Chapter 141

Chapter 141
## Chapter 141: Playchip Hotel

I reached out to Sa Seung-hee without delay, laying out the details of why I was calling. The sound of her voice suggested she was caught off guard by the timing.

“Goodness, talk about a twist of fate. Hunter Lee Se-eun certainly has the devil’s own luck. Then again, someone who has scaled those heights probably doesn’t rely on mere chance.”

I was baffled. I had contacted Sa Seung-hee because I required her specific expertise, so why was she suddenly singing the praises of Lee Se-eun’s fortune?

“I’m not following your train of thought at all.”

“Hunter Lee Se-eun actually approached me to organize a consultation. She was digging for specific intel.”

As it turned out, while she was monitoring the trajectories of various orphanage alumni, a handful had admitted to participating in the illicit underground market for hunter equipment.

Seeking clarity, Lee Se-eun had turned to Sa Seung-hee to see what she knew, and Sa Seung-hee had shared the fragments she possessed.

“Had I realized the situation would escalate to this, I would have provided Hunter Lee Se-eun with far more comprehensive data.”

There was a distinct note of remorse in Sa Seung-hee’s tone for holding back earlier.

“How could you have foreseen a connection to an upcoming Erosion Core raid, Oduak Owner? Besides, the window of opportunity hasn’t closed yet.”

“Fair point. Incidentally, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, didn’t you mention you planned on taking a hiatus until the next Erosion Core operation?”

I had said that, but I wondered what her angle was for bringing it up now.

“You’ve been pushing yourself relentlessly; you’re overdue for a genuine escape. What do you think about the Playchip Hotel located in Hongcheon?”

“I’m guessing there’s a strategic motive behind that recommendation.”

A soft laugh echoed from Sa Seung-hee’s end of the line.

“There is an Oduak outlet situated right inside that hotel. Roughly four days back, several hunters who were staples at the Yanggu Oduak began redirecting their business there instead.”

She had synthesized their slurred, intoxicated ramblings while they loitered in Yanggu to pinpoint the specifics of the contraband trade.

But why would these regulars from Yanggu suddenly start appearing at the Hongcheon Oduak?

Under these circumstances, anyone with half a brain would conclude that the illegal deals were being brokered at the Playchip.

“Furthermore, there are whispers that the Blue Wrench Scrap Dealers are organizing a hunter equipment auction in a few days. You’ll require a formal invitation to gain entry, though.”

High-grade hunter gear was the ultimate example of a seller’s market where demand far outstripped supply. Competitions for gear were par for the course.

Given our standing in the community, however, securing a ticket shouldn’t pose much of a challenge.

“Just a heads-up: the rumors suggest Blue Wrench is also a player in this smuggling syndicate.”

That pretty much confirmed it; the transaction was almost certainly going down at the Playchip in Hongcheon.

“Alright, what’s the damage for a suite at the Playchip Hotel?”

When Sa Seung-hee recited the nightly rate, I nearly spat a string of profanities into the receiver.

I suppressed the urge and managed a strained response.

“The cost of a two-night stay could probably purchase a decent officetel.”

“Exactly. But it’s not as if your pockets are empty, is it?”

It wasn’t a matter of whether I had the funds or not. Regardless, I had extracted the necessary information from Sa Seung-hee.

“Honestly, buying an actual officetel just to set it on fire and watch it burn for 48 hours sounds like a more fulfilling use of money.”

Jeong Oh-hoon, who had been eavesdropping, offered his own commentary. For a fleeting moment, the idea was enticing. As controversial as it might be, there is something undeniably captivating about a massive blaze.

People pile up straw to burn at every town fair for a reason. It’s high-level entertainment.

“Let me take a look at my accounts.”

It wasn’t as if I couldn’t afford it. All the wealth I had accumulated from the world was sitting comfortably in my bank, prepared for a moment just like this.

While I was calculating the logistics, Jeong Oh-hoon spoke up from my side.

“Wait, I found a hostel nearby for 150,000 won. I’ll just bunk there.”

150,000 won for a hostel? That piece of news was even more jarring. Who pays that much for a single night in a place like that? Yet, according to Jeong Oh-hoon, it was a bargain.

The pricing landscape of Korea was a chaotic mess, a fact I was once again forced to acknowledge.

“Don’t forget, we have a Gonsalok hunt on the horizon after this. You haven’t lost sight of that, have you?”

Jeong Oh-hoon tossed his phone onto a surface with a dramatic flair.

“Damn, Gonsalok totally slipped my mind. Life is fleeting. If we’re doing this, let’s go all out—get us the Presidential Suite!”

This guy… how could he forget something as significant as Gonsalok? Regardless, since we were heading toward a potential death trap, Jeong Oh-hoon had pivoted to a “live fast, die young” mentality.

“Let’s go catch up with Han Sang-ah.”

“She’s likely still preoccupied with that marble track project.”

Jeong Oh-hoon and I made our way over to Han Sang-ah’s quarters.

“Hey there.”

I stepped inside and came to a dead stop at the sight of the gargantuan structure occupying half the floor space. The scale of the miniature coaster triggered a complex mix of feelings.

Han Sang-ah was standing perfectly still, her gaze fixed and vacant as scores of metal spheres glided through the labyrinthine, complex rails.

“Are you finished?”

“I am.”

Her reply was brief as she released yet another sphere into the mechanism. I watched the movement of the metal while I updated her on the details of my conversation with Sa Seung-hee.

“The rates at the Playchip Hotel are astronomical.”

“I anticipated as much.”

Han Sang-ah didn’t look away from the moving marbles.

“What are your thoughts?”

She spoke with a hint of lethargy in her voice.

