Chapter 21. Flea Market
The term “flea market” originally referred to smaller local markets where anyone could set up a stall to sell registered items, but the Flea Market had long become its own beast.
A multinational corporation had adopted its namesake and expanded, opening up branches all across the globe. The Flea Market modeled itself around brokering the purchase and sale of items. As a pioneer and innovator, it was able to quickly leave its competitors in the dust and monopolize the practice.
One of the company's key innovations, created through heavy investment, was the virtual reality marketplace that hunters used to trade registered items. Kim Do-Joon had come to a capsule room to access it.
"Welcome!" greeted an employee.
After returning the greeting, Kim Do-Joon paid for an hour and proceeded to an unoccupied machine. Laying down in the capsule, he secured his hands and feet with bands and pulled on a pair of goggles bristling with wires.
As Kim Do-Joon loaded into the virtual reality network, scores of statues appeared before his eyes: a soldier with a gun, a dragon breathing fire, and a swordsman swinging a blade. They were icons guiding players to different games.
Proceeding past them, he approached an archway with a sign that read "Flea Market."
When Kim Do-Joon opened the door and stepped through, the scenery changed instantly.
[Verifying member information...]
[Username: PotionMaker — Member Level: Silver]
[Thank you for returning. Would you like to move to the plaza?]