Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Happy Ending?
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“Is everything a happy ending now? And they all lived happily ever after, eating well and living well?”
Lou Wilson’s voice carried a mocking undertone.
But at the same time, there was clear relief in his expression.
After all, he too had escaped the clutches of Ichentrian and regained his freedom.
Of course, no one knew how long that freedom would last.
“Shouldn’t you start with ‘thank you’ instead?”
“Ha. Haha.”
Lee Dae-hyuk stared intently at him while setting his lemonade glass down on the table.
Lou Wilson burst into absurd laughter.
He was the one who deserved thanks.
“Without the evidence I secured, you would’ve ended up in prison without a doubt. And probably dead.”
Lee Dae-hyuk snorted at Lou Wilson’s point.
“You’d still be serving as Ichentrian’s lackey, trembling in fear.”
“…….”
“On top of that, I paid Mr. Wilson for his freedom, plus an extra $10,000 bonus. Even after you tried to dupe me.”
Lou Wilson clamped his mouth shut at Lee Dae-hyuk’s retort.
Arguing further would only hurt him.
In truth, he had come out ahead.
He’d gained both money and freedom.
‘But… why does it feel so shitty?’
It was an odd sense of being overpowered.
Even in his own office, it felt like he was meeting a boss.
‘He’s younger and has less experience than me….’
Lou Wilson inwardly clicked his tongue as he sipped his Americano.
He knew it well.
‘Feelings and emotions are fleeting, but money lasts.’
Lee Dae-hyuk was undeniably rich and capable.
Just look at how he’d dealt with Ichentrian and the secret organization he belonged to.
‘Yeah. Let’s grab this opportunity.’
For the future, he needed to build a connection with Lee Dae-hyuk.
“Alright. Let’s forget all the personal grudges.”
“We’ll see. I have a good memory…. But depending on the person, I can forgive or understand to some extent.”
Lou Wilson’s nose wrinkled at those words.
‘……!’
He quickly smoothed his expression, but his irritation was about to explode.
However, he was a former genius con artist and professional detective.
Now was the time to focus on business.
“Fine. I don’t know if this will earn your forgiveness—no, understanding—but I’ll offer one personal favor.”
“Go ahead.”
As Lee Dae-hyuk laid the groundwork, Lou Wilson set his iced Americano down on the table.
“I know it’s rude, but I personally looked into Mr. Lee’s surroundings. For protective purposes, of course.”
“You tailed me without permission?”
When Lee Dae-hyuk pressed him, Lou Wilson smiled leisurely.
“Didn’t Mr. Lee secretly protect Steven Gibson’s mother? It was with good intentions, so I hope you understand. Plus, it’s like I provided free bodyguard service as a bonus, so no need to get mad.”
“Free bodyguard service… Yeah. I’ll let it slide this once.”
Lee Dae-hyuk brushed off Lou Wilson’s words.
Truth be told, he had no intention of cutting ties with Lou Wilson anyway.
He’d be starting business in the US soon, and he needed allies to help Steven Gibson in case of emergencies.
‘It was a gamble, but just in case.’
Even if it wasn’t the middle-aged man, other executives might target Steven Gibson.
Better to build as many allies as possible.
Hiding his true intentions, Lee Dae-hyuk continued questioning Lou Wilson.
“So, did you spot anything suspicious during the protection?”
“You might already know, but two Korean men—one a bodyguard—were tailing you. It’s solid intel from a reliable employee.”
“Two Korean men? Tailing me?”
“Is there anyone you suspect?”
Lee Dae-hyuk’s eyes gleamed at Lou Wilson’s story.
Someone else was tailing him.
‘It’s not The Company.’
If it were, Lou Wilson’s employee would’ve been killed instead.
Which meant.
‘It must be Park Ji-sook.’
The killers she’d sent were lurking around him.
‘Higher difficulty than Lee Dae-hwan…?’
Lee Dae-hyuk clicked his tongue.
Park Ji-sook would deploy pros better than Lee Dae-hwan’s.
