Yoon Taehwan was nineteen years old, unemployed, and currently eating instant noodles outside a convenience store.
According to Baek Seongho, he was also a wrestling prodigy.
"He won a regional championship at sixteen," Seongho explained. "Then he beat a national-level competitor during an exhibition match."
"Why isn't he competing anymore?" Kang Minjun asked.
"Got expelled. Three gang members attacked his little sister, so he put them in the hospital."
Minjun studied the young man across the street.
Taehwan was tall and broad-shouldered, with short black hair and a scar through his eyebrow. Even sitting down, his posture was balanced. His thick forearms suggested years of grappling.
Interesting.
"Let's meet him."
They crossed the street.
Taehwan glanced up when their shadows fell over his table.
"What?"
Seongho smiled. "Remember me?"
"No."
"We trained at the same gym."
"Congratulations."
Minjun laughed and pulled out a chair.
"I'm Kang Minjun."
"Didn't ask."
"I heard you're a talented wrestler."
"Used to be."
"Then how about a match?"
Taehwan finally looked at him properly.
He examined Minjun's lean physique, then returned to his noodles.
"No thanks. I don't beat up schoolkids."
Seongho covered his mouth.
Minjun smiled.
"That's unfortunate. I was hoping to recruit you."
Taehwan stopped eating.
"Recruit me?"
"I'm forming a crew."
"Then find someone else."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not interested in being some idiot's muscle."
Minjun leaned back.
"Good. Neither am I."
Taehwan frowned.
Minjun stood.
"But if you're going to reject me, at least find out whether I'm worth following."
Taehwan sighed and rose from his chair.
At 190 centimeters, he stood slightly taller than Minjun.
"Fine. Don't complain afterward."
He reached for Minjun's collar.
Minjun caught his wrist.
Taehwan immediately changed his grip and attempted an arm drag.
Nothing happened.
His eyes narrowed.
He dropped his weight, attacked Minjun's legs, and drove forward.
Minjun didn't move an inch.
What?
Taehwan pushed harder.
His shoes scraped against the pavement.
Minjun looked down at him.
"Excellent technique."
Then he lifted him off the ground with one arm.
Taehwan's eyes widened.
Minjun casually placed him back on his feet.
Seongho burst out laughing.
"I told you!"
Taehwan ignored him.
"Again."
This time, he attacked seriously.
His movements were explosive. He shifted between takedowns, trips, and throws with remarkable fluidity.
Minjun allowed him to establish a grip.
Taehwan seized the opportunity.
His hips rotated.
His feet planted.
He executed a powerful shoulder throw.
For an instant, Minjun left the ground.
Then he twisted in midair and landed perfectly.
Taehwan stumbled backward.
"That's impossible."
Minjun smiled.
"Your turn to fly."
He copied the throw.
Only his execution was faster, smoother, and terrifyingly powerful.
Taehwan suddenly found himself airborne.
Minjun caught him before he hit the pavement.
The wrestler stared at him.
Then began laughing.
"Holy shit."
Minjun released him.
"You're talented, Taehwan. Very talented. But you've barely scratched the surface of what you could become."
Taehwan's smile faded.
Nobody had ever spoken to him like that.
Coaches praised his potential because they wanted trophies. Gangsters approached him because they wanted someone to intimidate people.
This teenager had just overwhelmed him effortlessly.
And instead of humiliating him, he was talking about making him stronger.
"What kind of crew are you building?"
Minjun smiled.
"One that will eventually stand above the Four Major Crews."
Taehwan stared.
Then laughed again.
"You're completely insane."
"Probably."
"What happens if I join?"
"You train, you improve, and you help build something worth belonging to."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you finish your noodles."
Taehwan studied him.
"My sister stays out of it."
"Of course."
"And I'm not extorting innocent people."
"Neither am I."
Taehwan extended his hand.
"Then I'm in."
Minjun shook it.
"Welcome aboard."
Seongho grinned.
"Great! Now there are three of us."
"Four, technically," Minjun said.
They looked at him.
"I'm counting my mother. She feeds us."
Taehwan laughed.
For the first time in months, he felt genuinely excited about something.
They were leaving the convenience store when Minjun noticed a young man standing beneath a streetlight.
Messy black hair.
A lean frame.
Cold eyes.
A small white dog sat beside him.
Seongho stopped walking.
"Oh, shit."
Taehwan glanced at him.
"What?"
"That's Johan Seong."
The leader of God Dog approached without hesitation.
His gaze settled on Minjun.
"Kang Minjun?"
"That's me."
"You beat my guys."
"Yes."
Johan studied him.
"Fight me."
Minjun smiled.
"No introduction?"
"Fight me."
"Alright. There's a basketball court nearby."
Johan turned immediately.
"Lead the way."
Seongho rubbed his forehead.
"We've been a crew for ten minutes."
Taehwan watched Johan walk away.
"Is he strong?"
