Aging also meant that a rise in blood pressure became increasingly dangerous. This was especially true for someone of the Boss’s age.

  No matter how hard one tries, if you don't mind your health, collapsing can happen in an instant. That is the fear of reaching an age where caution is mandatory.

  Thus, the Boss made an effort to avoid getting angry whenever possible. This had been a great help in his life.

  Venturing one's anger might feel cathartic on the surface, but it ultimately clouded cool-headed judgment. Moreover, failing to control one's emotions could lead to physical collapse.

  In his youth, the Boss had witnessed a man he once served collapse and die of a stroke while consumed by a fit of uncontrollable rage.

  Since then, he had strived to learn how not to surrender his body to anger. Though it was a peculiar habit for a man living in the back alleys, it was thanks to this trait that the Boss could always emerge as the victor.

  How many fools had sent their subordinates to their deaths because they couldn't control their emotions? Watching competitors crumble from within without even needing a direct confrontation, the Boss always felt satisfied that he had made the right choice.

  Perhaps that was why.

  In Jihyeon’s case, the Boss had treated him with favor, valuing his abilities over anger. And the Boss believed he had been sufficiently repaid for that kindness.

  It was, in a way, business as usual.

  Anger always strikes fear into an opponent. However, the Boss knew well that it was utterly ineffective against those who had overcome fear. He also knew that orders issued in the heat of rage were highly likely to result in failure.

  Therefore, the Boss always tried to live with a smile. He knew better than anyone that it was best to laugh off most things and then bury the opponent surely under the weight of a cold, calculated decision.

  But right now, the Boss could not control his anger.

  "So, the bastard who touched our place is one of his lackeys? And he moved without a second thought just because he’s using a tool?"

  The Boss spoke, his words laced with a fury that felt as though he were chewing his enemy apart. He defined this as an act of betrayal.

  To dare raise a hand against him—and to do so without any regard for the dangers of the tools.

  As a result, countless people had been turned into husks. The teenagers deployed as cheap assassins might have been worth their price to the enemy, but the futures of those who used the tools were completely destroyed.

  Of course, men of the fist don't usually care about the lives of expendable assets. However, rather than the fate of those boys, the Boss feared that the police would catch the scent and intervene.

  "Those bastards were supposed to eventually inherit my territory if they just stayed put... Ungrateful wretches."

  The Boss continued to pour curses upon the traitors who had ruined his plans. But no matter how much he raged, reality remained unchanged.

  They had crossed the line.

  And ordinary civilians had witnessed people using tools.

  What remained was state intervention. Because of the mess caused by that brat Cheol-min, the entire nation was already in an uproar. In the midst of that, deploying teenagers to seize a couple of establishments was an incredibly thoughtless move.

  Yet, for now, his side had no way to counter. Cheap assassins might seem like nothing, but the story changed when they started dismantling his businesses one by one.

  "Damn it..."

  A sudden thought crossed his mind: perhaps refusing the tools in the beginning had been a mistake. However, the Boss wanted to believe his judgment had not been flawed.

  It was only natural to feel that way.

  The moment he started using tools, the initiative would shift toward the Salesperson. That was truly the worst-case scenario. The Boss had to hold the initiative for everything; that was the only way things functioned correctly. With that thought, the Boss stared at his smartphone.

  "I don't know if he'll pick up..."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  The Boss didn't think Jihyeon would help with this matter. But with a flicker of hope, he reached out to him.

  The work of public officials is rarely fast. While things can move with extreme speed if ordered from the very top, more often than not, that isn't the case.

  However, in all his life, Seok-young had never seen work processed as quickly as this. It was a blitzkrieg of bureaucracy usually reserved for national disasters.

  Entering his superior’s office, Seok-young could not fathom the situation. For him, this was far beyond anything he had anticipated.

  "Just... how did this happen? I haven't even filed a proper report yet."

  Seok-young asked his superior in bewilderment. His superior replied with a bitter smile.

  "That friend you met... he turned out to be a far more terrifying existence than we thought. I never imagined he could move the President himself."

  The superior’s words hit Seok-young with a fresh wave of shock. The President—it was a figure too distant for him to even contemplate.

  "What?"

  Seok-young's voice was filled with confusion. It exceeded the limits of what he could accept.

  Moving the President was a perfect example of just what a monumental figure Jihyeon was. To Seok-young, who had thought him a mere college student, this was simply incomprehensible.

  At the same time, the reality sank in.

  The moment he truly set his mind to it, Jihyeon possessed the power to change the world. If he wished, he could likely assassinate every world leader simultaneously.

