Chapter 118: Rose of Versailles (3)
Late at night.
I went to the French Black Market with Omar.
I went to hand over the items promised to Killian Ferrand for the auction a few days prior.
The items I handed over to him were:
20 Chivalrous Hero's Secret dicines, 10 37th floor Antidotes, 1 Blood Energy Bead, 1 Yin-Cold Bead each.
And 3 large ceramic pieces, and 1 large wooden crate filled with miscellaneous gold and silver ornants and artworks.
Excluding the Secret dicines and Antidotes, everything was obtained from 34th and 35th floors.
"You've brought quite a lot."
"This should be a manageable size to dispose of, shouldn't it."
"Hmph."
Killian picked up a device that detected energy and examined the items.
The items from the Murim Tower emit even the faintest traces of energy.
"Indeed. These are Murim Tower items."
"Suspicion is poison. Chairman Killian."
"I understand the rest, but could you explain these beads to ."
I held up the Blood Energy Bead and the Yin-Cold Bead and explained.
"Both beads are treasures that assist the flow of internal energy—that is, energy flow. The Blood Energy Bead smooths the circulation of energy through the blood ridians, and the Yin-Cold Bead emits ice energy."
Killian examined the Blood Energy Bead.
Across the surface of the round bead tinged with a blood-red hue, thin crimson lines ran like living veins, and inside the bead, a faintly pulsing light flickered.
The Yin-Cold Bead glowed softly like moonlight trapped in ice, and on its surface a fierce chill gathered, so that white frost would appear and vanish repeatedly.
"Cold."
Killian picked up the Yin-Cold Bead, then quickly set it back down.
"For a climber training in Ice Energy, the Yin-Cold Bead would be a priceless treasure."
"That it will be."
Killian thought for a mont, then nodded.
He seed to be thinking of soone among the French climbers who might covet the Yin-Cold Bead.
"The beads are treasures in their own right, but in terms of artistic value, they cannot compare to these ceramics."
"Koreans really do love their ceramics."
"Pardon?"
"……Never mind. What's in that wooden crate you brought over there?"
"Similar things. Ceramics and gold and silver ornants."
I lowered my voice.
"Please do not put that wooden crate up for auction—dispose of it separately."
"Why?"
"Because it's sothing I brought without my master's knowledge."
Killian looked at with a aningful smile.
"Well, aren't you a little fox."
"I need to make a living sohow as well."
I turned and asked him.
"What is the starting bid?"
Killian stroked his chin and said,
"I'll need to have everything appraised, but based on past transaction prices, the ceramics look to be around 4 to 5 billion each."
"They're items that can fetch more."
"We'll see once they're appraised."
"And the beads?"
"That's a bit difficult. They're items I've never seen before, so it's hard to set an appraisal price."
"Shall I suggest a price?"
At my words, Killian asked back with rising interest.
"How much?"
"20 billion."
"……Isn't that excessive."
"With the Naless Hero's premium added, even more than that should be possible."
Killian nodded.
This ti I asked.
"The underground vault is enormous."
"It's a treasure vault. Museum-grade storage."
"What if a fire breaks out with everything just sitting here?"
Killian glanced at and replied,
"Are you worried?"
"Because these are items my master entrusted."
"So of yours are here too."
I responded with a quiet smile instead of words.
Killian explained the underground vault with a voice full of confidence.
"I've taken great care with fire prevention, waterproofing, and dust prevention. The walls are 1-ter-thick concrete, and the entrance has a steel door that puts bank vault doors to sha. Thieves wouldn't dare try, and it can withstand explosions."
"Hmm."
"Still worried? Ha ha. I'm telling you, the only thing that can open this door—from either inside or outside—is my fingerprint alone."
Killian held up his palm to show .
I looked at the items filling the underground vault and said,
"It's a perfect target for climbers. With this many treasures gathered in one place."
Killian chuckled and explained.
"Don't worry. If a major fight breaks out, a police riot unit will be deployed."
"The police?"
"All of this is private property, isn't it. And money can do anything. The riot units will co out and gun down everything in sight."
"Remarkable. Truly."
"Pass on my regards to the Naless Hero—tell him he can sleep easy."
I had now seen enough of the underground vault.
I made a request to him.
"I'd also like to look at so of the items."
"It's not customary to show items before the auction starts."
"Surely there are exceptions."
"……What do you want to see?"
"This one, this one, and this one."
I pointed to items I had looked up in the catalogue beforehand.
Seeing one of them, the corner of Killian's mouth lifted.
