Chapter 60: A New Face
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 60: A New Face
At that moment, the Bandaged Swordsman suddenly stepped forward.
And before anyone could stop him, he drew the dao from his back and plunged it forcefully into the floor.
CRACK!
The floor shattered as the blade dug deep.
It was a show of force, as if to prove he belonged in this place.
But everyone just wore bewildered expressions at the sudden act of vandalism.
"Why suddenly...?"
"You...!"
"..."
It was an unexpected outburst that caught Hwang Suk-su, Kim Bok-ja, and even Ki Mu-hyeok off guard.
Fortunately, Ki Mu-hyeok, a quick thinker, quickly concocted an excuse.
"This guy, he can't stand anything that hurts his pride, you see. I'd appreciate it if you'd be more careful with your words and actions from now on."
My fault?
Hwang Suk-su looked at Ki Mu-hyeok with a displeased expression.
If the man hadn't been his savior, he would have snapped back a retort, but he managed to exercise patience and force a smile.
"Haha. My apologies. I didn't mean to ignore him... Does the Azure Wolf only recruit peculiar people for its crew?"
As Hwang Suk-su spoke, he looked at Ki Mu-hyeok and Kim Bok-ja in turn, then nodded as if he'd come to a realization.
Being lumped in with that nutjob was rather unpleasant, but Ki Mu-hyeok reluctantly nodded and glanced at the Bandaged Swordsman.
Idiot. I told you to stay put.
It was a good thing Hwang Suk-su had let Shin Kang-heon's extreme "concept acting" slide; they'd almost ruined things before even getting to the main topic.
Nod!
But Shin Kang-heon seemed to interpret Ki Mu-hyeok's gaze differently, nodding back with a confident look.
Pretty cool, huh?
Why did he feel like he could hear his idiotic thoughts even without words?
Even with his identity concealed by bandages and his mouth covered as a precaution, Shin Kang-heon was, indeed, Shin Kang-heon.
Please, just stick to your role as a taciturn and serious swordsman.
Ki Mu-hyeok gave Shin Kang-heon a warning glance, then turned his head to look at Hwang Suk-su.
And he spoke in a calm voice.
"Well, there's a bit of that, yes. We pursue a small, elite group, so everyone tends to be a bit unique."
Nod, nod!
As if pleased by the mention of "small, elite group," Shin Kang-heon, wrapped in bandages, nodded vigorously.
Unable to watch any longer, Kim Bok-ja subtly stepped on Shin Kang-heon's foot.
"Enough small talk."
Ki Mu-hyeok regained control of the atmosphere and immediately got to the point.
"The information we want is about the Great Heaven Sect's 'back-end' operations. The location, scale, and if possible, how many experts are there would be great."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Hwang Suk-su's expression stiffened uncomfortably.
"Back-end" was slang for illegal operations.
That in itself wasn't particularly surprising, but the name of the sect attached to it was a size that was difficult to casually mention.
"...Did I mishear the sect name just now?"
"The Great Heaven Sect. For an operation of this size, you seemed like the only informant who would know."
It was an answer that shattered Hwang Suk-su's hope that he had misheard.
Even though it was a perfectly soundproofed room, Hwang Suk-su lowered his voice and said,
"Normally, I wouldn't even ask why, and of course, I'd just tell you without a fee. But isn't this job too big? Not just any place, but the Great Heaven Sect, which is currently sensitive after a recent incident... No, wait a minute."
As the information pieced together, Hwang Suk-su trembled as if struck by lightning, realizing something.
His face turned pale as he looked at the three of them.
"Y-you're not saying the Great Heaven Sect terror attack a while ago... that wasn't related to you, was it?"
"..."
"You're insane! I'm in a lot of trouble right now. You want me to get involved with the Great Heaven Sect, not some middling mid-sized sect? I'll pretend I didn't hear anything, so just go. I'll repay you for saving my life in another way, okay?"
It was an answer typical of Hwang Suk-su, who prioritized his own safety above all else.
But it wasn't an unexpected situation, so Ki Mu-hyeok replied in a leisurely voice.
