Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 72

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Chapter 72

The northernmost part of the Safe Zone, bordering the slum area of the Danger Zone.

In the desolate streets of the slum, completely cut off from the outside world, a black market operation was underway.

And just outside that black market, a man was strolling at a relaxed pace.

Several warriors attended him, effortlessly dealing with the White Bone Clan’s underlings that dared to approach.

One of the warriors attending the man began to report.

“All access points are secured. Not even a rat can get through.”

“The signal jammer is fully operational. All surveillance equipment is disabled.”

“The White Bone Clan’s forces within the slum have been completely suppressed.”

The man receiving the reports nodded, his face betraying no emotion.

“Teams 1 and 2, continue breaching the outer defenses. Sweep through quickly. Collect all items on-site as evidence, and detain the individuals involved. Execute immediately.”

Despite the ongoing battles, the man issued instructions in a calm, measured tone, as if he were simply taking a walk.

The man was none other than Lee Jaehak, the seventh son of the Sungmoo Lee Clan.

The warriors engaged in combat were the Gold Sword Unit, his personal guard and direct subordinates.

As soon as Lee Jaehak’s orders were given, the surrounding warriors surged forward.

Thwack! Crack! Kwaaaang!

Securing the outer perimeter of the black market, neutralizing the magical defenses, and subduing the White Bone Clan warriors guarding the area took only a few seconds.

Having entered the slum, they had broken through to the heart of the black market in just five minutes.

The masked patrons of the black market were quickly apprehended and tied up, while the merchandise on the stalls remained untouched.

Lee Jaehak casually strolled through the secured streets of the black market, offering a detached observation.

“I anticipated the Nine Dragons Guild being involved, but it appears they were merely low-level participants.”

A hulking warrior beside Lee Jaehak’s eyes flashed with anger.

“They’re insane. Daring to exploit the Sungmoo Lee Clan’s reputation for their petty schemes. It’s because you’ve reduced your public profile, young master, that these rats are running rampant.”

“That may be true. But… as I suspected, things seem to be unfolding as I predicted.”

Lee Jaehak glanced around with a peculiar expression.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t you detect a certain… stench?”

“Stench? What are you implying?”

“As you know, they made contact regarding Baekjeol [likely a valuable artifact or resource], and we received intelligence from two separate sources.”

The reason Lee Jaehak had come here was due to two distinct pieces of information that had reached his network.

One came from the president of a company with whom they had a trading relationship, and the other was gathered independently by the Gold Sword Unit.

The company president’s information originated from someone connected to the White Bone Clan.

However, the source of the information obtained by the Gold Sword Unit felt… manipulated.

“The company’s information was expected, and therefore less significant. But the path the Gold Sword Unit’s information took is… peculiar.”

Although both sources addressed the same issue, the information acquired by the Gold Sword Unit was subtly different.

It wasn’t simply that the Gold Sword Unit had discovered it; it felt deliberately guided to reach his ears through them.

“So, you believe someone deliberately lured you here, young master?”

“Precisely.”

The warrior’s eyes narrowed with fury.

“You suspected the Nine Dragons Guild was setting a trap.”

“I initially thought they were attempting to break the seal, seize Baekjeol, and then implicate me. But Baekjeol’s seal remains intact, and there’s no intelligence suggesting any activity from the Nine Dragons Guild.”

If that were the case, then the White Bone Clan had initiated this themselves, which made no logical sense.

What kind of madman would intentionally spread information that would lead to the destruction of their own organization?

“Who could it be? What do they hope to achieve? Hmm?”

Lee Jaehak pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly widened in realization.

“Could it be… that guy?”

Lee Jaehak burst into laughter, unable to contain himself.

Thinking about it, there was only one person capable of orchestrating something like this. The way this operation was handled was distinctly his style.

“What’s wrong?”

The Gold Sword Unit Captain tilted his head, puzzled.

“If he hadn’t been apprehended, it might have been acceptable. But now that he’s been caught, he’ll have to pay a significant price.”

Lee Jaehak ignored the Gold Sword Unit Captain’s confused expression and turned his gaze into the distance.

