“Aaaaagh!”

Sssshhh—

A sharp scream rang out as bone tore through the suit, flesh ripping open, sending a spray of blood into the air.

Some people, witnessing the gruesome sight for the first time, tightly shut their eyes or covered their faces.

Others, seeing the blood, widened their eyes in twisted delight.

The room fell silent. Then, without their employer even prompting them, a few well-built bodyguards stepped forward.

“I don’t particularly enjoy doing this here either, but you’re getting cocky. You need to be put in your place.”

“Woof woof.”

Shin Haesu barked like a dog in response, making the man bristle with anger as he lunged forward.

Hwoong! Pak—

Haesu dodged his punch and threw a jab. The man swiftly raised his guard, blocking the blow.

Judging by his stance, he was likely a former MMA fighter or a boxer. His ears were shriveled and thick, unmistakable cauliflower ears.

“What, are you shocked? Thought you could get cocky after beating some weakling, but now you’re realizing—”

Tak! Puk—

Haesu cut him off with a rapid one-two, landing a solid hit on his nose. As the man staggered back, Haesu pounced, knocking him down.

Kwoom!

Haesu climbed onto his stomach and rained down punches.

Pak! Pak! Puk! Puk! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!!

His fist slipped past a slightly open guard, breaking through completely. From then on, Haesu’s relentless blows struck the man’s face without mercy.

By now, the man had already lost consciousness. He could no longer scream—only making strange, involuntary noises as each hit landed.

Haesu mercilessly grabbed the man’s limp arm and lifted it, scanning the crowd as he spoke.

“This isn’t provocation. It’s a warning.”

Crunch—!

Now, two bodyguards had been taken down, and the atmosphere turned ice cold. Unlike the first, the second was well-known among their ranks.

Even those who had stepped forward hesitated when their eyes met Haesu’s, their feet shuffling backward.

Then, the second son of Hyesung Group, who had been scowling at Haesu, raised a hand slightly.

“Another 100 million.”

—Ah, ah, another 100 million…

Now, defeating Haesu would bring in 200 million won. Even so, the room remained eerily silent.

At that moment, the president of Geonyeong Trading, who had been glancing between Haesu and Ahn Seo-eun, who wore a worried expression, stepped forward.

Since everyone was frozen in place, his movement stood out.

“What’s with this mutt ruining his master’s fun? I’ll give 1 billion won to anyone who makes him kneel before me.”

The total was now 1.2 billion. The bodyguards did the math in their heads. That kind of money was worth risking their lives for.

As soon as one moved, others rushed forward, afraid of losing their chance at the reward.

The sight brought a satisfied smile to the Geonyeong president’s lips.

Soon, more than ten bodyguards were standing against Haesu.

“Stop!”

Suddenly, Ahn Seo-eun rushed forward, standing in front of Haesu with her arms spread wide.

Tonight, of all nights, her frail body stood as his shield.

“If any of you move now, I’ll take it as your employers declaring war against Daesung.”

It was the first time she had ever spoken in such a sharp, commanding tone. The bodyguards flinched but quickly reassessed.

The money was coming directly to them, regardless of their current employer. If they won, even if they were fired, they wouldn’t care.

After finishing their calculations, they resumed stepping forward. Seo-eun’s face paled with fear.

Just then, Haesu placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched, sharply shaking it off, her stance firm—she would not back down, no matter how scared she was.

Haesu let out a small sigh and whispered to her.

“I have a plan. Don’t interfere with the investigation.”

“…What?”

Haesu looked up and locked eyes with the president of Geonyeong Trading.

“What do I get out of this?”

The man frowned and tilted his chin.

“A mutt like you dares to negotiate with his master? What a joke… If you win, you take the prize money.”

“That’s not enough. I’m betting my life—shouldn’t you wager something of equal value?”

“…What?”

“What, you think you can just throw money from the back and not put anything on the line yourself? Are you a coward?”