"The desires of the young always show, I tell you."
A long while later.
After checking the items, I said to Killian.
"Now then, please honor your promise."
"What promise is that?"
At that, Omar, who had been translating, burst out.
"My sister!"
Killian frowned at Omar and said,
"That's not possible yet."
"But you promised."
"The appraisal isn't done. And I need to sell the items first."
"Chairman Killian!"
"Hmph, if you're truly dissatisfied, bring your master here. I'll slowly explain the circumstances to him."
Killian who said that wore a faint, sly smile.
The wooden crate I said I had brought without anyone knowing.
It was a signal asking whether it was alright for the Naless Hero to find out about that.
"……Trust is important."
"Trust . There's always been trust between us."
He opened the front of his jacket.
Inside was a new, even more ornate revolver.
* * *
After handing over the items, I got into the car.
Omar gripped the steering wheel and set off.
I asked Omar.
"Your sister?"
"She was moved……. She wasn't among the won."
"So he's hidden her away sowhere."
The reason I insisted on seeing the items on display at the auction—especially the kidnapped won—was to confirm the location where Omar's sister was being held.
But Killian had already hidden his sister away.
"Boss. I'll infiltrate at night and find out."
"You'll die doing that."
"I don't mind dying."
Omar's expression was resolute.
I said to him.
"What will you do if your sister isn't there."
"……"
"He may have moved her outside. Killian knows that your sister is our weakness."
"Even so!"
"Control yourself. Even if your sister is in Killian's estate, she'll be sowhere he considers the most secure. I have a rough idea where—but you wouldn't even get close before you died. And then your sister would have no use, so she'd be killed too."
I spoke firmly to Omar.
"Your sister can only stay alive as long as you are alive."
Omar ground his teeth.
"Then what should I do?"
"We proceed as planned. You have it morized?"
Omar said quietly.
"Yes. You said you would take all of Killian's items."
"It's not taking."
"Ah, you said you would relocate them."
"That's right."
From Killian's hands into mine.
The reason I used the excuse of delivering items to inspect the underground vault was precisely for that reason.
Omar asked, looking worried.
"But just the two of us will find it difficult. There's more than a handful of items……. And we need to rescue my sister too."
"Don't worry. I have 2 capable and trustworthy people. And there's a trump card as well."
I gripped Omar's shoulder.
"There's a way for everything. Trust and wait."
"Yes."
Omar drove and glanced at the rearview mirror.
"A car has tailed us. A large van."
"That's Killian's doing. The car ahead of us over there is one Killian put on us too."
"……!"
"Not many people. The suspension barely dipped. Pretend you don't notice and head to the hotel."
* * *
At the sa ti.
Killian gathered Louise and his subordinates.
"They say the man is heading toward the hotel. What about Pyeon Jae-yeong?"
"He's already been contacted. His location was relayed, so Pyeon Jae-yeong will make his move."
Louise said to Killian.
"Uncle, do you think Pyeon Jae-yeong can catch that guy?"
"He won't."
"Then why?"
"All they have to do is fight. There'll be a gunfight at the hotel."
"He seems like a cunning man—I don't think he'll step out so easily."
"Don't worry. My dear niece."
Swish, swish.
Killian stroked Louise's head and inford her.
"Pyeon Jae-yeong thinks around 50 of our high-level climbers will co out to help him."
"But……?"
Killian pointed at the door.
"40 of them are right here."
The door opened, and 40 fully ard climbers filed in.
"……!"
Louise's eyes glead as she asked Killian.
"And the remaining 10?"
"If Pyeon Jae-yeong fails to kill that man, don't we need soone to finish the job?"
"Aah! He'll be in tatters by then, so it's a final blow!"
"Let's call it a finish. More elegant."
Louise seed to think his sche was truly a masterstroke, as her mouth fell open.
"Once Kim Tae-yang is dealt with, I'll hand over the items he brought to you."
"Really?"
"It should be roughly enough to cover the losses you suffered this ti."
"Thank you, Uncle."
Killian turned to face the climbers and said,
"Release the hounds. The failed Pyeon Jae-yeong may lose his mind and co after us! Everyone stay sharp and do not let your guard down!"
"Yes!"
"In particular, focus your defense on my office where the hard drives and servers are kept. If it's Pyeon Jae-yeong, he'll target that first."
"Yes!"
The climbers grabbed their firearms and weapons and dispersed in all directions.
Killian preparing for every last possible contingency.
Though he was her own uncle, Louise couldn't help but be astonished by his thoroughness.
