I contacted Sa Seung-hee immediately and explained the purpose of my call. Sa Seung-hee seemed quite surprised to receive my contact.
— My goodness, should I call this a coincidence? Hunter Lee Se-eun is quite lucky. Then again, having reached that position, she couldn't be someone without luck.
What was she talking about. I called Sa Seung-hee because I thought I needed some help, so why was Lee Se-eun lucky?
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
— Hunter Lee Se-eun asked me to arrange a meeting. There was some information she had requested from me.
She said that in the process of tracking and managing how children who left orphanages were living, several children gave statements that they were involved in the trafficking of hunter equipment.
So Lee Se-eun visited Sa Seung-hee to ask if she had any information, and Sa Seung-hee provided relevant information moderately.
— If I knew things would turn out like this, I could have told Hunter Lee Se-eun in a bit more detail."
Now, Sa Seung-hee seemed to slightly regret not providing more information to Lee Se-eun.
“How could Owner Sa Seung-hee have known that this would eventually get entangled with the conquest of the Erosion Core. Besides, it is not too late even now.”
— You are right. Anyway, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, you said you would be taking a rest until the next Erosion Core conquest, right?
That was true, but why was she asking.
— You have been active very diligently and are resting for the first time in a while, so you should rest well if possible. The Playchip Hotel in Hongcheon might be good.
“There must be a reason.”
Sa Seung-hee replied with a voice mixed with laughter.
— There is the Hut branch inside the hotel. A few hunters have been stopping by there for about four days now. Originally, they were regulars at the Hut in Yanggu.
It seemed Sa Seung-hee secured information about the trafficking by synthesizing the stories those guys babbled while staying in Yanggu.
But those guys who were in Yanggu suddenly started visiting the Hut in Hongcheon frequently?
In such a situation, if I did not know the location where the trafficking would take place, that would be quite the level of intelligence.
— Ah, and it seems the Blue Wrench Junkyard is hosting a hunter equipment auction in a few days. You do need an invitation, though.
Hunter equipment was typically an item where there were many who wanted it and the supply was limited. Naturally, there was bound to be an auction.
Anyway, considering our reputation, it did not seem like it would be difficult to obtain an invitation.
— Just for your information, there is talk that Blue Wrench is also involved in this trafficking.
Wow, then I should definitely assume that the trafficking would take place at that Playchip in Hongcheon.
“So, how much is the price for the Playchip Hotel?”
At my question, Sa Seung-hee told me the price. I almost cursed into the receiver.
Having managed to hold back the curse, I replied with difficulty.
— I think I could buy an officetel if I stay there for two nights.
"Yes, that is right. It is not like you don't have money, right?"
Was this a matter worth discussing the presence or absence of money. First, it seemed I had heard everything I needed to hear from Sa Seung-hee.
“I think it would be more satisfying to buy an officetel, set it on fire, and watch it for 48 hours.”
Jung Oh-hoon, who was listening to the story, subtly expressed his opinion. I almost fell for it for a moment. It was a bit much to say this, but there were few things as fun as watching a fire in the world.
Why else would people stack straw and set it on fire during every regional festival. It meant it was that much fun.
“Let us see, my bank balance is…”
In fact, it was not a burdensome amount. Because the money I sucked from the world was quietly sleeping in my bank balance, waiting for the day to be used, without going anywhere.
While I was doing that, Jung Oh-hoon said a word from the side.
“Wow, there is an inn for 150,000 won nearby. I am going to sleep there.”
150,000 won? An inn? I was more shocked by that. Why was the price like that for a one-night stay. Listening to what Jung Oh-hoon said, it seemed that was also very cheap.
I was realizing again like this that Korean prices were fluctuating.
“We have to go catch Gonsalok after this is over. You know that, right?”
At my words, Jung Oh-hoon threw his smartphone and spoke.
“Oh, I forgot about that. What is there to life. Since we are going anyway, let us do it hot. Let us book the, what was it, the Presidential Suite!”
Good grief... there were things to forget, but you forget the conquest of Gonsalok. Anyway, since we were scheduled to go to a dangerous place, Jung Oh-hoon changed his attitude to play until he died.
“Then let us go talk to Han Sang-ah.”
“She is probably still playing with that marble rollercoaster, right?”
Jung Oh-hoon and I visited the room where Han Sang-ah was staying.
“Hello.”
And I was at a loss for words when I saw the incredible structure situated in the room. The miniature rollercoaster, which occupied almost half of the room, made us feel various kinds of emotions.
Han Sang-ah stood still and stared blankly at the dozens of steel marbles rolling along the tracks of the massive and complex rollercoaster.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Yeah.”
Han Sang-ah replied refreshingly and then rolled one more steel marble into the rollercoaster. I also watched the steel marble rolling and told Han Sang-ah about the conversation I had with Sa Seung-hee.
“The accommodation fee for the Playchip Hotel is very expensive.”
“It seemed so.”
Han Sang-ah's eyes followed the rolling marbles.
“What are you thinking about.”
At my words, Han Sang-ah spoke in a slightly slow tone.
“The blueprints of the Playchip Hotel. Geumyang Construction was one of the contractors. I remembered. There are 10 junket rooms inside the casino that handle VIPs.”
Junket rooms. They are private rooms prepared for the gambling of the wealthy. They limit entry and tempt the wealthy by providing services as well as their own concepts for each room.
“What is the problem with that.”
Unless casinos are illegal, if they are legal, operating separate private rooms is just part of the means to increase the casino's profit.
At my question, Han Sang-ah replied.
“I remember because the blueprint of one of those junket rooms was strange. There was a toilet in the center of the room.”
