Chapter 82 - Auction (3)

“Seo Ji-han. Wait a moment.”

Lee Chi-hoon called out to Seo Ji-han again.

“Why, is there something more you have to say?”

“It’s nothing much, I just hope the awkward relationship between the Taeseong Sword Family and the Haewon Sword Family improves a bit.”

“So?”

“Since we've spoken, it feels like fate. Let's keep in touch occasionally.”

With that, Lee Chi-hoon took a business card out of his wallet.

A small rectangle made of paper.

Anyone could see it was not a weapon for threats.

However, if one were to infuse this fibrous material with mana and shoot it with instantaneous force, the story would be a little different.

Even if a threatening situation arose, he could just say it was a mistake.

Moreover, if he had announced his intention to throw it beforehand, failing to catch a mere scrap of paper would be rather embarrassing.

It would mean his abilities were lacking.

“A business card?”

“Yes. If you ever need the power of the Taeseong Sword Family, give me a call. It's good to help each other out, isn't it?”

“Help….”

Seeing Seo Ji-han's smirk, Lee Chi-hoon felt a little offended.

‘Just because he's a direct descendant of one of the 10 great sword families.’

But it did not matter.

In a moment, instead of this cynicism, only a pathetic sight would remain.

“You'll take it, right?”

“I can't just coldly refuse what you're offering.”

“Then catch it there. Since it would be a hassle to move.”

Lee Chi-hoon grinned.

Then, he discharged mana, spreading it evenly over the surface of the business card.

The mana would start to disperse quickly the moment it left his hand, but it would maintain a satisfactory speed at least until it grazed Seo Ji-han's face.

Fwoosh!

Lee Chi-hoon flicked the business card without delay.

From aiming to firing, everything was perfect.

The reason he was favored by Heo Jeong-ah was precisely because of this sophisticated mana manipulation.

Soon, the business card would narrowly graze past Seo Ji-han's neck.

‘I wonder how he'll react.’

He could scream, that would be fine.

He could be startled and fall down, that would be fine too.

He could just stand there dumbfounded, unable to react at all, that would be fine too.

Whatever the reaction, it would be a utter humiliation in front of his own confidant.

But the moment he thought that.

Thud.

The thrown business card fell powerlessly in front of Seo Ji-han.

‘…What, why?’

It was incomprehensible.

Every part of the process had been perfect, yet how could this be the result.

He could not even guess where he had made a mistake.

“A bit lacking in power.”

“What?”

Seo Ji-han picked up the fallen mana-infused card and continued speaking.

“Your control seems a bit lacking too.”

Then, he gave a disturbingly sly smile.

“You fail. I'll return the business card.”

What kind of nonsense was this.

But Lee Chi-hoon did not even have the timing to retort.

Seo Ji-han had immediately aimed the business card at him. And then.

Fwoosh!

He flicked the business card with his fingers.

That arrogant tone and expression.

If not for the mistake just moments ago, this guy might have been the one to scream in surprise, but to see him act like this was just disgusting.

‘What? Failed?’

It was not even funny.

A guy who wouldn't even be able to speak to him if he wasn't from one of the 10 great sword families.

In that brief moment, all sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.

But in that instant.

‘Does this make sense?’

Goosebumps crawled all over Lee Chi-hoon's body.

The thrown business card had perfectly preserved its initial mana even after traveling this distance.

It was unbelievable.

He reflexively reached out his hand.

He had to catch that card and confirm it himself.

Whether what he felt was true or not.

Swish!

The truth conveyed through touch was vivid.

The business card that entered his palm had carved a red line into the leather of his palm.

Warm blood flowed out.

Cold sweat momentarily ran down his spine.

The reality of his uneasy premonition was even more surprising.

He could only stand there blankly, clutching the blood-stained business card.

It seemed like Seo Ji-han was saying something, but he could not hear it properly.

“Tell Heo Jeong-ah. If she has something to say, she should text me directly.”

It was the moment his plausible plan crumbled.

***

I entered the room and spread out the map once again.

In truth, it could not yet be called a map.

Most of the space was left blank.

The only information that could be gleaned from it was the name of the map written at the top, and the time remaining until the portal opened. Just these two things.

‘Only three days left.’

In three days, a portal would open somewhere in the Abyss.

This map would only show the location after the portal opened. Just like when I entered the Hatchling's Nest.

The value of this map, as assessed at the auction house, was 7 billion.

I had been thinking of at least 10 billion, so it was a much cheaper price than I had expected.

There were reasons for it, but one suspicion still remained.

‘There were hardly any members of the 10 great sword families among the auction participants.’

That bothered me.

I had thought most of them would jump into this auction, but the result was the opposite.

Of course, there were a total of four maps, and it was highly likely that the other three were all taken by the 10 great sword families, but there was still something fishy about it.

‘Well, it doesn't matter anyway.’

I might be able to retrieve the Holy Sword Bastian, so there was no reason to weigh the pros and cons.

Vvvvring-

Just as my thoughts were settling, my cell phone suddenly vibrated.

The only people who would send me a message at this late hour would be old man Han Byeong-cheol or my mother.

