Chapter 120: I'm Sick of This! (1)
Kang Chan briefly hesitated, caught in a dilemma between honoring Jeon Dae-Geuk's request and steering clear of a potentially perilous trap. After a moment's contemplation, he firmly grasped Yang Jin-Woo's head and confronted his adversaries head-on.
"Alright, fine. I'll give you what you want but only under some conditions. First, drop all your guns, and second, give me a moment to take care of this scoundrel."
The Japanese agent who had spewed nonsense earlier visibly flinched when Kang Chan treated them as if they were absolute imbeciles.
"So, all that high and mighty act was just an attempt to deceive us and rescue this scumbag? Just what does this fucker mean to you, anyway?" Kang Chan lowered his gaze, noticing a glimmer of hope in Yang Jin-Woo's eyes despite his pained moans.
Thwack!?
Kang Chan kicked Yang Jin-Woo’s abdomen.
“Trying to strain your brain out of this, you son of a bitch?”
“Ughh! Ughh!” Hunched over, Yang Jin-Woo trembled. He made a feeble attempt to straighten up, desperately seeking relief from the excruciating pain coming from his fractured thigh bones.
“You fucker!” Kang Chan growled.
Pow!
“Aghhhh!”
The scorching midday sun shone down on Yang Jin-Woo's disfigured, blood-soaked face.
“We will give you two trillion if you hand over Chairman Yang!” the agent urgently shouted.
“The Eurasian Rail will go up in smoke if I let go of this punk, yet all you’re offering is a measly two trillion? You can keep it, you fucking moron!”
Pow!
“Cough! Cough!”
“Shut up, motherfucker! You acting like this makes me look like some kind of money-hungry hostage-taker!”
Kang Chan pretended to lift his foot, making Yang Jin-Woo involuntarily flinch.
Whack!
“Kuhuh! Kuhuhuh!”
Yang Jin-Woo's condition was rapidly deteriorating. His swollen face was covered in tears, snot, and blood, and he drooled with each pitiful cry.
“Yang Jin-Woo.”
“Y-yes, sir?”
This pathetic man lost the will to fight more easily than Kang Chan expected.
Kang Chan tilted his head in annoyance and peered down at him.
“Don’t let me catch you doing something like this again.”
With his hair still clutched in Kang Chan’s hand, Yang Jin-Woo frantically nodded. It seemed he thought Kang Chan would spare him.
“Tell me what you want!” the Japanese agent shouted again.
Thud!?
Tightening his grip on Yang Jin-Woo’s hair, Kang Chan slowly lifted his gaze.
“What I want? For this bastard to die!”
“No!”
Crack!
Kang Chan twisted Yang Jin-Woo's neck. Eerie silence devoured the surroundings, the world seemingly frozen over.
Taken aback, Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Tae-Jin, and even Kim Hyung-Jung blanked out.
Thud.?
Yang Jin-Woo slumped lifelessly, coming to rest on Kang Chan’s left side.
"What's your plan now? If you still insist on safeguarding your precious pride, I'm more than willing to throw down with you."
“Bakayaro!” the agent spat out.
"Quit your nonsensical blabbering and make up your mind already."
“Yoroshii!”
Still glaring at Kang Chan, the agent cautiously retrieved his gun and tossed it aside. Taking that as a cue, the other agents around him followed suit, pulling out their firearms and piling them up on the ground near Seok Kang-Ho, who maintained his aim, ready to pull the trigger if anyone tried anything stupid.
“Mr. Jeon, tell the two snipers to keep their guns.”
“Got it,” Jeon Dae-Geuk responded.
“Choi Jong-Il, go and toss these guns in front of the main gate.”
Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee threw all the guns down the stairs, all of them landing near the front gate. With a gesture from Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho picked up the enemy’s guns and tossed them near the gate as well.
Finally, Kang Chan turned to Jeon Dae-Geuk. The snipers had their guns pointed at the Japanese agents, which meant they could put an end to everything now and ensure everyone on their side would leave safely.
“This is sheer madness,” Kang Chan commented.
