Chapter 59
Baeksan’s 1st Expedition Team and its leader, Hwangho, were powerful enough to be recognized across Korea.
However, there was always a heaven beyond the heavens—another sky above the sky.
“Guuuh….”
At last, the truth behind the rumor that had been on everyone’s lips all day was revealed.
1st Expedition Team lay scattered on the ground, and Hwangho clutched his chest, glaring at Brawler.
The battle between Baeksan’s 1st Expedition Team and the Allencia Party had ended in a complete and utter victory for the Allencia Party.
Of course, no rumors of it would spread.
Because the only ones who knew the truth were the people here.
“Let’s go.”
At Brawler’s command, the other six members of the Allencia Party—who had only suffered minor injuries—turned to leave.
Just then, Hwangho’s voice echoed from behind them.
“Brawler! Baeksan will never forget what happened here today!”
Brawler didn’t even glance back.
“Do whatever you want.”
And with that, the Allencia Party left the 70th floor with Hyuk-min’s party.
= = =
The scene waiting outside was nothing short of a spectacle.
“It’s a total mess.”
Men in blue shirts were collapsed here and there, and Baeksan’s Expedition Team 2 was still locked in a bloody brawl with them.
“Move!!”
“Block them over there! They’re about to break through!”
“You worthless bastards! Do you have any idea who we are?!”
“My ass, you do!”
There were more than enough blue shirts to overwhelm Baeksan by sheer numbers.
But no matter how much the Blue Revolution Guild dominated Seongbuk District, they were still nothing more than a neighborhood guild compared to Baeksan, which operated on a national scale.
Not a single Baeksan member could be found among the fallen.
Only Blue Revolution Guild members in blue shirts.
It was such a crushing defeat that calling it a total loss wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Han Sang-jip, the guild master of the Blue Revolution Guild who had held them in a long standoff, shouted.
“Everyone! Time’s up! Grab the fallen and get out of here!”
Did he truly think they couldn’t win?
Or was it some other whim?
“Yes, boss!”
At Han Sang-jip’s order, the Blue Revolution Guild members who had been blocking the Tower entrance began to pour out.
As they withdrew, a text arrived on Hyuk-min’s phone.
[From: Han Sang-jip]
[The debt is now paid in full. I’ll live an honest life from now on. I hope you won’t come looking for me.]
Hyuk-min read it and met Han Sang-jip’s eyes as he retreated into the distance.
Instead of replying, he gave a slight nod.
“Get lost! Hurry up and get lost!”
Baeksan’s Expedition Team 2, hearing Han Sang-jip’s order, started kicking at the retreating Blue Revolution members.
A considerable amount of time had passed since Hwangho had issued his orders.
With no idea what had happened inside, they had no choice but to move in haste.
Shoving aside the stragglers, Baeksan’s Expedition Team 2 rushed past Hyuk-min’s party and the Allencia Party and disappeared into the Tower.
“They just walked right past us?”
One of the Allencia Party members, reaching for an arrow in his quiver, tilted his head in confusion.
The others shook their heads and let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh. This is why we call you an idiot instead of Peregrine Falcon. How would those guys out here know we’re the ones who crushed their people? Use your head. Think.”
“Ah~ right.”
He seemed dim-witted enough to make you wonder how he’d even become a member of the Allencia Party.
Even so, no one in Hyuk-min’s party could disregard the archer called Peregrine Falcon.
The way he held off four or five members of Baeksan’s 1st Expedition Team was the very picture of a master archer.
No Death, watching the Allencia Party’s banter, let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Then he approached Hyuk-min and asked softly.
“The Blue Revolution Guild. Did you call them?”
Hyuk-min nodded.
“Then you knew Baeksan would come?”
He nodded again.
“Wait. If you stationed the Blue Revolution Guild because you knew Baeksan’s 1st Expedition Team would call for backup… don’t tell me you even knew the Allencia Party would show up…”
The more he asked, the more goosebumps rose along No Death’s skin.
He wanted the answer, but when he saw Hyuk-min and Brawler heading toward a less crowded area, he swallowed his questions.
“Let’s talk in a bit.”
The Allencia Party didn’t take the crowded route, choosing a slightly different path instead.
It was so quiet and hidden that it made you wonder if such a path even existed near the Tower, and it led them to the vicinity of Dotte Tower in no time.
‘Well, for a group like the Allencia Party, most adventurers would recognize their faces. If it were me, I’d look for a route like this to avoid trouble too.’
As No Death mentally retraced the path, thinking he’d learned a useful route, Brawler grabbed Hyuk-min’s shoulder.
“I did what you wanted. Now talk.”
Hyuk-min answered as if it were nothing.
“Go to Chengdu in China and find Baek Eu Moo Shin.”
“Baek Eu Moo Shin. Are you certain?”
“Go and ask him. If you ask whether he killed Hwarang, he’ll proudly say yes. And that title, Baek Eu Moo Shin, is an epithet he gained because of that incident. Is that enough for you?”
Brawler’s thick fist trembled, showing just how enraged he was.
Just as they were about to part ways, with their business concluded, Brawler asked,
“What’s your name?”
“Bang Hyuk-min. Why?”
“If you’re wrong… I will find a way to kill you.”
Despite the chilling warning, Hyuk-min only smirked.
“Go ahead. Oh, and if you’re grateful, you can help me one more time later.”
“We’ll see when the time comes.”
Brawler and the Allencia Party turned to leave.
“Ah, right.”
This time, Hyuk-min stopped them.
“We’ll be different then.”
“What?”
