SFRW-Chapter 67

Ch. 67 Sword God From The Ruined World

No. [9-074]  

Product Name – Gemstone found in rift zone / 12 pieces, 1 set.  

Minimum Bid Price – 10,000 dollars 

Current Bid Price – 900,000 dollars 

Bidding End Time – 00:00:03  

“……Hah.”  

As the auction ended right at the closing time with a notification that there were no more bidders, Seo Do-jun let out a small sigh.  

Since it was his first time participating in an auction, the tension was unexpectedly high.  

Especially when thinking that someone might snatch away an item he absolutely needed to win, he couldn’t take his eyes off it until the very last second.  

The Soul Gem had no competitors until three hours before the bidding closed.  

It made sense – no matter how favorably you looked at it, it was just a dark blue stone.  

It didn’t possess any special beauty like the Letonia flower, so frankly even 10,000 dollars felt like too much.  

Thus, Seo Do-jun believed he could easily win the bid for the Soul Gem that everyone ignored.  

However, with two hours left, someone started bidding at 30,000 dollars.  

Though annoying for Seo Do-jun, he legitimately raised the bid higher than the opponent’s.  

Immediately, the other party doubled Seo Do-jun’s bid.  

The auction price that was 20,000 dollars skyrocketed to 100,000 dollars in an instant.  

After such back-and-forth competition, the final winning bid was 900,000 dollars.  

“They say there’s no shortage of people with more money than they know what to do with…”  

Seo Do-jun clicked his tongue thinking about the opponent who casually tried to spend hundreds of thousands on something useless.  

Still, he managed to acquire the Soul Gem for 900,000 dollars.  

What would happen when people eventually learned the gem’s true value?  

Would the seller, or even those who gave up the bid over mere 900,000 dollars, pound the ground in regret?  

“A treasure is only a treasure to those who can truly use it.”  

Since Seo Do-jun was likely the only person on Earth who could utilize the Soul Gem, he saw no need for regret even if its value became known.  

“Now that I have the Soul Gem… what’s left is…”  

Seo Do-jun checked his tablet to review each item he’d bid on one by one.  

While there were some minor bidding wars, they were just driven by curiosity and pointless possessiveness.  

“If they want to waste money so badly, I’ll just let them.”  

“It’s over.”  

Seo Do-jun shook his head and leaned back on the sofa.  

The bidding wars were far more intense than expected.  

Fighting Heavy Mountain would’ve been easier by comparison.  

As the closing time approached, competition for nearly every auction item intensified.  

Seo Do-jun had to monitor bids in real-time and engage in these exhausting battles.  

To avoid further mental stress from such draining fights, Seo Do-jun ended some auctions early by meeting their ‘Buyout Prices’ – amounts set by owners to sell items immediately without bidding wars.  

These buyout prices ranged from 10 million dollars to hundreds of millions, at the owners’ discretion.  

Since these were never small sums, most Gold Market members avoided them, preferring to bid for better deals despite the hassle.  

By choosing this unconventional path, Seo Do-jun ended up spending far more than anticipated.  

“1.2 billion dollars reduced to 300 million dollars in three days?”  

He’d spent 900 million dollars at the Gold Market.  

Yet he felt no regret – obtaining his desired items was worth every penny.  

Ding-dong!  

When the bell rang, Seo Do-jun opened the door to a hotel employee handing him a key.  

“This is the room key for your auction items. You may collect them in three hours. Would you like vehicle service?”  

The hotel provided transport for large purchases, but Seo Do-jun only requested a taxi to the airport.  

Five minutes after the employee left, his phone rang.  

“You’re really leaving today?”  

Gloria’s voice was full of reluctance.  

Over the past three days, they’d spent considerable time together.  

Thanks to her, Seo Do-jun naturally met many people and learned valuable information.  

His smooth Gold Market experience was entirely due to Gloria.  

“I have to.”  

With all business in America concluded, there was no reason to stay.  

Plus, Kang Young-pyo’s appearance in South Korea required his return.  

Knowing his circumstances, Gloria didn’t press him to stay. Instead:  

“Will you meet me if I visit South Korea?”  

“If time allows.”  

“Typical you. Should I escort you to the airport?”  

“I’ve arranged it with the hotel.”  

“Alright. See you in South Korea then. Travel safe.”  

Gloria coolly ended the call.  

Three hours later, Seo Do-jun prepared to leave after collecting his auction items.  

The numbered key led to a room where all items were neatly arranged.  

