Peeking into Hell (1)
The boy must have felt insulted, because he swung his dagger neurotically and shouted.
"You lowly scum dare lay hands on our bloodline! I'll behead you right now and drink your blood to wash away this filth!"
Even in his young body, he remembered his training—the dagger's momentum was impressively sharp. It grazed past at a hair's breadth, slicing through the suit Ju Kang-rim had formed from his Saingeom. But since the clothes would regenerate after a while anyway, Ju Kang-rim didn't pay it much mind. Instead, he feigned a dodge while infusing a bit of force into the back of his hand axe, smashing it down onto the boy's knuckles.
Crack.
A sound like bones shattering rang out from the boy's hand, followed by something breaking in his mouth. The boy rolled away, quickly retreating backward. Blood trickled from his lips. He'd clenched his teeth to stifle a scream, and it looked like a molar had snapped off. But he couldn't hide the pain—sweat beaded coldly on his skin.
"Hoo... heh heh. Just as I expected, you're quite the skilled opponent. From now on, I'll acknowledge you as my arch-nemesis and face you properly."
"What?"
"I'm withdrawing for now, but there won't be a third chance. But if I get the opportunity to kill you next time, I'll spare your life then."
"No—who said you could just withdraw whenever you want? Do I look like such a moron that I'd give you two chances? Next time? You think there's gonna be a next time? And why the hell would you be the one sparing me?"
Ju Kang-rim rattled off so many points in one breath that he lost count. The boy fell silent at the barrage, then exploded indignantly.
"If you're my arch-nemesis, you should say something honorable like, 'Fine. Come back stronger!'"
"This guy's pace is way too strong..."
Was he always like this? Had he just been playing the 'silent assassin' concept until now? It was ridiculous for an assassin to care about honor, but Ju Kang-rim remembered the boy was an immortal. The Vito family had a long history. Especially the Vito siblings—they'd lived even longer, and anyone close to them had likely survived for ages too. Ju Kang-rim figured the boy might be connected to the Vito siblings somehow.
'Is his mindset stuck in the past, or did he lose too much blood and fry his brain?'
Deciding to play along for now, Ju Kang-rim nodded solemnly with a straight face.
"Fine. My name is Ju Kang-rim. What's yours?"
At his words, the boy nodded back with a faintly pleased expression.
"Shira Vito."
"Got it... Shira Vito."
Shira seemed satisfied and started to nod, but in that instant, he sensed something was off. Moments later, he let out a scream unlike any he'd ever uttered in his entire life.
***
Shira Vito opened his eyes at dusk. Seeing this, Ju Kang-rim rose from his seat. They were in the basement of a haunted apartment near Gyeonggi Province—a place Ju Kang-rim had used as a hideout in his previous life. It was deserted enough to hold and torture someone without interruption.
Shira immediately went on alert and tried to draw his dagger, but he couldn't move an inch, bound head to toe in restraints. Ju Kang-rim sat in front of him, holding a strange lump that looked like congealed blood in his hand.
Shira's eyes widened at the sight.
"This the Murjick you said you ate, right? Looks like this is the minimal lump needed to revive that Murjick guy."
"You, you, you...!"
But trussed up tight, all Shira could do was squirm. From his reaction, Ju Kang-rim instinctively knew this was the 'true essence' of the Vito family, refined to its absolute limit. The fundamental nature of the Vito family's main bloodline—capable of transforming into countless forms—was just this tiny blood clot.
"You must've gotten pretty weak. The others at least screamed a bit before passing out again, but you straight-up fainted."
"What nonsense is this! Give me back Murjick!"
"Oh-ho, did the pain wipe the memory clean from your head? Want me to refresh it?"
Shira genuinely couldn't comprehend what Ju Kang-rim was saying. His memories must have degraded along with his sloppy physical regeneration. But the moment Ju Kang-rim said "refresh it," Shira's body trembled violently, collapsing like it had given out. The mind might forget, but the body remembered.
Shira glared at Ju Kang-rim, teeth chattering.
"Wh-what... what did you... do...?"
"So, what was that?"
Shira's teeth clacked together before he squeezed his eyes shut.
"I'm sorry, Murjick! I'll avenge you later!"
"Straightforward surrender—nice and quick. Motorcycle ninja."
Ju Kang-rim crushed the lump between his fingers with a squelch. But as expected of an immortal, it didn't die from that—it slowly reformed to its original state. Wondering if it'd do the same if burned with fire, stabbed with silver, and dried in the sun, Ju Kang-rim pocketed it.
"Let's talk first. What's this guy's deal?"
Ju Kang-rim pulled up a photo on his Biman and showed it to Shira. It was a picture of the doctor Yoo Wol-ryeong had hit with her car.
Shira hesitated, then spat it out.
"A doctor we hired out of necessity. He's working for our family."
"Figured as much. Rifling through his stuff turned up all sorts of suspicious crap. Stuff on Kangryeong Daegun, bundles of euros... Figured it had to be connected to you guys."
"Then why ask?"
"Wanna see how honest you'll be."
"Hmph. To us, anyone not of our bloodline is just disposable trash to use and toss. We can hire another doctor anytime. He probably thought his efforts could get him into our bloodline—foolish delusion."
