Chapter 82

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Today's world is an ecosystem where the 'underground economy' can only grow. There are various reasons for this, but fundamentally, it is because the power of player factions, or guilds, has surpassed government control.

Additionally, it is easy for players to use their skills to evade legal surveillance.

In other words, it is a world where players can ignore the law and act as they please.

'While our country is somewhat under control, the situation abroad is severe.'

For example, in regions with poor security like Latin America and Southeast Asia, the underground economy is several times larger than the legitimate economy, and the 'black market' is at the center of this.

Moreover, black markets around the world exchange information, forming a global network, and this place, Incheon's black market, is also a key part of that vast 'back alley world.'

'Therefore, to protect this country, it is necessary to increase our influence over the black market.'

Otherwise, villains will eventually use this secret passage to threaten South Korea, and Lee Hyun-wook intends to dominate this place as well, not allowing any 'gaps' for them to squeeze through.

Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-wook was walking through the desert, carefully observing his surroundings.

"Hmm, this wasn't originally a desert, was it?"

Lee Hyun-wook noticed withered and twisted trees here and there.

In response, Ko Jin-hwa nodded.

"Yes, it was once a quite fertile grassland, and the farmland, which was 2.5 times the size of Yeouido, was capable of self-sufficiency in food. That was until the black vines started growing from the northern swamp of the dungeon, yes..."

The plant colony monster called 'Swallow' is a being that absorbs all moisture in the area, and once it appears, it can turn several kilometers into a desert, causing a major disaster.

At first, it only absorbs water from rivers, lakes, and groundwater, but after absorbing everything, it starts to feed on the sap of trees and eventually targets the bodily fluids of living beings.

In other words, as the carnivorous trees cover the world, this land will eventually become uninhabitable.

Lee Hyun-wook remembered a global crisis caused by this terrifying monster.

'Four years from now, Swallows will spread in the Amazon, leading to a worldwide emergency.'

In the Amazon, Swallows will take root, causing the Earth's lungs to wither, and the world will unite to find a solution to this unprecedented disaster.

As a result, top-level analyst players and alchemist players gathered and conducted research.

They successfully developed an 'object' that suppresses the growth of Swallows.

In other words, Lee Hyun-wook knows exactly how to make it.

"But I have one question... How do you know this?"

"Huh?"

"How do you know we are in such a crisis? We haven't announced it to the outside world."

Ko Jin-hwa asked with suspicion, and Lee Hyun-wook gave the answer he had already prepared.

"Well, didn't you seek advice on this matter from 'Black Heart' a few years ago?"

Black Heart is a secret channel where high-level information of black market VIPs is exchanged.

"Oh, that's true... But no, how could that information have leaked?"

Lee Hyun-wook shrugged without answering.

"That's impossible. Black Heart is a place with strict security, so who are you really?"

Ko Jin-hwa seemed to think that Lee Hyun-wook was someone who could bypass even Black Heart's security.

In fact, all of this information came directly from Ko Jin-hwa herself, who was a companion in his previous life.

"I'll explain in more detail when we meet the Gate Keeper."

Ko Jin-hwa frowned but nodded.

Her mind was becoming increasingly complex.

'This man suddenly appeared and seems to know everything. He must be a big shot.'

His face was covered by a mask, making it impossible to guess his identity. However, the fact that he had noticed their secret revealed that he was not an ordinary person.

The more she realized this, the more Ko Jin-hwa felt tense.

This man claimed to have a way to save Redhole Village, but...

'If it turns out to be the opposite... it could be very dangerous.'

Hoping it wasn't the case, Ko Jin-hwa led the man to the village.

"Oh, we've arrived. That's our village over there."

They had reached their destination, a basin with a dark red color at the center of the dungeon.

In the center of this basin, a fairly large village had formed.

"A village inside a dungeon... It's larger than I expected. It's called Redhole Village, right?"

Lee Hyun-wook had seen it once before but pretended to be impressed.

Park Jun-mo also muttered, "Wow, a village inside a dungeon..."

"Yes, the red basin looks like a red hole, so we call it Redhole."

The Redhole organization, which is a major force in Incheon's black market, actually refers to this village.

As Lee Hyun-wook and Park Jun-mo appeared, the villagers began to come out onto the streets.

"—What?"

"Are you kidding... What are those things!"

Their reaction to the unfamiliar visitors was one of hostility rather than mere suspicion.

'I understand. Given the history of this village, it's only natural.'

They must have been driven from the outside world and forced to live in this hidden place, leading a miserable life.

"Hey, Ko Sergeant! Who are those people? Can you just bring them in like that?"

