Chapter 110: Cheontae Mountain and Ha Myung-hoon

“Hahaha!”

Suddenly, Lee Yong-hyun laughed like a madman, then glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.

“I was a fool. I should have killed you when I killed your mother.”

“Why did you do it? What reason did you have to kill my parents? Just to get your hands on Cheon Su-man and his brother?”

“Reason? Do I need one? Or are you hoping for some kind of closure? If I tell you why, will you spare me?”

He was trying to act calm, but I could see he still had a will to live.

“It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you killed them. Nothing else.”

“Fair enough.”

Lee Yong-hyun chuckled, then suddenly ground his teeth and spat out a curse.

“But are you sure you’ve got time to relax? Hah, with Cheon Tae-san joining you in the rlife, the journey won’t be so lonely.”

His words hit me like a hammer to the head.

“…What are you talking about?”

“Who knows? What do you think?”

“Manager Ma!”

At my call, Manager Ma immediately pulled out his phone to make a call.

Lee Yong-hyun sneered.

“Isn’t it fate? Both of us pointing guns at each other like this. My ties with that Cheon Tae-san bastard run deep.”

“Shut up. There are plenty of people guarding Pyeongchang-dong.”

“You’re underestimating me. Doesn’t it seem odd? How few people were guarding this place? Doesn’t it feel like it was too easy?”

He was right. There were fewer guards than expected.

Even Teacher Pyo was nowhere to be seen.

Though we used guns, we secured the mansion faster than anticipated and captured Lee Yong-hyun.

The source of that unease was now clear from his words.

“I’ve controlled Korea from the shadows for decades. Do you think I wouldn’t have hidden strength just like Cheon Tae-san? Where are my huntiogs, you ask?”

“Shut up, you bastard!”

I kicked Lee Yong-hyun in the face. He was sent flying but still laughed that eerie laugh.

My mind was racing.

Although I left one Black Bear team behind, Chief Ha’s forces were all here.

‘If they attack with full force over there…’

I clenched my fists anxiously.

Could the Black Bear team and the staff from the Korean branch hold them off?

Just then, Manager Ma came back.

His face was grim, the worst I’d ever seen it.

“Pyeongchang-dong has been attacked. But…”

* * *

“Did Mu-hyeok say he was going to avenge Mi-sook today?”

“Yes, he said he’d finish it today.”

“Think he’ll succeed? Lee Yong-hyun’s not an easy target.”

“He’s been preparing for this for a long time. He asked us not to worry and to stay by your side, Chairman.”

Chairman Cheon gazed into the distance, then shook his head.

“I suppose it’s my turn to start worrying about that brat Mu-hyeok now.”

“Chairman…”

Chief Ha’s eyes held the gaze of a son looking at his father.

Chairman Cheon gave a faint, bitter smile as he saw it.

“…It feels like just yesterday when I first saw you at the orphanage. Time flies.”

“Thanks to you, we’ve all grown up like this.”

Chairman Cheon’s lips tightened.

“I did it all to turn those kids into my blades. I don’t regret it, but I still feel sorry. If it weren’t for me, you all would have lived normal lives.”

“I disagree. We’re alive because of you, Chairman. That’s the truth. We owe it all to your mercy.”

“Mercy… no, it was suffering. I’m sorry, Myung-hoon.”

“Not at all, Chairman.”

Chief Ha quickly denied it, but Chairman Cheon just shook his head.

“How many kids have died because of my orders? I remember them all. I’ll apologize to them when I meet them in the afterlife… After I’m gone, support Mu-hyeok. He’ll be lonely.”

“I am always your man, Chairman. I need to rest too. Seok-dae has already taken over my role.”

“I never imagined Seok-dae would return here.”

At the mention of Ma Seok-dae, Chairman Cheon’s eyes clouded with regret.

“Seok-dae’s younger sister was Min-jung, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“He must still resent me, doesn’t he?”

“You did your best, Chairman. Seok-dae knows that. He just needed someone to blame. Missing his sister’s final moments because of your orders was just an excuse.”

“That’s true. I sent him even though he asked me to send someone else because his sister was sick.”

“You trusted him that much. Isn’t that why you didn’t stop him from going abroad?”

Chairman Cheon didn’t respond, but Ha Myung-hoon knew.

He knew the Chairman was ruthless with outsiders but soft-hearted toward those under his wing.

And Ha Myung-hoon had never once regretted serving under Cheon Tae-san.

Just then, the noise outside began to grow louder.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll check.”

Chief Ha reached for the phone, but the door opened before he could make the call.

He quickly stepped in front of Chairman Cheon, facing the door.

It was one of the men Mu-hyeok had left for security.

“What’s going on? You barged in without knocking. Didn’t you hear the instructions? Is this how you do your job?”

“I’m sorry. A large number of unidentified vehicles are entering the alley. Please do not leave the room.”

“Understood.”

“Apologies for the abruptness, but the situation is urgent.”

“I understand. I was just startled. Keep up the good work.”

The man bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

Only then did Chief Ha step back from blocking the Chairman and bow his head.

“Apologies for blocking your way.”

“It’s alright. Looks like it’s going to be a noisy night.”

“According to Seok-dae, the security team includes former Navy SEALs from the U.S. and Korean special forces veterans.”

Chairman Cheon already knew this, but he nodded anyway.

The night sky outside looked unusually red.

The Black Bear team leader, who had been reporting the situation in the study, spoke into his radio.

“From now on, no one enters the mansion. Consider everyone approaching as hostile. Got it?”

“Yes, sir!”

