Chapter 34 – 034. Vampire Detective
034. Vampire Detective
[Sung Yu-jin
Level: 18
Strength: 14 Stamina: 12 Agility: 12 Intelligence: 2 Vitality: 15]
[Available Points: 4]
This was my current point and stat information.
I didn’t use points to raise my stats; I only raised them through exercise.
‘My strength has improved a bit, but… it’s not increasing much considering I’ve been exercising consistently for almost a month.’
At first, I was just happy that my stats increased without using points. But as time passed, I realized that using points to raise stats was tens of times easier.
‘But I raised something else before my stats.’
I thought that these stats were enough to get by in the Vampire Detective world.
What I focused on was the trait, Shadow Heaven Style.
[Shadow Heaven Style Lv.5
You can use Shadow Heaven Style.]
The level of Shadow Heaven Style had increased. I can confidently say that, unless I’m careless, I won’t lose in a pure close-quarters fight against a hunter below E-rank.
‘I’d like to raise my level even higher if I could.’
[Do you want to use 80 points to increase the level of Shadow Heaven Style Lv.5?]
[Insufficient points.]
It cost 30 points to raise it to level 5, and the next level required more than double that.
‘These are points that I might barely gather even after a month of activity in the game world.’
Points are calculated and awarded based on how I act in the game world. If I don’t do anything, the points awarded are low. On the other hand, if I do anything, I get more points.
‘But it’s not like I get a huge amount of points just by running wild… I don’t really understand the mechanism. It’s a headache.’
In the end, what I need to do is be active in the game world. No, I need to enjoy it, just like the name “game” suggests.
‘4 points… This is time for a random draw. Let’s goooo.’
Red socks. One additional inventory slot. A clown mask, water balloons.
I was satisfied.
“This is a pretty good draw. An increased inventory is always a good thing.”
[Current Inventory]
1. Human corpse
2. Human corpse
3. Human corpse
4. –
I clicked my tongue while looking at my inventory.
The corpses of three gangsters. Almost two months had passed in the game world, and I had forgotten to get rid of the bodies. I was having too much fun swinging my dick at the girls, so I had forgotten about it until now.
“There wasn’t a good place to dump them either… I should get rid of them if I get the chance this time.”
***
When I entered the ‘Vampire Detective’ world, the first thing I did was check my surroundings. It was the motel where I had rolled around with Hera during the day.
As expected, nothing had changed. I then took out my smartphone and checked the news articles.
-Secret meeting between a member of the National Assembly and a Japanese senator 4 months ago! What was discussed?!
-National Assemblyman Kim Pil-jung, ‘It’s true that I met with the Japanese senator, but the topic of discussion was not the economy, but the upcoming Olympics.’
-Traitorous act by a member of the National Assembly. In this situation?!
-Traitorous companies that collaborated with traitorous National Assemblyman Kim Pil-jung. The profits they made are at least 70 billion won.
-The prosecution, ‘We are investigating. We will release the details of the investigation after some progress has been made.’ Is the investigation really being conducted properly?
-Protest to remove national traitor Kim Pil-jung! Gwanghwamun protest for the Republic of Korea!
“They’re finally releasing it now.”
The one who has this information is reporter Han Sung-woon. He probably got all the benefits he could and then released the information.
It’s not surprising. I knew this would happen beforehand. The media will be picking apart this case for at least three days.
What I’m focusing on are the things buried under the traitorous articles.
-Seoul has become dangerous. More than 30 murder cases this month alone.
-Stabbing incident in a park at dawn.
-‘Bang! Bang! Bang!’ Gunshots heard at night. What’s the truth?
“Seoul has become a mess these days. Madam also sighed, saying that the number of vampire hunters in Seoul has increased.”
Madam Kim Mi-ok and I are quite close. We meet up and bang each other often, so it’s hard not to be close.
The close Madam leaks various information to me. Most of it is information telling me to be careful.
