The video had reached three different crews before breakfast.
By noon, half the underground fighting circles in Seoul had heard the same story.
Johan Seong, the leader of God Dog, had been defeated.
Not after a grueling battle.
Not through an ambush.
He had been knocked unconscious by a single punch.
And the teenager responsible had apparently walked away without a scratch.
Naturally, nobody believed it.
At least, not until they watched the recording.
The Morning After
"YOU BROKE THE FENCE?"
Kang Minjun lowered his spoon.
His mother stood across the breakfast table, holding her phone.
On the screen was a photograph of the damaged basketball court.
Minjun examined it.
"That fence looks terrible."
"MINJUN!"
"I'm just saying."
Kang Hyejin pointed at the screen.
"Someone posted a video of you fighting!"
Minjun leaned forward.
"Did they get my good side?"
She smacked his shoulder.
"Ow."
"That didn't hurt."
"No, but I appreciate the concern."
Hyejin stared at him.
Her expression was somewhere between disbelief and exhaustion.
"Why are you getting into fights?"
Minjun's smile faded slightly.
He could lie.
He'd spent his previous life lying to politicians, police officers, and rival criminals. Convincing his mother that the video was misleading would be child's play.
But he disliked the thought.
"Because there are people out there who think they can do whatever they want simply because they're stronger than everyone else."
"And you think fighting them will fix that?"
"Not by itself."
"Then what are you doing?"
Minjun looked at her.
"Trying to make sure they don't get to decide how everyone else lives."
Hyejin was silent.
Then she sat down.
"You sound like your father."
That caught his attention.
"Was he a fighter?"
She smiled faintly.
"No. He was terrible at fighting."
Minjun blinked.
"Really?"
"Absolutely terrible. Once tried protecting me from a drunk customer and got punched into a table."
Minjun laughed.
"What happened?"
"I hit the drunk with a frying pan."
He laughed harder.
Hyejin smiled at the memory.
"But your father always thought he had to solve everyone's problems. Even when nobody asked him to."
Her smile slowly disappeared.
"I don't want to lose you too."
Minjun reached across the table and took her hand.
"You won't."
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then sighed.
"You'd better be right."
The First Meeting
At two that afternoon, Minjun gathered Seongho and Taehwan inside an abandoned boxing gym that Seongho's former coach had agreed to rent cheaply.
The building was old.
The equipment was worse.
One punching bag had been repaired with enough tape to qualify as modern art.
Taehwan examined the room.
"This is our headquarters?"
"For now," Minjun replied.
Seongho looked offended.
"It's got character."
"The ceiling is leaking."
"Character."
Minjun laughed.
Then placed a notebook on the table.
"Alright. Business."
The two straightened.
"We're going to need money, capable members, and somewhere to train."
Taehwan nodded.
"How many people are you planning to recruit?"
"Initially? Ten."
Seongho blinked.
"Only ten?"
"Ten exceptional fighters are worth more than a hundred useless ones."
Minjun opened the notebook.
"I don't care about collecting numbers. I want people with genuine talent, discipline, and ambition."
"And loyalty?" Taehwan asked.
"Especially loyalty."
Minjun looked between them.
"But loyalty isn't something I expect because I can beat you in a fight. It's something I'll earn."
Taehwan's expression shifted.
He'd expected another speech about strength.
Instead, Minjun continued.
"If you follow me, I'll invest in your development. I'll help you become stronger. And if trouble comes looking for you, it comes looking for me."
Seongho grinned.
"Sounds good."
"But there's a condition."
Both looked up.
"No using our name to rob ordinary people. No threatening shopkeepers. No bullying students."
Taehwan nodded.
"And if someone breaks that rule?"
Minjun smiled.
"Then they'll regret joining."
Something about his tone made Seongho straighten.
Minjun turned the page.
"Now, our first problem is finding people worth recruiting."
Taehwan leaned back.
"I might know someone."
The Wolf of Incheon
His name was Seo Hajun.
Eighteen years old.
Former amateur kickboxer.
Six months earlier, he'd been disqualified from a national tournament after breaking an opponent's ribs with an illegal strike delivered after the referee called a stop.
Since then, he'd developed a reputation for fighting anyone who challenged him.
According to Taehwan, Hajun had never lost a street fight.
"He's talented," Taehwan explained. "But he's got a terrible temper."
Minjun raised an eyebrow.
"How talented?"
"Fast enough to knock out most fighters before they realize he's moved."
Seongho whistled.
"Sounds dangerous."
"He is."
Minjun smiled.
"Good."
Taehwan hesitated.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"He hates being ordered around."
Minjun laughed.
"I'm starting to notice a pattern."
They found Hajun at a private fighting gym near the edge of Incheon.
The building was crowded.
Dozens of spectators surrounded a makeshift ring.
Inside stood a tall teenager with dark red hair and a lean, muscular physique.
His opponent was already bleeding.
Hajun drove a kick into the man's ribs.
THUD!
The fighter staggered.
Hajun followed with a spinning back kick.
His opponent flew backward and collapsed.
The referee rushed forward.
"Winner! Seo Hajun!"
The crowd erupted.
Hajun barely acknowledged them.
He stepped out of the ring and grabbed a towel.
Minjun watched with interest.
Excellent speed. Strong lower body. Aggressive combinations.
But there were flaws.
Hajun overcommitted when attacking.
He relied too heavily on intimidation.
