𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑𝟒: 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬
「The top Chinese hunter, Xiaolong, was recently arrested in a joint investigation by 〈the Chinese Hunter Association〉 and 〈the Beijing branch of HSIU〉. Xiaolong was in possession of a large quantity of the Awakener drug, which he had acquired through unifying the ‘Triad’, the largest criminal organization in China. . . .」
「. . .At the time of the crackdown by the national authorities, he was also found to be operating an illegal gambling ring disguised as a martial arts tournament.」
A name that kept appearing in the news.
「It was revealed that many famous Chinese tycoons and politicians participated in this gambling operation, including Zhou Lin, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, sending shockwaves throughout China.」
This news made headlines around the world, and Asia, in particular, was on high alert.
Because Dae-sung’s influence extended beyond China and across Asia.
Those who had laundered underground funds or hired Dae-sung for assassinations were in a hurry to destroy evidence, fearing they might come under investigation.
“That Awakener drug is too precious to waste. I should take it for myself.”
“Ha? Your rotten body can’t handle that stuff.”
“What does an old geezer like you know!”
“This rotten bastard has gone mad!”
The doctor swung the club in his hand, aiming to strike Ryu Ji-hwan’s head.
With a loud thud, Ryu Ji-hwan fell to the ground, clutching his head.
“You damn bastard! I’ll kill you, you crazy old geezer!”
“Tsk, tsk, you ungrateful madman. I should have just left you to die.”
The doctor glared at him, his wrinkled face contorted in a grimace.
No matter how hard he tried to discipline this thug, he only seemed to stray further.
“With that temper, it’s no wonder you lost an arm.”
“This damn geezer, you’re dead!”
Ryu Ji-hwan extended his remaining arm, summoning an Ifrit spell.
A red magic circle flared to life, flames crackling and hissing like a snake.
“You damn geezer, apologize and I’ll treat you as one arm like me.”
“You’re slowly losing what little sanity you had left. Unless you want to lose your other arm, I suggest you simmer down and retreat.”
“You bastard!!”
Enraged, Ryu Ji-hwan unleashed a torrent of flames.
The serpentine blaze shot towards the doctor.
Clap!
But with a mere clap of his hands, the doctor instantly dissipated the spell, reducing it to mere mana.
“Wha. . .?!”
Ryu Ji-hwan stared in shock at the dispersing magic.
Magic nullification, Dispel?
‘𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.’
Even Dispel requires some preparation.
If a simple clap could nullify magic, what use would magic be?
The doctor watched Ryu Ji-hwan’s wavering gaze and smirked.
“Hah! This research lab is my domain. I’ve inscribed spells all over to deal with punks like you trying to cause a ruckus.”
“This measly spatial spell is. . .!”
“Useless, you fool.”
As Ryu Ji-hwan tried to gather his mana again, the doctor flicked his middle finger.
Instantly, shadows emerged, binding Ryu Ji-hwan’s body and dragging him to the floor.
Thud!
“Ugh! You damn. . .!”
“I may be senile, but not enough to be bested by the likes of you.”
“Let me out!! We’ll settle this properly outside!”
“You madman. Why should I? In here, I can squash you like a bug.”
The doctor tapped Ryu Ji-hwan’s head with the club, as he lay bound on the floor.
Ryu Ji-hwan’s eyes burned with a murderous rage, but the doctor only snickered.
Another person then entered the lab.
“Well, well. . . What are you two up to? Some new form of play?”
“Shut it.”
“Shut it, you bastard!”
Crowel shrugged at their simultaneous insults.
“Seems you two get along well, which puts my mind at ease.”
“Leave if you’re just going to spout nonsense.”
“Aye, just joking.”
Crowel hopped over Ryu Ji-hwan’s body and took a seat beside the doctor.
“Watching the news about Xiaolong here too, huh.”
“Not much else worth watching nowadays. What’s the word from upstairs about this incident?”
“What can I say? It’s like cooking a meal and then taking a sh*t.”
“That’s true. There were many things he could have done with the name Dae-sung.”
“Besides that, that Politburo member, Zhou Lin, was the one who strongly supported us in 〈Pandemonium〉. Of course, he didn’t know it was us and just gobbled it all up.”
〈Pandemonium〉 was lobbying politicians worldwide with the financial power gained from drug trafficking and other businesses.
If they had played their cards right this time, they could have hooked Dae-sung under Zhou Lin and controlled him as well.
Crowel smacked his lips in regret.
Casting a self-pitying look at Ryu Ji-hwan lying on the floor, he asked:
“Has McJester ever met Dae-sung?”
“No. I only need to deal with Jiang Chen, so I don’t need to see Dae-sung. And he’s famous for being ill-tempered, so it’s better not to meet him.”
“Heh heh. I don’t know who’s judging whose temper as worse.”
“You son of a b*tch!! Untie me, old geezer!! I’ll kill you today!”
“The threats from the guy lying on the floor don’t register at all. Get up and squawk first.”
“Argh!! I’ll kill you!”
Crowel chuckled at the sight.
An unexpectedly well-matched duo.
“So.”
“Hm?”
“So why did you come here? If it’s just to relay some trivial news, then get lost.”
“You’re in a foul mood today, old man.”
