Chapter 167 – Breaking Dojos (5)

The day of Choi Ho-joong’s Bimu.

Today was my second time visiting the Gwangun Sword Family in person.

I arrived 90 minutes before the start of the Bimu.

I had intentionally come a little early to look around the Gwangun Sword Family.

The fact that two of the warriors who became man-eating monsters were from here was too unsettling to be dismissed as a mere coincidence.

Today’s event was a good opportunity.

Because a prestigious sword family like this was not a place one could visit anytime.

“How may I help you?”

A guard at the main gate stopped me.

Seeing that there were still people who didn’t recognize me, I could really feel that I had little public exposure.

Just as I was about to take out my ID, a senior guard next to him immediately greeted me.

“Greetings, Unit Leader Seo Ji-han! You’ve arrived early?”

He then chided the young guard who had stopped me.

“I apologize. This fellow is a newcomer who hasn’t worked here for long.”

“It’s fine. The rest of my party will be arriving separately, so please welcome them well.”

“Understood. Please follow this path straight up. The Bimu arena is behind the building you see over there.”

I passed through the main gate like this, but the problem started now.

If there was some kind of connection between the Gwangun Sword Family and the man-eating monsters, I had no idea where I should look to find clues.

With no other information, it was natural to be at a loss.

But in a situation like this, the best method was to run around on my own two feet.

First, I entered the 30-story high-rise building that could be called the symbol of the Gwangun Sword Family.

Numerous people moving about busily.

No one here paid me any mind.

I expanded my senses to their limits.

To see if I could find a similar aura to the one I felt from the man-eating monster.

Of course, I didn’t have high expectations, and the result was no different.

Countless auras were complexly intertwined, but I could be sure it wasn’t among them.

Of course, just because I couldn’t feel it didn’t mean I could conclude that there were no man-eating monsters in this building.

If they had intended to hide them securely, they would have taken a series of measures that couldn’t be detected even by expanding one’s senses.

I walked confidently towards the center of the lobby.

To check the floor directory.

If someone found me suspicious, I would just honestly reveal my identity.

For today, at least, I was a VIP guest of the Gwangun Sword Family.

There was one noticeable phrase on the directory.

[10th Floor Under Construction, Access Restricted]

Just then, a woman who looked like a desk employee was passing by.

I spoke to her, thinking it would be better if she didn’t recognize me, but it wouldn’t matter if she did.

“Excuse me.”

“……Yes.”

Judging by her expression, she didn’t seem to know me.

Her gaze, as she looked at me intently, was an effort to remember me.

“Something seems to have changed.”

“Pardon? Ah! I got my hair cut short recently.”

“Not that, I mean the 10th floor is suddenly under construction…”

For a moment, the woman’s pupils wavered, and her cheeks turned rosy.

Then she continued with an awkward smile.

“Ah! It seems you’ve just returned from the Abyss, sir warrior! The 10th-floor construction started ten days ago.”

She was covering her face with one hand as if embarrassed.

“I see. But what kind of construction is it?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know that much. The entire 10th floor is completely restricted.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all. If you have nothing else to say, I’ll be on my way.”

With that, the woman hurriedly left.

Completely restricted…

The more I thought it was suspicious, the more suspicious it felt.

Of course, it was more likely that it was nothing.

And the Gwangun Sword Family was probably unrelated to the man-eating monsters.

But the one-in-a-million possibility.

My curiosity was reacting strongly to that small possibility.

‘I have no choice.’

I had to go near the 10th floor.

The elevator was not a good option.

Not only would it attract too much attention from people, but the 10th floor itself would be blocked off.

In the end, I decided to use the emergency exit stairs.

As expected, the staircase was silent.

But as silent as it was, it was also a good place to look suspicious.

I needed to avoid running into anyone as much as possible.

Fortunately, the Bimu was about to start, so people’s attention would be directed there.

I completely silenced my footsteps and continued to expand my senses as I climbed upwards.

And finally, I arrived at the 10th floor.

As expected, the door from the staircase was also locked.

It would be possible to break in, but it wasn’t a situation where I had to take such a drastic measure.

It was still just at the stage of curiosity.

Even though I had approached the 10th floor, I still couldn’t feel the aura of the man-eating monster.

Of course, there were people.

‘About six of them.’

But it didn’t seem like they were doing construction either.

And for them to be construction workers, their mana auras were unusual.

Most of them exuded the aura of warriors.

Since I couldn’t see the situation inside and had to rely only on my hearing and senses, everything just felt suspicious.

Time passed, but the 10th floor remained quiet and still.

‘It would be great if I could at least hear the conversation properly.’

The time remaining until the Bimu was about an hour.

I planned to operate my Mana Breathing Technique in the staircase outside this door and focus all my senses on the conversation inside.

If I was lucky, I might be able to hear something.

***

“He opened his eyes!”

A voice suddenly came from inside.

My senses sharpened instantly, and I opened my eyes too.

Immediately after, another person hurriedly shouted.

“If you’ve confirmed, close them again! It’ll be a problem if a commotion starts here!”

A conversation of unknown meaning.

