I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 154

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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154 – Emergency Room
154.
Board of Audit and Inspection.
Jung Woo-seok, an investigator, arrived at work holding a steaming cup of Americano in his hand.
He sat at his desk, sipping the Americano while waiting for his computer to boot up.
Out of habit, he opened his mailbox, which contained countless tip-off emails.
Dozens of such emails arrived every single day.
But most of them were baseless content.
Driven by grievance, anger, misunderstanding, and delusion.
Emails sent to harm someone.
Garbage not even worth verifying.
Yet verification was still necessary.
Procedures had to be followed.
One couldn’t simply ignore public complaints.
Only after going through the verification procedure could a case be closed as “unsubstantiated.”
That was the work Jung Woo-seok did at the Board of Audit and Inspection.
He clicked through the tips one by one to review them.
[Tip-off: Suspected Misuse of Corporate Card by Park Do-jin, Team Leader of National Intelligence Service Overseas Division]
I am submitting this tip because I believe an audit is necessary regarding the public funds usage by Park Do-jin, Team Leader of the National Intelligence Service.
The individual in question has repeatedly used the corporate card for personal meals and private purposes, and some of the usage appears to be entirely unrelated to official duties.
The relevant information can be verified by cross-referencing the card usage records with the schedule.
I am submitting this anonymously as I do not wish to expose my identity.
I hope the National Intelligence Service will not misuse the people’s tax money.
After reading the email, Jung Woo-seok let out a scoff.
Anonymous.
No specific dates.
No specific facts.
No receipts.
No supporting evidence.
A typical tip-off tainted by envy and jealousy.
Most were from internal disputes within the organization or from someone passed over in personnel decisions.
“Sigh···.”
Jung Woo-seok sighed once and took another sip of his Americano.
It would likely be worthless, but procedures and regulations were procedures and regulations.
He had to verify it.
Only then could he grant the absolution of “unsubstantiated.”
He accessed the internal system and pulled up Park Do-jin’s corporate card usage records for the past six months.
He planned to skim through it and close it.
But then.
“··· Huh?”
The mouse cursor stopped.
Jung Woo-seok’s gaze fixed on one spot.
Date: November 5th
Location: Cheongdam Korean Beef House
Amount: 1,280,000 won
Transaction time: 21:47
Notes: Dinner with overseas cooperation contacts
Near eleven at night, I had Korean beef in Cheongdam-dong.
Well, it’s possible if I ate with contacts.
I checked my schedule to see who I had eaten with.
But there were no official appointments that day.
Without any scheduled appointments, I had Korean beef in Cheongdam-dong.
Worth 1.3 million won.
Date: November 16th
Location: Apgujeong Luciano Italian
Amount: 360,000 won
Transaction time: 20:12
Notes: External consultation
Checking my schedule, it was marked as a personal day off.
On a personal day off, I spent 360,000 won eating spaghetti in Apgujeong.
I must have had some fine wine.
Date: November 30th
Location: Sinsa-dong Sushi
Amount: 960,000 won
Transaction time: 21:08
Notes: Individual meeting
Date: December 4th
Location: Samseong-dong Private Bar
Amount: 780,000 won
Transaction time: 23:52
Notes: Individual meeting
There were several commonalities.
All in the evening, all at upscale establishments.
The schedule contained no explanation of who I met.
I understood it to some extent.
The National Intelligence Service is an organization full of secrets.
I meet diverse people and handle diverse matters.
Naturally, I could visit such places.
But there were too many.
And the locations were limited to a specific area.
I can’t help but suspect something is amiss.
No matter how much I try to understand, Park Do-jin’s corporate card transaction history seems rather peculiar.
An investigation appears necessary.
I need to hear an explanation.
Jung Woo-seok submitted an official request for cooperation from the National Intelligence Service.
.
.
.
National Intelligence Service.
“Where have you been and what have you been doing?”
Park Do-jin was summoned to the Director’s office the moment he arrived at work that morning.
He hadn’t even had his coffee yet.
“What do you mean, sir? I’ve been working day and night for the nation.”
Park Do-jin answered with a shrug of his shoulders.
The Director and Park Do-jin had worked together on the same team for a long time.
That’s what made this kind of relationship possible.
The Director tossed the document he’d been reviewing across the desk toward Park Do-jin.
“What is this?”
Park Do-jin, receiving the document, asked as if he had no idea what it was.
