By Zephyria Title: [Anonymous] Boom in 10 minutes
Hong Ye-seong being Hong Ye-seong
So the auction stopped midway
In the meantime, 240 broke Cluck’s shoulder
240 is tied to Jung-bin
The cousin was hit with a paddle by a hornet and fainted
When he came to his senses, the hornet was holding a knife and checking the headcount, so he almost fainted again
Matthew Stir-fry handed out handmade chewy candies and told them to go home
So they went home
The end
Believe it or not
Comments (34)
―Is this the Artisan Exhibition or the Colosseum?
―Every single thing written is unbelievable
―If you’re going to lie, at least put some effort into itㅡㅡ
―There’s a subtle attention to detail….
―Why haven’t we been contacted if a shoulder was broken? It’s unsettling…
└Are you from the secretary team? Is 240 not at work yet? I have something to tell them
└Yesㅜㅜ Instructions come by email, but they don’t come to work.
I read the post carefully, but instead of reassurance, my suspicion only grew. If they’re not coming to work and only sending emails, there’s a good chance that Bae Won-woo is performing proxy duties under Lee Sa-young’s name.
It was the moment Eui-jae bit his lip and started searching for other posts. Choi Goyo, who was whistling and drawing on his tablet, suddenly raised his head. His gaze was directed somewhere in the air. Eui-jae also subtly raised his head.
+82 [CH.1] 《Megaphone has been used.》
+82 [CH.1] 《Writing megaphone content…》
A red megaphone shape appeared on the right side of my vision. But Eui-jae consciously lowered his head and fixed his gaze on his phone. That’s because the chat window where the megaphone appeared was the Ranker Channel location that had been sealed again after the Artisan Exhibition. Eui-jae glanced sideways at Choi Goyo, who was probably looking at the same thing with his mouth open.
‘The moment I look or act like I know… I’m screwed.’
A moment later, large letters with a neat white border around bright red letters suddenly appeared in my vision.
+82 [CH.1] 《Jung-bin has used the megaphone.》
[4] Jung-bin: Please maintain channel security. Hong Ye-seong, I won’t hold you responsible for anything, so please just confirm your survival. If you’re alive, just put a dot^^
Using a precious megaphone just to confirm Hong Ye-seong’s life or death. Eui-jae, who was blankly staring at the letters, quickly racked his brain.
Surely that guy was rolled up like kimbap and dragged away by the Awakened Management Bureau agents. I think he said he was going back into the mountains. I was distracted by Lee Sa-young, but Hong Ye-seong’s wailing was so desperate that it remained vividly in my memory. Choi Goyo muttered.
“Crazy… Was he kidnapped? Wow…. If it’s a real kidnapping, the country will be turned upside down. This is a big deal.”
Eui-jae was overwhelmed by the urge to shut Choi Goyo’s mouth. Because each of those remarks becomes an unavoidable flag. But Choi Goyo planted another flag without even giving me a chance to stop him.
“Or did he run away because he wanted to eat meat? Did you look for him at the chicken restaurant?”
At that moment, three messages arrived in a row on Choi Goyo’s phone, which he was holding. Eui-jae subtly checked the contents that appeared in the notification window. The content was visible right away because he was using the phone.
Min-gi Seo: Hong Ye-seong escaped during transfer to Bukhan Mountain, whereabouts unknown.
Min-gi Seo: Most of the Bureau of Rift Management personnel are expected to be deployed to search for and protect Hong Ye-seong.
Min-gi Seo: Romantic Opener, please contact us.
‘Ah, come on.’
[Trait Poker Face (B) is activated.]
Thanks to the Poker Face trait, which works hard today as well, Eui-jae maintained a calm face and a composed voice, and handed over the phone as if he hadn’t seen anything.
“Thank you for showing me. But what’s with the messages?”
“Messages? What is it?”
Choi Goyo’s face changed from moment to moment as he checked Min-gi Seo’s messages. It turned pale white, then red, then blue again. He jumped up from his seat and busily packed his things.
“I’m sorry! I think I have to go right away.”
“Already? Have a bowl of Hangover Soup before you go.”
“Yes, yes. Something urgent came up.”
“What is it?”
“Well, uh, I can’t tell you because it’s confidential.”
“You can’t?”
“…Really can’t! I’ll come with the Deputy Guild Master next time!”
Choi Goyo, who closed his eyes tightly, left the Hanover Soup Restaurant like a bullet. Only then did the Hanover Soup Restaurant regain its tranquility. Jung-bin’s megaphone chat was still showing off its presence in front of my eyes.
‘Could it be….’
When I thought about the reason why Hong Ye-seong suddenly escaped, there were too many things that came to mind. But Eui-jae…
‘…Let’s just do business for now.’
I decided to ignore it for now.
Fortunately, the security of Channel 1 was well maintained, and most of the regular Hunters seemed to know nothing about Hong Ye-seong’s escape. They were just curious about who had won the auction for the weapon that appeared at the Artisan Exhibition. And the Hunters in Channel 1, Bae Won-woo and Honeybee, etc., did not show up until the store closed.
