Chapter 231

‘Hmm.’

Hwang Jeongwook, the Third Elder of the Hwang Family and also Hwang Jihak’s father, couldn’t help but marvel at the duel that had just unfolded before his eyes.

‘Impressive.’

That fellow Liu Chingwin also possessed remarkable skill for his age.

Had he continued to grow like this, he would undoubtedly have become a talent capable of reaching even greater heights.

However, Han Kangyoon’s ability was on an entirely different level.

‘Jihak must be around the same age as him.’

It was hard to grasp just what kind of training one would need to possess such power at an age not even reaching thirty.

It was a realm difficult to explain by talent alone.

And this was not just Hwang Jeongwook’s thought.

‘…Does this even make sense?’

Wang Long, the Fourth Branch Leader of the Sakoonpa and one of the key figures responsible for the plan to secretly import the Specter Desire Jar.

He, too, couldn’t maintain his composure at the situation unfolding before him.

He had tried to stop Wei Zihong, thinking he was acting recklessly, but honestly, he hadn’t even predicted that Liu Chingwin would be defeated by a mere youngster like that.

‘To handle Art Formulas at that young age is simply monstrous.’

Being a practitioner of Wang Long’s caliber, he could tell.

Han Kangyoon’s skill in handling Art Formulas was in no way inferior to the executives of the Sakoonpa or the Elders of the Hwang Family.

In fact, it was more accurate to say he surpassed them in certain aspects.

‘How could such a monstrous raw gem be born in Korea?’

Forgetting his true purpose for a moment, Wang Long felt a pure thrill at this fact.

And, almost simultaneously, a thought struck Wang Long’s mind.

‘Come to think of it…’

Luke Pensalot, the Leader of the internationally wanted organization Night School, whom he had encountered not long ago.

He, too, had mentioned recently facing his nemesis in Korea.

And he had heard it wasn’t any of the Elders of the prestigious families or the already well-known, renowned Exorcists.

‘Then, could it be?’

That alone was insufficient evidence, but Wang Long, an Old Fiend who had lived for decades, intuitively felt certain.

That Han Kangyoon might be the nemesis Luke had targeted.

‘The situation is getting messy.’

As a condition for helping with the import of the Specter Desire Jar this time, Luke had said he would eliminate his target while the Sakoonpa’s forces clashed with the prestigious families.

If Han Kangyoon really was Luke’s target, it wouldn’t be good for Wang Long to tangle with him directly either.

‘In this case, staying out of it is the best policy.’

After all, Luke was also effectively a provisional enemy of the Sakoonpa.

If he settled things with Han Kangyoon, whichever side got hurt would benefit the Sakoonpa.

There was no need to act rashly.

‘Besides, that Wei Zihong has thoroughly messed things up.’

Because the atmosphere was already ruined, the Sakoonpa could no longer shake the Hwang Family as aggressively as before.

Staring at Wei Zihong, who was showing a troubled expression, Wang Long sighed and made a decision.

‘It’s a shame to let the credit slip away… but we’ll leave drawing attention to other executives and withdraw at this point.’

That was, for the grand scheme, clearly the right choice.

After finishing the duel with Liu Chingwin, I could feel the gazes around me change.

Well, it must have been surprising. Displaying such martial prowess at my age was by no means an easy feat.

Even I was surprised by my current skill level, so how much more so for others?

“So, will you acknowledge that I possess the skill to objectively judge the situation at the time?”

“…Yes.”

There was no room for objection.

With skill sufficient to easily suppress Liu Chingwin, measuring the combat strength of at least that number of people would be a piece of cake.

The Sakoonpa was still claiming they were the victims, but now those words had lost much of their persuasiveness.

The completely reversed atmosphere, and at that point, someone from the Hwang Family side appropriately stepped forward and began to mediate the situation.

“Perhaps there were separate individuals who attacked them. The Hwang Family will cooperate as much as possible in resolving the situation. Wouldn’t it be best for the Sakoonpa guests to withdraw for today?”

“……”

For the Sakoonpa, having the situation end in a stalemate was the worst outcome.

However, with the flow reversed to this extent, they had no other recourse.

In the end, Wei Zihong, who stepped forward as the representative, had no choice but to swallow his anger and declare a de facto defeat.

“…Understood. It seems there was some mistake on our side as well. We will thoroughly investigate the situation and contact you again.”

Thus, the Sakoonpa left the Hwang Family in an instant, a stark contrast to the ferocious momentum they had exuded just hours before.

Later, among the Hwang Family Elders who let out sighs of relief, a middle-aged man approached me and spoke.

“We received your help. I am Hwang Jeongwook. I am Jihak’s father.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’ve heard much about you.”

Hwang Jeongwook, who expressed his gratitude to me in various ways, soon moved to a different location with an apology and requested a proper conversation.

“You may have already heard from Jihak, but I plan to step down from my position as a Hwang Family Elder soon.”

“Is there somewhere you are unwell?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that I’ve felt many things recently.”

