Chapter 25 - Family Head Meeting (2)

Han Byeong-cheol.

I had done a little research on him beforehand.

The former head of the Muwon Sword Family, and a figure counted among the top three masters in present-day South Korea.

He was apparently called the ‘God of War’ in his prime, but I found this hard to agree with.

Among the people I knew alone, there were at least twenty who were stronger than Han Byeong-cheol.

In fact, using the expression 'god' within the well of Earth was a bit laughable.

There were far stronger beings outside the well.

Even I, who thought I had seen the ultimate of the sword, was a notch below a dragon.

There was always another sky above the sky.

Though it seemed the people of Earth didn't think so.

“You’re Seo Ji-han, was it? You have very interesting eyes.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. It’s much better to hear than being told I'm uninteresting.”

“The fact that you don’t avert your gaze from me is also intriguing.”

“I haven’t committed any sin, so there’s no reason to look away.”

When I showed a slight smile towards Han Byeong-cheol, he responded with a hearty laugh.

“Yes, you are right. If one is confident, there is no reason to turn away. But are you truly confident? Everyone here doubts that you disciplined Seo Young-joon.”

“Are you trying to start a fight here?”

When I turned my gaze to Seo Young-joon, his face stiffened with a flinch.

“If I had my way, I’d like to start a fight as you say, but given the place, I’ll have to change the method a bit.”

“How so?”

“Will you try to catch this? Then I will acknowledge you.”

Han Byeong-cheol picked up a 500-won coin.

“Isn’t that a coin?”

“Yes. For now, it is just a coin.”

“I don’t need the money. In case you’ve forgotten, I believe the wealth of the Haewon Sword Family surpasses that of the Muwon Sword Family.”

“Enough with the wordplay. Let’s see you catch it.”

Taak!

Suddenly, a coin flicked by Han Byeong-cheol shot towards me.

What a stubborn old man.

A loud noise erupted in the meeting hall, and I immediately raised my senses to their peak.

Then, as if time had slowed down, the movement of the coin began to form slowly on my retina.

Saaaaa.

That wasn't just a coin.

It was a concentration of mana with a round piece of metal as its medium.

Although that small piece of metal had already left Han Byeong-cheol’s hand, the mana gathered there was still under his control.

Its speed and direction could change at any time according to his will.

‘A surprising skill.’

The people of Earth often surprised me in this way.

Because the way they handled mana was quite different from Kalia, where I was from.

Just as the concept of the Haewon Sword Style, which engraved the memory of swordsmanship into mana, was, and the Earth's scientific technology that processed mana was, the mana control Han Byeong-cheol was showing now sparked a fresh stimulus in me.

‘Can I really catch that?’

With my senses raised to the extreme, I could observe the coin’s movement broken down into units of an instant, but that was a separate issue from my physical strength.

My hand speed might not be able to keep up, and I might be pushed back by the force of the mana-infused coin.

That old man was testing me in a very nasty way.

However, that didn't mean there was no way to get through this situation.

I could permanently burn a part of the mana in my dantian and convert it into a momentary burst of power.

‘It’s a method I’d rather not use, though.’

Although I was accumulating mana by healing my body every day, its size was still like a speck of dust. Burning such precious mana was nothing short of disheartening.

Before long, the flicked coin came within reach.

It was a moment where I could no longer delay the decision.

It was the moment I reluctantly tried to circulate my inner arts to burn my mana.

Hwing!

The mana concentrated in the coin began to squirm and create some kind of change.

The rapidly spinning coin suddenly stopped its rotation, and its gale-like flight speed also slowed down simultaneously.

Wait, why?

I couldn't know the reason why he suddenly changed his mind, but the next picture that could be inferred from the flow of mana was surprising.

‘A vertical drop!’

The coin, now relying solely on gravity, began to fall helplessly.

In that instant, I reached out my hand.

Tak!

And a 500-won coin landed on my palm.

“Waaaah!!”

Exclamations poured out from the silent meeting hall.

Han Byeong-cheol, who had flicked the coin, was staring at me with his mouth agape.

The nasty old man.

He had shown mercy in his attack with the intention of toying with me from the beginning.

“I’ll gladly accept the 500 won.”

“...Well, you may do so.”

“Then, is the verification of me finished with this?”

“A promise is a promise, so I will put away my doubts about you cleanly.”

This statement by Han Byeong-cheol would carry great meaning.

Because he was the person with the most weight among those attending this meeting.

“But there is one thing I want to ask you out of pure curiosity.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“How did you know I would stop the coin right in front of your nose?”

“I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know?”

“I don’t have the ability to see the future. I just watch the present and react.”

“Heo! Nonsense!”

Han Byeong-cheol didn't seem to believe that I had seen the coin's movement.

Well, since it was something no one else in this meeting hall could do, perhaps everyone was dismissing it as a bluff.

It didn't matter anyway.

I had no interest in revealing my power.

As long as no useless questions were raised about the testimony I was about to give, that was enough.

“Well then, may we hear Seo Ji-han’s testimony now?”

No one raised any more objections to the words of my father, the chairman.

***

I testified about all the facts without addition or omission.