“I know, but this fight will go down in history as a source of pride for our agents. Whether we win or lose, this will forever be known as an act that symbolizes the dignity of South Korea’s agents. Thank you, Kang Chan.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtKang Chan nodded slightly in acknowledgment—a subtle gesture of understanding. He pulled out the bayonet holstered at his ankle and held it tightly in a reverse grip.
Kashing.?
The short blade gleamed sharply in the midday sunlight as it left its scabbard.
In response, their opponents also pulled out concealed weapons from their waists and ankles. The garden shimmered with flashes of sunlight reflected off the gleaming blades.
For every man on Kang Chan’s side, there were two enemies.
Though it seemed insignificant right now, that difference’s effects would become painfully apparent once the battle started. It would feel as if they were each contending with fifteen enemies at once.
There was also no knowing who the Japanese agents were going to attack first. They could opt to target the weak ones first to reduce the South Korean agents’ numbers, or they could prioritize taking down the stronger adversaries to gain an advantageous foothold in the fight.
Kang Chan took a deep breath and, with narrowed eyes, looked at the Japanese agents in front of them. As he mentioned earlier, this was, without a doubt, pure madness.
He gritted his teeth.
In exchange for Kim Tae-Jin and Jeon Dae-Geuk’s assistance in killing Yang Jin-Woo, he decided to lend them his aid in this battle against the Japanese agents.
“Daye, cover our right flank.”
“Copy that.” Seok Kang-Ho got into position.
“Choi Jong-Il, left flank,” Kang Chan instructed again.
“Yes, sir.”
Yoo Hye-Sook momentarily flashed in Kang Chan's mind as Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il flanked him. She had looked… frightened. However, she disappeared from his mind as quickly as she had come.
Since he had already decided to join the fight anyway, he thought he might as well take down as many as he could and divert the attention away from his allies.
The first agent to face Kang Chan quickly swung his dagger. However, he was caught off guard when Kang Chan suddenly charged forward.
Kang Chan swung his bayonet multiple times, slitting the agent’s wrists and neck. blood spurted out of the deep wounds.
Without wasting a second, Kang Chan then deflected and forcefully struck down the next agent’s forearm and swiftly cut him three times.
Sounds of bodies dropping to the ground came from where Seok Kang-Ho and Choi Jong-Il were fighting, but Kang Chan had no time to glance back.
The enemies’ blood splattered on his face. Kang Chan had fought so many dirty battles like this that he had become as familiar with this as he was with the back of his hand. This was nothing new.
Jeon Dae-Geuk, Kim Tae-Jin, and Kim Hyung-Jung also rushed in, joining him. They were followed closely by the other members who formed a protective circle around them to guard them.
“Kegh!”
The battle’s first cry rang out.
Interestingly enough, Kang Chan could identify whether it was from an ally or an enemy. Just now, the shriek was from a Japanese agent.
Unflinchingly, Kang Chan swung his bayonet with mechanical precision, devoid of any emotion.
Pant. Pant.
With his acute senses, he could hear rapid breaths and also survey his surroundings with clarity.
Blood splattered across the battlefield. The new agent facing Kang Chan shifted his gaze downward, readying his dagger for an attack.
Kang Chan could see everything clearly.
In quick succession, he slashed the man’s armpit and neck.
“Ack!”
It wasn’t easy to hold back screams after being heavily wounded. No matter how well-trained anyone was, they would need one hell of a resolve to choke back their shouts when it really came down to it.
The enemy’s eyes showed momentary confusion when Kang Chan abruptly lunged forward, grabbing his head. The move caught the agent by surprise. He didn’t expect Kang Chan to suddenly target his head.
In this battle to the death, this fight where they could just cut a man’s throat open, Kang Chan unwaveringly used every ounce of his strength to bring them down. Anyone surprised for having a fistful of their hair grabbed… was bound to get their necks slit.
With a swift motion from Kang Chan, blood spurted out of the agent’s neck.
“Agh!”
As Kang Chan gashed the side of another man, Kang Chan’s ears caught Choi Jong-Il’s pained shout.
Fweeck! Fweeck!
When he turned to look, he saw Choi Jong-Il getting stabbed in the armpit, then near his heart.
