The next day.
We decided to gather our strength to strike the Jaegi faction.
Last time, the Gang Leader had done some promotion, but it hadn’t been long enough to see any effects. So, I constructed the logic in my mind that this was something for the Gang Leader to take responsibility for, and we went to find him.
“Gang Leader!”
“Ugh, what now?!”
“Uh?”
It seemed he was feeling a bit rebellious. Even though we were now comrades, this wasn’t the way to go about it. I shot him a glare filled with that sentiment, and he shrank back.
“Ugh… Why, why have you come…?”
“We’re going to strike the Jaegi faction today.”
“F-Fast! Are we going to clean everything up within a week like this?!”
“Of course. So I came to ask for a bit of help.”
“Help?”
“Let me borrow some of the brothers.”
“W-What?!”
What’s with the shock?
“Hey. I told you. We’re comrades now. That means the brothers should fight with us.”
“But isn’t it too dangerous?!”
“It’s not dangerous. We’ll just gather everyone to create an intimidating presence. Just let me borrow the brothers.”
“Hmph! That’s absurd! Absolutely not!”
The Gang Leader crossed his arms like a tsundere heroine and turned his head away. I couldn’t help but feel pleased that the Gang Leader had become this brave. Yeah. As a martial artist, you have to have this kind of guts.
This guy was practically my comrade now. If he was my comrade, it was only natural for him to act like this. Thinking that made me so happy that I naturally smiled.
—Siiik.
Did my feelings get through to him?
“Hu, huuh!”
The Gang Leader jumped like a cat and gaped at me.
“Why, why are you laughing like that…! I said we’re comrades! Why do you keep making me uneasy?! What does that smile mean?!”
What the heck is he saying?
“What? Why? Seeing you become brave made me happy, so I just smiled. Gang Leader, I’m really glad. We started off negatively, but look at us now.”
I felt myself relax as I reminisced about our past connections. After all, what happened with the brothers was a form of bond too. And for some reason, the Gang Leader started having a fit.
“Why that melancholic gaze…! Don’t look at me like you’re reminiscing about some past existence! I’m still alive! Don’t kill me!”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I get it, I get it! I’ll lend you the brothers, so please don’t do anything weird!”
“Wait, suddenly?”
“I’ll go myself! Am I going right now? I’ll gather the brothers, so just wait!”
“…”
I don’t really understand how this conversation is flowing… What is this? I tried to persuade him with benefits, but he decided to help on his own?
Ah, was the initial refusal just a tsundere act? As expected of a tsundere. Regardless, it made me feel good that our newly formed comrades were being cooperative.
“Everyone gather!”
Soon, the Gang Leader started gathering the brothers and began addressing them. Just looking at the numbers gathered was quite promising. So many parasitic little bastards in this land, just leeching off the weak.
This damn country could collapse for all I cared.
“Heh heh heh.”
While I was laughing in satisfaction, Jaemi Son came over and spoke.
“Cough cough… This is crazy. Are you now controlling people just with your laughter?”
“What are you talking about, man? The Gang Leader is genuinely devoted to me.”
“That was quite a murderous smile…!”
“What did you say?”
Galbijong shuddered with his clear eyes.
“It was like the smiling face of Buddha! But you’re a being who kills without mercy even while smiling! To think you can kill people with that face, truly magnificent!”
“…”
Yup, this guy is a psychopath.
“Ha… It looks like I can now call you the Murder Buddha.”
“Cut the crazy talk! Anyway! It’s all set!”
The Gang Leader was ready.
He had a very tense face, and the brothers behind him also looked terrified. They must have thought we were heading into battle right now.
“I’m ready… But are you really okay?”
“Don’t worry. The brothers won’t need to fight. We’ll just act like we’re about to fight and create intimidation. Now, Galbijong! Bring the Mondo!”
“Got it!”
Immediately, Galbijong brought the Mondo.
“Mondo! At your command!”
“Mondo! Follow orders!”
Wow, these guys have already adapted to the way of speaking!
“Hahaha! You obedient little rascals! Mondo! We’re going to mess with the Jaegi faction this time! If you fight well, I’ll give you trust! Understood?”
“Mondo! Understood!”
“Mondo! Gonna earn trust!”
Seeing a group of murderous-looking guys acting like that was honestly hard to hold back my laughter. But their eyes were all fierce. I could feel they were eager to fight hard to earn my recognition.
“Let’s go!”
And just like that, we stormed into the Jaegi faction.
—
The leader of the Jaegi faction, Oh Hamdok, was trembling in fear as he awaited reports.
“The Jeolgu Na-chal is coming!”
“It’s the Jeolgu Na-chal!”
“It’s the Na-chal faction!”
Soon, the shouts of his subordinates began to stir.
“Leader! The Jeolgu Na-chal is coming!”
“I know, you little bastard!”
“Gah…!”
Oh Hamdok couldn’t hide his anxiety and vented his frustrations onto his subordinates.
“Damn it!”
Ever since that madman Jeolgu Na-chal appeared, he couldn’t regain his composure. It was a good thing he had cleared out the Assassin’s Room, but having his own faction attacked right after Il-do-mun was not good at all.
After wiping out Il-do-mun, Jeolgu Na-chal formed the Na-chal faction and hinted at taking over both the Jaegi faction and the Commercial faction.
“What an immoral bastard!”
Oh Hamdok, who had built his organization with vile and cruel methods, was also outraged. But it was still unacceptable. Jeolgu Na-chal is supposed to be an expert. An expert meddling with the lower-ranking guys and causing chaos isn’t normal at all.
