“I’m sorry, but can’t we postpone the meeting with Dragul until tomorrow?”
When Lee Jong-hak suddenly said this, Keegan, who was prepared to leave the building, turned around with a strange expression.
“Didn’t you come here demanding to see our leader in the first place?”
“I think it’s too late to have the meeting now… and there is something I’d like to discuss with them.”
As he said this, Lee Jong-hak turned to look at Joanna, his eyes hinting at her to play along.
She knew that, but…
Joanna withheld her judgment with a surprised look on her face.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that would be okay.”
This was said in a strangely heavy voice.
Keegan looked down at Lee Jong-hak and folded his arms in a cold manner.
“We have something called face here too. I’ve already reported to our leader about you guys, and he expects to see you soon. Do you think if I go to our leader and tell him that the guests are tired and that they’ll meet him tomorrow, he’ll accept it with a nod and a smile? My position would be in jeopardy.” (TL: Long story short, ‘face’ is basically respect.)
Though this was said in a harsh tone, his words weren’t wrong.
“I can’t believe you’re staying in our city but won’t meet our leader. I heard that Asians valued courtesy, but now, I’m wondering if I heard correctly.”
“…”
“It won’t take long. You’ll be back before you know it.”
Lee Jong-hak looked down at his cup and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.
He didn’t know why, but he felt that the hunters, employees, and even civilians in the restaurant were all focused on what was happening at their table.
After a while, Lee Jong-hak finally opened his mouth.
“Understood.”
“Now, we’re on the same page.”
Keegan smiled brightly before turning around and leaving first, Lee Jong-hak close behind.
Joanna stared at their backs for a moment before shaking her head.
“What’s going on? Am I the only one who feels this strange tension?”
“No.”
After giving this brief answer, Lukas got up and walked out as well.
With a strange expression on her face, Joanna could only follow him.
A jeep was already waiting for them outside the building. And there were three others surrounding it. Inside these jeeps were men who appeared to be hunters.
“…”
Joanna’s expression became even stranger.
Even an inexperienced hunter like her was able to realise that this was way too much for a simple escort.
“Hop in. We’ll take you there quickly.”
“Where is Mr. Dragul?”
Keegan pointed towards the end of the road.
“See that mansion? It looks close, but it would be annoying to walk to it.”
“Let’s walk.”
Keegan’s expression became one of irritation.
“I don’t know why you keep trying to annoy me.”
“I just want to move my body after my meal to help with digestion… Is that a problem?”
As he said this, Lee Jong-hak turned to look Keegan in the eyes. Keegan’s lips twitched for a few moments before he averted his gaze and clicked his tongue.
“…tch. Sure. Guys.”
When he beckoned, the hunters who had been sitting in the other vehicles piled out. There were at least ten of them. They spread out around the four of them with practiced ease.
The atmosphere became tense.
“…”
Lee Jong-hak carefully looked at all of them before turning around and walking down the street.
The hunters surrounded him as though they were escorting him.
And like this, this large group of people slowly began walking towards the mansion where Dragul lived.
After they walked for a while, the bustling streets gradually calmed down. For some strange reason, the further they moved, the darker their surroundings became. And by the time only their own footsteps could be heard, they could no longer see buildings with lights in them on the sides of the street.
The only things offering light were the few streetlights that lined the street, causing the walk to suddenly feel lonely and ominous.
It was at this time when Lukas heard a voice.
[Just listen.]
Sound Transmission.
It was a technique at a much higher level than the Telepathy spell.
It was Lee Jong-hak who had sent sound transmission to Lukas. No, from the slight change in her expression, it seemed he’d sent it to Joanna as well.
Just being able to use sound transmission was a feat that showed incredible skill, but at the same time, he’d done it so perfectly that the hunters around them didn’t notice anything.
[I don’t know what your mission is or why you are here. However, it was a mistake to enter this city.]
A mistake?
[Do not move. Stay completely still. I swear that I won’t hurt you.]
Then, after sending that, Lee Jong-hak drew his sword in a quick, smooth motion. His sword-drawing was so fast that even the word ‘fast’ was a bit lacking when used to describe it, and barely any sound was released.
