Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 076
Chapter Title: Bolt from the Blue in the Dead of Night, No, Kidnapping (2)
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He'd felt it ever since entering the forest of skyscrapers, but the place Yeonwoo was led to was surprisingly normal. No, if anything, it was more office-like than anywhere else. It was too ordinary—indistinguishable from any average company—for someone Scarface called "Chairman" to be associated with, without even a whiff of anything illegal.
The differences were subtle: a bit flashier, a touch more luxurious, and security that stood out from your typical office.
"You're cleared to enter."
The secretary who'd gone ahead to announce Yeonwoo's arrival emerged and guided him inside.
At the pinnacle of one of Seoul's tallest towers in the heart of the high-rise jungle. A vast office with one entire wall made of glass, offering a breathtaking view. It was stark, furnished only with a massive, imposing desk.
And seated before it...
"I heard your trip here was a bit rough. Let me apologize in advance."
A surprisingly normal man—outwardly a impeccably groomed, handsome businessman—turned to greet Yeonwoo.
Of course, that's not at all what Yeonwoo saw.
'...No way he's normal.'
Mid-thirties, maybe? His hair was neatly combed back, his features sharp and refined. Every item—from his suit and tie to his accessories—screamed luxury. Even the tailored jacket couldn't hide his solid build and sturdy frame.
At a glance, he had the air of a sharp elite, but the vibe radiating from him was anything but ordinary.
Yet amid this man's utterly unordinary appearance, what truly caught Yeonwoo's eye was...
'...Intense.'
The thick, tangled coils of resentment draped around him.
***
A messy web of dark crimson threads. The sheer number of grudge spirits and obsessive thoughts swarming the man was staggering, but even more striking were those spiderweb-like strands.
Yeonwoo had seen something like that exactly once before.
'Curse.'
A spell infused with fierce malice, bent on harming its target.
Just once, but so vividly he could never forget.
The memory was so potent that even the horrifying horde of grudge spirits and thoughts enveloping the man faded from view.
[How dare you step in here with that filthy body of yours?!]
The one time he'd seen a curse like that, the man had burst into Lady Kang's shrine only to get an earful and be unceremoniously booted out.
[No, ma'am, please, just hear me out...]
[Hear you out? Begone, you foul thing! Out with you!]
Splash!
[Ptooey! What the hell are you doing?!]
[What else? Salting you!]
[What? Are you insane?! I came here because you're supposed to be legit, and you throw salt? You damn shaman hack... Uppercut!]
[Don't sass a shaman hack—get out, you scum! Coming here covered in your nasty grudges? Begone, I say!]
He must've been someone of considerable status. The clothes, watch, shoes—even the car he'd arrived in—were worth a fortune that could make your ears ring.
Several secretaries had even rushed in to calm Lady Kang.
But she was resolute.
[From the looks of it, you've done some seriously dirty deeds. If you want to live even a little longer, repent and do some good! That's how you extend your lifespan!]
The guest's indignant scowl twisted in an instant.
[Do you... see something?]
[What, you gonna ask a shaman hack?]
[Ma'am, please, just save me this once. Money's no object... Ack!]
[Tch! What rotten luck...]
Doused head to toe in coarse salt to the bitter end, the man called out to Lady Kang in a daze, but she showed no mercy.
Right up until she slammed the door shut.
[Yeonwoo! More salt!]
Lady Kang didn't hesitate to hurl handfuls of coarse salt from the mortar.
Once the intruder was fully expelled...
[Steer clear of guys like that. They'll devour everyone around them. That vicious curse is glaring, ready to burn it all down.]
[Curse?]
[Oh? Interested? Gotta teach my boy if he's curious.]
[No, I'm good.]
Lady Kang dangled the bait, eager to groom Yeonwoo as her successor, but he wasn't novice enough to bite.
That had been his first encounter with a curse.
Afterward, she'd never taken clients tangled in them.
'And not long after, that sudden death story broke.'
A prominent construction company chairman—not a day over his prime—dropped dead without a symptom, dominating the news.
Debate raged over simple heart attack or foul play.
His face frozen in terror, the room trashed like a burglary, his desperate crawl toward a phone...
Yet no signs of break-in, autopsy clean. The buzz died down.
...Except for those in the know.
'Wrapped in resentment that thick, no wonder he suffocated.'
