You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 178

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

178

The moment the transport aircraft’s wheels touched the runway, the aircraft shook briefly.

‘Should I prepare a transport vessel?’

Most equipment could be transported sufficiently with the Universal Cart, so there wasn’t really a situation that required a large transport aircraft.

Even so, to prepare for future battles, it would be necessary to bring in a god-tier transport aircraft from Golden Fragrance.

There was no way I, whose job and hobby was browsing Golden Fragrance like window shopping, hadn’t checked the related list.

Golden Fragrance also had quite a lot of transportation items.

However, there was one problem.

‘The problem is they’re all too conspicuous.’

Dragons were basic, and there were ancient airships and even giant stingrays.

The least conspicuous one would be the Somersault Cloud.

Ah, would a cloud flying at sonic speed be conspicuous…

In the end, the conclusion was postponed.

I should start preparing gradually, but not yet.

When the transport aircraft stopped, Kim Jin-woo got up from his seat.

“I’ll just unload the relief supplies.”

I nodded at Kim Jin-woo’s words.

The request hadn’t been confirmed yet.

I had brought supplies for setting up a base camp, but there were only three passengers aboard.

Me, Kim Jin-woo, and Park Ju-yong.

Park Ju-yong had the role of team leader, but practically he accompanied us to protect Kim Jin-woo.

I could take care of myself, but Kim Jin-woo’s case was different.

Although he had barely managed to settle as an A-rank Hunter through Demonic Sect club activities, that wasn’t enough.

The relief supplies were merely moral support.

When the airplane door opened, the smell of exhaust fumes from the runway rushed in.

On the runway, an Australian official wearing a vest over his formal wear was waiting.

And behind him was a man dressed in military uniform.

“Mr. Han, welcome to your visit.”

“You speak Korean well.”

“Many Korean young people visit us, so I can manage simple conversation to some extent.”

The welcome greeting ended right there.

“The external situation is complicated, so would it be alright to move immediately?”

When I nodded, the Australian official bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

We gathered our luggage and immediately boarded the military vehicle.

Every time I traveled abroad, I felt that the first meeting was always right before a battlefield.

‘Except for the United States, I’ve never received a proper welcome.’

It wasn’t that I felt bad about not having a welcome ceremony.

Naturally, expecting a huge welcoming crowd during such a national disaster would be insane.

It was just bitter that I always entered countries only during such crises.

What urgent situation could there be now that the terrorism was over…

After leaving the airport and entering the streets, I somewhat understood the situation the official had mentioned.

“Save our country!”

“Revenge our enemy”

Citizens who had taken to the streets holding placards.

Police officers were waiting tensely in front of barricades.

Anger and fear.

However, that anger wasn’t directed at the government.

The current situation of not having caught the terrorists yet led to anxiety that terrorism could happen again at any time.

Nevertheless, the reason they came out to the streets was closer to a sense of loss rather than anger.

The pickets they held were filled with grief.

A phrase written on one picket caught my eye.

‘Couldn’t even find my son’s body…’

It was quite ironic that despite being a citizen of a country in armistice, I was feeling the tragedy of war and terrorism through protests in a foreign country.

“We haven’t… been able to count the number of casualties yet.”

The civil servant spoke cautiously.

Well, in a situation where they couldn’t even enter the terrorist attack site, accurate counting would be impossible.

The vehicle quickly passed through the protesters and exited the city center.

And when we arrived near the scene, another form of battlefield was unfolding.

***

Near the scene.

“From here, you’ll need to proceed on foot.”

At those words, we got out of the vehicle.

As we exited the vehicle, the noise from the scene could be heard much more clearly.

The wooden fence set up for access control was densely covered with photos.

– Looking for missing person.

Families of the missing were grabbing hunters going in and out of the fence, desperately asking if there was any news.

After passing through the checkpoint and entering the interior of the scene, the scenery completely changed.

Rather than ruins, it was closer to a space devoured by something.

The collapsed buildings had become eerily damp, as if decades had passed.

“Officially, work has been suspended, but…”

As the surroundings became quiet, the civil servant spoke up.

“Slowly, but we’re attempting reconstruction work in some areas.”

“It seems you’ve identified the cause.”

The fact that they could proceed with reconstruction despite the abnormal phenomenon occurring meant the authorities had discovered the cause.

“…Yes. We found the causative substance.”

“What is it?”

“The black sphere that the samurai fired, which was in the materials we provided you. That’s the cause.”

“Why did you request a commission from Asin?”

If they had found the cause and work was partially underway, there was no reason to put in a request through Korean diplomatic channels.

The civil servant hesitated for a moment before continuing his answer.