But.
It’s fine.
There won’t be a problem.
Feeling the crisis, Oh Hamdok formed an alliance with the Commercial faction. They were in the same predicament, so everything went smoothly. They even had a good rapport, so as they allied, they pooled together funds to hire a black fighter.
With that fighter, he could surely kill Jeolgu Na-chal.
Of course, a fighter of that caliber wouldn’t leave just like that… Once they tasted money, they’d surely want to settle here and demand various tributes. Inviting the black fighter implied that.
But what mattered now was putting out the fire.
“It’s noisy outside.”
The Money Demon made his presence known.
“Money Demon. Jeolgu Na-chal is coming. Prepare yourself.”
“Really? Well, just make sure the money is ready.”
The Money Demon was a notorious assassin known in this circle. He’s a vicious criminal who will kill anyone for the right amount.
“Hehehe, it’s time to wet my blade with blood.”
“Please take care of Jeolgu Na-chal…”
“That Jeolgu Na-chal thing? I’ve never even heard of such a grand title. Isn’t he just a cockroach that kills a few black guys and puts on airs? Right?”
“Y-Yeah, absolutely.”
“To call me just for a bug like that!”
“Gah!”
“I was just kidding.”
The Money Demon grinned and joked. Oh Hamdok shuddered in humiliation and hid his expression. Nothing was going right.
“Well then, let’s go.”
The outside was in chaos.
Jeolgu Na-chal and his crew were charging in.
—
There was no resistance as we came this far. The Jaegi faction and the Commercial faction had united, but none of them stepped forward with weapons.
Thus, we entered the Jaegi faction’s front yard without bloodshed.
“Cough…!”
All that was present were the frightened lowlifes from the black faction.
I pretended to shed tears while declaring a grand proclamation as I surveyed my surroundings.
“Oh…! It’s a tragedy! A river of blood will flow today again! Waaaaah! How many people will die tragically this time? Even imagining it is sorrowful; I can only weep!”
A truly perfect act of a madman!
“He’s completely lost it!”
“That’s one crazy guy…!”
“We need to run away now!”
The black faction guys stepped back in fear, watching my madman act. I should have been an actor. If that director hadn’t been jealous of me, I would have already debuted.
“Hehe, still the same crazy guy, huh?”
“Truly amazing…!”
Anyway.
“Let’s get started, hmm?”
Suddenly, the door of the Jaegi faction opened, and a suspicious swordsman stepped out.
—Thud, thud.
Light yet organized footsteps.
I instinctively realized.
That guy.
He was quite a capable person.
“Money Demon!”
Galbijong shouted.
“Oh, do you know me?”
“Of course! You’re the famous assassin from the black faction!”
“Well, that makes things quicker… Surrender your life!”
“Ha! Nonsense! Today, I’ll watch as Jeolgu Na-chal beats the Money Demon! Hahahaha!”
As Galbijong laughed, veins bulged on the Money Demon’s forehead.
“Shut up…! Whatever filthy bug you are, it’s all over now that I’m here! Jeolgu Na-chal! I’ll kill you!”
A clear murderous intent.
Did the Jaegi faction hire an assassin to kill me? Those sneaky bastards.
First, this Money Demon guy is quite capable. But I didn’t particularly feel a fear of death. Perhaps that’s because Serin and Hayoung would support me when things got dangerous.
Unless there’s a stronger expert than those two, we’ll be fine. How could the Jaegi faction hire such a master?
He’s an opponent I can definitely win against, no, it’s better not to be cowed into fear.
You can’t win if you’re frightened.
Living in the Martial Arts World means encountering powerful foes regularly; I can’t be scared every single time.
Other thoughts are just unnecessary.
I’ll cut him down.
“Money Demon… Huh, I’ve heard of your reputation.”
“…”
He’s staring at me.
“I’m sadder because I have to kill a martial artist who has such a reputation… Ugh, but it can’t be helped! This world is filled with sadness!”
“What the hell…”
Before he could finish his sentence, I signaled.
—Bam!
With that, we all charged!
“Waaaaa!”
“Kraaaah!”
“Mondo! Charge!”
“Ugh!”
The brothers shouted as they charged forward, and the Mondo bravely rushed out. The three of us led the charge, heading straight for the Money Demon.
The number of brothers was quite significant. Even though I didn’t actively tell them to fight, just running like this would be effective.
“Ahhh!”
“Ugh!”
The low-rank guys of the Jaegi faction started fleeing, and I focused only on the Money Demon in my sight.
“You dirty bastard!”
Caught off guard, the Money Demon drew his sword to respond. I had already raised my internal energy with the Cold Mind Technique. Maintaining that state, I unleashed the Flowing Stream Sword Technique to attack him!
—Bang!
But he was a master.
He easily defended against my onslaught.
“Combine!”
Amidst that, Jaemi Son countered with a surprise thrust, knocking the Money Demon back!
—Splat!
At the moment Jaemi Son deflected the thrust with his Hadong-wan armor, Galbijong and I simultaneously swung our swords at the Money Demon.
He couldn’t dodge this!
“Hmph! Worthless!”
But the Money Demon swung his sword wildly, deflecting our combined attack in one go and then stepped back, opening up distance.
What? Is he blocking this?
This guy is strong too…!
“Not bad, Money Demon!”
“Hehe, our combined attack was completely blocked.”
Galbijong and Jaemi Son murmured quietly.
“Is this all you can do? Even with three of you, this is the outcome. There’s nothing more to see. Die!”
—Bam!
The Money Demon charged at us instead.
I locked my eyes on him.
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