Zack opened his eyes, saw the figure, and immediately let out a breath of relief. 'Jaegyeon Na. I almost forgot there was someone like him.'
Vasco pushed himself upright, patting his chest.
---
Actually, before coming to Busan, Daniel had met with James Lee once.
During that meeting, James Lee cleverly tried to manipulate Daniel into wiping out all four of Busan's major crews. For that, he'd even sent Jaegyeon Na along, calling it "backup."
But Daniel had never intended to follow those instructions.
---
Jaegyeon Na walked in and headed straight toward Vin Jin, Zack, and Vasco.
"Hey, look at you guys. You alright?" He crouched down, looking at the three of them with a relaxed expression.
Zack pushed himself up.
Vasco pushed himself off the ground and gave him a nod.
Vin Jin looked at the hand Jaegyeon Na extended toward him, then took it and stood.
Daniel stood on the other side. His eyes didn't soften for a second.
He stared at Jaegyeon Na without a word.
'Something's off.'
"No — Vin Jin! Zack! Vasco!"
But it was already too late.
Jaegyeon Na spun around in an instant—an elbow drove into Vin Jin's neck, a sweeping kick took out Zack's ankles, and a palm strike slammed into Vasco's chest.
All three dropped before they could make a single sound.
"Gotcha." Jaegyeon Na dusted off his hands.
He turned back around and looked at Daniel, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly.
"From that reaction of yours, you had a pretty good idea, didn't you? I thought I was hiding it well enough. Guess not. But whatever, things just ended up this way."
He walked slowly toward Jinrang and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Things are a bit rough for you right now, aren't they? You probably don't get where I'm coming from." He let out a breath. "But it is what it is. I just can't afford to get on the wrong side of Jinrang's people. Or do you need me to spell it out? Jinrang and I—we're on the same side."
Jinrang lit a cigarette, took a slow drag.
"Jaegyeon Na."
"Yeah?"
"Since when are we on the same side?"
"Aren't we?"
"You and me?"
Jaegyeon Na turned and lightly patted Jinrang's lapel, smoothing out the wrinkles. "Don't keep your guard up so high. Bring those walls down a little. Let's talk."
Daniel cut straight in.
"Mr. Jinrang. Whatever your relationship with the King of Incheon is, there's something you need to know. He came here today on James Lee's orders."
Jaegyeon Na glanced back at Daniel with a smile. "Aren't you here because of him too?"
Daniel shook his head. "It might look that way, but my reason for being here is different. The King of Ansan, the King of Daegu, the King of Chungcheong—they've all gone missing. You're next. King of Busan."
Jinrang's brow creased slightly. "You're saying someone captured Gongseob Ji, Taesoo Ma, and Jichang Kwak?" He paused. "Was it James Lee?"
Jaegyeon Na waved his hand, unbothered. "Ignore what the kid's saying. Let me get to the point. I'll quote James Lee directly—'Jinrang, hand over Busan.' I don't know the details, didn't ask. There's no telling what he'll do if you don't comply."
"Mr. Jinrang!" Daniel's voice rose. "Don't listen to him! You're Gapryong Kim's disciple—you should know about his eldest son. Kitae Kim. He's coming! He's coming to take Busan and the entire underworld! We have to work together to stop him!"
"Can you shut the hell up for one second?" Jaegyeon Na shot him a cold look.
Jinrang didn't acknowledge Jaegyeon Na. He raised his hand and patted his cheek.
"How did a king like you end up as James Lee's dog?" His voice was calm, but there was nothing behind his eyes. "You think I'd actually listen? After everything James Lee has done—you really thought I'd bow to him?"
Jaegyeon Na went quiet for a moment, then exhaled. "Jinrang, can't you consider my situation for once? You know what I'm dealing with right now. I knew you'd react like this, but—can't you just go along with James Lee? For my sake?"
Jinrang looked at him one last time.
"Jaegyeon Na." He pressed the cigarette against the ground and snuffed it out. "You're not even a good dog."
He turned to Daniel, his voice hard and flat.
"Kid, Kitae Kim is none of my concern. Today, Busan is going out to hunt James Lee. Anyone who gets in the way—I don't care who it is—they'll face all of Busan—"
Jaegyeon Na moved.
His feet barely seemed to leave the ground. He drove a sideways kick into Jinrang's face.
Jinrang couldn't hold his footing and flew back.
"I'll just take you to James Lee myself." He settled back into his stance, shaking out his leg. "He can handle the rest from there."
Jinrang's crew exploded.
"Jinrang-hyungnim! Are you okay?!"
Several of them charged forward at once.
But none of them made it to Jaegyeon Na. They all stopped.
That pressure pushed down on them like an invisible wall they couldn't see and couldn't get through.
"Come on then. Whoever moves first dies first."
"The K—King of Incheon..."
