You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 110

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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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110

 

 

‘I didn’t think I’d have to wear a suit again.’

 

I loosened the necktie that was choking my neck slightly.

 

I thought that press conference would be the last time I’d wear a suit at an official event…

 

The atmosphere of the banquet hall was quite splendid.

 

Elaborate lighting fixtures like works of art were illuminated, and gentle classical music was flowing.

 

Not only high-ranking American officials, but people from famous corporations had already gathered and were conversing.

 

Most of them must have come to meet me.

 

But I was planning to quietly sip some drinks and head back.

 

Even if I met with them to discuss business, it would eventually go through Kim Jin-woo anyway.

 

Wouldn’t it be better if they just talked with Kim Jin-woo from the start without going through me?

 

Since this banquet was prepared for me, my role would be done by showing my face appropriately and taking a few photos with Aiden.

 

But when does life ever go according to plan?

 

The route I had mapped out for what to eat and drink became useless the moment I entered.

 

– Korea’s S-rank Hunter, Hunter Han Sang-in is entering.

The moment I walked through the door, the spotlight hit me and it was broadcast throughout the entire banquet hall.

What the hell is this entrance scene that looks like something out of a medieval play?

Besides, there’s nothing else that will shine a light on me, is there?

But what’s done is done—making a sour face here would only damage my own image.

‘Tsk, I only came to be a figurehead, but they’re really getting their money’s worth out of me.’

I sighed and quickly hid my expression.

With a faint smile on his lips, he waved his hand appropriately as he walked into the banquet hall.

After that embarrassing situation ended, people came flocking over.

Leading entrepreneurs and high-ranking government officials.

I engaged in casual conversation with them, and the moment business talk was about to come up, I quickly passed those people off to Kim Jin-woo and the association president.

For the first time, I thought it was a good idea to bring the association president along.

There were quite a few people for Jinwoo to handle alone, and the association president would be better at political talk than Jinwoo anyway.

After consecutively deflecting the barrage of conversations that poured in as soon as I entered, I was able to escape the crowd a little.

No sooner had she picked up her champagne glass to catch her breath than someone else approached her.

“Mr. Han.”

Should I be relieved that there’s only one of them?

He turned around, thinking he should have some icebreaking time, sort things out, and then pass them along to Jinwoo or the association president.

A woman stood there with straight blonde hair and captivating red eyes that caught one’s attention.

Uniquely, she had a hat made of fabric placed on her head.

 

But the moment our eyes met, chilling goosebumps rose on my skin.

 

“…”

 

Just from the aura I felt, she was already not an ordinary person.

 

And the moment I heard her name,

And the moment I heard her name,

I could immediately understand why I felt uncomfortable around this woman.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Vivian, the director of Sun Research Institute.”

A cult executive was talking to me at the White House banquet hall.

 

***

 

***

 

The reason I didn’t recognize her immediately was because Vivian’s appearance was the complete opposite of what I had imagined.

 

Though it was a dress, it wasn’t overly revealing, and the hat she wore on her head gave off the feeling of a clergy member.

 

As far as I knew, there was no black magic user who looked like a clergy member.

 

As far as I knew, black magic couldn’t hide the fact that one was corrupted…

 

As far as I know, dark magic shouldn’t be able to hide the fact that it’s corrupted…

‘I don’t sense any aura that would suggest she’s a black magic user.’

 

No, at the very least, if she were a black magic user, there should be traces of that heavy, oppressive energy remaining, but Vivian standing before me was the complete opposite.

 

Vivian’s red eyes, filled with a smile, stared directly at me.

 

“It would be rude to leave a lady’s hand empty for too long.”

 

Only then did I come to my senses and, with a smile, grasped her hand.

 

“I must have been momentarily mesmerized by your beautiful appearance.”

 

The moment I took her hand, disgust rose within me first.

 

Not ghostly energy like Ghostly Energy, but something more viscous and malevolent.

 

I maintained my expression to the end and released her hand.

 

“Now we can finally have a conversation.”

 

“If it’s not particularly important, I’d like to rest a bit. As you know, I’ve been speaking nonstop for an hour.”

 

It was essentially telling her bluntly that I didn’t want to talk with her and she should leave.

 

“Oh my, how rude of me.”

 

Instead, she made a troubled expression and bowed her head.

 

“Still, there’s something I’d like to ask – could you spare just about 3 minutes?”

 

‘Tsk, this makes it hard for me to leave.’

 

I had openly issued an order to leave, but when she responded with that kind of attitude, the one in a difficult position was me.

 

Here, I was the only one who knew her true identity.

 

To the political and business circles figures gathered in the banquet hall, Vivian was a hero.

 

In reality, she was known not as a black magic user but as an S-rank engineer serving as director of the Sun Research Institute under the US Department of Defense.

 

Already, two S-rank Hunters were pretending not to look while perking up their ears to hear what conversation we might have.

 

“I’ll give you exactly 3 minutes.”

 

“Ah, thank you. It’s not that long of a question.”

