Have you ever eaten devil's meat?
It tastes terribly bad.
Is it just tasteless? It's also toxic.
If you eat it carelessly, you will not only get a stomachache, but your stomach itself may melt or all of your organs may rot.
But there is no law that says you have to die.
Among the demons, there are definitely some that are edible.
So, survivors in North Korea eat the weakly toxic demons by neutralizing their toxicity through various methods.
Of course, it wouldn't taste good anyway.
But anyway, this is apocalyptic North Korea.
After the cataclysm, this land became a paradise for demons.
The city was in ruins, and people were struggling to survive.
In this beggarly land, complaining about food was a luxury.
I'm about to starve to death, so what does taste matter?
If a person starves for a few days, eventually there will be no taste or anything.
In order to survive, you have to put anything in your mouth, chew it, or swallow it, whether it's meat or food waste.
And that is why there is a 'market' in this city.
"For sale! Weakly poisonous demon meat! Available at a special price!"
"Look here! The poison-neutralized devil meat! Prepared with minced meat!"
"Fresh fruit just picked this morning! Welcome!"
"Barter is available! Negotiation welcome!"
The free market is bustling today too.
Anyone can freely buy and sell items here, even if they don't necessarily have to join the union.
The atmosphere is similar to a second-hand market.
Kim Cheol-su (pseudonym), a hunter who cuts up the meat he just caught and sells it on the street, clicked his tongue with
a worried look on his face.
"Tsk, business is really bad."
At those words, another merchant nearby, Kang Ki-ho (pseudonym), responded.
"That's right. But what can I do? I have to sell it somehow."
Hunters usually carry out requests from banks to procure food, receive a reward, and then sell the remaining scrap meat.
Kang Ki-ho sat on the floor and spoke while chopping meat diligently.
"So, you should also chop it up like this and sell it to me so that it's easy to chew. It takes a lot of work, but it's effective."
Kim Cheol-su answered with a sigh.
"Write. Is that for one or two days? If it doesn't sell in the end, it's all a waste of effort."
"Then it all goes into your mouth, hyung."
"No. This is actually quite toxic."
"Huh? Oh my. You really are a real swindler. Hehe. Of course, my meat is like that too."
Shh.
Two merchants face each other, their eyes shining sinisterly.
In the first place, in a free market where trickery and intrigue run rampant, a weak villain cannot survive.
And yet, the most popular ingredient at the market wasn't meat, it was something else.
It's fruit.
Or a spice that allows you to pretend not to notice the unique odor of horse meat.
Merchants who specialized in selling strong-smelling fruits and vegetables, collectively known as 'fruit merchants', were the
real executives and real power behind the free market union.
"Business is good today too. It's fruit after all."
Mr. Park (pseudonym), a fruit merchant, stood in front of his store and smiled proudly.
At President Park's words, President Choi (pseudonym) of the store next door nodded with an envious expression.
"That's right. Mr. Park is really amazing. Where on earth do you get all that fruit every time... ... ."
President Park looked at President Choi with a sly smile and an arrogant expression.
"Does it hurt to ask for trade secrets like that? And even if I tell you, you're too dangerous to imitate."
"Of course."
Despite Chairman Park's blunt remarks, President Choi simply smacked his lips without showing any sign of discomfort.
In the first place, selling fruit was something only the strong could do.
This was because it was much more difficult and dangerous to wander around the city in search of fruit that might be some
where, rather than hunting the demons that you would soon encounter just by going outside the city.
That is why the fruit trade was only possible for the strong.
It wasn't for nothing that fruit merchants became executives of the union.
If you are weak and simply earn a lot of money, walking at night can be dangerous.
You could be sleeping at night and suddenly be invaded by other villains and have your life taken away.
"hmm?"
But then it happened.
Suddenly, the doctor narrowed his eyes and looked somewhere.
"... ... What an unfamiliar face."
As usual, a stranger appeared in the quiet and bustling morning market.
