The Red King

Under the night sky, in a secluded place away from the public eye.

"That was fun, Chung-Cheong's King, Kwak Jichang."

The voice was calm. A young man with red and black hair, dressed in a school uniform, was resting against a motorcycle, a lollipop in his mouth. His name was James Lee.

His words were directed at a man kneeling on the ground in front of him. The man had black hair, snake-like eyes, and wore glasses; his face was bruised and bloodied, and he was dressed in a business suit. This was Jichang Kwak.

"Maybe you aren't Chung-Cheong's King, but Seoul's King is what you should be." James continued, looking down at Jichang, who was motionless. "For someone who once ruled over Seoul, you lost so embarrassingly to him that it forced you out to Chung-Cheong to rule over a place like this."

James looked up at the sky, his gaze distant. "Chung-Cheong's original king didn't do anything wrong. Don't feel too bad that you were pushed out here." A figure flashed through James's mind as he spoke. "From the start, the one who truly fit Seoul's throne was someone with the blood of legends."

"You've heard the story, haven't you?" James said, straightening up as he stood. "For the sake of my plan, I took some body parts from the kings." He slipped his hands into his pockets, his eyes staying on Jichang, who remained silent. "From Ma Taesoo, I took his eyes. And from Ji Gongseop, his leg. But you, Chung-Cheong's King, Kwak Jichang…" James leaned closer, his face inches from Jichang's. "I won't take anything from you. You're too pitiful."

Jichang's face was blank, his expression lost in defeat.

"Consider yourself lucky." James chuckled, turning back toward his motorcycle. "You might be better off here in the countryside since you've practically lost everything to remain here."

"Well, farewell." James mounted his bike, ready to head off to his next target.

"James Lee, right?" Jichang muttered, his head bowed. James paused, turning back to see what he would say.

"It seems your next target is the king at the heart of Seoul, isn't it?" Jichang asked.

"Hm." James frowned slightly. "Yeah, you're right. But how do you know that?" James was surprised Jichang knew he was going after the king of central Seoul. Someone different from the others of the first generation. This king ruled no territory and hadn't been involved in the wars of the first generation. Jichang shouldn't know he was targeting someone who'd never shown up. But regardless, this mystery king intrigued James even more, especially since he, too, was called the Red King.

"Heh." Jichang chuckled, drawing a questioning look from James. "How do I know you're targeting him? It's simple, really." Jichang paused, memories flashing through his mind of his first encounter with that king, a demon, he might call him. "If you'd targeted that guy first…" Jichang lifted his head with a taunting smirk. "You wouldn't have made it to the other kings. You wouldn't be standing here at all."

"What do you mean by that?" James's eyes narrowed, taken aback. Was Jichang suggesting he'd have lost if he'd gone after this unknown king first? Even after the clear difference in their fight, was Jichang saying that king was on another level?

"It's not hard to understand." Jichang said, looking directly into James's narrowed eyes. "If that person, the Red King, had been first on your list, you wouldn't be here now. You'd be dead."

"Killed, huh?" James echoed, uncertain. "If that's the case, then the Red King is more interesting than I thought." If Jichang held him in that serious regard, this Red King had to be stronger than the entire first generation. And from the sound of it, he wasn't someone who cared for territories.

"Well, it's been fun chatting, but maybe worry about yourself," James said as he climbed onto his motorcycle, giving Jichang one last glance. "Farewell, former Seoul King." With that, he rode off.

In the heart of Seoul stood a massive thirty-story building, its luxurious facade stretching across a wide area. Its opulent entrance was as grand as that of a five-star hotel.

"So this is the place." James muttered as he looked up at the tall building. He'd learned through his sources that the Red King, Suoh Mikoto, owned it. What surprised him wasn't the ownership but the sheer extravagance of the place. It looked like the kind of place where political elites gathered. "Well, let's go."

Little did James know, this building was the hub of many illegal activities. Beneath it lay a network of tunnels that facilitated countless transactions, dealing in everything illicit, drugs, arms, human trafficking, organ trade, torture, cybercrimes, and money laundering.

