Forgive Your Enemies (6)
[Everyone! Want to witness all this spectacle?! We're doubling the viewing fee right now! The Punisher Jeonghyeon clashes with the Jo family—check out what happens to them!!]
'Impressive, you too.'
Jeonghyeon shook his head as he heard the drone's voice, jacking up the viewing fee like a dying old hag scraping together every last coin even on her deathbed.
'This place is full of nothing but lunatics.'
And ironically, amid all that, the craziest one was undoubtedly Jeonghyeon himself.
"I'll ask just three things from now on."
'This guy's coming in hot with the tough guy act right off the bat.'
Not like he'd run into some street thug. Jeonghyeon had zero interest in the guy straining his eyeballs and shoulders all tensed up.
"Fine. Shoot."
He gave a casual reply while scanning the five humans to see if Jo Jeonghu was among them.
"Answers only when I ask."
"Whatever."
The man took Jeonghyeon's offhand response—without even looking—as a provocation. In an instant, he lunged forward, thrusting his fingertip right under Jeonghyeon's chin.
"Fast, huh?"
But under that man's chin, the tip of Jeonghyeon's harvesting knife was already poised.
Drip. A faint line of blood trickled from under the man's chin.
"I didn't really wanna beef with you guys if I could help it... but punks like you who act all tough need a little humbling."
The man ground his teeth, trying not to show his fluster.
"First: who the hell are you?"
"Me? The Punisher who beats down scum like you who exploit people and suck them dry."
He might've played it off like it wasn't a big deal, but deep down liking the nickname he'd been given, Jeonghyeon introduced himself as the Punisher.
Calling himself by the nickname the drone had slapped on him. The drone shrieked even louder, thrilled.
"Hey, announcer. One more word outta you, and I'll blow your channel sky-high and dump you in an underground dungeon."
Irked by the drone's antics, the man called Jo Minjun scowled hard and jabbed a finger at it. But Jeonghyeon wasn't about to just watch.
"Hey, Minjun. Threaten our drone one more time, and I'll lop your head off first and chuck it in the underground dungeon."
Jeonghyeon stepped right up to the guy instead.
Just that step forward unleashed a gravitational pressure several times heavier, laced with the Demon King's mana.
"You're taking the cut from the earnings here anyway, right? Come on, let's reel in more viewers."
It was 1 against 5, but Jeonghyeon felt certain.
None of these people were here to kill him.
If anything, they were afraid of him.
"Or... are you scared?"
"What?"
"Not of my skills... but of what I might say here."
Jeonghyeon flashed a relaxed grin, twirling his knife.
"Gotta finish the other two questions, right? In front of all these watching eyes."
Like a massive lion toying with five baby mice, he smirked leisurely, threatening the Jo family members. Anyone who'd seen him in his previous life would've wondered how the hell he'd survived under Solgaleh.
"Don't underestimate me..."
"That a question?"
Tension stretched taut between them like a fishing line in a tug-of-war between angler and big game. Jo Minjun glared murderously, but Jeonghyeon watched him and the rest of the Jo family behind.
"Fine. Second question. What're you here to punish?"
"You. The fucking Jo family."
"This bastard—!!"
Finally losing it, Jo Minjun thrust his fingertip like a spike.
And just like that, Jo Minjun passed right through Jeonghyeon.
Snap!
Something tore with a sound, and Jo Minjun's thin gauntlet-like leather gloves, suit, and veins burst open.
Splatter!!
"Gahk!"
Blood sprayed everywhere as Jo Minjun spewed breath and collapsed.
"That's why you gotta humble 'em quick."
No scratches on Jeonghyeon—only Jo Minjun's blood dripped from the harvesting knife's tip.
"No deep wounds. You can see that, right?"
Jeonghyeon slowly approached the rest of the Jo family. Jo Minjun was gushing blood everywhere, but Jeonghyeon had perfectly controlled his Dismantling Swordsmanship to slice only the outermost skin layer—no fatal injuries.
Of course, he'd precisely severed the tendons in the ankles and Achilles.
"Not bad."
A burly man who'd stood stoically stepped forward, ignoring Jo Minjun's state entirely.
"What, tournament time?"
'Thanks for the rundown.'
Such a helpful explainer bot.
"No interest in fighting you. But... we figured you got caught on purpose. Was that part of your plan too?"
"That's none of your business. I just need to find one person."
Jo Yun asked, puzzled.
"Who...?"
Jeonghyeon met his eyes.
"Jo Jeonghu."
And as Jeonghyeon went to continue—
"Fourth or youngest or whatever. Anyway, one of the Jo fami—?"
Jo Yun's face hardened. The atmosphere shifted in a flash.
'What the—?'
Just as his gut screamed a backstab was coming and he tensed to strike—
"You've come. Thank you."
