Weapon seller in the world of magic

”Lo... Lord Pavel!” Dmitri’s voice shook as he spoke aloud. Even his entire body trembled as Sungjun continued to walk. However, he didn’t pay attention and walked directly toward the woman, who blinked in surprise before pulling him into a hug with a smile. ”Oppa... What are you doing here?”

A brief pause later, she continued, her surprise turned into relief, ”Heard that someone sabotaged your plane a while ago, and you have gone low-key ever since. A lot of rumors are spreading everywhere lately. Now that I see you, it looks like you gained something from misfortune. Your mana reserves expanded a lot.”

Sungjun freed himself from the hug and looked at the lady, and smiled. ”It’s been a while, Ryu Seongha... But I’m not here to see my friend, though. I’m here to meet the Merchant of Death.”

The rotors thumped above their heads, shaking the cabin as the chopper soared over the patchwork of city lights below. Seongha leaned back with her arms crossed, listening in silence as Sungjun explained his plan. The night wind slipped through a crack in the door, tugging at the strands of her hair.

When he paused, she tilted her head toward him. ”So... why me, Oppa?” Her voice cut through the drone of the blades. ”Pavel can flatten the Black Dragon Gang on his own. You don’t need me.”

Sungjun’s lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile in response. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as if weighing how much to reveal. ”It’s not just you I need,” he finally said. His tone was casual, almost teasing.

Seongha frowned, curiosity flickering in her eyes. ”Not just me? Then what are you planning, Oppa?”

He met her stare, the corners of his mouth twitching upward again. ”You’ll see.” That was all he gave her. No explanation, no hint. Just that mysterious smile that subtly irritated her. She clicked her tongue in annoyance and looked back out the window.

The chopper descended after a while, the estate sprawling beneath them like a miniature city—rows of lights tracing the outlines of tall walls, manicured courtyards, and modern villas. The landing pad was already occupied with two other helicopters. Sleek cars were lined up in the driveway with their engines still ticking from the long rides in.

This was one of Alexander’s residences he inherited. For the public, it is the Estate of the Chairman of Royal Gold Group, but very seldom, only those in the higher social ladder know that this is where the Pakhan conducts most of its meetings. Whenever he does, the entire city will go on a lockdown in the name of a monster horde threat, the police will make sure the roads stay clear, all the media channels will be under heavy surveillance, making sure no one reports it, and those who dare will mysteriously disappear the next day.

Back to the present, staring at those all vehicles, Seongha blinked at the sight. ”What’s this? You didn’t tell me you had guests.”

Sungjun didn’t even glance at her. ”You’ll know once we’re inside.”

The chopper touched down with a hiss, and the guards were already seen jogging forward in crisp black suits. They bowed slightly as Sungjun stepped out first, Seongha followed, pulling her jacket tighter against the chilly winds.

Inside the estate, the atmosphere shifted immediately. The polished marble floors reflected the glow of chandeliers, but what caught her attention wasn’t the luxury—it was the gathering. Rows of men and women were seated around a massive hall. Gang leaders. Dons. Names that carried quite a lot of weight.

And then her gaze landed on the four figures standing in a neat line near the far side of the room. This made her steps freeze. ”Tempest, Umbra, Grime, and Hydro... Four of the eight guardians are here? The matter should be more serious than simply Black Dragon.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

Meanwhile, the crowd rose to their feet as he entered. Their eyes followed him as though he were the center of gravity.

Sungjun walked straight to the throne-like seat at the end of the hall and sat down with unhurried grace. He leaned back, one hand draped casually over the armrest with his eyes sweeping across the room.

”Sit,” he said simply.

The crowd obeyed.

Seongha hesitated but found a chair near him. She stole a glance at Sungjun.

Meanwhile, Sungjun’s eyes wandered across the nineteen warlords. He remembered four personally. Another five, he know their faces. The rest—unknowns.

Nevertheless, he sat up straighter and folded his hands once on the armrest, and spoke in a low voice.

”I’ll be direct.” Sungjun didn’t bother with any greetings. ”Some of you already know what happened with the Black Dragon Gang. They stole our shipment. They killed men of the Winter Hands. And now they have the nerve to call us and ask for a ransom.”

A big man with a hooked nose with his coat embroidered in a faded red scorpion, stood before the others and pointed a gloved finger at Sungjun. He spoke with a rasp, heavy accent. Viktor ’Skorpion’ Morozov, the leader of Red Scorpion Gang, a rising don with significant influence in the underworld, announced, more statement than question. ”Red Scorpion is always ready to take blood for you, Pakhan. If you need help, I can gather my boys from all over the world to, we—”

Sungjun’s soft laugh of amusement interrupted his words. He didn’t rise. He scoffed and shook his head once,

”Did you take me as weak lord who was asking for the help?” Sungjun said coldly. As the hall went quiet, Sungjun looked each of them in the eye, one by one. ”We are going to war, Viktor,” he said. ”Not just against Black Dragon Gang. Every force that allies with them.”

A broad-shouldered fellow near the front—his signet had a snarling wolf—pushed his chair back. Sergei Volkov of the Volkov Cartel, also known as the Casino King of Siberia, stood and spoke with a steady voice. ”I apologize, Pakhan. If a war is coming to our doorstep, we will have no choice but to respond but escalating a simple incident to war, we will need time to think about whether it is good for us or not.” The words were meant to steady the room, to remind everyone that they should just think about their own and they aren’t the servants of Pavel.

While his words caused a bit of disturbance in everyone’s hearts, some were already thinking about defying the order. Sungjun calmly gazed at the others. He gave a few seconds of silence before opening his mouth.

”Listen carefully.”

He spoke as if he were making the final judgment. ”For decades, you people have been taking money, weapons, and the support of our personnel in order to establish or maintain dominance in your territories. In exchange, all you have done is stay loyal without switching sides when it suited you and listened to Pavel’s rules and regulations, not crossing our bottom line either. Whether you did it out of fear or true loyalty, I don’t care, but what you did so far wasn’t enough.”

As they silently stared at him, some tensed and some offended, Sungjun continued. ”It’s time you prove your worth to Pavel.”

He leaned forward, palms flat on the arms of the throne as if to pin the words into the floor. ”I intend to make a statement to the entire underworld: Pavel remains the strongest force here. Pavel is the King here. For that reason alone, I will not have Pavel enter the fight directly.”

Someone hissed, surprised. Others exchanged looks.

Sungjun’s tone shifted calmly once again. ”We will fund this war. We will provide weapons, equipment, intel, and money. We will make sure you have everything—maps, logistics, safe houses. But you will be the ones who take back the RDX they stole. You will bring me the heads of those who thought to challenge us. Whatever spoils come from this war—territory, goods, cuts—will be distributed among you. Pavel will not take a cent from it.”

He let that settle. The promise and the threat sat side by side, balanced like two weights.

A short, humorless bark broke out from a corner. Old men who had seen too many nights of shifting fortunes began to talk in low, quick bursts. Some shifted forward, hunger for the power showing in the lines around their eyes; spoils and expansion had a way of cutting through caution. Others folded their arms, measuring risk like a commodity.

”And those who aren’t interested...” Sungjun added quietly, so that only the nearest could hear, but loud enough that the catch on the other side of the hall felt it like a draft. ”I have an exit door prepared for you without any repercussions. If you are not worth to Pavel, then there is no use for you, for me. You may become an independent force and act on your own. But if you then think about joining an alliance with Pavel’s enemies, we will directly take action against you. Just remember these words of mine... Unlike my late father, I won’t hesitate to burn my own hand to burn down your entire house.”