At the rooftop level, partially lit by soft lights, a series of pools stretched out, their surfaces glowing from underwater lights, faintly illuminating the darkness. The atmosphere was relaxed, and above one pool, there was a large infinity jacuzzi, the water rippling as steam rose from it.

Inside the jacuzzi was a massive, muscular figure, reclining with his back against the side. The water covered him up to his chest, and his arms were wrapped around two women at his sides, their hands gliding over his abs and chest. In front of them, a floating tray held various alcoholic drinks. His hair was a ruffled, medium-length red with two strands hanging over his face. His eyes were closed, his head tilted back, clearly enjoying the moment.

"So this is where the Red King, Suoh Mikoto, resides."

A voice cut through the air from behind him, and Mikoto's closed eyelids slowly opened, revealing his amber eyes. The women in his arms turned their heads to see who had spoken.

Standing a few feet away was a tall young man with red and black hair, dressed in a school uniform, hands tucked into his pockets, and a lollipop in his mouth.

"But it's still surprising to know that the Red King owns a place like this." James was genuinely surprised. As he'd entered the building, he'd noticed staff members hauling suitcases, constantly moving in and out of various doors. Strangely, there was no security anywhere in sight. He'd approached a receptionist and asked for someone named Suoh Mikoto. She seemed momentarily surprised but gave him the location. The entire encounter felt suspicious, like something was wrong that he couldn't quite place.

"So, kid, what do you want?" Mikoto spoke, his tone calm and mature, dismissing James as a mere child by his voice alone.

"You see, I was pretty busy dealing with the other first-generation kings." James said, glancing up at the night sky. "At first, I thought of you as someone who couldn't reach the level of the other kings, considering you never got involved with them. But after hearing Jichang, the former Seoul King, put you on another level, I got curious." James took the lollipop from his mouth, tucking his other hand into his pocket. "A king who doesn't care about territories, who has no ambition to create his own legend like every other king… yet here you are, blank, with nothing that interests you." His eyes grew slightly serious. "But this whole place reeks of suspicion. It makes me think you have more control over central Seoul than I know about, which makes you the most dangerous of them all." James knew that if Mikoto had other assets and buildings operating in secret, he could pose a serious threat to his future plans.

"Get to the point, kid." Mikoto replied, uninterested in the boy's perspective and unmoved by what he'd figured out.

"Well, if you insist." James's eyes turned cold. "Since I consider you the most dangerous of the kings, I'll be taking something double from you than I took from the others." He couldn't leave a potential threat like Mikoto untouched. Even if Mikoto wasn't a threat in terms of sheer strength, his assets and power could become a serious obstacle.

"Is that so?" Mikoto replied simply. Standing up, the women clinging to him released their hold. He stepped out of the pool, his large, muscular frame only clad in swim trunks. His upper body, dripping with water, revealed a broad, solid chest and a perfectly defined eight-pack. His thick arms showed well-defined muscles down to his forearms, biceps, and triceps, and his legs, from his thighs down to his calves, displayed the same sculpted detail. His back was just as imposing, showcasing each muscle with a wide span that narrowed toward his waist.

He picked up a towel, drying himself off slowly.

"Maybe staying curious would've been a smarter choice." Mikoto said, setting the towel back on the chair and walking toward James, who wore a look of surprise. Stopping right in front of him, Mikoto tilted his head down, looking at James. "It might've saved you from yourself."

'What the-?' James was stunned. 'How tall is this guy?' He looked up at Mikoto, who towered over him. The man had to be around 220 cm, and his muscles, solid and perfect, radiating an aura of power. James could feel it, a pressure bearing down on him. It reminded him of the time he'd stood in front of the legendary fist, but this felt different. He was stronger now, yet the pressure remained. Could Jichang's words about the Red King being on another level be true?

"Aren't you thinking a bit too much?" Mikoto's apathetic eyes met James's gaze. "You talked big, and now you're hesitating. How laughable."

"Heh, no, I was just about to get started." James chuckled, clenching his fists and pushing past the sense of dread. 'I can't take risks.' He thought as he removed the lollipop from his mouth, his eyes deadly serious. He focused on one target. Mikoto's throat. Given their close proximity, Mikoto wouldn't be able to avoid or block it. James decided to play it safe, knowing the pressure he felt was real.

