Operation Code: The Jester’s Game
The streets at night, where the dark desires of its denizens come to life, are always bustling with activity. Even if these acts stray far from the norms of common decency, in this almost officially sanctioned underworld, nothing seems out of place.
“Uncle! Can I take him today too?”
“Wait, no! I don’t want to! Sir! Sir!”
A young voice cried out, barely echoing in the night. The boy, with a face too pretty for a young man, was still just a child.
But no one paid any attention. Everyone here was simply wandering the night streets, each pursuing their own purpose. Especially in this red-light district, where brothels lined the streets, such scenes were not uncommon.
Two platinum coins clinked as they fell into a chubby hand. Without a word, the fat man handed the boy over to a woman.
The boy’s face, nestled in the woman’s arms, was a sight to behold. The anticipation that had once lingered on his face was gone, replaced by sheer terror, like an animal being led to slaughter.
As the woman hummed a tune and led the boy away, the fat man spat on the ground and turned away.
A little while later, a man appeared in the now slightly quieter street. His face was obscured by a faded robe, but his tall stature was unmistakable.
He glanced around briefly before following the fat man into a building. As soon as he stepped inside, the loud music and cheers assaulted his ears, but he paid them no mind and headed straight for the counter.
However, upon reaching the counter, he had to stop.
”…”
The counter was empty. Not a soul in sight, not even the woman who used to greet him with a business smile.
He lingered in front of the empty counter, then cautiously slipped behind it to take a closer look.
After a thorough search, he quietly exited and quickly made his way up the stairs. His hands, now sweaty, clutched something tightly.
The second-floor hallway was silent. No faint moans, no lingering heat in the air. Only an inexplicable stillness filled the corridor. Despite a growing sense of unease, he hurried across the hallway.
He stopped in front of a door, the third one from the left end of the corridor. His hand, urgent and trembling, reached for the doorknob.
Click!
As soon as the small sound was heard, he opened the door and slipped inside, closing it swiftly behind him.
Once the door was fully shut, he turned to face the room and finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah~. You’re here, brother.”
“Why do you call me brother?”
The gruff voice responded, but Park Hwan-hee didn’t lose his smile. Compared to the inexplicable anxiety that had gripped him moments ago, the presence of the man he called brother brought him an unexplainable sense of comfort.
Park Hwan-hee moved forward, still patting his chest to calm his nerves.
“Brother… Ah, I mean, Mercenary Lord.”
Indeed, the man facing Park Hwan-hee was none other than Kim Soo-hyun, the leader of the mercenary clan. They had arranged to meet here in the early hours of the morning.
As Park Hwan-hee hastily corrected himself and took a seat, Kim Soo-hyun extended his hand. Reflexively, Park Hwan-hee reached into his coat, then suddenly chuckled bitterly.
“Isn’t this a bit much? I thought you’d at least ask how I’ve been.”
“Anything worth mentioning?”
“Not really… It’s just that the woman who was always at the counter wasn’t there today.”
“Ah, she’s gone missing.”
”…What?”
“I said she’s gone missing.”
For a moment, Park Hwan-hee’s face stiffened. In contrast, Kim Soo-hyun remained utterly unperturbed.
Park Hwan-hee felt a momentary daze, but as the outstretched hand moved impatiently, he fumbled to retrieve a thick document from his coat. Kim Soo-hyun snatched it up and began scanning it rapidly.
Silence descended as he read.
Flip… Flip…
Then, suddenly, the hand turning the pages stopped. Kim Soo-hyun’s lips curled into a wry smile as he spoke.
“You’ve really outdone yourself. Impressive.”
”…Isn’t it the same everywhere?”
“True enough. Not that it’s my concern, but this will do.”
“Not even a word of thanks for my efforts?”
His voice was genuinely disappointed. Kim Soo-hyun, tucking the document into his coat, glanced up at Park Hwan-hee.
“Why are you like this today? Do you really want my praise that much?”
“No, not exactly… But I’ve been living on edge these past few days. A simple ‘well done’ wouldn’t hurt, would it? Haha.”
“Well, we’re not exactly close enough to pat each other on the back, are we? We just give and take what we need. Here.”
