Baek Ya-seong, Strongest in the Back World
Baek Ya-seong, the strongest in the Back World.
Baek Ya-seong was an assassination corporation rooted in South Korea, a prestigious family with two hundred years of history. There were plenty of other assassination firms based in the country, but more than half of the top domestic assassins belonged to Baek Ya-seong. It was no exaggeration to call them the pinnacle of the nation's killers.
And lately, the head of this mighty Baek Ya-seong, Jin Hyun-cheol, was racking his brains over a single problem.
"Not a single one of them catches my eye."
The issue tormenting him was personnel selection. More precisely, it was choosing an exclusive assassin for his youngest daughter, Jin Yeon-ah, who was coming of age this year and about to begin official activities.
Until now, they'd kept her identity hidden from the outside world, so there'd been no issue. But Yeon-ah was turning twenty. The moment she became an adult, she had to step into the light and start external operations—which made an exclusive assassin essential.
"I can't just pick any random fool..."
An exclusive assassin was the first blade given to a direct descendant of the family, and among all the weapons they'd wield going forward, it had to be the sharpest.
That was why Jin Hyun-cheol could only agonize.
"Especially the one for Yeon-ah—it has to be the best we've seen so far. But with talent this scarce..."
Among his three children as direct heirs, Yeon-ah was the one he cherished most. If he had his way, he'd select someone superior even to the exclusive assassins of his eldest and second-born—ideally on par with his firstborn's, at least. But not a single candidate had pleased him.
Crumple—
The documents on his desk were mercilessly crushed in Jin Hyun-cheol's grip. But he let out a deep sigh from the depths of his lungs and tossed the crumpled papers back onto the desk.
"Hoo..."
Normally, it would have taken longer for his anger to subside. But this time, the heat clouding his mind cooled in an instant. Why? Because he'd recently extended his reach into new territory.
"The Back World's outlaws... With all the rumors swirling around, there has to be at least one useful one."
The Back World. Unlike legitimate assassins like those of Baek Ya-seong who operated under official identities, it was a den of near-lawless killers. A final refuge for every kind of assassin, rife with rumors and human refuse.
Hiring from a place like that felt grimy, but Back World assassins often surpassed those in the sunlight in quality. And above all, Jin Hyun-cheol had ways to control them.
"Money and backing. That should make them heel."
Outlaw assassins craved two things: vast sums of cash they could hold, and a powerful patron to legitimize their existence. Baek Ya-seong could provide both—and in exchange, seize their leashes. Even lawless killers wouldn't be much threat under those terms.
As Jin Hyun-cheol drummed his fingers on the desk in anticipation, a knock echoed through the room.
Knock knock—
"Come in."
At Jin Hyun-cheol's command, the door opened, and a man in a sharp suit entered. He carried three or four file folders under his arm.
"Here you are, Master. As you specified, I've selected only the most skilled candidates."
"Mm. Let's see."
Jin Hyun-cheol took the files and began flipping through the documents one by one. The only sound in the heavy silence was the rustle of turning pages.
To an outsider, he might have looked furious. But those who knew him well would have noticed: Jin Hyun-cheol was thoroughly satisfied with the contents.
That is, until he reached the final file and froze.
"...What's with this one? Isn't she too young?"
He slid the file toward the man. Glancing at the document, the man let out a small sound.
"Ah, you're referring to her. I had my doubts at first, too. But the rumors circulating in the Back World seem all but confirmed, so I included her."
The file contained a photo of a woman. She looked freshly of age, her face impeccably clean—not a speck of dirt or wear.
In other words, it screamed rookie: little experience as an assassin, no real fights under her belt. Jin Hyun-cheol couldn't hide his displeasure, but the man adjusted his glasses and continued.
"Baek Se-rin. She's the name on everyone's lips in the Back World right now. She's been active for three years, and if you ask who the strongest assassin there is, nine times out of ten, it's her."
"This kid's supposed to be that good?"
Jin Hyun-cheol couldn't mask his surprise. The Back World wasn't like the "legal" sunlight operations— it was raw wilderness, blades flying from nowhere. Survivors there were beasts, tough even for the elite in the open world. For someone this young to last three years and top the list? Hard to buy.
Yet he couldn't dismiss it. The man before him wouldn't bring half-baked intel. Jin Hyun-cheol knew that intimately—after all, this was his exclusive assassin.
He'd mobilized every resource to sift rumors from truth. Even in the Back World, where facts were slippery, this man's findings carried weight.
"Hmm..."
Reviewing the file once more, Jin Hyun-cheol let out a low hum and closed it. Rising from his seat, he turned toward the window and spoke.
"Have these five in front of me by tomorrow. Time to test them."
"Understood, Master."
The man bowed crisply. As the sound of his footsteps faded beyond the closing door, Jin Hyun-cheol stroked his chin.
"Can't wait to see just how good they are."
The exclusive assassin for his beloved youngest daughter. Jin Hyun-cheol hoped these five wouldn't disappoint him tomorrow.