The Occult World’s Coveted Blacksmith - Chapter 63

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

◈ The Occult World’s Coveted Blacksmith ◈

Chapter 63: Did He Put Himself Up for Auction?

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Ta-da. Fun fact.

Master Do of the Tianshan Sect wasn’t actually from the Tianshan Sect!

The people attending the family council had two interpretations of the letter bearing that shocking news.

First.

“They’re cutting Master Do loose. Isn’t it obvious?”

Master Do truly was from the Tianshan Sect.

The pressure from the Four Great Houses had grown fiercer than expected, so the Tianshan Sect had hurriedly cut ties.

Erasing a name from the rolls was hardly difficult.

Then there was the other interpretation.

“Or... perhaps they truly have nothing to do with Master Do.”

A mad genius who had never had anything to do with the Tianshan Sect had been using its name as a shield while running wild through the Occult World.

“Good grief. Either way, it’s absurd.”

The elders all added their own thoughts as they argued.

‘...’

Han Ye-rin silently reread the letter.

Honestly, whether it was true or not didn’t matter to her.

Only one thing did.

‘We’re the only ones who know this right now.’

House Hyeonmu had received the letter directly.

That meant the other three Houses still believed that brat was a person from the Tianshan Sect and were cautiously watching the situation.

What if Master Do was a genuine genius artisan?

They simply had to persuade Master Do and bring them in.

What if Master Do was a puppet abandoned by the Tianshan Sect?

They could hand Master Do over to the Occult Management Bureau or drag them underground for questioning. All they had to do was find out why Master Do had been trading on someone else’s name.

‘Either way, that bastard no longer has anyone backing them.’

Then again, maybe there had never been anyone backing Master Do to begin with.

In any case, Master Do was prey without a shield now. There was no reason to hesitate any longer.

They had to snatch Master Do up before the other Houses caught on.

They would promise money, fame, and the finest treatment as they sweet-talked Master Do into joining. And if Master Do refused?

‘Threaten them, break all four limbs, and lock them in a basement. We just need to make them Cheonhwa Hall’s personal slave.’

That was the fate awaiting someone from a non-House background after falling out of a House’s favor.

The instant the meeting ended, Han Ye-rin headed for her office.

“General Manager Cheonghyeon.”

“Yes, Deputy Head.”

“Are the preparations to bring them in complete?”

“I’ve prepared a contract offering supreme spiritual elixirs, funding, and treatment equivalent to Cheonhwa Hall’s head artisan.”

“Good.”

Han Ye-rin rose and put on her coat.

“And... put the Shadow Squad on standby in case anything happens.”

The Shadow Squad.

Cheonhwa Hall’s direct assassination and abduction unit.

“You’ve confirmed the target’s current location, correct?”

“Yes. The target is currently at Pungnyu Pavilion in the upper levels of Mureung Arcade. It appears they’re having a dinner gathering with companions.”

‘Perfect.’

They could drink themselves senseless for all she cared.

“We don’t have time. Move quickly. I’ll personally put a leash around that bastard’s neck.”

* * *

[HOT] Who just watched the Octagon Tag Match finals???

Wow, my heart’s still racing.

└ 5050505050505

└ It was insane. Why do those two work together so well? I spent the whole match in awe.

└ They had zero blind spots. Someone came at them from behind, and they dodged without even looking. Holy crap.

└ Seriously gave me chills.

[HOT] Hell yeah, Wukong won the tag match~~~~

└ Today’s match was seriously one for the ages.

└ Lmao, did you see the Golden Headband Wukong was wearing?

└ For real, whoever thought of that has taste.

└ They say Do Emperor made it too.

└ Lmaoooo Cheongsong Workshop must be crying right now.

└ Exactly. Who told them to switch their sponsored fighter~

└ And Wukong went and won right after they switched~

└ Do Emperor’s just a kingmaker at this point.

* * *

Pungnyu Pavilion’s private room.

“Cheers!”

Clink!

The wide table was loaded down with a lavish top-tier course meal.

Ji-an, me, Mu-yeong, and Yu-ha.

