Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Black Ring
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Black Ring.
Those who didn't know it had never even heard the name.
But to those who did:
"S-Spare me… No! Please, spare me! Please!"
It was a name synonymous with terror.
Their numbers barely exceeded fifty.
But.
"Please… spare me…."
They dominated most of Korea's underworld.
Other organizations with all sorts of names moved at Black Ring's command.
Unaware that the orders from their own organization's upper ranks originated with Black Ring.
"Quiet down a bit."
Jung Dong-pal belonged to one of Black Ring's subordinate organizations.
Like the others, he hadn't known Black Ring existed for long, but he'd heard the name recently.
-Dong-pal, there's something you need to know once you become guild master.
It was a story from his hyungnim, whom he'd followed loyally for years despite no blood ties.
He'd taken knives meant for hyungnim and even done time in prison.
Fortunately, hyungnim wasn't just some street punk and upheld his loyalty to Jung Dong-pal, who had stood in for him.
Successor.
"Please spare me…."
A small Seoul outfit, sure—but he'd become the boss ruling Dongdaemun.
But so what.
-Black Ring. You must never defy them.
He was just a lackey anyway.
-You know Terraco?
-Yeah, hyungnim.
The names that followed were organizations and guilds that had ruled Seoul and Korea just a few years back.
No matter how filthy or low they were labeled.
Even as illegitimate thugs without any legitimacy, their shadow power was real.
-What about the Pure White Incident?
-Wasn't that when Busan's crews got totally crushed? Seoul took over Busan after that.
Random chit-chat.
-Black Ring was behind it all.
-Huh?
-The underworld's basically unified now. Black Ring. Soon…
You'll see for yourself.
And hyungnim had been right.
"Fuck, I never thought I'd end up doing this thug bullshit."
He had been impressed by that colossal organization and its shadow power.
But the first Black Ring order Jung Dong-pal got was the exact kind he loathed.
"Spar…"
"Ah! I said shut up!"
Kidnapping a guy and girl in their early twenties.
Even if they were drugged-out morons, Jung Dong-pal couldn't stomach it.
And worse.
-You have to handle this yourself.
Hyungnim Kang Baek-ho banned delegating to underlings, forcing Jung Dong-pal to do it personally.
'I'm Jung Dong-pal of Dongdaemun.'
His resentment boiled over.
That's when it happened.
Screeeeech!
The abandoned factory door swung open, bright light flooding in.
"Haa."
Jung Dong-pal sighed and stood.
Sudden light, but not enough to dazzle a decently high-level player like him.
Step, step.
A group entered the factory.
'Damn, they're really hamming it up.'
Four or so, in black suits.
But they looked more like bodyguards than gangsters.
'Suits?'
Fit builds, sure—but barely any power radiating off them.
Seemed like regular civilians, not even players.
"You're Kang Baek-ho's successor?"
The lead man eyed Jung Dong-pal.
His face twisted.
Jung Dong-pal's face twisted at the sight.
"Good work. Clean job."
"…Don't call hyungnim by name so casually."
"……?"
The man cocked his head.
"And fuck! Don't make me do this thug shit!"
Jung Dong-pal finally snapped.
Mana rippled with his surging rage.
Not a ranker yet, but give him time and he knew he could be one.
'But where do I know that face from.'
As he racked his brain over the man's face.
Snicker.
A puff of air escaped the man's lips.
"Kang Baek-ho must really dote on you."
"What?"
"Or maybe he sent you here to die 'cause he hates his successor?"
"……."
Even then, no aura from the man.
But somehow, it felt like a noose tightening around his neck.
"What gangster punk."
"What…!"
Yet the man advanced slowly.
The bound man and woman.
"Spar… Please spare us…."
They begged him desperately in their pathetic state.
"Be grateful for it. Jung Dong-pal."
That instant.
Slash!
A longsword—drawn from nowhere—severed their necks clean off.
"……!"
Jung Dong-pal froze in shock, mouth clamped shut.
He hadn't seen the draw. Or the swing.
And he'd never dreamed they'd kill the kidnapping targets without a single question.
"Even trash like you has a use that serves that lord."
Even more shocking.
Wriggle.
The clearly decapitated things twitched.
Spluuurt!
Tentacle-like appendages burst from inside.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the man slid back slightly.