"We can't take him..."
"Get out of my way!"
Sang Baek roared and launched himself forward with a flying kick.
"Jaegyeon Na! So you really did become James Lee's dog in the end, didn't you?!"
Jungseok Hwang came in from the flank, his punch loaded and ready. "We will never give up Busan!"
Jaegyeon Na shifted his footing, his body slipping aside with ease. The moment Sang Baek's leg arrived, he caught the momentum and redirected it right back. Before Jungseok Hwang's fist could land, his elbow had already buried itself into his side.
One clean movement with no pause.
Both men hit the ground at nearly the same time.
Jinrang stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
His breathing was heavy.
'Damn.' He worked his arm. 'That fight with those two kids took too much out of me.'
Jaegyeon Na didn't give him time to catch his breath.
His leg whipped toward Jinrang's flank like a lash.
Jinrang's elbow came down, blocking the attack.
Bang!
The impact forced Jinrang back half a step.
'Good power,' Jinrang thought, 'but not enough.'
His elbow struck back, aiming straight for Jaegyeon Na's face.
Jaegyeon Na twisted his body and dodged.
Then his other leg was already shooting toward Jinrang's knee.
Jinrang lifted his leg, blocking with his knee.
Both fighters' speeds were increasing.
Jaegyeon Na's legs struck in succession, each attack coming from a different angle.
Jinrang blocked with his elbows, but his movements were starting to slow.
'No good,' Jinrang thought. 'My elbows still hurt. That Vin Jin kid—his grip strength nearly crushed my bones.'
Jaegyeon Na noticed.
"What's wrong, Jinrang?" His leg swept toward Jinrang's head. "Your elbow strikes don't seem as sharp anymore."
Jinrang blocked with his arm, but Jaegyeon Na's leg immediately changed direction, striking Jinrang's ribs.
Bang!
Jinrang staggered back.
Jaegyeon Na didn't stop, continuing his assault.
His legs fell like a rainstorm, each strike fast and fierce.
Jinrang blocked some, but more attacks broke through his defense.
One kick hit his shoulder.
Another hit his thigh.
Jinrang's body began to sway.
'Can't keep going like this,' Jinrang thought. 'I need to use that.'
He took a deep breath and clenched his fists.
His stance changed, feet spreading apart, center of gravity lowering.
Gapryong Kim's stance.
Jaegyeon Na saw it and his expression shifted.
"Wait, Jinrang! In your current state—"
But Jinrang had already moved.
His fist drove toward Jaegyeon Na, carrying heavy power.
Overcome.
Jaegyeon Na's leg rose, kicking toward Jinrang's fist.
Bang!
The two attacks collided in midair.
Jinrang's fist stopped.
His face turned pale.
'What?' His body began to tremble. 'The power won't come out?'
Jaegyeon Na landed, looking at Jinrang.
"Jinrang, you're out of stamina." His tone was calm. "That attack require enormous physical strength. In your current state, you can't use them at all."
Jinrang gritted his teeth, trying to throw another punch.
But Jaegyeon Na was already in front of him.
His leg kicked Jinrang's arm, interrupting his movement.
Jinrang's fist opened.
Jaegyeon Na didn't give him a chance, continuing his assault.
His legs struck in succession, each one hitting Jinrang's guard, not giving him time to recover.
Jinrang's breathing grew more and more labored.
'No good,' he thought. 'My stamina's almost gone.'
Jaegyeon Na stepped back, then launched himself into the air.
His leg spun through the air, carrying terrifying power as it dropped toward Jinrang's head.
Death Kick.
Jinrang raised his arms, but he knew he couldn't block it.
Just then, a figure rushed forward.
Daniel appeared in front of Jinrang, arms crossed over his chest.
Bang!
Jaegyeon Na's leg struck Daniel's arms.
The massive impact sent Daniel's body sliding back several meters.
Jaegyeon Na landed, looking at Daniel with some surprise in his eyes.
"You blocked that?"
Daniel lowered his arms, his complexion pale.
'So heavy,' he thought. 'My arm feels dislocated.'
His right arm hung at his side, unable to move.
Jaegyeon Na looked at him. "Though I didn't use my full power just now. But you actually managed to block it?"
Daniel didn't answer, simply standing in front of Jinrang, blocking Jaegyeon Na's line of sight.
---
At the edge of the crowd, Choi Bongpal watched the fight in the arena.
She turned to Baki. "Those kids are certainly special. But it looks like they're at their limit." She paused. "Jinrang too. I never thought I'd see a day like this."
She looked at Baki. "Are you going to step in now?"
Baki smiled.
"The kids are just getting started." His eyes were fixed on the arena. "Bongpal, keep your eyes wide open. Otherwise you'll miss something amazing."
Choi Bongpal frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Baki didn't answer, just kept watching.