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Chapter 47
The animosity between me and Mok Jin-woo in my previous life was deeper than I thought.
As I met Nicholas and began to awaken my talents one by one and change.
Naturally, they also extended their recruitment hand to me.
The problem was, according to Nicholas’s regression knowledge, the master of Hongryeon Guild, Mok Jin-woo, was deeply connected with the three major corrupt forces in China called Triads, Wu Xing Society, and Black Society.
A story from the future, but.
These corrupt forces persistently try to trip us who are preparing for future disasters.
Especially after the Mugang Continent and Nas Continent connected with Earth, they even colluded with villains who crossed dimensions.
For that reason, as a member of the Lord and an Awakener in the Asian region, I constantly confronted them.
The animosity with Mok Jin-woo deepened over time, and eventually, I received persistent assassination attempts from the Hongryeon Guild.
If I can’t have you, I’ll kill you.
It was because of a simple reason that would sound absurd to anyone listening.
He rarely revealed his true feelings and was skilled at maintaining a poker face.
Perhaps tolerating evil could be a kind of vicarious satisfaction. It’s entirely possible with his personality.
“What if I don’t want to?”
I answered in a sharp voice to Mok Jin-woo’s words.
People were stepping back from the cold and gloomy killing intent that emanated from Mok Jin-woo.
Especially among non-awakened ordinary people, some were even shivering.
“I ask that you generously forgive me.”
From Mok Jin-woo, bowing his head with a smile, I could sense an inescapable artificiality.
“The master of Hongryeon Guild will generously forgive someone who tried to kill him?”
“…….”
Did I hit the mark?
Mok Jin-woo’s mouth slightly curved, then returned to its original state.
He would have nothing to say.
He’s the one who would be the first to step forward and crush someone who tarnishes his own face.
“If you’re the guild master who must strictly enforce guild order, you’d be better off keeping quiet.”
“Wow!”
The onlookers burst into exclamation.
Speaking so boldly in front of an SS+ ranked Awakener was somewhat surprising.
Usually, it was typical to bow deeply, almost at a right angle, almost touching the ground before him.
“Hmm.”
“Still, since I’ve listened politely, I’ll at least spare your life.”
After ending his words.
Toward the captain who was swaying like laundry hung out on my left hand.
Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow!
I unleashed two explosive punches and a pressing punch.
My current state is steel enhancement, where my entire body has turned into hard steel.
The opponent would probably feel like being beaten with an iron rod.
“Keh-hek.”
The guy seemed to have lost more than 90% of his consciousness and couldn’t even control his body.
Swoosh! Clatter!
He soon defecated and urinated without restraint. He was thoroughly humiliated.
Because he had been acting so arrogantly, I thought he would have some durability, but he was weaker than expected.
If he falls apart at this level, he’s probably at most C-rank, and someone who has been lazy in physical enhancement training.
‘Or am I just strong?’
Turning the thought around, that idea also came to mind.
At my current level, C and D ranked Awakener’s are actually not even worth facing.
At that level, it’s clear that they won’t easily break through my steel enhancement talent.
Swoosh.
On the floor wet with urine and dirty secretions.
Splash!
I smashed his face into it. Since it’s his own waste, it shouldn’t be too dirty.
I asked Mok Jin-woo, who was still standing in the same spot.
“Do you have anything else to say? You can’t really say anything about self-defense, can you?”
“You’re Kang Shin-hwa, correct?”
Was there indeed another main point?
Mok Jin-woo acted like he knew me.
It didn’t seem like he had instigated the four guys’ actions, but had likely heard about the incident and rushed over.
He seemed to have no interest in the four from the beginning. This was evident from the lack of expression change even when his subordinates were beaten up.
In any case, this was the front yard of the Hongryeon Guild, and the Hongryeon Building where he works was right nearby, so it wasn’t strange.
“And?”
Pow!
“Ugh!”
As I spoke, I stomped again on the captain who was trying to raise himself beside me.
The groaning sounds suggested he was drinking something he shouldn’t.
“If you’re okay, would you like to have a brief conversation with me in the Hongryeon Building? You received a business card from Manager Kim Hyun-jun before, right?”
“I have.”
“Since then, I’ve been interested in Kang Shin-hwa. Recently, I’ve been hearing more about you.”
Mok Jin-woo’s calm manner exuded a gentlemanly feeling.
Of course, this was a perfect facade only shown in public spaces.
Mok Jin-woo’s true nature is revealed when in a completely isolated space.
Psychopath, or sociopath.
His personality is extreme enough to be precisely described by these terms.
“No, thanks.”
I shook my head.
From the beginning, I had no interest in Mok Jin-woo or the Hongryeon Guild, and I didn’t want to get involved with them.
If I were to ever enter the Hongryeon Guild, it would only be when I’m in a coffin.
More than anything, I was disappointed that my almost-ripening drinking session and conversation with the priest were interrupted.
“Just a moment will do.”
“Do I need to refuse twice? Moreover, I don’t know which guild this is, but it seems I won’t have time to report these guys who can’t manage properly.”
“…….”
As I poured out fact-bombing and sarcastic remarks, Mok Jin-woo’s mouth trembled slightly.
Probably it was a rare experience of being disregarded in a public space.
