Chapter 23
Chapter 23: "Special Security Management Zone"
In this space where every criminal in Hanseong gathered, countless interests were tangled. Drug deals. Business operations. Smuggling storage or theft. A chaotic melee where everyone monitored each other, waiting to strike at the back of the head. Pulling off a secret scheme amid such intricately intertwined factions was no easy task for one person, let alone an entire organization moving in unison.
"Is that true?"
In a seven-story building at the heart of the Special Security Management Zone, the man seated in the top-floor office asked his comms module in disbelief.
"The boss lady... I mean, that bitch Park Bok-ja—she had all her businesses snatched away?"
Dokgo Seong, the gang boss who ruled this zone, let out a hollow laugh upon hearing the report from his subordinate. He'd urgently checked with his other men as well, but the news was the same.
-Yeah, boss. We had the boys confirm everything. It's certain. Zone 3, Lower Level 77, Central Residential Block 47... All the gambling dens under the boss lady's management are completely emptied out.
"Hah."
The gambling dens operated in the boss lady's name, and the thugs who worked them. They had all vanished completely from the Special Security Management Zone at some point.
"She must be going insane. When we offered to take them over, those bastards clung on for dear life. Now they suddenly bail? Why?"
"That woman must've lost her mind in her old age, right?"
The subordinate executives grumbled upon hearing the situation. Of all people, Park Bok-ja. The infamous boss lady of Pyeongun Inn, abandoning the businesses she'd built over a lifetime like worthless rags and fleeing. It made no sense, no matter how they thought about it.
"Tae-wan."
-Yes, boss.
"Dig around about the guys who took jobs from Pyeongun Inn. Find out where they've gone, who they're talking to. Report back immediately. Tell the others the same!"
-Got it.
Beep.
After issuing orders to his "little brothers" operating outside, Dokgo Seong propped his chin on his hand and fell deep into thought.
Park Bok-ja. That hag who'd been stuck in the eastern sector had vanished overnight.
And she didn't even sell for money—she just ghosted like a midnight flight.
Various riffraff would swarm the now-empty businesses. The order he'd painstakingly established in this zone would shake once more. Amid the chaos, Park Bok-ja's disappearance would simply get buried.
Considering that woman's personality... she must've aimed for this from the start.
As Dokgo Seong's thoughts deepened—
-We found something, boss!
One of his little brothers, Tae-wan, brought intel.
-There's a large building under construction in the Central Residential Zone. Guys from Pyeongun Inn have been coming and going there.
"Central Residential Zone?"
-Yes. Central Residential. Large building. And Pyeongun Inn's thugs heading in.
Which meant the reason she'd abandoned the gambling dens scattered across Hanseong...
"She must've snagged something bigger."
The executives echoed his conclusion.
"Something bigger?"
"Yeah. Something on a completely different scale from these mom-and-pop joints. Massive."
No matter how successful you were in this tiny rat-hole of a Special Security Management Zone, you couldn't escape being a back-alley thug. But Park Bok-ja had broken out. To the Central Residential Zone. It meant she planned to launder her identity and set up a proper business there.
"But does that make sense?"
One subordinate spoke up.
"Bottom-feeders like us laundering our status? Without noble connections, that's impossible, isn't it?"
"Exactly. Changing citizen grades or personal records requires accessing the Hanseong database."
No matter how much money a woman like her raked in, she couldn't pull that off alone. In other words, Park Bok-ja now had backing. Someone who could access the citizen database and erase her criminal record. Partnering with someone from the noble class.
"......"
Dokgo Seong trailed off, sinking into contemplation.
A noble-backed business. And big enough for her to liquidate her entire base to join... it has to be enormous.
But the building wasn't even complete yet. The venture was still in preparation.
Park Bok-ja's crew and operation could change at any noble's whim.
Which meant...
If we slip in right, we could hijack that business ourselves.
You don't pass up cake laid out in front of you. Dokgo Seong immediately connected a call.
"Boss, who are you calling?"
"Who else."
To muscle into a noble's business, you needed another noble. And Dokgo Seong had the perfect connection for this situation.
"Our regular customer."
The client who never revealed identity or name, only specifying drop-off points for "goods." After a few rings, the interface glowed green.
"This is Dokgo Seong."
-What's the matter? You don't call first.
A gravelly middle-aged voice responded from the comms. But he knew—this man was just the contact. The real principal was elsewhere.
"We've got quite the interesting lead on our end. I know it's presumptuous for a lowly one like me, but..."
The situation had changed.
"Could you pass a message to Young Master Jo Seong-hwan of the Pungyang Jo Clan?"
If she had major backing for a venture like that, he'd play every card he had.
"Good! A bit more to the side! That's it!"
"Special directive! Anyone skimming materials gets hanged in the square—got it?!"
