Chapter 10

[Translator – Angel Dust][Proofreader – ChiSync]

Chapter 10: Revenge (2)

The next day, the bastard really deposited a whopping 100 million won into my bank account.

“Crazy, did he really send it? How the fuck?”

That bitch runs a small office, where did he get all that money?

‘This is not the only strange thing.’

Bringing in a retrieval team in a Sector E operational area.

Brought in an appraiser who recognized Ellaris’s necklace at a glance.

And then depositing 100 million in just one day.

‘It’s definitely borrowed… but from whom?’

I didn’t know any bastards who had that much money at the time.

Whether 100 million won was a lot or a little, I knew that Kang Chanwook was a very greedy person.

I often saw him flexibly handling and borrowing money, using it wherever he could to make bigger deals.

‘And that appraiser. He had quite deep knowledge about Ellaris for just a simple private appraiser.’

It’s illegal for appraisers affiliated with Salvation to take money and appraise items for private jobs.

If he was a Salvation-affiliated appraiser, it would be unlikely that he did appraisals secretly without Salvation’s knowledge.

Although such individuals existed, usually they only intervened in big deals to appraise items for a large profit, or when dealing with underground work, not going as far as involving themselves in such affairs.

‘That ultimately means there’s a high probability he brought in a high-ranking private appraiser…’

Ordinary high-ranking private appraisers are those who followed the route of retiring from Salvation and moving on.

If the bastard had connections with someone higher up, everything would make sense.

From the flexibility of money, the appraiser, to securing the job.

“Phew, let’s think about that later for now.”

I picked up my phone and sent a text to Junghyun.

[Item handed over.]

And within a minute, I received a reply.

[Understood. I’ll start checking toward the auction house with significant funds right away.]

[Yes. But it seemed like CEO Kang might have connections with the higher-ups. It might be good to check the auctions held among the upper echelons, just in case.]

[Understood.]

“I’ll leave this to Junghyun…”

I arrived at the hospital in Gangnam.

“This is the hospital where Myeongsu’s mother is, right?”

Daesan Hospital, the most famous hospital in Gangnam. Sᴇaʀᴄh the NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

It’s a place where many people come to seek treatment, including VIPs.

Myeongsu’s mother’s illness is specific, so there aren’t many places where she can receive treatment.

So, crying and swallowing his pride, Myeongsu mentioned that his mother is also hospitalized here..

‘No wonder all the money’s gone.’

In this situation, being exploited under that bastard must have made life hell.

‘It’s reaping the rewards of past life deeds. Myeongsu.’

I came here to pay the hospital bills Hwang Myeongsu mentioned.

In my past life, thanks to Hwang Myeongsu, I was able to escape from the asshole’s shackles.

Hwang Myeongsu’s mother, unable to be treated with current medicine, was undergoing medication to sustain her life, and the cost was quite significant.

To save his mother, he had to constantly gather hospital funds. But trapped and exploited by that asshole, he ended up being only exploited and eventually unable to treat his mother, who passed away.

While it’s uncertain whether that became the catalyst, He awakened and immediately went to find him, smashing up his entire office and killing him.

Thanks to that, the office was destroyed, I was freed, and Hwang Myeongsu was apprehended by the Salvation Awakener Management Division, bringing the incident to a close.

If he was able to demolish the bastard’s office to that extent right after awakening, he must have had quite a talent.

‘I was quite surprised when I heard that timid and kind kid did that.’

I had a soft spot in my heart for Hwang Myeongsu.

I survived with the help of that young lad, but I still regretted not being able to visit him once in the Salvation facility.

I found the lad later on, but Hwang Myeongsu was no longer of this world.

‘I won’t let that happen this time.’

The bastard planned to finish Hwang Myeongsu off before his awakening.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m here to pay the hospital bills for patient Kang Imja.”

Hwang Myeongsu’s mother was Kang Imja.

“Ah, understood. Just a moment, please.”

I paid all the hospital bills with mercy and then went up to the patient’s room.

***

“Mr. Kang, you must remember. This is our secret.”

“Of course. Dr. Park. Do you think I do these things every day?”

