Black Sky (3)
Warriors from the Guwol Sect began gathering at B Hotel.
This hotel was owned by the Guwol Sect, and after Park Ho and Tae Jin-gu went missing, Sect Leader Baek Yang-po had temporarily relocated his base here.
A hotel like this was far easier to secure than a private residence. The entire floor where Baek Yang-po was staying was occupied by Guwol Sect warriors. The sect's top experts were lodged especially close to his room.
CCTV monitored every corner, and warriors disguised as guests stood vigilant at the hotel entrance.
"From what I could tell after meeting with Park Gwang-cheol, he doesn't seem involved."
Baek Yang-po nodded at Yang Seon-gu's report. He hadn't rated Park Gwang-cheol as a likely suspect either. What reason would a playboy chaebol heir, obsessed with women, suddenly have to attack them?
"It's most likely the work of Seodo-bang or Biho Gate."
Yang Seon-gu had drawn that tentative conclusion and was pursuing the investigation accordingly.
"We're gathering intel from our spies embedded in both factions right now. Don't worry too much, Sect Leader. How many storms have we weathered since bringing the Guwol Sect this far? We'll get through this one unscathed too."
"Yeah, we have to."
"This might even be a good thing. We can use the opportunity to crush whoever's been gunning for us."
Baek Yang-po looked at Yang Seon-gu with eyes full of trust. He wasn't well-educated and had a hot temper that led to frequent mistakes.
But Yang Seon-gu was a college graduate with a calm demeanor, and thanks to his resourcefulness, they'd navigated countless crises so far.
"I'll hang the bastards who orchestrated this by their necks in front of the hotel."
"Of course you should!"
Of course, it was empty talk with no basis in reality. In this day and age, pulling something like that would bring even a powerhouse like the Guwol Sect crashing down overnight.
Baek Yang-po lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag, then exhaled a long plume of smoke. The frustration churning inside him scattered with it.
"Just let them get caught."
A man arrived at the airport.
Purpose of visit: tourism. Planned stay: 5 days. After his passport was stamped and he passed through customs, he looked no different from any other tourist.
The heavyset man with a kindly face pulled his travel bag to the arrivals area.
A sedan pulled up in front of him and stopped.
The sunglasses-wearing driver stepped out and bowed politely to the man.
"Welcome."
"It's been a while since Korea."
"Shall we grab a meal first? I know a good place."
"No! To Clean Company first."
"Yes, sir."
The man in sunglasses loaded the luggage into the car and departed immediately.
Jang Cheon watched from afar, speaking on the phone.
-Are we unlucky?
Jang Cheon smiled.
There would be no traces left at the Clean Company building.
Leaving Guwol Sect evidence there would have been amateurish. He'd cleaned it just enough—thoroughly, but not suspiciously so. Nothing left behind, just the impression that someone had tidied up professionally. No overkill perfection.
Amateurs imitating pros and pros imitating amateurs were worlds apart.
The same went for the evidence Bishop had planted, not just Phone and the four-man team.
-Yeah.
-Okay!
Five days later, Jung Kwang closed his laptop at a coffee shop.
He had just finished writing and uploading his report on Clean Company.
Nothing had turned up at Clean Company. It had been cleaned quite thoroughly—that much was clear.
He'd gathered info through various channels afterward. Then, via the Asia intel line, rumors surfaced that the HT Group assassination was Clean Company's doing, and he'd obtained evidence that Park Ho, Seoul branch head of the Guwol Sect, had been investigating it.
He began investigating the Guwol Sect. He learned of their internal disappearances, found Clean Company files in their intel network, and finally secured photos backing it all up.
Jung Kwang pulled out his phone and called somewhere.
It was the moment Bishop triumphed over Jung Kwang.
Jung Kwang hung up and sipped his remaining coffee while gazing out the window.
He left the coffee shop and hailed a taxi on the street.
"Airport, please."
Yang Seon-gu burst into Baek Yang-po's room after receiving an urgent summons.
"What is it?"
Baek Yang-po stared at him with a twisted expression. Yang Seon-gu had never seen him look so utterly hopeless and defeated.
"What happened? An attack?"
In response to Yang Seon-gu's frantic question, Baek Yang-po handed him a card slightly larger than a business card.
"It was sent to me."
Baek Yang-po's hand trembled visibly.
In his hand was a black card with the words Black Sky written in white.
FRONT
"Black Heaven!"
Yang Seon-gu's voice trembled, his eyes wide.
No matter how dominant they were in Korea's underworld, Black Heaven was a global organization.
