Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Victim Joseph Griffin, Perpetrators Lee Dae-hyuk, Yoon Tae-ho
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Among the three who walked into the San Francisco police station—victim Joseph Griffin, perpetrators Lee Dae-hyuk and Yoon Tae-ho.
"Good work out there."
"You too, Young Master. Whew! Feels like I can breathe again now."
Lee Dae-hyuk and Yoon Tae-ho were released after a brief interrogation.
Property damage, trespassing, assault, unlawful confinement, and more.
Just before entering the station, a string of charges like that had been pinned to their backs.
But thanks to one person's help, all those charges vanished.
Instead, they were treated like heroes on their way out.
"Still, that damn detective prick... kept his word."
The damn detective prick Yoon Tae-ho was referring to?
Lou Wilson.
He had secured evidence from Joseph Griffin's safe house proving he was a terrorist and even "delivered" it.
"Feels like hitting a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Reporting the terrorist's bomb stash, cops swarm in, evidence pouring out... Timing doesn't get any better."
Yoon Tae-ho clenched his fist tight.
If it hadn't been for Lou Wilson, they would've been treated like criminals, while Joseph Griffin walked free.
Everything could've been for nothing.
Lee Dae-hyuk cracked a relieved smile at Yoon Tae-ho's excited, rising voice.
What if Lou Wilson hadn't kept his promise?
What if Joseph Griffin had cleared out the bombs and evidence from the safe house beforehand?
That sliver of anxiety had lingered.
But fortunately, everything went smoothly.
The evidence spilling out of Joseph Griffin's safe house wasn't just one or two items.
'Hundreds of bombs, finished and unfinished. And... documents with photos and movements of Michael, Steven's bodyguard, the one all over the recent news specials....'
It all screamed that Joseph Griffin was a terrorist.
So of course, Lee Dae-hyuk and Yoon Tae-ho had to be let go.
They weren't foreign thugs starting fights—they were heroes who'd risked it all to catch a terrorist.
One of those heroes, Yoon Tae-ho, rolled his shoulders.
"We just rest now, right?"
His whole body still ached.
After the brawl, they'd spent the entire day cooped up in the station for questioning—exhausted didn't even cover it.
And Kim Sung-hee, waiting for them, was just as wiped out.
Rushing around to get lawyers, vouching for their identities—she'd had a nonstop day herself.
"Um... sorry, but weren't you here on business?"
"Of course it was business. Meeting Bill and Steven yesterday was business too."
"And someone like that catches a terrorist? This could make the news easy."
Kim Sung-hee handed over business cards from reporters and stations that had contacted her.
Lee Dae-hyuk let out a chuckle at the sight.
"You think? Haha."
Truth be told, he'd come to America with a fairly light heart.
Have someone track down Steven Gibson's birth mother, convince him to get surgery.
Then form a friendly alliance between Apple, himself—no, the Daehan Group.
He'd thought it'd be that simple.
'If only....'
But the dangers kept piling up, worse than back in Korea.
Felt like playing a game where the difficulty spiked without warning.
Lee Dae-hyuk gave an awkward smile.
"Hearing you say it like that, yeah. Busy with business, sure, but then all this danger on top."
Yoon Tae-ho felt a chill down his spine at Lee Dae-hyuk's sheepish look.
"Hold on, Young Master."
"Yeah?"
"You just said you're busy... Does that mean there's still stuff left to do?"
"No, no. All done now."
Lee Dae-hyuk waved it off.
He wanted to rest today too.
"We take it easy till tomorrow. How about catching an NBA game in LA?"
"Lakers game? Hell yeah!"
Not Yoon Tae-ho, but Kim Sung-hee jumped for joy at the suggestion.
Living in America, she'd naturally become an NBA fan—especially the Lakers.
"After that... we'll crash at the Dream American Hotel."
"Me too?"
Kim Sung-hee glanced nervously, but Lee Dae-hyuk nodded.
"Of course."
***
The underground parking garage of Lou Wilson's detective agency.
"It's been a while since a guy's given me a gift."