“There’s only… one hunter who can properly purify it.”

“Who?”

The civil servant hesitated briefly before mentioning the name.

“…Emily Walker.”

It was a hunter I knew of.

Though I wasn’t personally acquainted with her, she was a hunter representing Australia.

An awakened one who served Australia’s indigenous god as her guardian deity.

In a way, she was the Australian version of Hinata.

“How are you certain that I can eliminate it?”

“We’re not certain. However, Walker pointed to you.”

‘Walker pointed to me…’

No, perhaps it wasn’t her who pointed to me.

If the god she serves is real…

‘They might be a customer using Golden Fragrance.’

My alias “Nobody” was paradoxically one of the hottest seller names in Golden Fragrance.

‘So that’s why my Divine Authority pointed to Australia?’

The conversation ended there.

Not only was there no more information to share,

but perhaps because he was a civil servant, he was already out of breath despite not walking much.

We walked a bit further into that gloomy atmosphere.

And we stopped in front of where warning signs were erected.

The civil servant, having caught his breath, spoke up.

“From this area onward, mental contamination occurs. If you need—”

Before he could finish speaking, I drew up the sacred fire.

As if an invisible wall had been erected, the air that had been writhing around the group suddenly became orderly all at once.

Park Ju-yong and Kim Jin-woo were also reflexively drawing upon the Sun and Moon Divine Art the moment they arrived at the Unexplored Area.

Both men’s breathing stabilized simultaneously.

The civil servants and soldiers quietly closed their mouths.

After I erected the wall, they too seemed to sense that the texture of the air had changed.

‘So it really is Ghostly Energy…’

I had expected it, but sinister Ghostly Energy from beyond was encroaching upon this entire area.

“It’s Ghostly Energy.”

Park Ju-yong spoke up.

“Right. But this isn’t ordinary Ghostly Energy.”

Perhaps Park Ju-yong might be able to sense it best.

“They’ve scattered something very vicious and left.”

The Ghostly Energy that had encroached upon this area was condensed resentment itself.

***

The temporary Base Camp was set up on the outskirts of the Scene.

Rather than a Base Camp, it was closer to a concentrated embodiment of Korean Hunter technology.

Soundproofing, windproofing, and heat resistance were standard.

It maintained optimal temperature in real-time, and the interior was filled with the latest Equipment.

It was a Tent that was better than most homes.

I decided to accept the commission.

The only place that could purify Ghostly Energy with this level of condensed resentment,

and the only Guild that could endure exposure to such Ghostly Energy, was Asin.

“Elder Brother, the reconstruction team is scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon.”

Kim Jin-woo came out of the Base Camp and reported the situation.

“Transfer all personnel who can’t maintain the Sun and Moon Divine Art while moving to the reconstruction team.”

“I’ve already sorted them out.”

“Well done.”

This operation would move with two teams.

A team to eliminate the concentration points emitting Ghostly Energy,

and a team to proceed with reconstruction in areas where purification was complete.

Now that the outline was set, I planned to deploy into action starting tomorrow.

“Elder Brother, let’s go inside. It’s getting dark and kind of scary.”

As the sun set, the Ruins took on an even more desolate atmosphere.

“Scary? The ghosts would be more afraid of you.”

What use would it be for an A-rank Hunter who emanates sacred energy to be afraid of ghosts?

Leaving those words behind, I stepped toward the Unexplored Area.

“Elder Brother, where are you going?”

“I’ll take a look around before the kids arrive. Go ahead and sleep.”

I gave a light response to Kim Jin-woo’s increasingly distant shouts and continued walking.

***

Unlike during the day, the night air was quite cold.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen Ghostly Energy so full of resentment.’

There are cases where Ghostly Energy condensed with resentment lingers for a long time.

But it was rare for it to be so viscously concentrated like this.

How many unjust deaths would have to accumulate to reach this kind of density?

Just as I was roughly surveying the area where we’d work tomorrow and turning to leave,

I sensed an unfamiliar energy from far away.

‘The Ghostly Energy is being purified.’

Noting the gradually thinning density, I reduced my footsteps and walked toward that direction.

Beyond the broken wall of a Collapsed Residential Area, light spread like a pulsing heartbeat.

‘Besides me, there’s someone else working in the dead of night.’

When I made a sound, she turned around.

Under the moonlight, a woman purifying a convergence point alone.

An expressionless face revealed above deep-set eyes.

The moonlight spread like a halo behind her back.

And what melted the resentment at her fingertips was surely the power of God.

Without needing to be told, I could tell who she was.

“Emily Walker.”

And she too.

“Mr. Han…?”

Recognized me at a glance.

***

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————