Chapter 209 – Parking Lot
Since he was already overseas, Ryu Min decided to meet Russell.
There were things he wanted to discuss face-to-face, and he was also curious about Russell’s financial situation.
“Mr. Ryu! It’s been a long time!”
At New York’s JFK International Airport, Russell waved cheerfully as he approached.
Ryu Min smiled back, walked up, and shook his hand.
“It took a while to get here, right?”
“Ah, no. I watched a movie, took a short nap, and it felt like nothing.”
From the UK to the US took seven hours.
It was a fairly long trip, so Ryu Min had planned to go to him—but Russell insisted on stopping him, and came all the way here himself.
“You must be hungry. Shall we talk over lunch?”
“Oh, and how did you know I’m hungry? Let’s do it!”
Ryu Min took him to a steakhouse in the airport and ordered a variety of items.
“You look hungry. Can you finish all that?”
“Oh, for sure. If you’re going to lift iron, you’ve gotta eat like this.”
“And don’t worry about money. I’ll pay for everything.”
“Hey! What are you talking about? Of course I’m paying. I can’t freeload when I’m even getting free prophecies. I’ve got money, you know?”
When money came up, Ryu Min remembered the advice he’d given before.
“Come to think of it—did you sell the stock?”
“Goodness, of course! I sold the moment I heard. Thanks to you, I made some money. First time in my life that much cash ever landed in my account.”
“How much did you pocket?”
“Forty thousand pounds.”
Russell had invested 14,000 pounds in Ma Kyung-rok’s company.
Now it had almost tripled, turning into the hefty sum of 40,000 pounds.
In Korean won, that was about 65 million.
Now he could keep hammering away at the forge for years without struggling for materials.
“You made a lot.”
“Someone like me, with no capital, getting to touch money like this… it’s all thanks to you, Prophet-nim. So, about the account—”
Before he could finish, Ryu Min shook his head.
As if he already knew what Russell was about to say.
“Use that money, Russell. All of it.”
“Pardon? But you provided the initial capital, didn’t you, Prophet-nim? I borrowed money, so I should naturally repay—”
“Do you remember what I told you when we first met?”
Russell thought for a moment, then nodded.
“You said you were investing because you saw my potential.”
“Yes. I’ve deposited that investment into you, Russell. Until you rise to the very peak of blacksmithing, I have no intention of withdrawing it. And I’m not someone who needs money, either.”
“……”
“Money should be held by the person who needs it. So you use it. If it feels burdensome to use because it’s borrowed money, then keep only the principal aside. Spend the rest freely. In a way, it’s money you earned through your own investment.”
Strictly speaking, the initial capital—and even the investment information—had all come from Ryu Min, so it wasn’t really Russell’s money.
But since Ryu Min wanted it held as an “investment,” all Russell could do was accept with gratitude.
“I understand your intention, Prophet-nim. It’s shameless, but I will put this money to good use as living expenses. Truly, truly, thank you.”
“Thank you for that amount? Come on. More importantly, there’s something I need to tell you, Russell…”
“Ah, that’s why you came here, right? Go ahead.”
Russell leaned in as if ready to listen, and Ryu Min spoke with a serious face.
“You’ve heard of the nickname Black Scythe, right?”
“Black Scythe? Of course!”
Russell, too, couldn’t not know Rank 1.
“In the next Round—Round 13—Black Scythe will come looking for you.”
“Pardon? B-Black Scythe?”
It was shocking enough that Rank 1 would come looking for him, but how could someone he’d never met find him?
“How would he even know me?”
“He won’t. But he will soon. Because I’m going to tell Black Scythe to meet you.”
“Huh?”
The meaning was clear.
“D-don’t tell me you know Black Scythe in real life too?”
“Yes. Somehow, I ended up with that connection.”
Russell looked stunned, then seemed to accept it and nodded.
If the Prophet could see the future, he would also know Black Scythe’s true identity.
It wasn’t that strange that the two would know each other.
“To have someone as terrifying as Black Scythe as an acquaintance… haha. Prophet-nim, you’ve got nerves of steel, don’t you?”
“Black Scythe is scary?”
“Of course. Everyone else has only just made one lap around the track, but that person is running ten laps alone, isn’t he? And he takes Rank 1 like it’s eating rice. He’s terrifying in more ways than one.”
