ocean-life Chapter 27: Ground Zero (2)
Chapter 27: Ground Zero (2)
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 27: Ground Zero (2)
The pub was a complete mess.
The Madam cleared the debris scattered on the counter and sat down calmly.
“What can I get you?”
“Milk.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don't want to get drunk. I have some business to take care of.”
“This is the first time I've met someone who cares about that in Ground Zero.”
The old man poured milk into a glass.
Ah.
So he was a bodyguard as well as a bartender.
A Hunter estimated to be at the peak of 6 Stars.
He was too high-spec for a pub bartender.
'I didn't see him in my past life.'
Yoojin was a well-known regular at the Milky Way Pub.
The fact that he didn't remember the old bartender meant...
'He died before then.'
Considering the Red Spider's attack and everything else, it was easy to guess that he had been caught up in some incident related to the Madam's safety.
Yoojin reached for the milk on the lounge table.
“It's delicious.”
“We also have cocktails like Kahlua that use milk. We always use fresh milk.”
“I'd like to try one when the atmosphere isn't so chaotic like now.”
The bartender smiled warmly.
The Madam, holding a cup of coffee, approached Yoojin with a bright smile.
To maintain her composure in this chaotic situation... As expected of the future Moon Shadow.
Yoojin admired her boldness.
“Then shall we hear the real reason you came to find me?”
“I want to get a ticket to the underground auction.”
“I believe you know that it's not easy to obtain.”
Sip—
The Madam took a sip of her coffee.
“...That's what I would normally say, but it's nothing compared to the price of my life.”
She presented the Milky Way Pub Madam's business card.
The name was engraved in gold leaf on black paper, giving it a luxurious feel.
“A business card?”
“Consider it my guarantee.”
“Isn't that more valuable than an underground auction ticket?”
“Oh ho. You won't be touched anywhere except within the Red Spider's territory.”
The guarantee of the Milky Way Pub Madam.
Within Ground Zero, there would be no better way to guarantee one's safety.
“Even considering the price of your life, this is too much.”
“It's only valid once, so use my name where you need it.”
Yoojin put the business card in his pocket.
"But what are you looking for at the auction?"
"A magic engine."
"Any specific type?"
"No. As long as the output is over 3 Stars, it doesn't matter if it's a golem core or a living armor core."
The Madam slowly scanned her tablet.
"Even if you go to the underground auction, you won't have much luck."
"So you can check the items there as well?"
"It's a service. Normally, I can't disclose the item list to outsiders."
'I heard the Black Market manages the underground auction, but she somehow secured the list.'
Hmm.
Should he be thankful that he didn't have to waste the ticket?
"Can you let me know if a magic engine comes up?"
"As I mentioned earlier, informing you about the items was a service."
Meaning she wouldn't do it twice.
Even though all sorts of items with unclear origins from all over the country gathered in Ground Zero, he couldn't find a magic engine.
Hmm...
'Should I get it myself?'
Even if he pressed Shin Joonseok, it wouldn't be easy to create a magic engine with the desired output.
Capital and time.
Even if he could somehow solve the financial problem, it would take a tremendous amount of time to make one magic engine.
'I'll have to look for a Gate where I can loot a magic engine.'
He should be satisfied with making a strong first impression on the Madam of the Milky Way Pub.
As he came to this conclusion and was about to get up...
"Are you interested in taking on a request?"
The Madam spoke and gave a faint smile.
* * *
The Milky Way Pub.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary bar, but its actual business was a fixer office that mediated requests.
'It's different from a normal detective agency.'
They collected requests from all over the country, beyond Ground Zero.
And the fixers, chosen through the Madam's discerning eye, resolved those requests.
The prices were exorbitant.
Nevertheless, there was a reason why customers with deep pockets sought out the Milky Way Pub.
The reason it was recognized as one of the three major organizations in this lawless zone, along with the Black Market and the Red Spider.