Choi Ho-joong tended to restrain himself late at night, so he was third in line probability-wise.

But all my predictions were wrong.

‘JA?’

It was a completely unexpected person.

The sender was Heo Jeong-ah.

I warned you.

I did not know what she had heard from Lee Chi-hoon, but Heo Jeong-ah had really sent me a text.

A short but clear message.

It was telling me to stay out of this map issue.

Vvvvring.

And the phone vibrated once.

You're a bad bastard, so you probably won't reply. But I'm warning you one more time. You stay out!

I wondered if it was necessary to go this far.

If she was confident in herself, it should not matter much whether I participated in the competition or not.

It did not feel like a simple elimination of a competitor.

A strange feeling washed over me again.

A feeling that there was more to the issue of Bastian's map than what was revealed at the auction house.

In any case, since I received a text, I decided to reply out of courtesy.

See you in three days. In the Abyss.

It was a reply after a whole 7 years.

The response came at nearly the speed of light.

Three messages in a row.

Who are you! Are you Seo Ji-han?

There's no way that bastard would reply to me!

Reveal your identity right now!

It felt so different from the text records of 7 years ago.

Looking at the history from that time, there was even a sense of warmth in the texts.

Now, there was no reason to reply.

You're not replying?

You bastard!

If nothing else, her lack of cyber ethics was apparent.

Vvvvring!

At that moment, the phone vibrated again.

It was not a message.

An incoming call.

It was my father.

***

“Sit.”

“Yes, Father.”

It had been a while since I came to my father's study.

Whenever I came here, there was always something important to discuss.

From the atmosphere, it felt like today would be no different.

“I heard that you went to the Samhan Auction House.”

“It seems your eyes and ears are everywhere, Father.”

“It was a place where a noisy issue occurred, so it quickly reached my ears.”

“Then you must also know what I won there. Is the reason you called for me now perhaps….”

“Yes. The map you obtained. It's because of that.”

My father took a sip from his teacup before continuing.

“You said it cost 7 billion to win the item?”

“That is correct.”

“It seems the financial situation of the Chamryongdan is not as bad as I thought.”

“Regardless of that, I thought it was an item worth bidding on.”

Bastian was the greatest sword in the Kalia Continent.

If this map was truly related to the Bastian I knew, its value was meaningless to calculate in money.

“7 billion is not a small sum. I will supplement that amount for you.”

“There is no reason for you to do so.”

“No. There is a reason.”

My father's expression and tone were both somewhat unusual.

“...What is that reason?”

“It may be hard to accept, but I would like you to give up on that map.”

It was an unexpected story.

I had been expecting encouragement, but instead, I was told to give up.

“I would like to hear the reason why I must do so.”

“Because I have an ominous feeling.”

Although he called it a feeling, there must have been a basis for it.

And it was highly likely that this would cut through the suspicion I had felt at the auction house.

“I also thought it was strange. Unlike the public's clamorous interest, the 10 great sword families hardly participated in the bidding. Even from our Haewon Sword Family, excluding myself.”

In fact, the most surprising thing was that both my brothers, Seo Ji-hoon and Seo Ji-won, had been quiet.

They were not the types to let something like this pass quietly.

“It's because of the trauma from 40 years ago. Have you perhaps heard of the Tragedy of Berdion?”

“I'm not familiar with it.”

Of course, I did not know.

If it were a famous story, it would be a slightly awkward situation, but it could not be helped.

What I did not know, I did not know.

“Well, I suppose so. It was a long time ago, and everyone involved in that incident has kept quiet about it. And in truth, it's not a well-known event to the public.”

Then that was a relief.

“That incident must have similarities with this issue of Bastian's map.”

“Yes. At that time too, a total of four maps appeared in the world. It was an unprecedented event, and after 40 years, the same thing has happened again.”

“Then, the reason that incident was named a tragedy is perhaps….”

“Yes. Of the four who followed the maps into the Abyss, two did not return. One of them was a person who was called the greatest genius in the history of the Taeseong Sword Family.”

This was the basis for the ominous feeling my father spoke of.

Of course, it was not at a level that would convince me.

“In any case, one of the two who returned must have obtained a tremendous reward.”

High risk, high return.

But contrary to my expectation, my father shook his head.

“I don't think that was the case. Both of them never spoke a word about what happened there. And not long after, they both passed away.”

It was certainly an event worthy of being called a tragedy.

Two of the four who left for Berdion did not return, and the two who returned alive also died not long after.

Throughout the story, my father's expression was serious.

Of course, that did not mean my thoughts would change.

“Now, the suspicions I had are being resolved a little. I can also fully understand your concerns, Father. But my decision is….”

“Wait! There's more I have yet to say.”

My father immediately stopped my reply.

“I understand. I will continue to listen.”

“That map you acquired. It's highly likely that it holds the greatest danger among the four maps.”

“Are you saying that the level of danger is different for each map?”

I would have to hear more to know for sure, but considering the information network of the Haewon Sword Family, there must have been a basis for it.

But what could I do.

With two people telling me to give up, it only piqued my interest more.