Urban Vagabond: Reload

An group chat had sprung up among the Blue Wolves crew—one Choi Geon knew nothing about.

[God Kangheon: Emergency! Emergency!]

They had created it because they might need to share information that Choi Geon, as the person involved, would find uncomfortable. The conversation inside was active in real time.

[God Kangheon: A World Martial Alliance investigator just showed up. Says he came to collect old files. What do we do? Knock him out with a surprise attack?]

[Rabbit: Take a picture without getting caught and post it.]

A little later, Shin Kangheon uploaded a photo he had taken while pretending to snap a selfie, with the investigator’s profile visible in the distance.

[God Kangheon: He’s Russian. Looks fucking uptight. Want me to pick a fight?]

Hwang Suksu stepped in to calm Shin Kangheon, who had gotten far too excited by the investigator’s arrival.

[chef Hwang: Quit acting up and stay still! You don’t know the first thing about espionage. Later, buy the archive staff some coffee and ask what he came for—]

[God Kangheon: I’ll follow him from a distance and keep reporting!]

[chef Hwang: If that guy were only weaker than me in martial arts.......]

Meanwhile, Han Jaechun, who worked at , reported Choi Geon’s every move in the group chat.

[chan: The old man is at Naru right now. He’s talking to the owner...... Want me to listen in?]

[Rabbit: He’s not saying anything weird again, right? Like he’ll proudly pay the price for his sins, clear away his karmic debt, stuff like that.]

Kim Bokja rapidly sent another message after a string of rabbit emojis with worried expressions.

[Rabbit: Have you noticed Teacher walking around with this gentle expression lately, like some enlightened monk? It looks like he’s putting his affairs in order. I’m seriously worried......]

All day long, the group chat filled with messages about Choi Geon.

Everyone was worried about the special audit that would begin soon.

They did what each of them needed to do, sharing information to ease their anxiety.

Then Hwang Suksu uploaded a file to the chat.

[chef Hwang: I found the list of Eight Great Sects that requested the special audit from the World Martial Alliance. Everyone, take a look.]

Kim Muhyuk immediately opened the file Hwang Suksu had sent.

Supreme Pole Sword Gate, Golden Glory Gate, Skybreaker Gate, Great Saber Gate, and AZURE SKY SWORD GATE.

The official seals of five sects were stamped on the documents submitted to the World Martial Alliance.

“......So it’s one of these.”

Kim Muhyuk stared at the names on the list for a while before sending a message.

[Kimoo: I checked it. Is there any way to find out who’s leading this audit?]

[chef Hwang: I’m already looking into it. I’ve mobilized my whole information network, so just trust me!]

[Kimoo: Thanks. I’ll leave that side to you.]

A raccoon emoji pounding its chest drew a string of likes.

[God Kangheon: Breaking news!]

Shin Kangheon brought fresh news.

[God Kangheon: The investigator needed someone to carry the files to his hotel room, so I volunteered. I’ll get close and dig up some intel!]

[chef Hwang: I told you not to act up.......]

[Rabbit: Do anything unnecessary and I’ll kill you.]

Shin Kangheon answered with a photo of a huge file box.

After that, he did not appear in the group chat again.

“......He’ll be fine.”

Shin Kangheon seemed a little too eager, but he had successfully fooled the fake uncle he had lived with for more than ten years.

His contact with the World Martial Alliance investigator might bring unexpected gains.

To lighten the mood, Kim Muhyuk typed a new message.

[Kimoo: Come on, everyone. We’re preparing well, so don’t worry too much. If we’re anxious, it’ll be harder on Teacher too. Steel yourselves, and let’s get through this together!]

[Kimoo: In that spirit, should we do a group cheer? When I count to three, everyone shout, “Let’s go!”]

[Kimoo: One~ two~ three!]

But the crew leader’s words were quickly buried beneath the messages that followed.

[chan: The old man just left. He said he was going to eat. Should I tail him?]

[chef Hwang: You think you can pull that off? Jaechun, don’t get caught and have your phone taken. Just figure out which direction he goes.]

[Rabbit: I know where he is. I secretly installed a tracking app on Teacher’s phone.]

