18 minutes later, Jung wiped the sweat from his cheeks as he arrived from the outskirts of the town, and he was within sight of the abandoned house. Now that he was within sight of it, Jung Hee realized that it was more of an abandoned mansion than a house.

According to rumors, the house used to be owned by a rising star in the Communist Party. He used it to entertain lovely young ladies away from the prying eyes of his superiors in Pyongyang. It is said that they will stay there and party for days before going back to the capital. The old owner of the miscellaneous store gossiped about this since they normally stop by and buy a lot of snacks and other toiletries for their tryst. Unfortunately, one day the official brought with him the wrong lady. Either she is the wife or daughter or the mistress of a much more senior official. In the end, it didn't really matter.

When he found out, a gang of sinister-looking individuals stormed the mansion and trashed it. The woman was escorted away crying, while the previous rising star of the Communist Party was nowhere to be found. Rumors have it that he is forced to dig his own grave, and then they cut off his dick before he is buried alive with his severed, bloody dick still in his mouth.

Now it is an abandoned place that has become the hangout of juvenile unaffiliated gangs. He remembered trying to walk towards this place several times when he was in town, but every time other locals warned him, it was going to be a bad idea to walk in that place. He'd seen the fat boy he is looking for now walk to this place at least twice in the last year, but Jung no reason to confront at the time. They were both minding their business. But now is different.

Jung scanned the place one more time before he started walking toward the house. He observed the kids long enough to get a measure of what they looked like and how they behaved. Most of the kids hanging around are very young, 15 or 16 years of age. A year or so older than him. But there are those who are far older. Early 20s and such.

Before he reached the house, Jung let go of his only decent uniform shirt and tucked in an alcove between trees. He is hoping he can get it back in the future when all of this is over. He then ripped the short sleeves of his shirt and showed off his arms, and when he got near a group of laughing teenagers, he smoothly scooped a temporarily abandoned baseball cap between them and put it on. It was almost instinctive. His still active hunting skills urged him somehow to blend in, and he did so naturally. It was a simple change, but suddenly he looks and feels like one of the delinquents hanging around. For a moment, he felt guilty for ruining his favorite shirt, but it couldn't be helped. He would sacrifice a lot more to make sure that Eun Mei was safe.

There is this own huge boy who looks like he is guarding the house but he was talking to a leggy girl drinking some sort of alcohol in a plastic cup. Jung entered the house, and the boy barely noticed him. As he stepped inside, he blinked almost in surprise at what he saw. It was a freaking den of barely restrained animals. Two girls were dancing and kissing on a sturdy table as other kids hooted and jeered around them. All the while, the loud music coming from a walled speaker tried to drown out the cacophony of screaming teenagers.

Jung almost staggered to his feet as the sound and smell washed over him in an unexpected wave. His hyper senses are always active nowadays, but he learned to ignore most of the background data that comes in, and although the back of his mind was warning him of what he was going to see, he was still surprised the moment he entered the main room. Too much information is not always a good thing.

By the ancestors, the smell was the worst. Despite the fact that he could almost literally feel his eardrums ringing from the full blast coming from the speakers, it was the smell in the room that almost dropped him. For example, he now knew that more than two-thirds of the people here haven't gotten a proper bath for days. And almost a third of the ladies here have their periods ongoing currently, and yet a sizable portion of them have not yet changed their pads for something fresher. Jung took a deep breath and activated his focused mind. Technically, his smelling and hearing skills, just like his seeing and other sensory skills, are passive skills, but he could actually dampen their effectiveness for a short while.

He breathed a palpable sigh of relief as his senses dampened. A woman grabbed him and tried to get him to dance with her on the makeshift dance floor. Jung gave her a forced smile, and as she pulled, Jung whirled with the movement, and with a twist, the girl was swooning in a loop to another guy. Jung silently sneaked away before the woman realized what he just did. He forced himself not to brush the places where she touched him.

One table on the side has a collection of half-empty bottles of beer and stronger liquors and a few steamed buns. Jung was not sure if a few of those steam buns were either half eaten or they were half regurgitated back to the tray. He hesitated, then Jung slipped one of the more intact steam buns under his palm and placed it in his pocket. He continued moving until he was on the stairs. There are a lot of kids hanging around, but he moved smoothly as he passed by them unnoticed while keeping his head down.

