I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 57

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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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057-Ana
57.
“How about 2 million won per piece? We’d like to create various merchandise from these. In exchange, I’ll give you 2% of the net profits from merchandise sales.”
Faced with the sudden proposal, Lim Yu-na couldn’t make a decision.
It was just a sketch she’d doodled.
A drawing with no intention behind it, created wherever her hand took her.
Fine art aims to express the artist’s inner world,
while visual design aims to convey a message.
This drawing was neither one nor the other.
It didn’t fit fine art, nor did it suit visual design.
Yet this man insisted on buying it.
And for 2 million won per piece at that.
Plus 2% of the sales revenue.
So she hesitated.
The terms were too good.
She wondered if there was some kind of trick involved.
She decided to ask.
“Is there perhaps another condition?”
“There is.”
Lim Yu-na felt uneasy.
What would this man demand as a condition?
What if he asked for something strange?
What if he demanded a night with her in exchange for the paintings?
Should she refuse outright?
Should she reluctantly agree?
Her mind grew tangled, and her face flushed red.
“I think it would be nice if you could finish these paintings a bit. They’re good as they are, but some still look incomplete. Would it be possible to complete them?”
“Well, I suppose… Ah, complete them? Of course I should.”
Lim Yu-na was taken aback by his unexpected condition.
“By when would that be possible?”
“Would it be alright if I returned to South Korea and sent them to you after finishing them properly?”
“The current state is already good though. Just finish them as they are. That’s more than enough.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll finish them and give them to you tonight.”
“Still, we should draw up a contract, shouldn’t we? That would be better for both of us.”
“A contract?”
“It’s better than having issues later.”
The man gestured, and another man approached and bowed his head beside him.
The man said something, and moments later, the man returned with a contract.
【Content Usage Agreement】
Lim Yu-na read through the contract slowly and carefully, then pressed her name down firmly on the paper.
It was the first income of her twenty-four years.
.
.
.
I watch the woman seated before me sign her name.
Then I call Patrick and tell him to find a company to manufacture merchandise.
I plan to produce merchandise in various types.
T-shirts, hoodies, hats, eco bags, scarves, keychains, badges, magnets, tumblers, stickers, postcards, phone cases, umbrellas, snow globes, and more.
The possibilities were endless.
I tell him to create samples first and bring them over.
I need to see the samples before I can move forward with the next steps.
After wrapping things up somewhat haphazardly, I’m heading toward the guest rooms when a white woman in her twenties walks in.
She’s unfamiliar.
Vicente Palace has a very high proportion of Korean guests.
It’s only natural, since the hotel is included in travel packages.
We can’t have our guests staying at other hotels.
So Koreans are common here,
but foreigners, especially white people, are rare to see.
It’s not that they dislike this hotel—it’s simply that we lack available rooms.
Even if they wanted to stay, there are no vacancies.
Yet here comes a white woman striding purposefully through the entrance and heading straight to the hotel reception.
I find myself watching her like observing a painting.
Out of curiosity.
The woman says she’s come to pick up her luggage, mentioning the name John Doe.
John Doe?
Where have I heard that name before?
Ah, that’s right.
It’s the name the person who bought a gun asked me to hold it under.
This woman is the one who came to retrieve the gun I’ve been keeping.
The person who purchased only a single gun,
the one who completely captivated my curiosity.
In that instant, my gaze shifts toward her.
Simultaneously, I scan my surroundings.
Just in case, like with Marian last time.
The way I had Marian find the drugs for me.
Someone could have sent her to retrieve something as well.
If so, they would be watching her from somewhere.
I quietly move to a secluded corner and check whether anyone is watching her.
I checked multiple times, but I never spotted anyone like that.
Is it a relationship built on trust?
So is the meeting outside the building, or is there a separate location?
The curiosity is driving me insane.
In the meantime, she retrieved the item she’d left behind and exited the Hotel.
A single shopping bag dangled from her hand.
I naturally followed her.
Of course, I know I shouldn’t.
Curiosity hastens death, as they say.
But I possess a weak rationality that cannot overcome instinct.
I followed her naturally.
I was simply curious.
What would unfold.
Instead, since I’m weak, I’ll just observe and leave.
Just observe.
.
.
