Episode 25 #10 Yeongjongdo (Part 2)
The drugs were just secondary. Seolokjin's real target stood right before my eyes - to capture Baek Dosan and make him his own.
"So he's after me, that bastard."
"If he gets Director Baek under his control, everything here will become his."
At my words, Baek Dosan burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! He thinks he can just swallow me whole?"
Not just thinking—he’d actually succeeded. Seeing my expression, Baek Dosan slammed the table. Bam!
Geez.
—Such a temper.
Well, you couldn’t expect the underworld boss to have a pleasant disposition.
"You’re saying that bastard really plans to brainwash me into serving under him?"
"Yes."
"The guy who tells everyone Awakeneds should be killed is actually an Awakened himself?"
"Awakeneds are a minority. Even if he came forward as their representative, he’d just become the vanguard of an oppressed group. So he abandoned them."
What Seolokjin wanted was to take control of South Korea itself. And he’d do anything to achieve that—killing, betraying, pushing people into despair meant nothing to him.
"Even with brainwashing powers, getting close to me wouldn’t be easy."
"Weren’t you quite close with that traitor earlier?"
My words made Baek Dosan shut his mouth with a struck expression. Getting close to Baek Dosan was indeed difficult. But what if, during a sudden attack in chaotic circumstances, a trusted subordinate guided him to an escape route?
That simple method was how Seolokjin faced Baek Dosan directly.
"No need to overpower Director Baek. The moment your eyes meet, it’s over."
"Ha! Then why is someone with that power still in that position?"
"Because perfect control can only be maintained over one or two people at most. Turning someone into an idiot is easy, but dominating them completely... or so I’ve heard."
Since I’d heard this directly from Seolokjin, it must be accurate. Though I’d learned this when his brainwashing capacity had increased to five people.
"Haha, so he’ll use one of those slots on me?"
"Isn’t that worth it?"
I wasn’t flattering him—just stating facts. Baek Dosan stared intently at my face before letting out a snort.
"Is this where I say thanks for thinking so highly of me?"
He said it while scowling...
—He’s got a point.
Ahem. Maybe I did sound a bit desperate. Anyway, the mood had lightened. Time to get serious again.
"Then what do we do now?"
"We dealt with the traitor, but it’s too late. Seolokjin will bring his people here."
"If it’s a fight, I don’t think I’d lose to that bastard."
"There’s a high chance he’ll bring at least a 5-star Awakened. One who uses poison. It won’t kill, but it paralyzes instantly upon spreading. If that Awakened comes..."
"...We’ll be overwhelmed."
Baek Dosan’s forces had been crushed not just because of the ambush, but largely due to that poison Awakened. If they’d brought him before, they’d surely bring him again.
The problem was that none of Baek Dosan’s subordinates could neutralize the poison. Most here were ordinary humans, not Awakeneds.
"Yes. Unless we’d prepared gas masks in advance..."
I glanced at Dr. Geum. If only he’d bought us a little more time.
Dr. Geum barked at my look, "You’re blaming me for the delay? Huh? You two wouldn’t even have met today without me!"
He wasn’t wrong.
"I wish you’d trusted me sooner."
This time, I subtly glanced at Baek Dosan. But unlike the teasing Dr. Geum, he remained unmoved.
"If I believed every word people said, I wouldn’t be in this position."
—Also true.
Hmm. Maybe I did come off too pushy. Regardless, the tension had eased. Time to refocus.
"So we need to counter-ambush their ambush."
Striking the back of those who came to strike ours.
This... could be fun.
The transformed Shindo cargo terminal was crammed with containers. Baek Dosan’s men took positions between them. If the transaction date couldn’t be changed, the time would be. Baek Dosan immediately contacted his partners and closed the deal lightning-fast.
This bought us a little time before Seolokjin’s arrival. I spent it setting traps.
"I’m planting all of these."
Using artifacts as precious as my lifeline here... Baek Dosan smiled at my words.
"I’ll repay you tenfold. Don’t worry."
I nodded. He even opened his armory. Not that modern gangsters’ arsenals impressed me...
"Why is this here?"
I blinked at the anti-tank mine.
"Ah, got it as a ‘service’ gift before."
Holy hell. The best “service” I ever got was military dumplings... This guy operates on another level.