The president and the appraiser were having a discreet conversation in the office.

“We need to thoroughly monitor the lower-level employees too.”

“Ha, understood!”

Mr. Kang, tapping his cigarette, glared at Dr. Park.

Dr. Park slightly recoiled, twitching his eyelids at the sight.

“I didn’t think you’d get the artifact from that asshole. Are you sure about this one?”

“Yes, it is, and it’s in excellent condition. It’s hard to tell that it’s thousands of years old.”

“It must have been well cared for.”

“With this condition, if we put it up for auction, we could get 1 billion. The split would be 8:2.”

“What do you take me for? If I get 10 billion, I’ll give you 2 billion, so don’t worry. And you mentioned that the Chinese were after this?”

“Perhaps, considering the bullshit about 100 million from the Chinese, they may have been preparing in advance. They’re probably stretching their arms and sharpening their knives by now.”

“Ha, but that guy is suspicious.”

“What do you mean?”

Exhaling cigarette smoke, Mr. Kang loosely swirled his ashtray to extinguish his cigarette.

“He’s too confident. Even if he’s an idiot, he’s still someone with a sense. Why would he bring an artifact so defenselessly?”

“Hmm… maybe because the artifact was registered with the management department, he believed it couldn’t be stolen?”

“No, that’s not it… it wasn’t that simple of a feeling. So, at first, I thought, even if it was fake, he brought it.”

At the mention of it being fake, Dr. Park frowned and suddenly brandished the necklace.

“Ha! If it’s a fake, I’ll give you my entire fortune! I’ve already appraised it twice, and I’ve studied dozens of works by Ellaris! Do you think I can’t recognize a masterpiece like that?”

“Heh, you have to listen to people to the end. Why are you so explosive? That’s what I said initially, right?”

At Mr. Kang’s words, Dr. Park realized he had gotten excited for a moment and sheepishly lowered the necklace.

“Ahem, sorry.”

“It’s okay. Thanks to you, I made a fortune. Park, let me tell you. I have a feeling that the other relics he has are genuine.”

Dr. Park chuckled slightly at the sudden remark.

“Even more so than Ellaris?”

“Yes. I just have a good intuition about it.”

Mr. Kang said, tapping his head with his index finger.

“Do you know why I didn’t snatch those relics under the pretext of contract termination? I had a strong feeling that the artifacts he hid were ‘real’.”

Dr. Park, noticing the madness in Mr. Kang’s eyes, trembled slightly.

‘The more I look at him, the more dangerous he seems to be.’

He might be just a small-time thug, but he has connections with Congressman Chae and is a peculiar man that he still hasn’t discarded and continues to use.

There are several trucks’ worth of people who have left under Congressman Chae’s command.

Yet, this man has managed to survive all this time. Moreover, if Congressman Chae sent his personal appraiser to him, it might mean he got some kind of weakness from Congressman Chae.

These were the reasons why I couldn’t deal with him comfortably.

‘This is the last time I’m going to do business with this man.’

It was about secretly dividing the profits from Ellaris’ necklace under Congressman Chae’s nose.

If it wasn’t for the money, I wouldn’t be doing business with this man.

“Will you appraise the next artifact too?”

“…Are you sure?”

“I think so.”

Dr. Park hesitated. Whether to participate only until this incident or to withdraw. Or maybe to stop here altogether.

“That might not be possible. Congressman Chae-”

“Hey.”

Bam!

Mr. Kang slammed his fist on the table and glared at him with fiery eyes.

“Without you, how am I supposed to work on that artifact?”

“Th-there’s no guarantee that will be okay or not, right?”

“I’ll be the judge of that. And do you think you have a choice? Gonna tell Congressman Chae about this?”

“Huh! If I tell him, do you think you’ll be safe?”

“Ha, hahaha, hahaha!”

Mr. Kang suddenly laughed like a madman.

Then, he abruptly flipped the desk.

“What are you…! Ugh!”

Ignoring the necklace scattered on the floor, he grabbed Dr. Park by the collar.

“Are you trying to threaten me?”

“Do you have any idea… how much is that necklace worth?”

