I Became the One Who Takes. 139

## Chapter 139 - (15)

"I feel a bit nervous for some reason."
"Is that so?"

Rasha leaned against the wall as soon as we got into the elevator.

Perhaps Rasha was instinctively feeling it too.

That today was the day of reckoning.

In my estimation, today would be the final gamble that determined the outcome of the auction.

I was curious to see what the old man had prepared over the past four days.

*Ding.*

The elevator doors opened with a cheerful chime.

"Huh."

I let out a hollow laugh at the scene outside the elevator.

Rasha, who was puzzled by my reaction, took one look outside and exclaimed,

"What is this..."

Rasha seemed just as dumbfounded by the sight before her, scowling as she glared around.

Numerous eyes turned towards us in response to her sharp gaze.

The piercing stares felt like they were digging into my skin.

Where had I felt this tension and awkward atmosphere before?

Was it when I stepped into a street full of zombies, or when I went up onto the martial arts stage in the Murim world?

Memories of receiving such hostile gazes flooded back to me, and while it was bittersweet, it also allowed me to step out of the elevator with a more composed expression.

Right now, this underground floor was packed with men who looked like they worked out quite a bit.

I couldn't tell if this was a casino or the Taereung Training Center.

"What are you staring at—"
"It's okay."

I calmed Rasha, who was glaring at our surroundings as if they were wild animals, and calmly walked towards the poker table where the old man was sitting.

Then, I casually sat down next to the old man.

"You have a lot of guests today?"

I asked nonchalantly, and the old man replied with a smile.

"I gathered them for today."

Gathered, huh.

These weren't people who had connections with corporate executives.

There were men who looked like they had trained in martial arts, and even some who emanated a somewhat sinister aura.

"What about the other two?"
"...Well, they must have gone their separate ways..."

As expected, the two of them had given up on the auction.

The gangster had scraped together every penny he could, and the female landlord must have found any further expenditure too burdensome.

"So, I was thinking, instead of poker, we should settle things with that today. It's no fun playing poker with just the two of us."

The old man pointed to the ring with a subtle smile.

So, that's why he gathered so many people.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Pfft..."

I couldn't suppress my smile.

It would have been more threatening if he had brought a poker player or even a magician who was good at their craft.

But to choose this option...

It was like willingly walking into the lion's den.

"...Are you laughing?"

The old man frowned, clearly displeased with my laughter, and glared at me.

The other men who had been gathered by the old man were also focused on me, seemingly uncomfortable with my laughter.

I barely managed to suppress my laughter before replying.

"Alright, let's do it."
"Hmph. All talk."

The old man seemed to think my laughter was just bravado, saying that before gesturing to someone.

Then, two burly men in suits walked over slowly, bringing a dealer with them.

The poor dealer was trembling.

"I didn't warm up..."

Rasha said with a worried expression.

"What are you talking about? I'm going out."
"Master?"

Rasha looked at me with surprised eyes before nodding.

Today was my turn.

"Then I was nervous for nothing."

Then, she wore a calm expression.

She knew my strength better than anyone, so she didn't seem worried at all.

...Still, she could have worried a little.

Of course, I liked that she trusted me this much.

"You're going out yourself?"
"Yes."
"I knew it."

I thought he would be surprised, but the old man was grinning instead.

"I heard you've never lost, except for once on the second basement floor."
"..."
"That's quite a record. Why did you keep that a secret?"

For the record, that one loss was because I forfeited due to Rasha's auction time.

But how did he find out about that?

My gaze naturally turned to the trembling dealer.

It was the same dealer who had recognized me last time.

The dealer avoided my eyes.

I see.

It didn't matter much.

"Wouldn't a one-on-one be too boring for someone like you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it would only be fair if it was one-on-two. The people I brought are just guys who work out a bit in the neighborhood, but you've almost never lost, right?"

In the neighborhood?

I chuckled as I looked at the people standing around.

Neighborhood, my foot.

It wouldn't be strange if they had Olympic experience.

Their toned bodies exuded experience and expertise.

The reason I stepped up from the start was because I thought Rasha would be outmatched.

It was almost insulting to compare them to gangsters; they were closer to real martial artists.

