Chapter 172 – Pertinax Auction House (1)
Cvab“They say ifH7pci someone has50I a membershipcOC card, theyXYno6 can bringdAyam7 a guest?WXfZa Is that706 really possiblemD4W in a secret auction?”zTFffsMUjeib
9g9[Yes. Even ififno it’s a secret auction,3bCz they stillkH0b need toyEcm attract newwZSv customers.]FORK
nBBy“So the existing6u4Mt members alsotowBgt serve asqVl7E intermediaries whowR1 bring inxL4B new clients.”f9Qt8OVTa
LO0Xb[Exactly! That’s right.]4AN15oqd
VFndIEven if it’skWkCVk a secrethVl auction, it3nvRhK still needscSB a steadyOsl stream ofFUqS customers. AfterBigsFM all, theyU8AraK need toT8Yqpj keep makinghLK money. WhatyQCkHk the underworldA3L loves mostICtT is money.VCr For them,7Bg7o consistent cashAju flow iscAid essential.zlGgO
fBKrBut there’s alsoUji the dilemma34Y that theyYlodO can’t advertise1Nd openly.A8Pd
acHduSo, as a customer acquisitionWXP3QD strategy, theybDOv probably optedmUW for thehTgi3k “invite-only” method.hEYAdnvimYT4
weT[But… are youBQOy seriously goingvLn0 to thewA8sC Pertinax SecretwWUPP Auction? Thereea3HU are a lot of211m shady peopleFI8 who gouJr4c6 there. Theym2qDo don’t screenNqtIs clients. Doesn’ttlGPN matter ifigM you’re a killer oryOP7 whatever—some high-rankinglrnF villains evenDMjVPo show up.]y2nc95zs
P1VAI already knewvzxYf that, butOxpS hearing itKdTCC directly leftG1YBR me speechless.qRRtJgXQWyR4
Z3i9Q“Hey, shouldn’t theSwuo government be3UzQVt cracking downU2P on that?XWn Why dotv9kw they justpsxkvI let ititF be?”FimL4
gzXXD[From what I hear, thelccJ government gaveFC9ZM them backdoorRuyK6 approval. It’sCHjLu like casinos—placesSpzSUD of gambling,zYz but they’rewSDlk allowed toMxAH8e operate. SameGy34i concept. AsvDhz long asosLFt they payJxfT bribes, thefho higher-ups turnkKf a blindSzRMAZ eye. Besides,tNev8 some ofc2M those higher-upsXu9iX6 also frequentl64sC the place.]dL889l5
7LzThe Pertinax Secret2r2kH Auction House,9Cm in theRbi game, wasqntXV just a stage foryfMQ2 a specificXAQ episode.f5B9Nk
iHeBut with allmjc4J these addedIQw details, itrq2S now feltrKAk like anMaA insect nest.10GUx Revolting.bwDJL
Uy17SThis place wasn’tLZxGk so differentZQTko from Earth.lXXR4s Even withOKtDH demons asKSVX a commonmrzqX enemy, rottenlCS humans wereL3eRyL still everywhere.wsAPyOBk
1ciHxoIt was one0MNh of those83q0X8 moments whereKjQ the realityZn2t of thisorIVjN world hitAYrTzw me again.vaVtHgG0
x3DHuff— I let2DhO5a out a long sigh,ecFt6 mixed withP816G rising frustration.fNoNmS
x2SCFVFirst, I neededCDah to calmaPRlg down. IfNKyRMA I walkedv9e into thatuF58 auction with2TVYTZ this mindset,zixc I’d probablyBHvZe draw mytwDKz1 sashimi blade161 the momentYzM I steppedyVtt in.OtqGO
87Cnws‘Patience, patience, patience,vpW patience, patience…’w66Kc7k3
WmlIWqI steadied my5nI6 racing heartt4O and resumedN3EcTt the call.u5qwztqse
1kCGu“Hey, about whatSWua1 I asked4f2 before—how muchHTkO2i have youe5P saved?”cCDLlo
AZdzn[…To be honest,sjxrK my wallet’scU4I empty. I already toldjAd6 you theAZw Academy instructorCInN salary iskTy6W low. AfterGZXy life insuranceROPCX and taxes,3bJM what I have leftHMQ is…]aOEEDM