The Director let out a heavy sigh.
“A document stating that the Board of Audit and Inspection has launched an investigation into you.”
“What? What kind of nonsense is that?”
Park Do-jin’s voice shot up.
Park Do-jin fell silent for a moment.
Who? What crazy bastard is investigating the National Intelligence Service?
“It’s exactly as you heard. A report was filed with the Board of Audit and Inspection. They suspect you of misconduct.”
“This is absurd. Who would make such a false accusation?”
Park Do-jin immediately protested.
The Director, observing Park Do-jin for a moment, shook his head slightly.
“I know. If you’d actually committed misconduct, I would’ve initiated an internal audit. Why do you think I called you in to tell you directly?”
“Still, this is too much.”
Anger flashed across Park Do-jin’s face.
“What can we do? The complaint has already been filed with the Board of Audit and Inspection, and we need to submit a response. Prepare yourself.”
“Ugh… An audit investigation… You know how tedious this is. I have to account for everything, and there are so many secrets involved… Ugh…”
“If it ends there, we’re lucky. You know the government has been targeting the National Intelligence Service lately, right? If this gets reported in the media, it won’t just be you taking the heat. The entire organization will be dragged through the mud. So conduct yourself carefully.”
Park Do-jin clenched his teeth.
“Ugh. This is ridiculous. Who filed this complaint?”
“Do you think the Board of Audit and Inspection would tell us that?”
The Director spoke with a bitter smile.
“I will definitely catch this bastard.”
“Don’t do anything unnecessary. You have the documents I gave you. Take them and fill out the paperwork, then we’ll close this cleanly.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong. What am I supposed to write?”
“If you didn’t do anything wrong, then write that you didn’t do anything wrong. What’s the problem with that?”
When the Director raised his voice slightly, Park Do-jin immediately shrank back.
“No, it’s just… it feels unfair.”
“You don’t write these things emotionally. You need to leave a document stating there are no issues—that’s how you avoid trouble.”
“But still…”
“You think you’re the only one who feels wronged? I feel wronged that my son is being suspected. So I’m going to come down hard on this. You understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes…”
Park Do-jin answered reluctantly.
“Park Do-jin. I’m only going to ask you this one time.”
“What else?”
“You’re really not involved, right?”
The Director added a hint of suspicion to his question.
“Seriously? You don’t trust me?”
Park Do-jin genuinely got angry.
But there was something in that anger—as if he were trying to hide something.
The Director pretended not to notice and moved on.
“Prepare the documents and send them to me.”
“Understood.”
Team Leader Park Do-jin left the Director’s office with a huff.
*******
“Thank you so much, hyung.”
Geun-su, whom I met in Dae-hun’s office.
Geun-su, who had just returned from his honeymoon, offered me his gratitude.
“Did you have a good trip?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, hyung, it was truly wonderful. Eun-seo and Ha-yul both had an amazing time.”
This guy’s face is glowing.
He must have really enjoyed it.
I’ve never even been to China myself.
I should’ve just given him medicine instead.
“I’m glad. I was worried I hadn’t done much for you.”
“Done much? Thanks to you, hyung, everything was perfect. By the way, hyung…”
“Yeah?”
“What exactly are you doing in China?”
Geun-su asked quietly.
“What do you mean? I’m just working.”
“It’s just… I can’t quite understand it from my perspective.”
“Why try to understand? Just let it go.”
“I mean, I don’t understand why the government officials were so nervous around us. Though I did get treated like an emperor because of it…”
“As long as you came back safely, that’s all that matters.”
I cut the conversation short.
This kind of talk shouldn’t drag on.
“Thank you again. It was truly an incredible experience.”
Geun-su bowed once more in gratitude.
Moments later, Dae-hoon entered through the door, carrying a cooler.
“You’re already here? Thanks for coming.”
“Why do you have to summon people like that?”
Dae-hoon breaks into a wide grin.
“I went to Gunsan this time and brought back something absolutely incredible. I asked you to come so we could share it.”
“What is it?”
Dae-hoon sits down and begins pulling items from the cooler.
“This is the seasoned flatfish you enjoyed last time. Here’s raw fish, and there’s abalone and sea cucumber too. Plus oysters.”
“Why are you taking these out here?”
“When you have something good, you have to have a drink. Geun-su, sit down and eat with us.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Sit. Let’s eat together, just for today.”
