------------------
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
------------------
Episode 62: I Know Everything (3)
Late at night.
Kim Cheol-soo sat in an underground shopping mall, having his dinner.
Tonight’s menu: a large cup of instant ramen.
For someone of his status, it was an unthinkably poor meal. Yet, his face was full of anticipation.
"This kind of thing has its own charm."
The organization he belonged to strictly regulated every aspect of life, including diet.
His meals were designed for nutrition rather than taste, consisting only of the highest-quality ingredients. But the flavors were always bland.
That’s why he indulged in strong, flavorful food whenever he was out on a mission.
"Three minutes are up."
His face brightened. He was about to tear open a pair of wooden chopsticks and lift the lid when footsteps echoed from the entrance.
The weight and rhythm of the steps—it was Iron Fang’s Guild Master.
As a member of Hyukcheon, being caught eating instant ramen would be disgraceful. Kim Cheol-soo sighed and quickly hid his cup noodles.
"It won’t taste good if it gets soggy..."
His grumbling was short-lived. The moment Iron Fang’s Guild Master stepped inside, Kim Cheol-soo had already composed himself.
"You’ve arrived sooner than expected. I trust you’ve carried out my request..."
His words trailed off.
The person who entered wasn’t alone.
Kwon Hanul was with him.
"...Well, this is an unexpected guest."
Kim Cheol-soo shot a sharp glare at Iron Fang’s Guild Master.
The guild master, unfazed, simply pointed at Kim Cheol-soo and spoke.
"It’s him."
"Thank you for showing me the way. Please wait upstairs for a moment."
"But, Lord Kwon Hanul... It could be dangerous."
"It’s fine. If there’s a problem, I’ll call for you."
The guild master hesitated, glancing between the two men before finally stepping outside.
"Kim Cheol-soo, Intelligence Division agent of Hyukcheon."
Kwon Hanul casually tossed a USB drive onto the table.
"I hear you wanted me to have this. Is that correct?"
"Even after my warnings... That idiot spilled everything."
"Just answer the question."
Kim Cheol-soo gave a polite bow.
"It is an honor to greet a member of the Hyukcheon bloodline. Yes, you are correct."
"Who ordered this? What’s the purpose? And are you even part of the Intelligence Division?"
"As someone loyal to Hyukcheon, I would normally obey Lord Kwon Hanul’s commands... but this time, I must ask for your forgiveness."
"You refuse to answer?"
"I apologize."
His tone was polite, but there was an unmistakable barrier between them.
Kwon Hanul’s energy surged.
"I’ll get my answers one way or another."
"Then I’ll do my best to escape."
Kim Cheol-soo pulled a short staff from his waist. With a flick, a thin, needle-like blade extended from its tip.
He positioned his feet like a fencer, raising the weapon to chest level, aiming directly at Kwon Hanul.
"So you want to fight."
"How could someone like me dare?"
Despite his words, a deadly aura gathered at the tip of his blade.
"I only wish to create an opening to flee."
The shadows at Kim Cheol-soo’s feet trembled. Suddenly, they expanded, rippling like water.
Recognizing the eerie skill, Kwon Hanul’s eyes sharpened.
"You’re not Intelligence. You’re with the Assassin Unit."
He had never seen them in action, but Joo Hayun had described them before.
Hyukcheon’s elite assassins were trained in a unique shadow-manipulation technique.
"I’m honored to be recognized."
"I’ve heard that the Assassin Unit can kill even those several levels above them."
"That’s somewhat exaggerated but not entirely false."
Kim Cheol-soo raised his blade slightly.
"Would you like to experience it firsthand?"
A sly grin appeared on Kwon Hanul’s lips.
"I won’t hold back."
Kim Cheol-soo’s smile vanished.
At that moment, the shadows surged up, swallowing the ceiling lights.
Darkness filled the basement.
Then—his blade lunged toward Kwon Hanul’s heart.
"...?"
But he felt nothing.
A moment later, the shadows dispersed, and the lights flickered back on.
Kim Cheol-soo realized why—Kwon Hanul had retreated just enough to avoid the attack.
"I expected more from the Assassin Unit. All you have are cheap tricks?"
"...I apologize. I’ll show you my real skills now."
Kim Cheol-soo launched forward, attacking repeatedly, aiming for vital points.
Kwon Hanul didn’t dodge.
Instead, he deflected every thrust with his bare palm.
Kim Cheol-soo suddenly leaped backward. From the shadows where he had stood, spikes shot out at an angle, aiming to impale Kwon Hanul.
But before they could fully form, they crumbled.
Kim Cheol-soo’s eyes widened as he looked at Kwon Hanul’s feet.
In that brief instant, Kwon Hanul had stepped on the shadow and released an aura, nullifying the skill.
"...As expected of true blood."
Cold sweat dripped from Kim Cheol-soo’s forehead.
Assassins prevailed against stronger foes by outmaneuvering them, creating opportunities through unpredictability and strategy.
Yet, Kwon Hanul had preemptively shut down every single one of his tactics.
As if he were reading his every move.
"I never thought I’d lose in a battle of wits."
Kim Cheol-soo’s killing intent intensified. His sharp gaze locked onto Kwon Hanul.
"At this point, I won’t hold back. I’ll attack with the intent to kill."
His growing aura proved his words weren’t empty threats.
But Kwon Hanul remained unimpressed.
"That’s a lie."
