Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Hell Faction
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Lee Jae-hyun slowly shifted his steps, climbing the stairs.
Even though an elevator was installed, choosing the stairs wasn't solely because the karaoke bar was on the second floor, just one flight up.
‘If they attack the moment the door opens, it won't be easy.’
It was obvious that if three or four burly guys were waiting in front of the elevator and charged right away, even he wouldn't handle them easily.
On top of that, Lee Jae-hyun had already taken down multiple big guys at the club.
He'd even gone up against Park Man-seok.
Afterward, there was the fight against five Axe Gang thugs at Song's Gukbap House.
Fatigue had built up, and while he hadn't taken any effective hits, it was impossible to dodge everything completely during the brawls, so his body ached in spots here and there.
‘Still manageable for now... but not full condition, so I need to stay cautious.’
He wasn't truly exhausted to the point of hitting his limit yet, but anything could happen depending on the situation, so he had to be careful with everything.
Real combat was unpredictable like that.
With those thoughts, Lee Jae-hyun flung open the karaoke bar entrance right in front of him.
Ding.
The glass door opened with a small bell chime.
Everyone inside simultaneously turned their heads to look at him.
Four men with axe tattoos on the backs of their hands.
One of them had two axes tattooed.
He could tell at a glance.
That guy was the boss.
Park Hyun-jin standing right next to him proved it.
Sure enough.
The double-axe tattoo guy straightened up from where he'd been leaning on a chair and opened his mouth.
“Hey, nice to see you. You're Areum's uncle, right? Hyun-jin here told me while I was waiting—you're a cop?”
“Why do these bastards keep calling cops 'pigs'?”
“Oh man, what can I do? I'm so sorry.”
These guys had been calling the sacred staff of the people 'pigs' ever since the club.
Lee Jae-hyun muttered in an irritated voice, but the boss casually continued.
“If you're a pig... then you really need to die.”
The boss spat the words with a grin, like a declaration.
The thick killing intent oozing from his voice.
The Axe Gang boss was dead set on killing Lee Jae-hyun.
However...
Lee Jae-hyun shrugged indifferently to the killing intent directed at him.
“You might die first, before me.”
“Ha, I really like your balls. Almost a pity to kill you.”
“Uncle!”
Park Hyun-jin shrieked from the side upon hearing Lee Jae-hyun's words, but the boss just shrugged.
“No, he does have balls. Right?”
“That's right, Big Brother.”
The gang members lined up on either side nodded vigorously in agreement.
Lee Jae-hyun furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Getting props for balls from you punks doesn't make me happy at all, so knock it off.”
“Should I?”
“Where's Choi Su-jin?”
As he asked, he casually scanned the inside of the karaoke bar.
Doors lined up along a long hallway.
Maybe she was in one of those rooms.
‘If she's in there, I could block off that hallway and hold out until backup arrives...’
As Lee Jae-hyun thought that, a snicker came from the Axe Gang boss's side.
“Good balls, but cop brain? Already scheming from the start.”
The guy smirked as if he'd guessed Lee Jae-hyun's thoughts.
At the boss's words, Lee Jae-hyun twitched his eyebrows.
“...So she is here?”
“Somewhere, you bastard. She's still alive, so don't worry. Why you moving so fast?”
Judging by his tone, the odds were high that Choi Su-jin wasn't here.
Of course, since he'd heard from Park Hyun-jin that Lee Jae-hyun was a cop, he'd likely anticipated backup and moved her elsewhere.
“Let's introduce ourselves first. Nice to meet you—I'm Do Kang-cheol of the Axe Gang.”
The boss grinned at Lee Jae-hyun as he said that.
Lee Jae-hyun stared at him blankly for a moment, unable to guess his intent.
Then he let out a chuckle and opened his mouth.
“Yeah, I'm Lee Jae-hyun of Hell Faction.”
Fine, if you want to play, I'll humor you.
But once this is over, you're dead.
Do Kang-cheol tilted his head at his words.
“Hell Faction? What's that? What kind of retarded naming sense is that?”
“Tell me about it.”
The Axe Gang guys nodded at Do Kang-cheol's words and kept snickering like it was hilarious.
Forced laughter to flatter the boss spread among them.
But the gang members' and Do Kang-cheol's expressions didn't brighten at all.
Only their mouths were laughing.
Do Kang-cheol fixed Lee Jae-hyun with a coldly sunken gaze.
Lee Jae-hyun met his stare head-on, then chuckled again and spoke.
“So Axe Gang's naming is fine?”
“Our Axe Gang is...!”
One of the axe-tattooed guys next to Do Kang-cheol quickly opened his mouth to retort.
