Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Vrooom—
With the thunderous roar of electric motors, a luxury sedan sped out of Hanseong. The car was bound for Incheon Port, the final rendezvous point with the Hwae agents who'd wrapped up their assignments.
Dozens of artificial islands lit up the sea, trade ships shuttling between them. Stacks of containers crammed into every corner, massive vessels taking shape in towering eight-story dry docks. Living up to its fame as Joseon's second trade hub, Incheon's distant nightscape blazed like a city that refused to sleep, even at midnight.
“How’s it feel?”
“Pardon?”
I only had a moment to take in the Incheon skyline before turning to Moo-young across from me. He snapped out of his daze, tension easing from his shoulders.
“Feel...? You mean...?”
“Yeah. You got revenge firsthand on the bastard who made your arm like that. Aren't you thrilled? Relieved?”
Moo-young stared silently at his hand. After a brief silence, he spoke.
“It wasn't as satisfying as I'd imagined.”
I shrugged at his conflicted expression, urging him to continue. Choosing his words carefully, Moo-young slowly opened his mouth.
“Killing Jo Seong-hwan was simple. When I found him, he was already half-dead...”
“And?”
“This might be presumptuous, but...”
I could see where this was headed. The corner of my mouth twitched up.
“You wanted to crush him at full strength. With your own power.”
Moo-young's eyes widened at my words.
“He's the one who cut off your arm, stole your chance, ruined your life. You wanted to punish him yourself. Not with anyone else's power—just your own.”
“......”
“That's what you wanted to say, right?”
Moo-young's head nodded slowly. His face said, How did you know?
How? Simple. Warriors' mindsets are all the same, even in the 23rd century. Tae-woong would've said the same.
“Completing revenge that way would be ideal.”
I handed him a piece of snack I'd been eating.
“But your way... lacks a follow-through.”
“Follow-through...?”
“Yeah. If you beat Jo Seong-hwan with your own power, what next?”
Moo-young could figure it out easily. Jo Seong-hwan was Sedao nobility, while Moo-young was just a ronin swordsman—a Japanese-descended one at that. If he'd won fair and square, Pungyang Jo Clan would've never let him live. Let alone his only sister.
“So you had me kill him now. Disguised as an Andong Kim Clan hit—to protect me...”
He nodded slowly, finally understanding.
“That's partly right. But let's think further ahead.”
“Further...?”
Moo-young looked puzzled. He needed more explanation.
I opened the backseat fridge and pulled out a chilled sorizan.
“Moo-young. What's the ultimate revenge?”
“Pardon?”
“Forgiving the enemy? Forgetting? Living so well his face fades from memory? No.”
I poured corner-store soda into the mastercrafted luxury cup. 'Limited Edition Brioche Melon Truffle Crystal Dew.' Now they're shoving truffles into sugyeonggwa.
I dangled the bottle at him—want some?—but he shook his head vehemently. Smart guy.
Savoring the awful taste, I told Moo-young:
“If it ended with one life—Jo Seong-hwan's—I wouldn't have started. True revenge is destroying everything connected to him.”
Moo-young's eyes widened at my blunt words.
“The fruits of his efforts. Parents, siblings, lovers, family, kin. His clothes, family register, ID tag. Everything he touched, every record with his name, everyone who remembers him. Crush it all without mercy.”
The sorizan clinked as I set it down. Looking at Moo-young, my face twisted.
I was grinning. Laughing uncontrollably in glee.
“Erase his existence completely. So even if his name comes up someday, no one remembers it—not his face, nothing. Books, videos, audio, photos... Wipe him from every record. That's revenge.”
Killing, torturing, humiliating—just means to that end. Catharsis at best.
That's why I had Moo-young kill him. His death would collapse everything he'd built.
“Pungyang Jo Clan falls. I set it up—you struck the blow.”
“......!”
“So take pride, Moo-young.”
I gave a thumbs-up.
“You didn't just kill Jo Seong-hwan. You severed one of Joseon's sky pillars yourself.”
“Seong-hwan! Our Seong-hwan—what?! D-dead...?!”
“Madam?!”
“Get her inside! Hurry! Where's the medical team?!”
Jo Seong-hwan's death spread like wildfire. The Pungyang Jo Clan main house in Namyangju became a madhouse.
Sudden heir's death. Family secrets exposed without warning. Hanseong rift news—and the culprit was dead Seong-hwan.
Events that could topple a clan alone now hit all at once.
[Breaking news. The massive blackout this dawn originated from a Pungyang Jo Clan research facility. The court will hold an official press conference shortly...]
[Pungyang Pharmaceuticals, over 80% owned by Pungyang Jo Clan, raided by Royal Guard this morning. 112 executives detained on-site. The court vows rigorous interrogation...]
[Internal testimony: Late Pungyang Jo heir Jo Seong-hwan masterminded the recent Hanseong rift. Source: anonymous tip...]
The media was worst. Every Joseon outlet screamed about their monster research. Reporters infiltrated facilities nonstop. Subordinate branches carted off to Royal Guard or fleeing abroad.
Before responding, Pungyang Jo Clan's limbs were severed.
“The whole country's calling the main house traitors! This is serious!”
“Royal Guard's storming Hanseong facilities. At this rate, garrison hits Namyangju soon!”