nqiptoChoi Seol-ah madeLOx excuses. I lowered myvR9 tone andWYq pressed her.skmNG5aDb
VuX7F“If you haveRbyvK a membershipAaOgy card forzJlRjs Pertinax, thatoPaey must mean6SQq you haveBww money, right?”lUfctZD
yDd[…U-uh…]2uq
y7UEven through thefHtdLS phone, I could perfectlyXC3G3G picture herHFDY pale face.L2352w I tookqkh advantage ofwQrp the momentumGzk and keptzI7z pressing.95eFFn
96s6Q“Tell me, whodHoHr flaunts luxury36a goods on7IaDR9 Stargram whilexiV7 claiming they’reLquZcQ broke? Didn’t4q5v you justwx2RIT buy a new RoiT4Dmj Vuitton bag?rTBF You paidDZOtC for thatEk4C2 with your7AeI instructor salary?”ijWkQnt
bDHma[That was withcC7 bitcoin…]M4yf
nxb“Don’t you knowAru2h Academy instructors4sYWvV aren’t allowed9M28 to invest3ZWKJ or haveLKYl side jobs?zmP1M You wantCIY to getdyFs reported forLEQ embezzlement? StopR52 lying. It’swSkB all dirtyPoFepX money, isn’tjzpXiK it?”5ua9
UMe6[…]HrL8ku
7rDI8mNo reply. And0Tq5u silence meantbJkf yes. Soon,9XiDb I heardGC6WS sobbing and2aAhh a choked-upfO94sF voice onR6FlrI the other4Wu end.JVo8D6
at5zFnMaybe it seemedUbUe like herhX7 humanity hadH5eNZ returned a little, but48LgGS Choi Seol-ahGiyyUd wasn’t theFHmrsp type totpoz cry sincerelyZOk3w in a situation likez2ST2 this. ItYvmq3 was purexL7 theater. Crocodile9wZpL tears.Y1r0l
ZMkwOY‘Still hasn’t shakennYzSj the habitsFDx from herMPpDDn villain days.’NpFLNDm8J
zO7z3gI clicked my0SsXE tongue. HerzWINL voice wasRt0 damp withx3qrG false emotion.oVvsV1 She wasFUyp squeezing outYdLne1 those tearsXSq88a shamelessly.19ucB
M6yhI thought aboutfEqp using thisSmiD chance tojk1X lecture her79eZlh a biteH9C more, butn7a quickly shookkDi my head.ZTKh I’d pushedXtyb her enough—itNXM was time4gh to easegzPw up.rxCAA
DLPAfter all, I needed herwnru help forL7y this. IfP5et I onlyQMB scolded her,hjYF she mightzE2BV get uncooperative.Lf0TIS Even thezO8nq9 most loyalPcwr dog resentsyMP being treatedTnURL too harshly.Z6QWvPbh3
nb63Incidentally, I treatBQ6 Choi Seol-ahN6zhs like a pet. ThatSACNnb way, I know moreYBNbE or less9SZb how toJePvkA handle her.7UVt6Ykv
ejfI spoke inhvq9mS a firmF30h but conciliatory3Z1 tone.ngpo
6v8“You said youvKivM wanted to8vY work as9rL an instructorFhd5o until retirement,Ww3Mk right? Then3qfIDa you needv8A to returnBQrv all thatOJM dirty money.5Hak Think aboutJAgKK it—do yourtV really believeNJRI8 you canLVK hide itD3maKv forever? If4Kl you getFYfjS audited, you’ll3V9N be kickedYut out offbK4wE the AcademyKj4hKU immediately.”Mdvp4k
gFn[Sob… that’s true.]u2KcXLHz
Tpq“That’s why youKqPzul need toEiS clean thingsCdo up now.I4M2 Also, I didn’t wantQtbO to bringT3XS this up,GEG6 but I did savevsmiCU your lifeWf1Y once. You,SodZyb with yourGria2l life insurance196H and funeralOi2 plans—can’t youeDvJf spare justp1IUb a little5UR for them4cKk guy whomj2 saved you?”oYTIwb3t
DCw[…]P1ao5
VQ2I heard heroZCOA gulp. Silencea099 on the4Fov line.mMtRDo
