Chapter 139

Goh Daehoon approached the car and said, “An Avante is perfect for someone starting their career. This one was released in July 2016, but it has only been driven about 20,000 kilometers.”

Lee Sangsub glanced at Kang Jin based on Goh Daehoon’s words, indicating that this was his choice. As Kang Jin walked closer to inspect the vehicle, Lee Sangsub asked:

“What’s the price?”

“It’s seven million won,” replied Goh Daehoon.

Lee Sangsub looked at the car again before responding, “Isn’t seven million too high?”

“Ah, boss.” Goh Daehoon seemed disappointed as he looked at Lee Sangsub. “You know the market value of used cars well enough. Considering its age and condition, you should be aware of what it’s worth… Don’t say such things; it hurts my feelings.”

Lee Sangsub pursed his lips at Goh Daehoon’s remark. Although not specializing in used car sales, having sold several cars overseas gave him a rough idea of their market value.

“For this model…”

Goh Daehoon glanced around cautiously before continuing.

“It should be over nine million won.”

Lee Sangsub nodded slightly in agreement. From what he could tell, it was indeed worth more than that.

“Actually, if I do some work on it, I’m confident I can sell it for ten million…but since it’s you, boss, consider it a discount.”

Lee Sangsub looked at the car again after hearing Goh Daehoon’s words.

“Indeed, with only two thousand kilometers driven, it’s barely been used.”

“Of course! And both the interior and exterior are immaculate.”

Goh Daehoon opened the car door wide and gestured inside. “Have a look.”

Kang Jin peered into the vehicle as instructed. The interior was indeed spotless, warranting his confidence to open the door so boldly. Of course, it would be even cleaner without the ghost lurking within. As Kang Jin inspected the car, Goh Daehoon spoke up:

“Oh! There’s one accident on record.”

“An accident?”

Seeing Lee Sangsub’s concerned expression, Goh Daehoon smiled reassuringly.

“I’m quite conscientious, you see. Have you ever met a broker who voluntarily mentions an accident history before you even ask?”

“So what happened?”

“It wasn’t major; only the passenger-side window needed insurance repair.”

“Just the window?”

“Yes, just replaced the passenger-side window. Everything else is pristine.”

“Really?”

“Of course not! Why would I mention the accident history if I intended to deceive you?”

Goh Daehoon’s words prompted Kang Jin to glance at him briefly.

He knows how to sell.

A skilled salesman doesn’t hide flaws; instead, they openly acknowledge them. If one conceals defects and the customer discovers them later, it can lead to feelings of betrayal and deception. However, by disclosing the flaws upfront, trust is established.

Moreover…

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you the car’s accident history report later.”

As Goh Daehoon mentioned, the accident record could be easily verified upon checking. He then smiled and added,

“In today’s world, there’s no business for those who try to sell accident-damaged cars deceitfully.”

“But some people still do it, right?”

“Those scoundrels have no conscience. And as for me, I believe once a customer, always a customer.”

While Goh Daehoon and Lee Sangsub conversed, Kang Jin discreetly glanced at the ghosts in the back seat. Both spirits were staring blankly into space.

‘Since they’re not paying attention to me…they must be land-bound spirits who haven’t visited the Underworld Restaurant before.’

Owners of Underworld Restaurants possess a unique aura. Even without being in their restaurant, ghosts can recognize them by this energy. However, ghosts unfamiliar with the Underworld Restaurant cannot detect this aura, similar to how the high school ghost students couldn’t identify Kang Jin earlier. Just like humans, ghosts also need to learn and acquire knowledge specific to their existence.

Regardless, Kang Jin didn’t want people witnessing him conversing with ghosts nearby. He tried to avoid their gazes while examining the car.

“Does someone live here?”

“Poor fellow. Bought a haunted car.”

“When that person drives, let’s just keep our distance. Don’t repeat what happened last time; getting too close and causing accidents by jamming the brakes.”

“Who said I did it on purpose? It was because they were driving recklessly!”

“Still, roaming around exploring places in this car is better than being stuck here all day.”

Kang Jin listened intently to the conversation between the two ghosts.

“Selling it?” he whispered softly.

The ghost looked at him, startled.

“Eep!” The ghost choked back a gasp, wide-eyed.

