NPLLD 24

Chapter : 24

In the End, the Stick is the Best Medicine (3)

Jo Han-bin was flustered.

Why did his body feel so cold just from hearing Seo-yul’s warning?

‘It’s just nonsense from a Management Bureau hunter at best.’

In modern times, the strongest hunters were naturally those belonging to large guilds.

They were celebrities who surpassed entertainers—walking disasters.

In contrast, Management Bureau hunters were nothing more than weak awakeners who were bothersome if touched.

Calming himself, Jo Han-bin picked up the cracked smartphone that was still on the call and shouted.

“I’ll be at Apartment Complex 102, under construction by Gye-yang Construction! If you don’t come, I’ll kill that schoolgirl!”

• Do whatever you want.

Click.

Seo-yul hung up, as if the call was no longer worth his time.

‘What the hell is this guy? Is he hiding some other move?’

KWAANG!

In that moment of distraction, Jeong-hye’s fist lunged at him again—

But it struck nothing but empty air.

Only Jo Han-bin’s voice echoed across the open space.

“I’m actually a novice mage. So why do you think I can kill hunters above my rank?”

“?!”

Jeong-hye swung wildly using her beast-like instincts, but she couldn’t detect his presence at all.

Jo Han-bin continued speaking calmly.

“I erase sound with Silent, erase scent with Fade, and distort touch perception with Phantom Hands. The reason you didn’t even notice you were stabbed is because of this.”

When Jeong-hye turned her head—

PUK!

A short sword pierced her side.

His violet-colored left arm rested on her shoulder, yet she had not noticed at all.

“?!”

Her eyes trembled, then she lost consciousness.

Bleeding heavily from his head, Jo Han-bin quietly carried the unconscious Lee Yeon-hee and disappeared.

Meanwhile

Emergency responders were urgently treating Jeong-hye, who was bleeding heavily.

Even while unconscious, she kept repeating one name.

“Jo… Han-bin…”

After examining her, the doctor wiped sweat from his forehead.

“Her life isn’t in danger. She’ll need a few days of hospitalization.”

Hearing this, Kang Jung-min sighed in relief, and Seo-yul immediately turned away.

“Hey, aren’t you being too hasty?”

“I told you. Yeon-hee was kidnapped again.”

“……Park Jin-beom.”

“Give me everything you know about him and Jo Han-bin. And don’t report anything to the Bureau until I say so.”

“Why not report it immediately?”

“These guys only understand one thing.”

Seo-yul’s eyes cooled.

“The stick is the best medicine.”

“…Just bury them.”

Kang Jung-min nodded in agreement and let him go.

A Sphere soon formed nearby.

Buzzing sounds filled the air as about ten hornet monsters flew out.

Hannam-dong Luxury Mansion

Park Jin-beom gently touched the framed photo of his son, Park Jin-tae.

“I will absolutely avenge you. No matter the cost.”

“P-please let me go!”

A trembling schoolgirl clung to the door handle.

“You said you wanted money, didn’t you?”

“I-I didn’t know it would be like this!”

“There’s no such thing as easy money, child.”

He reached out with a chilling smile.

Knock knock.

A knock interrupted him at the worst possible timing.

“Don’t interrupt and get lost!”

“Urgent matter.”

“Handle it later!”

He approached the door, intending to strike whoever was there.

But—

KWAANG!

The door was ripped off completely.

Standing there was Seo-yul, smiling brightly, spear in hand.

“Child trafficking, kidnapping, illegal detention… which of these is more urgent than this?”

“W-wait! This is a misunderstanding!”

KRAK!

Seo-yul smashed his arm with the spear.

“AAAAAARGH!”

The girl ran out in panic.

“Call the police. Right now.”

“Y-yes!”

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Park Jin-beom reached out—but—

THUD!

Seo-yul pressed his head down.

“Give me the phone, bastard.”

Construction Site – Apartment 102

Jo Han-bin licked his short sword.

“Kekeke… blood always tastes best.”

Behind him, Yeon-hee remained unconscious.

“Why isn’t he coming?”

At that moment, his phone rang.

[Park Jin-beom]

‘Finally.’

He answered.

“Judge. The job isn’t done yet—”

• It seems you’re the one behind everything.

“?!”

It was Seo-yul’s voice.

“W-what…?”

• You won’t even get your money. I’m breaking him right now.

CRACK.

“Aaaaargh! Stop! I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”

A chilling sound of bones breaking echoed.

Jo Han-bin’s expression stiffened.

‘He’s doing something beyond my expectations…’

He changed his tone immediately.

“If you pay me instead, I’ll release the girl.”

• Release her? Funny.

CRACK!

“Aaaagh!”

“I won’t negotiate with you.”

Jo Han-bin snapped.

“If you refuse, I’ll kill her and disappear—”

• You still think you have choices?

At that moment—

CRUNCH!

Something pierced his back.

A Stinghawk tore through him from behind.

“Guh…!”

Black veins spread across his body.

And then—

He heard Seo-yul’s voice again.

• Don’t mistake cheap assassination tricks for real power.
• You’ll die by my hand today.

The hornets lifted him into the air.

“No—NO!!”

He was dragged helplessly into the Sphere.

Aftermath

Seo-yul placed Park Jin-beom’s phone into his pocket.

“Everything’s over now.”

Outside, police sirens echoed.

“You bastard… just a Level 6 prosecutor… how dare you—”

“You’re going to live a very miserable life.”

At the hospital, Jeong-hye and Yeon-hee were recovering.

Jeong-hye gritted her teeth.

“Jo Han-bin is probably doing something like this somewhere again…”

Seo-yul calmly replied:

“I doubt it. He’s probably fertilizing a vineyard somewhere by now.”

“……?”

Tutorial Labyrinth – Corrosive Lake

Jo Han-bin slowly regained consciousness.

Bound tightly to a chair, unable to move.

Seo-yul smiled at him.

“Sleep well?”

“W-where am I?!”

His scream echoed through the labyrinth.