Chapter 6 (1/2)

”Conditions?” (Seol)

Seol asked back.

”Are you going to do it or not?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”Let's hear it.” (Seol)

”Number one. You will swear to me right now that you have never ever set foot in that other world before. Right here.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”Of course, I will do that. I swear to you.” (Seol)

”Number two. I want you to tell me your secret when I hand over the Invitation - the secret to this… inconsistency in you.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”I refuse.” (Seol)

Seol immediately refused.

”Ask for something else. I will not entertain questions about that topic again.” (Seol)

”Even if I were to give you a very special Invitation?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

A special Invitation? Seol was slightly tempted, but still shook his head.

”Still no. If I get to trust you a little more in the future, then maybe. But no.” (Seol)

….But, since he couldn't be 100% sure, he left the door open a little.

Kim Hahn-Nah leaned her head back and while staring at the night sky, spat out a long sigh.

”….The final condition. After you're admitted, you will always negotiate with me first before anybody else, regardless of what. Understood?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”What if I'm not admitted?” (Seol)

”Unless you're the most worthless sc.u.mbag as*hole and an unlucky son of a b*tch, I'm pretty sure that ain't gonna happen. I'm gonna make sure of that.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Her voice trembled from the s.h.i.+mmering heat of anger. Hearing that declaration, Seol quickly punched some numbers on his mental calculator. It seemed that Kim Hahn-Nah would not concede on the last point. If they failed to see eye to eye here, then, never mind receiving an Invitation, not even signing a Contract would become possible now.

'I can see that she's really attached to this Invitation, isn't she…?' (Seol)

Hearing her say the word 'negotiation', she definitely had thrown away any and all thoughts regarding the slave Contract now. After a.s.sessing his options, Seol decided to go for it.

”I accept.” (Seol)

”….Good.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Kim Hahn-Nah put her phone away. She let off a consecutive number of sighs while searching her inner pockets. And judging by how much her hand trembled, she must've found using it a very, very unfortunate occurrence.

There were four stamps caught neatly between her fingers emerging out from the jacket. One was coloured red, the other ones were bronze, silver, and finally, gold.

”Since you said you don't want to sign the Contract….” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Kim Hahn-Nah removed the red stamp.

”As for the bronze…. I can use it with my authority, but then again, that's for the public a.s.sets. So, no. No need to even mention the silver, too.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

The way she spoke while accidentally waving around her middle finger got on Seol's nerves a bit, but he endured. The sole remaining stamp was the gold-coloured one. That was her so-called precious Invitation.

She tightly grasped the stamp with frustration and anguish on her face, before approaching Seol as if she was ready to devour him right on the spot.

”W, wait?!” (Seol)

”What? Aren't we finished talking now? You wanted an Invitation, right?” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”What is that gold stamp, then….?” (Seol)

”It's my life, you b*stard!! My life!!” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

Kim Hahn-Nah shouted at him, and then s.n.a.t.c.hed the retreating Seol's left arm. As if she was stabbing him with a dagger, she planted the golden stamp on the back of his left hand.

Suddenly, a golden light exploded. This golden light shone upwards, but, just like the receding flood water, the light dissipated from the top and eventually became dark, instead.

Feeling completely mystified, Seol s.h.i.+fted his gaze down to the back of his hand. Right in the middle, a small, round mark was emitting a reddish golden light from there. Although it disappeared quite rapidly as if being sucked under his skin, the sight still remained quite mesmerising.

Before he realised it, though, an envelope slapped him in the chest. Seeing how luxuriously packaged it was, he guessed that this was the Invitation letter.

”The Gate will open at 10:30 PM, tonight. It's around two hours from now, so if you want to sort out your personal affairs, then go and do it. I don't really care if you read the Invitation letter or not.” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

While clutching the bag full of money, Kim Hahn-Nah abruptly turned on her heels to leave. Just as she took several steps away, she trembled noticeably, and turned around to glare at him one more time.

”You…. No matter what, you gotta survive, got that? I don't care what you do, you better survive and get admitted, understand?!” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

”I did so much for you already, so if you die there, let's see what happens! I'll get back every little thing you owe me by whatever means possible, understand?!” (Kim Hahn-Nah)

She must've been really, really angry. Kim Hahn-Nah's voice was laced thick with incredible killing intent. But still, she rapidly disappeared into the darkness.

Seol plopped down on his b.u.t.t. It felt like a wild storm just swept by a second ago. He danced along to the tune being played at the time, but with it having ended, he sure felt completely drained now.

Seol clenched and loosened his left fist a couple of times before s.h.i.+fting his focus to the Invitation letter. There was one letter neatly folded inside the envelope.

For some reason, he ended up recalling his past while feeling rather proud of himself. He had never ever received an invitation before, either in his life or during that dream of his, but now that he held one, this was quite a different kind of feeling to him.

Seol carefully unfolded the letter.

Greetings!

We'd like to sincerely thank you for accepting the Invitation to enter the 'another world connected to ours', the Lost Paradise.

The Lost Paradise is a world just for the small number of chosen people.

A world full of heart-pounding adventure and blindingly-bountiful treasures! A world where the living, breathing legendary artifacts and fierce compet.i.tion for them still exists!

This Invitation letter will guide the honourable guest to the steps of Eden, to leave behind the drudgery of everyday lives!

*This Invitation letter is only issued to an honourable guest with the approval of the golden stamp.

*The opening time for the gate is 10:30 PM, March 16th, 2017. We strongly recommend that by this time, the honourable guest should find a quiet area without any witnesses present.

*This Invitation letter is required during the confirmation of the Marking as well as the starting bonus giveaway. Do not lose this letter during the admittance, and please bring it along with you.

*This Invitation letter allows the honourable guest to bring along another person as an aide.

”Ah. c.r.a.p.” (Seol)

Seol stopped reading every little word of the letter, and took a look at the phone's screen. The time was already well past eight and was racing towards nine.