First, he inspected the Soul Gem – flawlessly preserved in an elegant case.  

Next were five white golf ball-sized spheres.  

Though resembling ordinary golf balls with hard, unremarkable surfaces, these were actually his second most desired items.  

“Laroc’s Eggs.”  

Despite their appearance, these were eggs from a monster called Laroc.  

Their hardened shells indicated extinct life within – they wouldn’t hatch.  

Though seemingly useless, these were crucial for Seo Do-jun’s physical enhancement.  

Even lifeless, each egg contained powerful energy for significant bodily development.  

Obtaining these five eggs alone fulfilled his Gold Market purpose.  

Next was an ashen-gray elliptical rod.  

While resembling a burnt stick, Seo Do-jun knew its true nature –  

“Remnant of Lightning.”  

Similar to the Eternal Ember from Mapo Rift’s Vulkena hunt, this item from the lightning-wielding Astralur (Lightning Bear) monster could alter magic attributes when absorbed.  

In the ruined world, Lightning Bears were extremely rare. Some even worshipped them as ‘Divine Beasts.’

Unlike most monsters, they weren’t harmful to humans, sparking academic debates about their classification.  

But that was the ruined world’s context.  

If Lightning Bears existed in any rift zone, Seo Do-jun intended to hunt them – their remnants were that valuable.  

Other purchases included Letonia flowers, 200-year-old wild ginseng, medicinal herbs, and monster byproducts.  

Only after verifying every item did Seo Do-jun store them in subspace.  

Outside, a prearranged taxi awaited.  

“Leaving now?”  

As Seo Do-jun boarded, Cain emerged from the hotel and approached.  

“Yeah.”  

“Didn’t win anything?”  

Seeing Seo Do-jun without luggage, Cain assumed he’d lost bids or found nothing worthwhile.  

Seo Do-jun simply shrugged, seeing no need to explain.  

“Not sure when we’ll meet again, but let’s stay in touch.”  

As Cain extended his hand, Seo Do-jun shook it.  

Unbeknownst to them, paparazzi captured this moment from afar…  

[Exclusive] World’s Strongest Heroes’ Secret Pact!  

On his flight back to South Korea, Seo Do-jun encountered this absurd article.  

A simple farewell photo was sensationalized as some grand agreement.  

The article claimed Seo Do-jun and Cain formed an alliance for America’s peace during Gold Market, fueling rumors about Seo Do-jun potentially acquiring U.S. citizenship.  

Comments showed Americans celebrating his ‘inevitable’ naturalization, while South Koreans angrily denounced it as fake news, threatening lawsuits.  

“Quite the fictional story.”  

Seo Do-jun dismissed the baseless article.  

Yet upon arrival, he witnessed how one photo spawned countless rumors, throwing South Korea into uproar.  

“Reporter Jo Dong-hak from XX Daily! Is it true you’re acquiring U.S. citizenship?”  

“Reporter Ha Jo-woong from XX Media! Reports say America offered lifetime tax exemption and national support for guild establishment. Is this accurate?”  

“XX Weekly here! We heard you and Cain Lester became sworn brothers! There are also engagement rumors with Gloria Tyler! When are you returning to America?”  

Hundreds of reporters and TV crews flooded the airport.  

Protest groups waved banners saying ‘Absolutely Oppose Seo Do-jun’s Naturalization,’ ‘South Korea’s Pride Seo Do-jun,’ and ‘Don’t Betray Your Homeland.’

This ridiculous chaos from one photo made Seo Do-jun’s brow furrow deeper.  

The reporters’ clamoring and protestors’ chants grated on his nerves.  

As he considered silencing them all with his power, the human wall suddenly parted.  

Hero Association members forcibly cleared a path, revealing Chairman Na Tae-hwang.  

“Such welcome for our returning Hero… You understand – they fear losing someone like you.”  

Seo Do-jun nearly retorted but held his tongue. There was truth in Na Tae-hwang’s words.  

“If you’re not pressed, join me for a meal.”  

Though not hungry, Seo Do-jun nodded – he had matters to discuss with Na Tae-hwang.  

“Of course.”  

“Thank you.”  

As they walked together, protestors erupted in thunderous applause, chanting their names.  

“Maybe wave to them.”  

Seo Do-jun looked at Na Tae-hwang seriously.  

“Are you serious?”  

“Just a thought. By the way… you’re not actually considering naturalization, are you?”  

Seo Do-jun clearly saw the anxiety in Na Tae-hwang’s eyes.