The True Beast
Na Yu-ran woke in the same bed as Kang Nok-san. Her trembling waist and legs barely obeyed as she dragged herself up to wash. When she glanced at the clock and saw it was already past three in the afternoon, her eyes widened in shock.
“...Just how many hours was I out…?”
The memory of the previous night sent heat flooding through her body and made her pussy clench hard. Na Yu-ran clenched her teeth, forcing down the fresh surge of lust. By the time Kang Nok-san stirred and sat up, she had regained enough composure for them to face each other and talk.
“Haa… No matter how long I’ve gone without a partner, I never expected it to be this intense. That thing between your legs… is seriously impressive. I’ll give you that much.”
“Sounds like you’re not willing to admit anything else.”
“Well… I’ll judge the rest later. Anyway, I told you yesterday, didn’t I? You’ve clearly proven that point, so I’ll keep my word. I won’t breathe a single syllable about what happened today or about any of your schemes. Satisfied?”
“Yes. That’s enough.”
“Still… it’s surprising. I assumed you’d try to recruit me immediately.”
“I considered it. Then dropped the idea right away.”
“Why…?”
“Because it’ll be more entertaining this way. For you, Na Yu-ran.”
“......”
The moment she heard his answer, goosebumps rippled across her skin. His words had been aimed squarely at her, not at himself. Had Kang Nok-san asked for her help, Na Yu-ran would have told Yoo Kang-hyun everything without hesitation. She had no interest in weak men… or weak beasts. But Kang Nok-san was no such creature. He had never once disappointed her, and in the end she had no choice but to acknowledge him completely.
Kang Nok-san understood her hedonistic nature and her goals with terrifying precision. He had used that knowledge at exactly the right moments, and Na Yu-ran now realized he must have investigated her thoroughly.
“…Honestly, you’re giving me chills. Just how deeply have you looked into me? No—into all of us? I’m famous, so that’s one thing, but how long have you been watching the others?”
“It differs for each. I’ve known about Jung Su-a since the day she was born, but only recently decided I had to possess her. At first she was merely one possible route to securing National One, but the method seemed inefficient. Watching her grow at Chairman Jung Dae-woon’s side, I thought her beautiful, yet never felt the urge to claim her. Then I heard she was getting married. Curiosity drove me to look her up. The instant I saw how exquisitely she had matured, I knew I had to have her. I knew of Jung Hwa-ryun’s existence from birth as well—same situation as her sister. I learned about that friend Yoo Kang-hyun only after his marriage to Jung Su-a. Frankly, I expected him to die quickly under the chairman’s thumb… but when I saw the chairman taking genuine interest, I investigated him properly. After that I learned of Cindy Macglen and began digging into her too. Honestly… it was astonishing that so many women of your caliber had gathered around a single man. Well… it’s not unheard of among our kind.”
“Ha… Impressive.”
Watching Kang Nok-san speak so naturally—as though Jung Su-a, Cindy Macglen, and Jung Hwa-ryun were already his possessions—Na Yu-ran couldn’t help thinking how much he resembled Jung Dae-woon. Perhaps it was because he had sharpened his power in the man’s shadow.
She took a sip of water to wet her throat, then asked her next question.
“And… this one comes from the developer in me. Just how are you managing to run two characters at once? The iris-recognition system allows sub-accounts, but creating two characters on a single account should be impossible…?”
“Simple. I have two irises.”
“…What?”
“I had an accident years ago. My body was badly damaged—including my face. My eyes were injured too. Fortunately every wound was treatable.”
Only then did the mystery of his dual characters finally make sense to her. She nodded in understanding.
“When I log into one character, I’ve arranged it through Han Se-yeon and Shin Ji-min so my AI automatically controls the other.”
“…Those two really are putting their talents to efficient use.”
“They’re capable women. Heh heh…”
“They are indeed. After all, they’re talents I personally raised. But… after waiting forty years, why act now? Honestly… you’ve had more than enough time to make your move. For people like us…”
“The right time to hunt a beast is when it has grown weak. I simply waited for that moment.”
“…And if Jung Dae-woon had never weakened? What then?”
“I would simply make him weak. Like I did.”
“…..What?”
“It’s simple. I’m the one who gave the chairman his terminal illness.”
