24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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24-Hour Friendly Market Specializing in Dimensional Items Episode 26

Episode 26. A Bolt from the Blue (3)

The meeting room fell silent under the heavy aura emanating from the S-rank Hunters.

With S-rank Hunters who support South Korea gathered in one place, the atmosphere was nothing short of murderous.

“The guild leaders of Karma and Shinrok couldn’t attend today due to external schedules. Let me start by sharing the materials.”

The one who broke through the suffocating atmosphere where no one seemed willing to speak was a man.

His tone was monotonous as if unaffected by this cold atmosphere.

Unremarkable rimless glasses and black gloves that fit perfectly on both hands.

Short stature with a thin build that seemed to lack any muscle, sharp features with sunken cheeks and drowsy-looking eyes.

He looked no different from an ordinary office worker, yet he was South Korea’s only S-rank Hunter.

Park Ji-woon, the Hunter Management Director of the Babel Management Bureau.

At Park Ji-woon’s instruction, staff members began trembling like aspen leaves as they placed document folders in front of each guild leader.

[Tower of Babel 49th Floor Strategy Report

Strategy Guild: Wolpae]

As the sound of turning pages filled the meeting room, Park Ji-woon spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“First, congratulations on clearing the 49th Floor, Mr. Chae Geun-dam.”

“Thank you.”

Chae Geun-dam nodded silently in response.

And silence returned once again.

Clearing the 49th Floor was an important achievement that had remained like homework for South Korea.

In any other setting, there would have been at least brief applause, but those gathered here weren’t people who wasted time on formalities.

Caught between these whales were the assistants of each guild, playing the role of shrimp getting their backs broken.

Ahn Yeon-seo, playing Shrimp #1, stood motionlessly behind Seo Jae-hyuk with her head deeply bowed.

This was because Seo Jae-hyuk, the leader of Aegis, had been sitting quietly without saying a word since entering the meeting room.

Now in her third year as an assistant, Ahn Yeon-seo had long since noticed that her excellent and sensitive leader’s mood was currently very uncomfortable.

‘I should just quit this job.’

Ahn Yeon-seo quietly exhaled, mulling over a thought she’d had about 37 times today.

Even with complaints piling up, all B-rank Hunter Ahn Yeon-seo could do was hide her presence as much as possible and breathe inconspicuously.

Then the man sitting across from Seo Jae-hyuk spoke up.

“There’s more than one or two suspicious things, yet you start with congratulations? Did the Babel Bureau get some kickbacks too?”

It was Jung Min-gu, guild leader of ‘Take-In’, the 5th ranked guild.

A Hunter who gets a lot of criticism for his hot-tempered nature and reckless behavior, but also has quite a fan base for his bold attitude.

Take-In, composed entirely of close-combat Hunters like him, was also a point that Jung Min-gu’s fans cheered for.

Of course, people who met him directly might think differently.

Jung Min-gu added with a sneering laugh.

“They all came back alive from a floor where everyone dies, so instead of congratulations, shouldn’t we be demanding explanations first?”

That casually thrown remark was unmistakably sarcastic.

But Chae Geun-dam made no response whatsoever.

Meanwhile, it was Park Ji-woon who broke the cold silence once again.

“Let’s get to the main point. The reason for calling this meeting today is to share information with Wolpae before the 51st Floor strategy and…”

“Information sharing? This is just a hearing. And Guild Leader of Wolpae, what’s this ‘Friendly Market’ you mentioned right after coming out of the portal?”

The one who interrupted with rough speech was Kim Seol, guild leader of ‘Haebing’, the 3rd ranked guild.

Glaring with eyes that looked ready to kill someone was a bonus.

She was famous as a beauty with fair skin and sharp eyes, but even more famous was Kim Seol’s caustic way of speaking.

Jung Min-gu agreed with Kim Seol’s pointed criticism that dripped with coldness.

“Right, Haebing. Well said. Hey, Mr. Wolpae, be honest with us? Market is market, but how did you clear that damn scenario?”

