Just as they walked out of White Tiger Job Center—or what remained of it—they were attacked. Within minutes, the attackers were dealt with.
Baki yawned as he looked at the broken building. Then he said to Tom Lee, "Old man, now that this place is destroyed, are you finally gonna build something new and decent?"
Veins popped on Tom Lee's forehead. Before he could retort, Manager Kim's phone started to ring.
Brrring! Brrring!
Manager Kim answered the call. "...Hello."
It was Jinchoel Park. "Uh, are you alright?"
Manager Kim looked at all the fallen bodies and said, "Just as we stepped out, we were attacked. What about you guys?"
Jinchoel Park replied, "We were hit too."
From the side, Tom Lee said to Manager Kim, "Let me talk."
Manager Kim handed him the phone. Tom Lee held it near his ear and said mockingly, "Yo, you ugly bastard."
Jinchoel Park also replied mockingly, "You're uglier than me."
But Tom Lee answered, "What are you talking about? I'm a handsome middle-aged man, you know?"
Jinchoel Park mocked, "Do you mean crazy middle-aged man?"
Tom Lee kicked one of the fallen enemies in the ass. "You're really good at changing the meaning. You want to die, huh? Haha."
Then his expression changed to a serious smile. "Anyway, I heard your side was hit?"
After all the mocking and bickering, both Jinchoel Park and Tom Lee came to one conclusion: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Tom Lee looked back. "You heard it, right? I made a bet with that military bastard. From this moment, we're going to defeat the Black Market before ARES does, okay?"
---
Sometime later
The White Tiger forces reached the airport. Sanghui Han asked as he got off the car, "But Director, do you really think this method will work? Even if it's a bet, blocking the airport itself is a bit..."
Tom Lee interrupted him and said with a grin, "Oh my, Sanghui Han~ Think about it. Do you remember what happened during Zu Pengguan's mission? The Black Market guys are all from overseas~ From this moment, if you just sit with your eyes wide open, those who sneak in from overseas will come to us on their own."
Baki yawned and said, "Old man, are you making fools of us? No enemy is coming here. The planes coming in this direction have diverted. What have you done?"
Tom Lee laughed. "Baki, you're still too young to understand. Why should we fight some fodder here when we can just block them from landing? I've assigned Manager Shin to tamper with the security. All flights will now have to land in Japan or China. Haha~"
Baki replied, "That's not fun, old man. What are we supposed to do now? Sit back here?"
Tom Lee shook his head and then grinned. "We're going to attack the Black Market branch in Korea. Hahaha~"
---
After a while, the White Tiger forces reached a massive building. Baki got off the car and stretched.
Tom Lee, Manager Kim, Yeongcheol, Sanghui Han, and Baki walked toward the enemies. Tom Lee grinned. "Right, this is where it starts—the real bet."
Sanghui Han combed his hair. "Look at this, boys. No matter how much security South Korea has, it's at risk. Isn't this a bit too blatant?"
The doors burst open. Inside, dozens of Black Market fighters turned their heads.
"Get them!" someone shouted.
The enemies rushed forward. Sanghui Han stepped ahead first. A muscled man swung a pipe at his head. Sanghui Han ducked under it, grabbed the man's arm, and twisted. The elbow bent backward with a crack. The pipe clattered to the floor. Sanghui Han swept the man's legs and slammed him face-first into the ground.
Two more came at him. Sanghui Han caught one by the wrist, pulled him close, and threw him over his hip. The body crashed into the second attacker. Both went down. Sanghui Han dropped an elbow on the first man's ribs. Something crunched.
Yeongcheol moved to the right. A fighter threw a wild punch. Yeongcheol slipped it and drove a straight right into the man's nose. Blood sprayed. He followed with a left hook to the jaw. The man's head snapped sideways. Yeongcheol kicked him in the stomach. The fighter folded and collapsed.
Another one came with a bat. Yeongcheol blocked it with his forearm, then punched the man three times in the face. Jab, cross, hook. The bat fell. Yeongcheol kicked the man's knee. It buckled. A final punch to the temple and the man was out cold.
Manager Kim went left. A knife came at his throat. He deflected it with his forearm, stepped in, and drove his palm into the attacker's chin. The man's head jerked back. Manager Kim grabbed his wrist, twisted the knife away, and kneed him in the gut. The man wheezed. Manager Kim threw him into a wall.