The president’s face twisted in anger, but he hesitated, scanning the room. The other chaebols were watching him closely. He had to show confidence and boldness as tonight’s host.

“Say it.”

“Your position.”

“…What?”

“Your position. The very one you threw this extravagant party for tonight. If I win, you will voluntarily resign as the president of Geonyeong Trading. That’s the only way this is fair.”

“This crazy bastard…”

“If you’re scared, just back out.”

As Haesu turned away, the man shouted.

“Fine! I accept!! But we’re raising the stakes accordingly!”

Pointing a trembling finger at Haesu, he roared.

“Whoever twists that bastard’s neck gets 10 billion won! In the name of Jang Kang-cheon, the eldest son of Geonyeong Group! Start immediately!!”

This was no longer a game. It was no longer a joke. Dozens of lives were now on the line.

Jang Kang-cheon’s reckless declaration ignited madness and bloodlust in the room.

Seo-eun stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening.

“Oh my god!”

Haesu grabbed her by both shoulders, effortlessly lifting her and placing her behind him.

“Just watch. My plan.”

“Wh-what kind of plan is this? This is…”

Haesu turned his back to her, facing the horde of bodyguards surging toward him.

“The kind where I beat them all up.”

Bang!!

Haesu landed a fist squarely on the jaw of the closest man, then suddenly spun around and bolted.

Driven by greed, the bodyguards chased him with crazed fervor.

Haesu led them into a narrow passageway with a wall on one side and a buffet table on the other.

Puk! Puk!

There, he took them down one by one as they funneled in. However, these were all seasoned fighters. Soon, they surrounded him.

Half of the money-hungry bodyguards snapped back to reality, realizing what they had gotten themselves into, and backed away with hollow expressions.

But the rest gritted their teeth and rushed him.

“Get him!”

“Pin him down!!”

“Break his arms too!”

Several men tackled him, forcing him to the ground.

They piled onto him, grabbing his limbs and preparing to break them.

“Ghhk—”

Just then, Haesu spotted a fork lying on the floor. Grabbing it, he drove it into the forearm of the man choking him from behind.

Thunk, Sizzle—

“Aaargh!”

Thud, Thud—!

Next was the armpit of the guy holding his left arm, then the instep of the one pinning his stomach.

“Ugh!”

As a few fell away and his hands were freed, it was no longer a problem.

Crunch.

He first grabbed and twisted the neck of the one trying to break his ankle, then systematically went for the fingers.

Crack, Crack, Snap.

“Aaaagh!”

The men with their fingers, arms, and legs twisted into unnatural angles groaned as they crawled on the floor. Haesu, catching his breath, slowly went around and punched each of them in the face until they passed out.

He had taken down a total of thirteen guards, and now, there were no more fools left willing to throw their lives away.

But Haesu himself was not unscathed. Two fingers on his left hand were bent the wrong way, his face was bruised and swollen, and blood streamed down from a cut above his eyebrow.

Both of his hands were soaked in someone else’s blood.

Step. Step. Step.

Haesu, exuding a menacing aura, walked forward at a measured pace. Everyone knew exactly where his feet were headed—straight toward Jang Kang-cheon, the eldest son of the Geonyeong Group and the host of this party.

People slowly backed away from Kangcheon. As Haesu drew closer, his face turned pale, and he instinctively retreated.

Thud.

But behind him was the head seat. He could go no further.

Haesu leaned in close to him.

“What are you so afraid of?”

With bloodied hands, he straightened Kangcheon’s tie.

“Submit your resignation tomorrow.”

Tap, tap.

Haesu patted his shoulder twice before turning away.

Ahn Seo-eun quickly rushed over to support him. But when he leaned on her, she staggered under his weight.

As Haesu walked toward the exit, he locked eyes with the guards groaning on the floor. Instead of anger, they averted their gazes in shame.

This wasn’t like a regulated fight in the ring with rules. This was the act of stripping away human dignity.