Although not all, there are quite a few merchants who remember the faces of customers who have passed by.
Chairman Park was one of them, and President Choi also looked in the direction he was looking and meaningfully rubbed his
chin.
"Hmm. I heard a new employee came in last night. His name was 'Ber.'"
"Oh, is that him? I had high hopes since he's a newbie after a long time, but I'm so empty-handed."
"That's right."
No matter how large a city is, rumors like this spread quickly.
Word of the new arrival in town the previous evening had spread quickly through the Free Market Alliance through the mout
hs and ears of the guards.
Even the alias he gave to the bank.
It was one of the positive functions of the union.
Hehe.
"... ... But it's just as the rumors say. Look. He's not completely broke. He's even carrying around an expensive item like tha
t."
"I know."
At President Choi's meaningful words, Chairman Park also raised the corners of his mouth and looked surprised.
"Isn't that a real elf? And it's alive and well."
The doctor smacked his lips as he observed the pointy-eared alien walking obediently beside 'Ber'.
"At first, he said he was a summoner, but given the commotion last night, that must be a lie. Of course, that elf isn't a sum
moner either."
"You're really lucky. Where on earth did you find such a fresh elf? It's not even an adult, so whoever picks it up first should
be the owner."
The expression of jealousy and greed that had been on President Choi's face just a moment ago had now spread to Preside
nt Park's face.
No matter how expensive the fruit was and how well it sold, it was nothing compared to 'Elf'.
Elves are Alfheim's favorite fertilizer.
Even if you sold the hundred-day or thousand-day fruit, the best way was to catch an elf and take it to the bank to sell.
But is there anyone in this market who doesn't know that fact?
The doctor's gaze glanced around.
Suddenly, the attention of all the merchants in the market was focused on Ber and Sirka.
With eyes like your own.
"... ... Is this a market? It looks like there are quite a few people here."
Suho and Sirka were leisurely looking around the market scenery.
On the surface, it looked just as bustling as before, but there was already a quiet tension brewing among the merchants.
The reason was no different.
'A person who doesn't know the market price is a fool.'
A newcomer who has just arrived in the city does not know the city's current situation.
Customers who do not know the value of goods are tasty prey to merchants, nothing more, nothing less.
Even when that rookie is still fresh and doesn't have much debt.
If you fool him well, he is the ultimate fool who can completely steal your soul.
And you're an elf?
'Is this a fight for the first breath?'
'Before someone else eats that fool, I'll eat him first... ... .'
'If I could somehow buy that elf for cheap, it would be a real jackpot.'
While so many greedy eyes were watching Suho and Sirka's every move.
Swish-
Suddenly, a roughly made wooden sign popped out from Suho's arms.
Then, he chose a reasonably wide and quiet space and, like other street vendors, planted a wooden sign deep into the grou
nd.
[Berbaguette]
A puzzled look appeared on the faces of the market people as they saw the roughly scribbled wooden sign.
"Baguette? Bakery?"
The doctor muttered, narrowing his eyes.
President Choi also tilted his head.
"Are you trying to sell bread? What about the elf?"
Something is strange.
He had a sign that said 'Baguette', but he didn't have anything in his hand, not even bread.
A merchant whispered.
"What are you thinking? No matter how I look at it, it's empty."
"That's right. Are you just going to set up the elf to attract attention and sell other items first?"
A strange sight appeared in people's eyes.
For a fool, he's actually quite good at salesmanship.
Anyway, the newcomers who have just arrived in the city are likely to have belongings that are difficult to obtain in North Ko
rea since they have not been out of South Korea for long.
It's not too late to sell the elf after getting rid of them all.
"Oh, is it by any chance a small object?"
"Cigarettes, no?"
"Oh, it's a cigarette!"
They were convinced.
In such cases, there is almost a 100% chance that a cigarette or lighter will fall out of the pocket.
And of course, cigarettes are an incredibly rare commodity in apocalyptic North Korea.