* * *

A few days prior, when Jung Jinsoo and I were alone in the black market warehouse.

I addressed Jung Jinsoo, who was trembling with fear and kneeling on the ground.

“I have a proposition for you.”

Jung Jinsoo was still shaking uncontrollably, but I disregarded it and proceeded to explain my plan.

“I intend to dismantle this black market. Naturally, Baek Cheolsoo [likely the leader of the Black Market] needs to be dealt with as well. And to accomplish this, I plan to leverage my lord… no, my brother.”

Jung Jinsoo flinched at my words.

Brother.

He understood the significance of that word.

‘Could it be a direct descendant? But the seventh son has a younger brother….’

Someone who had recently embarked on the path of a warrior with unprecedented speed, becoming a subject of widespread discussion.

The ninth son of the Sungmoo Lee Clan.

The youngest and illegitimate son, Lee Cheol.

Even though it was an internal matter within the Sungmoo Lee Clan, rumors about Lee Cheol had spread far and wide.

But how could this be?

Lee Cheol was only fifteen years old.

Yet, the person standing before him now….

Click-

It was at that moment.

The man who had identified himself as Lee Cheol raised his hand to his face.

And when that hand lowered again.

He held an iron mask, revealing the face of a seasoned warrior transformed into a handsome boy with sharp features.

‘It was real.’

Jung Jinsoo gasped, overwhelmed with shock.

I looked down at Jung Jinsoo and continued.

“Whether you accept it or not is irrelevant. The information has already reached the seventh brother, and the Gold Sword Unit will be mobilized.”

The seventh brother was more of a businessman than a warrior, but he still possessed the blood of the Sungmoo Lee Clan.

If someone impersonated him and caused trouble, he would never let it go unpunished.

“And if the little brother arrives, neither the White Bone Clan nor you will be safe. After all, you were the person in charge who oversaw the black market in Baek Cheolsoo’s stead, so do you think they would simply leave you alone?”

The future of an organization that offended the Sungmoo Lee Clan was predetermined.

Moreover, given the deviation from established norms, the black market and the White Bone Clan would vanish from this world without a trace.

It was inevitable that he would be caught up in that chain of events.

Because the Sungmoo Lee Clan would never show mercy.

‘I have to escape.’

But could he evade the White Bone Clan or the Sungmoo Lee Clan by running away?

No.

He was neither a warrior nor a magician, but simply an ordinary person.

‘Should I reveal all the circumstances to Baek Cheolsoo… or should I attempt to establish a connection with the Sungmoo Lee Clan?’

Jung Jinsoo’s mind raced in that brief moment.

And.

As countless thoughts swirled through his head.

He realized that Lee Cheol had revealed his true identity.

The fact that Lee Cheol had revealed his true identity meant that he no longer had a choice.

Jung Jinsoo gritted his teeth and forced out each word.

“Why… why are you telling me this? Didn’t you clearly state earlier that it was a proposal?”

Lee Cheol smiled faintly.

And said.

“I’m considering whether to spare you.”

“……!”

Jung Jinsoo’s eyes widened as if they would pop out of their sockets.

“What… what do you want from me?”

“Abandon Baek Cheolsoo and work for me. Serve me from now on.”

He presented it as a proposal, but there was no real choice from the beginning.

Taking a deep breath, Jung Jinsoo calmed his trembling heart.

But his expression remained grim.

The source of that shadow was already apparent.

“Can you promise me just one thing?”

“Tell me.”

“Protect my daughter. No, heal her. Then I’ll do whatever you ask. I… I can die.”

Jung Jinsoo made a condition.

He prioritized his daughter’s safety above his own.

I smiled as I looked at him.

“Do you believe you’re in a position to make such a demand in this situation?”

“If you don’t accept it, I’ll go to Baek Cheolsoo right now and reveal everything. In the end, the White Bone Clan and I will face destruction, but Baek Cheolsoo will flee with all his might, and no matter how powerful the Sungmoo Lee Clan is, it will take time to catch him.”

Jung Jinsoo staggered to his feet and straightened his back.