And he became reckless whenever his opponent resisted.
Still, his raw talent was undeniable.
Minjun approached.
"Seo Hajun?"
The red-haired teenager turned.
"What?"
"I'd like to recruit you."
Hajun stared.
Then laughed.
"Get lost."
Minjun smiled.
"Not interested?"
"Do I look interested?"
"No. You look like someone who just won a fight against an opponent who barely knew how to defend himself."
The surrounding fighters fell silent.
Hajun's smile disappeared.
"What did you say?"
Minjun shrugged.
"You heard me."
Hajun stepped forward.
"You looking for a beating?"
"Actually, I was hoping for a challenge."
Taehwan sighed.
Seongho grinned.
Here we go again.
Hajun examined Minjun.
Then looked toward the ring.
"Get in."
A Different Kind of Monster
The crowd gathered immediately.
Hajun was notorious for his temper.
Anyone foolish enough to provoke him usually regretted it.
Minjun stepped into the ring.
He removed his jacket.
Hajun cracked his neck.
"Rules?"
Minjun smiled.
"Try not to disappoint me."
The referee hesitated.
Then signaled the beginning.
Hajun exploded forward.
A lightning-fast roundhouse kick targeted Minjun's head.
Minjun caught it.
Hajun's eyes widened.
Before he could react, Minjun swept his supporting leg.
BAM!
Hajun crashed onto his back.
The crowd fell silent.
Minjun released his ankle.
"Again."
Hajun sprang upright.
His expression darkened.
He launched a combination of punches.
Left.
Right.
A low kick.
Then a spinning elbow.
Minjun avoided everything.
Hajun accelerated.
His attacks became faster.
More aggressive.
More desperate.
Minjun didn't move more than necessary.
Finally, Hajun threw a powerful front kick.
Minjun caught his foot.
Then flicked his forehead.
BANG!
Hajun flew backward.
He struck the ropes and fell.
The spectators stared.
Someone whispered, "What the hell?"
Hajun slowly stood.
Blood trickled from his forehead.
He wiped it away.
Then smiled.
For the first time in months, someone had made him feel completely helpless.
And he hated it.
"AGAIN!"
He charged.
Minjun sighed.
Talented, but stubborn.
Hajun threw a devastating spinning kick.
Minjun stepped inside.
A short palm strike landed against his chest.
BOOOOM!
Hajun flew across the ring.
He struck the corner padding with enough force to bend the metal support behind it.
The entire structure shook.
Hajun collapsed.
The referee immediately rushed forward.
"STOP! THE FIGHT IS OVER!"
Minjun lowered his hand.
He hadn't used even a tenth of his strength.
The spectators remained silent.
Hajun tried standing.
His legs buckled.
Minjun approached.
"Stay down."
Hajun glared.
"I'm not finished."
"Yes, you are."
Minjun crouched.
"You're talented, Hajun. But talent without control is just wasted potential."
"Shut up."
"You rely on speed and aggression because they've always been enough."
Hajun clenched his fists.
Minjun continued.
"Against someone stronger, you have no answer."
Hajun looked away.
He knew it was true.
And that made him angrier than the defeat itself.
Minjun stood.
"If you want to become genuinely strong, find me."
He turned to leave.
Hajun suddenly spoke.
"Wait."
Minjun stopped.
"What?"
Hajun looked up.
"Who are you?"
Minjun smiled.
"Kang Minjun."
"And your crew?"
"We haven't chosen a name yet."
Hajun stared.
Then laughed despite the pain.
"You beat me half to death and don't even have a crew name?"
Minjun chuckled.
"Priorities."
Hajun slowly stood.
"I'm joining."
Taehwan raised an eyebrow.
"That easy?"
Hajun glared at him.
"Shut up."
Minjun studied the red-haired fighter.
"Why?"
Hajun's expression became serious.
"Because I want to surpass you."
Minjun smiled.
"Good."
Then his smile sharpened.
"But understand something. If you join, you follow my rules. Your temper doesn't excuse hurting people who can't defend themselves."
Hajun hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
Minjun extended his hand.
Hajun accepted it.
The third recruit had joined.
A Visitor From Seoul
That evening, Gun Park watched another recording.
This time, it showed a red-haired kickboxer being launched across a ring.
Goo Kim leaned against the office wall, eating candy.
"Again?"
Gun didn't answer.
He replayed the footage.
The black-haired teenager's movement was effortless.
His technique was flawless.
And his strength was becoming increasingly difficult to explain.
Goo approached.
"Seriously, who is this kid?"
Gun smiled.
"Someone worth investigating."
Goo looked at the screen.
Then laughed.
"You thinking of recruiting him?"
"Perhaps."
"Good luck."
Gun glanced at him.
"Why?"
Goo grinned.
"Look at his face."
On the screen, Kang Minjun stood above his defeated opponent.
Relaxed.
Confident.
Almost amused.
Goo pointed.
"That's not the face of someone who takes orders."
Gun's smile widened.
"Then perhaps I'll have to convince him."
Goo laughed.
"Now that I'd pay to watch."
Outside, Seoul's nightlife continued.
And somewhere in Mapo, Kang Minjun was sitting with three talented young fighters, discussing the future of an organization that had yet to receive its name.
None of them knew that one of Korea's most dangerous men had begun taking a personal interest in their leader.
But Minjun?
He would have welcomed the attention.
After all, an empire couldn't be built without attracting enemies.