The Overlord of Blood and Iron

‘T-the contract… . ’

Kwak-jung was startled .

After ripping the soul-contract in half, it vanished into thin air, burning itself with flames .

“I think you understand what this means . ” Kang Chul-in spoke .

‘Trust, it’s trust . This man, he really wants me to work for him . ’

Kwak-jung could understand what Kang Chul-in was trying to tell him .

Of course, why wouldn’t he .

Who wouldn’t feel a powerful message stemming from Kang Chul-in after he had ripped the soul-binding contract?

“I’ve done everything I could have . If you still don’t work under me… it seems like we don’t have fate together . ”

Kang Chul-in wanted loyalty that came from true respect, instead of ‘duty and responsibility’ that came from the contract .

If what Kang Chul-in forced Kwak-jung to do some labor work from the soul-contract, then he would just be a slave; and it would just be someone with their servant .

But what Kang Chul-in wanted wasn’t something that the contract would cover, and wasn’t something that you could force on someone .

After all, Kang Chul-in’s goal was to conquer all of Pangaea . And would he drag along someone that he had forced as a tactician for him?

… . There was no way that would happen .

Although Kwak-jung may work for him quite enthusiastically at first because he had found his little sister for him, as time went by, Kwak-jung probably wouldn’t use his full ability on attacking a single territory for Kang Chul-in, let alone conquering all of Pangaea .

Kang Chul-in didn’t want Kwak-jung to work under him using these shameless strategies .

The contract was just to send a message that Kang Chul-in truly valued and wanted Kwak-jung, and it really didn’t mean anything else at all .

Soul-Contract? A4 Paper? Or newspaper?

All of these things worked .

“Well, I will give you some space here . ” And saying that, Kang Chul-in moved out of the hospital room .

Whether he would follow him, or not . The choice was up to Kwak-jung himself .

‘Why… . Why does a man like him want someone like me… . !’

Feeling Kang Chul-in’s manliness and boldness, Kwak-jung temporarily forgot about his sister, and was confused .

“Jung-mi, Jung-mi . ”

Kwak-jung held the shoulders of his little sister who was in his embrace .

“Huk… Huk huk… Why, you bastard! Why! Why!”

And Kwak Jung-mi tried to fight back from the pain she had felt until now .

“Wait . wait just a little bit here . ”

“W-where are you going? Are you going to follow that scary person from earlier?”

“Yes, I have to say my thanks at least, as that big brother (it is respectful to call one that in Korea) was the one that let us meet . ”

Kwak-jung unknowingly had changed how he called Kang Chul-in from a monster-like bastard, to ‘the big brother . ’

Kang Chul-in’s magnanimous actions had truly captured Kwak-jung’s rebellious heart .

“Sniff! D-do you have to go right now?”

“Of course . That big brother paid for my operation, and bought me a house and a car . He even got me a workplace too . ”

“R-really? That big brother?”

“Jung-mi . He said he’ll even send you to college . And if you wanted to, you could even go abroad to study . If I don’t go now to thank him, I wouldn’t be human . ”

“Although I am thankful… I… D-don’t really want to study… I get sleepy if I look at a book…Uhh…Can I just not… Go?”

Because she had some family problems since a long time ago, she had disliked studying from a young age . Even if she could go to a good college, she still wouldn’t want to go .

“… W-we’ll talk about this at a later date . ”

Kwak-jung said, and covered his face with his palms . Although he himself was a mess, his little sister had also been a troublemaker since a young age .

“Just stay here for now . I’ll be back soon/”

“M-me too! I’ll go too . ”

“It’s because we have an adult to adult talk to do . Okay?”

“… As if your an adult?”

“Kwak Jung-mi!”

“Go! Go, you bastard of an older brother! Hmph!”

Although she made a ruckus, it was nothing more than the tantrum of a cute little sister .

“Oi, where’s big brother Kang Chul-in?”

Kwak-jung asked to the guard who was in front of the door . It was one of the guards he had knocked out yesterday .

“You goddamned… Kuhuk . ”

“Hey, I’m talking right now . Where is big bro Kang Chul-in right now . ”

Kwak-jung grabbed the guard by the collar .

“Kuk…Kuhuk…!”

“Bastard, do you have something up your nose, huh?”

“Kuk…P-please…Let…go…”

The guard struggled to breathe .

“Oh…”

Realizing the situation right now, he let go of the guard . Although he was locked up, he was an adventurer, and had some fighting skills .

‘This f*cker! What did I ever do to him! Why does he always have to do something to me! Why!’

The guard swore in all sort of curses . Of course, he didn’t really say that to Kwak-jung, as he was still afraid right now .