Lee Dae-hyuk joked as he took the gift box from Lou Wilson.
Meant to lighten the mood, but Lou Wilson's face didn't brighten a bit.
"By my standards, I can't comprehend you at all. You think you're some Hollywood action hero?"
"There's a dog that got abandoned by its owner."
"...?!"
"Not just abandoned—brutally discarded. The dog realized: Ah, if I stay a dog, I'll get tossed again. Better become human instead. And bite to shreds anything trying to stop me."
Lee Dae-hyuk spoke softly, a faint smile on his lips.
Maybe that's why.
Lou Wilson showed no reaction.
He could sense the sorrow and deep rage in Lee Dae-hyuk's eyes and tone.
"...."
Reading Lou Wilson's face, Lee Dae-hyuk shrugged.
"...I read a fairy tale like that once. Even as an adult, you learn a lot from kids' stories."
"You're bad at lying."
"When you've got someone in front of you who might become a friend? That's when I tell a clumsy lie on purpose. Means I trust you."
Lou Wilson felt more chills than感動 from the story.
He shook his head vigorously.
"I'm... not looking to be friends with you. Got a family—need to live long for them."
"Is that so?"
"Business partners. That's enough."
Lee Dae-hyuk grinned at Lou Wilson's reply.
Whether he'd become a solid ally was still up in the air.
Even if he did, Lou Wilson's nature might mean turning a blind eye if Lee Dae-hyuk got in a bind.
Ally, bystander—who knew their relationship for sure right now.
'Whatever.'
As long as he helped while Lee Dae-hyuk was operating in America, that was fine.
Lou Wilson, staring at Lee Dae-hyuk, spoke again.
"By the way...."
He didn't want to get involved.
But he couldn't let it slide without asking.
"??"
"You're really... gonna pull that insane stunt with the bomb?"
"Not a stunt—dead serious."
Lee Dae-hyuk planned to head to the Dream American Hotel and meet The Company's executives.
With the 'bomb.'
'Not planning to detonate it, of course.'
He was confident he could bluff Steven Gibson into shaking them off with just talk.
But for a perfect bluff, he needed props.
"Don't worry. Not planning to become a terrorist."
"Not worried. Terrorist or not."
Did Lou Wilson's response amuse him?
Lee Dae-hyuk turned to leave, smile filling his face.
Step-step-step-!!!
Watching him head out of the garage, Lou Wilson harbored an absurd hope.
That Lee Dae-hyuk's stunt would succeed.
So he himself could live as a man, not a dog.
"I'm losing it too...."
Lou Wilson smacked his forehead with a self-deprecating smile.
But at that moment, he didn't know.
How Lee Dae-hyuk's stunt would change his own fate.
***
The next day.
As promised, Lee Dae-hyuk, Yoon Tae-ho, and Kim Sung-hee had a fun day in LA.
The priciest restaurant, meals topping a grand a head.
Swimming after.
Then NBA at Staples Center that evening.
Too deep in season to snag courtside seats, which sucked.
Bam-!!
"Woooaaahhh!!"
"Kobe!! Kobe!!!"
"It's Kobe! Kobe!!"
Kim Sung-hee went wild with the crowd.
Yoon Tae-ho too.
"Whoa! Man's flying. Flying."
Lee Dae-hyuk admired Kobe's play but felt a pang of regret too.
Knowing Kobe's future—dying in a helicopter crash.
'Copter went down... Tsk. Knowing the future isn't all fun and games.'
Knowing someone's end forces a choice.
Change their future?
Or stand by?
Couldn't rewrite everyone's fate just 'cause he was a regressor.
Who'd even believe him if he said it?
'Right. Focus on my own stuff.'
Kobe's death was 13 years off.
No point warning now—they wouldn't buy it.
If fate brought Kobe back into his path in America...
'I'd help.'
Sorting his thoughts, Lee Dae-hyuk joined the others enjoying the game.
Slam-!! Thud-!! Clang-!!!
Dunk shots.
The friction of massive athletes colliding.
Cheers erupting for every three-pointer.
