novelburst
Chapter 116
Chapter 116
It wasn’t a mistake.
The man standing there was undeniably Pi Seong-yeol.
Behind him, Su-ho emerged from the driver’s seat, standing like an aide.
Pi Seong-yeol spoke.
“Let’s head inside.”
“Yes, sir.”
At Pi Seong-yeol’s words, Warden Kim Gil-yeon immediately stepped forward to guide them.
Kim Gil-yeon couldn’t hide his nerves.
It was understandable.
Cheongok Prison managed Awakened inmates and was technically a subordinate institution of the Grand Hunter Association (GHA), under the direct oversight of the Special Division. As such, even the warden had to tread carefully around someone like Pi Seong-yeol.
Under Kim’s guidance, they arrived at a special visitation room.
This room had one wall made entirely of special glass, like an interrogation chamber. While the interior was hidden from outside view, it allowed for easy monitoring from the outside.
Pi Seong-yeol entered the monitoring room adjacent to the visitation area, while Su-ho went into the room alone.
Testing the microphone connected to the visitation room, Pi Seong-yeol turned to Kim Gil-yeon.
“Bring in inmate number one. And as I’ve mentioned, everyone else should leave the area. No one is to hear what’s about to take place.”
“Yes, of course.”
At his firm order, Kim Gil-yeon quickly bowed and dismissed everyone else.
Once the staff had cleared out, Pi Seong-yeol pressed the microphone button and spoke to Su-ho inside the room.
“They’re gone.”
“Great, nice work.”
As soon as the others left, Pi Seong-yeol addressed Su-ho respectfully, and Su-ho responded just as casually.
Why was this dynamic possible?
The answer was simple: the Pi Seong-yeol outside the visitation room wasn’t the real one.
The person currently assisting Su-ho was none other than Kim Geon, using his Suit Ball to impersonate Pi Seong-yeol.
“Having Geon around makes this so much easier. Truly convenient.”
Before coming to Cheongok Prison, Su-ho had proposed this arrangement to Kim Geon as part of their work.
Cheongok Prison was an impenetrable fortress, even for someone like Su-ho. However, having someone disguised as Pi Seong-yeol—a high-ranking GHA official—made access effortless.
“Even in the military, high-ranking officers bypass checkpoints without needing to give passwords.”
The same applied here, even in a place as secure as Cheongok Prison, which housed the most dangerous Awakened criminals.
After waiting for some time in the visitation room, Su-ho finally heard footsteps.
The guards brought in the inmate Pi Seong-yeol had requested: Kim Goong-won.
Kim Goong-won wore special cuffs that nullified his magical powers. The moment he saw Su-ho, he let out a dry laugh.
“Well, if it isn’t the nation’s favorite star who locked me up.”
With his usual cocky demeanor, Kim Goong-won sat across from Su-ho.
Su-ho grinned.
“Kim Goong-won, how’ve you been?”
“Do I look like I’ve been doing well?”
“Honestly? Yeah, you look pretty good. Even in Korea’s toughest prison for Awakened, your face looks clean and polished.”
“Yeah, well, when you’re stuck in a place like this, eating is about the only thing you can do. I’ve been living large, eating well. Money solves everything, doesn’t it?”
He wasn’t wrong.
Even in these chaotic times, human rights laws prevented prison staff from mistreating inmates.
But those rules didn’t necessarily apply within the inmate hierarchy.
In prison, wealth equaled power. Those with money could buy privileges and even secure alliances with others for when they were released.
Su-ho chuckled at Kim’s words before speaking in a more relaxed tone.
“Goong-won.”
“What now? Goong-won?”
“What? You call me whatever you want. Can’t I do the same?”
“Man, you’re something else... Aren’t you supposed to be a civil servant?”
“And you’re the one lacking awareness.”
“What was that?”
“How much money do you have left in your commissary account?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Better start saving. That’s all the money you’ve got left.”
“...What?”
At Su-ho’s remark, Kim Goong-won tilted his head in confusion before narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
“Hey, what’s your deal?”
“You’re still putting on airs? Don’t you get the situation yet?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Your hidden assets. 3.2 billion won, right? All converted into cryptocurrency.”
Su-ho pulled out a withdrawal card and dangled it in front of Kim.
“It’s all right here.”
“...!”
Kim’s eyes widened to their limit, as if they might pop out of his head.
“Careful, your eyeballs might fall out,” Su-ho thought, smirking as he pocketed the card.
“Save your commissary funds. You’ve got years left here, and I bet you’ve spent quite a bit of money trying to keep up appearances among the inmates.”
“You bastard...! Stop lying. Even if you figured out how much I had hidden, how the hell would you have stolen it?”
“And yet I caught you, didn’t I?”
“What?”
“You don’t remember? No one in the GHA could find you, but I tracked you down at your own house. So why wouldn’t I be able to locate your hidden assets?”
“Bullshit.”
“Bullshit? You’ll see soon enough. Don’t tell me you’re still counting on Son Baek-geum.”
Su-ho pulled out the bribery ledger from his coat and tossed it on the table.
When Kim saw it, his eyes grew wide again.
“This...!”
“Son Baek-geum’s already been dealt with. Don’t get it twisted—he didn’t hand over your assets. No one but you knew about them, after all. But just so you know, I hold Son Baek-geum’s leash now. So stop pretending you have any cards left to play. You’re broke, and your only ally is out of the picture.”
