Black Sky (2)
Park Gwang-cheol handled the driving to the meeting spot.
"You're paying me and driving me around too? What a sucker. Total mark. You've snagged yourself a rich sucker. You have no idea the hell I went through to scrape that money together. I drained the company funds, took out collateral loans, even hit up loan sharks. Man."
He tried picking a fight, but Jang Cheon in the back seat just silently watched the passing scenery.
"You like Lee Yeon, don't you?"
Still no response, so Park Gwang-cheol pressed on.
"I mean, what guy in the world wouldn't like a beauty like her? If you don't, you're impotent."
Only then did Jang Cheon finally speak.
"Since it came up, here's some advice. Keep your hands off Lee Yeon from now on."
"What?"
"She's out of our league—you or me."
"Do you even know how much I'm worth?"
"Purely what you earned? Not inherited. From birth until now, what you've made through your own efforts."
Park Gwang-cheol couldn't respond. He'd have to ask how much he'd blown to answer that. And even he didn't know exactly.
"Bragging about money is for when you've earned it yourself. 'Look, I made this much on my own.' Even then, it might not look great, but someone who worked hard and earned it fair and square deserves to boast once in a while. They must've struggled like hell."
"Fine. Say I'm trash from birth. What about you? Why's she out of your league?"
After a pause, Jang Cheon replied.
"How am I any different?"
"Don't play humble—it doesn't suit you. You're hot shit!"
The two fell silent for a moment.
Gazing at the swiftly passing landscape, Jang Cheon murmured softly.
"Don't drag others into your desires and ruin them. One day, someone else's desires will come back and finish you off."
It hit Park Gwang-cheol deep. He'd lived his whole life obeying the commands of his own cravings.
"Why so scary?"
In the rearview mirror, Jang Cheon's eyes were cold and unyielding.
"A coward like you—why live like this?"
Park Gwang-cheol averted his gaze and floored the accelerator.
Yeah, tell me about it. Damn it.
The car pulled up at a villa on the outskirts, an hour from downtown.
From the entrance, Guwol Sect warriors carrying swords stood guard. Dressed in dark suits, their eyes gleamed with the feral sharpness of black path martial artists.
Park Gwang-cheol swallowed hard, thinking how no one would even find his body if something went wrong out here.
He whispered to Jang Cheon.
"I'm trusting only you here."
"You're pathetic."
"What?"
"What do you even know about me to keep saying you trust me?"
Park Gwang-cheol flinched. It was true. He'd tried digging into Jang Cheon, but learned next to nothing.
"My dad hired you."
"Is that a reason? Dad's dad, and you're you."
"Damn it! If I was the type to think deeply about life... would I be in this mess?"
Park Gwang-cheol stopped talking and started walking. Jang Cheon followed quietly.
Park Gwang-cheol glanced at him. Despite the words, he still trusted him. Not just because of his father. It was his own judgment. Looking at Jang Cheon made him feel protected. It only deepened his thirst.
I want to be someone others trust like this.
Someone who could stand tall even among these vicious black path thugs.
Inside the building, Guwol Sect's deputy sect leader Yang Seon-gu waited. He greeted them politely.
"First time meeting. I'm Yang Seon-gu, deputy sect leader of Guwol Sect."
"Park Gwang-cheol."
Yang Seon-gu's gaze shifted to Jang Cheon, so Park Gwang-cheol introduced him.
"My attendant."
Jang Cheon gave a slight nod. Park Gwang-cheol inwardly cringed.
This guy's attitude is so arrogant. Don't do anything flashy, please!
Fortunately, Yang Seon-gu didn't take offense.
"Please, sit."
"Sure."
Park Gwang-cheol, who'd lived as a layabout his whole life, was honestly scared of Yang Seon-gu. The man was second-in-command of a notorious black path faction—leagues above the middling Tae Jin-gu.
"Care for a drink?"
"No thanks. Tell me why you called me here."
"I asked to see you today, Park CEO, because I have some questions."
Yang Seon-gu's demeanor was impeccably courteous.
"You know Tae, the branch head?"
"Yes."
"Do you know he's missing?"
"No."
"Really? The restaurant manager said he told you."
"Oh, right. I guess he did."
Regret flooded in—he'd lied so obviously. He'd anticipated the question and planned to answer honestly, but the sudden probe made him blurt out a denial. He wasn't used to this kind of pressure.
Yang Seon-gu's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Have you met Park Ho, the Seoul district leader?"
"No."
"Never seen him at all?"
"Nope."
"Where were you the day those two went missing?"
"This feels like an interrogation."
Park Gwang-cheol showed a hint of irritation.
He expected an apology and a smile, but got the opposite.
"You might face worse."
"Worse how?"
"Ever been tortured?"
At the blunt word, Park Gwang-cheol's heart plummeted.
"So answer honestly."
He was scared, but anger surged too. No matter who Yang Seon-gu was, Park Gwang-cheol was still the son of HT Group's chairman.
He braced for a staring contest, but looked away in under three seconds.
Yang Seon-gu unleashed naked killing intent. A martial artist's pressure was overwhelming to ordinary folk.