Gulp. Gulp.

Ah...!

This was good.

Even the beer tasted amazing here.

Was it craft beer?

“Ahh... Congrats, boss! Winning the tag match... I’m moved, I swear!”

“What are you congratulating me for? I didn’t win.”

“Come on. It was won with your Ritual Implement, so isn’t it half your victory? That’s how arenas work. Here, cheers!”

Yu-jin and Wukong had won the Octagon Tag Match.

A tag match was a chaotic melee where a spirit beast handler and familiar entered the ring together and fought simultaneously.

I thought it would be a mess.

But the dopamine rush was crazier than I expected.

After watching the match in person, we’d come to Pungnyu Pavilion for a workshop dinner.

“Hey. This is a workshop dinner, so why are you here, Mu-yeong?”

“Come on, I’m practically family at this point, aren’t I? If we’re counting seniority, I’ve been around longer than Yu-ha.”

“You’ve just been squatting here longer.”

Yu-ha quietly corrected them.

“Ahem! Anyway! Another drink for you too, boss.”

“I’m good.”

When I covered my glass with my hand, Mu-yeong’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Huh? Boss, why aren’t you drinking much today? Are you feeling sick?”

“Doesn’t it agree with you? Should I order you something else?”

Even Yu-ha asked with concern.

“No. I just need to stay alert today.”

The sip I’d taken earlier was all I’d had.

A few days earlier, the Tianshan Sect had sent me their final ultimatum.

“This is our final offer. I’m afraid we can no longer support you.”

Originally, I’d only had my name added to a collateral branch through Ji-an’s connections. I hadn’t actually joined the sect.

You could say I was like a ghost member of a club.

Once I started making a name for myself as an artisan, they occasionally sent recruitment offers.

They told me not to just leave my name there, that they’d give me a real position if I officially joined.

Still, I had no desire to tie myself down somewhere. Rules to follow, duties to the sect, and all kinds of restrictions.

Just thinking about it gave me a headache.

That went double for a foreign sect, so I had kept turning them down...

Now that my influence had grown, they seemed to be feeling the pressure too.

I could understand their position.

I was a ghost member who didn’t fulfill a single duty to the sect while going around trading on its name.

‘The Four Great Houses must have sent them a letter of protest or something.’

It could easily have become a diplomatic issue between sects, so they must have been worried about what the main sect would think.

Honestly, I was more curious about what connection Ji-an had with them for them to protect me this much.

Though when they first accepted me, they probably hadn’t expected me to become this famous.

I didn’t expect to become this famous either!

‘Ah... The Tianshan Sect was nice and convenient. What a shame.’

Now that I was letting it go, I felt a little regretful.

Still, it was bound to happen someday.

My operation had kept growing.

“Boooss.”

At that moment, Mu-yeong leaned toward me with their glass in hand, their face flushed red.

“Isn’t it about time you told us? Why did you come all the way to Korea from the Tianshan Sect? Huh? Was it some secret mission?”

‘Hmm.’

They’d all find out soon anyway.

Would it matter?

“Ah. I left the Tianshan Sect.”

“...What?”

Mu-yeong’s glass froze in midair.

“What?! You left?! Why?! Did something happen?!”

“It wasn’t anything like that. I just... hated giving them a cut. Think of it as declaring myself a free agent.”

That should be enough to fob them off with.

“But... b-boss. That could put you in danger...”

Mu-yeong suddenly looked completely sober.

“Why?”

“Why do you think?! The Houses have this place locked down. Honestly, wasn’t the Tianshan Sect background a big reason you were able to do whatever you wanted here? If they learn that shield is gone... those bastards won’t sit still.”

Ah, that.

I turned and met Ji-an’s eyes.

“It should be going up soon.”

“Yes! I had everything prepared in advance!”

Ji-an grinned and pulled out a tablet.

“What is it? What is it, boss?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, punk.”

* * *

At the same time.

Inside a black sedan cutting through the city.

Han Ye-rin watched the city lights pass beyond the window.

‘At last, I’ll see that brat’s face in person.’

“Deputy Head.”

