Reclaiming the Black Market
The crowds that had filled the streets began to thin out one by one in the early dawn hours.
Unlike the bustling district that was finally starting to quiet down, the back alley housing the Black Market was just entering its prime business hours.
Even after the mysterious raid that had drastically cut down on customers, there were still those who sought out the Black Market.
People willing to risk a certain degree of danger to obtain things that were impossible to get through normal channels had always existed.
Jeong Soo-ah moved swiftly the moment she linked up with Snow.
She raided the Black Market with her innermost circle of trusted aides, including Na Yeon-seong, whom she'd kept hidden until the very last moment.
The Black Market had bolstered its security since Nix's previous assault, but it was no match for Jeong Soo-ah, who knew the layout inside and out.
Besides, the hunters still remaining on the Black Market side were little more than greenhorns. The moment the raid began, they scrambled to find their own escape routes.
The Chinese and Japanese hunters dispatched by Zhang Wei and the Yamamoto brothers put up a fierce resistance.
But they couldn't block Jeong Soo-ah's group, who attacked via unknown secret passages.
Unable to mount any proper defense and getting pierced through effortlessly, even the heavy-assed S-rank hunters finally rose to their feet.
"Tch... so the little bitch who ran away has come crawling back?"
"Hmph. Even if she shows up now, the tide has already turned. What a pointless stunt."
Two men appeared before Jeong Soo-ah as she carved through the Black Market interior like a hot knife through butter.
They were Hitoshi, an S-rank hunter from Japan, and Jo Choong, an S-rank hunter from China.
"Hoo... I'd heard the rumors, but she's quite the beauty, just as they say. Too much of a waste to just kill her outright."
"...More importantly, Hitoshi. Word from upstairs. She dares attack our business? Weren't we supposed to play fair for a while?"
"Ha. Where's 'fair play' in this game? You lot struck first from behind, didn't you?"
"We already said that wasn't on us!"
"Then this isn't on us either."
"...You brain-dead monkey from this island shithole!"
The two men, who had appeared with such arrogant swagger, didn't even spare a glance at Jeong Soo-ah's group—the actual raiders.
They were too busy baring their teeth at each other. If Jeong Soo-ah's crew hadn't been standing right there, they might have lunged at one another on the spot.
Jeong Soo-ah let out a scoffing laugh at the sight.
"Look at you two birds of a feather squabbling away."
"...You should've run while we were pretending not to notice. Out of pity for a fellow industry drone."
"Oh? So you're showing mercy to the enemy? How magnanimous."
Jo Choong frowned at Jeong Soo-ah, who widened her eyes in mock surprise.
"We didn't fail to catch you because we couldn't. You weren't worth the effort for the greater cause, so we ignored you. But if you can't read the room... no second chances."
"Heh heh... oh dear, how scary~ So, will you keep ignoring us? Or you two can keep fighting—I'll just handle my business in the meantime."
"Ha ha! She's even more insolent than I heard. No wonder that pig Oger-deuk was obsessed. Bet she'd scream real nice on her back."
Hitoshi flashed a sleazy grin, leering over Jeong Soo-ah with lascivious eyes.
"What do you say? Surrender nicely now, and I'll let you taste heaven before you die?"
"Oh? From you? Pfft..."
Jeong Soo-ah glanced mockingly between Hitoshi's legs and snorted.
Unable to hold back any longer at her reaction, Hitoshi burst into booming laughter.
"Haha! What a ballsy bitch! Fine, fine! I'll show you hell instead. I'll make you crawl under me until you're begging for death!"
After laughing it off, Hitoshi suddenly sobered and turned to Jo Choong.
"Hey, China boy. Let's put our spat on hold. Our job right now is dealing with these raiders, right? How about we give this bitch a little lesson first?"
"......"
Jo Choong's gaze flicked toward Jeong Soo-ah.
At her eerie smile, he slowly nodded.
"...I'll at least kill you cleanly, without pain. And you—once this is over, I'll be the one to kill you."
"Hmph! Keep dreaming!"
The two S-rank hunters, mortal enemies moments ago, joined hands—for the moment.
Jeong Soo-ah smiled wordlessly at the sight.
