana stones could be obtained periodically. Hunters are like miners digging up mana stones.
“The sign is different for each dungeon.”
“There is nothing to see in blue. It is an inappropriate place.”
“Most of them are blue.”
“So.”
Park Jung-gu moves his finger and points to various places on the map.
“The places marked in red here are dungeons that can produce mana seeds in large quantities. The investigation has already been completed.”
“I am sure. Have you tried it already?”
“No. This is the conclusion I made by collecting, comparing, and calculating the known information.”
“I can’t trust theorists.”
“It’s not a theory, it’s a preliminary preparation for a plan, you bastard!”
“That’s it. But surely it doesn’t mean to go around all these red marked places, right?”
“Are you crazy? Of course not. There is an unpopular open type dungeon. Okay. Here on the Jeolla-do side…. It’s a bit far, but we’ll have to put in the effort to be safe.”
“What if I get caught?”
“Of course it’s natural to try to steal it, right? Be especially careful about getting caught by large guilds. You could say you’re going to sue with the law…. You can kill them and steal them…. Neither way is good, so proceed as secretly as possible.”
I looked at the mana fruit containing the mana seeds. When I experienced it myself, it wasn’t that great of a feeling. I’d say you’re a bit interested.
‘But it’s something that’s not easily available…. You never know when you’ll need them, so it’s a good idea to keep a few.’
Also, if I strengthen the Light Ascension Sword I have, it might turn out to be quite useful.
I took the HB-1 and mana seeds and stood up and told Park Jeong-gu.
“Let’s borrow a car.”
“Don’t you have a car? How much money do you have and you don’t even have a car? Get some tea with the money you earned this time.”
“I don’t want to ride my car on something like this. If you don’t like it, leave here.”
Give HB-1 and Mana Seeds back to him. His face frowns when he realizes that I really am not interested.
“Damn it. Are you crazy about money? Seeing as they take money from me, I don’t think that’s the case either…. I really don’t know what he’s doing.”
“The more money, the better. But there are many ways to make money without you.”
“Ugh, fuck. You must be. Because you’re an A-class hunter. … Anything else you need?”
“What. Are you thinking of taking care of me like a hogu? Where did Park Jeong-gu, the mistress I knew, go?”
“Hey. You said it was 3 billion. If you include the mana seeds, it’s well over 3.5 billion. If you make a mistake, you will be screwed, so you should be prepared as much as possible.”
“Was the mana seed 500 million?”
“At current prices.”
“Then you have to get 7 even if you can’t.”
“According to my expectations, you can have 100 or more. You can earn 50 billion with 3.5 billion! This is the money copying bug!”
“It must be a mana seed copying bug. But half of them are mine.”
“It’s done. Do you need anything more?”
“None. I will take care of the rest.”
As I was about to go out, I hesitated for a moment. Looking back at Park Jeong-gu, he frowns.
“What else?! Why?!”
“Why did you choose me for this job? Other guys besides me could have chosen.”
“First skill. You are one of the top of my clients. Second money greed. For a guy who earns money every now and then, he has no greed for money. Third. It’s already been over two years since you and I have known each other. Can’t you trust me in two years?”
“… It’s so easy to earn 50 billion. You sick bastard.”
“Hey you bastard! If you run away with my money, I will chase you to the end of hell and kill you!”
I walked out of the store leaving him behind.
I had no intention of betraying Park Jeong-gu for only 50 billion won. As for my reputation, it was enough to wear a bast mask, but there were not many black traders as trustworthy as Park Jeong-gu.
Go to the car parked next to the store. It was a common car that can be seen anywhere in Korea.
• • •
By the time we reached our destination, the sun had set. Hunters usually work during the day and leave in the evening, so even open dungeons will be quiet inside. It was good.
‘A grade B open dungeon, the fourth temple.’
The entrance to the dungeon is also guarded by association staff. I’m a B-class hunter, so I can easily go inside by showing my hunter ID.
But now I didn’t come here for Hunter activities as Sung Eugene.
‘It would be better to avoid leaving records. There’s nothing good about knowing what I’m doing.’
I had something for this occasion.
Use an illuminator. The body becomes transparent. For the next 30 minutes I will be invisible. And 30 minutes was an overflowing time.
Control your breathing and erase your presence. In this case, the Yeongcheon-ryu is very helpful.
As I was about to move forward, I felt a presence behind me. It was a party of 5 people.
“As expected, it is quiet when you come at night. Besides, there aren’t many people here, so there’s no one in the dungeon, right?”
“How did that bastard’s pleasant hunting bring him here….”
“It’s night, so I’m tired. Can’t you just take a nap and go in?”
While chatting, I approached the association staff.
Unusually, an association employee stood in their way.
“… What did you come for?”
“What would the Hunter do to come to the dungeon? Here is Hunter ID.”
“Well.”
“If you’ve checked, move out of the way.”
“It’s night, so you guys look tired. The fourth temple is a dangerous place. How about taking a deep breath and entering tomorrow morning?”
It was strange. The association staff guarding the dungeon didn’t go that far. Their job is to check the Hunter ID and let the Hunter into the dungeon. That’s all. I don’t care what the Hunter says in the dungeon. That’s the rule
“Please don’t be shy and get out of the way. Shouldn’t there be fewer people in the dungeon now to hunt monsters? We’re in a bit of a hurry, aren’t we?”
The man who seemed to be the leader of the party made an impression. His sharp voice was full of annoyance. The association staff withdrew as if there was nothing they could do.
“Has confirmed. Come in.”
“Tsk.”
The party entered the dungeon.
It was strange even after that. As soon as the party is gone, the association staff gather and talk among themselves.
“Chief. Isn’t this fucked up?”
“It’s not us who got fucked, it’s them. Don’t talk nonsense, prepare one person to enter. Oh, I can’t run into them, so go back in 3 minutes.”
“Yes.”
I can hear the conversation.
Something is happening in this dungeon. I don’t know the details, but it’s something illegal that even the association’s employees were bribed.
‘Why are you fucking here? Plaguy.’
I backed off at once.
Maybe this is a trap The association staff retreated to an invisible place and called Park Jeong-woo.
– What’s going on this late at night?
“Your voice is locked. Were you sleeping while making me work?”
– That’s how much I believe in you. And isn’t it common sense to sleep at night?
“Did you dig a trap?”
– What are you talking about?