 

With that, she took a step closer to me.

 

“How did you find the work I created?”

 

“Work?”

 

“I sent it to you. I understand you even kept it as a collection?”

 

I couldn’t understand what nonsensical thing she was talking about.

 

Vivian and I were meeting for the first time right now.

 

When I tilted my head as if I didn’t understand, she approached my ear.

 

“Liu Chen, I mean. Liu Chen. Humanity’s first Gemstone Weapon Golem.”

 

Vivian whispered quietly.

 

I stared at her with a blank expression.

 

Was turning Liu Chen’s entire body into a Gemstone Weapon Vivian’s work?

 

Come to think of it, Vivian was included in the list of people who handle Ghost Stones that Sister An Hyeon-su gave me.

 

“If I had just a little more time, it would have been more perfect…”

 

The moment I saw her expression, I could tell.

 

From the beginning, she hadn’t been hiding that she was a black magic user.

 

I had simply mistaken the sweet fragrance coming from a rotten apple.

 

My mind raced quickly.

 

Vivian might possess even higher skills than Liu Chen.

 

That’s how she could have replaced Liu Chen’s upper body, including his head, with Gemstone Weapons.

 

Could Vivian be Liu Chen’s superior?

 

If that were true, Vivian might be responsible for the Cult’s Gemstone Weapons.

 

The rapidly flowing reasoning reached a single question.

 

Would it be beneficial to deal with Vivian here?

 

In an instant, Karmic Fire blazed between my clenched fists.

 

But I couldn’t strike easily.

 

Even though at this distance, I could deal Vivian a blow that would be difficult to recover from.

 

“…”

 

Then I immediately dispersed the Karmic Fire I had gathered in my hand.

 

Killing Vivian here would be a loss.

 

Even if I succeeded, I would have to make an enemy of the entire United States.

 

“As expected, the Cult Leader has a good eye.”

 

She then took the champagne glass from my hand and slowly stepped back.

 

Her long straight hair brushed against my cheek.

 

Vivian took a sip of the champagne in her hand.

 

“Interesting as expected.”

 

Just as her eyes curved like crescents and the corners of Vivian’s mouth rose—

 

“Oh, Mr. Han! There you are!”

 

A large man placed his hand on my shoulder with a familiar voice.

 

It was Aiden.

 

“Director Vivian was here too?”

 

Aiden looked at her with a light smile.

 

“We just exchanged brief greetings.”

 

“Oh my, it seems I’ve interrupted the conversation of two young people.”

 

“No. We’ve already finished everything we had to discuss.”

 

Then Vivian looked at me and bowed her head slightly.

 

“It was a pleasant conversation. I hope we can meet again later.”

 

With those words, she turned around.

 

“Sorry for suddenly barging in. Were you in the middle of something important?”

 

“No. We were just exchanging greetings.”

 

Aiden handed me a champagne glass.

 

“Tough, isn’t it?”

 

Aiden winked slightly.

 

I chuckled and accepted the glass he offered.

 

“It’s tough.”

 

“Our people are quite peculiar. Take a breather for a moment.”

 

With that, Aiden led me toward the Terrace.

 

“At least here, people won’t come looking for us.”

 

“You know well.”

 

“Of course I do. Everyone in the Banquet Hall is probably chattering about what we might be discussing.”

 

“That could be. Judging by how noisy the Banquet Hall got as soon as we came to the Terrace.”

 

“Naturally. The US President is having a conversation with Korea’s, no, Asia’s most rapidly rising S-rank Hunter.”

 

Aiden leaned against the Balcony railing.

 

“All sorts of speculation will be flying around. Security agreements, new Weapons, reaffirmation of the US-Korea alliance, things like that.”

 

Aiden let out a short sigh.

 

“Just by you and me meeting, the appropriate pictures have already been painted.”

 

I thought he was just an American uncle who liked hero costumes, but it seems he has his own troubles.

 

“That must be tiring.”

 

At my words, Aiden chuckled.

 

“Can’t be helped. That’s the life of us heroes, isn’t it.”

 

A brief silence flowed, and Aiden straightened up.

 

“Let’s wrap this up and go back in.”

 

I also straightened up from leaning against the railing.

 

“Take it easy and relax. The real game is the evening conference.”

 

Aiden paused while opening the Terrace door.

 

“Oh, and I sent you the Dress Code for tonight’s conference. Don’t forget.”

 

With those words, we both entered the Banquet Hall again.

 

As Aiden said, the real game wasn’t this show-off banquet, but the conference that would follow.

 

That’s where the full-scale meeting about the Giant Tribe Dungeon would begin.

 

Taking Aiden’s words as advice, I put food on my plate with the intention of taking a proper rest.

 

The moment I turned around, there was already a long line of people waiting behind me.

 

I put down the plate of food again and gave a sad smile.

 

I don’t know if I’ll have another occasion to come to the United States, but if I do, I’ll definitely make sure to schedule plenty of time.

 

***

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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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