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chapter 186
Two days later.
Hagatnya Black Zone.
City Cartel Clubhouse.
The resort building, once used as a meeting place for “the Fingers” visiting Guam or foreign buyers on business,
was now completely taken over by Lee Hyun’s group and freely used as their base.
Naturally, all the existing CCTV and wiretaps had been removed long ago.
In their place, various magical wards were installed, allowing Lee Hyun to treat the place like his own personal hideout.
“Haha! Señor, the moment you’ve been waiting for has finally come—settlement time! Please, take a look at the report.”
Ramon placed a glossy leather folder on the table.
He was dressed in a full suit and tie, yet still wore his characteristic bullfighter’s smile.
“Settlement? I don’t remember asking for something like this.”
—Financial Summary Report.
That was what was written on the folder’s cover.
Ramon flicked his fingers lightly and replied.
“You didn’t exactly request one, Señor, but a true professional should ensure you’re properly compensated for your hard work, don’t you think?”
In other words, he’d neatly handled all the annoying details himself.
Pft.
Lee Hyun gave a short laugh, resting his chin on his hand.
“You’re better with numbers than I am. Summarize it for me.”
“Gladly. First, we seized three casinos from City Cartel. Their corporate names have already been laundered and disguised as subsidiaries under Homeros Holdings.”
“Homeros Holdings?”
“Ah, yes. That’s a paper company with you, Señor, listed as the owner.”
So a whole company had appeared out of nowhere.
“Did you open a numbered account in Switzerland too?”
Ramon waved his finger.
“Switzerland’s passé. These days, the key is not just security, but leaving no trace at all. So I changed the approach.”
“How?”
“Instead of concentrating everything in one country, I stacked layers of corporations across multiple regions. Small investment firms, operational entities, service providers, trust management companies, and so on.”
It was surprisingly interesting.
When Lee Hyun gestured for him to continue, Ramon straightened like a showman stepping into the ring and spoke with flourish.
“If each company appears to serve a different purpose, outsiders will see it as a perfectly legitimate group structure. The real trick lies in documentation and storytelling.”
“So you created plausible businesses as a front?”
“Exactly. When you match the profit flows with lawful activities, the books become perfectly clean.”
Ramon slid the folder forward with a grin.
“In short, rather than the Swiss-style single vault, you now have a multi-faced corporate network. You can control and distribute funds however you wish. Just give me the word.”
Lee Hyun opened the folder and skimmed through it.
He didn’t know a thing about business or accounting, but even he could tell Ramon had put tremendous effort into it.
“Kekeke! Quite tidy, isn’t it? There must’ve been plenty of room to play tricks during this, yet he handled it cleanly. For someone who looks like that, he’s got skill—and integrity!”
‘You can actually read this stuff?’
“Kekeke! I may not look it, but analyzing public company balance sheets is my hobby!”
A hobby Lee Hyun hadn’t expected from Sa Oh Jeong.
Just as he was about to express his admiration, Sa Oh Jeong proudly lifted his chin.
“If you want to wreck trolls online with cold, hard facts, this is basic knowledge.”
‘…’
“Kekekeke! In any case, my lord, you’d better keep this man close.”
Lee Hyun wondered just what kind of “net” Sa Oh Jeong actually haunted online. It was starting to sound terrifying.
“The reason I integrated the casinos is simple—they’re the fastest channels for cash flow. I also converted a port logistics company into a front, operating it as a laundering hub…”
The more Ramon explained, the more Lee Hyun could only chuckle.
The scope of City Cartel’s influence and Guam’s financial flow was staggering.
‘Just restoring normal operations for these assets could yield an annual cash flow of… 1.2 million dollars? Conservatively?’
A massive amount.
To Lee Hyun—who had always lived modestly—it was almost unimaginable.
Of course, not all that money would go into his pocket.
Running businesses meant hiring workers, paying upkeep, greasing local bureaucrats, and bribing legal and political channels.
Still, a 40% net profit margin was enough to make even a calm man’s eyes gleam.
But instead of excitement,
Lee Hyun felt a chill run through his veins.
“…Lastly, all five sponsor corporations have renewed their contracts. They’re nicely bound with toxic clauses, so if they value their lives, they’ll stick with us to the end.”
Ramon finished his report with a proud smile, as if to ask—Impressive, no?
But—
Thud!
Lee Hyun dropped the folder onto the desk.
“…Señor?”
Something in his tone made Ramon’s smile stiffen.
“You complicated things this much just to tie me down in Guam, didn’t you?”
“N-no, Señor! I swear I only wanted to make your operations here more convenient—”
Ramon quickly dropped to his knees mid-excuse, only to freeze.
Behind the mask, Lee Hyun’s gaze was ice-cold.
Fwoosh.
Ramon’s spine turned to ice.
“…!!”
“You’re afraid I’ll finish my business and leave, taking your precious fortress down with me.”
“…”
“So spare me the excuse that you did it for my sake.”
“M-my apologies! I only… I only wished for you to grow fond of Guam, Señor…!”
He remembered the day he saw Lee Hyun’s power in the Deep-Sea Dungeon—his blood had run cold.
Two blue ribbons acquired, City Cartel’s wealth seized—it made sense to assume Lee Hyun would settle here. But…
‘No. Señor isn’t attached to Guam. He could build the same fortune and fame anywhere in the world…!’
Which meant Guam was more of a burden than a boon.
