NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52
52.
– Uh, this is Lee Ok Bum… Currently tracking the remnants.
“What about the backup? They were supposed to arrive soon, right?”
Kang Jin Young asked calmly. A coldness ran down her face.
– Hmm… We’re moving together with Hunter Management Bureau personnel. Over.
“Whoever goes in first doesn’t matter. The credit will be divided accordingly. We seem quite busy, so don’t contact us until I confirm it.”
– Understood!!
“Alright, good work.”
The strong siblings who had just subdued a group of rioters on their way to the police station.
They stepped on the accelerator of an armed sedan heading towards Lee Sung Han.
Kang Seojin.
Gang Cheon’s little devil was after Lee Sung Han.
If left alone, something bad would happen.
Her intuition warned her—it wasn’t going to end easily.
She was extremely worried.
Both sisters simultaneously chewed on their thumbnails—a common habit.
‘Absolutely cannot let him go.’
‘If he escapes, I’ll kill him.’
The sisters glanced at each other sideways.
They wouldn’t fight until this crisis temporarily resolved. An all-out ceasefire agreement was in place. It had always been like that.
This was a tradition since their successor training days.
Kang Jin Young frowned as if annoyed.
‘How did he escape? We covered every angle and manpower. There shouldn’t have been any gaps. I made sure of it until they arrived.’
She efficiently arranged everything.
In a circular formation to prevent any escape routes.
Then, did he break out by force? No. A normal person can’t defeat an Awakened One. That’s a given fact—even a three-year-old knows it.
Did he use a decoy?
Possible.
If it was fake, there must have been premeditated assassination reasons—Gang Cheon’s specialty. If real, she contacted the security team.
…The identities didn’t match.
Damn, it was a trap.
They tried to quietly slip away!
Squeal—
The car stopped at a red light. She slammed the steering wheel with both arms during the brief pause. Her anger wouldn’t subside.
The feeling of being tricked filled her chest, making her feel incredibly suffocated.
“Be honest, sister. Did you know?”
“What are you talking about? I’m not sure myself.”
Knowing fully well but still doing it.
You infuriating human. Her habit of looking down on others has always bothered Kang Jin Young.
Now isn’t the time to fight.
With a public enemy around, how dare one draw their sword?
Since ancient times, internal strife has never ended well.
“Do you remember? Our deal. Is it still valid?”
“…Well, it might be fine now. But my memory is hazy because someone keeps nagging me.”
“You know what I mean. Do you think we can overlook this?”
To “overlook” refers to Lee Sung Han trying to leave their territory.
“No.”
She couldn’t be certain. There was no alternative method. She needed to verify personally.
Enemies met on narrow bridges, yet traditionally, enemies become allies.
“We’ll reconnect later.”
Kang Mi Young sitting in the passenger seat gave low instructions.
“You do it, sister. Don’t you see I’m driving?”
“Tch.”
Ring—
Clack.
– Hello? Mother dear, aren’t my sisters trying to intimidate me?
She called Lee Sung Han.
Again, Kang Seojin answered the phone. Had she seized it again?
Kang Mi Young composed herself.
“Kang Seojin. We already agreed, didn’t we? Not to interfere in each other’s territories.”
The sisters decided.
To build a relationship with their youngest sister, Kang Seojin.
This was something Kang Seojin also agreed to.
However, Kang Seojin suddenly stirred up trouble. Acting selfishly without considering others, it seemed she hadn’t received proper upbringing.
“Hey, you bitches, bring it on.” She launched a preemptive strike, which couldn’t be ignored.
“Smart moves are Gang Cheon’s forte, huh. This is an official protest.”
– Protest all you want. Mother dear, or rather, that brilliant old man would surely agree.
“That’s my person.”
“First off, he’s ‘our’ person.”
Kang Mi Young added a footnote.
“Yeah, sister, whatever. Anyway, Kang Seojin, I assume you didn’t get permission from him, right? Or, is this your doing? With disturbances of this scale, endless testimonies about backing keep surfacing.”
– Sharp observation. I did it.
“Is it because of your prince charming antics?”
Kang Jin Young smirked while turning the steering wheel.
The prince.
The youngest sister screamed for him so much that she came here to stir up such chaos. How desperate must she have been to cross into another’s territory?
Reality is cold, and she hasn’t learned that yet. She grew up like a greenhouse flower.
Even beasts don’t step outside their territory.
Kang Jin Young and Kang Mi Young, having had their influence over Gang Cheon severed, also have their own domains.
