You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 68

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

68

 

 

 

“This morning, the S-Rank Dungeon Break that occurred in the heart of downtown Tokyo has been resolved.”

 

A suited news anchor delivered the news.

 

“The Japanese government has made an unprecedented decision for Tokyo’s reconstruction.”

 

The background screen showed the burned and collapsed Tokyo skyline, along with Hunters and rescue personnel working on recovery operations.

 

“They announced that Korea’s ‘Ashin’ Guild has been designated to lead Tokyo’s reconstruction project.”

 

This was the first gift Hinata had given me.

 

The recovery work for downtown Tokyo that had been devastated by the S-Rank Dungeon Break.

 

At Hinata’s strong request, the national project was entrusted to Ashin, a foreign guild.

 

Opposition? Of course there was.

 

There was no way there wouldn’t be opposition to hundreds of billions of yen flowing to a foreign country, especially Korea.

 

Aren’t there groups that make money by selling hatred?

They raised their voices as if they had been waiting for this moment.

 

But it didn’t last very long.

 

When the Japanese Hunter Association came out in support of Ashin, the atmosphere reversed.

 

On top of that, with voluntary participation from Hunters and support from citizens, the opposition died down within a day.

 

The screen switched to an interview with a Japanese volunteer at the scene.

 

“I heard that when he visited Japan, the first thing he did was visit Hinata-sama in the hospital. How could I just sit still when someone like that is offering to help us?”

 

This was followed by an interview with a Japanese Hunter.

 

“If it weren’t for him, I would have lost my life that day. I couldn’t be of much help then, but I’m glad I can help in this way.”

 

Even though it was an interview with Japanese people, it was dubbed over by a voice actor.

 

‘Now all of Japan will know that I visited Hinata in the hospital.’

 

Thanks to this, Ashin’s recognition, achievements, and business were expanding beyond a golden age to diamond-level.

 

Of course, I wasn’t the one who was busy.

 

As always, most of the business was Jin-woo’s responsibility.

 

Just distributing the Hunters and volunteer personnel coming from all over Japan would be quite a headache.

 

He’s probably in the middle of a fierce battle right now.

 

‘He’s definitely capable.’

 

No matter how I think about it, I seem to have chosen a good guild leader.

 

Even in such a busy situation, the reason Ashin could shine was the experience from the chain Dungeon Break reconstruction they had in Korea.

 

The Guild Members had already mastered demolition work using Universal Carts and Laser Butcher Knives.

 

At this rate, reconstruction business was about to become another main field for Ashin Guild.

 

The news continued.

 

“Also, due to this cooperative raid, the territorial rights to Dokdo have also…”

 

‘…’

 

I quietly sipped water while sitting on the sofa.

 

This was an expected sequence of events.

 

“Japan has signed an agreement recognizing Korea’s territorial rights to Dokdo, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is proceeding with detailed coordination.”

 

I slowly put down the remote control.

 

Then I sank into the luxury sofa.

 

The place I was currently in was an ultra-luxury mansion in Japan.

 

This was the place provided to me while Hinata prepared something she absolutely had to give me.

 

Each basic piece of furniture was a luxury item worth tens of millions of won,

and it was a place equipped with everything including a spacious garden, office, reception room, and other business elements.

 

Moreover, from a private chef to artisans who provided food, snacks, and even tea.

 

Even state guests would have a hard time receiving such treatment.

 

What was even more surprising was that each of those artisans had volunteered to come.

 

They said it was natural treatment for the close friend of Hinata-sama who saved the country?

 

In any case, I was living a luxurious life that would be hard to experience even once in a lifetime.

 

‘Have I ever done nothing before?’

 

I had never rested even when there were no dungeon raids or porter requests.

 

Of course, on the surface I might have looked like a leisurely Hunter stealing wages under the air conditioner while staring at my cell phone,

but I was actually conducting legitimate business at that moment, earning Gold through Golden Fragrance and registering items.

 

Now that I had already finished what I needed to do, exhausted by the TV broadcasts that only played in Japanese, I eventually arrived at NewTube.

 

‘Nothing beats this for killing time.’

 

The NewTube screen I opened was plastered with videos of yet another breaking news story.

 

“Hunter Zhang Qingye retiring from being a Hunter?”

 

Along with the breaking news, Zhang Qingye’s press conference was being uploaded.

 

The news anchor’s voice resonated heavily once again.

 

“China’s S-Rank Hunter Zhang Qingye has officially announced his retirement from being a Hunter through a press conference.”

