Highwayman (2)
Crunch, crack.
The assassin screamed as a crow slammed into his eye, clawing desperately to pry it off. But Ttakkachi had burrowed almost up to its body, talons sunk deep into the assassin's face, thrashing wildly. Then, with a wet pop, Ttakkachi yanked its head free. Its massive beak dangled with the assassin's eyeball.
Cackling madly, Ttakkachi took to the air. The assassin ground his teeth, trying to regenerate, but Ju Kang-rim's hand axe was already poised.
Thwack.
The first strike snapped the assassin's neck bone. Four more chops severed the head completely. Ju Kang-rim pinned the neck stump to the ground, preventing regeneration. Sure enough, without its human form, the body writhed uselessly, twisting into irregular shapes.
Ju Kang-rim checked the face. Stunningly beautiful, like a movie star. But instead of being swayed, he bared his teeth in a grin.
"You're from the Vito family, right?"
No flicker in the assassin's eyes. Ju Kang-rim had expected that. An assassin from the Vito family would be a highly trained pro. An immortal with shapeshifting? Top-tier even among contract killers.
The problem was how many more like this there were.
"Your methods are so blatant and always the same—had to be Vito. Mutilated corpse on a deserted nighttime road, crashed car. That's your signature. And shapeshifting? Vito's specialty."
Ju Kang-rim let out a long sigh. The only shapeshifters were Vito, but he hadn't wanted to think they were tied to a group like Kangryeong's immortals.
Damn it, of course they are. The Vito siblings were Gerald's VIPs.
Basha Vito and Shira Vito, the family bosses, were among Gerald's elite clients. They had to be immortals.
Zombie hunters walked the line between legal and illegal, so Vito's hunters were infamous in this world. Their disguise skills could drive enemies paranoid. But they weren't tools to be used lightly.
Still, Ju Kang-rim felt a sliver of relief.
No, maybe it's good it's Vito.
He was used to fighting their assassins, back before the siblings surrendered to Gerald. Most people died flailing against their endless transformations. If not for the Bentley taking some punishment earlier, he'd have been drenched in blood again.
"Let's see. I haven't pissed off the Vito siblings yet. Only one reason you'd come this far."
Grabbing the assassin's hair, he slammed her head into the pavement.
"Where's Kangryeong Daegun holed up?"
Of course, Ju Kang-rim already knew—Blunderbuss's evil spirit would guide him. But he played dumb to gauge her reaction.
Yoo Wol-ryeong asked from the side, "Is he connected to Kangryeong Daegun?"
"The picture fits too perfectly."
Ju Kang-rim sighed under his breath.
"Classic move. Stir up chaos in a country, back a warlord for a coup or grab shares. I figured China or Japan, but Vito? Unexpected."
The assassin mumbled through gritted teeth—curses, no translation needed.
Ju Kang-rim kept smashing her head as he continued.
"They planned to turn Seoul into a colony with Kangryeong as frontman. Old imperial playbook. Things went sideways, so now they're pulling him out."
"So these are protectors sent for Kangryeong?"
"Has to be. I haven't crossed Vito, and Kangryeong couldn't have 'real deal' underlings like this."
Elite combat training, immortality, shapeshifting awakening. Vito's formal members were beyond Kangryeong's reach. But protecting him like this meant they still saw value.
They just didn't know who they were up against.
Then, roaring motorcycle engines echoed from the opposite lane.
***
Ju Kang-rim clicked his tongue and stuffed the assassin's head upside-down into a helmet. The stump blocked against the helmet prevented shapeshift regen.
Vroooom.
The assassin Yoo Wol-ryeong had bisected earlier charged back, fiercer now—rage at defeat or fallen comrade?
As he closed in, he flung his cape, scattering darkness. Spears sprouted from his body: glaives, lances, halberds, pikes, partisans, sarissas. A porcupine of death hurtling forward.
Ju Kang-rim blinked in surprise. That level of transformation was basically a suicide rush. No way to target effectively.
"Controlling that would be tou—"
Clang.
As if mocking him, the spears converged with a deafening boom and sparks—like a cavalry charge.
Strong ability, superb control. But why the desperation?
"I'll handle it."
Yoo Wol-ryeong stepped forward—no mercy needed for immortals. Saingeom in hand.
"Slicing normally won't cut it."
Her Saingeom shifted forms. Ju Kang-rim's eyes widened; first time seeing her combat mode.
As the asura charge bore down, Yoo Wol-ryeong hefted a massive chainsaw, muttering,
"Atatatata."
Vrrrrrrroooom!!
