Entwined Relationships (3)
In the heart of Gangnam, from a towering skyscraper that overlooked it all—a symbol of success—a man as handsome as a sculpture sat poised.
His eyes curved softly as if smiling, giving him a benevolent air. He was a man so famous in Korea that everyone knew him, beloved by the entire nation.
But today, that face, usually adorned with a warm smile, showed not a trace of one.
"That's... how it happened."
It was hard to smile when the illegal gate he'd invested months into had been completely obliterated.
Seol Rokjin tapped the desk lightly as he continued.
"I always figured something like this might happen someday. The guards there were pretty subpar, after all. Someone told me they were sufficient to hold the place, though."
At Seol Rokjin's words, Section Chief Cheong's face drained of color. After all, he was the one who'd said that.
"I-I'm sorry. I never imagined something like this would... happen."
"Well, even I couldn't predict someone rifling through my hidden back pocket. No reason you should've known either, Section Chief."
Section Chief Cheong racked his brains desperately. Was that forgiveness? No, Seol Rokjin wasn't the type to forgive. What was he getting at with all this roundabout talk?
"From what I hear, he's not even that impressive an awakener."
Section Chief Cheong nodded vigorously and pressed on.
"He's B-grade at best, but his talent's just something like making lies more convincing. He graduated from Babel Academy, but his combat skills are so weak he couldn't even earn a star rating. Naturally, he never became a hunter."
"And that loser still cleaned us out, right?"
Section Chief Cheong, who'd been chattering away enthusiastically, clamped his mouth shut with a grimace. Badmouthing the thief who'd raided their backroom wasn't smart.
Seol Rokjin asked.
"Still nothing new uncovered?"
"Yes, no clue where the leak came from."
"What about that recruiter friend?"
"We talked briefly before handing him to the police, but he knows zilch. Said that Kang Ishin guy approached him first, begging for a job."
"So you introduced them?"
"Yes."
Cold sweat poured down Section Chief Cheong's forehead. Thinking about how that idiot had the culprit right in front of him and let him slip away still made his teeth grind.
"Did you manage the info leak properly?"
"Yes, we handled it so he knows nothing—not even about me. If it's inconvenient, shall I send someone?"
"Sending a hitman after a witness already in police custody seems risky, doesn't it?"
Section Chief Cheong swallowed hard. That wasn't a question. It was an order to clean it up neatly.
"I can handle it. Got a sharp tool perfect for jobs like this."
"I'll trust you."
And with that, Im Hyun-su's fate was sealed. He probably thought keeping his mouth shut would earn him an escape ticket soon enough. But all that awaited him was a one-way to the afterlife.
"Assuming we've erased any traces from our side. The losses I've taken from this aren't trivial."
Section Chief Cheong muttered inwardly. Bullshit. Sure, Seol Rokjin had lost a funding source. But hadn't he seized the opportunity more aggressively than anyone to polish his image?
The 9 PM news, talk shows—he'd been busier than ever, stamping his name in the public's mind once more. Gaining far more than the pittance he'd lost, and here he was whining.
But voicing that would be a death sentence. Section Chief Cheong nodded.
"Y-yes, of course."
"Gates? Find another one. Money? Pull from elsewhere. But if this happens again, I'll be very displeased."
"No repeats of this! I swear."
He meant it—no empty words. His fragile heart couldn't survive a second fiasco.
"Good. I trust you've learned from this, Section Chief."
Just when he thought it was over.
"That said, I don't believe in free lessons."
His heart plummeted.
"What should I take from you to make this lesson stick?"
Section Chief Cheong's face turned ashen. Seol Rokjin slowly scanned him from head to toe.
"Still, a man who handles my external affairs can't have any... flaws. If the guy running my errands is missing a finger or an ear, well, it might hurt your pride a bit."
Section Chief Cheong dropped to his knees instantly.
"Ugh... S-sorry... I'm so sorry."
He slammed his forehead to the floor, eyes downcast. A scolding would be easier. Seol Rokjin's face and tone remained serenely calm.
"No need to apologize if you don't screw up. For either of us. I'd hate to take something from you too."
