A day passed.
The money lender realized he was in too much of a hurry. Expecting to resolve the issues with the Video Tower within a day was too much of a stretch.
Two days passed.
The money lender thought to himself, “Well, I needed time to come up with a strategy to deal with Jikik from Seobok’s side.” Ho Cheon-an would move soon.
And three days passed.
Ho Cheon-an had yet to make an appearance.
And in the Video Tower, the gambling con was still in full swing.
No, it had reached a point where it was hard to even call it gambling.
“Hey, aren’t those dice constantly landing on sixes?!”
“What?”
The customer who was complaining flinched at the gambler’s menacing glare.
“What, are you saying I’m cheating at gambling?!”
“No… isn’t it strange?! No matter how you look at it, sixes are coming up too often…”
The mumbling customer realized that three fierce warriors were standing behind him and froze again.
“I, I’m sorry, I must have misunderstood…”
“Excusing yourself after you’ve killed someone? Isn’t that just ridiculous?!”
The gambler pressed the customer with veins bulging on his neck. The customer was pale and sweating profusely.
The money lender watched the scene with a gloomy expression.
Jikik had accumulated debts with interest from the amount Ho Cheon-an had taken that day, demanding payment from the gambler and the subordinates at the Video Tower.
In the world of the Outcast Faction, borrowing money meant paying back with exorbitant interest.
The amount Ho Cheon-an had taken that day wasn’t much, but for poor fake gamblers and Jikik’s subordinates, it was a fire under their feet.
After that, this was the situation.
“I apologize! I’m sorry! So, I’ll just be going…”
“Where do you think you’re going?! Don’t you need to check if those dice are faulty or not!?”
In the end, the customer was forced to continue gambling until his pockets were emptied before being kicked out.
Such events were unfolding all throughout the Video Tower.
The gamblers and Jikik’s subordinates were so desperate to escape the shadow of money lending that they were relentlessly targeting the customers’ wallets.
When the rumor spread that the Brain Knife Outcast had enjoyed gambling at the Video Tower, it became a haven of curiosity for those seeking to become victims.
“Hahaha! Finally, things are getting done properly!”
Jikik stood next to the money lender, watching the scene with satisfaction. The money lender looked at Jikik, laughing with a gloomy expression.
Seeing the money lender like that, Jikik gestured to his subordinate behind him.
The subordinate quickly spread a contract on the table between Jikik and the money lender.
The money lender quietly read the contract.
A mere ten gold nyang.
It was a contract to hand over the Video Tower to Jikik for ten gold nyang.
“Are you really going to see things get worse? Shouldn’t we just end it here?”
The money lender felt a lump in his throat. It wasn’t the frustration of the content of the contract.
It was the wonder radiating from Jikik that was crushing the money lender’s body.
“By now, you should have realized that even the highly esteemed Sacheon Outcast has no intention of saving you, right? That joker who thought he could look down on the Outcast Faction after catching a rookie like Ho Gyeong has now realized the strength of this Jikik!”
It wasn’t you who backed down. Even with your subordinates in tow, you were the one who got scared and fed money to the Brain Knife Outcast, and now you’re acting tough.
The money lender thought so but kept it to himself.
“How do you think that guy will act? He’ll assess the power of the Cart and Shisik, deem them the weakest, and pick a fight with one of them. He has his pride too, so he’ll want to save face, won’t he? Hehe…! Rumors will spread that Shisik and the Cart have clashed!”
Jikik looked at the money lender with gleaming eyes.
“Then I will feast on the weakened powers that collide with the Brain Knife Outcast, and this Jikik will become the strongest faction in Sacheon City! By then, I won’t have to worry about whose eyes are watching me. I won’t need to pay any mind to contracts when devouring weaklings like you.”
The money lender thought that Jikik’s plan was preposterous, but it was hard to dismiss the transfer document being thrust in front of him.
He looked down. A familiar regular customer, someone he recognized well enough, had just lost all the money they brought due to this nonsensical scam that couldn’t even be called gambling.
“A person who knows how to enjoy a match with a real gambler…”
The customer who had come expecting a fair chance against a real gambler was now heading out empty-handed because of absurd petty scams.
The customer shot one last glance at the money lender and left the Video Tower without a word.
The money lender let out a long sigh.
With him still holding down the fort, the faith of the regular customer that someday this Video Tower would return to its original state weighed heavily on him. Since rumors spread that the Brain Knife Outcast had gambled here, even more customers offered glances of belief.
Would it be better for me to sell Gilu to save those customers?
The money lender couldn’t shake off that thought.
Jikik, still watching the indecisive money lender, frowned.
“If you’re still hesitating, then I can’t help you. Hey!”
“Yes! My lord!”
“From tomorrow on, place money lenders in Gilu! Make sure to shake down even the penniless ones! Got it?”
“…I’ll hand it over.”
The money lender spoke with a trembling voice.
“I’ll hand over Gilu. So, stop now.”
“HAHAHA! You should have done that earlier! What a feeling! Forget all those plans about placing money lenders in Gilu!”
Jikik spoke as if he were doing a good deed, but the money lender clenched his fists, then relaxed his grip.