‘At least… ex-NIS black ops, or 707th Special Mission Group veterans.’
“Hmm.”
Arms crossed, Lee Dae-hyuk pondered the agents Park Ji-sook had sent.
Jeok-o, Wolfgang, Shen Wu… and his experiences with The Company—maybe that’s why.
He didn’t feel particularly tense.
‘This could be fun.’
As long as he prepared in advance, facing them wouldn’t be much to fear.
“People with stories attract a lot of enemies.”
“Eh, I’m not interested in hearing that story.”
Lou Wilson waved it off.
But separately from that.
“If you need protection, just say the word. We’ve put together a bodyguard team this time. Smart guys, they’ll do fine.”
Lou Wilson made a subtle pitch.
Lee Dae-hyuk responded firmly.
“Is it free?”
“…….”
“Kidding. I’ll ask for help if needed. Of course, I’ll pay accordingly.”
“Payment… I look forward to it.”
Lou Wilson grinned broadly.
Lee Dae-hyuk got to the point.
This was the real reason for today’s meeting, after all.
“Lou Wilson Detective Agency branch. How about setting one up in Korea? We’ll provide full support.”
“We? You mean Daehan Group?”
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head.
“Not Daehan Group—think of it as my personal support.”
And that was it.
Lee Dae-hyuk didn’t mention specifics.
But Lou Wilson instinctively sniffed the air.
Two scents wafted from the man before him.
The smell of death, and….
‘The stench of money.’
In this line of work, death and money were practically synonyms.
But instinct alone wasn’t enough to decide.
Lou Wilson knew the perfect line for moments like this.
“I’ll hear the terms and decide.”
Lee Dae-hyuk burst into laughter at his words.
“Hahaha. Sure. I’ll prepare terms that’ll hook you.”
Just as Lee Dae-hyuk said that and stood to leave.
“Ah!”
He added a new proposal for Lou Wilson.
“Those guys tailing me—I want to put a bounty on them. Can you make it happen?”
“A bounty?”
***
Leaving Lou Wilson’s office, Lee Dae-hyuk sensed someone watching.
Even as he headed to the rental car where Yoon Tae-ho waited, the gaze bored into his back.
‘Why haven’t I noticed until now?’
Probably because lately, all his focus had been on Steven Gibson and The Company.
‘Good timing, actually.’
With some breathing room now, he could deal with Park Ji-sook’s “employees” easily.
As Lee Dae-hyuk climbed into the passenger seat, Yoon Tae-ho in the driver’s seat asked.
“Did things go well with that damn detective?”
“Hahaha. Nice descriptor. Anyway….”
Lee Dae-hyuk relayed the tailing info Lou Wilson had provided.
Yoon Tae-ho’s eyes turned fierce.
“Madam’s side?”
He spoke in a heavy tone.
If they were still being watched, it meant orders from Park Ji-sook, not Lee Dae-hwan.
Yoon Tae-ho knew Lee Dae-hwan lacked the patience for this.
“Probably… yeah?”
A smile crept onto Lee Dae-hyuk’s lips as he replied.
Like a kid eyeing a toy.
Feeling uneasy at the smile, Yoon Tae-ho asked.
“You gonna handle it yourself again?”
“Wouldn’t it be faster if we did?”
“…….”
“Kidding. This time, I’ll settle it with money.”
“With money?”
“Yeah. I’m getting Lou Wilson’s help.”
To the startled Yoon Tae-ho, Lee Dae-hyuk began explaining his plan.
.
.
.
A few minutes later.
“It’s on the edge of illegal and legal… but Lou Wilson said he’d handle that part. I just pay up.”
“How much are you planning to offer?”
At Yoon Tae-ho’s question, Lee Dae-hyuk held up three fingers on his right hand.
“$100,000 per person, capture alive.”
“Capture alive…?”
“Yeah. I’ve got plans for them later.”
Lee Dae-hyuk intended to show Park Ji-sook’s killers the power of money and America.
“Honestly, if I had the time, I’d grab them myself… but we’ve already caused one incident, right?”
