CH 310

Once they got in the car and drove out of the restaurant's parking lot, Bang Jin-Hun stomped on the accelerator.

“Why did you want to see me for?” Kang Jin-Ho asked.

The two of them hadn't set up an appointment or anything like that. What happened was that Bang Jin-Hun suddenly phoned Kang Jin-Ho in the middle of his dinner with Jo Gyu-Min and asked where they were. Kang Jin-Ho revealed where he was, and that was about it, really. Bang Jin-Hun simply barged in here on his own accord.

Bang Jin-Hun chuckled and replied, "I figured it's about time we get to know more about each other. So, here we are."

“At this late at night?” Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, we martial artists are kinda like unemployed bums, you see?"

“I'm sorry?”

Bang Jin-Hun smirked before clarifying himself. "We call ourselves martial artists, but... Let's be real, we don't really do anything, we don't need to commute on time, and we do what we want on our own schedule. And we tend to find the nights a bit more... shall we say, comfortable? If you flip the day and night around, you could correctly guess our behavioral patterns. Watching the sunrise makes us sleepy, so to speak."

“...Mm.” Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow.

‘Wait, now that I think about it, wasn't the demon cult also like that...?'

He recalled hearing a similar explanation a few times back in Zhongyuan. No wonder the government back then disliked the martial artists, calling them a bunch of lazy, good-for-nothing bums...

“Even so, isn't this getting a bit too late?”

"Mister Jin-Ho, I'm sure you're not the type to have a problem because you missed a night's sleep."

“Hmm...” Kang Jin-Ho nodded, thinking that Bang Jin-Hun wasn't wrong there.

“Actually, I figured it'd be better to get the ball rolling as soon as possible since the situation seemed a bit urgent.”

“Urgent? How so?”

Bang Jin-Hun's voice grew lower, somber. "The Yeongnam Group has suddenly begun making suspicious moves. Apparently, things are getting busy on that side."

Kang Jin-Ho's expression rapidly grew colder at the mention of the Yeongnam Group. 'So, it's them...'

There was only one real reason why Kang Jin-Ho decided to seize the Martial Assembly and jump back into the world of martial arts... To obliterate the Yeongnam Group.

If it were him in the past, Kang Jin-Ho would've not cared about the consequences and charged straight into the Yeongnam Group all by himself. Either he died trying, or he would've utterly massacred the Yeongnam Group out of existence.

However, the current Kang Jin-Ho had become someone who could think about the aftermath. No matter how strong he was, fighting against that many people would be quite dangerous even for him. Not to forget, his family would have to count the cost if that one-in-a-million chance happened to Kang Jin-Ho.

Considering the Yeongnam Group's style, they would unhesitantly target his family if Kang Jin-Ho wasn't around to defend them. The Martial Assembly was basically the breakwater meant to shield his family from the Yeongnam Group's malicious machinations.

'I've dragged this on for too long.'

Never have Kang Jin-Ho left alone a group of enemies daring to bare their fangs at him for so long like this in all three of his lifetimes. But now, the time to make them pay had finally come.

“When you say suspicious movements...?” Kang Jin-Ho quietly asked.

"It's not possible to accurately analyze them. The truth is... The Yeongnam Group and our side... both have planted spies in each other's midst."

“Are you sure?”

"Of course I am. Spies from their side are definitely hiding within our ranks. It's impossible to smoke all of them out, after all. So, other than those top-level secrets known only to a few select individuals, we pretty much know what the other side is doing at any given moment."

"Hmm..." Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded. What would be a good analogy in this case? Something like both sides had turned on the map hack while playing a match against each other? The two sides were keeping tabs on each other's actions and responding appropriately whenever necessary.

Bang Jin-Hun continued with his explanation. "I heard that the Yeongnam Group's executives have gotten quite busy lately. But there hasn't been any concrete word being filtered down to the folks below them. Guessing from the limited info we have, they seem to be preparing to send a small group of elites to target... something."

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow as he listened.

"That's why I thought getting your permission first would take too long. I've already assigned several bodyguards around your family members, Mister Jin-Ho. I promise you, your family won't even know they are being protected. Please forgive me for acting without your consent first."

“...Make sure their private lives aren't unduly affected.”

"You don't have to worry about that since it's not close-proximity security detail, Mister Jin-Ho. We tend to recognize our kind even from afar, anyway. If some fools that look like martial artists dare approach your family, our men will respond appropriately right away."

“Understood.” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded again. This... How should he say this? It kind of felt satisfactory?

Jo Gyu-Min was good at making Kang Jin-Ho's life plain sailing, but he couldn't be relied on in matters like this. In that sense, Bang Jin-Hun was making a very strong case for his worth right now.

