Caught Another One
Taeju arrived at New Seoul Station from the Beijing outpost that evening. After wandering the city streets for quite a while until dark, he released his face-altering technique and bone-shrinking skill in a secluded spot, changed clothes, and returned to his hotel.
Time to get ready.
Prepare the items to send the moment the shared warehouse flashes.
He wrote a letter too.
Starting with thanks for reaching the 8th stage thanks to Geomseon's guidance, he added that Dang Gunak could request anything via letter anytime—he'd procure it, no matter what.
Thanks to his two soul links with Dang Gunak, he could use the writing and language of the martial world, but he stuck to comfortable Hangul.
Dang Gunak knew Hangul too.
His previous letter had been in Hangul.
Next, Taeju opened his infinite storage and designated a section the exact size and shape of the shared warehouse.
He planned to pack it full of items to send, then dump them in the instant the shared warehouse flashed.
He added the tablet and beam projector portable screen Baek Seoyeonn had brought, plus the elite mana crystal-equipped electric generator Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu had procured.
The generator could run household appliances like electric heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, and TVs at full blast 24 hours a day for a full year, apparently.
Since he only really needed power for the tablet and projector, it would last several times longer.
Baek Seoyeonn had bought three tablets.
He subscribed each to a different OTT platform and prioritized downloading completed dramas and movies.
This took the most time.
But he gritted his teeth and downloaded them all.
When the world nearly ended, countless people died, but humanity's cultural heritage survived more intact than expected.
Cultural content, for example.
Movies and dramas stored on devices scattered worldwide.
Of course, vast amounts were lost, but plenty had been restored.
As the world stabilized, humanity rebuilt and spread those glorious old video treasures.
Even though they were made 300 years ago, they were still plenty entertaining today.
Among them, content that had boomed in pre-apocalypse China.
Wuxia dramas, or xianxia tales.
Will he like this stuff?
China's wuxia definitely shared a lot with the martial world.
Earth's martial world was fictional, while Dang Gunak's was real.
Yet the two worlds matched up uncannily, as if by coincidence.
Well, it was a multiverse after all.
Letters make feedback easy.
He crammed the remaining space with food and drinks.
Now just flash already.
Suddenly!
Bzzz!
His smartphone buzzed with a message alert.
He checked it.
Hm, the rank probably?
Nothing else made sense.
He'd have to go.
Networking and info were essential for business in New Seoul.
Taeju fired off a reply.
A full day of wandering had left him a bit drained.
Mentally, not physically.
But no time to sleep.
More content to download onto the tablets.
Morning broke.
He bolted up, showered, brushed his teeth.
Ate a simple room service breakfast.
Ding-dong!
The hotel room doorbell rang.
Peeking, it was President Baek Seoyeonn.
"Come on in."
"Chairman, did you sleep well? Oh, and how was your New Seoul sightseeing yesterday...?"
"Yeah, had a good time."
He discussed future plans with her.
Patent review was progressing faster than expected, so advance the New Seoul factory groundbreaking.
Dispatch skilled workers from Gurye for production, put them straight into the new plant, and so on.
"Then I'll hustle hard again today."
"Don't overdo it."
Taeju prepared to head out too.
What to wear?
Dress code was always a puzzle.
Suits are overdone.
Today's outfit: his gray fox leather coat.
Super comfortable for movement, and New Seoul's weather was cool enough for a coat.
This was his signature, after all.
It had been shredded like rags catching that elite poison claw civet, but the leather workshop had mended it meticulously—only faint stitching scars remained, otherwise perfect.
Best of all, ideal for slipping items in and out discreetly.
Taeju donned the coat and stepped out.
His assigned awakener officer escort waited with the car ready.
"Good morning, Chairman."
"You guys work too hard every time. Should wrap this up quick so you can return to base."
"N-No, sir! I'd love to stick around as long as possible."
"Don't you miss base life?"
"Not at all! These are the happiest days of my life."
"..."
The duty setup for his ten awakener escorts made it all too clear.
One stuck with Taeju.
Just needed a driver.
That's what he'd requested.
One each for Baek Seoyeonn and Branch Manager Choi Dongil, plus two at Taehong Bio's New Seoul branch.
Total five on duty.
The other five?
Vacationing.
Baek Seoyeonn paid daily allowances, so money wasn't an issue.
Just alternate shifts every other day—couldn't beat that.
The car headed for Leaders Club in Sinap-gu.
Even en route, he occasionally checked the infinite storage.
Taeju's car pulled up at the Leaders Club main gate.
The entrance guards sprang into action.
One radioed via earpiece, the other rushed to the car, opening the door.
"Welcome, member."
"...Thanks."
Did they recognize him?
After just one prior visit.
Taeju stepped out.
As he approached the gate, waiting guards flung it wide.
He paused.
The lobby beyond came into view.
Red carpet on the floor.
Staff lined up in two rows, bowing deeply.
"Welcome!!!"
Up front: a middle-aged blond man and the stylishly dressed Jo Miyoung, Leaders Club manager.
The blond strode forward, hand extended.
"Pleased to meet you. Igor Baranov, owner of Leaders Club."
"Yeah, Kim Taeju."
Over-the-top welcome.
Every club staffer had turned out to greet him.
The entire lobby full of them.
Over a hundred by rough count.
Behind Igor Baranov loomed an awakener who looked like his bodyguard.
Slavic features, tattoo running from lower left cheek to neck.
Awakener guards were elite hires.
Fitting for the empire's top club's owner.
Hmm, an awakener bodyguard...
Handshake done, Igor pulled a sparkling badge from his pocket, presenting it with both hands.
"Diamond badge. Platinum disc inlaid with diamonds."
"...Diamond rank?"