The arena filled with it all.
***
That night.
LA's Dream American Hotel.
After a fun but hectic day, Yoon Tae-ho and Kim Sung-hee were asleep in their rooms.
But at that hour, Lee Dae-hyuk was...
'Kinda nervous.'
Gift box in one hand, riding the elevator.
Bold in front of Lou Wilson or Yoon Tae-ho, but meeting one of The Company's top brass?
Human nature—he had to be tense.
Still, suppressing it, he eyed the floor buttons.
Elevator tops out at 52.
How to reach 53?
'From Ichunrian's memories.'
Press-press!
'Hit 52 twice first.'
Press!
'Then 1 once more....'
Whiiiirrr-!!
'Done.'
'No biggie.'
Elevator shot up to the top fast.
Yoon Tae-ho and Kim Sung-hee crossed his mind.
If things went south, they could be taken hostage.
Worried about them sleeping soundly, but no choice.
If The Company wanted them, they'd grab 'em anyway.
Better to keep them close where he could reach.
Ding-!!
Slide-!!!
Elevator stopped, doors opened.
The 53rd floor hallway stretched before Lee Dae-hyuk.
"Whew...."
Letting out a shallow breath, he started down the long corridor.
Unlike other floors, two sharply dressed staff in spotless suits blocked his path.
"How'd you get here?"
Stunned by his sudden appearance, they eyed each other.
"No report?"
"Nope. Nothing from upstairs."
"No civilians allowed."
The Black staffer on the left spoke up first to turn him back.
The White one on the right stayed silent but stared warily.
"...."
Lee Dae-hyuk glanced between them, deep in thought.
'Definitely The Company's turf. Even the staff reeks of blood.'
An unusually strong sense of kinship.
The smell of blood.
Different from the lower-floor help.
Their eyes told it all.
Both radiated killing intent—ready to slit his throat if needed.
A normal person would've shrunk under those gazes and slunk back to the elevator.
But Lee Dae-hyuk chose differently.
"You two are low-level grunts, right?"
Their eyes bulged at his provocation.
"Mister? Watch your mouth."
"Last warning. Turn back quietly."
The Black one stepped forward, then the White, both glaring.
But Lee Dae-hyuk had no intention of backing down.
"Grunts, confirmed. You don't even know I'm the guy your bosses—your execs—are most obsessed with right now."
Bosses? Execs obsessed?
Stunned by the unexpected words, the staffers exchanged looks.
Lee Dae-hyuk pressed on.
"Report up. Lee Dae-hyuk's here."
***
The Company was a secret organization boasting ancient traditions.
Run generation after generation by the founders' descendants as executives, all wore animal masks.
And here, one of the four execs—the silver-haired middle-aged man in the wolf mask attending the meeting.
"Pinocchio was ashamed of his nose growing when he lied."
He was reading a fairy tale to his grandkid in his mansion.
"Know what he did?"
"Cut it off?"
The middle-aged man burst out laughing at his bedridden grandkid's guess.
"Hahaha. Cutting off your nose doesn't help if you're still lying."
"Then what? What happened?"
"Pinocchio decided to become a good boy who never lies, ashamed of that nose. So he set off on an adventure."
"Yawwwn."
"Already yawning? Story's just starting. Alright, sleep now—see you tomorrow."
Rising, he headed out, turning off the light.
As darkness fell, his grandkid asked from the bed.
"Okay. Read more tomorrow for sure. Then I'll be good like Pinocchio, no lies. Grandpa won't lie either, right?"
The man's face stiffened briefly at the question.
"Sure. Grandpa won't lie either. Honest folks are the best."
"Yeah. Goodnight, Grandpa."
"Right."
Creak-!
Click-!!!
Closing the grandkid's door, the man walked quietly to his study.
"...."
Shedding the kindly businessman, doting grandpa mask—time to be his true self.
Right then.
"A word...."
His secretary approached.
The one Company member who knew his identity and face whispered.
"Lee Dae-hyuk's at the hotel?!"
His face twisted at the unexpected news.