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Chapter 28
“Wh–what is that?!”
“A monster…?! No, why would something like that be here…?!”
“N–no! Please spare me, my lord! P–please! Aaaargh?!”
What was trapped inside the cage wasn’t just a beast.
When they shoved a human into the same cage as the creature, the starving monster wasted no time in smashing the person’s skull and lapping up what spilled out from within.
The victims were people from the slums, criminals, or rootless wanderers without any registration in the census.
Such outcasts were dragged here and used as feed for the monsters.
‘No, that’s not all.’
I shifted my gaze elsewhere.
Men in white coats—scientists of the Pungyang Cho Clan.
They were retrieving the half-eaten remains of those who had been thrown into the cages, carefully documenting their condition in meticulous detail.
“What’s the situation with Sample No. 3?”
“We increased the contamination level by 30 percent, but no transformation occurred.”
“So, even if they’re contaminated by the beast’s mucous, humans don’t immediately become monsters…”
“What should we do?”
“Let’s try Samples No. 4 through 8 while they’re still alive. We’ll change the conditions and observe further.”
Laid out in rows upon the operating tables were corpses—people who had been infected by tumors born from monsters.
Their bodies were dissected, experimented on in every conceivable way.
“Hah.”
A hollow laugh slipped out of me.
Cho Seong-hwan.
This lunatic had built a monster breeding ground right in the heart of Hanseong.
‘And the reason he’s committing such madness is obvious…’
“Are you researching monster heart?”
“That’s the correct answer.”
Perhaps it pleased him that I wasn’t shocked.
Cho Seong-hwan slowly began to speak.
“Three hundred years have passed since Crown Prince Yi Chieon’s rebellion was suppressed, and the age of the nobles began. Our Pungyang Cho Clan tried to seize control of Joseon’s politics by breaking the influence of the Andong Kim clan. But every time, we failed. The outstanding aura power users their clan has produced for generations… and the overwhelming strength they created with it. No matter how much wealth and resources we poured in, we could never surpass that.”
It was the same in this generation.
Continuing, Cho Seong-hwan said:
“Right now, Kim Junghun is unquestionably the strongest aura power user in Joseon. And his son, Kim Hyunwoo, is a monster who’s already surpassed his father’s aura power levels.”
“……”
“Two successive absolute beings, a golden generation. But… that doesn’t mean they can’t be brought down.”
The source of aura power was the Rift.
And the existence closest to that Rift was the monster.
That was why the Pungyang Cho Clan was researching the monster heart, the mysterious core organ that could only be generated inside a monster’s body.
‘Monster heart.’
A mysterious material that naturally emitted aura power.
Without exception, it had to be reported to and stored by the state, with research only permitted under government approval—one of the highest-level national secrets.
‘Since they can’t match the Andong Kim clan’s bloodline, they’ve chosen instead to research aura power itself.’
I recalled the memories of my past life.
The Pungyang Cho Clan had dominated two sectors in Joseon: medicine and energy.
The sight before my eyes now was likely one of the roots of that technology.
‘Illicit experiments stacking up medical data by using monsters and humans fed to them.’
‘Artificially cultivated monster heart, and countless weapons made for aura power users through it…’
This had already gone far beyond the realm of simple research or technology development.
Cho Seong-hwan—no, the entire Pungyang Cho Clan—was preparing for a civil war against the Andong Kim clan.
“Our old man says this every single day.”
Cho Seong-hwan raised his voice theatrically, imitating an elder.
“The Andong Kim clan. They’ve monopolized power at the top of the noble class for centuries. At this rate, the Royal Guard, even the entire court itself, will be nothing more than their puppets.”
“……”
“Our Pungyang Cho Clan must stop that. Joseon is the nation of the nobles, not the nation of the Andong Kim clan!”
Like a clown performing in a street band, Cho Seong-hwan mocked his father’s voice. Then he turned back to me.
“If this facility were ever revealed to the outside world, what do you think would happen to me?”
“You would not escape punishment.”
Even for the heir of a powerful clan, there are lines one must never cross.