“The outer perimeter will be handled by reinforcements from HQ. Our job is to hold the mansion. Not a single ant gets through. This is the real thing. Everyone, to your positions!”

He radioed the team securing the outer perimeter.

“Give me a status update.”

“They’re closing in on the mansion. We’re holding them off, but there are too many. Some have slipped through. We can’t use firearms, so it might get tough, but you can trust us to secure the mansion.”

“Understood.”

Suddenly, the sound of something breaking came through the radio.

“What’s going on?”

“Hey! What are you doing? Hold the barricade!”

The connection cut off shortly after.

He called out on the radio several more times, but there was no answer.

He rushed up to the second floor and looked out the window.

On the only road leading to the mansion, the perimeter team was fighting with unfamiliar figures. Farther back, several vehicles were speeding toward the mansion.

“The enemy is closing in on the mansion. Everyone, arm yourselves and hold your positions.”

“Yes, sir!”

The team members in the yard raised their weapons.

In the heart of Seoul, in the middle of Pyeongchang-dong no less, armed assailants were attacking.

He couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. The people living around here were some of the most powerful in Korea, so he’d thought they were safe.

“This isn’t a war zone, and yet here we are, in the middle of a real fight.”

Shaking his head, the team leader reached into his pocket.

He pulled out a business card he’d been told to use for backup in emergencies.

“This is Pyeongchang-dong. We’re under attack by armed assailants. Requesting immediate support.”

He didn’t bother listening to the person on the other end and hung up immediately.

Bang!

Just then, several vehicles rammed into the front gate.

Masked men poured out of the vans and cars, weapons in hand.

“Who knew I’d miss having a good rifle in my hands.”

He quickly headed to the first floor, gripping the baton on his belt.

Finding cover from the incoming gunfire, he kept his eyes on the front door, staying alert.

The sound of things breaking, shouting, and swearing echoed from outside, but inside the mansion, it was eerily quiet.

Not long after, the faint sound of police sirens could be heard.

The card Mu-hyeok had given him had the phone number of the Police Chief in Jongno.

“It’ll be over soon.”

Just as he muttered those words, the team leader sensed someone behind him and turned around in shock.

A figure was coming down the stairs, having entered from the second floor.

“How the hell…?”

He thought it was impossible unless they could fly, but apparently not.

Grinding his teeth, he tightened his grip on the baton.

“Am I the only one left?”

Though masked, the figure’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

“The police tactical unit will be here soon. Give up and surrender.”

“I’ll kill you before that happens.”

The masked man drew a knife.

“That dagger…”

“Recognize it?”

It was a unique military knife used in the special forces where he used to serve.

The fluorescent light glinted off the sharp blade.

In that split second, the masked man lunged forward at high speed.

The team leader snapped back to reality and blocked the knife with his baton.

But the masked man seemed to expect that, using the momentum to switch the knife from his right hand to his left.

Then he slashed straight for the team leader’s right arm.

Swish!

The eerie sound of the blade cutting through flesh echoed in the living room.

They exchanged several more blows.

In that time, the team leader realized this opponent was far beyond his level.

Soon, bloodied and battered, the team leader collapsed to the floor.

“Tch, boring. I should’ve taken care of the other one before he gets away.”

The masked man, now disinterested, turned his head toward the study where Chairman Cheon was.

The team leader tried to stop him, but it was no use.

“Ugh…”

With a short gunshot, the team leader fell to the floor again. He’d been shot in the thigh before he could react.

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

Clicking his tongue, the masked man turned away.

As the masked man moved toward the study, the team leader ground his teeth, watching him go.

“…Myung-hoon.”

“Chairman, no matter what happens, don’t move.”

Chief Ha stood in front of Chairman Cheon, aiming his gun at the door.

Outside, where the gunshot had come from, everything had gone eerily quiet.

No footsteps could be heard, but Chief Ha instinctively knew someone was there.

Whoever opened that door, he was ready to shoot the moment it moved.

Bang!

Bang!

The sound of two gunshots rang out simultaneously.

The masked man standing outside the study dropped to the floor.

“Who…”

Barely managing to stand, the team leader slowly made his way toward the study. His blood left a long trail behind him.

The mysterious figure was lying motionless in front of the study door.

Still aiming his gun, the team leader cautiously nudged the body with his foot before calling out toward the study.

“Are you alright? I’m coming in!”

There was no answer.

A sense of dread washed over him as he peeked inside. Chief Ha was slumped over, bleeding, shielding Chairman Cheon with his body.

“Myung-hoon! Ha Myung-hoon!”

The team leader rushed in, checking Chief Ha’s pulse.

“He’s still alive. Looks like he passed out from shock. Chairman, are you alright?”

“Call an ambulance, now! Get him to a hospital! Hurry!”

“The situation isn’t over yet. Your safety comes first, Chairman. I’m sorry.”

Chairman Cheon tried to raise his voice, but the team leader didn’t budge.

Instead, he grabbed a nearby cardigan and pressed it against Chief Ha’s wound.

“Luckily, it’s not in a bad spot. But if the bleeding doesn’t stop, it’ll be dangerous. Keep pressing on the wound. I’ll guard the door. Once it’s safe, we’ll get him to the hospital immediately.”

They had no idea how many enemies were left or how compromised the mansion was.

At the team leader’s firm response, Chairman Cheon finally nodded without protest.

Staggering back to the study door, the team leader scanned the area and called on his radio.

“Myung-hoon… You can’t leave us like this.”

Chairman Cheon bit his lip, staring down at Ha Myung-hoon.