"Is information about the Great Heaven Sect more valuable than the life I saved?"
"What's the point of saving me today only for me to die tomorrow? Do I look like a fool?"
Against Hwang Suk-su's unyielding retort, Ki Mu-hyeok played the card he had prepared.
"I can guarantee your safety. Because..."
Ki Mu-hyeok gestured as if sharing important information and leaned in. Hwang Suk-su, though still displeased, couldn't suppress his curiosity and leaned his ear closer.
"The Great Heaven Sect will be dismantled soon. Which means you can clean them out as much as possible before then without any repercussions."
"…!"
The Great Heaven Sect was involved in the incident at the License Exam and had close ties with the Sun Moon Sect, which was presumed to have the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult behind it.
That alone meant the Great Heaven Sect's fate was like a candle in the wind.
When even the Sun Moon Sect's fate is uncertain, the Great Heaven Sect is bound to be utterly shattered the moment this truth comes out.
Of course, he had no intention of telling Hwang Suk-su all of that yet.
He merely hinted that joining this venture would allow him to make a substantial profit.
After all, they needed to be completely in it together so he wouldn't have to worry about being stabbed in the back.
"Ha, this is driving me crazy. To call it nonsense, I've seen things with my own eyes..."
Hwang Suk-su looked at Ki Mu-hyeok with a gaze as if he were looking at some unknown creature.
Though all he could see were the goggles and mask covering his face.
He pondered for a moment, then let out a long sigh, and finally, as if having made up his mind, he grinned.
"Can I get in on this, too?"
A Betting Duel addict.
Hwang Suk-su was a person who valued self-preservation above all else, but he was also a person with the guts to bet big when he was confident.
"Depends on what you do. You won't just make a show of it with useless information, will you?"
"Hahahaha! Don't you worry! Give me one day, and I'll scrape up every last bit of information!"
It was the moment Ki Mu-hyeok turned the owner of the Hidden Tower, one of the Underworld's top informants, into an ally.
"Now, let's grab a bite and talk. I already know about a few of the Great Heaven Sect's hidden back-end operations. Among them, the main source of income is..."
Afterward, the three focused on the stories flowing from Hwang Suk-su's mouth.
*
The next day.
The place the three arrived at was a club in Gangnam.
Shin Kang-heon swallowed hard, looking up at the brightly flashing neon sign.
"...I've never been to a place like this before."
"You look like you're practically a club regular, but you're surprisingly innocent, aren't you?"
Kim Bok-ja scoffed and teased Shin Kang-heon, but in truth, she too couldn't hide her nervousness, constantly glancing around.
This is why kids...
Ki Mu-hyeok, alone, walked ahead with an unconcerned expression.
In his previous life, when he was short on money, he had worked as a bouncer a few times.
The two followed timidly behind him, looking intimidated.
A Martial Artist guard at the entrance scrutinized the three from head to toe, then nodded.
"Go on in."
The three descended the stairs into the basement.
And a moment later, the glittering lights and the sight of people dancing wildly beneath them were revealed.
"Wow..."
"Ugh."
Shin Kang-heon's eyes widened at the new world, while Kim Bok-ja frowned in displeasure.
As they entered the club, some people cast flirtatious glances their way.
"Let's get something to drink first."
Ki Mu-hyeok led his companions to the counter, ordered some drinks, and slowly looked around.
Martial Artist guards... five of them.
There were no experts worth worrying about; most were at the Third-Rate Martial Artist level.
The only one presumed to be a Second-Rate Martial Artist was blocking a passage leading somewhere.
"That's the way."
As Ki Mu-hyeok set his glass on the counter, Shin Kang-heon and Kim Bok-ja's expressions also changed. A chill settled over the faces of the two, who had been awkwardly looking around.
"As planned, I'll move separately."
Kim Bok-ja cast a spell, erasing her presence. The men who had been glancing at her blinked, then looked around, clicking their tongues in disappointment.
Tap, tap.
Kim Bok-ja tapped the earphone in her ear with her finger and said,
"You know what to do if anything happens, right?"
