“We welcome the Netherworld King out of seclusion!”
“We welcome the Netherworld King out of seclusion!!”
Exhilarating shouts erupted from the Northern Territory, atop Kunlun Peak!
Atop the peak stood a majestic palace.
On its plaque, the three words “Netherworld King’s Hall” glittered under the sun.
Inside the main hall, twelve people knelt on the left and twelve on the right.
The twelve on the left wore black overcoats; the twelve on the right, white.
The two colors, black and white, formed a stark, clear contrast.
Anyone who recognized them would surely gasp in astonishment.
For among these twenty-four, the ones in black were the heads of formidable organizations, while those in white were the masters of the world’s largest financial groups.
A single stomp from any one of these twenty-four individuals could send tremors through the world.
Who could possibly command enough prestige to have all twenty-four of them gathered here, waiting in deference?!
Yet the one they knelt for was a slender, seemingly ordinary young man.
The world knew the mysterious Hall Master of the Netherworld King’s Hall to be the renowned King Yama.
What they didn’t know was that the Netherworld King was the Hall’s founder—its true master!
The young man known as the Netherworld King, Lin Haochen, waved his hand dismissively, signaling for King Yama and the others to rise.
“Congratulations on your recovery and emergence from seclusion, Lord Netherworld King.
I have thoroughly investigated the matters you assigned me three months ago.
The Zhao Family and Cao Family of Jin City were merely pawns, not the masterminds.
However, the decision to torture your parents to death over three days…
that was an initiative the Zhao Family took upon themselves.”
BOOM!
The moment King Yama spoke those words, a terrifyingly cold aura erupted from Lin Haochen.
The great hall was instantly shrouded in an icy mist, thick with killing intent.
King Yama and the twenty-four members of the Hall scrambled back to their knees.
No one in this world could withstand the Netherworld King’s fury!
“Lord Netherworld King, please quell your anger!”
The voices of King Yama and his companions trembled.
None of them could predict what the Netherworld King might do next.
“Explain.
Everything.”
Lin Haochen turned, his cold gaze falling upon the kneeling King Yama.
King Yama swallowed hard and spoke with a tremor in his voice.
“Five years ago, twenty-eight members of the Lin Family were annihilated.
Your parents were captured by the Zhao Family and subjected to all manner of torture for three straight days.
In the end, they were framed for home invasion and premeditated murder.”
“The Zhao Family…
what a fine Zhao Family!
Since you enjoy torture and false accusations so much, then I will let you enjoy them, too!”
‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
I will repay them double!’
The Lin Family had been just a third-rate family in Jin City.
Six years ago, they had sent Lin Haochen abroad to study.
But only one year after he left, he received the news: his family had been wiped out, his parents brutally murdered.
‘Now, it’s time to go back and settle the score.’
“There is one piece of good news, however.
Your older sister had already left Jin City to start her own business, and few knew her identity, so she is the sole survivor.
But the masterminds have discovered her.
They are already on their way to Jin City.”
…
「One day later.
Jin City, a major city in the southwest of the Dragon Country.」
In the Central CBD District, countless skyscrapers pierced the sky.
The Zhao Group Building was one of the most prominent, located right in the heart of it all.
Lin Haochen stood before the building, his gaze drifting up to the Zhao Group name.
A vicious glint appeared in his eyes.
‘Hmph, the Zhao Family’s Zhao Group?
Your building is certainly impressive.
I imagine it will be just as spectacular when it comes toppling down.
I’ll start by sending you this Netherworld King Sticker!’
With a flick of his right hand, a black streak of light shot out.
A black card, emblazoned with the two words “Netherworld King,” landed squarely on the main entrance of the Zhao Group Building.
The Netherworld King Sticker.
It was the highest kill order issued by the Netherworld King’s Hall.
When King Yama decrees your death at midnight, who would dare let you live till dawn?
Once, the Yama’s Notice was the most feared summons in the world.
But ever since the Netherworld King appeared, it had become a relic of the past.
