The condition of the room was better than expected.
Although it was just a four-star hotel, significant money had been poured into its construction, and the Royal Suite had been meticulously designed by Son Baek-geum to serve as both his office and residence.
However...
"It’s not as good as my place," Su-ho muttered.
“......”
He was being honest.
This so-called four-star Royal Suite couldn’t compare to his safe house in the Cheongdam Safe Zone.
Sitting comfortably in the chair meant for business discussions, Su-ho gestured. “Have a seat.”
Son Baek-geum hesitated but eventually pulled up a chair and sat down nearby.
As the gangster settled into his seat, Su-ho spoke again.
“I hear you’ve been keeping a low profile lately.”
“...When have I ever been noisy?”
“You don’t have to shout to make noise. Back when you were peddling drugs with Kim Goong-won, you stirred up plenty of commotion. Now that Kim Goong-won’s been caught, you’ve been laying low for a while, haven’t you?”
“...So, why are you here?”
“Why did you refuse the money Vice President Park Gyu-min offered you?”
At the mention of Park Gyu-min, Son Baek-geum’s face stiffened as he finally understood the situation.
“Should I be honest with you?”
“Were you planning to lie to me?”
“No, that’s not it... Fine, I’ll tell you. The reason I refused the money is simple—it doesn’t mean anything anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Park Gyu-min is my only remaining connection. After all the things I’ve done for him, it’s obvious he’s trying to cut ties and throw me under the bus. If I’m going to go down, I might as well drag someone else with me. That’s why I didn’t take the money.”
The scariest people are those with nothing to lose.
That’s why people at rock bottom can be so terrifying.
Su-ho nodded slightly.
“Fair enough. A cornered rat will bite the cat. But then... what does that make me?”
“...What?”
“If Park Gyu-min is the cat and you’re the rat, what am I?”
Son Baek-geum blinked in confusion. “Aren’t you here on Park Gyu-min’s orders?”
“Nope.”
“...Then why are you here?”
“I’m here for personal reasons.”
“...What?”
The situation was becoming increasingly absurd.
Su-ho leaned forward slightly and asked, “Do you want to live?”
“...Excuse me?”
“I’m asking if you want to live.”
It wasn’t a mere question. It was a veiled threat, and Son Baek-geum’s eyes darted nervously as he tried to figure out Su-ho’s intentions.
Does he mean to kill me right here and now?
With Su-ho—the Blade God—sitting before him, asking such a question, that was the only plausible conclusion.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Son Baek-geum abruptly stood up. “Excuse me for a moment.”
He hurriedly disappeared into the adjacent room, only to return moments later carrying a luxurious duffle bag—the kind reserved for high-end brands.
Placing the bag on the table, he took a step back and bowed slightly with his hands clasped in front of him.
Su-ho opened the bag to find it filled with cash. He glanced between the bag and the groveling Son Baek-geum before bursting into incredulous laughter.
“Hah. Are you serious right now?”
“...Excuse me?”
“Did I ask you to bring me money?”
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“What do you think I am, huh? You’re impossible to talk to. Fine, let’s fix that.”
Su-ho stood up and began approaching Son Baek-geum, who stumbled backward in fear and collapsed into a chair.
Looking down at the trembling man, Su-ho said, “Do you know what mistake people who overthink things often make? They overcomplicate simple problems. From now on, think simply. The pain you’re about to experience will be the price for failing to do so.”
“W-wait! What are you—?! Hold on!”
“Too late.”
Su-ho activated a skill.
[ Point Strike activated. ]
The moment the skill was triggered, pressure points all over Son Baek-geum’s body lit up. Su-ho pressed his fingers—index and middle—firmly into one of the most excruciating points.
“AAAAAAHHHHHH!”
A blood-curdling scream echoed through the suite.
The lackeys waiting outside the door burst into the room, only to collapse to the floor foaming at the mouth as Su-ho activated another skill.
[ Intimidation activated. ]
“Kuhhh!”
The thugs fell unconscious as if struck by lightning, their whites showing and limbs twitching.
Su-ho’s Intimidation skill, normally at Grade A, was temporarily boosted to Grade S thanks to his Dragon Blood effect. It was a skill that even powerful monsters and hunters struggled to endure—so ordinary thugs didn’t stand a chance.
Su-ho turned his attention back to Son Baek-geum, who was writhing in agony.
The pressure point Su-ho had pressed was one of the worst spots, designed to inflict unbearable pain.
After leaving Son Baek-geum like that for over a minute, Su-ho finally pressed another point to release him from the torment.
Still trembling, Son Baek-geum barely clung to consciousness as Su-ho crouched to meet him at eye level.
“They say a dumb head leads to a sore body. Don’t overthink things in front of me. Just do what you’re told. Got it?”
