The Price of Greed
The core martial force of Sadocheon was the Ten Heavens Squads.
These ten combat squads served as the practical sword of Sadocheon, executing its will.
Of course, there were division leaders above the squad leaders, but their role was closer to administration.
The actual fighting was handled entirely by the Ten Heavens Squads and their leaders.
That was why the seat of a Ten Heavens Squad leader was the top target Black Hegemony Castle aimed for through No Hwang-mun.
There was only one way to rise to the position of squad leader.
One had to accumulate achievements as a vice-leader within the Ten Heavens Squads and earn a promotion.
Well, exposing a spy capable of shaking the very foundations of the organization was another way, but that was impossible unless No Hwang-mun tied himself up and surrendered.
In any case, backed by Black Hegemony Castle, No Hwang-mun racked up achievements and finally became the new leader of the Geum-wol Squad.
This caused quite a stir within Sadocheon.
The reason lay in the recruitment rate.
The Geum-wol Squad was a newly formed unit that had barely managed to secure the lowest rank among the Ten Heavens Squads.
Naturally, any recruit who performed well in the initiation trials would normally choose a high-ranking squad with history and tradition.
Yet, in recent years, most recruits who passed the trials clamored to be assigned to the Geum-wol Squad.
The reason was simple.
The moment they joined the Geum-wol Squad, the salary and supplies provided by No Hwang-mun were astronomical.
Lately, Sadocheon's influence had waned significantly compared to Black Hegemony Castle.
In a cash-strapped Sadocheon where everyone else was tightening their belts, the Geum-wol Squad was the only place overflowing with wealth.
They were raking in massive amounts of money by operating the gambling houses, a privilege granted by the Lord of Sadocheon under various conditions.
Under these circumstances, the office of the Geum-wol Squad leader was as lavish and luxurious as that of a wealthy merchant or tycoon.
But right now, inside this vast and spacious room...
A chilly silence hung in the air.
For some reason, a cold silence reigned.
Damn bastard. What kind of petty excuse is he going to find to nitpick today?
Jong Yo-geuk, the vice-leader of the Geum-wol Squad and No Hwang-mun's right-hand man, was anxiously reading No Hwang-mun's mood.
He was terrified.
The No Hwang-mun before him was a madman who would frame and execute anyone—even his vice-leader or closest confidant—the moment they fell out of his favor.
Just as cold sweat began to pour down his back...
Finally, No Hwang-mun opened his tightly shut mouth.
"It's not enough."
"Pardon?"
"No matter how I look at it, it's not enough."
"W-what might be...?"
Shooting a chilling glare, No Hwang-mun pointed to a section of the ledger on the table.
What's wrong with this?
Jong Yo-geuk couldn't understand it at all.
The net profit column, excluding all operating expenses, showed an absurdly high figure.
It was an amount that not even the wealthiest merchants in Changsha could match.
Given the nature of the business, it made some sense.
It was a well-known fact that gambling houses raked in money hand over fist.
Anyone who knew how to use an abacus would realize it instantly.
Even for a gambling house, the amount written in the ledger was nothing short of outrageous.
There was only one reason this was possible.
The book No Hwang-mun was looking at was the secret ledger of the gambling house.
In other words, it was the ledger recording the actual profits from selling drugs.
Publicly, the gambling house was known to make its money by providing a venue and taking a cut of the winnings.
In reality, drug distribution was the core of their operations.
Unlike Black Hegemony Castle, where drugs were permitted, the Lord of Sadocheon had strictly forbidden them. Yet, the Geum-wol Squad was directly manufacturing and distributing them.
And as No Hwang-mun's right-hand man, Jong Yo-geuk was a key figure deeply involved in this operation.
"My money keeps going out to feed those insects, but this is all the income we have to show for it."
"Ah."
"Damn it. Thinking about the new recruits coming in today, we're practically running a deficit."
"?!"
It was absurd. A deficit? What deficit?