[chef Hwang: ......Isn’t that going a little too far? Even if the old man is terrible with technology.]

[chan: Customers are pouring in, so I’ll check the chat later!]

“......That was a brilliant rallying cry, and nobody even answered.”

Kim Muhyuk grumbled with a bitter expression when Kim Bokja called out to him in the group chat.

[Rabbit: Hey, Kim Muhyuk! So what did the Black Night Gang give you?]

As it happened, Kim Muhyuk was in the office reviewing the information the Black Night Gang boss had given him.

A smile touched his lips.

[Kimoo: A weapon for our counterattack.]

After sending the brief message, Kim Muhyuk added an emoji of a wolf wearing a sinister grin.

He had no idea what the other side was preparing.

But they, too, were preparing a weapon strong enough to fight back.

*****

“Then I’ll be going. Thank you for your hard work, Investigator!”

“Thank you for helping despite your busy schedule, Martial Artist Shin Kangheon.”

“Ha ha! Not at all! Call me anytime you need something!”

“Good. Then would you give me your phone number?”

“Y-you really mean it? Of course I will!”

After Shin Kangheon exchanged numbers with the investigator and left the hotel room with a broad grin on his face, Ivan Volkov’s lips curled slightly.

“An interesting young man.”

Ivan had felt Shin Kangheon watching him from the moment he entered the Martial Alliance.

Had he lacked that much awareness, he would have been unfit to serve as an investigator.

Shin Kangheon probably believed he had approached Ivan and extracted information from him.

But the one who had gained new information about the Korean Martial Alliance and Choi Geon was Ivan.

“An interesting case.”

Ivan removed his coat, sat at the desk, and immediately began working.

He turned on a tablet on one side and spread out the materials he had acquired from the Eight Great Sects and the Martial Alliance on the other.

His eyes moved busily as his fingers tapped out a rhythm against the desk.

The Eight Great Sects. The Martial Alliance. Choi Geon. The heretical cult...... So many people have become entangled over such a long time.

Ivan checked, reviewed, and cross-referenced the documents until late into the night.

He enjoyed his work as an investigator.

Nothing compared to the thrill of uncovering the intent hidden within a case. And whenever he delivered judgment on behalf of the World Martial Alliance and enforced justice, he felt a deep sense of fulfillment.

The major incidents that have recently shaken the Korean martial world. The organization called Blue Wolves that Choi Geon belongs to. The people confirmed to have close ties to him......

Photographs and summarized personal dossiers of Kim Muhyuk and the other Blue Wolves crew members lay on the desk.

The World Martial Alliance intelligence network had gathered them through a variety of channels.

“......Time to sleep.”

Ivan checked his wristwatch and rose without hesitation.

A regular routine and careful management of his condition were essential for a capable investigator.

Leaving tomorrow for tomorrow, he reached for the pajamas hanging in the wardrobe.

But at that instant, his cold green eyes held no fatigue.

Only a sharp glint remained.

An assassin has entered the room.

The hand reaching for his pajamas snapped toward his waist and seized a tonfa.

It was Ivan Volkov’s signature weapon, the weapon with which he had quite literally beaten countless criminals to a pulp.

Ivan spun like lightning and swung with all his strength.

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

The black sword and tonfa collided through dozens of exchanges, sparks flying with every impact.

His opponent was an assassin who had hidden their identity beneath black clothes and a mask.

When the fight failed to reach a conclusion, the masked assassin withdrew first.

In Russian, Ivan spoke with a cold sneer.

“Not a trace of fear. You dare try to kill an investigator?”

“.......”

The assassin did not answer.

Instead, they pulled a poison bomb from their clothes and threw it to the floor.

SSSSSSS—.

Black smoke surged upward.

Ivan hurriedly covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve, held his breath, and retreated.

CRASH-SHATTER!

In the meantime, the assassin smashed through the hotel window and escaped.

They did not hesitate despite the height of more than twenty floors.

“......Hah.”

Ivan’s eyes narrowed sharply as he watched the assassin deploy a wingsuit and cut across the night sky.

After venting all the poisonous smoke through the shattered window, Ivan slowly looked around the wrecked hotel room.

