Chapter 171
How long had he been beaten like that?
In the meantime, Yuk Kyung-bae had gone through many mental changes.
He had tried venting his anger, begging, even cursing.
But none of it worked against the overwhelming pain.
In particular, Suho used various techniques to ensure Yuk Kyung-bae couldn’t get used to the pain.
Applying pressure points to inflict internal pain was just the start; he even administered rapid healing to prevent him from going into shock.
Whenever his mind seemed on the verge of breaking, Suho used the Ring of Emotions.
The floor was smeared with Yuk Kyung-bae’s blood, sweat, tears, and even other bodily fluids.
It couldn’t be helped.
When a person experiences a certain threshold of pain, eventually, all tension loosens, and every opening relaxes.
After lashing him for a long time, Suho finally stopped once he had inflicted the exact amount of pain he had intended.
“Whew.”
He hadn’t even changed locations.
Even though there was a warehouse nearby holding Im Chang-shik, Suho had beaten Yuk Kyung-bae in the middle of a street he’d set up inside his Subspace House.
For someone like Yuk Kyung-bae, who valued appearances, even that would be a significant mental blow.
Suho wiped the sweat off and spoke.
“Mr. Kyung-bae.”
“Y-yes!!”
“Sit up straight. I need to talk.”
“O-okay!!”
The beating hadn’t left him so dazed that he couldn’t understand.
Nor did he pretend to be out of it.
He had painfully realized that any pretense would only trigger another cycle of suffering.
Suho spoke.
“Do you know why I came to you?”
“Well, uh…”
At Suho’s question, Yuk Kyung-bae desperately racked his brain.
All Suho had done so far was beat him; he hadn’t mentioned anything else.
But Suho wasn’t planning to make him figure it out on his own.
It would be a waste of time.
“The Spoils Appropriation Act.”
“Oh, ah!”
“Why did you do it?”
“I-I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking! I was just so irritated that Jang Kyung-hwan blamed me, and I wanted to set an example…”
“So.”
Suho took a step closer.
“Why did you let your irritation affect the Spoils Appropriation Act?”
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I was wrong! I truly apologize!”
To Yuk Kyung-bae, who had stepped closer, Suho was more terrifying than a demon… no, more terrifying than the Devil King himself.
So, he bowed his head low, begging tearfully.
The fear was so intense that he felt he might wet himself again, though he’d already drained every last drop out of terror.
Suho frowned as he looked at Yuk Kyung-bae.
“A pathetic worm.”
Suho had lived through his past life, knowing most of what was going to happen in the future.
With the Library of Memories, he was always moving in ways that would yield maximum efficiency within his power.
Because of that, he couldn’t eradicate all evil, and he even set aside some villains for the sake of efficiency, despite knowing who they were.
That’s why he couldn’t stand these kinds of obstacles.
If they just quietly kept out of his way, maybe they could have extended their safety and peace for a little longer—perhaps even survived until the world was saved.
But Yuk Kyung-bae had kicked away that fortune with his own feet.
Once the Redevelopment Gate event began, he’d be cast out naturally, but he could have at least avoided the torment and misfortune he was about to face.
Suho began reciting the information about Yuk Kyung-bae stored in the Library of Memories.
“Yuk Kyung-bae, current party leader… even after the world turned into this mess, you still live well, enjoying privileges as a congressman and even serving as the first chairman of the Korean Hunter Association, treating national Hunters like dirt… You didn’t even serve in the military? Claimed mental illness? Are you seriously mentally ill enough to dodge the draft?”
Suho continued reading aloud.
“Your son was exempted too? Your wife forged her academic background, plagiarized her thesis, and even used a ghostwriter. Oh, and your daughter’s been using drugs? How many mistresses do you have on the side… wait, you even had an affair with a minor?”
As Suho continued speaking, Yuk Kyung-bae’s face grew pale, drained of color.
It couldn’t be helped.
Most of these were secrets not yet revealed to the public.
‘They’re things that came out bit by bit after the Redevelopment Gate event started and people were exposed.’
Suho went on.
“You’re wondering how I know, aren’t you? Unfortunately for you, this is my true ability. Do you think I’ve been solo-clearing Sealed Gates for no reason?”
After closing the Library of Memories, Suho looked down at him and spoke.
“Mr. Kyung-bae, does getting that badge mean the world ends? Does that badge protect you from gates and monsters? Why can’t you think things through? After the Great Upheaval, countless people died, and many nations collapsed, but you still don’t think it’s necessary to support Hunters?”
“I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking! I just…”
“Just what?”
“Hiiik!”
Suho’s rage flared at the word “just.”
That anger extended outward like an invisible force, exerting a pressure similar to an intimidation skill, pressing down on Yuk Kyung-bae.
“Listen. People like you—I would never let you die. For old men who’ve lived a full life, facing death as atonement isn’t even a fitting punishment.”
Suho leaned down, looking at the back of Yuk Kyung-bae’s bowed head.
“Remember this clearly, Mr. Kyung-bae. You’ve been marked by me. So you can’t die, even if you want to. If you die, I’ll go after your family, your relatives, your friends, even your mistress’s illegitimate child, and I’ll torment them all until they wish they were dead. Do you think I won’t?”
