Return of the Irregular Appraiser
Chapter 11

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – ChiSync]

Chapter 11: Revenge (3)

‘The timing is too convenient.’

Not long ago, Hwang Myeognsu asked the bastard for some money, and shortly after, thugs came to the hospital causing a disturbance.

And it happened exactly when Myeongsu was there.

Doesn’t it seem like they’re deliberately pressuring him?

“Hey, are you the illegal loan sharks?”

“…Yes.”

The pouty head stands up, puffing out his cheeks as he realizes he can’t beat his opponent.

I had seen guys like this more than once or twice.

‘Look at how he can’t hide his emotions in his eyes.’

It’s obvious that he’s forcibly suppressing his anger.

Once he gets out of here, he’ll try to get revenge somehow. If that doesn’t work, he’ll target Myeongsu’s family.

“You’re out of your mind.”

I grabbed him by the hair and slammed his face into the ground.

“Argh…!!”

Blood poured out as his face hit the hard ground.

His nose might be broken. His lips were torn, and blood mixed with saliva was dripping from his mouth.

“P-please spare-.”

“Name.”

“…Shin Young-woon.”

“And him?”

I pointed to the collapsed guy behind.

“…Jo Yeong-gil.”

“Okay, Shin Young-woon. Do you know CEO Kang Chanwook?”

When the CEO’s name was mentioned, the guy’s pupils shook.

He can barely put on a poker face.

“N-no, I don’t know!”

As if he would not know. Guys like this would be just one or two.

Living as a excavator, you meet all sorts of trash.

This kind of job, where you lend money to ordinary people and push them to the edge of a cliff, is so common that it’s not surprising.

[Insight activated.]

[99.7% chance of being false]

“What? Did Insight have this ability?”

The sudden message made me bewildered.

For a moment, I felt dizzy, and my mana was drained, but I continued the conversation without showing any signs.

“Did Kang Chanwook tell you to extort money from Myeongsu?”

“N-no, never! He didn’t do anything like that!”

[Insight activated.]

[99.2% chance of being false]

“Why did you do such a thing? Are you trying to make Myeongsu do some job?”

“I-I don’t know! No! I mean, CEO Kang-.”

[Insight activated.]

[99.5% chance of being true]

‘This must be true, he’s just a guy who does as he’s told.’

I stood up and called Kim Junghyun. Sᴇaʀᴄh the N0vᴇlFire(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

It seemed like I was contacting him too often in a short time, but in the current situation, Kim Junghyun was the only one I could trust.

Besides, after all I’ve done for him, it was the least he could do.

Ring-ring- tic.

– Kim Junghyun speaking. What can I do for you?

“Do you happen to have any reliable connections with the police? I caught some illegal loan sharks, and it’s connected to CEO Kang. The names are Shin Young-woon and Jo Yeong-gil.”

– Just a moment.

Silence lingered for about 20 seconds.

– Fortunately, I have someone I can reach out to. What do you want to do?

“As long as we silence them until we deal with CEO Kang, it doesn’t matter what happens afterwards. As you know, there’s a high chance Kang has connections higher up.”

– Understood. If you provide the address, I’ll send someone right away.

“Thank you.”

After hanging up, pouty-headed surreptitiously hid his hand behind his back and fiddled with his phone.

Crush!

When I stomped on his hand along with the phone, he screamed.

“Aaaaah!”

“It’s obvious. Why were you trying to contact Kang Chanwook?”

“You… who are you…”

“None of that matters, just lie down.”

I knocked him out with a blow to his vital spot, then approached Hwang Myeongsu, who was looking bewildered.

“Are you okay?”

“Brother, what’s going on?”

“I’ll handle these guys and tell you later.”

After a while, about five minutes of waiting, three men dressed in black entered the room.

“Are you Kim Woogil?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

A man with neatly combed back hair pulled out his inspector badge and handed it to me

“I’m Oh Geomsu, the head of the Salvation Korea Branch Awakened Management Division Inspection Team.”

“Awakened… Management Division?”

“Yes.”

I just asked him for a regular cop, but he sent an inspector from the management division?

“Oh, you didn’t know yet. Those two are from the Taejin faction. Since their leader is one of the awakened under our supervision, we handle them from our side.”

“I see.”

Even if they are in charge of overseeing awakened individuals, we may not know exactly who their superiors are, but we shouldn’t interfere recklessly.

‘Certainly, the job handling is neat.’

“Then please.”

“Yes. Take them away.”

The two inspection team members behind took the two thugs and left.

“Here’s my business card.”

Oh Geomsu handed his business card to me.

“Oh, I don’t have a business card.”

“That’s fine. Well, it’s been a long time since Hunter Kim Junghyun personally asked for a favor like this. If you need anything later, please contact me. I’m up for a casual meal too.”

“…Sure. I’ll contact you.”

“Then.”

Giving a slight bow, Oh Geomsu walked away.

‘He’s up for a meal too?’

As the head of the Awakened Management Division Inspection Team, he holds quite a high position. But to suddenly give a business card and suggest having a meal to someone he’s meeting for the first time?

‘Just because Kim Junghyun asked?’

Of course, building rapport with the head of the inspection team isn’t a bad idea.

Just a bit surprised.

“Brother, could you be a hidden chaebol’s son or something?”

“…What?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the speculation.

‘Well, I guess it’s ridiculous for me too, but I wonder what’s going on in that guy’s head.’

I pulled Myeongsu aside where there were no people around.

“I paid for your parents’ medical bills.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, they said your mother’s condition could be dangerous if left untreated. Since there’s been some bonding between us, I’m helping out.”

“Brother…!”

I pushed away Hwang Myeongsu, who was trying to hug me.

“But you have to repay me.”