And this breeding ground of his had crossed those lines long ago.
“Yet despite that, I’ve brought an outsider like you here and showed you all this. Why do you think that is?”
“You mean… that before I could ever reveal this, you could easily kill me. Isn’t that what you’re suggesting?”
The choice was clear—either accept his proposition and become complicit, or die here.
With the Pungyang Cho Clan’s power, they could easily bury someone like me without leaving a trace.
Cho Seong-hwan’s smile deepened.
“You’re half right.”
Half? How generous of him.
“Still, this is… let’s call it a sense of kinship.”
“Kinship?”
“I looked into your family background… especially on your mother’s side.”
The smile plastered on my face cracked.
Sensing the shift, Cho Seong-hwan drew closer, his usual sly grin curling back into place.
Thank the heavens I had handed my weapon to the guards—otherwise, I might have smashed that smirking face right then and there.
“Don’t you want revenge? To steal away Kim Hyunwoo’s position as heir and restore the honor of your dead mother?”
“……!”
My eyes widened at Cho Seong-hwan’s words.
These were the words I had once heard from Cho Seong-hwan in my previous life.
The bait he had thrown at me.
And I… like a fool, I bit down on it without hesitation.
‘What must I do?’
That was how I became the dog of the Pungyang Cho Clan.
With Cho Seong-hwan’s backing, I expanded my influence.
I carved out smuggling routes as they ordered, cut down the press and the spies of rival clans, and ran an organization that quietly disposed of the by-products of their experiments so they wouldn’t be exposed.
Together with that human trash, Dok Go-seong.
“What’s your answer?”
Once again, the same choice was placed before me—just like in my previous life.
But this time, I could choose differently.
The obsession with earning recognition from the clan.
The inferiority complex of being a bastard son.
The delusion of living as a member of the Andong Kim clan.
All of that was gone from me now.
So there was only one thing left for me to do.
“I’ll accept it.”
And then… I’ll shatter this monster laboratory Cho Seong-hwan built with my own hands.
****
—A monster… laboratory, you say?
The best thing about the Choreng-i mask communication mask was that it eliminated any risk of eavesdropping.
A convenience store located in the mid-level districts.
While I could feel the eyes of Pungyang Cho Clan informants watching me from the surroundings, I spoke into the Choreng-i mask tucked into my inner pocket.
“Since they can’t beat the Andong Kim clan with aura power alone, they turned their focus elsewhere. The way Dok Go-seong and his underlings in the Geomgye expanded the human trafficking business and scaled it up… everything makes sense now.”
—I thought you’d stirred up a hornet’s nest, but it turns out you walked into a gunpowder store with a torch. How in the world did you come out alive?
“Simple. I told them I’d take Dok Go-seong’s place and become a dog of the Pungyang Cho Clan.”
Coming back from meeting the high and mighty, I was starving.
As I browsed the shelves of instant meals, I listened to Imetal click his tongue over the comm.
“I’ll have to maintain the illegal smuggling routes Dok Go-seong kept running, meet with the human wholesalers scattered across the regions, and coax them into submission. From here on out, the work will pile up endlessly.”
—Hold on. Are you really planning to start human trafficking? Even if you’re a double agent, that’s…
“Of course not. Don’t say something so ridiculous.”
I’d already had my fill of rolling in the mud with trash like that in my previous life.
Now that I had saved Yu Sang-hyeon and forged ties with the revolutionary forces yet to rise in the future, there was no profit for me in sinking back into something as vile as human trafficking.
“The smarter move is to hand this information over to Kim Hyunwoo. If we pit the Andong Kim clan against the Pungyang Cho Clan, we can create cracks in the alliances among the noble families.”
As I said this, I grabbed a product from the shelf marked “New Release.”
[Limited Edition Mala Rosé Barbecue Tanghulu]
Every time I looked at the shelves of a convenience store, I was reminded that this country’s food industry had truly gone off the rails.
Mala, fine, that’s a Chinese thing. Rosé? What’s that even doing here?
And Tanghulu? Really?
Barbecued meat glazed in sugar syrup? Seriously?
