The Hunter Arrives in the Shadows
For some time now, the company without Dojin had felt strangely empty. But more than that...
“By now he should have arrived.”
“Yes, he probably reached Shanghai.”
In response to Gu Jinmo’s murmur, Gyeongtaek answered.
After seeing Dojin off, he had immediately returned to Seoul, finished his tasks, and remained by Gu Jinmo’s side.
Gu Jinmo said with a worried expression.
“This matter seems far too dangerous, does it not? With the number of people in China alone, it must be considerable.”
It was not merely Black Moon that posed a threat.
If one included the awakened members of the organizations under its command, the enemies within China could be estimated at several hundred.
A sigh mixed into Gu Jinmo’s voice.
“If only I had not caused Dojin the Hunter to walk such a dangerous path.”
But to that, Gyeongtaek shook his head.
“No. This path was chosen by Dojin the Hunter first. Rather, it is Chairman who is risking danger to assist.”
Moreover, with Gu Jinmo’s true identity exposed, there had been no major incidents lately.
“Dojin the Hunter is not treating this as someone else’s matter, which is why he can go to such lengths.”
Thinking the knife that had come flying at Gu Jinmo had come for him, he had not hesitated to travel all the way to China.
Because Dojin required a companion like Gu Jinmo.
Yet Gu Jinmo simply could not hide his bitter expression.
But then.
“However… before Dojin the Hunter left for China, there was one request he made… and that bothers me a little.”
“It bothers you. What is it?”
“I was told to look into some information.”
“Information?”
“Yes, he asked me to find a person….”
Continuing Gyeongtaek’s words, Gu Jinmo tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
“Who exactly is that person?”
But Gyeongtaek shook his head.
Having investigated the same person himself, he could find no connection to the matter.
Just…
“Until now, he had never once asked for something unnecessary. Perhaps this time… I think it will be helpful.”
“Hm, perhaps.”
For now, there was nothing but to trust Dojin and wait.
But with nothing to do, Gu Jinmo could not hide his unease.
* * *
“I plan to catch Gangmu.”
“……What did you say?”
At Dojin’s words, a spark flashed in the man’s eyes.
Not really dangerous, but the gaze was terrifying all the same.
The man stood up from his seat.
At some point, an old sickle was gripped in his hand.
“Did you come here without knowing where you are? Are you crazy with a desire to die?”
With a threatening expression as if about to rush at Dojin at any moment, the man spoke.
Dojin’s gaze moved downward.
“That left leg. How did it become like that?”
“…….”
Instead of the leg that should have been there, a wooden prosthesis was attached.
The man narrowed his brows and fell silent.
This kid.
He already knew everything.
Eventually the man swallowed saliva and asked.
“What business brought you here? Did Gangmu, that guy, send you?”
“No. I came because I was planning to catch Gangmu.”
“Catch Gangmu? Hahaha, you fool. It seems like no one like you has ever done it.”
The man burst into laughter.
But that laughter was so pitiful.
He pointed at his left leg and said.
“Do you want to know how this leg was cut off?”
His eyes were bloodshot.
Just remembering that day’s events made the pain feel like his heart was being torn out.
“My wife… my children… all of them were torn apart in front of me and killed in pieces. And then, after cutting off only my leg, they spared me.”
Leaving him to live in despair with nothing but the greatest pain as his only companion.
To that, Dojin looked at him with a calm expression.
Especially the Chinese bastards were ruthlessly cruel.
They did not simply kill the targets like themselves, but left behind fear and despair deep in their bones so they could never again resist.
Most people who experienced such things ended their own lives.
Yet this man was alive.
Though he spoke that way.
‘He wants to pay me back.’
Even one strike would suffice.
Somehow he wanted to turn that rage back.
That was why he had come to find him.
“It’s not difficult. Just… one thing is enough.”
At Dojin’s continuing words.
“……Really only that?”
“Yes.”
Dojin nodded and turned his body. But…
“Ah, and one more thing.”
Dojin looked at him and said.
“The ones who made your family like this are called Vladi.”
“Vladi?”
“Just know that. You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”
With those words, Dojin stepped outside.
Now it was time to pay his respects.
* * *
On a central street in Shanghai, at the shop operated by Gangmu, Dojin the Hunter appeared.
“……Is this a madman?”
“Is that really Dojin?”
“It’s a fact that Chairman personally said.”
The Black Moon members in China could not understand the fact right now.
That the guy who should have run away on purpose was boldly revealing himself like this.
“……Just how much do they think of us for something like this?”
“Or perhaps there’s another motive.”
It complicated their thoughts.
But then.
“What other motive. He’s bluntly saying he wants me dead, so just killing him would do.”
A man with long hair tied back tightly said.
He had roughly rolled a rope around it and lightly turned his neck, making a crackling sound of bones.