Illegitimate child.
At those words, Yuk Kyung-bae’s eyes widened more than ever.
It couldn’t be helped.
His illegitimate child was a secret so hidden that not even his aides knew—a secret among secrets.
And that child was the person he treasured and loved the most in the world.
“I know very well. Even a man like you loves his child dearly. Of course, that love isn’t evenly distributed among all your children, right? But I don’t care at all about your circumstances. You don’t even love the woman you’re married to now; it’s just a political marriage for power. That’s why you ignore your own daughter’s drug abuse, isn’t it?”
Yuk Kyung-bae’s heart pounded.
Suho hadn’t laid a finger on him.
Yet, his face burned, and his heart raced more than when he’d been beaten before.
He was terrified.
He was petrified.
He felt chills run down his spine, and his hair stood on end as if he were standing naked before the Grim Reaper, being judged.
It was the same feeling he’d had as a child when he was caught stealing from a stationery store.
He felt faint, yet his mind had never been clearer.
At that moment, the Grim Reaper spoke.
“Lift your head.”
Trembling, Yuk Kyung-bae raised his head.
If there was the coldest ice in the world, it would be in Suho’s gaze.
As Suho’s icy, glacier-like eyes met his, he felt his breath catch.
Suho spoke.
“I’ll say it again—I have no intention of killing you. Death is too lenient a punishment for you. So, you’ll work for the Awakeners from now on.
I’m not asking you to uphold moral beliefs. A rag remains a rag, even if it’s washed. But that doesn’t mean a rag has no use, right? You’ll work tirelessly from the lowest, filthiest place in the country, for the sake of the Awakeners. If not, everything I just said will come true.”
Suho continued, his gaze still cold as ice.
“Stand up.”
Trembling…
Yuk Kyung-bae rose as if he’d been enchanted.
Barely clothed, he didn’t even try to cover himself as he had initially.
With a hunched back and trembling chin, he looked every bit the part of someone utterly terrified, like a fawn in front of a cheetah.
Suho pressed on several pressure points on Yuk Kyung-bae.
[ Acupoint Strike has been activated. ]
After pressing several pressure points, Suho spoke.
“Men have to be careful with the three tips. And just now, you’ve lost the pleasure of all three. Your manhood won’t rise unless I allow it, your tongue won’t taste, and your fingers will struggle even to hold a spoon.”
Suho took a step forward.
At that, Yuk Kyung-bae involuntarily stepped back half a step.
The distance between them shortened by just half a step.
With eyes as cold as ice, Suho spoke again.
“You’re a congressman and a party leader, right? Then act accordingly. Work for the country, for the people, and for those who work for both. Isn’t that simple? Gather talent, make policies, reform outdated and unreasonable systems. If you don’t, the pain you felt will be experienced by everyone around you, and they’ll all die cursing your name.”
The warning was sufficient.
Suho stepped back half a step.
Then, with a movement so fast that Yuk Kyung-bae couldn’t even register, Suho struck him on the neck, knocking him out.
He caught Yuk Kyung-bae as he collapsed, then left the Subspace House.
He didn’t bother to clean off the blood or waste.
That way, when Yuk Kyung-bae woke up, he’d know that all of it was real, not a dream.
Suho stepped out of the Subspace House.
***
The next day.
A call came from Jo Jin-hwi.
– Director Ahn.
“Yes?”
– What did you do…?
A stunned voice.
Suho chuckled at the question.
Then, he feigned ignorance.
“What do you mean?”
– Yuk Kyung-bae has completely changed.
A different person.
Yes.
Sometimes, people do change overnight.
But usually, they don’t.
Unless they go through a life-threatening experience.
And yesterday, Yuk Kyung-bae had that experience.
Suho asked.
“How did he change?”
– According to our sources, he suddenly reversed his stance with the people he was pressuring. He’s now urging them to restore the Spoils Appropriation Act to its original state. He’s not just suggesting changes—he’s even proposing a new bill.
“A new bill?”
– Yes, a tax exemption bill on spoils…
The Tax-Exempt Spoils Act.
Hearing that, Suho let out a slight chuckle.
The Tax-Exempt Spoils Act was legislation that exempted Hunters from taxes on the proceeds from selling loot obtained from gates.
‘The Tax-Exempt Spoils Act wasn’t supposed to be proposed until much later… Truly, people need to face death to be shaken to their core.’
Yuk Kyung-bae wanted to live.
And he wanted to protect something.
That was why he was taking action.
Because he understood better than anyone that it was his only chance for survival.
Proof of that was Yuk Kyung-bae’s silence after all that had happened.
If he were still a clueless fool, Suho’s name would already be in the news headlines.
Suho nodded and spoke.
“That’s great. At least now, a congressman is doing his job. Anyway, shall we begin? I think the timing is just right.”
– Timing… You don’t mean?
“Yes, that. Let’s meet and discuss it.”
– Understood. I’ll send you the address.
Finally, the time had come.
It was time to start the Redevelopment Gate.
Suho began preparing to go out.