Chapter 144

Chapter 144 – War Between Criminals #3

Kazuo, who was in charge of the South Korean branch, died in an accident . Originally, it would’ve been a big event, due to a struggle over the successor of the branch .

Yamaguchi removed the seeds of the conflict by appointing a successor as soon as possible . Thus, Mister Park was promoted . He was Kazuo’s right arm, and oversaw the general operations of the Korean branch .

Yamaguchi came to the conclusion that the South Korean branch could be left to Mister Park .

But…

“Phantom, Phantom . ”

There was a big TV screen in front of Yamaguchi, with a mysterious man wearing an opera mask declared war on the mafia on it . It was like a scene from a movie .

“A declaration of war to the mafia by one man alone might seem reckless but… According to reports, it isn’t the case . ”

Then Mister Park, who was sitting at his feet, looked up and said,

“Yes, that’s right . Phantom has done impossible things on his own, and it’s almost like he’s using alter egos . So I investigated and…”

Yamaguchi pulled Mister Park up .

“You have been promoted, so don’t feel the need to be so submissive . ”

“I-I see . I don’t think I have enough resources to stop Phantom . ”

“Haha . Stop talking about Phantom for now . First of all, sit here . I will consider your opinion . ”

Yamaguchi was the boss of the Japanese Yakuza that had thousands of members . Even Mister Park was like a young child in front of him .

“Hrmm…”

Yamaguchi stroked his white beard as he read the information prepared by Mister Park .

“Phantoms . He really is smart . He doesn’t need to come directly . Just move the symbol, and he will get what he wants . Could you do this?”

Anyone could become a Phantom by putting on the mask . They would move little by little and deal damage to the mafia .

“…No . ”

The Yakuza became family by sharing alcohol mixed with each other’s blood . It was a sacred ritual and betrayal meant death . They all worked under the Oyabun . However, the Phantoms became allies just be receiving a mask through the courier service . It was possible since Phantom used the symbol of the opera mask .

“How many Phantoms are there?”

“I don’t know . Dozens or hundreds… No, maybe even more than that . ”

The scariest thing about the Phantoms was that they were an enormous force on the Internet . Of course, unlike the Yakuza, none of them were willing to give their lives for Phantom . Most of them were just Phantoms for fun and felt satisfied to be involved with Phantom in some way .

The instructions also weren’t too difficult . They just needed to deliver an item or install something somewhere . As a result, people with special talents started to gather .

“The group is less than two months old, and yet it is like this… Truly an interesting man . Mister Park . ”

“Yep!”

“How much damage has he inflicted?”

“11 farms and 93 employees…”

Yamaguchi was speechless for a while after hearing Mister Park’s report . Then he coughed and said,

“Then the opponent’s damage?”

“…Sorry, there is none . ”

“Huhu, I see . ”

It was understandable why Mister Park had come . This might be the biggest defeat in their history .

“I want to see him directly . Unfortunately, that is too much . I should pull out the protruding nail, not batter it . Mister Park . ”

“Yep!”

“From today on, the Hayabusa will help you . With their power, you should be able to stand up against Phantom . ”

The Hayabusa! They were a special group of criminals with various skills . Hackers, card cheats, terrorists, magicians, scammers, etc . They were normally scattered all over Japan . Once Yamaguchi called, they would gather to carry out his orders . Their abilities were enough to even assassinate a witness protected by the FBI . They specialized in intelligence and warfare .

Mister Park gulped . Yamaguchi wanted to collapse the Phantom system as well as Phantom .

“If Phantom wants to fight, then I will accept . With the help of the Hayabusa, find all of the identities of the Phantoms and kill them . Then all of South Korea will know that cooperating with Phantom will mean death . ”

Mister Park looked determined .

“I hope to live up to your expectations . ”

“I will let you handle this work directly . ”

“I understand . ”

Mister Park laughed . He also thought that this was the only way to deal with the Phantoms .

@

Caterina was the godfather of the Red Mafia in Russia . Her feelings towards Phantom were beyond obsession .

“Semon . What clothes should I wear the next time we meet?”

“Well . I’ll bring the best fashion coordinator and stylist if you want .

“Can you please do that? By the way, have you heard the news? After defeating the Yakuza, Phantom easily dealt with the Triads . How is this possible?”

Semon sighed .

Caterina didn’t have the dignity of a godfather . It was because she was lacking that Semon was helping her . However, Caterina had the ability to penetrate sharply into the essence of things . If she was raised properly, then she could someday become the queen of the Red Mafia .

But she changed after she met Phantom and he saved her life . She became a girl completely in love . She also ceased trying to talk like a tough man .

There was only one thing left . For the sake of the organization, and for Caterina as well, he had to put all his effort into making Phantom her partner . To do that, he would do anything .

“It is possible because the mask is the symbol of Phantom . And don’t worry so much, Phantom definitely has feelings for you . Why else would he meet you so easily?”

“I-Is that so?”

“Perhaps the Phantoms was a plan he had put on hold before . And there is one prerequisite to do it . ”

“Prerequisite?”

Semon coughed several times .

“Phantom is a free body that doesn’t belong anywhere . If he is working under the name of a criminal organization, then no one will want to join the Phantoms . ”

Then it was understandable why he rejected Caterina’s courtship . It was surprisingly positive thinking .

“I was too short-sighted! I really thought Phantom didn’t like me…”

“And look at this . ”

Semon pulled out a letter with the mark of an opera mask .

