Chapter 68
The merchant looked at Jeon intently.
Jeon had fire in his eyes as he searched for items worth three thousand sol. He didn't even glance at worthless goods, only examining items with value through an uncanny eye.
Jeon picked up a box.
"What is this?"
"That? It's a type of alarm device. If someone intrudes into a shelter or house without permission, it alerts you."
Seizing the moment, the merchant opened the box and showed the contents inside.
A pair of items lay within—something like a sensor and a necklace.
"It's quite a common item inside Neo Seoul."
"Is that so?"
"Something like this should fetch five thousand sol, but I'll let it go for three thousand as a special favor. How about it?"
"Well, it seems like I'm taking a loss, but I'll accept."
"Hehe! Good choice. Then, will you take the items with you directly? Or shall we deliver them?"
"How much is the delivery fee?"
"Two thousand sol!"
At the absurd delivery fee, Jeon slightly furrowed his brow.
If he stored them directly in his subspace, he could transport them without paying a delivery fee. However, doing so would reveal that Jeon possessed a subspace.
Subspace was an extremely rare item.
Even within Neo Seoul, it was something only a handful of people possessed, and everyone coveted it.
If people learned that Jeon had a subspace, it would clearly become troublesome.
"Tch! Do you promise safe delivery?"
"Of course!"
"Very well."
Jeon pulled out another small mana stone from his bosom and tossed it to the merchant.
The merchant examined the mana stone and exclaimed in admiration.
"Hah! This too was obtained from a magic beast. Do you have some kind of hunting team? Rather than this, why don't you strike a regular supply contract with us?"
"That's all the mana stones I have."
"Don't be like that and think it over again. There's no place in the Dokkaebi Market that pays as well for mana stones as we do."
The merchant firmly believed that Jeon had a hunting team. It made no sense for him to produce such high-quality mana stones one after another otherwise.
Everyone knew that mana stones obtained from magic beasts were far more efficient than those extracted from mines.
If he could regularly receive such high-quality mana stones, his influence in the Dokkaebi Market would inevitably grow.
Jeon cut him off cleanly.
"I have no more mana stones. Don't entertain pointless delusions, and send the items to this address."
"Tch! If you change your mind, speak anytime. My shop's doors are always wide open."
"That won't happen."
"I'll send the goods today."
"I trust you aren't joking."
"For a merchant of the Dokkaebi Market, credit is life. I'll transport them personally, so don't worry."
"Then until next time."
Jeon gave a slight nod and went outside.
After that, Jeon wandered around the Dokkaebi Market for quite a while.
The Dokkaebi Market was far larger than it appeared from the outside. Thanks to that, it was quite enjoyable to look around.
It was while Jeon was looking around the Dokkaebi Market.
Boom!
Suddenly, an explosive roar burst from deep inside.
Following that, people's voices were heard.
"It's a fight."
"Those crazy bastards! Fighting in the Dokkaebi Market?"
No disputes or fights of any kind were tolerated in the Dokkaebi Market.
That was the rule of the Dokkaebi Market.
Those who violated the rules had no place to stand in the slums. Yet the fact that they had started a fight meant they were either beings with enough power to not fear the Dokkaebi Market, or people entirely ignorant of such knowledge.
Jeon walked toward where the commotion had occurred.
Two people were confronting each other in a spot surrounded by numerous people.
One was a man of average build with an impression as cold as ice, and the other was a man of gigantic build wearing heavy armor that took one's breath away just looking at it.
The atmosphere of the entire area had grown heavy due to their confrontation.
The man with the icy impression opened his mouth.
"You seem to have lost your fear, Brixton!"
"Quite the sharp tongue, Taeo! If you're scared, just bite your tongue and kill yourself."
The giant called Brixton pulled out the massive hammer he had been carrying on his back.
A murderous madness emanated from his entire body.
In that instant, the eyes of the man called Taeo grew even sharper.
"Impudent!"
What he pulled out was a small dagger with a triangular blade engraved with a lotus pattern.
It was a weapon called a Vajra, primarily used as a cultivation tool in ancient religions.
An eerie aura emanated from the Vajra that Taeo held.
The two glared at each other with murderous eyes as if they were mortal enemies.
Taeo raised the Vajra to his chest and spoke.
"From now on, whatever happens is Dongdaemun's responsibility. You crazy Berserker bastard!"
"Under Goran, only your tongue has grown longer. Someday, I'll smash Goran's head with this hammer."
"Impudent……"
Red energy burst explosively from the Vajra of the enraged Taeo.
He had released what was known as Aura, usable only by high-rank Awakened.
Pure white light also flowed from the hammer Brixton held.
It was an energy different from ordinary Aura.
It was divine power, said to be usable by only an extremely small number of Awakened.
The ruler of Dongdaemun, to which Brixton belonged, was a person named Yohan.
He had unusually awakened divine power, and with his ability, he made his close subordinates awaken similar abilities as well.
One of them was the Berserker, Brixton.
Brixton was the first weapon that crushed Yohan's enemies.
Taeo, who was confronting him, was a close subordinate of Goran, the ruler of Sinchon.
Goran also had four Awakened under his command, and Taeo was one of them, a possessor of reason as cold as ice.
Brixton and Taeo were notorious sworn enemies, and had already fought several times.
They had been unable to determine a victor because their skills were evenly matched.
Such people had to run into each other in the Dokkaebi Market.
The two forgot the ironclad rule of the Dokkaebi Market and burned with hostility toward each other.
"I'll crush your head without leaving a trace."
"I'll cut out your heart with this Vajra."
The two rushed at each other.
Kwaaang!