Killian said to Louise.
"Once this night passes, the Naless Hero will lose a right-hand man and seethe with rage. A Naless Hero dreaming of revenge will have no choice but to co to us. In the end……"
He draped an arm over Louise's shoulder.
"The world is ours."
* * *
Near the Black Market.
Chief Han had sared camouflage cream on herself and was hiding in the darkness alongside Im Ye-rin.
"Damn. This isn't what I ca to Paris for."
"……"
"What's that look for?"
Im Ye-rin was staring at her with moist eyes, lips pressed tightly together.
"Are you scared?"
"No."
"Then what."
"Carrying out a mission alongside Chief Han……. It feels like a dream."
Chief Han stared at Im Ye-rin for a mont, then shook her head side to side.
‘Just you wait, Kim Tae-yang, Hero sir. I'll get back everything I've suffered—several tis over.’
Rustle.
"Would you like one of these?"
Im Ye-rin held out a piece of chocolate.
"What is it?"
"Chocolate."
"……Takes back."
"Bo-reum's friend made it, apparently. It's really good."
"No thanks. Whenever I see chocolate, I feel like I'm going to end up all tied up and locked away."
Chief Han recalled the chocolate from when she had been caught by the Naless Hero while evading Jang Ae-guk back in Japan.
"It really is delicious though……"
Crunch-.
Im Ye-rin chewed on the chocolate.
An attitude that conveyed no sense of tension.
Are all young people like this these days?
Im Ye-rin mumbled the chocolate and said to her.
"By the way, that thing Tae-yang said really suits you perfectly, Chief Han."
"What thing?"
"Rose of Versailles."
"Pfft—"
The Murim Tower in Versailles.
Kim Tae-yang had fed her sweet words about Chief Han arriving at Versailles.
And she'd fallen for it and was now suffering through all of this.
"You have to be careful of n. You'll end up with a ring in your nose."
"Like you, Chief Han?"
"W-what do I—!"
"Nothing."
Munch munch.
She sighed and pulled out her binoculars.
"Still, Kim Tae-yang was supposed to give us a signal."
* * *
[Black Market Underground Vault]
In the darkness, a large wooden crate sat alone.
And then.
Rattle-.
It began to move, little by little.
The wooden crate rocked for a while, then its movent stopped montarily.
Crunch!
The side of the crate broke apart, and a large ceramic piece rolled out.
And from the mouth of the ceramic—
A head popped right out.
"Woof!"
Ptoo, ptoo.
It was White Night.
Carefully making sure the ceramic didn't break, White Night wriggled his body out.
Brrr-.
He shook himself to scatter the wood splinters, and since the inside of the ceramic had apparently been cramped, he stretched his body out long.
[White Night says he's finally out and feels like he can breathe again. 1 Happiness]
Then he raised his sparkling eyes and surveyed the surroundings.
He spotted a green glow.
White Night reached a front paw back into the ceramic and fished sothing out.
What he retrieved was a glove.
On the finger portion of that glove was a sample of Killian's fingerprint, pressed onto it in advance.
Poison Demon had lifted the fingerprint from Killian's revolver, and with Chief Han's help had made a sample from it.
"Woof."
White Night gripped the glove in his mouth, trotted over, and stood before the thick vault door.
Just in case soone were to get locked inside, it had been set up so that only Killian could open the door from the inside as well.
White Night did as his master had taught him—biting the fingerprint-bearing glove—and leapt up.
Tick-.
The first attempt was a failure.
He had tried to press the fingerprint in one go, but it hadn't gone smoothly.
‘White Night, you absolutely have to do this right. If you fail, I'm putting you on nothing but kibble from today.’
His master's threat ca to mind.
White Night bared his teeth.
"Grrr-."
He steeled himself and leapt even higher.
He clung to the vault door and this ti carefully pressed the glove against the fingerprint reader.
Beep beep beep— Beep beep beep!
The door didn't open.
‘You just manage to succeed. Then I won't just give you Korean beef—I'll give you absolutely whatever you want. Just say the word. Oh, you can't talk?’
"Grrrrrr!"
‘You rotten little—. If you weren't my master I'd just—!’
White Night adjusted the position of the glove.
Beep beep beep— Ding dong!
Clunk-.
The door opened.
Swoosh-.
Through the quietly opening gap in the door, soone invisible slipped inside.
From the darkness, the master's voice ca quietly.
"Well done. Good dog."
[White Night feels a deep swell of pride at his accomplishnt, and howls long from within. 'Awoooo—!' 100 Happiness]
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