“Yes... I understand...”
“Good. Now stand up.”
“Ugh...”
Despite his trembling legs and lingering pain, Son Baek-geum forced himself to his feet, his body quivering like a leaf. The pain from the pressure point might have subsided, but the fear of Su-ho far outweighed it.
Once he managed to stand, Su-ho resumed his seat and spoke calmly.
“You have the bribe ledger you gave to Park Gyu-min, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Bring it. Oh, and not just that one. Bring me every ledger you’ve got—whether it’s for bribes to the Association, the police, or the prosecutors. Bring them all.”
For someone who had just experienced Point Strike, refusal wasn’t an option. Son Baek-geum complied without hesitation, returning moments later with several ledgers.
Su-ho flipped through them casually and smirked.
“You’ve been spreading money around quite a bit—from prosecutors to police. Must’ve cost you a fortune, huh?”
“N-no, not really...”
“Don’t lie. Even the richest gangster would need to work hard to afford a place like this hotel.”
Su-ho continued flipping through the ledgers until a few familiar names caught his eye.
“Well, well. What do we have here?”
The ledgers were filled with names he recognized—names that brought a wry smile to his face.
“Gangnam sure is a profitable place to play, isn’t it?”
Satisfied, Su-ho placed the ledgers into his inventory and looked at Son Baek-geum again.
“Mr. Son Baek-geum.”
“Y-yes?”
“Keep living quietly like you’ve been. If you do, I’ll let you live.”
“...”
Son Baek-geum remained silent, knowing exactly what Su-ho meant: no more drug business, no more schemes. Lay low and stay out of sight.
Su-ho’s tone turned colder.
“Even a dog knows not to return to its filth. If you want to survive, you’d better cut those bad habits. Otherwise, you’ll see me again.”
“...I understand.”
“Oh, and one more thing.”
Su-ho glanced at his phone and checked the date.
“Take a vacation abroad for about a week.”
“A-abroad?”
“Think of it as a short break. Take the earliest flight available and send me your itinerary. And don’t tell anyone about today. As far as anyone knows, I wasn’t here. You’re leaving because you felt like it. Understand?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good. Just in case...”
Su-ho pressed another point near Son Baek-geum’s navel.
[ Point Strike activated. ]
“This one’s insurance,” Su-ho said with a smirk.
“I-insurance?”
“For about a week, you won’t be able to perform as a man. I pressed a spot that’ll ensure that. Keep your promises, and I’ll fix it for you.”
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“W-what?! Does that mean I’m... impotent now?!”
“If you’re curious, feel free to test it later. See you around.”
With a pat on Son Baek-geum’s shoulder, Su-ho left the room, leaving the gangster slumped in fear and despair.
***
Having secured the bribery ledgers, Su-ho returned home.
Once there, he contacted an external supplier to place an item order and began sorting the documents in earnest.
First, he separated the ledgers into two main categories: police and prosecutors. Within each category, he further grouped the names by their affiliations and roles.
With the sorting complete, Su-ho opened his laptop and began assigning specific individuals to the respective groups. After hours of meticulous work, he finally leaned back and called Seo Gi-won.
“Gi-won.”
“Yes, hyung-nim?”
“I need you to dig into the personal details of the people listed here.”
“Yes, hyung-nim. I’ll get on it right away.”
Su-ho sighed as he looked at the remaining work. There was no shortage of people he needed to meet over the next week.
As he reached for the next set of documents, his phone buzzed with an incoming call. Checking the caller ID, Su-ho answered with a cheerful tone.
“Yes, Mr. Kim Geon.”
The timing couldn’t have been better. Su-ho estimated it would take some time to gather the personal information he needed anyway, so he got into his car and headed straight for Incheon.
“Hello?”
“Oh, you’re here!”
When Su-ho knocked on the front gate, he was greeted by Kim Geon, sitting in his wheelchair.
Seeing him, Su-ho grinned. “Did you go out of your way to be in your original body just because I was coming?”
“Haha... I’m trying to get used to it. Except when maintaining my younger brother’s body, I’ve been spending more time like this.”
Su-ho glanced at the bed in the living room, where Kim Geon’s brother, Kim Gwon, was lying.
He didn’t ask, "How’s he doing?" Words like that could come across as pity, which Su-ho knew could sting more than comfort. Instead, he spoke brightly, as usual.
“That’s a great mindset. On that note, I’ve brought what I promised. Would you like to try it out now?”
From his inventory, Su-ho took out an orb and handed it to Kim Geon.
The orb he held wasn’t just any item—it was a Mystical Meta Suit crafted for a Soul Cavalryman.
TL Note: Hyung-nim = 'brother' (in a figurative sense, used as an address for an older companion)"