#18. The Auction

The auction hosted by the black merchants lasted for a week. The participants had to stay in designated accommodations in the auction house for the whole duration; this was rather burdensome, especially in the Underworld, as they had to vacate their labyrinths for such a long period of time.

The black merchants had a solution to this dilemma. They passed Kim Jin-Woo a golden flag with an octagonal emblem that was equivalent to a top-grade down gem. A symbol of the black merchants, it indicated that a black merchant was present.

Kim Jin-Woo was skeptical about this trivial flag, but Dominique seemed to have unconditional faith in it. <The black merchants are by no means ordinary salesmen. Nobody in the Underworld possesses more valuable and rare items than them. They’re able to roam around the Underworld regardless, as they have the power to guard their treasures.>

“Strong enough to deter even the labyrinth masters?”

<A single black merchant isn’t that powerful. Each one has strong escorts, but a determined labyrinth master can fend them off. If the master is lucky, they may even kill the black merchant and steal the merchant’s treasures without anyone knowing. However, the black merchants never let go of those who attack them.>

It seemed there was a black merchant who had been assaulted...