From other people’s perspective, it probably did feel that way.
“But… what am I supposed to do by meeting Black Scythe…?”
“If you want to grow in Round 13, you’ll need Black Scythe’s help. More specifically…”
Ryu Min explained the strategy for clearing Round 13, along with what Russell needed to do, in concrete detail.
“Ah… so with Black Scythe… I understand.”
“I’ll also speak to Black Scythe later. Tell him to come find you and help.”
“Will Black Scythe really agree to help me so readily?”
“He’ll probably help because it’s my request. But just in case—when you meet him, prove your value.”
“My value?”
“If you apply the blacksmith class buffs, he’ll definitely feel there’s a reason he should help you.”
“Ah—got it.”
As Russell nodded, Ryu Min smiled secretly.
‘With this, I’ve built a relationship between Russell and Black Scythe.’
By playing matchmaker, he created a connection point to Black Scythe.
‘A blacksmith is a class specialized in support, like a Buffer. If he stays together until Round 20, he’ll be extremely useful.’
While Ryu Min smiled, his phone rang.
The caller was Joo Seong-tak.
‘Looks like it’s started.’
He couldn’t stay seated.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
“Oh, of course. Go ahead and take the call.”
After asking Russell’s understanding, he stepped aside and answered.
“What is it?”
- Ma Kyung-rok just arrived at a secluded warehouse. He seems to be waiting for something—he’s smoking outside and pacing around.
“He must be waiting for the offering. Where is it?”
- Bongbaesan in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Hearing the location, it clicked.
It was the workshop Ma Kyung-rok used often.
“Good work. Send the exact location to my phone. And keep watching—when the time comes, join up with Jeffrey and move as instructed.”
- Understood.
Ryu Min ended the call and immediately contacted Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey. Christine?”
- She arrived in Korea a little while ago.
“Good. Lure her to the place I send. You remember how you’re supposed to phrase it, right?”
- Of course.
“Then do it the moment we hang up.”
- I will follow your command.
After sending Jeffrey the location by text, Ryu Min also called Seo Arin.
In Black Scythe’s voice.
Ma Kyung-sang and Ma Kyung-su were not originally that close.
Raised under a strict father and trained in management, they saw each other as competitors.
They bickered like normal brothers, but only because of the succession battle.
To them—who had realized that only money ruled the world—brothers were nothing but obstacles that needed to be cleared away.
But it was only until last year that they remained wary and antagonistic toward each other.
As Ma Kyung-rok’s company, the eldest son, began to grow more and more, the two became anxious.
And when it began to look like he would meet their father’s condition, the two joined hands.
It was a temporary alliance to deal with a common enemy.
“Hyung Kyung-sang. Did you think through the plan?”
“Yeah. I thought about it, and Kyung-su—doing it the way you said is better.”
“Right? The one I suggested is the most realistic and most likely to work, isn’t it?”
“Seems like it.”
The plan the youngest, Ma Kyung-su, proposed was extremely simple.
On Ma Kyung-rok’s way back from the company, they would wear masks, kidnap him, and propose a duel request.
At that time, they would set the duel conditions in a way favorable to themselves.
So that it would be impossible for them not to win.
Since it was unfavorable, Ma Kyung-rok would obviously refuse—but he would have no choice but to listen.
If they threatened to kill him right then and there, what could he do?
He would have no choice but to accept, swallowing tears.
“Hyung. If we just do it exactly like I said, we can cleanly send Kyung-rok Hyung off. Since the condition is that whoever wins the duel steps down from the successor position. Obviously the odds are high that we’ll win.”
“So once he accepts the duel, it’s all over?”
“Exactly. It’s basically our win. And if we add a condition that he can’t tell anyone, we can completely exclude Kyung-rok Hyung from the succession picture.”
“And then we compete fairly between ourselves?”
“Right. Until then, you absolutely can’t stab me in the back. Got it, Hyung?”
“Hey! Do I look like that kind of guy? You’re the one who better not stab me in the back.”
“I know, I know. I’m just saying it out of caution, so don’t take it to heart.”
Even as he soothed him, telling him not to take it to heart, Ma Kyung-su held back a sneer inside.
‘Once we deal with Ma Kyung-rok, you’re next, you bastard.’
