Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant - Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Suho intended to visit another place before entering the Earth Keepers’ mine.
There were some preparations he needed to make to ensure he obtained everything he wanted from the mine.
So, he called a taxi and headed to Paju.
To be precise, the edge of Paju.
Nexus Academy was also located in Paju, but this area was known as a safe zone—the most valuable land in Paju.
The place Suho arrived at, however, was the outer district, where various businesses once resided.
‘Now, it’s practically a wasteland.’
Why had it become a wasteland?
The answer was obvious.
Frequent Gate occurrences, along with a lack of Hunters to manage such remote areas, led to its abandonment.
However, this didn’t mean it was entirely deserted.
Ironically, this neglected place became a haven for a particular type of people.
Specifically, it attracted black-market dealers who engaged in illegal trades.
‘It’s been a while since I last came here.’
As Suho observed the scenery reminiscent of a slum, memories of the past resurfaced.
This place was called ‘Paju Village.’
If the Dongdaemun Market was the country’s largest open market blending light and dark, then Paju Village was one of the largest black markets in South Korea.
After paying the fare, Suho got out of the car.
The tense taxi driver left Paju Village as soon as Suho stepped out, almost as if he were fleeing.
It was a natural reaction.
Crime was common here, making taxis from outside the city easy targets for robbers.
That was why Suho didn’t bring his own car.
While he had taken Jo Jin-hwi’s car with Seo Gyowon to the Academy, there was no safe place to park in Paju Village, unlike at the Academy.
Suho activated “Monochrome Solitude” embedded in First Namesless and began leisurely strolling through Paju Village.
The atmosphere was eerie.
There was no sign of the bustling energy typical of a market; instead, homeless people and drug addicts were scattered about on the streets.
‘If it weren’t for the Gates, Paju wouldn’t have ended up like this.’
Present-day South Korea… no, the world itself had seen a drastic rise in drugs, crime, hunger, and poverty compared to the past.
It was all due to the Gates.
The sudden outbreak of Gates had destroyed many parts of the world, deepening the divide between rich and poor and casting shadows over society.
That was why Suho believed he needed to close the Gates as soon as possible.
Among the homeless in Paju Village, there were quite a few young people.
After walking a bit further, Suho stopped in front of a store.
The store had an unusual structure with a heavy shutter and a small door built into it, a common design in Paju Village.
This setup provided a certain degree of security and protection.
Suho knocked on the door, and soon, a tiny window on the door opened, just big enough for a face to be seen.
“Who is it?”
Through the open window, an old man with wrinkles around his eyes appeared.
However, Suho didn’t seem to care much as he answered the man’s question.
“I’m here because there’s a mine I’d like to buy.”
“Identity?”
At this question, Suho briefly deactivated “Monochrome Solitude.”
Then.
“Oh, Ahn Suho the Hunter?”
The shopkeeper’s eyes widened in surprise.
Suho nodded in response.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“One moment, please.”
The window closed, and several sounds of locks being released echoed from inside.
Finally, the door opened, and a small-built man greeted Suho.
“Ahem, welcome. It’s an honor to meet you, Hunter Ahn Suho.”
Suho nodded and entered the store.
The man quickly shut the door and locked the bolts again.
After securing the last bolt, the man hurriedly moved to the counter, standing as if he were the owner.
Seeing this, Suho asked,
“Isn’t that mask uncomfortable?”
“…Pardon? Oh, what?”
“I asked because you’re wearing a disguise mask. If I’m the only customer, feel free to make yourself comfortable.”
“…”
The shopkeeper looked momentarily bewildered, then chuckled.
“How did you know?”
“I just saw it.”
“To be able to see through a disguise mask…”
The man chuckled as he pulled at his chin, revealing a mask that came off in his hand along with a layer of skin.
The man, who had previously appeared bald and wrinkled, instantly transformed into a young-looking woman.
The shopkeeper, now a woman, smiled and said,
“You’re impressive. As expected, there’s something special about someone who has conquered two Sealed Gates.”
“Thank you. But, are we doing business or not?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have let a Hunter inside otherwise, would I?”
Suho knew who she was.
Her name was “Choi Yoon,” the most famous Gate broker in Paju Village.
Actually, she was one of the top Gate brokers in the entire country.
It was true.
Suho had even bought a few Gates from her in his previous life.
She asked,
“But how did you know about this place?”
“I can find out whatever I need to.”
“Hmm…”
Amused by Suho’s vague answer, she chuckled lightly.
She must have been curious.
After all, this was before Choi Yoon had fully entered the Gate business.
‘She only gained fame after joining Union, the country’s largest underground guild.’
Considering the timeline, it was likely that she was already a Union member.
But she was still quiet since she was only preparing for her business.
