I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 54

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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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054-Jerico
54.
An empty warehouse.
I hurriedly began stuffing weapons into bags.
There were plenty of weapons I wanted to take.
Some were exotic arms I’d never seen before.
As you know, my inventory operates on a slot system.
If I put one gun in my inventory, it shows as gun*1, but if I put it in a bag, it shows as bag*1.
In the space where I could fit one handgun, I can fit twenty or thirty handguns.
That’s why I always need bags.
Last time, after acquiring guns from the Rebel Forces, I bought a massive number of bags at Namdaemun to organize them.
That turned out to be incredibly helpful.
I’d bought every type and size of bag available back then.
I laid out all the bags and started throwing in every weapon that looked promising.
I’d sort it all out later when I got back.
What mattered more than filling my inventory with weapons was keeping this place operational.
I couldn’t let such a valuable location end with just one weapons haul.
I had to make it sustainable.
That’s why I told Scott to bring those men here.
To gather information.
I can’t make decisions without knowing the facts.
Once I’d finished loading, Scott returned.
He brought three men who had become hostages.
The three men seemed startled seeing the dead Boss, but that was all.
They didn’t rage at his death, swear vengeance, or shed tears.
They simply seemed to accept it matter-of-factly, as if thinking, “So this happened.”
Still, I felt compelled to clear up the misunderstanding.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I didn’t kill him. He died because of the security system.”
“That appears to be the case.”
A man who looked to be in his thirties answered.
“How did you know?”
“I planned and oversaw the design of this warehouse. Based on where he fell, I concluded the security system caused his death. If the Young Boss had killed him, he would have done so outside the warehouse before entering.”
What? Why is he so sharp?
Why is he so logical and scientific?
“Oh~ What’s your name?”
“Dennis.”
An ace.
An ace had been caught in my net.
“Good. I like you. Dennis. Is there anything else you know besides this?”
“As Jerico’s secretary, I handled all the practical operations. I know all the information about the Criminal Organization.”
“Really?”
“It’s the truth.”
“Then you also know where these weapons come from and how they’re obtained?”
“Of course. I established the supply route myself.”
“Oh~ So that means smuggling is possible even without your boss?”
“I can’t speak for other places, but bringing them into Zamboanga is definitely possible.”
“That’s more than enough. I’m quite impressed.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you be interested in working with me?”
“If you’ll have me, I’ll work hard.”
“You might end up taking over this entire organization. Can you handle that? Won’t there be internal conflict if you become boss? Won’t Jerico’s faction resist?”
“I’ve been handling almost everything anyway, and I’m second in the organization’s hierarchy. If Jerico weren’t here, I’d be next in line.”
“Oh~~ I like your straightforwardness. But before we work together, don’t you think we should be honest with each other?”
“Ah… yes, you’re right.”
“In that spirit, I’ll ask you one thing. What were you planning to do with Scott earlier?”
Dennis, who had been speaking without hesitation until now, faltered slightly.
He seemed reluctant to answer.
“If you don’t answer, the person standing behind you will. Someone else will take over as boss of this organization, not you. And there’ll be a bullet hole through your head.”
As Dennis continued to hesitate, Scott beside me picked up his gun.
He knows how to intimidate.
He learns at a remarkable pace.
Only then did Dennis answer in an uncertain voice.
“If someone comes alone, we kidnap them, take photos, and contact the people in their phone contacts demanding ransom.”
“Is that all?”
“After that, we harvest their organs and sell them, and we also keep the money we extorted.”
Dennis spoke in a crawling voice.
I looked at the men behind me and asked.
“Is that right?”
Scott aims his gun again.
The men behind nod their heads.
“Yes. That’s how we usually handle people who come alone.”
“Wow~ You bastards are seriously rotten. You never had any intention of letting them live from the start? You took the ransom money, the money from selling organs, and even the transaction fees? You thrifty sons of bitches.”
“I apologize. Jerico ordered us to do it, so we had no choice.”
Dennis continued with his pathetic excuses.
“Scott!”
“Yes, Young Boss.”
“These bastards tried to kill you, right? What should we do?”
“Isn’t it proper etiquette to repay death with death?”
Huh? Where did he pick up such a cool line?
“Right? That’s the correct calculation, isn’t it?”
“I’m sorry. Please, just let me live this once. I’ll work hard and live right.”
Dennis’s expression shifted.