He could've phoned first and then dispatched personnel where needed. That wouldn't have been all that difficult, but Bang Jin-Hun chose to act first and report to Kang Jin-Ho afterward. He was undoubtedly making a statement that he could be decisive and quick if he wanted to.

Luckily for Bang Jin-Hun, Kang Jin-Ho deeply respected people capable of making decisions on their own.

Kang Jin-Ho muttered quietly. “A small group of elites... And their target is?”

“That is... Well, it's a bit hard to say,” Bang Jin-Hun coughed to clear his throat. “Logically speaking, their target should be me. However, that would depend largely on how much they know about you, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“So, I could be their target?”

“Yes. The odds are pretty high.”

The corners of Kang Jin-Ho's lips curled up. “They seem to have chosen an interesting path, then.”

“It's not confirmed, though,” said Bang Jin-Hun.

Of course, Kang Jin-Ho wasn't the type to sweat such a minor detail. He muttered while smiling meaningfully. “I should be grateful about them coming for me first.”

Kang Jin-Ho was about to pay them a visit, anyway. Since that was the case, why should he say no to the other side wanting to reduce his workload?

Bang Jin-Hun sneakily glanced at Kang Jin-Ho's grinning face before averting his gaze altogether. 'Damn it. Looks like I've developed a mental trauma or something...'

Bang Jin-Hun thought all of his hair was standing on its end at that terrifying grin on Kang Jin-Ho's face. The image of Kang Jin-Ho making that face while trampling his fellow humans to death was still too fresh in Bang Jin-Hun's mind.

“Keuh-hmm. Mister Jin-Ho, you mustn't let your guard down.”

“I won't.”

"No, Mister Jin-Ho. You're not getting the severity of this situation. The Yeongnam Group bastards are different from us. If they know who you are and what you mean to the Martial Assembly, they will stop at nothing and resort to whatever tricks they can think of to eliminate you."

“I already know, Mister Bang.”

The Yeongnam Group already tried to kill Kang Jin-Ho by kidnapping Kang Eun-Yeong. That was before Kang Jin-Ho decided to... get involved with the Martial Assembly's affairs. Even a blind could see what would've happened to Kang Jin-Ho's life if the Yeongnam Group managed to swallow up the Martial Assembly.

'Except this time, things will be different...'

The difference between being prepared and not was considerably large. Back then, Kang Jin-Ho was caught unawares by their sneak attack, but now? He was well acquainted with the fact that those people were willing to cross any lines if necessary.

“How many people are guarding my family members?”

“Five per family member, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“I see. Double the number, please.”

“...Since we don't know where the Yeongnam Group will assault next, it'll be a bit tricky to relocate so many members like that.”

“If my family gets hurt, it'll spell the end of the Assembly as well,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered in a calm voice. As a matter of fact, nothing about his tone suggested he was threatening Bang Jin-Hun.

However, that was far scarier for Bang Jin-Hun. Kang Jin-Ho's reply just now didn't sound like it came from his emotions, but... But, as if he was merely stating the obvious, a result that had already been decided ahead of time.

“...I'll triple the number, Mister Jin-Ho,” Bang Jin-Hun muttered while sneakily wiping his sweat away. Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly nodded, allowing Bang Jin-Hun to sigh under his breath. 'Please, don't casually say stuff that can scare the sh*t out of people!'

Bang Jin-Hun was known to be one of the more... 'braver' souls in the Assembly. As proof, he started raising the flags of dissent against the previous Assembly Master, Lee Jung-Geol, back when he wasn't even a director yet. However, talking to Kang Jin-Ho made Bang Jin-Hun feel like he had turned into a coward.

'Hang on. It's not that I've turned into a coward, but more like this guy is just too over the top.'

Just as Bang Jin-Hun tried to console himself with those words, Kang Jin-Ho suddenly muttered quietly. “Mister Bang, how tough is your car?”

“I'm sorry?” Bang Jin-Hun glanced at Kang Jin-Ho, wondering what this was about, before a proud grin formed on his face. “Aha, so you also can recognize the greatness of this car, then! This is a G-Class, and it's originally designed as a military vehicle, so yes, it's quite tough.”

“I see. That's good,” Kang Jin-Ho faintly smiled. “Since it's a military vehicle, it should survive what's about to happen.”

“Sorry?” Bang Jin-Hun blinked his eyes. What on Earth was Kang Jin-Ho trying to say?

However, Bang Jin-Hun's expression stiffened almost immediately. It had been a while since he had entered the national highway, but then... Cars ahead of Bang Jin-Hun's expensive SUV were slowing down noticeably. Not just one or two cars, but all of them.