 

The following screen showed Zhang Qingye in a suit at his press conference.

 

His right arm was wrapped in bandages.

 

‘I heard the surgery was successful though?’

 

While I was fighting Carmen, Zhang Qingye had undergone major surgery.

 

Japan’s renowned Healing Hunters and Doctors all worked together to suture his major blood vessels and nerves one by one.

 

They were quite desperate too.

 

Although Zhang Qingye had indeed taken an arbitrary attitude, it was true that he had come to help Japan.

 

If such a foreign Hunter returned with injuries severe enough to end his career, there was no telling what problems might arise.

 

The surgery proceeded for a long time.

 

Even when I returned after clearing up the Runaway Dungeon, the surgery still wasn’t finished.

 

Fortunately, the surgery was completed successfully.

 

Since I had rapidly frozen his arm with Frost Fire, there was almost no tissue necrosis either.

 

“Having returned home with serious injuries without achieving any notable results in the Japan expedition, he stated his position that he would step down from being a Hunter and atone for his actions.”

 

Reporters’ questions poured in, and Zhang Qingye bowed his head.

 

“My arbitrary judgment has damaged the nation’s honor. I acknowledge that I am unqualified to be a Hunter… I will live the rest of my life with a heart of atonement.”

 

As his words ended, the news screen continued with local footage conveying public opinion within China.

 

“Chinese Netizens are strongly criticizing the scene where Zhang Qingye arbitrarily insisted on raiding the boss during the Japan joint operation.”

 

In the video circulating in real-time, the scene of Zhang Qingye stubbornly pushing through the meeting at the Japanese Barracks was being replayed as is.

 

The video quality wasn’t good, as if it had been secretly filmed.

 

『I’ll handle the boss. You just follow along.』

 

‘The Japanese Government made a deal.’

 

The leak of such footage would have been impossible without someone’s intervention.

 

Moreover, as if they had been waiting, Chinese public opinion was condemning him.

 

[A disgrace to the Chinese Hunter Community.]

[Went to save face for the great nation but ended up trampling it instead.]

[Losing one arm isn’t enough. Stepping down from being a Hunter is only natural.]

 

Anger and mockery were mixed together.

 

The News Anchor continued with their commentary.

 

“Zhang Qingye, who once earned the nickname ‘Siege Engine ‘ for breaking down walls and represented the Chinese Hunter Community. However, this failed Japan expedition has left a fatal stain on his name.”

 

The screen gradually darkened and transitioned.

 

In fact, there was no precedent for dismissing an S-Rank Hunter to this extent.

 

In modern times, the measure of national power was S-Rank Hunters.

 

For a nation to step forward and dismiss such an S-Rank Hunter?

 

It was something that couldn’t be done without being insane.

 

And for Citizens to curse him just for failing to raid an S-Rank Dungeon?

 

Public opinion aside, the nation should step forward to handle the situation.

 

‘Is this possible because it’s China?’

 

He must have either gotten on the government’s bad side somehow, or learned facts he shouldn’t have known.

 

Still, some doubt remained.

 

Then a hunch occurred to me.

 

Whenever the Cult moved, there was always a group that benefited.

 

What if there was a group on the Chinese side that should have benefited this time, but failed because of Zhang Qingye?

 

It was merely speculation that could be nothing more than delusion, but my intuition was pointing in that direction.

 

‘I should tell Yamyeong to investigate and report back.’

 

And so, another task was added to Yamyeong’s workload.

 

When evening came, someone knocked on the door.

 

Knock, knock.

 

“Merchant, may I come in?”

 

It was a familiar voice.

 

A voice I had only heard in dreams.

 

I smiled and rose from my seat.

 

‘Is she finally ready?’

 

When I opened the door, there stood Hinata, completely recovered.

 

Gone was the appearance of the critically ill patient I had seen in the hospital room, and the graceful bearing of a shrine maiden had returned.

 

“How’s your condition?”

 

At my question, Hinata smiled gently.

 

“Thanks to you. Thanks to the evening primrose you brought me, Merchant, I was able to recover earlier than expected.”

 

She seemed to be referring to the evening primrose I had purchased from Golden Fragrance as a get-well gift.

 

“That’s a relief. Are you ready then?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You don’t really need to do this.”

 

“It’s a gift I’m giving personally as a token of gratitude, not from the Japanese Government. Shall we go right away then?”

 

Behind her smile, moonlight quietly cast its glow.

 

***

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