"Do you think I won’t harm you just because you’re of the Hyukcheon Clan? That’s a mistake. I must escape and complete my mission—"
"You claim you’re trying to kill me, but your eyes keep shifting behind me."
Kim Cheol-soo’s expression stiffened.
"You say you’ll kill me, but your body’s tension suggests you’re looking for an escape."
For the first time that night, Kim Cheol-soo felt fear.
It was as if his mind had been read.
"Your killing intent is real, but your heart says otherwise. No wonder assassins are feared."
Kwon Hanul raised his hand.
"I’ll give you one last chance. Run."
Kim Cheol-soo’s eyes darkened. His killing intent faded.
"Thank you for the opportunity. I won’t waste it."
His shadow spread, covering the basement floor entirely.
Dozens of shadowy tendrils erupted, reaching out to bind Kwon Hanul.
Shade Grab.
A binding skill that, once caught, would immobilize the target for a full minute.
The moment he activated it, Kim Cheol-soo sprinted toward the exit.
* * *
Just before the tendrils could ensnare him, Kwon Hanul vanished.
Kim Cheol-soo froze in shock.
He had escaped without disturbing a single tendril.
A feat only a ghost could achieve.
Then, suddenly—
Kwon Hanul appeared right in front of him.
“…No way?”
Kim Cheol-soo instinctively threw himself backward, trying to leap over Kwon Hanul and escape.
But before he could, Kwon Hanul’s hand shot out and grabbed his face.
<‘Ring of Lust’ shakes the target’s mind.>
<‘Vassal Bloodline’ dominates the target.>
Kwon Hanul slowly lowered his hand. Kim Cheol-soo’s eyes turned vacant as he fell to his knees.
“State your name and affiliation.”
“…I am Park Cheol-soo, an assassin of the Hyukcheon Group.”
Hanul hadn’t expected his real name to be just one syllable different from his alias.
“Who ordered you to hand me the information?”
“…That’s…”
Park Cheol-soo hesitated. Hanul’s voice grew sharper.
“Answer me.”
“…Chairman Kwon Seonwoo.”
Hanul’s expression hardened.
“The family head? Are you certain?”
“There’s no mistake.”
The USB contained information seemingly meant to make Hanul resent Kwon Seonwoo.
And yet, it was Kwon Seonwoo himself who had ordered it to be delivered?
“What the hell is that man scheming now?”
A headache was already creeping in.
* * *
Elsewhere.
“So, the data was delivered properly?”
A darkened room.
Kwon Seonwoo was speaking on the phone.
—Yes, sir.
“What was his reaction?”
—We haven’t received a report on that yet.
“I see. Good work.”
—It’s nothing, sir. Your orders are absolute.
Silence lingered. The line remained open. Sensing hesitation, Kwon Seonwoo spoke first.
“You have something to say, don’t you?”
—…May I ask a question?
“Go ahead.”
—Why did you hand over that data?
“What do you mean?”
—If Kwon Hanul sees it and resents you, it could become a serious problem.
“That’s true. That boy is no ordinary person.”
Kwon Seonwoo’s voice remained calm.
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?”
—It’s factual, but not the whole truth. Lord Kwon Cheon’s death was…
“That’s enough.”
Kwon Seonwoo cut him off.
“In the end, it was my judgment, my decision.”
Spinning his chair around, he gazed out the window and muttered,
“Whatever choice he makes is his own. All I want is for him to learn the truth about his father’s death—and use it as fuel to grow even stronger, even faster.”
—Even if that means bringing harm upon yourself?
“Yes.”
His voice was firm.
—…If that happens, I will protect you, sir.
“How reassuring.”
—I’m not joking.
“I know. That’s why I trust you.”
There was no immediate response. A long sigh came through the receiver.
—…I’ll take my leave.
Click.
The call ended.
Leaning back in his chair, Kwon Seonwoo closed his eyes for a moment.
Then, reaching into the bottom drawer of his desk, he pulled out an old photograph.
It showed a young man, smiling brightly.
“There’s still much to do… and so little time.”
For a long while, Kwon Seonwoo simply stared at the photo.
* * *
Kwon Hanul issued his command.
“Speak of this to no one. As far as you’re concerned, your mission was a success. Understood?”
“I understand.”
After bowing his head, Park Cheol-soo left the basement.
Now alone, Hanul reopened the files on the USB.
“No matter how I look at it, this data is meant to drive a wedge between me and the chairman.”
It was still hard to believe that Kwon Seonwoo had ordered it to be given to him.
“What the hell is going on?”
The more he thought about it, the more frustration welled up inside him.
As if he didn’t already have enough on his plate with Catalina Blaga and Kwon Cheon…
And now, Kwon Seonwoo was stepping into the mix as well.
“I hate being dragged around like this.”
Why had he set his sights on standing at the pinnacle of Hyukcheon Group?
So that, unlike his days as a third-rate hunter, he would never again be at the mercy of the powerful.
“I don’t know what’s going on… but I won’t go down easy.”
Just as he murmured those words—
Ding.
His phone vibrated with two new messages.
The first was from Master Craftsman Park Tae-sik.
[Your weapon is ready. Come pick it up.]
The message meant that his gloves—crafted from a dragon hatchling’s fangs and hide—were finally complete.
It was good news, but it paled in comparison to the second message.
The sender was Joo Hayun.
[The Golden Apple has ripened.]
Without realizing it, Kwon Hanul clenched his fist.
The very thing that would push him to a higher realm… was finally within his grasp.
------------------
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
------------------
