24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 40

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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 40

Episode 40. Lee Hae Universe (4)

The Babel Universe—just how far will it expand?

At this rate, won’t the worldview grow so large it becomes unmanageable, creating plot holes and turning into a multiverse mess?

Though I was quite flustered by the sudden appearance of constellation-themed keywords, I pretended to be unfazed as I replied.

“Seems like you haven’t heard about me yet.”

I even shrugged my shoulders.

Hoping this nonchalant attitude would make for a successful bluff.

Of course, I did check with my only customer service.

[⁕ There is an entity that governs the order of the Tower of Babel 🙂 However, it is not a place that someone can dare to peek into out of personal curiosity.]

For once, a precise and specific answer.

Though the word ‘dare’ was quite condescending, it was a firm response that definitely dispelled my anxiety.

Sam-i sometimes pisses me off, but like a programmed AI, she doesn’t lie.

‘So it’s not a constellation story after all.’

Then it seems the great Section Chief Park Ji-woon is being unilaterally observed by someone.

Park Ji-woon’s expression visible through the veil was so cold you couldn’t draw a drop of blood even if you stabbed him.

I’m curious, but even if I asked, he doesn’t seem like he’d answer obediently.

‘Well then, let’s cleanly put it on the back burner!’

It doesn’t matter if someone is watching.

I’ve lived looking up at the sky without a single point of shame.

If it were dangerous, wouldn’t Sam-i warn me first?

[⁕ I do not respond to matters unrelated to the market :)]

‘Oh, is that so?’

Then why did you go on about the entity governing order, you idiot.

Having learned how to handle Sam-i appropriately, I said cheekily.

“Ask someone else. Whether they know the owner of Friendly Market.”

“….”

As if tired of this situation, Park Ji-woon’s eyes grew slightly dim.

Seems like someone like me is his natural enemy.

‘That’s good news for me.’

I clapped my hands once to change the atmosphere.

“Now then. I think it’s time to get to the main point? Why did you come looking for me?”

I don’t care if an observer is watching us.

The reason we met today was clear.

Park Ji-woon erased his previous cold attitude and slowly opened his mouth.

“First, thank you for responding to the summons.”

Did I get chewed out a lot for ignoring the attendance request?

For some reason, his tone seems to be chewing each word thoroughly.

I smiled lightly under my mask as I replied.

“Don’t mention it. Though it did end up looking like I was the one who called you here, Section Chief.”

My best friend Guk Min-seong said I have an excellent talent for getting under people’s skin.

Park Ji-woon also seemed slightly irritated as he narrowed his brow slightly, but since he’s such an excellent poker face, it didn’t show much.

“Yes, that’s how it turned out, but… the Babel Management Bureau’s purpose in seeking you is clear.”

Look at that composure, continuing to speak without any damage.

“It’s to determine whether you’re a dangerous element.”

He even hit the nail on the head without beating around the bush.

Being treated as suspicious when I’m a completely unsuspicious person is a bit hurtful, but I nodded calmly.

“I’ll ask a few questions for confirmation.”

“Do I have an obligation to answer?”

“If you’re a South Korean citizen and a hunter registered with the Babel Management Bureau, you need to cooperate with the investigation.”

“How are you so certain that I’m a South Korean citizen and registered with the Babel Management Bureau…?”

“…Aren’t you?”

“I might be, or I might not be?”

I answered with a grin.

He probably figured out I’m South Korean, but I’ve never admitted it with my own mouth.

Besides, my rank is E-grade, so I didn’t have any special interviews when registering.

I’m acting like this because I’m confident I’ll never get caught.

Just as Park Ji-woon was slowly blinking, Alessandro standing behind him shook his head in dismay.

‘That old man, really.’

He’s on my side but he’s too openly showing his dislike.

Well, that’s what I’m doing this for.

Seeing him face me without any change in expression, he’s someone worth acknowledging.

“Oh, and there’s one thing I need to clarify.”

I quickly continued speaking.

“I didn’t come here today for an investigation, but to propose a deal. I arranged this meeting as the administrator of Friendly Market.”

“…You speak of a deal?”

“Yes, a deal. If you can’t accept this premise, you can just leave. Then you can start digging into me from scratch again.”

This was a proposal Park Ji-woon absolutely couldn’t refuse.

I can kick Park Ji-woon out right now.

Even if Park Ji-woon camps out in front of the information desk, it doesn’t matter.

He can’t find me if I use the secret passage directly connected to the residential area on the 3rd floor.

