Chapter 121
Chapter 121: A Relationship Meant to Last (3)
Chief Han sprinted after White Night.
White Night guided her down to the basement.
There were bodyguards pointing guns at them along the way.
But there was no expert among them capable of stopping her—the representative climber of the Republic of Korea.
Fwoosh—! Thwack!
She hurled the Azure Dragon Spear to take one out, then swung it to pierce another through the heart.
"See? I've still got it, haven't I?"
She swung the spear to shake off the blood and turned to boast to White Night—
Patter-patter-patter—
White Night ran on without so much as acknowledging her.
"Honestly—taking after his master!"
At last, they reached the basement.
Cough— Cough!
Smoke billowed thickly.
The heat was so fierce that even her body, tempered as a transcendent peak expert, flushed all over.
Woof woof—!
White Night's voice rang out from within the smoke.
She followed the sound and found a tightly sealed steel door.
Bang, bang, bang—!
Someone was pounding on it from the other side.
"Damn. Let's see if this works."
Chief Han drew up her internal energy.
She hadn't been able to bring the Azure Dragon Spear or the Scarlet Scale Armor with her, but the Artificial Dantian she had managed to smuggle in was hers alone.
"Don't tell me I have no ability!"
Hummm—!
Her own internal energy and the energy of the Artificial Dantian merged into one, and a storm-like force radiated out from her.
She shouted toward the steel door.
"Everyone step back!"
Thirteen Spectral Arts.
2nd Form. Shattered Brilliance Flash.
The spear art passed down to her by her master—
Hwangbo Geom—
—exploded forth, and the steel door was cleanly cut apart.
"As expected!"
‘Kim Tae-yang should have seen this!’
She cheered inwardly and called out beyond the severed door.
"Is anyone in there?"
And then—
The women who had been locked inside emerged from the darkness.
The steel door had kept out the flames and the smoke, but not the heat—the interior was stifling, like a sauna.
"……Ugh."
Chief Han let out a low groan.
Every single one of them looked wretched.
Their wrists and ankles were bound in chains, and their faces bore unmistakable marks of beating.
They had been locked up so long that even she nearly covered her nose at the putrid smell.
"Please save us!"
Korean words came from a corner.
Just as the Nameless Hero had said.
"Bring them all out."
"There are more inside. Many people are trapped in cages and can't get out."
Chief Han stepped inside and swung the Azure Dragon Spear to snap open the cage locks one after another.
The total number of women freed: 18.
2 of them were Korean.
The ordeal had been so severe that some women couldn't walk properly.
There were also several who had already died and could not be brought out.
"Haah……. Come here. I'll support you."
At the harrowing sight, Chief Han bit down hard on her lip.
"Let's go."
"Where should we head?"
"Follow that one."
"Woof!"
* * *
I planted a suggestion in Louise—’take revenge on Park Je-hwang’—
And opened the door to walk outside.
"H-Hero……."
In front of the door, Im Ye-rin stood trembling, shielding Omar's little sister from the Scarlet Scale Armor while blocking the way.
Before her—
Killian's bodyguards.
15 high-floor climbers stood with drawn blades and guns.
"Heheheh—"
They were laughing at us.
The sound of footsteps came first.
Heavy and rhythmic, drumming against the floor and reverberating through it.
Lean muscle lines flowing beneath black suits, bodies hard as stone.
The way of those tempered by climbing the tower's upper floors—sun-temples bulging, shoulders and arms swollen like boulders.
The sharpened blades of the enemies reflected the light in turn.
One dragged a sword tip across the floor and sent up sparks; another leveled a smooth gun barrel directly at eye level.
The enemies' gazes were cold and heavy.
Not even a single breath could be heard.
The air pulled taut.
As if sensing a merciless assault coming, Im Ye-rin asked in a trembling voice.
"W-What do we do?"
"Im Ye-rin, get down."
Whoosh—!
At my Absolute Command carried in an energy wave, Im Ye-rin dropped flat, and I stepped forward, sweeping my sword horizontally.
The instant the blade tip split the air, a blinding flash erupted—and a slashing wave like a tremendous tide burst forth.
Schk!
Silence fell as though time had stopped.
Then—15 high-floor climbers, every single one of them, had their waists split apart simultaneously.
Not like people—smoothly, as though tearing thin paper.
Amid a cascade of blood, the bisected bodies toppled one by one to the floor with a heavy thud.
‘……Master's martial arts are always a masterpiece, no matter how many times I see them.’
For the first time in a while, I felt grateful for the martial arts—alongside the poison art—that had made me an absolute master of the martial world.
"Hiiiieee—!"
Im Ye-rin was staring at me with an expression like she might faint from my overwhelming martial arts.
"R-Right… now…?"
"Let's go quickly. Your role model is waiting."
"……"
Im Ye-rin followed behind me with a dazed expression, shuffling her steps.
