Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Capturing Joseph Griffin
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A shadow—no, an assailant—launched a crescent kick straight at Joseph Griffin.
Crack!!
Joseph Griffin crossed his arms desperately to block the kick, his body staggering from the impact.
He'd blocked the attack, but the weight class difference made his crossed arms throb with pain.
Still, he wasn't just a bomb-maker; he was a man armed with swift and precise judgment.
Whoosh!!!
Joseph Griffin hurled his bag at the assailant charging at him.
Thwack!!!
"Shit!"
The brief opening that couldn't be avoided.
The assailant, Yoon Tae-ho, swatted the bag away with his left fist, cursing under his breath.
And Joseph Griffin's fist didn't miss that gap.
Pow! Pow! Pow!!
Jaw, solar plexus, left side.
Joseph Griffin's pistol-like punches slammed precisely into Yoon Tae-ho's vital spots.
"Gah!"
Stagger!!!
As Yoon Tae-ho reeled from the successive blows.
Thud-thud-thud!!!
Lee Dae-hyuk pounced in as if he'd been waiting.
"......?!"
Even with his guard down, Joseph Griffin showed no tension.
'They're the same.'
He was a veteran soldier who'd seen countless real battles.
He could tell just from their movements.
Fast, maybe, but weaker than bodyguards.
'Too bad I couldn't blow him up, but wrapping this up here isn't so bad.'
Swoosh!!!
Lee Dae-hyuk's left hook aimed for Joseph Griffin's jaw.
A slow, predictable attack.
Whoosh!!
Joseph Griffin simply tilted his head back to dodge the fist.
"Hup!"
As he twisted his body to drive a weighted right jab into Lee Dae-hyuk's jaw.
Grab!!!
'Huh?'
Something seized his left ankle.
"......!!"
"Young Master. Now!"
As the burly man sprawled on the floor muttered something incomprehensible.
Crack!!!
Stagger!!
Joseph Griffin's nose bridge took a direct hit from Lee Dae-hyuk's right elbow, sending him reeling.
Tears streamed down with the blood.
The long-forgotten pain made his mind hazy.
'Get it together... buy time....'
Joseph Griffin barely regained his focus and stomped down with his right foot on the assailant's chest—Yoon Tae-ho, who was down.
Crack!!!
"Urk!"
But.
Thud-thud!!
Squeeze!!!
"!!"
Joseph Griffin's eyes widened in shock.
Two arms coiled around his neck like a snake constricting its prey.
He was caught in Lee Dae-hyuk's rear naked choke!!
"Sleep tight."
Squeeze!!!
As Lee Dae-hyuk tightened his arms.
"Grraaah—!!"
A groan of agony burst from Joseph Griffin's mouth.
Flail-flail!
Joseph Griffin struggled for a few seconds.
Shudder—
"Fu……c……."
In the end.
Thud!!
He went limp.
"Haa. Haa...."
Confirming the man was out, Lee Dae-hyuk released his hold on the neck.
"Phew... good work."
"Ugh.... Are you alright, Young Master?"
Yoon Tae-ho grabbed Lee Dae-hyuk's offered hand and rose from the floor.
He grimaced too, letting out a deep sigh.
"We almost... damn! We could've both died if things went wrong."
Then Yoon Tae-ho bound the hands and feet of the sprawled Joseph Griffin.
A faint unease lingered around his voice.
"A secret organization, a shady detective, and a serial bomber... Young Master, are you sure about this? This is getting way too big...."
"......"
Lee Dae-hyuk looked at Yoon Tae-ho with an awkward expression.
"Sorry. I tend to attract a bit of trouble."
"A bit? It's a ton."
"......"
Lee Dae-hyuk shut his mouth at Yoon Tae-ho's rebuke.
But Yoon Tae-ho didn't lecture further.
What was done was done.
"Phew... alright. Let's handle the urgent stuff first."
Yoon Tae-ho seemed to understand Lee Dae-hyuk's feelings, speaking in a conceding tone.
Right now, securing solid evidence against Joseph Griffin—Steven Gibson's bodyguard and the killer of Michael's family—was the priority.
And that evidence should be in the hands of Lee Dae-hyuk's ally by now.
"By the way, can we trust that detective? I get what you explained last night, Young Master, but I'm still uneasy."
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded at Yoon Tae-ho's question.
"We can only hope."
***
Rewind to last night.
The location: the private gym of the basketball team where Lou Wilson played.
Thump!!
Swish!! Swish!!
Screech! Screechhh!!
The dribble, the satisfying rip of the ball through the net, and the friction of sneakers on the court formed a symphony.
As the noisy harmony faded.
Lou Wilson wiped his sweat with a towel and walked toward the exit with his teammates.
"Wilson was on fire today. Ten assists and five steals in one game? Unreal."
"Try being on the receiving end. Unreal my ass—it's a nightmare."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
Lou Wilson burst out laughing.
In basketball, he was a classic point guard who prioritized passes.
Scoring was fun, sure, but he felt more at home as a playmaker dictating the entire game.
It was his way of tasting the 'freedom' reality denied him, right there on the court.
However.
Clap-clap-clap—
"......"
His laughter died quickly.
Because Lee Dae-hyuk was clapping at the exit.
"Great game."
.
.
.
Lou Wilson and Lee Dae-hyuk sat side by side on the gym's simple bench.
For different reasons, neither spoke for a while.
Lou Wilson waged a silent war of probes.
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled and met his gaze steadily.
