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The battlefield created by the attack of the Triad killer siblings.

With the Korean Hero Association’s contact and the addition of the Great Thief Jo Se-hee, the situation seemed to improve.

When Jeong Gyeoul, who was facing Xiao Lin, reached her limit, Jo Se-hee appeared at the perfect time.

Thanks to her, the battlefield became Xiao Lin vs Jo Se-hee + Jeong Gyeoul.

And Xiao Zhan vs Matthew.

If Matthew could hold out a bit longer against Xiao Zhan, Jo Se-hee and Jeong Gyeoul could finish off Xiao Lin and then aim for a 3 vs 1 against Xiao Zhan, but…

“Ugh!”

Matthew, hit by Xiao Zhan’s punch, flew several meters and collapsed.

“Matthew!”

“Looks like your brother’s side is done. You’re all dead now. I’ll tell him.”

“…What are you even saying? You’re not a kid. Just hope Gyeoul tells Ha-yul.”

Though she responded strongly, Jo Se-hee’s heart was complicated.

If Xiao Zhan joined this battlefield, it would be 2 vs 2.

That alone would make the fight extremely tough…

Looking at Jeong Gyeoul, her chest seemed swollen as if her bones were broken, and blood was flowing from her mouth, suggesting internal injuries.

She didn’t seem capable of fighting any longer.

A-Class Xiao Lin, S-Class Xiao Zhan, and a 2 vs 1.

Jo Se-hee wasn’t confident she could withstand their combined force.

Thanks to Xiao Zhan and Xiao Lin arguing again, they bought some time.

Like Matthew earlier, Jo Se-hee used magic in her voice to prevent the killer siblings from hearing, and she also masked Jeong Gyeoul’s voice.

It was a better use of magic than Matthew’s.

“Gyeoul, can’t you really just run away?”

“…Then everyone here might die.”

“No, even though they’re psycho siblings, they won’t go that far. If we just hide somewhere safe…”

“Sister.”

“…”

“I’m not as young as you think. The moment I run away, the bodyguards lying there, Matthew, the civilians… a massacre will happen.”

It seemed like the plan to coax Jeong Gyeoul and escape had to be abandoned.

Suddenly, a thought crossed Jo Se-hee’s mind.

“Wait, Gyeoul. Didn’t they come to capture you as a hostage?”

“I think they changed their minds midway. Their attacks became rough and filled with killing intent.”

Xiao Lin, realizing Jeong Gyeoul’s potential, started attacking with the intent to kill her.

Her killing intent was palpable even to Jeong Gyeoul.

“Anyway, whether they kill you or capture you, their goal is you, right?”

“Uh… right?”

“I can carry you and still move faster than Xiao Zhan. But if we disappear like that, the people left behind might face retaliation, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jeong Gyeoul is close to a typical commoner but considers herself a villain.

If it benefits her, she can ignore a bit of guilt.

If there’s a valid reason, she wouldn’t be too bothered by killing someone.

If someone is in trouble, she’d rather report it and leave than step in to help.

She can endure injustice well.

She has no interest in donations or volunteer work.

But…

‘If hundreds or thousands die because of me, it’s a different story…’

She didn’t think she could ignore that much guilt and live on.

There weren’t as many civilians on the road as expected, but if those two started rampaging, the area would be devastated.

The number of people who would die in the process was unimaginable.

“Then how about playing hard to get?”

“…Keep them at a distance, making it seem like they can catch me but never quite do?”

“Exactly that. Make it seem like they can catch you if they just try a little harder, but never let them.”

“Sounds good, but will those guys really follow along like that?”

The biggest problem was if they realized they couldn’t catch her and turned their attention away from Jeong Gyeoul.

You can only play hard to get if they push when you push and pull when you pull.

“If they don’t follow, we’ll think of something else then. Anyway, time would have been bought, and Jeong Ha-yul would be closer.”

“…Alright, let’s try it. What do I need to do?”

In the end, Jeong Gyeoul had no choice but to accept Jo Se-hee’s plan.

It seemed like the best option to her too.

“You don’t need to do anything. Just relax and trust me. Believe in me, right?”

“…That sounds a bit off.”

“…You really need to stay away from Jeong Ha-yul. You’ve got a devil in your head.”

“I’ve been with her all day, and this is what happens when I’m away for just one day. I’m never leaving her.”

They wanted to ease the tension with more jokes, but Xiao Lin and Xiao Zhan’s argument ended.

“Sorry for the wait. My brother was being unreasonable.”

“…Our mission is to capture Jeong Gyeoul. We never received an order to kill.”

“Got it, damn it! Just shut up and go catch her!”

Xiao Zhan frowned at Xiao Lin’s cursing and stepped forward with heavy footsteps.

At that moment, Jo Se-hee picked up Jeong Gyeoul and jumped back.

Boom—

With a strong impact, Jo Se-hee’s body hit the ground.

She adjusted her posture to minimize damage to Jeong Gyeoul, rolled a few times to absorb the shock, and stood up.

“…A barrier?”