“Understood.”
The way Dae-hoon looked after his subordinate was impressive.
I should take care of Scott too.
“Sc—”
Scott was already seated with chopsticks unwrapped.
I didn’t need to worry about him.
What was I going to take care of anyway?
I can barely manage myself.
“Let’s have some soju too.”
Dae-hoon retrieves soju and glasses from the refrigerator in the office.
Why is there only soju in this refrigerator?
“Come on, let’s have a drink.”
“It’s broad daylight. What are you doing drinking?”
It’s not even noon yet.
And yet a drinking session is about to unfold here.
“This is one of the perks of being a CEO. When the boss drinks during the day, the employees love it.”
“So this is for employee welfare then?”
Dae-hoon’s expression brightens at my response.
“Exactly. Alex really understands me. Come on, shall we have a drink?”
And so the drinking began.
After several rounds had passed.
Dae-hoon spoke up.
“Right, try this.”
Dae-hoon pulled something wrapped in gold foil from his pocket.
“This was made at a really famous herbal medicine clinic there. What was it called again?… Anyway, they only put things that are good for your body in it.”
Black herbal pills that looked crumbly and dry.
Just looking at them made any desire to eat them vanish completely.
I really didn’t want to eat them.
“Do I have to eat this?”
“Come on. We should all eat it together.”
Dae-hoon said this and immediately swallowed one whole.
“We need to start taking care of our health now. It’s really good for your body, I’m telling you. You eat one too. Geun-su should eat one, and Scott should eat one too.”
Unlike me, who felt repulsed just looking at them, Geun-su and Scott popped one in their mouths and swallowed.
And all three of them were looking at me.
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten this much attention.
Well, I guess I should eat one for them.
I picked up a black pill and put it in my mouth.
Contrary to its appearance, it went down smoothly.
There was no need to chew it.
It just went down.
A faint herbal medicine smell lingered at the end.
It wasn’t as bad as it looked.
“Hahaha. So, should we have another drink?”
Dae-hoon held out his glass.
We clinked our glasses together again.
The atmosphere was warm and friendly.
Before I got any drunker, there was something I wanted to ask.
“By the way… what are we going to do with the Disand you brought?”
“That? We can just throw it away. What’s there to worry about?”
Dae-hoon said it lightly.
“But that’s medicine. We need to dispose of it properly.”
“Hmm…”
It seemed like an unexpected question, and no one could answer.
If I had known the answer, I would have disposed of it myself.
But since I didn’t know either, I asked.
In truth, I really hated having Disand in my inventory.
Just having Disand in my inventory felt like it was tainting it.
I wanted to get rid of it.
But I couldn’t just throw it in the trash.
“But you know what? Why did you steal the Disand in the first place? Your ability is good. How did you even manage to steal it?”
“Just like that?”
“No, I mean, they would’ve given it to you anyway if you just waited. Was there really a need to steal it?”
Dae-hoon asked as if he genuinely couldn’t understand.
“Life is only complete when it has its ups and downs. I made quite an effort to help complete Mao Qin’s life story.”
Everyone looked at me in disbelief at my answer.
“Right. Life is only complete with its ups and downs. In that sense, shall we make a toast?”
Dae-hoon raises his glass again.
I go along with it this time.
Our glasses clink together.
Scott, who had emptied his glass, spoke up.
“Why can’t we just burn it? That would be clean.”
In the Philippines, that would be fine.
But not in South Korea.
In the Philippines, burning something like that wouldn’t be a problem, but in South Korea, it would be.
“Then the plastic would burn with it. Don’t you care about environmental pollution? It’s illegal too.”
Scott, who had thought for a moment, answers again.
“Then couldn’t we just remove the packaging?”
Doesn’t Scott know there are a million Disands?
Well, he only knows how to eat them—he has no interest in these kinds of details.
“That won’t work, will it? There are a million of them.”
That’s when Geun-su answered.
“Boss. There’s high-temperature incineration. If we process them with that, they should be disposed of cleanly.”
“High-temperature incineration?”
“If you burn them at over 1,000 degrees, all the components completely decompose and combust. Nothing remains.”
“Something like that exists?”
“Yes, boss. The exhaust gases could be a problem later, but with proper air purification systems in place, there’s no issue.”
“That works out. We should go burn them all up then. Where is it? How do we rent it?”