Not literally respiratory failure, of course.
But that's exactly how it looked to Yeonwoo: dark crimson, sticky strands cocooning the man like a silkworm.
No surprise it seemed like he'd choked to death.
'But...'
Yeonwoo shifted his gaze back to the man before him.
Threads of that nauseating deep crimson hue, evoking that one past memory.
The curse coils.
The issue was...
'They're connected elsewhere.'
The curse didn't end by ensnaring the man.
That meant one thing.
'The curse's target isn't him.'
The stronger the spell's force, the more it exceeds what one person can bear.
The target suffers faster completion, but excess spills over, affecting those nearby.
In this man's case, he wasn't the primary target—just collateral in the blast radius.
'Obvious why he called me.'
One glance told Yeonwoo everything.
"I don't know why you'd drag a perfectly fine person here by force, but..."
The reason was obvious.
Yeonwoo planned to shut it down flat.
But then.
-Ding!
[New feature available for use.]
[Viewable upon quest completion.]
A familiar window popped up.
The phrasing was oddly unfamiliar.
'What the? New feature available?'
And its position was telling: floating right over the man's head.
Even tagged with "new"!
Had to be something good. The system had never screwed him over.
"...Anyway, I'm out."
A brief pause, but Yeonwoo finished strong.
The alert hovered over the man's head like it was urging him to listen.
He'd be lying if he said it didn't pique his interest, but...
"Hmm?"
The man's fine brows twitched at Yeonwoo's response.
A flicker of intrigue softened his icy gaze.
"How do you know what I'll say to refuse upfront?"
"Don't wanna get involved, whatever it is."
"Then why come all this way?"
"Whoever forced me here, I dunno."
"Hm. I'll apologize again for that. If you wish, I can bring the culprit before you personally."
"Pass. And I came here to refuse."
No sooner had he spoken...
-Ding!
[New feature available for use.]
[Viewable upon quest completion.]
The status window gleamed over the man's head again.
Yeonwoo steadfastly ignored it.
'Trouble's my kryptonite.'
Tempting as "new feature" sounded, this was a curse. A vicious one.
No way was he helping some thug who broke into his place and threatened him.
"Hmm..."
The man's eyes narrowed, appraising him.
Hardly welcome.
"No interest in your forceful request, so let me issue a warning while I'm here."
"Warning?"
"Better not mess with me anymore. My path's already bumpy—why pile on more karma?"
With that, Yeonwoo turned for the door.
The "new feature available" tugged at him, but what could he do.
Striding purposefully, the burly guards and secretary at the door flinched.
Block him? Or not?
Their dilemma was plain.
Whatever. Yeonwoo reached for the handle without hesitation.
He'd escape this curse-choked den pronto.
But.
"Halt."
A chilling voice struck like frost.
Handle in grip, just a twist away from freedom.
Then—
Thud!
As the words landed, a thick hand appeared, slamming the opening door shut.
'Ah, what a pain.'
Yeonwoo's brow furrowed.
"What did you mean by that?"
"What?"
"That bit about it not ending well."
"Listen."
Turning, arms crossed, Yeonwoo faced him.
"The way you dragged me here? And you don't strike me as some straight-laced salaryman. Isn't assuming someone like you gets a happy ending way too optimistic?"
The man's brows twitched again.
"I don't know what misunderstanding you've got, but this is a fully legitimate company. No illegal activities here."
"The method you used to bring me is illegal from the jump."
"I'll not deny a spotty past. But doesn't everyone have one?"
"Everyone? Your world's not mine. Let's not mingle different realms. Hell, you're holding me against my will right now. What country's law allows restraining folks willy-nilly?"
"...Everyone out."
At the man's low command, the guards and secretary bowed and exited.
Just the two of them in the vast room.
The man rose, long legs closing the distance in strides.
"My apology for the rough methods was sincere. Understand that even blocking you now stems from my desperate straits—not to insult or intimidate. I'd appreciate your trust."
The striking, cold face loomed close, staring straight at Yeonwoo.
'Hm...?'
Yeonwoo sensed something off.
'What? Intent Discernment should've kicked in by now.'
Wanted or not, the upgraded skill always did its job.
Normally, it'd flag 'Truth' or 'Falsehood' here.
But.
[Intent Discernment impossible on target.]
"...?"