Chapter 53
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 053
Chapter Title: Baron Kim Seok-hui of Gyeyang-gu [4]
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Next day, and the day after that, we climbed Gyeyang Mountain and kept up the hunt.
And while everyone was heading back to their homes, that's when it went down.
I'd just gotten home and hopped in the shower when my phone rang. Unknown number, but my gut screamed trouble, so I picked up right away.
"Kim Geuk?"
A gravelly voice growled from the receiver.
"Who is this?"
"Your buddy from last time. This old fart's name... Im Hyeong-taek? Whatever, we've got your geriatric lackey."
I bit my lip hard. So it finally happened.
The grating voice kept droning on from the phone.
"You're coming to pick him up, right? Come alone. Bring anyone else, and this geezer's toast."
Spitting threats like that, he gave me the spot. I bolted there immediately.
At the rendezvous, I narrowed my eyes.
Im Hyeong-taek—already thinning on top—looked even balder now. Pathetic and utterly dejected. His clothes were shredded in spots, and his battered face oozed blood like a stream.
The thug clutching Im Hyeong-taek's hair spoke up.
"You came, huh?"
It was that same guy from before. The Physical Enhancer who'd blocked the road—the one I'd teleported elsewhere.
The punk who'd averted his eyes in front of me last time now puffed up with bravado.
"That shit last time left a bad taste. Came for payback."
"Let go of him first, asshole."
"Yeah?"
He released Im Hyeong-taek's hair, then booted the stumbling man flying.
Im Hyeong-taek crashed far off and lay there twitching.
Seeing it, my eyes bulged. Veins popped on my clenched fist, my body heat spiked to an unbearable boil, and the urge to charge and swing nearly overtook my mind.
Kill that fucker. Right now.
But unlike the bullshit misconceptions from my too-polished interview, I don't have anger management issues.
Punching the school principal? Smacking the training instructor? I never lost my reason to blind rage.
Back then, I just remembered home life. Law's distant, fists are close—violence the surest fix for bullshit situations.
Acted on it, threw punches, did years inside.
Bad outcome taught me: live by temper, waste your life...
So, like Seong Mun-yeong asked, did I turn over a new leaf?
Hell if I know.
One thing I do know: childhood scars linger. And that kid memory—beating my parents wiped out every hardship—still burns bright in my core.
Even as the fury simmered, I thought fast.
Why'd this clown show up here?
Obviously, Kim Seok-hui sent him.
But why dispatch this chump, clearly weaker than me?
Revenge my ass. No buying it.
He knows he's outmatched. This gap? Zero win chance. So why?
Kim sent him to eat a proper beating from me.
Get pummeled, maybe limbs snapped—he'd run to the cops. Play victim, sue me for assault.
He'd get nabbed for roughing up Im Hyeong-taek too, sure. But he'd tank it. Nothing to lose, unlike me—a spotlight Hunter operating clean. Bigger blow to my rep. Hopes it'll kill our Gyeyang-gu hunts.
So, me raging out and wailing on him? Kim's dream scenario. Assault record plus interview? Everyone pegs me as hot-headed. Obvious they'd scheme this cheap trap.
Flip side, Kim's nightmare: me playing straight-arrow even now.
Like Nazis snitching neighbors on orders, shipping 'em to gas chambers—if I law-abide, rough-subdue this guy, call cops, keep hunting? Not his plan.
I know he's shitting bricks way more than me. This shit's news fodder. Panicking hard by now.
And I know another move he'd loathe—one I can pull.
That being...
"Not coming? Scared yet?"
He taunted. I lunged.
Boxing stance? Laughable. Featherweight amateur swinging at an unlimited champ.
He knew it too. Fear flickered across his face as my arm shot out. Tremors rippled through the arm I grabbed.
Locked in: he came to take lumps.
Slammed him to the dirt, easy.
"Urk—"
Stomped his back. Then Im Hyeong-taek's voice drilled into my ear.
"Don't do it!"
"Huh?"
