Chapter 42: True Education of the Gnagsters.

What is the most useful thing when making allies? Is it vast amounts of money? Or perhaps expensive items that are

irresistible? No. Such tangible things don’t create true allies. If you try to bribe people with money or items, they will

eventually be swayed by someone offering even more money or things.

What is truly important in making genuine allies is the emotional aspect. The sense that this person is truly on my

side, that they are thinking about me. These emotions are what make the real difference.

People call this “loyalty” or “trust.” Even businessmen sometimes forgo profits to maintain trust with their

customers, and even criminals endure immense losses to uphold loyalty among themselves.

In short, regardless of race, culture, or personality, emotional connections are the most effective in making allies.

Even if you offer billions, the heart remains unchanged. There’s no way to sway that heart. That’s why Lee Hyun-

seung thought that when Ryu Nam-gi was beaten, it was an opportunity.

“I’m Lee Hyun-seung, so talk to me. And do it properly. Get out of here before I kill you.”

Ryu Nam-gi was one of the men who had received weapons from Lee Hyun-seung. He would later awaken as a useful

individual. But the most important thing wasn’t that. Ryu Nam-gi was the first within F-class to side with Lee Hyun-

seung and suffered physical violence for it.

In other words, he acted on behalf of Lee Hyun-seung and ended up suffering losses. If this matter was brushed

aside, people would be less likely to act for Lee Hyun-seung in the future. Lee Hyun-seung knew this well.

“If I handle this properly, I can make even more solid allies.”

He needed to show them the benefit of siding with Lee Hyun-seung and prove how he viewed his alliances. The

method was simple.

A clear retaliation. Just show them what happens when you touch my people.

“What if I don’t?”

Im Tak-ju spoke arrogantly. Lee Hyun-seung pulled his gun and cocked it.

Click!

“I’ll make sure you can’t use your legs again, so don’t regret this.”

gulp

At that moment, a cold silence filled the room. Lee Hyun-seung only pointed the gun at Im Tak-ju, but didn’t shoot.

‘It’s not the right time yet.’

He needed a more solid reason. Something that would ensure he wouldn’t be blamed if trouble arose later.

As Lee Hyun-seung remained silent, Im Tak-ju sneered and walked forward.

“Hey, are you scared now that you have to pull the trigger? You little shit. Don’t get cocky. I’m B-class. Someone like

you, who got demoted from A-class, can’t do anything to me.”

Technically, Lee Hyun-seung had voluntarily moved from A-class to F-class. Though people knew this, most

assumed he had been demoted. And it made sense. No one would willingly give up the advantages of A-class and

move to F-class unless they were crazy.

creak

When Lee Hyun-seung didn’t respond, Im Tak-ju grew even bolder and pushed down on his head.

Then, he slammed him hard into the wall.

Bang!

Only then did Lee Hyun-seung speak with a cold gaze.

“You started this by picking a fight, and you threw the first punch. If anything happens later, it’s your responsibility.

Do you know what I hate the most? Touching my people. You’re done for now.”

“What the hell are you talking about, you asshole?!”

Im Tak-ju quickly charged. He aimed to strike Lee Hyun-seung in the abdomen, but Lee Hyun-seung shifted slightly

to the left, dodging the attack.

Boom!

Im Tak-ju’s foot hit the wall. However, he swiftly used the momentum to push off the wall and aimed another kick at Lee Hyun-seung.

A beautifully curved kick from the right diagonal toward the center.

‘This bastard’s a fighter.’

Lee Hyun-seung could tell what Im Tak-ju’s profession was with just that one attack. People who used their bodies as

weapons were called fighters. While their abilities weren’t as powerful as magicians or knights, they were still highly

regarded as martial artists.

Whoosh

Lee Hyun-seung raised his gun and blocked the incoming kick.

Bang!

“What?”

Im Tak-ju stared in disbelief as his full-strength kick was blocked by a small handgun. It was a near-miraculous

sight, but at the same time, he felt irritation rising.

“Stop dodging like a damn eel, you piece of shit!”