The wealth No Hwang-mun amassed through drugs was beyond imagination.
He had secured funds almost equivalent to Sadocheon's entire annual budget.
This was only possible because the entire structure was built on illegality and violence.
They had kidnapped beggars, vagrants, and even ordinary commoners to build a drug manufacturing plantation.
Despite the massive fortune built on such horrific deeds, No Hwang-mun remained unsatisfied, claiming it was still not enough.
"Double the production. That should double the profits."
"S-Squad Leader. The workers are already working themselves to the bone to overproduce. If we increase production any further, problems will surely arise..."
"The only problem would be a few broken parts."
"!!"
"And when a part breaks, you just replace it. Go kidnap more workers."
He spoke of human beings as if they were mere tools.
After casually uttering those chilling words, No Hwang-mun continued.
"I will check again in a month. Tell them that if production and profits haven't doubled by then, I'll have their families kidnapped as well."
"...!"
"Pigs never listen if you only feed them."
He let out a sinister laugh as he delivered his final warning.
Realizing that no words would get through to him, Jong Yo-geuk shut his mouth.
Having finished speaking, No Hwang-mun fell into his own thoughts.
Things are going well. Sadocheon's budget is slowly becoming dependent on the funds the Geum-wol Squad brings in. At this rate, the position of Division Leader will be mine in a few years.
Once he became a Division Leader, he would gain access to classified information capable of shaking Sadocheon to its core.
The moment I obtain that information, I can escape this damn Gu worm in my gut.
Removing the Gu worm once he rose above the rank of Division Leader...
That was the contract he had made with 'him'.
If only he could rid himself and his younger brother—his only living relative—of this shackle.
He didn't care if countless martial artists and commoners of Sadocheon died from drug addiction, or if innocent warriors were slaughtered due to leaked secrets.
Besides, once the Gu worm was removed, it was far more advantageous to align with Black Hegemony Castle anyway.
After all, Black Hegemony Castle is the rising sun, and Sadocheon is clearly the setting sun.
Just as No Hwang-mun was thinking this, Jong Yo-geuk spoke up cautiously.
"...Um, Squad Leader. It is about time for you to attend the finals of the initiation trials."
"Damn it, is it already that time?"
Since the Lord of Sadocheon would personally oversee the finals of the trials, all executives were required to attend.
The moment No Hwang-mun grumbled and stood up from his seat...
A loud crash and a sudden commotion erupted outside.
While both men looked on in confusion, the office door burst open.
"Which bastard...!"
"S-Squad Leader!!"
"...!"
No Hwang-mun, who was about to hurl curses at whoever dared to enter without permission, froze in shock.
Why is he here?
It was a completely unexpected face.
It was the Blade Demon, who was supposed to be by his brother's side.
Dispatched directly from Black Hegemony Castle to ensure the success of the gambling house, this man was never supposed to show his face here.
Yet, he had barged in like this.
It was proof that something serious had happened.
"What is it?"
"M-Master No Hwang-gu...!!"
The moment he heard his brother's name, No Hwang-mun's eyes turned ice-cold.
"Hmm, they should be arriving soon."
Jeok-un muttered to himself, looking thoroughly bored.
Having emerged from the basement, he had dragged over a chair rolling around on the first floor and sat down.
The iron door that had blocked the exit had been blown away by a single punch from Jeok-un and now lay crumpled on the floor.
"M-My lord!"
"Hmm?"
Just then, someone cautiously spoke to Jeok-un.
He was the sole survivor of the underground gambling den.
The sucker, Go Bok-gil.
Normally, he would have met his end at the hands of No Hwang-gu's men, but Jeok-un had spared him as a byproduct of the battle.
It's good to have a witness.
But it wasn't free.
In exchange for saving his life, Jeok-un had given him a task.
"A-As you ordered, I have moved all the gold from the basement to my carriage!"
"Mm, good. Well done."
"T-Thank you, sir!!"
Having witnessed Jeok-un's godlike might in the basement, Go Bok-gil replied with rigid discipline.
