# Chapter Eight
The Whispering Souls Market was a place that reeked of strangeness and subtle corruption. The very air had an oily texture, saturated with indescribable scents, a mixture of sweet, decaying incense, sulfur, and something else akin to burnt metal and ancient fear. Kang Jin-woo moved cautiously among the twisted stalls, his cold eyes scanning everything, while his "Cold Observer's Eye" fed him a constant stream of information, some useful, some deliciously unsettling.
[Stall of "Wholesale Cursed Charms"]
[Owner: Gloom-thragg (Low-Ranking Parasitic Entity)]
[Level: 5]
[Description: Sells charms made from the remains of cursed creatures. Most carry minor curses or attract comically bad luck. Some are genuinely dangerous.]
[Note: Gloom-thragg is trying to deceive you with his many-toothed smile. Do not trust him.]
Jin-woo passed by the stall, ignoring Gloom-thragg's slimy calls. He wasn't interested in cheap trinkets. He was looking for something specific: a "Pulsating Shadow Heart." He had no idea what it looked or felt like, but he was confident he would recognize it when he saw it, as the Librarian had said.
The market was a labyrinth of narrow, winding passages, the stalls made of bizarre materials: faintly glowing bones, fabrics woven from shadows, crystals pulsing with a sickly light. The vendors were even stranger than their stalls. Jin-woo saw creatures resembling giant insects selling liquid potions in vials made from small skulls, disembodied shadows whispering secrets in exchange for pieces of memories, and an old man with three eyes who sold "canned dreams" – some beautiful, most horrific nightmares.
[Vendor of Canned Dreams (Known as "Fake Morpheus")]
[Level: 7 (Deceptive)]
[Description: An entity that feeds on the strong emotions generated by dreams. Sells stolen or fabricated dreams. The quality of the dreams is highly questionable.]
[Warning: Staring into his three eyes for too long may cause mild hallucinations or a sudden desire to purchase a dream about flying over a field of sausages.]
Jin-woo smirked faintly. "A field of sausages..." The dark comedy in this dimension had a special flavor. He made sure not to look too long into the vendor's eyes.
He used his "Cold Observer's Eye" on everyone he passed and every stall that seemed interesting. He was looking for any sign of a "Pulsating Shadow Heart" or any trader who seemed to deal with vital or rare materials from the shadow realms.
Jin-woo noticed that most of the entities here were low to medium level, but there were a few who radiated an aura of real power or danger. He avoided them for now. He didn't want to attract unnecessary attention before he understood the nature of this place better.
In one of the darker side alleys, he found a small, secluded stall made entirely of a material resembling black volcanic glass. Behind it sat a figure completely covered in a dark, hooded cloak, only two slender hands with very long, bird-like talons visible. The stall displayed a small collection of strange objects: petrified hearts, glass eyes that looked in all directions, and some small jars containing dark, slowly pulsing liquids.
[Trader of Rare Organs (Name Unknown, Referred to as "The Heart Collector")]
[Level: 8 (Mysterious, Dangerous)]
[Status: Calm (Observing, Waiting)]
[Skills: Anatomical Knowledge of Supernatural Entities (Advanced), Twisted Bartering (Expert), Curse of the Cold Touch (Level 2)]
[Description: An entity specializing in collecting and selling rare organs from various creatures across dimensions. Has a bad reputation even in this market. It is said he only sells to those who can pay a hefty price, or to those who particularly pique his interest.]
[System Note: This entity may have what you are looking for. Deal with extreme caution. Any sign of weakness may be exploited against you.]
Jin-woo felt a prickle of cold excitement. "The Heart Collector." This sounded promising. He approached the stall slowly, keeping his facial expression neutral. He didn't speak, waiting for the trader to speak first.
Moments of charged silence passed, broken only by the distant whispers of the market. Then, the cloaked figure spoke in a dry, whispering voice, like the rustle of dead autumn leaves.
"I see you are looking for something... specific. Something not usually displayed under the light of this filthy market. Something that pulses with dark life."
Jin-woo wasn't surprised. It was clear this entity possessed keen perception. "Perhaps," Jin-woo replied calmly. "It depends on what you have to offer."