“If it’s going to be ruined like this, throw it away. As I said, the next one is real.”

At that moment, Dr. Park was certain.

Mr. Kang was truly insane.

Even the thuggish appearances seen from the outside were all just acts compared to his true nature now.

“Do you think I’ll just let it go? I could kill you and send Congressman Chae along too.”

“A-Are you really insane?”

“Yeah, so decide. Whether to join me in this or not. Speak.”

“…I will. But please, when this is over, stop calling me.”

Only then did Mr. Kang release his collar and smile gently.

“Of course. Let’s bid each other goodbye after this is over.”

* * *

Lying with her eyes closed, Myeongsu’s mother, Kang Imja.

Hwang Myeongsu held her hand and closed his eyes.

“Oh, my. My son has been through a lot. Here.”

“Have some of this. Eat and gather strength!”

The other ladies in the same hospital room offered food to Hwang Myeongsu with pitying glances.

“Thank you.”

“What are we going to do about this… If we can’t pay the hospital bills, they won’t let us off easily!”

“We’ll help a little-”

Then, the door of the hospital room opened with a creak.

A man with a loose floral-patterned shirt and a crooked haircut entered, fiddling around and then noticing Hwang Myeongsu, approached him.

“Oh, Myeongsu. Do you have time to sit around here? You gotta make money, right?”

“Ah, I know. I just stopped by for a moment. I’m about to go to work again… Uh!”

As the man grabbed Hwang Myeongsu’s neck, the surrounding ladies screamed and intervened.

“Oh, let go of him and talk!”

“What are you doing to a child!”

“Hey! Let go of this! These ladies! You’re going to pay for this!”

The man with the crooked haircut pushed away the woman who grabbed his arm nervously and shouted.

“Oh my! He’s gonna die…”

“K-Kek! M-Mom…”

With a pale face, he fell to the ground, coughing incessantly.

“Oh my…”

“What should we do?”

“It’s noisy!! Just call the nurse. I’ll show them what happens to this guy and his mom.”

The crooked-haired man, annoyed by the worried looks of the ladies, grabbed him by the hair and slapped him across the cheek.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

“Hey, hey, hey.”

“Yes…”

“Do you think we’re fools? Act appropriately. Why should we suffer when you’re the one borrowing money? Huh?”

“Please… I’ll pay you back, so don’t make a scene here. Okay?”

“That’s none of my concern.”

As Hwang Myeongsu looked at his mother with relief, knowing she wasn’t awake.

“Tell me when you’ll pay back my 4 million won.”

“…Can’t you give me a little discount? I’ve almost repaid the principal, and the interest has already exceeded the principal by far-.”

“This jerk, why am I being blamed for the inflated interest because you didn’t pay back? Huh?”

As the crooked-haired man spoke, about to raise his hand again, the door opened with a creak.

“….”

“Who are you?”

To understand the situation, I kept my mouth shut for a few seconds before approaching the two men.

“Hy-…hyung…!”

“What are you?”

“Haah…”

With a deep sigh, I stepped in front of the big man.

“Are you here to pay back the money?”

“I don’t have money to give to you guys.”

“Ha! Just a worthless punk.”

As the crooked-haired man grabbed my collar to lift me, I instead got his wrist twisted and threw him to the ground.

“Aaargh!”

With a thud, the bulky man, now silenced, lay on the ground, his face turning pale.

“I don’t know where you came from, but you must be crazy to mess with me.”

The crooked-haired man flexed his muscles proudly, showing off his muscular physique.

With confident steps, completely disregarding the idea of his own defeat.

As he took a few steps forward, his poised fist shot forward.

In an instant, several jabs and hooks missed, leaving the crooked-haired man stunned.

“Is it over?”

And still with a stern face, I approached and swiftly slapped him across the cheek.

Smack!!

Still dazed, the crooked-haired man turned to look at me with confusion, barely understanding the situation.

Smack!!

And he turned his head again.

Smack!!

With the third slap, the man fell to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth, looking up at me with a shocked expression.

“I’ve seen too many monsters to be beaten by thugs like you.”

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – ChiSync]