The underground gambling den was completely destroyed, and its owner was long dead.
Which means all the treasure inside belongs to me.
Naturally claiming ownership of the gold, bank notes, and valuables, Jeok-un had had them all loaded into Go Bok-gil's carriage.
Go Bok-gil was the youngest son of the Go Family Manor, a renowned family in Changsha.
Surely, this fellow would have at least one secret vault to hide the gold.
Looking at the boy who was repeatedly swallowing hard, Jeok-un tilted his head and spoke.
"What did you say your name was?"
"B-Bok-gil! It's Go Bok-gil, sir!"
"Right, Bok-gil. What am I to you?"
"W-Well, my savior... right?"
"Indeed. But surely, our Bok-gil wouldn't dare covet his savior's wealth, would he?"
As he spoke, Jeok-un stood up from his chair.
At that, Go Bok-gil's face turned completely pale, drained of all color.
With the massacre Jeok-un had wrought burned into his mind, he didn't dare dream of stealing a single coin.
"Because if you did, I think I might get a little angry."
"N-No, sir! Absolutely not! I-I will keep it hidden safely until you come to find me again!"
"Mm, yes, yes. Excellent attitude. Now, off you go."
"Thank you, sir!!"
Bowing repeatedly until his head almost touched the floor, Go Bok-gil scrambled away.
Having terrified him to this extent, he wouldn't dare try anything funny.
But if he did, Jeok-un could simply take the entire Go Family Manor as compensation for betraying his trust.
Having wrapped things up, Jeok-un waited boredly for a while.
"Aaaargh!!"
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from outside.
"They're finally here."
At the sound announcing the arrival of his next target, Jeok-un slowly walked out the door.
"No... *sob*. Brother... my brother. This can't be..."
Stepping outside, Jeok-un saw No Hwang-mun clutching the cold corpse of No Hwang-gu, weeping bitterly.
Under the impact of Jeok-un's fist, No Hwang-gu's heart had exploded, shattered into pieces.
Not even a Great Golden Immortal could have saved him.
Perhaps their brotherly bond was deep, as fat tears streamed down No Hwang-mun's face, but...
Despicable bastard.
Jeok-un felt not a shred of pity for him.
He knew exactly what kind of villains No Hwang-mun and his brother were, and the horrific atrocities they had committed up until now.
"Brother, my brother..."
No Hwang-mun caressed his brother's cheek with a tear-stained hand, then spoke in a voice filled with bone-deep malice, as if making a solemn vow.
"Rest in peace, my brother. And watch closely. I will return the pain you suffered hundreds, no, thousands of times over. I will tear him to shreds so brutally that not even a corpse remains..."
Having finished his vow, No Hwang-mun laid his brother's body down and stood up.
Demonic energy, murderous intent, and venomous malice poured from his eyes, all of it directed at Jeok-un.
"Was it you?"
"You already know, so why ask?"
Confirmed by Jeok-un's response that he was indeed the killer of his brother, No Hwang-mun unleashed a terrifying wave of killing intent.
Yet, Jeok-un merely snorted, brushing off the murderous aura with ease.
"Why did you kill my brother?"
"Because he deserved to die."
"What?"
"He did things that warranted death, so naturally, I killed him."
"?!"
Grit!
Grinding his teeth at the response dripping with mockery and provocation, No Hwang-mun growled.
"...I promise you. I will kill you so brutally that you will wish you had merely been torn limb from limb."
"Hmm."
It was a bloodcurdling declaration.
Yet, Jeok-un's expression didn't waver in the slightest.
Shrugging his shoulders, he replied.
"Well, neither you nor your brother are particularly scary."
"You son of a bitch—!!"
He continued to mock him to the very end.
The moment Jeok-un finished speaking, No Hwang-mun roared, his entire body erupting with killing intent.
"Kill him!"
Whoosh!
Instantly, the experts of the Geum-wol Squad lunged at Jeok-un.