‘Was crashing the express bus into the headquarters entrance a bit too much? No matter how I think about it, it seems like that’s why vampire hunters from all over the country have gathered in Seoul.’
As you can see from the articles, the security in Seoul is shaky. Even ordinary people can feel it, so it goes without saying that the underworld is in chaos.
‘Because of this, more than three rooms have closed down recently.’
The situation is so dangerous that they have temporarily closed their businesses. Fortunately, they were all places I had been to before.
‘Let’s see. I’ve been to most of the ten-percent clubs in Gangnam… Should I try a room in Incheon this time?’
This industry is best in Gangnam, but I’ve heard that Incheon is also pretty good.
‘But before that… I need to make some money.’
About 3 billion won.
That’s how much money I spent on entertainment in the game world.
When I ran out of money, I would sell information or extort money, but that’s also reaching its limit. The amount of information I can use right now is very small.
Vrrrm.
My smartphone vibrated. A message came in on the Taker-only messenger.
‘Huh? It’s Moon Ji-hyuk. I gave him information about a marriage scammer two weeks ago, and he’s already contacting me?’
That’s unexpected. I thought Moon Ji-hyuk would contact me again at least next month.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Taker.
Taker – What.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Do you know that vampires actually exist?
“Ah.”
I smiled.
Certainly, at this point, Moon Ji-hyuk is working as a detective with his superior vampire physique while also struggling to get information about vampires.
‘After this, he’ll be searching the countryside for a hit-and-run driver and discover a vampire hiding there. He’ll get information about vampires from that vampire, and the drama’s story will begin in earnest.’
In other words, it’s not that time yet. If Moon Ji-hyuk knew about vampires, he wouldn’t have sent me a message like this.
Taker – Are you testing me? Everyone who needs to know knows about vampires.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Are vampires famous in the underworld?
Taker – Not that famous. Vampires who are in their right mind move carefully.
Moon Ji-hyuk – I want to buy information about vampires.
Taker – About vampire organizations? I know a few hideouts.
Moon Ji-hyuk – There are vampire organizations?
Taker – South America and Africa are almost entirely vampire territory. Europe is more dominated by vampire hunters. North America is almost entirely a vampire hunter zone.
Taker – But why do you need this information?
Taker – Did you become a vampire or something?
Moon Ji-hyuk – No. I encountered a vampire while working, so that’s why.
I chuckled. Moon Ji-hyuk’s reply was about 5 seconds late.
‘Knowing the original story is amazing. It’s like Moon Ji-hyuk is in the palm of my hand.’
Taker – What kind of information about vampires do you want?
Moon Ji-hyuk – Vampire characteristics and weaknesses. Information about vampires in Korea. And detailed information about vampire hunters.
“Hmm…”
I pondered.
The information Moon Ji-hyuk wants is what I know. What I’m pondering is how much I should tell Moon Ji-hyuk.
‘There are a lot of vampire hunters in Seoul, so I need to teach him a little bit so he doesn’t get caught by them in a ridiculous way.’
Taker – 1.5 million won. If you deposit it, I’ll tell you what I know.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Deposited.
Taker – The biggest characteristic of vampires is that they are weak during the day and strong at night. And even during the day, if it’s a place where sunlight is completely blocked, they’re as lively as they are at night. Conversely, even at night, if they’re exposed to artificial sunlight, their physical abilities decrease, though not as much as during the day.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Are there no weaknesses of vampires?
Taker – There are. They’re very vulnerable to silver. Silver weapons are a big weakness for vampires. That’s true even for the True Ancestors. If they get hit in the arm with a silver bullet, they’d have to cut off their arm.
Moon Ji-hyuk – True Ancestors…?
Taker – They’re vampires who use superpowers and can turn humans into vampires. Information about True Ancestors is rare, so I don’t know much either.
