Chapter 441: You Are Done

Lee Seok-min followed Han Ji-ho down the basement stairs.

At the bottom, they encountered a thick iron door.

Han Ji-ho opened the door and stepped inside without hesitation.

Lee Seok-min followed but found himself instinctively closing his eyes.

The stench of blood filled the basement which had become a scene of carnage.

Seo Jae-hoon turned at the sound of the basement door closing.

His clothes and face were completely covered in blood.

“Manager Lee Seok-min, you’re here.”

“……”

Lee Seok-min carefully opened his eyes.

Only then did the hellish scene of the basement come into clear view.

The plastic sheets covering the floor and walls were drenched in blood, while Patrick sat motionless in a chair, his head slumped forward.

“Vice Chairman, what is this…”

“Why? You knew what kind of person I am. Manager Han handled the cleanup, but weren’t you the one who kept the media and police away?”

“……”

“Let’s not pretend ignorance now.”

Lee Seok-min sighed and looked at Seo Jae-hoon.

Seo Jae-hoon’s eyes were devoid of any emotion.

“Is Vice President Patrick dead?”

“I wonder. Would you like to check yourself?”

Seo Jae-hoon stepped aside with a smile.

Lee Seok-min could finally see Patrick’s condition clearly.

His body was mutilated beyond description making it difficult to look at.

As he unconsciously lowered his gaze he saw torn flesh and blood-soaked plastic sheets scattered about.

In that state he must surely be dead.

Lee Seok-min bit his dry lips before speaking.

“Vice Chairman. Patrick is completely different from those before. Even for Il-seong Group, covering this up…”

Lee Seok-min who had been speaking calmly flinched at Seo Jae-hoon’s quiet stare.

“Why did you do it?”

Seo Jae-hoon’s emotionless voice felt even more chilling.

“Why did you give company secrets to Kim Mu-hyeok?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. You passed information to Kim Mu-hyeok. Organized records of everything Il-sung has done.”

“You think I did that?”

When Lee Seok-min asked back Seo Jae-hoon’s smile grew darker.

Though his lips curled up his eyes showed no hint of amusement.

“I never thought Manager Lee who worked with Father for decades would betray Il-seong Group. I really couldn’t believe it. But no matter how I thought about it there was no one else who could have passed on those documents. Just the Fair Trade Commission files – fewer than ten people in the group have access to or know about all of that. I kept eliminating suspects one by one until only you remained.”

Seo Jae-hoon was convinced. He believed Lee Seok-min had given the documents to Kim Mu-hyeok.

“Both Father and I treated you well. I don’t understand why.”

Seo Jae-hoon spoke playfully but his eyes were fiercer than ever.

Lee Seok-min who had been silently glaring at Seo Jae-hoon nodded.

“You’re right. I passed on the documents.”

“Why?”

“For Il-seong Group’s sake.”

“For Il-seong Group… Are you saying I’m not fit to be its leader?”

Seo Jae-hoon asked with narrowed eyes.

“My father was worthy but I’m not? What’s the difference between us?”

“You are different. You’re not capable of leading Il-seong Group.”

After giving his firm answer Lee Seok-min glanced at Patrick before continuing.

“Someone who does things like this becoming Il-seong Group’s leader? Even without Kim Mu-hyeok it would have collapsed eventually. No secret stays buried forever.”

I can’t make it out of here alive anyway. Might as well say everything that needs to be said.

Lee Seok-min steeled himself trying to steady his trembling hands.

“What a shame. Your abilities were real at least. You always carried out Father’s orders flawlessly. Until Kim Mu-hyeok appeared that is.”

“He… he’s completely different from us. What Il-seong Group achieved over decades he accomplished in less than ten years.”

“Hmm… Manager Lee you’re unusually talkative today.”

When Seo Jae-hoon held out his hand Han Ji-ho passed him a towel.

The clean towel instantly turned red.

After wiping the blood from his face Seo Jae-hoon spoke.

“Actually I don’t care much about Il-seong Group either.”

Lee Seok-min’s eyes widened at Seo Jae-hoon’s shocking statement.

“What do you mean…”

“But since I was young Father always said: You must inherit Il-seong Group. So you can’t let others find fault with you. The world will mock you if you fall behind. That’s how he suppressed me.”

