Seoul, the city of lights, hid bitter truths in its shadows. If its skyscrapers seemed to touch the sky, its lower streets belonged to those who had abandoned morality. After the economic crisis that hit South Korea decades ago, the marginalized areas seemed deeply wounded. The police, overwhelmed and corrupt, had abandoned these territories to their fate, leaving the gangs to reign as absolute masters.
Among them, the "Red Blades" gang stands out. More than a group of criminals, they were an institution. Extortion, trafficking, control of black markets: nothing happened without their blessing. Their influence extended far beyond the dilapidated alleys. Politicians, businessmen, and even policemen turned a blind eye, drowning in fear or money.
It is in this organized chaos that Ji-Hoon Kang lived. Ji-Hoon was 19, but his tired gaze could have belonged to a man twice his age. His days were a constant struggle to survive in a world that seemed to be against him.
Since his father's death, he alone carried the burden of the debts contracted by the latter to the Red Blades.
His apartment, in a dilapidated building in the Cheonggyecheon district, was as much a prison as it was a refuge. The walls were cracked, the air heavy with humidity, and the incessant noise of his neighbors' discussions filled every silence. Ji-Hoon shared the cramped space with his bedridden mother, whose medication was a crushing financial burden.
Every morning he left his apartment before dawn, his living bag slung over his shoulder. He juggled a variety of precarious jobs: janitor, delivery boy, sometimes even a dishwasher in a dingy restaurant.
All to scrape together the few notes needed for his family's survival. But despite his efforts, the Red Blades' grip tightened a little more each day. Ji-Hoon still remembered the first time the Red Blades district chief knocked on his door.
He was an imposing man, with a scar running down his face and a smile that made the blood flow.
"You know what your father owes us, right?" he had said, caressing the door frame. " Are you going to pay for this, or should we start with your mother? " Since that day, Ji-Hoon has lived in constant fear.
He had tried to negotiate, to ask for a delay. In vain. The Red Blades did not give gifts. Their policy was simple: if you can't pay cash, pay late. That evening, Ji-Hoon was finishing a night shift as a deliveryman.
With the empty pack on his back, he took a path to get home faster. His legs felt heavy, his mind clouded by fatigue. But as he turned a corner, he came face to face with three men he knew well: members of the Red Blades.
"Hey, there's our good Ji-Hoon !" one of them said, laughing.
Ji-Hoon felt his stomach drop. "What do you want ?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"What we want, of course," replied the leader of the group, a massive man named Kang-Dae .
"Do you think we'll wait forever? We've been patient, Ji-Hoon . But tonight, you pay."
"I have nothing. I work hard, but it's not enough," he tried to explain.
"Sorry, more apologies," Kang-Dae growled. " You have a way to pay. Everyone has one. "
They moved closer and Ji-Hoon backed away, his hands shaking desperately as he searched for a way out. But the road was a dead end.
"I'll pay you back. Just give me a little more time," he pleaded.
"Time is up," Kang-Dae replied.
The first blow was brutal. A punch to the stomach that doubled him over. Then another, this time to the face. Ji-Hoon fell to his knees, the taste of blood filling his mouth.
"Stop... please..." he whispered, his head lowered.
But they didn't stop. As he lay on the ground, losing his strength, a strange pain gripped his skull. It wasn't a physical pain, but a burning sensation, as if his mind was on fire.
Suddenly, everything stopped.
[ACTIVATION OF THE MYSTERY MIND SYSTEM.]
A cold, emotionless, metallic voice echoed in his head.
[Analyzing the environment... Priority: Survival. Do you want to use the interface?]
Ji-Hoon, semi-conscious, thought he was delirious at first. But the voice insisted, clear as crystal.
"What is...?" he whispered with his eyes half closed.
"Confirm with: Yes".
Without understanding why, he found the strength to whisper: "Yes".
A flash of light exploded in his mind and he felt a wave of energy pass through his body. When he opened his eyes, everything seemed different. The silhouettes of the gangsters were blurred, but the information appeared above his head:
[Kang-Dae : Fear of authority. Trauma associated with a former gang leader.
Min-Jae: Weak will. Subject to harassment.
Jin-Soo: The issue of loyalty. Look for an opportunity to betray.]
Ji-Hoon, stunned, muttered, " What is... this?"
[Priority: Neutralize threats. Do you want to manipulate targets? Confirm with: Yes. ]
A faint smile played on his bloodied lips. " Yes."
The rest went like a dream. Ji-Hoon spoke quietly, but his words seemed to stick in his mind.
" Kang-Dae , Jin-Soo has always looked down on you, hasn't she? "
Kang-Dae frowned, turning to Jin-Soo carefully.
"Min-Jae , you are too weak to touch me. Why don't you leave before it gets out of hand?"
Min-Jae dropped the knife and retreated with a pale face.Within a few minutes, Ji-Hoon changed the situation. Kang-Dae , overcome by the doubts embedded in his mind, retreated in turn.
"Let's get out of here," he finally growled, leaving Ji-Hoon alone in the alley.
Lying on the ground, Ji-Hoon looked up at the sky. [System stabilized. Interface ready. Do you wish to access training?]
A tired smile tugged at his lips. "Yes."
As Ji-Hoon lay in the alley, his breathing slowly calming, a new wave of heat swept through his mind. The mechanical voice was heard again.
[The system has been initialized. Welcome to the Mind Master System.]