After finishing all the business and closing the store, it was already dawn after preparing the necessary ingredients for tomorrow. Eui-jae let out a short sigh, finished washing the dishes, and took off his rubber gloves.
But then,
“Cluck.”
I heard a chicken cry that felt familiar. It was too clear to pass it off as a hallucination. It was a sound coming from outside.
Eui-jae opened the door, looked around, and then slyly looked down. Inside a blue BaccaX box placed next to the door of the Hanover Soup Restaurant, something white and smooth was huddled up. As if it sensed my gaze, it raised its head and looked up at Eui-jae.
Round but soulless black bean-like eyes. A smooth, white porcelain-like body. A somewhat foolish-looking porcelain chicken overall.
It was Cluck.
“Cluck?”
Eui-jae quietly took a step back and closed the door.
Click, thud.
Cluck’s cry, which seemed to be wondering, was heard intermittently from beyond the door, but Eui-jae didn’t care and took out a ladle from the kitchen. Holding the ladle that fit comfortably in his hand, he glared at the air.
‘Let’s sort out my thoughts.’
First, Hong Ye-seong, who was being transferred to Bukhan Mountain, disappeared. Bukhan Mountain is a mountain in Seoul, so it is physically close to the Hanover Soup Restaurant. So he could have been found near here. Second, Hong Ye-seong is crazy about Mana Stones. And that Mana Stone is…. Eui-jae glanced at his Inventory.
‘It’s still in my Inventory….’
I should have just given it to him then! Eui-jae gritted his teeth in regret. Hong Ye-seong definitely saw Secretary Kim right before he was dragged away. He even tried to call Secretary Kim. The memory from that time is somewhat hazy, but it was certain that our eyes met.
The porcelain chicken, Cluck, that Hong Ye-seong made and listens to Hong Ye-seong’s commands. Why is that Cluck in a BaccaX box in front of the Hanover Soup Restaurant instead of next to his Master?
“Cluck, cluck, cluck….”
The faint cry was ominous. It wasn’t a greeting, it wasn’t a call to Eui-jae, and it wasn’t a sound of wonder either. It was as if he was clearing his throat before shouting….
‘Agh!’
Eui-jae quickly opened the door, picked up Cluck in the box, and brought it inside. For a moment, it seemed like Cluck’s face showed a hint of regret. Eui-jae, who sighed, tapped the blunt beak with his finger.
“Hey, where did your Master go and why are you here alone?”
“Cluck.”
“…No, don’t answer. I think it’ll be a headache if I know.”
“Cluck?”
Cluck tilted its head and stretched its neck out to look beyond the door. Eui-jae also turned his head.
Dawn, when darkness had fallen and only the faint streetlights could be found. In the middle of the street, which was hazy with fog due to the rain forecast….
A person wearing bright blue hiking clothes, sunglasses, a hat, a black mask that clung to his face, and a fancy handkerchief around his neck, looking like an excellent member of a hiking club, was standing in front of the door.
‘Suspicious.’
It’s 2:30 AM now. It was too late to dismiss that person as just a passing hiker. Usually, everyone comes down the mountain before the sun sets. And it was a face I’d never seen before, so it couldn’t be a latecomer.
Eui-jae looked at Cluck, who was quietly huddled in the box. Cluck suddenly appeared in front of the door. A hiker appeared like a ghost when Cluck was brought inside. Then maybe, this hiker is….
“Cluck.”
Cluck stretched its neck out a little more as if it were stretching. The sharp intuition that had saved Cha Eui-jae’s life several times crawled up his neck. Eui-jae nimbly put Cluck down on the table and locked the door.
Click. A strange standoff occurred with one door in between. The hiker used the hand holding the hiking stick to push up his sunglasses.
“Excuse me.”
“…….”
“Can I ask you something?”
Eui-jae, who was holding the ladle tightly, answered quickly.
“I don’t believe in anything.”
“I’m not a cult. I don’t proselytize. I’m not religious.”
“I don’t buy water purifiers, newspapers, or hexagonal water.”
“I’m not a salesperson. I’m not a multi-level marketer. I just want to ask you something.”
“I’m sorry, but business hours are over.”
“Please just listen. There’s something I urgently need to find right now. I’ll die if I can’t find it.”
“…….”
Flash, lightning struck. It was as if to add persuasiveness to the word ‘die’. The hiker’s sunglasses shone brightly. A moment later, a low rumble of thunder sounded. One drop, two drops, raindrops began to fall.
And Eui-jae saw it.
‘Ah, shiX.’
“Have you seen it by any chance….”
The hiker, who drew out the end of his words, took out an egg from his pocket, peeled it, and then pulled down the mask he was wearing. The exposed lower half of his face was disturbingly familiar. He took a bite of the boiled egg. Thanks to him only eating the egg white, the round, well-cooked yolk was revealed.
Lightning struck again. Beyond the sunglasses, the Emotional Eye with golden patterns rotating flashed.
“A Mana Stone as round and pretty as a yolk.”