“What did the young master do to expose the labs? And why's Kim Hyun-woo so extreme...!”
Desperate reports flooded in. Elders' eyes turned to one man.
Pungyang Jo Clan head, Right Prime Minister Jo Kang-un. He couldn't hide his rage picturing Kim Jung-heon's face.
“Lord Uisang, muzzle the press now? If we let this—”
“No.”
One word. An old beast's roar crushed the room.
“Press targeting the main house means other Sedao houses have turned. Too late for PR.”
“The lab researchers and guards...?”
“'Preserved' as 'evidence' already.”
Hanseong facilities falling was inevitable. Sending forces there pointless.
“Andong Kim this aggressive? They're confident.”
Decisively, they slaughtered the sole heir, Jo Seong-hwan.
One conclusion.
Jo Kang-un growled like a beast.
“No negotiation. Andong Kim aims to crush us completely.”
Monster research public. Royal Guard probe ends—treason for all involved. Elders exiled, Pungyang Jo ruined.
If so...
Beeeep—!
Alarm yanked him back. Visual interface: report.
Garrison approaching Namyangju estate.
“Fifteen tactical combat modules, three fighter squadrons. Five multi-cannon tanks, 120 garrison troops...”
War-scale force. Hollow laugh.
“So. You've decided.”
Hanseong branch torched already, racing here. Too fast.
One guess: Andong Kim planned from start.
Knew monster research. Waited for chance.
Yes. Kim Jung-heon could.
That court-top serpent—more than capable.
“With Kim Hyun-woo grown, no challengers to Andong Kim. Dragon swallowing the yeouiju.”
Staring at approaching garrison, Jo Kang-un muttered.
“You seek to become the dragon.”
Devouring own blood Kim Hyun-woo to soar.
Unable to hide talents, clawing throne.
Breaking centuries of oaths himself!
“Pungyang Jo—sole check—falls, no house stops Andong Kim's dominance.”
Knowing he's here, Kim Jung-heon comes personally.
“Won't die easy.”
Decision made, Jo Kang-un spoke firmly.
“Contact all yangban houses. Pungyang Jo denies all. Andong Kim's self-drama. They killed our heir to...”
Accident? Speculation.
But no surrender.
Any survival chance—truth or lie—he'd grasp.
“...put Clan Head Kim Jung-heon on the throne.”
Words ended.
Boom—!
Thunderous crash. Royal Guard agents stormed Pungyang Jo estate.
Sky-dropping quadruped combat bots. Garrison flanked tactical modules; center, a figure emerged.
Andong Kim head, Kim Jung-heon.
“Lord Uisang. You're under arrest.”
“Welcome, Lord Jisang. Honored visit to our humble home.”
Murderous civility.
“Cooperate with the investigation.”
Eyes locked, Kim Jung-heon spoke first.
“Escalated, but main house wants no more strife. Negotiate terms—Pungyang Jo keeps status.”
“Negotiate? Make Pungyang Jo Andong Kim puppets?”
“Lord Uisang.”
Voice colder at the sarcasm.
“Pungyang Jo faces treason. Evidence clear.”
“......”
“Yet offering you a chance. Don't let emotions derail.”
Emotionless, dry. Twisted Jo Kang-un further.
“A chance.”
Scoff. Eyes on Kim Jung-heon.
“If playing nice, shouldn't have killed Seong-hwan.”
Instant: sharp wind shot at Kim Jung-heon.
KABOOM—!
Forward module's armor took it. Kim Jung-heon unflinching.
Jo Kang-un's face demon-twisted.
“Seong-hwan... my only son mangled—and you dare speak chances before me?!”
Aura surge shook estate. Shockwave pushed garrison back; Kim Jung-heon unmoved.
“Understand heir loss grief. But nationally...”
“Understand?! You?!”
Calm voice amid tension. Jo Kang-un recoiled.
“No. Of course not.”
“You've always sealed emotions, choosing only rational efficiency.”
Same era, decades rivaling for Joseon's helm. Jo Kang-un knew him best.
Yet understand?
Ridiculous.
“Monster ignorant of human feelings from birth! Seeing people, love, family, blood as tools—you grasp a father's pain? Human hearts?! Don't make me laugh!”
Groooowl—!
Landscape shifted. Garrison panicked.
“Lord! That's...!”
Colossal beast: Namyangju mobilized. Gates sealed, augmented troops and armor deployed.
Rooftops: anti-air missiles, Vulcan cannons. Dozens modules airborne, armed.
“Don't ape human, monster...!”
Namyangju. Once Pungyang-hyeon, Pungyang Jo ancestral city. Sedao enclave turned fortress.
'No Pungyang Jo aura users visible. Pinning me and garrison, raiding branches elsewhere.'
“Tch.”
Intel confirmed; Kim Jung-heon tongue-clicked.
'Foolish.'
Bow once. Blame Jo Seong-hwan's solo. Ignorance.
Main house backs—conflict ends.
'Incomprehensible.'
Heirs remakeable. Why rampage on 'vengeance,' risk clan with useless emotions?
“All forces, battle ready.”
Ordered garrison, drew curved sword slowly.
No options. End quick.
“Under my command, subdue Lord Jo Kang-un.”