"Aw. Looks like it had to come to this? Such a shame. I was hoping you'd let it slide quietly."
She murmured to herself, then turned to the two hunters slowly advancing and spoke softly.
"Unni."
A new figure appeared at her low call.
"This one never permitted you to call her 'unni'."
The woman who landed lightly between the three sized up Hitoshi and Jo Choong with casual ease.
The two men, meeting those clear blue eyes, forgot the situation entirely and gawked at her like idiots.
A beauty that made even "nation-toppling" seem inadequate.
Despite her pink tracksuit, she exuded a mystical, dreamlike elegance and poise.
A woman so stunning they'd never laid eyes on before—both men swallowed hard without thinking.
"So this one's opponents are these two?"
"Yes, unni. Please."
"No need to beg. It was this one's task from the start. But that 'unni' title..."
"Come on! After this, I'll buy you tons of delicious stuff!"
"...As if this one were your husband, swayed by mere food?"
"Or a heap of shiny jewels! Anyway, I'm busy—gotta go!"
With that, Jeong Soo-ah slipped away with Na Yeon-seong and the other subordinates waiting on the side.
Snow let out a soft sigh at her swift exit after saying her piece.
Her long white hair swayed gently as she shook her head.
Hitoshi and Jo Choong, still dazed by the sight, gasped in unison.
"Now, you two. This one has high expectations."
Snow turned to them impassively and drew the sword casually sheathed at her waist with a soft shing.
"Swordsmanship is new to this one, so do teach her well."
She lunged at them calmly.
Despite her clumsy, amateurish swing—utterly lacking in technique—Hitoshi and Jo Choong were helpless.
They'd already fallen completely under Snow's spell before the fight even began.
And so, the S-rank hunters Hitoshi and Jo Choong served as excellent training dummies for Snow for quite some time.
* * *
In the office Jeong Soo-ah had once used, Oger-deuk—now the Black Market's boss after shoving her out—exhaled thick cigarette smoke.
"Tch... doesn't feel right at all. The losses aren't trivial."
Having seized the Black Market with great difficulty by borrowing outside muscle, its stagnation unlike before soured his mood terribly.
"If I'd known, maybe I shouldn't have played both sides—should've picked one sooner?"
The belated regret hit him, but it was too late now.
Besides, even if he sided with one now, he couldn't expect the same favorable terms as before.
Irritated by the mounting sense of loss, Oger-deuk slammed the desk peevishly.
"Yeah... if I keep sitting on the fence, I'll end up with nothing. Time to throw in with one side."
Which to choose?
Better the Chinese with their solid backing over the Yamamoto brothers.
"Even if I join, I'll drag it out to hike my price first."
Oger-deuk had taken heavy hits before from this tightrope act, but he didn't care.
His whole life had been one long balancing act.
Past, present, and future.
"More's the pity about missing that Soo-ah bitch..."
Setting aside how she threatened his position, it was a genuine shame.
He'd always lusted after her whenever he saw her.
"That girl grew up so damn fine. Who'd have thought she'd slip away like that. What a waste."
Oger-deuk clicked his tongue sharply and puffed out smoke.
"Maybe make grabbing her a condition of the alliance? Hope her pretty face stays intact."
Imagining something lewd, he let out a sleazy "Heh heh—" chuckle and rose slowly.
Thinking of Jeong Soo-ah made him itch unbearably.
"Where to today? The massage parlor? Or So-hee's place?"
Piles of urgent work awaited, but Oger-deuk brushed it off.
Right now, scratching his raging itch took priority over such trifles.
This was one reason the Black Market was declining—not just the Yamamoto brothers or Zhang Wei, but because Oger-deuk was no competent boss to begin with.
He was just turning to leave the room when—
BAM! The office door exploded inward.
Oger-deuk ducked nimbly in the sudden chaos—a move befitting a B-rank hunter.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"Oh? Your face looks even greasier since last time. You've become a fine pig-dog."
Oger-deuk shuddered at the calm voice.
There stood Jeong Soo-ah, beaming radiantly.
Scattering her usual alluring scent.
"S-Soo-ah?"
"Hello, mister. Or should I say President O now?"
