The Genius Assassin Who Takes it All

Here’s the translation of the provided text:

His real name is Gong Tae-su.

He earned the moniker “The Butcher of Ulsan” because numerous hunters died by his hands.

Operating in crime syndicates, warlords, and mercenaries alike, he kidnapped and killed indiscriminately, earning him utter disdain.

Despite being a trivial grudge, the biggest reason for the disdain was his disregard for the ‘moral code’ of the criminal underworld.

If it involved money, he wouldn’t hesitate to cut the throat of even a partner he agreed to work with, drawing widespread resentment.

Regardless, his criminal organization, ‘Red Blood,’ was one of the groups based in Ulsan.

Its significant size meant that organizations disliking Gong Tae-su couldn’t rashly provoke him.

Gong Tae-su was known for being ‘crazy,’ and a wrong move could escalate into a full-blown war with Red Blood.

Thus, most turned to mercenaries for discreet assassination contracts.

Assigning murders to mercenaries was safer, with fewer risks of being traced back.

‘In the original story, he doesn’t die.’

That was the reason for Kang-hoo’s grim expression.

There was a similar issue in the original story.

Many mercenaries gathered to kill Gong Tae-su.

However, it ended in a massacre of the mercenaries.

Gong Tae-su became more arrogant and successful after that.

Of course, the difference between the original story and now is the presence or absence of ‘Shin Kang-hoo.’

Nevertheless, Kang-hoo knew the strategy and tactics Gong Tae-su used to lure and kill the mercenaries.

He also possessed the insight to see through the situation more clearly.

Kang-hoo, checking with Lee Ye-rin, asked,

“Is this a fireworks show?”

“That’s right. Multiple mercenary groups have been assigned the task, and it seems everyone is aware and moving.”

“To be certain that the unfortunate protagonist isn’t me… is that it?”

A bitter smile appeared.

“The term ‘fireworks show’ refers to a scenario where multiple mercenaries are hired to target one strong individual.

In such scenarios, one of the mercenaries inevitably loses their life. It’s an unavoidable consequence.

However, this sacrifice enables the surviving mercenaries to more effectively target their prey.

In essence, if he doesn’t perish, it becomes an opportunity to close in on the target.

The goal is almost certainly achieved through numerical superiority.

Then, the hunter who endures until the end reaps all the rewards. That’s the crux of a fireworks show.“

“How many are we expecting?”

“Not exact, but I can give you a minimum estimate. A hundred.”

“That’s insane. With this kind of setup, more will join the fray.”

“The frenzy has already begun.”

Lee Ye-rin chuckled.

Kang-hoo looked down, reviewing the details of the request and its associated rewards.

Lee Ye-rin continued to explain with ease.

“You don’t even have to kill Gong Tae-su. Just retrieve his left arm, and you’ll earn 2.5 billion.”

“Since he performs magic with his left hand more than 99% of the time, losing it is nearly as good as him being dead.”

“That’s correct. Actually, if you end up killing him, the reward decreases by 500 million. Odd, isn’t it?”

The reward was indeed significant.

It also reflected the number of organizations that bore grudges against Gong Tae-su.

If he remembered correctly, Gong Tae-su’s level was in the early 200s.

In theory, even Lee Ye-rin could take him on alone.

But she refrains because Gong Tae-su is equipped with powerful items, depending heavily on ‘item power.’

Like moths drawn to a flame, a single misstep could be fatal.

“You can decline if it seems too challenging. Participation isn’t compulsory. However, I thought it might pique your interest.”

“I’m in. There’s no penalty for failure, anyway.”

“Exactly. Consider it a breath of fresh air in Ulsan.”

“I accept.”

Kang-hoo accepted the contract.

He skimmed through it and then burned it.

The information was all from the original story he knew.

In the end, this assassination—or more precisely, a physical dismemberment request—wasn’t about the level.

It was about seizing that one chance and making it count.

The ‘fireworks show’ mentioned in the contract was scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Though there was a day to prepare, moving ahead of time seemed wise.

---

Kang-hoo parted with Lee Ye-rin in front of Pyeongtaek Station and headed to the terminal to catch a safety bus.

There, he unexpectedly ran into a familiar face and stopped.

“Oppa, we meet again?”

It was Yun Sang-mi.

Her address had naturally changed to ‘Oppa.’

She was dressed the same as the last time.

Either she didn’t change clothes often, or it was some sort of battle outfit.

“Why are you here?”

“Going to Ulsan to enjoy the sea breeze.”

“Seems we have the same idea.”

“Huh, you too?”

“Don’t bother asking about my favorite restaurant. I’m eating alone.”

“Ah, you’re so cold-hearted.”

Unintentionally, this made her another potential competitor.

Of course, their fighting styles and approach to the request differed, so a direct confrontation seemed unlikely.

Then Yun Sang-mi made an unexpected proposal.

“Want to team up and split the rewards?”

“If you stand in my way there, you’re an enemy too.”

“Gasp…”

Yun Sang-mi stepped back at Kang-hoo’s cold response.

She knew he wouldn’t actually fight, but she felt a clear and distinct murderous intent from him.

It wasn’t a flirtatious remark.

She highly regarded Kang-hoo’s abilities and thought teaming up could create better synergy.

But the negotiation was a failure.

There was no point in harboring any hopes at this stage.

There couldn’t be a clearer refusal.

“Then let’s at least travel together. It’s safer to take the safety bus to Ulsan, right?”

