Return of the Irregular Appraiser
Chapter 28

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 28: Anonymous informant (2)

As I got out of the car, trying to calm my pounding heart, I saw an abandoned factory built on a large field and empty lot.

There are only mountains and old roads around. A place where even if someone died here, they would be buried quietly.

Ahjeong seemed nervous and grabbed Jiwon’s clothes.

“You don’t have to be scared. We’re just doing this to prevent unnecessary tracking.”

The man in glasses approached and said.

“Do you really need to go this far?”

Jiwon hugged Ahjeong and glared at him, acting with all her might.

“Don’t worry. If we were going to hurt you, we would have had plenty of opportunities already. We’re not like that at all. Come in.”

The iron gate of the abandoned factory creaked open, revealing boxes stacked inside and a large table in the center.

A rough-looking man with a long scar on his left cheek was sitting in the center of the rectangular table, and an appraiser with a bushy head was standing next to him.

Around the room, organization members with sharp eyes were sitting on boxes with various equipment.

“You’re here! Sit down! Sit down.”

Jung Taejin, the head of the Taejin faction.

Muscular body revealed through white shirt and scar on cheek.

He smiles broadly and shakes hands with sunglasses on his head.

“Is that the appraiser over there?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk, words are too short.”

“……”

“Are you not a talker? Well, whatever. I don’t care what your attitude is as long as you’re capable. What’s your name?”

“K.”

“K…, good.”

Jung Taejin sat down with a thud and gestured to Sung Daehyun next to him.

Then Sung Daehyun sits down across from me.

“Give me the item.”

At Sung Daehyun’s words, Ahjeong placed the landscape painting on the table.

“Wow…, it’s old!”

Yang Jiwon glared at Jung Taejin at his exclamation.

“That pretty lady over there, aren’t you scared to come to a place like this?”

“I can’t send my mother alone.”

“Didn’t you get hurt in the accident too? You were lucky. You’re walking around just fine.”

“……How did you know I was in an accident?”

“Hahaha! I heard that a couple was injured. Is that strange?”

Jiwon closed her mouth. Now that Jung Taejin had shown up, she could wipe them all out here, but she held back for now.

Because I hadn’t signaled yet.

I just stared at Sung Daehyun.

“You said the appraisal result was wrong, so let’s hear it. What was wrong?”

Sung Daehyun sneered as if to say, ‘Go ahead and talk.’ I looked at him in silence.

His reaction is understandable. He must think he accurately appraised the value of this valley landscape painting.

However, we need to find out Sung Daehyun’s true intentions before that.

“Let’s start with why you set the appraisal price at 500 million won.”

He snorted and opened his mouth, pointing exactly to the spot in the valley that I had pointed to.

“The mana circuit is concentrated here. This circuit, which resembles the shape of a valley stream, is a characteristic of the B.CD 1000th century.”

He continued to list his appraisal in a row, and exclamations flowed out from the surroundings.

I was also secretly impressed. It was a brilliant appraisal worthy of a 27 year-old who had ranked 5th in the WAEC.

“……So I appraised it to be worth 500 million won. Now let’s hear your story.”

“It was a good appraisal. But it was wrong. This is not worth 500 million won, it’s not even worth 5 won.”

At those words, Sung Daehyun’s pupils shook for a moment. Jung Taejin’s face crumpled, and Ahjeong and Jiwon, who were next to him, looked at me as if to ask what I was talking about.

“This is trash?”

Sung Daehyun asked in disbelief, and I explained why.

“Did you really think this was an artifact?”

“……This is an artifact.”

“Then I can see why you became famous in WAEC and didn’t go abroad.”

Sung Daehyun’s face turned red when his past was suddenly brought up. Jung Taejin watched the scene with interest.

“If you were really a genius of appraisal, you should have read the overall flow of this mana circuit. You should have at least judged that it was worth 1.5 billion won.”

When I said it was worth 5 won just now and now I said it was worth 1.5 billion won, the people around me were unable to follow my words.

However, I realized that Jung Taejin and Sung Daehyun were not.

The eyes of the two were closer to surprise than doubt.

“If you look at this valley, the water that has fallen away goes back around and returns to the valley. Do you know what this means?”

“The infinite spiral……, is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Yes. This is a landscape painting that embodies the ‘Infinite Spiral’ that symbolizes Elanoi. In other words, if you look at it alone, it means it’s a relic.”

Sung Daehyun stared at me intently. But I just calmly took the look.

He didn’t show any anxiety even though he was told he was wrong. He just looked at me as if to ask what I was thinking.

I continued.

“If you see this as a general grade, you can call a third-class appraiser. If you see it as an artifact, you can call a second-class appraiser, and if you see it as a relic, you can call a first-class appraiser. However, there are not many first-rate appraisers even in Korea.”

“Then you’re saying that you’re the one of the few appraisers?”

Jung Taejin looked at me with interest. His eyes were like those of a treasure hunter looking at a coveted treasure. Avoiding the burdensome gaze, I shook my head.

“I’m not first-class.”