"Mr. Wilson. Which do you prefer—assists or steals?"
Lee Dae-hyuk suddenly brought up basketball, breaking the ice.
"......"
Lou Wilson, who had been staring silently, finally spoke.
"Assists are rewarding. Steals are thrilling. Something like that."
"Rewarding and thrilling. I see. Both appealing."
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded as if he understood.
"Helping out, and stealing.... Sounds a lot like your everyday style, Mr. Wilson."
"What do you want? And how'd you find this place...."
Lou Wilson trailed off.
He glared at Lee Dae-hyuk.
"Don't tell me... you're here to spout more nonsense like last time?"
"It's not nonsense. I'm offering you a chance."
"A chance?"
"A chance to become a man, not a dog."
Lou Wilson barely suppressed a sneer.
'A chance to become a man? More like a chance to die miserably.'
"You need a psychiatrist more than a detective."
At Lou Wilson's personal jab, Lee Dae-hyuk cut straight to it.
"Echenlian has a wife and kid."
"...What?"
"You're asking 'what' instead of 'who.'"
"......!?"
"You know Echenlian, right?"
Lee Dae-hyuk's eyes sharpened in an instant.
Lou Wilson's face cracked as he realized his slip.
'...Tired.'
The next moment, even deeper fissures formed on his expression.
- Echenlian is Steven Gibson's herbalist.
- Someone even civilians would know.
He could deflect Lee Dae-hyuk's suspicions with excuses and lies.
But what use would that be against Lee Dae-hyuk, who already knew everything?
'Let's end this.'
Everything felt exhausting and resentful.
Even if he fooled Lee Dae-hyuk somehow, his own situation wouldn't change.
Still a obedient slave and hound to Echenlian—or rather, that organization.
A doomed wretch haunted by the fear of disposal.
But if he came clean now....
"Mr. Wilson. You don't have to take my hand right away. Test me instead."
"What do you mean?"
Lou Wilson's eyes gleamed.
"A chance, just like I said. Watch if I can smash Echenlian and his organization. No need for anything risky on your part."
Truth be told, Lee Dae-hyuk didn't desperately need Lou Wilson's help right now.
Sure, there'd be times later, but for now....
"Just one simple errand."
"An errand?"
Lou Wilson was dumbfounded.
An errand, out of nowhere.
But his instincts screamed.
Take this offer.
'Alright. Just that much.'
One of the headaches would soon vanish.
High odds it would be Lee Dae-hyuk himself....
'Investments should be diversified anyway.'
A small bet wouldn't hurt.
"Fine. What errand?"
At Lou Wilson's question, Lee Dae-hyuk grinned widely.
"Just deliver one bomb. Actually, make it three."
"...Are you kidding?"
Lou Wilson shot back with clear displeasure.
Yet a few minutes later.
"You're insane...."
After hearing Lee Dae-hyuk's plan, he could only gape.
Lee Dae-hyuk shrugged at the honest reaction.
"Better than trembling in fear and getting put down like a mad dog."
"Damn it. You really...."
In the end, Lou Wilson furrowed his brow.
But.
"Fine. Got it! That thing you mentioned! What time do I need to deliver by?"
Lou Wilson knew too.
He didn't have many options.
And strangely, this guy in front of him might just flip the board... damn that faint hope.
"The sooner, the better."
At Lee Dae-hyuk's answer, Lou Wilson made his grueling decision.
He knew it was risky.
But with chips on the table, he had no choice but to play this cursed gamble through.
"We're just delivering, got it."
***
Bzzz!!
As he recalled last night's meeting.
His pants pocket vibrated.
Slide!!
Lee Dae-hyuk pulled out his phone, checked the message, and a smile spread across his lips.
"The detective says he's secured the evidence. And some toys I need are on delivery."
Yoon Tae-ho clicked his tongue at the delighted Lee Dae-hyuk.
"Sigh... yeah, yeah. I've given up on stopping you. But from now on, wherever you go, I'm coming with."
"Of course."
Even after Lee Dae-hyuk's firm agreement, Yoon Tae-ho's expression didn't brighten.
They'd subdued Joseph Griffin, but it hadn't been easy.
'We really could've died....'
"By the way, Young Master."
"Yeah."
"If we stay in America, do we have to keep fighting guys like this?"
"What if we do?"
"...I wanna go back to Korea ASAP."
Yoon Tae-ho grumbled.
Beating up Park Chun-ho's gang back home had felt simpler and more fun.
But Lee Dae-hyuk saw it differently.
"Who knows? Even back in Korea, what would change?"
The Company, which had spread its tentacles to Korea including the Black Darkness Society, would still be there.
He'd have to keep fighting types like Joseph Griffin.
'Can't rely on Manager Yoon or Min-gyu forever. I have to protect myself.'
To fight them, he needed to get stronger himself.
At least strong enough to handle a Joseph Griffin alone.
As Lee Dae-hyuk steeled his resolve.
Yoon Tae-ho, who had been quietly watching his face, asked in alarm.
"Don't tell me... there's something in Korea too?"
"Who knows?"
No point spoiling it early—just more stress.
Lee Dae-hyuk dodged with a vague answer.
"......"
Yoon Tae-ho felt even more uneasy, but now was time for cleanup, not talk.
"People are gathering."
"This might even make the news."
Maybe because of the action movie they'd just filmed?
Guests peeking out and hotel staff were staring at Lee Dae-hyuk and Yoon Tae-ho.
And the sprawled Joseph Griffin on the floor.