“Next time we meet, we’ll be at least your equals. Or we’ll be even stronger.”
“Bullshit. It won’t even take a few days. Instead of worrying about that, start thinking about how to run. If you’re lying, I’ll snap your neck.”
“If you can.”
Hyuk-min wore a playful smile to the very end.
And so, the two parties split cleanly, without another word.
In the end…
Hyuk-min had been right.
Brawler, who said he would only be gone for a few days, was not seen again for several years after that day.
= = =
The moment they got into the taxi, No Death unleashed a barrage of questions.
That barrage only started to wind down by the time they arrived at the Rogue Guild.
“So you knew this whole situation would happen. You even planned it yourself.”
“You’ve seen what I can do, and you still don’t get it? The only thing that surprised me was what happened inside the Hidden.”
Hyun-jung, who had been dejected the entire time, looked different as she prepared to ask a question.
Her expression was considerably brighter.
“Did you really think we could block them? You trusted us, right?”
“I did. And you did a perfect job.”
But her expression quickly soured again.
“But this time too… Uncle was in danger.”
“Like I said before, anyone would’ve been in danger in that situation. It’s not your fault.”
“Really?”
Hyun-jung’s expression shifted drastically with each word Hyuk-min spoke.
Brightening, then darkening.
This time, she smiled more brightly than ever.
“That’s right, isn’t it? It’s not like I wasn’t helpful, right?”
“You were perfectly helpful. Thank you.”
“Heehee. I’m trying my best every day. I’ll never let you be in danger again.”
No Death, who had been listening quietly, suddenly roared.
“We keep getting sidetracked, but that’s not what’s important!”
“Why are you yelling!”
Seeing the newly cheerful Hyun-jung talking back, No Death scowled.
“You were better when you were moping. Why’d you have to go and boost her confidence again?”
“What else are you curious about? I told you everything. I knew you guys would block them well, I knew Baeksan and the Allencia Party would come, I told you we’d use the Allencia Party to get away, and I even hired the Blue Revolution Guild to block any unforeseen variables, didn’t I?”
“The most important thing!”
“What is it?”
“How did you manage to persuade Brawler?”
“Ah~ that?”
Hyuk-min snorted as if it were nothing.
“I gave him the information he wanted most. Information so important that he’d make an enemy of Baeksan and even give up on the Hidden.”
“What was it?”
“Where his nemesis is. I gave him the location.”
“Brawler had a nemesis?”
In Hyuk-min’s past life, Brawler—the leader of the Allencia Party—had suddenly disappeared for about two to three years.
Of course, that time wasn’t now, but it wasn’t much different.
When he returned, Brawler was bombarded with questions, and after revealing what he’d been doing, he briefly became a hot topic in Korea.
It hadn’t taken many words to catch Brawler while he was stopped by [Soul Dominating Art].
“Hwarang Gwak Dobeom. I know who killed your master, and I know where he is.”
“His master—who was like a father to him though not by blood—was killed by someone.”
“He had a master?”
“He did. A father and master who turned the orphan Oh Wooyoung into Brawler.”
Hwarang Gwak Dobeom.
He wasn’t widely known since he lived like a hermit, but his name later became well-known after Brawler returned.
The honor of being the one who taught Brawler was immense.
“To have killed Brawler’s master… just how strong is he?”
“He’s strong. The current Brawler could never win against him.”
“He’s that strong? Then why… don’t tell me you sent him there to die?”
“On the contrary. He’ll kill him and come back. He’s not the type to give up. He’ll eventually bring his revenge to a close, just as he intends. It’ll just take a few years.”
When Brawler returned, he announced to everyone that he had killed Baek Eu Moo Shin with his own hands.
This wasn’t just a personal matter between individuals—it became an issue between nations.
China requested Brawler’s extradition, but since Baek Eu Moo Shin had the prior offense of killing Hwarang Gwak Dobeom, the matter was resolved through some kind of deal instead of extradition.
“But aren’t you just talking big? How are we supposed to beat the Allencia Party? That’s ridiculous.”
At No Death’s words, Hyuk-min burst out laughing as if it amused him.
“Hahaha. Why not?”
“I don’t know how many years it’ll take, but it’s absolutely impossible in just two or three. You saw them. You saw what kind of monsters the Allencia Party are.”
“Two to three years, wasn’t it? I think we can do it.”
“Us beating the Allencia Party in two to three years? Pfft. Even a stray dog would laugh at that.”
Hyuk-min stepped closer to No Death, who was adamant it was impossible.
“You…”
Seeing the look on Hyuk-min’s face, No Death’s expression slowly hardened.
“I’m certain. I guarantee it.”
No Death couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence.
Right now, as Hyuk-min said something so absurd, he was wearing an expression he shouldn’t be.
‘Is he… for real?’
That confident look he always wore before tackling a new task, as if he already knew the future.
That strange look that made even the impossible feel possible.
“A big crisis has passed, but it’s not over yet, okay? You know the most important thing is tomorrow, right?”
“Yes!”
“Don’t do anything today. Get a good night’s sleep. If we handle tomorrow well, then from that point on…”
Hyuk-min looked straight at the dazed No Death.
“We’ll become monsters.”
“Yes, Uncle!”
Thinking of tomorrow, Hyuk-min’s fists clenched on their own.
And one Skill sat visible in his Skill window.
========
[SS-Rank] [Poison Shadow Art]
========
Staring at that Skill, Hyuk-min slowly unclenched his fists, and a confident smile spread across his lips.
‘Now it’s my turn. Park Chung-ho and… Jang Han-bit!’