Whoosh

Im Tak-ju spun in the air and aimed to strike Lee Hyun-seung with his back leg. At that moment, Lee Hyun-seung

drew his gun and aimed.

A quick shot rang out.

Bang!

The bullet whizzed by Im Tak-ju’s thigh.

At that moment, Jeong Eun-seo quickly deployed a sound-blocking spell, fearing that the noise might leak and cause

Lee Hyun-seung to face punishment.

Lee Hyun-seung noticed this as well. The interior was completely sealed off. There were plenty of people who could testify to the self-defense.

In the Academy, using violence was strictly forbidden. However, if one could prove that they acted in self-defense, it

wouldn’t be an issue. Self-defense—it existed in this world too. More importantly, the principal owed Lee Hyun-

seung a debt. So, even if a small problem arose, it wouldn’t likely be blown out of proportion. Thinking this, Lee

Hyun-seung quickly aimed his gun again.

-Drip-

Blood began to pour from Im Tak-ju’s thigh, where the bullet had grazed him. Im Tak-ju thought to himself, Damn…

Why does it hurt so much even though I didn’t get a direct hit?

The additional damage from the legendary gunman trait wasn’t just an increase in destructive power. It also

amplified the physical pain accumulated in the body. Because of this, Im Tak-ju was feeling extreme pain that an

average gunman wouldn’t experience.

-Shudder-

Im Tak-ju’s arms began to tremble, and his legs wouldn’t move. The reason was simple—he was in so much pain. If

just a graze caused this much pain, he didn’t even want to imagine what would have happened if he had taken a

direct hit.

That bastard… was really trying to destroy my leg.

When Lee Hyun-seung fired the shot, Im Tak-ju twisted his body desperately to defend himself. Had he not done so,

the bullet would have directly hit the center of his thigh.

“Y-you… are you crazy? What are you going to do about the consequences?”

Now terrified, Im Tak-ju tried to talk instead of continuing to fight. He already felt the crushing pain and realized he

had no chance of winning. However, Lee Hyun-seung wasn’t backing down.

“Consequences? I’m fighting with Yoo Hee-yeon, and now I have to think about the consequences of dealing with a

low-class loser like you? The consequences are something you should think about.”

-Swish-

Lee Hyun-seung pointed to the man lying on the ground, Ryu Nam-gi, and spoke to Im Tak-ju.

“If you kneel and beg him, I’ll let you go just this once.”

Im Tak-ju hesitated as he looked at Lee Hyun-seung’s hand gesture, which seemed to suggest that he kneel. He

swallowed dryly.

Damn it… this humiliation…

He was a B-class Awakener and had awakened as a martial artist. For someone like him to kneel and apologize to an

F-class rookie felt unbearable. His pride was hurt, and he didn’t want to do it.

But then, his body reacted when he saw the gun in Lee Hyun-seung’s hand. The terrifying pain. He didn’t want to

experience it again.

If I get hit directly by that thing… I might really end up crippled.

-Swish-

Just when Im Tak-ju was about to kneel, he was stopped by the voice of Han Seong-gil, the B-class representative,

who had been watching from the back.

“If you kneel, you’ll die by my hand. Fight properly.”

-Stop.

It wasn’t a voice filled with excitement or playful teasing, but a cold, chilling voice. When Han Seong-gil spoke like

this, it meant only one thing. He was furious. While Lee Hyun-seung was frightening, at least he seemed like

someone you could talk to. Han Seong-gil, on the other hand, was someone who couldn’t be reasoned with.

Realizing this, Im Tak-ju chose the only option left to him.

“AAAAH!”

Im Tak-ju pretended to kneel, then in a flash, rushed towards Lee Hyun-seung.

“Pathetic fool. If you had just knelt and begged, things would have been fine. But this is what you’ve chosen. Don’t blame me.”

Lee Hyun-seung spoke those words and aimed his gun at the charging Im Tak-ju.

[Last Bullet]

[C] Last Bullet – Consumes all remaining bullets in the magazine to fire one powerful shot.

A huge amount of energy began to gather in the barrel of the gun.

-TAAN!

A massive energy sphere was fired at Im Tak-ju.