[97] "A frightening background"

"He's my student, and I don't like the way you talk to him."

They all turned and watched an unconcerned man approaching them with his hands in his pockets. His long dark blue hair was pulled back in a ponytail and his black eyes had a haunting intensity.

Supil watched the young man with disdain and wondered inwardly. 'Who is this individual that he dares to address me in this manner?'

Jiwoo directed a surprised look at Kayden and uttered in astonishment. "Mr. Kayden?"

A cold sweat ran down Inhyuk's cheek at the sight of Kayden, while Jiyoung watched him silently.

Suman, in disbelief, fixed his gaze on the young man in front of him and was shocked at the thought. 'Kayden? Kayden Break?'

Kayden, with shocking arrogance, replied. "What are you implying by saying that Jiwoo's abilities lack logic. Should I allow my disciple to be weak like those puny ones?" his words echoed coldly, without looking away from Supil's gaze. "And by the way, why are you so interested in my disciple's personal life?"

Supil, with an icy stare, replied arrogantly. "That boy is your disciple?"

"That's right, that's what I just said, you deaf old man," Kayden replied disdainfully.

"What did you say?" asked Supil with a throbbing vein in his forehead.

"You heard him," Kayden replied with a sneer.

Irritation seized Supil Kang, who, in a cold voice, challenged Kayden. "You want to fight?"

A smile broke out on Kayden's face as he uttered. "Don't play dumb and come and face me." He then pointed at Sucheon and continued dismissively. "If you wish to end up as your pupil, thrown away like trash, I have no problem fulfilling your wishes."

Suman was shocked by Kayden's arrogance, while a bead of cold sweat slid down Inhyuk's forehead. Jiwoo watched the situation with innocence on his face.

"Do you want to fight?" repeated Supil arrogantly. "You don't know my name and my strength, yet you wish to fight, are you stupid?"

Kayden sighed scornfully and replied with a broad grin. "What's so great about your name. Later I'll see if I'll take the time to get to know who you are."

Supil could contain himself no longer and released his aura, to which Kayden immediately responded by doing the same. The two auras collided, and the combat arena cracked all over.

In a matter of seconds, the arena could no longer withstand the intensity of the auras.

Suman, Inhyuk and Jiwoo watched the aura spectacle in awe.

Meanwhile, Ares sat on the staircase in his human form, observing all that was happening undetected.

"Mister Kayden, stop," Jiwoo expressed with concern for the situation.

"Brother, stop. Sucheon's situation is not good, we must take him to the hospital," Suman quickly intervened, holding Sucheon in his arms.

They both sighed and dispelled their auras, not taking their gazes away from each other.

Supil turned to Jiyoung and spoke earnestly. "President Jiyoung, I assume the association was aware of all this from the beginning. We will continue our conversation another time."

"What are you talking about, do you think you can get out alive after treating my younger brother like that?" a cold voice echoed that made everyone feel a chill.

They all turned and saw a young man with white hair and green eyes sitting on the railing of the stairs.

"Ares," Jiwoo exclaimed in surprise.

Inhyuk was shocked to see Ares, while Jiyoung raised an eyebrow, not sensing his presence.

Suman, puzzled, looked alternately at Jiwoo and Ares, and thought. 'Is he Ares' brother and Kayden's disciple?'

"Are you Ares?" asked Supil coldly, then added in an enraged voice. "How dare you threaten me?"

"How dare I?" muttered Ares with a sneer.

Before everyone's eyes, Ares disappeared and a groan of pain was heard followed by a crunch of bones breaking.

Everyone reacted quickly and watched in amazement as Ares single-handedly pushed Supil Kang away in midair, squeezing his neck hard and breaking some bones.

"A weak ant like you dares to challenge me?" uttered a voice icy and laden with murderous intent.

Supil was unable to speak and tried to release his aura, but found he could not use his powers. His face was filled with shock and fear at the strange situation.

