18 – Dae-ryeon (3)
Rian was lost in thought as he observed the faint aura emanating from his hand.
While it seemed similar to a sword’s aura, a closer look revealed distinct differences in its structure.
From the flow of magic to the way it spread throughout his body.
‘I didn’t expect them to be this different.’
Well, if the two auras were as similar as Rian had thought, they wouldn’t have been referred to by different names.
They would have simply been known as “ki (氣).”
“Dogi, Changgi… So, are all those things different in structure?”
The only commonality is the use of magic as a medium.
Everything else seemed completely different.
While I was organizing my thoughts, Harang spoke up.
“What are you thinking about?”
“It’s nothing important. I just… suddenly became curious.”
“What is it? It’s okay, tell me.”
Is it because I feel strangely cared for? It felt like more than just a show of kindness, as if she was paying attention to my side.
“Oh, it must be a misunderstanding.”
Why would Harang need to pay attention to Lian’s side?
Especially when he’s much younger?
If we think about it that way, it’s Lian who should be paying attention. While Lian was pouring out all sorts of attacks, Harang quietly endured.
She even gave advice on his movements from time to time.
Lian wiped the sweat from his body and stared at Harang.
Four hours.
Even after sparring for a whopping four hours, not a single drop of sweat was shed.
Certainly, if she is much stronger than himself, she would be able to dispel this doubt.
“Harang, can you use Gwon-gi as well?”
“Of course.”
She nodded her head as she tied up her disheveled hair. As if to prove her words, her hands had been imbued with pure white magic since some time ago.
“Then what about swordsmanship?”
“…Hmm, I think that might be difficult. The way it’s wielded is so different. I only know the basics of swordsmanship. The techniques used are different, and the structure is completely different too.”
I tried to interpret Harang’s words in my own way, and it seemed impossible to infuse magic into an unskilled weapon.
So, it’s common sense that swordsmen manifest swordsmanship, and martial artists manifest martial arts.
But…
“Doesn’t that apply to me?”
Whether it’s swordsmanship or martial arts, Lian had the talent to manifest whatever she wanted immediately.
What would happen if other people found out about this fact?
“Obviously.”
In a society where anything is possible as long as you have power.
If those who reign at the top of the city could, they would do whatever it takes to make this talent their own.
“Why are you suddenly asking about that?”
“Just curious.”
“No point.”
Harang chuckled and draped a shirt over one shoulder. But despite her nonchalant appearance, her insides were burning.
“….”
Can a martial artist wield a sword?
If it were an ordinary person, it might be a question not worth answering, but for those who have reached the level of categorizing their energy, it was a question without any value.
Because…
It’s common sense.
On the contrary, until reaching the 4th rank, Lian was oblivious to such common sense.
“There probably wasn’t anyone around to teach her.”
Even though it may seem nonsensical at first glance, the term “military” lent coherence to every situation.
In some ways, the military in Turas was more closed-off than the gangs.
“……”
At such a young age, what kind of life could she have lived?
It was unimaginable. Therefore, Harang, feigning indifference, spoke.
“I’m hungry. How about lunch?”
*****
At the same time.
Blood Dagger Gang’s office. Inside a dark room, dozens of men were sprawled, covered in blood. It was too gruesome to be a simple brawl.
As if torn by a monster.
Sizzle.
A bright red light flared, spewing smoke. In front of the man smoking a cigarette, a large man was kneeling. The kneeling man’s condition was abnormal as well. His left arm was severed, and his right ear was torn.
“Explain.”
A voice like a growling beast. As the man spat out those words, one by one, they turned into chilling corpses.
Initially, they treated the man as just a madman.
Two days ago, an unfortunate incident at the casino. The situation brought together all the executives of the Blood Dagger Gang to discuss countermeasures.
Not only was the server stolen, but numerous members were killed and injured.
It was only natural that an atmosphere as if someone could be killed at any moment had formed.
At that moment.
“Hoo-.”
A man with a black snake tattoo on his arm appeared out of thin air.
“What the hell is this place…!!”
As if to show off, he appeared with a cigarette in his mouth, causing the leader sitting behind him to jump up.
