Chapter 788: The Gathering Storm

Manager Ma’s subordinates, along with every mercenary from the Black Bear Korea branch who wasn’t currently in the field, had gathered in the building across from the hotel.

Manager Ma, having summoned all the team leaders, explained the operation.

“Our primary target is Yang Woo-guk. Everyone else on the list is to be subdued.”

Each team leader had a binder in front of them, containing photos and names of over a dozen people.

“If they resist, kill them. I’ll take full responsibility. Make sure no one gets killed…”

Manager Ma decided against seeking help from the opposing faction to handle Yang Woo-guk’s people, acting solely on his own judgment.

‘Just because the boss changed a few times, they seem to have forgotten who’s in charge.’

Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to challenge the next chairman position designated by the Boss.

Even if Im Hwa-soo successfully became the chairman, they needed to know who held the leash. They needed to understand that the Boss could eliminate them from the world whenever he wanted.

That was why Manager Ma had decided to resolve the Heavenly Group’s internal strife using only Kim Mu-hyeok’s power.

“Any questions?”

It was a plan long in the making. No one had any questions.

“There must be no mistakes. Everyone here heard what happened to the Boss in North Korea, right? I stayed behind in Seoul to sort out the Heavenly Group and I wasn’t by the Boss’s side when he was in danger.”

Manager Ma paused, his gaze sweeping over his subordinates and team leaders, meeting each of their eyes.

“So, we need to carry out our assigned duties perfectly. That’s the best apology we can offer. Do you all understand?”

“Yes!”

The team leaders and subordinates responded with a loud shout.

Manager Ma, satisfied, nodded and checked the time on his watch.

“Cleanly take care of your assigned positions. Team leaders are authorized to use firearms. It’s more important to subdue them perfectly without any unnecessary risks.”

One of the Black Bear mercenaries team leaders then asked.

“Are we authorized to use them as well?”

“Yes. But use them only if it’s truly necessary. It’s better than letting them escape. Over 4,000 people are expected to gather, so we can’t be too careful. Take your teams and wait. Once the order to mobilize is given, move out immediately.”

The team leaders and subordinates left in an orderly fashion, leaving only Manager Ma and his younger brother.

Once they were alone, his younger brother cautiously asked Manager Ma.

“Hyung, is it okay to authorize firearms? This is getting too big. This is Haeundae in the middle of the city.”

Manager Ma, who had been so rigid, softened slightly at his younger brother’s concern from their shared orphanage.

“It’s fine. No one will know.”

Then he pressed the transmit button on his radio.

“Report the situation around the hotel.”

— Thugs keep gathering. Dozens of buses have arrived.

After listening to the report, Manager Ma put down the radio and pulled out his phone to call someone.

After a few rings, the other party answered.

“Commissioner, this is Manager Ma.”

— Yes, Manager Ma. I’ve been waiting.

It was the current National Police Commissioner.

“Are you in Busan as requested?”

For this operation, he had asked the Police Commissioner to be at the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency beforehand.

— I’m with Woo-suk.

He was with the Busan Police Commissioner.

“As promised, please have all the police around the hotel fall back.”

This was the reason why the Police Commissioner had come down to Busan from Seoul in person.

A worried voice came through the receiver.

— Is this really necessary? Wouldn’t it be better to just mobilize the police…?

“Commissioner, I need to do this myself. If not today, it could get even louder.”

As the Heavenly Group’s internal strife intensified, it became harder to track the movements of its leaders.

Even killing Yang Woo-guk wouldn’t be the end of it.

They needed to eliminate Yang Woo-guk and all his supporting executives at once.

That was the only way to instill fear in them. Hence, they chose today’s eightieth birthday celebration, where thugs from all over the country would gather.

“I’ll clean this up neatly this time. A sudden gang war like this puts the police in a difficult spot as well.”

— That’s true. Ever since all the gangs gathered under the Heavenly Group name, there have been small incidents but nothing like this direct confrontation. We’ve been struggling with what to do. As the Heavenly Group grew, the police became reluctant to interfere.

What the Police Commissioner said was true. The Heavenly Group had become a group that the public authorities could not easily touch, similar to the Yakuza in Japan or the Mafia in Italy.

In Korea, the government usually declared war on crime whenever there was political instability, managing the gangs in that way. This made it hard for groups to grow to the scale of the Yakuza or the Mafia.

However, as Kim Mu-hyeok began to support them from behind, the Heavenly Group began to operate under the guise of legitimacy, and now, even if Kim Mu-hyeok stepped down, it would be difficult for the police to deal with them.

“That’s why we’re stepping in. They need to know who’s in charge. If a hunting dog doesn’t recognize its master, it tends to eat them, don’t you think?”

Manager Ma’s tone was as usual, but his words were not. In effect, he was warning the Police Commissioner to behave himself.

— I understand. I’ll have the police around the area pull back immediately and control the vicinity as promised.

“Thank you. I will express my gratitude again once this is over.”

— …It shouldn’t get too loud. Finish this within the hotel. And if by any chance…

“Don’t worry about the media. We’ve already made sure the hotel isn’t accepting any general reservations. Once we move in, all the hotel staff will be gathered in one place to wait. No civilians will get involved.”

— Alright, I trust you.

“Then I’ll begin as soon as the police withdraw. I will hang up now.”