It's incredibly expensive.
Of course, this is only true if the person selling it knows the market price.
'So what?'
'What are you going to sell?'
Market people were focused on what would be sold at 'Berbaguette' based on past experiences.
The point here is to glance at them without letting them know.
When they realize that they have been given attention, they start asking for a high price without even knowing the topic.
"Hmm. I wonder if this amount of space will be enough."
Suho looked around and muttered.
'So what!'
At the same time, people's interest also skyrocketed.
however.
Swish-
"...uh?"
In that moment, the expressions on the faces of the market people suddenly froze.
'container'
The moment Suho inserted the black key into his shadow, a large container suddenly appeared majestically above his shado
w.
"Hey, what is that?"
A merchant said, rubbing his eyes.
"container?"
"What kind of skill is that?"
Others also began to murmur in surprised voices.
It's a world where when a strange phenomenon suddenly occurs, the first thing that comes to mind is skill.
But I've never heard of a skill that can summon a container like that.
Skills are skills, but of course that doesn't mean I'll sell containers...
The minds of those who had been filled with anticipation suddenly went blank at the unrealistic sight that unfolded before t
heir eyes.
It has become difficult to even control my facial expressions anymore.
Berga chuckled next to Suho as he watched the people surrounding them and making a fuss.
[Your Majesty, the reactions are already hot.]
"Yeah. I haven't even opened the lid yet."
Suho answered with a grin.
The first step towards shaking up the order of this city.
For this, Suho had to move around a bit last night.
First, finish the daily quest of bodybuilding training in the Shadow Dungeon.
Instead of returning to this city right away, I made a brief visit to Korea before that.
Using the Shadow Key and Shadow Exchange skill.
And I stopped by the nearest 'bakery'.
-Please give me everything from here to here.
-...yes?
-The packing is done. They'll do the moving.
-... ... ?!
Woorrr-
The bakery employee, who was slowly closing up shop, couldn't help but be flustered when he suddenly saw a crowd of por
ters(?) rushing in.
That's flex.
By this time, Suho had quite a bit of money.
During that time, I also raided dungeons to level up and for various other reasons.
The money for the spring water from the Echo Forest that the Scavenger Guild sold on their behalf was also being deposite
d steadily into the Ujin Guild's account.
With this much wealth, it would be possible to buy an entire bakery.
In fact, it was something that was possible even for a B-class hunter, without having to go all the way to Suho.
It's just that no one does it because there's no need to do it.
But this time, Suho finally found a reason to do so.
Clang! Clang!
The moment Suho's two hands opened the container door.
... ... ?!
"crazy."
With a thud, one of the fruits that the doctor was holding in his hand fell to the floor and rolled around.
But he was so shocked that he couldn't even notice it himself, his mouth wide open.
Just like everyone else gathered in the market right now.
His eyes were wide open as if they would pop out at any moment.
"Hey, what is all that?!"
Simultaneously, a shocking uproar shook the entire market.
It's ridiculous.
A neatly displayed stand.
The countless, shining, splendid loaves of bread that filled it all.
And as soon as the container was opened, the crazy, stimulating smell of bread exploded out!
The sight was truly shocking, terrifying, and overwhelming, with so much emotion piled up inside the container!
Hehe.
And in the middle of it all, Verga raised the corners of his mouth with an extremely evil expression and said:
[Do you want bread? If you want, I'll give it to you. I brought all the remaining stock from the bakery here.]
As soon as he finished speaking.
Woohoooooooooooo-!
The market has truly entered the era of the big bakery.
And people, filled with madness, rushed towards Berbaguette.
He takes out his own pocketbook as much as he wants.
but.
Suho mercilessly poured cold water on the customers, or rather the customers, who were rushing in with such a fearsome
momentum.
"Now, we will begin the auction."
... ... What?!
It was the moment when the balance of the free market alliance, which had been firmly maintained by the meat and fruit m
erchants, collapsed.