“Then what are you? Just now first-class…, ah.”

Jung Taejin sighed, recalling that I had called this painting not 1.5 billion won but worthless trash.

“This is actually neither a relic nor anything, it’s a fake. It’s trash made at the end of the B.CD 5th millennium.”

“Ha! That’s ridiculous! You’re saying this was made at the end of the B.CD 5th millennium?”

Sung Daehyun, who had been silent until now, shouted in protest for the first time.

Yes, this is the typical reaction of appraisers. It is the real reaction that comes out when they find it hard to believe that their appraisal was wrong.

‘As expected, Sung Daehyun thought this was a relic.’

Judging from Jung Taejin’s reaction, it seemed that he also knew it was a relic. And he confidently lied to Ahjeong, saying it was an artifact.

It must have been a manifestation of his confidence that even ordinary appraisers would not be able to properly appraise this, even if they did not trade with them right away.

It makes sense why Jung Taejin came to this place. He couldn’t miss out on trading a 1.5 billion won relic.

But this situation was unexpected.

[Insight Activated]

[Valley of Peace]

Various colors are harmoniously applied. Lumenaite was used to draw water and connect it to the mana circuit. However, the fluidity and curvature of the mana circuit can become subtly unbalanced, causing emotional changes other than stability at times.

∥B.CD 48th century

∥Comfortable

I knew this was a forgery from the first moment I saw it.

The infinite spiral was cleverly shaped to make it look like the real thing, but it was actually a piece of trash wrapped in packaging.

Among the works created in the 5th millennium, when the destruction of the ancient magical civilization was本格化, there are really only a handful of good works, and they are almost non-existent.

Most of them are like time bombs. This is the same.

If you look at the picture for a long time, you may one day find yourself filled with anger and do something you don’t know, or you may fall into depression and jump out of the window.

The fact that it is unstable and can explode at any time makes it an invaluable item, apart from its usual effects.

This is especially true of those that affect the mind.

“The mana circuit that shapes the waves is really well done, but look. The movement of the waves going back is not much different from the valley. That’s the characteristic of the material called Lumenaite. If the connection with the mana circuit was perfect, the other side of the valley should be drawn clearly and weakly. And that difference is what causes the imbalance.”

“This is Lumenaite…?”

It is a material used in paints at the end of the B.CD 5th millennium, and first-class appraisers would know it.

However, it is not easy to identify it. It has very similar characteristics to the paint used by craftsmen, and its effects vary depending on the user.

Moreover, the opportunity to appraise a forgery of this level from the end of the 5th millennium is not common.

Korean appraisers still lack the skills and experience to find the subtle differences.

“……Ha.”

He burst out laughing and collapsed on the floor, holding the Valley of Peace and pouring mana into it.

Sung Daehyun’s pupils shook slowly. And then he seemed to be overwhelmed by a sense of defeat and stared blankly at the landscape painting.

“It seems to be real.”

Jung Taejin muttered after confirming Sung Daehyun’s reaction.

“Wow…….”

Yang Jiwon gave me a thumbs up, and Ahjeong sighed in relief, stroking her chest.

“It’s better not to take unnecessary money. If something goes wrong later, you may have to pay several times more. That’s why I came looking for you.”

“Yeah, it was a good idea. I can understand that arrogant attitude now. I almost wasted my money.”

Jung Taejin smiled with satisfaction.

Yang Jiwon helped Ahjeong to her feet and said.

“Can we go now?”

She pretended to leave and looked back at the two men, thinking of tracking down Jung Taejin separately.

There was no need to involve the two of them.

“No, sit down. We’re not finished talking yet.”

“What else is there to talk about? Isn’t it over now?”

“You, work with us.”

Jung Taejin said to me, and I shook my head.

“Don’t you already have an appraiser?”

“This guy?”

He grinned and pulled out a dagger in surprise.

Shwiiik!!

The blade goes exactly for Sung Daehyun’s neck.

But at the same time, Yang Jiwon lightly pulled her wrist back, and a dagger popped out of her sleeve.

Clang!

Her dagger, swung like lightning, knocked away Jung Taejin’s blade.

“Kugh! Awakened? No way…, did you come from Salvation?”

“Yeah, it took a lot of work to lure you out.”

“How the hell did you find out?”

Jung Taejin, who turned back while swinging his dagger, frowned.

‘Did Sung Daehyun betray me? It’s not possible…’

“Did you try to kill me?”

Sung Daehyun asked with a shocked expression, and Jung Taejin wore a cold sneer.

Judging from his reaction, he seemed to be suspicious. In fact, the only one who had a motive to betray him was Sung Daehyun, but ironically, Sung Daehyun was the one who had the most to lose.

The Jung Taejin I know is a pragmatist and a calculating person. But would he throw away everything he had built up just to kill some Taejin faction members? It was impossible.

‘Damn it, I’m going to be caught on the spot. The lucky thing is that there’s only one Salvation guy… Now that it’s come to this, it’s a showdown.’

