The Unworthy Support
**CHAPTER 13: A Clean Cut**
It wasn't anything big. I could just handle it right away.
Thanks to Chairman Gu Jinmo's consideration, Dojin had received perfect support for his residence as well as his parents' home for when he returned from the trip.
First, securing the safety of the surrounding people allowed Dojin to move with ease.
"Now I feel a bit better."
Dojin lightly moved his body and checked his condition.
Right after waking from the curse, the body he thought was fine had stiffened quite a bit.
But now that Dojin's body was fully recovered.
He immediately began preparing the next plan.
"The matter with Chairman Gu Jinmo thought to be the hardest... turned out faster than expected."
Even at the quickest, it should have taken over a month.
Now there was no hesitation left about the tasks ahead.
**Status Window**
**Name:** Ha Dojin
**Level:** 53
**Strength:** 104 Agility: 273 + 7
**Stamina:** 100 Mana: 98 + 2
**Bonus Stats:** 0
The total of Dojin's current stats was 575.
This figure was almost identical to the average stats of ordinary level-100 hunters.
At level 53, yet possessing 100-level stats.
On top of that, skills from the Unique-grade blessing that surpassed even ???-grade.
"Up to around level 150... maybe possible."
Dojin coldly assessed the level at which he could fight.
Thanks to the blessing, tremendous growth had been achieved, but it was still not enough to face A-class hunters.
At best, the upper ranks of B-class hunters were his current limit.
But that was more than enough.
No matter how terrifyingly Red Circle's guild was growing, there was not even one A-class hunter in the mix.
"If thinking about Red Circle now... roughly around 5 people."
Moreover, the people who would entrust such businesses were mostly mid-to-low rank B-class hunters.
Around levels 100 to 130.
Of course, the overall manager of this business might be different.
"Time to start shaking the foundations of these bastards."
No matter which guild, when asked what was most important, it would be talent and capital.
Among them, when capital was shaken, growth speed would drop drastically.
For that reason, Dojin planned to cut off the flow of money heading into Red Circle.
And at the same time.
"It was here... right?"
He intended to intercept the main member of Red Circle who would become his ally first.
If put that way, this was the very first thing he had to do in a serious fight against Red Circle.
If the enemy's ankles were cut off, moving from this side would become much easier.
"It's been a while."
Dojin stopped in front of a shop on a street filled with neon signs.
Gangnam's bustling district.
The Red Epic Hotel standing opposite Nonhyeon Station.
This five-star hotel, famous as a luxury establishment, was supported by Red Circle.
And inside it was the Burning Red Club.
On the surface, it looked no different from any ordinary nightclub.
But if you peeked just a little inside, you would find it was full of extremely dirty business.
Countless crimes of all sizes had occurred here, but they were all covered up and sealed shut simply because they were VIP.
If that was all, there was no reason for Dojin to come here.
He had no intention of cleaning up crimes with even a drop of vague justice.
What Dojin wanted from this place was one thing.
"Could you call the manager here?"
Neatly tailored suit.
All-back hair swept back.
Sharp gaze.
From the watch on his left wrist to the shoes and belt.
If the clothes and accessories Dojin was wearing were added together, it would easily exceed 50 million won.
The manager quickly scanned the clothes Dojin was wearing, the watch he was wearing, and the sunglasses.
His pupils trembled.
"What is the matter for which you have summoned me?"
He spoke to Dojin with perfect posture.
Because he looked like the son of a very high-ranking person at first glance.
Dojin said,
"I was told that if I came here, I could see something interesting, but the person who said that can't be reached anymore."
"Interesting... thing?"
"Yes. Because of that, the reporters also let it go and I came alone, but I don't know what kind of situation this is now."
Dojin glared sharply at him.
Right now, momentum was important.
"There is a gambling den, they said."
At those words, the manager flinched.
The manager asked cautiously.
"Could you perhaps confirm who said that...?"
"It was Heo Sang-wung. That big money palm."
"Ah, Hunter-nim Heo Sang-wung!"
The manager's expression showed embarrassment.
Because all the VIPs entering the gambling den were guaranteed by Red Circle.
Yet the name of Heo Sang-wung who couldn't be verified had come out.
On the manager's expression that subtly changed, Dojin said,
"It was a pointless errand. When I meet Heo Sang-wung later, tell him. The price for playing with me will be paid."
Dojin took out a bill from his pocket and threw it at the manager.
"Delivery fee."
Just one short sentence.
And without hesitation, he turned his body.
The manager saw the fluttering banknote in front of his eyes.
A 10 million won check.
"Wait a minute!"
The manager hurriedly picked up the bill and ran to Dojin's front.
Normally, a guarantor was required, but...
"I apologize. Hunter-nim Heo Sang-wung is currently unreachable, so I committed a rudeness. From now on, I will personally escort you."
"Get lost. Since I don't like you."
