Chapter 440: What Could He Be Thinking?

Patrick swallowed hard, something felt strangely off.

The Seo Jae-hoon he’d met in the Il-seong Group’s Vice Chairman’s office seemed like a completely different person from the one standing before him now.

“Why… did you bring me here?”

As Patrick asked with a trembling voice Seo Jae-hoon’s smile only deepened.

“Just because you annoyed me? Some little ant putting on airs in front of me really got under my skin.”

“…”

“You thought of me as your chess piece didn’t you? But here’s the thing – I’ve only ever used others as pawns. Never been someone else’s piece. Now that I’ve experienced it firsthand the feeling is… well not particularly pleasant.”

Seo Jae-hoon fixed Patrick with an icy smile.

“You kidnapped me just for that? How do you plan to deal with the consequences?”

“I’ll handle that myself. Don’t worry. But let me ask you something – what made you think you could use me as your chess piece?”

Seo Jae-hoon’s calm tone grew increasingly hostile.

“A worthless bastard who just plays with money. And not even the owner but a vice president who collects a salary shouldn’t act that way in front of me.”

“…”

“Did you think I would accept that?”

This man’s insane Patrick thought sensing imminent danger as his trembling lips parted.

“Vice Chairman Seo we can’t resolve this this way. Do you think you can regain control of Il-seong Group without my help? Let’s talk about this…”

Patrick decided not to mention his agreement with Kim Mu-hyeok.

Getting out of here was the top priority.

The memory of Seo Jae-hoon’s emotionless gaze mixed with the weapons he’d seen in the cabinet earlier amplifying his anxiety.

“…Manager Han step out for a moment.”

Instead of answering Seo Jae-hoon addressed Han Ji-ho who had been waiting behind them.

Han Ji-ho bowed his head and left the basement. Only Seo Jae-hoon and Patrick remained in the quiet underground room.

“You did quite a bit of investigating about me…”

Patrick already knew.

While investigating Seo Jae-hoon and Il-seong Group he’d encountered several mysterious disappearance cases.

And he knew Seo Jae-hoon was at the center of all of them.

Though there was no concrete evidence all circumstances pointed to Seo Jae-hoon.

But to survive he had to pretend not to know.

“Investigation?”

“Don’t even remember what you said in the vice chairman’s office? That blow to your head must have scrambled your brains.”

Seo Jae-hoon rose from his chair and moved toward the cabinet.

He pulled leather gloves from his suit pocket put them on and lifted one corner of his mouth in a crooked smile.

He examined the weapons in the cabinet one by one as he spoke.

“Vice President Patrick. You know what? People don’t die as easily as you’d think. I wonder how long you’ll last.”

Patrick trembled his entire body breaking out in goosebumps.

The way Seo Jae-hoon examined the weapons seemed disturbingly familiar.

“This is actually my favorite part. The most thrilling moment.”

“…”

Finally Seo Jae-hoon brought over several weapons and dropped them on the floor.

Thud thud thud.

The heavy weapons hit the floor creating dull thuds.

To Patrick those sounds felt like his own heartbeats.

“Vice Chairman Seo I’ll do whatever it takes to help you reclaim Il-seong Group…”

Seo Jae-hoon cut off Patrick’s words. He kicked at the weapons he’d selected as he spoke.

“Do you know how long I’ve held back? Ever since that bastard Kim Mu-hyeok showed up I’ve had restrictions on my actions. Can’t leave evidence. Can’t show weakness. Making all sorts of excuses while they watch me.”

After Kim Mu-hyeok eliminated the Cheongpung Group Seo Yong-geon began controlling Seo Jae-hoon’s actions.

From then on Seo Jae-hoon stopped killing. Or rather he couldn’t kill.

“An opportunity like this after so long and you think I’d let someone else handle it?”

“…You’re insane.”

Patrick unconsciously spat out the curse.

“Haha insane you say. Yeah maybe so.”

Seo Jae-hoon sat back in his chair. He pulled out a cigarette pack from his chest and put one in his mouth.

“Want one?”

Patrick nodded frantically.

Seo Jae-hoon smirked then placed a cigarette between Patrick’s lips.

He took out a Zippo lighter from his pocket lit his own cigarette then used it to light Patrick’s.

“Come to think of it I’ve lived quite a hard life. From childhood every single action was controlled. Father’s fierce surveillance and the jealousy of those I thought were family. It was practically hell. Looking at it that way isn’t it all Father’s fault that I turned out like this?”

While smoking one cigarette Seo Jae-hoon talked about his past.

“But in the end I got Il-seong Group an empire in its own right in my grasp. Father I… well.”

He trailed off but Patrick could understand perfectly well what he meant to say.

“Yet a rat like you dares to hold his head high in front of me and try to use me? You dare?”

Seo Jae-hoon spat out the words like they were poison then took the cigarette from his mouth and pressed it against Patrick’s face.

“Aah ack!”

The burning cigarette seared flesh. The stench of burning skin filled the air as Patrick let out an agonized scream.

Tossing the cigarette to the floor Seo Jae-hoon picked up a saw from among the weapons scattered there.

The visual terror superseded the throbbing pain in his cheek.

Patrick trembled violently with fear.

Humming to himself Seo Jae-hoon removed Patrick’s dress shoes and socks.

“Let’s start with the toes.”

“Vice Chairman w-wait!”

Patrick called out desperately but Seo Jae-hoon didn’t even pretend to listen as he continued moving.

Soon the sharp saw teeth touched Patrick’s toes.

The basement instantly filled with Patrick’s howls.

Han Ji-ho looked up at the sky while smoking a cigarette.

He knew exactly what was happening in the basement.