'Now.' James thought, and the floor beneath him cracked as he launched an incredibly fast kick at Mikoto's throat, breaking the sound barrier. The kick landed with a clean hit, sending shockwaves through the air. But there was a problem.

"Ummff." A hand gripped James over his mouth, holding him firmly in place. His eyes widened as he struggled to break free from the grip that held him.

"So, your confidence came from this?" Mikoto's calm voice made James look up, his eyes meeting Mikoto's expressionless face. His shock deepened when he saw that Mikoto's throat bore no mark or bruise from the hit. His kick had landed precisely, yet Mikoto stood there as if it hadn't even touched him.

"A weak attempt, aimed at a blind spot," Mikoto said, analyzing James's move. "Your speed and strength aren't even worth mentioning. So…"

Mikoto drove James's head into the ground, a powerful shockwave radiating outward. The floor beneath James's head dented under the force, his face contorting in pain as he struggled to escape Mikoto's iron-like grip.

"You'll be buried here." Mikoto's arms bulged, increasing the pressure with every second as James's head was forced deeper into the floor.

'What is this strength?' James felt desperation. His head was close to bursting under the relentless pressure. 'At this rate, I'll die.' Jichang had been right. 'This guy…' He looked up at Mikoto, whose face remained blank. '…is that strong.' He couldn't believe that the Red King possessed this level of power, making him helpless in an instant. He hadn't even seen Mikoto's hand move; he was faster and stronger, and he hadn't dodged the attack because he hadn't needed to. 'Freaking monster.' James thought bitterly, realizing this could be his end.

Just as James thought he was done for, a phone began to ring. The sound made Mikoto pause, and James opened his eyes to see Mikoto looking to the side. A woman in a cleaning outfit approached, handing Mikoto the phone.

Mikoto glanced at the caller ID and answered.

"What is it?" Mikoto asked, holding the phone to his ear.

"You mean this kid is with you?"

"Yeah. I can keep him alive, but next time, make sure he's on a tighter leash."

With that, Mikoto ended the call.

"Well, aren't you lucky?" Mikoto said, not waiting for a response as he lifted James up and slammed his head back down with a force that instantly knocked him out, forming a crater under his head.

Mikoto stood up, reaching for a nearby cigarette packet. He took one out, lit it up, and made his way over to the railings, stopping to look out at the glowing city below. The women in the jacuzzi continued to relax, unfazed by what had just occurred.

Some time passed.

"I didn't expect him to come to you, considering you're not involved with this generation." A voice called out.

Mikoto, still smoking, looked over at the figure approaching him from the entrance, a smirk crossing his face. The newcomer was tall, around 202 cm, wearing a black leather jacket with nothing underneath, jeans, and brown boots.

"Is this your dog, Gitae?" Mikoto asked, glancing over at the unconscious James lying in the crater.

"No, just a partner in crime." Gitae chuckled, taking in James's beaten state. "But man, you really did a slight number on him."

"A kid who doesn't know his limits." Mikoto said, turning back to gaze at the night sky as Gitae came to stand beside him. "He'll get himself killed if he's not careful."

"Heh." Gitae chuckled, lighting a cigarette and glancing at the city lights. "It's only because you were his target."

Mikoto didn't reply, and silence stretched between them as they both smoked.

"But hey, tomorrow I'm heading back to Mexico." Gitae said, breaking the silence as he slightly tilted his head up toward Mikoto. "Wanna tag along?"

"No, I've still got plenty to handle here." Mikoto replied, exhaling a plume of smoke.

Gitae simply nodded, taking a final puff before flicking his cigarette over the railing.

"Well, I'll be off then. I'll call you when I'm back in Korea." Gitae raised his left hand toward Mikoto. "Take care."

"You too." Mikoto fist-bumped Gitae, who then picked up the unconscious James, slinging him over his shoulder.

"Living true to your desires is the best way to enjoy life." Mikoto murmured, looking up at the stars as he puffed out his last smoke.