Park Gwang-cheol's breath grew ragged, dizziness hitting him.
Thankfully, Yang Seon-gu withdrew it and spoke politely.
"Park CEO, this is crucial to our sect. Can't you cooperate even this much?"
Park Gwang-cheol exhaled heavily.
"I want to help. But I've never met the Seoul district leader, and I have nothing to do with this. I really know nothing."
Yang Seon-gu glared for a moment, then flipped his expression entirely.
"This punk—it's no good."
The curse made Park Gwang-cheol's heart sink further. The dreaded atmosphere was materializing.
"You! Still don't get who I am? Tae wags his tail and licks your ass 'cause you're a chaebol heir, so you think we're all shit?"
"Deputy Leader Yang, calm down."
"No connection to you, and Park Ho investigates an HT Group incident? We black path guys all look like idiots to you?"
"No, misunderstanding!"
Yang Seon-gu extended his hand, palm out, fingers splayed.
Shiiiing.
His nails shot out like claws.
It was a horror movie scene unfolding before his eyes.
"Aaaagh!"
Park Gwang-cheol screamed and turned to Jang Cheon behind him. Jang Cheon stood silently among Yang's men, as if spooked himself.
You bastard! Do something! I'm dying here!
But Jang Cheon showed no reaction. He seemed convinced it was just a scare tactic.
"Spit it out! Before I rip your throat!"
Tension peaked, his claws poised to tear.
Park Gwang-cheol squeezed his eyes shut and yelled.
"I don't know! I really don't!"
It was a desperate, animalistic cry—short only tears and snot.
Silence fell.
"Hahaha!"
Yang Seon-gu burst into booming laughter. When Park Gwang-cheol opened his eyes, the man wore his initial polite face.
"I went too far with the prank, huh?"
Anyone could see it wasn't a prank, but Yang Seon-gu laughed it off like it was all in fun.
"Sorry if I startled you. I pull this on new faces sometimes. Forgive me if I offended."
What could he say?
"You got me good. Damn, your acting's spot on—I fell for it."
"Haha, thanks for saying that."
His nails were back to normal, the mood friendly now, but Park Gwang-cheol couldn't meet his eyes.
Yang Seon-gu stood.
"I'll head out then. Thanks for coming. Next time, drinks on me, Park CEO."
As Yang and his men left, Park Gwang-cheol sighed in relief.
"Whew! That crazy son of a bitch!"
Cursing the absent did no good. The backlash naturally flew to Jang Cheon.
"Earning 3 billion's a breeze, huh? Shit, I could've propped up a log and been fine."
"Should've done that."
"Damn it! That's what you say?"
"Thanks to that, you're completely cleared now."
"What?"
"If you'd half-assed it, it'd all be on you. But now? No one'll suspect you."
His fear had been too real for acting.
Park Gwang-cheol felt relief on one side, spite on the other.
"Easy money, yeah."
Jang Cheon strode out.
"You've lived easy, so everything looks easy."
Staring at his back, Park Gwang-cheol sighed. He couldn't deny it. Yeah, if it'd been life-or-death, he'd have stepped in. Had to believe that.
Suddenly, the fear of being alone hit him. He jumped up and followed.
"Wait up. After 3 billion, drop me home at least."
"Boss. BS sent an Asia region investigator."
"I heard you took this job."
Turning from the rooftop bench, Jang Cheon saw Lee Yeon approaching with a convenience store bag of beer cans.
"Am I interrupting?"
"No."
"Looked like you were out of beer. Rooftop resupply!"
"Haha. Thanks."
Two crushed cans sat beside him. She'd checked the ops room CCTV before coming up.
Jang Cheon and Lee Yeon cracked fresh beers and drank.
"Where'd you go? Saw you come in with Park CEO earlier."
"Made some money."
"Doing his job?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, got it."
"Disappointed?"
"No, no."
Lee Yeon waved it off hastily.
"Don't misunderstand. Why would I be disappointed? Just asking. Whose money matters? Earning it hard is what counts. Money doesn't have name tags."
"Money has name tags."
"Huh?"
"How couldn't it? Hard-earned, lucky, clean, dirty, bad, good."
Jang Cheon downed his beer. Feeling she'd darkened the mood, Lee Yeon lightened up.
"I'd love to earn a ton of bad money."
"What for?"
"Worried I'll have nothing to spend it on?"
"Haha, fair point."
His cheerful laugh eased her relief.
While drinking, Lee Yeon asked.
"Ever feel like running away somewhere?"
"Yeah."
"Me too."
A question bubbled in her mind.
What am I running from?
Dangerous life? Reality? If I get strong or rich, will I stop wanting to flee?
Her gaze turned to Jang Cheon.
Does even someone this strong want to run from something?
Gazing at the distant city skyline, Jang Cheon suddenly said.
"Sometimes, running's okay, right?"
"Huh?"
"As long as you don't forget what you're running from..."
He trailed off and drank.
Lee Yeon finished hers and opened another.
But if you don't forget, did you really run? Aren't you still there? Running's for forgetting.
She didn't ask. Everyone lived their lives with their own stories.
Still, she hoped someday they'd open up—about pasts or futures.