What was that. It certainly was strange. Jung Oh-hoon, who was listening to the story, clicked his tongue.
“It would not be strange even if that toilet was an elevator.”
Even if an elevator was too much, if there was space below, it would not be that difficult to use it and place at least a ladder.
“Then I think we will have to enter the casino and check it out.”
At my words, Han Sang-ah shook her head.
“Hunters are banned from entering the casino. To be precise, only slot machines are possible.”
“Ah, that must be so.”
I immediately nodded at Han Sang-ah's words. In a way, it was a natural thing. We can be described simply in two characters: supermen.
Our senses themselves were different from ordinary people. Hunters of the skill level of us three could even read the cards reflected in the pupils of the opponent sitting across from us.
If we were allowed to gamble, the casino would go bankrupt.
“They used their heads well. Then, even if the toilet in that junket room is used as a secret passage, it would not be that the people from the junket room go down to the secret space through that toilet.”
Hunters would likely use the secret passage to come up to the junket room. In other words, the place where the trafficking takes place is the junket room.
“How do we get into the junket room?”
At my words, Han Sang-ah called somewhere, and after a while, she gave back an answer.
“A seed money of over 1.5 billion won is needed. And each junket room in the casino has a separate operator who manages it.”
The casino does not manage the junket rooms itself. The casino leases the junket rooms to specific operators and splits the money lost by guests with the operators.
“And each operator has agencies underneath them. Think of it as a kind of broker.”
Listening to the story, I scratched my head.
“That’s complicated. Does it mean we cannot enter the junket room unless we go through an agency?”
Besides, we have to prepare as much as 1.5 billion won in seed money, the capital to be used for gambling. Jung Oh-hoon, who was listening to the story, let out an "oh my" sound.
“It seems there is no way to enter the junket room in a standard way.”
“You are right.”
Even if we prepare 1.5 billion won, the fact that we are hunters is an issue, so we cannot enter. We have to give up on the method of entering the junket room through a broker.
“Don't you remember anything else?”
Just in case, I asked Han Sang-ah if she remembered anything more. Han Sang-ah replied while looking at the rolling steel marbles.
“I am not a computer.”
“Really? I believed that something like a USB port was attached to the back of your head.”
Han Sang-ah looked at me for a moment and then let out a small sigh. Did she just sigh toward me?
“For now, the best thing would be to stay at the Playchip Hotel and look for where the passage connected to the junket room in question might be.”
Trafficking will take place anyway. And, fortunately, we have an excuse to go to the Playchip Hotel.
The hunter equipment auction hosted by the Blue Wrench Junkyard. According to the information Sa Seung-hee gave, Blue Wrench Junkyard is also involved in the trafficking and...
There is nothing strange at all about a hunter participating in an equipment auction, right? I clapped my hands loudly once and then looked at Jung Oh-hoon and Han Sang-ah.
“Ladies and gentlemen. It seems this vacation spot has been decided as the Playchip Hotel.”
“Vacation? Dammit, this is a vacation? Where did that damn 'rest' get sold off to?”
Jung Oh-hoon said a word with a crumpled face.
“Since we can rest and also work, isn't this exactly joy?”
It was something that had to be done.
“Through Jung Oh-hoon, we succeeded in destroying part of the stone fragments of the black stones smuggled into China, but in the end, they will continue to flow in unless we crush the entire distribution network.”
At my words, Jung Oh-hoon raised his hand slightly.
“Teacher, I have a question.”
“Yeah, speak up.”
At my words, Jung Oh-hoon cleared his throat once and asked.
“Wasn't that black stone being controlled by the Korean government? If they fail to subjugate Gonsalok, Korea also has a lot to lose. No matter how I think about it, I don't think they would do something like the foreign residential area incident.”
At Jung Oh-hoon's words, I wore a sad expression.
“The Korean government is in the middle of controlling that?”
If that was a possible situation, would I be doing this shit. The Korean government cannot control those black stones. In the first place, they would not even properly understand what that is.
“Think about the process of artificial intelligences rebelling in science fiction movies. It is similar to that.”
At my words, Jung Oh-hoon fell into thought for a moment.
“At first, even the artificial intelligences with a sense of self pretend to still follow the instructions of humans. Then, when an opportunity comes, red lights turn on in their eyes collectively and…”
They rebel. It is similar to that.
“It is not being controlled, it is just pretending to be so while aiming for the appropriate moment.”
After making them believe it is under control, they wait for the humans using black stones to increase sufficiently. And, when they think they have succeeded in securing a sufficient number, that is when they will start things.
“What about warning the Korean government?”
“Meaningless.”
The temptation of the black stone is very attractive. I don't know whose idea it was, but I feel like giving them a "well done" stamp on their forehead.
If they succeed in controlling the Erosion Core using the Descendants of Dangun and succeed in fully controlling even the black stones, Korea will possess power on a different level.
The black stones are making the Korean government dream such a dream.
In addition to the black stones, the Descendants of Dangun must be continuing their efforts to extract the Paradoxical Flame from me.
“Even if they extract it, they will not even be able to use it anyway.”
At my muttering, Han Sang-ah and Jung Oh-hoon look at me.
“What are you staring at. Is it your first time seeing a madman talking to himself.”
At my words, Han Sang-ah scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
“What is this.”
“It is a referral for a famous psychiatric hospital. Since it is my referral, you will be able to get a lot of help.”
Dammit. For a person who filled half of the lodging with a steel marble rollercoaster to worry about my mental state. Should I laugh or cry at this?
I agonized over what to say and then muttered.
“Pack your bags, you guys.”
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