The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 185

Chapter 185
The South Korean Association.
“Is the content of this true?”
Ji Cheon-Myeong, the Association’s president, crushed the armrest of his chair into powder.
“Jeong Jae-Uk, an S-class player, signed a contract with a demon and went berserk with the demon’s power before... being killed by Kang Jae-Hyeok?”
“According to eyewitnesses, Park Chang-Cheon also helped Kang Jae-Hyeok after mysteriously waking. Moreover, it happened at Guardian’s headquarters. More than a few guild members likely stepped in.”
“But in the end, it was Kang Jae-Hyeok who cut Jeong Jae-Uk’s throat?”
“Y-yes... That is what the eyewitnesses are saying.”
"Dammit!"
Ji Cheon-Myeong stood up from his seat.
Jeong Jae-Uk had to have surpassed his original strength while drawing on the demon contract’s power. That Kang Jae-Uk could contest and ultimately kill him made Ji Cheon-Myeong nervous.
“Could that kid’s talent be greater than his brother’s?”
“Isn’t that impossible? Kang Dae-Seong is a genius who appears once in a hundred years... ah.” Having accidentally praised Kang Dae-Seong, the secretary bowed in a panic.
Ji Cheon-Myeong glared at him in disapproval before returning to the contents of the . “At least in terms of brains, he’s sharp enough to rival Kang Dae-Seong. You said all the witnesses were civilians hired by Ocean Shipping and the Gugang Hotel?”
“Yes, both companies have a history of being involved with Kang Jae-Hyeok through a commission with the Shooting Club.”
“That must’ve been when he wheedled them.”
Kang Jae-Hyeok had been at the Guardian Guild’s headquarters at the same time as dozens of civilians hired by Ocean Shipping and Gugang Hotel—in hindsight, the connection was clear.
“Guardian probably mistook them for the Kang family’s troops. That would explain how a brat with the blood of a decaying family ended up at the negotiating table. For some reason, Jeong Jae-Uk’s true identity was revealed shortly after.”
“That is also my judgement. However, the president of Ocean Shipping is a famous madman. How did Kang Jae-Hyeok convince him?”
Ocean Shipping’s president, Yeon Ho-Rang, was the eldest son of the Ruler of the Sea, one of South Korea’s bigshots. He had been arrogant from a young age, committing all kinds of evils. Yeon Ho-Rang was a classic example of the saying, ‘I am supreme above all in heaven and earth’, so the secretary struggled to imagine how Kang Jae-Hyeok had won his cooperation.
On the other hand, Ji Cheon-Myeong had plenty of experience with people from the Kang family, and could guess the nature of their relationship.
“Kang Jae-Hyeok probably beat him up.”
“...Huh?”
“Did I stutter? I said Kang Jae-Hyeok beat on Yeon Ho-Rang until he agreed. That little demon grew up under the “guidance” of the Yaksha and Kang Dae-Seong; I doubt I’m mistaken.”
Ji Cheon-Myeong’s expression became even more serious.
This is Seol Su-Ah’s work.
Ji Cheon-Myeong clearly remembered the lightning during Kang Jae-Hyeok’s admission re-examination. It was a single strike, but it resembled thunder tribulation.
He must’ve awakened the Kang family’s Bloodline Skill at that time.
In the four months since, he must’ve been leveling quickly under Seol Su-Ah’s support.
Lion’s Castle was the world’s largest gate. It overflowed with respawnable monsters, worthy of being called the treasure of South Korea.
Although the Association, the government, and the military had divided up some of the interests, Seol Su-Ah retained the largest share of the gate. If she provided Jae-Hyeok with access to high-level hunting grounds and the support of an attack squad, then his rapid growth was understandable.
In addition, she must’ve fed him many elixirs.
She was even willing to give him the Fairy’s Tears back then...
Ji Cheon-Myeong broke the armrest of the new chair that the secretary brought in and cursed.
“That crazy woman! Out of all the things she could do with the power of a National Treasure, she wants to raise the Yaksha’s son?”
What if a second Kang Dae-Seong was born? Wouldn’t his life be in danger again? Ji Cheon-Myeong ground his teeth.
She’s clearly targeting me.
I have to stop Kang Jae-Hyeok’s growth.
First things first, I’ll start shedding light on Seol Su-Ah’s abuse of gate resources for personal gain...
Ji Cheon-Myeong began sweating as he recalled the past. He could never allow the Association to be under the boot of the Kang family, not again.
The secretary received a phone call. “Hello? What?... P-President.” The secretary’s hands trembled as he lowered the phone to his chest. “Gyeongnam’s branch manager, Heo Myeong-Hwi, was just killed by Kang Jae-Hyeok!”
“?”
***
In the world of players, the law of the jungle prevailed.
The strong preyed upon the weak. Rarely were the violent deeds of the powerful called into question, and more than a few were killed over as little as a handful of Community points.
However, South Korea was nominally a nation of law and order. Inside the country’s borders, not even players were totally free of the law.
And this is murder, for heaven’s sake! He killed him in broad daylight, at a checkpoint managed by the Association, no less!
Kang Jae-Hyeok had clearly murdered Heo Myeong-Hwi, and there were so many witnesses to boot. It was a perfect opportunity for him to throw this thorn in his side behind bars—or it should have been. But...
“Dammit!” Ji Cheon-Myeong shouted.
“Heo Myeong-Hwi, that idiot, tried to take Kang Jae-Hyeok and the Guardian Guild members by force. And he even used such a ridiculous allegation as Elder Gu Sook and Kang Jae-Hyeok scheming to take over the Guardian Guild?”
“Y-yes... ”
“That dumb bastard!”