From meeting Seo Young-joon in the Abyss and giving him a proper lesson, to dealing with the assassin sent by Seo Chang-woo recently.

“This is slander!”

Seo Chang-woo protested vehemently once again.

“Uncle.”

“Don’t you dare call me that!”

“Fine. Then, Mr. Seo Chang-woo.”

“What?”

“First, I’d like to talk to Mr. Seo Chang-woo’s son.”

I crossed the center of the meeting hall and walked straight towards where the father and son, Seo Chang-woo and Seo Young-joon, were.

Unlike Seo Chang-woo, Seo Young-joon was much worse at managing his expression.

His pupils were already shaking, unable to find a focus.

Having such a low-quality mentality, it was no wonder he had created this situation.

“Young-joon, don’t you remember meeting me in the Abyss?”

“Wh-what? What are you talking about! When did I ever meet you!”

Hwiik!

I immediately threw a punch towards Seo Young-joon.

And my fist stopped right in front of his mouth.

Seo Young-joon flinched in surprise, pulled his face back, and covered his mouth with his hands.

“You got hit like this back then and lost two front teeth. Didn’t you?”

“It's slander!”

As he spoke, the sound of wind was already leaking from his pronunciation.

Well, this was just circumstantial evidence anyway.

Now, it was time for our side to reveal the cards we had prepared, one by one.

The more stubbornly the two of them denied it, the better for me.

Because the more they did, the deeper they would fall into a pit they couldn't escape from.

“Young-joon, then I wonder if you remember these faces?”

When I gave the signal, two people appeared in the meeting hall.

They were the Hong Jae-woo and Hong Jae-seong brothers, survivors among the assassins Seo Young-joon had sent after me.

This time, Seo Chang-woo’s expression also hardened slightly.

Hong Jae-woo was the double agent I had released, the one who had entered the dungeon again under Seo Chang-woo’s orders along with Im Jeong-seok.

“I don’t know! I don’t know these faces at all!”

Of course, I knew he would say that.

“What about you two?”

“We have met once.”

It was Hong Jae-woo who spoke.

“When was that?”

“It was the day before we entered the dungeon, after receiving the commission for the murder.”

“The reason for the meeting?”

“He called us to deliver one specific order.”

“What was it?”

“To pull out all of Seo Ji-han’s teeth before killing him.”

Seo Young-joon's complexion had already turned pale.

He said in a trembling voice.

“Lies! You conspired and coordinated your stories beforehand!”

“You are slandering me now.”

“Then show me the proof!”

“I think your trembling voice might be the proof.”

I grinned and turned my gaze to Seo Chang-woo.

“Mr. Seo Chang-woo. You don’t know Hong Jae-woo?”

“You son of a bitch!”

“Well, I suppose you wouldn’t know his name. You were planning to use him once and then dispose of him to silence him.”

“Do you think you can get away with slandering me like this? Show me the proof! Proof that I sent an assassin!”

“Since you say you don’t know Hong Jae-woo, let’s call one more person.”

Ttak!

As I snapped my fingers and gave a signal, another person was dragged into the meeting hall.

Seo Chang-woo’s loyal subordinate, Im Jeong-seok.

Now, even Seo Chang-woo could no longer perfectly maintain his composure.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know Im Jeong-seok either?”

“J-Jeong-seok! Why are you here!”

But Im Jeong-seok just kept his head bowed low.

“Exactly. Why is Im Jeong-seok at the Haewon Sword Family's Main Family? This man is clearly my uncle's, no, Mr. Seo Chang-woo's right-hand man.”

Even Seo Chang-woo would have found it hard to predict this situation.

Having sent the master Im Jeong-seok, he would never have expected the mission to fail.

“You! You tell me! Why is Im Jeong-seok here!”

“How shameless.”

It was a good thing Seo Chang-woo couldn't read the room.

If he had kneeled and begged even now, there might have been a speck of leniency.

All the circumstantial evidence was now pointing to one place.

And I hadn't even played all my cards yet.

“Don’t tell me you abducted Jeong-seok with the Main Family's power? If so, I will never forgive you!”

“Stop it. It’s pathetic.”

“You are making a one-sided, ridiculous claim! Just because you have the power of the Main Family to back you up...”

“That’s enough. Stop there.”

I cut off Seo Chang-woo’s words.

Then, the monitor in the meeting hall turned on, and a video began to play.

It was a secret recording of the moment Hong Jae-woo received Seo Chang-woo's order, filmed with a micro-camera.

There must be absolutely no mistakes.

I understand!

Hong Jae-woo had risked his life to pull off this daring act to save his brother who was being held hostage.

How commendable.

As the undeniable evidence was revealed, the meeting hall instantly turned into chaos.

I had considered playing this card first, but I saved it for last.

Because it's more satisfying to punish someone after seeing their dirty rock bottom.

“Seo Ji-han! You son of a bitch!!”

Chaeng!

Seo Chang-woo drew his sword towards me.

We were at close range.

A chilling killing intent washed over me.

But I had somewhat anticipated a situation like this as well.

I wore a relaxed expression and narrowed the distance between us even further.

Teobeok teobeok.

And I stopped in front of him.

“Mr. Seo Chang-woo. What are you planning to do?”

The mana in the sword he held was raging.