CH 85

Traveling by a car sent by Choi Byung-Chan, Yu-Seong arrived at a high-end restaurant famous for Korean beef omakase. It was located at Cheongdam-dong.

After getting out of the car, Choi Yu-Seong and Jin Do-Yoon went up to the rooftop of an eleven-story building and entered the reserved room. There, they could see a restless Choi Min-Seok and Choi Byung-Chan, who sat at the head of the table with his arms crossed arrogantly.

Choi Yu-Seong's first impression of Choi Byung-Chan, who he had only read about in the original novel, was surprising.

‘I heard that he’s the boss of the back alley even before he awakened. No wonder he has a decent physique.’

Byung-Chan had wide shoulders and muscles that filled up a fairly large t-shirt. His palms were bigger than the average human’s head, and his limbs were rather long. It was unsurprising to assume that he would have been a fairly strong person even if he were not a hunter. Looking at him, Yu-Seong felt like he was looking at a natural fighter.

"Hmm?" Choi Byung-Chan's first sound was a question. Looking at Do-Yoon, he said, “You brought someone.”

"You didn't say I had to come alone," said Choi Yu-Seong calmly. He took an empty seat opposite of Choi Min-Seok.

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Byung-Chan offered a cool smile, looking at Yu-Seong with a strange gaze. "You certainly grew a lot. You look many times better than that imbecile over there."

Byung-Chan was looking at Min-Seok, who hunched to make himself look smaller. He then said, "Leave."

"...Yes, hyung-nim." Choi Min-Seok, who looked very discouraged, headed out of the door with his eyes lowered. For a moment, his gaze was full of resentment as he passed by Choi Yu-Seong.

‘He is a fool until the end. If you want to blame someone, shouldn’t he blame Byung-Chan rather than me?’

Choi Yu-Seong clicked his tongue inwardly. He knew the reason well. Min-Seok had chosen to resent him because that was the easier choice to make.

‘It's probably also because of past memories.’

Anyway, Yu-Seong and Byung-Chan were facing each other. The moment felt rather intense, but it wasn’t too much for Yu-Seong to bear. As they calmly made eye contact, Byung-Chan smiled coldly and scratched his cheek. He said, "I don't think I look particularly easy or a pushover.”

"But that doesn't mean you're a cannibal, right?" said Yu-Seong.

"...Look at that, you know how to joke. Are you really the Choi Yu-Seong that I know?"

Instead of answering, Yu-Seong shrugged his shoulders.

Byung-Chan had to directly contact Yu-Seong since things didn’t work out when he had sent out Choi Min-Seok, but he wouldn’t do anything by himself as long as there was a possibility Choi Woo-Jae could become involved.

'How interesting. I was going to simply carry out In-Young's request, but it’s a waste to just get rid of him.’

Byung-Chan wanted to have Yu-Seong for himself. Therefore, he picked up his cell phone to put off his plan for a while. "Oh, it's me. Send the food in after a little while."

Choi Byung-Chan hung up the phone and uncrossed his arms. He leaned slightly forward as his shiny eyes slowly glance over Yu-Seong. He then asked, "I changed my mind. I want to give you a chance. Choi Yu-Seong, how about coming under me?”

Choi Yu-Seong had no choice but to smile at the fairly flippant recruitment proposal. He asked, "Did you call me to make that suggestion?”

“No, I originally had other things to discuss, but for now, I'm giving you a chance."

“Thanks for the offer, but I refuse,” answered Yu-Seong.

"You'll regret it."

“We’ll see about that.”

Choi Byung-Chan's eyes twinkled as he saw Choi Yu-Seong's calm attitude.

'Ah, I want this guy so much. Is there really no way to have him?’

Byung-Chan thought about it for a while but soon shook his head.

‘Making the same suggestion twice would hurt my pride.’

Byung-Chan would have broken at least one of Yu-Seong’s arms and legs if their family wasn’t involved. Of course, if he decided to do so, then even if he would get in trouble, he could harm Yu-Seong to some extent. However, for now, he didn’t actually have the intention of doing so.