Then he positioned himself in the corner of the second floor balcony so that he could watch everything that is happening on the main floor. He patiently waited approximately 3 and a half hours in that same position without moving away. Twice, a girl came up to him and flirted, but he kept answering in grunts, and he wouldn't maintain eye contact until the girls got bored and walked away. Jung noticed that of the 50 or so kids hanging out in the place, about a dozen or so had some sort of martial arts training simply from the way they moved and handled themselves. About 20 or so of the kids in the hangout are female, and at least 2 of them can do real damages.

He was holding his breath at the moment because the couple next to him was spreading this unpleasant smell of sweat, body odor, cheap perfume, and other dried, erm, body fluids. Jung intellectually understood that most of the kids here have been staying here for a while and that their senses got used to their surroundings, but jeezes, even so, how the hell can they not smell the smell?

And then his target suddenly entered the room. His name is Guang, which Jung remembered since his friend called him by that name several times before. He is obviously in a foul mood, as he shoved a dancing couple getting too close to him. Two more companions were following him. The dude on the left can handle himself, but the other one has never been in a fight and relies mostly on his intimidating bulk to bully everyone else. Jung's eyes followed them as they navigated their way up the stairs and into the farthest corridor, where none of the other kids wandered about. The massive dog leashed in a chain connected to a nearby door discourages everyone from visiting the place.

Guang and his companion moved in without fear and entered the door beyond. The dog barely acknowledged them.

Jung waited for a few more minutes, and then he nonchalantly made his way over to the corridor and the target door. Jung activated his animal whisperer skill as well as his animal husbandry skill. He didn't know if the last one would help, but if he has the related skill, he will use it now.

The guard dog perked up when he noticed him and started to give off a low, warning growl. Jung walked confidently forward, his hand on his side, showing the animal that he was not holding anything that could harm him. JUng didnt dare looked the alpha in the eye. He projected himself as a friend of her master and soothed the mind of the animal. She started to relax a bit, When Jng was within ranged, he raised his left hand and let the dog smell him to her heart's content.

Friend. Jung projected again.

You are in my territory. Leave.

I acknowledge that this is your territory. I have no intention of leaving my scent here. I simply want to talk to your master.

Then Jung had an idea and promptly flopped on his back and showed his belly to show his submission. The huge dog, a pittbull, snorted at the antics of the human but nevertheless became curious. She started smelling his belly. Then it became a bit uncomfortable when she started sniffing at his groin parts.

Then the dog sighed and return to her place.

Get up, human. You look ridiculous.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Jung stood up with a smile in his face. He didn't know how, but the dog somehow acknowledged him as a non-threat and is now willing to let him near her.

You have a beautiful body. May I pet you?

Again, the snort. You lie, human, but I will let you pet me.

Jung immediately leaned down again and started petting the huge creature. At first, his touch was tentative and probing... then he started kneading the hard muscles, and the knots formed underneath it. Suddenly, the dog was purring as it relaxed under him.

Aaaah... right there. more...

Jung smiled. His massage skills are still level 3, but they were more than enough for others to enjoy.

But what truly changed Jung's designation of an intruder to a friend in the eyes of the dog was the steam bun Jung offered her. The dog ate it gratefully, and Jung sensed from the dog that he hadn't eaten anything all day and the night before. He patted the dog on the head and under his neck, especially on the bruised part of the neck that gets chapped by the heavy collar. Eventually, the mutt laid down her head and promptly had a happy nap.

Jung tried the door the dog was guarding, but it was, of course, locked. There was separate blaring music inside the door that made Jung quite confident that they wouldn't hear him as he tried to manipulate the old locking mechanism. He leaned down on his knees, almost hiding himself from the bulk of the dog, then grabbed the pin he always carried to fold his khaki pants just the right length. He used that pin to manipulate the lock, and with a click, he had access to the room. Before he went in, though, he hesitated.