'My initial plan was to get a ticket to the underground auction as a reward for the request...'
"Alright, I'll do it."
"Oh, judging from the power you showed earlier, you seem to be at the peak of 3 Stars. Have you perhaps broken through the wall?"
It was a Gate that only allowed entry up to 3 Stars.
If Yoojin's level was higher than that, he wouldn't be able to enter at all.
"I'm a 1 Star."
"Oh ho. We're now in a client-fixer relationship, so please stop joking."
"It's true."
The Madam blinked.
"Huh?????"
She was startled, with five question marks appearing above her head.
* * *
Twilight cast long shadows over the concrete graveyard.
The sun, which had illuminated every corner of the world, disappeared beyond the horizon.
On a hill not far from Ground Zero...
Yoojin and his party hid among the bushes, watching the faintly glowing Gate.
"That must be it."
A barbed wire fence surrounded the blue wormhole.
Men with spider tattoos on their shoulders, cheeks, or the backs of their hands stood guard.
"They're all Hunters. Though their skills are pathetic."
Yoojin stroked his chin.
It would be difficult to subdue dozens of people at once.
If even one of them were to escape and contact the Red Spider's main force in Ground Zero, the conquest would be for naught.
"Don't worry."
The Madam plunged a dagger into the ground.
Thrum—
With a brief tremor, a blue aura began to spread from the dagger.
[Moon's Curse]
[Butterfly Dream]
An ability different from magic or divine spells.
It was the power of a curse, classified as a special job class.
'This is why the Madam is called Moon Shadow.'
Moon's Curse.
As the name suggests, Madam Oh Hyunjeong's curse could only be activated at night.
In exchange for this condition, the power of the curse transcended her rank.
The blue aura quickly enveloped the entire area around the Gate.
[All communication and movement-related skills cannot be used.]
〔Interfering with the laws of nature with something that isn't even the power of a constellation...〕
Chronos showed interest.
"You can block magic-based skills, but not radio waves, can you?"
"Don't worry. Preparations are already complete."
The bartender neatly combed back his white hair.
While the Madam was activating her curse, he had set up a long pole.
"A radio wave jamming device."
"You have a keen eye, customer."
"Well, a little."
All means of communicating the Gate's attack to the outside world were blocked.
"The request is to conquer the Gate, so I'll open the way for you."
"No. It would be troublesome if even one of them escaped, so we'll join forces."
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
[Using Punishing Spike.]
He cast the divine spells he had prepared in advance on Fafnir.
【Leave it to me.】
Fafnir dashed to the right.
"Hmm. It wouldn't be very dignified for me to just stand here and watch."
The bartender now held twin swords of different lengths in his hands.
He was so fast that even Yoojin, who was standing next to him, didn't see him draw the swords.
The bartender moved to the opposite direction of where Fafnir had run and charged towards the Red Spider group.
"M-Monster!"
"The Milky Way's bartender has appeared on this side!"
The Red Spider members guarding the Gate were thrown into confusion.
All the personnel guarding the entrance were 1 Star.
Who would have thought that someone would dare to set foot in the territory of the Red Spider, one of the three major forces in Ground Zero?
【In your next life, don't get involved in evil deeds.】
BOOM!
A tremendous roar erupted, like a grenade exploding.
He had concentrated his power in an instant and struck the Red Spider Hunter's body.
A body made of flesh and blood couldn't withstand such immense force.
"It's not wise to take your eyes off this old man."
Slash!
The bartender cut down the Red Spider members without getting a single drop of blood on his clothes.
"Quickly, contact headquarters!"
"There's radio interference."
"The magic tools aren't working either!"
"What are we supposed to do..."
The Hunters, who had relied solely on the reputation of the Red Spider, were annihilated in an instant without putting up much resistance.
Not a single person guarding the Gate remained.
"It won't take long."
"Good luck."
Yoojin confidently stepped through the Gate.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]