"I told you, didn't I?"

Kang Jin-Ho sounded disinterested. Utterly composed. And in complete contrast to this horrifying place!

However, Nakata Yuji couldn't help but think that this composure actually suited Kang Jin-Ho quite well.

That was who Kang Jin-Ho was, after all… A man who seemed a little detached from this world.

The usual things that ruled this world, like laws and common sense, didn't affect him. In that case, speaking calmly despite the wretched condition of his environment seemed fitting for a man like Kang Jin-Ho.

Nakata Yuji wouldn't have thought of these things when he had no idea what or who Kang Jin-Ho was. Now that he had a good idea, though… These thoughts popped up into his mind all on their own.

This man was different. Different from any other human beings Nakata Yuji knew. Someone once told him that having eyes, a nose, and a mouth didn't make one a person. Ditto for things like two arms and legs.

That saying was probably meant for Kang Jin-Ho since this bastard was something else, something

inhuman

, that only looked like a human being on the outside!

Was this because Kang Jin-Ho was inhumanly strong? No, not really.

There should be other experts as strong as Kang Jin-Ho in this world. For instance, the Crimson King; he and Kang Jin-Ho apparently fought to a standstill, didn't they?

Also, there was the Shinichi-kai's Iemoto. He could also be occupying a similar realm of strength as Kang Jin-Ho.

However, those men could never be like Kang Jin-Ho. After all, Kang Jin-Ho's strength wasn't merely physical in nature. No, it was more than that. It was the power to overwhelm and oppress his surroundings!

That was the power Kang Jin-Ho possessed. Nakata Yuji had been in the Iemoto's presence and shuddered from that man's strength countless times before. That was why he could tell for sure that the Iemoto's strength was not the same as Kang Jin-Ho's.

The Iemoto made Nakata Yuji fear for his life as death could be mere seconds away depending on that treacherous man's whims. In other words, it was something more pragmatic. However, Kang Jin-Ho made Nakata Yuji fear about something else.

Even if a lion was lovingly raised by humans, no one would dare put their heads inside that lion's mouth. This wasn't the issue of one's rational thinking but instinct.

The terror Kang Jin-Ho instilled in his victims wasn't calculated. No, it was more like an instinctive fear a human would feel after encountering an untamed predator out in the wild.

That was what Kang Jin-Ho made others feel!

"I told you that this is a meaningless dog's death," said Kang Jin-Ho as he took another step closer.

Nakata Yuji dazedly stared at this spectacle. Nothing about this scene felt real to him.

Whether it was the situation he found himself in, the things his eyes could see, or Kang Jin-Ho leisurely closing the distance… Everything seemed blurry as if they were happening underwater.

Nakata Yuji firmly bit his lip.

'I was trying to escape from reality, wasn't I!'

No matter what he thought, reality was reality. Regardless of the situation, what Nakata Yuji needed right now was a clear recognition of the reality unfolding before him. That was absolutely necessary if he wanted to resolve this deadly situation!

This place was undoubtedly Hell. And its chief architect, the devil in human skin, was steadily closing the distance toward Nakata Yuji. However, that wouldn't be where this story ends.

Nakata Yuji chewed his lip.

"So, what do you think?" Kang Jin-Ho asked as his steps brought him to the spot right before the Japanese man.

Nakata Yuji's vision was filled with Kang Jin-Ho's legs as he was still plopped on the floor.

"…!"

Nakata Yuji got another chilling reminder of the situation he was stuck in. He slowly looked up at Kang Jin-Ho's face. And he couldn't see anything there.

To be more precise, Nakata Yuji couldn't see any emotion on Kang Jin-Ho's face. However, that didn't mean he was completely emotionless. It was safe to say Kang Jin-Ho's expression had not changed since the beginning of this Hell. In that case… What did that mean?

'It means… This battle was nothing to him!'

This battle, this war was… It meant nothing to Kang Jin-Ho. It was as memorable to him as going on a relaxing Sunday stroll. Even though he was standing on top of a mountain of countless corpses!

A hollow chuckle leaked out of Nakata Yuji's mouth just then.

'What did I say to him? What were those stupid things I said back then?'

Nakata Yuji began remembering all those insults and jeers he spewed in Kang Jin-Ho's way when the latter landed on the ship.

How laughable it must've been. How pathetic he must've looked in Kang Jin-Ho's eyes!

When Nakata Yuji imagined what Kang Jin-Ho must've thought while listening to all the jeers, he felt a powerful urge to slice his gut open with a knife and kill himself right there and then.