Three more surrounded him. Manager Kim kicked the first one in the shin, then punched him in the throat. The man gagged and dropped. The second swung a chair. Manager Kim dodged, grabbed the chair leg, and yanked it away. He smashed it into the third man's face. Then he spun and elbowed the second man in the temple. Both dropped.
Baki walked into the middle of the room. Five men charged him at once. He punched the first one in the face. The man's nose shattered. Baki grabbed the second by the collar and headbutted him. The man went limp. Baki threw him aside.
The third swung a metal rod. Baki caught it, ripped it from his hands, and slammed it across the man's ribs. He dropped. The fourth tried to tackle Baki. Baki kneed him in the face mid-charge. Teeth flew out. The fifth hesitated. Baki kicked him in the chest. He flew back into a table.
More enemies poured in from the stairs. Baki met them halfway. He punched one in the liver. The man crumpled. He kicked another in the head. The man spun and crashed into the railing. Baki grabbed a third by the face and slammed him into the floor.
Tom Lee stood at the entrance, watching. Then he grinned and walked forward. A huge man, over two meters tall, stepped in front of him.
"You're the boss?" the man growled.
Tom Lee didn't answer. The man threw a punch. Tom Lee caught it with one hand. The man's eyes widened. Tom Lee squeezed. Bones cracked. The man screamed. Tom Lee pulled him forward and punched him once in the chest. The man flew backward through a desk.
Three more rushed him. Tom Lee grabbed the first by the head and smashed him into the second. Both went down. The third swung a bat at Tom Lee's head. Tom Lee caught it with his bare hand. He ripped it away and swung it. The bat hit the man's ribs. He flew across the room and crashed into a wall.
Someone pulled a gun. Manager Kim saw it first. He kicked a chair at the man. It hit his arm. The gun went off into the ceiling. Manager Kim closed the distance in two steps and punched the man's wrist. The gun dropped. He grabbed the man's head and kneed him in the face. The man collapsed.
Sanghui Han wrestled with two enemies at once. He grabbed one in a chokehold from behind. The man clawed at his arm. Sanghui Han tightened his grip. The man went limp. The second tried to kick him. Sanghui Han threw the unconscious body at him. Both fell. Sanghui Han stomped on the second man's ribs.
Yeongcheol faced four enemies. He dodged a punch, countered with a hook to the body, then an uppercut to the jaw. The first man dropped. He blocked a kick from the second and punched him twice in the face. The man stumbled back. Yeongcheol kicked him in the chest. He fell.
The third and fourth came together. Yeongcheol ducked under a swing, punched one in the gut, then elbowed the other in the face. He kicked the first man's knee. It buckled. He punched the second man in the throat. Both went down gasping.
Baki threw a man through a glass door. Shards exploded everywhere. Another enemy tried to grab him from behind. Baki threw his head back into the man's face. The man let go. Baki spun and punched him in the stomach. The man doubled over. Baki grabbed his head and kneed him twice. The man collapsed.
Tom Lee walked deeper into the building. A group of ten men blocked the hallway. Tom Lee cracked his neck.
"Damn, don't make me wait!" he said.
Tom Lee charged. He punched the first man so hard he flew into the others behind him. Three went down. Tom Lee grabbed another by the shirt and threw him into the wall. The wall cracked. He kicked another in the chest. Ribs broke. The man slid across the floor.
The rest scattered. Tom Lee grabbed one by the leg, swung him like a club, and knocked down two more. He dropped the body and punched another man in the face. The man's jaw dislocated. Tom Lee kicked the last one in the stomach. He flew backward and crashed into a vending machine.
Manager Kim cleared the stairs. Bodies littered each step. He reached the second floor. More enemies waited. Manager Kim didn't slow down.
Sanghui Han and Yeongcheol worked together on the ground floor. Sanghui Han threw men into Yeongcheol's punches. Yeongcheol knocked them into Sanghui Han's throws. They moved like a machine.
Baki fought alone in the center of the room. Bodies piled around him. Blood covered his knuckles. He grinned. More enemies came. He met them head-on. Punches, kicks, throws. No one lasted more than a few seconds.