Propping his chin, Seol Rokjin gazed at the man crawling at his feet.
"Come to think of it, is this your first mistake, Section Chief?"
Section Chief Cheong's shoulders trembled. He'd watched up close how others vanished after one slip-up. He knew exactly how a single error could ruin a man.
"Y-yes... First... time."
"A generous boss covers his subordinate's first offense, right?"
He gulped. Could he really walk away unscathed?
"But forgiveness without cost feels off. I'd like to meet that friend of yours in person."
"That friend...?"
"Heard he knows the guy who raided my gate."
Section Chief Cheong paled.
"Jeong Hosan? Messing with Red Dog Guild might be—"
"Not him. The other one, hospitalized."
"Han...?"
He scrambled through his memory, but the name escaped him. Seol Rokjin eyed him pitifully and supplied it.
"Han Jo-hee."
"Ah, right! That guy."
"Curious how close he was to the thief who hit our gate."
Best to catch the culprit, but he'd vanished without a trace. Someone who'd known him before might know something.
Even if not, something had to be taken from him too.
"I'd love to meet him before the Yeongjongdo incident blows up."
Seol Rokjin flashed a refreshing smile at Section Chief Cheong.
Wonder how things went with Baek Dosan.
The Yeongjongdo mess was about to erupt soon. If Baek Dosan fell to Seol Rokjin, it'd be a massive headache. Ideally, he'd heed my advice and bail on Yeongjongdo or shift the deal date.
Raiding Seol Rokjin's gate barely scratched him. If he snagged Baek Dosan, it'd all be water under the bridge.
Might as well check in.
Leaving the inn, I headed straight there.
"Y-you!"
The guard I'd fooled with my lie last time pointed at me.
"Doing well?"
I greeted him nonchalantly, but his scowl didn't budge.
"What'd Geum Doctor say?"
"Go in."
Grudgingly stepping aside, it seemed Geum hadn't blacklisted me. Lucky.
I followed the familiar corridor to Geum Doctor's workshop. Pushing open the door, he glanced up from fiddling with his phone and grumbled a greeting.
"What brings you here? Looked like you'd never return."
That counted as a hello, I suppose.
I shrugged and asked.
"Passing by, got curious if my advice last time panned out."
Geum Doctor groaned. His expression said it hadn't.
"Passed it on, but Baek Dosan that bastard's more stubborn than I thought."
"Still going through with the deal?"
"Yeah."
He didn't bat an eye at me knowing the details. Figured a future-seer like me would know, probably.
"He flat-out said he doesn't buy prophecies. Only suckers like me fall for that crap. If I were stronger, I'd have split his skull in two."
Someone had really riled him up—Geum Doctor vented about Baek Dosan right in front of me, grinding his teeth.
Baek Dosan definitely wasn't one for intangibles. Self-made with his fists, that type.
"Well, nothing for it then."
I turned to leave.
"W-wait! You leaving just like that?"
"Yep."
Geum looked flustered.
Ray flipped out too.
━Didn't you come here to save that Baek Dosan guy?
"If my friend gets handed to that Assemblyman Seol, big trouble."
"Yeah, Korea takes a hit."
"And you're bailing?"
"Not something I can stop alone. Unless they cooperate."
Baek Dosan was a underworld heavyweight. Even if I offered help now, if he decided to bury me, he'd do it.
━True, can't help others if you're dead first.
'Not in my current state. Plus, think from their side. Some rando shows up warning of danger—makes me look more suspicious the harder I push.'
So, this was a bluff to hook them.
Geum bit.
"You need cooperation?"
"If they ask for help, maybe. But now? 'I saw your future, you're in danger'—Baek Dosan'd blow my head off. Not my style."
Geum's face went pale.
"So if you leave now...?"
I tossed it casually.
"Why not bounce too, Doctor? Once Seol brainwashes him, friends won't matter."
"You could've offered help!"
"Why? Don't know the guy."
"Disaster incoming! Korea's screwed!"
"Sure, but I've got a plan."
"I don't!"
Geum said.
"I'll make that cooperation happen somehow—just come with me, please?"
I forced my lips not to twitch upward.
"Ugh, fine. What're you offering?"