As the surprised ghost watched, Kang Jin got into the car and turned to Goh Daehoon.

“May I start the car?”

“Certainly. Let me grab the keys.”

As Goh Daehoon headed back to his government office, Lee Sangsub turned to Kang Jin.

“Wanna have some coffee?”

“Yes.”

With that, Lee Sangsub followed Goh Daehoon inside. As Kang Jin watched them leave, he addressed the ghosts.

“This car…was it involved in an accident?”

“Right now…can you see us?” asked the male ghost.

Kang Jin nodded affirmatively. “Yes.”

“How is that possible?”

“I’ll explain later. So, was the accident severe?”

The male ghost hesitated before responding. “It…”

Before he could finish, the female ghost hastily interjected.

“The car is perfectly fine.”

Kang Jin looked at her closely. Blood was dripping profusely from her head.

To be precise, blood was dripping from her head onto her face. Kang Jin looked at her, and she shook her head.

“Our car is fine.”

Kang Jin eyed the female ghost skeptically before warning her:

“I…I’m not sure if you’re aware of this…but lying will result in punishment when you reach the afterlife.”

“Punishment?”

“When you enter the afterlife, all your deeds during life are judged. Lying is considered a sin, and it could send you to hell.”

The female ghost hesitated, clearly unsettled by Kang Jin’s words.

“Hell…really?”

“Since there are ghosts, there must also be a hell.”

Kang Jin’s ominous tone made the female ghost momentarily falter before she spoke again.

“Our car is indeed fine.”

“If the car is fine…then I assume there was an accident?”

“It…it has been completely repaired.”

“So there was an accident, but the car is fine?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin had already surmised this much. If it wasn’t an accident vehicle, these ghosts wouldn’t be haunting it.

He then discreetly glanced at both spirits.

What kind of accident caused their deaths?

The female ghost’s face dripped with blood, while the male ghost appeared relatively unharmed aside from his slightly pale complexion. However, the presence of two ghosts indicated that two people must have died, suggesting a severe crash.

“The mechanic said only the passenger-side window needed repair, but were there any other issues?” Kang Jin asked.

The male ghost nodded. “There were a few minor repairs, but nothing as serious as an accident.”

“What specifically did they fix?”

“A slight bumper repair and repainting the driver’s side, that’s all.”

“That’s it? Remember, lying will land you straight in hell later on.”

At Kang Jin’s words, the male ghost gave a bitter smile.

“I’ve already reserved my seat in hell…so I’m not afraid.”

“Huh?” Puzzled, Kang Jin looked at him, but the ghost shook his head slightly.

“Those were all the repairs made to this car. Other than that, there aren’t any issues with it.” The man chuckled. “Oh…and as a bonus, you get two ghosts thrown in for free.”

The female ghost playfully nudged him, signaling he was talking nonsense.

Kang Jin observed their interaction and asked, “So, is there really nothing wrong with the car?”

“As someone who loves cars, let me assure you - aside from the ghosts, it’s quite a bargain.”

“$700?”

“Yes.”

Intrigued, Kang Jin posed another question: “By any chance, did your presence contribute to the price dropping to $700?”

The man chuckled and nodded at Kang Jin’s explanation.

“The confined space inside a car initially doesn’t bother drivers, but over time, they gradually become aware of our presence.”

“Indeed, being too close to ghosts isn’t ideal,” Kang Jin agreed.

The man looked at him curiously. “By the way, how can you see us?”

“I run the Underworld Restaurant, catering specifically to ghosts.”

“A restaurant for ghosts?”

“Let’s discuss that later… So, are both of you land-bound spirits tied to this car?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what a land-bound spirit is?”

“Isn’t it a ghost bound to a specific location?”

“Huh? How did you know that?”

“I’ve seen it mentioned in old novels or on TV.”

Kang Jin nodded at the man’s response.

‘Indeed, ghosts appear not only in dramas and movies but also in novels.’

Even without living alongside ghosts, it wasn’t unusual for ordinary people to have some knowledge about them. Moreover, considering that afterlife customs often mirrored those of the mortal realm…

‘Maybe I’m the one lacking knowledge. Should I buy some books on ghosts?’

Recalling there were surprisingly many resources available to study about ghosts, Kang Jin asked:

“Then how much did you pay for this car?”