The trader chuckled, a dry, short laugh. "I have much to offer, young one. Hearts that beat with the secrets of dying stars, livers that sing songs of despair, eyes that have seen the ends of worlds. But these things are not cheap."
"I'm not looking for poetry," Jin-woo said coldly. "I'm looking for something known as a 'Pulsating Shadow Heart.' Does that name mean anything to you?"
Silence fell again. The trader seemed to be contemplating Jin-woo from beneath his hood. Then, slowly, he extended one of his long-fingered hands and pointed to a small, opaque jar placed in a corner of the stall, away from the other exhibits.
"Pulsating Shadow Heart... Yes, I know the name. And it is a rare and precious thing indeed. I have only one. The last remnant of an ancient lineage of shadow beasts that roamed the void between worlds."
Jin-woo looked at the jar. He couldn't see clearly what was inside, but his "Cold Observer's Eye" gave him confirmation.
[Pulsating Shadow Heart (Authentic) – Legendary Component (High Grade)]
[Description: A living heart pulsing with pure shadow energy. An immense source of power for shadow beings, and a key ingredient in the most potent shadow rituals and potions. Extremely rare and valuable.]
[Potential Effects (If consumed or used correctly): Massive increase in shadow affinity, unlocking new shadow abilities, restoring vitality to shadow beings.]
[Warning: Its pure energy can be overwhelming for non-shadow beings or those without a strong affinity for darkness.]
This was it. There was no doubt. Jin-woo felt his own heart beat a little faster, not from fear, but from anticipation. "What is its price?" he asked directly.
The trader smiled a smile Jin-woo couldn't see, but he felt it in his tone. "The price, my friend, depends on what you can offer. I do not deal in common currencies for this kind of treasure. I seek things more... interesting."
"Such as?" Jin-woo asked, already prepared for the twisted barter he expected.
"Pure souls, forgotten memories, secrets yet untold," the trader said, his voice dripping with hidden greed. "Or perhaps... a small service. There is a certain entity in this market who owes me something, but refuses to pay. If you can persuade him to settle his debt with me, the Pulsating Shadow Heart will be yours, as a token of my gratitude."
"Persuade him?" Jin-woo repeated, a cold smile beginning to form on his lips. "And what if this entity is a bit... stubborn? Do you have any objection to more... decisive methods of persuasion?"
The trader laughed again, and this time his laugh was longer and more amused. "You understand me well, young one. No, I have no objection at all. In fact, I might find it quite entertaining. The entity in question is an information broker known as 'The Grand Whisper.' He hides in the most convoluted part of the market and believes himself untouchable. Prove him wrong, bring me what he owes – a small coffer of 'Soul Echoes' – and the heart will be yours."
"The Grand Whisper... Soul Echoes..." Jin-woo stored the information. A mission within a mission. This was getting more complex and exciting.
"Do we have an arrangement?" the trader asked.
"We do," Jin-woo said. "But I have one condition. I want to see the Pulsating Shadow Heart with my own eyes first. Just to be sure we're talking about the same thing."
The trader hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Cautious, are we? Good. That will keep you alive longer in this place." He slowly reached out and lifted the lid of the opaque jar slightly, just enough for Jin-woo to catch a glimpse of what was inside.
Inside, a black heart pulsed slowly, emitting a faint purple glow. It looked terrifyingly alive, and Jin-woo felt a strange pull towards it, as if a part of his own inner darkness recognized this thing. It was powerful, it was dangerous, and he wanted it.
The trader quickly closed the jar. "Are you convinced now?"
"Yes," Jin-woo said, his eyes gleaming. "Where do I find this 'Grand Whisper'?"
The trader gave him a brief description of The Grand Whisper's whereabouts and warned him again that he was a cunning and elusive creature. Jin-woo thanked him coldly, then turned to leave.
As he walked away, he heard the trader's whispering voice behind him. "Good luck, future heart collector. I hope to see you again... alive."
Jin-woo didn't reply. He had a new mission, a new target. The Whispering Souls Market was about to become a lot more interesting.