‘Zhao Family, one of the five great families of Jin City…
one month from now, on the anniversary of my parents’ deaths,
will be the day you all die!’
Tearing his gaze away from the Zhao Group Building, Lin Haochen turned and entered the Muchen Group Building behind him.
According to King Yama’s intel, his sister, Lin Mushu, who was one year his senior, was the chairwoman of the Muchen Group.
Lin Mushu wasn’t his biological sister; his parents had adopted her when he was three years old.
His parents’ “incident” had happened five years ago.
Lin Mushu had left to strike out on her own six years ago, and in that time, she had built the Muchen Group, which had broken into the Dragon Country’s top 500 enterprises two years prior.
And now that Lin Haochen had returned, his first priority was to protect his sister.
‘She’s the only family I have left.
I can’t let anything happen to her.’
Lin Haochen strode to the reception desk.
“Please inform your chairwoman, Lin Mushu,” he said to the young woman there, “that her brother, Lin Haochen, has returned.”
Before the receptionist could reply, a man who had just entered overheard him.
He looked Lin Haochen up and down, inwardly sneering.
‘The guy is decent-looking, I guess, but his clothes are clearly cheap street-stall junk, faded from being washed too many times.
How could someone like him possibly be Lin Mushu’s brother?’
‘Lin Mushu is a famous young entrepreneur in Jin City, a classic ice queen, and the object of desire for countless wealthy heirs.
Even if she really had a brother, I, Zhao Shaocai—her number one pursuer and the young master of the Jin City Zhao Family—would surely know about it!’
‘He’s obviously an imposter!’
‘He must be another one of her suitors, trying to get close to her by posing as her brother!’
‘How dare he try to compete with me, Zhao Shaocai, for a woman?
He should take a good look in the mirror and see what he’s worth!’
“Mushu’s brother?
Since when does Mushu have a loser for a brother?
Pathetic.
To think you’d stoop to this just to get close to her.
You must be some kind of idiot.
Get the hell out of here before I get angry!”
Zhao Shaocai walked up to Lin Haochen and shot him a disdainful glare.
‘I can’t believe this loser has the gall to be my rival.’
“Young Master Zhao!”
The receptionist and the onlookers all greeted him as soon as they saw him.
This was the young master of the Zhao Family, one of the five great families of Jin City.
He was a man who could do as he pleased in this city!
But Lin Haochen didn’t spare Zhao Shaocai a single glance.
‘A simple-minded playboy with more muscle than brains, propped up by his family’s money.
My sister would never fall for a man like that.’
“Please inform your chairwoman.”
Zhao Shaocai was furious at being so blatantly ignored.
In all of Jin City, few people dared to treat him with such contempt.
He was practically courting death!
“Hey, kid!
I’m talking to you!
Are you deaf?”
As soon as Zhao Shaocai’s words rang out, people in the lobby began to shake their heads, certain that the suitor impersonating President Lin’s brother was done for.
“That guy’s finished in Jin City.
He provoked Young Master Zhao.
It wouldn’t matter if he was just pretending to be President Lin’s brother—even if he really *was* her brother, it wouldn’t save him now!”
“He’s so young, why is he so eager to die?
Daring to provoke the young master of the Zhao Family, one of the five great families…
unless he’s not from around here, I can’t imagine why he’d do something so stupid.”
“Provoking Young Master Zhao and then ignoring him?
That’s no different from suicide.
Besides, Young Master Zhao is a black belt in taekwondo.
He could handle four or five guys like this one without breaking a sweat.
Now we’ve got a show to watch.”
Hearing the sycophantic whispers around him, a smug grin spread across Zhao Shaocai’s face.
He pointed a finger at Lin Haochen, his voice dripping with arrogance.
“Kid, do you have any idea who I am?
I am Zhao Shaocai, the eldest young master of the Zhao Family, one of the five great families of Jin City!
Now, if you get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness, apologize for your insolence, and swear to never bother Mushu again, I might just consider letting you off the hook.
Now, get on your knees and beg!”