The Heirs Enter the Colosseum
Two days passed before the people trapped inside the dungeon finally crawled out.
Among those covered head to toe in filth, there was one person with truly remarkable mental fortitude.
The head of the Gaya Group chairman’s security team.
That team leader shouted one final message to his rescuers.
Of course, this cry never made it onto the news.
With the plunging KOSPI, the battle for control of Gaya Group, and all the other messy adult affairs involved, only a handful of people in the world ever learned what had truly happened.
The very first to hear the news was Jo Chun-ki’s eldest son, Cho Young-bae.
He received the report inside the study of his own home.
“My father is really dead? When?”
“We estimate it happened two days ago.”
“What? Two days…? Then what about the spirits? You’re saying they weren’t summoned by my father?”
Cho Young-bae’s mind filled with images of naked apron-wearing spirits.
He had wondered if they were his father’s secret fetish, but…
“Yes, sir…”
At once, Cho Young-bae hurled his nameplate holder.
A shard of the shattered holder grazed his subordinate’s cheek.
Warm blood trickled from the thin cut, staining the man’s face.
“Are you mocking me right now?”
“I-it’s a misunderstanding, Vice Chairman!”
“Misunderstanding? My father died and I’m only hearing about it now, and you call that a misunderstanding!”
“Of course not, Vice Chairman! You are the very first to know!”
Strange.
It was exactly the same sequence of events, yet his mood had improved dramatically.
Cho Young-bae set down the object he had been about to throw and stroked his chin.
“So that’s how it is…”
The eldest son.
The firstborn.
Whenever Cho Young-bae thought of himself, he never forgot that core fact.
A prince sometimes welcomes the death of a king.
He trembled with the same thrill he had felt the first time he received a birthday present.
“Who killed him?”
“We still… have no information. We’ve deployed public officials and private investigators…”
“And?”
“The thing is… everyone keeps spouting nonsense about the chairman turning into a monster and dying after forcing them all to dance…”
“Brainwashing. Damn it. No matter which faction it was, they struck our father from behind!”
After his explosive outburst, Cho Young-bae quickly cooled down.
“No choice then. For now, the priority is to seize the chairman’s office in the main residence.”
The Gaya clan’s estate.
That chairman’s office was the undisputed throne where the family’s power was concentrated.
Only after claiming it could he pursue revenge without restraint.
Father, I’m sorry.
But we can only do what we were taught.
I will inherit it to protect what is ours.
Cho Young-bae ended his brief moment of silence and asked,
“What about the second brother who’s been dreaming of rebellion?”
“…We’ll likely know by the end of today.”
“The third and fourth will have run off to their maternal family. That’s fine. Hey, what percentage do I currently hold?”
The last question was directed not at a hunter but at his secretary.
The secretary answered immediately.
“You hold 7.95% of the total shares.”
“Oh no… that can’t be. Still under ten percent?”
“Yes, Vice Chairman. Even after adding the one percent we secretly accumulated…”
“Damn it. I thought Father would live for a thousand years… He even kept a huge stockpile of spare organs and blood packs!”
Of course, the “spare organs” and “blood packs” he spoke of were an open secret among them—the nephews and nieces.
Yet for some reason, Jo Chun-ki had died without ever using the spares produced by his surrogates.
Cho Young-bae muttered something, then widened his eyes.
“Have you found Father’s will? At the Gaya Law Firm? Or the Hunter Association notary office?”
“We searched both the law firm and the notary office, but there was nothing. It’s probably inside the residence’s safe…”
“Pack up! We’re leaving immediately! Gather the men. There shouldn’t be any trouble, but if there is, we’ll take it by force.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman! We’ll prepare the equipment!”
A bit brutal?
But Cho Young-bae was confident.
He was the firstborn.
The old-fashioned Jo Chun-ki would surely have designated his eldest son as successor.
And even if that weren’t the case, once he got his hands on the will, it would become reality.
The die had been cast.
He didn’t know who had thrown it, but it no longer mattered.
Inside the bulletproof limousine—far too luxurious for even the president—thick cigarette smoke filled the cabin.
Cho Jin-hwi stubbed out the cigarette he had just lit and pulled out a fresh one.
“That old man. He never cared about anyone else’s wishes his entire life. He never once asked what I wanted. He only ever looked after himself.”
The subordinate sitting across from him lit Cho Jin-hwi’s new cigarette.