Kim’s face turned pale, like a sheet of paper.
It was no wonder—his entire existence revolved around his wealth, and now it was gone.
Su-ho leaned in, his tone calm but cutting.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“C-Curious about what?”
“In Cheongok, the prison with the highest inmate death rate, how long do you think you’ll survive without money or power?”
“...”
Kim fell silent, his lips pressed tightly together.
After a deep breath and a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke, his voice subdued.
“...Alright. What do you want from me?”
“Looks like you’re finally getting the picture.”
Kim’s sudden humility amused Su-ho.
Su-ho pulled out a pen, a sheet of paper, and a pack of cigarettes from his inventory.
“Have you ever heard of a plea bargain?”
“You’re asking me to become a snitch?”
“Why not? Your neck’s on the line here.”
“...”
“Get real. And don’t expect any reduced sentences. I don’t cut deals with scumbags. But I can make sure you don’t get beaten to death here. Think about it carefully.”
Kim Goong-won was a despicable man.
He had created performance-enhancing potions, ruining sports and other competitive fields, and had even supplied illegal drugs.
That’s why the Baek-geum faction had risen to power.
Su-ho had no intention of forgiving him.
“Squeeze him for all he’s worth, then discard him when he’s no longer useful.”
Kim asked, “What exactly do you want me to write down?”
“Smart question. Write down every name of every shady person you’ve worked with. You designed the drugs, so you should know your clients, right?”
“Are you going to round them all up?”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“S-Sorry.”
“Son Baek-geum might know some of this, but you’re the supplier. Your list will be the most accurate.”
“Why haven’t you arrested Son Baek-geum yet?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“What?”
“It’s my decision. Your only concern should be your survival. Unless you want to meet an untimely end in Cheongok.”
Su-ho glanced at the clock.
“I’ll be back in an hour or two. When I return, I’d better see these papers filled to the brim. See you later.”
With that, Su-ho stood and left the visitation room.
Kim stared blankly at the paper in front of him.
But he had no choice.
As Su-ho had said, without money, he was as good as dead.
After sitting quietly for a while, Kim grabbed the pack of cigarettes Su-ho had left and lit one.
***
As Su-ho stepped out of the visitation room, Pi Seong-yeol followed closely behind.
Waiting outside, Kim Gil-yeon, the warden of Cheongok Prison, approached the two men with a polite bow.
“Is the investigation complete?”
“Yes,” Pi Seong-yeol replied curtly. “We’ll revisit Kim Goong-won later. For now, bring in the next one.”
At his command, Kim Gil-yeon guided them to a second special visitation room.
Once again, there were no other observers. Su-ho entered the visitation room alone, while Kim Geon—still disguised as Pi Seong-yeol—remained outside, monitoring.
Shortly after, the second inmate requested by Pi Seong-yeol was brought in.
He was a solidly built man with an imposing physique.
What stood out most was his gaunt, dark-circled eyes, and the bright red badge on his chest, marking him as a death row inmate.
Su-ho smiled warmly.
“Are you Yun Hyun-chul? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Su-ho An, a civil servant with the Grand Hunter Association.”
Su-ho greeted him with respectful politeness, but Yun Hyun-chul merely stared at him with cold, unfeeling eyes.
Undeterred, Su-ho maintained his composure, continuing to smile.
“You’re a man of few words, I see. But staying silent won’t help Hyeon-chan, now will it?”
At the mention of his younger brother’s name, Yun Hyun-chul’s expression twisted, and he slammed the desk in front of him as he lunged at Su-ho.
The force of his movement was so powerful that deep marks were left on the sturdy visitation table.
Yet, despite the ferocious blow, Su-ho effortlessly caught the man’s clenched fists with his own hands.
Yun Hyun-chul glared at Su-ho with murderous intent.
“Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to bring up my brother?”
“As I mentioned, I’m Su-ho An, a public official with the GHA. Haven’t you heard of me on the news?”
“Never heard of you, you bastard!”
Bang!
Yun Hyun-chul twisted his body to deliver another blow, the sheer power of his movement creating a gale-like wind in the room.
This won’t do, Su-ho thought. We can’t have a proper conversation like this.
With ease, Su-ho sidestepped the attack and brought his index and middle fingers together, pressing into the pressure points on Yun Hyun-chul’s body.
[ Pressure Point Activation. ]
As the skill triggered, Yun Hyun-chul’s massive frame collapsed to the ground with a loud thud.
He wasn’t unconscious.
Instead, Su-ho had targeted specific pressure points to block the flow of energy in his body, rendering him unable to summon strength.
Yun Hyun-chul’s mind remained sharp, though his body was paralyzed.
Su-ho calmly followed up by sealing the man’s vocal cords with a secondary pressure point technique, ensuring complete silence.
He crouched down to address Yun Hyun-chul, speaking in a measured tone.
“From what I’ve heard, Cheongok Prison is home to two untouchable monsters. One of them is you—Yun Hyun-chul, also known as the ‘Hidden Dragon.’”
Su-ho smiled, his tone still calm.
“I have a proposition for you. Listen carefully before you decide.”
Yun Hyun-chul struggled against his restraints, veins bulging in his neck as he attempted to shout.
“Ughhh!”
But his voice was sealed, and his body refused to move.
Su-ho observed him with a relaxed expression.
“Let’s see how long it takes for the Hidden Dragon to calm down,” he thought.