Chapter 26
#10 Yeongjongdo (3)
I slowly advanced toward Seolokjin, my dagger-wielding hand hanging loosely at my side.
Before I knew it, I stood right before Seolokjin’s face. Thank god for the mask. Without it, he might have seen through my expression.
Calm down!
My heart pounded wildly. Though I’d imagined this scenario countless times while waiting here, I still couldn’t steady myself.
I resented Seolokjin. How many times had I wanted to kill that bastard? Yet I’d ultimately submitted to him, living with the humiliating nickname of “his pet.”
But this life would be different.
I’d make it different.
Seolokjin whispered to me as I bowed my head:
“Stab your own throat with that dagger.”
Just like the Seolokjin I knew. He reveled in making people end their own lives. And at the final moment, he loved releasing his brainwashing to witness their despair.
What a twisted bastard.
I raised my dagger as ordered. Just as Seolokjin’s smile began to spread, I kicked off the ground and lunged at him.
The blade thrust toward his nape—or tried to. It halted a mere centimeter from his neck.
Damn it. Of course a coward like him wouldn’t come unprotected.
But I wasn’t the same as before. I channeled every shred of mana into the dagger, inching the blade closer.
Seolokjin’s shout cracked through the air:
“How?!”
“Cheap tricks don’t work on me.”
I threw his bodyguard’s own words back at him. The vindication burned sweet.
His composure shattered—pupils trembling, mask of calm crumbling. But only briefly. Yellow seeped back into his irises.
“Your powers don’t affect me.”
This time, his gaze wasn’t on me.
A bodyguard tackled me from the side.
“Shit!”
I slashed wildly, but they clung like leeches, turning us both crimson.
Mindless. Relentless.
Why are they—
‘Brain triggers. They’ll attack anything moving.’
His discard tactic. Should’ve anticipated it. I jammed my dagger into an attacker’s neck.
“G-gk—”
Dead hands still gripped me. Chills crawled up my spine.
Monstrous.
I hurled a wire at Seolokjin’s fleeing form—only to hit another bodyguard.
Damn it!
Again?!
Mana sparked at my fingertips. I seized the next guard’s neck, lightning frying his nerves.
Get Seolokjin.
The untouchable man now writhed in my grasp.
One centimeter—just one!—from crushing his throat. Erase him, save thousands—
But when I finally shook free, his boat was already a speck on the horizon.
“Cockroach survival instincts,” I spat, sheathing my bloodied dagger.
The radio crackled in my hand:
“Situation contained. Repeat: contained.”
[Still mopping up.]
Screams echoed behind the response. Not ours, at least.
“I’ll regroup after resting.”
My muscles screamed in agreement.
By the time I rejoined Baek Dosan’s group, the cleanup crew had finished.
“The poison Awakener gave trouble?”
“Couldn’t dodge bullets.”
Awakeners died like anyone else without enhanced durability. My intel had ensured minimal casualties—one ally lost, twenty enemies dead.
“No prisoners?”
“Brainwashed lackeys. Cleaner this way.”
Dr. Kim gagged beside Dosan’s stoic profile.
“I’ll vomit…”
“Weak stomach.”
“You’re too ruthless!”
I addressed Dosan as the doctor collapsed onto a plastic chair:
“Seolokjin’s triggers complicate things, but his full control only works on one or two. Others need eye contact or his voice.”
Dosan grunted.
“Still don’t fully trust you. But helping me wasn’t unwise.”
Good. Blind faith would’ve been unsettling.
“Name your price.”
“I’ll contact you through Dr. Kim when needed.”
The doctor pointed at himself.
“Me?!”
“Done.”
“Why am I involved?!”
We ignored his protests until he slumped in defeat.
“Fine. Use me.”
As we prepared to leave, I remembered critical intel:
“Keeping this route for drug shipments?”
“How’d you—? Never mind. Why?”
“Have better intel if you change routes.”
His snorted laugh held no humor.
“Portals are monitored here. China’s lawless, but Korea?”
I smiled.
“Find Portal Department Chief Oh Joon-seok. His daughter’s rare disease will bankrupt him. He’ll cooperate for a decade if you keep it quiet.”
“And your cut?”
“I’ll invest. Need funds.”
Dosan’s nod came easily.
“If the intel’s good.”
Dr. Kim dropped me in the shopping district. Today’s gains weighed heavy—and sweet.
Finally made him run.
“He’s no god,” I murmured, the realization bittersweet.
Ray’s voice chimed in my mind:
It’s just the beginning!
“Right.”
My hopeful stride faltered as a billboard flashed overhead:
WANTED: MURDER SUSPECT
My face filled the screen.
Ah, damn it.
The bastard had returned the favor.
