Chapter 242 – On the Same Side

The sudden sound of applause made Kang Hyuk-su look up sharply.

Two men were walking toward them.

One was Asian, the other Western.

“Who are you guys?”

Kang Hyuk-su asked with eyes full of wariness, but the other party didn’t seem tense at all.

Instead, the Asian man smiled and continued clapping.

“That’s a good look in your eyes, Mr. Kang Hyuk-su. Truly befitting a murderer.”

“What?”

It sounded like mockery at first glance, but the Asian was genuinely smiling with satisfaction.

“How does it feel to kill someone? Good, right? Well, I’d have felt good too if I’d killed vermin like that.”

“…You saw?”

“Of course. I’ve been watching with stealth this whole time. Though with your low combat power, you couldn’t see us.”

At those words, Kang Hyuk-su tensed up.

‘I really didn’t sense these two at all.’

Moreover, they had appeared so suddenly, as if from nowhere.

‘If they really were watching with stealth, it means their combat power is higher than mine…’

Kang Hyuk-su tightened his grip on his weapon.

He might have to fight if necessary.

These people clearly hadn’t appeared with good intentions.

“Who are you?”

“Is there any reason I should tell you?”

“You speak Korean, but you’re not Korean… Are you Chinese too?”

“Who knows?”

“I don’t care about your nationality. Just answer my questions. Are you with that dead dark mage?”

“With him… That sounds like we’re equals, which doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Are you with him or not?”

“I suppose you could say that. To be precise, I’m the one who ordered the kidnapping.”

Kang Hyuk-su’s eyes widened.

“You’re the mastermind behind the kidnapping?”

“Yes.”

“Not those Jin Weizheng or Jin Weibai guys?”

“Those people are just obedient subordinates. Same with that dead dark mage.”

“So you’re saying… you ordered our kidnapping?”

“Yes.”

“And you told the dark mage to create a situation where I would rape Hye-won?”

“That’s right. You understand well.”

Jeong Hye-won was shocked by this revelation.

‘Ah… so that’s why the dark mage released Hyuk-su. And Hyuk-su was just pretending to follow orders…’

Understanding the situation, Jeong Hye-won stood beside Kang Hyuk-su.

Judging by how he was grinding his teeth in anger, it seemed like Kang Hyuk-su might lose his temper and charge at any moment.

‘No more fighting. Especially not with these two!’

Even to Jeong Hye-won’s eyes, these two men seemed to be on a completely different level from the dark mage.

She instinctively felt that they would lose if they fought.

‘Especially that Asian man. He’s deliberately smiling and provoking Hyuk-su. As if he wants him to attack first.’

She couldn’t understand what he was thinking, but she couldn’t let them fall into his trap.

‘I’ll have to stop him if necessary.’

With that thought, she stayed close to Kang Hyuk-su, but he was so consumed by anger that he didn’t even notice her beside him.

He was just radiating killing intent toward the Asian man.

“Why did you do it? Why kidnap me and Hye-won and set up this whole thing?”

“Because I wanted you.”

“What?”

Seeing Kang Hyuk-su’s momentarily dumbfounded expression, the Asian man chuckled.

“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t swing that way. What I want is your power.”

“Power?”

“For a tank, you have considerable combat power. 1.4 million, right?”

Kang Hyuk-su couldn’t hide his surprise that the man knew his combat power.

“How do you know my combat power…?”

“I don’t just know yours. Shin Kyung-min is at 1.65 million. And Jeong Hye-won beside you is at 1.08 million.”

“Is what he’s saying true, Hye-won?”

Jeong Hye-won nodded with an incredulous face.

“…That’s right.”

By this point, Kang Hyuk-su had no choice but to believe him.

“Do you have some trait that lets you see combat power?”

“Who knows? If I tell you, will you tell me about your trait?”

“I won’t.”

“Don’t lie. You’re just planning to take my information and run.”

