Chapter 263: Chapter 263

There were a lot of people to see today.

But out of all of them, the first person Su-ho wanted to see was, of course, Pi Seong-yeol.

After all, Su-ho was the type to eat the most delicious dish first.

As requested, Pi Seong-yeol was seated in the special visitation room.

When Su-ho nodded, everyone who had entered with him promptly exited the room.

That included the prison guards responsible for security.

The very idea that someone was assigned to guard Su-ho’s safety here was laughable.

At this point, Su-ho had reached a level where he could be considered the best player in the world—who was protecting whom?

It had been a while since he’d last seen Pi Seong-yeol.

He was emaciated to the point of looking like a walking corpse.

No, not just emaciated—he was practically a living cadaver.

He had believed the world was his, only to lose everything overnight. That kind of collapse would’ve worn down both body and soul.

Of course, it wasn’t only the psychological shock that had brought him to this state.

Currently, Pi Seong-yeol was under Su-ho’s pressure point control: he could only see half of what was in front of him, hear half of what he should, and even breathing brought pain.

And if he ever tried to end his own life, he would be blocked by the implanted clone disease Su-ho had planted—rendering him unable to die even if he wanted to.

Naturally, he had become a shell of a man.

This Pi Seong-yeol was nothing like the proud, pompous man Su-ho had once known.

Su-ho dragged a chair over and sat down in front of him.

“It’s been a while, senior.”

No response from Pi Seong-yeol.

He looked like he had aged significantly since the last time Su-ho had seen him.

People really do age faster when they're suffering.

With sunken eyes, Pi Seong-yeol finally looked at him and said,

“...Why are you here?”

His voice was cracked and dry, like a withered branch.

The signs of torment were obvious.

But Su-ho, as usual, was unfazed.

“Why do you think? I came because I have business with you. You didn’t think I dropped by just to say hi, did you?”

Pi Seong-yeol closed his mouth.

He figured silence was better than responding.

Su-ho knew that mindset well, and as always, he continued without caring.

“I got promoted, by the way. I’m Division Chief of the Special Division now. Chief Jeong got promoted to Director.”

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

“...Why don’t you just say what you came to say?”

“You’ve gotten so cold while I wasn’t looking. Or is it just the environment? Fine, I’ll get to the point. I heard you got fifteen years.”

“You even filed an appeal, didn’t you? Don’t you think that’s a bit much? People died from that Shock Project incident. And you have the nerve to appeal instead of being grateful for fifteen years?”

“Isn’t it just going to be dismissed anyway? I've lost everything. Can’t I at least appeal if I feel like it?”

“Damn... Classic senior. Even after all that, you’re still stiff-necked. You really are the same man I used to know.”

“I need you to come with me for a bit.”

With that, Su-ho grabbed Pi Seong-yeol and hurled him against the wall.

At the spot where Pi Seong-yeol landed, a portal opened, sucking him in.

Su-ho stepped in after him.

[Entering the Subspace House.]

The place Pi Seong-yeol was thrown into was none other than the Subspace House.

As he landed, Pi Seong-yeol looked around with a dazed expression.

“Looks familiar, doesn’t it? You’ve been here before.”

“Think hard. This is where your hands and feet got chopped off, and your body was set on fire.”

“Finally remembering now?”

Back then, things were moving too fast for him to even process the location.

But for Pi Seong-yeol, this wasn’t his first time here.

And that’s when it began.

His whole body started trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Su-ho grinned at the sight.

“Now that’s a fitting expression on your face.”

He grabbed Pi Seong-yeol and dragged him somewhere.

They arrived at a warehouse.

The door wasn’t even locked.

Inside, someone was already waiting.

He sat on the floor like an empty puppet, his eyes lifeless.

Su-ho approached and cast two skills on him.

[Recovery is activated.]

If those could revive someone in a coma like Kim Gwon, then a mentally broken man like Im Chang-sik wasn’t a problem.

Heal was to restore his stamina.

Thanks to the skills’ effects, Im Chang-sik regained his senses—and the moment he saw Su-ho, he began trembling in fear.

He had realized the truth.

That no matter how much he begged, Su-ho would never release him from this place.

Su-ho pointed at Im Chang-sik.

“Senior, do you know who that is?”

Pi Seong-yeol shook his head, still trembling.

Then I’ll explain, Su-ho thought.

“That guy used to be a loan shark. But he also dealt drugs on the side. And not only was he greedy, but his mindset was rotten—he made a lot of people suffer. That’s why he’s here. Though, to be fair, you’re the bigger scumbag. You’re in a whole different league.”

“He’s been here for months now. You know why, out of all the scumbags out there, he’s the only one still here, suffering?”

Again, Pi Seong-yeol shook his head.