While Ki Mu-hyeok and Shin Kang-heon infiltrated deeper into the club to carry out their mission, she planned to move separately and gather information.
Shin Kang-heon lightly cracked his neck from side to side and asked Kim Bok-ja,
"The spark?"
"I'll attach it, so use it wisely."
Whoosh—
A blue ghost fire, invisible to ordinary people, settled near Shin Kang-heon's heart.
Shin Kang-heon lightly patted his warmed chest and grinned.
Ki Mu-hyeok confirmed his prepared comrades and said,
"Let's begin."
Kim Bok-ja melted into the club's crowd, and Ki Mu-hyeok and Shin Kang-heon approached the guard blocking the passage.
"Excuse me, we're new here."
"…?"
"Can we get some indigestion medicine?"
The guard chuckled at his words and stepped aside.
And he offered some advice to the two, who looked much younger than him.
"If you take too much, you won't be going home tonight. If you don't want to end up recycled, take it easy."
Leaving the guard's meaningful laughter behind, the two walked down a winding passage and arrived at a deeper part of the club.
Whoosh—
Thick smoke hung in the air, and the cackling laughter of people could be heard within.
People lay sprawled on sofas and tables, their eyes hazy like frozen fish.
Designer clothes and accessories, expensive whiskey bottles, were scattered everywhere.
"Idiots."
Shin Kang-heon quietly cursed as he looked at them.
Seeing the Great Heaven Sect's illegal operations in person seemed to fill him with disgust, and the veins on his fists bulged.
-Drugs for the rich kids are basic, of course. But the main stuff is deeper inside.
Ki Mu-hyeok recalled Hwang Suk-su's words and went inside.
As they pushed through the mist, people who seemed clear-headed began to appear.
Each had sinister eyes and concealed weapons at their waists or in their clothes.
-They also sell doping drugs for martial artists. Not the cheap stuff, but the really dangerous kind. You know what I mean? But even that's not the main thing. The real deal is...
"Stop."
A burly guard with a cold expression blocked their way.
He was a considerably strong Martial Artist, exuding qi that felt somewhere between Second-Rate and First-Rate. His gait showed the discipline of someone who had properly cultivated martial arts.
"I haven't seen your faces before. Do you have an invitation?"
His tone was polite, but his demeanor was arrogant.
Behind him, a faint but distinct smell of blood wafted.
-It's a Butcher Shop. A place where martial artists' organs are trafficked at high prices. Only VIPs can enter there. What I'm really curious about is... where did they procure all of it?
Ki Mu-hyeok looked at the door visible behind the guard and asked,
"I don't have an invitation. Can we enter if I reveal the name of the person who invited us?"
"...A nickname is sufficient. If you have a business card, I will verify it."
Ki Mu-hyeok put his hand into his pocket, pretending to search for something.
Meanwhile, Shin Kang-heon placed a hand on his chest and tapped it with his fist as if knocking. The blue ghost fire flickered, then slowly spread throughout his body.
"Oh, I didn't bring it. It looks like you'll have to go check yourself."
Ki Mu-hyeok grinned slyly and pulled out his fist, offering it to the guard.
"Must be high on drugs."
The guard's eyebrows twitched, and Killing Intent flowed from his body. Just before he could slap Ki Mu-hyeok's cheek.
"Aren't you ashamed, you bastard, calling yourself an Orthodox Faction member?"
CRACK!
Shin Kang-heon's fist, thrown in a surprise attack, landed on the guard's face, and simultaneously, Shin Kang-heon ignited flames throughout his body.
WHOOSH!
Blue flames instantly enveloped his entire body, and the Human Skin Mask he wore burned away.
Beneath it, his face, tightly wrapped in bandages except for around his mouth, was revealed.
"Filthy bastards. You're all dead."
At the same time, Ki Mu-hyeok also drew upon his Five Elements Divine Art, creating a pure white current of qi.
Ki Mu-hyeok looked past the door and said in a chilling tone,
"Seeing what these guys are up to, we can beat them senseless without an ounce of guilt."
Hissing—
Ice and fire began to engulf the underground club.