Pow!?
Kang Chan instinctively rammed into Choi Jong-Il with his shoulder, veering Choi Jong-Il away from the dagger aimed at his throat. It cut his face instead, but it was surely better than dying.
Shing!
‘Ack!’
In the heat of the battle, Kang Chan swiftly slashed the enemy’s armpit, but his left side was lacerated in the process.
The enemy’s speed was truly impressive. He easily deflected the relentless onslaught of Kang Chan’s elbow strikes and bayonet swings.
Kang Chan pushed away the agent’s attack with the ball of his palm.
Exploiting the opening Choi Jong-Il left in their formation, the enemy cut Kang Chan’s back and shoulders. However, Kang Chan just put the searing pain aside and focused on the man in front of him.
Fighting a battle of speed and precision, Kang Chan and the agent’s barrage of attacks collided in rapid succession.
It was a life-or-death situation. One mistake, and they could find themselves lying on the ground. However, if Kang Chan could just outpace his opponent, a chance to eliminate him would certainly arise.
Thwack! Pow! Pow! Pow!
“Agh!”
Just then, Choi Jong-Il, who was defending against the attacking agents to the left of Kang Chan, let out another grunt.
The noise momentarily diverted Kang Chan’s attention.
Seizing the opportunity, the enemy launched a sudden attack. Kang Chan instinctively pulled back his neck, but not before his collarbone and right side were viciously cut.
Sounds of bones being struck rang out as they exchanged a flurry of elbows, punches, and weapon swings. However, Kang Chan stood resolute, refusing to falter.
Crack!
Their gazes locked in a fierce confrontation as their elbows collided.
“Son of a bitch!”
“Bakayaro!”
Kang Chan was soon stabbed in the armpit, causing his arm to tremble slightly.
However, he simply further steeled his resolve. At this rate, there would be no end to their fight.
When the agent tried to stab him again, Kang Chan blocked it with his left hand, the blade piercing all the way through his palm. Kang Chan then closed his fingers and tightened his grip around the dagger’s cross-guard, preventing the enemy from using it.
The agent flinched in shock.
Wasn’t expecting this, were you?
The agent hastily lifted his other arm, but Kang Chan had his bayonet ready.
Shing! Shing! Shing! Shing!
Elbow, shoulder, forearm, and armpit—he relentlessly targeted the agent’s vulnerable points.
In a desperate attempt to get away, the agent twisted the dagger lodged in Kang Chan’s palm.
‘Agh!’
However, letting go was the last thing Kang Chan would consider doing. He thrust his bayonet into the agent's throat twice, leaving behind two deep holes.
Blood fountained out from the agent’s injuries.
Until the very last moment of the agent’s life draining out of his eyes, he glared at Kang Chan with hatred.
Shik!
Kang Chan’s every single nerve tingled the moment he pulled out the dagger from his palm.
When he turned to look at Seok Kang-Ho, he saw his teammate also covered in blood.
Kang Chan had never imagined that he would be fighting to the death like this again. He never asked to be born into this world, nor did he want to reincarnate into another body.
Yet, for some reason, bloodshed and carnage relentlessly pursued him throughout both of his lives.
As he thrust his bayonet into an enemy's throat, Yoo Hye-Sook suddenly crossed his mind. What would she say if she saw him mercilessly killing these people?
It was already challenging enough for her to accept that her son had snapped another man's neck. What expression would she have if she saw him impaling a bayonet in an enemy’s neck?
Fweeck!
Damn it!
Distracted by the thought, he had another near-death moment.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
None of these remaining bastards seemed as persistent as the opponents that he faced earlier. Unfortunately for them, Kang Chan decided to kill as many of them as possible. That was the only way to ensure the survival of his comrades.
Where do you think you’re going?
He wrenched back the shoulder of an enemy advancing toward Choi Jong-Il. Fueled by malice and adrenaline, Kang Chan no longer felt any pain in his left hand. It merely throbbed a little.
“Aghhh!”