He had business ahead in the US.
No point leaving a flashy(?) criminal record.
“And I’m not a thug—I’m a businessman. Everything gets solved with money.”
Yoon Tae-ho barely swallowed the words rising to his throat at Lee Dae-hyuk’s quip.
Words like, ‘Young Master acts tougher than any thug.’
“…….”
Stuffing his true feelings deep inside, Yoon Tae-ho asked.
“So, where to now?”
“Steven just contacted me.”
Lee Dae-hyuk’s voice lifted slightly as he mentioned Steven Gibson.
Even he couldn’t help worrying after what happened with Steven Gibson.
And right as he left Lou Wilson’s building, the call came.
Seeing Lee Dae-hyuk’s brightened face, Yoon Tae-ho smiled pleasantly too.
“I’ll take you to Apple.”
***
At that moment.
Two pairs of eyes watched the departing rental car.
“…….”
“…….”
They belonged to the elite agents sent by Kim Chan-wook, Park Ji-sook’s bodyguard.
These men handled obstacles for Daehan Group—no, for Park Ji-sook—rather than protection.
But they hadn’t accomplished this mission easily.
Lee Dae-hyuk’s actions were far too… unusual.
Hanging out with Steven Gibson and Bill Gates like friends, even catching a bomb terrorist.
Lee Dae-hyuk was nothing like the rumors.
Not the depressive young master who kept attempting suicide and couldn’t tell heaven from earth.
‘He’s a big shot.’
‘A heavyweight beyond our imagination.’
That’s why the two men hadn’t even attempted assassination, merely circling his perimeter.
But they couldn’t drag this out forever.
Pressure from the team leader was mounting.
‘What do we do? This way, we’re the ones in danger.’
‘Damn team leader! Do it himself!’
Soon, the men with $100,000 bounties on their heads inwardly cursed their team leader, Kim Chan-wook.
***
The Kim Chan-wook they cursed.
Truthfully, even he had no choice.
Seoul, Lee Myung-guk’s residence.
Splash—!!!
Park Ji-sook’s expression hardened as she watered the garden flowers and saplings with a hose.
“Bill Gates? Steven Gibson?”
Completely unexpected names had come up in Kim Chan-wook’s report.
“That arrogant kid… built connections with Bill Gates and Steven Gibson?”
“We’re not sure if it’s just personal ties or business. Plus, he’s got unidentified men around him.”
“Unidentified men? For protection?”
“…Not certain.”
“Ha! So what do you know?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Sigh… No, it’s fine. I got worked up.”
She nearly spat curses in her frustration, but Park Ji-sook knew it too.
Getting close to Lee Dae-hyuk now would be tough.
“So the delay is because he’s cozying up to celebrities?”
“We’re waiting for an opening.”
Kim Chan-wook held back.
He had plenty to say, but it would only irritate Park Ji-sook.
“…….”
Park Ji-sook fell silent for a moment.
She sensed Lee Dae-hyuk had changed somehow.
And she had patience.
She could wait months or years for her goals.
But her instincts screamed.
If Lee Dae-hyuk became a powerhouse, she, her eldest son Lee Dae-hwan—no, all her children—would be in danger.
‘The dog chasing the chicken might lose everything.’
Sure, a dog that misses the chicken wouldn’t necessarily live miserably.
But chaebol offspring were different.
Fail to become heir, and you’d get limbs chopped off.
‘Stuck scraping by with pocket change from a few small affiliates.’
Clinging to lifelong regrets, ending in pathetic misery.
Park Ji-sook couldn’t accept her children’s lives ending that way.
“To keep a garden beautiful, you must remove the weeds. Whether with herbicide, or hoe and hands uprooting the roots—use any means to eliminate them, or you can’t protect the garden.”
“…….”
“Team Leader. I’ll give you three days. Clear the weeds from my garden within three days. I’ll reward you generously. Very generously.”
Under Park Ji-sook’s urging, Kim Chan-wook had no choice but to give the answer she wanted.
“I’ll hurry.”