‘There’s a reason why In-Young asked me to handle him. There must be some kind of risk.’

Byung-Chan’s effort would be enough to give In-Young some proper help. Therefore, Byung-Chan licked his lips as he decided to give up on Yu-Seong. “Well, if you refuse, there is nothing I can do. At least enjoy your meal before you go."

Byung-Chan picked up his cell phone again and ordered someone to bring the food in. Then, he yawned as if he was bored. Even though it was a request with considerable requital, this kind of work did not suit him well.

‘Bomber, the Villain…’

Byung-Chan just had to help the person that Choi In-Young had sent over with the task. Thinking of that, he didn’t have much to say.

During the short silence, Yu-Seong looked around to figure out what Choi Byung-Chan was up to. Then, he stood up from his seat.

"Huh? Where are you going?"

“I’m going to the washroom. Or should I pee here instead?”

“No way, but since I don’t want you to run away, you’ll have to leave that friend here. I still have things to talk to you about.”

Yu-Seong slightly nodded at Byung-Chan with a light smile. After that, he left the room.

***

As soon as Yu-Seong entered the bathroom, he locked the door and checked his cell phone. Just in case, he had sent a message to Jin Yu-Ri and Jenny—who was known as Yu-Ri’s subordinate—before leaving the house. He didn’t receive any reply from Jin Yu-Ri, but there was one from Jenny.

-Boss, I'm ready. Where should I go?

It was the first conversation they were having, but it was not difficult to guess Jenny’s personality from her short message.

‘Since Jin Yu-Ri is the one who entrusts work to her, obviously she will be on the ball.’

After sending his current location over to Jenny, Yu-Seong closed his cell phone and began to think while washing his hands.

‘He offered me to work for him, but Choi Byung-Chan still thinks that I'm a greenhorn.’

Yu-Seong knew that for a fact without much thought. Byung-Chan looked bored and had no interest in doing his work, so it was clear that he hadn’t planned the dinner because he wanted to.

'As expected, this has something to do with Choi In-Young.’

In such a manner, what did Choi In-Young hope to achieve by arranging this dinner for Choi Yu-Seong and Choi Byung-Chan? Yu-Seong realized he might have to pay attention to a trap that was possibly related to the restaurant itself.

‘Or maybe food?’

If there were an intention to use poison, then Byung-Chan would have come and twisted Choi Yu-Seong's neck right away instead. What was the trap, then?

Yu-Seong thought about it the entire time, but couldn't find an answer. In the first place, he couldn’t possibly discover the real reason, unless he knew of the Villain Bomber’s existence.

Yu-Seong once again opened the message window with shame.

‘Kim Do-Jin.’

In a way, Do-Jin was the most reliable person in such a dangerous situation. The name flashed briefly in front of Yu-Seong’s eyes, but he soon got rid of that thought.

‘I'll have to repay him if I get his help.’

It was better not to owe Do-Jin. In the end, Yu-Seong completed all of the possible preparations that were available to him. Later on, he would have to face the danger head-on.

‘I can do it.’

Yu-Seong believed that he could do it, as long as he kept his efforts up.

‘I just have to face the situation directly to find out. I can do this.’

Yu-Seong tried to think positively, and left the bathroom.

'In case of an emergency, there is Do-Yoon supporting me.’

Jin Do-Yoon—who had become A-rank— would not be easily defeated by the natural fighter, Choi Byung-Chan. Thinking of his reliable colleague, Yu-Seong felt more reassured than before.

Yu-Seong walked leisurely through the long corridor leading back to the room.

‘Huh?’

Beyond the corridor, Yu-Seong spotted burning red hair that vanished like a dancing flame. His heart sank.

‘Rachel?’

Rachel, The Slaughter Queen, was known to be designated by the World Player Association as a villain and so would not be able to move recklessly. However, she appeared in a restaurant in the middle of Korea’s capital city.