TGJXTxChoi Seol-ah closeduYNi her eyescAc tightly asejRl9n if makingV4mhoB a majormb3 decision, thenBtcBFo opened themSrX with resolve.ZI4NzIctsYO
16y[Understood. Since it’sE1fJ also a way toRLZ move onWPbf7e from mykAdHV past, I’llFrWema give youiUk the 10hwEndB billion I’veCZh saved.]lspys
8cONAw“I know you’ve5qvrE got more.”NJM2cy1iL8
wynGz[T-twenty billion!]WRTJc
DZ94U“……”sGicF
lti[Twenty-three billion!]1oA
CPW“The auction’s comingrX5 up. BeOJJPKi honest. YouzZ8RW1 don’t wantBWns me toaQAZF1 cut yourK07AvF tongue, doI8zwW5 you?”tqw
lWcyAClink! I slidZT1OEF the sashimioQq3p blade outpdMbxS slightly, letting46e the steelG29 ring.Fau
k0qKYt[Thirty billion…]Rgi
nVL1So Choi Seol-ahg7Z1MK turned outK34 to bezoh filthy rich.f9W What kindP2Ud of stuffJ3k had shemTm3 been up7IoDJI to inSC4PH7 the past?4bG But anyway,wu8D with this,LPlD I hadxxG more thanfEjQ enough ammo.FU1hf15i
C6yU5sWith one call,eKSR4z I secured8oNY5 both a “membership card”aSh4R and “biddinguZq3MC money.” A smile slippedghmp out.f9xjU5
vuglctUnless the thirdxTL5 fragment turnedzg2Exw out togOyST be a one-of-a-kind diamond,1yvGfN thirty billion,jUNW plus a little overuHVI five hundredMPY million extra,6HRC was moreZd0t than enough.k4avaJkEsE
qxNQTeTalk about luck.32uox2eyk
HbjJbe[…Hey, I haveoeo a question.]P9bvuQKAer
FIs“What is it?”f5UExxK
x4TJ9xChoi Seol-ah askedF7Gw cautiously. I answered cheerfully,0Qpnr9 still smiling.n02ghQL6uos
0aGAfter all, ifQKGQ she was7Cf handing overRuNQ thirty billion,KLP82a the leastTTR I couldTRr do wassdm answer a question.j0IFh
O37i[Sir… are youOEdnG living a second life?BvEGZV I just8tTVx can’t seejDMw you asPJMhb a normalJtFGhn teenager.]ogI
KPgBAClick.0iBa
Z9M6I hung up8PS immediately. Thenzr1L I lookedovy up at9pCc the nightisTqVo sky withgZk a faintQHEGLP discomfort.9KYh
sxH7“That’s why I hate peopleabRr who aremJA too intuitive.”fIludN3
vZYdCg***XEw
Db4GUFriday, one dayrbWNli before headingbyQT to theFxqtv Pertinax AuctionzkiDUZ House. ItxE7O had beenUE6lY a whileJuWM since ouro4yzY travel clubjY12 last met.n1dU77zYW7r
n5yjThe place wasvTy9 Starboks, andVKh as always,fGoI we orderedoxmhjM the cheapestxOnt espresso on3WMDK the menu.3VsoMnnYFs
isUAESpeedweapon, excited, rambledoxw on aboutHJM his exploits.QCxIMtMj
GDod“When the presidentkaDba was in5O8 trouble atGUVe the supermarket,zSLk0W I showedvuilxi up justBt5B in time,An3r you know?PD1eBv And I said, ‘Excuserv9xP me, whatPEn2 do youCwysOW think you’reF7h doing? YouXuIEC handle allu0Gq1 matters throughopW me directly.’H8EKN Sounds cool,z3eye7 right?”V7ct
7CtSmRyozo sipped her1N2 yokan latteCfm sweetly andcwnhd replied as2XH if swallowingVAX her words.2e2XXYqY
FPbyUt“Hey, Saki. Aree4Npl you listeningru1K to me?”rkNTNXMy
jYql6“No. Not atHqYy all. AndV04EfD you, Speedweapon—areQpBts you really1X0Th that happyRHpZ Kang Geom-Ma6jQw thrashed All4woLC Mute? Weren’tFBZ you herCpD fan?”gAdG
yDskB“……”E83B
WlzkAt Ryozo’s jab,lVZxU Speedweapon fellj4IJc silent.E7S4Rh
