An Alliance in the Shadows
“Did you really kill him?”
The clash between the mercenary groups Warbone and Redfall had spilled beyond Korea’s borders. Foreigners who entered on forged passports had acquired firearms on the black market and waged open battle; the repercussions were inevitable.
Of course, their identities and affiliations had not yet surfaced. That, too, was only a matter of time…
While the world buzzed with the news, Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester sat in the suite of the Rasta Hotel in Daegu, staring grimly at the television.
Kang In-hyuk was not with them. Roughly twelve hours earlier he had gone out alone and had yet to return.
Thud—
A heavy sound echoed from the closet in the bedroom. The two men immediately moved toward it. Moments later, the hidden panel inside the closet slid open, and In-hyuk stepped out in a light suit.
“Boss! What the hell happened? And what’s with all the news on TV?”
In-hyuk walked into the living room and glanced at the broadcast.
“Ah. They ran into each other.”
“Who? Warbone and who else?”
“Redfall.”
The name made both men’s expressions harden further.
“You said something about poison neutralizing poison last time. You brought them in to clash with Warbone?”
In-hyuk shrugged off his jacket and dropped onto the sofa.
“More like I made sure they crossed paths.”
“Same difference. So where were you, and what were you doing? How did you even know about that hidden elevator?”
He meant the concealed elevator In-hyuk had just used to ascend.
They had been startled when he used it to leave the suite earlier.
“This hotel was built by an organization that once controlled the area. The suite was their boss’s personal quarters.”
“You really do know the strangest things… So, what actually happened?”
They still hadn’t received the most important answer.
In-hyuk let out a long sigh.
“Exactly what you saw. Both Warbone and Redfall took heavy losses. The police showed up and forced them to retreat, leaving their dead behind and only taking the wounded.”
“Which is why you smell like gunpowder. You went there yourself, didn’t you?”
“I went to finish off Warbone for good. But some unexpected people showed up.”
Hong Yu-geon tilted his head and sat down on the sofa.
“Who?”
“Tae Seok-ho and Lee Jae-jun. I don’t know why they were there.”
Hong Yu-geon and Van Hester’s faces grew even more serious. The news reports had made no mention of anyone connected to Taeshin Group.
“So what did you do? Don’t tell me… you finished them off right there?”
“…”
When In-hyuk gave no answer, Hong Yu-geon grew impatient.
“Did you really kill him?”
“What if I did? You know they tried to have me killed first.”
They had even hired foreign mercenaries for a contract killing.
“Haa…”
“What’s wrong?”
“It wasn’t just anyone—it was Warbone and Redfall. If they were fighting, you could’ve been caught in the crossfire. Why the hell do you insist on moving personally?”
Van Hester nodded in agreement with Hong Yu-geon’s words.
In-hyuk frowned slightly.
“…Were you worried about me?”
He had thought they were scolding him, but the conversation felt strangely off.
“We’re worried about our paycheck. If something happens to you, what are we supposed to do?”
“Fine. Let’s go with that.”
Embarrassed, Hong Yu-geon quickly changed the subject.
“So what happened? Did you take care of them all?”
In-hyuk’s expression grew subtle as he recalled the events.
─┼
Beep— Beep—
A steady, shallow heartbeat monitor echoed softly. Beside it lay Tae Seok-ho, his face covered in cuts and bruises, an oxygen mask strapped over his mouth.
It was past midnight.
Slowly, Tae Seok-ho’s eyes opened. He drew in a deep, ragged breath.
“Kuh— Kack—!”
As he coughed, the door opened and doctors and nurses rushed in. They quickly checked his vitals, glanced toward one corner of the room, then filed out again.
In the heavy silence, Tae Seok-ho stared at the spot the doctor had looked toward, unable to ask any questions.
“Ahem! Did you… save me?”
A woman rose from the dimly lit sofa.
“For now, yes.”
“How did you… No, more importantly, what happened to the others who were there?”
He meant his bodyguard Lee Jae-jun and the rest of his men.
“They’re all dead.”
“Ah…”
Tae Seok-ho examined his own condition. The anesthesia was wearing off; sharp pain radiated from his left side.
“Kuh…”
“You have a penetrating gunshot wound. The bullet grazed your organs. If help had arrived any later, you would have died from blood loss.”
The image of the man in the skull mask flashed through Tae Seok-ho’s mind. There had been no hesitation when he pulled the trigger.
Fear and rage warred within him.
“That bastard…”
“Aren’t you curious about the current situation?”
Of course he was.
But Tae Seok-ho still couldn’t gauge who this woman was or how she had come here. He studied her carefully.
“More than that, I’d like to know why you saved me.”
“Can’t it simply be goodwill?”