He was too tired to hold out any longer.
The money lender reminisced about Ho Cheon-an.
‘…I’m sorry.’
The money lender still believed in Ho Cheon-an. More accurately, he believed in Ho Cheon-an’s affection for gambling.
Since his days as a martial artist, he had been someone who would willingly waste over a hundred nyang for one gambler, and even now, he seemed like someone who could do the same.
The money lender still believed his last gamble was the right call.
But.
‘Now, I no longer have the strength to hold on.’
The money lender had no power left to endure until the final card of his all-in bet would overturn the game.
He was simply an old gambler.
With a stamp, the seal of the money lender was pressed onto the contract.
“HAHAHA! HAHAAHA!”
Jikik accepted the contract and burst into laughter. Finally… one of the three main establishments in Sacheon City, the Video Tower, was entirely in his hands!
‘Now those arrogant pleasure den punks will have to behave a little!’
Gaining control of one of the three main establishments did not simply mean occupying one place.
The three establishments symbolized the entertainment area of Sacheon City.
Eventually, when news broke that the notorious Julu had succumbed to power, the rebellious characters in the entertainment district would have no choice but to bow their heads.
Jikik thought everything was going perfectly when suddenly, one of his subordinates rushed in, flustered.
“B-Big trouble!”
“What? At such a joyous moment!”
“The Sacheon Outcasts! The Sacheon Outcasts are coming!”
“What??”
“Dozens of Sacheon Outcasts are storming into the Video Tower right now!”
At the news brought by Jikik’s subordinate, both the money lender and Jikik exchanged shocked expressions. However, Jikik soon burst into laughter again.
“Fortune smiles upon me!”
“Excuse me??”
“Hehe, just let them waltz into the Video Tower! The master of the Video Tower is now me, Jikik!”
The subordinate finally grasped the situation and beamed with delight, showing reverence to Jikik.
“Congratulations, Lord Jikik!”
“UHAHAHA!”
Jikik laughed gleefully, while the money lender hung his head in despair.
‘If only… if only I could have held out a little longer…!’
“Oh, it seems it’s all over for you now, former lord! Hahaha!”
As Jikik sneered at the money lender, he stood up to greet the Sacheon Outcasts who were entering the Video Tower.
“Welcome! It is indeed an honor for the Sacheon Outcasts to visit this place in such a large group!”
“Sorry, but we didn’t come as guests today.”
The menacing voice of the Brain Knife Outcast, Ho Cheon-an, followed, but Jikik still responded nonchalantly.
“Is that so? Then may I ask why all of you have gathered here?”
“We received a request to restore the Video Tower to its original state.”
Jikik’s eyebrows twitched.
“…A request from the master?”
“Is there an outcast who exposes the identity of the requester? You may not know, but there are many who long for the original Video Tower.”
Observing Ho Cheon-an, who spoke calmly, Jikik’s spirits began to dissipate. He could not tell what expression was concealed behind the veil of Black Rib, but the atmosphere emanating from the Sacheon Outcasts felt like that of a hunter eyeing its prey.
However, Jikik deliberately lifted his lips into a grin to reassure himself.
After all, the contract was already in his possession.
“Do you think the Video Tower is something you can change to suit your whims?”
“That’s right. Jikik. The Video Tower cannot be altered by someone who isn’t its master.”
Ho Cheon-an spoke matter-of-factly.
“The master owns it, doesn’t he?”
“HAHAHA! HAHAHAHA!!”
Jikik burst into laughter, alongside the mirth of his subordinates who mocked the Sacheon Outcasts.
“HAHAHA! Former lord! Did you hear that? The Brain Knife Outcast says the master owns it! HAHAHAHA!!”
The money lender looked down with trembling eyes. The mockery from Jikik hardly mattered.
“Now, do you see this? This contract?! It’s proof that this Video Tower has legally become mine! HAHAHA!!”
But…
The burning gaze of Ho Cheon-an, looking up at the upper level of the Video Tower, was more than he could bear.
‘I’m sorry…’
The Brain Knife Outcast had kept his promise.
However, the money lender couldn’t hold out any longer.
With the master changing, the justification for stopping Jikik, who was acting like a master even though he wasn’t, vanished.
It had become a situation where the entire Sacheon Outcast faction couldn’t back down when they all moved as one to attack Jikik, only to end up with nothing.
Just for a moment.
If only he could have held out just a little longer, everything would have been resolved.
In his once-in-a-lifetime gambling scenario, even after holding the best card, he let his grip loosen and lost it.
Had he just missed an opportunity?
He had also put the Brain Knife Outcast and the others in a difficult position.
With resentment, humiliation, and apologies, the money lender couldn’t lift his head.
As emotions overflowed in his heart and tears streamed down his cheeks, something clicked.
The money lender’s head snapped up.
[You did well.]
A ripple of sound reverberated in his ears.
‘Well… I did well?’
The money lender’s heart began to race. The situation seemed finished. No matter how he thought about it, now that Jikik had become the master, the Sacheon Outcasts had no reason to strike at Jikik.
Yet Ho Cheon-an had said he did well.
