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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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“But… it’s hard to trust a villain like you completely.”
Yoon Gi-seong, an S-rank villain, was quite skilled. He could not only conceal his presence but also pinpoint the exact location where I’d used Windwalk.
‘He’s quite perceptive, too,’ I thought after our conversation. He was a high-ranking villain with extensive knowledge of the underworld. ‘He’ll be quite useful.’
However, I couldn’t fully trust him without conditions or restrictions. I planned to impose some constraints, even if they were a bit harsh.
Whoosh!
Lee Seong-jun vanished before Yoon Gi-seong’s eyes.
“…?”
Yoon Gi-seong’s eyes widened in surprise, and he frantically scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, a large hand grabbed him by the head, and a wave of heat surged through him.
“Gasp—!”
He tried to move, but his body wouldn’t respond. He couldn’t muster any strength. His limbs went limp, like a puppet with cut strings.
‘What’s going on…?’
Fear gripped him, his eyes darting around wildly.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you,”
Lee Seong-jun said with a relaxed smile. Just then, Yoon Gi-seong felt a surge of energy converging around his heart.
Thrum!
A resonant hum filled his ears as the energy coalesced, forming a ring around his heart. Lee Seong-jun’s dark eyes, like the night sky, turned crimson red.
‘True Blood Subjugation.’
This martial art was the reason why Blood Cult members were fanatically loyal to the Blood Demon. And its effects were devastating. It bound the target’s heart, forcing them into submission.
Any lies or hostile intentions would immediately alert the caster, the Blood Demon. And it wasn’t just an alert. The caster could inflict excruciating pain by manipulating the energy or even crush the target’s heart. Complete control over life and death. The ultimate fail-safe.
“Let’s go over everything we discussed again, from the beginning.”
Lee Seong-jun said, his smile unwavering. Yoon Gi-seong, sprawled on the ground before him, was pale with fear.
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True Blood Subjugation’s ability to detect lies rendered Yoon Gi-seong’s carefully crafted deceptions useless. However, there was no need to utilize its full power. Yoon Gi-seong, ensnared by the technique, answered every question truthfully.
‘He changed his tune quickly.’
Lee Seong-jun chuckled, recalling Yoon Gi-seong’s abrupt change in demeanor.
‘…I initially thought he was just being cooperative because he was perceptive.’
But that wasn’t the case. Yoon Gi-seong couldn’t possibly know about True Blood Subjugation. There was no way. Yet, he acted as if he knew its effects, offering no resistance. He must have a skill related to heightened senses, a sort of instinct.
While initially surprising, it was advantageous. Individuals with heightened senses, like Yoon Gi-seong, understood their tasks without explicit instructions and executed them swiftly. Even without witnessing True Blood Subjugation’s power, he’d immediately divulged everything.
‘The Scavenger Crew’s control over the underworld…’
A smile played on Lee Seong-jun’s lips as he walked alone after releasing Yoon Gi-seong.
‘Not a bad plan.’
Villains, having already committed crimes, had nothing to lose. They’d do anything for the right price. They wouldn’t dare directly harm him, the renowned Super Rookie, but his family was a different story.
While the Association provided secret protection, a determined attack by a group of villains could still endanger them.
‘The probability is low, but…’
He couldn’t take any chances when it came to his family.
In that sense, Yoon Gi-seong’s plan was excellent. Controlling the most powerful villain crew would eliminate any threat to his family.
‘Yoon Gi-seong… you’re more useful than I thought.’
He, Lee Seong-jun, would operate in the light, while Yoon Gi-seong and his Scavenger Crew would control the underworld. There would be complications, of course, the underworld being a lawless place, but he was confident he could handle them.
‘…Everything’s difficult at first.’
Before conquering the Thousand Continents as the Blood Demon, the Blood Cult itself was branded as an enemy of the martial world, forcing them to operate in the shadows, constantly clashing with other villainous factions.
He was no stranger to the underworld’s conflicts. But it wasn’t easy.
‘This means… I’ll be busy for a while.’
Lee Seong-jun, a smile playing on his lips, began formulating his plans.
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The encounter with Yoon Gi-seong provided valuable intel, the most important being information about the SS-rank villain, Cho Se-hyeok, known as the Rookie Slayer.
An SS-rank villain was a formidable opponent on his own, but Cho Se-hyeok also had a crew backing him.
‘Considering his personality, as described by Yoon Gi-seong…’
It was highly likely he’d target his family. While the elite Presidential Security Service provided protection, they might not be enough against a coordinated attack by Cho Se-hyeok and his crew.
‘I need to increase security.’
He had to warn his family and request close protection. He had to eliminate all possibilities.
‘I need to create an environment where I can focus solely on fighting Cho Se-hyeok.’
He wasn’t expecting to lose, but an SS-rank villain wasn’t to be underestimated. Lee Seong-jun informed both the Association and his family about Cho Se-hyeok.
The process wasn’t smooth. It took considerable time and effort to persuade his worried family. Fortunately, the Association readily agreed, perhaps eager to redeem themselves.
They postponed all other operations and assigned their top agents, the PSS team leaders, dedicating all available resources to apprehending Cho Se-hyeok.
‘At least I don’t have to worry about security now.’
Two days after establishing a comprehensive security system,
‘He took the bait.’
Lee Seong-jun stopped abruptly on his way home from hunting. His eyes were colder than winter ice. A figure radiating intense hostility stood in a dark alley. Or rather, it was a murderous intent fueled by madness. The raw malice was sharp enough to cut through his skin.
‘At least peak-level, or higher.’
An S-rank Hunter or above, in Earth terms. And only one person fit the description.
‘The Rookie Slayer, Cho Se-hyeok.’
The villain he’d been waiting for had finally made his move. A smile spread across Lee Seong-jun’s face. He used Windwalk.
Whoosh!
He shot forward, instantly creating distance between himself and Cho Se-hyeok. Even most S-rank Hunters wouldn’t be able to keep up, but his opponent was an SS-rank villain. He wouldn’t be easily shaken off.
‘As expected…’
Cho Se-hyeok maintained a constant distance, as if he could close the gap at any moment.
‘He’s faster than I thought.’
Even though he wasn’t using his full power, he’d never expected Windwalk to be outmatched in speed.
‘This will be interesting.’
He wanted to test Cho Se-hyeok’s abilities further, but he’d already reached his intended destination: the abandoned construction site.
“Are you just going to keep following me?”
A figure emerged from the shadows of the alley. Long hair like a lion’s mane, eyes burning with murderous intent.
“…Super Rookie, Lee Seong-jun.”
Cho Se-hyeok narrowed his eyes and frowned as Lee Seong-jun nodded.
“You seemed to know I was following you… Why didn’t you run?”
“A wolf doesn’t fear a dog.”
“What…?”
Cho Se-hyeok’s face hardened, then he burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! You think you can defeat me?! What confidence! You deserve to be called the Super Rookie!”
Lee Seong-jun simply smiled, and Cho Se-hyeok’s eyes gleamed with madness.
“…It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper hunt.”
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