Manager Ma put down his phone and picked up the radio. It was time to hear from his subordinate who was monitoring the situation around the hotel from a distance about the police’s movements.

He knew the more dangerous the task, the more perfectly you needed to take care of the surroundings.

* * *

The area around the hotel was swarming with gangsters.

Then, a man stepped out of a heavily tinted luxury car.

“Boss, you’ve arrived!”

He was a man in a black suit. Heavily built thugs with short haircuts bowed to him at a 90-degree angle.

It was Im Hwa-soo.

Im Hwa-soo didn’t even glance at the men bowing to him and went straight into the hotel lobby.

“Isn’t that the guy rumored to be the most likely candidate for the next Heavenly Group Chairman?”

His senior nodded, staying alert.

“Stop flapping your jaws and focus. It’s almost time to start the party.”

“Yes, sir.”

Just then, the radio on the senior detective’s hip crackled and beeped.

He immediately grabbed the radio and brought it to his mouth.

“This is Team Leader Han Jin-hyung, in charge of the hotel entrance.”

— Team Leader Han, the operation is canceled. Everyone is to return to base.

“What? A withdrawal? The event is about to begin. What is going on…?”

— I repeat, all operations are canceled. Everyone is to return to base and wait.

The same order was issued to team leaders in each area.

The detectives were confused by the sudden order, but moved quickly to obey.

They sent the riot police holding shields back to their buses and quickly cleared the scene.

“What the hell is going on? If things get out of hand, we’ll be the first ones to die.”

The team leader yelled at the detective who was grumbling while preparing to withdraw.

“What are you doing! Stop complaining and start preparing to retreat!”

“But Team Leader! Is it really okay to retreat? There are more than a few of them here.”

“They told us to retreat, you idiot! Stop talking and pack up!”

The police who had been surrounding the hotel withdrew in an orderly fashion in 10 minutes.

Some men smoking by the flower bed in front of the entrance watched them.

“What is that? The cops are leaving.”

“Yeah, looks like they’re just withdrawing? Well, it’s a win for us. Looks like the event’s about to start. Sigh, I’ve got some experience under my belt, but I have to stay here and guard the entrance… I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Over 4,000 people had gathered, but only a limited number were allowed inside the venue.

* * *

After confirming the police’s withdrawal, Manager Ma checked his equipment and picked up his phone.

This time, he was calling Manager Kim, who was with Kim Mu-hyeok.

After a moment, Kim Mu-hyeok’s voice came over the receiver.

— Manager Ma, is it time to start?

“Yes, Boss. We’re about to move in.”

— Alright. Be careful not to get hurt. It’s important to subdue them but your safety is more important.

“Of course. I’ll report back once everything is over.”

There was no need for a long conversation. Manager Ma put his phone back in his pocket and opened the door.

“Let’s go.”

At Manager Ma’s words, the doors along the corridor opened all at once, and heavily built men wearing hats and masks rushed out.

They were Manager Ma’s personal subordinates who he always brought with him.

Manager Ma left the building, followed by his subordinates and mercenaries.

“Team 7, control the road immediately.”

“Yes sir!”

Several men ran out onto the eight-lane road.

The cars that were driving were forced to slam on their brakes, blaring their horns at the sudden obstruction.

One of the drivers got out of his car to shout, but quickly closed his mouth and got back in after seeing hundreds of men blocking the road.

Manager Ma, at the front, crossed the eight-lane road without any obstruction.

“Who are those bastards? Tell them inside now! Hurry!”

The thugs at the hotel entrance shouted urgently and relayed the message inside.

At the same time, Manager Ma and his subordinates arrived at the hotel entrance.

“Who are you? Where do you think you’re going….”

One of the thugs stepped out, but instead of answering, Manager Ma punched him right in the face.

It was just one punch, but the thug crumpled like in a cartoon.

“Move in.”

At Manager Ma’s signal, his subordinates and the Black Bear mercenaries rushed forward, extending the batons at their waists.

The thugs guarding the hotel front clashed with Manager Ma’s subordinates.

“What is this? Who are these guys!”

“Stop them!”

The commotion at the hotel entrance was quickly quelled. It was a one-sided fight.

The thugs had far greater numbers, but it was impossible for them to defeat mercenaries who possessed professional combat knowledge and experience.

Manager Ma, leaving some men to clean up, calmly led the rest inside.

“Who are you guys? Where did you come from!”

It was a reasonable question to ask any intruder, but Manager Ma thought it was a little cliché that every one of them asked the same thing.

All sorts of profanities flew from the gangsters who saw them.

The hotel lobby was filled with hundreds of people, making it nearly impossible to move.

One mercenary muttered to himself in disgust.

“Looks like there are more of them than the cockroaches at my house?”

Then, a man pushed his way through the crowd.

“Get out of the way! What’s going on!”

The man who stepped forward recognized Manager Ma and his face turned pale.

“M-Manager Ma.”

He was one of Im Hwa-soo’s lackeys, someone Manager Ma was familiar with.

Manager Ma recognized him and nodded.

“Jung, I think was your name.”

“Yes, I am Jung Seok-gi. But….”

Jung Seok-gi trailed off, his eyes darting around as if trying to grasp the situation.

“What is going on, Manager Ma?”

Jung Seok-gi watched as a fierce smile formed on Manager Ma’s usually expressionless face.

“I’ve come to clean up the trash.”