He was only joining forces to eliminate Ma Kyung-rok.
The successor position would be taken by him—the third son.
No matter what dirty methods he had to use.
“But what if Kyung-rok Hyung resists? Are we really going to have to get into a knife fight between brothers?”
‘Pathetic bastard. The “second son” has a brain full of flowers.’
Ma Kyung-su thought that, but didn’t show it.
Whatever the case, Ma Kyung-sang was a useful second brother to exploit.
“We have to. It’s best if we don’t kill him, but if he resists so hard we can’t subdue him…”
Killing intent lingered in Ma Kyung-su’s eyes.
“We kill him. Even if he’s the eldest.”
“Hey, isn’t that too far? No matter what, killing—”
“Then kidnapping is fine?”
“It’s better than murder, isn’t it?”
“Hyung. Do you think you can inherit Ohsung Group without that kind of resolve? Or are you laying groundwork so you can run away later? When you’ve already stepped in?”
“N-no, it’s not that. I just… wondered if there isn’t a better way than killing…”
“That’s why we’re giving him a chance to live. If we send a duel request and he accepts, Kyung-rok Hyung can keep his life.”
“But… do you think the two of us can beat Kyung-rok Hyung?”
“Why wouldn’t we? We’re all around the same level. You think we lose even though we have numbers?”
“Still. There’s this feeling, you know. Didn’t you feel it?”
“What?”
“Kyung-rok Hyung. Sometimes his eyes give me chills. When I see that, it’s like a serial killer should just go home.”
“What are you talking about, Hyung? What’s scary about Kyung-rok Hyung? Don’t tell me you’re getting scared and keep laying groundwork?”
“N-no, who’s scared? I’m just saying there were times like that.”
“No need to be scared, Hyung. Ma Kyung-rok isn’t Black Scythe. You think the two of us can’t subdue that one bastard?”
“Y-yeah… I guess.”
Unlike Ma Kyung-su, brimming with confidence, Ma Kyung-sang looked a little worried.
‘Ugh. This f*cking second brother is scared over something like this. The only heir material here is me.’
Thinking that, Ma Kyung-su soon arrived at the underground parking lot of Ma Kyung-sang’s apartment.
“Hyung. Should we do the detailed meeting tomorrow?”
“Yeah. We still have time. Just text me what time tomorrow.”
Ma Kyung-su nodded, got into his car, and Ma Kyung-sang waved.
“Drive safe.”
“Yeah, Hyung. Huh? What the f*ck.”
As he started the Porsche, a warning light came on, and Ma Kyung-su got out.
“What is it?”
“Looks like a tire blew.”
“Out of nowhere?”
“I don’t know. Ah—here it is. There’s a hole here, f*ck.”
“See? I keep telling you to drive a bit more carefully. You going out every dawn to race with your club buddies again?”
“Come on. I quit that ages ago.”
“Then why would a perfectly fine tire blow out?”
“Seriously.”
“Did someone stab it on purpose?”
“Looks like it. F*ck—what kind of beggar bastard…”
After sighing, Ma Kyung-su looked at his brother.
“Looks like I’ve got no choice but to borrow your car, Hyung.”
“Ah, what a pain… Fine. Wait. I’ll go get the keys.”
While Ma Kyung-sang went up to the apartment, Ma Kyung-su waited, smoking.
Ssssk—
“Damn it. Why won’t it li—”
At that moment, as his Detection picked up someone approaching, Ma Kyung-su lifted his head.
“Hyung, you’re already ba—”
SMACK—!
Struck by a shield, Ma Kyung-su blacked out. Three minutes later, Ma Kyung-sang appeared.
“Kyung-su. Where are you? I brought the keys. Huh?”
Looking around, Ma Kyung-sang found a cigarette and a Zippo lighter where his brother had been.
“What? This is Kyung-su’s—”
The instant he picked them up, his Detection sensed someone rushing up fast from behind.
Thinking it was his brother, he turned his head—
And a shield slammed into his face just as hard.
Thud—
An Sang-cheol, after knocking both brothers out, moved them into a van and raised his phone.
“Everything’s ready, Representative-nim. Yes. I’ll bring them now.”
Soon, the van carrying An Sang-cheol sped out of the parking lot.