Tom Lee, Manager Kim, and Baki reached the top. ARES was already fighting the Black Market on the top floor. Manager Kim started to take care of the small fry, while Tom Lee approached Jinchoel Park, who was fighting a tough opponent. That tough opponent was codename HH, the number 4 of Black Market.
Baki also approached an enemy who was bashing around a bald, black guy from ARES. It was Kim Daesik, who was being beaten by codename J2.
Baki watched their fight with interest for a while, but soon his interest dropped. It was too barbaric. Though Kim Daesik had heart, he was too weak to be a match for codename J2. But his tenacity was impressive.
Suddenly Baki vanished from his spot and appeared between Daesik and J2. A kick connected to J2's stomach.
J2 slid back and stopped. He looked at Baki. Blood dripped from his mouth. He spat and grinned.
"Who the hell are you?"
Baki didn't answer. He stood relaxed, hands at his sides.
J2 charged forward. He threw a wild right hook. Baki leaned back. The fist passed his face. J2 followed with a left. Baki slipped it. J2 threw another right. Baki ducked under it and stepped in. He drove a straight punch into J2's ribs. J2 grunted. Baki stepped back.
J2 swung again, wider this time. Baki blocked it with his forearm and countered with a jab to J2's nose. Blood splattered. J2 shook his head and rushed forward. He threw punch after punch. Baki weaved between them, then kicked J2's lead leg. J2 stumbled. Baki punched him in the jaw. J2's head snapped to the side.
J2 roared and grabbed at Baki. Baki sidestepped and kicked J2's knee from the side. J2's leg buckled but he didn't fall. He swung his elbow at Baki's head. Baki blocked it with both arms, then kicked J2 in the stomach. J2 bent forward. Baki kneed him in the face. J2 staggered back.
J2 wiped the blood from his mouth. He charged again. This time he swung low, aiming for Baki's body. Baki blocked the first punch with his elbow, then caught the second punch on his forearm. J2 threw a headbutt. Baki tilted his head. J2's forehead grazed Baki's temple. Baki grabbed J2's shirt, pulled him down, and kneed him in the ribs. J2 coughed.
Baki let go and kicked J2's thigh. J2's leg gave out and he dropped to one knee. Baki kicked him in the chest. J2 flew back and hit the floor. He rolled and got up quickly. His breathing was heavier now.
J2 rushed in again. He threw a straight punch. Baki parried it and punched J2 in the liver. J2's body jerked. Baki followed with a hook to the jaw. J2's head turned. Baki kicked his other leg. J2 stumbled but stayed up. He swung wildly. Baki ducked and punched him in the stomach. J2 doubled over. Baki grabbed his head and threw a knee into his face. J2's nose cracked. Blood poured out.
J2 fell back against a desk. He pushed off it and charged again. He tackled Baki. Both hit the floor. J2 got on top and threw punches down at Baki's face. Baki blocked with his arms, then bucked his hips and rolled. Now Baki was on top. He punched J2 twice in the face. J2's head bounced off the floor.
J2 shoved Baki off and scrambled to his feet. Baki stood up too. J2 swung a kick at Baki's head. Baki blocked it with his arm. J2 kicked again. Baki caught his leg, swept J2's standing leg, and dropped him. J2 hit the floor hard. Baki stomped on his ribs. J2 coughed and rolled away.
J2 got up slower this time. His face was swollen. Blood covered his shirt. He charged again anyway. He threw a heavy right. Baki slipped it and punched J2 in the throat. J2 gagged. Baki kicked his knee. It buckled. J2 dropped to one knee again. Baki kicked him in the face. J2 fell backward.
J2 tried to get up. Baki walked over and kicked him in the ribs. J2 rolled onto his side. Baki grabbed him by the hair, lifted his head, and punched him in the temple. J2's eyes rolled back. Baki let go. J2's head hit the floor.
J2 didn't move.
Baki stepped back and looked at Kim Daesik, who was still on the ground, breathing hard and looking at him with shock. The way Baki defeated J2 was effortless. If it had been someone else watching the guy who'd easily beaten them get destroyed, they would have despaired. But that wasn't the case for Kim Daesik. His eyes were filled with immense respect for Baki.