The Hero Returns

After hearing Su-hyeun out, Lee Kyeong-jong realized why he had come there.

The auction house in Gangnam became prosperous after it started dealing in various items and not just Ether stones. Sometimes the company also accepted requests from customers looking for something and sourced it for them as well.

Su-hyeun was in need of precisely such services.

"What's the item you're searching for, sir? We guarantee that we can source most goods in a few days."

"It's adamantium."

"Aha, adamantium, is it… Excuse me?" Lee Kyeong-jong jotting down the name of the requested item jumped up in surprise and dropped the notepad. "M-my apologies, sir. Did I… hear you correctly, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Yes, you did hear correctly."

"I'm sure that you're fully aware of what kind of an item that is, so…."

"It doesn't matter how much it costs. Actually, since it's not available for sale, I don't even have a clue how much it will cost. You can use my name when sourcing the item, however."

Su-hyeun was aware of the value his name carried.

Adamantium wasn't something you could get your hands on simply because you had a lot of money. Those who usually possessed the metal weren't really strapped for cash, after all.

So then—money and fame. Only by possessing both prerequisites were you qualified to buy 'adamantium'.

"In that case, the total amount… No, wait. Can you tell me the maximum amount you're willing to spend? I'm not certain if the goods can be sourced, but the potential quantity can be estimated by the available budget."

"Well, I don't have much ready cash, but…" Su-hyeun pulled his phone out from the pocket and displayed its screen. "But, I have this many Ether stones."

"…!"

Lee Kyeong-jon's jaw dropped to the floor.

It was an incredible number, containing everything from high, mid to low-grade stones. Below it was the amount of available cash, and, despite Su-hyeun's claim that he didn't have much, it was still a considerable sum.

It was the result of almost-solo raiding two blue-colored dungeons, plus the commission from Moscow, as well.

<< With this much… >>

No 'regular' amount of money could buy you adamantium. But, at least with this amount, there was more than a small possibility of acquiring some.

"I'll find out for you right away," replied Lee Kyeong-jong.

"Thank you."

Su-hyeun grinned back. 'Finding out' meant that there was a chance.

<< I can always make more money later, so… >>

Money was never the biggest factor in Su-hyeun's view.

After all, getting serious and raiding a few more dungeons would allow him to earn as much as what he currently had in a short period, anyway. Not to forget, once the Paragon's mercenary guild business takes off, the wealth he had managed to amass up until now would end up feeling like pocket change in comparison.

* * *

Around the time he was about to clear the 41st floor's trial, messages arrived from Lee Kyeong-jong.

[Adamantium has been found, dear customer. However… the owner expressed their wish to sell it via auction only. As a result, we have no choice but to proceed with the auction. I ask for your understanding in this matter.]

[And also, the goods… weigh a bit, as well. I'm not certain if the budget you've entrusted me with will be enough to purchase the goods, sir.]

The messages showed up a fortnight after the initial request was made. The start of the auction was in three days. A photograph accompanied the messages.

It contained a picture of an adamantium ore the size of an adult male's palm. Not many things could surprise Su-hyeun, but, at least right now, he was quite stunned by what he could see.

<< This…. >>

The quantity was a lot more than he expected. And he was certain about this other thing, too.

<< It's the same ore as back when the original Balmung was created. >>

Indeed, it was the very same ore that the master craftsman Kim Dae-ho spent his entire fortune saved up to that point in his life to acquire in the distant future. Su-hyeun had seen it before, and that's why he felt so sure about this.

<< But, why is this thing already out on the market? >>

The metal's rarity meant that, originally, it only showed up as the world neared its destruction. The person who owned the ore was one of the five wealthiest individuals in the world, someone who certainly didn't lack for money.

<< Is it because of me? >>

He thought that, indeed, this might be the case.

Su-hyeun pondered it deeply but eventually shook his head. He didn't know the full story, but regardless of all that, the item becoming available was something to be celebrated, that was for sure.

Of course, there was a problem, as well.

<< Will I be able to buy it, though? >>

The ore's monetary value was incalculable. Adamantium was so valuable, it was rarely ever sold. It didn't matter how much Su-hyeun had in the bank, he wasn't sure if he could win the bidding war or not.

