Death (1)
Actor and Death were waiting in the reception room when Lee Dong-hyeok, the CEO of Guardian Camp, walked in.
This place saw dozens of people coming and going every day. That was why meeting in the reception room actually drew less attention than other spots.
No one paid close attention, assuming they were just clients or visitors.
"Why don't you step out for a bit? There's a special exhibition right next door. Let me show you around."
Lee Dong-hyeok led the two to a place he hadn't shown Park Gwang-cheol or Jang Cheon earlier. It was an exhibition hall near the reception room.
Thanks to the special glass that let them see out but not in, the space felt wide open on all sides. Paintings by famous domestic and international artists hung on the walls, and sculptures dotted the area.
Once they entered and locked the door, Lee Dong-hyeok dropped his facade.
"This place is absolutely secure."
At the same time, he revealed his true identity.
"Long time no see, Actor."
Lee Dong-hyeok was also a member of the organization.
"Good to see you, CEO Lee."
After exchanging greetings, Lee Dong-hyeok glanced at Death standing beside him. Death had pulled his baseball cap low when entering the building.
He was so well-known that he always carried a cap and mask.
Lee Dong-hyeok didn't know he was James Hwang, nor that James Hwang was one of their own.
Not all organization members knew each other. Right now, he just saw him as Actor's subordinate.
"I checked the video you sent."
"Glad it helped."
He was the one who had sent the drone footage.
"Still no recovery on the drone?"
"Yes. We sent an investigation team, but no results."
"If that guy picked it up, they'll trace the serial number."
"It could be someone else recovered it."
Actor shook his head.
"High chance he got it. I'd have grabbed it to track them too."
"Even so, we have time. Tracing buyers via serial isn't easy. And even if they find us, I've set it up like we were just asked to monitor Doctor Woo. Got a scapegoat ready too."
"Good work. We can't afford slip-ups on this."
"Understood."
After stressing the drone issue, he got to the main point.
"You know the situation. How far along is Dae Jeong San Jang?"
Im Yeon-sin was handling the Murim Alliance leader, while Lee Dong-hyeok was in charge of Dae Jeong San Jang.
The plan to seize control of Korean Murim had been in the works for quite some time.
"I've built rapport with the sect leader, U Myeong-hwan. As you know, Dae Jeong San Jang disciples run various businesses."
Murim sect disciples generally fell into two categories.
There were direct disciples who stayed with the sect for life, handling sect affairs under the leader's orders.
Then there were outer disciples who left to run their own businesses, donating a portion of their earnings back to the sect.
Of course, the sect helped outer disciples when needed.
Lee Dong-hyeok hadn't approached Dae Jeong San Jang directly from the start.
He'd targeted companies run by their prominent outer disciples, worming his way in from the outside, slowly building connections.
That approach had gotten him close to U Myeong-hwan.
Guardian Camp was a sizable firm, so Dae Jeong San Jang had no reason to refuse ties with him.
"I can arrange a meeting anytime. And request most favors."
Actor nodded.
"Perfect. There's someone we need to prioritize."
"Who?"
The gas-mask man from the video—he planned to pin him on Dae Jeong San Jang. Classic borrowed knife strategy.
"Hired the best in the biz for the investigation. Results soon."
But results came first from Jang Cheon's side.
On the day of the BST, analyzing satellite captures of those figures—results were in.
Bishop sent a photo and personal info.
It was a chubby-faced man—someone both Jang Cheon and Bishop knew.
Big Cat was a top info broker on the market. World-class at digging up intel, commanding sky-high fees.
They'd hired Big Cat to probe the Alliance leader's backer.
He'd entered at HT Group's invitation and likely pieced together that he'd killed Doctor Woo on the Alliance leader's orders.
Of course, Big Cat couldn't uncover Jang Cheon's full identity.
At most, he'd learned that Jang Cheon—the youngest-ever BST passer—had returned after 14 years and was involved.
Jang Cheon chuckled wryly and answered his own question.
"If they know it's me, they'll pull in the two major sects to take me out."
That's what he'd do. The mastermind behind this wasn't ordinary.
With his history of bad blood with the two sects, they'd exploit it for sure.
A pause, then Bishop added,
Jang Cheon smiled faintly. Nothing to say there—mixed feelings all around.