“I promise I won’t.”

“I don’t trust promises from people who aren’t my subordinates.”

“Aren’t you curious about my trait?”

“I’ll get that information anyway once I make you one of my people. No need to bargain.”

“Me? Join you?”

Kang Hyuk-su let out a scornful breath.

“That will never happen.”

“Are you sure? Soon you’ll be on my side, telling me about your trait and everything.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Do you think I’d be crazy enough to tell you my trait?”

“Well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t tell me. I’m not that curious anyway. What I want is you as a person. I’d like to have the woman too, but it seems she won’t join me.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You don’t need to understand. You’ll forget everything we’ve talked about anyway.”

He was an incomprehensible man.

To Kang Hyuk-su, he looked like a schizophrenic full of delusions.

“Anyway, you did better than expected. I didn’t think you’d actually kill the dark mage.”

“The way you talk, it’s like you predicted all this.”

“Of course I considered it. That’s why I deliberately assigned someone with similar combat power-so you could kill the dark mage.”

“Your delusions are getting out of hand.”

“Actually, the original scenario was for you to rape Jeong Hye-won and then kill her as the dark mage instructed, but instead the poor dark mage ended up dead.”

The Asian man made a regretful expression.

“It’s a shame, but what can you do? At least I got you in exchange.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but one thing is clear.”

Kang Hyuk-su pointed his sword at the Asian.

“You’re an enemy I need to kill.”

“You can’t beat me, Mr. Kang Hyuk-su. My combat power is 2.5 million. And this Western friend beside me has over 2 million.”

“…”

“Even if you and Jeong Hye-won team up, you can’t match my combat power alone. Do you really want to fight? Do you think you can win?”

His skill at irritating others while smiling was remarkable.

“Hyuk-su, don’t fall for it. He’s deliberately provoking you…”

“F*ck combat power and all that!”

Kang Hyuk-su raised his shield.

“We’ll see who’s stronger when we fight!”

He was about to charge, but Jeong Hye-won was faster.

“Stop it!”

“Hye-won?”

With her blocking his path, Kang Hyuk-su had no choice but to cancel his charge.

“Get a grip. Didn’t you hear his combat power just now? It’s twice as high as ours.”

“But I can’t just stand here…”

Jeong Hye-won spoke in a quiet voice.

“I’ll buy you time.”

“What?”

“While I distract them, you escape.”

“What are you saying? How could I leave you behind…”

“Thank you for saving me. Think of this as me repaying that debt.”

“…”

“Hurry!”

At Jeong Hye-won’s urging, Kang Hyuk-su’s reason returned.

It was a fight they couldn’t win in a direct confrontation.

But Kang Hyuk-su didn’t back down.

“Hyuk-su?”

As he stepped forward with his sword, Jeong Hye-won looked at him with incomprehension.

“What are you doing?”

“Hye-won, do I look like the kind of shameless man who would run away and leave the woman I love behind?”

“This is a matter of life and death. If we fight like this, we’ll die for nothing…”

“If I’m going to die either way, I’d rather die fighting.”

“If I buy time, at least you could survive.”

“Really? Could I really escape their pursuit? Maybe attacking together gives us a better chance.”

Whether he heard Kang Hyuk-su’s words or not, the Asian man suddenly clapped his hands.

Clap- Clap- Clap-

“Good decision. It’s better to fight like a warrior than to run away.”

“Don’t clap before I cut off your hands. I don’t want praise from someone like you.”

“Oh, what fierce eyes. Is this the look of someone who has killed before?”

“Shut up!”

Kang Hyuk-su charged forward suddenly.

Jeong Hye-won followed belatedly.

Seeing this, the Asian man calmly instructed the Westerner beside him.

“James, take care of the woman. Don’t kill her, just keep her from escaping.”

“Understood.”

James instantly blocked Jeong Hye-won’s path.

Startled, she was about to throw a punch but jumped instead.

