Chapter 55
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 055
Chapter Title: Gyeongyang-gu Baron Kim Seok-hee - [6]
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I slammed my right fist straight into Kim Seok-hee's face from the front.
A shockwave erupted, sounding like a shell exploding. It wasn't just noise—the punch landed clean on target.
A perfect hit to the temple. Even a tough brawler with great durability should've staggered from a strike this clean, but Kim Seok-hee didn't bat an eye.
Without so much as a pained grunt, he swung his fist right back at me.
"You fucking—"
Sure enough, a Force Field Exoskeleton Awakener.
In the Awakener market, Force Field Exoskeleton abilities command top value. For instance, they're priced higher than Physical Enhancement Awakeners who fill similar roles in hunts.
And for good reason. While a mid-tier Physical Enhancer can suffer fatal wounds from rifle rounds, a Force Field Exoskeleton user brushes off bullets like they're nothing, even at that level.
Not only is their durability leagues ahead, but unlike Physical Enhancers who slow down once injured, Force Field Exoskeleton Awakeners keep peak combat performance until their field shatters—no matter the damage.
Like a game boss that stays active through electrocution, poison, or slashes until its HP hits zero, they deliver combat prowess straight out of fantasy.
That's why regular cops have about a snowball's chance in hell of subduing one with rifles. Even if they're steadily chipping away at the field with concentrated fire, they can't tell. No HP bar like in games, so they just feel that hopeless dread of not knowing how much more it takes.
And even at similar output levels, the lighter weight lets them move faster than Physical Enhancers. It's a power born for battle.
Kim Seok-hee had taken punch after punch from me, yet his field showed no cracks. Without my Super Regeneration, my fist would've shattered first.
No need to explain how impressive I am, holding my own against such a favorable matchup.
Ah, Kim Seok-hee's fist sliced through the air toward my face.
And I didn't even try to dodge by tilting my head.
As I Teleported away from his punch, he kept yelling like it was unfair.
"—fucking Teleportation bullshit—"
Reappearing at his side, I hammered left and right punches into his head. Somehow sensing my position amid the chaos, he swung wildly, and I Teleported again to evade.
From behind his back, I kicked his spine to wreck his balance, then unleashed a flurry of punches. As he recovered and counterattacked, I Teleported to his flank and pounded his ribs.
Kim Seok-hee bellowed in fury, even though it shouldn't hurt.
"—Cut it out, you fuck!"
I pulled back slightly and grinned. Perfect timing—I was starting to feel dizzy and wanted to ease off Teleportation anyway.
"You think?"
Cracking my knuckles with a smile, I watched his face twist. My casual vibe was clearly humiliating him.
He hesitated to charge, so I rushed in.
I threw a jab, then instantly triggered Level Change. Dropping my center low, I grabbed his ankle and swung his whole body like a club.
His head smashed into the ground again and again—bam, bam—but not a drop of blood. Still, he looked dazed. His flailing arms couldn't touch me.
Kept swinging him until his free leg tried to kick me, then I hurled him away. With Physical Enhancer strength, he sailed far and crashed into a building wall.
Kim Seok-hee staggered to his feet.
And seeing blood trickling from his ear, I smiled.
Finally, the field cracked.
"Ugh..."
I sneered at his groan.
"Hurts, huh?"
He glared back. Despite not landing a single hit, he still had fight left. Or maybe just pride?
Either way, perfect. I had more to dish out.
Even without the field, he was still a Physical Enhancer and a powerhouse Awakener.
Which made it even better. No need to hold back.
"You fucking bastaaard!"
Roaring to rally himself, he charged.
To let him feel our power gap, I took the punch I could've dodged and threw my left hook.
Our fists crossed, smashing each other's heads. Cross counter.
Unlike before with the field, this one had impact. The feel alone told me it landed solid.
I was fine. He wasn't. Clutching his bleeding head, he reeled back desperately to create distance.
I grinned at his face.
Terror finally mixed into the rage he'd worn moments ago. Makes sense—real pain after ages for a Force Field Exoskeleton user.
As I moved, he flinched.
"Fuck..."
He tried to widen the gap, but I wasn't letting him run. Charging full tilt, I Teleported behind him as he scrambled into a defensive stance.
A low kick to his exposed knee dropped him. As he tried to rise, I stomped his side.
"Gah—"
He rolled sideways with a choking gasp.
And he looked at me.
I looked at him. His face finally full of fear. Satisfying.
Even then, he couldn't complain about my Teleportation. I'd mounted his chest, pinning him with double my prior weight, and started pounding his face.
A few hits, and it was a bloody mess.
Raising my fist for another, he desperately thrust up his palms to block.
His mouth opened, weak voice spilling out.
"Stop..."
I asked,
"Surrender?"