Lee Seok-min knew about Seo Jae-hoon’s childhood. He couldn’t deny his words.

“Of course I grew up thinking Il-seong Group was mine. I put up with all that crazy acting because of that. But now you’re saying I’m not Il-sung’s rightful owner? That I’m inferior to Kim Mu-hyeok?”

Murderous intent flashed in Seo Jae-hoon’s eyes.

The watchful eyes monitoring his every move and the jealous glares hoping for his mistakes had pierced young Seo Jae-hoon’s heart like daggers.

He endured all that humiliation waiting for the day he would become Il-seong Group’s leader but everything went wrong.

Twisting one corner of his mouth up Seo Jae-hoon fixed Lee Seok-min with a cold stare.

“Manager Lee my only sanctuary was Jing-dong. Remember Jing-dong?”

“…Yes I remember.”

“I was so happy when I got Jing-dong as a birthday present. That tiny thing would cling to me and act cute it was just adorable.”

Jing-dong was a Jindo dog Seo Jae-hoon received as a gift when he was eight.

What happened to that dog again? As Lee Seok-min tried to recall Seo Jae-hoon continued speaking.

“One day it suddenly attacked me so I killed it. That’s when I realized. Jing-dong who seemed so strong died so easily. But you know what? No one said anything to me about killing it. They just bought me a new pet and told me to love that one instead.”

Then Lee Seok-min remembered an old memory.

The day Jing-dong died. The beaten dog was mangled beyond recognition.

“So I did love them. I loved them very much then killed them with my own hands. I think people are just like animals. No one will say anything to me if I kill them.”

Lee Seok-min listened to Seo Jae-hoon’s story without responding.

He knew this too of course. Seo Yong-geon never scolded Seo Jae-hoon just resolved things by buying him new more interesting animals.

But hearing it from Seo Jae-hoon’s own mouth made him think differently.

What if the Chairman had scolded Seo Jae-hoon back then? Would he have grown up less broken more normal?

“Well anyway Manager Lee you’re going to die here today.”

“I expected as much. I knew this would be my deathbed.”

Lee Seok-min nodded calmly.

Puzzled by Lee Seok-min’s composed reaction Seo Jae-hoon asked.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“I am scared.”

“Your face doesn’t show it at all. Hmm… This is a first.”

Seo Jae-hoon looked at Lee Seok-min like he’d found an interesting toy.

Just then a phone rang in Han Ji-ho’s inside pocket.

“What is it?”

“The men at the entrance have been taken out. Dozens of vehicles are heading this way.”

“What?”

When Han Ji-ho shouted both Seo Jae-hoon and Lee Seok-min turned to look.

“Stop them! By any means necessary!”

“We don’t have enough manpower.”

This villa was a secret location so Seo Jae-hoon had staffed it only with people he trusted.

Naturally they hadn’t deployed many personnel. After a moment’s hesitation Han Ji-ho spoke firmly.

“Use the guns.”

“Yes sir.”

After ending the call Han Ji-ho approached Seo Jae-hoon.

“Vice Chairman we should evacuate.”

“Now all the main characters have arrived. It’s fine. Just bring me a change of clothes.”

“But…”

Han Ji-ho stopped mid-sentence catching Seo Jae-hoon’s cold glare.

“Understood. I’ll bring them right away.”

Han Ji-ho bowed and left the basement. Seo Jae-hoon sat in a chair and put a cigarette in his mouth.

“Looks like Kim Mu-hyeok has arrived. To save Manager Lee.”

“…Did you expect this?”

Seo Jae-hoon nodded as he lit his cigarette.

“Of course. He’s the one who’ll bring today’s finale.”

Seo Jae-hoon chuckled and exhaled deeply drawing in smoke from his cigarette.

The cigarette smoke filled the basement.

* * *

“Is that the entrance? There’s no other way in?”

The car stopped at the mountain entrance. From inside I observed the barricaded entrance while asking.

“Yes that’s the only entrance.”

“Then push through. Don’t waste time.”

Manager Ma issued orders through the radio.

Soon dozens of cars began charging toward the entrance.

With a loud crash the barricade collapsed and men rushed out from the guard post.

