novelraw Chapter 212 : Chapter 212
Chapter 212 : Chapter 212
Chapter 212: Faction
It was when Ho-cheol had knocked them all down and was searching for the truck key that he noticed the cameras hidden on their chests.
He clicked his tongue as he saw the cameras, smaller than a fingernail.
I thought they were a bit too weak. It seems their real purpose wasn't to kill me, but to confirm whether I was a real kidnapper.
Crack—
Only after finding and smashing all of them did he finally return to the original car and open the back seat door.
Then, he gestured with his chin towards Se-ah, who was still waiting quietly.
“See, it was a good idea to at least pretend.”
“What was?”
“Nothing.”
He took her, switched to the truck, and headed for the hideout again.
Watching Ho-cheol operate the gears somewhat awkwardly, Se-ah narrowed her brows.
“By the way, do you have a large vehicle license?”
“Of course not.”
“Ah. Well… I guess so.”
Se-ah didn't make a big deal out of it or nag, letting it slide.
It wasn't like he was driving this because he wanted to; it was an unavoidable situation.
But then, another question suddenly popped into her head.
“You do have a license for small cars, right?”
Ho-cheol didn't answer.
“You… you’re crazy! Switch seats with me!”
Despite Se-ah’s fuss, the truck fortunately arrived at the hideout without any major accidents.
Although she was supposedly kidnapped and a hostage, since he had already explained everything about Se-ah, there were no fools who would point out her attitude as she confidently entered the hideout.
Upon spotting her enter the meeting room, Wolf Fang bowed his head reluctantly in greeting.
“Ah, uh. Hello.”
“Mm. Yes. Nice to meet you.”
Wolf Fang and Se-ah had seen each other coming and going a few times at the Academy.
Se-ah hesitated for a moment before asking.
“……Are you also kidnapped?”
“No. I betrayed them and joined the boss.”
Even at the word ‘betrayal’, Se-ah nodded her head nonchalantly.
“I see.”
In any case, this person hadn't acted out of malice either, but had taken a risk to help Ho-cheol.
Se-ah had no reason to see him in a bad light.
However, when she turned her head next, she jumped in surprise.
“Uh, uhh!”
Se-ah’s eyes widened as she saw the four former executives, specifically Vulture and Breaker.
Although it was from a distance, she had seen those two during the Academy raid.
Even though they were in a completely monstrous form back then, faint traces of their faces from that time remained.
“Those guys from back then!”
Se-ah openly showed her hostility towards them.
And the former executives weren't nice enough to leisurely brush off the hostile gazes directed at them.
Of course, Ho-cheol wasn't about to let the atmosphere turn hostile.
“Don’t make a fuss. While it’s a bit much to just say it’s all in the past, it’s not like they did it because they wanted to back then.”
In the first place, they too were victims of Ji-an's threats and Trait.
They probably had no memory of that time at all.
Blaming the tool for the crime wasn't the way of a hero, or anyone on this side for that matter.
Above all.
“The Dean, who lost an arm, knew they would be released and still turned a blind eye. There’s no need for you to make a fuss.”
“It’s not a fuss!”
Se-ah was about to shout something but clamped her mouth shut.
Instead, she glared at Ho-cheol and muttered.
“……Are you taking the villains’ side now because you’re a villain?”
It was a slightly childish remark, but it also meant she was that sulky.
“What are you talking about. That’s a bit hurtful.”
“Sorry.”
“What’s there to apologize for between us.”
Lightly patting her head, Ho-cheol gestured.
“I’ll show you to your room.”
It was on the floor above the meeting room, right next to the room Ho-cheol was currently staying in.
Of course, it was smaller than the house she originally lived in, but it was still larger than the dorm Ho-cheol had stayed in at the Academy.
All the furniture was shiny and new, so there would be no discomfort.
“I’m going to send you back soon anyway. But still, it’s better to have it clean.”
“Not bad.”
Watching Se-ah plop down on the bed with small steps, Ho-cheol explained.
“No one comes up to this floor or the meeting room floor, so you can walk around freely, but don’t go downstairs and show your face. I’m using the guys on this side, but if you ask if I can trust them, that’s another story.”
For now, she was a kidnapped hostage.
There was nothing to be gained from others seeing her walking around freely.
“Well then. If you need anything, press the call bell next to you.”
As Ho-cheol was about to leave again, Se-ah asked.
“Hey. Where are you going.”
“I have another schedule.”
“Tsk. If you kidnapped a hostage, you should at least take good care of them.”
She patted the spot next to her on the bed—pat pat.
“Stay a little longer.”
Ho-cheol chuckled and sat down next to her.
With her lips pouted, Se-ah grumbled to Ho-cheol.
“Do you know how worried I was about you?”
“That’s why I went so far as to kidnap you, so you wouldn’t worry anymore.”
