Chapter 210: There Shouldn’t Be Such a Thing

Receiving instructions from Kim Mu-hyeok, Yoo Sung-jin firsttracked down Gong Seung-yeon’s movements.

Fortunately, the bar he frequently visited was one they managed.

A sturdy man opened the door and stepped into the room where Yoo Sung-jin was.

“Is Gong Seung-yeon here?”

“Yes, Hyung. She is.”

The man’s posture was rigid. A smirk crossed Yoo Sung-jin’s face as he poured liquor into his glass and downed it in one go.

“Did you tell the ladies to drink up?”

“I did, Hyung.”

“Sit down. Have a drink.”

The man, who had been standing like a statue, walked over to the seat at Yoo Sung-jin’s command and sat down.

“Take this.”

As Yoo Sung-jin extended the liquor bottle, the man respectfully accepted it with both hands.

He downed the drink in one go and set the glass down. Then, hesitating, he cautiously opened his mouth.

“Hyung, isn’t this too dangerous?”

“What’s got you concerned?”

“Gong Seung-yeon is a huge player. Someone from our ranks shouldn’t be messing with her.”

Putting down his glass, Yoo Sung-jin glared at the man in front of him.

“Jong-sik.”

“Yes, Hyung.”

“People like us just do what we’re told. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Despite Yoo Sung-jin’s firm tone, the man, Park Jong-sik, persisted.

“But Hyung, getting you directly involved in something like this isn’t right. Chairman is crossing the line…”

But before he could finish, Yoo Sung-jin stood and flung the glass at Park Jong-sik.

The glass narrowly missed him, shattering against the wall.

“You bastard!”

With anger lacing his voice, Park Jong-sik hurriedly bowed his head.

“What the hell are you unhappy about! You’re not living like you used to! You’re all fat and happy now. Would you rather go back to Yeongdo’s back alleys and live like a street punk? Is that what you want?”

“…”

Though confronted, Park Jong-sik merely kept his head down and listened.

If even Park Dong-su’s faction thought this way, it was clear that others would feel the same.

Heaving a sigh, Yoo Sung-jin shook his head.

“Dong-su hyung entrusted it to Sang-geun hyung, and he has been doing his best in that position. Has Sang-geun hyung turned his back on you? No. He placed you in charge of important establishments. So why do you want to question the orders given?”

Park Jong-sik lifted his head. Worry was etched on his face, but Yoo Sung-jin pretended not to see.

“Hyung! If this goes wrong, you might end up spending the rest of your days behind bars. Prosecutors often accompany Gong Seung-yeon when she visits these places.”

“And what’s that to me?”

“I hope you reconsider, Hyung.”

Yoo Sung-jin let out a bemused sigh as he glared at Park Jong-sik with a fierce look.

“Don’t want to do it? Then take yourself out. But live like a dead rat back in Busan instead.”

“Hyung!”

“You little shit! What you’re doing right now is a joke! We do what we’re told, that’s it!”

It was absurd that people who had acknowledged Park Dong-su weren’t recognizing the orders now.

Remembering what those who had come to see him had said, Yoo Sung-jin spoke even more harshly.

“I follow every command that Sang-geun hyung gives me without question. If you’re going to play games, just head back to Busan. I don’t want to kill you myself.”

Finishing his words, Yoo Sung-jin filled a new glass with ice and poured himself another drink, his complex emotions clearly visible on his face.

Park Jong-sik bowed his head again and spoke.

“Hyung, I’m sorry. I spoke out of concern. I would follow you to the grave if I had to.”

Yoo Sung-jin sighed deeply.

He felt uneasy. Despite Park Dong-su having given guidance, people didn’t genuinely follow Sang-geun.

“…You guys think Sang-geun hyung is a joke? You might think he’s sitting there because of Dong-su hyung’s influence. But if he was that kind of person, do you really think he could’ve taken down all the elder brothers?”

“That’s not true, Hyung.”

“Remember that your words might cost you your life, and that of your younger brothers. Take a drink. I’m sorry.”

Yoo Sung-jin poured the drink and apologized. After downing the liquor in one go, Park Jong-sik set the glass down and replied.

“No, I misspoke.”

“You should only do this with trustworthy people. That’s why it’s done with a small group. If problems arise, I’ll take full responsibility, so you lot better ignore any cops trying to trip you up or cross-examine you. Got it?”

“…”

Instead of responding, Park Jong-sik tightly gripped his glass. Seeing this, Yoo Sung-jin shook his head and took another drink.

After a long time, the door opened and another man entered.

“Hyung, Gong Seung-yeon is leaving now. What should we do?”