“I don’t know either. It just sort of worked out that way. Seriously, there are ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ way worse people than him—why would I bother keeping him? But do you know why I’m showing him to you?”

Pi Seong-yeol’s eyes widened again.

Because he was starting to understand.

And that understanding kept him from even shaking his head.

If he showed any sign of recognition now, the nightmare might become reality.

But as always, reality was crueler than imagination, and premonitions never missed their mark.

“You’re going to take his place now. His name is Chang-sik—Im Chang-sik. So from now on, you are Chang-sik.”

Pi Seong-yeol’s eyes bulged like saucers.

His limbs shook uncontrollably, and something between a gasp and a groan leaked from his gaping mouth.

It was exactly as it sounded.

The reason Su-ho had brought Pi Seong-yeol here was to replace Im Chang-sik.

Leaving the helpless Pi Seong-yeol behind, Su-ho approached Im Chang-sik.

Seeing him draw near, Im Chang-sik also began to tremble.

“It’s time for you to get out.”

“Yeah. How long are you planning to stay here all by yourself?”

“What? You don’t want to leave?”

“N-no! Please! Please let me out! I’ll do anything you say...!”

Just that one word broke Im Chang-sik again.

Even if Su-ho was lying, Im Chang-sik had no choice but to believe him. Updates are released by 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱

Because only Su-ho could end this nightmare.

As Im Chang-sik collapsed at his feet, Su-ho nodded.

Then he knelt down and pointed to the man he had brought with him.

“Chang-sik, see that guy over there?”

“His name is Pi Seong-yeol. Former Director of the Special Division. Ever heard of him?”

“N-no... This is my first time.”

“You really should read the news once in a while. Anyway, from now on, you’re going to live as Pi Seong-yeol. You’ll spend more than a decade in prison—but unlike here, you’ll have friends, meals, and even the occasional snack.”

“What? Don’t want to? Then stay here.”

Im Chang-sik couldn’t make sense of anything.

Live as Pi Seong-yeol?

Spend fifteen years in prison?

None of it made any sense.

But the only thing that stood out clearly was Su-ho’s question: Do you want to stay here?

So he shook his head.

He would sell his soul to the devil if it meant getting out.

Seeing this, Su-ho chuckled and began tapping him all over.

[Reverse Morphology is activated.]

[Bone-Crushing Art is activated.]

Two skills to change facial features and body shape.

As they activated, Im Chang-sik’s appearance gradually transformed into Pi Seong-yeol’s.

After a few extra taps, the transformation was complete—an exact replica.

Pi Seong-yeol’s face turned blank in disbelief.

Su-ho paid him no mind and pressed down on various pressure points on Im Chang-sik’s body.

“Hold still. To be identical, even the internal structure needs to match.”

Unlike with the real Pi Seong-yeol, he let this one breathe without pain.

Currently, the real Pi Seong-yeol had lost half of his senses, couldn’t sit or lie comfortably, and even found breathing painful.

Once everything was complete, Su-ho locked eyes with Im Chang-sik and said,

“Your name is now Pi Seong-yeol. You’ll live in Cheongok Prison for fifteen years. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get out sooner—but don’t get your hopes up. And if someone on the outside gives you orders, don’t resist. Just obey. Got it?”

Im Chang-sik nodded again.

He looked like a pitiful, aging dog.

Su-ho pressed a sleep point and put him under.

The next time he woke up, his life would be entirely different.

With the job done, Su-ho finally stood and approached Pi Seong-yeol.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Thanks to you, that guy finally gets to see the light again. Now, let me explain what you need to do.”

Su-ho pulled something out of his inventory.

What he retrieved was the Mega Crusher, taken from Kang Seul-gi.

He reviewed its info.

Advanced otherworldly technology.

Can grind down any item.

A simple item description.

But the true value of the Mega Crusher began at grade A.

To reach A-rank, it had to grind down a significant number of items.

And the Mega Crusher only operates with a human host.

Su-ho knew its true worth.

That’s why he had visited the Resource Management Department and launched a "secret project" to collect cursed items.

To efficiently feed the Mega Crusher.

He tossed it to Pi Seong-yeol.

The moment it touched him—

The Mega Crusher lunged at its new host and began burrowing into Pi Seong-yeol’s body.

“Gaaaah! Ghhhhk! Aaaaaagh!!”

Pi Seong-yeol screamed in agony.

It would take some time to adjust.

Su-ho, unfazed, left him behind and moved to exit the subspace with Im Chang-sik.

But then he turned back.

“Oh, right. Almost forgot.”

He placed a handkerchief beside the writhing man.

It was the same handkerchief Pi Seong-yeol had once given to Su-ho as a gift.

Returning it now, Su-ho finally stepped outside.