A few minutes before Ryu Seungkwon arrived.
Outside the Seo Pangyo mansion.
Lawyer Yoon Gyuri was biting her fingernails nervously.
On the phone in her hand, she had already dialed 112.
She'd entered the number the moment she heard the first crash.
Despite her warnings, Eugene Hyuk had rushed inside without hesitation.
The scam victims were people who had lost every cent they had earned through blood and sweat.
It was understandable that they couldn't stay calm.
But this time, the opponent was dangerous.
That was why she'd planned to report it immediately.
She couldn't exactly rush in and fight alongside him.
But—
'What on earth is going on?'
She had no choice but to pause.
At some point, she realized something strange.
The screaming voices inside were becoming more and more varied.
She glanced down at the bag she was carrying.
Inside were piles of appointment letters from the victims.
—Please, Attorney Yoon. We heard you're the only one who truly gives your all.
She had taken on the case because of their desperate pleas.
But from the start, it had been a battle already destined for defeat.
Even if she won the lawsuit, the chance of recovering the money was practically zero.
At best, they'd punish some disposable frontman.
By the time they traced the real funds, the money would be long gone.
Some people might say:
"The lawsuit hasn't even started. Why are you already giving up?"
She partly agreed.
But she couldn't help it.
She'd handled too many similar cases.
And every time, the ending was the same.
Like a mass-produced cliché.
In the end, only bloodied, broken victims remained.
She had tried everything to change that ending.
She'd contacted the media.
She'd appealed to the government.
At first, it seemed like things might change.
But that was all.
Eventually, everything returned to the same conclusion.
Thinking this case would be no different made her chest feel tight.
So she had followed a tip and come here herself, hoping to salvage something.
Instead, she'd run into something completely unexpected.
'This won't do.'
She stepped toward the gate.
Given who she was dealing with, things could turn dangerous.
But first, she needed to understand the situation.
Only then could she decide whether to report it.
Screeeech!!
A sports car rushed toward her as if it were about to crash into her, then slammed on the brakes.
Startled, Gyuri fell backward onto her butt.
She frowned—
Then went pale.
"What? It's Lawyer Yoon? Sniffing around again like a fly?"
Ryu Seungkwon sneered down at her.
"Want another beating?"
Gyuri raised her arms defensively.
Her already injured shoulder and ribs throbbed with pain.
Ryu loosened his hands and walked toward her.
Frozen, Gyuri squeezed her eyes shut.
"Why can't you understand when I talk nicely—"
"AAAGH!"
Ryu turned his head.
A question mark practically floated above his face.
Then came another crashing sound.
"What the hell?"
Why was he hearing this?
He had only locked up some brat inside.
BANG!!
Another deafening impact echoed.
"Damn it."
Ryu activated his power.
Instinctively, he knew.
Something was wrong.
And then he realized.
The guy inside was that black-hatted punk who had smashed his car yesterday.
He kicked open the gate and rushed in.
"You black-hat bastard!!!"
Ryu disappeared from Gyuri's sight.
Only then did relief wash over her.
But it didn't last long.
She hurriedly looked for her phone.
She hadn't known Ryu was involved again.
If she had, she would've grabbed Eugene's pant leg and begged him to stop.
That psycho was dangerous.
When his mood twisted, he didn't care about age or gender.
And in his current state?
Paralyzing someone wouldn't even be surprising.
"Hello, this is the police—"
"Th-this is Seo Pangyo—"
Suddenly, something shot out of the broken gate and flew past her.
BANG!!!
It smashed straight into the sports car.
The impact was so strong that the car was pushed several meters back.
"Hello? What was that noise? Caller, are you okay?!"
Gyuri stared at the car.
She could say this with certainty.
It was the most unreal thing she had ever seen in her life.
Ryu Seungkwon was embedded in the car.
The man who had just been swaggering around moments ago.
The man no one dared touch because of his powerful backing.
Now his face was crushed, eyes rolled white.
Broken teeth and foam spilled from his open mouth.
How hard did you have to be hit to end up like that?
Step.
She turned toward the mansion.
Unlike Ryu, who had rushed out in panic—
Jinhyuk walked out calmly, as if nothing had happened.
The moment she saw his perfectly fine face, she hung up.
"Are you okay, Attorney?"
Still stunned, Gyuri finally spoke.
"Shouldn't… I be asking you that?"
"I guess so."
Jinhyuk smiled and grabbed Ryu by the hair.
"Oh, if you're okay, want to come inside? It's safe now."
"Uh… y-yes."
She stood up absentmindedly and followed him.
She looked down.
It still didn't feel real.
That Ryu Seungkwon was being dragged across the ground.
Jinhyuk glanced back.
Only now did he realize this looked pretty suspicious.
He cleared his throat.