When she smiled, Tae Seok-ho’s expression grew stern.
“I don’t believe in unmotivated goodwill. So tell me who you are, why you saved me… and everything else.”
The woman’s smile widened.
“To summarize the situation… the site of the shootout is under heavy investigation. However, no trace of you or your bodyguards will be found. Even if something does turn up, the police won’t pursue it.”
Tae Seok-ho’s face tightened slightly.
“It sounds like you made sure no evidence would surface.”
“Correct. Anything that does appear will be covered up.”
“Just who are you?”
The woman’s smile never faltered.
“I want to help you reach the top of Taeshin. That’s why I saw this incident as an opportunity and preserved your life.”
“Do you understand the weight of what you’re saying?”
Everyone knew Chairman Tae Geon-seung held Taeshin Group in an iron grip. The will was meticulously managed; even if he died suddenly, no one could predict who would inherit enough shares to claim the chairmanship.
Securing shares in Taeshin Mulsan before Tae Geon-seung’s death was the urgent priority. That was why Tae Seok-ho had funneled funds from Taeshin Spinpack and several profitable subsidiaries into the H&T Fund.
“You need money, don’t you? We can provide it.”
“Do you have any idea how much is required?”
“Publicly, you hold about 2.5% of Taeshin Mulsan. Adding nominee and proxy shares brings it to roughly 15.3%. Altogether, around 18%.”
Tae Seok-ho’s face hardened further. She knew the exact amount of shares he had quietly accumulated under nominee names.
“How long have you been watching me?”
“It was a simple background check, not surveillance. We need someone worth partnering with, and you seem to need someone who can help you seize Taeshin.”
She spoke as though it were nothing and waited for his next question.
“So how much funding can you provide? You know how many shares I’ve secured. Anything short of a substantial amount won’t cut it.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration. At the same time, Tae Seok-ho wanted to test her confidence.
Yet her smile remained unchanged.
“What if we could secure the additional 13% you need for controlling interest through proxy brokerage?”
That would bring his total to over 31%.
Tae Seok-ho’s expression stayed grave.
“You saved my life and now offer to help me acquire shares. That means you want something significant in return. And it doesn’t seem like you’re making this offer on your own.”
“You’re right. I’m merely conveying the proposal I was instructed to deliver.”
“Can I speak with the actual person in charge?”
She studied him for a moment with an unreadable gaze, then smiled again.
“They said they would meet you once you’ve proven yourself worthy. As for what we want, there’s only one thing: once you take Taeshin, we ask for an exclusive partnership.”
Tae Seok-ho’s eyes narrowed.
“An exclusive partnership… Given the circumstances and your explanation, it sounds more like collusion than cooperation.”
Her lips curved upward, confirming his guess.
“We move to stabilize wealth and power. There are already others who have joined this flow.”
“And I’ve been chosen to join them?”
“That’s right.”
Tae Seok-ho laughed, ignoring the pain in his chest.
“Is this similar to the rumored internal organization within the National Intelligence Service called Songchon?”
It was the name of an organization with no public proof of existence. Rumors claimed that during the old days of the Agency for National Security Planning, a certain individual, harboring deep resentment toward the intelligence community, had created Songchon from within.
“Something like that. But unlike them, we actually exist.”
“So the real selection happens only after I fully secure Taeshin?”
“Correct.”
Tae Seok-ho voiced his doubt.
“What happens if I fail even with your help? Will you take back the life you saved?”
“Of course not. Ah, there is one more condition if we’re to assist you.”
“What is it?”
“From now on, I will serve as your secretary. My people will act as your bodyguards.”
The atmosphere turned icy.
“You intend to monitor me?”
“I can’t deny that entirely, but please think of it as staying close to verify your sincerity. Besides, all your former bodyguards are dead. Your safety should be a priority.”
The men Lee Jae-jun and his team had been carefully selected and trained by TSS over many years. After nearly being killed by an unknown assailant, Tae Seok-ho couldn’t easily dismiss the security concern.
“The man who tried to kill me… do you know who he is?”
“No. We’re looking into it as well. If we find anything, we’ll inform you immediately.”
Tae Seok-ho didn’t believe a word. He was only probing for whatever information he could extract.
Still, distrusting her and her backers didn’t mean he had no options. His current situation was already dire.
“Understood. But if you join my organization, you won’t receive the same treatment as before.”
“Do as you wish.”
“…Very well.”
Tae Seok-ho’s replies had grown curt.
“You’re more reasonable than I expected.”
“I don’t know what kind of person you are yet. By the way, what’s your name?”
The woman’s eyes sparkled.
“Reina. Reina Blackwood. You can call me Reina.”