Chapter 51

Chapter 51 – Death Circus #2

‘The performance is clearly good… But no matter how I think about it, I picked a losing ticket . ’

Tae-hyuk checked the crime skill while An Eun-jeong was taking a break .

He had invested 10 affinity points to receive a random skill . The ability that emerged was Counterfeit, a skill that was similar to the Forgery skill that he already had . However, there was a crucial difference between the two skills .

First of all, he didn’t need to make anything with the Counterfeit skill . Forgery was basically making something that already existed, and materials were needed to activate the ability . The more he knew about the original, the more complete the result .

Counterfeit was a skill that made something look different . He cut a piece of paper that was 154×68 mm and activated the Counterfeit skill, giving birth to a counterfeit bill of money .

Tae-hyuk laughed .

‘It is a big hit up to here…’

He had yelled with joy when he first saw the skill description . A perfect fake! If he used it well, then he could get a tremendous amount of wealth .

However, there was a problem . There were a few constraints on the Counterfeit skill .

‘… First, the duration . ’

He could make a counterfeit bill with the skill, making it look like ordinary money .

The holograms and ink were perfectly converted, and there were even many anti-fake devices included on the bill, such as hidden images . In addition, it was fluorescent when looked at through an X-ray . All counterfeit money makers would want his method of production .

However, once it left Tae-hyuk’s hands, it would return to its original state after five minutes . So no matter how perfect the counterfeit money, he couldn’t even use it to buy a pack of gum . Furthermore, there was a limit to how many times he could use the skill . He couldn’t use it often, like he did with Gambling .

‘But it is the best skill to deceive a person in front of me . ’

Tae-hyuk had perfectly tricked Cha Soo-hyun using the Counterfeit skill .

The method was simple . Tae-hyuk first received the badge from An Eun-jeong and transferred all the money to his badge . Then, he used An Eun-jeong’s blank badge to create a fake badge with the number 115 on it . He used Robbery to take away the opponent’s badge and agreed to transfer the money .

Cha Soo-hyun was covering his badge with a thick coat because he was reluctant to reveal his name and current revenue . That ended up choking him . He never noticed the important moment when his badge was stolen .

Tae-hyuk had acted the part of a boyfriend until the end . The result was a complete success .

‘Isn’t it a surprisingly usable skill? But X-ray Vision…’

Tae-hyuk kept lamenting about his missed opportunities to obtain X-ray Vision .

Tae-hyuk looked at Eun-jeong who had been sitting on the table for 10 minutes . She didn’t do it directly, but she had cooperated in deceiving someone . She seemed to have received a psychological shock .

Tae-hyuk exclaimed like he suddenly thought of something .

“Ah right . That reminds me, Noona’s badge should have melted with Cha Soo-hyun by now . But I don’t want to give you the money I borrowed . Then if Noona isn’t next to me, then you can’t pay the fee . ”

Eun-jeong flinched at his words . It was a fact that Tae-hyuk hadn’t mentioned 20 minutes ago .

“……”

Eun-jeong understood the point that Tae-hyuk wanted to make . Her life was now in Tae-hyuk’s hands . If she did anything that was even a little annoying…

“I think that is enough rest . Would you like to gain some money? I have to pay for two people so I need to get 200 million won in an hour . ”

“… Yes, I understand . ”

“Then I will be going to Bluff Poker . ”

Tae-hyuk turned and started to check the map . An Eun-jeong had goose bumps as she looked at his back .

The man called Lee Cheol-su felt worse than any criminal that she had ever met .

@

The atmosphere permeating throughout the room was not dissimilar to one of a masquerade ball . There were brightly shining chandeliers . The tables were filled with a variety of luxury foods .

Many guests dressed in colourful clothes were laughing . They wore a wide variety of masks .

A woman in an opera mask asked,

“Who will survive this time?”

Then a tuxedo wearing man with a lion mask replied,

“This stage has a small number of general participants and many wolves . ”

They were told that the wolves were experts in various fields that were prepared by the organizers . They were hidden among the general participants .

“How many people have fallen into the pool?”

“Five people . ”

“Omo, omo! Then it will just be a one-sided massacre!”

The reaction of the opera mask was natural . Wolves had experienced the Death Circus several times . If the general participants competed with them then it would just be a one-sided massacre .