Indeed, a foolish delusion. To join the Vito family's main bloodline, you had to pass their unique standards. "Normally competent" wouldn't cut it. You needed to be "genius-level competent enough to change the era"... or have looks charming enough to win over the Vito siblings. And even if it was the former, you'd end up changing your face with their transformation ability anyway.
"So what's Murjick? He came charging in like he was staking his life when I cut your throat."
"Murjick is... my guard knight."
"Guard?"
Ju Kang-rim's eyebrow twitched. Assign a fellow immortal as a guard to an immortal? He knew there were hierarchies among immortals, but an immortal was still an immortal.
"What kinda guard does an assassin need? Assassination some kind of joke? You serious?"
"It's true. I took up the sword only to work as a member of the Vito family. That's why my godfather assigned Murjick to me."
Murjick had been a handsome, black-haired man of sturdy build too. Of course, now he was just a lumped-up blood clot.
Ju Kang-rim asked incredulously.
"Who's your godfather?"
"Basha Vito."
Ju Kang-rim shot to his feet.
"Basha Vito? The brother of the Vito siblings? The boss of the Vito family?"
"That's right. Now do you get who you've messed with?"
***
The Vito family was an extremely secretive organization. Ju Kang-rim knew a great deal about them, but he had no idea what they were currently scheming or what had gone wrong in their plans. In that sense, this chatty pureblood assassin Shira Vito was a valuable asset.
And he was Basha Vito's son?
"What does that mean exactly?"
Ju Kang-rim asked cautiously, wondering if he was overreaching.
Seeing his wariness, Shira mistook it for fear and puffed up proudly.
"It means Basha Vito gave me his blood. I call him Father."
If true, this wasn't just a big catch—it was landing a whale. In the strictly hierarchical Vito family, a direct blood relative of the Vito siblings was top-tier royalty.
And such a prize had rolled right under his feet.
Ju Kang-rim anxiously rubbed his face. How best to exploit this? It was such a massive haul he couldn't even grasp it yet.
'Think, Ju Kang-rim. It's a big fish, but Shira alone means nothing. The key is the guy above him.'
What if he used Shira Vito as bait to hook Basha Vito? Nothing better.
Ju Kang-rim had survived under Gerald not because of physical strength or awakening powers, but his ability to execute any order flawlessly. To achieve goals, he'd schemed, plotted, lied, and politicked endlessly, surviving among elite officers.
'Scheming, plots, lies, politics—the weapons of the weak.'
No matter how strong he grew as a grim reaper, he was still weak compared to the immortals' vast forces. Killing Shira Vito here would be satisfying, but to counter their massive powers, he needed an equally massive play.
"Get it now? Untie these cuffs right now!"
Shira crowed triumphantly. Ju Kang-rim, who had turned away briefly, finished his thoughts and faced him again. His face had regained composure, now coldly impassive.
"Is that so? Then you're perfect to deliver a message."
"...Message?"
"Deliver this message to Basha Vito."
Ju Kang-rim began unveiling his specialty.
"You've just touched something belonging to Lord Gerald Leear."
***
"...Gerald?"
Shira Vito tilted his head in confusion. Ju Kang-rim wasn't surprised Shira didn't know Gerald yet. Gerald had only truly risen when humanity began its downfall. Even as royalty, Shira was just a family assassin—an attack dog pampered by Basha Vito.
But the Vito siblings were different. They knew about Gerald.
"Kangryeong Daegun touched my master's property. That's why he was eliminated."
Ju Kang-rim shamelessly called the man he planned to kill at the first chance "my master." His brazen acting left Shira no choice but to assume he was operating under orders from this Gerald.
Instead of explaining who Gerald was, Ju Kang-rim rambled on, letting Shira imagine and speculate freely. People trusted their own deductions more than lengthy explanations.
As expected, Shira's eyes widened, and he ground his teeth.
"No way... the American side...?"
Ju Kang-rim knew that's where his thoughts would lead. Naturally. Kangryeong Daegun had messed with US military supplies, sparking conflict. Even if he hadn't, Gerald would have taken him out anyway—but to outsiders, it just looked like Kangryeong Daegun clashing with the US military.
"Not a total idiot, huh? Yeah. Divine authority doesn't just flow in your bloodline."
Ju Kang-rim slammed his hand axe into the floor with a thud.
"Tell the Vito siblings: if they want to challenge us, we're ready anytime."
Ju Kang-rim grinned. Clint was still underestimating him. But Shira Vito was different—a direct descendant calling Basha Vito "Father." Humiliated in Korea, with his guard knight gruesomely destroyed? It would definitely draw attention.
'Unlike with Kangryeong Daegun, even Gerald will have to adjust his plans against the Vito family.'
The Vito siblings too. They'd likely pull back from Korea first. That was Ju Kang-rim's goal, but he had no intention of letting them withdraw so easily. If they'd set foot in Korea, courtesy demanded they leave an ankle behind.
Shira Vito glared fiercely at Ju Kang-rim before speaking.
"Why should I deliver your message?"
"Then at least tell them Gerald's behind me. Your organization's done here anyway. What more do you plan to do?"
"... "
Shira fell silent, deep in thought. Watching him, Ju Kang-rim sensed the Vito family was more obsessed with Korea than expected. For a Europe-based group, Korea was a remote backwater. No reason to reach this far.
'But they still backed Kangryeong Daegun to stake a claim...'
Only one thing came to mind.
"What's in the area where the Gate opened?"