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Border of Chinatown outskirts.

– Woong woong woong woong woong.

With the loud sirens blaring, police cars flooded the road. The gang members guarding the town entrance were startled, each grabbing their weapons.

“Hey! Everyone get your weapons up!!”

“What the hell are these bastards trying to do—”

– Kkiiiing!!

However, the police cars came to a stop precisely 50 meters in front of the town’s boundary.

While the gang members were bewildered by the unfolding situation, a woman got out of the passenger seat of the lead police car.

With slightly purplish dark blue hair and a height that could make her pass for a model, she had long, slender legs.

Naturally, all eyes turned to her, and soon the woman spoke into a large microphone.

– Ah, hello. I am Yoo Seol, a special enforcement officer affiliated with Kwon Tae-ho’s office.

Her crisp voice echoed across the outer boundary. The mention of the enforcement office left the gang members stunned for a brief moment, but Yoo Seol immediately explained the current situation to them.

– There is a level-one ability criminal that our office is tracking hiding within Chinatown. Therefore, we have mobilized police forces to block all roads leading to the town. However, this is solely to prevent the suspect from escaping; we make it clear that we do not intend to interfere within Chinatown. I repeat, this blockade is solely for the purpose of preventing the suspect from escaping…

Yoo Seol’s announcement was broadcast not only where she was but simultaneously across all outer roads. Thanks to this, the members of various organizations were able to understand the reason behind the sudden blockade.

“What the hell are these guys doing, imposing a blockade without any warning?!”

They understood, but naturally, not everyone was happy. Many were glaring angrily at the police.

However, no one dared to rise against them.

Chinatown was Korea’s only extraterritorial zone. Such absurdity was made possible only because of two promises.

One was that the government and public authority would not interfere within the town.

The other was, conversely, that the criminals in the town would not cause trouble outside.

The gang members knew. If any of them were to rise up, it would provide justification for public authority to intervene in the town.

“Hmph, as expected, no one has the guts to argue back.”

Yoo Seol smirked as if she anticipated the reaction from Chinatown and handed the microphone over to the person in charge of this blockade operation, Chief Kim Soo-ho.

“Thank you for your prompt cooperation, Chief Kim Soo-ho. Thanks to you, our office can focus solely on apprehending the criminal.”

“…We cannot keep this many personnel here under the pretext of a blockade indefinitely. The deadline is precisely 48 hours. Please bear that in mind.”

“Yes, 48 hours is more than enough.”

In 48 hours, Kwon Tae-ho could make at least ten laps around all of Chinatown. There would be no shortage of time.

“By the way, I didn’t expect Incheon police to cooperate so quickly.”

For the Incheon police, Chinatown was akin to a beehive they didn’t want to poke.

What they were doing now was like starting a fire in front of that beehive and causing a ruckus. Therefore, Yoo Seol had expected it would take at least a day or two for the blockade to become effective, even with the Seoul Metropolitan Police involved.

“Was mentioning that the Ghost Blade wiped out the Cheonho Gang by himself effective? Or did they just benefit from the name of the enforcement officer?”

In any case, it was a good thing for Kwon Tae-ho’s office. Just then, the phone she had tucked inside her coat began to vibrate.

“Yes, Enforcement Officer. I’ve got a call.”

– A rookie just contacted us. They’ve found the Ghost Blade. It seems he was staying at Pei Pei’s house.

That was fast?

Momentarily flustered, Yoo Seol quickly regained her composure. The faster, the better, right?

“I’ve confirmed it. Are you heading to the site immediately?”

– Yes. What about the blockade?

“I’ve already completed the blockade of all roads. Should I send a reserve team to strengthen the blockade near the northern residential area where the Ghost Blade is?”

– That would be good. Even if we concentrate our forces in one area, it’s important that our numbers appear large. Otherwise, he might abandon escape and get himself trapped in the town.

“Understood. I will take action right away.”

– Click.

After ending the call, Yoo Seol spoke to Chief Kim Soo-ho.

“I’ve located the suspect. It’s in the vicinity of Seongnam-dong, northeast of Chinatown. Is it possible to dispatch reserves to the northern and eastern main roads?”

“We’ve already completed the blockade, but are you saying you need more personnel?”