Right now, she was just grumbling, but if he had proceeded without a single contact until everything was over, he would have been scolded enough to have all his hair pulled out later.
After that, the two of them made small talk.
Perhaps out of consideration from Se-ah, she intentionally suppressed all questions that Ho-cheol might find difficult and instead led the conversation with topics only related to herself.
“And then a few days ago, my dad suddenly called and asked. If I still see you.”
“A fatal question. So what did you say.”
“Just. That we run into each other for work. Then he told me to bring you back again.”
“Wow. Isn’t he calling me to strangle me or something?”
At Ho-cheol’s worried question, Se-ah let out a small laugh.
“Probably?”
“I should definitely not go.”
After that, how long did they chat about trivial personal matters?
Ho-cheol stood up again.
“Well then, get some rest.”
Se-ah, who had been staring blankly at the standing Ho-cheol, made a determined expression.
“Hey! Me too!”
But before she could say anything, Ho-cheol moved first.
He turned his body, reached out his hand, and pressed her lips with his index finger.
Soft lips, this was already the second time today they had touched his hand.
Ho-cheol smiled slightly, as if he already knew what she was going to say.
“That’s enough. I’ll just accept the thought.”
Of course, it would be really reassuring if she joined this side.
Her individual combat power was sufficient, and above all, she was trustworthy.
But she had more to lose than that.
Besides, even without that reason…….
“Still, the students need at least one more good professor like you.”
He removed the index finger that was pressing her lips.
“The old man isn’t normal either, so isn’t the Academy basically depending on you?”
Although Se-ah was rejected before she could even speak, her expression wasn't too bad.
If that was the reason, it couldn't be helped.
“Just cheer for me from behind.”
“Okay.”
Ho-cheol left the room again.
Holding the doorknob with his body half out, he glanced back and added.
“Oh, right. When you first came out to the entrance earlier. You smelled like a rain-soaked puppy.”
“Ah, th-! This!”
Se-ah’s face turned bright red.
Before it could explode, Ho-cheol closed the door and fled first.
Behind him, he could faintly hear the sound of Se-ah stomping around in anger, and the sound of something soft, like a plush doll, hitting the door.
When Ho-cheol came back down the stairs, everyone in the meeting room, including Wolf Fang, Ha-rin, the executives, and Slasher, was ready and waiting.
“So where are we going?”
At Wolf Fang’s question, Ho-cheol lightly massaged his neck.
The full-fledged move of ‘Unhappy’.
The starting point was already set.
“The black market. We’ll swallow that up first.”
In the past, he was the darkness of this country itself.
But that only applied among villains.
He didn't pay much attention to, nor did he touch, other simple crimes.
His goal was not domination, but destruction.
But this time, he had no intention of ending as just a dangerous existence.
Since the opponent was who they were, shouldn't he prepare perfectly and give them the treatment they deserve?
“There’s only one order. No killing.”
However, the inner meaning of this expression was quite different from when he was a professor.
In the past, it meant to deal with the enemy as moderately as possible, but now…….
“Does that mean it doesn’t matter as long as they’re still breathing?”
“Yes.”
It was even more harsh and dangerous than killing.
“Let’s go.”
He strode forward, tying the Purple Crystal Sword to his waist.
***
The black market.
How many times had he visited this year alone?
However, despite having visited several times until now, the atmosphere was quite different.
Unlike that time when it was dark but had some vitality, had there ever been a day as dark and sunken as today?
Ho-cheol narrowed his brows upon spotting the pyramid in the distance.
“What’s this. Looks like Lunard isn’t doing business?”
The lights were off at the Lunard Auction House, which should have been the most brilliantly lit place in the black market.
This was perhaps the biggest reason for this gloomy and heavy atmosphere.
The Lunard Auction House, its money source and backer, the giant corporations of the Battleground, had fought amongst themselves until they were half-ruined, so the Lunard Auction House had also suspended its business for the time being.
And the cause was that Ho-cheol had taken down one of the backers, Black Oskopf.
But to him, it was a story from the distant past that he barely even remembered now.
And as the Lunard Auction, the biggest pillar of the black market, lost its power, the other minor organizations that had been suppressed by it continued their fierce territory battles.
Of course, that story was only until today.
The new owner of this place was already decided the moment Ho-cheol set foot in it.
“Now. It won’t take more than a day to clean up this whole rat’s nest, right?”
Ho-cheol spoke in a light tone, as if he were out for a walk.
“Wipe them all out.”
***
Crrrack—
Ho-cheol expressionlessly broke the leg of a villain who rushed at him, bending it in the opposite direction.
As if annoyed by the scream echoing from below, he kicked the villain's chin and knocked him out.
Thud—
The villain fainted.
Ho-cheol clicked his tongue and looked around.
“Is it finally over now.”
In just a few hours, they had wiped out the minor organizations of the black market.
It was something even Ho-cheol could never have done alone, but by mobilizing his former executives and even Slasher to widen the scope of their operation, it was an easy task.