“Forgive me for saying so, Vice Chairman, but weren’t you also completely uninterested in the old man’s wishes from the start?”
“Puhuhu, that’s true. Isn’t that simply how this world works? Understand the other person’s wishes, but seize your own…”
“Congratulations in advance, sir.”
“Heh heh…”
Once again, thick cigarette smoke billowed inside the bulletproof limousine.
There was magic in cigarette smoke.
It made a man feel like Zeus.
And sure enough,
both in front of and behind this limousine were long-body Escalades fit for presidential escort, guarding Cho Jin-hwi’s vehicle.
Fully armed hunter bodyguards rode inside them.
“You said that even with everything I have, it doesn’t reach five percent?”
“That is correct, Vice Chairman. Even after mobilizing all thirty-two shadow accounts.”
“How pathetic… If outsiders hold more than sixty percent, how can we possibly protect our nation?”
“Exactly, Vice Chairman. You are the only one who can protect our homeland.”
“…Thank you for recognizing that, at least. I’m not afraid of the criticism from those who cannot read the times. Because I have people like you by my side.”
“Of course, Vice Chairman.”
The two men exchanged passionate gazes.
Their goal was simple.
They would check the will at the residence.
Whether favorable or unfavorable, they would tear it to shreds.
And they would kill every other brother they encountered there.
This was the astonishing challenge of a prince pushed out of the line of succession.
It would carve his name into history.
Cho Jin-hwi’s heart pounded wildly.
The will?
Why wouldn’t it have been stored at a notary office or law firm?
The answer was simple.
“Father knew. That mere laws could never restrain our clan.”
That was how Cho Jin-hwi interpreted his father’s thinking.
‘Whoever wins takes everything. Just like I always did!’
While he was thinking this, his subordinate spoke.
“We’ve received contact from the planted agent. Vice Chairman Cho Young-bae has set out. He entered through the main gate.”
“We’ll take the rear entrance. Go by the shortest route and launch the attack. What about the third and fourth?”
“No particular movements.”
A smile rose to Cho Jin-hwi’s lips as well.
“Hmph. Let them stay in their maternal family’s arms, performing cute tricks and eating whatever scraps I throw them. We are going to seize what is ours.”
His smile was eerily similar to Cho Young-bae’s.
They were both brimming with confidence.
Cho Young-bae advanced through the main gate with thirty fully armed hunters.
“Get lost, all of you!”
When the suited security guard shouted, the people lined up in front of the residence scattered.
Anyone could tell it was Vice Chairman Cho Young-bae.
In times like these, the smart move was to step aside for a moment and return later.
“Guests~ You really should wait in line~”
The large Gujiga spirit guarding the entrance approached.
The way it rubbed its hands together was exactly like a merchant’s mannerism.
“Kill that stupid spirit.”
At Cho Young-bae’s command, a hunter from the security team thrust his spear into the Gujiga spirit’s stomach.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The Gujiga spirit screamed as it stared at the hole in its belly.
The people who had been hiding and watching the situation screamed as well and fled.
“Aaaah! Murder!”
“He stabbed a spirit!”
“Doesn’t that mean it’s not murder?”
“Who cares? Just run!”
Amid the chaotic fleeing crowd, the Gujiga spirit shed a few tears.
“That huuurts!”
“It’s not dying?”
“See you in a biiit!”
The Gujiga spirit shrieked, then shriveled up and vanished.
“See you next time?”
It was a somewhat chilling message, but Cho Young-bae simply shook his head.
“Move in. We’ll wipe them all out and reclaim my father’s residence.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman!”
His father’s residence.
Although he was the successor, he had almost never come here.
Part of it was that he had grown up, started a family, and become independent…
But his father had strictly forbidden the princes from casually entering the king’s office.
Those days of glory and humiliation.
Cho Young-bae gathered every ounce of resolve and took one step toward the door.
This very step was the path of conquest!
But the moment he set foot forward, letters appeared before Cho Young-bae’s eyes.
Would you like to enter the Instant Dungeon?
“What? A dungeon? What nonsense is this about a dungeon in my father’s residence! Who are you?”
I am a spirit prepared by His Majesty.
“Oh-ho, so even at the very end, Father prepared something like this for us… Fine. I’ll enter.”
Cho Young-bae and 30 others. Entering.
Of course, since Kim Hwang-je was not his father,
the status window before him displayed different text.
Your party does not have permission to enter this floor. You will be moved to the starting point in 3 seconds.
“What the—fuck?”