"Yes. Sorry we missed it before. Grateful for the chance to correct it now."
"This is too much."
Igor grinned.
Courteous words, but his face beamed irrepressible pride.
"Member Kim Taeju, you've joined the fewer-than-20 diamond ranks in the empire. Congratulations."
Clap clap clap clap!
Thunderous applause echoing through the lobby on cue.
Taeju nodded silently.
But did Igor realize?
He'd just made a colossal mistake.
Igor Baranov was pleased.
This level of treatment should suffice.
Word would reach the imperial prince's ears.
After thorough digging, rumors pegged Kim Taeju as master-level.
Probably exaggerated.
How could a non-awakener face a master?
Diamond was a stretch—gold at best?
Mirinae Pharma's Lee Dongwoo was gold, same industry.
Still, worth pulling strings to secure him.
Impressive potential, plus the prince connection.
Time to flaunt it.
That he'd bent rules to grant top rank despite lacking quals.
"Diamond isn't given lightly. Current members: chairs of the empire's top ten corps, princes, generals with four stars minimum."
"...Ah! Right."
Kim Taeju's half-hearted tone.
Igor bristled inwardly but kept smiling.
"Allow me to show you the diamond members' exclusive lounge. This way."
Taeju rode the diamond-only elevator with Igor, Jo Miyoung, and the awakener guard.
In the ascending elevator, Taeju sniffed.
"Hey, don't you smell that?"
"W-what? Well... We clean the members' elevator three times daily. Never a complaint on cleanliness."
"Really? Smells strong to me."
Igor's face soured.
What the hell?
Diamond badge and he gripes about smell?
High-maintenance prick?
Elevator halted at the top floor.
The space revealed was vast—one entire floor.
"This is where our top members mingle."
Under dazzling lights, antique yet modern sofas and tables; walls lined with masterpieces by famed artists.
But Taeju ignored the opulence.
Only mattered that it was a sealed room.
He strolled slowly toward the door, asking Igor.
"When'd you hire the bodyguard?"
"...Pardon? About a week ago. Why?"
"What's the purpose?"
Igor gaped at the question.
Total high-maintenance.
Diamond badge gets a meh face, elevator stinks, now bodyguard hiring date?
Jo Miyoung looked flustered too.
Taeju's attitude had turned odd lately.
What's his deal?
Igor swallowed irritation.
"This job breeds enemies. Most complaints over memberships and ranks. 'Why reject me?' 'Upgrade me!'... Even death threats."
"I see."
Taeju nodded, then.
"Your take on mines?"
Another absurd query. Igor scowled.
"What to think? Kill 'em all. My uncle died in the European mine incident."
"Tragic."
"Damn right. Mines are mutant roach scum."
Taeju grinned.
"But looks like one's right here."
"What...? Quit the games. Spit out your complaints."
"I'll catch it and show you. Fastest way."
Instantly!
Taeju's coat billowed.
A Flying Waterfall Flash dagger sliced air toward Igor.
Tzzt!
"Gasp!"
Igor froze helpless.
But the dagger missed him.
Thuk!
"Argh!"
It struck the awakener guard's shoulder behind him.
The force slammed him into the wall.
Crash!
"Sergei!!!"
Igor freaked.
Attack in a blink.
This guy's insane.
Throws a knife out of nowhere?
Then!
"Kyaaack!"
Rrrrip!
Sergei's clothes tore.
Crunch crunch!
His body warped in seconds.
Limbs elongated, face twisted.
Monsterization.
The sole proof of a mine.
Hybrids of human and monster traits.
Impossible to spot outwardly.
Only revealed in death or monsterization skill activation.
Club manager Jo Miyoung screamed.
"Kyaaah!"
Igor staggered back.
"...M-my God!"
The awakener guard was a mine?
He'd trusted the fellow Slavic imperial.
Meanwhile.
Mine Sergei had tensed the moment Kim Taeju mentioned mines.
Why bring it up here?
Mine creed: caution always.
He'd scoped escape routes preemptively.
That door.
But Kim Taeju blocked it.
No way out for anyone.
Did he figure me out? Impossible.
Then,
Tzzt!
Projectile to the shoulder out of nowhere.
Thuk!
Crash!
"...Fuck!"
Busted.
Sergei triggered monsterization instantly.
"Kyaaack!"
No choice.
Escape at all costs.
But,
"Huh?!"
Kim Taeju's face right there.
This fast?
Sergei slashed with elongated monster claws at his face.
Tzzzt!
Prelude to escape.
Leapt upward with leap skill.
Over him, smash door, flee.
But,
Grab!
"...Huh?"
Ankle seized.
Ceiling spun.
Floor rushed up.
Whirl!
Sergei arced through air, slammed down.
Taeju recalled Oh Jinhyeong's words from Gurye mine hunt.
Live capture ideal if possible.
So he did.
Closed fast with Leaping Gale Step on the monsterizing foe, dodged the strike easily.
Grabbed the leaping ankle mid-jump.
Half-spin in air, smashed to floor.
Boom!
"Kraaack!"
As it surged up, Blood Seal Poison Palm.
Thwack!
"Kek!"
Thud!
Low kick tripped it forward.
Crash!
Knee pinned the spine.
Crack!
Vertebrae snapping.
"Grrraaah..."
Igor couldn't believe his eyes.
Monsterized mine.
Boosts combat power one or two ranks above awakener grade.
He knew—he'd hired him.
Sergei: Junior Expert.
Monsterized: at least mid, maybe superior.
Yet Kim Taeju toyed with him like a pro fighter vs. toddler.
Makes no sense.
Taeju addressed the still-dazed Jo Miyoung.
"Manager Jo Miyoung, number for mine report?"
"...113."