* *
Dawn.
Training Hall of the Outcast Inn.
“Isieiip!!”
“Hey! You all can’t even focus properly! Forty reps of movement number eight! Begin!”
“AAAHH!!”
Rolling the outcasts made me realize what true regret was. Unlike soldiers training all day, the Sacheon Outcasts had to finish their training at dawn and go off to work.
Since I couldn’t just squeeze them like a dry rag, I had to truly feel their situation of being unable to focus on their training. Isn’t this the saddest thing ever?
“Ugh, damn it. Is this really turning into training?”
“Well, not that Ho Cheon-an would lie about it, but the daughter of the Tang Clan has no reason to.”
Muttering away, the outcasts stumbled into the inn for breakfast. Regardless of how they looked, they’d somehow recover by work time, so there was no need to worry.
If any of them felt particularly bad, they’d probably just pick an easier request than usual.
After finishing the enjoyable dawn training, I sat down with my companions, including Yu Sa-yeon, to discuss future plans.
“Ho Gyeong left Sacheon right away with his followers, I hear.”
“That figures.”
It was expected. Would the Peak Experts of the Outcast Faction allow their severely injured Ho Gyeong to stay untouched? Ho Gyeong knew that well, so he must have fled right away.
Ho Gyeong didn’t even graze my attack. The only thing that got hit was his weapon.
Still, he suffered quite the internal injury, so I’d have to pay more attention to controlling my power from now on.
“So, what’re you planning to do next?”
“Hmm.”
When I heard only Kang Chumo-ru’s words, my thoughts were unclear, but after experiencing various incidents in Sacheon City, my mind got a bit tidier.
To be precise, I could assess what Jeong Cheol’s move meant.
Jeong Cheol turned Sacheon City into a trap.
A sweet trap that snared my ankles and wasted my time.
Honestly, my current situation was like a honey jar that even a regular Martial Artist wouldn’t dream of escaping from. Back in my hometown, where I was constantly oppressed, they treated me like a hero, as if the ideal environment wouldn’t allow an Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist to show up.
All the conditions were set for me to reign as the overlord of Sacheon City.
Jeong Cheol wanted me to waste my time in Sacheon City.
So, I had to quickly finish what I needed to do and leave Sacheon City.
And if I had to deal with my tasks, I should wipe everything clean to ensure I wouldn’t have to come back.
For that, there were quite a few tasks to tackle.
“First, we need to organize the underbelly of Sacheon City.”
“Figured you’d say that.”
Black Cat nodded and handed over detailed documents on the underworld. Information about the Black Fist Shisik, the Tang Clan’s cart, and the forces led by Muk Gang-tan were all neatly organized alongside miscellaneous power structures.
In fact, it would be safe to say that the balance between the Righteous and Outcast Faction in Sacheon City had already tipped toward the Outcast side.
Currently, only two Peak Experts were in Sacheon City on the Righteous Faction’s side.
One of the three great Peak Experts of Sacheon, Gae Myung-bu, was captured by Miss Yeo Il-ye and had vanished like dew on a summer morning.
Two Peak Experts on the Righteous side, while three Outcast Peak Experts sat in the shadows, plus Ho Gyeong making moves from the outside. It was safe to say it had leaned even more toward the Outcast side.
While additional pressure was a major issue, right now, the most urgent problem was that the underworld of Sacheon City was saturated.
With three Peak Experts controlling the underworld, any Outcast forces coming into Sacheon City would act viciously in the light, much like Ho Gyeong, and their actions would directly harm the people of Sacheon.
To prevent further damage, it was essential to swiftly cleanse the underworld.
As I organized my plan in my head, I looked over at Yu Sa-yeon.
“Do you think we can call on the power of Sacheon’s sects? Even if I handle this, it won’t matter if another Peak Expert establishes themselves in the shadows.”
“The sects of Sacheon aren’t completely foolish. They went through the initial shock of the first invasion and let the Peak Experts settle, but now that they’ve gained experience, it should be fine. If you need the strength of the Righteous Faction, I can negotiate.”
I relayed various needs and requests to Yu Sa-yeon.
She was better suited for negotiations with the Sacheon sects than I was. I entrusted her with the parts needing cooperation with the Sacheon Righteous Faction.
Once the plans were finalized through discussions with the Sacheon sects… should I hit the Outcast forces first?
I spread out the power map of the underworld and began to look for targets.
“Where should we start?”
“I think starting here would be a good idea.”
I chuckled at where Black Cat pointed.
“That definitely works.”
Tonight’s visit location was decided.
* *
“Thank you all for gathering here despite your busy schedules.”
“No need to thank us. How many people are as busy as the chairperson in Sacheon?”
The Sacheon Righteous Faction meeting called by Yu Sa-yeon.
All the leaders of the Platinum Sect were present, and many from the Gold Faction were there, too.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yu Sa-yeon quickly got to the main topic.
“You all have heard the rumors about Sacheon Outcast number 28, right?”
“Of course. How could we not know the hottest rumor in Sacheon right now?”
In a public place, the White Tiger has now defeated Ho Gyeong, and the nickname Brain Knife Outcast was spreading throughout Sacheon City in no time.
“Number 28 is going to act to clear out the underworld. Specifically, they’re going to take down three people.”
“Hmm…! So it’s true that they returned to root out the Outcast forces in Sacheon!”
“Not bad news at all.”
Everyone’s faces brightened at the news of number 28 moving to take down the Peak Experts in the underworld.
“I have a few questions.”
All eyes turned to Muk Gang-tan, the leader of the Mukju Sect.
“I believe the three in the underworld will feel threatened by number 28 and will likely join forces. Instead of all three joining hands, I suspect number 28 will eliminate one competitor and then the remaining two will team up to attack them.”
