"You... you investigated me?"
I tried to simulate as much anger toward him as possible, without appearing too... immature.
Hansu didn't answer my question.
He simply launched into a semi-one-sided discussion.
"If you're desperate to treat your mother... I can leverage my connections to help."
He dropped a bomb just like that.
This guy really knows how to shake people's hearts, and the worst part is that he can actually do it.
I don't know if old Pyeong-Gyeon Cho is still alive, but even without him... he's really capable of "helping" the former Johan with this.
Too bad he didn't come across this prodigy in the original story.
Instead, he ran into me... and I also cured my biological mother.
"Why?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why this sudden proposal..."
Hansu seemed to hesitate a bit, but he simply repositioned his glasses that were now free of moisture before looking directly into my eyes.
"Because you're wasting your life and your potential."
"You're hanging out with trash, when you're a diamond in the rough, Johan."
He stood up before placing a hand on my shoulder.
"You currently have the ability to make a name for yourself on the official martial arts scene... You can change your life now."
Hansu had a truly concerned tone about my case.
He really wants me to give up these crew stories and dedicate myself completely to taekwondo... like he did once.
However, I can't accept... it's too late no, that's wrong... I want this life of trash that he despises.
I also want to see that view shown to Gun and later to Jake, by Charles Choi!!
I want to beat Gun and James!!
Yes, it's madness, and even with the help of Apollo's blessing, these statements are arrogant.
But I want this.
I must!!
Not for the former Johan, but for John himself.
"Can I think about it?"
However, I can't categorically refuse this offer, and if possible... I must use Hansu as much as possible, then cut ties.
"*sigh* You won't give it up, will you? Don't try to give me false hope."
I was slightly surprised by his words, but then again, this man is a former spy.
I sketched a smile filled with self-mockery, before getting up and bowing to him.
"Sir... no, Master... I have a proposal."
"Huh?"
Hansu seemed intrigued, but he motioned for me to continue.
"I'll give up all legally illegal activities outside of abandoning my crew in a month no two months!!... but, if I win a serious duel against you, stop this request and train me for real!!"
Yes... I would willingly give up Kang Seok for Hansu Seong.
One is my most effective money supplier, but the other is a gateway to another world, beyond Seoul and Korea.
A world filled with opportunities and dealings with big shots.
If it's to win Hansu's favor, and later Manager Kim's or even Jincheol Park's... I'll stop the current idea with drugs or workers and focus on clean money.
Of course, the 2 months weren't chosen randomly.
It will give me enough time to completely stabilize my crew through dirty money obtained by Seok Kang and laundered by the Workers.
I would already have various businesses legally mine and in order according to the law.
"Haha, a duel? With me?!"
"Yes, I'm serious... but all moves are allowed."
I stood up after bowing.
My eyes and his remained fixed on each other before he let out a tired sigh.
"Okay, I was anyway curious to know what you're REALLY capable of."
"However, I'd like to call some friends first."
I was a bit confused for a moment, but I quickly grasped Hansu's idea.
....
"Haha, I never thought you'd call me urgently."
A man wearing extremely casual clothes arrived at Hansu's dojang.
He literally seems like he just came from home, without having put on proper going-out attire.
My eyes were drawn to the image of a pretty girl, which was engraved in a heart on his top.
(Image)
"I'm really busy recently, I hope this is truly urgent to require my presence."
Unlike the enthusiasm of the first, the second seems more reserved.
He wears an outfit similar to that of an ordinary salaried employee, but slightly worn.
Kim and Jincheol Park have arrived.
"You should calm down, Kim. Your money troubles risk accelerating the appearance of white hair."
Nobody laughed at Jincheol Park's joke because of the eyes, or more precisely the shining glasses of Manager Kim.
"Excuse me for taking your time."
Hansu immediately spoke up, to defuse the explosive situation between the two monsters.
"However, I wanted to ensure the presence of security for what follows."
Despite his rush to get to the point, Hansu insisted on the word security.
I know I'm currently strong, but I don't think I require so many precautions from Hansu.
Of course, I remember that in the Hunter for Big Deal arc, Manager Kim didn't trust Johan's capture.
There's also the situation in the 4th affiliate arc, where Manager Kim had trouble neutralizing Warren.
He certainly held back against him, but Johan from the God Dog arc should be superior to Warren.
And I am stronger than the original at this time.
So, it's a bit difficult to estimate my current strength.
Maybe I'm underestimating or overestimating myself?
"You really want to face this young man?" Jincheol Park began to inspect me more carefully.
I simply responded to their curiosity with a polite greeting, aka a silent nod.
"Haha, he has temperament, and I also see that he overflows with energy."
"You've found an interesting 'seed'."
Unlike Jincheol Park, his former colleague doesn't seem very enthusiastic.
Despite the atmosphere, particularly.
Johan joined Hansu in the middle of the dojang.
The two faced each other without a word.
The silence was broken by Hansu.