“The more, the merrier. Ideally, we want him to feel pressured enough that he gives up without breaking through.”

“Just how strong of an ability user is this suspect…?”

Facing Kim Soo-ho, who was hesitant about reinforcing the troops, Yoo Seol cut straight to the point.

“He’s strong. Very strong. Strong enough to injure our enforcement officer.”

“Whoa, so he’s capable of making Kwon Tae-ho bleed…”

Chief Kim Soo-ho swallowed hard and shook his head in disbelief.

“Alright then. We’ll reinforce the reserves in that direction. As you said, it’s best if the suspect gets scared and avoids combat altogether.”

“Thank you.”

Watching Chief Kim Soo-ho issue orders to the members via radio, Yoo Seol let out a sigh of relief.

She had done all she could. The rest was up to Kwon Tae-ho to safely subdue and capture him.

“Please end this without any trouble…”

*

Meanwhile, at the same time.

In the southern area of Chinatown, the slum.

“Ha, these persistent bastards. I told you, why do you have to make a fuss when I’m trying to leave?”

Kwon Tae-ho was shaking off his fists, and around him lay a dozen gang members, bloodied and sprawled out.

Was it a problem that he kept circling the same block looking for the Ghost Blade? Spotting Kwon Tae-ho suspiciously glancing around, they came charging at him first. But the result was as seen.

‘By the way, why is it that I end up finding him in the completely opposite direction?’

Pei Pei’s house was at the very northeastern tip of Chinatown. Meanwhile, where he currently was leaned more toward the southern center, slightly to the west.

A straight distance of about 10 kilometers.

‘A full sprint would take about 10 minutes.’

– Paji pa jiji jiji!!

Kwon Tae-ho concentrated his energy in his legs. At the same time, the magic used for his enhancement spell began to spark blue light in all directions.

‘This time, I won’t let him escape!’

– KWAANG!!

Moments later, leaving behind a blue streak, Kwon Tae-ho shot up into the sky.

*

Meanwhile, at the same moment.

Lee Ha-yeon and Pei Pei were standing in an alley a short distance from home.

“…”

Pei Pei hadn’t spoken a word since Lee Ha-yeon had called Kwon Tae-ho.

Lee Ha-yeon silently stayed by her side, unable to imagine the turmoil Pei Pei must be feeling.

“Lee Ha-yeon, do you think Enforcement Officer Kwon Tae-ho won’t kill my uncle…?”

At that moment, Pei Pei, who had remained silent, asked nervously. Lee Ha-yeon immediately shook her head.

“I haven’t known the enforcement officer for long, but he is definitely not the kind of person to do that. He apprehends criminals to make them repent, not to kill them.”

Well, he might beat them up to the brink of death, but she thought that last part unnecessary and swallowed it back down, squeezing Pei Pei’s hand tightly—thinking she needed warm comfort to alleviate her guilt.

However,

“…”

The warmth paradoxically stirred Pei Pei’s heart.

It had only been a day.

The bond she shared with her uncle, a mere day. A relationship where she didn’t even know his name.

Yet that mere day had restored warmth to Pei Pei’s life, which had been chillingly cold. The thought of losing that warmth again caused her emotions to sway like reeds in the wind.

Suddenly, Pei Pei thought to herself.

After her parents passed away, there had been no warmth in her life. That was what Chinatown was—a cold, harsh city that revolved purely on self-interest, like a winter’s night.

But her uncle saved her without any expectation of reward.

He listened to her story without asking for anything in return and genuinely empathized with her.

And when tears would flow remembering her parents, he would silently pat her back and comfort her.

It was a trivial connection. A very faint light. Yet it had been the only beam of light that had managed to pierce through her life, which had been shrouded in darkness.

The thought that she was about to erase that light with her own hands made Pei Pei’s teeth chatter.

Is this really right? Isn’t there another way?

What if she just ran away together with him? Yes, if she leaves this cold Chinatown with her uncle, surely there would be opportunities to persuade him.

That he should stop killing. Whatever the circumstances, let’s just put it all down and live comfortably together.

“Pei Pei…?”

Noticing Pei Pei’s unusual demeanor, Lee Ha-yeon asked curiously.

– Ta-at!

“Pei Pei?!”