Stunned by her utterly unexpected appearance, Oger-deuk's eyes darted around.
"H-how'd you get in here?"
"It's a place I used to come all the time. Walked right in. How else?"
"Wh-what about the guards?"
"Oh dear. What do you expect from back-alley thugs? A little threat, and they scattered like roaches. You really should hire some reliable help."
Oger-deuk swallowed hard at her cheerful tone, laced with venom as bright as her smile.
His eyes rolled desperately.
Th-there's a secret passage in the back...! Just a moment's gap...!
"Oh, if you're thinking of the secret passage, give it up. I sent people ahead. You didn't forget this office's original owner was me, right?"
Oger-deuk flinched at her sly whisper.
Scoffing at him, Jeong Soo-ah continued brightly.
"Did you think you could escape me, of all people? A nobody like you?"
Her voice was soft, but a chilling aura poured from her.
A B-rank like Oger-deuk couldn't even dream of resisting an S-rank's intimidation.
"D-damn it! What the hell are those Jap bastards and Chink fucks doing!? After all the protection money I paid!"
"Oh, those S-ranks? Don't hold your breath. My unni's handling them. Seems like she has plenty of experiments to run... won't be back anytime soon."
Jeong Soo-ah chuckled lightly and sauntered forward leisurely.
Oger-deuk crawled backward in panic.
"S-Soo-ah! It's a misunderstanding! You know how much I doted on you since you were little...!"
"Yes, I know. You'd follow my dad around and slip me candy now and then."
"Y-yeah! I was sworn brothers with your old man! Calm down and hear me out! It's all a misunderstanding! I just...!"
"I know exactly how much you 'doted'—drooling every time you saw me."
"Th-that's... a m-misunderstanding...!"
Thud! Jeong Soo-ah stomped down.
Her heel slammed between his legs in a blink. Oger-deuk's face drained of color.
"I think I spoiled you too much, playing nice as 'Dad's friend.' Should've broken you in properly from the start."
A sweet scent flooded his nostrils. Oger-deuk shrieked "Eek—!"
His brain melted under the aroma.
His vision blurred in an instant.
"Part of me wants to just smash you flat... but I have questions first. Don't worry—I won't let you die easy."
"S-Soo-ah...!"
Oger-deuk's belated pleas fell on deaf ears.
The sweet scent had already rooted deep in his body.
"H-heuh... uhh..."
In moments, he stared blankly into space like a lunatic.
Drool poured from his gaping mouth.
Jeong Soo-ah watched him impassively for a beat, then spoke quietly.
"What's the situation outside?"
"Just cleanup left. Snow-nim seems to still be enjoying herself, but it should wrap up soon."
Na Yeon-seong entered smoothly and reported calmly.
His gaze flicked to Oger-deuk, then back to her.
"...Let me know the moment unni finishes. And while we're at it, purge the internals too. Too much trash piled up while I was away."
"Understood."
"Also, triple the watch on the Chinese and Japanese sides. They'll be busy infighting for now, but with us as a common enemy, they might team up. Stay sharp."
"Yes, moving out immediately."
Jeong Soo-ah nodded slowly as Na Yeon-seong bowed.
Her eyes drifted to Oger-deuk at her feet.
"...This guy wasn't always like this."
"No need for you to concern yourself, miss. His greed got the better of him."
Miss—not "President," but the old title from the past.
From when her grandfather, the previous boss, was alive, and her father, his heir, still drew breath.
Jeong Soo-ah let out a soft chuckle at the long-forgotten address.
"Guess he just wore out and rotted away... I won't lose sleep over it."
She moved slowly.
Na Yeon-seong watched her back silently.
Reaching the desk, she murmured softly.
"This place needs cleaning too... Toss that out with the trash. Time to replace everything fresh."
She nodded toward Oger-deuk and settled primly into her reclaimed seat.
No particular emotions stirred.
She'd simply taken back what was hers.
Just a faint bitterness.
"...That candy used to be so sweet."
Now, even if she ate it, it probably wouldn't taste the same.
Alone in the office, Jeong Soo-ah closed her eyes gently.
A sweet fragrance seeped persistently through the shattered door for a long while.