The cars ahead even stuck to the median strip to cut off any route to escape while slowing down. That was when Bang Jin-Hun also realized the cars behind them were speeding up toward his SUV.

“...These sons of b*tches dare to?!” Bang Jin-Hun's eyes trembled in anger.

He received word that the Yeongnam Group was acting suspiciously earlier today. However, since those bastards were already here before Bang Jin-Hun could receive additional information... They must've been keeping a close watch on him well before letting the information leak outside.

'Damn it. And I hadn't sensed any presence tailing me, too...!'

Without a doubt, Bang Jin-Hun had to have been tailed to this place, and he had grandly failed to notice that. This knowledge was trampling ruthlessly on Bang Jin-Hun's pride.

“...I'm sorry about this, Mister Jin-Ho.”

“Don't be.” Kang Jin-Ho leisurely shook his head. “This is for the better, actually. I was getting bored of waiting, you see.”

“I'm guessing they want to slow down and box us in a formation, then force us into a corner... Hmm?” Bang Jin-Hun narrowed his eyes after realizing that something was weird.

The cars ahead started accelerating again when they got sufficiently near Bang Jin-Hun's SUV. Meanwhile, the cars behind closed the gap until their bumpers were almost touching Bang Jin-Hun's SUV.

“...Are they trying to guide us?” Bang Jin-Hun tutted loudly.

'Looks like they still have no idea who is with me.'

If the Yeongnam Group was thinking of dealing with only Bang Jin-Hun, dispatching this number of combatants would've been a good way to go about it. However, Kang Jin-Ho was currently traveling alongside him. Trying to trap Kang Jin-Ho with such a small number of people was an act of suicide.

The Yeongnam Group should've brought a busload of people instead. A regular sedan could only carry five people at a push, so this number was simply inadequate to resist Kang Jin-Ho's strength.

Having found some mental leeway now, Bang Jin-Hun decided cracking a joke now might be a good idea. “It seems there are many ways to kill yourself these days. Don't you agree?”

Eerily enough, Kang Jin-Ho didn't respond, simply letting a vague, meaningful grin form on his lips instead. Bang Jin-Hun found that weird, but before he could cock an eyebrow in puzzlement, Kang Jin-Ho muttered first. “Do you still remember what you said to me?”

“What I said to you?” Bang Jin-Hun tilted his head, wondering what he could've said to Kang Jin-Ho.

“Well, you said the Yeongnam Group people will stop at nothing to get to me. Correct?”

“...Oh, that. Yes, I did.”

“If you end up dealing with people who are serious about resorting to every trick in the book... That will become rather annoying pretty quickly.”

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

“Yes, that sounds about right...?” Bang Jin-Hun tilted his head again, finding it difficult to figure out where Kang Jin-Ho was going with this.

What could the Yeongnam Group's people do in this situation other than slamming into Bang Jin-Hun's SUV and making it roll over? Or, slow down, lead Bang Jin-Hun to somewhere out of sight, surround him with this number of people and kill him.

However, they were all martial artists here. They weren't physically so weak that getting involved in a car accident would prove fatal. And only a pitiful fate waited for the Yeongnam Group's people if they dared to get out of their cars, so...

So, what other tricks could they resort to in this situation?

“From this moment on...” Kang Jin-Ho's faint grin grew deeper. “...You will have to forget about everything you thought was a normal way to deal with things. You see, people driven to a corner tend to become even more dangerous than before.”

Bang Jin-Hun was about to ask back What are you talking about? Unfortunately, those words never got a chance to come out of his mouth.

Turning his head to look at Kang Jin-Ho on the passenger side naturally meant Bang Jin-Hun would get to see the car traveling alongside his. And that was when he saw the windows roll down on that vehicle.

'...What the hell?'

Even though they were traveling almost at a hundred and fifty kilometers per hour, those bastards were rolling the windows down? Were they thinking of saying something to Bang Jin-Hun? But without a megaphone, no one would be able to hear—

Instead of a megaphone, though, black metallic 'cylindrical objects' emerged from the open windows.

"Son of a b*tch!" Bang Jin-Hun involuntarily swore after recognizing those metallic objects. As a matter of fact, any Korean male who had spent some time in the army would recognize them, too. No, even if one didn't serve, they would still recognize it since similar items often appeared in TVs and movies anyway!

Several gun barrels peeked out from the open windows, and Bang Jin-Hun screamed at the top of his lungs. “Get down!!!”

BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAMBLAM!!!

Almost at the same time, a hail of bullets shattered the SUV's glasses and rained into the cabin.