You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 130

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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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130

 

Even though it was dawn, the Association President’s Office had its lights on.

 

When I opened the door, the Association President was reviewing documents.

 

His face was a half-and-half mix of lingering alcohol and fatigue.

 

Upon seeing me, the Association President took off his glasses and rubbed his eyelids.

 

“You’ve come.”

 

“What happened?”

 

I asked before even sitting down on the sofa.

 

“A cooperation request came in from the Ethiopian Government.”

 

“Ethiopia?”

 

No matter how much Ashin’s and my reputation was spreading overseas, I hadn’t thought that a direct request would come from Africa.

 

Asia or the United States would be one thing, but we had no real connection with Africa.

 

“I was puzzled too. They specifically requested you by name.”

 

“Me?”

 

It wasn’t that Korea and Ethiopia had no connection at all.

 

No, rather, Korea owed Ethiopia a great debt.

 

They were a participating nation in the Korean War.

 

But it was strange for that connection to lead to ‘me.’

 

The Association President held out a document file that was on his desk.

 

“This is the official document sent from Ethiopia.”

 

I quickly skimmed through the documents.

 

After flipping past the official document with formal cooperation requests, there was the name of a puzzling organization.

 

“WHO…?”

 

It was strange that the official document had the World Health Organization’s mark on it.

 

“That’s what I called you here to talk about.”

 

The Association President leaned forward.

 

“I’d prefer if you could decline this case if possible.”

 

“…It’s not just about the compensation money.”

 

Looking at the Association President’s expression, there seemed to be another reason.

 

The Ethiopian Government’s finances weren’t abundant enough to request cooperation from an S-Rank Hunter.

 

However, there were many Western Region corporations that had expanded into Ethiopian territory who could pay that amount instead.

 

The compensation money wasn’t an issue for me in the first place.

 

Nominally, it was about repaying the debt of gratitude for helping Korea when it was in difficulty,

 

but in reality, I also wanted to try using the fully awakened Demigod’s Power.

In truth, there was also a desire to try using the full power of an awakened demigod.

After sending away the Heavenly Demon and Han Se-wol, had I become like a fighting cock?

After spending so much time with Cheonma, have I become a fighting cock?

Now ordinary A-rank Dungeons couldn’t satisfy me anymore.

Now, ordinary A-rank dungeons could no longer satisfy him.

“Are you the kind of Hunter who moves for money? If it were just that kind of problem, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

“What, are you one of those hunters who only moves for money? If that were the issue, I wouldn’t have even brought it up.”

The Association President’s eyes hardened slightly.

The association president’s eyes hardened slightly.

“Instead of a monster wave, a plague has broken out.”

“A plague has broken out instead of a monster wave.”

“A plague…?”

“A plague…?”

“Yes, along with the Dungeon Break, an infectious disease of unknown origin is spreading.”

“Yeah, there’s an epidemic of unknown origin spreading at the same time as the dungeon break.”

‘So that’s why WHO’s name was on the official document.’

‘So that’s why WHO’s name was on the official document.’

This was another new case.

This was yet another new case.

A Dungeon Break that causes infectious diseases…

A dungeon break that causes an epidemic…

“Moreover, that’s not the only strange thing. The Break occurred immediately upon the S-Rank Dungeon’s formation.”

“And that’s not the only strange thing. The break happened right when the S-rank dungeon appeared.”

“… Without any prior warning signs?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

That was clearly abnormal.

 

When a dungeon is created, it needs to be left alone for a certain period before a Break occurs.

 

Or there was some kind of artificial intervention.

 

No, is it even possible with artificial intervention?

 

Evidence of the Cult artificially causing Dungeon Breaks had been continuously captured through Sadangpae.

 

But even that process took at least a day or more.

 

There had never been a case like this one where a Break occurred simultaneously with creation.

 

“Something’s suspicious.”

 

The Association President had similar thoughts to mine.

 

“The United States and several other countries have already designated all of Africa as travel-prohibited nations. We’re planning to announce the same soon.”

 

The Association President took a sip of tea.

 

“The United States is already moving too. The dispatch of WHO and Hunter Corps has been decided. Since we can’t completely stay out of it, I’m asking for your opinion.”

 

The Association President continued carefully.

 

“To be honest… there’s no reason for you to go.”

 

“…”

 

“If it were an S-rank monster, I wouldn’t even think of stopping you. But disease is a different realm altogether.”

 

The Association President looked at me for a moment, then added a word.

 

“This case, it seems like we could just leave it to the United States.”

 

I didn’t answer immediately.

 

I habitually tapped the table.

 

‘I don’t have to go…’

 

That’s right.

 

If it were something that required force, I would have gladly gone.

 

Regardless of the compensation.

 

As a Korean, I also feel grateful to Ethiopia.

 

But if it was about disease, my going there could actually be a hindrance.

 

I understand it logically.

 

WHO would be much more professional in a pandemic situation.

 

Moreover, with United States support, they could quickly contain the spread.

 

But…

 

‘It keeps bothering me.’

 

It wasn’t just bothering me a little.

 

My other half’s Divine Authority that sees value was pointing toward going to Ethiopia.

 

That going would definitely be beneficial…

 

In the end, after much deliberation, there was only one conclusion.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“…”

 

The Association President stared at me intently without answering.

 

There was a moment of silence.

 

Then he soon let out a sigh.

 

“I’ll send an official document to Ethiopia.”

