Return of the Irregular Appraiser
Chapter 27

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 27: Anonymous Informant (1)

The next day, news of the accident involving Lee Youngwoon’s parents had spread throughout the apartment complex, and there were even articles about it in the newspapers.

Worried, Lee Youngwoon rushed to the hospital and flung open the door of the single room on the 20th floor, which was only accessible to VIPs.

“Dad!!”

Youngwoon, who had been sobbing as he looked at the silhouette of his father lying under the curtain, stopped in his tracks as he lifted the curtain.

“…What is it?”

“Huh? You’re here, son?”

Despite the casts on his legs and arms, Yeoljin was lying comfortably, snacking and watching TV as if he was in no pain at all.

Youngwoon looked at me as if to ask him to explain this absurd situation.

I met his gaze calmly, smiled and replied.

“We had to do this much to fool the Taejin faction. Look. Your crying must have seemed genuine to the reporters outside.”

Although I tried to act nonchalant, I was also feeling guilty.

I didn’t expect those bastards to go this far. If Yeoljin had died, there would have been an investigation by Salvation.

“Your father is fine.”

Unlike her words, Jiwon’s face looked a little bitter.

Youngwoon didn’t understand the situation at all right now, but he was just grateful that his father was okay.

“That artifact saved your father.”

When Youngwoon lifted Yeoljin’s hospital gown to check, he saw that he was wearing a leather outfit underneath.

At that, Youngwoon burst out laughing.

“Who wears something like that under a hospital gown?”

“I’m never taking this off. This thing.”

“Of course! Tell me if anyone tells you to take it off. I’ll tell them to stop talking nonsense.”

I looked to the side. I saw Yang Jiwon standing there, trying hard to control her expression.

“Go ahead. I’ll stay here instead. You’re hurt too.”

“I’m not even fazed by this much.”

“Even so, pretend to be in pain outside.”

“I’ll do that without you telling me.”

There was a chill in her voice.

“Don’t get worked up over nothing and take care of Junpyo. What would have happened if I hadn’t told you to go to work together?”

On the day of the accident, seeing the Taejin faction’s increasingly aggressive behavior, I told Yang Jiwon to go with him on his way home, just in case.

At the time, Yang Jiwon had said that she should be protecting Shin Ahjeong instead, since they were moving by car, but Woo-gil had told her that he would take care of Ahjeong and told her to come with him.

“…Thank you for that.”

“I’m grateful to you too. For protecting the two of them.”

If Yang Jiwon hadn’t been there…, it’s scary to even think about it. Even though Yeoljin was okay, Junpyo would have been at least seriously injured.

It was said that the truck had aimed directly at the driver’s seat when it crashed. Thanks to Yang Jiwon’s desperate efforts to protect Junpyo, he had managed to survive.

Even so, he was unable to fully recover from the shock, and Park Junpyo, who had suffered fractures in his legs and arms, was recuperating at home after receiving treatment.

“However-.”

“What do you mean ‘however’? If you’re worried about the Taejin faction, you don’t have to be. They’ve already accomplished their goal, so they won’t be a threat anymore.”

“…I see. Then I’ll go first.”

She reluctantly pretended to turn around and packed her things.

“Don’t forget to act sick on your way out!”

“Don’t worry!”

Creak- thud.

The door closed, leaving four people in the ward.

Looking at Yeoljin, Ahjeong, and Youngwoon, I explained the future situation.

“The hospital is under Salvation’s protection, so you don’t have to worry about the secret getting out. To the outside world, your father is still unconscious and will undergo major surgery tonight for a severe bowel perforation.”

“What about me?”

Youngwoon asked.

“I need you to talk to your agency and clear your schedule for tomorrow. This place is safe, so stay here with your parents for a day or so.”

“I understand.”

“But you’ll probably get a call tonight saying that the surgery is over and he’s gone. They’ll most likely ask to meet you tomorrow. If they do, just say yes.”

“W-will that be okay?”