No. Even now, he clung to pride. Trying something like a threat.
"If you kill me, you're fucked too..."
"Why?"
"I... ugh, I got banned from hunting for killing..."
I got the gist. Kill him, and I'd be wanted for murder too, right?
As his mouth flapped for more, I smashed another punch into it. To his pained glare, I said,
"Hyung, you haven't checked HuntWeb in ages, huh?"
There's a tip from about two years ago on the Hunter boards.
If you're hot-tempered or love drunk driving—basically, if you might fuck up anytime—prepare for license revocation. Meaning, blow all your contract money upfront so you don't have to repay the locals.
"Think cops'll play nice just with you? Think you're the only Yeopo around?"
Splash it on luxuries, convert to crypto and hide it—make it hell for locals to reclaim if you break contract.
That way, even if you commit a crime, punishment gets lighter.
Locals can't afford to lose billions in contract fees just to void a deal.
These days, patching a hole that big is near impossible for them.
So they pressure courts for leniency, keep the contract going, then quietly ditch renewal to vent later.
My situation's a bit different but similar. That's why I'm swinging freely—and filming it.
"Nothing else? Keep beating?"
As I raised my fist high, blood pouring from his entire head, Kim Seok-hee opened his bloody mouth.
"Stop... please."
Practically begging. He shielded his face with both hands.
I grabbed his wrists, yanked them aside roughly, and barked,
"'Please stop hitting me,' right?"
Now he couldn't even curse. Just stared up with terrified eyes. I pressed on.
"Say it again."
"Stop hit—"
Lying there begging, I backhanded his cheek.
I looked down at his limp gaze. Beaten, spirit broken, begging for life. Satisfied?
Not yet.
I wanted total submission. Forced it on him.
"Not lying down—kneel and say it properly, yeah?"
Like Yuan bowing in triple prostration to Qing Emperor Taizong, he did it.
Shaking, he pushed up slightly. Watched my eyes, knelt, head bowed low.
In full submission, he muttered so softly only my enhanced hearing caught it.
"I lost... please stop..."
I almost demanded louder but held back. A true lord shows mercy to the surrendered.
"Surrender accepted. Now get out of Incheon."
He nodded weakly. I continued.
"I'd love to say scram to Seoul... but you ain't got the balls, right?"
After seeing the cops' bullshit, I'd checked nationwide. Turns out it's just local chaos—Seoul's safer than ever.
They've got Awakener units, better budgets boosting morale—no room for punk gangs to run wild.
"Bucheon it is, then. Yeah?"
He stayed kneeling, unmoving.
Then my mental net—still spread—caught something breaking the sound barrier.
Like sparring with Seong Mun-yeong, I reacted on instinct. Next instant, a 12.7mm round was in my hand.
Palm scraped, but that's it. Perfect catch.
Turning toward the shot, I saw a guy who'd picked up a fallen sniper rifle. Aimed our way.
His face was blank with shock.
Hell, I hadn't expected it to work either. Even training failed most times—this was luck.
"That guy's Incheon? Or Seoul trash?"
Kim Seok-hee mumbled weakly,
"Incheon..."
Local, then. Human rights apply—be merciful.
I flicked the bullet. It nailed the sniper in the chest. Ribs cracked; he clutched and rolled.
To him, I said nicely,
"Seoul's bad vibes corrupted you into sneaky shit. Gotta teach a lesson—but go easy. Got it?"
Last desperate lackey for his boss, yet Kim Seok-hee didn't dare refuse. Nodded weakly as I gave one last smile.
Then Teleported to my fan.
Teleported us both far off with the still-filming fan. Asked,
"Got that last bit?"
Excited reply,
"Of course! That was insane!"
We geeked out over how epic the finale was, how flashy and cool the fight, how pathetic Kim Seok-hee got one-sidedly wrecked.
Mid-ramble, the fan asked worriedly,
"But seriously, can we post this online?"
"Why? Too risky?"
"Yeah. Not for me—for you, Kim Geuk-ssi... It's assault evidence. You'll be in deep shit..."
"No worries."
"Really?"
"Duh. Think I'd do this without a plan?"
Still anxious, I patted their back. Headed home, got the edited vid, and followed the plan.
Uploaded the raw footage from today.
The reaction? Exactly as expected—explosive.
The internet—from forums to broadcast news—was all about me.
TV on? Same deal—my story everywhere.
Coverage from the Awakener gang in Gyeongyang-gu, cops' pathetic-to-absurd response...
To demanding protection for op participants, yet Im Hyeong-taek's kidnapping happened anyway, capped by my gang raid.
Lounging at home, I idly listened to the anchor on how these events shocked the public.
Thus, I wasn't in a holding cell or prison, cuffed for questioning, or under cop guard at the door.
After all that, I was still free.
And that felt damn good.