Despite the violent battle that had taken place during the day, Jihyeon returned home as if nothing had happened. To any observer, it was a perfectly ordinary day—he had attended classes at school and spent time at the library working on assignments before heading back.

  His parents and siblings likely suspected nothing. His clothes were intact, and he had arrived home right on schedule.

  Jihyeon nonchalantly shared the details of his day: boring lectures that amounted to nothing and assignments he dreaded starting. His family laughed at his complaints and shared their own stories of the day. When dinner time came, they prepared and shared a meal together.

  This was his routine—the warmth he always wished to protect. These were the precious things that should continue forever, provided Jihyeon could maintain at least the facade of an ordinary life.

  However, after dinner and a shower, what awaited Jihyeon in his room was the extraordinary.

  The affairs of a world that ordinary people have no reason to know, nor any need to understand. No one knows what becomes of one's fate the moment they needlessly step into the extraordinary world.

  Yet, for Jihyeon, this had become another form of daily life.

  It was a world he had no desire to protect or engage with, but one he was now forced to inhabit regardless of his will.

  Jihyeon sighed at the destiny he could no longer escape and sat in his chair. He took out the tools he had acquired today and placed them on his desk.

  Looking like small blocks of black wood, they appeared to be nothing special to the uninformed eye. However, these were not creations of this world. They were creations from the "other side," referred to simply as tools.

  With these, even an ordinary person could transform into a foe that even Jihyeon could not ignore. Jihyeon knew the power of these objects better than anyone else.

  Though never intended, the part of a tool that had entered his body had completely altered his life. The ones who had sent it here likely never imagined Jihyeon would use a tool in such a manner.

  Yet, thanks to it, Jihyeon had been able to overcome several difficult moments. For that, he felt a temporary sense of gratitude—though he did not yet know if this gratitude would eventually turn into resentment.

  In any case, Jihyeon had now become a figure with his own stake in the underworld, having established connections with figures like the Boss. But it wasn't necessarily a good thing.

  He wanted to live a normal life, but looking at the tools that kept dragging him toward the abyss, Jihyeon couldn't help but feel a complex surge of emotions.

  However, what had happened could not be undone. He had fought tool-wielders multiple times, clashed with a pseudo-religious cult, and crushed several organizations.

  To survive, he had to become stronger. That was why Jihyeon had intentionally brought the tools with him.

  Until now, every tool Jihyeon came into contact with had been absorbed into his body. But now that he had learned a degree of control, he had brought these two tools back without absorbing them.

  With these, he intended to experiment on how to manage tools.

  Though still in the realm of hypothesis, Jihyeon viewed tools as things that could be swapped at any time. It might differ from person to person, but for Jihyeon, a tool was something he could exchange whenever necessary.

  This was likely possible because the information-handling tool was already inside his body. Using that as a core, he planned to test various other tools.

  If his theory proved correct, it would be a massive advantage for the future. It was far better to switch between various tools as needed rather than relying on only one or two powers.

  Even now, Jihyeon was utilizing three tools within his body, excluding the power to handle information. However, when drawing out that power, he either used one at full strength or two at limited output. During today's fight, he had used electrical power while maintaining a barrier.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  In the future, he might be able to use them in entirely different ways.

  "I have to try," Jihyeon muttered, picking up one of the tools.

  Instead of absorbing it into his body, he began to experiment with whether he could draw out its power externally.

  Despite possessing the power to handle information, Jihyeon could not perfectly utilize that ability against other tool-wielders. If he focused all his mental energy, he could calculate data through the very air they breathed, but it was an exhausting task.

  Regardless, having secured two tools, Jihyeon intended to test his numerous assumptions. He believed that if he could become stronger and protect his family in the process, that would be enough.

  "Haaa..."

  He steadied his breathing. If something went wrong, there was no telling what kind of accident might occur. Jihyeon feared the unknown characteristics of the tools and what they might trigger.