A bolt of lightning fell between them just before the Vajra and hammer clashed.
"Keuk!"
"Damn it!"
The two bounced backward with flustered expressions.
"Please stop, both of you. If you cause any more commotion, I will formally protest to Lord Goran and Lord Yohan. Then this matter won't end with just the two of you being reprimanded."
Along with a low voice, a woman in a figure-hugging leather outfit walked out.
She was a beautiful woman with striking red hair like flames, contrasting with her white leather clothes.
Behind her followed a man radiating an intense momentum like a lion. The man covered his nose and mouth with black cloth. But even with just the two eyes revealed beneath his disheveled hair, he overwhelmed everyone present.
The moment the two appeared, the street fell silent in an instant.
Even Taeo and Brixton could no longer cause a commotion and remained silent.
That was how special the status and presence of the two who had just appeared were.
The woman with the striking flame-like red hair was none other than the owner of the Dokkaebi Market.
Cases where she showed herself directly at the market were extremely rare.
That was because the clash between Taeo and Brixton had a great impact on the Dokkaebi Market.
Although located on Yeonnam-ro near Sinchon, the Dokkaebi Market was fundamentally neutral territory.
No clashes between any forces were tolerated here.
Nor did it take any side.
If it weren't so, the Dokkaebi Market would not have been able to maintain itself until now.
Sinchon and Dongdaemun, to which Taeo and Brixton belonged, were forces that counted among the greatest even in the slums.
The two were figures at the center of such giant forces.
It didn't matter if they fought outside, but if they fought in the Dokkaebi Market and casualties occurred, Yusehui would be the only one with a headache.
That was why she had no choice but to reveal herself.
The man behind Yusehui was her guard and the strongest person in the Dokkaebi Market, Heuksaja.
Only Yusehui knew Heuksaja's real name.
One thing was certain: Heuksaja's martial power was in no way inferior to the rulers of Dongdaemun and Sinchon.
At their appearance, even Taeo and Brixton dared not act rashly.
Yusehui, who had cast the lightning magic, was also intimidating, but more than anything, Heuksaja's intense presence weighed down on them.
Yusehui stood between the two, her red hair fluttering.
"If you compensate for the items broken here, I won't make an issue of it. So let's end this here."
A bright smile rose to her face.
The smile paired with her red hair was beautiful enough to entrance every man present. But Taeo and Brixton were not fooled by her outward appearance.
If Yusehui were merely a woman with beautiful looks, she could not have led the Dokkaebi Market until now.
The Dokkaebi Market had gained its current influence solely thanks to Yusehui.
Therefore, even Yohan and Goran could not look down on her.
The first to back down was Taeo.
"My apologies. I will compensate for the broken items separately."
"Thank you. As expected of Lord Taeo."
Taeo slightly bowed his head to Yusehui and left without any lingering attachment.
Brixton, who had watched that sight for a moment, spoke to Yusehui.
"I would like to meet you outside sometime, Lady Yusehui."
"Oh my? Are you asking me out on a date? But what should I do? I like the Dokkaebi Market. If it's a date inside here, I might consider it."
"Lord Yohan wishes to see you."
"Then we must date even more inside here. I'm afraid of Lord Yohan too."
She said such words, but her expression didn't show a hint of fear.
Rather, it contained a mocking tone.
Brixton knew this as well. But he neither got angry nor acted rashly.
If he offended Yusehui any further, the people of Dongdaemun would never be able to use the Dokkaebi Market again.
That was a situation that even Yohan, the ruler of Dongdaemun, did not want.
Brixton bowed his head to Yusehui and retreated.
"If you send me the compensation list, I'll pay everything tomorrow. Then, until next time."
"Hoho! Take care."
Yusehui waved her hand.
The moment Brixton completely disappeared from sight, the smile on Yusehui's face vanished completely.
"You fucking bastards! Why come to someone else's place of business and raise hell? Carefully organize the lists of broken items and report up."
"Yes!"
One of the merchants answered cautiously.
In that instant, Yusehui's eyes blazed with anger and she shouted.
"What are you doing? Aren't you going to do business today? Is business over?"
"Yes!"
"We're doing it. We will."
"Hurry up and clean up."
Startled merchants scattered like cockroaches and began organizing their goods.
The chaotic market regained its original appearance in an instant, and resumed business as if nothing had happened.
Yusehui yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Anyway, everyone is only focused on watching the fight. You have to sell one more thing to make money, you stupid bastards!"
"They should have understood by now."
Unable to watch any longer, Heuksaja stepped forward to calm her down.
"Alright. I've calmed down now."
"Please restrain your temper outside. There are many eyes watching."
"Forget it. Since when did I live caring about others' gazes? If I get some mysterious image slapped on me for no reason, it only narrows my room to maneuver."
Yusehui grumbled.
Because her appearance was so unexpected, Jeon unintentionally burst out laughing.
"Pfft!"
"Who is it? Is there still someone watching instead of working?"
Coincidentally, Yusehui heard Jeon's laughter and her eyes blazed with anger.
Yusehui looked around and soon found Jeon standing there blankly.
She strode up to Jeon.
"Was it you? Did you laugh?"
"I apologize."
Only then did Jeon realize his mistake and apologize.
Yusehui examined Jeon's entire body carefully.
"You're not a merchant here. A customer?"
"Yes!"
"I haven't seen your face before; who introduced you?"
"I came here at Old Man Clexi's introduction."
In that instant, Yusehui shoved her face close to Jeon's.
"Clexi? So you were the one that damned old geezer gave the card to?"
At her unexpected reaction, Jeon's eyes blinked.