<< ….I don't have a choice, do I? >>

Su-hyeun closed the messages from Lee Kyeong-jong and accessed his list of contacts. He found a phone number he had gotten not too long ago and called it.

"Hello? Hi, been a while. Yes. Ah, actually, I'd like to ask you for a favor, you see."

* * *

[Gangnam's XX Ether stone auction house, puts up adamantium for auction?]

[What's adamantium? Awakener Jung Yoon-ho, the greatest metal on Earth! Impossible to attach monetary value to….]

[Section Chief Lee Kyeong-jong, 'The owner of this item has already been decided…']

The auction day.

The days were getting gradually warmer around this time of the year. But the atmosphere within the auction house was boiling, far hotter than the temperature outside.

"Son of a b*tch, why are there so many people here today?"

Lee Kyeong-jong muttered to himself as he dabbed the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief. Of course, there was a wide smile plastered on his lips, a stark contrast to his complaining words.

Countless awakeners and wealthy elites famed for their pretty deep pockets all flocked to today's auction due to their common interest in the adamantium.

Through this event, not only could the auction house advertise itself, it was now in an ideal position to make a killing on the commission of every item sold.

<< Now, the only problem is whether or not Kim Su-hyeun can purchase an item of such a magnitude…. >>

The adamantium's current owner had been found. And, after Su-hyeun's name was brought up as instructed, the owner became quite willing to part with the item in question.

<< A fan, was it? >>

The owner claimed to be Su-hyeun's fan. Ever since the Ranking Wars, apparently. Not only that, but the owner also claimed to have a hobby of collecting various items awakeners used, as well.

A so-called 'collector'. Such an individual said they were Su-hyeun's fan.

<< If that was the case, why not just hand it over, then? >>

Unfortunately, the owner didn't seem interested in handing over the adamantium, despite being a fan of Su-hyeun. Well, if that individual was easy-going like that, then they wouldn't have become such a successful business person in the first place.

Rather than handing over the adamantium, the owner wanted the kind of compensation that matched the ore's value, instead. And that's why the metal found itself at auction, and, through the media, people interested in taking part in the proceedings had gathered here.

<< Dealing with the aftermath will be a problem. >>

Lee Kyeong-jong's thoughts darkened and he began massaging his head.

The reason why he searched for the adamantium ore was because of Su-hyeun's request. But, at this rate, the metal might end up in the hands of an unintended recipient.

In the very same auction house where Su-hyeun personally came to make the request, no less.

Lee Kyeong-jong was too ashamed to even face Su-hyeun right now. This whole thing made it look like the auction house deliberately used the S-Rank's fame to make a killing today.

Knock, knock-

"Section Chief? The auction is about to get underway, sir."

Lee Kyeong-jong heard the voice coming from outside the door and sighed grandly. No matter what, the auction had to take place.

"Yes, yes. I'm coming."

Slide-

Lee Kyeong-jong pushed the chair back and stood up, then headed to the auction floor located underground.

The adamantium ore was scheduled to appear as the final item of the auction.

* * *

Along with Su-hyeun, Lee Ju-ho was currently leaning against the corner of the auction house. Despite his busy administration work, the latter still decided to take the time to come there today. He checked the time on his wristwatch and opened his mouth.

"Looks like things are about to get underway. Is it fine for you to not go inside?"

"It's going to show up last anyway, you know. I have some leeway, about an hour or so."

Su-hyeun too was paying attention to the passing time as well. He looked a little anxious from the way he had his arms crossed, his fingers drumming on his elbow.

Lee Ju-ho thought that this was his first time seeing Su-hyeun this anxious.

The older man continued, "We should've saved more money in the past or something. I mean, if we can't spend on a day like this one, when can we?"

"But some chump change won't make much difference in this case, though."

"How much do you have, anyway? Surely, it must be a lot after raiding that blue-colored dungeon in Moscow not too long ago."

"I don't feel too confident with only that much, you know. There are plenty of folks with lots of money in this world, after all."

Adamantium wasn't an item you could purchase simply because you had money. Literally and figuratively, it was an item that could not be bought.

You couldn't acquire it unless the person possessing it decided to sell it. That's why you simply had to buy it when an opportunity like this came around.