docU8CHe slumped likevtFhr a soakedbFda1O rag andOVVao looked atkglKF senior Ha-na9uBvvi for help.aSi She gavedaE him a blank smileu0q in return.rJt4XSM
O0gUG“Wow! Amazing, Speedweapon!9X71rL Wow! Youw8e really turnedfA9b that supermarketSAoJKE upside down!dZ8R2 Best partnerDhA ever!”DM4
4dM“If you’re gonnaPTswn say that,cH5 don’t botherXJGmIS cheering meKV4h up…”OwFddm
riG76“Sorry. Was itf5X that obvious?”Tl8K0tB35y1
uZFsQySenior Ha-na stuck5U7dpY out hercEeE tongue cutely.XET Speedweapon, onJZ2 the vergezZ2M of tears,FFprl moistened his6zde4 lips withRqpVG coffee. ItpS2 tasted especially3tgqj bitter.C5z
1TwaCdRyozo took anotherh1Ezv sip, thenroL glanced atcOf8 me fromLvpi the cornerGeZ of herHcwgm eye.WhG
LFShbOShe dragged her5JVCrv chair closerVCto and whisperedGOYZ5a softly.f77Yz
EDzow“To return theGNmOeg kimchi stewG1ySV you bought5qJJ me, I was thinkingsWH of treatingx88gC you toDVXE Korean sushiXX4kA tomorrow. Got4Ek49J time?”pb4auG
G9wV“Sorry. I alreadyZ0H have plans.”KOcSRRc
rLYhBI scratched my42aKk eyebrow awkwardly.W6a98 Ryozo’s cheeksMXwup puffed upWxBY like balloons.4MoSUj95x
22cd“Ever since theiLC Joaquin incident,ysoJ you’ve beenwV8Aq so busyigGjQm we haveWc2En to scheduleL20yTD an appointmentR2Rw just toaqP see you.”DwBX2l1
EBTShe grumbled withdit puffed cheeksgoc2Ft but thenFKmpy let outBTNgWi a deepKI8vNo sigh. HeriwEI cheeks deflated5AP too.k3JN
kyWaM2“Come to thinkBdHS of it,iFrD you wentbN2rtM to theNNkn Association withoBZr4 the directorDDVLM recently, right?uLqxi With soUQSB many assignments,d1EGo I bet00e you’re busy7HhuY9 with somethingZAC tomorrow too.”8Qy1FRt3cU
5Q2“Ah… something like0tO that. Anyway,63o thanks. You’reTlTsf the onlyW51Hrg one whog6dTnz worries aboutsG4LyI me.”Hh0G6
Dq5Ryozo’s dimples tintedP0icpb with a soft pink.TqZM409BV
PE3Y“Ahem. I don’tDzEZI know whatHfTlh it is,22OXn3 but bejimDq careful. IfxuN4oR something happens,EF5sP let meU9Ct know. MaybeLX4lgR there’s somethinglK9A I canqvz help youZ5RwWF with from9Ppyf7 here.”g9b6X
sSpvVJ***UUdRl
F0EtUYA day passed.DC8aog I wasKLv in a car drivenEevE by Choi1dy6M Seol-ah, headingcBCt to the6RslNq city where6m65a the auctionm0v5n was held.YKwBmIqsWl6s
3q005XThe destination wasblyWBK ‘Geodam,’ a city thatLDrXut didn’t existvBQ on Earth.Ofct1F Clearly inspiredPgIuFc by thatdBnvRw place fromNkeTH the BatmanK4t5A comics.IWh1WB
L7TXt…After several hoursJxhE of followingrya8g6 the GPSWntm down gloomy8Dpi roads, lanternstoQi3 began toPdVM appear likeN5Y fireflies flickeringQdPV in theGkon dark.KUS
QMzSoon, we arrivednC0f8 at a pleasure district3A9 that madeF4v0X everyone stoprYGx in their8b7 tracks. StreetsEIi8n full ofZnl1ed lust andzVkkb entertainment, bathedfmFaWn in multicolored9z9cf2 neon lights.HX1x5p My impressionOIqzG was simple.6JBv95ZWJ
3qYC‘Disgusting.’zPnLfN
4GWIt was obviousVrzo78 corrupt noblesug4Fe roamed thesevEqvj avenues. EveryoneA4N hid theirEvw faces withpkijd masks orUxH hoods. ButI9tq the stenchJD1T of rotYdlFZa couldn’t be4Ho masked.ktA1iZ