“…!!!”
The casual way he said it hit Na Yu-ran like a hammer to the skull. Jung Dae-woon was currently lying in a hospital bed, his incurable disease far advanced. She had never once imagined the entire tragedy had been orchestrated by Kang Nok-san.
“…You crazy bastard.”
To her involuntary murmur, Kang Nok-san replied with a perfectly calm face.
“You’re more naïve than I expected. You too. Does the phrase ‘using any means necessary’ not suit people like us?”
“…I can’t deny that part. Ha… Impressive. Truly. So you weren’t crouching for forty years… you were sharpening a blade for forty years. Ha! I admit it. You really are incredible. To the point that even the great Na Yu-ran feels a twinge of respect.”
“I’m honored.”
“Didn’t it bruise your pride? You’re older than Dae-woon… and unlike him, you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”
“The moment I first met Chairman Jung Dae-woon, I realized at least… at that time, he was not someone I could defeat. So I waited. For the moment I could unquestionably surpass him. That moment is now.”
“…Easy to say. That wait stretched into forty years. You met him in your twenties, entered his service… and now you’re past sixty…”
“Patience is humanity’s greatest weapon.”
“…Ha, fine. One more question. I understand why you want National One. It’s the perfect ‘means’ for a ruler to seize power. But… why are you targeting Jung Su-a, Jung Hwa-ryun, and Cindy Macglen? Leave me out of it.”
“Does a man need a reason to take what he desires? You know better than anyone, Na Yu-ran—the value you hold as a woman. And the value those three hold for any man.”
“…..”
“Before I am a ruler, I am still a man.”
“…Certainly, you, Jung Dae-woon, Yoo Kang-hyun, and I are the same breed… but when it comes to male and female, the difference is absolute.”
“Male and female are different creatures, after all. Kkuk kuk.”
“Well… fine. But I have no intention of helping you. I’ll make that crystal clear.”
“It doesn’t matter. After all… you have no intention of helping Yoo Kang-hyun either.”
“……”
This bastard… he didn’t waste those years. He used every single one. If we’re talking experience and accumulated cunning alone… he might actually surpass Jung Dae-woon.
The longer she spoke with Kang Nok-san—who was in fact older than Jung Dae-woon—the more Na Yu-ran found herself at a loss for words. Talking with him left her astonished. It was frustrating, yet the way he had so accurately grasped her personality made her wonder whether he had truly seen straight through her very existence. A man with such ability had never overestimated himself. Instead he had hidden in the shadow of the giant named Jung Dae-woon for forty years, concealing his presence completely.
From her own investigations, Kang Nok-san had left almost no visible traces. To be precise, he had hidden his existence so thoroughly that even she had been unable to detect him. The man called Jung Dae-woon had connections to the CIA, FBI, MI6, and countless powerful figures both at home and abroad. Every single person who had passed through National One’s shares, worked beneath him, or gone through Kang Nok-san possessed tremendous authority. Domestic or foreign, it made no difference. By Na Yu-ran’s own assessment, anyone looking at the situation would conclude that Kang Nok-san was Jung Dae-woon’s true successor. Had she not interfered with Yoo Kang-hyun and his women, she might never have paid any attention to the existence known as Kang Nok-san. And that only made him more interesting.
“I understand what you want. I won’t tell my husband about you. As you said, I’m a hedonist. But… are you confident? If you fail… it won’t end cleanly. You know what kind of man Yoo Kang-hyun is. Someone of your caliber couldn’t possibly be ignorant.”
“If I were the type to get scared, I would never have begun. Not touching Yoo Kang-hyun’s women, not approaching you, and certainly not betraying Chairman Jung Dae-woon.”
“…You really do have guts. Truly. Making enemies of those two isn’t something even I would do outside of idle thought… Haha. Fine. Prove it, Kang Nok-san. Prove that you are the ruler. I’ll be watching.”
“Then watch closely. I won’t disappoint you. No… I’ll make it entertaining for you.”
Having finished speaking, Kang Nok-san rose and stepped in front of her. Na Yu-ran stood as well, facing him naturally. Because of their height difference he lowered his head; she rose onto her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck. He caught her by the waist and lifted her, and their mouths met. It was no simple kiss. Their tongues tangled lewdly, exchanging saliva in a deep, obscene kiss as they passionately devoured each other.