Hwang Jeongwook said that the role he should take on was no longer something like being a Hwang Family Elder.

“The crises to come will clearly not be something that can be resolved by people like me standing by with our hands behind our backs. Rather, I should entrust the future to those who have one, and while the skills I’ve honed over time are at their peak, take on the role of a vanguard.”

Such thoughts of Hwang Jeongwook were truly the model of a genuine Exorcist.

Unlike those like me, who get involved in incidents harboring personal thoughts, a mindset and actions truly worthy of being called a hero.

I looked at such Hwang Jeongwook with admiration and a renewed gaze.

“Your judgment will surely be a light to many.”

“Hearing you say that makes my personal worries melt away like snow.”

Nodding with a quite pleased expression, Hwang Jeongwook soon began to convey a request to me.

“That boy Jihak has an upright character and outstanding talent, but being young and taking on the role of an Elder to lead the family will have many difficulties. If you could occasionally support him from the side, that alone would be a great help.”

“As a friend, it’s only natural.”

And simultaneously, I felt now was the opportune time to say what I wanted.

“Sir, if it’s not too presumptuous, may I also make one request?”

“Speak. If it’s something within my power, I will do my best.”

Having received permission, there was no need to hesitate. Picturing the events that would unfold in my mind, I gave my answer directly to Hwang Jeongwook.

“For the next two days starting tomorrow, I would like you to summon the Sakoonpa members here again and detain them.”

“Detain them, you say?”

“Just keep Wang Long and Wei Zihong, those two, occupied so they can’t pay attention elsewhere.”

At my request, Hwang Jeongwook frowned as if sensing something unusual.

Then, for some reason, he looked at me with a gaze mixed with surprise and nodded.

“It’s not a difficult matter, so I shall do so. Is there anything else I can help with?”

“That will be sufficient.”

Having finished our business, Hwang Jeongwook and I parted without further ado and returned to our respective lodgings.

And that night, checking the message delivered by Xiao Chen’s Shikigami, I slightly lifted the corner of my mouth.

• 〔Completed〕

With Xiao Chen, the last concern, also having completed her mission, all preparations were now finished.

After bidding farewell to Hwang Jihak and Hwang Hyeyeon, I left the Hwang Family territory with Arietta.

Now, it was time to properly deliver a heavy blow to the back of the Sakoonpa’s head.

‘By now, the other Branch Leaders of the Sakoonpa have probably heard the news and are revising their plans.’

With Wang Long and the members of the Sakoonpa’s Fourth Branch retreating powerless, they must be quite anxious, for all I know.

‘The two groups heading towards the Baek and Cheong Families will be desperate to at least secure their own share.’

And simultaneously, it was highly likely that the special unit tasked with smuggling the Specter Desire Jar into Seoul had also begun to move.

A situation completely reversed from the Sakoonpa’s intentions.

Rather, now that their attention to the special unit was cut off was precisely the optimal timing I had envisioned.

Tik.

[They’re starting to move as you said. Direction is northwest. Clearly heading towards Seoul.]

The current movements of the special unit are being meticulously monitored by Baek Soyool’s side.

However, it seems their combat strength is not ordinary, and she and her subordinates alone cannot handle it.

‘That part can be resolved by adding some more combat strength…’

But what I had been consistently concerned about was something else.

Luke Pensalot.

If I were in his position, I would have judged that right now was the optimal situation.

‘He’s probably coming.’

It was a leap of imagination, but there was also the possibility he had some connection with the Sakoonpa from the start.

Thus, what became important was the trump card I had mentioned before.

Whether or not those I had established relations with in preparation for this incident would arrive would determine the point of victory.

“You’ve worked hard. How is the situation?”

“Nothing special. They’re continuing to move while carrying suspicious items.”

Baek Soyool probably hadn’t noticed, but to me, with my limit-level Forbidden Technique Value, it was very clearly perceptible.

The lingering aura of a very foul Cursed Tool, scattering its presence somewhere over there.

[I wondered what you were so worried about, but that’s definitely nasty.]

For Verdi, a witch from a clan skilled in Curses, to say that, it was easy to predict just how immense the danger posed by the Specter Desire Incense was.

Seeing me lost in thought, Baek Soyool continued speaking.

“Closing the distance any further will increase the risk of detection. No, they might have already sensed something to some extent.”

I, too, don’t know what personnel the Sakoonpa deployed to this special unit.

However, judging from the fact that they succeeded in their scheme in the original work, it was clear that some quite formidable individuals were mixed in.

“For now, we’ll maintain pursuit while keeping our distance. Be careful not to cause any rash friction.”

“Yes.”

Thus, time gradually passed, and they drew closer to Seoul with each moment.

And around the time they reached the planned execution point for the operation I had devised in advance, an intense gaze began to be felt from beyond the mountainside.

‘…He came after all.’

Luke Pensalot.

Like a hunter targeting his prey, he was making his presence known to me once again.