Violence: Murim's True Currency
Just fiddling with the card of light intimidation backed by violence was enough to easily pry the location of the Open Sect's group leader out of them. These beggar bastards ignored me and kept their mouths shut when I was offering money, but the moment I showed a bit of blood, they turned obedient as lambs. As expected, in this Murim world, violence was the only answer. Trying to play nice just got you dismissed.
Honestly, I don't enjoy beating up beggars either. Still, resolving things peacefully without a full-blown bloodbath felt pretty damn good. Have I gotten too used to violence? This kind of smooth progression felt refreshingly precious.
"Gasp! That's...!"
"His head, the head!"
"It's the group leader's head!"
Dragging the head along, the Open Sect thugs recoiled in horror, stumbling back. Amid the chaos, one guy stood there with his arms crossed, trying to keep up appearances—he had to be the group leader.
"...Rakshasa Killer."
Oh ho, so this fucker knows me? That makes things easier.
"Group leader. Let's cut to the chase. I came here intending a civil deal at first. But this guy demanded an outrageous price for the info, and when I refused, he threatened to sell my information instead."
"..."
"So I killed him on the spot! Threatening my life makes him my sworn enemy! I can't live under the same sky as a bastard like that!"
I bellowed with feigned rage to seize the initiative, and I could see the other Open Sect goons shrinking back, uneasy. Even the group leader was struggling to maintain his facade, overwhelmed by my momentum.
"But death doesn't let you dodge responsibility!"
"What the hell does that mean...?"
"Take responsibility for this mess before I slaughter every last one of you vermin, group leader!"
"W-what bullshit is this!"
Of course, I'd killed someone in this unfortunate incident, and in Murim, killing meant paying the equivalent in blood money. In other words, this Open Sect thug had pocketed my fee, so naturally, his boss—the group leader—had to cover it.
"Bullshit? Did you just call it bullshit!"
I instantly drew my Thunderclap Sword, and Jae Mi-son chuckled lowly as he pressed his back to mine.
"Gasp!"
"H-hey!"
The panicked Open Sect thugs drew their weapons, aiming at us. But it was all bluster born of fear. No need to fear guys already losing in spirit. The moment you show fear is the moment you lose. Just like how I was dominating these vermin right now.
"Your shitty subordinate management forced me into an unnecessary murder! As group leader, you gotta take responsibility, you fucking bastard! Yes or no! You wanna all die by my hand?!"
"Rakshasa Killer! Calm down!"
I roared forcefully, and he finally moved to restrain me.
"What kind of responsibility do you want?!"
Now we're talking. Good thing I'd earned the moniker Rakshasa Killer—it was tilting things in my favor. That name alone screamed insane murderer. And by playing the madman to match the image, I'd seized the upper hand.
"Simple. Hand over what I came for originally. I want info on the Amto-bang headquarters. Group leader. I'm being logical, righteous, proper, and reasonable. Make your subordinate pay for toying with my life."
The group leader eyed me warily for a moment.
"Fine. I'll give you the Amto-bang info. Just... let's never cross paths like this again. Our guy was at fault this time, but nobody wants to die, right?"
What?
"You fucking asshole!"
"Huh...?"
"Don't talk shit! This wouldn't have happened if you'd managed your subordinates properly!"
Tears of frustration welled up. Killing that bastard was nothing, but the very fact of taking a life made me feel like I was drifting further from something important. I was already tormented by that, and now these beggar fucks were piling on!
"I killed someone today because of you! I'm barely holding it together over this, and you're shitting on me to the end! You wanna die?!"
I circulated the Blue Wing Heart Art, stepped forward powerfully while sobbing.
"H-hiiiik!"
"Aaaah!"
Two Open Sect thugs screamed and fled. The group leader staggered back, spitting curses.
"You fucking bastards...!"
"Group leader! Answer me! Whose fault is this?!"
"Entirely ours! We fucked up, so we apologize, Rakshasa Killer!"