Thus, they even confronted Ko Jin-hwa.

"Oh... There's a reason for this, so don't worry and let them in."

Ko Jin-hwa reassured them and led Lee Hyun-wook and Park Jun-mo to the Gate Keeper's residence.

It was a surprisingly modest, small house, not much different from the other houses in the village. It was a thatched-roof house, with a wooden roof and tied with string, a one-story building.

"Father, I mean, Village Chief, I need to talk to you, so please wait here for a moment."

Ko Jin-hwa said this and went inside the house.

"Hmm... For a boss of an underground organization, his residence is quite small."

That was Park Jun-mo's impression.

'He can't help it; the owner of this place is more suited to being a village chief than a boss.'

However, he was still a significant figure who dominated the underground.

After a while, Ko Jin-hwa came out and gestured for Lee Hyun-wook to enter.

As soon as Lee Hyun-wook entered, he met the eyes of an old man with white hair standing in the living room.

"...So, you are the stranger who claims to know the cure for our secret pain?"

He said this while placing a kettle on a mana burner and igniting it with mana.

The dark room became brighter, and the old man's face became more visible.

This white-haired old man was Ko Jun-cheol, the boss of Redhole, one of the three major forces in the underground.

He was also a 'Red Player' with a 10 billion won bounty for various crimes.

However, unlike his notorious reputation, he was just a pot-bellied old man.

'But he was once ranked 6th in South Korea.'

He was one of the first-generation players and once led a large guild in South Korea.

However, he was suppressed by the establishment for political reasons and was forced into the underground.

This happened 11 years ago.

'The reason... is that he is a black mage.'

The persecution of black mages began 12 years ago.

Today, black magic skills are defined as evil and are legally prohibited from being 'acquired.'

'However, such a system is artificial and was not always the case.'

After it was revealed that extreme black magic skills could borrow the power of 'demons' or 'evil gods,' a large-scale movement to regulate black magic led by paladins began, and the expulsion of black mages started.

'But not all black mages are corrupted by evil.'

There were black mages like Ko Jun-cheol who did not misuse the evil aspects of their power.

However, the world—especially his enemies—persistently clung to this point, and due to the social atmosphere at the time, black mages and their families, including Ko Jun-cheol, had no choice but to hide in the underground.

'In the early days of the game-like world, amidst the confusion, a witch hunt was carried out.'

This Redhole Village was a place where people with such tragic histories gathered.

"Hmm... But are you not going to reveal your faces?"

Then, he noticed that Lee Hyun-wook and Park Jun-mo were still wearing masks.

"Oh, my apologies."

Lee Hyun-wook said this and removed his mask.

Ko Jun-cheol and Ko Jin-hwa's eyes widened simultaneously.

"Oh, who is this..."

"What? What, what! You, you are that person, right?"

Ko Jun-cheol smiled and extended his hand for a handshake.

"Lee Hyun-wook, the savior of Seoul and the sword city's punisher, right?"

He seemed well-informed about Lee Hyun-wook, mentioning both of his nicknames.

"Yes, these days I am known by various names."

"Hehe— For the most daring young man of today to come to this humble hut..."

Being famous had its advantages at times like this.

Not only did it allow him to skip introductions, but it also secured a certain level of trust.

Beep—

Meanwhile, the water in the kettle boiled, and he poured tea.

"So, if the hero of the outside world has come here, there must be a significant reason, right?"

"Huh?"

"Even if you can really remove the black vines, I don't think you came to this dangerous place with only good intentions, like a hero in a fairy tale, do you?"

"Ah, of course, I expect a fair reward. I'm not a philanthropist."

Lee Hyun-wook's primary goal was to find 'human resources' to operate La Puta.

However, he also intended to gain various other things.

"Right, it's only natural to pay a price. But... do you really have a way to remove them? We've tried almost every method, but none of them worked..."

His eyes lit up. Despite the sudden proposal from an unfamiliar visitor, his expression was more hopeful than skeptical.

'This place, Redhole Village, is in a dire situation.'

The villagers, being a major force in the black market, likely had a lot of black money stored in their warehouses.

However, as most of them were wanted criminals, it was difficult for them to live outside this place.

In other words, they would want to protect this place by any means.

"Yes, I have reliable information, so you can trust me."

Lee Hyun-wook nodded confidently.

"But I have a few questions..."

At that moment, Ko Jun-cheol's eyes sharpened.

"So, what is this method to remove the black vines, and where did you learn it?"

He intended to verify things before entrusting the task.

"We have a precedent for dealing with the black vines, Swallows."

Lee