Ahjeong’s shoulders trembled slightly. Seeing Yeoljin’s injuries had started to scare her.

“Yang Jiwon will be with you. Just hold on for a little bit longer. Don’t worry, we’ll take full responsibility for your safety.”

Yeoljin’s words were not enough to reassure Youngwoon’s family, but it was the best he could do.

“I understand.”

“They’ll probably just return the items tomorrow. Take them first and come back. I’ll talk to you again later.”

“Yes.”

“I’m so sorry for involving you in this.”

“It’s okay. Someone had to do it. And if we don’t stop those thugs here, there will be other victims.”

Ahjeong seemed to have made up her mind, clenching her fists tightly.

“Don’t ignore the will of a Korean mother!”

“Mom!”

“Honey!”

Youngwoon and Yeoljin hugged Ahjeong, who suddenly started crying.

I quietly slipped out of the room, leaving them to spend their time together.

Once outside, I gritted my teeth.

‘Don’t they think of the consequences, or are they always like this?’

They hadn’t even tried to kill him. They just wanted to turn him into a half-corpse. That was their goal.

Was it really a coincidence that they had hit the driver’s seat instead of the passenger seat and pushed him into the guardrail?

The truck driver had claimed he was drunk, but was that really the case?

I don’t think so at all. It was clear that Taejin had ordered it. They didn’t care if the driver in the driver’s seat died or not, they were only focused on turning Yeoljin into a half-corpse.

By turning a person into a semi-invalid like this, the medical expenses would be endless, and the financial burden on that family would increase exponentially.

That was what they were after.

From the beginning, they had never intended to stop at just taking the relics or artifacts. They wanted to put them in debt, like loan sharks, and suck them dry forever.

‘How many people have they pushed into hell like this?’

At this point, I was curious about the anonymous informant. How did they find out about the relationship between Sung Daehyun and Taejin, and why were they only now coming forward to accuse them?

If they were an insider, couldn’t they have exposed them earlier?

‘Who is it? It would be difficult to hand over such detailed information unless there was a traitor inside.’

There were more than a few strange things about this case. Taejin, Sung Daehyun, and the anonymous informant. All of them.

I called Park Junpyo.

Trrr- Trrr-

The phone rang a few times before it was connected.

– Hello?

Fortunately, his voice sounded fine.

“Are you okay?”

– Yeah, I’m fine. Yang Jiwon is here with me, so I’m safe.

It’s not just a scratch. I saw it with my own two eyes that he was even wearing a cast.

“I’m sorry about that. It seems like I got you involved in something too dangerous—.”

– It’s okay. It’s not like you knew. Don’t worry too much. If that’s the case, you should at least get hazard pay.

“I’ll take care of it. And you don’t have to participate in this operation anymore.”

– No, if I suddenly disappear, won’t it raise suspicions?

“It’s okay. We’re almost done now.”

– Well, I’m really okay, so if you need anything, let me know. Get some rest.

Click.

Veins bulged in my neck as I hung up the phone.

‘Jung Taejin…, I must see that face.’

An ill-fated connection following Kang Chanwook. This link of fate seemed like it could be broken, yet it remained unbroken like a shackle.

Maddeningly tiresome and persistent.

I took out the business card I received from Sung Daehyun and clenched it tightly in my fist.

And then I sent him a message.

[I’m Kim Woogil, the one you interviewed last time. How about dinner tomorrow or the day after?]

Not even a few seconds passed before I got a reply.

[Oh, Kim Woogil, the junior? I was a bit busy back then…. Um, how about in four days?]

Four days… you’re the appraiser cooperating with the Taejin faction.

[Understood. I’ll get back to you.]

After replying, I threw away the crumpled business card into the trash can, wearing a cold smile.

“Sung Daehyun…, did you really want to associate with scum like them even after seeing your father in such a state?”

I would ask him this when this is all over.

* * *

As expected, a call came from the bespectacled man of the Taejin faction that night.

Ahjeong understood and hung up for now, then informed Yang Jiwon that they would go together the next day, before the appointed time.

