Chapter 127

Park Chan-seok felt something was off as he came home from work.

“…What?”

“…Kaoru?”

Normally, his wife would have greeted him when he returned, but there was no sign of her voice.

‘Did she step out for a bit?’

Well… she’d probably come back after some time. Maybe she just went out for a moment.

But he realized something was wrong when he found a note on the table after taking a shower.

“What’s this…”

At first, he thought it was a note left by his wife, so he read it.

But the contents of the note made his eyes widen.

『Mr. Park Chan-seok. If you want your wife back, please come alone to the time and place written below.』

His hand holding the note started trembling uncontrollably.

For a moment, he thought it might be his wife’s prank, but she wasn’t the type to pull such a stunt.

『By the way, if you talk to anyone or escalate this, I can’t guarantee your wife’s safety. Don’t let anyone around you notice either. We’re watching your every move, so don’t do anything foolish.』

‘What… what is this…’

『If you act recklessly, your wife might face harm. But I promise, if you follow the instructions on this note, I’ll ensure the safety of both you and your wife.』

“Kaoru! Ka, Kaoru!”

His face pale, he shouted and searched every corner of the house. Maybe he’d find some trace of his wife.

No, in fact, he wished this whole situation was just a dream.

“No, no… ugh… damn it!”

‘Who, who is it? Who would do this?’

He hadn’t particularly wronged anyone in his life. In fact, he prided himself on living a decent life after ending up in a place called Eras.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out who or why someone would kidnap his wife.

But one thing was clear.

‘I… I have to do as they say.’

To save his wife, he had to follow the kidnapper’s instructions.

******

“How did it go?”

“According to my subordinate, he left the house three hours ago.”

“Really? By the way, did you deploy your subordinates around?”

At my question, Ruska nodded.

“…Are you sure it’s okay? Did you make sure they keep their mouths shut?”

“Don’t worry, Master. I only ordered them to keep watch. They don’t know what this is about.”

“…That’s good.”

“By the way, are you okay, Master?”

“I’m fine. I used Clone Clay to shake off Wi Ho-yeon. I’ll be back today anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

“…I see.”

“Ah, by the way, what about the wife? You didn’t treat her roughly, did you?”

Even though I’m trash, I didn’t want to harm someone who hasn’t done anything to me.

“I knocked her out and brought her here, but she’s unharmed.”

“Is she awake now?”

“Yes, Master. Surprisingly, she’s staying quiet. She’s not even that scared… she’s actually trying to assess the situation.”

‘…This is unexpected.’

Nine times out of ten, when someone is kidnapped, they either beg for their life, demand to be released, or try to intimidate with their status.

‘It’s not like Park Chan-seok, but for his wife to act so calmly…’

Suddenly, I felt curious.

“Then… should I meet her in person?”

“Master, isn’t that a bit…? Showing your face directly…”

“Ah… of course, I’ll cover my face.”

I already have a suitable mask prepared. My voice might be a giveaway, but honestly, even if my identity is revealed, it doesn’t matter.

‘They won’t be able to resist anyway.’

As I walked to where the wife was being held, I saw her tied to a chair.

She glared at me with wary eyes.

“Nice to meet you. Your name is Miura Kaoru, right? Well, can I just call you Miura?”

“…Call me whatever you want.”

‘Hmm…’

As Ruska said, she doesn’t seem too scared.

‘No, she’s hiding her fear.’

I completely understand. It’s impossible for anyone not to be scared in this situation.

If I were in her shoes, I’d be the same.

In fact, I’m impressed that despite her fear, she’s maintaining a calm demeanor.

“…Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?”

“Before we talk—”

*Screech—*

“I’ll sit down too. It’s uncomfortable talking while standing.”

“……”

“The reason I kidnapped you? Honestly, I have no business with you. It’s Park Chan-seok I need.”

“…What business do you have with my husband?”

“Please don’t glare at me like that. It’s scary.”

“You…”

“There’s something your husband needs to do. It’s a bit too dangerous for me to handle myself.”

“So you’re going to make my husband do your dangerous work? Then my husband will…”

It seems this woman is worried about her husband in this situation.

‘Her husband raised her well.’

“Don’t worry. Both you and your husband will be safe as long as you follow my instructions. Ah, but you’ll have to leave the Neutral Country.”

“…How am I supposed to trust you? You’re a criminal who kidnapped me. Why should I trust…”

“Well, do you have any other choice? What can you do in this situation?”

“……”

The woman closed her mouth, seemingly frustrated.

“Frankly, I could be much rougher with you. Logically speaking, isn’t it fortunate that it ended with just a kidnapping?”

Yeah, it’s self-justification, but compared to others, I’m being quite gentlemanly.

‘Honestly, I haven’t even laid a hand on her. This is pretty decent.’

“Anyway, your husband will be here soon. Before I move you elsewhere, I plan to show your face to Park Chan-seok.”

“…My husband is coming?”

The woman’s face turned pale.

She seemed worried that her husband might come here and face harm.

‘…This is oddly irritating.’

As they say, speak of the devil, and the sound of someone running urgently began to echo from afar.

“Kaoru!”

