One Step Closer to the Alliance Leader (4)
A large event was underway on the main road in front of the HT Group Residence.
"Come on over! Join the event and get a gift!"
It was an event by the Korea Murim Alliance celebrating the nationwide BST exams.
They handed out dolls of cool-looking martial artists wielding various weapons to kids, held toy throwing-sword raffles,
and even had famous wuxia anime characters posing for photos.
Similar events were popping up all across the country.
Jang Cheon stood on the roadside, watching the scene.
That's when a kid who looked about twelve or thirteen hesitated over, then approached.
"Um... are you a real Murim person?"
"Yeah."
The kid mustered his courage and spoke up boldly.
"I dream of becoming a Murim person too. I'm too young to pass the BST yet... but someday, I'll definitely make it!"
"Work hard."
"C-could you give me an autograph?"
The kid pulled out a piece of paper and pen he'd been hiding behind his back.
"If I stick a real Murim person's autograph on my wall, it'll motivate me to train harder."
Jang Cheon took the paper and pen without hesitation.
"What's your name?"
"Min."
Jang Cheon wrote the kid's name along with a message wishing him to become a great martial artist.
He added his signature below and sketched a sword beside it.
It was the sword from the anime character posing for photos nearby, and even though he'd drawn it quickly with swift strokes, it came out remarkably lifelike and impressive.
"Thank you so much!"
The kid shouted his thanks joyfully and ran off.
Jang Cheon chuckled softly and turned away. Park Gwang-cheol had appeared behind him at some point.
"You like kids?"
"Nah, I can't stand 'em."
"Doesn't that 'can't stand 'em' vibe match perfectly with that cute sword you drew?"
Instead of replying, Jang Cheon climbed into the large sedan Park Gwang-cheol had parked nearby.
"Let's go."
Park Gwang-cheol shot him a dumbfounded look as he slid into the driver's seat.
"Yes, sir. I'll drive you myself—in my own car, handling my non-business, like a chauffeur!"
Despite his grumbling words, Park Gwang-cheol's face was beaming.
The car carrying the two sped toward the Korea Murim Alliance.
"I contacted the Alliance like you said. Requested a meeting with the Alliance Leader in my capacity as Park Enter CEO, and he accepted right away. Normally, he'd never agree. What gives?"
"He's in a position where he can't refuse your request."
"What do you mean?"
"HT Group is investing in the Murim Alliance Leader."
Jang Cheon briefly explained what had gone down between Park Jin-ho and the Alliance Leader.
"Whoa. All this happened behind my back. But why meet the Leader?"
"I have business with him."
"So why bring me along?"
"I'm not bringing you—you're bringing me."
"Oh, right."
"I'm just your bodyguard."
"I'll bring my bro."
"This was a secret deal. The Park CEO can't show his face."
"Ah, got it?"
Park Gwang-cheol was inwardly thrilled. He was happy to be going with Jang Cheon, but also nervous and a bit scared.
"This isn't dangerous, right?"
"Scared?"
"Scared? Real men got guts."
"If it's dangerous, be scared. Not being scared when you should be—that's not courage, that's recklessness."
Park Gwang-cheol racked his brain for a comeback but came up empty. His past was full of more recklessness than real courage.
Hanging with Tae-jin-gu and his crew had been pure bravado and folly.
"Same goes forward. Especially if Murim's involved—keep your head down, no exceptions."
Park Gwang-cheol knew it came from the heart, so he nodded obediently.
"Got it."
After a brief silence, Park Gwang-cheol spoke up.
"Y'know, I'm actually a year older than you."
"And?"
"Just sayin'."
"Want the 'hyung' treatment? Fine."
"Who said I want that? Just pointin' it out. We're close, so I should know your exact age."
After poking at the age thing and getting nothing back, Park Gwang-cheol glanced at Jang Cheon.
Even if he were ten years older, he'd probably still get treated like the little bro, he thought.
By then, the car had arrived at the Murim Alliance.
With the prior appointment, they entered without issue.
The two stepped into the Alliance Leader's chamber.
Jang Cheon was emitting only as much presence as he'd shown Joo Won of the Bi Ryong Dae before—no need to reveal his full power to the Bi Ryong Dae warriors.
He'd left his sword in the car. Outsiders couldn't bring weapons into the Leader's chamber anyway.
Bodyguards were supposed to wait outside, but Park Gwang-cheol's special request let him come along.
Park Gwang-cheol gave a polite cupped-fist salute to the Leader.
"First time meeting you. It's an infinite honor to see a great hero of the Murim world in person."
He'd seen it done somewhere before, so Park Gwang-cheol managed a pretty convincing show of respect for the Murim Alliance Leader.
"Good to see you, Park CEO. So, what brings you here wanting to meet this man?"
Truth be told, if not for agreeing to take Park Jin-ho's investment, Cheon Myeong-jin wouldn't have met Park Gwang-cheol so readily.
"Actually, I'm not the one who wanted to see you today, Leader."
Cheon Myeong-jin's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Not you, Park CEO?"
Park Gwang-cheol turned his head toward Jang Cheon, standing behind him.
