City of Sword-Wielders - Chapter 7: Year-End Party (3)
Park In-hwan stood by the window, gazing out at the world beyond.
Whenever he looked out from the pinnacle of the empire he had built with his own hands, a profound sense of accomplishment swelled within him.
But today, with the year-end party just one day away, that pride was overshadowed by unease.
I thought I'd lived my whole life without fear, but now that death might be staring me down, I'm scared.
Don't say that, sir.
Hong Tae-sik, standing behind him, infused his voice with resolve. While the chief secretary came and went with business matters, the security chief never left Park In-hwan's side for a moment.
I've put you through a lot this time, haven't I?
Not at all.
How could I not know your feelings? But this isn't just Jang Cheon's problem alone.
What do you mean?
It involves Blayton as well. Refusing Jang Cheon simply because his fee is too high could come off as disrespecting Blayton. It might look like we're abandoning a friend's trust for the sake of money.
Ah, I didn't realize there was such depth to it.
So don't think his price is too steep.
Yes, Chairman.
I'm always grateful to have you by my side.
I'll continue to serve you with utmost loyalty.
And Jang Cheon?
He met with the head of intelligence, and now he's touring the party hall.
Hong Tae-sik didn't voice it, but his expression betrayed his thoughts: Anyone could do that. Since taking the job, Jang Cheon hadn't done anything particularly noteworthy.
Park In-hwan's gaze returned to the window.
Let's trust him once. Eyes that cost 3.3 billion a day might see things differently.
Lee Yeon was guiding Jang Cheon through the party venue.
The year-end party is held here in the Grand Ballroom every year.
A massive screen for the chairman's speech, a beautifully decorated stage, dazzling chandeliers, dozens of round tables draped in white cloth, a long table awaiting dishes from top chefs, a stage for renowned musicians, and space for VIPs to dance. Preparations for the perfect party were proceeding smoothly.
There are three entrances to the main hall: two official doors and a small staff door behind the stage.
After inspecting the interior, Jang Cheon examined the corridor.
Ten members of Security Team 1 will be stationed in this corridor alone. At the first-floor entrances, they'll check invitations, plus facial recognition and behavioral analysis devices for identity verification. Do you know about behavioral analysis?
Yes. It captures a person's unique traits from their gait or movements.
You know about it. We've registered the behaviors of all invitees, so no one can impersonate another.
You shouldn't use the word never lightly.
Pardon?
There are people who can fool behavioral analysis.
No way? I heard there are movements you can never hide, no matter how you try to mimic someone else.
People trained to conceal those movements exist.
Jang Cheon changed the subject without elaborating.
Now, let's check the staff door.
This way.
Lee Yeon led him to the rear door, which connected to the kitchen, and beyond that, a passageway.
The routes leading up this corridor are the stairs over there and two elevators. On party day, our security team will guard both thoroughly. There are six surveillance cameras on each floor's corridors and stairs, positioned with no blind spots.
What about the risk of camera hacking?
I trust HT Group's talent recruitment.
Lee Yeon added with an awkward smile.
Of course, like hiring me, there are occasional failures.
Jang Cheon chuckled and played along.
Since they hired you, I'll trust HT Group's recruitment too.
Haha, your words alone make me feel great. Oh, this area from one room to the next will be completely sealed off.
Next, they checked the ventilation ducts in the ceiling and walls.
The exhaust and intake vents have multiple layers of surveillance sensors, so infiltration through there is virtually impossible... Ah, you said not to use never, right? It's nearly impossible.
The two returned to the banquet hall.
Jang Cheon walked slowly to the window. On the 69th floor, the view was breathtaking.
He flicked the glass with his finger.
Bulletproof?
Yes. Not ordinary bulletproof—special reinforced glass.
Jang Cheon gazed at a distant building, tall enough for sniping, but incredibly far.
The security chief once said even the best sniper couldn't hit from this range.
She consciously avoided never.
Is there really a sniper who can shoot from this distance?
Yes. There is.
Lee Yeon was slightly flustered by his firm answer. She'd expected him to say no this time.