“It’s because of you guys that I can’t work on my research.”
The doctor glared sharply from behind his thick glasses.
Ever since his lab started becoming a hangout for these neighborhood thugs, the doctor had grown increasingly uncomfortable.
Never mind the fun; the lack of progress in his research was the real issue.
Crowel raised both hands to calm the doctor’s anger.
“Whoa, easy there, old man. I brought some good news, so chill.”
“Good news? Is that lunatic finally leaving this place?”
“You damn old geezer!!”
“Haha. Everyone in the organization knows you two get along well, so that’s not going to happen. But it seems you liked the quadruple gate from last time.”
“Hmm. . . So?”
The doctor took off his magnifying glasses and focused intently on the conversation.
“This time, how about we scale it up a bit?”
“As tempting as that sounds, a reverse gate might be too much for now. . .”
“No, a regular gate would be enough. Just make more of them.”
“How many are you thinking?”
“Well. . . Around 40?”
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
“Chinese news says that Xiaolong was arrested and will be sentenced to 50 years in prison. . . What’s that about? Did he escape or something?”
Kang Yeo-hwa no longer called it the death penalty.
Xiaolong glared at her sharply but refrained from speaking.
“Xiaolong’s case is a bit different. In our country, when chaebols or CEOs are caught, we make them work like slaves for the government and then release them.”
“So, is he a CEO? What’s a criminal who sells drugs and assassinates in the back alleys doing as a CEO?”
“This woman keeps badgering the condemned. . . .”
Xiaolong finally snapped, and Kang Yeo-hwa glared at him.
“What, you punk.”
“. . . . . . .”
“What, what are you going to do?”
“. . . . . . .”
“You think you’re the master if you twist my arm?”
“. . . . . . .”
Xiaolong shut his mouth and looked out the window.
He wasn’t treated harshly, but since he had been kidnapped and taken away, he had no choice but to take the abuse.
By the way. . . It’s been years since I’ve seen this.
Xiaolong felt a sense of nostalgia as he looked at the scenery flowing by outside.
The Han River, with its bright sunlight reflecting off the water.
Ten years ago, when the master was there, we used to gather and play in the Han River often.
We would catch the monsters that came out and beat them up, calling it training.
“Doesn’t it bring back memories when you see it after so long?”
“. . .I don’t know.”
Xiaolong replied indifferently.
They had arrived in Korea and were on their way home thanks to Volk, who had picked them up.
“Master, what if he betrays us because he’s so wicked?”
“I don’t think he will. Don’t you agree, Lo-an?”
“. . .Why are you asking me when you know everything?”
Xiaolong. . . No, Lo-an had abandoned that name.
After being beaten like a dog by his master and briefly imprisoned in a detention center, he had a lot of time to think.
Where had it all gone wrong?
Surely, this is not the figure that my sister had hoped for.
What did I use my time to become?
When the desires and obsessions that had blinded him turned into tears, he finally seemed to see the world properly.
So he discarded his tainted name.
It had been the name of his sister’s favorite movie actor, and he felt he could never use it again.
Lo-an decided to reclaim the name he had been called when he was an older brother.
The name he had used when he was part of his most beloved person’s family.
“If you run away again, I’ll just kill you?”
“. . .samae, your language is getting worse.”
“Shut up. Where’s the condemned who’s supposed to be escorting samae around like a bossam?”
“Bossam. . . .”
Lo-an made a trembling expression and then chose to remain silent again.
Officially, Xiaolong was supposed to be imprisoned in China’s most secure prison.
He was supposed to be in solitary confinement and only seen by a few guards.
Unofficially, however, he had given up all his status and was living under Siwoo’s surveillance.
He was not being watched by the police or Chinese hunters.
Therefore, if he wanted to, he could easily escape and live in a third country.
But Lo-an could not do that.
“How is Yun-ju?”
“She’s in a good place. She’s in HSIU, so she’ll be treated well.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Currently, Lo-an and Yun-ju were each other’s hostages.
If Lo-an caused trouble, Yun-ju would be punished, and if Yun-ju caused trouble, Lo-an would be punished.
Lo-an closed his eyes with a resigned expression.
He could not believe that his master had orchestrated this entire plan.
He felt like Sun Wukong, flying around in the palm of the Buddha’s hand.
“When did you start planning to take me away?”
“When I received the invitation.”
“. . .Did you know you would win?”
“I didn’t expect to winㅡ”
Siwoo, unable to find the right words, continued speaking as they came to him.
“I just thought it would be too embarrassing to lose to someone like you.”
“. . .Haha. . . Hahaha.”
Lo-an looked at his master with a truly stunned expression.
In China, there was no one who would dare to speak to him like that.
Because all such people were dead.
“Hey.”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember when you first met me?”
“. . . . . . .”
How could I forget?
“This is an extension of that promise. Use honorifics and follow me around like a dog.”
“Master! Why is he master dog?! What am I?!”
“You are. . . just a reinforcement. .”
“No! Let me do something else. Like a cat or a fox.”
“Samae would be good as a bear.”
“Shut up!! Do you want to be torn apart by a bear?!”
“If you don’t like a bear, how about a rhinoceros?”
“Eww! Master, I hate this guy!!”
Siwoo leaned back in his chair, chuckling.
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