Chapter 113
Chapter 113: Kill Kim Tae-yang (2)
[France Black Market, Undisclosed Location]
"Quite the distinguished figure seems to have paid us a visit."
The number one man in the French Black Market.
Killian Ferrand addressed the masked man standing before him.
The man's brow furrowed slightly.
"I think you're mistaken."
"Not mistaken about who you are—mistaken about what you're wearing."
"……?"
"First time wearing a Human Skin Mask, I take it. It's obviously awkward just from a glance."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Have you forgotten that we also deal in Human Skin Masks? Let's drop the faces and talk properly."
"……."
The man said nothing. Killian Ferrand rose from his seat.
"Boys. Our guest is leaving."
At that, the man muttered ‘damn it’ under his breath and pulled off the Human Skin Mask he'd been wearing over his face.
It was Pyeon Jae-yeong.
Killian Ferrand smiled and spoke.
"To think I'd see the Republic of Korea's Minister of Justice in person."
"So you already knew everything."
"Hohoho. What was so important to hide that you went as far as wearing a Human Skin Mask."
"……."
Even though Pyeon Jae-yeong was a minister—
Killian, being French, couldn't have recognized his face on sight alone.
Pyeon Jae-yeong asked,
"Who told you I was coming?"
"All manner of information circulates through the Black Market's auctions."
French intelligence, or Black Market informants.
Or perhaps someone in Korea had leaked the information.
‘Did Park Jae-yeol send a watcher?’
Pyeon Jae-yeong, thinking there wasn't a single person he could trust, observed the surroundings around Killian.
Killian had 4 bodyguards around him.
Every one of them had the build of a bear, and their presence was considerable.
‘They'll all be high-rank Climbers.’
In the seat directly beside Killian sat a single man serving as their interpreter.
He was clearly Korean.
He wore fine clothing, though it was wrinkled in various places.
His eyes and face were covered in bruises.
‘Looks like Killian beats his interpreters too.’
By the window behind the sofa where Killian sat, there was a young-looking girl of about twenty.
Looking out the window with a sulky expression—displeased about something—the girl bore a faint resemblance to Killian.
"Since it's come to this, let's introduce ourselves. You'll know who I am."
"Very well."
Killian gestured to the man seated beside him.
"This Korean fellow is our organization's interpreter. What was your name again…… Han?"
Kim Han-yang bit his lip and spoke.
"Kim Han-yang."
Pyeon Jae-yeong offered a greeting.
"A Korean. Please interpret well for us, fellow countryman."
"……Fellow countryman, my ass. Even hearing that word—"
Kim Han-yang turned his head away.
Pyeon Jae-yeong's expression tightened slightly, but he didn't show it.
Killian pointed to the girl behind him.
"That's my niece. Louise, say hello."
Louise gave a slight nod from where she stood.
"Now then, let's get to business. What wind blew a minister all the way to my door."
Pyeon Jae-yeong crossed his arms and opened his mouth.
"I'm sure you already know. It's because of the Nameless Hero."
"Go on."
"Take care of him."
Killian let out a dismissive snort, as if the idea were absurd.
"Why would we do something that insane? You should know how valuable the Nameless Hero is."
"……."
"France is in celebration every single day. Why on earth would I do something like that for your benefit."
Pyeon Jae-yeong looked at Killian and pressed him.
"But your true feelings are different, aren't they?"
"What do you mean?"
"The nation's interests and your interests are separate things."
"Hmph."
Pyeon Jae-yeong explained slowly.
"There was an organization in our Korea much like your Black Market, called the Red Dragon Gate."
"I've heard of it."
"That organization got completely gutted."
"……!"
"The Nameless Hero and Ghost took it over."
Killian's brow creased.
Pyeon Jae-yeong continued,
"Killian. Is there any guarantee the same won't happen to your Black Market?"
"You think we'd be as easy a target as Korea?"
"But you are worried. That's why you agreed to meet me."
"……."
"Think carefully."
Killian mulled it over before answering.
"The risk is far too great. His strength is still unknown even to us."
Pyeon Jae-yeong raised both hands and said,
"You've misunderstood. I'm not asking you to do anything about the Nameless Hero."
"……?"
"There is 1 subordinate who handles his affairs."
Pyeon Jae-yeong held out a photograph.
It was a photo of Kim Tae-yang.
"……!"
At that, Kim Han-yang's eyes suddenly gleamed.
Killian, seated beside him, didn't notice it—but Pyeon Jae-yeong didn't miss it.