Since he’s probably been watching me for a long time, Park Ji-woon knows this fact well.

‘This is why securing the high ground is important.’

Indeed, tactics passed down from ancient times are all proven.

Park Ji-woon, who had been staring at me intently with an expressionless face, finally gave the predetermined answer.

“Understood.”

I smiled broadly under my mask as I began.

“Good. You’re someone I can communicate with after all?”

Could my smile be visible through the mask?

Park Ji-woon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“Then please present your deal conditions first, Section Chief.”

I said with a cheerful smile.

The answer came back very quickly.

“Your abilities, the source of how you obtained the 49th Floor strategy, and a statement regarding providing the 49th Floor strategy route overseas. These are the three major points. Please explain all of these.”

…Wasn’t he flustered?

‘Did he prepare so that answers would pop out immediately when poked?’

Though I was rather taken aback by the clean and organized demands, I shrugged nonchalantly and said.

“Uh, that won’t work.”

“Is there a reason?”

“It’s trade secrets? If you barge into some famous restaurant and ask them to tell you their secret sauce recipe, who would tell you?”

“But from a national perspective…”

“As I mentioned before, reasons like ‘national perspective’ and ‘Babel Management Bureau affiliation’ don’t work. If you want to hear something, you need to give me something too, Section Chief. I gave you an opportunity. This meeting was originally arranged for the purpose of making a deal, you know?”

I’m sorry, South Korea.

Please forgive me for being so rudely disrespectful while still loving my homeland.

Park Ji-woon stared at me quietly, then pursed his lips.

“Is there something you want?”

Despite having every reason to be angry, his attitude remained consistently clear.

I once again thanked my past self for deciding to wear a mask.

“If that’s more comfortable for you, shall I speak first?”

Park Ji-woon readily nodded his head.

What I would demand from this government lackey was already decided.

“First, I’d like you to stop investigating Friendly Market any further.”

“….”

“And the same goes for my identity as the administrator. Same for the employees stationed at Bamanjang Store and Babel Square.”

While Alessandro seemed to maintain silent responses to any questions, Kang Yeon-hee was under quite severe stress.

Having lived as an ordinary person only to suddenly bear South Korea’s attention overnight, it was natural if you think about it.

Her pain was written quite explicitly in the messages that came every day.

[> Middle Manager Message

– Today someone else came asking about potion prices and whether the owner was in. ㅜㅜ Yesterday Aegis came by, and today it seemed like people from the management bureau ㅜㅜㅜㅜ Ι Kang Yeon-hee (Bar Manager)

– Unnie, is this right?? These people are now openly saying my name too ㅜ What should I do? Ι Kang Yeon-hee (Baman-jangjeom)]

I had advised her to just not answer and smile while closing the window, but for Kang Yeon-hee, every day was a series of torments.

If I hadn’t provided accommodation inside Bamanjang Store, Kang Yeon-hee would probably have gotten caught up in even sadder affairs…

“You won’t explain anything?”

“If there’s something problematic, I’ll explain it, right? But there haven’t been any problems so far, have there?”

Who am I?

None other than Lee Hae-won, world rank 0 in shamelessness.

At my answer so brazen that even Alessandro, who was on my side, shook his head, Park Ji-woon’s shoulders visibly twitched.

That’s a sigh.

“…Is there more?”

Park Ji-woon asked back in a somewhat tired tone, unconsciously touching around his eyes.

Then, as if belatedly realizing he’d left his glasses behind, he unnaturally lowered his hand.

“Please answer when I request information I want. Of course, I’m not trying to demand state secrets or anything.”

“What specific information?”

“Scenario information, conquest progress, things like that.”

“You must know that the information you just mentioned is classified.”

“I need it for business.”

“Does that mean your business helps the country?”

“That’s hard to say. I’m a merchant who chases profitable work. I’m not interested in unprofitable work.”

Though my heart was too small and soft to ignore such things, so I ended up helping Chae Geun-dam.

On top of that, I created the mess that made Park Ji-woon come looking for me.

“I understand for now. What’s next?”

Well, whatever.

The most important thing was what came next.

I leaned against the table and spoke in a serious tone.

“Please officially recognize Friendly Market.”

This was a condition that encompassed everything I’d said before.

Because the Babel Management Bureau was going around investigating Friendly Market, not only guilds but also news outlets and streamers were stepping forward to make Kang Yeon-hee cry.