That was why Ramon had so desperately tried to make the place look legitimate—to beg, silently:
Please don’t abandon us. I’ll make it so you don’t even have to bother.
The fortress Lee Hyun had built over the past few days had become Ramon’s dream home—his only hope.
‘If I can just keep this fortress standing… if it can truly take root, my kids won’t have to die in the arena ever again!’
For Ramon, all he needed was a safe nest for the children who’d escaped the Cult of the Abyss with him.
To him, Lee Hyun was the umbrella that could shelter that dream.
“Stand up.”
Ramon rose, uncertain and tense.
“I won’t be visiting Guam often.”
“…?”
He expected scolding—but his eyes widened instead.
“I don’t care how the business runs. I don’t care what happens to Guam.”
“Señor…”
“But I’m not the kind of trash who abandons those who call themselves my people.”
“Señor!”
“So next time you have a question or suggestion, don’t play games like this. Just ask me directly.”
Ramon’s eyes grew misty without him realizing.
“I already told you—you’re in charge of Guam’s business. Handle it well.”
“Y-yes, Señor! I’ll do my utmost to grow it further!!”
Pft.
Beneath the mask, Lee Hyun’s eyes curved faintly.
“Most who came from the Abyssal Cult are emotionally numb. You really are different.”
“Well, that’s why I left that fanatic den on my own, isn’t it?”
Relief washed over Ramon—his home wasn’t going to be taken from him.
And with that weight lifted, business ideas started flooding his mind.
‘For the Holdings to thrive, our bullfighting crew won’t be enough. I’ll need more trusted people. Esteban Rojas… La Sombra… I should recruit from the Dededo slums, and maybe reach out to Black Maria…’
Lee Hyun smiled as he watched Ramon drift into a business trance.
He might say all he wanted was a home for his kids, but Lee Hyun knew—Ramon couldn’t live without enterprise.
He’d left the right man in charge.
‘And it’ll be useful having a base like this later too.’
There were plenty of things Jet’s identity alone couldn’t handle.
The darker, rougher, and bloodier tasks—those would go through Gui-roe from now on.
‘After all, this side of me is part of who I am too.’
Lee Hyun wanted to accomplish much, much more.
“Still, I have one request in exchange for leaving the business to you.”
“Of course! What can I do for you?”
When Ramon snapped back to reality and asked, Lee Hyun’s gaze turned heavy.
“I want to build a private intelligence agency. Think that’s possible?”
“…!!”
Ramon’s eyes widened in shock.
“Looks like everything here’s just about wrapped up. Shall we head back soon?”
After sending Ramon off, Lee Hyun removed his mask and finally relaxed.
Clink.
The ice cubes in his glass melted, colliding softly.
“Kekeke. Leaving before your senior arrives?”
Sa Oh Jeong lifted the glass in both hands and downed the whiskey in one go.
Gulp, gulp.
That bottle cost at least five million won a pop—premium stuff.
He’d stolen it himself from the club’s liquor cellar, insisting it was too good to waste.
The sight of a tiny turtle drowning itself in booze was, admittedly, hilarious.
“Master will find me wherever I am. But the other side… I can’t afford to stay away too long.”
“The sorrow of a working man! Kekeke!”
Lee Hyun chuckled.
“Well, there’s the leave issue, yes—but more importantly, the colonel sent me something interesting.”
He showed his phone to Sa Oh Jeong.
—Found traces of Chairman Peng.
Only a few words, yet impossible to ignore.
“Kekeke! That’s bait too juicy to resist.”
“Right?”
“Even I’m curious to see the bastard’s face by now.”
The tiny, drunken turtle’s sarcastic grin was strangely endearing.
“He must be seething with hatred after losing his eyes to your senior. I’d love to see what kind of wretch he’s become.”
Lee Hyun nodded.
He was thinking the same thing.
This time, I’ll find him—and end him. Once and for all, before he can harm the world again.
After all, it was that man’s actions that had turned Guam into this chaotic mess, dragging the Mad Demon King into the fray.
Things here are finally settled. All that’s left is to wait for the bait to grow fat.
His operations in Guam had yielded far more than expected:
—Rescue of the Mad Demon King.
—Establishment of his Gui-roe Pater identity.
—Creation of a new business empire.
Of course, not everything was simple.
—The dispute with City Cartel.
—Relations with the sons of Zeus.
—Future activities in Guam.
—The looming hostility with the Bull Demon King.
Things were messier than ever—but that only meant there was room to grow.
The more challenges ahead, the more room for me to improve.
He didn’t think any of it would be too difficult.
He’d simply tackle them one by one.
“Most things here are settled. Once I handle this last matter, we’re done.”
Just one thing remained.
Machsans.
The Cup of Resurrection.
—I lack the authority to disclose details. Please wait for orders from headquarters.
That had been Machsans’ response when Lee Hyun asked to talk last night.
After Hercules’ group ruined the mission, he’d bowed his head in surrender.
He was probably drowning in conflict—and Mossad, his superiors, must be in chaos too.
That was why Lee Hyun had given him one day.
If he took longer, Mossad would be deemed an enemy.
It’s about time now…
Just then—
Beep—!
An alert sounded—someone had entered the resort perimeter.
The infrared CCTV flicked on.
It was Machsans’ car.
[Cup of Resurrection detected.]
Lee Hyun’s lips pressed tightly together.
And beside him—
“…”
Sa Oh Jeong silently watched, knowing full well what that meant for Lee Hyun.
