NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 52 - War Against Crime (1)
Chapter 52: War Against Crime (1)
“Haah.”
Baek Ah-jin had just finished her market patrol and was on her way to meet her friends.
She had worked hard to obtain 13 Universal Rune, so she had given all her staff the day off.
Vroooom!
When she stepped on the accelerator, the turbo engine roared loudly.
Since the distance from Samsung-dong to the headquarters was quite far, she had recently bought a new car.
A bright red Porsche 911 Turbo.
The beautiful curves of the car, which stimulated the hearts of women just by looking at it, were irresistible to Baek Ah-jin.
In fact, it was a relatively affordable car compared to her income.
It only cost a little over 300 million won.
Near Hanam City.
A secluded private cafe.
The friends gathered there were in an absolute frenzy.
She wasn’t a chaebol, so how could a young woman in her early 20s afford a 911?!
“Wow, what is this?”
“Baek Ah-jin! This is crazy! The chaebol connections are unreal!”
“Can I take a photo?”
“I want to sit in the passenger seat later!”
Some were genuinely admiring and amazed.
“What are you doing these days?”
“Yeah, the person who used to always participate in the chat group doesn’t even talk about how busy they are lately.”
“Stop hiding and tell us already!”
Some friends were curious about Baek Ah-jin’s current situation.
“Actually.”
Baek Ah-jin confessed honestly.
She had already made arrangements.
Since her entire family had entered YooBaek’s circle, there was no need to hide it anymore.
She could reveal it proudly.
“I’ve been working at YooBaek recently.”
“What?”
“YooBaek?!”
Her friends were shocked beyond belief.
YooBaek was the hot new management company that offered better benefits than even the best company in South Korea, Daeseong!
It was the management that took care of the national representative Baek Jin-woo!
Now, every elite across the country wanted to join that company.
“The YooBaek I know?”
“Of course! Yoo Ji-ah’s connections aren’t just empty!”
“So, did you meet Baek Jin-woo? What’s he like? Is he handsome?”
At the last question, Baek Ah-jin frowned.
“My brother isn’t handsome.”
Although her brother had been getting a bit more muscular lately, she still saw him as her brother.
She felt a slight discomfort at the mention of him being handsome.
Of course, her friends didn’t share the same thoughts.
“Here, this is my business card.”
No matter how much she talked, they wouldn’t believe her.
Baek Ah-jin handed out the business card she received from YooBaek.
“Wow, what is this card?”
“…Is this… real gold?”
“Eh, no way…?”
The card was made of plastic material, with her name engraved in pure gold.
This wasn’t something she handed out casually; it was a card for only her truly precious friends.
And the position and name engraved on the card were clear!
[Director, Baek Ah-jin]
“Director?”
“Wait, am I seeing this right? That can’t be true.”
“Is she not a staff member, but a director?”
“Does YooBaek have a director?”
Her friends, flustered, pulled out their phones.
They entered YooBaek’s official website to check the current board of directors.
“Insane!”
“It’s real?”
“And there are only two?”
[CEO, Yoo Ji-ah]
[Director, Baek Ah-jin]
“How did this happen?”
Her friends demanded an explanation.
‘Right.’
She had come out to the gathering with the intention of explaining everything.
Continuing without revealing it would only lead to bigger misunderstandings, and that would be unfair to her friends.
“Sorry for not telling you until now. Actually, my brother is Baek Jin-woo.”
A shocking announcement!
All of her friends’ mouths fell open.
“Whhhhhaaaat?!”
“Really?”
“Baek Jin-woo? The national hero Baek Jin-woo is your brother? Not some other Baek Jin-woo, right?”
In fact, just those words explained everything.
The flashy sports car.
Her connections with Yoo Ji-ah.
The directorship at “YooBaek.”
‘This isn’t just being born with a silver spoon—it’s Baek Jin-woo’s level.’
‘I’m so jealous.’
‘But wasn’t Ah-jin’s brother hurt in a car accident?’
It took some time for them to fully process and accept the reality.
A brief moment passed.
Baek Ah-jin became the center of attention in the conversation.