“Oh, sorry . ”

Kwak-jung apologized drly . He was still bitter that he had been locked up before .

“Is it okay to tell me now? Where . Is . He . ”

“Kuk… Cough! T-there, in the VVIP floor drinking coffee…”

And Kwak-jung left the spot straight away, walking towards the VVIP floor, looking for Kang Chul-in .

Plop!

And kneeled in front of him .

“Big brother!”

Kwak-jung lowered his head .

“Your words, I think I know what you mean . ”

“Is that so . ”

After taking some espresso from the coffee machine, Kang Chul-in sat down on the sofa as Kwak-jung kneeled in front of him .

“The word big brother, it makes me uncomfortable . ”

The only gangster he needed around him was Park Doo-sik .

“Then big boss…”

“That too . ”

“……”

“Address me as a Lord . ”

“……?”

“I am the Lord of Laputa, located in the Southwest area of the Pangaea continent, in the chaotic region called ‘Pandemonium’ . ”

“Lord…”

Kwak-jung remembered when he had heard of the existence of Lords .

Although Lords weren’t very well known because there were so little of them, people still knew that there were some people that had gotten territories during the Great Summoning .

“Yes, milord . But… . can I ask just one thing?”

“Of course . ”

Kang Chul-in nodded his head .

“I wouldn’t dare ask why milord was looking for me, or how milord knew about my existence . I honestly don’t think that those details are very important . ”

“Yes . ”

“However… there really isn’t a reason to treat me so well although I am an adventurer . ”

“That’s something that I choose, not you . ”

Kang Chul-in drew the line .

“I decided that you had potential, and wanted you to work under me . That’s it . ”

Telling him only the reason simply, that was Kang Chul-in’s style .

“Yes, milord . ”

Kwak-jung nodded his head .

“This Kwak-jung although I am just a gangster from a piss-poor family, since milord wants me, I will use my utmost to serve milord . There will be no occasions where the trust that milord gives me will be given away . ”

‘Good . ’

Looking at the Kwak-jung swearing loyalty to Kang Chul-in, he smiled . He had finally gotten his hands on the master tactician that was equal to Lee Gong-myung .

“He has potential . I can feel it . ”

The Kwak-jung that Kang Chul-in saw truly had potential, felt like diamond, though coarse and rough around the edges right now .

Although it was hard to expect some significant contributions immediately, Kang Chul-in felt that as Kwak-jung got used to how the Pangaea continent worked, as well as learnt some of the tactics and troops as well as their traits, he would be invaluable .

‘Black and white, righteousness and trickery . Lee Gong-myung, how would an elite like you feel if you were outsmarted and beaten by some unknown backstreet gangster like Kwak-jung?”

Just imagining the scene made Kang Chul-in joyful .

“Good . ”

Kang Chul-in patted Kwak-jung’s shoulders .

“I will say this again, I believe that you have hidden potential within you . No, I know that you do . ”

“Milord… Ku…Huk…”

Kwak-jung started crying abruptly .

“T-to think that… a gangster like me… stupid… not knowing anything… the trash of society…”

This was the regrets and pain that had Kwak-jung had felt until now . It was definite that Kwak-jung felt depressed and sad that he couldn’t leave a normal social life like the ‘others’ .

“Kwak-jung . ” And Kang Chul-in called the crying Kwak-jung .

“Kuhuk…Yes, mi…milord . ”

“Clench your teeth . ”

“……!”

“You shouldn’t cry here . ”

To Kang Chul-in, tears were something that were useless and shouldn’t come out, unless they were celebrating with happiness .

Of course, someone like Kang Chul-in wouldn’t normally cry, no matter what emotions he felt .

“The day that you and me finally accomplish our grand goal . That’s when both of us will cry . ”

“Your goal?”

“My final goal is to take total control and dominance over all of the Pangaea continent . ”

“… . . !”

“Of course, I don’t think I need to talk about the value that Pangaea has . ”

He definitely didn’t need to talk about that .

In Pangaea was mana, and due to mana there were many kinds of special powers and magic . There were unique medicine as well as monsters, and different types of energy and resources too .

To take total control of a place like that didn’t mean that he would only take control there, but also gain a lot of influence of Earth too .

“Kwak-jung . ” Kang Chul-in spoke again .

“Do you remember what you mumbled back in Park Doo-sik’s office?”

Out of all of the things that Kwak-jung had said, the one that Kwak-jung had said back them was his favorite by far .

“Taking Gangnam… is that what you were talking about?”

“That’s the kind of thing I want from you . ”

“… You want me to think on a large scale?”

Kwak-jung could understand what Kang Chul-in was saying .