Taker – Oh. And vampires aren’t reflected in mercury mirrors. If you have a mercury mirror, you can easily distinguish between ordinary people and vampires.
Moon Ji-hyuk – What about vampires active in Korea?
Taker – I don’t know exactly. I heard there are over 3,000. Most of them live in hiding.
Moon Ji-hyuk – That’s a bit disappointing for the price. What about vampire hunters?
I chuckled at Moon Ji-hyuk’s grumbling.
1.5 million won is expensive? I’m selling information for only 1.5 million won with a huge protagonist discount.
‘Well, I guess detectives’ salaries are low.’
Taker – The reason it’s expensive is because of the information about vampire hunters. It’s hard to get this information unless you’re someone like me.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Okay. Tell me.
Taker – The vampire hunter organization is the Black Cross Society, and their headquarters is in Apgujeong.
Taker – You know about the recent ghost bus accident? The building that bus crashed into is the Korean Black Cross Society headquarters. There are rumors that it was a vampire attack.
Taker – Because of that, vampire hunters from all over the country have gathered in Seoul. They’re searching for vampires like crazy.
Moon Ji-hyuk – How dangerous are vampire hunters?
Taker – They don’t touch ordinary people. But they try to kill vampires no matter what.
Taker – They’re armed with silver weapons, and I heard they undergo brutal training that’s more intense than special forces to fight vampires.
Taker – Also, vampire hunters have a cooperative relationship with the Korean government. I think the National Intelligence Service is also involved.
Taker – After all, vampires are monsters from a human perspective. They cooperate to kill them.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Is that all?
Taker – About Korea. I don’t know much about foreign countries, do you want me to tell you?
Moon Ji-hyuk – No. It’s okay.
Moon Ji-hyuk – But have you heard any rumors about vampires who have become human?
Taker – Oh. That? I’ve heard of it. But I don’t know the details. Maybe the True Ancestors would know.
Moon Ji-hyuk – Okay. Let’s trade again later.
Taker – Okay. Thanks as always.
“Hoo.”
I turned off my smartphone. With this, Moon Ji-hyuk got information about vampire hunters faster than in the original story. I also told him about mercury mirrors, so he’ll act cautiously as much as possible.
“Moon Ji-hyuk needs to stay alive at least until the Orb of Life appears. That way, I can easily steal the Orb of Life.”
I got up from my seat.
“Then, shall I go make some money?”
If it’s hard to make money by selling information anymore, I can just make money using the information from the original story.
I went outside the motel and approached a black sedan parked in the parking lot. I stole one of the cars that had been parked long-term at the airport. Of course, I covered my face with a neck warmer mask when I stole it.
I was careful not to be caught on the black boxes of other cars parked there, and even if I was, there’s no clue that would identify me.
[Hacking successful.]
[You can hack the K19 car for 3 minutes.]
The car was a K19. It was a Korean car, and I kind of liked it.
I found out from an experiment I did before that if you leave the power on while hacked, the power stays on even after the hacking time is over.
The same goes for cars. If you turn on the ignition, it won’t turn off even after the hacking time is over. You just need to make it recognize that the key is inserted through hacking.
“It feels like I’m playing a game.”
I got into the driver’s seat and moved the car with hacking alone, without even touching the steering wheel. Hacking is very convenient. It moves just by my thoughts without any complicated procedures.
Still, I grabbed the steering wheel and drove myself when leaving the parking lot.
‘I don’t have a license, but driving isn’t a big deal.’
If you’re careful of the front, back, and sides and pay attention to the traffic lights, it’s not that difficult.
Sometimes the car behind or next to me gets annoying, but when that happens, I just give them a sincere middle finger and ignore them.
‘I should get a license soon in real life. Driving is surprisingly fun.’
Thud!
I lightly bumped into a utility pole that I didn’t see when I entered the alleyway.
“……Well, it’s not my car anyway.”
I decided to think positively.
‘Let’s go to the airport again tomorrow.’