“It is an invitation from him . He is inviting you to a party .

“W-Wah!”

Caterina laughed and clapped her hands . She seemed genuinely pleased .

“It is next week . Do you want to go?”

“Of course! Can you call the people you mentioned earlier? I want to give Phantom the coolest show!”

“I understand . ”

But they were mistaken . Unfortunately, the Red Mafia wasn’t the only ones to receive Phantom’s invitation .

@

“There are Phantoms here!”

Mister Park led the Hayabusa members to a house outside Seoul . They had been chasing the trail of the Phantoms for three days .

An enormous amount of manpower and capital was invested to find the clues left behind . If they found someone acting as Phantom and killed them, the group wouldn’t be able to act like they were doing now .

Mister Park checked his bulletproof vest and loaded bullets into the gun . It was a warning that anyone who cooperated with Phantom would die .

“They might have joined Phantoms as a game, but I will let them know this isn’t one . Rush in!”

It was like chasing the enemy king in chess . This time, he received Yamaguchi’s order to deal with the matter directly . He was able to get the Hayabusa’s cooperation thanks to that .

Mister Park clicked his tongue and murmured,

“First of all, I will spend the week killing Phantoms . Well, I don’t have to do too much . Once 10 people die, it will start dismantling on its own . ”

Some Hayabusa members were monitoring from a van nearby . If the police starting moving, then they would leave in 10 seconds .

Kwang!

The door was smashed open and an ordinary family home appeared . There was garbage piled up, showing that it hadn’t been cleaned for a while . Despite the fact that it was a weekday, someone was watching the TV .

Mister Park laughed,

Yes, people who joined Phantoms had nothing to do . Mister Park aimed his gun at the person covered in a blanket and said,

“Ah, yes . It is wrong not to tell you the reason for your death . ”

“……”

“You will die . There are three reasons . The first sin is signing up to join the Phantoms . The second sin is harming the Yakuza . And the third sin…”

At that moment, the man took the blanket off and stood up . Now a grey mask could be seen .

“…Oh, I was surprised! Y-Yes . You are a Phantom after being sent the mask . Isn’t it natural that you are wearing it? By the way, you are really into this, even wearing a mask when home alone . ”

The man in the opera mask smiled . He was smiling despite a gun being aimed at him? Was this person crazy?

“Phantom cry!”

“…… . ?!”

“I made a joke because the atmosphere is too tense . This mask is scary, Mister Park . ”

Mister Park’s hands trembled at the familiar voice .

“D-Don’t tell me…”

“Yes . I am Phantom . I didn’t think that Mister Park would come directly to kill my men . ”

“S-Shoot! T-This is the real Phantom!”

Mister Park ordered the man to be shot . No matter how great Phantom was, it was impossible for him to avoid bullets shot by dozens of people in this room .

“Really? It seems like your hobby is suicide . ”

“W-What?”

Phantom pulled a bomb switch from his pocket . Then he calmly said,

“Pressing this will blow up the entire building . You didn’t think I would come here without any preparations? If you still want to then shoot . ”

Mister Park slowly raised his hand . Yes, Phantom was a person like this .

“…Don’t shoot!”

“……”

“How did you know I was going to attack this place?”

“You have pretty competent hackers but I am above them . ”

Of course, it was an absolute lie . Tae-hyuk smiled .

In fact, he discovered the Yakuza’s plan due to some events accidentally overlapping . He had created several dummy sites to recruit Phantoms . A few days ago, the traffic from Japan started to increase by dozens of times .

Tae-hyuk was suspicious and gathered information from the bug installed in the Yakuza’s offices . But there was nothing .

In the end, he had to move to find out directly . Then, by chance, he saw that one of the Yakuza members were buying a large amount of coffee and chocolate while watching them .

The conclusion was amazing . It was the place where the hackers belonging to the Hayabusa were working . They bought a large amount of snacks since they would be working all day .

Tae-hyuk caught this scene .

‘A hacker who has great skills to not be caught on the Internet was caught in real life . This is why detectives collect evidence . ’

After knocking out a member who was buying snacks . Tae-hyuk disguised himself as that member and infiltrated the team . Then he heard Mister Park’s plan . It was simple after that .

He deliberately sprinkled information about the Phantoms and lured them here .

“Kuook… Y-Your purpose…”

“Oh, this time I didn’t come to fight . I just wanted to give you this . ”

Tae-hyuk handed an invitation to Mister Park .

“What? Party?”

“Yes . Isn’t it difficult to continue fighting each other? Come to the place written there . ”

Phantom’s invitation! Mister Park’s hands trembled .

“Bah, who would go when it is likely to be a trap?”

“You don’t have to come . Then do your best . ”

Tae-hyuk smiled and pressed the bomb switch . There was an uproar .

“Aaaaack! B-Bomb! Everybody get down!”

“Kuaaaack!”

Mister Park and the Yakuza members fell to the ground . Then the bomb exploded .

Kuwaaaang!

However, it wasn’t a powerful impact .

“Cough! Cough!”

Mister Park coughed as smoke seeped from different areas of the house . It was a smoke bomb .

“…D-Damn! C-Catch him! Catch Phantom!”

Mister Park commanded his men with an agitated face . However, Phantom had completely disappeared .

Phantom disappeared suddenly with the smoke . He only left one invitation behind .

Mister Park groaned as he looked at it .

The words, ‘Mafia Game’ were written on it .