I set the mine aside—too excessive for today. Still, I found usable items in the armory.
After gathering everything, I pulled out the mask I’d prepared.
—Ugh, still as tacky as ever.
Ray’s disgusted voice rang in my ears, but I stubbornly put it on. It’s cute, damn it.
"What’s that?"
"I have reasons to hide my face."
Showing my face to earn Baek Dosan’s trust was one thing, but letting Seolokjin’s side see it was unacceptable.
Besides, this was my first face-to-face with Seolokjin in this life.
I wanted to make a lasting impression.
"Oh! This your style?"
Dr. Geum suddenly beamed and approached. That smile... I instinctively leaned back as he chirped,
"I loved mask heroes as a kid too!"
"This isn’t that!"
Where do you get off comparing my precious anonymity tool to kids’ transformation shows, you otaku?! I wanted to shout, but Dr. Geum already looked at me like a kindred spirit.
—Hah! Told you that mask’s hideous.
Damn it. But I couldn’t back down. Facing Seolokjin barefaced was out of the question.
Seolokjin was coming.
Overconfident in his brainwashing power and trust in his traitor, he’d be careless.
If he were in his 40s, maybe not. But against the unseasoned 30-something Seolokjin? We had a chance.
I couldn’t miss this opportunity to strike him down.
"Anyway... fighting!"
The lamest cheer I’d ever heard. Baek Dosan seemed to agree—our brief eye contact echoed mutual resignation.
Soon, it was time. We dispersed to our positions. I hid between containers.
—You okay alone?
At Ray’s question, I nodded.
"I said it before: no one should confront Seolokjin directly. If they get brainwashed and turn on me, we’re screwed."
Besides, Seolokjin would keep few guards close in the rear. I could handle this alone.
How much time passed?
A boat quietly docked at Shindo’s pier. Twenty-five to thirty people disembarked—not many, but Seolokjin wouldn’t bring weaklings.
Hidden in shadows, I scanned each face... and found him.
—That’s the bastard who did all that? He looks too normal—gives me chills.
Looks aren’t everything.
—Said every ugly person ever.
Ignoring Ray, I swallowed hard.
We’d attack the moment Seolokjin stepped ashore. Just as I pushed off to strike—
Thick fog engulfed the area. I signaled across the terminal: Hold.
A water-based Awakened? Or poison? My mind raced as shadows spread through Shindo with the fog.
Luckily, the fog wasn’t harmful, but visibility dropped to zero.
—Damn! We were supposed to hit them as they landed!
Relax. They know we’re here. Switch to Plan B.
Ambushing them immediately would’ve been ideal, but forcing it wasn’t worth the risk.
"Switching to Plan B."
[Understood.]
Hearing the response, I exhaled. Baek Dosan wasn’t called the underworld king for nothing—he’d handle infiltrators.
My target was Seolokjin.
Personal grudges aside, his brainwashing made this my responsibility.
I advanced through the fog, ears sharp. A guard’s mutter reached me—
Whoosh!
The dagger on my electrified wire found his hand.
"Ghk!"
Not Seolokjin—just a bodyguard. He tried pulling the blade out, but—
Zap!
"Argh!"
He convulsed like popcorn and collapsed. I yanked the wire back.
"What’s happening?!"
The fog lifted as if erased, revealing Seolokjin. His guard lay fallen, yet he looked... amused.
"A mask?"
His remaining guards stared. I hurled a potion bottle.
"Eek!"
It shattered as they dodged, oil spilling everywhere.
—Too bad.
I closed in. Against guns, stay off their firing line—
Crack! A bullet grazed my ear.
Told you.
Didn’t hit.
You’re bleeding, idiot.
Gasping behind a rock, I realized my stamina hadn’t fully recovered since the academy.
End this fast.
"He’s an electric-type! Be careful!"
I threw more potions at Seolokjin.
"Watch out!"
They shattered harmlessly. A guard smirked.
"Throw all you want. It won’t—"
"Enough."
I snapped my fingers. The oil ignited, flames engulfing him.
"AAAAH!"
His screams made others flinch. Seolokjin finally spoke.
"Stop."
He walked toward me, pupils glowing yellow.
"Good. Now that we’re here... let’s talk.”