Naturally, there were plenty of questions.
Even her pretty friends.
“Miss! Our pretty Baek Ah-jin!”
“What’s that supposed to mean! She’s my sister-in-law! Ah-jin, let’s eat with us! I’ll take good care of you, okay?”
They joked, half-serious, half-playfully flirting.
‘Ugh, what’s wrong with them? Are they crazy?’
Baek Ah-jin was horrified and waved her hands in refusal.
‘But still…’
She couldn’t deny that her shoulders were lifted in pride.
This feeling of being treated this way because of her brother!
* * *
Meanwhile, at that same moment.
“So we just need to hit that spot, right?”
“So, by joining the gang, you’ll get 1,000 billion won in cash?”
Outside the private cafe in Hanam City.
Three players were watching the building.
One was a gang member.
The other two were Oh Ji-myung and Park Ho-seop, ranked 9th and 10th respectively.
“That’s correct, esteemed rankers. If you kidnap Baek Ah-jin from there, you’ll get the 1,000 billion, and we’ll also give you 10% of all future profits from Baek Jin-woo.”
The gang’s request was simple.
Kidnap Baek Ah-jin.
Then, leave the country and just secure her identity.
‘Cut ties with Baek Jin-woo, huh…’
‘That might actually be better.’
After a long period of contemplation, the two rankers agreed to the proposal.
They could have gone and apologized to Baek Jin-woo, but they had their pride.
‘This method seems easier.’
‘Perfect. Kidnapping his family to blackmail him. Why didn’t I think of this before?’
‘I need to repay the debt from the last time I was hit.’
His ribs still ached from the hits he took during the duel.
“It’s fine to kill everyone else except Baek Ah-jin, right? It looks like there are a lot of them.”
Oh Ji-myung asked.
“You can kill them all.”
The gang member answered with a vile smile.
“Wait a moment.”
Ranked 10th, Park Ho-seop, asked.
“Then while we’re capturing Baek Ah-jin, what is your gang going to do?”
It was a rather sharp question.
The gang usually only gave orders from behind, and if things didn’t go as planned, they pulled out, leaving them as the ones who meddled with a national hero and became traitors.
“Don’t worry. The gang is putting everything on the line for this. Most of our members who are stationed overseas have already illegally entered the country.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes, Baek Jin-woo doesn’t only have a younger sibling in his family, does he?”
“Are you planning to strike at YooBaek’s side?”
“That’s correct.”
That was the gang’s goal.
YooBaek’s side included Baek Jin-woo’s family, including Yoo Ji-ah.
Moreover, Baek Jin-woo was currently stationed in Dubai.
It was the perfect opportunity.
If Baek Jin-woo were a cold-hearted man who didn’t care about his family’s safety, this operation would be meaningless.
But judging from his actions, the probability of that was low.
“He’s someone who bought a house for his family and takes care of their security.”
It was a bit concerning that if they touched Yoo Ji-ah, they’d have to cut ties with Daeseong (a powerful faction), but there was no choice.
For the gang, leaving Baek Jin-woo alone was a bigger headache.
“Alright.”
Oh Ji-myung nodded.
“Then let’s begin right away.”
* * *
Five hours passed.
Baek Jin-woo hadn’t eaten a single bite, nor drunk even a sip of water.
Whirrrrrrr!
Lamba was stacking up, while the Explosive Dragon sat quietly beside her.
And…
– Grrr…!
Dol-dol, holding a sickle, was watching the surroundings carefully, waiting for Hun-gyo.
Soon, when the re-summon cooldown was up…
Whoooosh!
With a flick of his hand, he summoned Hun-gyo.
“Hun-gyo.”
Ssst!
The appearance of Hun-gyo, who appeared with light, was unscathed.
Also, the atmosphere felt different from before.
[‘Training Instructor’ (EX-grade) is unlocking latent abilities.]
[‘Training Instructor’ (EX-grade) has increased base stats.]
[‘Training Instructor’ (EX-grade) has acquired new skills.]
Step.
The figure that approached knelt down.
– Master… I apologize for causing you worry.