“I already heard your plan. I hacked the magic. Didn’t think I’d use such an expensive barrier stone here.”

“You look dumb, but you’re a brainiac, hacking magic…”

Barrier stones can be bought with money, but hacking magic isn’t something just anyone can do.

The only people Jo Se-hee could think of who could do it were Park Seol-hwa and Heinz.

Even Jeong Ha-yul can’t do it.

The information Korea has on the Machine Man is wrong.

‘They said he was just a muscle-bound machine…’

This was a disaster.

To escape the barrier, they’d have to destroy the magic stone the Machine Man is holding or break through with immense force, both of which are impossible.

They were trapped like rats.

“Gyeoul, trust me?”

“Not that much, honestly.”

“…”

Jo Se-hee looked at Jeong Gyeoul with hurt eyes.

“What are you doing? Let’s finish this. We’re in a hurry. We have to head to Hong Kong right after.”

“What if we just let ourselves be captured?”

“…What kind of trick is this?”

“No, I just don’t like pain. I don’t think I can beat that machine guy.”

“I promise I’ll just pressure point you and take you.”

“Why are you deciding that on your own, you idiot!”

“Enough, Xiao Lin. We’ve spent a lot of time here. Staying longer is dangerous. We can’t guarantee that Crime Pub will hold off the Clock Tower for much longer.”

Gritting his teeth, even Xiao Lin didn’t dare to mess with Xiao Zhan when he was serious.

She clenched her teeth, suppressed her anger, and stepped back, crossing her arms.

“We’ll let ourselves be captured, so don’t hit us.”

“I swear on the honor of our sect.”

“Sister, is this for real?”

“I don’t really know, but isn’t it better than being beaten to death?”

“…”

Jo Se-hee winked at Jeong Gyeoul, who was only visible to her, and held her hand as they approached Xiao Zhan.

***

Is this for real?

The plan to play hard to get and escape was ruined by some strange barrier stone we’d never heard of…

And the next plan is to surrender?

How can we be sure they’ll just capture us quietly?

“I swear on the honor of our sect.”

Hearing the Machine Man’s words, Jo Se-hee seemed visibly relieved.

The Chinese woman clicked her tongue behind them.

The honor of their sect must be a big deal.

But putting that aside…

Is there really a way out if we surrender like this?

Jo Se-hee winked at me as she walked toward Xiao Zhan.

Maybe because I’ve only seen her getting beaten by Jeong Ha-yul, I can’t easily trust her.

But I had no other choice.

My body was already battered, and I had no confidence to withstand the Chinese woman’s attacks.

If the Machine Man joined in, I’d be captured in a second.

Hoping Jo Se-hee had some plan, I followed her lead.

Each step felt heavy.

It felt like walking into hell.

If things go wrong… I’ll resent Jo Se-hee even in death.

Xiao Zhan’s sword tip was approaching my chest.

He said he’d pressure point me. I guess that’s a real thing.

People who read a lot of martial arts novels have the technical advantage, huh?

Just as I was having these silly thoughts, I felt a strong pull from the hand holding mine.

In an instant, my body was pulled into Jo Se-hee’s embrace.

“…?”

“What are you doing, Great Thief?”

“I was really going to let myself be captured, but… Ha-yul got here first.”

“What?”

Jo Se-hee’s body leaned back, and we moved away from the Machine Man at an incredible speed.

Now I understood why she was so confident about escaping.

Weeek—

My body couldn’t handle the speed and reacted.

And at that moment.

Kwaaaang—

A massive shockwave and deafening noise.

Crackle—

Along with the sound of the barrier shattering.

“Gyeoul!”

Jeong Ha-yul’s voice rang out.

“…Those Chinese guys were bullying me. Teach them a lesson.”

It’s done.

My ultimate move. After telling Jeong Ha-yul.

My strength drained, and I collapsed.

Thanks to Jo Se-hee catching me, I wasn’t hurt.

But… why is she like this?

Jeong Ha-yul’s hero suit was torn in several places.

Sweat or tears kept flowing, and even her hair was soaked.

Her breathing was incredibly rough, even from here.

…She must have run from quite a distance.

Can we really win?

Jeong Ha-yul took a deep breath and charged at the Machine Man.

She felt faster than the missile shot at the car Matthew and I were in.

Kwaaaang—

Crack! Crackle!

A massive cloud of dust rose, and the road crumbled like a snack.

My worries were unfounded.

The Demon King was indeed the Demon King.

As expected.

The Machine Man, who had blocked Jeong Ha-yul’s attack by crossing his arms, stood firm but…

“Cough!”

He vomited more blood than I had ever lost in one go and collapsed on the spot.

“Jo Se-hee!”

“…?”

“You can beat that Chinese woman, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

Why is she like this all of a sudden?

Both Jo Se-hee and I looked at Jeong Ha-yul in confusion…

“I trust… you…”

Jeong Ha-yul collapsed.

“Sister!”

As Jeong Ha-yul fell, both the Chinese woman and Jo Se-hee rushed toward her.

 

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