TRGBM 51

Episode 51

051. Chaos in Kratum

Achievements:
Unwavering Conviction
Head Hunter
The One Who Astonished the Blacksmith
Troll Slayer
Golem Dismantling Specialist
Reviver of the Ancient Heart
Destructive Creator
First Ego Golem Creator
Mine Destroyer
Level Difference Overcomer
Skills:
Resolution’s Intuition [Hidden] Lv.7
Mining 10 [MAX]
Smelting 10 [MAX]
Soul Forging [Hidden] Lv.3
Divine Dexterity [Hidden] Lv.6
Low-Grade Regeneration Lv.5
Solar Strike [Hidden] Lv.3
Blue Index Lv.1
Golem Modification Evolution [Hidden] Lv.1
Creator’s Resonance [Unique] Lv.2
Gathering Lv.4
Pulse Insight [Hidden] Lv.1
Extraction Lv.1
Hidden System
Master Artisan’s Workshop Lv.1

Gold Hands, Level 31.
It was a list utterly unbelievable for a level 31 player—a standard the Gold Hands of the past couldn’t have even dreamed of.
But Gold Hands was still not satisfied.
Now was the time to take another step forward.

“Worker! Prepare for work!”
“Worker! Woooorker!”

At Gold Hands’s call, the Iron Worker, who had been silently watching him from a corner of the forge, moved its massive body closer.
Its blue core glowed brightly with anticipation.
The first ancient-grade material work with its master—the Iron Worker seemed to instinctively sense its importance.

“We’ll dismantle the existing hammer and refine it with the Void Iron Ore. For any lacking materials… we’ll cover them with these.”

Without hesitation, Geumson opened the Master Artisan’s Workshop system.
Before his eyes unfolded the list of a secret shop, accessible only to him.

[Reputation Shop]
[Material Items]
Pure Silver Ingot: 300P
Mithril Alloy Ingot: 500P
Ghost Mushroom Spores: 350P
Tough Wyvern Hide: 850P
.
.
.

Using the reputation shop’s search function, Geumson selected two materials he knew well—items he had used most frequently in the past, familiar to him.

[‘Starlight Sand’ purchased. -1,000P]
[‘Abyssal Steel Ingot’ purchased. -1,100P]
[Remaining Reputation Points: 0]

Starlight Sand was a catalyst that maximized a metal’s magic conductivity, while Abyssal Steel possessed stability, maintaining its form under any heat or pressure.
It was the optimal combination for handling the unstable Ancient Void Iron Ore.

‘If I had more reputation points, I could use better materials… What a shame.’

He particularly regretted having to spend points on the Abyssal Steel Ingot.
It was an item he could mine himself if he went to the Shadow Archipelago.
But since he needed it immediately, there was no other choice.

‘I should save up some reputation points.’

Pushing aside his regret, he lit the forge.

Whoosh—!

Dusar’s special Magma Forge roared to life, spewing flames.
Geumson began dismantling the Forgotten Artisan’s First Hammer, which was like an extension of himself.
The hammerhead and handle separated, revealing the magic core embedded within.
As if honoring the time they had spent together, the core emitted a final, brilliant glow.
The air in the forge began to heat up.

It wasn’t just Dusar’s forge that was heating up.
The air in Kratum was hotter than ever—the entire city seemed to boil like a massive furnace.

Because players from Yeokcheon, Asura, and Mirae Group, as well as nobles from various nations within Lepione, had begun gathering one by one.
The auction featuring the Moonlight Venom Sword was just around the corner.

“Still haven’t found Gold Hands’s whereabouts?”

Park Sang-soo, the vice guild master of Yeokcheon, slammed the table irritably.
Before him stood the guild’s intelligence team leader, sweating nervously.

“I’m sorry, Vice Guild Master. We’ve combed all of Kratum, but it’s as if he vanished into thin air—no trace at all. Dusar’s private forge is strictly off-limits to outsiders….”
“Enough excuses. So, we have no choice but to wait until the auction day.”

Park Sang-soo clicked his tongue.
Their target was Gold Hands.
The plan was to contact him privately before the auction began and secure the Moonlight Venom Sword without giving other factions a chance to interfere.
But that plan seemed flawed—it looked like they’d have to participate in the auction after all.

“What about Asura and Mirae Group’s movements?”
“They’re also searching for Gold Hands, just like us. Especially Mirae Group… they seem to know something.”
“What?”

At the intelligence team leader’s report, Park Sang-soo’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Team Leader Cha Yu-kyung of Mirae Group reportedly told our informant this: ‘Matters regarding Gold Hands’s safety are managed by Mirae’….”
“That arrogant woman…!”