“Worry? What’s going on?”
Baek Jin-woo asked, and Hun-gyo’s lips curled into a slight smile.
– I’ve successfully completed the process. I can feel an incredible internal force within me.
“Really?”
Baek Jin-woo immediately checked Hun-gyo’s condition.
[Summon: Training Instructor]
[Race: Human]
[Grade: EX-grade (isolated)]
– Balance-breaking factors were found in specific conditions, resulting in isolation.
[Level: 40]
[Stats]
Strength: 100, Intelligence: 100, Stamina: 100, Agility: 100
HP: 50,000, MP: 50,000
Critical Hit Chance: 20%
Critical Hit Damage: 100%
[Skills]
– Growth: Grows through training.
– Charisma: Dominates other summons.
– Instructor: Unlocks the latent potential of other summons and amplifies their growth rate.
– Resonant Martial Arts: Controls energy at the cost of life.
– Transfiguration: Using immense internal force, transformed into a body suited for learning martial arts.
‘What… What is this?’
Baek Jin-woo was astounded.
Resonant Martial Arts and Transfiguration?
Plus, the stats were insane.
Just for reference, these stats are without any runes attached.
“This kid!”
He really had changed!
With these stats, it wouldn’t be strange to consider it an A-grade, no, even an S-grade summon.
“Wait a moment.”
Baek Jin-woo took the all-purpose rune that had been on the Explosive Dragon and immediately attached it to Hun-gyo.
Then…
[Summon: Training Instructor]
[Race: Human]
[Grade: EX-grade (isolated)]
– Balance-breaking factors were found in specific conditions, resulting in isolation.
[Level: 40]
[Stats]
Strength: 1,580, Intelligence: 1,580, Stamina: 1,580, Agility: 1,580
HP: 60,000, MP: 50,000
Critical Hit Chance: 80%
Critical Hit Damage: 340%
[Skills]
– Growth: Grows through training.
– Charisma: Dominates other summons.
– Instructor: Unlocks the latent potential of other summons and amplifies their growth rate.
– Resonant Martial Arts: Controls energy at the cost of life.
– Transfiguration: Using immense internal force, transformed into a body suited for learning martial arts.
No, this…
What kind of monster is this?
Stats at 1,580?
Baek Jin-woo never imagined seeing these kinds of stats from Hun-gyo.
Just to clarify, this is the semi-graduation rune.
What happens when he gets the Trinity Rune later?
It would be even stronger.
– Master, I can feel the immense power as if I could destroy a mountain with a single swing.
“That’s to be expected.”
Is a mountain the problem?
If he really set his mind to it, he could turn an entire city into rubble in less than a minute.
“No, is the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse really that powerful?”
– …Yes. According to Hua Tuo’s knowledge, there are beings who consider a person suffering from Nine Yin Absolute Pulse to be a monster capable of creating legendary elixirs.
“Alright, I admit it.”
Baek Jin-woo nodded.
“This all-purpose rune. And the Trinity Rune I’ll acquire later… no, forget about that. For now, it’s yours first.”
Upon hearing this, Hun-gyo’s eyes sparkled with life.
– Thank you, Master!
He had been recognized.
He had secured his position as the main weapon for his master.
Hun-gyo was so happy that all the pain he had endured until now disappeared from his mind.
“Phew.”
Baek Jin-woo let out a pleased sigh.
Everything had fallen into place.
He had obtained the all-purpose rune, and Hun-gyo had awakened.
Now it was time to return to South Korea.
Jasime had probably already prepared the flight tickets.
The problem was…
Grrrr.
“Haha, I’m hungry.”
– Master, you didn’t eat anything?
“After I was forced to re-summon you in that state, do you think any food would go down my throat?”
Ugh.
Just saying it made him cringe.
But what could he do?
That was the truth.
“Let’s eat first. Explosive Dragon, Lamba.”
There was still a feast that Jasime had prepared.
There was enough food to feed all four of them!
And naturally, there was also a luxury cream bun made by a professional chef.
– Great! Let’s eat!
Lamba, excited, flew around in the air.