Ares smiled as he felt the energy trying to mobilize in Supil Kang's body, but he countered it, preventing him from using his awakened powers.

"Brother!" cried Suman, visibly concerned.

"Lord Ares," commented Jiyoung, slightly upset.

"Miss Jiyoung," Ares replied without looking away from Supil, then rectified. "You don't have to interrupt us. I won't allow this to happen again."

"Brother," Jiwoo said with concern and tried to approach Ares, but was stopped by Kayden, who signaled him not to intervene.

Inhyuk watched the worrying situation they were in and thought. 'How did we get to this critical point?'

'Mr. Ares, please,' Jiyoung insisted.

Jiwoo looked at Kayden and then back at Ares, and in a sad and worried voice, said. "Brother, you don't need to kill him. This may cause you trouble, and I don't want you to have any more complications because of me."

"Please, brother," he added with sadness and concern.

Ares raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiwoo with his face full of worry, while Kayden kept a cold expression.

Then, Ares smiled, and his left hand filled with light. It struck Supil Kang's chest, causing him to vomit blood and fall unconscious. Behind his body, a light spread out, destroying the concrete and leaving the building on the verge of collapse.

Ares released Supil and fell seemingly dead to the ground.

Jiyoung and Inhyuk stared in shock at Kang Supil, who showed no reaction. They thought. 'Is he dead?'

Kayden narrowed his eyes and then smiled, turning his head.

"Brother?" cried Suman in despair.

"Brother," said Jiwoo weakly.

"Don't worry, he's not dead," commented Kayden.

Kayden's words woke up Suman, Jiyoung, Inhyuk and Jiwoo.

Ares looked at Suman and said. "Take him away. I won't be so merciful next time."

Suman, silently and without looking at Ares, took Supil and Sucheon away, quickly disappearing from Shinhwa.

After Suman left, Kayden and Jiwoo approached Ares.

Jiwoo looked at Ares with a downcast and sad face, and said. "Brother?"

A vein appeared in Ares as he said. "Stop being so naive," and then continued. "I didn't kill him, but I'll tell you something."

"He won't stop until you're no longer an enemy to Sucheon," Ares commented, leaving Jiwoo shocked.

Jiyoung and Inhyuk raised an eyebrow and frowned at Ares' words.

"That's true, he's just like that old man I killed," Kayden commented.

"You must learn to live in this world, Jiwoo," said Ares.

The atmosphere became tense, and Jiwoo's sadness and doubts were evident in the air.

"I'd like to talk to you," Jiyoung said.

Ares and Kayden looked at her for a moment and nodded their heads.

....

[Shinhwa President's Office]

"I didn't think they would meet here," Jiyoung commented in a calm voice, while Inhyuk, in a cold sweat, stood frightened behind her, fearful of Kayden's icy stare.

Sitting to Kayden's left, with his legs crossed and a nonchalant attitude, was Ares, observing the two people in front of him.

"I was just passing by and heard about Jiwoo's confrontation," Kayden replied casually.

Jiyoung nodded and asked seriously. "How long do you plan to stay? Your presence is powerful and shocking for a country like ours."

"We won't be long, we have some business we must fully resolve," Ares replied in a cold voice.

"I just dropped by to watch Jiwoo's confrontation," Kayden said with disinterest.

Jiyoung stared at them, unafraid, and said. "I'd like to ask you something."

Kayden and Ares frowned.

"I hear you," Ares said, as Kayden nodded, waiting for Jiyoung's words.

"Could you guys let go of what happened with Baekdu?", Jiyoung asked, surprising Inhyuk with her words.

"Why should we do that. You know better than us what they're like," Ares commented.

Jiyoung nodded with determination, his gaze would be fixed on Ares. "I know," he stated with conviction. He clenched his fist, conveying his determination. "As the No. 1 awakened one in this country, it is my duty to look out for the welfare of the nation and the organizations within it. If this situation continues, it will be terrible for all of us."