“Dojin or whatever, it’s just one guy, why twist his head like that?”
With a threatening look, one man frowned.
“Vladi, that guy got what Yerim did to him. Until I find out what his intention was, I have to be alert.”
“Damn, what does it matter if Yerim got that Korean bastard? That girl doesn’t belong with Black Moon anyway. She uses weird gadgets and all.”
“That’s why I say Vladi. You haven’t beaten Yerim, have you?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, leave it to me. I just didn’t get along with that Yerim girl.”
But if the opponent was an assassin-type awakened, the speaker also had his own reasons.
Because he was confident he would not lose to anyone in speed.
At Vladi’s confident words.
Nod.
The man nodded, and the awakened woman in front said.
“Then for this part, I will report to Gangmu first. After that, decide.”
“It could just be done… damn!”
Even so, since Gangmu’s name was mentioned, it could not be too bold.
No matter what, Gangmu was the head in charge of this Asia branch.
And at the same time.
“…….”
Gangmu was watching Dojin inside the store via CCTV.
The phone kept ringing as reports came in from the guys.
But ‘What on earth is he thinking by appearing here?’
Even in the store he himself operated.
However, coming here exactly…
‘Clearly that means there is a definite other intention.’
First, it was important to find out what the guy’s intention was.
Killing the guy was too easy a task.
‘Killing is next.’
Gangmu soon turned and sent a message to the members waiting outside.
―Follow the guy.
But not long after Dojin left.
“……Hm?”
An unexpected person had come looking for Gangmu.
* * *
After coming out of the store operated by Gangmu, Dojin walked the bustling street and soon turned toward an empty road.
But…
‘No one is following me yet…?’
Well, it would not be easy to move recklessly.
Whether he knew or not, his head must be hurting right now trying to figure out the intention here.
‘Still…’
It did not matter.
A bait had already been thrown.
Only whether the fish would swallow it or react in another way would require some waiting.
“……What business do you have, sir?”
“I have come to see the president here.”
A wooden prosthesis on the left foot.
A fierce appearance with a scar crossing the face was enough to make the employee feel fear.
Whether education was good or not, he did not show it much, but the employee’s eyes wavered greatly upon facing him.
But then.
―Let me take you to my room.
The order heard through the earphone in his ear.
Gangmu’s voice.
Eventually the employee guided the man into Gangmu’s office.
And as they went inside together.
“Since you are my guest, go out and do your work.”
Gangmu smiled kindly and sent the employee outside.
And just as the employee was leaving.
Kwadduk!
“Kkik!”
Gangmu reached out his hand, and an invisible something tightly gripped the man’s neck.
His cold gaze was fixed on the man.
“You came here despite knowing me, so I assume you want me dead?”
“Kkik…… I, wait……!”
The man pounded the invisible hand with all his might.
The grip was so strong it seemed the neck bone would snap any moment.
Thud.
Gangmu let him go and said.
“If it’s unnecessary talk, I will rip out your neck right here.”
It was not an empty threat.
The man understood the sincerity in the words and immediately got to the point.
“A man came to find you.”
“Is the man shaped like that?”
Gangmu gestured with his chin, and a photo of Dojin appeared on the screen.
The man nodded.
“Y, yes. That is him.”
“What did you say?”
“He asked me for… your information.”
With those words, the man bowed his head to the floor.
Kung!
“M, I’m sorry! While looking for revenge against you, I was collecting information!”
His body trembled violently.
It was like confessing his crime right in front of him.
But…
“……You idiot. What would your kind achieve by doing this?”
Gangmu and Vladi already knew the man was digging into their backs.
Annoying, but left alone because of Vladi.
Seeing him desperately flailing with the small hope of revenge was pleasurable or something…
Anyway, since it was known fact, no surprise.
“So?”
“I told him the information was not yet organized and came this way. That man… does not seem able to fight against you…”
The man’s body trembled slightly.
His voice shook as if he was very frightened.
At that sight, Gangmu said.
“Did I make a promise to meet that guy?”
“We agreed to meet in two days at an abandoned building in Pudong.”
“Pudong?”
Pudong was an area in the northwest outskirts of Shanghai currently being developed.
Since construction was ongoing, people would be gone from the surroundings by nightfall.
‘Does that guy know even such a place.’
He clearly would not receive help from Gu Jinmo, the old man, here.
He thought the guy had chosen an empty place.
And to that silence, the man cautiously raised his head and said.
“W, shall we change the place?”
“No need to arouse unnecessary suspicion. Rather, Pudong is a good place to handle quietly.”
The corner of Gangmu’s mouth lifted slightly.
“If this matter ends well, I will spare your life. There is a guy enjoying your struggle.”
Gangmu turned and left a message to Black Moon members.
A feeling that the matter would proceed smoothly, the corners of Gangmu’s mouth were deeply relaxed.