Kang Jin-Ho asked again. "What is your answer?"

Nakata Yuji's trembling eyes looked up at Kang Jin-Ho. And then…

"...It's a dog's death."

He muttered quietly. However, the light in his eyes suddenly flickered brightly.

"I… I will not die a dog's death."

Kang Jin-Ho smirked slightly. "Do you think you can?"

"Yes, I do. It's definitely possible!"

"How so?"

Nakata Yuji bit his lip again. He even clenched his fists tightly. He finally realized it. This man… No, this monster wished to converse with him!

"I do not get to decide that, sir. That privilege is with you," said Nakata Yuji.

"With me, you say?"

"Yes."

Kang Jin-Ho grinned as if he was intrigued. And Nakata Yuji received yet another reminder of Kang Jin-Ho's demonic nature from that grin.

Several hundred must've died by Kang Jin-Ho's hands tonight. That estimation didn't even include those souls who jumped into the ocean and died. Despite that omission, this monster still had slaughtered so, so many people!

Despite all the blood on his hands, Kang Jin-Ho was still grinning.

Even if this was a war situation, and deaths were unavoidable in war… Could someone responsible for the deaths of so many still smile like Kang Jin-Ho?

Just how many people did Kang Jin-Ho kill and how many wars did he fight to be able to smile nonchalantly in this vision of Hell?!

For a moment there, Nakata Yuji forgot about the situation he was in. And it was Kang Jin-Ho's voice that sobered him up again.

"Why do you think I get to decide that?"

Nakata Yuji sucked in a deep breath. "...Because you have let me live."

"Hmm?"

Nakata Yuji noticed his voice was quaking fearfully. He told himself to be calmer. To be more cool-headed. Every word he said in this moment could determine his fate, after all!

He was flooded by tension incomparably more nerve-racking than anything he felt while in the Iemoto's presence. Nakata Yuji's hands and feet were already soaked in clammy sweat. And his soaked clothes clung to his back after all the cold sweat flooded down his spine.

"Everyone has died, yet I'm still alive. I know that my survival isn't down to my luck. No, I know that you have deliberately spared me. Deliberately means… There is a reason why you spared me."

Kang Jin-Ho didn't respond and silently observed Nakata Yuji.

That was all the signal Nakata Yuji needed, and he desperately continued on. "Cause and effect rule everything in this world, sir. You spared me, so you must want something from me. And that something must be… You want to use me."

"Use you?"

"Yes, sir!" Nakata Yuji replied with some conviction. "I know the Japanese martial society better than anyone here. And… And I'm willing to offer you any and all information regarding Japan if you wish! Whether your goal is to continue stopping the Japanese invasion or to invade the islands yourself… My information will prove to be useful to you, sir!"

The strands of sweat trickled into Nakata Yuji's eyes and stung him uncomfortably. Even then, he dared not close his eyes. He dared not take his eyes off Kang Jin-Ho!

Now was emphatically not the time to be scheming. Nakata Yuji must show Kang Jin-Ho that he was being genuine.

People like Kang Jin-Ho never really cared about securing benefits. That was because they could always generate enough profits for themselves whenever they wanted.

Empty promises meant nothing here. What he could offer also didn't mean a thing. What Nakata Yuji needed to demonstrate right now was not the worth of his information but how cooperative he could be.

Nakata Yuji was confident of pulling this off. His country? His brethren? None of that mattered to him. He had to survive first before he could worry about his country and its people. And this was the only way for him to ensure his survival!

Nakata Yuji desperately clamped his shivering lips close and stared at Kang Jin-Ho. His eyes were getting even more bloodshot.

What was the way to survive an encounter with a devil? It was simple. Make a deal with the devil! Even if that meant one would have to sacrifice his everything!

Doing this could bring about an even more horrifying fate later on. However, it still meant Nakata Yuji could survive the "now." That was why he was sticking to this principle like a leech.

If he had to become a traitor, so be it. If he was ordered to become a dog, he'd gladly say yes!

He didn't even dare tell himself he'd swallow mud for the sake of his future. Moral victories like that wouldn't help him, anyway. No, Nakata Yuji would simply dedicate himself to obeying Kang Jin-Ho… All for the sake of ensuring his survival!

He was prepared to cast aside any hint of rebellion in his heart and serve Kang Jin-Ho unquestioningly!

That was the path Nakata Yuji chose at this very moment.

"You're saying something strange there," Kang Jin-Ho smirked. "You speak as if I'm planning to invade Japan."