"He's someone who runs all manner of errands for the Nameless Hero."
"Doesn't look particularly strong."
"That's exactly why I'm asking you to deal with him."
"If we grab this one, won't the Nameless Hero come after us?"
Pyeon Jae-yeong smiled and said,
"France has its share of accidents, doesn't it? Traffic accidents, kidnapping incidents."
Killian's expression soured.
He looked reluctant.
Pyeon Jae-yeong said,
"All you have to do is make sure no one knows it was you. If any problems arise, we'll take the blame."
Killian narrowed his eyes and asked,
"How?"
"Simply hand over Kim Tae-yang's person to us. We'll issue a statement that it was our government's doing."
"And if he dies while being captured?"
Pyeon Jae-yeong smiled pleasantly.
"That's fine too."
‘Crafty old raccoon.’
Killian thought to himself.
Kim Tae-yang was the Nameless Hero's subordinate.
So the Nameless Hero would come to hold someone responsible for Kim Tae-yang's death.
‘He must be captured alive and handed over.’
That was the true intention.
Killian crossed his arms and spoke.
"I do have a sense of patriotism, you see."
"Hmm."
"The Nameless Hero is currently working for our France. It sits ill with me to provoke someone working for us."
"The Nameless Hero can do whatever he likes—whether he stays in France or leaves is France's own business to sort out."
Swoosh.
Pyeon Jae-yeong leaned his body forward.
"Shouldn't both our nations—the Republic of Korea and France—at least secure something to gain from this?"
"Something to gain……."
Killian stroked his chin.
Kim Tae-yang.
This one must be someone the Nameless Hero holds dear.
If they could just capture him, they could control the Nameless Hero.
Pyeon Jae-yeong, who missed none of the subtle shift in his expression, pressed even deeper.
"All you want is to maintain the power you have now, and all we want is to share in a little of that power."
"It won't be as simple as you make it sound."
"And if you leave things as they are and the Nameless Hero strips you of everything? Won't you regret it by then?"
Pyeon Jae-yeong rose from his seat and continued,
"Think it over carefully. I'll return tomorrow evening."
* * *
People are truly strange creatures.
They fight to the death over things others find utterly trivial, try to actually kill each other over them, and sometimes do.
Whether in this modern world or in the martial world—it's all the same.
And once it starts, those around you get pulled in like a black hole.
In the end, even in matters that have nothing to do with you, you find yourself clashing, stabbing, and splattering blood.
The chocolate contest a few days ago was exactly that.
‘What was even the point of throwing myself into it so completely.’
I'd gotten so caught up I even called the police.
Louise and the professors who got taken away by the police.
From that day on, I'd been keeping a French news channel on—and while the news about the professors being arrested did come up, Louise herself was nowhere to be seen.
‘The Ferrand Family that runs the Black Market must have pulled her out.’
On top of that, the media had seemed ready to air a special broadcast at any moment—
Yet even after several days, there wasn't a single mention.
‘That means they've gagged the press too.’
In the end, it meant I'd eventually have to fight that girl Louise—and the Ferrand Family behind her.
Because Louise would have no intention of leaving Min-jeong alone.
‘More blood is going to flow. Good grief, I'm tired.’
So what exactly is the reason for all this endless fighting, over and over again.
I rested my chin on the café table and turned that unresolved question over in my mind.
It was then.
Kyahrrr—.
The bright laughter of young women drew my gaze.
Bo-reum and Min-jeong, who had grown so close without my noticing, were approaching with smiles on their faces as if something was wonderfully amusing.
"What are you doing?"
Bo-reum set a sweet Caramel Macchiato in front of me and shot me a look.
"Oppa, try some of this too."
Min-jeong held out a slice of chocolate cake.
"What were you thinking about to be making that face like you bit into something rotten?"
I lifted my head and looked at Bo-reum.
Bo-reum had dressed herself up beautifully and was showing off the kind of looks that would earn compliments from anyone.
"You."
"Huh?"
"You look somewhat pretty today."
"Oh my, have you lost your mind?"
"I pay you a compliment and you make a fuss!"
"You're insane! Why are you yelling?!"
"You started it!"
My sister and I, snarling at each other immediately.
Min-jeong seemed to find even that sight delightful—she burst out laughing.
Right.
‘……It's because of these two.’
Some time later.
I trudged along behind the 2 women, arms loaded with shopping bags.
"You said we were going to play, so why have we been shopping all day?"
"This is playing, oppa."
"Is spending money really that fun?"
