novelburst
Chapter 118
Chapter 118
"It Hurts! I Said It Hurts!!"
“Annoying.”
Su-ho’s ears were ringing from Jo Gwang-ho’s agonized screams.
To silence him, Su-ho pressed additional pressure points, including Ahyeol and Gushimhyeol.
Jo Gwang-ho froze in place, unable to move, his body trembling uncontrollably.
The pain must have been unbearable.
Su-ho had deliberately targeted every point that could induce pain, including Akyeol (bad blood points).
‘Good thing I’ve been boosting my strength stat.’
Even the most vicious criminals in Cheongok were typically no stronger than 1-star Awakened.
Anyone stronger couldn’t be subdued and brought to prison; most of them were executed on the spot during apprehension.
This worked to Su-ho’s advantage.
Although his pressure point skill (Jeomhyeol) appeared versatile, it required physical contact to be effective. If the target’s stamina or defense rating was too high, the skill would fail entirely.
Fortunately, with orange-tier strength stats, Su-ho could easily handle 1-star Awakened individuals.
Su-ho gazed down at the trembling Jo Gwang-ho.
Jo Gwang-ho’s nickname was Cheolgwe (Iron Club).
He earned this name because his body was as tough as reinforced steel.
Like Yun Hyun-chul, Jo Gwang-ho was a martial artist, but his unique trait hardened his body, making him one of the strongest monsters in Cheongok.
The key difference?
Jo Gwang-ho was cunning and calculating, a stark contrast to Yun Hyun-chul, who committed murder in a fit of rage. Jo Gwang-ho was a "pure evil" who had committed countless murders and rapes without remorse.
Su-ho waited patiently until Jo Gwang-ho was thoroughly immersed in pain.
When he decided enough time had passed, Su-ho checked his watch and finally released all the pressure points.
“Huff… huff…”
Even with his pressure points freed, Jo Gwang-ho couldn’t stand.
His body was soaked in sweat, tears, and saliva, and he shivered with residual fear, unable to move despite the cessation of pain.
Dragging a chair forward, Su-ho sat down in front of Jo Gwang-ho.
“Gwang-ho.”
“Y-yeah?”
“You’ve been living way too comfortably, haven’t you?”
“W-what are you talking about…?”
“Don’t play dumb. You’re worse than trash. By some fluke, you awakened as an Awakened, made a decent living, and indulged in luxury. But then, you got caught raping and killing your teammates inside a Gate. That’s why you’re here in Cheongok, yet you’re still living like a king.”
“...”
“And despite your brutish appearance, you’re surprisingly clever. You built a gang and enjoyed the comforts of power here. Don’t you think it’s time you faced real punishment?”
“W-what are you trying to say?”
Su-ho grabbed Jo Gwang-ho by the scruff and set him upright in the chair.
“Sit properly.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jo Gwang-ho’s body still lacked strength, but his sharp mind kept him alert, forcing him to comply.
“Hmm.”
Su-ho stared at him for a moment, as if calculating something.
How could he ensure that Jo Gwang-ho would live the rest of his life in repentance and agony?
The answer wasn’t complicated.
“You’ve enjoyed too much until now.”
Su-ho pressed several new pressure points on Jo Gwang-ho’s body.
[Pressure Point Activated.]
[Pressure Point Activated.]
[Pressure Point Activated.]
He carefully chose points that would maximize Jo Gwang-ho’s suffering.
One point sealed his vocal cords, rendering him mute.
Another targeted his left ankle, leaving it limp and forcing him to drag his foot.
Finally, both wrists were weakened, making even holding a spoon a struggle.
Su-ho had considered crippling him entirely, as he had done with Son Baek-geum, but he deliberately refrained.
‘Let him suffer in other ways. With no strength in his hands and burning desire in his body, he’ll be tormented endlessly.’
This was Su-ho’s punishment for Jo Gwang-ho’s history of sexual violence.
Having finished his task, Su-ho rose from his chair.
Jo Gwang-ho desperately tried to speak, only to emit muffled cries.
“Ha-ah!”
He froze, shocked that no words came out.
The Ahyeol point had effectively muted him.
Su-ho didn’t respond to his pitiful attempts.
Instead, he flashed a kind smile and left the visitation room.
Kim Geon followed closely behind.
Su-ho checked the time. Less than an hour had passed.
Next, they headed toward the room where Kim Goong-won was waiting.
The visitation room was filled with smoke when Su-ho entered.
Kim Goong-won jumped to his feet.
“Well, it looks like it worked.”
Su-ho glanced around the smoke-filled room.
‘Shouldn’t have left him cigarettes.’
The place resembled a raccoon den.
Using mana, Su-ho gathered the smoke into a dense ball and dispelled it.
The table before Kim Goong-won was covered in sheets of paper.
He must have poured every ounce of his memory into writing them down, desperate to survive.
“Finished?” Su-ho asked.
“Yes, I’ve written almost everything.”
Su-ho skimmed through the pages before tucking them into his coat.
These documents were meant for Prosecutor Kim Seung-hwan.
Although the drugs themselves fell under the Special Division’s jurisdiction, the clients were mostly civilians—perfect targets for prosecution.
Su-ho continued.
“Done reflecting yet?”
“Yes, a lot.”
“Then I have one more job for you.”
“...A job?”
“What, don’t want to do it?”
“No, no! I was just curious what it might be.”
“You know Yun Hyun-chul, right?”
“Yun Hyun-chul… You mean the Hidden Dragon?”
“That’s the one. Starting tomorrow, he’s going to take charge of Cheongok. Your job is to be his lackey.”