“Yes . Do they know how much money we spent for this one night? There shouldn’t be more than two wolves . ”

The lion mask sat on a chair and yawned like he was bored . Dozens of monitors were showing the Death Circus at the party . The crowd was gathered here to watch the Death Circus . The opera mask said with a sigh,

“I guess it can’t be helped . I wanted to see a fierce fight for survival… Today I just have to drink champagne while listening to the dying screams . ”

“Well, I don’t dislike that either . Haha!”

The Death Circus was a very enjoyable spectacle . Humans killing humans . They questioned each other and took away what the person had . It was a primitive pleasure that couldn’t often be enjoyed .

They couldn’t help but admire Kim Joon-young’s attractions . They could see such a fun show, a privilege of the select few .

The opera mask and lion mask drank champagne while listening to the screams, not even bothering to watch the monitors . Then someone said,

“Uh, there was a tremendous ruckus right now . Is it okay not to watch it?”

The lion mask turned his gaze towards where the voice was heard . It was a young woman wearing a butterfly mask . She was in her early 20s or so? Long hair fell to her waist and her dress exposed her chest and shoulders .

“A butterfly…?’

“Ahaha . Is the mask cute? It is one of my favourites . ”

The butterfly mask saw that the lion mask was in his 50s . However, that was the extent of information that was allowed to her by his mask . He wasn’t a CEO in his 50s, but a person wearing a lion mask .

“Um . Well, it looks good . ”

The lion mask looked at the face, where the butterfly mask only covered the eyes . The reason that guests wore masks was to hide their identity . Visiting the Death Circus wasn’t a hobby that they could talk about proudly, which was why it was necessary to cover their faces . It was even more enjoyable if they could visit a place where they felt like extraordinary existences .

Kim Joon-young created a party that borrowed from a masquerade ball . There was no problem seeing the other people in masks .

Chaebols made up 0 . 1% of the population of South Korea . They often knew who a person was by the voice or shape of the body . In such cases, they pretended not to know the other person, and called them by the name of the mask they were wearing . It was a type of tacit rule .

The Death Circus had been going on successfully for two years . However, this was the first time that a person had worn a butterfly mask that barely covered their face . Wasn’t it the same as going unmasked?

The lion mask looked at the appearance of the butterfly mask . She was a considerable beauty . In addition, her chest was big . It seemed like she could be an idol singer right now .

“Um . This is a big deal . Was there such a young girl?”

The lion masked person laughed . Unknowingly, he started trying to figure out the identity of the butterfly mask . This was a place where it wasn’t necessary . He could just refer to the person by the name of the mask and leave it to his desires .

The lion masked asked with a confused expression .

“A ruckus? What’s going on?”

He had been a member of the Death Circus from the beginning, and had seen countless situations that could be considered extreme .

A young lady brutally killing others . Someone embracing the person who betrayed them, and jumping into the acid pool together . Numerous incidents remained in lion mask’s memory .

But a ruckus? No one would be surprised if a wolf was about to eat .

“The sheep ate the wolf . It was a great scene!”

“W-What?!”

The lion mask woke up . Such a momentous occasion had happened while he was drinking champagne?

“W-Who?! No, did they win by chance? Still, a sheep can’t beat a wolf!”

Butterfly mask laughed smugly .

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t recorded . ”

“S-Sob!”

He had missed such a great scene . The lion mask groaned unpleasantly .

“Is it that disappointing?”

“I-It is natural . A sheep ate the wolf . This is the first time that it has happened in two years . ”

“There is still a lot of time left before closing, so do you want to watch it now?”

The lion mask shook his head .

“No, this is a miracle that won’t happen again . They are going against pros . The miracle that allows ordinary people to win won’t come easily . ”

“Is that really the case?”

“Well, it’s a good bet that the sheep will die . Butterfly Mask, do you know the name of the sheep?”

“Of course . Tae… No, Cheol-su . ”

“Hahat! Cheol-su? That is a name that appeared in a Korean book . Yes . I have to see how long he lasts . ”

The lion mask slowly walked to the monitor and searched for Lee Cheol-su . He was playing poker with someone at the table . The lion mask saw the face of the opponent and laughed .

“Haha . This is interesting . Is this the revenge of the wolves?”

The sheep Cheol-su was confronting another wolf .

“He has bad luck . I never imagined that he would meet two wolves consecutively . ”

Then the butterfly mask said .

“Isn’t the sheep winning?”

The lion mask’s eyes widened and he looked at the monitor .

He didn’t see the moment that the first miracle happened . However, he saw the second one .