“Hahahaha!! Yes, I was going to let you go after this and go into hiding. I should have killed you and your father a long time ago, then the Salvation guys wouldn’t have gotten involved… tsk.”

Yang Jiwon looked at Sung Daehyun in surprise.

“……”

“You know, don’t you? We’re the ones who made your father like that.”

Jung Taejin laughed at him, and Sung Daehyun couldn’t control his expression and his cheeks trembled.

I had been watching the situation from behind, finally understood the inside story.

‘Did the Taejin faction work on Sung Daehyun to get him on board? But how did they get him on board?’

As if to answer my question, Jung Taejin explained the reason.

“The artifact that can cure a vegetative state, where is it already?”

“It’s in Dubai.”

The bespectacled organization member next to him said.

“Oh, right! Dubai! A rich guy who lives there took it.”

“……What?”

“So, why do you think I told you the secret? If you had just lived without knowing, we would have helped you when the time came.”

As Jung Taejin brazenly taunted him, Sung Daehyun jumped up and clenched his fists.

“……That’s why I shouldn’t have worked with an empty-headed kid like you.”

“A fool. Just because people around you praise you, you think you’re really smart. You guys, take them all in. Don’t kill them. Be especially careful with the guy with the mask.”

“Yes!!”

Whether it was not just a threat, or whether they had intended to do this from the beginning, the organization members with sticks in their hands began to surround us.

“Mother, stay behind me. And Mr. Sung Daehyun. If you don’t want to be ridiculed, get up.”

I pulled Ahjeong behind me and spoke to Sung Daehyun.

“……It’s over. Those bastards are going to kill us all.”

He said as if he had given up, and I sighed and rebuked him.

“Don’t give up. Don’t rationalize yourself either. Your mindset can solidify like a habit. The situation only gets worse because you try to rationalize your choices that you avoided out of fear for other reasons.”

“What do you know……”

“When you collapse, everything around you looks like that too. Korea is a better country than you think.”

Sung Daehyun’s eyes widened as he looked at me.

‘No way……?’

Smack!

I slapped the face of the approaching organization member and swung the chair behind me.

Whoosh―! Whoosh―!

The organization members stopped at the sound of the strong wind. The appraiser was not to rush in recklessly because he had been told to handle us as harmlessly as possible.

However, Sung Daehyun’s case was different. He rolled on the ground, barely avoiding the swings of the club-wielding organization member.

Clang!

He stopped at the dull sound and looked at me with a terrified face.

I didn’t seem scared and calmly dealt with the organization members. I also used simple magic here and there to bring the situation under my control.

“You bastards!!”

Sung Daehyun cursed and pulled out a small rod from his ankle.

At the same time as the button clicked, a vibrating mana blade was emitted from the end of the rod.

One of the organization members who rushed in without knowing it had his wrist cut off and rolled on the ground.

“Kuaaaak!!”

The other organization members stopped at the sight and couldn’t approach easily. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N(o)vᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt website on G𝘰𝘰gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Damn it! What are we going to do! You must have an idea!”

Sung Daehyun cursed and showed his will to live.

“Just hold on. If you hold on, an opportunity will come.”

That was all I could say. I know how hard it was to wait without hope, but there was nothing he could do.

“No, why did only one person come from Salvation? Isn’t that too much of an understatement for Jung Taejin?”

Sung Daehyun shouted as if he was wronged.

“I risked my life to report it.”

The expressions of the organization members who heard his mutter distorted, and at the same time, Jung Taejin’s fierce swearing was heard from behind.

“This bastard… You really betrayed me?”

“Where are you looking?”

Kwang!

As Yang Jiwon fully opened her power and Jung Taejin was pushed back, the atmosphere of the organization members also changed.

The will to somehow catch these three quickly and turn the situation around.

I clicked my tongue and shot my magic into the sky.

‘Air blow.’

As the magic raised from the tip of my index finger hit the ceiling light of the abandoned factory, the surroundings were instantly enveloped in darkness.

Crack!

“Kyaak!”

“Calm down. Just hold on to me.”

I calmed Shin Ahjeong, who was trembling with fear, and activated the Hyper-Sensory Cyclone on my right index finger.

At the same time, my maximized senses rang the alarm of danger and showed me the way out.

I couldn’t see it, but I could feel the movements of the organization members in detail.

‘I won’t be able to use it for long.’

It would take time for the organization members to adapt their eyes to the darkness. That short time would be enough.

“Move!”

“Where are they? Find them quickly! They’re running away!”

“Shit! Turn on the lighter! Turn on the phone light!!”

We quickly moved to find a way out, taking Sung Daehyun and Shin Ahjeong with us amidst the chaos created. It wasn’t that difficult to avoid the confused gang members.

Puck! Puck! Puck! Ugh!!

“Kuaaaak!!”

At that moment, Jung Taejin’s scream rang out along with the sound of a merciless blow.

“Ha…. You persistent bastards. Next is you guys.”

The organization members shuddered at Yang Jiwon’s murderous voice, which rang out quietly as she broke their joints.

“Not a single one of you will leave this place.”

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

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