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?”

    “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.”

    “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.”

    “Hello, Hunter! This is Kim Geon. How have you been?”

    “Same as always. What about you? What’s the occasion?”

    “Oh, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve wrapped up things with the PC cafe? and everything else around it.”

    “Oh, really? Have you heard from Nexus yet?”

    “Yes, they did reach out. I decided to speak with you first before visiting them.”

    “You did well. Shall we meet briefly? I happen to have a partner item ready for you.”

    “I’m free anytime. Where should I go?”

    “I’ll come to your place. It’s more convenient that way.”

    “That’s quite a distance for you... Thank you.”

    “No problem. See you soon.”

    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)"