His sharp demeanor crumbled into desperation.
“How am I supposed to work with someone who tried to kill me? Would you be okay with that? They tried to kill me.”
“There’s no personal animosity whatsoever. We just met today—how could there be? I was simply following Jerico’s orders. I sincerely apologize. Please, allow me to atone.”
Dennis bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground,
and the men behind him, realizing they could die as well, dropped to their knees and begged for forgiveness.
“Really?”
“Yes, truly.”
“Scott, they’re asking for forgiveness. What should we do?”
“They seem genuinely remorseful, so I’ll just take one Achilles tendon.”
What the hell is this guy doing?
Shouldn’t he be the one saying I should forgive them?
That’s how this should play out.
“No, let’s do something else. If we cut the Achilles tendon, he won’t be able to work.”
“Ah, I see. Then I’ll take four molars instead.”
Scott pressed the point while staring at Dennis.
“You can still work even if you can’t chew well, right?”
“Yes, yes, yes. That’s correct.”
In that moment, Dennis cursed Jerico for dying.
He’d simply followed orders, and now look at him.
Nearly dead, nearly crippled, and now about to lose four teeth.
That bastard only ever thought of himself.
Even in death, he’s useless.
Dennis felt a grim satisfaction that Jerico was gone.
“So? Want me to pull them now? Or later?”
“I’m rather tired at the moment, so I’ll keep them and pull one whenever I feel like it.”
“Ooh, that’s a good idea. Dennis, you agree with that, right?”
“… Yes…”
“What about you in the back? You agree too?”
“… Yes.”
“Then we’ve settled our grievances. Shall we talk business, Dennis?”
“Yes. Please speak.”
“How about you work under me from now on, do the right thing, and live honestly? Just handle some small-scale weapons smuggling?”
“I’m sorry?”
Dennis was bewildered.
He questioned whether “honestly” and “weapons smuggling” could even be used in the same sentence.
“Jerico’s dead anyway, and the Warehouse is still here. There’s plenty of weapons, and you already know the smuggling routes. Wouldn’t it be a waste to just leave it?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“You seem sharp enough to handle it well. Just don’t try to skim off the top like you did with Jerico. How about living honestly and faithfully as a weapons smuggler instead?”
“If you give me the opportunity, I’ll do my best.”
“Good. I believe you. From now on, you’re hired by me. I can only pay 40,000 pesos a month—about a million won—but I’ll cover social security, health insurance, and housing fund. Oh, Dennis, you should get paid more. The leader of an organization deserves better compensation.”
“Excuse me? What did you say?”
Dennis was taken aback.
A salary?
Had he ever received one before?
Had he ever received money that came in regularly every month?
Jerico would occasionally throw him some cash when the mood struck, but that wasn’t a salary in any real sense.
And on top of that—social security, health insurance, housing fund.
He’d always thought those were things only the privileged enjoyed,
yet now Dennis found himself stepping into that world.
Too stunned to respond, he stood frozen,
“Well, there’s no way around it. It’s company policy. In exchange, I’ll give you bonuses whenever a deal goes through. How’s that?”
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
Dennis and the men standing behind him bowed deeply.
Their faces were flushed with emotion.
“Good. Then we’ll proceed that way. Scott, you have their IDs, right?”
“Yes.”
“Take photos and send them to Patrick right away.”
“Yes.”
I picked up the phone and called Patrick.
“Patrick. Did you see the IDs? Register these guys as employees and get them insured. From today on, they’re part of our family.”
– Yes. I’ll register them right away.
Dennis couldn’t believe what was happening.
Just moments ago, he’d feared for his life, begging for mercy,
and now he was a legitimate employee.
Moreover, he’d been given full authority over the organization.
When I first entered the warehouse and saw Jerico’s corpse,
I’d briefly entertained the thought—if I killed this man, couldn’t I take all of this?
But that thought had only flickered across my mind for an instant.
The man before me was truly terrifying.
He’d dismantled our entire organization in moments.
The reason our organization had survived this long in Zamboanga, where Rebel Forces swarmed, was firepower,
yet because of this one man, we couldn’t do anything.
We’d been completely outmaneuvered.
No matter how I thought about it, I had no confidence I could defeat him.
We operated on different scales.
And above all, there was something mysterious about him.
Though he looked young, he carried the aura of someone who’d weathered every storm the world could throw,
an irresistible presence.