  However, the path he had to walk was one that ordinary people could not take. In that case, he could afford to be a little reckless.

  With that thought, Jihyeon drew out the power of the tool within him and began the experiment.

  The others were all outside. The Boss was alone in the room. No one would break the silence here. That silence was exactly what the Boss needed most right now.

  A leader of an organization sometimes needed time to think alone. While it was good to borrow the wisdom of subordinates, the final decision always rested with the Boss.

  This time was no different. His decision would determine the future of the organization. Thus, he was lost in thought for a long time.

  There wasn't much time left to decide. The moment he signed the contract and paid the money, everything would change.

  If he didn't do it, the contract would likely go to a rival organization. That would certainly be a negative development for his side.

  But the choice was not easy. He knew the side effects well. A wrong choice would lead down a path from which there was no return, so being cautious was not a mistake.

  The Boss sat in his chair and stared at the object on his desk. There lay the root of all the problems.

  A small box.

  On the outside, it looked like a simple block of wood painted black. But because of it, everything was shifting.

  To use Jihyeon’s term, it was a tool. An object from the other world that granted power beyond human limits in exchange for a price. From the moment of implantation, it performed so-called miracles.

  If one could perform the impossible by purchasing and implanting this at a relatively low price, anyone would want one, even knowing the side effects. They would buy in with the baseless belief that they, specifically, could overcome those side effects.

  Indeed, without side effects, a single person could likely crush the Boss’s organization with ease. The power balance of the underworld could shift in an instant.

  Even if he didn't use it himself, he could achieve his goals by using certain men as expendable assets. Sacrificing someone was nothing strange in this business.

  Of course, the kind and the wise wouldn't even look at such things, but the underworld was a different story.

  Here, only the strong survived. The weak were violated, plundered, and killed regardless of their will. To avoid death, men would eventually emerge who would implant these tools and struggle to reach higher positions, sooner or later.

  They would rush into danger like moths to a flame, believing it to be the only path.

  But a leader of an organization like the Boss could not view this favorably.

  The tool was certainly an attractive proposal. From a leader's perspective, no one would dislike their subordinates becoming stronger—provided they remained within his control.

  But could he truly control them?

  The Boss could not guarantee it. He knew the attractive side of the tool, but he feared the dangers even more.

  If one could handle the tool well and govern those who possessed them, it would be best to use them immediately. But that was strictly in the realm of theory. As always, it was easier said than done.

  The Boss knew well that even a slight misalignment would lead to a fate of total ruin. The fate of Cheol-min, the son of the pyramid scheme boss, served as a warning. He was no longer a human being with reason.

  The moment one is consumed by the power of the tool, they cease to be human. For one completely broken by that power, death would surely be a mercy.

  "It's become a headache," the Boss said with a bitter smile.

  It seemed fate would not roll in the direction he desired. Hadn't it been that way ever since he became entangled with Jihyeon?

  This was an extension of that.

  "For now, I'll have to put it on hold..."

  The Boss knew that even if he didn't sign, other bastards would sign the contract immediately. His organization would eventually have to adopt them as well.

  But waiting a little while didn't matter. It wasn't simply a matter of money.

  Though they might face difficult times, the Boss did not forget that he could borrow Jihyeon’s strength. While Jihyeon wasn't exactly his subordinate, he would be helpful if the price was right and the task was something he could accept.

  He knew relying on a mercenary he couldn't perfectly control was dangerous, but he couldn't just snap up a dangerous object either.

  With that thought, the Boss decided to postpone the decision. Many among his subordinates would likely be dissatisfied with this choice.

  But it was better than rushing in and being destroyed.

  "Instead, I need to look into ways we can protect ourselves."

  The Boss muttered as he stood up. Once his mind was made, there was no point in agonizing further.

  "It's me. Have you been well?"

  The Boss made a call immediately. He informed the Salesperson, So-young, of his decision. Leaving her disappointed voice behind, the Boss felt inwardly certain that he had made the right judgment.