The named chainsaw roared louder than the bike. White frost exploded across its surface, scattering ice shards.
Kagagagak.
They collided. Boom.
The bike charge should've pulverized them, but it shattered instead. Ice erupted from the impact, shredding bike and body. Frozen blood tore flesh, flesh crushed bone in the cold, exploding outward.
The assassin froze mid-air as a black blood lump before his head hit the ground—no final scream.
Whirr, whirr, vroom, vroooom.
The chainsaw howled like a beast before reverting, falling silent.
Ju Kang-rim stared wordlessly at his stoic senior's Saingeom creation.
Raw power alone? Near S-rank top A at least...
Awakener standards, plus grim reaper abilities. Combined, she could be a national strategic S-rank asset.
"...That's your Saingeom, Senior Yoo Wol-ryeong?"
"Senior" slipped out unbidden.
"Yes."
She nodded calmly.
"Why that...?"
"Liked it back then. Too noisy now—don't use it much."
She said no more, as if that sufficed. Ju Kang-rim didn't pry, just shook his head and scanned the wreckage.
Most assassins wouldn't survive her. If she ignored underworld rules, the apocalypse might've ended already. And there were other reapers.
He shelved the complicated feelings, plucking the assassin's head from its icy fruit-tree perch.
"Nuisances down. Let's move before Kangryeong bolts."
***
Put-put-put-put.
More shocking than undead bike assassins: Yoo Wol-ryeong's Bentley still ran.
Ju Kang-rim wondered if it was immortal too. Dogs could be—why not cars?
At 30 km/h on the highway, doors gone, windows shattered, trunk holding two helmets with heads. Wild ride, zero desire for repeats.
"...Reaper Yoo Wol-ryeong."
"Yes."
"Can't we just call a tow truck?"
"Police investigation."
"We'd face that anyway."
Vrooom.
The assassins' sabotage cleared? Cars passed sporadically now, gawking or honking offers of help. Some probably called cops already.
Sure enough, sirens approached from behind.
Ju Kang-rim sighed deeply.
"No hypnosis spell for this?"
"Illegal on civilians."
So it exists.
He rummaged his shop screen for options. Police car pulled up.
Ju Kang-rim plastered on a civic smile, ready to handle it.
The cop gaped at the Bentley.
"Sir, what happened to your car...?"
"Flipped while driving," Yoo Wol-ryeong said flatly.
"Flipped?"
"Sorry. Driver's tired—talking nonsense."
Ju Kang-rim jumped in desperately. He had non-hypnotic fixes.
Then Yoo Wol-ryeong pulled out Biman, showing the cop something.
"On official duty. Apologies, but we need to requisition your vehicle."
Ju Kang-rim stared, stunned. Did she have that authority? Hypnosis after all?
The cop looked equally shocked.
"Pardon? Uh, your affiliation...?"
"Underworld King Yeomra's direct Reaper Squad, Immortal Processing Unit."
"Pardon?"
As Ju Kang-rim suspected she was bullshitting, the cop peered at Biman, then exclaimed in realization, nodding.
"Ah, right! Got it. Vehicle support approved."
"Thank you for cooperating."
"Leave this at a repair shop?"
"Please."
Smooth as silk—almost comical.
Yoo Wol-ryeong hopped out casually, into the police car. Ju Kang-rim hesitated, then grabbed the trunk helmets "naturally" and loaded the back seat. Cop didn't suspect heads inside.
The cop waved them off beside the Bentley. Ju Kang-rim watched him fade, mood tangled.
"No hypnosis, huh?"
"Didn't use it."
"How'd Biman alone convince him? Bank details? Family photos?"
"...Cynical mind, Reaper Ju Kang-rim."
Just practical options.
But she continued calmly, unneeded.
"We're public servants here. Soul guiding is duty. We respect the king's authority; he respects ours. We get certain conveniences."
She opened Biman, running an app for him. Familiar.
"...Horse plaque?"
"Triple Horse Plaque. Holders get national transport aid up to three times daily. Police manpower too, but rules separate worlds strictly—rarely used."
"Wait, there's...?"
"Obsolete since dynasty fell. Last use 70 years ago. But not gone. I updated the records."
No hypnosis, but some mystical rule bent the cop's mind. Same difference? She seemed satisfied with rule adherence.
"That's why I don't break rules. They follow; I match."
"Hm. Fair. But hunting vile thieves and traitors plotting national overthrow? Requisitioning a patrol horse fits."
Ju Kang-rim fired up Biman, blared the siren.
"Undercover reapers, assemble!"
Yoo Wol-ryeong smirked, pleased.
"Undercover reapers, assemble!"