Hunter Management Bureau, National Intelligence Service.
A role akin to exiles and family errand runners.
Proving their worth and securing survival. Unlike the youngest, the sisters survived this way.
Conflicts arose frequently like streams flowing.
But directly revealing daggers like local hoodlums was rare.
How dare dark alley cats eye their cherished hamster—cute, smart, excellent bluffer, needs care!
Unthinkable behavior, especially from someone with a head full of flowers suffering from delusions.
– For a while, Oppa will be under my care. Disconnect.
“That damn—”
Click.
The call ended. Repeated attempts failed; it seemed the number was blocked.
“Kang Seojin, that cursed girl.”
Her rationality began to wane.
Again, disconnected.
Tension heightened gradually.
Kang Mi Young clenched her teeth.
“Ignore the signal.”
“Okay.”
Whiiii—
Taking action takes priority. If even a hair of Kang Seojin gets hurt, the giant will move and crush everyone.
“Sister.”
“What is it?”
“Could Sung Han be that man?”
Her face stiffened uncontrollably.
“No, that’s the worst-case scenario.”
Then…it probably won’t end easily.
***
Jin Shim Mi, who dominated the secondary road, was now in peril.
Surrounded on all sides (四面楚歌).
Meaning: Hearing Chu songs from all directions.
A four-character idiom signifying being completely surrounded by enemies and isolated. Police forces and multiple hunter units surrounded her.
Escape was now impossible. Jin Shim Mi tightly closed her eyes.
Should she surrender? Even if she does, survival is questionable.
“What are you looking at?”
Behind the distracted Jin Shim Mi, Lee Sung Han leaped through the air.
Swinging his sword diagonally, he swiftly struck down.
“Damn!”
Thud—
Though she deflected the attack, she flew back significantly.
Bang!
She hit the ground hard, narrowly avoiding another incoming blow.
The worst situation ever.
No way out!
Like a rat trapped in a pot. Is this how Xiang Yu felt?
“That guy is here—”
Slap.
“Shut up. Do you think I came here to deal with scum like you?”
Organizational members struck on the back of the head by Lee Sung Han’s sword fell one by one. Only about five remained, and they were all regular Awakened Ones.
His blue tracksuit and hunter uniform created an odd match.
“What exactly are you?”
“Me? A human. What?”
“I mean, what’s your identity?!”
“F-rank, yet to update.”
“That’s absurd!!”
He continuously swung his massive fists.
His steel-hard muscles shattered like paper against the blade.
Jin Shim Mi was once considered a promising talent at C-rank before committing crimes.
But this is different.
How could an F-rank be this powerful?! It must be a lie.
Male.
The life form before him was undoubtedly male biologically.
For an inferior existence to fight on equal terms with her…
Impossible. He must be a secret war weapon created by the South Korean government.
“Dodge!”
Clang!
“What exactly are you?!”
Lee Sung Han ignored the words. Clearly, communication was futile.
“Guided daggers. Rank B. Three in total.”
He pulled daggers from his backpack. Neatly positioning them between his fingers, he responded by throwing them.
The speed was so fast that afterimages appeared.
Jin Shim Mi was shocked. Does the Hunter Management Bureau have such human weapons?
There was no time to judge. If he couldn’t block, it would be fatal, and a fatal wound meant surrender.
“Damn! Steel Skin!”
[Skill ‘Steel Skin’ activated for ‘Jin Shim Mi’.]
Jin Shim Mi was enveloped in a silver glow.
Click. Click. Click.
Jin Shim Mi hastily raised her arm.
The daggers embedded themselves consecutively into her forearm.
Each dagger lodged firmly in place.
Precision like archery champions. Jin Shim Mi was amazed at the 100% accuracy.
Hundred out of hundred, thousand out of thousand.
Amazing combat sense and skill. Going head-on would be futile.
“Ughh!”
Jin Shim Mi crouched down and stamped her feet.
The asphalt road cracked like soft mud.
“In this situation, I’ll take a hostage!!”
She smashed through the police bus and began searching for a suitable hostage. 1 second. 2 seconds. 3 seconds. Someone who could minimize damage while maximizing intimidation.
Adults or Awakened Ones were obviously out of the question. Then…a young child would be ideal. Sorting through the options clarified her thoughts.
“Yes, that brat will do!”
Jin Shim Mi leaped to the side sidewalk and snatched a child.
“Waaaah, too scary.”
The hostage situation felt unusual.
“Mommy.”
Seeing the opponent unable to approach confirmed her choice.