"But you're alone. You'll get tired..."
"I'll double the bet in return."

At that offer, I pretended to contemplate, covering my mouth.

Also covering the corners of my lips that were rising.

"Bet 10 million chips, and if you win, you get 20 million chips. If I win, I get 10 million chips. How about that?"
"...Alright."

I nodded, pretending to reluctantly accept.

The old man laughed heartily, clapping as if he had succeeded.

And so, I stepped into the ring to begin the first match.

My opponents were the two burly men who had brought the dealer earlier.

After taking off their tight suits, I could see the impressive trapezius muscles rising up their necks.

It was quite an awkward sight.

To see two opponents in a ring where one-on-one matches were the norm.

"20 million chips."
"I'll bet that much too."

The start was light.

Most people wouldn't be able to save even a tenth of that amount in their entire lives.

But even those chips were just a light warm-up for us.

"Both of you, no, all three of you, to the center of the ring."

The dealer, who had come up as the referee, was just as awkward about this situation.

With one slip of the tongue, we gathered in the center of the ring.

I looked towards Rasha, and she was waving her hand slightly with a relaxed expression.

She was confident that I would win even in a one-on-two situation.

*Ding!*

The bell rang, and the two men charged at me.

Both of them ran at me with their hands outstretched, not even bothering to guard, in order to grab me.

I think I knew what their intention was.

One of them would grab me, and the other would attack me while I was restrained.

It wasn't a bad idea.

If their opponent wasn't me.

*Thud.*

I lightly kicked the chin of the man who was charging at me faster.

It was a clean front kick, raising my leg while standing.

With a light thud, the man fell forward, collapsing at the same speed he was running, as if a switch had been flipped.

"This bastard!"

Even though his comrade had fallen beside him, the remaining man didn't slow down and grabbed me tightly.

"Oh ho."

This alone made me think that the old man had chosen his people well.

Most mediocre guys would have been flustered by the fact that their comrade had fallen beside them and stopped moving.

This man quickly assessed the situation and acted.

He grabbed me and tried to lift me up to throw me down.

I resisted his strength and lowered my stance.

At the same time, I grabbed the hand that was holding me tightly.

"Uh... uh..."

I forcibly spread the man's arms apart with my strength.

The restraint that had been successfully executed with the sacrifice of one man was easily undone.

That's why I said the opponent was bad.

The very idea of restraining me with force was a mistake.

"Wait—"

The man raised his hand, but my fist was faster.

*Thud.*

This time as well, the man who had been hit in the chin fell to the ground with a light sound.

"No way..."
"Those two were judo athletes..."

Were they judo athletes?

There was a reason why they tried to grab and throw me.

"So that's 40 million chips, right?"
"...Yeah."

The old man's expression was still calm.

Well, he still had a lot of people left.

That composure wouldn't last long, though.

***

"Next."

"Next."

"Next."

Now, there were more people groaning and sitting in chairs or half-collapsed on the floor than there were people standing on this floor.

All my handiwork.

Whether I faced two, three, or even four people, none of them could beat me.

Honestly, it was easiest when I fought four people.

Perhaps it was because they were also awkward about teaming up and fighting as a team, but they were interfering with each other, so I gave them each a front kick to the chin.

Now there were only two people left.

"Ugh..."

The old man's face was flushed red.

"Y-you... useless things! How much money did I spend! Gathering you guys!"

At the old man's outburst, some people turned their heads away to avoid his gaze, while others glared back defiantly.

"Damn... who was it that tricked me by saying it would be easy... and now it's affecting my match next week..."
"I know, right? What is that guy anyway? He should be competing as an athlete..."

The old man glared at the fallen men with a scowl before yelling at the last two men standing.

"Do it! Finish him off!"
"..."
"Yes."

The two men slowly walked up into the ring.

They were the ones I was most curious about as well.

They had uniquely trained bodies.

They were more like martial artists than modern people.

That didn't mean they had internal energy or had learned martial arts.

How should I put it? They had the aura of assassins from the Murim world.

They had eyes that radiated killing intent.

[Target for Justice Enforcement Detected.]

They didn't seem like good people.

"How much will you bet?"
"...All in."

Listening to the old man's words, which sounded half-resigned, I warmed up my body.