After this, I couldn’t hear any more of their conversation.

But it was worth the wait.

A fleeting moment. It might have been a delusion, but I could feel it.

An aura similar to the man-eating monster I met in the Abyss.

It was right at the moment they shouted that he had opened his eyes.

‘As I thought, it’s suspicious.’

Gwangun Sword Family.

I could confirm that something unusual was happening here.

***

Since I couldn’t just focus on the man-eating monster, I moved to the Bimu arena for the time being.

The surroundings were bustling with the crowd that had already started to gather.

For this expedition, the person in charge from the Haewon Sword Family was me.

Naturally, the seat assigned to me was the seat of honor.

Of course, next to me was Kang Jae-gu, the head of the Gwangun Sword Family, known as one of the Three Sword Gods.

“It’s been a few days since we last met, Family Head.”

“You’re late, Unit Leader Seo Ji-han.”

“Yes. Something unexpected came up.”

“You’re here, what are you doing? Not sitting.”

Kang Jae-gu’s reaction was cold.

It was natural, given how stiff our first meeting was.

Today, of course, he didn’t offer a fist bump either.

“I saw your daughter warming up on the way here. She was a beauty.”

Kang Su-ah, Choi Ho-joong’s Bimu opponent.

I could tell right away that she was a considerable master, just as I had heard.

Perhaps because she resembled her father, she looked like she had a bit of a temper just from her eyes.

“It seems since Unit Leader Seo is still in his prime, you only focused on my daughter’s looks.”

“Ah, of course, her swordsmanship was excellent too.”

I replied shortly.

“This is like being forced to accept a bow. Your reaction seems to imply you weren’t very impressed.”

“Is that how it sounded to you?”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. You’ll be able to see her true skills in the Bimu.”

Kang Jae-gu’s gaze was intense.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

I looked at Kang Jae-gu and gave a relaxed smile.

“I don’t know what you’re trusting in, but you look awfully confident.”

“Your daughter may be excellent, but our Choi Ho-joong’s skills have improved significantly. He has become a completely different person from a fortnight ago.”

“Is that possible?”

It was about time to start provoking him.

“Because the one who taught him was me.”

At my words, Kang Jae-gu let out a sly, mocking smile.

“As you would naturally expect, I personally taught my Su-ah.”

“That’s why it will be an even more interesting match.”

“Hah!”

For a moment, Kang Jae-gu’s smile vanished.

He must have found it absurd that I put myself on the same level as him.

It seemed my provocation had hit home.

“Is this confidence born from a record of never having lost?”

“There might be some of that. Of course, I believe a day will come when we lose.”

“And I think that day will be today.”

“If you were to provide us with the lesson of a first defeat, I am willing to pay tuition.”

“Tuition?”

“If there is anything you desire from me, I will grant it within a reasonable line. A sort of bet, if you will?”

“A bet?”

“Of course, it’s my bet alone. I just find Bimu more interesting when something like this is on the line.”

At my provocation, Kang Jae-gu showed an interested look.

“I’m not so petty as to ask only you to bet something.”

“Does that mean you will also bet something, Family Head?”

Kang Jae-gu nodded his head.

He had completely fallen for it.

“Excellent! Then if I lose, what should I give you, Family Head?”

“A portion of the Chamryongdan’s shares.”

To think he would demand this here.

It wasn’t like I would lose, but it felt like I had taken an unnecessary hit.

“Don’t tell me, is this an extension of the investment offer you mentioned back then?”

“You could say that. At that time, I was going to demand a 15 percent stake in exchange for investing in you.”

“I accept.”

“Without even hearing how much the investment is?”

“Because it will be a reasonable amount.”

I needed to go big for now.

So that Kang Jae-gu couldn’t easily refuse my demand either.

“What is it that you want?”

“Being asked so suddenly, it’s a bit perplexing. Unlike you, Family Head, I haven’t particularly thought of anything…”

“I too will grant it within a reasonable line.”

I showed a slightly troubled expression, paused for a moment, and then continued.

“If I wanted one of the Gwangun Sword Family’s Abyss reports, would you grant it?”

“An Abyss report?”

“Because the Gwangun Sword Family is one of the most active sword families in raiding the Abyss.”

“Wouldn’t the Haewon Sword Family be the same?”

“Because there are more places that don’t overlap.”

My demand was clearly not easy to accept.

But it was a much easier condition than giving up shares.

“Is there a specific quest area you want?”

“I will decide that after I have looked through the Gwangun Sword Family’s raid list. However, you must disclose all related documents without omission.”

There might be documents with restricted access.

I needed to make sure of that part as well.

Kang Jae-gu’s deliberation was not long.

“I accept.”

Since he had demanded something much bigger, he would have had no justification to refuse.

With this, all the settings I had planned were complete.

“Thanks to this, this Bimu will be even more interesting.”

I looked at Kang Jae-gu and slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

He also had a satisfied expression.

Amid our different dreams in the same bed, the main characters of the day appeared on stage side by side.

Choi Ho-joong, and Kang Su-ah.

Seeing the two of them standing together, I could once again be certain of today’s result.

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