“And Baek Cheolsoo is just a thug, but he’s a man with a strong obsession. He’ll eventually be caught by Lee Jaehak… but considering your current circumstances, it will be very troublesome.”

In any case, I was currently on a warrior’s journey.

Baek Cheolsoo would vow revenge and interfere with my progress.

He was emphasizing that point.

‘Now he’s acting like the Jung Jinsoo I know.’

Jung Jinsoo’s eyes blazed with determination.

It was as if he was betting everything, making a last stand.

“Okay. Healing your daughter won’t be difficult. But there’s one thing I need to correct.”

I looked directly into Jung Jinsoo’s eyes.

“Even if you tell the truth, it won’t take the Sungmoo Lee Clan long to capture Baek Cheolsoo. It’s simply a matter of being caught immediately versus running away and surviving for a few more hours.”

“…….”

Jung Jinsoo clamped his mouth shut.

“Well, whatever. I was planning to resolve your family issue anyway. And if you follow my instructions, you’ll be able to escape without much consequence, even if the White Bone Clan is wiped out.”

Jung Jinsoo’s eyes narrowed.

“What do you want me to do?”

I instructed Jung Jinsoo on a few tasks.

To ensure that information flowed to the seventh brother. Also, to convince Baek Cheolsoo that I was definitely under the seventh brother’s command.

That instruction was also a final test for Jung Jinsoo.

I didn’t completely trust him.

Jung Jinsoo might betray me and reveal the truth to Baek Cheolsoo, or he might not convey my instructions accurately.

Or he might seek other ways out based on his own judgment.

That’s why I leaked information to the Gold Sword Unit as a safeguard.

* * *

And currently.

Jung Jinsoo had not betrayed me.

Instead, he carried out my instructions more discreetly and precisely than I had anticipated.

Jung Jinsoo succeeded in deceiving Baek Cheolsoo, and the seventh brother was leading the Gold Sword Unit to seize the black market.

Jung Jinsoo approached me, his eyes trembling but filled with resolve.

“You didn’t betray me.”

“You would have established multiple safeguards, correct? If I had betrayed you, would there have been any way for me to survive?”

No, there wouldn’t have been. Because I had already blocked all escape routes.

“Listen as we go.”

I left the chaotic black market and listened to Jung Jinsoo.

“All the items you requested are here.”

Jung Jinsoo retrieved documents and a USB drive from his pocket and handed them to me, continuing.

“President Baek Cheolsoo preferred physical assets over depositing slush funds into separate accounts. The gold bars that have been converted into physical assets are in a vault in Seoul. The account containing the virtual currency is stored on the USB.”

I took the documents and the USB.

And I entered a building not far from the auction house, which the Gold Sword Unit had not yet breached.

Inside, a special case was placed.

After entering the password and opening the case, the stone tablet that I had instructed him to bring in advance was revealed.

After examining it with the Evil Eye [likely a skill or ability to detect authenticity], I was convinced that it was genuine.

Jung Jinsoo had delivered it properly.

“Are the documents ready?”

“Yes.”

Jung Jinsoo gripped his briefcase tightly.

The current Jung Jinsoo displayed no hesitation in his responses. The emotional or vulnerable aspects he had shown previously were nowhere to be seen.

“Keep it safe. That will be your lifeline. And so will the letter I gave you.”

The escape route I had created for Jung Jinsoo involved using the data he had collected.

Jung Jinsoo would take that data and go directly to the seventh brother.

Using that reliable information, the seventh brother would dismantle the black market and those associated with it, leveraging it as leverage to gain practical advantages.

‘I hope he’ll be lenient with him.’

I had made a deal that I believed was reasonable, so the seventh brother would likely accept it.

If he doesn’t, well… there’s a way to deal with that.

“You must have the letter with you. Otherwise, you’ll be mistaken for someone simply surrendering to save their own skin.”

“You don’t have to worry.”

I nodded and made eye contact with Jung Jinsoo.

“Then I’ll be on my way. If a Gold Sword Unit warrior appears to search this place….”

It was the moment I was about to rise from my seat with the special case.

Shuaaaak!

A presence shot through the air.

And.

Kwaaaang!