I called to her quietly.
"Im Ye-rin."
"Yes……. Hero."
Her voice carried extreme reverence.
I said with a light smile.
"I heard from Tae-yang. That you bully our Tae-yang."
"Pardon……. What? No! No, I don't!"
"Get along with him."
"Yes! Yes! Of course."
【Kim Tae-yang '…….' +500 Happiness】
And so—
I cured one patient infected with the Kim Bo-reum virus.
* * *
Heading downstairs, smoke hung thick in the air.
I drew up my energy sense and parted a path through the smoke.
"Cough— Cough!"
"This way, please."
Chief Han and the women, bending low, followed the cleared path out.
Woof—!
"Well done. White Night."
Woof!
I patted White Night on the head.
Just then, a group of people descended from the second floor.
Pyeon Jae-yeong and National Intelligence Service agents.
"Damn it! It's already been picked clean!"
"Only a few documents remain."
"Take even those. Any longer and we'll choke to death."
As expected, Pyeon Jae-yeong had gone upstairs to secure the CCTV footage containing his own shameful secrets—
But came back down having accomplished nothing, swallowing only mouthfuls of smoke.
"Who are you people?"
"Have you concluded your business?"
"Y-You… The Nameless Hero?"
"Save the catching-up for later. Let's get out first."
Pyeon Jae-yeong, flustered but following along, came after me as I led the way toward the exit.
The National Intelligence Service agents who spotted me murmured among themselves.
They arrived at the main gate.
"Cough, cough! We can get out through there."
Pyeon Jae-yeong coughed as he stepped to the front.
"The energy doesn't feel right. I'll open a different way out for you."
"What? What do you mean! There's a door right there."
"If we go out this way, we'll be riddled with bullets."
"Ha!"
"White Night."
I pointed to the wall away from the main gate.
"Break it."
"Grrrrr—"
Instantly White Night's fur stood on end, and with energy gathered, White Night charged straight at the wall.
Kraaa-BOOM!
The wall shattered and a new opening was made.
"Go through there. You worked hard, White Night."
White Night staggered a little from the impact.
"Woof woof."
"Goodness……"
Chief Han stared at me and White Night with wide, stunned eyes.
"Please head out."
"Yes."
Chief Han took the lead, and the women followed.
Stepping outside—
The sudden explosion had sent the many riot unit members and several National Intelligence Service agents who had been standing outside ducking for cover, eyes fixed only on the main gate—and they jumped in shock.
I shouted loudly.
"Don't shoot! They are civilians!"
And turning to Chief Han, I said—
"Please go ahead."
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"I still have something left to do here. And the gift I mentioned—you'll know what it is very shortly."
"Pardon?"
"Congratulations on your return."
Whip—!
I pulled off the Human Skin Mask she was wearing.
"W-What is the meaning of—?!"
She covered her face, flustered.
At that moment—
Flash-flash-flash! Click! Click!
Camera flashes fired from every direction.
"Chief Han?"
"It's Chief Han!"
"It's Chief Han from Gukmubon!"
"Chief Han saved the hostages!"
"There are Koreans! Don't shoot!"
Only then did she let out a gasp.
She had realized that she had become a hero.
【Chief Han smiles, saying she will gratefully accept the gift. +10,000 Happiness】
The birth of a new hero!
Amid the torrent of camera flashes—
Pyeon Jae-yeong, who emerged belatedly, caught sight of the attention being showered upon her, immediately recognized it as a lifeline, and came rushing to stand by her side.
"Ah! I am Pyeon Jae-yeong, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea."
"Pyeon Jae-yeong?"
"Today's rescue operation was carried out under my, Pyeon Jae-yeong's, command, cough, cough! Together with Chief Han. Ah, of course the orders were mine, but—"
"Chief Han! Look this way, please!"
"Chief Han, please explain! Was the reason for your disappearance from Korea because of this rescue operation?"
Reporters competed to cover Chief Han one after another.
* * *
"Where did he go?"
I went back inside Killian's building to look for Killian.
"Where are you hiding?"
I opened my energy gate and scattered my energy sense, but detecting Killian's presence was difficult.
Only the presences of Killian's remaining lackeys could be felt.
Someone with powerful martial arts like Chief Han could be sensed from a great distance—
But Killian's energy was not remarkable at all.
He had talked as if he were an expert on the Tower, but in reality it had all been bluster.
He appeared to have almost no experience as a climber either.
"There's no way he's already fled."
Killian already knew my face.
Which meant I absolutely had to eliminate him.
The ones who had seen my face at that time—other than Killian—had all been killed and disposed of.
Killian was the only one left.
"Is there a secret passage."
I drew up a little more energy.
Looking carefully—
Killian's lackeys were all moving in a particular direction.
"He's there."
Going to a corner on the 1st floor, I spotted a passage slightly ajar, hidden in one corner of the wall.
It was a path that led outside.