“Of course! Thank you, brother!”

“And today’s events are confidential. Tell that to the ladies there. It’s absolutely confidential.”

“Yes!”

Myeongsu mimicked zipping his lips shut in response.

“And CEO Kang is going down soon. They’re planning to throw him in jail. Don’t worry too much and take good care of your mother.”

“Huh? How so? Are you really a 2nd generation chaebol…”

“Stop with the nonsense. Anyway, I know that much. So just keep quiet about it for now. And if you need help, contact me. I’ll help you.”

“What are you planning to do, brother?”

“I’m going to set up my own office.”

Hwang Myeongsu’s expression showed surprise at the statement.

No wonder. After all, he might be thinking, aren’t you going to do the same thing as Kang?

“It’s not what you think.”

“Huh? Oh, no, I didn’t mean that!”

“…I’m considering setting up an Appraisal office.”

“What? An Appraisal office? You?”

The reaction was expected, but for some reason, it made me feel uneasy.

“Ahem, actually, I’ve been studying appraising for a long time. I have confidence in it.”

“So you are an appraiser, brother?”

“Yeah. I’m not forcing you, but come to me if you need something done.”

“Wow! Brother, you’re really cool! Then please reserve me as the first employee!”

“What? Without looking into other jobs? Do you trust me?”

Looking at his bright expression, it’s surprisingly fascinating.

I’ve always seen him as someone who’s constantly on the verge of death, but now he seems quite cheerful.

“Well… I think I can trust you for now, brother. I don’t know if I’ll be helpful, but I want to help.”

“…Thanks. For now, never ever let that bastard Kang, I mean, CEO Kang, catch wind of this. Understand?”

“Got it!”

* * *

As I read the book [Mana Circuit Theory], time flew by unnoticed.

“I think they are putting it up for auction soon.”

We didn’t discuss terminating the contract while selling the fake necklace of Ellaris.

Originally, I planned to terminate the contract there and expose their illegal activities to send them to jail.

But plans changed.

I had been pondering how to delay and justify it if they brought up contract termination first. Fortunately, CEO Kang’s side brought up contract termination before us and wrapped it up discreetly.

It was clear they were coveting another artifact that I possessed.

‘It’s easy to deal with greedy people’

Stimulate their desire just enough and they’ll do what you want.

I closed the book and picked up my phone.

‘It’s about time to talk about terminating the contract.’

Beep.

– Hey, Woogil. How are you?”

His voice was so friendly that anyone listening in would think I was talking to my best friend.

“Yes. I’ve been quite busy lately, so I haven’t been able to contact you properly. Since I’ve received the money, we should talk about terminating the contract now, right?”

– Exactly. You received 100 million, and you’ve been saving it up, right?”

“No. I think I’ve already spent half of it. Still, even if it’s 50 million, there shouldn’t be a problem with terminating the contract. Well.”

– By the way, didn’t you mention you have another artifact? Selling that too should provide enough money.”

“I was thinking about selling that as well, but I’m still pondering over it.”

– Wouldn’t it have been better if you brought it last time? We would have properly appraised it from our side.”

“At that time, I only intended to sell one and observe for a bit. I’m not well-versed in this field, you know.”

– Then bring it when you terminate the contract this time. We’ll appraise it.

“Really? And the appraisal fee?”

– I’ll give you a reasonable amount. Appraisal fees are pennies. You’ll make a lot of money selling it, right?

“Got it. Then I’ll get back to you right away.”

– Okay.

Beep.

I hung up and immediately called Kim Junghyun.

– Kim Junghyun speaking. I was just about to contact you, but you beat me to it.

“Has the auction been arranged?”

– Yes. Both the seller and buyer at the auction are anonymous. We managed to obtain the list of items, and it seems Ellaris’s necklace is there.”

‘An anonymous auction… Why bother hiding identities?’

I don’t know the reason, but it’s not a bad situation. The Masked Auction, held in China.

It’s a prestigious auction attended not only by Asians but also by conglomerates from Europe and the Middle East.

With strict management and carefully selected items.

‘Even if it’s in China, they won’t be able to discern the Templar’s forgery.’

Even if it’s exposed during the auction, it wouldn’t adversely affect me, but for my plan to succeed, the deal had to be completed.

– Are you sure? Even at the Masked Auction, can’t they discern a forgery?”

“They absolutely can’t. There are very few appraisers worldwide who can discern that forgery. Maybe I’m the only one.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line at my self-proclaimed title of the world’s best appraiser.

What could Kim Junghyun be thinking right now?

Does he trust this young man? Or does he think my confidence is excessive?

– Understood. The auction will start in Shanghai in two days.”

“Yes. I’ll contact you again.”

Beep.

Immediately after hanging up, I sent a text to the asshole.

[Let’s meet at the office three days from now.]

Ring- Ring-

The phone rang immediately.

[Asshole]

Tic.

“Yes.”

– I can’t do it in three days. I’m busy.”

“Huh? Well, then, there’s nothing I can do. I have another appointment the next day. I’ll tell you about it then.”

– What? What appointment is that?”

“Oh… Remember that appraiser from China I mentioned last time? He’s coming to Korea.”

– No, do you trust those Chinese? Don’t meet that guy, meet me instead.”

“No, but I don’t know, so… I’ll meet him first and then meet your appraiser.”

– …Tsk. Fine. Three days from now in the morning. I’ll make time then.”

“Huh? No… You don’t have to push yourself that much.”

– I said I’ll make time. Come to the office then.

“Okay.”

Beep.

It’s quite amusing to see him so nervous about losing the artifact.

He doesn’t even know that it’s a shortcut to hell.

“I’m going to read a book until then.”

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – ChiSync]

Sᴇarch the NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.