.
The Woman in Cheongsam got into a car and drove somewhere.
I quietly followed in my own vehicle.
She parked in front of Cayley International Advisory.
Cayley International Advisory was a fairly renowned company not just in Bohol, but throughout the Philippines.
It was famous for providing consulting, solutions, and strategic planning.
I’d heard it was particularly strong in tax law and investment.
I’ve seen it in the news lately—is something wrong with them?
But why did that woman come here?
Did her investment fail?
She invested and lost?
All her money vanished into thin air?
Then I understand.
Worth bringing a gun for.
I get it.
She remained in the car for quite a while after parking.
The interior light was on, so it seemed she was checking the gun she’d received.
She was probably checking the magazine and loading it.
Soon the interior light went off and she stepped out of the car.
I got out as well.
Just observing, just observing.
Unlike the gleaming Cayley International Advisory sign, the interior was completely empty.
In the Philippines, guards would be essential, yet none were visible.
This is typically how people act when they’re up to no good.
Something shady must be happening inside.
Well, this works in my favor.
I quietly followed her from behind.
Without letting her notice me.
A moment later
she stopped in front of someone’s room and caught her breath.
Then she opened the door and stepped inside.
“What are you doing here, Ana? How did you even find this place?”
“What’s that in your hand? Don’t tell me it’s a gun?”
“Don’t do this. Pointing a gun won’t solve anything. Put that down and talk to me.”
“We can work this out through conversation.”
“Conversation? When I kept asking for dialogue, where were you then? Now you suddenly want to talk because you’re holding a gun? That’s rich.”
“I always intended to. I’ve been busy. We’re people for whom time is precious.”
Through the slightly ajar door, I could see a woman sitting in the seat of honor,
and three men in business suits sitting on the sofa.
The woman who’d just entered stood there, threatening them with her gun as she continued speaking.
The woman seated in the place of honor opened her mouth.
She seemed to be the leader of this operation.
“Ana, I understand you’re upset. But this isn’t the way to solve it. There’s no need to react so drastically. There has to be another way. So let’s put our heads together and think about this again. It’s just a simple internal audit, after all.”
She’s definitely the leader.
Even with a gun pointed at her, her voice remained composed.
Either she had nerves of steel, or she’d been through this kind of situation multiple times before.
But an internal audit?
So it wasn’t just about losing the investment funds.
“Right, Ana. If we discuss this together, won’t we find some solution?”
“Just put the gun down and think this through calmly.”
The men in suits chimed in with the leader’s words.
“Cayley, you’ve really misjudged me. Did you really think I knew nothing about this?”
“What?”
“You embezzled the money Erika entrusted to you. You used my ID and email for it, while I just did my usual work. But somehow, I’ve become the embezzler who stole from clients. You’ll call it a simple internal audit now, but tomorrow, forged documents will surface through the audit, and I’ll be on my way to prison. I’ll be driven to suicide on the way there, all while knowing nothing about it.”
Clap, clap, clap.
The woman in the seat of honor began applauding.
“Wow, I’m genuinely impressed. You’re not the first person to play this role, but you’re the first to grasp the situation this quickly. I’m really amazed. But how did you figure it out? I was careful, or so I thought.”
“The money flow for laundering was abnormal. If you didn’t notice, that would be strange. So I’ve decided.”
“Decided what?”
“Either we forget this ever happened, or you die here.”
Ana pointed the gun at her once more.
“You’re something else, Ana. You read situations fast and arrive at the perfect answer immediately. I’ve always appreciated how well you do your work, but I never expected that ability to extend this far. But here’s the thing—I’m not acting alone. I need to consult with other parties. Can you wait a bit for that? I just need to make one phone call.”
“Go ahead.”
Cayley, seated at the head of the table, picked up her phone and manipulated it.
In an instant, the space behind me erupted into chaos as armed men came rushing in.
It seemed she hadn’t been negotiating at all—she’d simply summoned security.
I quickly concealed myself, and once they entered the room, I resumed my covert observation.
When armed men appeared behind her, Ana’s composure shattered.
Cayley spoke to the flustered Ana.
“You didn’t actually think you were the only one with a gun, did you? Besides, you haven’t even disengaged the safety on yours.”
