16

With a creak, the door swung open, and he entered solemnly, clutching the steel rod. Yet, what greeted his eyes inside defied all expectations.

Instead of the anticipated clash of blades and staves, there sat upon his humble stool a strikingly handsome young man—the very epitome of charm. Flanking him were two equally stunning women, their features mirroring his own in an uncanny symmetry.

On that modest stool, they seemed to command regal authority, transforming it into a throne of sorts.

Then, his pupils dilated in an instant.

Before him lay his deepest secret, laid bare upon the wall. The torn newspaper revealed a tangled web of lines, photographs, and meticulously clipped articles—a complex tableau mapping out intricate relationships.

It was his most guarded secret.

"Yi Jin-ho?" the seated youth spoke, a smile curling at the corners of his lips.

"Who are you?!" Yi Jin-ho demanded, tightening his grip on the steel rod, his breath quickening.

A young man, accompanied by two women! Even with a limp, he still possessed the strength to resist.

"I knew it. Who wouldn't seek revenge in such circumstances?" the youth continued, his smile unwavering. "Even the police are no exception, aren't they?"

As the youth rose to his feet, the truth dawned on Yi Jin-ho. This was Seo-jin.

Gazing upon the intricate web of relationships plastered on the wall, every thread led to a central figure—a photograph of a middle-aged man—the very culprit responsible for the deaths of Yi Jin-ho's wife and daughter.

Over the years, Yi Jin-ho had appeared to succumb to despair, masquerading as a mere scavenger, while clandestinely gathering information. His outward facade was but a ploy to lull his enemies into a false sense of security.

"Who are you really?!" Yi Jin-ho demanded, slamming the door shut with his foot, his tone growing more aggressive.

In the confined space, only the four of them remained. The two women behind Seo-jin tensed, ready to intervene, but he raised a hand to stop them.

"You don't need to know who I am," Seo-jin retorted. "All you need to know is that I can help you seek revenge."

In Seo-jin's eyes, the darkness within Yi Jin-ho manifested into a tangible, terrifying entity, looming ominously behind him.

"Help me seek revenge?" Yi Jin-ho scoffed. But his laughter faltered the next moment, morphing into profound shock.

Boom!

A blaze suddenly erupted in Seo-jin's palm, burning brightly, radiating intense heat. Their proximity allowed Yi Jin-ho to discern that there were no tricks involved; this scorching sensation was undeniably real.

With a snap of his fingers, Seo-jin commanded the flames to dance between his fingertips.

"You may consider this an invitation from the depths of hell," Seo-jin remarked with a wicked grin. "So, are you willing to embrace the power of the demon for the sake of revenge?"

The power of the demon?! Yi Jin-ho was shaken to his core.

Crack!

Behind Seo-jin, the sound of a whip cracked sharply.

Jin Su-yeon transformed into a succubus, while Jin Ji-yeon exuded an aura of temptation, one on each side of him, emanating an aura of infernal origins.

Awaiting his decision.

After a moment of silence, Yi Jin-ho let the steel rod fall to the ground.

"I once prayed to the Most High, but it seems the response I received was the power of the demon," he said with a bitterly ironic smile. "Perhaps there is no Most High in this world after all, or how else could the wicked thrive while the innocent suffer?"

"I'm willing," he declared, taking a step forward, eyes ablaze with the fervor of revenge.

If justice could not punish the wicked, then let him become a demon to combat evil.

Soon, stifled cries of agony echoed from within the room. Unbeknownst to anyone, another true demon had emerged within the city's midst...

"Farewell, senior!" The young female judge, her hair tied back in a ponytail, immediately stepped aside upon meeting, allowing a clear path.

"Hmm," came the sound from Choi Yeong-mi's nostrils as she walked past, her gaze vacant, devoid of acknowledgment.

Observing the disdain in Choi Yeong-mi's eyes, the female judge immediately bit her lip, feeling anxious and uncertain, unsure of what she might have done to incur the ire of this senior figure in the industry.

Seeing this scene, Choi Yeong-mi's mood lightened slightly. Without even a glance back, she departed.

This young female judge hadn't offended her in any way; rather, it was simply her youth that pricked at Choi Yeong-mi's heart.

Before long, she would retire! This meant she would no longer wield significant power, nor could she make extra money under the table. Instead, she would rely solely on her pension to live a mediocre life. How could this not sour her mood?

"I need to figure out a way to make one last big haul before retirement!" she muttered to herself as she arrived at the underground parking garage.

Use it or lose it!

As a judge presiding over criminals, she had secretly accepted numerous bribes, aiding many in escaping legal consequences. To her, the law was nothing more than a tool for making money.

Retrieving her keys, she pressed the unlock button. As the car lights flashed, Choi Yeong-mi suddenly spotted a shadowy figure standing beside her car.

"Who's there?!" Her vigilance spiked instantly.

Click-clack!

Footsteps echoed, and a figure emerged from the shadows, filthy and disheveled, with hair in disarray.

"Where did this vagabond come from? Don't you know this is a courthouse?"

"Do you believe I'll have the security guard arrest you? Get out of here!"

Clara Ying-mi, holding her nose, said haughtily. She was a judge at the courthouse, a person of high standing, far more noble than this vagabond!

"Judge Clara, you remain as thoroughly detestable as ever," the vagabond intoned in a deep, rumbling voice, slowly lifting his head.

"Judging by your demeanor, it seems you no longer recognize me."

With those words, the vagabond emerged from the shadows, revealing a face weathered by the passage of time, yet with eyes of remarkable sharpness.