"...Are you not going to?" Nakata Yuji asked, his voice containing his resoluteness and nervousness. "Japan has attacked you first. And you've repelled the attack in the most emphatic fashion imaginable. However, according to your calculations, this… cannot be the end."

"…"

"You have managed to stop an attack that was never provoked in the first place. However, your blood runs too hot to end things here. As such, you, sir, will try to make Japan pay."

Kang Jin-Ho silently studied Nakata Yuji. As expected, this Japanese man seemed quite quick-witted.

"Please use me, sir!" Nakata Yuji planted his forehead on the floor. "I can be of some use to you. Use me, and you will reach your goal a little easier!"

With that, Nakata Yuji stopped talking. Saying any more than this would only backfire on him. In situations like this, he must quietly wait for the dominant party's response. It was crucial to bow his head but not come across as groveling.

Eventually, Kang Jin-Ho's voice reached Nakata Yuji's hearing. "You're going a little overboard with your submissive attitude."

"…"

"I hear it's one of the unique national characteristics of Japanese people, but I don't believe in such things. Doesn't matter where you're from, people are still people. The only difference separating everyone is the type of behavior you're accustomed to."

Kang Jin-Ho briefly stopped talking there and stared at Nakata Yuji. After a bout of uncomfortable silence later, he addressed the Japanese again.

"I want to know how you can be so submissive toward an enemy you were bitterly fighting only a little while ago."

"It's simple, sir," said Nakata Yuji without any hesitation. "It's because I was impressed by you. And now I admire your strength."

"You admire me now?"

"Yes, sir." Nakata Yuji responded unfalteringly. He could do this because he wasn't lying.

'Who wouldn't be impressed by this man's strength?'

Kang Jin-Ho's demonic strength and resoluteness, combined with his decisiveness and boldness, as demonstrated by how swiftly he acted after receiving the information on the Japanese…! If Nakata Yuji were to serve someone, it must be a man like this!

"Sir, people from various nations already serve you. They also must be people who once fought against you only to be impressed by the depths of your strength. Now I understand why those people decided to come under your wings, sir! If I can't reach the peak via my own strength… I'd like to serve someone who can."

Nakata Yuji planted his forehead on the floor again. With that, he had said his piece. And all he could do was wait for Kang Jin-Ho's decision. However…

'He will accept me.'

This decision had already been made in the beginning. If not, Nakata Yuji wouldn't have been spared. People far stronger than him had already been killed, so why would Kang Jin-Ho keep him alive until now?

Nakata Yuji thought he only had to provide some nice-sounding pretext, then serve Kang Jin-Ho wholeheartedly. When he objectively thought about this situation some more, he believed his choice wasn't a poor one.

Compared to the Iemoto, Kang Jin-Ho seemed like a far better deal. A deal worth serving! That was why…

"How amusing," said Kang Jin-Ho. His chuckle broke Nakata Yuji's chain of thoughts. "So, I spared you because you might be useful…"

Nakata Yuji's thoughts were further disrupted by Kang Jin-Ho's words that followed right after his chuckles. Words that contained unmistakable sneer.

Kang Jin-Ho asked again. "Do you know what a dog's death is?"

"...Yes. It's when I continue resisting you, only to die meaninglessly."

"No. Wrong answer. That isn't a dog's death."

Nakata Yuji hurriedly raised his head… Only for his entire body to freeze up.

Kang Jin-Ho's eyes were dyed ever so slightly in crimson. And when Nakata Yuji saw those eyes, he instinctively realized something had gone terribly wrong.

"Those who died tonight due to your orders… Now that was a dog's death. Yes, the people who must die because someone forced a choice upon them, that is the dog's death I'm talking about."

"B-but, I…"

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not pitying them. Even if the choice had been forced on them, it was still their decision to follow through or not. It's just that…" Kang Jin-Ho bared his fangs. "You need to take some responsibility."

Creeeak!

A pitch-black claw of demonic qi suddenly grew out of Kang Jin-Ho's finger.

"If you had emerged victorious tonight, I'm sure you could have achieved so, so much later on. In that case, it's only fair that you pay the price for your failure before dying. Wouldn't you agree?"

"…!"

Nakata Yuji couldn't say anything. All he could do was stare at Kang Jin-Ho with his quaking eyes. He couldn't do anything but shudder pitifully at Kang Jin-Ho's overwhelming pressure.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Don't worry," Kang Jin-Ho muttered, a faint smirk etched on his face. "I'm rather proficient at this sort of thing, you see?"

A drop of blood fell from the tip of that lengthy demonic qi claw.