As Ana panicked and reached to check the safety, one of the security personnel swiftly snatched the weapon from her grasp.
The gun was taken, and the security personnel surrounded Ana completely.
In a heartbeat, every advantage Ana had possessed evaporated entirely.
Cayley nodded, and all the security personnel departed.
The gun Ana had brought now rested in Cayley’s hands.
“Since things have come to this, why don’t you simply turn yourself in? In exchange, we’ll provide you with a lawyer and ensure you can continue working here after your release. That’s quite a favorable arrangement, wouldn’t you say?”
“Cayley, you don’t think I’m that much of a fool, do you? Do you really expect me to fall for something like that? You’ve already deceived me right now.”
“Ana. Do you actually believe you have a choice right now? Ana, I’m showing you mercy. I’m creating a path for you to survive. If you find it difficult to accept, dying right now isn’t such a bad option either. You came here to threaten us with a gun and were accidentally shot. The gun is in my hands, and it’s quite convenient, isn’t it?”
Cayley set the gun down on the table as she spoke.
“You’re intelligent enough to have picked up on this already. When an orphan with no impressive credentials joined our company, didn’t you ever wonder if there was a reason for it?”
“Well… even so.”
“Orphans are convenient for this very reason. Even when cornered like this, no one will come to help you. No one will step forward for you. That’s why we always use orphans for jobs like this. Cleanup is so much easier afterward.”
Ana was trembling with genuine rage, her entire body shaking.
Had she still possessed the gun, she likely would have fired it, but all she could do was clench her empty fists.
“Don’t be like that—think positively about it. It’s only a year. It might even be shorter than that. If you accept responsibility and serve your sentence, we’ll take care of everything afterward.”
Ana hesitated, confused and unable to reach a decision.
From my vantage point as an observer, it was entertaining.
This woman Cayley had embezzled client funds and intended to pin the blame on Ana. Ana had discovered this and come armed to extort her, only to have the gun taken away—a common enough story.
My curiosity had been satisfied.
That was enough.
However this concluded, it was their problem to solve, and I needed to return home.
The only regret I had was
that if Ana had fired off a few shots the moment she entered, the conversation would have progressed far more smoothly and quickly.
If several people in that room had been bleeding,
they wouldn’t have been cornered like this—and that’s what I found slightly disappointing.
If it were me, I would have eliminated the three men sitting on the sofa immediately upon entering,
then aimed the gun at the woman while we talked.
I shook my head vigorously.
What kind of unholy thoughts were these?
If I simply left carefully now, I could satisfy my curiosity and preserve my life.
“Cayley, no matter how much I think about it, I can’t accept that. I simply cannot trust you.”
Ana pulled out a gun she’d hidden behind her back.
That was a Smith & Wesson Shield—one I’d sold.
So what was that gun earlier?
Wow, was this part of the plan all along?
Ana appeared again.
Drawing her gun once more, Ana pulled the trigger at the man sitting on the sofa.
Bang. Bang.
Her stance was unsteady, but perhaps the distance was short enough?
The man sitting on the sofa collapsed right there.
The others hurriedly hid behind the sofa and behind the desk.
Cayley had been reaching for the gun she’d set down, but startled by Ana’s gunshots, she ducked behind the desk.
The gunfire must have carried far—I could hear the security personnel from earlier approaching.
I couldn’t let them interrupt such an entertaining spectacle.
I pulled an assault rifle from my inventory and
helped ensure their conversation wouldn’t end prematurely.
“Don’t do this, Ana. Why are you doing this? It’s a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. Let’s think about this once more.”
Cayley’s voice had changed.
That composed tone from before had vanished.
“No, if you leave here, you’ll just find a way to kill me later as if nothing happened. So it’s right that you die here. Thank you. I’ll make good use of all those money laundering techniques you taught me.”
Bang.
Ana fired at Cayley.
But she couldn’t hit her.
The man in the suit who had been hiding tackled Ana.
Though Ana held the gun, her petite frame didn’t seem likely to overcome that man.
Another man picked up the fallen gun from the floor and turned it toward Ana.
But what had that woman said?
Money laundering techniques?
She was a specialist?
That changes things entirely.
We always treat specialists with preference.
And hadn’t Nam Yong-woo mentioned that money laundering was giving him headaches?