—Yet instead of going straight to Kim Hyunwoo, you contacted me. Why is that?
“Because if I just hand this over to Kim Hyunwoo, I won’t get to carve off any share for myself.”
The fact that Cho Seong-hwan, heir to the Pungyang Cho Clan, was breeding monsters in the heart of Hanseong…
If I simply presented such a premium piece of intel to Kim Hyunwoo, it would only raise his standing within his clan.
Yes, the Pungyang Cho Clan’s plans had to be stopped, but that didn’t mean I could allow the Andong Kim clan to reap the rewards, either.
—Then what’s your plan?
“To destroy it.”
—Destroy it? The Pungyang Cho Clan’s laboratory?
Even saying it aloud was dangerous.
While I purchased the so-called “new release” at the counter and shoved it into the microwave, Imetal fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
—Understood. I’ll ready the organization members. It’s a dangerous operation, but we can’t allow them to breed monsters in the heart of Hanseong…
“What are you talking about? You guys can’t get involved.”
I appreciated the loyalty, but unfortunately, involving Hahoe in this plan was impossible.
Think about it.
If Cho Seong-hwan showed me his secret laboratory and, right after that, the Hahoe mask organization suddenly attacked it—who would he suspect first?
Obviously, me.
And if he began to suspect I was connected to Hahoe?
Then the Pungyang Cho Clan wouldn’t even be the problem anymore.
The Royal Guard would descend upon me to capture the traitor in league with rebels.
“This is something I’m doing on my own. The Hahoe must not—and cannot—interfere.”
—You’re saying you’ll strike the Pungyang Cho Clan alone?
Hearing that, Imetal spoke again, as if incredulous.
—Listen, Kim Chang-woon.
“I’m listening.”
As I bit into the barbecue skewer drenched in hardened sugar, Imetal continued.
—I don’t doubt your ability. You snatched away Lady Yu Arin and saved General Yu Sang-hyeon. If I did, I wouldn’t have entrusted you with this Choreng-i mask in the first place.
“Thanks for the compliment.”
—But striking a noble clan’s facility is… an entirely different matter.
And he was right.
Hundreds of guards equipped with Grade-2 or higher artificial bodies defended the place with iron walls.
Automated security systems, combat machines… and most of all, the aura power users of the clan led by Cho Seong-hwan himself.
Since Cho Seong-hwan was a member of the Royal Guard, it was likely that many of their personnel had been pulled in as well.
—And you mean to destroy the Pungyang Cho Clan’s laboratory with just you and a handful of your bodyguards? Impossible.
“You’re right. It’s impossible… but then again….”
The ease in my voice must have unsettled him.
Even as I trailed the movements of the informants shadowing me, Imetal stayed silent, waiting for my next words.
“What if it isn’t me… but the dozens of monsters locked inside that laboratory?”
—What?
Imetal sounded puzzled, but only for a moment.
“You know that payment from the last operation? The money you promised me? It hasn’t been deposited yet.”
My sudden remark left Imetal quiet.
As expected, mention money, and he always reacted this way. He really must be strapped for cash.
All the better for me.
I spoke with a voice full of cheer.
“I don’t need that money anymore. Instead, just get me one thing.”
—One thing?
“There’s a shipment that was originally supposed to be delivered by Dok Go-seong’s Geomgye. It’s scheduled to arrive from Waeguk¹ in about a month, and they told me to handle the pickup in his place.”
Cargo.
I didn’t need to explain what that meant.
Freight entering the lab without state oversight, without inspection, without censorship.
“But what if… something unusual was mixed into that shipment?”
—…Wait. You don’t mean…?!
Cargo destined for the research facility.
And the “thing” I was asking him to obtain.
Sensing what I was about to do, panic seeped into Imetal’s voice.
“I need you to send me a monster. One in breeding season—with its eggs fully ripe.”
Ugh. Disgustingly sweet, disgustingly inedible.
I tossed the empty skewer of the so-called “new product” into the trash and spoke slowly.
“I’m thinking of opening a Rift right in the middle of Hanseong.”
---The End Of The Chapter---
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