If they just said ‘The Babel Management Bureau has confirmed Friendly Market’s identity and judged them to be non-threatening, so we’ve decided to cooperate,’ everything would be solved.

Park Ji-woon’s expression turned coldly serious upon hearing my demand.

“You mean the government should officially recognize you, but conversely, shouldn’t know anything about you?”

He had reason to be displeased…

‘Oh, this is terrifying.’

I gulped.

The moderately kind and worn-down image of Park Ji-woon I’d seen in the media was clearly all an act.

Who would have known he had such sharp eyes!

I deliberately shouted in a bright voice.

“You understand perfectly!”

“It seems like the government would take a big loss to accept this deal.”

“Then… shall we make it a request? If that feels less unpleasant.”

“Then I’d like to make a few requests.”

Park Ji-woon leaned forward toward the table and opened his mouth.

‘He seems to have recovered too quickly.’

He also seemed like an office worker wanting to get off work quickly.

“I’ll listen.”

“The Babel Management Bureau has established various rules to maintain order inside the Tower of Babel. Thanks to these rules, South Korea escaped chaos and regained order. We hope Friendly Market will also cooperate with those rules.”

“Hmm, what kind of cooperation exactly?”

“There are five main things. Don’t operate during dawn hours. For companies on the blacklist provided by the Babel Management Bureau, impose sanctions equal to those of the Management Bureau.”

“Are the reasons for being on the blacklist specified?”

“Yes. Only valid reasons.”

Well, it did feel a bit unsettling to say I’d let them into Babel Square without knowing anything.

It’s a proposal with nothing bad for me.

“The third is… your support for Wolpae.”

“Support? That’s a bit grandiose.”

I laughed awkwardly.

It was closer to kingmaking or a golden lifeline than support.

“If that works for conquering other floors too, we’d appreciate your help then.”

Though it might hurt his pride, Park Ji-woon had a calm face as if it didn’t matter.

It was a proposal no different from the conditions I’d demanded earlier.

Since I’m a patriot with no intention of harming South Korea, and it’s actually more comfortable for me to help, these were conditions with no loss for me.

“Well, I… would have to consider whether it’s profitable.”

I shrugged my shoulders instead of answering.

The world is harsh enough as it is, so I need to stay alert.

Because I don’t want to take losses.

“Fourth, don’t provide help to other countries.”

“Oh, let’s modify that condition. To providing help after consulting with the Babel Management Bureau.”

“That sounds like you’re saying you’ll provide it somehow.”

“Ah, you caught me?”

“…Are you saying this knowing that the Tower of Babel’s resources are directly connected to national power?”

Park Ji-woon, who had maintained his composure until now, made a noticeably displeased expression.

As expected of the Babel Management Bureau’s signboard.

A person who would do anything for the country!

‘I’m scared to death!’

If I were an ordinary E-rank Hunter, I would naturally think that!

But national power isn’t the issue!

Tower of Babel conquest is very directly connected to dimensional destruction!

Though Park Ji-woon glared at me with a strangely sunken expression, I just tilted my head as if nothing was wrong.

No matter how scared I was, this was a condition I absolutely couldn’t compromise on.

‘Would it be better to just tell him?’

Come to think of it, the Falcon Kingdom didn’t know their dimension would be destroyed either.

That’s how Alessandro ended up becoming the sole survivor…

Meanwhile, Park Ji-woon, who had been maintaining the standoff, answered cleanly as if he wouldn’t drag this out any longer.

“I understand for now.”

Of course, his eyes were glowing red, looking like they might explode at any moment.

Come to think of it, what the hell is that red thing?

I’d never had occasion to look deeply into Park Ji-woon’s eyes before, so I had no idea.

‘Red means hostility… no, it’s a danger signal.’

I should avoid getting involved with Park Ji-woon and other S-rank hunters in the future.

I rested my chin on my hand while thinking this.

“What’s the last one?”

“Friendly… what’s that sound?”

“That’s the sound of me tapping my foot?”

I’d been swinging my feet back and forth to maintain my crazy girl concept, and it ended up making a scraping sound on the floor.

Park Ji-woon lowered his head slightly and pressed his temple.

Did he think I was fooling around in the middle of a serious conversation?

He seemed to really dislike me.

But that didn’t stop him from presenting the final condition.

“Lastly, Friendly Market and you must comply with Babel-related regulations. That’s everything.”

Park Ji-woon concluded as if this was the easiest condition.

At those words, I shrugged my shoulders and answered cheerfully.

“That would be difficult.”

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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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