You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 156

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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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156

 

As I opened the reception room door and entered, people from the surveillance department in suits were sitting there.

 

Among the sharp-featured men in suits, there was a familiar person.

 

It was the Association President.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

I hadn’t expected an inspection team including the Association President to barge in without any notice.

 

‘Is this betrayal?’

 

If it was betrayal, I’d make sure they never see the light of day again…

 

I quickly shook off thoughts of the Hyeonmu lunar eclipse incident.

 

I never thought from the beginning that the association president had betrayed us.

 

What is this all about when just a few weeks ago we were on the same side and even drew up a contract together.

 

It would have been more convincing if she was taking it out on me for not taking her to the New Year’s hiking trip.

 

The association president opened his mouth with an awkward expression.

 

“We’ve received a group complaint.”

 

I blinked for a moment.

 

I never thought the word “civil complaint” would come up at this point.

 

The content of the complaint was simple.

 

It was a complaint raising questions about the Asin Guild passing their one-year evaluation with an A-grade.

 

“We’re the only guild in the world that has two S-rank hunters. Is it really so questionable that such a guild received an A-grade?”

 

“They were questioning whether it’s reasonable to give an A-grade rating just because the guild master is an S-rank hunter, regardless of the actual capabilities of the guild members.”

 

It was absurd.

 

First, let me correct that—I am not Ashin’s guild master.

 

If you’re going to file a complaint, at least show some effort to investigate first.

 

And the capabilities of guild members are not included in the evaluation criteria for the one-year review.

 

From the moment Kim Jin-woo, the guild master, became an A-rank hunter, it was only natural that the guild’s rank would become A-rank as well.

 

I don’t know where to even begin tackling this.

 

“I feel the same way as you do.”

 

The association president sighed and opened his mouth to speak.

 

“Malicious complaints like this should be rejected before they even reach my desk…”

 

The association president drew out his words.

 

Complaints with no validity should be automatically rejected.

 

Even if other organizations don’t know, the Association is very busy just managing Hunters and dungeons.

 

But at the Association President’s next words, I sighed.

 

“Politics got involved.”

 

The Association President’s explanation was simple.

 

At first, it started with picket protests in front of the Association.

 

My irritation surged from that point.

 

“But aren’t even the evaluation scorecards publicly available?”

 

All the detailed evaluation items and scoring criteria are publicly available at the Association.

 

I couldn’t understand having doubts about the evaluation after seeing that.

 

“Well, what can you do? There’s no justification to stop legal protests. I thought they’d give up after a few days.”

 

It was the same when the protest footage spread on SNS.

 

Nobody took their side anyway.

 

But when some politician joined in, public opinion completely flipped.

 

“Voices calling for fairness grew louder on the internet.”

 

The Association President took a sip of coffee.

 

“Normally I wouldn’t care about this, but recently there’s been quite a lot going on with absorbing the religious order forces.”

 

“So what do they want?”

 

“What else? They want a re-evaluation. With politicians and civic groups observing.”

 

I fell into thought for a moment at the Association President’s words.

 

The requirements weren’t much.

 

Of course, they must have pushed forward with the confidence that a mere Porter wouldn’t reach A-rank even with a reassessment…

 

Through club activities, the minimum average of guild members was already B-rank.

 

‘Those who can’t even enter upper-tier dungeons wouldn’t know.’

 

At least top-tier guilds that had requested Porter services from Ashin wouldn’t spout such nonsense.

 

‘Let me see… weak, but some public opinion has been generated…’

 

My mind started spinning rapidly.

 

“How is the absorption of logistics forces going?”

 

Rocket Delivery logistics corporation, one of the cult forces.

 

It was one of the matters the Association President had mentioned he was handling.

 

“It’s almost finished. It should be completely sorted out in about a week.”

 

With the success of Ashin’s Mediterranean branch, there were thoughts of expanding into logistics domestically as well.

 

“You’re busy enough already, so you can refuse. I’ll handle it myself—”

 

“Let’s expand the game.”

 

“What?”

 

“They’ve gone to the trouble of setting the table for us, so it’d be foolish not to eat.”

 

An ominous look flashed in the Association President’s eyes as they met mine.

 

What kind of trouble is this crazy bastard planning to cause now… that was exactly his expression.

 

“Let’s start with SNS first.”

 

I stood up from my seat and quickly headed outside.

 

Behind me, I heard the Association President’s voice, almost like a sigh.

 

“Hey, you bastard! You should at least tell me what you’re planning to do before you go!”

 

But the Association President’s shouts were already secondary due to the plan already drawn in my mind.

 

‘I was already needing some flashy marketing anyway, so this works out well.’

 

An Ashin Guild fitness test would be better than a performance of blowing up an entire dungeon.

 

***

 

That day, a single poster was uploaded to various official Ashin SNS accounts.

 

[Ashin Guild Fitness Test Notice]

 

– Ashin Guild has been conducting martial arts club activities as part of guild member capability development.

 

– In response to recent questions raised about Ashin Guild’s capabilities, we plan to livestream fitness testing, one of our club activities.

 

– We have prepared various tests in cooperation with the Association.

 

– We appreciate your interest.