James’s halberd had been aiming for her legs.

Whoosh-!

Fortunately, she wasn’t hit, but the problem came next.

The halberd was falling vertically.

It was James’s signature skill, Cross Slash.

“Ah.”

Unable to dodge in mid-air, she crossed her arms.

She planned to defend with the wrist guards that came as a set with her knuckles.

Clang-!

“Ugh!”

Thankfully, she blocked it with the metal guards, but the impact sent her rolling on the ground.

And then.

Slash-!

“Aaaah!”

The pursuing halberd cut off both her ankles.

“Hye, Hye-won!”

Seeing her taken down so quickly, Kang Hyuk-su tried to turn around.

But.

“You shouldn’t take your eyes off your opponent.”

The Asian man, who had somehow approached, swung his sword, forcing Kang Hyuk-su to raise his shield.

Bang!

Even though it was a simple strike, the damage felt was no joke.

Bang- Bang- Bang!

‘What is this guy?’

Each blow was heavy.

‘Was he telling the truth about having 2.5 million combat power?’

Cold sweat ran down Kang Hyuk-su’s face.

It was a situation where one-on-one combat yielded no answer.

And he couldn’t hope for help from Jeong Hye-won, whose ankles had been cut off.

Poke-

The tip of the sword touched Kang Hyuk-su’s Adam’s apple.

“How about it? Are you ready to surrender now?”

“Surrender? Never! Even if I die, I’ll never surrender to you!”

“Oh, your spirit is still unbroken.”

“Stop chattering like a girl and just kill me already!”

“When did I say I was going to kill you?”

The Asian man met Kang Hyuk-su’s eyes.

“Soon, you’ll be on my side.”

A moment later, the Asian’s pupils turned purple.

Kang Hyuk-su, who had been making eye contact, seemed entranced and couldn’t regain his senses.

“Hehe, you should have listened to that woman. If you hadn’t committed murder, you wouldn’t have become a puppet like this.”

Though he muttered as if regretful, contrary to his words, the Asian’s face was clearly delighted.

‘Ugh… Hyuk-su.’

Jeong Hye-won looked at Kang Hyuk-su while enduring the pain of her severed ankles.

‘Why are you just standing there?’

She couldn’t understand why Kang Hyuk-su was standing still in the middle of his attack.

What happened next was even more incomprehensible.

“Mr. Kang Hyuk-su.”

“Yes.”

Kang Hyuk-su spoke formally to the Asian man.

“Are you ready to listen to me now?”

“Of course.”

“Then here’s my first order.”

The Asian pointed at Jeong Hye-won.

“Kill that woman over there.”

“Leave it to me.”

Kang Hyuk-su walked toward her with his sword raised.

“Hyu, Hyuk-su? What are you doing? Why are you listening to him?”

Despite Jeong Hye-won’s confused voice, Kang Hyuk-su’s expression remained indifferent.

“Ah, could it be?”

Jeong Hye-won spoke in a quiet voice.

“Is this a strategy? Like when you pretended to listen to the dark mage before counterattacking?”

“It’s not like that.”

“What? Then…?”

“I’m sorry, Hye-won.”

Kang Hyuk-su raised his sword high.

“Now die.”

“Ah…”

Jeong Hye-won realized.

This wasn’t Kang Hyuk-su playing around.

‘I’m going to die here.’

With her ankles cut off, she couldn’t even escape.

All she could do was wait to be sliced by Kang Hyuk-su’s sword.

Just then.

“Mr. Kang Hyuk-su!”

The Asian man shouted urgently.

“Dodge!”

Not understanding why, Kang Hyuk-su instinctively raised his shield.

Bang-!

With a thunderous sound, Kang Hyuk-su was sent flying and rolled on the ground before getting up.

“Ugh, what was that?”

As he glared at whoever had attacked him, his eyes widened.

It was because he recognized the face.

“Min Do-jun?”