"We at Burning Red's gambling den will offer you an entirely new experience unlike anything you've seen before. You won't be disappointed."
The manager spoke firmly.
"Such a good boss... I can't afford to lose..."
Just looking at it, the clothes he was wearing alone were worth hundreds of millions.
Moreover, there was no one who had ever thrown a 10 million won check as a tip.
He had to catch him at all costs.
The manager desperately said to Dojin.
At that, Dojin exhaled softly.
"Then guide me. Let's see how it is."
"Yes!"
The manager guided Dojin to the gambling den.
* *
The gambling den was one of Red Circle's secret businesses connected to Red Capital.
Following the manager down a private elevator to the 10th basement floor, Dojin looked around.
"It's been a long time."
It had been a very long time since he had visited, perhaps once or twice.
But right after getting off the elevator, the cheers ringing out made Dojin turn his gaze there.
Kwa-jik!
"Kkak!"
With a dull thud, a scream burst out.
The hunter whose neck was snapped lay on the ground writhing in pain.
The gambling den.
The main business here was to force awakened people into specially made iron cages, have them fight each other, and bet on the outcome.
The age and gender of the customers who came here were diverse.
From young men and women to people of a certain age, all of them.
What they wanted was something thrilling that they couldn't experience from outside, and a hidden space to enjoy it in.
In a place where human desire reigned, Dojin calmly watched the match inside the iron cage.
The manager said,
"Ah, the match has just ended."
He grinned.
"Isn't it amazing? A fight between awakened people. Here, there are no rules and killing is allowed. And if there is an awakened person you want to sponsor, you can mark him and sponsor him too."
"Sponsor?"
"Huhuhu, would you like to see the list? There are quite a variety of goods."
For a moment, the muscle near Dojin's cheek twitched.
"Goods...?"
The bastards who don't even see people as people.
He knew, but hearing it directly made him feel even dirtier.
Dojin maintained his poker face and said,
"Then bring him to the seat. I'll take a look."
"Yes!"
Dojin sat in the seat the manager guided and looked at the arena.
The hunter whose neck had been broken just now received the finishing blow and completely lost his life.
Watching the one being dragged out by the match announcer, cheers and boos began to erupt.
Because the people who bet on the dead hunter lost their money.
It was a place ruled by madness.
No rationality existed, and only instinct and desire boiled.
"Here it is."
The manager quickly brought over a thick booklet.
It was quite thick, and each page had one person's profile, making it easy to read.
But...
"Seeing people as goods..."
He knew, but it was something he couldn't get used to.
For that reason, in his past life, Dojin had never taken on such business.
Assassinations and dungeon raids suited him best.
Dojin quickly flipped through the booklet.
Because the target he was looking for wasn't coming out easily.
"Still not caught?"
If the bastard wasn't here, there was no reason to be here.
"...Found it."
When he reached nearly the end of the pages, Dojin's eyes caught an adolescent face.
Even while growing... a strangely pitiful face.
—Han Sohee—
16 years old.
"From around this time..."
Among the awakened people Dojin knew, the youngest.
Dojin tapped the page with Han Sohee's profile with his finger.
"Age is quite young."
"Ah, he's just been here for a little while. He has only recently finished basic training... Honestly, I don't recommend this girl."
"Why?"
"What he can do is only block. He's fought a few matches here, but all he's done is block the opponent's attacks and waste time."
For that reason, he was also ostracized here as an awakened person.
The manager said,
"If you want a thrilling match, I recommend other guys. Look at the pages in front..."
The manager flipped the list's pages forward.
Dojin frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"S-sorry!"
In the manager's sudden retreat after the coolness of Dojin's expression, he quickly bowed.
Dojin said,
"Stop acting high and mighty. No second chances."
"Yes, yes!"
"How do I sponsor?"
"There are two ways to sponsor. There is joint sponsorship possible with multiple people, and there is solo sponsorship where only one person can sponsor."
For a moment, the manager's eyes sparkled.
"If you want complete ownership, you must do solo sponsorship."
"The amount?"
"In solo sponsorship, you must pay a 1 billion won advance and then over 200 million won monthly."
The amount exceeded normal.
Dojin looked at the list again.
A billion won.
A big sum, but...
"After meeting directly, I can decide, right?"
"Of course."
"Then I'll have this kid."
"Understood."
The manager showed a deep smile.
From the guy's perspective, it didn't matter who he sponsored.
Because the moment the sponsorship was decided, a significant commission would fall to him.
The manager immediately took him to the VIP room inside the gambling den in case Dojin's mind changed.
"Please wait here for a moment, and I will bring him right away."
Nod.
After the manager left, a few minutes later.
"Here he is, Master."
Han Sohee with the manager.
Though there were minor wounds on her body, the moment Dojin saw her, he knew.
"Iron Fort..."
In the future, the iron fortress with the tanking ability ranked first in Korea.
Code name: Iron Fort.