Cho Young-bae and his subordinates let out a string of curses before being swallowed by light and vanishing.
The same thing happened to Cho Jin-hwi.
The Gujiga spirits guarding the rear gate were also stabbed in the stomach and shriveled up, disappearing on the spot.
“Those spirit bastards said they’d see us again.”
“…Looks like they’re planning to fight us inside. Prepare thoroughly.”
Cho Jin-hwi wasn’t particularly worried.
The spirits had been weak when they fought them,
and above all, he was leading twice as many hunters as his brother—fully one hundred—through the rear gate.
In a contest of pure strength, there was no way he would lose here.
But the moment he crossed the rear gate, the same text appeared before him and he froze.
Would you like to enter the Instant Dungeon?
“What? Instant dungeon? Puhahaha, Father. You really are something!”
Cho Jin-hwi looked around and laughed loudly.
Every hunter with him was a veteran dungeon raider.
But beyond that, this was the garden of his childhood dreams.
Who would dare block a successor returning to his homeland?
“This is ridiculous. Hey, do I need your permission just to enter my own father’s residence?”
Would you like to enter the Instant Dungeon?
“Yeah. I get it now. Our family’s origins were dungeon explorers… He must have set up this little game to test which of us would make the better successor.”
Cho Jin-hwi arbitrarily decided this and felt satisfied with his own brilliant insight.
He lifted the corners of his mouth as high as they would go and declared,
“Fine. We hunters will enter this dungeon. And we will carry on Father’s will! So shut up and open the way!”
Cho Jin-hwi and 30 others. Entering.
“What? You’re saying I can’t bring the rest?”
I am merely following His Majesty’s strict will.
“Hmph. Father always showed unnecessary consideration to his other children.”
Cho Jin-hwi and 30 others. Entering.
Of course, this “Majesty” was not Jo Chun-ki.
Therefore, the same message appeared before him as well.
Your party does not have permission to enter this floor. You will be moved to the starting point in 3 seconds.
“What?”
Cho Jin-hwi too was swallowed by light and disappeared.
The first thing Cho Young-bae felt was the smooth marble floor.
“Vice Chairman, are you all right?”
“I’m fine… Damn it, where are we?”
“It appears to be a dungeon. But the emergency escape spell isn’t working…!”
“Of course it wouldn’t. This is a dungeon my father prepared! This is a battle to decide the successor!”
Cho Young-bae stepped forward.
Before him stood something like iron bars from a prison cell.
“Ugh, is this an escape challenge? Or a raid?”
He pressed his face close to the bars and peered at the other side.
A circular arena lay ahead.
Around the arena floor stood massive statues arranged in a circle.
They all depicted armored figures.
Through the transparent glass ceiling, a soft blue light mixed with white poured down.
When Cho Young-bae suddenly looked up, he was stunned.
Beyond the glass was the ocean.
Rumble!
At that moment the iron bars suddenly rose upward.
“Proceed forward with caution.”
As the bars opened, Cho Young-bae and his subordinates carefully stepped out.
In the distance, someone who appeared to be his younger brother was also walking out.
Both Cho Young-bae and Cho Jin-hwi, along with all their subordinates, stared at one another with extreme tension.
Then a voice rang out.
“Hello?”
It wasn’t the voice of either brother.
At the same time, an enormous cheer erupted.
Waaaaaaaaah—!
Both Cho Young-bae and Cho Jin-hwi looked up toward the spectator seats.
The seats that had been empty just moments ago were now packed with the monsters who managed the 218th containment facility!
“What the hell is this?!”
And that wasn’t all.
Among the cheering monsters sat a throne, and upon it sat Kim Hwang-je.
For a moment they wondered if they had been transported to the Roman Colosseum.
After all, Kim Hwang-je sitting in the center wore a red cloak, a crown, and held a scepter.
When Kim Hwang-je raised his hand, the entire arena fell silent.
“You get the idea, right? From now on, kill each other.”
Both Cho Young-bae’s and Cho Jin-hwi’s faces turned deathly pale.
“Or, we can negotiate a ransom instead.”
Kim Hwang-je smiled brightly.
Beside him, the bandit clapped his hands and shed tears of emotion.
“As expected of Your Majesty! Isn’t taking hostages the very foundation of robbery?”
Kim Hwang-je shot him a look, but the bandit, lost in rapture, had closed his eyes.
Still, thanks to him, the two brothers were able to view their current situation a bit more objectively.