Chapter 18: Hand Over the Champion

Chapter 18

A little later, Kim Jinsung was heading to the representative’s office with the staff. Walking there, Kim Jinsung had a hunch.

‘He’s definitely going to be angry.’

There were plenty of reasons for a scolding. There was the incident of killing the twins right before the match, and not drinking the awakening agent as instructed. He could also be reprimanded for ending the match with Go Junkyung too overwhelmingly. Wasn’t he always the one shouting about ‘acting’?

‘If I’m unlucky, he might even terminate or extend the contract.’

Kim Jinsung expected the contract to be extended for at least another 1-2 years.

“Well, I’ll have to make excuses as best as I can. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it.”

By the time he reached the office, he knocked and entered to find Representative Jo smoking alone. His expression was very, very, extremely stern.

‘…This is bad.’

Not only the expression, but wasn’t Representative Jo the one who hated smoking inside the office? The fact that he was smoking meant…

‘I need to brace myself.’

Assuming the worst-case scenario might involve getting hit with that glass ashtray, Representative Jo finally spoke.

“Pack your things.”

“…Pardon?”

Kim Jinsung, caught off guard by the unexpected statement, responded instinctively.

“Pack your things from the locker room, you idiot!!”

Representative Jo immediately yelled.

“You’re being transferred elsewhere. Get ready to move!!”

“Can’t you understand what ‘pack your things’ means, you blockhead?!”

Although Representative Jo continued to hurl insults, Kim Jinsung couldn’t hear any of it.

He’s being transferred!

Kim Jinsung’s mind was completely filled with this one phrase.

‘I’m leaving this underground tomorrow? Really?’

It still didn’t feel real. He half-expected that if he asked again tomorrow morning, Representative Jo would dismiss it with, “What are you talking about? Did you dream it?”

‘Could it be a lie?’

But why would he lie about something like this, especially when the truth would be revealed tomorrow?

‘Ah, I don’t know. I’ll find out tomorrow, I guess.’

He decided to think positively. Doubting it would only make him feel worse.

“Go in.”

Upon reaching the locker room door, a staff member let him in and then locked the door behind him.

Suddenly, the entire locker room went quiet.

Everyone was silently staring at Kim Jinsung. Some looked at him with admiration, while others with fear.

All these gazes acknowledged Kim Jinsung as the strongest in the underground.

Silently reading the children’s gazes, that’s when it happened.

“Um…”

A group of kids from the corner, who used to be part of Go Junkyung’s gang, hesitantly approached and spoke to him.

“We’re sorry for bullying you when you were new. If you felt bad about it, we apologize.”

“Honestly, we didn’t want to bully you! It was all Go Junkyung’s idea…”

Clearly, after Go Junkyung’s death, they looked like they were trying to attach themselves to Kim Jinsung in any way possible.

Who would have thought these guys would come to him in such a humble manner?

Perhaps it was because they had only experienced bullying from their position? The situation felt quite strange.

‘I don’t really feel like taking revenge.’

Thinking about leaving the underground soon made him feel more forgiving about everything.

So, he answered gently with a smile.

“It’s okay. I wasn’t upset.”

“R-right? Hahaha! I told you, didn’t I? Jinsung is different from that bastard Go Junkyung he’s got a big heart.”

“Sorry, could you move aside? I need to finish up at the incinerator without being late.”

“Ah? Oh my…”

The former gang of Go Junkyung quickly parted to let Kim Jinsung pass. Until he entered the incinerator and closed the door, the kids kept their eyes fixed on him.

‘There are unusually many to deal with today.’

Looking at the more than ten boys lying on the floor of the incinerator, Kim Jinsung thought. Given the unprecedented scale of today’s PPV, there were many matches, and consequently, many victims like these.

Kim Jinsung immediately began checking the pulse of each fallen body.

‘Most of them are already dead. Is it because some time has passed since the matches ended?’

Normally, Kim Jinsung would have come down right after the matches, and there would have been many bodies still alive. However, today’s delay was due to the championship match and the meeting with Representative Jo.

It’s been almost 3 hours since the matches ended…

‘Am I really not going to save even one… Huh?’

Kim Jinsung’s action halted as he felt a very faint pulse under his fingers. The owner of this wrist was…

‘Park Seongtae…’

Kim Jinsung looked sternly at Park Seongtae’s bloodied face, lying at the very end of the row.

“…You’re here now… brother…”

Park Seongtae’s voice could be heard. Struggling to open his eyes, he forced a smile with his sunken lips.

“Hurry up… I almost died of loneliness waiting…”

“Uh… bro…ther…”

Park Seongtae’s voice faded away, and the life in his eyes diminished significantly. Soon, Park Seongtae would die, just like the hundreds of boys who had died before Kim Jinsung’s eyes.

“My last words…”

“I’ll listen.”

“If… you get out of here, please give this necklace to my brother…”

Kim Jinsung took off the necklace around Park Seongtae’s neck. Attached to the necklace was a photo of three brothers smiling arm in arm.

“Tell Jinwoong… I’m sorry… for only disappointing him until the end…”

“I’ll make sure to deliver it.”

“Tha…nk you…”

Just before dying, Kim Jinsung quickly grabbed Park Seongtae’s neck. Park Seongtae’s eyes widened, and then his head weakly tilted to the side.

You have eliminated a villain.

You have gained 5 Beast Karma points.

You can acquire the opponent’s skill ‘Indomitable Will.’