Instantly, Pei Pei bolted without warning, heading toward her house, the direction where the Ghost Blade was waiting.

“Wait a minute! Pei Pei!”

– Grab!

But she was quickly caught. Pei Pei struggled intensely, but as a mere ordinary person, there was no way she could escape from Lee Ha-yeon, a reincarnator.

“Why are you acting like this, Pei Pei?!”

“This is it! I can’t let my uncle spend his life in jail! I’ll persuade him! I’ll convince him to stop killing people—”

“Okay, okay, Pei Pei. I understand, but let’s take a moment to calm down and talk—”

Calm down and talk? No way that could happen. Pei Pei’s reason had been devoured completely by her emotions.

“Uncle!!”

Pei Pei screamed. Though they were a bit far, the Ghost Blade was an exceptional martial artist. He would definitely hear her.

“Uncle! Run away!”

“Wait, Pei Pei…!”

“Hurry and run! Quickly—!”

Alarmed, Lee Ha-yeon covered Pei Pei’s mouth. Though she questioned whether this was right, she couldn’t afford for the Ghost Blade to notice.

“Ah.”

But, as if disregarding her wishes, a familiar shadow appeared on the villa roof.

“Pei Pei…?”

Hearing Pei Pei’s cry, the Ghost Blade climbed up to the roof and saw the scene of the two. Lee Ha-yeon holding Pei Pei, who appeared bound and in pain.

– Shing!

He didn’t understand the situation entirely. Yet, the Ghost Blade drew his sword. It seems that Pei Pei wasn’t the only one overtaken by emotions.

“Oh no…!”

Startled, Lee Ha-yeon took a step back. Seizing the moment when the grip loosened, Pei Pei broke free and shouted.

“This person is an enforcement officer! Uncle, run away!”

Pei Pei’s voice clearly reached the Ghost Blade’s ears.

The time he spent in contemplation was barely about a second.

– Ta-at!!

Moments later, the Ghost Blade’s figure disappeared from the roof.

“Uh?!”

Is he coming?! Lee Ha-yeon braced herself for an attack, but the Ghost Blade’s figure was nowhere to be seen. Only then did she realize that he had slipped away, leaving Pei Pei behind.

‘Why?’

It was unexpected. She had anticipated that since Pei Pei was in danger, the Ghost Blade would abandon escape and engage.

This surprising outcome was entirely thanks to Pei Pei.

No matter how much she was told to run away, she knew the Ghost Blade wouldn’t leave her behind. That’s why even in a critical moment, she used the most effective words.

“Enforcement officer…”

As the Ghost Blade leaped between the rooftops, he reflected.

If the other party was an enforcement officer, then at least the likelihood of Pei Pei being in danger should be low. They were essentially people who walked the straight path. Even if they had protected a criminal, they wouldn’t seek immediate retribution or such.

‘Could this enforcement officer be Kwon Tae-ho’s colleague? Did they disguise themselves as a barmaid to approach Pei Pei… No, that can’t be. She only met Pei Pei yesterday. There wouldn’t have been any time for infiltration as a worker.’

So, what had happened?

Even while escaping, the Ghost Blade desperately churned his mind, but no substantial answer surfaced. He couldn’t even fathom that Pei Pei might have deliberately lied to keep him safe.

‘…Without clues, it’s pointless to fret. First, I need to take cover.’

With that thought, the Ghost Blade quickly reached the outer boundary of Chinatown.

But.

“What is that…?”

What caught the Ghost Blade’s eye was a flurry of red and blue sirens blocking all roads leading out of the town.

On the other side of the boundary were police officers, and inside were the gang members who had come out to guard against those policemen. No battle had broken out, but the atmosphere was akin to a battlefield.

‘Getting out of there will… be a bit difficult.’

He could force his way through if he wanted to. However, if he drew that kind of attention, there would be no way to shake off the pursuit.

‘There should be a shortcut nearby.’

With the road being narrow, the personnel guarding it would naturally be few. The Ghost Blade turned his steps toward that route.

– …Pajik.

But at that moment.

In the corner of his vision, a blue light streaked across.

– Paji ji ji jiji!!!

Two bolts of lightning intersected. The flash of the sword wielded by the Ghost Blade flickered, and the blue afterimage that brushed past him sent a chill down his spine.