After draining his glass, Yoo Sung-jin got to his feet.

“What’s there to decide? Hand me the car keys.”

“Are you driving?”

Park Jong-sik shot up from his seat.

“Hyung, let me handle it.”

Yoo Sung-jin raised his hand to stop him. Since Kim Mu-hyeok had given direct intructions, it had to be handled perfectly.

“I can drive. Everyone else, stay close behind. Keep a keen eye out for anyone tailing us.”

Once outside, Yoo Sung-jin received the keys to Gong Seung-yeon’s car. He brought the vehicle to the front of the bar and quietly waited.

Soon, Gong Seung-yeon came out of the bar, supported by the waiters.

The waiters opened the back door and helped her inside. Oblivious to the situation, they took a step back and bowed, as usual.

“Take care, Representative!”

The door closed, and the car carrying Gong Seung-yeon headed towards its destination.

Yoo Sung-jin checked the rearview mirror and saw Gong Seung-yeon sprawled in the backseat, heavily intoxicated.

The car sped down the dark road, eventually arriving at the abandoned factory in Ganghwa Island.

Unaware of where she was being taken, Gong Seung-yeon had slipped into a deep slumber.

After getting out of the car, Yoo Sung-jin entered the factory first, turning to the subordinates who followed him.

“Wake her up and bring her in.”

Park Jong-sik opened the rear door and lightly slapped Gong Seung-yeon’s cheek to wake her.

“Hey, hey!”

“What is it?”

Rubbing her stinging cheeks, Gong Seung-yeon slowly awakened, her eyes unfocused and dazed.

“What do you want? Are you the grim reaper, you bastard?”

“What the hell are you rambling about!”

Still half out of it, Gong Seung-yeon flailed around without gaining her bearings.

Grabbing the collar of his suit, Park Jong-sik dragged her from the car and threw her onto the ground.

Gong Seung-yeon rolled on the dirty floor, covered in dirt, finally snapping out of her stupor as she glanced around.

The abandoned factory, shrouded in darkness, was eerily quiet. A terrified Gong Seung-yeon shouted at the men standing around her.

“You bastards! What do you think you’re doing? Do you know who I am?”

“Still clueless, huh? Bring her in. Hyung is waiting.”

The men, receiving Park Jong-sik’s command, lifted Gong Seung-yeon by the arms and stood her up.

“Let go! Let me go, you bastards! Ugh…!”

As Gong Seung-yeon continued to struggle, one of them struck her hard in the belly.

The sudden pain stopped her in her tracks. They dragged her, moaning in pain, into the factory.

Park Jong-sik flung her toward Yoo Sung-jin.

Seated at the table, Yoo Sung-jin indicated with his chin for the men to step back.

Leaning forward with his hands clasped, Yoo Sung-jin called out to Gong Seung-yeon, who still hadn’t regained her senses.

“Representative Gong Seung-yeon.”

Gong Seung-yeon raised her head, looking up at Yoo Sung-jin with a face full of confusion.

“Let’s keep this casual.”

“You! Who the hell are you?”

“If you want to live, shut your mouth and pay attention. From now on, you’ll only answer my questions. No other nonsense, understood?”

Feeling insulted, Gong Seung-yeon glared at Yoo Sung-jin, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and fury.

“Looks like your eyes are still functional. Let’s start by softening up, Representative Gong! Hey, boys!”

Yoo Sung-jin straightened up, locking his gaze on her.

* * *

Yoo Sung-jin delicately placed the icebox on the table.

“There’s something for the boss inside my suit pocket. Is it alright if I take it out?”

It seemed like he had firmly ingrained a warning in his mind to avoid moving recklessly.

Ha Myung-hoon glanced at me, seeking my consent.

When I nodded, Yoo Sung-jin finally pulled out a key and handed it to Ha Myung-hoon.

I received the key from Ha Myung-hoon and examined it.

“This is Gong Seung-yeon’s safe key. The villa is located in Gyeonggi Province’s Sanbon.”

A villa, huh. Seems like an interesting matter.

Nodding, I shifted my gaze to the icebox on the table. Noticing my attention, Yoo Sung-jin opened the box.

“It’s Gong Seung-yeon’s left hand.”

Yoo Sung-jin showed me the inside of the box.

Her fingernails had all been pulled out.

Seeing that the job had been handled more decisively than expected made me chuckle.

“Did Gong Seung-yeon have the key on her?”

“That’s right. According to her, all the case files she handled are stored at the villa.”

“Files?”

“Yeah. I don’t know what kind of delusion she had, but she opened up easily and spilled it all.”

