Chapter 9: Transaction, Cooperation or Other(3)

After walking for about 10 minutes, I arrived at the subway station.

Except for the very few users who were trying to raid, I didn’t see anyone else on the way.

It could be due to the government’s order to refrain from going out, but the main reason seemed to be that the monsters in the city hadn’t been completely suppressed yet.

“…”

[KieeeEeeEek!]

…Even looking at the monsters lurking in front of the subway station, I could tell.

Compared to the limited number of users, the monsters were increasing their numbers by ‘breeding’, so it wasn’t easy to eradicate them.

But they couldn’t blow up a city where civilians were still living with missiles, so it must be a headache for the government and the guilds.

“…”

…Waiting in front of the station where only slimes were moving for about 10 minutes.

Before long, I saw a few people walking towards me in the distance.

“They’re finally here.”

About 7 people were walking towards me. Coming here at this time, when everyone was reluctant to go out, meant that they were the buyers of the A-class magic stone.

I, too, slowly began to walk towards them, roughly guessing their identity.

“…”

Standing face to face with a distance of about 5m, i began to examine them closely.

“…”

They were lined up as if they were soldiers.

Seeing that they were all wearing white uniforms and wearing sky-blue cloud-shaped badges on their chests, I could infer that they belonged to the same guild or clan.

Above all, the fact that they had safely passed through the monsters roaming the city and arrived here told me that they were quite strong users.

“…”
“…”

An awkward silence continued as they faced each other.

In the end, it was the long-haired woman who seemed to be the leader of the group that broke the silence first.

“Are you the seller of the A-class magic stone?”

When the black-haired woman with a cat-like face cautiously asked, I nodded in response.

“Yes. I am.”

I wore my baseball cap even deeper, fearing that my identity might be revealed, and glanced up at her, who seemed to be about 170cm tall.

Then, her information, which was visible due to the ‘Spy’ trait.

[Kim Hanna]
Race: Human
Affiliation: Guild ‘AriA’
LV. 321

‘Hmm.’

I showed a rather surprised expression when I saw her information.

According to the results of the spy, this woman’s affiliation was the Aria Guild.

Aria Guild was a super-large guild ranked 7th in the world and was the dream guild that any Korean user would want to join.

So, in the old days, it would have been the same as seeing a top-class elite who worked for a large company…

“Um, if it’s not too much trouble, can I check the goods first?”

The woman, Kim Hanna, spoke to me in a blunt voice.

I took a quick look at her, and I took out the magic stone from my pocket and handed it to her.

“Hmm…”

Kim Hanna, observing the magic stone while turning it this way and that.

Well, a large guild like Aria Guild would need A-class magic stones, and they would also have enough funds to purchase them.

Only now I could understand why they could confidently call for 5 billion in the comments.

“…Alright!”

She said with a smile, as if she had looked at the gem for a long time and was sure it was genuine.

Then, she gestured to her subordinates, who seemed to be bodyguards, standing behind her.

“Bring it.”

Then, the people in the white uniforms began to put down the black briefcases they were each holding in front of me.

And Kim Hanna picked up one of the bags and opened it towards me.

The solid black bag was filled with gold bars that shone so brightly that they were dazzling.

“Here’s the money we prepared.”

She said, smiling again. Then, she took out one gold bar from the bag and handed it to me, as if to have it checked.

“…”

The coldness and heaviness conveyed through the fingertips.

It was undeniable.

It was pure ‘gold’.

“It’s 166 gold bars, each worth 3 million won, for a total of 10 boxes. It will be 5 billion won in total.”

She told me the specific number and amount, as if to reassure me that it wasn’t a scam.

Afterwards, she added, ‘There are also supporting documents, so don’t worry about the authenticity.’

“…Alright.”

I mumbled with a blunt expression.

1660 pure gold bars exchanged for an A-class magic stone.

Nothing else mattered anymore.

Magic stone? It’s not a waste at all.

Because they were easier to get than stones for me right now.

“Let’s make a deal.”

I nodded to Kim Hanna, the buyer.

She also smiled as if she was satisfied with the deal and offered to shake hands with me.

“I would appreciate it if you would contact me again if you have any good items.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

I smiled and took her hand. It was beneficial for me to keep selling items to a guaranteed buyer like the Aria Guild.