What emerged before him: a monster fused from the man and woman—or what had been them.
"Guh!"
Just looking turned his stomach, their aura buckling his knees.
He'd thought he could face a ranker.
Tremble, tremble.
All he wanted was to ditch everything and bolt.
These monsters were nothing like the gate beasts he'd fought.
That's when.
Flash!
A blaze of light.
Slaaaash!
The unbeatable-seeming monster shattered into dozens of chunks and exploded.
Click.
The man sheathed his blade, as if that settled it.
The whole thing hadn't even taken a few minutes.
Only then.
"……!"
Did Jung Dong-pal remember the face.
"Kang In!"
The player world's former troublemaker—but his skills were legit, no one could dismiss him.
"He definitely… lost a leg and retired…."
Yet here he was, back and carving up an unseen monster.
Kang In approached Jung Dong-pal after felling the beast.
"Uh…."
Jung Dong-pal recoiled on instinct and flopped down.
The faint pressure wafting from Kang In post-kill outclassed any player he'd ever met.
"Just a few years ago, you lot were stealing for your own gain… and now thug shit?"
Kang In snickered.
"Thank that lord who makes use even of trash like you. He told you nothing—looks like Kang Baek-ho wanted you gone."
"……."
Unbelievable.
"Kang Baek-ho turns up dead tomorrow. Handle it. From tomorrow…"
Step, step.
"You're Dongdaemun Guild's boss. No defying our orders. And no funny ideas."
He couldn't even grasp what had just gone down.
Just one thing.
"…Kang Baek-ho, you fucking dog!"
The hyungnim he'd thought cared was clearly out to kill him.
*
*
*
Black Ring ruled the underground shadows, but the "real" ones numbered few.
All sorts.
Big-shot players. Association members.
Or else.
"It's a new strain. Gotta kill 'em to confirm—that's real. Track it."
"……Yes sir!"
Shadow-born.
Clueless, just scraping by.
Or dragged into shadows against their will.
A few useful ones got lucky and joined Black Ring.
"Why so on edge?"
Jo Gyu-tae, Black Ring newbie, was straight outta the shadows.
"Can't help it—how could I not be scared? I'm from that damn thug life too."
Chuckle.
Kang In laughed.
"You? The guy who wrecked his own crew over hating drug deals, tried turning himself in to the association 'cause he wouldn't assassinate?"
"Well… doesn't make me a good guy, right? Before that…"
Jo Gyu-tae had done plenty of shady shit.
That's why, when he tried surrendering to quit that life, Kang In showed up.
"That's the point. Might be decent now, but doesn't erase being a bad guy before."
"…Jo Gyu-tae."
"So even dirty work—do it to atone while aiding that lord."
"Who the…."
hell is that lord.
Few months in Black Ring.
Seen the world's underbelly he never imagined. Got scared.
Grip.
Felt proud too.
Still shadow life, but at least it seemed like he was purging the shadows' rot himself.
And.
'Black Gate.'
Black Ring didn't just sweep trash.
When needed, they charged crises—even Black Gates, no hesitation.
They were shadows, meddling in shadow business.
'Pride.'
Yeah, he felt a bit of that.
That's when.
Vrrr.
Quiet phone ring.
"Hup!"
Kang In—ice-cold as ever—jumped like a cat.
In the small moving van.
His not-insubstantial height.
Thud!
Smashed the ceiling. Again.
You could feel his panic and tension.
'What the hell?'
No way.
"I- I've got the call. Kang In speaking."
No way!
"…Yes. Yes…. Yes?"
Kang In's face shifted every second.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Even post-call, he clutched the phone like it burned.
"Jo Gyu-tae, you're one lucky bastard."
"Huh?"
"Change course."
Driver switched destinations on Kang In's word.
"No mistakes. Absolutely."
"…What's up?"
"That lord is coming."
"……!"
Jo Gyu-tae and the other Black Ring members gaped.
"Code A. Summon every available body now."
"A's just Black Ring."
The van erupted in frantic motion.
Grip.
Jo Gyu-tae felt a weird thrill.
And somehow, the face of the guy he envied most popped up.
Born with it all, stirring trouble just like him.
But lately unveiling his true self, name spreading wide.
'Me too….'
Smirk.
'I don't envy Go Yohan anymore.'
Go Yohan the Divine.