Fate—a word often tossed around grandly.
But even in this unintended tangle, it fit.
One question remained.
If unavoidable, whose fate would dominate?
In that sense, Big Cat's involvement was an opportunity.
Bishop scanned top info brokers on the market.
Red was another Big Cat-level pro info broker.
A few days later, Big Cat walked a street buzzing with young crowds. It was the hub for performances and culture.
Small theaters dotted the area, each staging varied shows.
The square teemed with outdoor show watchers, while touts near theaters clutched pamphlets, grabbing passersby.
Just being here made one feel younger.
Big Cat slipped out of the bustle into a back alley one block over. A few intimate theaters there; he entered one.
No show on, so the theater was empty.
Actor sat in the seats, gazing at the bare stage.
Big Cat took the seat beside him.
"Cozy theater. Nice."
"Just staring at an empty stage gets my heart racing. You into theater?"
"Nah."
"Any reason you dislike it?"
"Watching makes me anxious. What if they flub a line? Bugs me; can't enjoy it."
An unexpected answer—Actor smiled.
"Change your view this time. Enjoy the improv—how they recover from mistakes, the fresh feel each time. What do you say?"
"I'll try."
"Haha, one more joy in life."
"Thanks. In return, I'll add one for you. Joy or headache, not sure."
Actor's eyes gleamed.
"Found him?"
"Yes."
Actor's face lit up.
Big Cat pulled a notepad from his inner pocket.
"Jang Cheon, 35 this year. Entered Korea late last year at HT Group's invitation."
He handed over a photo tucked in the pad—Jang Cheon's passport shot.
"Ever hear of the kid genius who passed BST youngest ever?"
"Ah, yeah. Korean kid, 8 or 9, became official martial artist."
Not from memory at age 8, but the tale lingered through years—many knew it.
"No way—that kid's behind this?"
"Spot on. This Jang Cheon killed Doctor Woo on the Alliance leader's orders."
Actor's shocked gaze fixed on the photo.
Big Cat recounted Gwang-sa-mun's fall.
Actor listened rapt. He remembered that old incident.
Never dreamed it'd resurface like this.
"After, he went abroad, merc work for years. Then tracks vanish."
"Skills?"
"Can't say. Locked by World Murim Alliance leader himself."
"Tough to crack?"
"Near impossible."
Suddenly, Actor recalled the gas-masked Jang Cheon from the video. That pressure meshed with the Alliance lock, weighing heavy.
"Anyway, he stopped the assassination—must be elite. That's all I got."
"Got it. Balance via market."
"Thanks."
Big Cat rose and left.
Actor stared at the empty stage long after.
But now, his heart raced for different reasons.
Big Cat's plane reached cruising altitude.
Waiting for a flight attendant for drinks, he spotted someone and startled.
Diagonal front seat—a familiar woman.
"Red?"
"Long time."
The woman called Red greeted casually, unsurprised. She'd seen him first.
"What're you doing here?"
"Work round trip."
"What job?"
Red smiled meaningfully. Info brokers never spilled client details—trust was everything.
Unless the other side had hired her too.
"You don't mean...?"
She'd investigated him and his employer, no doubt.
Otherwise, no way on the same flight. Deliberate hint— they had that rapport.
"Job done right?"
"Obviously."
Red covered her eyes with a sleep mask, leaned back.
Gazing down through the window, Big Cat murmured,
"What the hell's going down there?"
Red replied,
"Curious? Go check."
"Not worth dying over."
He and Red got paid—that was that.
The rest was for others.
"Damn! Korea biz on hold awhile."
"Pardon?"
A passing attendant paused, thinking he spoke to her.
Big Cat said loudly,
"Wine, please—one white, not red."
A smile crept under Red's mask.
At the same time, Jang Cheon examined two photos while on call with Bishop.
One showed Big Cat exiting a small theater. The other, Actor leaving the same spot.
Photos from Red. No other intel, but enough—they knew who'd hired Big Cat.
As Actor now knew Jang Cheon, Jang Cheon knew Actor.
No first-hit info meant field op, not frontliner—likely backroom commander. Theater in photo first.
Jang Cheon eyed Actor's photo one last time.
Whoosh.
Flames of the Samadhi True Fire turned it to ash in his palm.