59
It took a little less than half a day to travel from South Korea to Paris, France.
"Aaah~!!"
"Phew."
Baek Woo-jin and Lee Da-young stretched their arms almost simultaneously as they got off the plane.
No matter how comfortable the first-class seats were, sitting quietly in the same spot for half a day was quite an ordeal for Hunters whose activity levels were different from ordinary people.
"Do you know how to speak English?"
"Enough for simple things."
Naturally, the category of 'simple things' here meant only what one learned in school. Put simply, having a conversation was impossible.
"Famous... no. Someone at your level probably doesn't even need to bother."
Lee Da-young looked like she was about to say something, but then shook her head and led Baek Woo-jin inside for immigration.
"We're going through immigration quite normally."
"Don't get the wrong idea. We can go through immigration specially too, but because of you... no, actually, maybe that's right? Anyway. There's a reason we're doing it this way."
Though he didn't fully understand, Baek Woo-jin nodded and stood in line with Lee Da-young, going through immigration just like everyone else.
"Welcome."
"Ye-ah...."
At Baek Woo-jin's response, the immigration officer and Baek Woo-jin stared at each other and blinked almost simultaneously.
"Is it a translation device?"
"Yeah, well."
The two were clearly conversing in their respective native languages, but for some reason, they were experiencing the fascinating phenomenon of understanding each other's meaning.
"Haha, how fascinating. The reason Hunters visit around this time is related to the Golden Bank auction. Am I right?"
"That's correct."
"Aside from the auction, France has many things to enjoy. If you have the time, please take your time touring around."
"I will."
Immigration ended much more easily than expected.
"How was it? No big deal, right?"
At the question from Lee Da-young, who had come out first and was waiting, Baek Woo-jin nodded and asked her.
"They could potentially commit a crime, isn't it too easy to let them in?"
"It means the world wants us Hunters badly enough to shoulder that kind of risk."
"Hmm."
He understood what she was trying to say. However, it wasn't a reason he could sympathize with.
"Anyway, what are your impressions?"
Lee Da-young asked as soon as they stepped out of the airport.
"It's bustling."
"Right. It is bustling."
As if she had expected that vague answer, Lee Da-young chuckled and took out her smartphone to make a call somewhere.
"Yeah. I just arrived. Gate 2? Wait a sec."
Lee Da-young walked forward and waved her hand, while Baek Woo-jin quietly followed behind her. After walking for a while, a Western man standing in front of a row of cars waved at them.
"Long time no see."
"Haha! Has it been 3 years since we last saw each other?"
The two seemed to share a fairly deep friendship that went beyond merely knowing each other.
"Is this your new boyfriend?"
"Stop spouting nonsense. He just turned twenty."
"Oho~! He certainly doesn't look it!"
"Right? That's why I also tried to hook him for real at first."
For reference, the two were currently conversing in fluent French.
After their conversation continued for a little while.
"Ahem, nice to meet you. I am Fabien."
"I am Baek Woo-jin."
Fortunately, the other man was also fluent in Korean, and they exchanged brief greetings.
"Come on, let's get moving. I want to wash up and lie in bed quickly."
"What? We need to grab a beer at a pub!"
"Bullshit. Do you think I'd hang out with a booze-hound bastard twice?"
"Uwahahaha! I'll pay this time. I promise, I promise."
"Eat shit. Just shut up and drive."
"Ooh~ Got it."
When Lee Da-young put her hand on her waist, the man who introduced himself as Fabien slightly raised both hands to show his surrender and got into the driver's seat.
"Get in."
"Yes."
The two loaded their luggage into the car, and Fabien guided them to the hotel where the auction was being held.
**
"Damn! Why is there so much traffic at this hour?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa~ It's not my fault, right? It's mean to take it out on me."
As the hotel came into view in the distance, Lee Da-young briefly complained, and Fabien responded in a way that showed he was used to her behavior.
'It definitely did take a while.'
According to the navigation, the distance from the airport to the hotel was 20km.
Even if they hit every red light, it would take 50 minutes; rather, it was a time where it wouldn't be strange at all if they had already checked into the hotel.
However, it was only now, an hour after departing from the airport, that the group finally reached a point where they could see the hotel.
That meant the traffic jam was that severe.
As a result of unintentionally overhearing the conversation between the two during the ride.
It seemed that fans from all over the country, as well as various media outlets and freelance journalists, had flocked to see the famous Hunters from each nation participating in the auction taking place in two days, causing this phenomenon.
Going through immigration normally was probably for this reason as well.
"Security is strict."
The hotel entrance came into sight, and there, a group of armed personnel were on high alert, guarding the surroundings.