The drawn blade lightly reflected the light from the streetlights around them.
It was a beautiful sight. However, contrary to the beauty of the sword, the swordsmanship that was unleashed with it was incredibly fierce.
Shuk-
“Kuk!”
“Gurk!”
The two hunters who were working in front of them let out soft cries before collapsing to the ground. Blood spurted from the backs of their necks.
Only then did the others react, drawing their weapons.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
“This crazy bastard!”
Lee Jong-hak slid into a stance without responding, a fog of ki slowly billowing from his body.
“Wh-, what’s going on…?”
Joanna turned to look at Lukas with a shocked expression.
But Lukas was looking elsewhere. Keegan, who had been walking in front of them, clicked his tongue once before turning around immediately and running away.
It seemed that Lee Jong-hak had expected such a response as he threw his sword lightly.
The motion was light, but the force behind the throw was enormous.
The sword, which whistled through the air, cut Keegan in half. And although he’d tried to dodge it just before it hit him, the speed and force of the attack made him completely unable to block or dodge.
“Kuk…!”
Keegan’s body was sent flying in two different directions with fatal injuries that probably caused instant death.
“You arrogant bastard!”
“He threw away his weapon!”
The remaining hunters all attacked Lee Jong-hak, who was now unarmed. However, without any changes to his expression, Lee Jong-hak simply kicked off from the ground. His body was propelled backwards, allowing him to avoid the attacks directed at him.
Then, a hunter pulled out a submachine gun.
“Die!”
But Lee Jong-hak’s finger moved before he could pull the trigger.
With a single gesture, the sword that had cut Keegan in half suddenly flew towards him as though it had a will of its own.
The hunters were all shocked by this sight.
“Th-, that!”
“Controlling the sword with ki…!!!”
The sword flew through the air like a swallow. Then, it dyed the street with blood.
The level of these hunters wasn’t low. Every one of them was a veteran, and if they were sufficiently equipped, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to hunt low-rank Demon Nobles.
Nevertheless, they had met the wrong opponent.
Lee Jong-hak was already only a half-step away from the peak of swordsmanship.
Shuk.
“Ku-, urk…”
The last hunter’s chest was split open, and his blood spurted out.
The sword stopped in the air, covered in dark red blood. Then, with a ‘brrr’ sound, it shook itself clean like a wet cat before flying towards Lee Jong-hak.
Click.
And with a soft sound, Lee Jong-hak returned it to its sheath.
Joanna, who had been stiff for a while glanced at Lukas before taking a step forward. She was pretending to be calm, but she couldn’t stop her chin from quivering slightly.
“Human Dragon, Lee Jong-hak. I never took you for a murderer.”
“…”
“Are you going to kill us too?”
“Leave this city immediately. There is an exit on the west. Don’t go anywhere else.”
Lee Jong-hak looked at the building at the end of the street coldly before continuing.
“I don’t know what mission you’re here for, but now isn’t a good time. Ask the people in the forest to the west for help. If you use my name, they will even help you use Warp.”
“…you haven’t even explained the situation, yet you want us to do as you say?”
Lukas looked around.
The Lee Jong-hak he knew wasn’t someone who would carry out murder for no reason. Despite the hatred he had for him, Lukas still admired this human called Lee Jong-hak.
“What is wrong with this city?”
Lee Jong-hak turned to look at Lukas when he heard this question before giving a brief answer.
“…it is a breeding ground.”
“Huh?”
Just as Joanna blinked in surprise, a powerful wave of energy rippled through the city. This energy caused the streetlights to buzz and flicker. And a disturbing pressure seemed to cover their bodies.
Lee Jong-hak sighed.
“That guy has already sealed the entire city. It’s no longer possible to escape.”
“That guy?”
“The Demon, Gullard, the owner of the mansion we were being guided to.”
“Huhhh?!!”
Horrified, Joanna cried out in a trembling voice.
“B-, by Gullard…”
“Yes.”
Lee Jong-hak nodded.
“The true identity of Dragul Phisfounder, the leader of this city, is the Vampire Duke, Gullard.”
(TL: So it seems only the demons so far have the names from Lukas’ old world. Is the person from his homeworld working with the demons?)