The sect leaders agreed with Muk Gang-tan’s statement.
“Is there any countermeasure for that? I’m not doubting number 28’s abilities, but facing two Peak Experts in their territory isn’t exactly easy, especially since there’s still a chance they might band together from the start.”
“I see. I, Dan, also wish to lend my power. If there’s a valid reason to provide support, I’ll protect number 28.”
Yu Sa-yeon felt a shift in the world as she looked at Muk Gang-tan and Yeon-yu, the leaders of the Mukju and Jamwon Sects, who wanted to stand alongside the Sacheon Outcast.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I have a plan for that.”
Yu Sa-yeon recalled Ho Cheon-an and company, who were staying at the Outcast Inn, and couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. With several Peak Experts staying in the Outcast Inn, how could they not handle the situation?
“Hmm, I understand.”
At Yu Sa-yeon’s response, Muk Gang-tan and Yeon-yu sighed with disappointment.
The Righteous Faction needed a significant achievement right now.
To regain trust from the people of Sacheon, they needed to build new achievements—but the opportunity hadn’t arisen.
“Instead, I want to make a different request of you two.”
Seeing the two feeling disappointed, Yu Sa-yeon smiled brightly.
* *
The Master of the Video Tower looked down with powerless eyes.
“What’s this! This is fraud!”
A regular customer was shouting at the top of his lungs. The spot he was pointing to showed a split die.
As a regular person without martial arts training, the Master of the Video Tower couldn’t see the actual dice in play, but it was clear what was happening below.
“They claimed an add-on on the dice! Since when has the Video Tower resorted to such low-key tricks?!”
The Master of the Video Tower squeezed his eyes shut. The term “low-key trick” struck at his heart.
It was just as the regular customer said.
“That little rat…”
The Video Tower had fallen into the hands of the Shisik.
The Master of the Video Tower calmly accepted that truth. It was completely understandable that, due to Jeong Cheol’s proclamation, Outcast forces would invade Sacheon City.
In fact, it was rather absurd for the Video Tower, which had been trying to gain unreasonable advantage until now, to have Outcast forces interfere in operations like this.
While there had to be an additional cost of protection, this business would likely continue.
The Master of the Video Tower felt like he wanted to slap his past self, who thought this way.
“Hey, what do you guys think you’re doing!”
“Quit the noise and get out.”
“This is cheating! I’ll be keeping quiet…”
The regular customer turned pale instantly. A sword was drawn against his neck, and that was only natural.
“Hey, you realize that your actions are obstructing business, right? Obstructing business!”
“Ah, I get it! I’ll leave, so please put the sword away!”
“This guy still hasn’t figured it out, huh? Obstruction of business? You’re saying some nonsense after ruining someone else’s business and just plan to leave?”
“What are you talking about! I saw an add-on on my dice!”
“Dice? What are you talking about?”
With the mockery from the Martial Artist of the Outcast Faction, the regular customer hurriedly looked at the gambling table, but the dice had already been put away. Yet, even though the dice were removed, the people around had seen the weight and the broken die.
But the regular customer realized that it didn’t help him at all.
These thugs were holding swords and threatening people without hesitation, even within their own venue. Outside the venue, who knew what kind of people they could be? Who would want resentment from such people?
“If you’ve obstructed someone else’s business, are you? You have to pay compensation.”
“T-Taking money from me is ludicrous…”
Ultimately, the regular customer was stripped of all his money before being pushed out of the establishment.
The Master of the Video Tower looked with gloomy eyes at the Shisik’s subordinates as they laughed while counting the stolen coins.
“Those bastards…”
As the Master of the Video Tower ran the venue, he clung to his dignity as a gambler and steadfastly adhered to the principles of gambles.
He never laid a finger on anyone who entered his venue, no matter how shady they operated outside.
He never engaged in manipulation within the gambling games happening inside his venue.
Even when losses occurred in his venue, he always recognized the outcome.
And he firmly left the management of the gambling activities in the hands of the gambler’s skills alone.
By strictly adhering to those principles, the Video Tower stood tall as the best gambling place in Sacheon City. But now, the greed of Jijik was crumbling that reputation.
Unlike the Master of the Video Tower, who thought paying an appropriate protection fee would suffice, Jijik greedily sought to devour everything.
Turning the Master of the Video Tower into a mere figurehead, Jijik ran the Video Tower as he pleased.
All the seasoned gamblers, who once earned high wages, were expelled, and rookie gamblers using cheap tricks filled their spots.
So how could a gambling establishment function correctly?
Even though the Video Tower was considered the best gambling spot in Sacheon City,
Customers expecting to face skilled gamblers would vent their anger at rookie gamblers using pathetic tricks.
In those moments, Jijik’s subordinates would brandish their swords against the ones causing a scene, threatening them, and then robbing them of their money.
The Master of the Video Tower understood well why Jijik’s subordinates were doing this.
This was blackmail.
Essentially, they were threatening him to sell the Video Tower at a low price, saying they’d ruin his business anyway.
The Master of the Video Tower decided to concede to that threat.
After all, he had established this gambling venue not to use the old man’s way but to enjoy gambling in another form. So if the Video Tower could still serve as a sanctuary for gamblers, he’d be willing to part with it at a low price.
However, Jijik flatly rejected the Master of the Video Tower’s request to maintain the current operations even if he sold it at a low price.
The reason was incomprehensible.
[You little upstart think you can set conditions on me, a mere Master? Get lost!]
“Hahahaha!!”
The Master of the Video Tower bit his lip at the laughter of Jijik’s subordinates. Was he really going to witness the fall of the gamblers’ sanctuary and ultimately have to sell it for a pittance?
While the Master of the Video Tower was swallowing his frustration, chaos erupted at the entrance.
There stood a Sacheon Outcast, swords on his back.