“Well, suit yourself. I won’t complain about sitting next to me.”

Kang-hoo nodded.

15 minutes later.

Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi boarded the Ulsan-bound safety bus at the terminal.

Had it been Daejeon Station, there would have been many hunters taking the Ulsan bus.

Now, including them, only three passengers boarded.

Already inside, excluding the bus driver, there were nine passengers.

He had thought standing room would be a relief, but surprisingly, there weren’t many people.

Just as the door closed.

“…….”

Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi exchanged glances.

It was almost like a side glance, but the eyes conveyed everything clearly.

After the door closed, they realized this bus was essentially a ‘criminal bus.’

Two hunters, who appeared to be guards, were engaging in overly friendly conversations with passengers.

Normally, guards don’t mix with passengers.

They need to be on alert, and that includes being wary of the passengers themselves.

While they mostly watch outside the bus, they don’t neglect the interior.

Additionally, some of the passengers who were already on the bus had fresh bloodstains on them, not yet dried.

This meant they had seen bloodshed a few minutes ago, before the bus arrived.

Though it wouldn’t have been difficult for Kang-hoo to get off the bus if he wanted to, he chose not to.

Among the ten hunters on the bus, excluding himself, Yun Sang-mi, and the driver, only one possessed a constellation.

They were all ‘small fry.’

‘Everyone’s mistaken. They think having more people simplifies the situation.’

Kang-hoo casually sat in the front seats with Yun Sang-mi.

A bus, with its confined space, is not ideal for combat, but it’s perfect for surprise attacks.

Like strangling someone from behind with a cord or stabbing through the seats.

It’s too good for creating unexpected attacks.

Kang-hoo pulled out his dagger, appearing to check its condition as if before sheathing it.

In reality, he looked at the reflection of the rear seats in the blade.

Though he hadn’t seen it when boarding, distinct bloodstains lay under the back seats.

And then,

Whoosh.

The sound of breathing from two passengers in the back seats reached him, as if they were synchronizing their breaths.

The next moment!

Swoosh! Slice!

Kang-hoo spun around with all his strength, channeling that force into a dagger strike to the rear.

His movement, maximized with a sudden acceleration skill,

“Ugh!”

The opponent didn’t have a chance to react.

The dagger pierced right through the center of their forehead, their eyes flipping as they died.

Thud!

Simultaneously, Yun Sang-mi, holding her greatsword in a reverse grip, stabbed through the seat, instantly killing her target with a chest wound.

Being in the front seat ironically provided the space to wield the greatsword.

“Damn it! He noticed!”

“Kill them! Just kill them!”

“What are you doing, driver! Speed up! Just go!”

Their true colors were revealed.

The remaining eight passengers, each gripping a weapon, targeted Kang-hoo and Yun Sang-mi.

The third passenger who had boarded with them at Pyeongtaek Station was also in on it, apparently biding their time.

The driver, pale-faced, frantically stepped on the accelerator, likely having been threatened several times.

Glancing at the driver, Kang-hoo noticed blood dripping from his right ear, a sign of a threatening cut.

Kang-hoo spoke,

“Driver, hit the open door button.”

“I’ll die if I do that…!”

“If you don’t, you’ll die by my hand.”

Click!

As soon as Kang-hoo finished speaking, the door opened. With the bus moving, a strong wind rushed in.

Yun Sang-mi silently guarded his side, curious about what Kang-hoo would say next.

“You guys. Anyone who jumps off now, I’ll let live. You get one chance. I’ll count to three. Three.”

“Idiot! Look at our numbers! Is this the time to be brave?”

The nearest hunter yelled; he was a hunter without a constellation.

The hunter with a constellation, whom Kang-hoo had taken an interest in from the start, sat at the very back of the bus.

He sprawled with his legs spread wide, a posture that exuded arrogance and disdain for the world.

With his arms crossed, he casually observed the unfolding situation.

“Two.”

Ignoring the previous comments, Kang-hoo continued his count.

The others’ complete lack of movement suggested they were confident of a decisive victory due to their numerical superiority.

“One. End.”

After counting down, Kang-hoo immediately used the skill enhancement he had saved.

He used it on Blood Flower.

[Blood Flower]

[Skill Proficiency: Ultimate]

[Causes a powerful explosion using the target's wounds and flowing blood as a medium.]

[Not limited to a single target; can select all targets within a 10m radius as subjects for Blood Flower.]

[To reapply Blood Flower to the same target, a day must pass.]

‘Good.’

Kang-hoo clenched his fist.

The skill proficiency indicator turned ‘Ultimate,’ symbolizing its highest ability status.

Now, Blood Flower was an unparalleled skill for finishing off multiple opponents in battle.

The explosive power it gleaned from blood and wounds had escalated to a level far beyond the original Blood Flower.

Even a minor wound could now result in severe or fatal damage with a single use of Blood Flower.

Perhaps that was the reason.

Snap!

Kang-hoo flicked his finger, intending to send a clear warning to the kidnappers, using the two he had killed earlier as a sacrifice.

That instant.

Boom!

With a deafening explosion, the head of the hunter Kang-hoo had pierced earlier vanished without a trace before everyone.

“Shit, damn it…”

“What is that? What the hell is that?”

“People are exploding…?”

The entire gang’s faces, once confident in their easy domination and unilateral mistreatment, turned pale.

Their eyes conveyed that things had gone terribly wrong, far beyond a simple miscalculation.