“Wait, what? That guy? He’s a loner who doesn’t bother anyone unless provoked.”
“We made a deal. So from now on…”
Su-ho laid out the details of Kim Goong-won’s new role.
Before leaving, he issued a warning:
“Don’t even think about taking advantage of this. If I catch you slacking off or trying to exploit the situation, you’ll regret it.”
“Yes, sir! I understand!”
Kim Goong-won’s voice was unusually loud.
It was understandable.
Su-ho had just handed him the key to survival in Cheongok.
As Su-ho turned to leave, Kim Goong-won hesitated before speaking.
“Uh, one thing…”
“What is it?”
“Well… You might not know this, but Yun Hyun-chul isn’t the only strong one in Cheongok. There’s someone just as powerful…”
His voice trailed off, wary.
‘He must mean Jo Gwang-ho.’
Su-ho smirked.
“Don’t worry about him. I’ve already dealt with it.”
“...You mean Jo Gwang-ho?”
“Yeah. I’ll check in at the end of the month, so have your reports ready.”
“Yes, sir!”
With that, Su-ho’s business in Cheongok was complete.
He nodded to Kim Geon, and the two left the facility.
Warden Kim Gil-yeon escorted them to the exit.
Before climbing into the passenger seat, Kim Geon clapped Kim Gil-yeon on the shoulder.
“Good work today. Remember, no matter what, don’t acknowledge me if we cross paths again. Got it?”
“Yes, understood.”
“From now on, I’ll be the one handling visits.”
Kim Geon’s words prompted a slight nod from Su-ho.
Warden Kim Gil-yeon returned the gesture with a smile as Su-ho’s car departed.
As they drove away from Cheongok, Kim Geon reverted to his original appearance.
“Good work,” Su-ho said.
“You worked harder than I did, Team Leader.”
Su-ho chuckled at Kim Geon’s humble response.
“You were convincing for your first mission.”
“I just followed orders.”
“Any questions?”
“Well…”
Kim Geon hesitated before asking cautiously, “Are you sure this is okay?”
“What?”
“Impersonating the Special Division Chief.”
Su-ho laughed.
“It’s fine. Warden Kim is a cautious man who avoids unnecessary risks. He’ll handle it discreetly.”
“I see.”
“Honestly, I thought you’d ask about something else.”
“Like what?”
“The inmates we met today.”
“Should I be curious about them?”
Su-ho laughed again.
“Fair point.”
“I read somewhere that curiosity can lead to misery. I’m finally close to happiness and don’t want to lose it again.”
“Good mindset.”
“I trust you, Team Leader. You saved me and my brother.”
“Great attitude. Now let’s head back to Seoul.”
“Want me to drive?”
“You can drive?”
“I got my license as soon as I turned eighteen. Back in the day, I even owned two cars. I’m not tired in suit mode, so I can handle it.”
“Go ahead.”
They pulled over to switch seats before continuing their journey to Seoul.
***
After dropping off Kim Geon in Paju, Su-ho began his drive back to the safehouse.
‘I still have a few days left.’
The leave granted by Pi Seong-yeol was for about a week.
In just one day, Su-ho had wrapped up the matters with Son Baek-geum, Kim Seung-hwan, and the business in Cheongok Prison.
The added bonus was his reassignment to the Gate Division, achieved through his media play.
Now, only a few minor tasks remained.
Su-ho was determined to make the most of the remaining six days.
‘I’ll spend all six days diving into Gates.’
Without delay, Su-ho picked up his phone and made a call.
“Ah~ Su-ho! Long time no see!”
The call was answered almost instantly. The person on the other end was Choi Yoon, a Gate broker affiliated with Union.
If Su-ho planned to focus on Gates for the next six days, Choi Yoon’s assistance would be essential.
Su-ho got straight to the point.
“I need access to some Gates. Do you have any listings available?”
“Ugh, is that all you have to say after calling me for the first time in ages?”
“What else would I say?”
“You could at least ask how I’ve been! I know everything about you from the news, but it wouldn’t hurt to exchange pleasantries, you know.”
“You know about me from the news, so there’s no need. Now, about the listings?”
“Still as stiff as ever, aren’t you? What kind of Gates are you looking for?”
“I have a few requirements. First, I need Gates that leave no trace and are ideal for leveling up. Difficulty doesn’t matter, but the monsters should be 1-star or higher.”
“1-star or higher… You really don’t care about the difficulty?”
“Not at all.”
“Well, I can think of a few options. But there might be entry restrictions. What’s your current level?”
“75.”
“In that case, I have three that come to mind. Are you in Seoul right now? Should I find something close by?”
“Location doesn’t matter. Even if it’s far, I’ll take all three.”
“Wow, someone’s got deep pockets. Alright, when do you want to start?”
“Immediately.”
“Geez, what’s the rush? Are you running from something?”
“I just want to clear as many as I can while I have time. So, can I start now?”
“You can, but it’s late, so there’ll be a nighttime surcharge.”
“That’s fine.”
“You’re no fun, you know that? Any other preferences?”
“I’m looking for Gates related to dragons, vampires, poison, or full moons.”
“What kind of theme is that? Pretty specific, huh?”
“Do you have any that match?”
“Well… Actually, there’s one that fits both your initial requirements and the themed ones, but it’s a bit far. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine.”
“I’ll text you the address. Come quickly.”
“Understood.”
As expected of Choi Yoon.
The moment their call ended, Su-ho received a text with the address.
He input the location into his GPS, turned the car around, and headed straight there.