Finally, it’s here.

If that’s the case, then he has no choice but to fight.

“Kwon Tae-ho!!”

The Ghost Blade boldly turned and faced the direction where Kwon Tae-ho was.

And then.

– Paji ji ji jiji!!

The intense blue lightning from the magical combustion swirled around.

Kwon Tae-ho was clinging vertically to the building’s exterior wall. Six magic circles unfolded simultaneously around his two legs, which were propped up against the wall.

Kwon Tae-ho could cast a total of six spells at once.

‘Acceleration.’

A six-layered acceleration spell using all of his slots.

– KWAANG!!

With the explosive sound that tore through the air, the fastest blow Kwon Tae-ho could muster detonated right in front of the Ghost Blade.

“Cough?!”

– Thud thud thud!

The blow landed squarely on the Ghost Blade, sending him tumbling awkwardly across the rooftop. A look of shock filled the Ghost Blade’s eyes.

‘So fast! I can just barely follow his movements, but my body can’t keep up…!’

Having barely twisted his body, he avoided a direct hit, but the impact from his shoulder numbed his left arm, still clutching the sword. He nearly dropped it in an awkward manner.

“It feels dense which means I must have hit him directly.”

Kwon Tae-ho turned around as if to flaunt. The Ghost Blade gritted his teeth, forcing his trembling left arm to hold steady.

“…But you’ve changed a lot since the last time we met. Have you been training or something?”

“Training? Not at all. I just changed my technique since it seemed more effective this way.”

Kwon Tae-ho recognized the Ghost Blade’s forte: his exceptional reflexes and situational judgment. He utilized this to interpret his opponent’s techniques and employed ghostly swordsmanship to exploit openings.

And with his magical spheres and erratic movements, Kwon Tae-ho managed to gain an upper hand.

However, such tactics could not be employed continuously. The Ghost Blade had keen eyesight. If Kwon Tae-ho persisted with a similar approach, he would soon adapt to his strategies and counter him effectively.

Thus, Kwon Tae-ho changed his method.

Not giving the Ghost Blade even a moment to figure him out.

To end the fight as swiftly as possible—delivering the quickest possible strike.

‘Any acceleration spell beyond a four-layer stack puts an enormous strain on my body. Therefore, this strategy can’t last for long.’

– Paji ji ji jiji!!

With a fierce flash, Kwon Tae-ho charged forward. The Ghost Blade seemed unable to react, staring wide-eyed as Kwon Tae-ho landed a blow on him.

“Cough?!”

The impact pierced the Ghost Blade’s side, causing fluids to escape his mouth. Controlling the recoil with inertia control magic, Kwon Tae-ho didn’t miss the opportunity and accelerated again to pounce at him.

– Clank.

And this time, the Ghost Blade gripped the hilt of his sword. Kwon Tae-ho paid no heed. The previous two attacks hadn’t even allowed him a proper reaction. It was just futile resistance.

– Puh!
– Slit!

One would think so, but…

“Ha.”

A gasp escaped Kwon Tae-ho’s lips in astonishment.

Kwon Tae-ho’s fist struck the Ghost Blade’s abdomen. Yet simultaneously, the sword swung by the Ghost Blade passed by, slicing Kwon Tae-ho’s right arm that had delivered the punch.

– Drip. Drip. Drip.

Staring down at the blood flowing from his arm, Kwon Tae-ho gazed at the Ghost Blade in disbelief.

He already understood the Ghost Blade’s specs. While he had remarkable reaction speed, his physical abilities couldn’t support it. So, he shouldn’t have been able to keep up with Kwon Tae-ho’s blow.

“…His speed is fast but his trajectory is too straightforward. Given the angle he pushed off the ground, the target was clearly apparent. After seeing it twice, I was able to predict it easily.”

However, the Ghost Blade, as if too calm, responded unbothered.

“Haha.”

At that moment, Kwon Tae-ho recalled.

Indeed, he had forgotten.

“Damn genius…”

The enemy before him called himself a sword genius.

“Come on, let’s have a rematch, shall we? Next time, I won’t just be kind and give you a warning.”

When dealing with an unreasonable genius, it’s better not to jump to conclusions.

Kwon Tae-ho truly felt that truth after a long time.