 

“Aren’t you going to try to stop me?”

 

“As if you’re the type to listen when told.”

 

The Association President got up from the sofa without even looking at me.

 

“Looking at your expression, it seems you’ve made up your mind, so rather than having a pointless argument, it’s more efficient to prepare support methods.”

 

That’s the right answer.

 

This is why working with colleagues was comfortable.

 

“Then, I’ll depart as soon as preparations are complete.”

 

I left the Association President’s office with a light heart.

 

I didn’t know why my Divine Authority was leading me to Ethiopia.

 

But I had a pleasant feeling that this foreign trip would allow me to strike the back of someone’s head that I disliked.

 

***

 

“Absolutely not!”

 

Kim Jin-woo was pressing both hands on the desk and glaring at me.

 

“Even if you’re my Elder Brother, as a guild leader, I absolutely cannot tolerate you going to a place where plague is spreading!”

 

“I told you it’s fine.”

 

“Still, it’s not allowed.”

 

Kim Jin-woo’s voice trembled slightly.

 

“No matter how much you’re an S-rank Hunter and my Elder Brother, you’re not… immune to diseases, are you?”

 

Even while speaking, the thought ‘Maybe he won’t catch it?’ briefly crossed Jin-woo’s face.

 

But Jin-woo returned to his original stance.

 

“Anyway, what’s not allowed is not allowed.”

 

“I told you it’s fine.”

 

“That’s right. I’ve never seen Elder Brother get sick even once. But this time it’s supposedly an infectious disease caused by an Abnormal Phenomenon. Does it make sense to enter the epicenter without even a vaccine?”

 

This was the first time he had opposed me so strongly.

 

‘I didn’t expect to get stuck here…’

 

“You know you can’t stop me anyway.”

 

Jin-woo let out a long sigh.

 

“That’s exactly why I hate it even more.”

 

Jin-woo slumped down into his chair.

 

My gaze turned toward Shin In-seon, who was sitting at the conference table.

 

“Would you be able to come with me?”

 

“I’ll go. Sure.”

 

Shin In-seon already had a resolved expression on her face.

 

“It’s fine if you don’t go. WHO also has medical staff included.”

 

“If I go along, you’ll have less to worry about, Guild Master.”

 

“As I said, we’re going right into the heart of a contaminated area caused by an abnormal phenomenon.”

 

While it would certainly be convenient if she came along, there wasn’t necessarily a reason she had to accompany me.

 

That’s why I checked her intentions once more.

 

“Merchant.”

 

She called my name firmly.

 

“Yes.”

 

“I am a medical professional before I am a Porter.”

 

She looked straight into my eyes and continued speaking.

 

“If a doctor avoids the scene because they’re afraid of disease… is that really a doctor?”

 

Then she stood up from her seat and walked toward the conference room exit.

 

“I have a lot to pack, so I’ll go prepare.”

 

I watched her leave with my eyes, then turned my head.

 

He was Park Ju-yong, Ashin’s ace and A-rank Hunter who had received an influencer award.

 

But despite his brilliant career, Park Ju-yong was cowering like a shrimp caught between whales.

 

“Why are you looking at me?”

 

“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”

 

“…”

 

After a brief silence, Park Ju-yong let out the breath he had been holding.

 

“How am I supposed to stop In-seon?”

 

His voice was rather calm.

 

“Vice Guild Master, you know too. That In-seon works with a sense of mission.”

 

I nodded at Park Ju-yong’s words.

 

After all, her motivation for joining Ashin in the first place was to prevent creating victims like her son.

 

“And honestly, I’m not worried.”

 

He shrugged his shoulders as he continued.

 

“Since the Vice Guild Master personally asked to accompany her, you’ll somehow bring her back alive.”

 

It was such deep trust.

 

Still, sometimes I wished he would doubt me just a little…

 

Behind me, Kim Jin-woo still had an angry expression on his face.

 

“Jin-woo.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Let’s prepare first.”

 

Calming his anger would come after that.

 

***

 

That afternoon at 11:30 PM.

 

A military transport plane was waiting on the airfield runway, its engines rumbling low.

 

The cargo hold was packed full with an excessive amount of equipment, healing potions, protective gear, and other supply items.

 

In front of the transport aircraft stood Shin In-seon and I, along with the Association President and guild members who had come to see us off.

 

And Kim Jin-woo, still with his stern expression.

 

In the end, my attempt to persuade him had failed.

 

I exchanged greetings with each person one by one and stood before Kim Jin-woo.

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

“…”

 

Kim Jin-woo, who had been looking at me for a moment, let out a deep sigh.

 

“How could I possibly stop Elder Brother?”

 

He continued speaking.

 

“Medical tools, equipment, potions – I’ve loaded everything into the Universal Cart as well.”

 

Inside the transport aircraft, among all the equipment, a Universal Cart was firmly positioned.

 

With just the equipment loaded, it would be enough to set up a field hospital.

 

“I’ll handle everything in Korea so Elder Brother won’t need to worry. So…”

 

Kim Jin-woo bowed his head.

 

“Please… be careful and come back safely.”

 

“Alright.”

 

I lightly patted his shoulder.

 

From the boarding gate of the transport aircraft, I looked around the runway once more.

 

It’s not like I’m going to die, so why do they all have such solemn expressions…

 

I chuckled softly and waved my hand, then boarded the Transport Aircraft.

 

***

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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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