He looked light on his feet, but there was no way to beat him.
Dennis had no desire to defy that aura.
Reckless ambition would only hasten death, just as it had for Jerico.
Dennis at least possessed the reason to suppress his instincts.
“Dennis. How are those kids who got shot earlier?”
“If we treat them quickly, they should be fine.”
I pulled out twenty thousand dollars from my inventory and handed it to Dennis.
“Use this to take the kids to the Hospital, buy them some food, have a team dinner—you can manage all that, right?”
“Of course I can. I’ll take good care of them.”
“Good. Dennis, I think you’ll do well. And within a week, inventory all the weapons here and send me a report. I’ve already taken photos of everything, so if you try to lie, I’ll catch it. And when I do, I’ll take your head too.”
“I’m too cowardly to try something like that.”
“Good. If anything comes up, contact me. From the remaining members of the Criminal Organization, pick out the capable ones and send me their IDs. I’ll hire them too. Just ten people. Choosing the right people is a skill in itself.”
“Thank you for the opportunity. I’ll select only the finest talent.”
“Then I’ll be going. Clean up well after this.”
“I… well…”
“What now? Isn’t this finished?”
“The Warehouse requires a master code to open and close, but I don’t know it. Only Jerico knew that.”
“Is that so? I’m not sure if this is right. Come here.”
I whispered the numbers quietly in his ear.
“543987. You got it?”
“Yes. I’ve memorized it.”
“Then I’m counting on you.”
“Go ahead.”
On the way back to the Hotel.
Scott’s expression looked quite animated.
Now that I think about it, Scott played a big role today.
“Scott, you worked hard today. You did great. Thank you.”
“Not at all. I’m just glad I could be of help.”
“I’ll need your help next time too. Working with me might involve rough jobs. But having you around makes me feel secure.”
“I’m so grateful you saved my life today.”
“By the way?”
“Yes, speak.”
“Are you going to pull out Dennis’s molars?”
“Hah. I don’t have a hobby of extracting molars. It just seemed like the right move in that situation. Did I do wrong?”
“No. You did well. Very well. Hahaha.”
“Thank you.”
.
.
.
I felt satisfied.
I took over an entire weapons smuggling organization for just twenty thousand dollars and a few job placements for some kids.
The weapons alone that I’ve stored in my inventory are more than enough to turn a profit,
yet I’ve swallowed the entire organization whole.
Of course, problems are bound to arise.
There’s a high chance that Dennis or other organization members will betray me.
For now, I’ve kept them in line through intimidation,
but who knows when their resolve might waver.
They’re so far away, and I can’t even manage them properly,
so it’s only natural they’d feel tempted to betray me.
But I can’t live here myself either.
And even if I did live here, it wouldn’t stop those bastards from betraying me anyway.
No one can predict that.
I also need to worry about things going missing.
Just as crumbs stick to your hands when you move rice cakes,
it’s inevitable that some leakage occurs when handling weapons and money.
Honestly, such incidents happen far too often, so I just have to accept it.
If I tried to catch every single loss, I wouldn’t be able to live.
I’ve already made a profitable deal.
My inventory is full of weapons.
So there’s no need to fret over not possessing every last piece perfectly.
I just need to take what I can get.
My rationality edges out my instincts by a narrow margin.
I give trust and authority, then have them work.
If they betray me, I simply fire them.
I file charges and reports for embezzlement.
I’ve already secured what I needed to secure.
But what if they work hard instead?
That’s wonderful.
Lovely, even.
Then I should treat them well.
.
.
.
In my Hotel room, nursing a beer,
I examined the phone that Jerico, the weapons dealer, had left behind.
Password?
It was 543987.
I don’t have a hobby of snooping through other people’s phones,
but I’ve developed one now.
Wow, what was this bastard doing wandering around every night?
The photo album was nothing but a parade of flesh tones.
Wow~~ I really can’t find the words to describe this…
Wow~~ this bastard lived like a king.
Truth is, I didn’t look at the phone because I wanted to see photos.
I was curious about how the arms dealer made contact and conducted transactions,
and it’s not much different from drug dealing.
But then I noticed a familiar app.
The crypto investment app I used back when I was in the military.
Though my coins got delisted and didn’t even survive as digital scraps.
Out of idle curiosity, I opened the app.
But wait, is this right?
Can there really be this many zeros?
I couldn’t help but be shocked when I opened the app.

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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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