Crack…!
Just like that, his upper and lower body were separated, and he died.
“….”
Followed by silence.
Due to the sudden situation, everyone’s thoughts came to a halt.
Thud!
Other than the sound of blood splattering, nothing could be heard.
In the suffocating silence, the man opened his mouth.
“Do you know why I’m here?”
Only then did the faces of the organization members recognize the man’s identity and freeze.
The Black Society, which controls the underworld along with powerful gangs. Even in such a society, he was one of the highest-ranking executives, a right-hand man in the Black Society hierarchy.
Egon, the Minister of Black Society Communism.
The boss of the Blood Dagger Gang struggled to straighten his frozen face and opened his mouth.
“….Egon. What the hell are you doing?”
In that moment.
Crack!
The neck of the organization member sitting closest to Egon flew through the air. Amidst everyone’s astonishment, Egon alone stared at the boss with a sinister gaze.
“Do you know why I came here?”
“….”
Brazenly. But instead of rashly attacking, not a single one dared to do anything, only swallowing their dry saliva while keeping an eye on Egon’s reaction.
The boss, who had been observing his subordinates, spoke up.
“…Is it because of the protection money?”
“….”
Crazy bastard.
Even though there was no way they wouldn’t know that the casino had been wrecked, he was openly flaunting his behavior like this. But he couldn’t show such emotions on the surface. In the underworld, the weak had no right to speak.
“Unfortunately, there was a problem in the workshop, so it will be paid as soon as the money is collected.”
“That’s not what’s important.”
“…Then?”
“The deadline has already passed, that’s what’s important.”
Crash!
Before the words could finish, the boss of the Blood Dagger gang slammed the desk.
“No matter how much of an underworld society this is, this is tyranny! I will immediately report this to the council-“
From Noble mtl dot com
In the boss’s momentarily paused gaze, Egon’s smile entered.
A face that said no matter how much you struggle, nothing will change.
‘Black Socialism… She ordered it!’
The Boss’s judgment was swift.
“Crush them!”
Simultaneously, a dozen or so subordinates rushed in. Armed with blades, artifacts… The entire cadre, armed with various weapons, targeted Egon’s vulnerable points from all directions.
Crash…!
Flesh turned into fragments, falling.
They didn’t kill them all. They needed to find out who had turned the gang into this state.
“Explain.”
“Mon, monster…!”
Crash!
Killing one, then another, soon there was only one left.
“Why, why are you doing this! I, I told you everything! I’ve said everything I know!”
An outcry that seemed like a tantrum.
But Egon’s blade did not stop. Silently, he severed the last lifeline of the Blood Dagger Gang.
Crash!
In the momentarily silent room.
[How did it go?]
The voice of Mihyeong echoed. She was the Black Socialist.
Egon lifted his phone, bringing it to his ear.
“It’s all taken care of.”
[Behind the Scenes?]
“I couldn’t figure it out.”
As soon as he heard the answer, the shadowy leader of the Black Society chuckled lightly.
[Curious about who they are.]
Speaking calmly, the impact of the Blood Gang’s tribute to the Black Society, for an organization of this caliber, was negligible.
Rather than the assistant of the leader stepping forward, it was enough to smoothly resolve the situation by sending just one suitable member of the organization.
However, despite that, there was a reason why Egon personally intervened.
[How many times is this?]
“This is the twenty-sixth time. Boss.”
For the past few months, numerous subordinate organizations had been hunted down.
By someone unknown.
[Even the Red Moon and the Partisans are in a similar situation to us, so we can’t recklessly turn our barrels. Ahahahaha. Whoever it is, they’ve set up the board quite well.]
Red Moon. Partisans.
Giant gangs with power comparable to the Black Society, rooted in Turas from the early days.
No matter how skilled Egon was, he couldn’t engage in such behavior against such giants.
“We will definitely find out.”
Beep…
As the call ended ominously, Egon turned towards the outside.
He might not know who was behind it, but he hadn’t learned nothing.
The wounds found on the body of the organization member dispatched to the Blood Gang.
‘…4th rank. Main weapon: dagger.’
Though I don’t know who it is, they won’t die gracefully.