ozKThe decadent air4qikO seeped throughXkm my pores.DoX My senseslO6 were so28jXw sharp thatGlE just takingLLwO it incUcn made myNtk2 stomach churn.0FSpS8Tt
ENESChoi Seol-ah parkedBoOkPH in a suitable spot.rBiBol Just beforeOlI we gotzi3qH out, shekjR handed meHoiN a hoodedbrBSx8 mask. ItVWpj had a raven’s beak.Ox9jct9oTsYW
v2yf“From here on769 out, youleo5 have toAKNse wear a mask. It’slV53Z not mandatory,5TY2c but you’reCtTn well-known, anduWxW your faceb6wovB stands outFwwLr too much.”owATEHfItBZ
7KJI nodded andczt put onts3CQ the beakedgOZ8 mask withHA3DF the hood.ZecV Seeing myselfHQAls in theOwGGli mirror, I looked likeox3VBo a raven.8P5kbKnmP
3omzXChoi Seol-ah chuckled2Hm softly andrmE put onu5Zfw hers—it was1l1 a squirrelgA2 mask withuKb39 a bow.SY20WP
wVioMVPrepared like that,C1O we headedXLa toward the0vUw auction house.5KRmvg We arrivedNsp6q at a nondescript building.QmQcH I hadJlii2 imagined somethingtB7YL lavish, encrustedyTnnx with jewels,Ni3UF but itsTE6 exterior wasOoxu so plainf1YXx it actually1AfhKp felt imposing.Zo8qmkZu
wvk6owAt first, I thought wehcef had theJmSF wrong place.HZBrJ But seeingan3vW the lineq7E18 of maskedfnr people confirmed7ptjRb we wereWz8YI in thepEGF right spot.Q2e9S1 We joinedcmTL9 the line.YpuLx8VHZ
4f8nObI asked Choi0fgz6 Seol-ah:N47
G7m“All the otherrjZkl buildings areLbxA flashy. WhyWkNxh does theiHIV9n auction house,EFZZh the importantB6ea one, lookSP0Y so old?”R5NSg9te1
ktHj“Because this buildingipRCh used toEUm be theFk4h1t birthplace ofabWa Pertinax, thezLeFX0 underworld emperorjbmh from 2002fvV years ago.tZzG They say4vxof he requestedIMfxY it beRq8s5 turned intox0uU88 an auctionmy4 house afterp04 his death.”mmF5FuhZb
NTOBWhat a weirdo.YBYY More thanqk8Hz an underworldFUG emperor, heFcOz sounds liketyYfgo a teenagerKGuU possessed byFgtBxu a blackYFaQQW dragon.pIVgsw
g9cXWhile we waited,kOSqBU Choi Seol-ahtCN0 explained thingsqdz about theNxwv underworld. None5mZB of itOhpWD was useful,7LVy so I just noddedEKkKM absentmindedly.dipP3e
4QWxThe line in5jXQ front ofeLhQlS us shrank,ii2 and itRxc was finally8Buusr our turn.LEZ5dk
xW99SzAt the entrance,RUx91b a manKtHyWl in a rabbit maskQoU greeted us.JsFzb He placedhAER a hand1EEP9 on his7wcsZ chest, bowed1zvH7w his head,uW3 and said:eQMRNbpmUe
bFoiv“Welcome to PertinaxjauGA Auction House.bmZ May I see youryH92ih membership card,EfEMO please?”mz6
4B6YkChoi Seol-ah handeduOFX over herfKnX card witht9Tms an unnecessarilyAiDc9k elegant gesture.SaW The rabbitV6t examined itehVl carefully andPSkPb7 bowed again.J1vB5j
hTgab“All is inY4qD order, MissTg1a Princess Squirrel.”hcHzHAd1E
7wxpPrincess Squirrel? I instinctively turnedjS3b my headswDSdm toward her.Bibh3 In response,uaZnuO Choi Seol-ahzz1 quickly lookedxn2I1S away, whistlingbE3 as ifb6Nx nothing happened.7Wf7CCgD9UM
5z8Y4The rabbit tiltedVZkQQN his headOEXz at them5ThQH awkward atmosphere.7kLAYG4T
l4l5“And the gentlemanM7qLfy accompanying you…dseng may I ask what7hN your relationshipqbCQDz is withfSKEcl Miss PrincessBk9lS5 Squirrel…?”5ZWnRW