Since they have financial resources, they are likely to purchase items with high values.

“…”

…Just as the deal was about to be completed without incident,

[KiyaaaAAaaAAak!]

“…..?!”

A roar echoed suddenly from somewhere.

Only after a while, I realized that the source of the sound was not above ground but ‘under’ the ground.

“Uh?”

“Be careful!”

“…”

After that, the ground began to shake as if there was an earthquake.

Something, something very big, emerged from the ground and broke through the earth between us, barely maintaining our balance.

“Argh!”

“Ugh…”

The Aria Guild members were thrown to the ground by the impact.

I barely managed to keep my balance, but I couldn’t help getting the dirt on my clothes.

[KiyaaaAAaaAAak!!]

And the huge shadow revealed itself between us.

“That’s…”

The rattling, terrifying pincers.

Dozens of legs wriggling in the air.

A long body that seemed quite flexible and the green venom that flowed down to the ground.

“…Land Centipede.”

It didn’t take long to realize that it was the B+ grade monster, ‘Land Centipede’.

Judging by the location where it came out, it seemed that it had made the subway station its home and was looking for food.

…We were unlucky to get caught.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Kim Hanna, along with the Aria Guild members, who had confirmed that the monster had appeared, simultaneously took out their weapons.

Kim Hanna shouted at me, standing in front of the giant centipede, which threatened us with a terrifying sound.

“We’ll take care of this, so run away! Quickly!”

She was looking at me with eyes full of sincerity.

I stared blankly at her and the Land Centipede alternately.

“Ah…”

The Land Centipede’s difficulty was B+.

No matter how much the Aria Guild members were, they were only just over level 300, and since they didn’t even have 10 people, it seemed difficult for them to defeat that monster.

“…”

I fell into a fleeting moment of thought.

If I saved these people who were in adversity right now, it would surely be revealed that I was Oxian.

But if I ran away, abandoning them, I would lose the A-class magic stone and 5 billion won altogether.

My personal safety or 5 billion…

“…”

No, there was no need to hesitate.

The answer was already decided.

“Get out of the way.”

Of course, 5 billion.

What’s the big deal about revealing this personal information?

From the beginning, I had been prepared to be revealed from the moment I came out for the direct transaction.

“Ah, no, it’s dangerous!”

Kim Hanna, trying to stop me from slowly approaching the monster.

I waved my hand as if to reassure her, saying it was nothing to worry about.

“Just watch.”

“No, I, uh…!”

Leaving her behind, who couldn’t continue her words, I boldly faced the Land Centipede, which looked ten times my height.

[KieeeEeeEek!]

The creature, spewing sticky venom, howled.

I adjusted my sunglasses and glared at the monster viciously.

“You little pest.”

I activated the skill before the Land Centipede could move, unfolding my right hand.

“Gravity Field.”

Activating the skill ‘Gravity Field’, which adjusts the surrounding gravity, I increased the Land Centipede’s gravity to several times the current level, and it stuck to the ground as if it had become a living magnet.

[Kie, Kieek…!!]

It tried to overcome the skill, struggling as much as it could to move its body, but it was a futile attempt.

The Gravity Field’s duration was 10 minutes, and it wouldn’t be released until then.

“…”

I went even closer and climbed right on its head.

The Land Centipede struggled, trying to bite me in any way it could.

“Shut up.”

I expressed my displeasure at the rattling sound and stomped on the centipede’s head with one foot.

[Kiek!]

Then, with a short scream, the monster’s head exploded as if it was tofu.

When the brains that had been smashed gushed out and soaked my slippers, I quickly stepped away with disgust.

“…?”

And, the gazes that were pricking my back.

Turning around, the Aria Guild members were staring at me with a blank expression.

“Ah…”

“Woah…”

“Um…”

“Uh…”

They all seemed to have turned into stone, trying to organize what they had just seen.

Well, it was natural to be surprised, as they had just destroyed a B+ grade monster, which they would barely win by risking their lives, in just 30 seconds.

“Hmm hmm.”

Rubbing the sticky liquid off my slippers on the ground, I looked at them.

Since I have to say something to break that freeze, I say to them with a bright smile.

“If you could give me extra pay for the life insurance, I would appreciate it!”