“Can’t even remember names and won’t use honorifics either, how truly frivolous. More importantly, Mr. Chae Geun-dam, this isn’t something you can just brush off as good luck, you know that, right?”

“This rude bitch, where do you-“

Just as Kim Seol and Jung Min-gu were growling and about to stand up, Park Ji-woon slammed down his document folder.

Everyone shut their mouths at the sight of Park Ji-woon sighing deeply.

“This isn’t a meeting arranged to incite discord, everyone.”

A clear reprimand.

The relationships between S-rank Hunters were already maintained in peace through a precarious balance.

If a fight broke out here right now, no one would be able to escape without getting hurt.

As such, Park Ji-woon’s voice, as the only neutral party, carried strong influence.

As both people awkwardly pulled back, Seo Jae-hyuk, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“To obtain the ‘Fruit of Pleasure,’ casualties are inevitable, but according to the report, there wasn’t a single seriously injured person.”

At this calm and dry observation, Ahn Yeon-seo immediately understood what contradiction Seo Jae-hyuk had pointed out.

Aegis was the guild that had attempted to clear the 49th Floor more than any other guild present.

However, since guild strategies weren’t shared as a matter of principle, how far Aegis had progressed wasn’t officially recorded.

This meant that Aegis knew more about Sub Items quests than other guilds.

In this room, only Ahn Yeon-seo and Seo Jae-hyuk knew this, and if they had cleared it through normal routes, Chae Geun-dam and the vice guild leader would know as well.

“When obtaining the ‘Fruit of Pleasure,’ who defeated the guardian in Gilrof’s Garden?”

Seo Jae-hyuk asked, tilting his head slightly.

However, his eyes weren’t light at all.

Chae Geun-dam met his gaze calmly without any change in expression and spoke.

“Ahn Gyeong-min.”

“He’s a mage belonging to our guild. An A-rank Hunter.”

Lee Min-jung, Wolpae’s vice guild leader, hastily added.

It was a natural enough answer to pass over, but Seo Jae-hyuk’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Lie.”

Seo Jae-hyuk chuckled and muttered.

“If you kill that guardian, you’d die together with it.”

It was a very sharp observation.

A slight crack appeared on Chae Geun-dam’s previously unshaken face.

“Wow, leading interrogation.”

However, before Chae Geun-dam could properly panic, it was Lee Hwa-yeon, leader of ‘Baekdan’, the 2nd ranked guild, who reacted.

The only person who could laugh good-naturedly in this cold atmosphere.

Lee Hwa-yeon, who had high public popularity for her characteristic friendliness and playfulness, joined the fray.

“Mr. Chae Geun-dam, since it’s come to this, let’s be honest? No one dying is a good thing. We’re also curious about how this happened, aren’t we?”

Lee Hwa-yeon looked back and forth between Kim Seol and Seo Jae-hyuk as if seeking agreement.

Kim Seol snorted and turned her head away, while Seo Jae-hyuk, who had his prey stolen, ignored her completely.

But Lee Hwa-yeon didn’t mind and continued.

“While we’re at it, let’s hear what the Director has to say. We didn’t gather here to fight, but Take-In and Haebing fight every time they see each other. Let’s be mature adults and resolve this through conversation.”

“That bitch started-“

“Stop calling people bitches, you old bastard.”

Jung Min-gu was left speechless by Kim Seol’s profanity.

He should have immediately cursed back, but he was properly stung and left speechless.

Jung Min-gu, who had turned 41 this year, had already instructed Take-In to change his registered age online to 39.

Since the other S-rank Hunters were all relatively young and quite good-looking, he had been working hard to keep up.

It was just as Kim Seol was sneering at Jung Min-gu’s face turning bright red.

Slam-

A Babel Management Bureau employee carelessly burst through the door wide open as they entered.

The price for breaking the tense atmosphere was steep.

However, the employee hiccupped under the sharp gazes directed at them while holding out a tablet to Park Ji-woon.

“D-Director. You need to s-see this.”

“…Is it urgent?”

“Yes.”

The employee adjusted the tablet screen so only Park Ji-woon could see it.

And shortly after, Park Ji-woon’s brow furrowed slightly.