“That’s rather cold… Whoa.”
As Park Hwan-hee continued his lament, something flew towards him, cutting him off. He barely caught it—a bag, heavy and filled with something. As he looked up inquiringly, Kim Soo-hyun nodded and continued.
“Take a look. I’ll explain the plan now, so listen carefully while you do.”
The tone was almost commanding.
But ever since that day—since he was saved from despair—Park Hwan-hee had followed Kim Soo-hyun’s orders without question. It wasn’t in his nature to take a backseat, but he’d never suffered for following orders. Knowing this well, Park Hwan-hee obediently opened the bag and listened intently.
Kim Soo-hyun began to speak.
As time passed and the story unfolded, Park Hwan-hee’s expression shifted through a spectrum of emotions. He nodded as he pulled items from the bag, looked up in shock, and furrowed his brow deeply.
By the time Kim Soo-hyun finished, Park Hwan-hee’s final expression was one of sheer disbelief.
”…It’s terrifying.”
“Hmm? Did I hear you wrong?”
“No, no. I mean… I’ve memorized everything.”
“Good. Put everything back in the bag.”
Park Hwan-hee let out a long sigh and clicked his tongue inwardly. How could this man speak so calmly about something that could easily cost them their lives?
But he didn’t voice these thoughts. The plan had already begun when the story started. Complaining now would only harm him.
Kim Soo-hyun had taken him in because he was useful, and now he was fulfilling that role. The moment he became useless, he might not just be cast aside—his life could be at risk.
With this in mind, Park Hwan-hee packed the items back into the bag and glanced forward. Kim Soo-hyun was stretching, having risen from his seat.
In that instant, Kim Soo-hyun unexpectedly looked down at him, and Park Hwan-hee found himself meeting his gaze. His hands, which had been moving steadily, suddenly froze.
And in that moment, Park Hwan-hee spoke without realizing it.
“Mercenary Lord, I have a question.”
“Why did you save me? If that’s your question, this is the third time you’ve asked.”
“I know. That’s not it.”
“Then what?”
Kim Soo-hyun widened his eyes, inviting him to speak. A flurry of thoughts raced through Park Hwan-hee’s mind, but the words were already out. He steadied his racing heart and spoke quietly.
‘Have you ever considered that I might betray you?’
“Is Han-gyeol okay? I heard he was very sick.”
But the words that finally emerged were entirely different from what he intended. Faced with those emotionless eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say what he truly wanted.
Kim Soo-hyun chuckled. He shrugged and spoke nonchalantly.
“If you’re that worried, go visit him. After this job is done, of course.”
”…What? Visit him? Me?”
“Yes.”
“But… you know, don’t you? I’m Han-gyeol’s ex.”
“Don’t underestimate him. Han-gyeol may seem quiet, but he’s got a strong core. Aside from being swayed by emotions, he understands this world almost as well as you do. If you go, he won’t turn you away at the door.”
“Then… have you completely forgotten about Yuna? Aren’t you curious about what happened to her?”
Though he changed the subject, it was still a surprising revelation. Park Hwan-hee’s voice rose noticeably.
But Kim Soo-hyun didn’t respond. He merely shrugged again, as if to say, “Find out for yourself.” As Park Hwan-hee wetted his dry lips, he felt a sudden brush of air. The bag was once again bulging with its contents.
Kim Soo-hyun walked calmly to the door, pressing his ear against it as he murmured to himself.
“So, that’s everything I needed to say. Time to start planning our escape… Oh, right, Hwan-hee Park. I almost forgot, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
“What?”
At the mention of unfinished business, Hwan-hee hurriedly tied up his bag. Just as he was about to stand, he realized he couldn’t move.
As he glanced around in confusion, trying to make sense of the situation, he stifled a scream. His own shadow on the floor was slowly rising, wrapping around his neck.
“You can betray me if you want.”
Before he could gather his thoughts, a cold voice cut through the air, leaving Hwan-hee’s mind blank. His voice trembled as he spoke.
“What… what do you mean?”
“The Salamander told me not to trust you. And come to think of it, Shin-hyuk knew your true identity, didn’t he?”