Out of nowhere, Jo Yun bowed 90 degrees, apologizing profusely for not recognizing him sooner. The others followed suit.
"Uh...?"
Totally unexpected.
"What... did you say?"
***
The fight with Mamору was nominally over, so the broadcast wrapped up.
Just the Jo family bowing to the Punisher had viewers exploding, and the drone went half-mad with joy at the unprecedented earnings.
Jeonghyeon followed Jo Yun into a building. The drone couldn't tag along post-broadcast, but Jeonghyeon insisted, trusting it more than these guys after all the bonding.
And they arrived here.
The outside looked like a cheap, brandless apartment, but inside was a whole other world of luxury.
The long corridor was lined with lavish gold decorations adorning the interior, chandeliers straight out of Afraksas's divine palace dangling from the ceiling.
At the end of the hall loomed a massive chamber.
Servants bustled about inside, and as if expecting Jeonghyeon, a long rectangular table in the center was set with meals for five—excluding Jo Minjun, off getting treated.
"First off, sincere apologies."
Seating Jeonghyeon at the head, Jo Yun bowed again before even sitting himself.
'Something fishy here.'
This level of deference meant either some annoying hassle or a trap.
'Trap or not, it's still annoying... same difference.'
Gonna work Jo Jeonghu like a dog once he's a subordinate.
Hated him from the jump. Or more precisely, nothing likable about the prick.
"What're you apologizing for?"
Only then did Jo Yun sit.
He scrunched his already crumpled face even more.
"You know... our family's got a reputation."
'Know what? I don't know shit.'
Seemed less like a trap, more like mistaken identity.
Who the hell would seek out trash hunters like these?
'This guy's got eyes. Jackpot.'
Tempted to subordinate the drone instead of Jo Jeonghu. Prime material.
"Like the drone said. The Jo family’s split into two factions right now."
Food was served—steaming, mouthwatering steaks.
Jeonghyeon’s mouth watered at the sight of prime meat after so long.
"Ah, go ahead. No poison or anything. We do bad shit, but not assassinations."
"Ah. Cool."
Jo Yun grinned, thumbs-up like it was some brag.
"That's a fighter's pride, yeah?"
'Bullshit.'
Kidnapping folks for gladiator pits and calling it pride.
...But Jeonghyeon didn’t miss the chance.
Chomp chomp!
Fork in hand, but the meat vanished into his mouth at insane speed.
No manners, pure beast mode dining—the Jo family gaped in stunned silence.
"Mmm...! Delicious! So good!"
"Yes. Have as much as you want."
Jo Yun was overly polite since hearing Jeonghyeon sought Jo Jeonghu.
Might look like he was chowing down defenseless, but Jeonghyeon had their throat spots locked, ready to end them anytime.
"Anyway. Spill it."
Jeonghyeon mumbled, cheeks stuffed like a rodent.
"As you know, not everyone in the Jo family’s blood-related."
"Huh?"
"Folks who flow into or born in Seoul West grow here, and if 'Big Uncle' recognizes their fighter and hunter potential, they join the 'Jo Family' guild."
"Crazy. The family name's the guild? That's why you keep saying Jo this, Jo that? And why Big Uncle? Not just Dad?"
"...Mind your pronunciation. And Big Uncle's because fighters honor their own parents."
Made sense— even outsiders could earn the Jo name as collaterals, so Big Uncle fits with separate real parents.
"Ah, got it... Okay, keep explaining."
Were they serious or what? Why harp on fighter pride at weird points?
"But the heir to lead the Jo family... only pure-blood Jos can claim that."
Jeonghyeon tore into more meat.
"So?"
"We earned the Jo name through skill, but we're not pure-blood. Direct family’s four total. Like you said, Jeonghu-nim’s the youngest."
"Scrawny kid, huh? Pure-blood means he inherits, but weak?"
"Exactly."
Jo Yun nodded.
"Go on."
Jeonghyeon refilled his second plate without suspicion, looking a bit like Philip but mind razor-sharp.
'So... these guys are at least Jeonghu’s faction or friendly. Want me to make that bastard win the hierarchy fight.'
"We follow Jo Jeonghu-nim's faction. That's why we thanked you for coming for him."
"Figured."
Jeonghyeon’s guess nailed it.
"Pardon?"
"Nah. Continue."
Jeonghyeon plotted hierarchy fight strategies in his head.
'Fighting tournament, probably... Too soon to train someone.'
"So, about the hierarchy fight..."
"Yeah, want me to make you win."
"No. Not that."
Jo Yun’s words made Jeonghyeon pause mid-chew, eyeing him.
Quit? Then came another curveball.
"Please stop the hierarchy fight altogether. We don't wanna be Big Uncle's slaves anymore."