 

– Examiners: Hunter Association President Han Ki-cheol and Audit Team 1

 

– Special Observers: National Assembly Member Jeong Seong-ho, Citizen Group Fair Competition

 

…

 

As soon as the post went up, the reaction was hot, perhaps caught by the algorithm.

 

↳ Wow, this was Ashin Guild’s official account?

 

↳ There’s a check mark.

 

↳ So what if there is? It’s an empty account with no posts.

 

↳ It was even a private account until last week lol

 

↳ It’s public now. Cheers!

 

↳ Ashin’s marketing team’s clock has started ticking.

 

There were even comments about Ashin’s non-existent marketing clock starting to tick,

 

↳ Those are the kids who were protesting for an Ashin special investigation.

 

↳ For real lol Those kids who were spouting nonsense every time they passed the Association.

 

↳ Who is National Assembly Member Jeong Seong-ho? Who is he to be observing together?

 

↳ Can I observe if I join the citizen group now?

 

There were also curious comments about the observers.

 

But regardless of the process, the comments were flowing toward one public opinion.

 

↳ Honestly, I do want to see Ashin Guild members’ skills once.

 

Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter anymore.

 

How amazing would the guild members of South Korea’s number 1 guild be?

 

Public opinion was gathering around that primal curiosity.

 

This was exactly the kind of attention I wanted.

 

I closed my smartphone after watching the post continue to spread.

 

‘The citizen group’s performance is quite good.’

 

Even without the complaint, there wouldn’t have been much hindrance to marketing.

 

But that was a justification.

 

Rather than just opening Ashin Guild’s fitness test, showing it with justification would be much more effective.

 

“Elder Brother, preparations are complete.”

 

At Kim Jin-woo’s words, I got up from my seat.

 

As I headed toward the elevator leading to the underground training ground, I suddenly looked at Kim Jin-woo.

 

“Jin-woo, but you’re okay, right?”

 

I had somehow managed to make him an A-rank Hunter,

 

but when you think about it, the guild master Jin-woo had the least guild activity in Ashin.

 

“Don’t worry. I’ve cut my sleeping time in half and am training hard as a member of the Divine Sect.”

 

‘No wonder his dark circles have gotten much worse lately.’

 

I shook my head and pressed the elevator close button.

 

***

 

The day of measurement.

 

Assemblyman Jeong Seong-ho and the civic group members had their shoulders strangely tensed up.

 

A few reporters, Association officials, and civic group members wearing observer name tags.

 

The Association President had definitely told me there would be 12 people, but at a glance, there seemed to be over 20.

 

‘Did their membership increase in the meantime?’

 

“The facilities are better than I expected.”

 

Assemblyman Jeong Seong-ho said while looking around.

 

He spoke as if impressed, but in reality it was closer to sarcasm saying ‘For a Porter Guild?’

 

“It’s outrageous that they used our group’s complaint filing as marketing.”

 

“To make such a big show of it, don’t you think they must have something they’re counting on?”

 

“I’m worried we might end up being the ones embarrassed instead.”

 

At the larger scale than expected, worried voices came from the civic group members’ side.

 

“What’s there to worry about? Han Sang-in is just S-rank. The rest are porters. Porters.”

 

Assemblyman Jeong Seong-ho snorted and continued speaking.

 

“What could they possibly achieve no matter what they’re counting on? The citizens are watching with their eyes wide open.”

 

“You’re absolutely right, Assemblyman. Just because someone carries luxury goods doesn’t make them luxury themselves.”

 

A middle-aged man chimed in agreement with Assemblyman Jeong Seong-ho’s words.

 

I quietly watched their conversation from the opposite side.

 

It would be inaudible to ordinary people at this distance, but I’m not an ordinary person.

 

And I sometimes think this:

 

‘Don’t they have any fear?’

 

To put it crudely, I have the power to erase them without leaving a single trace.

 

It’s the same here and now.

 

Just by sending out ghostly energy from here, I could end it with heart attacks.

 

Even with NewTube live streams and broadcast cameras filming from all directions.

 

While I was having pointless thoughts, an inspector climbed onto the training ground platform.

 

“Then we’ll begin the measurement.”

 

‘Is Lee Seo-rin first?’

 

The measurement method was simple.

 

Strike the measuring stone brought by the Association.

 

Since it was equipment used for re-measurements, it was the most accurate method.

 

When Lee Seo-rin came up, snickering sarcasm flowed from the opposite side.

 

“Seems like they don’t have anything to count on after all. Seeing them put up someone who looks like she can’t even use strength as the first batter.”

 

“Even Han Sang-in can’t do anything about porters—”

 

KWAAAAANG!

 

Before Assemblyman Jeong Seong-ho could finish his sentence, a tremendous roar filled the training ground.

 

The measuring stone lifted slightly from Lee Seo-rin’s straight punch.

 

And then— thud.

 

A dull sound echoed once more.

 

“What the hell is that…?!”

 

The civic group representative looked up at the platform with a dumbfounded expression.

 

“It’s probably just loud noise. To work as a Porter, you need good strength—”

 

“A! Hunter Lee Seo-rin’s measurement result is A.”

 

Even the examiner was looking back and forth at the monitors with disbelieving eyes.

 

Silence fell over the observer seats.

 

***

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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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