# Chapter Ten
Kang Jin-woo faced "The Grand Whisper" in its lair made of piled books and scrolls, the air saturated with discordant whispers. The informational entity had requested a dark secret from Jin-woo in exchange for the "Coffer of Soul Echoes." This was a dangerous trade, for secrets were power, and revealing them could have dire consequences. But Jin-woo was not one to back down from a challenge, especially when the reward was enticing.
"Alright, Whisperer," Jin-woo said, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Since you are so hungry for secrets, I will give you one. But remember, you asked for this."
The Grand Whisper tilted its papery "head" forward, the symbols on its face dancing in anticipation. "I await with bated breath, human. Surprise me."
Jin-woo took a deep breath, not from nervousness, but to add a dramatic flair to the moment. Then he began to speak in a calm, clear voice, a voice that starkly contrasted with the darkness he was about to reveal.
"When I was a child, in the miserable orphanage where I grew up," Jin-woo began, "there was another boy, older and physically stronger than me. He enjoyed tormenting the younger children, and I was one of his favorite targets. One night, after a particularly brutal beating from him, I decided I wouldn't take it anymore."
He paused for a moment, his eyes staring into the void, as if reliving the memory with painful clarity. The whispers in the room quieted slightly, as if the informational entity was focusing all its attention on Jin-woo's story.
"I didn't attack him directly," Jin-woo continued. "I was too weak for that. Instead, I waited. I watched him for several days, studying his habits and weaknesses. I discovered he had a pathological fear of the dark, and that he slept with his mouth slightly open due to a breathing problem."
A faint, sadistic smile appeared on Jin-woo's face. "One night, after making sure everyone was asleep, I snuck to his bed. I carried no weapon, just a handful of large cockroaches I had collected from the orphanage's backyard. Slowly and carefully, I placed the cockroaches one by one into his open mouth as he slept."
The Grand Whisper twitched slightly, and the symbols on its face shifted rapidly, as if expressing a mixture of disgust and fascination. "That... that is creatively repulsive," one of its mouths whispered.
"He didn't die from it, of course," Jin-woo said. "He woke up choking, coughing, and vomiting, in a state of absolute terror. He never knew who did it to him, but the fear I instilled in him that night was enough. He never dared to touch me again. In fact, he started avoiding me as if he were seeing a ghost."
Jin-woo finished his story and looked directly at The Grand Whisper. "That is my first secret for you, Whisperer. A little secret about how I discovered early on that fear is a powerful tool, and that psychological pain can be more effective than physical pain. Is that dark enough for you?"
Silence filled the room for several moments, broken only by the rustling of old pages. Then, The Grand Whisper began to laugh, a dry, mad laugh that seemed to shake the foundations of the papery lair.
"Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!" The Grand Whisper exclaimed, all its mouths speaking at once. "What a delicious display of human nature at its ugliest! A true psychopath from a tender age! You have exceeded my expectations, human!"
The symbols on The Grand Whisper's face were now glowing brightly, as if it had consumed a delectable meal of dark information. "Yes, this secret is perfectly acceptable! It carries a unique flavor of calculated cruelty and sadistic pleasure. I enjoyed it immensely."
The Grand Whisper extended one of its papery limbs towards a pile of scrolls and pulled out a small, black wooden coffer. The coffer looked very old, and strange engravings on it glowed with a faint light.
[Coffer of Soul Echoes – Artifact (Medium Grade)]
[Description: A small coffer capable of capturing and storing the emotional and spiritual echoes left behind by dead beings or traumatic events. Used by soul collectors and necromancers to study the past or communicate with the dead.]
[Current Contents: The soul echo of a rival information broker who was recently "silenced." Carries feelings of fear, regret, and confusion.]
"This is the coffer The Heart Collector requested," said The Grand Whisper, offering the coffer to Jin-woo. "Take it. You have earned it."
Jin-woo took the coffer, feeling a strange coldness emanating from it, and very faint whispers, barely audible. He placed it in his System inventory.
"Thank you," Jin-woo said coldly. "It has been a... fruitful transaction."
"Indeed, indeed," said The Grand Whisper, still sounding elated. "And now that we have this little business relationship, perhaps you would be interested in some of the other wares I offer? I have secrets that can burn worlds, and rumors that can topple gods. All you have to do is ask... and be prepared to pay the price."
Jin-woo looked at The Grand Whisper, considering it for a moment. This entity was an invaluable source of information, but it was also dangerous and volatile. For now, he had gotten what he came for.
"Perhaps another time," Jin-woo said. "I have some other business to attend to first. But I will keep your offer in mind."
"Excellent," said The Grand Whisper. "My door is always open to those who appreciate the value of true secrets. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have many whispers to listen to, and many lies to weave."
The Grand Whisper gestured towards one of the passages, as if dismissing Jin-woo. Jin-woo nodded, then turned and left the informational entity's lair, returning to the papery maze. The whispers around him seemed to carry a different tone now, a tone of subtle respect, or perhaps fear.
Jin-woo found his way out of The Grand Whisper's lair more easily than he had entered, as if the passages themselves were guiding him. When he returned to the main part of the Whispering Souls Market, he felt as if he had been through a surreal experience.
He wasted no time. He headed straight for "The Heart Collector's" stall. The cloaked figure was still sitting in the same position, surrounded by his rare organs. When Jin-woo approached, the trader lifted his "head" slightly.
"You have returned," the trader whispered. "I assume you succeeded in your task? Or has The Grand Whisper devoured your little soul?"
Jin-woo took the Coffer of Soul Echoes from his inventory and placed it on the stall. "He was surprisingly cooperative," Jin-woo said with a faint smile.
The trader extended his long-fingered hand and carefully took the coffer. He opened it slightly and glanced inside. Then he closed it quickly, and a dry, muffled laugh escaped from under his hood.
"Excellent. Truly excellent. You have proven to be more than just a pretty face, young one. You have a talent for getting things done."
The trader then turned to the opaque jar containing the Pulsating Shadow Heart. He picked it up and presented it to Jin-woo. "As agreed. A Pulsating Shadow Heart, for your service."
Jin-woo took the jar, feeling the faint, strong pulse of dark life within. This was it. Another key to greater power, to a deeper path into the shadows.
[Successfully completed the quest "The Pulsating Shadow Heart"!]
[Reward from the Librarian will be granted upon your return to him.]
[Obtained: Pulsating Shadow Heart (Authentic) x1]
[Your reputation with "The Heart Collector" has increased. He may offer you better deals in the future.]
"Is there anything else I can help you with today?" The Heart Collector asked, his voice carrying a new note of interest.
"Not at the moment," Jin-woo said. "But I may return. You have some interesting items here."
"My door is always open to distinguished clients," the trader whispered. "Just remember, everything has a price."
Jin-woo nodded, then turned to leave. He had gotten what he came for, and more. The Whispering Souls Market was a dangerous and deceitful place, but it was also a place full of opportunities for those who knew how to play the game.
And now, it was time to return to the Librarian and claim his reward. He wondered what kind of rare book that ancient entity would offer him. And what kind of new doors it would open for him.