The meaning of that statement was simple.
The Brain Knife Outcast was saying that this game wasn’t over.
‘Could there really be a comeback move?!’
The money lender wiped his tears, opened his eyes wide, and looked below. He was waiting to see what kind of comeback the Brain Knife Outcast had prepared.
As the money lender glared intensely, Jikik, who had been laughing, sensed something was off.
It was due to the Sacheon Outcasts not moving a muscle.
The Sacheon Outcasts, who should have looked surprised at the unexpected turn of events, showed no hint of anxiety and stared quietly at Jikik and his subordinates instead.
Even Jikik’s subordinates seemed to pick up on the odd turn of events, halting their laughter.
As a sense of foreboding wrapped around Jikik’s throat, Ho Cheon-an spoke up.
“From the North, Jikik from the Seobok faction.”
The silence in Gilu echoed with Ho Cheon-an’s words.
“In the North Martial World, you are the target of elimination, and the authorities have issued a proclamation against you. You are a fugitive being pursued by the law. I hear your name still sends shivers down the spines of people in the North due to your heinous acts.”
The sudden mention of his past made Jikik grit his teeth.
“What does that have to do with anything now? Ultimately, the master here is still me!”
“It does matter.”
Ho Cheon-an’s tone remained calm.
“You are a fugitive, which means any contract signed under your name has no validity.”
“W-What? What?!”
“Fugitives who have fled after being issued a proclamation, especially those with heinous crimes, are to be executed. Only the execution is left; legally, you are already dead, Jikik.”
Ho Cheon-an continued, pressing on with the arguments.
“How can a dead man re-stamp and claim ownership of a place? The contract you’re waving around is nothing more than a scrap of paper with no legal standing.”
“What nonsense! This Video Tower is mine!”
“You’ve gone too far. Jikik.”
Ho Cheon-an dismissed Jikik’s struggles with ease.
“Your fear of the law led you to hide behind it. Spending your whole life thinking your strength alone could get you through, what do you know about the law to think you could hide behind it? Even if everyone in the world found out, they would only shake their heads at your petty moves and laugh at your stupidity.”
The money lender felt a single notion flicker through his mind as he listened to Ho Cheon-an’s words.
Had the Brain Knife Outcast’s schemes begun three days ago when they visited the Video Tower?
‘The Brain Knife Outcast was completely aware that Jikik would try to seize the rights to the Video Tower.’
Jikik was weaker than the Brain Knife Outcast.
If that wasn’t the case, he would never have let the Brain Knife Outcast just leave when he came to the establishment alone. The fact that the Brain Knife Outcast had come alone while Jikik had brought his subordinates meant a definitive power difference.
That Brain Knife Outcast had now demonstrated his connection to the Video Tower right in front of Jikik.
What would Jikik have thought of that scene?
He likely thought there was a chance the Brain Knife Outcast might target the Video Tower and then considered that he needed to devise a plan quickly.
That was why he had whipped his subordinates and the gamblers into a frenzy, trying to seize ownership of the establishment.
He knew better than anyone that brute force wouldn’t be enough to overpower the Brain Knife Outcast.
He had panicked and fought back to prepare a different shield.
“Ah…”
The money lender admired him sincerely. Was this truly a game played by a master?
What is the hardest part of a gambler winning money in the process of gambling?
It was sitting the mark at the table.
Ho Cheon-an had made the fool, Jikik, take a seat at the table with nothing but a flimsy contract for support.
And that wasn’t all.
In a situation where every single Sacheon Outcast was out for his life, rather than fleeing, he had stepped forward to create justification for the Sacheon Outcasts to act against him right in front of everyone here!
“Then, Master, may I carry out my request here today? There may be some commotion.”
“Of course! Of course!”
“Well then.”
With a swift draw, Ho Cheon-an unsheathed his sword. The Outcasts also readied their weapons.
Jikik pulled out his weapon too, but his subordinates showed clear signs of being overwhelmed.
Feeling the recognition of his disadvantage, Jikik strained his voice.
“Listen! There are still two Peak Experts supporting me in this dark faction! If you lay a hand on me, those two will feel threatened and try to take you out as well! Are you really willing to risk your life over just one establishment?!”
“Ah, those friends will have a hard time saving their own necks.”
At Ho Cheon-an’s ominous words, Jikik’s face hardened and the money lender burst into laughter, realizing there must be another plot tying Shisik and the Cart together.
The guests in Gilu were impressed by Ho Cheon-an’s subtle implications. Seeing their reactions, Ho Cheon-an smacked his lips.
“I might have overthought the whole idea of just using brawn.”
Crackle!
Flickers of lightning began to jump from the sword Ho Cheon-an held.
“Well, since the head counts as the body, I think it’s fine.”
BOOM!!!
From Jikik’s perspective, Ho Cheon-an’s murmurs, which he couldn’t quite grasp, were resonating as thunder erupted through the Video Tower.
“Waaahhhh!!!”
The Sacheon Outcasts! The Brain Knife Outcast!
Soon, cheers erupted in the Video Tower as the voices venerating the Sacheon Outcasts and Ho Cheon-an filled the air.
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