“What’s going on?”

Kim Seol, recognizing the seriousness, asked calmly with a different attitude than before.

Seo Jae-hyuk also opened his previously closed eyes.

It was because of his intuition that this wouldn’t be something they could just brush off.

Park Ji-woon answered without any change in expression, pointing to the screen connected to the meeting room.

“You all should see this together.”

As soon as the screen turned on moments later.

“Wh-what is this?”

“What kind of bullshit is this?”

“…”

Various reactions poured out.

What appeared on the screen was footage taken on the 25th Floor.

The mysterious blue building erected on the 25th Floor now had a sign reading ‘Friendly Market’ that definitely wasn’t there until yesterday.

But what was more eye-catching was the text written in the window that appeared above it.

[Hello, this is Friendly Market. In preparation for the 50th Floor opening, Friendly Market has established a second branch. We are recruiting businesses to move into the 50th Floor, so we ask for your interest and applications. For detailed information, please refer to the guide posted at ‘Yeon-hee Potion’ located on Floor 1 of the building on the 50th Floor. Additionally, those wishing to open a store should fill out an application form and place it in the application box.]

“Is he insane…?”

Lee Hwa-yeon, who had been sitting with a smiling face the whole time, muttered in disbelief.

They thought he would be lying low after Chae Geun-dam mentioned him in the interview, but this was a completely unexpected and radical move.

“It’ll be hard to keep pretending ignorance now.”

Park Ji-woon nodded lightly as if he had expected this.

“…This is one of the reasons I summoned you all today. The government has obtained no information about who the manager of ‘Friendly Market’ is, how they helped clear the 49th Floor, or what their intentions were. No one has.”

Park Ji-woon paused briefly before adding firmly.

“Except for one person who directly mentioned Friendly Market.”

It was clear who he was referring to.

Everyone’s gaze focused on Chae Geun-dam again.

In the heavily settled atmosphere, Park Ji-woon, who had taken charge, spoke up.

“Mr. Chae Geun-dam.”

“….”

“You’ve met the owner of Friendly Market, haven’t you?”

Chae Geun-dam silently raised his head to look at Park Ji-woon.

Park Ji-woon, representing society’s balance, was now demanding the truth from him.

But he had promised to keep secrets with the Friendly Market’s manager, Lee Hae.

Though not binding, it was a promise made in good faith that must be kept.

Chae Geun-dam only carefully exhaled, trying not to lose his composure before those who maintained society’s balance.

* * *

Ssssssh.

This is the sound I’m making, soaked in nervousness.

The 25th Floor is a place where countless people come and go, earning it the nickname Ba-man-jang, and I’m currently spying on my own building.

I muttered in a reluctant voice.

“I feel a bit sorry for Ms. Kang Yeon-hee.”

She’s probably either gone to the Babel Management Bureau by now to file a noise pollution complaint, or she might be making a curse puppet, swearing she won’t let me get away with causing this mess…

And for good reason, because countless people were currently crowded in front of the Bamanjang Store.

“Hey! There’s someone inside there, right?!”

“What exactly is Friendly Market?”

“We’re from Geumhyeong Group, let’s have a talk!”

“Won’t you join us in the process of spiritual transcendence!”

All of this was probably because of the 50th Floor tenant recruitment notice I had posted above the Bamanjang Store building.

How fortunate that the market has an automatic sales function.

The fact that Kang Yeon-hee doesn’t have to directly face those people is probably the biggest benefit Sam-i has given me.

[⁕ The biggest benefit the guide provides is directly helping with market operations :)]

Hey, shut up, AI who can’t even read context.

Anyway, with less than a minute left until the 50th Floor opening, I was soaked in nervousness.

It wasn’t because of those noisy people who had been enthusiastically surrounding the building and shouting since early morning.

That was something I had somewhat expected, and what I was nervous about was a completely different problem.

‘The scenario will open soon.’

The 50th Floor opening means the 51st Floor will also open.

There isn’t much time left.

Once the 51st Floor scenario opens, I’ll soon be able to find traces of Brother.

At that moment, everything in front of me turned bright white.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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