I know Mok Jin-woo’s talents well.
Of course, with my current skills, I’m not confident I could surpass him, who is SS+ ranked.
But before any trouble could break out, I had ways to protect myself and the priest’s safety.
His weakness is being a slow starter, though almost no one knows this precisely.
“Then, I hope you’ll leave some room for us to meet again.”
Following Mok Jin-woo’s hand, which seemed to be suppressing his emotions, a golden business card was handed to me.
Gold ticket.
Awakeners used the term ‘gold ticket’ instead of business card, which was a free pass to directly meet him.
Without this card, one would have to go through complex procedures and multiple verifications to meet him.
“I’ll think about it.”
I casually stuffed the card into my pocket and headed towards the priest.
“That guy! He received a gold ticket from Hongryeon Guild Master Mok Jin-woo!”
“He must be an incredibly promising talent! They’re trying to recruit him!”
“But he’s so cool! Mok Jin-woo looks like he’s become a sticky piece of gum!”
Leaving behind people’s envy and Mok Jin-woo’s strange gaze, I approached the KSA agents who seemed to have just arrived at the scene.
It was time to clean up.
* * *
Two hours later.
After completing the investigation and taking statements, Kang Shin-hwa abandoned his plan to go to the bar and moved locations as suggested by Choi Ji-hyeok.
The day was just comfortable.
It was perfect weather to sit on a bench and enjoy a can of beer in the calm night atmosphere.
“I heard that the compensation for the bar earlier was directly handled by the Hongryeon Guild master. What was his name? Mok Jin-woo?”
Choi Ji-hyeok, who was always immersed in developing his talents, was particularly unfamiliar with Awakener news.
Even Mok Jin-woo, who would normally be known by name like a textbook for Awakeners, he had just learned about today.
“I see. It must have been to clean up the mess before it becomes more embarrassing, since it was caused by Mok Jin-woo’s guild members.”
“That previous battle! It was truly amazing! The movements were incredibly fast for a D-ranked Awakener, and extremely powerful!”
“You’re flattering me. I just moved as my body and mind wanted.”
“The ability to turn your body into steel! Is that also a talent?”
“Yes. I obtained it through a flower.”
“A flower that’s even harder to obtain than wild ginseng! Wow! I’m so envious!”
“I was just lucky.”
“Well, such a flower should indeed be given to someone who can use it properly. If someone like me were to take it, I’d probably use less than 10% of its ability.”
Shin-hwa looked at Choi Ji-hyuk, who was envying him like a child, and remembered some flowers that might suit him.
Future knowledge was densely packed in his mind, and he could selectively extract it as needed.
‘Good intentions are best in moderation.’
He thought coldly. Only Shin-hwa, with memories from his previous life, had lingering feelings for him. Choi Ji-hyuk had no such emotions.
“Priest.”
“Yes?”
“We’ve been talking continuously since the subway and during the drinking session.”
“A… team?”
“That’s right. I’m thinking of creating a team. Your ability is absolutely necessary for that team.”
Shin-hwa believed that Choi Ji-hyuk’s debuff ability was valuable in itself.
By linking debuffs with his own firepower, he could potentially generate maximum firepower from S+ to SS-.
More precisely, it was the attack power perceived by the opponent, but nevertheless.
As resistance decreases with debuffs, the shock energy ‘increases’ accordingly.
“I don’t know how you’ll take this, but I’m just an E-ranked awakener. I’m a combat agent without self-sustaining abilities.”
Choi Ji-hyuk’s deep sigh revealed the years he must have been ignored countless times.
‘Right now, the problem is that he doesn’t know how to use and develop debuffer skills. But in the future, there won’t be an awakener as rare as the priest.’
Shin-hwa was certain.
Choi Ji-hyuk was someone he could never give up to anyone else.
His future value was more than just a mere colleague to Shin-hwa.
With his meticulous personality, he would beautifully handle the team’s practical work and tedious tasks.
He was the exact opposite of Shin-hwa, who absolutely detested complicated and troublesome things.
“I think I can show you a small side path to break through your blocked areas.”
“Huh? What’s that?”
As Shin-hwa slightly broached the subject, Choi Ji-hyuk immediately bit.
The development of stagnant talents.
It was a problem that had kept Choi Ji-hyuk, who had been stuck in the same place for years without progress, anxiously waiting for an answer.
“When using your talent, don’t immediately draw up magical circulation, and even if you feel like it’s constantly discharging, continue maintaining magical circulation.”
“How did you know that? I’ve been doing this as a desperate measure because I have so little magical power…”
“Habits are scary. Just practice like this for a week. And when you’ve depleted all your magical power, wait until it recovers.”
“Somehow.”
“It’ll work, right?”
Shin-hwa smiled.
Was this the charm of revealing heavenly secrets?
But he didn’t rush.
While Choi Ji-hyuk would be very helpful to have around, his absence wouldn’t be a problem.
He himself was the center.
In the end, colleagues were just colleagues.
And so, their eventful night came to an end, and they parted ways, promising to meet again.
And a short while later.
The person who greeted Shin-hwa, returning home by taxi in the early dawn, was:
“Wait, why is Bo-mi here in front of our house?”
Bo-mi Jin had come to find Shin-hwa without saying a word.
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