"I'm not usually someone who beats people up, you know. But he wrecked my first house, so I kind of lost control."
"I… see."
"And it's self-defense, right? He hit first."
Jinhyuk checked himself over.
Gyuri swallowed dryly.
Of course.
He didn't even remember where he'd been hit.
She reached out and tapped his shoulder.
"Let's say… around here."
"Yeah, sounds right."
"Since Ryu started it, it's self-defense… wow."
So many shocking things today.
When they reached the garden, she froze again.
Dozens of bodies lay scattered around.
He did all this alone?
"Y-Yoon Gyuri?!"
"Hello again, Manager Ji."
She recognized him.
The situation was completely reversed from last time.
"Attorney, please sit. This is the money those three sent."
She looked at Lee Geumsook, Kim Cheolwoo, and Ji Cheolju.
Their expressions said it all.
It hadn't been sent.
It had been taken.
"Please return it to the victims."
"…What?"
She stared at Jinhyuk.
It sounded too unreal.
"Is it really okay to give it back?"
"Of course. It's not my money."
He'd planned to use it for repairs.
But Ryu was rich.
Squeeze him hard enough, and money would fall out.
Gyuri nodded blankly.
Still unreal.
They could recover the scam money?
The victims wouldn't be left empty-handed?
The cliché ending had been completely smashed.
"Please tell me the damage amounts. I'll transfer it to your account."
Less than a minute after she read them out, the money arrived.
Gyuri looked up at him.
He clearly didn't want his name revealed.
She steadied her breathing and took out the documents.
Money could disappear again during legal procedures.
It would take time.
Better to distribute it immediately.
"Uh… Manager Ji? Wake everyone up."
"Yes! Yes!"
His speech suddenly became polite.
After witnessing Ryu go down in one punch, it was inevitable.
"W-We'll clean everything up and leave!"
"Leave? Clean first. I'm remodeling anyway. Take the broken stuff and that ugly container."
"Y-Yes! We'll make it spotless!"
"Spotless? You smashed everything."
Ji flinched.
He almost shouted:
You're the one who smashed it!
He hurried to wake the others.
They needed to clean up fast.
He might really die otherwise.
"Hmmm."
Leaning back, Jinhyuk looked at the mansion.
A thought crossed his mind.
'Maybe I should've just bought a normal house.'
He thought getting it cheap and having Camela kick him out later would solve everything.
But Ryu had complicated things.
'Well, I made money, so whatever.'
And this place had everything he wanted.
That was why he'd chosen it.
He checked his phone.
After refunding the victims, he still had 7 billion won left.
Free house.
Renovation money.
Perfect.
'Nice.'
And with an overseas trip coming up, the timing was great.
He hummed while gazing at the blue sky.
What style should he remodel in?
That evening.
Yeonsanghoe Flea Market.
"Grandpa, can't you give me a discount?"
"Fixed price."
"Come on, student discount? I'm broke."
"I'm poorer. Look at my clothes."
Oh Jaegap spread his arms.
He wore ramie clothes from who knew when.
Not dirty, but clearly old.
"Sorry. I'll just pay."
So quick to accept.
Were his clothes really that bad?
As the student rummaged for money—
"Graaandpaa!!!"
A couple came running.
Regular customers since he'd opened.
They were supposed to marry next month.
But their wedding had been postponed because of a rental scam.
"Slow down. You'll fall."
"Huff… huff…"
They stopped in front of him, panting.
The student stepped aside.
"What's going on?" Jaegap wondered.
"Grandpa! We got our money back! Every single won!"
Jaegap's eyes widened.
"Oh."
The student gasped.
He'd never seen the old man's eyes that big.
"The lawyer transferred it! Someone else recovered it, but they don't want credit. A real Dark Knight!"
The couple wiped tears together.
Jaegap smiled warmly.
He knew how much they'd suffered.
The student clapped enthusiastically.
"I saw it on the news. That's amazing!"
"We're holding the wedding as planned! You'll come, right? You didn't throw away the invitation, did you?"
"I kept it. I'll be there."
"Thank you! We'll come again!"
"Be careful. Don't run."
He waved as they left.
Then he looked at the student.
"What are you doing?"
"Celebration clapping?"
"Come here."
The student handed over his items.
"Free. Take them. Don't post it online. Too many people will come."
"Yes!!"
"No discounts next time."
"There were never any!"
"Then give it back."
"Just kidding! Thanks, Grandpa!"
He ran off clutching the items.
Jaegap leaned back.
He stared out the window, thinking of someone.
A smile formed.
"Still got it."
That night.
Incheon Airport.
Jinhyuk boarded his private jet.
He sat down and took out the Yodel Compass and Black Dragon Scale.
Time to go find them.
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T/N:
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