“Hah…”

As Han Ji-ho exhaled a deep cloud of smoke one of his subordinates approached.

“Manager Lee Seok-min’s car just entered the mountain road sir.”

Han Ji-ho nodded at the subordinate’s report.

Soon after a car pulled up to the villa entrance.

“Welcome Manager Lee Seok-min.”

Han Ji-ho gave a slight bow in greeting.

“…Manager Han Ji-ho.”

“You know where this is don’t you?”

Han Ji-ho raised his head with an eerie smile. Lee Seok-min offered no response.

“I learned a lot from you Manager.”

“Manager Han.”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? I am Vice Chairman Seo’s shadow. So I should help with whatever the Vice Chairman does.”

“…”

“That’s why I brought you here today.”

As Lee Seok-min listened to Han Ji-ho’s words he surveyed his surroundings.

High walls surrounded the villa deep in the mountains forming what looked like a fortress.

The place had an odd atmosphere about it.

Lee Seok-min knew this place. This villa was where Seo Jae-hoon came whenever he indulged his ‘hobby.’

Though he knew about it this was Lee Seok-min’s first time actually coming here.

“It takes about ten minutes to get here from the mountain entrance you just passed. You have to wind through the mountain roads. Even if we’re discovered ten minutes is plenty of time to dispose of all evidence.”

Moreover the entire mountain was private property under Manager Han’s name so ordinary people had no reason to come near.

Lee Seok-min could guess what Han Ji-ho was trying to say.

Swallowing hard Lee Seok-min spoke.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“I don’t know. I just followed the Vice Chairman’s orders.”

“…Where is the Vice Chairman?”

Han Ji-ho turned his head. A door leading to a basement beside the villa came into view.

Lee Seok-min followed Han Ji-ho’s gaze toward the basement entrance.

“He’s down there.”

“I need to see the Vice Chairman. Let’s go.”

As Lee Seok-min started walking toward the basement Han Ji-ho blocked his path.

“Not yet. Not yet.”

Lee Seok-min looked up. He stared intently at Han Ji-ho who had blocked his way.

“Manager Han step aside.”

“Not yet. You’ll need to chat with me a bit longer until the Vice Chairman finishes everything.”

Han Ji-ho pulled out his cigarette pack. After putting one in his mouth he offered the pack.

“Care for one?”

“No thanks. I quit.”

“My my Manager you’re as tough as ever. Quitting smoking? I can’t get by without these.”

Han Ji-ho joked as he lit his cigarette.

Taking a deep drag Han Ji-ho muttered between exhales.

Lee Seok-min’s face flickered briefly through the wisps of smoke.

Han Ji-ho smiled and offered once more.

“Why not have one last smoke? You won’t be able to even if you want to after this.”

“…So this is to be my grave?”

“Probably? The scenario is that you’ll kill Patrick then commit suicide. The suicide note will say it was all on Kim Mu-hyeok’s orders.”

Though brief the exchange was enough for Lee Seok-min to grasp Seo Jae-hoon’s entire plan.

“Ha haha… Hahaha!”

Lee Seok-min suddenly burst into maniacal laughter. Han Ji-ho watched him laugh with furrowed brows.

“You don’t understand. Even if you kill me President Kim Mu-hyeok won’t take the blame.”

“That remains to be seen. As always.”

Lee Seok-min who had been laughing until just now abruptly stopped and shook his head firmly.

“Korea is already in President Kim Mu-hyeok’s palm. You know that too don’t you? Starting tomorrow Il-seong Group will fall into his hands.”

“That won’t happen. Il-seong Group belongs to Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon.”

“I used to think that too. But once you set aside blind loyalty reality hits you in the face. You know don’t you? That the Chairman’s collapse was the Vice Chairman’s doing.”

Han Ji-ho gave no response.

But sometimes silence speaks volumes and Lee Seok-min knew this all too well.

“That throne he climbed to through such means he’ll soon have to step down from it. Then he’ll lose everything and spend the rest of his life in prison. That’s the future awaiting the Vice Chairman.”

Just as Han Ji-ho opened his mouth to retort his phone rang.

“Yes Vice Chairman.”

― Has Manager Lee arrived?

“He just got here.”

― Then bring just Manager Lee down to the basement with you.

“Understood. We’ll head down now.”

After ending the call Han Ji-ho sighed and looked at Lee Seok-min.

“…Manager it’s time to go.”

“Alright. Let’s see what awaits.”

Though trying to appear calm Lee Seok-min’s hands trembled slightly.

“From now on don’t let anyone approach this area. Use firearms if necessary.”

“Yes sir.”

Han Ji-ho opened the door leading to the basement.

As the two men stepped onto the stairs the door closed behind them with a heavy thud.

Silence once again settled over the deep mountain.

* * *

I headed toward the location where Lee Seok-min had been taken accompanied by Manager Ma.

“CCTV?”

“Yes. The entrance is covered with CCTVs. There are no blind spots so we’re keeping watch from a distance.”

This was an era when CCTVs weren’t yet common.

The fact that they were plastered everywhere from the mountain entrance confirmed this was where Seo Jae-hoon conducted his business.

“What about the Black Secret employees?”

“They’ll join us soon.”

Patrick might not matter but Lee Seok-min couldn’t be allowed to die.

“What the hell is this bastard thinking? He was keeping it together so well until now why’s he suddenly acting like a horse with no reins?”

Anxiety crept into my voice without me realizing thinking we needed to save Lee Seok-min before Seo Jae-hoon killed him.

“How much longer?”

“About an hour more to go sir.”

“Faster. We need to go faster.”

The car picked up speed racing down the highway.

By the time we arrived dozens of vehicles were following behind my car.