Silence filled the room as Jiyoung's words echoed in the air. Inhyuk looked at his chairwoman with admiration and concern, waiting to see how Ares would respond to her pressing request.

"Although past events cannot be changed, I hope you will have the patience not to continue the confrontation and avoid a war against Baekdu. I give you my word that Jiwoo will be completely safe," Jiyoung concluded.

Kayden rose from his seat without replying, ready to leave.

Jiyoung quickly stood up and asked. "Mr. Kayden?"

Kayden didn't answer, opened the door, stepped out and said a single word. "You better get them under good control. You're putting your organization in danger of something stupid on your part." He closed the door and the room was plunged into silence.

Ares rose from his seat and spoke his words with a mixture of seriousness and warning. "Miss Jiyoung, you know who started these troubles. I hope you will try your best and think carefully about what you just promised. As my teacher said, this will put a burden on you and your organization that you will not be able to bear indefinitely."

A tense silence filled the room, an atmosphere charged with psychological pressure affecting Jiyoung and Inhyuk.

"In this world, only the strong have rights, and your country is a rarity in that regard. However, not everyone shares that perspective, and that could bring calamity. In the future, this situation will become complicated, and you will not be able to do anything about it. Even considering your duty as Korea's No. 1 awakened one, this could bring more harm than good to your organization," Ares concluded as he left the place.

The door closed, leaving behind a stony silence.

Inhyuk looked at Jiyoung with concern and asked. "President... Why did you do that?"

Jiyoung sighed, not answering. The burden of her decisions and Ares' words weighed on her.

....

Kayden and Ares walked in silence, hands behind their backs, while Jiwoo followed them in a state of sadness and reflection. He did not utter a word, keeping his gaze down.

Kayden turned a glance towards Jiwoo and asked. "What's wrong with you, were our words too harsh?"

Jiwoo didn't answer, just continued to stare down.

Kayden sighed and continued. "Jiwoo, you were amazing in your confrontation, and you're improving at an alarmingly fast rate, but that's not enough."

"Your brother and I have enemies everywhere we go, and when they find out about you, they'll be your enemies too," Kayden commented seriously, as his gaze wandered off into the horizon.

Jiwoo slowly lifted his face and looked at Kayden, who showed a slight trace of concern.

"Mr. Kayden?" muttered Jiwoo faintly.

"I have told you on more than one occasion that our world is not like that of normal humans. In our world, the force decides everything, and the awakened will seek any method to gain benefits one way or another," Kayden explained.

"What worries me is that you will have to learn it one way or another," Kayden added with sadness in his voice.

At that moment, Ares stepped in and uttered. "Jiwoo," catching his attention.

Jiwoo turned to Ares, who was flashing a confident smile.

"You are not like the awakened youths of the world, you are special," Ares stated.

"Special?.. I'm not even strong," Jiwoo commented with melancholy in his voice.

"You're my younger brother and Kayden Break's disciple. Two awakened ones considered among the strongest in the world," Ares stated proudly.

Jiwoo looked at Ares and Kayden, who were flashing a smile full of affection.

"It may be too soon for you, but as time goes on, and you integrate into the awakened world, you'll realize how ruthless it can be," Ares continued.

"Don't worry about any problems we may face because of you, they are not your fault. The confrontation with Baekdu is not your responsibility," Kayden assured, and after a moment, continued. "Such petty disagreements that may seem absurd to you can lead to war, these problems are normal."

"Don't worry, we will be here and protect you," Kayden concluded.

Jiwoo looked at his brother and his master with tear-filled eyes and a joyful smile. Tears began to fall down his cheeks. "Brother... Master," he murmured with emotion.

Jiwoo tried in vain to wipe away his tears, but he couldn't stop more tears from welling up, and he began to cry.

Kayden and Ares sighed and placed their hands on his shoulder, giving him support and trying to calm him in the midst of his crying.

....

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