His bayonet found its mark in the enemy's throat, causing a wretched scream to tear through the air and blood to spurt out of the injury. Finally catching a short break, Kang Chan scanned the chaos around him and soon spotted the enemy who had been gunning for Seok Kang-Ho.
Kang Chan had probably been stabbed in his left forearm, but it strangely didn’t hurt at all.
Shing. Shing. Shing. Shing.?
If this was the destiny he had to live, so be it. He would wholeheartedly embrace it.
He would survive until the end.
Even if Yoo Hye-Sook abandoned him, even if Kang Dae-Kyung turned his back on him, he would persevere.
He would survive and go to Gapyeong with Seok Kang-Ho to eat chicken legs if that was what he had to do.
Kang Chan relentlessly thrust his dagger, pouring all his frustration into each stab.
Why did fate have to be so merciless to him? Why couldn't he lead a normal life like everyone else? Why? Why!
Stab. Stab. Stab. Slit. Slit. Slit.?
He kept going until someone grabbed onto him, making him flinch and breaking his rhythm.
“Captain!”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIt was Dayeru.
Dayeru clutched Kang Chan with his blood-stained arms, holding on as tightly as he could.
“It’s over.”
“Haah. Haah.”
This fool dared interrupt him?
“It’s over, Captain. Everything’s over.”
“Haah. Haah.”
Seok Kang-Ho looked directly into Kang Chan’s eyes, then nodded in acknowledgment of what Kang Chan was experiencing.
Only then did terrible pain surge throughout Kang Chan.
“Do you have a cigarette?”
Grinning, Seok Kang-Ho released let go of Kang Chan, and, with a grunt, took out a cigarette. Seok Kang-Ho’s upper body was drenched in blood and covered in deep wounds.
“Here.”
Kang Chan lit the cigarette and took a deep drag from it as he looked around.
There were only five people standing: Kim Hyung-Jung, Choi Jong-Il, and three agents he didn’t know.
“Mr. Kang Chan.”
Kim Hyung-Jung approached Kang Chan with an exhausted expression.
“I’ve contacted the hospital.”
Kim Hyung-Jung collapsed to the ground as if gravity pushed him down. With a hand applying pressure on his right cheek, Choi Jong-Il walked toward them from behind Kim Hyung-Jung.
“Tenk you.”
His pronunciation was strange because of the blood caught in his throat.
“Want a smoke?”
“Yus.”
Seok Kang-Ho handed Choi Jong-Il a cigarette as Kang Chan chuckled.
Pale bodies littered the front yard and soaked it in blood. A few of them were still twitching in pain.
“Do you have a phone? Please call Bang Ji Hospital for me.”
Choi Jong-Il asked for a phone from the other agents and dialed the number for Kang Chan.
-Hello?
“Director, it’s Kang Chan.”
-Mr. Kang Chan, if you called me to brag about getting a new number, I’m going to get mad.?
“Director, Seok Kang-Ho and I have suffered severe wounds. We can’t get to the hospital like this.”
-Where are you?
Yoo Hun-Woo unexpectedly sounded grave.
“We’re in Pyeongchang-Dong. I don’t know the address, but it’s Yang Jin-Woo’s house.”
-I’m on my way now. I can send a nearby doctor to help first if you need me to.
“I’ll just wait for you, Director.”
-All right.?
The call ended curtly.
“Hand me another cigarette.”
Seok Kang-Ho gave him another stick. The lighter was soaked in blood, so he had to use his old cigarette to light the new one.
“Let’s go sit over there, Channy.”
“Sure.”
The two limped over and leaned against a tree. They were beyond tired.
“Hu.”
The cigarette smoke vanished into thin air.
“Captain, did you know you killed at least ten of them?”
“I did?”
“I knew you wouldn’t know. You seemed totally out of it after killing that snake over there. Ow.” Seok Kang-Ho groaned as he tried to adjust his upper body. “Let’s visit Gapyeong when we recover.”
Kang Chan chuckled, then agreed that they should do that sometime.
It was strange, but he wasn’t worried about who had died or how his allies who had collapsed on the ground were doing.
Damn it.?
He felt as if he crossed a line that he could never uncross.
In the distance, the sound of an ambulance wailed.