"Extremely," Seongho answered.
Minjun chuckled.
"Come on. This should be entertaining."
The basketball court was empty.
Johan handed his dog's leash to Seongho and removed his jacket.
Minjun stood opposite him, hands in his pockets.
Johan frowned.
"Are you going to fight like that?"
"Go ahead."
Johan attacked.
A sharp jab flew toward Minjun's face.
Minjun tilted his head.
The punch missed.
A cross followed.
Then a low kick.
Minjun avoided both without removing his hands from his pockets.
Johan accelerated.
Boxing flowed into Taekwondo. A spinning kick transitioned into a rapid combination of punches.
Every attack missed.
Minjun watched with interest.
So this is Johan's copying talent.
His technique was impressive.
His transitions were exceptional.
But compared to Minjun's martial comprehension, Johan was still learning the alphabet.
Johan suddenly changed his rhythm.
A feint.
A low kick.
Then a powerful hook.
Minjun stepped inside and flicked his forehead.
BANG!
Johan flew backward.
He struck the pavement and rolled several meters.
Seongho's jaw dropped.
Taehwan stared.
"What was that?"
"A finger flick," Seongho whispered.
Johan pushed himself upright.
His forehead throbbed.
What kind of strength is that?
He rushed forward again.
This time, he attempted to copy Minjun's movement.
His timing was nearly perfect.
But Minjun had already moved.
Johan's fist struck empty air.
A light tap landed against the back of his head.
He stumbled forward.
Minjun laughed.
"Your eyes are impressive. Unfortunately, your body can't keep up."
Johan spun around.
"Shut up!"
He attacked with everything he had.
Minjun caught his fist.
Johan tried pulling away.
Nothing.
He threw a kick.
Minjun caught that too.
Now Johan stood awkwardly on one leg, completely immobilized.
Minjun examined him.
"Are you finished?"
Johan struggled.
Minjun didn't budge.
The difference in physical strength was absurd.
Finally, Minjun released him.
Johan staggered backward.
His breathing was heavy.
Minjun hadn't broken a sweat.
Taehwan watched in disbelief.
He'd already experienced Minjun's strength firsthand, but seeing a Four Major Crew leader treated this way was something else entirely.
Johan clenched his fists.
"Again."
Minjun sighed.
"Fine. One last exchange."
He finally removed his hands from his pockets.
Johan immediately raised his guard.
Minjun took one step.
And disappeared.
BOOOOM!
A single punch struck Johan's abdomen.
His body launched across the basketball court.
He crashed into the chain-link fence.
Metal supports bent beneath the impact.
Johan fell onto the pavement.
He tried to rise.
His arms trembled.
Then his consciousness faded.
Silence settled over the court.
Minjun lowered his fist.
He had used only a tiny fraction of his strength.
No Sovereign Instinct.
No serious martial techniques.
Just overwhelming physical superiority.
He approached Johan, checked his condition, and stepped away.
"He'll recover."
Seongho stared.
"You just knocked out Johan Seong."
"Yes."
"The leader of God Dog!"
"I know who he is."
"With one punch!"
Minjun looked amused.
"Would you have preferred two?"
Taehwan burst out laughing.
Seongho looked ready to lose his mind.
Minjun picked up his jacket.
"Take him somewhere safe. We're leaving."
Taehwan glanced toward the unconscious Johan.
"You're not going to take over his crew?"
"Not tonight."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want thirty idiots who follow someone merely because he's strong."
Minjun looked toward his two companions.
"I want fighters with talent. People who choose to stand beside me and have the character to remain loyal when things become difficult."
Taehwan nodded slowly.
"And Johan?"
Minjun glanced back.
"He has potential. Whether he becomes an ally or an enemy is his decision."
He started walking.
"Now come on. I'm hungry."
Twenty minutes later, a video appeared in a private group chat.
It showed Johan Seong flying across a basketball court and crashing into a fence.
The recording was short.
But the person watching it didn't need to see anything else.
In a luxurious office overlooking Seoul, a tall young man wearing glasses leaned back in his chair.
A cigarette rested between his fingers.
Gun Park.
He replayed the video.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
His lips slowly curved upward.
"Interesting."
Beside him, Goo Kim leaned over the desk.
"What?"
Gun turned the screen toward him.
Goo watched the recording.
His smile disappeared for a moment.
Then returned, wider than before.
"Oh?"
He took the phone.
"Who's the handsome bastard?"
Gun looked toward the city.
"Kang Minjun."
Goo laughed.
"Never heard of him."
"Neither have I."
Gun adjusted his glasses.
"But someone who can defeat Johan that easily isn't ordinary."
Goo replayed the punch.
The fence bent.
Johan collapsed.
And the black-haired teenager simply walked away.
Goo whistled.
"Well, well."
He handed the phone back.
"Looks like Seoul just got interesting."
Gun smiled.
For once, he agreed.