Park Sang-soo’s face twisted in anger.
The anxiety that Mirae Group might already have a connection with Gold Hands burned inside him—because Cha Yu-kyung wasn’t one to make empty boasts.

“What are the Asura bastards up to?”
“They’re… moving covertly as usual. They seem to be lurking around our guild and Mirae Group, trying to gather information, but nothing particularly special….”

Just then, outside the inn window, a group of shadows cloaked in jet-black robes silently slipped past.
Their movements were as stealthy and precise as night mist.

“Those bastards…!”

Park Sang-soo’s eyes narrowed.
It was the Venom Squad, Asura Guild’s assassination specialist unit.

“Where are they going? Tail them immediately!”

Yeokcheon Guild sprang into busy motion.
Their movements were promptly detected by other factions as well.

Among those who noticed were Mirae Group members—and Cha Yu-kyung, who had entered Lepione.

“Yeokcheon and Asura… still moving so childishly?”

Cha Yu-kyung, who had already made contact with Gold Hands, had an inexplicable air of superiority in her eyes—the expression of a victor who had already claimed Gold Hands.

For a while, the three factions engaged in an intelligence war.
But after a certain time, they all vanished from Kratum.
As the auction start time approached, they all rushed to the auction house.

Ding-ding-ding—

The bell signaling the auction’s start.
As it rang, a dwarf stepped forward and took the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen! And all who know the soul of steel! Welcome to Kratum’s greatest auction!”

The dwarf auctioneer, ‘Expensive Biceps’ Garin, standing on the podium, shouted in a booming voice.
His well-groomed platinum beard and glittering jewel-encrusted vest showcased the prestige of the occasion.

“Tonight, countless treasures await to set your hearts racing! But I must inform you all—the item everyone awaits will appear last. Now, shall we begin with the first item!”

The first item was the ‘Flame Lizard’s Heart’—a pulsating crimson unique-grade material, a precious item used in crafting fire-attribute weapons or armor.

“Starting bid, 50,000 gold!”

Almost before Garin’s shout ended, a burly man seated in the front row sharply raised his hand.
It was Yeokcheon’s vice guild master, Park Sang-soo.

“100,000.”

100,000 gold was equivalent to 10 million won in cash.
Park Sang-soo casually called out 100,000 gold—his voice dripping with arrogance, as if he wouldn’t allow any competition.
The bold bid, doubling the starting price, caused a brief stir in the hall.
Park Sang-soo smiled smugly as he glanced around, as if showing off, ‘This is Yeokcheon’s class.’

But that smile didn’t last long.
From a dark corner seat, a gloomy voice murmured softly.

“110,000.”

It was ‘Nachal’, the operations leader of Asura Guild.
Appearing masked, he was here under Choi Jin-woong’s orders solely to provoke Yeokcheon.
His bid, raising by a mere 10,000 gold, was a clear provocation.
Park Sang-soo’s brow twitched.

“250,000.”
“260,000.”
“300,000!”
“310,000.”
“Tch! Then 350,000!”
“Oh my, isn’t 350,000 a bit much? I think I’ll step back here.”

Every time Park Sang-soo raised the price significantly, Nachal annoyingly added just 10,000 gold, following him.
In the end, Park Sang-soo won the Flame Lizard’s Heart for 350,000 gold—150,000 gold above market price.
He clicked his tongue in frustration, but he couldn’t afford to appear defeated by Asura.

From the VIP seats, Cha Yu-kyung of Mirae Group watched the entire spectacle with an amused curl of her lips.
Her assistant, Kim Min-joon, standing beside her, cautiously asked:

“Team Leader, should we not participate?”

Despite being only level 1, Cha Yu-kyung attended the auction.
Though she had no interest in character growth, she created a character and stood here at level 1 to keep her promise to Gold Hands—even postponing leveling from the beginner village to 10 to attend Kratum’s auction first.

“There’s no need to join such an emotional war of attrition. Reading their strategies is enough. Yeokcheon wants to flaunt their power, and Asura wants to disrupt the board.”
“Asura… isn’t that an obvious ploy?”
“It is, but… Yeokcheon has no choice but to play along, even knowing it. There are too many eyes watching, right?”

As Cha Yu-kyung said, they had no choice but to play along.
There were many players here, as well as NPCs.
If Asura openly provoked them and they backed down, they’d lose face.

Yeokcheon, backed by the HS Group—showing weakness over losing a few tens of millions of won?
That would only bring negative consequences for their corporate image.