Return of the Irregular Appraiser
Chapter 22

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 22: Free Appraisal Office (2)

Kim Woogil headed to Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, early in the morning.

‘These guys are audacious, causing trouble like this in Gyeonggi Province?’

This was the way Taejin Faction did business with the general public.

They would open a free appraisal office and provide free appraisals to people living in Paldal-gu.

Then, depending on the appraisal results, they would conduct operations on those who possessed artifacts or higher-grade items, seizing those items from them.

The method of operation was obvious without even seeing it. It would involve crimes like coercion, extortion, and fraud.

Though it seemed simple, it was a method that cleverly exploited people’s psychology.

The items coming from other dimensions ranged from miscellaneous items to relics, and their quantity was considerable.

Moreover, due to the chaos of the Great Upheaval in its early stages, many of these items were not properly managed and were widely spread in the market.

Since appraisal technology and research were not yet perfect, there were still many cases where items ended up being appraised incorrectly.

As a result, ordinary citizens also possessed items passed down from the ancient magic civilization, mostly junk or miscellaneous items.

However, occasionally among them, there were useful items.

To appraise such useful items, one would need an expert appraiser, but such appraisers were mostly affiliated with Salvation or were a few private appraisers who were former Salvation members.

For ordinary people, it was burdensome to have items with a high chance of being junk appraised by such appraisers.

Furthermore, entrusting appraisals to Salvation was expensive and time-consuming due to the lack of manpower and the enormous quantity of items.

The saying that the better the appraiser’s skills, the higher their value was not without reason.

Hence, ordinary citizens were reluctant to apply for appraisals.

If a free appraisal office were to open at that time, what would people do? Naturally, wouldn’t they try their luck and entrust their items to it?

Moreover, if rumors spread that one or two people among them had hit the jackpot, it would be impossible for others to avoid thinking, ‘What if i do?’

‘On top of that, if by chance an appraiser values one’s item as an artifact worth tens of millions of won or more, psychologically, one would try to hide it.’

The Taejin Faction targeted such individuals.

And by simply providing free appraisals for items worth tens or hundreds of millions of won, they could spread rumors, prove their skills, enhance their reputation, and conceal their misdeeds.

‘It’s pretty clever’

The problem is probably that their greed became excessive. That’s why they got caught.

According to Oh Geomsu’s speculation, they probably pulled off similar schemes several times in other regions before gradually escalating to the metropolitan area. They aimed for a big score.

Vrrrr… Vrrrr…

Phone vibrated.

[Inspection Team 3, Chief Oh Geomsu]

Beep.

“Yes, this is Kim Woogil.”

– Ah, Mr. Woogil. I heard you went to Paldal-gu early in the morning.

“Yes, I wanted to see what the atmosphere is like here.”

– I see. This operation needs to be handled cautiously. Ever since Jung Taejin was interrogated by me, the Taejin Faction has been reacting sensitively, according to the tip-offs I’ve received.

“Leave it to me.”

– Understood. You’ll be working with the team member who has been transferred to our inspection team this time. I’ll be monitoring our appraisers, so if you have any questions, you can ask that team member.

“Got it.”

– Then I’ll contact you again later.

The call ended, and I wandered around Paldal-gu again.

It was a neighborhood where many families could be seen, ranging from elderly people to young couples.

Seeing students heading to school in the morning, I approached one.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“Do you happen to know of any famous appraisal offices around here?”

“Appraisal office? Um… I’m not sure.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you.”

I then asked a young man heading to work.

“I don’t know either.”

I asked a young woman who was taking her child to school, but the answer was similar.

“Yes? Um… Well, there’s a somewhat famous private appraisal office around here. But it’s expensive, and the reputation isn’t great.”

“Thank you for answering.”

I also asked elderly people.

“I don’t know. Aren’t all the appraisal offices just scam artists?”

“Hey, I know of one. Want me to take you there?”

Following the office recommended by an elderly man, I arrived.

It was a modest small office with only one appraiser, who had dropped out of Salvation Academy as a novice and held a level 2 appraisal license.

I showed the spatial dagger, and as expected, the result was disappointing.

“Tsk, why did you bring something like this? It’s just a dagger that could be used as a decoration somewhere. As I said, the appraisal fee is 50,000 won.”

“Excuse me? Are you sure you appraised it properly? It doesn’t even seem like it’s used by hunters.”

“Hah… Do you think hunters use their weapons just anywhere? I heard you bought it somewhere scammed. It’s garbage that can’t even be used as a kitchen knife, so just throw it away.”

With an attitude suggesting I should quickly pay and leave, I handed over 50,000 won and left the place.

This was the reality of private appraisal offices.

Of course, there were many places better than this one, but such offices were not uncommon.

Level 2 private appraisers did not even receive equipment support from Salvation.

As a result, they were reluctant to spend money on commissions worth only 50,000 won, even for hunters. It’s a vicious cycle.

‘It’s going to be difficult to find them.’

There was a free appraisal office rumored to be famous among those who already knew about it.

However, there was a reason why the Taejin Faction had not been caught so far.

Perhaps they were operating more cautiously in Suwon-si.

It seemed like a different approach was necessary.

[My moisturizer of choice. My day starts differently. Ace White Cream!]

At that moment, an advertisement for Five Stars flashed on the building’s billboard.