"There's a lot left from the money you gave me last time."
"Then you should be saving it."
At my words, Bo-reum declared boldly.
"Oh please! Everything I bought today you can't get in Korea. Take it back to Korea and list it on Danggun Market and people will be lining up to pay extra for it. It's all an investment."
"Sure, you'll be rich."
"I will be rich!"
"You studied humanities!"
I walked the 2 of them to Min-jeong's house.
They headed out again to go sightseeing somewhere, and I ate the dinner Min-jeong's mother had prepared and waited.
I kept waiting, but they didn't come, so I decided to head home.
"Oh my, Mr. Kim, are you leaving already?"
"I have things to take care of. Thank you for dinner."
"Come by any time you're craving a home-cooked meal."
Min-jeong's mother looked inwardly disappointed that I was going.
As I stepped outside, I spotted Bo-reum and Min-jeong coming back.
"What took you so long?"
"Women's secrets."
"I'm heading out."
"Stay a little longer."
"I have to go. I need to extend my hotel stay too. I'll have to let them know I'm doing another month of long-term."
It hadn't been the plan—
But as things were going, it didn't look like French affairs would wrap up anytime soon.
"Alright. Our oppa worked hard today."
"I'm not playing with you two next time."
"Heheh. Thanks anyway. Take care."
"Hold on."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out White Night.
"Woof!"
Bo-reum's eyes went wide.
"Oh my! It's White Night. Didn't you take him along when Mom and Dad went on their cruise?"
"Pets aren't allowed on cruises, it turned out."
"But when did you bring White Night here?"
"He was here from the start."
"I'm sure he wasn't here earlier."
Bo-reum tilted her head.
"I left him somewhere. Anyway, will you look after White Night for me? I can't keep him in my hotel room."
"I'm more than happy to."
"Oh my, he's so cute."
Min-jeong also brightened at the sight of White Night.
White Night looked at Min-jeong and Bo-reum, glanced once at me—and immediately began wagging his tail.
"Woof!"
My, this little one.
‘You even know how to do that?’
"Oppa, don't worry. We'll take great care of him."
Then Bo-reum said to Min-jeong.
"You don't know him like I do, Min-jeong. You have no idea how particular he is about food."
"What do you mean?"
"He only eats Korean Hanwoo. And only 1++ grade."
"Really? He's quite the food connoisseur."
I patted White Night on the head and said,
"White Night. This is France. There's no Hanwoo here. So even if they give you pet food, you need to eat it."
"Woof woof!"
"……Get him some good meat."
I entrusted White Night to them and got into the car.
The 2 of them went upstairs carrying White Night in their arms.
White Night.
‘Watch over these girls for me.’
"Hopefully White Night won't have to get involved."
‘Truth be told, I had a nagging uneasy feeling, which was why I'd taken White Night from the poison herb field and sent him to the girls.’
"Speaking of which, why hasn't Omar been in touch?"
* * *
[Same time]
Omar was trapped in a Black Market basement, his entire body drenched in blood.
He wasn't the only one locked in dog cages.
There were men occasionally, but most were women from Europe and Asia.
All of them young women of striking appearance.
"Omar, you son of a bitch."
Kim Han-yang stood in front of Omar's cage holding a long electric shock rod.
"Kim Han-yang! You think you'll walk away from this unscathed?!"
"Bwahahah! What are you talking about? You're the one in a cage."
"You filthy Korean bastard. You tricked me! I should have caught on the moment you said you'd show me my little sister locked up!"
"Who said I tricked you? I showed you, didn't I—right over there."
Kim Han-yang pointed to a cage in one corner.
Inside it was Omar's sister—in terrible shape.
"Getting tricked just means you were an idiot. And who are you to point fingers? You should've been ready for this the moment you laid hands on me."
"When our boss finds out, he won't let you—"
Zzzzt—.
Kim Han-yang shoved the electric shock rod through the bars of the cage.
"AAAARGH!"
Omar convulsed once in agony.
"Damn it! You're making me remember things I'd rather forget."
Kim Han-yang spat hard.
Omar bit his lip and pleaded with Kim Han-yang.
"Let my sister go……. I'm the only one who needs to suffer."
"Of course, I can't let you go. And it wasn't me who caged your sister. That would be our boss Killian."
"Kim Han-yang!"
Kim Han-yang snickered and said,
"That bastard compatriot of mine—I'll make sure to kill him. And his little sister too. But before that……."
Kim Han-yang flicked his tongue as he looked at Omar's sister.
"I'll have a little fun first."