As I walked through it, murmuring began to reach my ears.
And then—
Bang-bang-bang-bang!
Gunfire.
Frowning, I pressed further—
And there was Killian with his subordinates.
And aiming at them—
Omar.
"Omar!"
"Boss!"
Omar was holding a rifle, and bodies were strewn in front of him.
It looked like he too had been wounded in the fighting—there were injuries on his shoulder and leg.
"……I told you to stay hidden."
"My sister—I'll save her myself!"
His eyes were blazing.
I let out a short sigh and told him.
"Your sister is safe. Already rescued—she's outside."
"Really?"
"Yes. Don't worry. And Killian?"
"Back behind his men."
"But what have you been doing out here?"
Omar said quietly.
"I've run… Out of bullets."
"Ha!"
‘So this whole time he's been cornering those climbers with an empty gun?’
Omar's nerve and blazing gaze.
The aura radiating off him—in sheer force alone, it was that of an expert.
"……Come along. Translate."
"Yes."
【Omar lets out a sigh of relief, saying heaven has helped him. +10,000 Happiness】
I walked slowly forward.
Killian's men numbered roughly 10.
The moment I appeared, they visibly recoiled, stumbling backward in panic.
Having watched me kill every single one I'd crossed paths with earlier—they were paralyzed with fear.
Some even buckled at the knees and collapsed.
Even so, every one of them was clutching armfuls of valuables to their chests.
Porcelain and paintings from Killian's house.
Gold ingots, ancient manuscripts—things of that sort.
If they had even grabbed 1 gun, they wouldn't now be at the mercy of Omar and his empty rifle.
"I suppose there's no helping low-grade villains."
Going on about ruling France and so forth—
They were utterly pathetic.
I clicked my tongue and stepped forward.
Killian's men parted like the Red Sea to either side.
"Killian."
Killian had a pistol—his trusted one—gripped in one hand.
He was clutching several folders tightly to his chest.
The sight of him hugging those few folders as though they were his lifeline was almost too ridiculous.
He asked me.
"Who are you?"
"The Nameless Hero."
"Kim Tae-yang……! So you're the master of that bastard."
Leading with Kim Tae-yang's name.
He must be carrying quite a grudge from what I've done to him.
"Were you trying to run?"
"……"
"Then you should have run."
Killian turned his head to look at the far end of the passage—
A firmly sealed door.
"Is the door locked?"
"Damn it……"
I shifted my gaze to the floor of the 1st-floor secret passage.
There was a blood trail on the floor.
The ones Omar had killed were all around the middle of the passage, so it wasn't theirs.
The blood trail continued all the way to the door at the far end.
Footprints over the blood trail.
The owners of the footprints were Killian and his men.
Meaning—the person who had been bleeding passed through first.
Someone who would know about this secret passage.
Someone in such desperate haste that they locked the door without looking back.
‘……It's Louise.’
"God damn it! Louise that bitch betrayed me."
Louise had fled through the secret passage and locked the door behind her as she ran.
"Hahaha……"
A laugh burst out of me at the absurd situation.
"That's why I said—be good to people."
"……?!"
Killian's eyes flew wide open at my words.
He said in a trembling voice.
"K-Kim… Tae-yang?"
Thwack—!
I snatched the gun from Killian.
"Do you remember our first meeting?"
"……"
"I told you then. If you don't touch me, I won't touch you."
"Ha!"
"I don't like you, but having overseas distribution networks would be useful, I thought. Life in Paris was better than I expected too. There was even a part of me thinking of settling down here for a while. But……"
Schk—
I pressed the gun muzzle to Killian's forehead.
"You targeted my little siblings."
He glared at me, shaking.
"……Are you going to kill me?"
"I have no intention of letting you live."
At that, Killian frantically waved the folders in his hand and cried out.
"The assets I have aren't only in here. There's far more outside! And the information I know—it's incredible! Enough to bring down the President of France!"
Killian's attempt at negotiation had begun.
"Do you want money? I'll give you as much as you want! W-Women?! I'll see to it you experience the finest pleasures every day. Pleasures you've never felt before!"
"……"
I slowly drew the muzzle I had pressed against his forehead away.
"T-That's right! I knew it!"
The moment relief rose on Killian's face—my lips opened.
"I suppose we were never meant to be long-term acquaintances after all."
I gave the gun to Omar.
"Plenty of bullets."
"Yes."
Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!
Killian crumpled, riddled with holes.
【Omar sheds burning tears, saying his revenge is complete. +100,000 Happiness】
I looked down at Killian's corpse.
I let out a wry smile—
Schring—
I drew the Iron Instrument God's dagger.
The moment I moved to deal with the remaining lackeys—
"……!"
My spine stood on end all at once!
Kraaa-KRAAAABOOOOM! Kraaa-kraaaaaboooom!
With a tremendous blast, the entire building began to collapse.