Jang Cheon stepped forward one pace, and Cheon Myeong-jin eyed him up and down with renewed interest.
"May I wait in the side room?"
This was Park In-hwan's youngest son. If he'd arranged this meeting, there had to be a reason.
Especially since he needed that investment from Park Jin-ho, Cheon Myeong-jin accepted the unexpected turn gracefully.
"Of course."
Cheon Myeong-jin gestured, and Joo Won and the Bi Ryong Dae warriors withdrew with him. Joo Won guided Park Gwang-cheol out of the chamber.
Now alone in the Leader's chamber with Jang Cheon, he revealed his true presence.
It wasn't an outburst of overwhelming energy—instead, it softened into something calm and steady. Cheon Myeong-jin noticed the shift immediately, of course.
"Impressive martial attainment for one so young."
"Thank you."
But he couldn't gauge the depth. Assuming it couldn't surpass his own, Cheon Myeong-jin concluded Jang Cheon practiced an art exceptional at concealment.
Cheon Myeong-jin fixed him with a cool gaze.
"Who are you?"
"Jang Cheon."
One step at a time toward the Alliance Leader—and now, he stood before him.
"Jang Cheon?"
Cheon Myeong-jin tilted his head. The name rang a bell. Soon, he recalled a name from an old memory.
"The Gwang-sa-mun incident?"
"I figured you'd think of the youngest BST passer, but you knew about Gwang-sa-mun too."
"The Korea Murim Alliance Leader's seat lets you access quite a few secrets."
"Yes, that's me."
"You've returned."
Back in the day, he might have known of Jang Cheon's homecoming already. Though unrelated to Gwang-sa-mun himself, the incident had rocked the Murim world.
It was a major event, yet many secrets remained undisclosed.
But lately, fending off Im Yeon-sin's pressure and worrying over Ha-young had dulled his information network. More precisely, he hadn't had eyes elsewhere.
"So, what brings you to me?"
"I returned for the HT Group assassination attempt."
"Ah! So you're the one who stopped it."
"Yes. Chasing the masterminds behind that led me to you, Leader."
"I see."
Cheon Myeong-jin's expression hardened. He'd heard of Park In-hwan's near-assassination while in secluded training. He knew it was Im Yeon-sin's doing.
In the end, the attempt stemmed from his own meeting with Park Jin-ho. Park In-hwan had survived, thankfully—but if he'd died, Cheon Myeong-jin would bear half the blame.
Silence fell briefly. Cheon Myeong-jin racked his brain, trying to discern Jang Cheon's intent.
Jang Cheon, meanwhile, cut straight to it.
"I know your granddaughter was poisoned with PSV49."
Cheon Myeong-jin startled.
"How?"
"I know you sent Joo Won to contact TM Medical too."
"You...!"
"If you think I'm with Im Yeon-sin, that's a misunderstanding."
"Even Im Yeon-sin!"
Shocked as he was, Cheon Myeong-jin pieced it together.
'If he were with Im Yeon-sin, Park In-hwan wouldn't have called him.'
He'd only bring someone trustworthy.
Then a sudden realization hit.
"Don't tell me—you're the one who killed Im Yeon-sin?"
Jang Cheon neither confirmed nor denied. But silence was as good as affirmation.
"I'm not your enemy, Leader. Not a friend either, but we share a goal: stopping this."
"Why? Why stop it?"
"My business."
"Business?"
"Yes. It's all for my interests and goals, so no need for other suspicions."
Cheon Myeong-jin stared him down. No sign of deceit, at least. An agent from Im Yeon-sin's group wouldn't engineer this scenario.
"Fine. I'll trust you—for now."
Not fully, of course.
"Do you know who's been turned inside the Alliance?"
"I've got them all identified. Even with Im Yeon-sin dead, they still hold sway here.
Most head their own armed factions. And with his death, they're lying low."
"Can't you just take them down? Doesn't matter."
"Naturally. Their underlings don't even know they've turned."
"Can you subdue them all at once?"
Cheon Myeong-jin hesitated. Jang Cheon knew exactly why.
"If it's worry for your granddaughter, don't. It won't affect her survival."
"Why?"
"This has nothing to do with her life or death. Reclaim the Alliance, and she'll be safer."
"What do you mean?"
Cheon Myeong-jin jolted in surprise.
"They'll need her more as leverage then. The stronger you get, the more desperate they become for your weakness, right?"
"Ah!"
Cheon Myeong-jin flinched. He hadn't considered that.
"With her life on the line, you can't judge coldly. So trust me."
Jang Cheon held back mentioning his search for Doctor Woo.
Too much proof of ability might breed doubt over trust.
"Even if you're right, subduing them means gathering them together—without their men."
"Isn't that possible?"
"How?"
Jang Cheon gave the Leader a meaningful look.
"Doesn't a day come soon when they'll all gather in one place?"
Cheon Myeong-jin blanked for a moment, then recalled a name.
"BST!"
The BST exams were the Alliance's biggest event. Nationwide ads and events built hype for it.
All the executives gathered on exam day—it was the Murim Alliance's festival. Prelims done, finals tomorrow.
Jang Cheon met Cheon Myeong-jin's eyes calmly.
"Subdue them that day."