Jung turned to the sleeping dog and used the same pin to unhook the tight collar on the dog's neck. The big dog barely noticed him as she began to snore very loudly. When he was done, he left the collar to the ground and gave the dog one final scratch at the back of her ears.

Jung quietly opened the door and slipped inside. The short corridor led to an open space with a few sofas and a small kitchen. The blaring music was coming from that direction as well. One dude, the one he thought had some martial experience, was lounging on the sofa, bobbing his head to the rhythm of the music. The other companion was preparing some sort of food in the kitchen with a heavy skillet. He didn't see his main target, but his nose told him that the bastard was in the bathroom, which is on the side of the corridor.

Pinpointing all three inhabitants, Jung made his move. A wall clock was hanging in the corridor, and Jung noted that it was almost 4 pm. Jung pried it out of the wall with one pull. Trusting his throwing skills, he raised the clock over his head and threw the heavy thing in an arc. It hit the back of the head of the young man in the kitchen, and he fell to the floor like a marionette whose strings were cut off.

Both the young man and the clock fell to the ground, and the guy on the sofa instinctively looked at the new sound, making his gaze move away from the incoming intruder. Jung's arm slipped right into his neck and pulled. The man gave a cry of surprise and automatically struggled. But Jung's arm was vise-like, and he'd slipped his arm at the base of the guy's neck and executed the perfect arm lock. Jung dragged him from the sofa to the floor below. The man struggled on, but Jung's surprise attack and superior position were too much for him. As Jung continued to squeeze, the man's face turned bright red from a lack of oxygen. His arm began to weaken gradually. Jung knew that in 5 more seconds, the young man would be unconscious. 4...3...

"What the fuck?! Who the hell are you?"

The voice from behind was unmistakable. Jung blindly kicks backward, and he hits the chest of his true target. It blew him away and smacked his back against the closed door. Jung released his arm to face the new threat.

Guang was dazed for a moment, but he recovered quickly enough and stood back up. He was shirtless, and it was easy to tell that he is still damp with water. But thank goodness he already has his pants on. Jung advanced on him.

Jung hesitated for a moment when Guang brandished a knife from his back pocket, but Jung continued to approach. When Jung was within reach, Guang stabbed him right in the chest. Jung deflected the attack and jabbed his other fist right in the nose. Guang blindly attacked again. This time, he kicked Jung first, then swiped with the knife. Jung stopped the kick with his own foot and then grabbed the incoming swipe before twisting his opponent's wrist. Guang howled in agony as the knife fell to the floor. Jung kicked the knife away from them, then grabbed Guang by the neck and slammed him back into the door Guang came from.

"Where is Jae Kyung?" Jung asked, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Don't-"

An arm slipped behind him, and an armlock closed in behind his neck, pulling him away from Guang. Jung realized that the other dude he left behind was able to recover somehow and is now returning the favor. Shit, he didn't have time for this. His new assailant proved that Jung's theory about his martial experience is true when he uses his greater height to raise Jung up and make him lose his balance. Jung was on his tiptoes as the guy dragged him away from the corridor. Guang started screaming and started punching him. The first hit him, one on the face, the other two in the ribs and stomach. Jung grunted as he absorbed the blow.

That'll teach you the lesson of not finishing your enemy when you had the chance, he thought darkly.

'Hold him steady! " screamed Guang as he pulled his fist for another punch.

Jung was waiting for that. His arm struggled to release the armlock on him, but it took him a minute to realize that, despite the discomfort, he wasn't losing oxygen that much. When he analyzed it later, he found out that his breathing skills gave him enough reserve oxygen in his lungs to last him for at least 10 minutes. So he is able to think and plan despite the arm squeezing him under his neck.

When the punch came, Jung met it with his own punch. Both fists collided, but Jung was able to position his fist just at the right angle to break the other guy's fingers. Guang eyes bulged, and he started screaming when his brain registered the pain from his broken fist.

The guy holding Jung from behind was momentarily surprised by his friend's scream, and Jung took complete advantage of it. Jung stepped on Guangs stomach and lifted himself up, followed by a rising kick from his other foot that caught Guang right in the chin. Meanwhile, Jung used the momentum to summersault his way at the back of the other guy. That finally broke the armlock, and they both stumbled to the ground.