Players were superhumans. No one knew what Skills they were hiding, so they were more dangerous than a robber with a gun. But for that same reason, players also couldn’t easily threaten others. If they did, the victim had clear grounds to retaliate—no matter the degree of force, the government would rule it as self-defense. For example, if a player climbed the fence of someone else’s house, no one would blink if they were shot dead on the spot.
How could an S-class player forcibly take away dozens of people without providing sufficient evidence?
It was reasonable to be suspicious of his intentions. Were this to go to trial, it would be enough for Jae-Hyeok to testify, “I killed him because it seemed like he had ulterior motives.”
Furthermore...
“
Hah.
”
Ji Cheon-Myeong watched the CCTV footage of the checkpoint and sighed deeply. The Association staff of Gyeongnam branch were shown subduing Guardian’s players and loading them into ambulances by force. Moreover, the audio picked up Heo Myeong-Hwi insulting the Kang family.
Jae-Hyeok had had sufficient grounds to kill, as well as the evidence to support it. Of course, when it came to murder, justification and public acceptance were separate matters.
People might blame Kang Jae-Hyeok for resorting to murder. However, the law would recognize Kang Jae-Hyeok’s right to self-defense.
Well, whatever, this isn’t bad either,
Ji Cheon-Myeong thought.
Should he wish, he could paint Kang Jae-Hyeok as a crazed killer over the months of the trial, swaying public opinion to tarnish the Kang family’s reputation even more.
However, he wouldn’t do that.
He’d seen it for himself on the CCTV footage: Kang Jae-Hyeok had smoothly cut down the S-class Gyeongnam branch manager.
At this point, Ji Cheon-Myeong wanted nothing less than the complete removal of Kang Jae-Hyeok. Such a young monster couldn’t be allowed to exist, not when he had Kang blood.
I’ll keep it from the public. The less attention, the better.
An eye for an eye, a life for a life—
This was something the Association should handle privately.
***
“Why didn’t you call the police?”
It wasn’t until they arrived in Seoul that Do-Jin broke the awkward silence.
The naivety of the question reminded the Guardian players of something they all-too-often forgot: These were young kids, teenage boys and girls just starting their lives.
However...
The guild members gulped nervously as their eyes focused on Jae-Hyeok.
“The Association will handle it. They’ll probably contact us soon.” Jae-Hyeok was as calm and composed as ever. It was as if he hadn’t beheaded a man mere hours ago. “Don’t worry too much. I’m willing to bet only we and the Association know about Heo Myeong-Hwi’s death.”
Do-Jin wondered, “So let me get this right, someone died, but no one contacted the police or his family?”
Jae-Hyeok shrugged. “He’s a player. The Association just needs to that he died in a gate.”
Monsters weren't the only reason for players’ low survival rates. All too often, players died fighting each other. The organizations involved would then cover up the deaths by dumping the bodies inside a gate and writing a .
Ordinary people couldn’t imagine it.
Jae-Hyeok said, “Just as I killed Heo Myeong-Hwi by relying on the rights of my Kang family, the Association will also leverage its own influence to try and do the same to me.”
“Hah! As expected... ”
Silence fell. The faces of the Guardian members darkened as they worried about retaliation from the Association.
“What do you mean?”
Do-Jin tilted his head, and Gu Suk-Jeong explained, “Idiot, he’s saying that the Association will also try to kill him.”
“What? That’s outrageous! What did Jae-Hyeok do wrong?”
“T-that... ”
“He never tried to kidnap anyone, unlike that pig, and he didn’t insult the Association, either.
Hmph
. Going after an innocent person, how shameless!”
I mean, he did kill and decapitate someone...
Gu Suk-Jeong swallowed his words.
“Blood calls for blood,” Elder Gu Sook said gently. “Just as Young Master Kang spilled blood to protect his family’s honor, the Association will respond in kind now that its power and prestige have been blatantly challenged.
“
Ah
... ”
So Jae-Hyeok really is in danger!
Do-Jin’s expression hardened into righteous anger.
Seeing the boy so worried about his friend, Elder Gu Suk smiled and added, “However, they probably won’t openly aim for Young Master Kang’s life. If they murder someone from a ducal family, not even the Association could handle the backlash.”
Kang Jae-Hyeok would survive. But they might cripple him... This time, Guardian could be in danger.
Now that Jae-Hyeok had crossed a line against the Association, Guardian would naturally be pulled into a crisis as Jae-Hyeok’s allies. Objectively, Elder Gu Suk should’ve blamed Jae-Hyeok, but he couldn’t bring himself to.
After all, he’s saved Guardian and our lives.
Elder Gu Suk calmed down.
They entered the lobby of Guardian’s building, only to be greeted by a group of Association employees.
Among the men in navy blue suits, a middle-aged man in a purple suit stood out. He took off a glove and threw it.
“You killed Heo Myeong-Hwi, the branch manager of the Gyeongnam branch? No matter the reason, I challenge you to a duel.”
The middle-aged man awaited an answer, already knowing what it would be.
I’m told Kang Jae-Hyeok is a talent surpassing even the genius Kang Dae-Seong. Moreover, after killing an S-class powerhouse, his confidence must be sky-high,
he thought. The man was certain that Jae-Hyeok would accept his duel.
However...
“Eh, no thanks.”
The middle-aged man was slightly flustered and forced a laugh. “You’ve harmed the Association. As long as you are a player in South Korea and enjoy the Association’s gate permits, you have little leeway to refuse my challenge.”
“The country prioritizes nurturing National Treasures above all else.”
The middle-aged man frowned. “What are you saying all of a sudden?”
“I’m
saying
that I, Jae-Hyeok of the Kang family, will apply to become a National Treasure candidate,” Jae-Hyeok proudly announced.
Just then, hundreds of ers rushed in.
“Over there!”
“Kang Jae-Hyeok, Kang Jae-Hyeok! Are you really taking the National Treasure candidate examination?”