It must have intrigued her to see Suho appear, mentioning the slang “mine” for Gates and even seeing through her disguise item, the “disguise mask.”
However, Suho had no intention of satisfying her curiosity.
She asked,
“Alright. Then, what kind of Gate are you looking for, Hunter?”
“I’d like access to the Twisted Forest.”
“You… know about the Twisted Forest?”
“Yes.”
“Huh…”
At Suho’s request, she furrowed her brows.
It was understandable; the Twisted Forest was a brand-new item that had been on the market for less than three days.
Keeping her frown, she asked,
“How did you know?”
“About what?”
“That I have the Twisted Forest available.”
“In a black market, do I need to tell you that?”
“Well, no… but it’s fascinating.”
“Understandable. But I hope you don’t stay too curious. After all, I don’t ask the boss where you got the Twisted Forest, do I?”
At his words, she paused for a moment, then chuckled.
“I suppose you’re right. I got a bit too curious and made a mistake.”
“It’s fine as long as it doesn’t happen twice.”
“Understood. Have you used Paju Village before?”
“Yes, I’ve prepared cash. I can enter the Twisted Forest anytime and prefer it to be as soon as possible.”
“You’re well-prepared. But how did you prepare cash without knowing the exact price of the Twisted Forest?”
“It’s just one entry. I should be able to handle that.”
When it comes to Gate transactions, there are usually two types of products.
Gate ownership, which buys the Gate itself, and an entry ticket, which grants a single-use entry.
Naturally, ownership is more expensive.
However, even the entry fee can vary depending on the number of people entering, as the difficulty of conquering a Gate increases with more entrants, which in turn raises the entry fee.
Choi Yoon asked,
“Very thorough. So, how many companions will be entering with you?”
“I’m going alone.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Choi Yoon fell silent, as if speechless.
She had thought there might be no one accompanying him, but she hadn’t expected Suho to actually enter alone.
Swallowing her surprise, she said,
“…Alright, then. Let me collect the payment first. The one-time entry fee for the Twisted Forest is 100 million won.”
Suho took out a bag of cash he had prepared beforehand, showing 100 million won.
Then, he took out a 100,000 won bundle and handed it to her.
“I’ll pay the remainder at the Gate.”
A standard transaction.
She nodded, and then Choi Yoon led him to the garage behind the store.
Inside the garage was a sturdy-looking off-road vehicle.
Noticing the Union insignia on the side of the vehicle, Suho nodded to himself.
‘As expected, she joined Union.’
Choi Yoon gestured toward the car with her chin and said,
“I’ll guide you to where the Gate is located.”
They both got into the car, and after she pressed a remote, the garage door opened.
For a moment, people’s eyes turned toward her car, but those who recognized it quickly looked away.
It was partly due to Choi Yoon’s influence, but the Union insignia on her car also played a role.
‘As I thought.’
In a place like this, having backing is everything.
It saves you from needless fights.
Soon, the vehicle set off.
***
They drove past Paju, crossed the Imjin River, and headed toward Kaesong.
Neither Suho nor Choi Yoon was surprised despite crossing the border into North Korea.
Since the world had drastically changed, North Korea had almost reached a state of near-collapse.
‘Present-day North Korea is essentially in anarchy.’
At first, China had cast its eyes on North Korea, which had become nearly decimated.
However, the area along China’s border now contained ‘those creatures,’ making it an impenetrable zone even for elite Chinese troops… let alone ordinary Hunters.
Glancing at Suho, Choi Yoon asked,
“Aren’t you surprised we’ve crossed north?”
“Well, not really.”
“You’re so stoic. You didn’t seem that way in the articles I read.”
“Must have left a good impression.”
“Haha, you’re amusing.”
Eventually, the vehicle stopped.
They arrived in an area with a few tents, and upon spotting Choi Yoon’s car, people poured out of the tents.
They wore a mixture of casual clothes and equipment items, typical for street Hunters.
After disembarking, Choi Yoon approached the man standing at the front of the group.
“This is Choi Yoon. As we discussed, he’ll be entering the Twisted Forest.”
The man glanced at Suho, then smirked.
“So, it really was Ahn Suho?”
“Why not be respectful? He’s our guest.”
“Oh, of course. And the payment?”
“I’ve verified and received the deposit. Where’s the boss?”
“Right here.”
Just then,
A voice responded from within one of the tents.
And soon, a man walked out from the tent.
Upon seeing him, Suho’s eyes widened.
‘That guy…’
It wasn’t a mistake.
The man walking out of the tent.
He was a huge, bald man with an impressive build, making it clear to Suho.
In his previous life, this man had been one of Korea’s notorious human trafficking ring leaders, ‘Bang Dueok.’