Park Chan-seok, having found his wife, shouted in a moment of desperation.





He seemed relieved at first, but his face stiffened when he noticed me and Ruska sitting next to him.

“Who… are you people?”

Despite being a high-ranking player, he seemed quite composed. It was clear he was on high alert.

“Hello, Mr. Park Chan-seok, I am…”

Before I could finish, Park Chan-seok swung his greatsword at me.

*Bam!*

Ruska blocked his greatsword with her own and spoke up.

“Master, what should we do? It doesn’t seem like he’s in the mood for conversation.”

“…I told you not to call me ‘master’ in front of others.”

The reason I could remain so calm in front of Park Chan-seok was simple: Ruska was far stronger than him.

“Honey!”

Mrs. Ura was visibly worried about her husband, not knowing what to do.

‘…This makes me look like the villain.’

Looking at Park Chan-seok’s expression, it was clear he was quite shaken by Ruska’s strength.

Well, I could understand. He probably wasn’t used to being outmatched.

‘Just bad luck. The opponent is too strong.’

It’s not that Park Chan-seok is weak. It’s just that his opponent was Ruska. Even Yoo Ju from the first round couldn’t defeat her.

Still, judging from how he managed to exchange a few blows with her, Park Chan-seok was undoubtedly a strong fighter.

Park Chan-seok swung his greatsword down at Ruska in an instant, but she sidestepped and delivered a knee kick to his abdomen.

*Thud!*

“Ugh…! Gah…! Cough…!”

Park Chan-seok staggered back, his posture half-collapsed.

‘…How is he still standing?’

By all accounts, the fight should have been over by now, but he was holding on surprisingly well.

‘Is it because his wife is being held hostage? He’s clinging on desperately.’

“Ugh… Kaoru…”

“Honey!”

‘Stop it, you two. Why are you acting like you’re in a melodrama?’

“Ahhh!”

With a determined expression, Park Chan-seok charged at Ruska, looking like a warrior ready to face death.

But for me, who had no intention of harming him or his wife directly, this situation was just awkward.

“Give Kaoru back! Give her back!”

*Bam!*

“Release my wife!”

*Crash!*

Even Ruska seemed to think it would be difficult to subdue him without causing harm, as her expression hardened.

When someone is fighting for their life, even she would find it hard to subdue them without injury.

‘What? Is that even possible?’

Ruska performed a trick, guiding the trajectory of Park Chan-seok’s greatsword by pressing her blade against its side.

*Screech!*

As a result, the greatsword that should have cleaved Ruska in two ended up embedded in the ground.

Even though his wife was being held hostage, Park Chan-seok still charged at Ruska with his fists, even without a weapon.

While swordsmen do train in hand-to-hand combat for situations where they lose their weapon, it’s still a secondary skill for them.

If he couldn’t win with a greatsword, there was no way he could defeat Ruska with just his fists.

“Ahh!”

In the end, while trying to dodge Ruska’s sword, he took a direct kick to the face.

Park Chan-seok fell flat, and Ruska pinned him down, locking his arms.

“No! Honey!”

“Ugh… Kaoru…!”

“Please… spare my husband!”

“Please… just my wife…”

‘I’m not going to kill you.’

As I approached Park Chan-seok, his wife screamed, thinking I was going to kill him.

“Please! Please spare my husband! I’ll do anything! I’ll even become a slave! Just please…!”

“No… I’m not trying to kill him…”

Meanwhile, Ruska’s eyebrow twitched at the mention of becoming a slave.

“Cough… No… Just kill me instead!”

I crouched down next to Park Chan-seok and looked down at him.

“Sorry, but I’m not going to kill either of you.”

“How can I trust…”

“Damn it, Mr. Park Chan-seok. If I wanted to kill you, I would’ve done it already.”

“……”

“So, can you two stop with the melodrama? It’s getting old.”

“What… what do you want…”

“Mr. Park Chan-seok, you work for the Mardan Clan, right? It’s simple. I want you to betray the Mardan Clan.”

“What, what did you say?”

“Just betray the Mardan Clan.”

“Are you… an outlaw?”

It seems he took my request to betray the clan as a request to become a spy.

“Hmm… I guess I’ll have to show you.”

What I pulled out was drugs. The ones I got from Riki.

But Park Chan-seok just stared at them, confused.

“…What is that?”

“Drugs.”

“…What?”

He looked completely baffled at the mention of drugs.

“Just mix this into the potions the Mardan Clan delivers to other clans before they’re sent out.”

“Wh-what kind of crazy talk is that! Mix drugs into them?!”

I could understand why he was freaking out.

The Red Ant Clan, which had been distributing drugs in Silan, had been completely wiped out.

Drugs are no joke. Neutral countries strictly prohibit them.

“I’m going to frame Ha Yu-ri and the Mardan Clan for distributing drugs. That’s why I need your help.”

“What does that have to do with me? You think I’ll just do as you say…”

“You’ll have to. Unless you want to see your wife addicted to drugs.”

At my chilling words, his face turned pale.

“How about I get your wife addicted to drugs and sell her to outlaws? Sounds fun, right? At least she’ll live in a state of constant pleasure, completely out of her mind.”