To Jung's surprise, the young man he just escaped from stood up just as quickly as he did and is now facing him in a defensive posture. His battle stance and posture gave Jung the idea that his opponent was a striker at heart. Guang was still holding his chin and making his way up from the floor.

Jung needed to finish this quickly.

Jung lunged forward, and his opponent countered with a few jabs. Jung slipped under it and countered with a punch to the rib. The guy grunted and then hugged him instead, in another headlock attempt.

The fucker might be a striker at heart, but he also knows how to grapple, Jung thought in surprise. Jung remained focused, however. Instead of opposing the hold, Jung went after his opponent's leg and then lifted his opponent before smashing him to the side of the wall. Groggily, the man stood up again but was a bit disoriented. That is when Jung unleashed a deadly combo right in his face with punches and elbows, and then ended that with a powerful hook kick in the side of the boy's face. Jung's opponent was out cold.

Jung immediately whirled around to face his final opponent. But it was anticlimactic. Guang was sobbing on the ground while still holding his broken fist. Unhurriedly, Jung walked towards the sturdy radio and closed the blaring music. The sudden quietness in the room beside the sobbing boy was deafening. Then Jung walked back to the broken boy and stared coldly at him. Jung stepped on his ankle and pressed. Guang howled even more as he tried to reach impotently at his left foot.

Jung kept pressing to make his point, then he leaned forward and said in a menacing voice, "Where is he? Where is Jae Kyung hiding?"

"Jeezes, Christ! You did all this because of Jae Kyung?! I don't know where the fucker is!"

Jung slapped him across the face so hard that it jarred him. "Where is your Jae Kyung?!"

"Fuck you!"

Jung grabbed him by the hair and smashed him back, then pressed his head into the ground. "Did you know that there is a bounty for your friend right now?" Jung lied, trying a new tactic. "The girl you kidnap is the bastard daughter of a very influential communist party member, and he wants her back. The RGB is in our town right now, snooping around and offering enough money to ride the next winter comfortably. Why the fuck do you think I'm here?!" JUng screamed at him, rattling the boy. Then Jung leaned down once more.

"Either you tell me where he is now or I surrender you to the militia, and they are the ones who will ask you questions. I'm sure they will ask very nicely."

Jung stared into his eyes, and he could see the fear in them. "Time's up, come meet your new daddy!" Jung said as he lifted the fat boy in one pull, and he was on his feet.

"Wait! Wait!" he screamed. "I think I know where he is, but I'm not sure!"

"Naah, I think you're fucking with me," Jung said. "The militia torturer will get their real answer out of you after they cut off your balls."

"Waiitt! I know the place he normally goes to when he is stressed out or if he is hiding from someone! I'm sure he is there!"

Jung deliberately hesitated as he frowned at the guy. "Fine! We'll go there, and if he is in there, then I'll let you go. But if I find out you are wasting my time, then the next destination we'll go to is the militia headquarters."

Jung barged out of the room and onto the crowded stairs. Everyone stared at him, and maybe it was pure luck or it was done deliberately, but the loud music suddenly stopped blaring in the entire room. Then all eyes went to Jung and his captor.

Jung dragged Guang down the stairs and across the room, all the while ignoring the stares burrowing into his body from all the kids. Halfway across the room, a strong hand clamped at his shoulder.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" A huge 6-foot man in his early 20s glowered at him.

Jung immediately broke the hold on his shoulder as he whirled around, and the savage elbow smashed into the surprised guy's left face. His eyes stared at his brain as he fell. But Jung grabbed him before he fell and then savagely met his face with his knee and viciously broke the man's nose. Everyone who witnessed the sudden violence knew that the man was already unconscious even before his head hit the ground.

Then Jung glared at the kids surrounding him. Four or so of the fallen dude's friends snarled and started walking toward Jung. But then a massive dog who was secured on the second floor a while ago is now just a few feet away from them and starts growling. That stopped their advance, and they retreated back to their original place.

Jung stared at them for a moment longer, and when he was relatively sure that no one would interfere anymore, he grabbed his victim and dragged him out of the room and then the entire house.

The dog followed leisurely behind.