"I hope you'll keep your word, because I wouldn't want to redo your education in the way of my former master, haha."
Hansu laughed at his own joke, but veins bulged on his neck and his "friendly" face.
(Image)
Is he a psychopath... or a monster?
The aura he emits... it's oppressive.
Even searching through my memories, no one outside of Gun has ever given me such an impression.
A feeling of danger!!
Yet, I'm not afraid.
My heart beats faster and faster and I can feel my blood boiling in my veins.
BAM.
I didn't notice when it started.
Our bodies move before our minds even follow.
Blows fly.
Feet slice through the air, fists hammer the guard of one and the other.
At first, it's just a simple exchange.
Basic.
Rhythmic.
Controlled.
We wanted to feel out the opponent and have a global idea of the opposing camp.
But very quickly...
The intensity of the fight rose a notch.
The techniques become finer, the feints more precise and cunning.
This is no longer an ordinary confrontation: it's a duel of experts.
I use aikido, with accuracy, to divert his most violent strikes and counter-attack by using his strength against him.
My instinct is my guide and my compass in this storm of punches and kicks.
My counter-attack immediately shoots out, after using an Aikido technique on Hansu's grip.
He finds himself projected into the air
And I don't limit myself to that.
I follow up with Kyokushin karate, Yamazaki style on his stomach.
BAM
Even while blocking, he was thrown against the wall of the dojang.
Why didn't I use classical karate? Because against a man like Hansu, it would be useless.
Hansu... is a monster of kyokushin, 10th dan.
A legendary taekwondo champion.
Fighting on his turf is like approaching an active volcano with a spoon of water.
I have to break him with my own style.
"Haha! He's a little monster, Kim! Do you see that?"
"Indeed. I now understand why Hansu requested our presence... He's smiling."
...I'm smiling?!
Why am I smiling?
This sensation... This pressure... This thrill!
Facing someone I can't simply copy, because he knows the exact limits of his own techniques...
Someone who knows each of his flaws.
Someone on whom my tricks have no effect.
It's almost... divine.
I want more.
More!
MOOORE!!
Without realizing it, I'm no longer fighting to win.
I'm fighting to... give it my all.
I'm fighting to break my limits.
I'm fighting like a possessed man, for myself!!
And I have Apollo by my side.
I won't die here.
I don't need to hold back a "trick".
BAM.
ARGH!
I spit blood.
The metallic smell fills my mouth.
My body wavers.
I don't even count the times I've collapsed.
The times his blows have folded me in two.
Where his feet have hit me like a ram in the stomach.
But...
I get up.
Again.
I will not fall.
I refuse to lose.
And that's when... I saw it for the first time.
A wall.
Not a real one.
A wall invisible to others, but very real for me.
Immense and Insurmountable.
But I'm not going to stop there.
I have to break it and continue my "path".
....
POV of Hansu
Since the creation of my dojang, I've only trained two truly talented students: my own son, and the late Dowoon Lee, who died far too young.
Both possessed a rare and exceptional gift.
But Johan? He surpasses what we call talent... he's a true genius!
At our first meeting, I was surprised that such a strong man would want to be trained by me.
Literally, he didn't need taekwondo lessons: his level in this art was already astounding.
I began to dig into his past and that of his friend Jaehe Han out of curiosity, because he too has extraordinary talent.
By digging, I discovered many things about these two "rascals".
Jaehe Han, for example, could have rivaled Taehoon; I'm not afraid to say he had nothing to envy him for.
But his violent temperament led him to several disciplinary offenses, and he abruptly quit taekwondo.
A real waste... I'll make sure Taehoon never wastes his talent in the same way.
As for Johan... his story is darker and longer than that of Jaehe Han.
Raised by a religious but naive mother, he experienced unimaginable tragedies and forced himself to provide for his needs.
He dabbled in shady business to help her, to the point of associating with extremely dangerous individuals, and recently lost everything.
Is that a good thing? I don't know, but he has found his mother and they now live together.
He has only one option left to really start over: leave the dark world of gangs and use his strength for good.
That's why I brought in Kim and Jincheol Park.
Not just to ensure the safety of the fight, but to offer him the Ares Initiative.
If he accepts, his mother will benefit from the best possible military care for her eyes.
Yet... I didn't expect this.
"More... more..."
Johan gets up like a zombie, no matter how many times I send him to the mat.
He copies and adapts techniques he has observed to better reuse them according to the situation... I even started taking hits, because I was having trouble reaching him without enough risk.
"haha... I'll have to take this a bit more seriously."
I can't let you go back to that life.
You and your mother deserve better.
Author's Note: It should be understood that Johan, Haru, and Taehoon all have a connection and live in the Gangbuk district.
However, the author (PTJ) has confirmed a distant family connection between Haru and Johan. As for the relationship between Hansu and Johan's mother, it's not very close.
Hansu discovered their situation by pure chance, and he feels a bit guilty, because he thinks he could have helped Johan much earlier.