He wasn't sure what he was hearing, but he knew one thing: this system had just saved him. He wiped the blood from his face with the back of his sleeve and stood up with difficulty. The physical pain was still there, but a strange feeling of security had begun to dawn on him.
[Introductory Phase: Basic Training Do you want to start training right away? ]
Ji-Hoon frowned, speaking to himself. " Exercising what exactly you want to teach me?"
[Analysis in progress... Current Ability: Low. Priority: Reinforce the principles of mental manipulation and survival tactics. Estimated Duration: 15 minutes.]
He sighed, placing his hands on his knees to regain his balance. He knew he had to go home, but something inside him pushed him to accept it.
"Okay. Let's begin. "
The system projected a series of concepts directly into his mind. The images, diagrams, and explanations were woven together, forming a coherent whole.
Ji-Hoon learned to read the surface thoughts and emotions of others, identifying their psychological weaknesses.
He discovered how to subtly influence a target's actions by manipulating their fears or desires.
[A warning appeared: " Excessive manipulation may lead to counter-effects, such as increased suspicion or resistance."]
As the training progressed, Ji-Hoon felt his mind clearing, as if a veil had been lifted. Every concept seemed innate, as if he had always had this potential within him.
[Basic training complete. Congratulations, Ji-Hoon Kang . You can now use the main functions of the Mind Master System. Next update in: 48 hours.]
"Thanks, I guess," he murmured, looking up at the dark sky. This time he stood up fully, his legs still shaking, but his mind was more alert than ever.
The streets were deserted as he walked towards his neighborhood. The cold night air bit his skin and every step seemed to echo in the silence. Despite everything, a strange light of hope shone within him. This system, however mysterious, gave him a chance. A gun.
As he approached his building, he frowned. A strong stench hung in the air, familiar and disturbing: that of smoke.
His pace quickened, his heart beating fast. He turned a corner and what he saw made him stand up. His ship was on fire.
The flames glowed red in the night, licking the cracked walls and emitting thick black smoke. Neighbors had gathered at a cautious distance, some shouting, others crying.
"No... NO!" Ji-Hoon shouted, running towards the building.
Strong arms stopped him before he could go any further. "Don't do that, child!" a man shouted, holding her tightly.
"My mother is here!" Ji-Hoon screamed, struggling with desperate fury.
"It's too late, no one can get out!"
These words hit Ji-Hoon like a hammer blow. His legs gave way under him and he fell to his knees, his hands gripping the cold ground.
Tears began to flow, hot, drowning his vision. He felt helpless, crushed by a pain so intense that it seemed to overshadow everything else. His hands were flailing on the ground, his ear-splitting scream breaking the silence of the night.
"Why?" he shouted. " Why now?!"
The world seemed to collapse around him. Everything he had fought for, everything he had tried to protect, had been burned to ashes in a single night. As he knelt, his mind racing, the system's voice rang out once more, soft but loud.
[Analysis complete. Cause of fire revealed: arson. Possible perpetrator: Kang-Dae , Red Blades district leader.]
Ji-Hoon looked up, his tears glistening in the light of the flames.
" Kang-Dae ..." he whispered, his voice filled with cold hatred. "Do you want to set a new priority?" the system asked.
He stood for a moment in silence, his fists clenched. Then, slowly, he stood up, his eyes fixed on the ruins of his house.
"New priority," he said. "Destroy them. Until the end. "
The system confirmed in a neutral tone: "Priority assigned. Planning in progress."
The chaos surrounding the fire slowly dissipated as police and fire sirens pierced the night. The authorities arrived, but Ji-Hoon sat on the sidewalk, frozen, his vision lost in the dying flames.
A policeman approached, a notebook in his hand. He wore an impeccable uniform, but his face showed cold indifference.
He leaned forward at Ji-Hoon , looking him straight in the eye. "Do you live here?" he asked in a neutral tone.
Ji-Hoon nodded slowly. " Yes."
"Name and age?"
" Kang Ji-Hoon . 19 years old. "
The policeman wrote quickly, his pencil scratching on the paper. Then he looked up, sizing Ji-Hoon up with a calculating look. " Do you know what caused the fire? "
The question made Ji-Hun tremble. He felt his jaw clench, but he avoided answering immediately. The system's voice briefly rang in his mind. [Lie Revealed: Agent Likely Corrupt. Caution Advised .]
"I... "I don't know," he lied, looking down.
The policeman raised an eyebrow, clearly disobedient. " Did anyone in your family live here?"
The question hit him hard. His mother. The image of her tired face, her weak smile despite the pain, suddenly returned. Ji-Hoon felt a new wave of tears flowing, but he tried to hold them back.
"No," he replied in a broken voice.
The policeman sighed, standing up. " So, are you alone now? "
Ji-Hoon remained silent, but the man insisted.
"Listen, boy. If you have nowhere to go, we can put you somewhere temporarily. Do you have family, relatives? Can anyone help you?"
This time, Ji-Hoon hesitated. A buried memory has risen: his paternal uncle. A tough man, who lives with his family in a remote neighborhood of Seoul. Ji-Hoon hadn't seen her in years, and their relationship had always been distant, marked by awkward silences and unspoken judgments.
"Maybe," he finally whispered. " But she won't love me. "
The policeman shrugged, his tone turning harsh. "It's up to you, but if you were me, I'd contact them. You don't have many other options. "
As the agent left, Ji-Hoon looked at the ashes of his old home. A feeling of emptiness overcame him, but one thought persisted: "I must survive, no matter what it costs me."