"Hand over the Amto-bang info!"
"Got it, got it!"
Only then could I stop crying. With my boiling emotions vented, reason started returning. Not that this was purely emotional, of course. In Murim, once violence or murder's involved, things can't end amicably. I'd killed an Open Sect thug and made enemies. Go soft here, and I'd be their prey. Better to go hard, instill terror, crush the grudge, and twist things to my advantage.
"Group leader! If any fallout from this hits me because of the Open Sect, I'll slaughter you all! Got it?!"
"Y-yeah! Hey, hurry! Get the Amto-bang info!"
And so, we acquired the Amto-bang details from the Open Sect in a perfectly mild, humane manner.
"Hoo!"
Damn it. Repeated murders had pushed my mental damage to the limit. But in this Murim, it was necessary to survive. When lives are on the line, no mercy...!
* * *
"Kuk kuk! That was some insane acting, Kim Geun-hyeop! You're truly the madman I acknowledged! Krk kuk!"
Jae Mi-son laughed heartily, delighted.
"Going full murder mode then bursting into tears... krk krk! Even through it, that murderous, insane aura overflowed! Not even the great demonic heads of the Evil Factions could fake madness like that!"
He praised my overwhelming performance. Hearing that made me bashfully embarrassed. What kinda sappy shit between friends?
"Hey. Was it really that good?"
"No need to ask! Even the Blood Cult's demons wouldn't go that far!"
"Krhuhuhu!"
Ah!
"I should've been an actor after all!"
True. I'd shone as an extra on that historical drama set. If that vile director hadn't jealously sabotaged the shoot out of envy for my talent, I could've been a star. I've got that potential.
But this wasn't acting. Or... was it method acting?
Anyway. While bullshitting with Jae Mi-son, we arrived near the supposed Amto-bang headquarters. From there, we moved silently, staying vigilant.
"That's it."
A rundown warehouse-like building. That was the Amto-bang base.
"Jae Mi-son. Open Sect info might be off, so we gotta scout ourselves."
"Yeah... was thinking the same."
"As expected, sharp mind."
We hid nearby, observing the warehouse. Guys who looked like straight-up murderers came and went. But not a single one carried cargo. Definitely a black path hideout.
"Black path guys, sure, but Amto-bang? Hard to say."
"That one... don't you recognize the face?"
"Not seeing him."
I remembered O Su-man's face clearly. Spot him, and it's confirmed Amto-bang HQ. No sign, though. Plus, per my deduction, after losing two bosses, he'd likely faced organizational backlash. Maybe already dead?
"Hey... tail that guy."
"Him?"
One dude was exiting the building, heading somewhere. Perfect—solo. No buddy system? Easy mark.
"Let's go."
We stealthily tailed him. No pro skills, just keeping distance. The moment he entered a secluded spot...
"Now."
"Hup!"
We charged and tackled him from behind!
—Kwang!
A bit noisy, but we hadn't confirmed if he was enemy or bystander yet. No weapons—just a body slam and grab.
"H-heok! W-who the hell are you?!"
As Jae Mi-son opened his mouth, I clamped the guy's.
"Black Snake Sect. You're a Black Snake Sect lackey, right?"
Black Snake Sect—I'd just made it up. Testing his reaction with a wrong name.
"W-what?! I'm from Amto-bang!"
Bingo.
"Hey. Amto-bang confirmed."
"Kik... Throwing out a fake name to fish for info? Sharp as ever."
"Put our heads together, and we'd outsmart Lu Bu and Sima Yi combined."
"What...? Both idiots in brains..."
Figure of speech.
"S-sirs?"
"Too bad, Black Snake Sect's a bust. We were after Amto-bang. You walked into the trap."
"Wha?!"
"Beating first. Jae Mi-son. Stomp him!"
—Puk puk puk!
We beat the shit out of the Amto-bang vermin.
"Aaaaagh!"
Fucking brutally.