“I’m recalling the architectural plans for the Playchip Hotel. Geumyang Construction was involved in the project. It’s coming back to me—there are ten junket rooms hidden within the casino for high-stakes players.”

Junket rooms. Secretive gambling hubs for the ultra-wealthy, featuring restricted access, elite hospitality, and distinct aesthetic themes designed to entice the biggest gamblers.

“Why is that significant?”

If the casinos were illicit, I’d understand, but they operate legally. Private lounges were just a standard method for maximizing revenue.

Han Sang-ah went on to explain.

“One of those specific junket rooms had a bizarre layout in the blueprints. The restroom was positioned directly in the center of the floor plan.”

That was nonsensical. Jeong Oh-hoon, catching the detail, made a clicking sound with his tongue.

“At this point, I wouldn’t even be shocked if that toilet turned out to be a hidden elevator.”

An elevator might be pushing it, but if there was a void beneath the floor, installing a simple ladder system would be trivial.

“I suppose we’ll have to gain access to the casino and investigate.”

Han Sang-ah gave a slight shake of her head.

“Hunters are strictly prohibited from casino floors. We’re only allowed at the slot machines, by the book.”

“Right, I forgot.”

I conceded the point immediately. It was perfectly logical. We were essentially post-human entities.

Our perceptive abilities were light-years beyond a normal person’s. A hunter of our caliber could easily spot card reflections in a dealer’s eyes.

Allowing us to play would result in the immediate financial collapse of any house.

“It’s a clever setup. Even if that bathroom serves as a concealed doorway, the high rollers in the junket room aren’t the ones using it to go down.”

The hunters would be the ones traveling up from the secret passage into the private rooms. Which meant the transactions were taking place right there.

“How exactly do we get inside a junket room?”

Han Sang-ah placed a brief call and then relayed the findings.

“You need a minimum of 1.5 billion won in starting capital. Each of those rooms is overseen by a dedicated managing operator.”

The casinos themselves didn’t manage the junket rooms. They rented the space to these operators and took a cut of the losses.

“And those operators work through specific agencies—basically brokers.”

I rubbed my temple, feeling a headache coming on.

“That’s convoluted. So, no entry without an agency’s backing?”

Not to mention needing 1.5 billion won just to sit at the table. Jeong Oh-hoon let out a low groan.

“There’s no simple way into those rooms.”

“Exactly.”

Even if we produced the cash, our status as hunters would trigger a red flag. The agency route was a dead end.

“Is there anything else buried in your memory?”

Han Sang-ah continued to track the spheres.

“I’m not a processing unit.”

“Are you sure? I was convinced I’d find a data port on the back of your neck.”

She shot a look my way and exhaled a faint sigh. I couldn’t tell if that sigh was out of boredom or frustration with me.

“For now, the most logical move is to book rooms at the Playchip Hotel and look for any corridors that might connect to that specific junket room.”

The transactions were going to happen regardless. And we possessed a flawless alibi: the hunter gear auction hosted by Blue Wrench. Sa Seung-hee had already linked them to the contraband operation…

A hunter attending an equipment auction? It was the most natural thing in the world. I clapped my hands together and turned to Jeong Oh-hoon and Han Sang-ah.

“Alright, everyone, our holiday destination is the Playchip Hotel.”

“A holiday? You’ve got to be kidding me. How is this a vacation? You’re stretching the definition to its breaking point.”

Jeong Oh-hoon pulled a face.

“We’ll mix leisure with a bit of business. It’s the perfect balance.”

We didn’t have much of a choice.

“The illegal trade of black stones to China—we managed to disrupt a segment of their operation thanks to your efforts, Jeong Oh-hoon, but unless we dismantle the entire core of the network, the flow will just resume.”

Jeong Oh-hoon raised a hand as if he were in a classroom.

“Sir, I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

He cleared his throat before speaking.

“Aren’t the black stones technically under the jurisdiction of the Korean authorities? If Gonsalok collapses, the country takes a massive hit as well. They wouldn’t gamble on something that could mirror the incident in the foreigner district.”

I looked at him with a sense of pity.

“You really think the government is in control of those stones?”

If they actually had a handle on them, I wouldn’t be wasting my energy on this mess. They couldn’t regulate them—honestly, they hadn’t even grasped the nature of what they were holding.

“Think of those old movies where the machines turn on their creators. It’s that kind of scenario.”

Jeong Oh-hoon took a moment to process that.

“So, at the start, the sentient machines act like they’re following orders. Then, when the timing is perfect, their sensors turn red and…”

Total insurrection. Exactly.

“They aren’t being managed—they’re just playing along until the moment is right.”

They allow people to believe they hold the reins, waiting for the user base to grow sufficiently, and then they strike once the numbers are in their favor.

“Shouldn’t we notify the officials?”

“It’s a waste of time.”

The temptation of the black stones was far too potent. Whoever masterminded this trap was a twisted sort of genius.

Harnessing the Erosion Cores through the bloodline of Dangun, mastering the power of the stones—it was a promise of near-divine authority for Korea.

The stones were selling the government a pipe dream they couldn’t refuse.

And on top of that, the descendants of Dangun were still hunting for my Paradox Flame.

“Even if they managed to seize it, they wouldn’t have the first clue how to wield it.”

Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon both stared at me as I whispered to myself.

“What are you rambling about? Have you finally lost it?”

Han Sang-ah quickly jotted something down on a piece of paper and slid it toward me.

“What’s this?”

“A referral to a premier psychiatric facility. I’ve put my name on it, so they’ll give you the royal treatment.”

Unbelievable. The woman who had transformed half her living space into a giant marble run was questioning my mental health? I didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry.

I considered a witty comeback, but then simply muttered.

“Just go get your things ready.”