  However, Jihyeon was a man with the sensibilities of an ordinary citizen. Seok-young thought it was truly fortunate that this was the case.

  "I think I understand now why he said not to touch his family. For a being with this much power, his family is indeed his 'limiter'."

  Seok-young spoke to his superior with a forced bit of levity. The superior nodded.

  "He proved he could kill the President without leaving a single trace of evidence if he wanted to... It's better for us that he places shackles on himself."

  At the superior’s words, Seok-young couldn't help but let out another dumbfounded sound.

  "What?"

  The superior smiled at Seok-young’s reaction, but it was a smile of exhaustion. He seemed unable to keep up with Jihyeon’s logic.

  "A message came in, similar to a warning. It pointed out specific security flaws and told us to be careful. After that, no one could say a word."

  Seok-young finally understood what had happened. But he couldn't stop the shiver that ran down his spine.

  "I don't know what to say. This is a first for me."

  The superior nodded in agreement.

  "I feel like every bit of common sense I've learned in my life is being denied. Nothing like this has ever happened. It’s as if the times are outstripping us. I never expected an era like this to arrive."

  The superior gave a bitter smile. Seok-young didn't offer a reply. Instead, he simply prayed fervently that his choice would not be proven wrong.

  The day's work was over. There was nothing left to do. He would sleep soundly, and a new day would begin when he opened his eyes in the morning.

  But for now, his head was a mess. Jihyeon let out a soft sigh, smiling bitterly at the fact that he couldn't just focus on his boring schoolwork.

  As he threw himself onto his bed, Jihyeon thought.

  About the events to come. His mind was a tangled mess of thread, divided between the issues settled and the tasks ahead.

  One relief was that, although he had pushed a bit hard, his family would now receive state protection. While their daily lives would remain unaffected, bodyguards would be watching over them at all times.

  Because of this, Jihyeon felt he could breathe a little easier. It might only be a way to buy time, but since he couldn't be with them every second, it was a significant step.

  Of course, pressuring the President himself to ensure his family’s safety might have been an over-the-top move.

  However, the state only moves when shown that much force. He had wanted to live an inconspicuous life, but Jihyeon now realized that was no longer possible.

  The time for picking and choosing methods had passed. High-ranking officials, including the President, might be displeased, but there was no time to worry about their feelings.

  As the number of tool-wielders increased, society would fall into chaos, and dark conspiracies would flourish within that disorder—not just for Jihyeon and his family, but for everyone.

  Eliminate the problem before it erupts.

  Jihyeon knew better than anyone that this was the only solution. As is always the case, prevention before a disaster results in the least damage.

  To achieve this, Jihyeon had to concentrate all his efforts. The request for protection was a minimum requirement for that focus.

  Fortunately, since that part was resolved, all that remained was the removal of threats directed at him.

  There was the call from the Boss, but since Jihyeon himself had been attacked, he had to assume that all threats were now becoming visible. More precisely, the side distributing the tools had begun to move more aggressively.

  Perhaps they had finished testing within the cult; they were now distributing the tools in earnest. If he didn't deal with them before the numbers grew, there was no telling what would happen.

  There was already the public case of Cheol-min. The monstrous strength he displayed had become an excellent sample for criminal organizations and those wishing to commit crimes.

  The deep web was already flooded with voices clamoring for tools. Jihyeon felt the reality of the danger as he looked at those nauseating individuals.

  But he couldn't handle everything alone. This was why he desperately needed the power of the state. No matter how incomparable his abilities were to an ordinary person, there were limits to what one man could do.

  Fortunately, the state had accepted Jihyeon’s request. Now, Jihyeon had to uphold his end of the bargain.

  But Jihyeon knew well that what was about to begin would not compare to anything he had faced before.

  "Even with hacking, nothing is coming up..." Jihyeon muttered.

  Since the last failure, Jihyeon had used every means possible to uncover information about the Salesperson. He had prepared thorough countermeasures for firewalls, so there wouldn't be a repeat of the previous incident, but he still failed to secure the most critical information.

  Who exactly was the Salesperson? And what did she want?

  Jihyeon wanted to know. This likely connected back to the reason why the incomplete tool first implanted in him had come to this world.

  "Let's talk about it tomorrow. Rushing won't help."

  With that thought, Jihyeon closed his eyes. Sufficient rest is the source of new ideas. Thinking too hastily might lead to missing a minor but vital clue.

  Telling himself to rest when it was time to rest, Jihyeon soon drifted into the world of the unconscious.