It showed the famous idol Five Stars’ leader, Lee Youngwoon, applying cosmetics to his face.

“Ah, Lee Youngwoon!”

I had been a fan of Youngwoon in the past. I know that his parents lived in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si.

It was not a hidden fact, and most of his fans knew it.

Moreover, although it was declining now, if they were the parents of an idol who had once topped the charts, there was a high probability that they would have valuable unappraised items.

Did the Taejin Faction overlook that?

I immediately checked my message inbox on my phone.

[Thank you so much for appraising it last time! When I told someone else about it, they said the appraiser seemed to be really skilled and asked me to introduce them! Please contact me later when you have time!]

It was a message from Youngwoon’s number after I gave it to him last time.

At that time, I was too busy preparing for the Aura Stone appraisal, so I couldn’t reply properly.

‘Perfect timing.’

I pressed the call button immediately.

Ring… Ring…

Would the call be answered? Although he wasn’t as active now, being an idol, he would still be very busy.

Click.

– Hello? Is this the appraiser?

He picked up.

“Yes, sorry for calling out of the blue.”

* * *

Oh Geomsu, the team leader of the Inspection Team 3, had a splitting headache from almost never getting enough sleep due to his overwhelming workload.

Tasks were piled up, and there was a severe shortage of manpower.

Even if I had had more time, I would have personally intervened in dealing with the Taejin Faction that had emerged this time, but time was running out. Thankfully, with Kim Woogil actively stepping in from his side, things were a bit easier.

“Team leader.”

Yang Jiwon, with her captivating appearance, spun around in a neat H-line dress with a brown jacket draped over it.

“How do I look? Does it suit me well?”

“Where are you going?”

“Well, not really anywhere special! But still, it’s my first field assignment! Are you excited? It’s in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll give you Kim Woogil’s number, try contacting him.”

“But who is this Kim Woogil? A private appraiser in his early 20s… Is that correct? No, you said he doesn’t even have a license? Is he really an appraiser?”

Yang Jiwon couldn’t understand. She understood that a private appraiser was needed for this operation, but why him specifically?

A private appraiser who wasn’t even a graduate of the academy and didn’t even have a level 2 license at the age of 23. How much could such a person know about appraisals?

“Do you know that Kang Chanwook and Park Seonsaeng have been caught, and Chae Yeon is constantly calling the higher-ups?”

“I know. Those old men are still putting pressure? Ridiculous! Who would want to work without connections!”

“So, we also need to make at least one proper connection for our future.”

“What? What are you suddenly talking about?”

Yang Jiwon tilted her head in incomprehension.

“You’ll know when you see it.”

Oh Geomsu smirked.

* * *

Woogil met with Youngwoon separately to discuss the situation.

“So… there’s a criminal organization operating in Paldal-gu?”

“Yes, I contacted you because your parents might be involved.”

Youngwoon looked at me with an incredulous expression.

It was understandable. If a private appraiser he met by chance said something like this all of a sudden, who would believe him?

“But… are you really my fan? You know that my parents live there.”

“Haha… Yes, that’s true.”

“Hmm… Do you mind if I give them a call to check it out?”

“Of course. I think since their son is Lee Youngwoon, they may have already approached them.”

Nodding, Youngwoon made a call to his parents.

While Youngwoon stayed with the members in the Seoul dormitory, his parents had been living in Paldal-gu for a long time.

“Yeah, Mom. It’s me. I have something I want to ask, are you at home right now?”

I showed him what he had written in his notebook, indicating what he wanted to ask.

“Yeah, have there been any people approaching you lately claiming to offer appraisals?”

As they talked, Youngwoon’s expression gradually hardened. I also sensed that my suspicion had hit the mark.

“I see. Never listen to what they say. Ah, no. I’ll go soon and handle this, so don’t bring this up anywhere. Just carry on as usual. Yeah.”

After hanging up the phone, Youngwoon sighed and looked at me. Now he believed me.

“What exactly is going on?”

“I need Youngwoon’s help.”

“Of course, I’ll help. But… my parents won’t be in danger, will they?”

Honestly, that couldn’t be guaranteed. Eventually, his parents would have to participate in this operation to effectively lure them out.

“The Salvation will provide support personnel. Don’t worry about security. We’ll make sure to protect them.”

“But I can’t help much because of my activities…”

“We need your parents more than you.”

“…I’ll ask them. But if my parents refuse, I can’t do anything.”

“Understood.”

He couldn’t force them. If they refused, I’d would have to find another way.

“And, could you keep my appraisal abilities hidden from others?”

“Why?”

“I don’t want it to become troublesome.”

Youngwoon understood my words instantly. As an idol, he understood my feelings better than anyone else.

“Just trust me! My lips are sealed.”

[Insight activated.]

[Probability of truth: 97.4%]

Even without insight, it was quite well-known that Youngwoon could keep a secret.

Despite his loyalty and seemingly calm demeanor, he has a rather hot-tempered side.

“Thank you.”

“Wow, but it feels like we’re shooting a detective movie, doesn’t it? To think something like this is actually happening… Is this the life of awakened individuals?”

His face lit up. I smirked. Seeing him reminds me of my past self.

“Haha. From what I see, you can become an awakened.”

“Really?!”

Youngwoon’s face lit up. It was his wish to become a true hero, defeating monsters and saving people.

And that wish actually comes true.

“Yes, really.”

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