Injured, speech slurred—yet he yelled wide-mouthed.
"No more! Don't beat that fucker! You've got him pinned—good enough, yeah?"
"Mister."
"Saying it again: don't touch him. Others hurt, maybe different—but don't fuck up over me! That's what that slimy Kim Seok-hui wants. He's got zilch to lose, but you? Plenty. Yeah?"
Same read as mine. Like his own beating meant jack shit, he kept going.
"Pinned him—now drag to station? Gotta do it. Know he'll bail in a day from holding, but procedure first. Lawful way, no blowback—got it?"
Worried I'd snap and pound him senseless.
Sorry to rain on his tirade, but flat-out: no anger issues here.
Even pissed, I'm clocking this:
Why grab Im Hyeong-taek of all people?
Why not Baek Dam-bi?
Outsider eyes: kidnapped team member pissing me off most? My arm candy, not this ragtag old-timer.
HuntWeb defenses of her? Dating rumors flew.
So why snatch this nobody over rage-bait Dam-bi?
And surviving that Physical Enhancer kick to yap like this? Power reined in, obviously.
Feared I'd flip too hard.
Kim wanted fury, not full psycho.
Not me escalating past assault.
If I lost it completely... could I keep this Hunter gig?
Not lose everything I've built...?
Eyes shut, thoughts sorted. Conclusion hit.
Opened 'em: Im Hyeong-taek stared, eyes shaky. Smiled at him.
"All good. Relax."
"For real? Trustworthy? I'm fine—walking fine. No overkill rage, yeah?"
Smiled once more. Shut eyes. Opened.
Teleported.
New sight: unfamiliar turf.
Gyeyang-gu slums—monster overrun, people fled. But some stuck around.
Gangbangers first...
Kim Seok-hui's crew from Gyeyang fringe Baek. They spotted me. Recognized. Freaked.
"K-Kim Geuk!"
Scattered like roaches, phones out, dialing. Let 'em.
Scoped surroundings.
Nailed it. Their base, per sketchy description.
Not just panicked thugs—vagrants they dragged along too.
Harsh world: broke drifters scrape by under Kim's gang wing.
Handle cigarette runs for the crew, shielded from local beasts. Limping on.
Normies living as Sodom's sheep. No wonder Kim lords it as baron.
Even now, dug that vibe.
"Hey, you fucking prick! What the hell you—"
Mob poured in quick. Ringed me. Still grinding the Physical Enhancer, I waved.
"Hey."
Said it casual, cranked foot pressure. He'd been squirming—now groaned.
"This your buddy?"
They glared daggers, eyes bewildered. Never dreamed I'd storm HQ, zero pause.
Kept talking.
"Gonna crunch his spine next. Like principal and instructors back in the day—turn this clown disabled too..."
Harder press: groan cut off. Gazed down, neutral. Foam bubbled from his mouth. Now satisfied.
"Physical Enhancer with Super Regeneration, yeah? Banked on that? Regen's got limits—let's test crushed spinal cord."
Head up, eyed the crowd. Awakener brass here? Betting yes. Opened mouth.
"So, Hunter Rifle owner?"
"Foot off him now, you shit! Or—"
One bellowed. Ignored. Stuck to script.
"Hurry up. Know it won't scratch me? Others maybe, but Kim Seok-hui? Ex-Hunter—got one. Tell that fucker hustle."
Phoning as instructed. Meantime, rushers incoming.
Bold charges: Awakeners? Physicals? Force Field exos?
Didn't matter. None measured up. Beating the lot? Fine.
"You shit—"
First axe-slinger: strength irrelevant. Too sluggish—no teleport dodge needed.
Casual haymaker cracked his jaw. Down.
Felt trigger pull. Then teleported.
Fight on. They'd frame it dire: crooks poking powerhouse Hunter, karmic payback.
Nah. Still vibe their anti-cop grit. Shepherd-style rule? Impressive. Even pissed at lord Kim, respect due.
And I came to rip the fief from this land's baron.
Fellow Awakener? Got the right.