“Even if you take some places in Gangnam, it wouldn’t be much . Think about taking total control of all of Pangaea . Wouldn’t that be much better?”

Kwak-jung felt his chest swelling with pride from those words .

‘Pangaea… The alternate world connected with Earth… Take control of it? By helping milord?’

It was a dream . It was encouragement for Kwak-jung, who just wanted to live a comfortable and rich life .

‘Milord gave me a life, a house, a car . And not only that… he has even found me my only family left . Not only that… he has given me a dream…’

Remembering the scene when Kang Chul-in had ripped the Soul-Contract in half, Kwak-jung felt loyalty, an emotion he had never experienced before in his life .

“Milord . ” Kwak-jung spoke .

“I will do it . I will follow you, and definitely help you take control of all of Pangaea!”

Although this was a common saying, a man would give their life to those who recognized them .

This was like that .

Kang Chul-in had given Kwak-jung a chance to show his prowess and given him another life, as well as unpayable debt .

Even if Kwak-jung had some rebellious spirit, at this point, it would be just stupid not to feel undying loyalty .

“Very good, I like that sort of spirit . ”

Kang Chul-in laughed, and felt greatly satisfied .

“Kwak-jung, I hereby name you as a soldier of our Laputa territory . ”

This was the moment that Kwak-jung had entered the Laputa territory .

A few days later .

Kang Chul-in was looking at himself in a mirror, taking care of his suit .

The brand he chose was called ‘Ermenegildo Zegna’, a suit that he thought was trendy, yet also fit him well at the same time .

‘This should be enough…’

And after putting on a Breguet (a watch company that sold their watches to nobles and royalty since a long time ago), Kang Chul-in looked at himself again, and nodded .

Although the styling wasn’t perfect, it was still enough to let him look presentable for today .

“Mother . ”

Kang Chul-in called for his mother, Park Sun-ja .

“Wow… Son, look at you . You could be a celebrity . It seems like your suit aren’t your wings, but you yourself are the wings . ”

Park Sun-ja couldn’t hide her shock when she saw her son dressed so well like this, especially because she herself hadn’t worn a high-end, luxurious suit like this . Of course, until now .

“Ahh… I’d bet when you pass by, women would go crazy over you . Hoho!”

Listening to his mother’s compliments, he didn’t get happy, and his face stiffened instead . He wasn’t used to these kind of compliments . Especially when they came from his own mother . He would rather ride into the battlefield than be complimented like this .

“… The car, it’s here . ”

“Alright . Husband, I’ll be back . Our son has finally gotten himself a job . ” Park Sun-ja spoke to a picture of Kang Chul-in’s father .

“Oh, are we riding that car over there?” Park Sun-ja asked, surprised .

Was it because Kang Chul-in’s car was the jaguar f type coupe?

…Of course not .

Kang Chul-in wasn’t rude enough to driving with his mother in a sports car like that .

“Miss, please come sit here . ”

The driver greeted her politely, and asked her to move to one of the back seats . The car that was waiting for them was a XJ Jaguar Sedan .

“S-son… Is it okay for mother to ride in a car like this?”

“Our president has prepared it . ”

Kang Chul-in told her about Old man Kwon .

“Huu… you said his name was Old man Kwon, right? It seems like he has seen you in a very good way . ”

Park Sun-ja was completely unaware that the situation was the exact opposite . It was Kang Chul-in that chose Old man Kwon, not Old man Kwon that chose Kang Chul-in .

“Manager Kang, shall we go now?”

And as Kang Chul-in nodded his head, the car rushed off smoothly into the heart of Seoul, Gangnam .

The destination was Yeoksamdong, Tehran street .

Ever since 2010, a lot of the IT company’s buildings that were located around this area had moved to the new area: Pangyo, and thus there were a lot of empty buildings here . And thanks to that, Old man Kwon was able to cheaply (?) purchase a corporate building that connected Pangaea to Earth .

Yes .

Kang Chul-in and Park Sun-ja was heading towards the official opening ceremony of Old man Kwon’s new business, called the Galaxy Corporation .

‘Is it finally beginning . ’

Although there were many things in Pangaea, the trade between Earth was also an unimaginably important resource to a Lord .

After all, the only thing that you could bring to Pangaea from Earth was gold, and it was the most effective way to bring gold into Pangaea .

Therefore, Kang Chul-in’s plan was to take all of his share of profit from the Galaxy Corporation and change it all into gold .

‘The talking-tree sap, we’ll definitely spread it across the country in a month . ’

Using this talking-tree sap, Kang Chul-in was planning on conquering and dominating the whole of the East Pandemonium region .

It was pretty ironic .

Kang Chul-in was going to destroy the foreign language education system, to bring a great battle into Pangaea .