The Assassin Hunter Stops Time
This was never part of the original plan. Confronting the Black Moon would require a significant risk, even for Dojin.
But...
I wasn’t the kind of person who would simply let the first attacker slide by.
After all, both sides were now exposed to each other. One of them had to be eliminated if we were going to keep moving forward.
So, you really intend to go there yourself?
If the chairman’s life is in danger, I won’t be able to focus on anything else.
As long as we prepare properly, it’s just one more risky task. You don’t have to go to such lengths.
Gu Jinmo tried to dissuade Dojin.
After all, the task he was about to undertake was far more dangerous than imagined.
But Dojin shook his head.
From the moment I arrived here until now, I have never received help from the chairman. Not even once.
Of course, Dojin could have done it alone.
But if he had, it would have taken at least several times longer than now.
The only reason I could arrive this quickly was because Gu Jinmo, the giant wall, had backed me solidly from behind.
Yet...
If I were to break that wall... I would have to respond from this side as well.
The Black Moon.
The highest-level assassination organization in the world, controlling the underworld across the globe.
The most important thing was to deal with Gangmu, who led the Asia branch.
If a mid-level manager disappears... the bastards won’t dare to move freely.
A stronger opponent might appear, but by then they would realize that they, too, were risking their lives.
And those behind them as well.
This fight might even allow us to uncover more about the bastards.
If we cross into China, I won’t have many ways to intervene.
China is a closed-off country.
Moreover, because of its strength, Gu Jinmo’s influence there was probably the weakest.
But Dojin offered a faint smile.
Don’t worry. This time, I’ll handle it alone and return.
At first, it was merely a card that couldn’t be handed over to Kang Seungho.
It was true that I had approached him simply because of his sponsorship.
But now things had changed a great deal.
He was a comrade running toward the same goal, someone who cared for me more than anyone else.
Gu Jinmo had become...
Quite precious.
Such a Gu Jinmo had almost lost his most beloved grandson.
From their perspective, it was merely a minor threat aimed at his head.
But I would... kill them all.
From our side, it was something more painful than the end of life itself.
I had no intention of going easy on them.
Everything was prepared. But... from the moment we board the ship, we won’t be able to support them easily.
SW Technology was already under quite a bit of surveillance.
In Korea or in countries with less oversight, it might not matter.
China is, after all... one of their core countries.
Kim Gyeongtaek said with an apologetic expression.
But Dojin shook his head.
I didn’t know the chief would come all the way here to this remote place. Your health must be poor.
I have to check until the very end.
Instead of taking the private jet as before, we had to board a smuggler’s ship bound for China.
That was why Gyeongtaek had personally double-checked Dojin’s treatment until the last moment, out of concern for his comfort.
After that, Dojin boarded the smuggler’s ship.
I’ll contact you once I return.
...Be careful.
His expression was full of worry.
The ship soon set sail, and Dojin turned his gaze straight ahead.
Looking back...
In the past, there were quite a few... incidents like this.
To catch the bastards who had fled overseas, I would secretly enter the country and eliminate the targets before returning.
I had even swum at night to the point where I would be swimming to escape pursuit.
Up until now, it had been far too easy.
But they wouldn’t know...
That the way I moved in secret was my greatest weapon and advantage.
And...
Gangmu.
Dojin stared fixedly at the photo in his hand.
A guy he had never met in his past life.
What kind of ability did he have? What was his level?
Everything was shrouded in secrecy...
Even Gi Yerim, a fellow Black Moon member, didn’t know about Gangmu. It was clear how thoroughly the information was hidden.
How much time had passed?
We’re about to arrive.
Dojin pressed the timer on his watch on his left wrist.
Starting from this exact moment, precisely forty-eight hours.
If I don’t return within that time, the ship will leave without me.
Dojin said,
Be ready to depart immediately at any moment.
Understood.
Thud.
Dojin leaped onto the dock and looked around.
A pitch-black darkness.
Although the night streets of Shanghai boasted the world’s greatest splendor, this remote area was not included.
Eventually, Dojin vanished into the darkness.
Hoping that Hyejin’s information would match perfectly.
Ssshk.
Dojin moved toward the Black Moon’s base.
* * *
Are you here, President!
Your expression is bright today? Did something good happen?
Gangmu smiled faintly while looking at the staff greeting him brightly.
A location with quite good standing even within Shanghai.
There, Gangmu operated a fairly large luxury boutique.
The staff, still unable to hide his emotion, clasped his hands tightly and said,
My mother was overjoyed with the gift. Truly... thank you, President.