The instant the first attack failed, the enemy had chosen to flee without hesitation.

It was clear they had carefully planned to kill him.

“It looks like an obvious ruse...... yet it’s too similar to dismiss.”

Muttering to himself, Ivan turned on the tablet, which had fortunately survived intact, and played one of the videos he had watched many times.

In the video, Choi Geon was demonstrating his swordsmanship.

The trajectory of his sword was strikingly similar to the black blade the assassin had wielded in the hotel room.

*****

“Teacher, I told you to stay at our house until you find a new place. Why are you sleeping in a hotel when it’s so inconvenient?”

At Kim Chanho’s offer, repeated more times than he could count, Choi Geon shook his head with an exhausted look.

“How many times do I have to tell you no? I’ve lived alone my whole life. Living in close quarters with someone else makes me uncomfortable.”

“Don’t be like that. Pack your things and come to our house today. My wife said she’d make the braised short ribs you like if you came......”

“You little punk. Do I look like a child? You think I’ll cave because she’s making braised short ribs?”

Choi Geon and Kim Chanho were still bickering when Choi Geon’s expression suddenly went cold.

“......How dare they.”

His hand went to the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Kim Chanho’s complexion turned pale at the sight.

“T-Teacher? I was being too rude, wasn’t I? But surely you don’t need to draw your sword over that......”

“Get behind me.”

“......What?”

As Kim Chanho stared at him in confusion, Choi Geon sensed the presence of martial artists closing in around the café from outside.

Jingle.

A platinum-blond foreign man entered the café moments later, walked straight up to Choi Geon, and asked,

“Choi Geon. Your title is Sword Demon. Are you him?”

Choi Geon glared directly at him as he answered.

It was a look that made even capable martial artists shrink back.

“That’s right. And who are you? What are those people outside doing?”

“I am Ivan Volkov, a World Martial Alliance investigator.”

At the name he had heard before, Choi Geon’s brows drew together.

With an expressionless face, Ivan Volkov explained why he had come.

“Due to the risk that you may flee or commit unlawful acts, I will place you in detention at the Korean Martial Alliance prison until the confrontation interrogation.”

“What did you say? Heh heh heh......!”

Choi Geon let out a twisted chuckle.

As Choi Geon’s killing intent began to rise, Ivan’s eyebrows twitched.

Yet Ivan did not avoid Choi Geon’s gaze. He met it head-on.

“What the hell do you people think I am......”

“Teacher.”

At the voice from behind him, just as he was about to explode in anger, Choi Geon flinched and looked back at Kim Chanho.

Then he nodded, signaling that everything was fine.

“......It’s nothing. Fine. Let’s go. Explain the circumstances on the way.”

Choi Geon readily agreed to the investigator’s demand.

He did not want the people around him to suffer because of him.

But there was someone who could not accept that.

“I’m going too.”

It was Kim Muhyuk, who had sensed the disturbance and come down from upstairs.

He strode over, took his place beside Choi Geon, and spoke to Ivan Volkov.

“Since my teacher is the subject of a special audit, I have no idea what unfair treatment he might suffer if he goes alone. I’ll accompany him as a witness.”

Ivan, however, firmly shook his head.

“I refuse. You have neither standing nor reason to come with him. If you wish to lodge a formal objection......”

Ivan stopped speaking and looked at Kim Muhyuk.

SHIIING.

Kim Muhyuk drew his sword, leveled it at World Martial Alliance investigator Ivan Volkov, and smiled fiercely.

“Then I’ll just make a situation where I can come along.”

Choi Geon and Kim Chanho stared at Kim Muhyuk in shock.

“Kim Muhyuk! Lower that sword at once!”

“M-Muhyuk?”

But Kim Muhyuk looked straight at the World Martial Alliance investigator as though he could not hear either of them.

“.......”

Ivan Volkov watched Kim Muhyuk quietly as he brazenly pointed a sword at him.

Then he nodded.

“On suspicion of obstructing and threatening the legitimate investigation of a World Martial Alliance investigator. That is more than sufficient grounds for detention.”

He then called over the Korean Martial Alliance martial artists waiting outside and gave his order.

“Take both of them into custody and bring them to the Martial Alliance.”