“Chuuup~! Chuuuup…♥ Haup…♥ Uum… Hauum♥~!! Huuung….♥♥”
When the short but intense deep kiss ended, Na Yu-ran pulled away, dressed, and left the hotel. Thinking of the man who had satisfied her until the very last moment, her eyes gleamed with desire and anticipation as she climbed into her car. Her steps as she left the hotel were… astonishingly light with excitement and expectation.
“From yesterday until today, without any contact at all, just where were you and what were you doing?! Do you know how worried I was!! Yu-ran, are you listening to me?!!!!”
“I’m listening, you! Seriously… even over the phone your voice is this loud… Did you swallow a loudspeaker? I’m sorry, okay! I met an old friend after so long and got too caught up. I forgot to call. I’ll definitely come home today, so stop worrying.”
“…Honestly, I can’t believe you have any friends besides us…”
“…Shut up!”
After her heated night with Kang Nok-san, Na Yu-ran checked her phone in the car and broke into a cold sweat at the barrage of missed calls from Jung Su-a, Cindy Macglen, and Jung Hwa-ryun. Jung Su-a’s missed calls alone had reached double digits, which only heightened her anxiety. There was no avoiding it; the moment she called, Su-a’s scolding exploded like a storm, pounding against her ears and skull. Na Yu-ran pressed a hand to her forehead, suffering through the headache.
Click!
“…Aigo… I should have expected this… That Jung Su-a and her temper… Like father, like daughter, I suppose…”
Grumbling to herself on the way to National One, Na Yu-ran pushed the recent conversation with Su-a to the back of her mind and turned her thoughts to Kang Nok-san. She hadn’t had time for a perfect investigation, but even the information gathered in such a short span painted him as an extraordinary figure. More than that, the fact she had failed to notice the existence of someone so similar to herself had wounded her pride.
From now on I’ll uncover every last secret about you, Kang Nok-san. The pleasure I tasted yesterday was certainly the ‘real thing.’ But… that alone isn’t enough for me to choose you. I need to know whether you are a vessel capable of embracing me… whether you can seize those women… whether you can surpass Jung Dae-woon… everything.
Having found something truly interesting after so long, Na Yu-ran’s eyes sparkled with both curiosity and danger. She drove quickly, her body itching to reach her office and begin investigating the man called Kang Nok-san as soon as possible. She needed to determine whether he was the existence she had been waiting for. Like a child who had waited endlessly for a desired toy to finally appear, she felt a buoyant joy as she hurried toward her office.
After his passionate night with Na Yu-ran, Kang Nok-san caught up on lost sleep at the hotel. Once the sun had set, he climbed into his car and began moving toward the next destination.
Setting the destination through the self-driving system, Kang Nok-san sped toward his goal and arrived shortly after.
The hospital he reached was the finest in Korea—no, one of the best in the world. Upon arrival, Kang Nok-san entered the building, passed through doors marked for authorized personnel only, and ascended to the topmost floor.
The higher he went, the more bodyguards in formal suits appeared—attire that felt entirely out of place in a hospital. Yet the aura they emitted was not that of ordinary security. Each man radiated a murderous presence as they guarded the corridors. Despite being in Korea, they openly carried pistols. The gun holsters on their jackets and the weapons at their sides formed an impenetrable wall of surveillance. Nevertheless, Kang Nok-san walked through them without the slightest hesitation. The bodyguards offered only slight bows and allowed him to pass unhindered.
Continuing onward, he reached a massive iron door. The bodyguards stationed there did not let him through; instead they stopped him. Men with physiques rivaling Kang Nok-san’s own blocked his path and stood expressionless.
“Executive Director, you may go no further.”
“…Did you not receive the message?”
“My apologies. The butler ordered that no one—”
The two men who had been blocking the enormous door refused to open it even after seeing Kang Nok-san. But at the voice from the speaker, they immediately complied, opening the door and allowing him inside.
After proceeding through, Kang Nok-san entered a room as luxurious as a high-end hotel suite. He moved toward the bedroom and came face to face with the person lying in the bed.
“…What brings you here without prior notice, Executive Director Kang Nok-san?”
“It has been a long time, Chairman Jung Dae-woon.”