“I don’t know. The transaction happened outside…”

“How many times has this car been traded then?”

“Four times.”

For a four-year-old car to be traded second-hand four times… That’s quite frequent.

“Then were you both the original owners?”

“It was my car. The crew member is my girlfriend.”

At the man’s words, Kang Jin slightly bowed to the female ghost referred to as ‘the crew member’.

“I hate saying this, but it’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. It has been a long time since I’ve conversed with a living person.” As the crew member spoke with a smile, Kang Jin nodded and glanced outside.

Lee Sangsub and Goh Daehoon were approaching from afar. Upon seeing them, Kang Jin quickly addressed the man.

“All four transactions took place here?”

“Yes.”

“And all brokered by you?”

“Yes.”

“Did those who bought the car have conflicts with you?”

“The first buyer didn’t argue much, but the second one had a heated debate about whether to kill or spare someone.”

“What about the third and fourth buyers?”

“They exchanged harsh words over the phone,” replied the male ghost.

Kang Jin nodded at his words and got out of the car.

“Here’s some coffee.” Lee Sangsub handed Kang Jin a mixed coffee packet, which she accepted.

“I’ve retrieved the vehicle records and keys for you. Please take a look.”

When Goh Daehoon gave her the file and car key, Kang Jin examined the accident history. As per Goh Daehoon’s explanation, it only mentioned repairs to the passenger-side window.

After reviewing the document, Kang Jin glanced at the car and remarked, “It seems like there might have been some work done on the bumper too.”

“The bumper?”

“Yes.” As Kang Jin spoke, she glanced at the ghosts sitting in the back seat. The male ghost pointed to one side, and Kang Jin gestured roughly in that direction.

“Here.”

Goh Daehoon’s eyes twitched slightly but quickly smiled again.

“It wasn’t an accident; it was just a minor dent fixed by the previous owner. You know how these things happen when driving…”

Lee Sangsub frowned at Goh Daehoon’s explanation.

“You trying to trick us?”

“C’mon, boss, what kind of person do you think I am? It’s not even considered an accident, just a small repair job. The damage was too insignificant for insurance coverage, so he likely paid out of pocket.”

Goh Daehoon smiled and looked at Lee Sangsub suspiciously.

“Other than that…”

“It looks like you repainted this driver’s side door,” Kang Jin pointed out.

Goh Daehoon’s expression hardened again.

How did he know?

The paint job was subtle enough to escape notice unless one were a specialist, yet Kang Jin had caught it.

“Goh Daehoon, how could you do this to your hyung?”

“Boss, come take a look.” Lee Sangsub sounded disappointed as he urged Goh Daehoon over to show him the spot.

“Hyung, why does it seem like this part has been repainted?” asked Goh Daehoon.

Lee Sangsub examined the driver’s side door. Indeed, it wasn’t immediately noticeable.

“So, did you or didn’t you repaint it?”

“Well…actually, it was repainted not due to any accident but because there were some keyhole marks.” Goh Daehoon chuckled. “As someone who also drives, you know this is common, right? What used car doesn’t have scratches?”

Lee Sangsub nodded at Goh Daehoon’s words. Even brand-new cars fresh from the factory often had minor imperfections.

Kang Jin also agreed with him.

“I understand that much.”

“Good. So what do you think?” Goh Daehoon gestured towards the van.

Kang Jin confidently responded, “Let’s say five million won.”

Goh Daehoon looked at Kang Jin, smiling at his bold counteroffer. “Well, bargaining is part of the process…but even seven million would be a steal for this van.”

“In return for buying this car, I won’t call or complain to you no matter what happens.”

Goh Daehoon’s eyebrows twitched at Kang Jin’s words.

“What do you mean…?”

“I overheard while waiting…that this car is haunted, right?”

Goh Daehoon’s face hardened at Kang Jin’s statement.

“No, what are you talking about?”

“Someone passing by mentioned it when they saw the car. They said this vehicle has been possessed four times already and that there was a big fight between the previous owner who sold it and someone else.”

Of course, it wasn’t some passerby but the ghost inside the car who informed him. Goh Daehoon, unaware of this, could only assume someone had spread such rumors.

‘Which bastard is interfering with my business?’