Yu-Seong was reminded of Rachel’s terrible penchant for murder and him witnessing her madness just a while ago. Goosebumps sprang up all over his body. His neck became stiff from the indescribable tension, his heart pounded like it was going to explode, and somehow he could smell blood from the tip of his nose.

For a moment, Yu-Seong had to stand still. He immediately shook his head with a short sigh.

'No, there’s no way. It has to be just another customer who came to the restaurant.’

Yu-Seong only saw the hair. It would be just a coincidence that Rachel's face came to his mind for a moment.

'Yes, if it was really Rachel, she would have already followed me.'

Yu-Seong thought his situation was just like that old saying, ‘Once bitten, twice shy’.

'Damn PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).’

Yu-Seong unwittingly relaxed his tense body and returned to the room again. There was already a simple appetizer on the table, as if the staff had already come and gone once. After noticing his return, Choi Byung-Chan started eating without saying anything.

"Mm, it’s good. Help yourself."

Yu-Seong returned to his seat and asked while lifting the food. "Is there anything In-Young asked you to tell me?”

If the opponent did not bring it up, then he had to do so. Yu-Seong was not a person who just sat and waited.

Hearing Yu-Seong’s question, Choi Byung-Chan quickly glanced over. He emptied the appetizer bowl at once and put it down. "You mean, I look like the kind of person who does what Choi In-Young tells me to do?"

Byung-Chan’s voice was excessively angry. Noticing that, Yu-Seong was even more confident of his deduction. He said with even more confidence, "Well, brothers and sisters can ask for a favor."

Choi Byung-Chan's lips twisted at Yu-Seong’s words. Looking as Yu-Seong finished the appetizer in one bite, he said, "Father has been caring about you a lot lately, right? How long do you think it'll last? Don't go too far. You're not going to live just for today, are you? The glory wouldn't last long."

“We’ll have to stick it out and see.”

As soon as Yu-Seong answered, the door opened and a skinny Western man in his 30s came in. He was dressed sharply. Naturally holding a plate of food in one hand, he passed right behind Yu-Seong. Jin Do-Yoon was watching the man's movements very carefully.

"Oh, yes, you're right. But I don't think…that you'll last that long, you know." Byung-Chan laughed and nodded as he received the raw beef served by the employee.

Yu-Seong looked straight at Byung-Chan.

‘What the hell are you up to?’

Byung-Chan had an elusive confidence, which was made clear in his voice. If he was truly hiding something, then Yu-Seong would have to find out for himself.

Choi Yu-Seong wanted to change this situation into an opportunity. He couldn’t do much if he had no clue, after all. It was also true that it would be better to know the opponent’s intentions and prepare beforehand.

‘What are you thinking, Choi Byung-Chan, Choi In-Young?’

Yu-Seong's inner thoughts were complicated. He recalled the two names that were considered to be the most wicked in his family.

"Beef tartare served with a special sauce, sir.”

In the meantime, Yu-Seong could hear the employee speaking somewhat clumsy Korean as he came closer. The employee dropped the plate of food quite naturally, and that surprised Yu-Seong, who turned to look at the broken plate and fallen food.

‘Ah…?’

The employee quickly bowed to Yu-Seong apologetically.

Yu-Seong was distracted by the spilled food, allowing an unguarded moment.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." The employee naturally reached out to wipe the stains on Yu-Seong’s top. There was no reason to be wary or suspicious about his behavior.

‘Perfect.’

Just as the employee’s sharp eyes reflected the very area of Yu-Seong’s exposed flesh he was reaching for…

Tap-!

With a slapping sound, Jin Do-Yoon snatched the employee’s wrist at high speed. He growled fiercely.

"Who are you?" asked Do-Yoon. However, he did not wait for an answer. He quickly broke the employee's wrist and overpowered him, then climbed behind his back and twisted his arm the other way. There was no time for defiance.

Crush-!

“Ahhhhhhhhhh-!” With the eerie sound of broken bones, the Villain Bomber’s screams resonated throughout the room.