Phone Express (3)
“Not heading home?”
Lee Yeon yawned in response to Kwon Hyeok-su’s question.
“On night duty. You’re not going?”
“About to.”
“Thanks for all the hard work today.”
“Lately, you’re the one doing the hard work.”
A flicker of pity crossed Kwon Hyeok-su’s eyes as he looked at her. With that pretty face, she could live an easy life if she wanted. Lee Yeon’s resistance to temptation always impressed him.
“No, sir. Thanks to you, my adventure and danger categories are filling up nicely.”
“Finally got a danger category, huh.”
“Annoyingly so.”
“No need to be annoyed. You earned it late, but it’s worth celebrating. I’m off.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kwon Hyeok-su left the operations room.
The CCTV feeds showed nothing but peace.
“Jang Cheon still not back?”
A junior staffer answered Lee Yeon’s question.
“No, not yet.”
“Where’s he wandering around at this hour?”
“Probably at a club, meeting some girl. First time back in the homeland in ages.”
“Maybe.”
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
“Ah, I can smell the booze.”
“Just give me a little more time. I can find them.”
Park Ho had mobilized every connection, making over twenty calls, but he couldn’t uncover the mastermind behind the assassination attempt.
“Please! Give me a chance!”
In truth, he’d racked his brain. He’d thought of a few people who might help in time, but none could handle Jang Cheon.
His conclusion: unless the sect leader came personally with elites, it was hopeless.
But the sect leader couldn’t arrive within the hour. Distance aside, the suspicious man wouldn’t rush in blindly. Park Ho feared it would tip off Jang Cheon during verification.
So he’d bet everything on finding the assassin’s backer—and failed. Not even a clue or rumor.
Jang Cheon drew his sword and approached.
Watching the man’s emotionless face, Park Ho realized.
“You... you were going to kill me anyway, weren’t you?”
Jang Cheon answered honestly.
“Yeah. What could a black path thug like you find in an hour? If it were that easy, you wouldn’t be here.”
“You knew, so why make me do it?”
He’d even forced calls everywhere over that hour.
Jang Cheon replied calmly.
“So your death ties to the mastermind behind this.”
“What?”
“Your sect leader will hunt them down. The Gangnam branch head and Seoul division leader vanish overnight. Your calls will make them think there’s bad blood. The culprits will surface too, wondering why Guwol Sect is after them suddenly. Either way, I just watch.”
Park Ho’s heart sank. He’d been played like a pawn. Rage boiled up.
But instead of murderous intent, he pictured bodies stuffed in leather bags. No energy left for a final struggle.
“So you kill an innocent man like me?”
“Innocent?”
Park Ho had no retort. He’d committed every sin to rise this far.
“Start on the black path, and you brace for this end.”
Jang Cheon’s sword flashed through the air. Park Ho’s heart split, and he died.
Phone and the four arrived to clean the body and blood.
Jang Cheon chuckled, watching Phone haul the body far off. The cleanup man sending food pics seemed the least likely thing.
Her phone buzzed. Lee Yeon set down her book.
BST Practical Prep—a dusty old volume she’d pulled out again.
It was Jang Cheon calling.
Lee Yeon looked up. On the rooftop CCTV, Jang Cheon waved a can of beer.
She rushed up.
“No snacks.”
“It’s fine.”
He cracked a beer and handed it over.
“What brings this on?”
“Just craved a drink.”
“I was thinking the same.”
“Perfect.”
They drank together.
With Kwon Hyeok-su, she’d chug and yell, “Kyaah! Sneaking one on duty hits different!”
But not with Jang Cheon. She sipped demurely, then murmured.
“Just quenching my thirst on duty.”
“Understood.”
“Where’ve you been?”
“Handling business.”
“All good?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll help however—research, all-nighters, whatever.”
“Hearing that’s reassuring.”
But she knew. He wouldn’t entrust her with real work. Her skills weren’t there yet.
Frustrating.
Maybe Kwon Hyeok-su was right—she was still young. Not fearing danger, but regretting not being at the center.
Jang Cheon gazed at the nightscape, expression unchanged.
What memories does this city hold for him?
She didn’t ask.
This quiet night, beer in hand, watching the lights fade—not bad at all.
“President Tae’s not picking up? Where’s he at?”
The restaurant manager looked troubled at Park Gwang-cheol’s question.
“He hasn’t shown here either.”
“Huh.”
Hwa-ran murmured softly beside him.
“Let’s go somewhere else.”
“We’re here—might as well eat. Usual order.”
“Got it.”
They sat. They’d come straight from opening the door, pure curiosity about Jang Cheon.
Park Gwang-cheol dreamed of Murim life. World Murim Alliance leader? Heart-pounding. That legend locking info? Curiosity peaked.
Maybe Tae Jin-gu knew something. But the manager bringing food shared odd rumors.
“Not sure if I should say...”
He got good tips; loyal to Park Gwang-cheol.
“What?”
The manager glanced around, voice low.
“Rumor is... Seoul division leader’s missing. Went to meet our boss, then nothing.”
“What?”
Park Gwang-cheol startled.
“Boss hasn’t shown. I’m worried sick.”
Then, Murim folk with weapons at waists poured in. They talked to the manager, headed to Tae Jin-gu’s office.
As they searched, Park Gwang-cheol beckoned the manager discreetly. He was frozen stiff.
“Who?”
“Main branch warriors.”
“What’d they say?”
“Looking for boss. Not just rumor—big trouble.”
Manager left. Hwa-ran set down her fork.
“Past curiosity territory. Let’s go.”
She rose first.
Park Gwang-cheol followed quietly. As curious as he was perceptive.
Before the assassination attempt, the two from the bar now met on a park bench.
The skinny one waited first, as before. The burly one sat beside. Worn suits made them look like jobless middle-aged men.
“Cops ramping up—rumors spreading. Our name and other killer groups mentioned.”
“Expected. Few can handle this scale.”
“Failure fuels the talk.”
“Sure.”
Success silences tongues. Failure invites gossip.
“But something odd.”
“What?”
“Guwol Sect digging into this.”
“Why black path?”
“Dunno. Seoul division leader hunting us.”
“Park In-hwan hire them?”
“Doubt it. HT Group wouldn’t touch black path.”
“Not good. Investigate precisely, report back.”
“Yes. Hide in meantime, boss?”
“That advertises us. Kill Park In-hwan before they expose us. They’ll handle cleanup.”
“Will they keep word?”
“Yes. Can ignore us, not Black Heaven.”
Black Heaven: global assassin cartel. Feared name, BS for short.
“But if we fail, they pin it on us. Black Heaven won’t help. Organizations cull failures.”
Black Heaven’s way: no aid for losers, just elimination.
The burly man sighed.
“Didn’t expect Earthly Guardian Soldier to fail.”
The assassin sent for Park In-hwan: Earthly Guardian Soldier. Secret weapon, never deployed outside.
“They had their own secret weapon.”
The burly man nodded coldly.
“Then eliminate it first.”
“Hurry. Time’s not ours.”
“I’ll handle personally.”
“Carefully!”
“Yes.”
The burly man left. The skinny one leaned back, muttering.
“Didn’t have to go this far.”