Wouldn’t bringing her along be helpful?
My thoughts hadn’t finished forming, but my body was already opening the door and stepping into the room.
The moment I entered, bang bang bang.
The man holding the gun,
the man in the suit restraining Ana—I shot them down.
Ana looked startled at my sudden intrusion, but she seemed grateful that I was helping her.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
All the men had collapsed, and only Cayley remained hidden under the desk.
“Why don’t you come out?”
“Would you come out if you were me?”
“I’m not saying I can’t drag you out. I just want to talk.”
Yet she still didn’t emerge.
When I fired warning shots around the desk, she stepped out with both hands raised.
Even as she came out, she growled.
“Who are you? What gives you the right to interrupt our conversation? If you leave now, I’ll let you keep your life.”
“Tsk, look at that foul mouth. If you die, it’ll probably be because of that mouth. When you meet someone for the first time, you greet them. You introduce yourself, right? But you just talk about killing and sparing lives. How am I supposed to have a conversation when you’re being like this?”
“Who are you? What conversation is there in this situation?”
“Enough. You good at money laundering?”
“Money laundering? That’s my specialty. Any money that passes through my hands—all traces disappear. At least in the Philippines, I’m the best.”
Cayley answered with absolute confidence.
“Really? You sure about that?”
I asked while looking at Ana.
“Ten years ago, that would’ve been true, but not anymore. Cayley’s methods are outdated. Everyone knows them. The reason investigations keep coming is because the government has already traced the source of all the funds. Cayley felt the pressure and started stealing her clients’ money, then tried to pin the blame on me so she could flee the Philippines.”
Ana protested, and her words carried considerable weight.
“That’s not true.”
“I use proven, reliable methods. Our clients prefer the stable, trustworthy approach we’ve built over many years.”
“Is that so? I’m inclined to vote for creative methods. Ana, could you do better than Cayley?”
“Of course. I could do a hundred times better than Cayley. I know all her methods anyway. I just wouldn’t use them.”
“Good then. Let’s go. Isn’t leaving better than dying here?”
“How can I trust you?”
“Trust? What are you, religious? Do you work on faith? You just get paid and do the job. Take what you earn and move on. Why are you looking for trust? Go to church if you want that.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“You said you’re good at money laundering, right?”
“Yes. I’m really good at that.”
“Then that’s all that matters. Any problem with that?”
“No. None.”
“Then let’s go.”
I started to leave, but she couldn’t follow.
She was staring at Cayley.
Probably worried that leaving Cayley like this would cause trouble later.
Still, I took no action.
“What about Cayley?”
“What about her?”
“We’re just leaving her like this?”
“What else? Should I take her to a hospital?”
“No, that’s not it…”
“Not it. What? Speak clearly.”
“If we leave her like this, it’ll become a problem later.”
“What kind of problem?”
“She’ll interfere with me and try to kill me.”
“I’m disappointed in you right now.”
“Pardon?”
“Work keeps throwing problems at you. You need someone who can tackle those problems proactively. But someone who whines and begs for help every time? That’s not attractive.”
“I don’t favor you because I like you, Ana. I picked the more capable person between the two of you. If Cayley had been more skilled than you, I would’ve chosen her instead. I have no feelings toward Cayley. The emotions exist between you and her—not with me. I’m not the type to insert myself into your emotional conflicts and fight your battles for you. Whether there are feelings or fights, that’s something you need to handle yourself. There’s no room for whining about it.”
Ana seemed shaken by my words.
I’m not sure why she found it so shocking, but I really did approach this purely from a scouting perspective.
It would be a shame if talented people died from gunfire.
That’s all there is to it.
I have no desire to fight your battles for you.
Is Cayley the villain?
Is Ana purely good?
They’re both talented at money laundering, but that has nothing to do with morality.
I have no intention of judging who’s right or wrong between you two,
and I have no interest in getting involved in your conflict.
You two need to solve your own problems.
“Ana. When you walked in here with that gun. If you remember why you brought it, you’ll find the answer easier than you think. I’m heading out first. If you want to work together, come to the front of the building.”
I left those words behind and walked out of the room.
Not long after,
Bang.
a gunshot rang out, and Ana walked out.

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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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