"It's natural if you think about the items that will be inside. So, during the auction period, entry itself is forbidden except for the personnel participating in the auction."
"I see."
Proving Lee Da-young's words true, the car the group was in briefly stopped in front of the checkpoint, but after lightly scanning the three people's faces, the barricade blocking the road immediately went up.
"We're here."
"Thanks."
"Then how about a drink at the pub?"
Lee Da-young promptly gave Fabien the middle finger and got out of the car, and Baek Woo-jin followed her out.
"I'm leaving first."
"Are you really going? Hey! Contact me later if you have time!!"
Fabien, with a cheerful personality that matched his tall and handsome appearance, waved both arms in farewell, but Lee Da-young only made an annoyed expression as she pulled her carrier and headed toward the hotel.
"You have a good friend."
"Goo-, haa. Never mind. What would our little boy know."
She made an expression that showed she had quite a lot she wanted to say, but Lee Da-young soon swept her bangs back, and placing that same hand on Baek Woo-jin's head, lightly ruffled his hair.
"You shouldn't judge people just by their outward appearance."
"I know."
The guy who made him regress was exactly that kind of guy, so how could he not know?
"What do you mean you know, you've only lived for twenty years, what could you possibly know."
Since he couldn't exactly reveal that he had regressed, Baek Woo-jin simply shrugged his shoulders.
"If you're really curious, want to have a drink in noona's room?"
At her question, Baek Woo-jin pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Sure."
"You brat. Playing really hard to... huh?"
Lee Da-young, who had reacted opposite to his answer as if she naturally thought he would refuse, belatedly realized the fact and showed a flustered expression instead.
"R-really?"
"Yes."
The reason he accepted her offer was simple.
From the conversation between her and Fabien at the airport, he knew that Lee Da-young wasn't genuinely trying to make a move on him but was just teasing.
And her current flustered expression was clear proof that it was true.
"If you tell me your room number, I'll just change my clothes and head over."
"Uh, no. That, um...."
When Baek Woo-jin actually took a step closer first, Lee Da-young smiled awkwardly and slightly averted her gaze.
"It was a joke."
"I see."
"Sorry."
"It's fine."
"......."
With that conversation ending, they stepped into the hotel lobby in an awkward atmosphere.
"Wait a second."
Lee Da-young headed to the desk for check-in, and Baek Woo-jin, left alone, pretended to look around while carefully observing the gazes directed at him.
'I thought there'd be at least one familiar face.'
Given the immense scale of the hotel, the lobby was also very spacious and extremely well-decorated.
Perhaps because of that, there were quite a few groups seated in the cafe in the lobby chatting away, and the number of people moving to use the elevators or other facilities was roughly estimated to be in the dozens.
Having heard that it was a gathering where almost all the famous celebrities one could think of would gather, he looked around thinking there might be at least one person whose face he knew, but surprisingly, there was no one familiar.
"Woo-jin."
Having finished checking in, Lee Da-young waved him over as she headed to the elevator, and he shook off his thoughts and walked toward her.
"Don't mind it."
The subject was omitted, but since he knew what she was talking about, he nodded once.
"The people who come here, whether on good terms or bad, are mostly acquainted with each other. So it's inevitable that their eyes would fall on a new rookie."
"As long as I'm only quiet in Korea, it doesn't matter."
"You don't need to worry about that. There's a rule that anything seen, heard, or that happens during the auction period must never be leaked outside. If you break the rule, not only will your auction qualifications be permanently revoked, but you'll also be expelled from the Golden Bank."
"That's a relief."
"Right?"
Lee Da-young chuckled and handed over the room card.
"When you go into your room, unpack, and once you're all settled, give the lady a call."
"It seems she's here."
"Of course. She said she'd personally pick your weapon, so it would be stranger if she didn't attend."
Fortunately, the awkward atmosphere quickly disappeared, and while they were chatting as usual, the elevator arrived and its doors opened.
"Are you really not coming?"
"How many times do I have to say I'm not going?"
And beyond the open doors, Hong Yeon-ha and a certain blond young man came into view.
"Yeon-ha. Don't be like that and come back──"
The blond young man, who had been standing excessively close, tried to speak to her again, but Hong Yeon-ha spotted Baek Woo-jin, who was standing beyond the open doors with Lee Da-young, staring at them with a sullen expression, and immediately went to his side and grabbed his hand.
Then, gently pressing her shoulder against his, she looked at the blond young man staring in their direction and spoke.
"I have a prior engagement, so could you stop being annoying and get lost?"
"......."
The corner of the blond young man's eye twitched slightly, and his blue eyes directed toward Baek Woo-jin, who was standing pressed closely beside Hong Yeon-ha.
It was a gaze filled with hostility that anyone could see.