The secretary in the passenger seat turned and held out a tablet.

“The Tianshan Sect... has released an official statement.”

“What?”

[Exclusive/Gimun Daily: Shock. Tianshan Sect Releases Official Statement.]

[We hereby clarify that the individual currently known as ‘Master Do of the Tianshan Sect,’ who is active in Korea, has absolutely no affiliation with our sect. ... As a foreign sect makes the unusual move of releasing an official statement about a specific individual...]

Tsk.

What a nuisance.

They were doing something they never did before.

Sending the letter should have been enough. Why did they have to announce it to the entire world too?

Their monopoly on the information was over.

Now that everyone in the Occult World knew, the other Houses would move soon.

“...Step on it. Before the others make their move.”

“Yes.”

Vrooom.

It was a race against time now.

If they got their hands on Master Do first, Cheonhwa Hall would gain an overwhelming advantage among the Four Great Houses.

“How much farther?”

“We’re almost at the arcade entrance.”

The attendant in the driver’s seat answered.

Just then.

“Deputy Head...”

The secretary called to her again.

“Later. If it’s not urgent, tell me after this is over.”

“...I believe you need to see this.”

“What is it?”

Without a word, the secretary held out the tablet again.

On the screen was a notice that had just been posted to the Goblin Fire request board.

[Notice] Regarding Master Do’s Affiliation

Hello, I’m Seo Ji-an, Master Do’s exclusive broker.

As reported, Master Do is currently unaffiliated with any organization.

Recently, we have thankfully received many excellent offers from various Houses and workshops, so we are considering Master Do’s future affiliation while keeping ‘all possibilities’ open.

We welcome any good offers!

Requests are still being accepted as usual, so feel free to contact us~♡

“...”

Han Ye-rin’s eyes traveled over the same lines on the screen again and again.

Master Do’s shield was gone. Master Do should have been hiding, yet they were publicly announcing that they were unaffiliated?

And they were saying they were considering their future affiliation while keeping all possibilities open?

“...Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped her.

Han Ye-rin instantly understood the impact this single notice would have on the Occult World.

When only they knew, it had been simple. Cheonhwa Hall could quietly pick Master Do up first, then pretend nothing had happened.

But now, Master Do had put themself up for sale in the middle of Goblin Fire, where everyone was watching.

I’m a free agent now.

If you want me, bring money and terms, then bid fairly.

‘...Wait.’

Han Ye-rin scrolled up.

The time the article had been posted. Then the time the notice had gone up.

There was less than a ten-minute difference.

“Deputy Head, the Shadow Squad has arrived at the arcade’s underground loading dock. Shall we send them in?”

“...”

Send them in.

Then tonight, Master Do would disappear without a sound.

...And afterward?

The Four Great Houses’ alliance only worked when their target belonged to the Tianshan Sect.

Before, even if one House disposed of Master Do, the other three would have pretended not to know and kept their stories straight.

They all believed Master Do was someone they could never recruit. That was why Master Do had been a common enemy they could join hands to crush.

But now?

Everyone saw Master Do as a potential contract partner they could recruit.

The moment Master Do disappeared, the other three would not cover for Cheonhwa Hall. They would search for the culprit with bloodshot eyes.

“Cheonhwa Hall abducted the artisan who created three Eul-tier pieces.”

That one sentence would be enough.

In that instant, not only the other three Great Houses, but every force in the Occult World that coveted Master Do would have grounds to tear Cheonhwa Hall apart.

Besides, Master Do was no longer an outsider.

If Master Do wasn’t from the Tianshan Sect, that meant Master Do belonged to this land.

An Eul-tier artisan could not disappear without a trace, and the Occult Management Bureau would not sit still.

“...Cancel it.”

“Pardon?”

“I said cancel it. Pull them back now.”

“D-Deputy Head! If not now...”

“That’s exactly why we can’t do it now!”

‘...Master Do made everyone who wanted them into protectors, because they would keep each other in check.’

With a single notice, Master Do had made everyone targeting them protect them instead.

‘They actually pulled something this insane?’

“Deputy Head. Then what should we do...?”