Heavy construction drones and laborers with artificial bodies swarmed the site. With the foundations complete, the building would rise in about two weeks. Add a week for interiors, and it would be fully operational by next month at the latest.
While the building went up floor by floor above, in the completed basement below, two bodyguards with activated prosthetics were locked in a fierce spar.
Ku-kwaaang!
One side: Seo Tae-woong, with all combat modules activated centered on his arms. The other: Moo-young, steadying his ragged breaths with a training sword pointed forward.
"You're in great shape. Handling the prosthetic like it's your own body."
"Not... yet! Still... a long way...!"
The two bodyguards protecting Chang-un. The reason they were sparring in the basement of this under-construction building was simple: the Andong Kim Clan main house's training grounds were occupied by other guards. As outcasts without backing, they had no place to train. Taking pity, Chang-un had invested heavily in a training hall beneath his new business site.
This was it—Chang-un's specially prepared sparring ground for his bodyguards.
"Tired already? You've been consistent with stamina training."
"As if...!"
Moo-young quickly regulated his breathing and reset his stance. Seeing this, Tae-woong clenched his fists, preparing to block the sword.
The young master found an unbelievable gem.
When people heard "Aura User," they usually imagined the immense power wielded by noble-born elites. Lightning from the Andong Kim Clan. Winds from the Pungyang Jo retainers.
But contrary to that perception, most so-called Aura Users could barely produce a lighter flame or levitate a pebble.
The high-level aura wielded by the current noble heirs was the result of generations of selective breeding.
But Moo-young... this kid's power is on another level entirely.
After sparring with Moo-young once, Tae-woong could easily recognize it. Physical abilities overloading his Grade 1 full-body prosthetics. A mechanical arm with output matching that prowess, threatening him. Those were merely tools assisting Moo-young's true strength.
Ka-ang!
He blocked the instantly flying sword, but it reappeared from an unexpected path.
"Damn, again...!"
"......!"
Moo-young cursed in frustration as his sword path was blocked, but Tae-woong was no better off. Block one, another came. Block that, yet another. His ocular motion sensors clearly pointed forward, yet Moo-young's sword struck from the side or even from behind.
Incredible. Reaction speed beyond what machines can track.
Even he, hardened by long years on the battlefield and missions, could barely parry by relying on his senses.
At that young age, how much further would he grow in the future?
But...!
As the senior bodyguard, he couldn't lose face here. Kwak! Amid the exchange, he deliberately showed an opening, then seized Moo-young's stabbing sword.
"?!"
"Pressuring the opponent to seize the flow and exploiting it—perfect."
Tae-woong recited as he yanked the sword, grabbing Moo-young's collar.
"But your movements are too hasty."
The next instant, he hurled Moo-young toward the training hall wall.
Ku-kwaaang!
Moo-young slammed into the wall with a roar. Without the inertial neutralizers installed in the training hall, the entire basement might have collapsed.
"Cough...! Ack...!"
Panting heavily, Moo-young gritted his teeth and dropped his sword.
Eleven matches, eleven losses. Moo-young hadn't claimed a single victory over Tae-woong.
"Thanks for the spar... Senior."
"Hm."
Moo-young lay despondent on the floor, not rising. Tae-woong slowly approached and extended a hand.
"What's got you so impatient?"
"......"
Tae-woong pulled him up, but Moo-young had no answer. Tae-woong let out a small sigh.
"Your aura is top-class even among noble heirs. You're growing fast, improving with every spar."
"I know that! But...!"
"Is it because you just waited during that last rescue mission?"
"......!"
The words struck home; Moo-young clamped his mouth shut.
As I thought.
The Yu A-rin lady rescue operation on the day of the first meeting. The standouts were Chang-un downing the armored helicopter, the Hwae programmers, and Yi Mae-tal tying up the palace guards' feet. Moo-young's role? Simply waiting near the operation area.
That had been eating at him all along. Having received such grace from the young master yet contributing nothing—it made him desperate.
"Senior's duty is protecting the young master. Mine is eliminating those who threaten him."
"Right."
Tae-woong's prosthetics were standard Andong Kim Clan issue. Fine for overt duties, but not for undercover work.
"So I need to get stronger faster. Otherwise..."
"You think the young master will abandon you?"
"N-No, but...!"
Poking at his inner thoughts made Moo-young flinch in surprise—almost endearing.
As the two bodyguards prepared to leave the training hall—
"Moo-young."
"Yes, Senior."
Tae-woong received a message from Chang-un and opened his mouth with a faint smile.
"......Looks like you don't need to worry."
"Pardon?"
The moment he asked, the same message arrived for Moo-young.
[Tae-woong, Moo-young. Come to the coordinates above right now]
[Urgent. Hurry]
Their master was summoning them.