And their operatives were assassins. Once targeted by assassins, you'd live in constant fear of death.
Unless you planned to hide in the mountains or on a deserted island, you didn't cross Black Heaven.
Yang Seon-gu flipped the card with shaking hands. The back was what mattered.
"Please... no."
— NOTHING —
Death Foretold
Yang Seon-gu's eyes bulged. The back was blank—just solid black.
Black Heaven's messages came on the back of the card, in one of two forms: blank or with a phone number.
A number meant they wanted contact—there was some ambiguity about killing you, so they'd meet to decide your fate. A slim chance of survival.
Blank meant the black sky. Nothingness. A death notice, plain and simple.
Announced murder.
It was Black Heaven's signature arrogance and confidence. No one who received such a card had ever survived. That was how they built their fearsome reputation.
They had their own unspoken rule: They didn't send cards to targets who might cause backlash or whom they couldn't kill. Receiving one meant they'd calculated they could take you out.
"Damn it! Fuck! What kind of bullshit is this?!"
BAM! BAM!
Baek Yang-po smashed the desk with his fists, spewing curses.
Yang Seon-gu quickly interjected.
"Let's call Elder Seo."
Elder Seo was Seo Young, the swordmaster revered as a grand elder of the underworld, wielding immense influence over various factions and formidable martial prowess.
"Already did."
"What'd he say? Won't help?"
"Couldn't reach him. He left on a trip the day before yesterday."
"Why now, of all times?"
Just then, Yang Seon-gu's phone rang.
"What? What'd you say? Send it over now. Got it."
He hung up, and a photo arrived moments later.
Yang Seon-gu's face hardened as he viewed it.
"Damn it!"
"What is it?"
Yang Seon-gu showed him the photo—taken from afar with a telephoto lens through a window, capturing Yang Seon-gu meeting Park Gwang-cheol.
"From when I met that guy recently."
"What's this?"
"Rumors are spreading alongside this photo: that we took a hit from Park Gwang-cheol on HT Group and eliminated the assassin group."
"What?!"
Of course, Bishop's planted Clean Company intel backed it up too, unbeknownst to them.
"It's a trap. We've fallen into a perfect trap."
Baek Yang-po collapsed into his chair.
For the two of them, the situation was utterly incomprehensible.
Who? Why? How?
Not a single clue.
The photo had been taken by the phone Jang Cheon called—that was Bishop's "final gift" from the boss.
The other infos were just data, but this photo was irrefutable visual proof.
"Elder Seo must've heard the rumors too."
"That damn old fart, saving his own skin first when things get hot."
"No choice but to go into hiding now. You have to."
"Where to?"
Once you received the death card, you were a target forever. You'd have to vanish completely, assume a new identity in some unknown hole. Not easy, by any means.
How can we abandon the Guwol Sect we've built?
Even if they survived, the sect would take a massive hit. Hiding from assassins—even from Black Heaven—would tarnish their name forever.
After agonizing deliberation, Baek Yang-po made his grueling choice.
"Summon all the men. We'll hole up here and hold out."
He didn't want to live fleeing Black Heaven until death.
"You find whoever's behind this in the meantime. Nail the conspirators first, and we'll have a way out."
"Understood."
Yang Seon-gu rushed out.
The hallway was packed with Guwol Sect warriors.
The next day, word came from Bishop.
-Tough for Black Heaven too.
-Hm.
Dragging this out wasn't ideal. They needed to wrap up the Black Heaven issue fast to pursue the real culprits. Left alone, the sect leader would tear everything apart desperate to survive.
After a moment's thought, Jang Cheon asked Bishop:
-How are the other underworld sects reacting?
-Between Seodo-bang and Biho Gate leaders, who's the more paranoid?
-Then let's spread another rumor.
-That Guwol's bringing in assassins to hit Seodo-bang.
Bishop instantly grasped Jang Cheon's intent.
-Exactly. Rumors that the missing Park Ho and Tae Jin-gu are actually prepping to stab Seodo-bang in the back from hiding would work too.
-Doesn't matter if they buy it. We just need a brief opening—phone calls, meetings, fights. Any tiny shift gives Black Heaven's assassin a golden opportunity.
The sharper the assassin, the more a trivial event to normals becomes a lethal chance.
-Execute now.
Jang Cheon hung up, leaned back against the bed, and donned his headset.
As if this were his ultimate downtime, the tension melted from his face. Listening to the martial arts incantations from his MP3, no trace of his nagging worries remained.
Jang Cheon looked utterly at peace.