But how many people without money could resist the temptation of wealth? He had silenced them for now, but if the master controlling them did not change, this would continue.

Just before stepping out of the banquet hall, Haesu paused and slowly scanned the faces of the third-generation chaebols. As if engraving each one into his memory.

Most of them avoided his gaze.

—Now that the leash is broken, the master will have to step in directly.

Madam Yu's words surfaced in Haesu’s mind as he looked at them.

Step. Step.

As Haesu walked away, the overwhelming pressure he had exuded dissipated, and Kangcheon finally exhaled, glaring at Haesu’s retreating back.

“How dare he... that worthless insect dares to disgrace me...! That goddamn bastard!!”

Crash!

Unable to contain his rage, he kicked a chair—only to grab his foot in pain, tears welling up in his eyes.

The silent elevator.

Blood from the wound above his eyebrow blurred his vision. Haesu wiped at it with his bloodstained hands, only smearing it further, making his face look even more grotesque.

Tap, tap.

Seo-eun, without a word, took out a handkerchief and wiped away the blood. Her eyes held a mix of emotions.

“I’m sorry. I misjudged. I shouldn’t have shown you directly…”

Her eyes quickly reddened.

Haesu, who had been rubbing his broken fingers, let them be and looked up at her.

“You showed me well. I think I understand a little of what you meant back then.”

“…Let’s go to Daeseong Hospital.”

After receiving simple emergency treatment at the hospital, they reset his broken fingers and put them in a cast.

He was supposed to be hospitalized for three weeks, but Haesu went straight home instead.

As soon as he stepped inside, Haru froze upon seeing his state.

Haesu raised his casted hand and gently patted her head.

“It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“Who is responsible for injuring my master? Was it Ahn Seo-eun?”

“And what if it was?”

Haru hesitated to answer. A subtle aura of killing intent radiated from her eyes.

“You look like you’re ready to kill. Don’t worry. The ones who did this to me are all in the hospital.”

Haesu washed up quickly with one hand and collapsed onto his bed.

‘I’m a bit tired today.’

Not a single word of what happened at the party was leaked. Not a single speculative article surfaced.

Only a group of patients had been admitted to nearby hospitals.

Though many competitors had witnessed the incident, Jang Kang-cheon, naturally, did not step down as the president of Geonyeong Trading.

But that didn’t mean there were no consequences.

“Sir, Yujin Distribution, Sanghwa Distribution, and Levet Distribution are reconsidering their contracts.”

“Tch… If they were going to leave over something like this, they were going to leave eventually. Drop them!”

“Understood, sir. Also, the chairman has summoned you.”

“That old man just sits at home all day, yet he knows everything? Did you snitch?”

“…Loyalty is the most important trait for a secretary.”

“Ha… Damn it! This is all because of that damn cop! Just wait and see!!”

Kangcheon seethed with fury, his eyes burning.

Half of the chaebols who attended the party were impressed by Haesu’s shocking display, while the other half felt deeply humiliated.

They used their personal connections to try and pressure Haesu.

Chungnam Police Headquarters, Commissioner’s Office.

Slurp. Slurp.

The commissioner was drinking banana milk while the chief secretary read something off his phone.

“…JL Group, Hyesung Group, they all sent requests simultaneously.”

The commissioner nodded a few times and then spoke.

“What kind of mess did our detective cause this time? Whatever it was, it must have been justice well served. It’s exactly the kind of people I hate.”

“That’s correct.”

“Yeah, the ones they’re targeting must have taken bribes or something from them. That… prosecutor, what’s his name? Hwang Simok?”

“Do you mean Prosecutor Kang Jitae? Hwang Simok is just a nickname.”

“Yeah, yeah. Hand everything over to him. Make sure our Violent Crimes Unit isn’t hindered.”

“Understood, Commissioner.”

“A man’s gotta live clean. Clean…”

The commissioner neatly peeled off the lid of the banana milk and tossed it into the trash.