▷ Indomitable Will: When activated, all recovery speeds increase by 50% for 10 minutes. It has a cooldown of one hour.

Kim Jinsung nodded as he saw the notification.

‘So that’s why he could fight like a stubborn mule in the arena… Huh?’

Kim Jinsung’s eyes sparkled as the notification continued.

▶You have reached the limit of skills you can possess.

▷ Current number of skills: 3

▷ Current skill slots: 3

To acquire ‘Indomitable Will,’ you must discard one of your existing skills.

▷ Current skills: ‘Awakened Fighter,’ ‘Shock Absorption,’ ‘Deadly Strike’

・To acquire a new skill, please select one to discard.

‘What? I can’t keep acquiring skills indefinitely?’

Traits that permanently increase abilities can be acquired indefinitely. He thought skills would be the same, but apparently not.

Regretfully, Kim Jinsung began to consider which skill to discard. After much thought, he decided,

‘Let’s discard ‘Shock Absorption.’ It can be replaced with Magi.’

It would be different if it could mitigate all attacks, but it only mitigates damage below 1000. Plus, it consumes 50 mana. Magi uses only about 1 Beast Karma point to defend against even stronger impacts momentarily.

‘There might be a chance to acquire better defensive traits later.’

Kim Jinsung made his choice immediately.

You have discarded the ‘Shock Absorption’ skill.

You have acquired the ‘Indomitable Will’ skill.

‘At least Magi and healing skills don’t overlap, which is a relief.’

It seemed that skills using Beast Karma points were exceptions. That was fortunate. If Magi and healing had taken up skill slots, he could only have kept one of the three skills he currently possessed.

‘Now then…’

Kim Jinsung stood up from beside Park Seongtae’s body and walked over to the incinerator machine, pressing the power button.

‘Today is the last day I’ll be burning these kids.’

With a nostalgic look, he surveyed the entire incinerator, then picked up Park Seongtae’s body and placed it inside.

***

The next morning, after the rush hour around 10 AM, Representative Jo’s luxury car was heading towards the government complex. Entrusting the driving to his chauffeur, Representative Jo was comfortably leaning back in the rear seat, making a call.

“From the Colosseum side…?”

“Yes.”

Responding to the surprised voice of his right-hand man, Daejoon, Representative Jo continued.

“This is a secret between you and me, got it? No one is to know about the Colosseum scouting kids before the program starts. It’s strictly confidential.”

– Of course, sir. If it gets out, we will be known for canceling the casting and be sued for breach of contract.

“That’s why you need to go pick him up personally, without letting the other kids notice. Don’t bring him to the office for hospitality or anything, take Kim Jinsung straight to the underground parking lot. Got it?”

Understood, sir.

“I won’t be able to come in today, so you have to handle it. Got it? Report back to me when it’s done!”

–

– Don’t worry, sir. Have a good trip.

“Alright, I’m counting on you.”

After hanging up, Representative Jo knew that Daejoon would handle Kim Jinsung well. The problem was…

“How to convince the viewers…”

The viewers were probably aware through articles that the Colosseum often scouts players from illegal betting rings.

But Kim Jinsung was a champion. He’s the face of this club now.

And he had only been crowned yesterday.

The viewers, especially the VIPs, might react strongly to his departure at this time. They could even come to Representative Jo and cause a scene.

“Ah, damn, it’s one headache after another. I also have to somehow persuade that government official who’s asking for double the bribe today…”

As he was scratching his head due to stress, suddenly…

“What?!”

Startled by the driver’s exclamation, Representative Jo looked forward and his eyes widened.

A huge truck was barreling towards their car in the wrong lane at a tremendous speed!

Crash!

A massive collision occurred, and the entire front seat area of Representative Jo’s car was crushed.

Obviously, the driver in the front seat was instantly killed upon impact.

But Representative Jo was lucky enough not to die. Being in the back seat and having the habit of wearing a seatbelt saved his life.

(TLN: Ye seatbelts are know to prevent cars from getting smashed by trucks, wear your seatbelts folks .-.)

“Ugh…!”

That didn’t mean he was in good condition, though.

Bleeding and groaning, he used mana to forcibly kick open the crumpled back door and got out of the car.

He couldn’t stand up and collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

“Heugh… heugh… heugh…”

“You survived. Good.”

At that moment, a voice came from above, and Representative Jo’s eyes widened.

Looking down at him was a middle-aged man in a suit.

It was Yang Joong-geun, the master of the Dream Gold Clan.

***

10 AM.

Kim Jinsung had just left the locker room and was now alone in the elevator with Daejoon. The button Daejoon pressed was for B3, the very last floor of the underground parking lot.

Apparently, the person coming to pick up Kim Jinsung was waiting in a car in the parking lot.

‘Who could it be? I just hope it’s not a place where they treat me like a slave…’

Kim Jinsung was a mix of worry and anticipation, not knowing what to do.

Soon, the elevator stopped, and the doors slowly opened.

Daejoon walked into the parking lot with Kim Jinsung.

“We’re looking for a white limousine… Huh?”

At that moment, the sound of screeching tires came from the entrance of the parking lot, and he turned his head.

Five black vehicles were speeding towards them at an incredible pace.

After a sudden stop, a group of burly men got out.

“Hey, that’s Kim Jinsung!”

“And there’s Daejoon!”

“Kill them!”

They immediately charged towards the two.