If those were cases involving Il-sung, there would definiitely be some concerning matters.

As I stroked my chin, deep in thought, I passed the key to Ha Myung-hoon.

“Send someone to grab everything from there.”

Ha Myung-hoon took the key and bowed his head. Yoo Sung-jin added as if to clarify.

“You can take one of our guys waiting outside. He’ll guide you to the exact location.”

Ha Myung-hoon called over a staff member and handed them the key.

“Go with the guys outside and bring everything in the safe. Also, check if there’s anything else there.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“I’ll go out and let the boys know what’s happening.”

Nodding, Yoo Sung-jin followed the staff member outside.

“Chief Ha, you take care of that.”

“Understood, Boss.”

Ha Myung-hoon closed the icebox and lifted it, taking it to the back.

Yoo Sung-jin, after giving instructions to his subordinates, returned shortly.

There was one last question on my mind. He still stood there, visibly tense.

“How did you handle it?”

“I inflicted maximum pain without killing, and as she was alive, I cut her wrists. Lastly, I slammed her into concrete and threw her into the western sea.”

I could almost hear Gong Seung-yeon’s cries. It pleased me. I curled my lips into a smile.

“Well done. You’ve done it more cleanly than I expected.”

Ha Myung-hoon lowered his head lightly, then hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Um… please let me bear sole responsibility for this. The others just followed my orders.”

“What sort of responsibility?”

“Someone like Gong Seung-yeon has disappeared; surely there must be a person to take the fall, right?”

Responsibility. When I gave the orders, no one questioned anything.

To think he would carry such worries.

“Did you leave any evidence to grasp?”

“There’s no evidence, but if Gong Seung-yeon’s activities begin to be dismantled, it’ll reveal that our establishment was where she last drank. That’ll certainly lead to an investigation.”

“There shouldn’t be such a thing.”

Saying this decisively, an expression of disbelief crossed Yoo Sung-jin’s face.

It seemed he still didn’t know much about me.

“I just wanted to test Director Yoo’s abilities, that’s why I assigned this task. Didn’t Chairman Lee mention anything to you?”

“No, Sang-geun hyung hasn’t told me anything.”

It seemed Lee Sang-geun intended to wait until everything was set.

He’s quite a thorough person, after all.

“Then let’s call Chairman Lee and discuss future matters over dinner. Chief, contact him and ask him to come as a secret guest. Tell him to drive alone.”

“Understood.”

Standing up, there was still a look of confusion on his face, but Yoo Sung-jin kept silent.

“Let’s head out first. Director Yoo, you’ll move with me while the rest of the team returns.”

I moved out with Yoo Sung-jin as a secret guest.

This would certainly leave him baffled, but he didn’t voice any complaints. That pleased me.

“This is your first time here, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“You’ll be coming here often from now on.”

The staff led us to the innermost room.

Inside, the food was already prepared. I naturally took off my suit jacket and handed it to Ha Myung-hoon.

“Let’s sit down until the Chairman arrives. Chief, stay here and have a meal with us.”

As I sat at the head of the table, Yoo Sung-jin took his position on the left, while Ha Myung-hoon settled on the right.

Grabbing the liquor decanter in front of me, I smiled at Ha Myung-hoon.

“Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever had a drink with you, Chief.”

Neither in my past life nor this life have I shared a drink with Ha Myung-hoon.

Ha Myung-hoon nodded, raising his glass respectfully.

After pouring the liquor, he passed the decanter to Yoo Sung-jin.

“Director Yoo, it’s on you to have a good time.”

“Not at all. I appreciate it.”

After pouring the liquor into my glass, I lifted it. The two men stood there, waiting expectantly.

“For the first drink, let’s keep it simple, and once the Chairman arrives, we’ll discuss the details.”

Downing the liquor in one go, I set the glass down and spoke to Yoo Sung-jin.

“While we wait for the Chairman, why don’t we share some stories about Dong-su when he was younger? What was he like?”

“Dong-su? He was just a guy obsessed with fighting. Back in high school…”

As Yoo Sung-jin leaned back, I listened to the fascinating tales of Park Dong-su’s past. The stories I never knew about him were rather intriguing.

As the drinks continued to flow, we awaited the arrival of the Chairman.

After what felt like an eternity, the door opened and Lee Sang-geun stepped inside.

“I am late. Boss.”

I waved my hand, dismissing his apology.

Since we had suddenly called for this meeting, lateness was inevitable.

“Not at all. Please have a seat, Chairman Lee.”

Lee Sang-geun took a seat next to Yoo Sung-jin.