oXj“We don’t askMrdz1 about a companion’s privacy.12hd1N Doesn’t thisd9L auction houseFES7X train its7KZAA staff anymore?”ypBEUlHU9r
vegvChoi Seol-ah’s voicegYzZ was sharp.tgr1 The rabbiteUzggD flailed hisf0Spn hands nervously.kcLtCZT
HzA“No, no, it’sgzO2 just thatdpZn recently thereuy7gB have beenru8a rumors about63dcL Shadow agentsYb2k infiltrating the1tCdR premises. That’sil7SJ why theYPqZK venue’s policiesxGBjI were updated.”G3vE7MOmxVdc
543x9“What kind ofR1U policy?”95RTL
iBRX“We don’t requireW9C the companion’svlt identity, butIWyZ they mustt3F1 have a close relationshipecveK3 with therCm3Vf member. InfuJZK case offBH any incidents,yW735G the primaryetAIf member’s recordSkTLS will be4jK reviewed.”l9incv
28bEIn short, theZ4R companion wasn’tDL3if just a potential new5Y5 client anymore—theyuYq now acted2sP3t as a guarantor.XOOU
oOTThe rabbit scratchedAtSYNI at hisz6u7 mask andIV8ml added:T1Jw
J6GHa“But according toE7tY our records,s3O there are0PgFxJ no familyDfX members listed5udHN under MissC8gA Princess Squirrel.cWYL Not evenNcqB siblings.”e9FK
PGoEJust as thingsFyDZi started tohB5g get awkward,lUiu1 Choi Seol-ah71AIbx let out6TFJa a seductive5mhcE2 giggle. Theniir8v she clungpb6A2 to myRDsl right arm.uOXc3kg1
yg50F1The contact withnWcpf her skinY1RA sent chillsnlHHK down mypeC spine. MyLd5672 instincts rejectedzCKe it.G2acn
B9R16fShe pressed closeryAm and spokexfS casually:NH2nq
tXomE“He’s my husband.0ldB We justJcWB registered ourszG marriage todayIYwuT and decidedGVBg to comeyYIJi here foryHD0 a littleGPhh getaway. Princessu9Di Squirrel andJHw2Hb Young Raven.8KNW Don’t we18JkwI make a lovely couple?”WRN9M48s0NFs
0Guh“……?”o84
FeFLGvI stared atrRC her wide-eyed.iaK Her armslHzEB2 trembled slightly.sjXyj Having crossedziA the line,8KNpw she keptNTl up theFN5 act.Cj0
5X01“Or would youF3h prefer wef6M2 take offYCT our masksLB9 and putIkd on a little showjBaF right here?Umwxsb Actually, gowou get the4UHaD7 auction manager—heiFEg8 should seeEuiNPR it too.YZFuaq Sharing isqh8 caring, right?”CKYjm1y9Xx
bff63The effect washA0gM instant. Themh1oYY rabbit quicklyyXlbEy adjusted hisZyOZM mask andHKjfbl tried to7EWEpe calm theXTzxLS situation.i02uTk
kd1“I sincerely apologize.Eq01K8 I’ve acted06l2m improperly. PleaseM1qHo proceed, MissuO60 Princess Squirrel,GWdK Mr. YoungWL9hb2 Raven.”EOuB1
PR4VWe entered theWZ5 venue arm6zsZOI in arm,yZ2bX looking likeHjBOp a happy0rU couple.drx1
LCkP1QWith names straightqHTApr out ofALw a children’sLGNQF4 fairy tale…Urn0OF Princess SquirrelpIn8e and YoungpkoN1t Raven.2CRD
BqwJ4…Goddamn it.FQvV1
What did you think of this chapter?
1 reaction
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
Reader Settings
Page mode
Timer
Text Indent
Auto scroll
Tap to read
Pin menu
Translate page
Select language to automatically translate chapter content.
Audio & AI Voice
This chapter has pre-loaded audio
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaShe was about break 4th wall.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaWow she really play bold.