But he shut it upon seeing Do Kang-cheol raise his hand.
“Well, our gang's name isn't exactly clever either.”
Do Kang-cheol shrugged as he silenced his underling.
Lee Jae-hyun hardened his expression at the shift in the guy's vibe.
Do Kang-cheol slowly stood up straight and continued.
“But... how do you know we're Axe Gang?”
He knew well.
Axe Gang was one of the organizations that survived even into the future, so Lee Jae-hyun had heard of them a few times.
He'd never seen the face before, but he'd heard the name Do Kang-cheol too.
The guy who wielded a hand axe, once a key pillar of the Double Axe Gang.
Sching.
With a chilling sound, he picked up the hand axe that had been on the counter.
“Look closely. You're gonna die to this now.”
Do Kang-cheol said it with a cruel grin, holding the hand axe.
As expected.
The killing intent Lee Jae-hyun had sensed earlier wasn't imagination or nerves.
The guy really intended to kill him.
Casually talking about killing a Korean cop.
Kidnapping a minor, threats.
And from the vibe... not his first or second murder.
Even without Serhen, the thick killing intent radiating from him proved it.
‘If Serhen were here, she'd say, "Bingo. This guy's killed a few people."’
As Lee Jae-hyun thought that.
Black energy swirled beside him, devouring the air, and Serhen emerged from within.
“Correct. Ha, seriously... Your eyes look so cool right now, Contractor. I was gonna hold back and just watch, but no can do.”
The moment Serhen appeared, she gushed over Lee Jae-hyun's gaze.
Then she abruptly added.
‘What?’
“You're hesitating right now.”
Serhen said it bluntly.
Lee Jae-hyun paused at her words.
She was right.
He was hesitating.
Because of that axe?
Because of the heavy killing intent from the guy?
Neither.
Lee Jae-hyun still didn't know where Choi Su-jin was.
That was the shackle on his ankle.
Right now, Lee Jae-hyun was truly... on the verge of losing it.
The moment he moved, it felt like he'd lose control and go berserk.
That's why he couldn't act rashly.
If he moved now, he'd tear into Do Kang-cheol and the Axe Gang right in front of him.
He was hesitating because he feared they wouldn't reveal Choi Su-jin's location.
From the moment he entered, up to now.
Continuously.
He'd been chaining down that 'something' trying to burst out from within, binding it with shackles, forcibly suppressing it.
And Serhen slowly opened her mouth, unlocking those shackles for him.
“Want me to help?”
‘Huh?’
He reflexively questioned her offer to help.
Help from a demon would be reassuring.
But it was unexpected.
If she was stepping up first...
“You need the help. These guys here—if I eat them all, the evil karma looks so thick and tasty I'll be busy digesting for a while. Can't hold back.”
‘Then...’
Lee Jae-hyun felt the shackles binding him lighten.
Serhen continued with a beaming smile, watching his lip curl.
“Don't worry about finding the girl. Go wild.”
‘...Go wild. Sounds good.’
Thump.
In that instant, Lee Jae-hyun felt his heart pounding.
As the sensation of boiling blood rose, he realized one thing.
‘I've been holding back a lot.’
He was the Mad Dog.
To Lee Jae-hyun with a criminal in front of him, concerns like excessive force complaints from others were trivial.
But until now, he'd had to suppress it.
In truth, it had been quite a long endurance.
Starting from Go Hyun-sook's house while chasing kidnapped Choi Dae-hyeon.
He'd held back because she was elderly.
At the club too—not Hanseong Police Substation jurisdiction, and lacking solid evidence, so he'd reined in his instincts.
But...
Now, there was no need.
The opponents were organized thugs who'd kidnapped a minor.
Coordination with Incheon Western Police Station was already done.
Choi Su-jin's safety?
Serhen guaranteed it.
In that moment, Lee Jae-hyun cast off the shackles.
When he sees the enemy, he bites.
He could feel the instincts from his past life awakening bit by bit.
“Oh, and don't worry about your condition either. Though you'll handle any muscle pain yourself after.”
The moment Serhen flicked her hand.
Black smoke extended from her, absorbed through Lee Jae-hyun's breathing into him.
He took a deep breath, exhaled, and opened his mouth.
“Do Kang-cheol.”
“Thought you went mute from fear. Nah.”
Do Kang-cheol mocked him in response.
The others beside him snickered.
Having shed his shackles, Lee Jae-hyun continued with a sense of exhilaration.
“Do you know why I'm Hell Faction?”
“Kekeke. Yeah, why are you Hell Faction?”
“You'll find out soon.”
Lee Jae-hyun said it in a low, sunken voice, brushing back his bangs.
And then.
He surrendered his body to his instincts.