More importantly, the quantity of adamantium put up for auction this time was greater than any other time Su-hyeun could remember. With such a quantity, there should be enough of a leftover even after the weapon he wanted was crafted.

<< I can make uncle's wishes come true. >>

Kim Dae-ho in the previous timeline spent his entire life saving to purchase the adamantium ore, yet he readily offered it up to Su-hyeun.

There was this one item the blacksmith wished to craft, yet failed to do in the previous timeline, and in this lifetime so far. This was the chance to make Kim Dae-ho's wish, his dream of crafting a god's hammer, come true.

<< I'll definitely purchase it. >>

Venomous determination filled up Su-hyeun's eyes.

Lee Ju-ho saw the light emanating from his eyes and relaxed a little.

<< I guess it won't be a problem. >>

Now that Su-hyeun was making that sort of expression, there was very little chance that what he wished to achieve wouldn't come to pass.

"By the way, why aren't you inside the venue waiting for your thing? I thought you'd be inside by now," Lee Ju-ho asked.

"Actually, I'm waiting for someone."

"Who?"

"He should be here in a short while. He's running rather late, you see."

Su-hyeun seemed a bit ticked off for a while now, but as it turned out, his mood was related to this mystery person not being here yet.

He repeatedly checked his wristwatch before opening his mouth abruptly. "There he is."

* * *

"And, the work of Geneva, the master craftsman, the Phantom Sword, sold for $10 million!"

Clap, clap, clap-

Applause rang out all over the venue after Lee Kyeong-jong made the announcement. The winning bidder, now the new owner of the sword, waved his hand with a bright smile etched on his face. On the other hand, Lee Kyeong-jong's innards were figuratively burning away.

<< The prices of the items are going for much lower than expected. >>

More than half of everyone gathered here were wealthy oligarchs wanting to buy the adamantium ore. On top of that, there were many S-Rank and A-Rank awakeners present as well. But every single one of these people was doing their best to conserve their money, waiting for the last item of the auction to show up.

<< For work of Geneva to only fetch ten million…. >>

The master craftsman, Geneva—famed for refining Ether stones to craft various equipment.

Even a piece of equipment made without much care easily fetched several hundreds of thousands of dollars. He became one of the wealthiest people in the world through his Ether stone refining business.

<< And we were anticipating a big number for the sword, too. >>

On any other occasion, Geneva's work appearing in an auction would've raised a considerable commotion. An item of such quality would've easily ranked as legendary, even among all the items put up for auction this time, after all.

So, the Phantom Sword only managing to fetch ten million dollars was indeed a lamentable event. Lee Kyeong-jong had predicted that the sword's appraised value would be well over $1.3 million, at the very least.

<< That just goes to show how incredible the next item actually is. >>

It was then, the item covered in a sheet was wheeled out from the side.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the final lot of this auction. I believe that all of you have been paying a great deal of attention to this particular item."

There was no need for a showy introduction.

Flap-

Lee Kyeong-jong pulled back the sheet and shouted, "Here it is, the adamantium ore! Its weight, 8.76 kilograms! This is the largest quantity of adamantium ever put up for auction anywhere! The bidding will be in Korean currency, starting from 10,000,000,000 Won!"

His loud voice initiated a cacophony of even louder calls to explode out from all over the venue.

"Ten billion Won!"

"Fifteen!"

"Twenty!"

"Twenty-one!!"

"Twenty-two!"

The bidding jumped up by one, two billion each time it was called—as if such an amount of money meant nothing to them.

<< Leaders of global conglomerates, S-Rank awakeners from many nations… Yes, now this is what I'm talking about. >>

Lee Kyeong-jong swept his gaze over the participants of this auction.

<< But then, where's Kim Su-hyeun….? >>

"Fifty billion Won."

It was then, a voice cut through the clamor, clear enough for everyone to hear.

The bidding amount doubled in an instant. Lee Kyeong-jong, searching for Su-hyeun, was surprised by the call and quickly shifted his gaze to the owner of the voice.

And in that location was…

"G-Gordon Rohan?"

"He's with Kim Su-hyeun?"

Gordon Rohan, entering the auction venue along with Su-hyeun, stood there with his arms across his chest.