Oh, well. It’s just something I do once in a while for a special occasion. Don’t worry about it.
Even so, it was such an expensive thing...
Lishiming, working together with you is more valuable to me than anything else. Then, enjoy today and stay healthy.
Yes!
The staff called Lishiming answered with a bright smile.
It was because Gangmu had given his mother a gift worth over 500,000 yuan—about 10 million won—for her sixtieth birthday.
After the smiling staff, Gangmu entered his private office at the back of the shop.
Click.
The moment the door closed...
What is it? I told you not to come here.
The smile Gangmu had worn until a moment ago had changed.
No, even his eyes.
The kind expression had completely vanished, and he was glaring at a spot with eyes like blades.
Eventually, a man slowly emerged from there.
Srrrk.
It was a place where nothing should have been visible, as if a transparent human had appeared.
The man who appeared there looked at Gangmu and said,
Dojin’s identity has disappeared in Korea.
So what? Why come all the way here because of something so scary? I told you not to come here.
If he obtained information from Yerim, the probability of him coming here is high.
The masked man’s words made the corners of Gangmu’s mouth curl up.
That little SW Technology. I don’t know how it is elsewhere, but in China, you can’t do anything. If you move wrongly, the bastards could suffer a major blow.
But it seems I can’t ignore Dojin. After all, he knocked down Kang Seungho, who reached level 250.
Tremble.
The masked man’s words caused Gangmu’s expression to distort.
The moment Kang Seungho reached level 250...
Because I had been placed on the same comparison level as Korean hunters.
Of course, Gangmu’s skill was far superior, but he could not help but evaluate my stubbornness and boldness in not reaching level 250 negatively.
So,
Even though the guy was already dead, Gangmu hated comparing himself to Kang Seungho.
The aura flowing from Gangmu’s body sharpened even more.
You’d better not mention that kid Kang Seungho in front of me.
...Just like that. After all, Dojin is a person to be cautious of.
The atmosphere grew dark, and the masked man stepped back a step.
After all, this place was the only one where Gangmu operated while concealing his true self.
A place where he strictly forbade anyone related to the Black Moon from stepping foot.
The masked man nodded.
I’ve said everything that needed to be said, so I’ll be going.
Deliver this well. Don’t come here. If you do this kind of thing again without a word, your head will roll.
...Understood.
The masked man’s figure blurred and vanished.
A perfect stealth that left no trace at all.
After the masked man disappeared, Gangmu still frowned as he pondered the words.
Dojin’s identity has disappeared.
That the guy who was trapped in Korea has vanished...
What kind of scheme is he up to?
From Gangmu’s perspective, this was unavoidable.
If the guy came here...
The situation might even go smoothly.
Perhaps I could give the chairman an even better gift.
* * *
Swoosh.
The wind, warmer than in Korea, blew.
Unlike Shanghai’s humid summer weather, the neon signs of the street sparkled beautifully.
As befitting the name China, it was far more glamorous than Seoul’s night view, and the scale was immense.
And inside that...
What a guy with a peculiar hobby.
Of course, people active in the underworld often did their business in the daylight.
Perhaps under the delusion that they were removing the dirt from their bodies.
Dojin looked at the large shop in the center of the bustling area.
Its cool black exterior contrasted with the inside, where gold decorations and lighting sparkled richly.
That was the shop Gangmu was running while pretending it was a proper business.
A guy who had stained the blood of thousands with his hands was running a shop that looked far too clean.
It seemed like the habit of someone who wanted to appear clean was showing through.
But...
When I face him... what kind of expression will he have?
It was possible to strike him while moving in secret, but...
One guy named Gangmu wasn’t enough.
I need to completely pull out the Black Moon from the Asia branch and kill them all.
Dojin’s eyes flashed sharply.
Even though the risk was high...
As always, there was no better way to create variables than this.
Dojin recalled the countless methods he had used in his past life.
And among them, there was no method that could shake the enemy’s formation as effectively as this one.
Sssw.
Dojin looked down.
In a place where pitch-black darkness and brilliant light coexisted...
Whoosh!
Dojin’s figure, which had been thrown below the building, was sucked into the darkness.
Thud.
In the streets of China, Shanghai—no one’s help could be obtained.
Standing alone in the center of the enemy formation, Dojin...
Sssuk.
For the first time, he moved from darkness to light and stepped toward that place.
And...
Ring!
Welcome, guests!
The staff’s exclamation made Dojin nod his head.