Even if there were, it wouldn't matter. This glass is custom-made; no personal firearm can penetrate it. Ah, sorry. I used never again.
No, this time it's correct. Firearms can't pierce it.
He answered as if knowledgeable about the glass. Suddenly, she recalled their first meeting, when he'd warned her about the car's bulletproof windows.
You know a lot about this stuff.
By chance.
Seeing Jang Cheon's worried expression as he stared at the window, Lee Yeon asked,
Still concerned?
No, I'm not worried about snipers. I'm worried about someone breaking through directly.
Pardon? What do you mean? This is the 69th floor.
What if someone jumps from the roof and smashes this window to break in?
Lee Yeon was startled.
Is that possible?
Jang Cheon placed his palm against the window.
Depends on who they hired.
When Lee Yeon returned to the operations room, Kwon Hyeok-su was waiting with good news.
It went well. Legal said not to worry.
Lee Yeon beamed with joy.
Oh! My king, I am truly grateful.
I forgive your sins!
Jang Cheon had discussed outsourcing intelligence with Kwon Hyeok-su, who advised reporting it to legal—and he'd gone and done it himself, sparing her the agonizing decision.
You can't delay things like this. Putting it off always causes problems.
I know. But it feels awkward. Legal, audit, accounting—just hearing those names makes me flinch.
You haven't done anything wrong or embezzled funds—why fear them?
It just feels off.
The real crooks laugh it off, while people like us cower. That's not right!
Lee Yeon smiled at his passionate outburst. Without him, she might have quit. The job was tougher than expected.
Even her seniors proved it. The higher the rank, the fewer women remained. Perhaps due to the work's nature, they didn't last long. She wondered how long she could hold out.
Anyway, how's it going with Jang Cheon?
I honestly don't know.
She shared her true feelings.
I still have no idea what might happen at the party. And prying feels wrong.
Don't ask! Never ask. If you know, you're responsible.
He seems worried about an intrusion, but he's too nonchalant for that.
Being with Jang Cheon brought an inexplicable comfort, dulling any sense of crisis. He showed no anxiety or haste.
What on earth is going to happen at the year-end party?
Sometimes it's better not to know till the end.
Yeah, probably.
Damn right. This too shall pass.
She stretched grandly.
Since it's coming, let it pass quickly!
In a dingy tavern, a man nursed his drink.
Lean build, sharply slitted eyes, an aura of razor-edged menace emanating from him.
Cold fish cake soup was his only side dish, yet he was on his third bottle.
Another man sat before him—a hulking figure, the polar opposite.
President.
You came.
With such meager sides, your stomach will rebel.
The newcomer ordered fresh sides from the owner. They looked every bit the salarymen.
After a couple of rounds, the big man asked,
Are you really going through with it?
Yes.
The fallout will be massive. The whole country will erupt.
Probably.
As the man called President drained his glass, the big man refilled it.
No matter how discreetly we handle it, it'll come out eventually that we did it. You know there's no eternal secrets in this business.
I know.
Given the gravity, it'll leak faster than expected. Then we're done.
We'll be fine.
You trust their promise? They're not trustworthy.
True, they're that kind. But this time's different. You know why they want him dead, right?
The President refilled the glass. The big man accepted it deferentially.
We've survived worse. Don't worry.
So who are you sending? Probably a rookie we've never shown—talented enough for the job... That guy?
The big man thought of someone. The President nodded.
Yes. Him.
The big man swallowed hard, tense.
You really mean to kill him.
The organization had secretly groomed a secret weapon for such a day.
We kill, or we die.
As they emptied their glasses, the worn TV overhead played news about HT Group's year-end party tomorrow.
Jang Cheon sat cross-legged in the center of the room, circulating his energy.
As the meditation deepened, the hazy aura rippling around him grew denser.
The energy enveloping his body flowed into his nose and mouth.
Finally, Jang Cheon opened his eyes. Their clear, profound gleam faded to normal.
His phone rang then.
Jang Cheon leaned back on the sofa, donned his headset, and closed his eyes. Martial arts incantations from the MP3 filled his ears.