“We have one. You just need to say the word.”
“But? Why do you have something like that?”
Geun-su looks flustered.
Why is he flustered?
“… It’s a waste disposal facility.”
“A waste disposal facility?”
“Yes… waste.”
I’m not sure what kind of waste, but waste should be disposed of properly.
It should be burned.
Once we had settled on a method for disposing of the Disands, I felt a sense of relief.
Shall we go at it again then?
We pushed forward glasses filled with soju.
Cheers!
We drank until the bright night darkened.
.
.
.
“Code Blue. Code Blue.”
The radio transmission of the Obsidian Unit broadcast the words “Code Blue” across the network.
That single phrase was enough to convey the gravity of the situation.
The operatives who heard the transmission moved immediately.
Not only those on duty, but also the operatives waiting at nearby hotels quickly donned their gear and rushed toward Alex’s apartment.
The one who sent the transmission was Scott.
Scott urgently radioed the Obsidian Unit.
Everything had been fine until they were drinking at Dae-hun’s office.
But on the way home.
From Scott’s perspective, the Young Boss’s expression didn’t look good at all.
His face showed clear signs of discomfort.
He was sweating.
The Young Boss, who rarely perspired even in the sweltering heat of the Philippines,
was now sweating in the depths of winter.
Scott suggested going to the hospital, but the Young Boss insisted he was fine.
He adamantly refused, saying he’d be better after some rest, so they went home.
After dropping off the Young Boss, Scott returned to his lodging.
He showered, but his unease wouldn’t fade.
Scott went back to the Young Boss’s apartment.
The moment he opened the door, he knew from the smell.
Something had gone terribly wrong.
On the living room floor lay the Young Boss, drenched in sweat as if caught in a downpour.
Beside him were traces of vomit everywhere.
Alarmed, Scott immediately radioed “Code Blue” (medical emergency) and transported the Young Boss to the hospital.
He didn’t call 119.
The Obsidian Unit reached the hospital faster than any ambulance could.
.
.
.
The emergency room in the early dawn was a battlefield every single day.
Patients had passed through like a storm sweeping across the land, and only now could she finally rest her exhausted body in a chair.
A woman wearing glasses with her hair pulled back tightly was leaning against the chair, catching her breath.
Her wrinkled gown seemed to testify to how grueling the day had been.
‘I wish I could have just one sip of cool coffee.’
The station was just a short distance away where she could grab a cup, but right now she couldn’t muster the will to move a single finger.
She just wanted to remain frozen in this moment.
That’s when it happened.
A large sedan and an SUV screeched to a halt in front of the emergency room.
It wasn’t just one vehicle.
Two vehicles, then three… the number of cars kept increasing.
She instinctively pushed herself upright.
This was no ordinary situation.
There seemed to be dozens of patients.
A major accident.
When the hospital doors opened, it wasn’t patients who entered—it was unfamiliar men.
Without a word, they formed a corridor and surrounded the area.
And through the center of that formation came a man carrying someone on his back.
That man was the patient.
“This… this way···”
At her words, Scott carefully laid Alex down on the Emergency Room bed.
The man’s shirt was drenched with sweat and vomit.
“What are the symptoms?”
“Vomiting, fever, cold sweats.”
Scott, having lived with Alex for so long, had become quite fluent in Korean.
“What did he consume?”
“Some strange herbal medicine… seafood, oysters, alcohol.”
Upon hearing this, she shook her head slightly.
“Good heavens. What were you thinking mixing all that together?”
The situation assessment was complete.
Now treatment was necessary.
“First, let’s check his blood pressure and get him on oxygen.”
She spoke to the nurse.
Then she called out to the patient.
“Can you hear me? If you can, just nod your head.”
At the doctor’s words, Alex gave a faint nod.
Upon seeing that face, the female doctor’s expression hardened.
Her gaze remained fixed on the patient.
“… It can’t be.”
She examined the patient’s face once more.
Though difficult to discern beneath the pallid complexion and sweat-dampened hair, she could recognize him.
Those familiar eyes.
That face she had thought of for so long.
It was Gong In-bae.
Thus, after ten years, Kwon Ju-ah encountered Gong In-bae once again.
Through the Inventory, she had become a power broker in the black market.
154 – Emergency Room
E-book Publication
/ December 24, 2025
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/ Black Card
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/ Son Je-ho
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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