They were quickly subdued by Black Secret agents.

After leaving some agents to guard the checkpoint everyone got back in their cars and continued up the mountain road.

“They made this road incredibly winding.”

As we were driving up the twisted road gunshots suddenly rang out.

The cars came to an immediate stop.

“Find out what’s happening.”

Manager Ma inquired over the radio. A response came quickly.

“We’ve reached the villa but they opened fire without warning. What should we do?”

Since when did Korea have such loose gun laws?

Using guns would cause trouble but there was no time to hesitate.

“Tell them to use their weapons too before casualties pile up.”

Rather than risk casualties in a firefight it would be cheaper to use guns and deal with the aftermath.

This was an urgent situation after all.

“Use your weapons too. Contact us when the suppression is complete.”

“Yes understood!”

Gunshots echoed through the mountains.

I closed my eyes listening to the continuous gunfire.

This is taking too long – will Seok-min be safe? Is Patrick still alive?

“Suppression complete.”

“Let’s go up.”

Shortly after moving again we arrived at the villa entrance.

Manager Ma lowered his window and asked the staff at the entrance.

“Status?”

“Suppression is complete.”

“Did you secure Seo Jae-hoon?”

“He’s not visible inside the villa.”

Manager Ma turned to look at me. Lee Seok-min was brought here but Seo Jae-hoon isn’t here?

“He must be here. There’s no way…”

Just then a door in the corner of the villa opened and Seo Jae-hoon Lee Seok-min and an unfamiliar man emerged.

“There they are.”

Black Secret staff aimed their weapons at Seo Jae-hoon’s group staying alert.

The unfamiliar man was holding a gun.

“CEO Kim Mu-hyeok!”

Seo Jae-hoon called out to me loudly.

As I moved to open the door Manager Ma stopped me.

“It’s dangerous Boss.”

“It’s fine. We have Manager Ma.”

I got out and walked toward Seo Jae-hoon.

Manager Ma followed drawing a pistol from his jacket staying alert.

“Vice Chairman Seo Jae-hoon.”

When I called out Seo Jae-hoon turned and smiled.

From this close distance I could clearly see his crooked smile.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Vice President Patrick?”

Still smiling Seo Jae-hoon looked toward the entrance he’d come from.

My gaze naturally followed to the door.

“He’s in the basement.”

“Is he alive?”

Instead of answering Seo Jae-hoon just pulled up one corner of his mouth. It seems Patrick is already dead.

“…You crazy bastard. Kill him like that and you’re finished.”

“I’m already finished. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this stage?”

A sigh escaped my lips involuntarily.

I knew he was crazy but he exceeded my expectations.

“So what now?”

“Before that let me ask you something. What exactly did I do wrong for you to corner me like this? The people involved in your parents’ deaths no longer exist in this world. Even my father is barely staying alive in bed. Why be hostile toward me? I even made the first gesture of reconciliation.”

Grumbling Seo Jae-hoon moved his hand toward his suit’s inner pocket.

Manager Ma immediately stepped in front of me shouting.

“Stop! Don’t move.”

Seo Jae-hoon briefly paused at Manager Ma’s warning.

“Just want to smoke. That’s okay right?”

Seo Jae-hoon pulled out a cigarette pack and raised both hands.

When I nodded Manager Ma stepped back to the side.

The man beside Seo Jae-hoon took out a lighter and lit his cigarette.

Taking a deep drag Seo Jae-hoon exhaled thick smoke and spoke.

“Let’s end this long bitter relationship today.”

Seo Jae-hoon seemed to intend to die here today.

My face hardened unconsciously as I asked him.

“Seo Jae-hoon what are you thinking?”

The cigarette smoke filled the basement.

* * *

“Is that the entrance? There’s no other way in?”

The car stopped at the mountain entrance. From inside I observed the barricaded entrance while asking.

“Yes that’s the only entrance.”

“Then push through. Don’t waste time.”

Manager Ma issued orders through the radio.

Soon dozens of cars began charging toward the entrance.

With a loud crash the barricade collapsed and men rushed out from the guard post.

They were quickly subdued by Black Secret agents.

After leaving some agents to guard the checkpoint everyone got back in their cars and continued up the mountain road.

“They made this road incredibly winding.”