“What should we do now.”
“For the cleanup, just handle it as usual.”
The former executives or Wolf Fang would be able to sort out the situation as he wanted.
Now he had plenty of guys to order around for such trivial tasks.
Not that Ho-cheol was slacking off.
On the contrary, the number of things only he could do would only increase.
Ho-cheol sheathed his sword again and headed for a deeper alley.
As soon as he set foot there, he felt wary gazes from all over the place.
This was the black market within the black market.
There wasn't much of an organization, and everyone operated individually.
It would be a loss to manage these back alleys, so Ho-cheol had no intention of touching them.
His purpose was not these cowards anyway…….
“You didn’t change seats this time.”
It was only to meet the old man hiding at the end of that alley.
An old man with a shabby appearance.
His two eyes covered with a grimy bandage made him look like a blind man, but he could see farther than anyone else in this world.
“Long time no see. Glad you’re not dead yet.”
The [Sage].
He saw the approaching Ho-cheol and grinned, baring his teeth.
“Hoho. Hahaha!”
He couldn't stop laughing, slapping his knee with his palm as if something was incredibly amusing.
“Finally! You’ve finally come!”
“Have you gone senile?”
Ho-cheol, who had now stood before the Sage, sneered, but the man paid him no mind and continued what he had to say.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited for this moment to come?”
After Ho-cheol’s release, the Sage had been continuously waiting for a new era.
Until now, it had just been heroes and villains, two forces engaged in a monotonous tug-of-war.
For the Sage, who lived for the fun of watching the world, it was a boring and meaningless period worse than nothing.
That’s why he had placed his hopes on Ho-cheol, who belonged to neither side.
That he would completely destroy this situation.
And it was as he expected.
He had come with a completely different kind of justice from the two forces and was making a mess.
“So, why did you come to see me? No, that’s obvious. Are you here to kill me?”
The Sage knew his own usefulness better than anyone.
He possessed a fatal ability no matter which faction he joined, and his mere existence was a burden.
Even his own life was a subject of a bet, so there was no fear or dread at all.
Only interest.
But Ho-cheol answered nonchalantly.
“No.”
“Then are you going to lock me up in a prison where not a speck of light ever enters, to eat only dust for the rest of my life.”
Ho-cheol crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“No.”
“In that case, are you going to pull out my tongue and cut off my limbs so that no one can ever use me?”
Ho-cheol was flabbergasted.
“No. No, why is this old man so aggressive? I’m not going to do that.”
Why is he so worked up and talking nonsense.
“Just.”
Ho-cheol held out an envelope.
Inside were a plane ticket and a passport.
“Go on an overseas trip. It looks like I won’t have the time to attend a funeral for an acquaintance for a while. No, I’d be lucky if it was just that. You don’t have any family, do you? If it’s an unattended funeral, I’d probably have to be the chief mourner, but I’m busy, you know?”
If you stay here, you will definitely die.
This time, no matter how much this old man could look over every corner of this country, if both the state and the Society decide to chase him, he will inevitably be caught.
And his end will naturally be miserable.
Dying would be a relief.
If the Society side is still capable of stealing others' Traits.
Then Ho-cheol's chances of winning would almost disappear.
In fact, the best option would be for Ho-cheol to kill the Sage himself before that happens, but he had no intention of doing so.
For the first time, the Sage wiped the smile from his face.
“What do you mean by that? You’re not trying to use me, but to send me abroad?”
What kind of offer would Ho-cheol make.
He had thought of several possibilities, but even so, this was a completely unexpected situation.
“Well, the old man’s Trait would be useful if I had it, but I don’t have a hobby of forcibly dragging people who don’t want to go. You’re not a villain. If I act coercively, what would make me different from those guys.”
Simply crushing the entire Society and returning Smiley to her grave was not the only solution.
Ho-cheol had to prove that his justice was right throughout the entire process.
“……This. Is a bit bewildering.”
The Sage honestly didn't think Ho-cheol had truly changed his ways.
He had expected him to fold his justice and will at any time for his own benefit and convenience.
Even such a change would have been a sufficiently stimulating and enjoyable spectacle for him.
But Ho-cheol's vessel was much larger than he had anticipated.
After a moment of thought, he took the plane ticket and asked.
“Is it first class?”
“This old man must be really crazy. Be satisfied with business class.”
“Aww. That won’t do. I only fly first class.”
And then he slowly got up.
“Can’t be helped. Then I have no choice but to follow you.”
“……Really?”
At the unexpected response, Ho-cheol asked back as if he couldn't believe it.
To follow him meant to belong to his faction.
It also meant lending him his power.
I thought he was a man who would remain neutral even if he died.
“I don’t want to fly business, and I don’t want to stay here. What can I do. I have to go!”
Adding a nonsensical excuse, the Sage even picked up his luggage beside him.