The other party seemed reluctant, but soon accepted, as if understanding Shin Ahjeong’s situation, and the two began to move together.

As I expected, they returned the painting and revealed its appraised value.

“It would be about a B-grade artifact. Five hundred million.”

Ahjeong and Jiwon couldn’t hide their surprise, and the bespectacled man nodded as if understanding.

“It may have surprised you because it’s more expensive than you thought, but I understand. As you two know, it takes quite a long time to sell items of this nature for their full value. The process is complicated and connections are necessary.”

It was a valid point. Even if ordinary people were lucky enough to acquire expensive artifacts or relics, they couldn’t easily dispose of them for this very reason.

“So, how about selling it to us at a slightly lower price?”

“This belonged to a Youngwoon’s father…, to be honest, I’m not sure. Youngwoon’s father is currently ill… sniff!”

Tears welled up in Ahjeong’s eyes again.

“Oh, your husband was injured?”

“Yes, he had an accident recently. Can we talk about this again after my husband recovers from surgery? ”

“Understood. But we have a schedule, so we have to leave here in three days. Can you give us an answer before then?”

“Three, three days? That’s too rushed.”

“If your husband needs surgery urgently, he’ll need a lot of money… It would take you at least a few months to sell this.”

“Please give us just two days.”

“Understood.”

Supporting the trembling Ahjeong, Jiwon brought her home.

I was already there, waiting for them.

“The bastards appraised that landscape painting the same as you. Why? Didn’t you say they would evaluate it cheaply?”

I didn’t answer Yang Jiwon’s question.

Their way of making money involves evaluating artifacts or artifact-grade items as ordinary or lower-grade items and pressuring desperate individuals to hand them over.

Nevertheless, if they evaluated it at 500 million, then they must have seen its value as more than that.

‘It’s a scam.’

It was a situation I had somewhat anticipated. This almost confirmed that Sung Daehyun was assisting the Taejin faction. It was the level of skill required to produce such an appraisal result.

“First, ask them to meet in two days. I think the appraisal is wrong. The appraiser introduced by Yang Jiwon said something different.”

“Okay.”

Two days passed, and when we inquired about the possibly incorrect appraisal to the Taejin faction, the response was to come along with that appraiser.

I met with Yang Jiwon and Shin Ahjeong after donning a mask and checking the voice modulation.

“Will the three of us be okay?”

When Shin Ahjeong asked hesitantly, Yang Jiwon confidently spoke while patting her chest.

“Just trust me. Even though it may not look like it, I’m decent at least one thing, right?”

Saying so, Jiwon glanced at me.

‘What expression lies beneath that mask?’

We’re entering the heart of the Taejin faction. Given that even the opposing appraiser they had been keeping hidden was coming, the Taejin faction members would likely be massing as well.

There might even be a fight.

Is he nervous? What could Kim Woogil, who remained consistently calm, be thinking?

‘He can use magic….’

But Ignite was too basic a spell, and it would be difficult to rely on it for combat prowess alone. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Should I call in support now? But if I did so unnecessarily and get caught, all the efforts made so far could be in vain.

“They’re here.”

A black van arrived at the designated meeting place. The three of us went inside and headed to the direction they were leading.

“What’s with the mask? Trying to be cool?”

One of the gang lackeys scoffed and tried to flick Woogil’s mask, but Woogil swatted his hand away.

“Who’s this guy?”

“Enough, don’t cause trouble until we arrive.”

“Tsk. Consider yourself lucky.”

Vrrr…

My phone vibrated. Checking the message on my phone and my expression hardened.

“Hey, turn off your phone. Yours, too.”

All three of us turned off our phones and placed them in the backpacks provided by the Taejin faction.

The message that had just come. It was undoubtedly a message from Sung Daehyun.

I pondered over the message he had sent. How was this situation unfolding exactly?

And from where and how did it all start?

‘Sung Daehyun…, what’s your real intention?’

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

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