“But I told you about that before. In fact, I—”
“Who said anything? I’m just answering the question you really wanted to ask.”
”…”
“Just remember one thing. If you want to betray me, go ahead. But keep this in mind.”
Feeling the chill at his throat, Hwan-hee swallowed hard.
Kim Soo-hyun turned away from the door, facing Hwan-hee, who was still seated. He flashed a cold smile.
Finally, he said, “If you do, make sure you don’t get caught.”
The icy tone of Kim Soo-hyun’s voice sent shivers down Hwan-hee’s spine.
In the dimly lit street, where the red glow cast eerie shadows on the buildings, a lone figure emerged, walking with a slow, deliberate pace.
The figure’s face was obscured by a deeply hooded, faded robe. Only the tall stature and a bulge under the robe were noticeable.
After scanning the surroundings, the man turned and headed down a narrow alley, his steps light and seemingly carefree.
But as soon as he stepped into the dark alley, he was forced to stop.
Thud!
The moment he entered, someone swung a club at his head with brutal force.
“Ugh…! Mmph! Mmmph!”
The man staggered, trying to lift his head, but another blow sent him crashing to the ground. A powerful hand clamped over his mouth, stifling his cries.
The beating continued, suggesting more than one assailant lay in wait.
After several dull thuds, the man’s body went limp.
Moments later, he was hoisted onto someone’s shoulder and disappeared into the shadows.
When he regained consciousness, he found himself thrown into a pitch-black space. His head throbbed, and his body ached as he tried to move.
It was then he realized he couldn’t move. Bound tightly with ropes, his hands were tied behind his back, and his feet were similarly restrained. A gag was stuffed in his mouth.
Only his eyes were free, and he strained to lift his head. Instinctively, he looked forward.
Suddenly, a harsh scream erupted from his mouth.
“Ah, ahhhhhhh!”
Hanging before him was a corpse, gruesomely mutilated, with the head and body separated. The hair was tangled and hung from somewhere above, while the headless body dangled naked beside it.
But the real reason for his scream was the face of the corpse, eyes wide open and tongue protruding. It was the woman who had greeted him at the counter just days ago.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
I’ve read through the comments from the previous chapter. Some readers seem to have different expectations, hoping for Kim Soo-hyun to cause chaos.
As I’ve mentioned before, this part focuses on the shadow war. It’s not about Kim Soo-hyun crushing his enemies with overwhelming power, but about manipulating the situation to achieve his desired outcome.
I do enjoy writing chaotic scenes—they’re thrilling and cathartic, and easier to write. There’s no need to twist the narrative unnecessarily.
However, I chose this direction because we’ve seen plenty of Kim Soo-hyun using brute force in past events, like wars and major incidents, even in the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountain.
This time, I wanted to offer a change by narrating the story in a completely opposite manner. (Though the result might be the same.)
As we enter the “Clown’s Play” operation, we’re past the midpoint. Changing the plan now would be difficult, so I’ll continue as intended. I ask for your understanding in advance.
Thank you. (__)
< Player Status >
Name: Kim Yoo-hyun (5 years)
Class: The Lord of the Thunder, Master
Nation: Barbara
Clan: Haemil (Clan Rank: AA - Double A)
True Name & Nationality: Master of Thunder and Lightning, Brother Fool • South Korea
Sex: Male (29)
Height & Weight: 180.7cm • 73.7kg
Disposition: Blood and Iron • Cool
[Strength 71] [Endurance 88] [Agility 90(+2)] [Stamina 97] [Magic 97(+2)] [Luck 96(+2)]
< Achievements (1) >
< Unique Ability (1/1) >
< Special Ability (1/1) >
< Potential Abilities (3/3) >
Grand Magic (Rank: EX)
Weather Change: Storm Clouds (Rank: A Plus Plus)
Target Alignment (2) (Rank: EX)
『Authority: Thunder God』
< Recent Ability Comparison >
(Before) [Strength 70] [Endurance 87] [Agility 88] [Stamina 97] [Magic 97(+2)] [Luck 94]
(After) [Strength 71] [Endurance 88] [Agility 90(+2)] [Stamina 97] [Magic 97(+2)] [Luck 96(+2)]