Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Declaration of War
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"Young Master, what brings you here..."
An unexpected call.
Kim Chan-wook's voice trembled.
But he quickly regained his composure and continued in a relaxed tone.
"How's America treating you?"
- It's a place where people live, too. Not bad.
"......"
- Is that you, sir?
"I got off work early for once."
At Kim Chan-wook's response, Lee Dae-hyuk clicked his tongue in disappointment.
- That's a shame. I was hoping to hear 'Mother's' voice at least... Guess I'll have to meet you in person.
'...Mother?'
A calm but sharp tone.
Kim Chan-wook's eyes grew still.
"I'm not sure. Whether Madam would welcome the youngest Young Master or not..."
- ...How unpleasant. You seem awfully interested in my family's affairs?
"......"
- The family history that's caught the eye of someone called 'Buldo-kkabi'...
Lee Dae-hyuk's sarcasm made Kim Chan-wook's lips quiver.
'How...'
Buldo-kkabi was a nickname known only to his colleagues.
Letting out a faint sigh, Kim Chan-wook threw a straight pitch.
"How the Young Master feels about Madam... doesn't matter to me."
- ....
"But please refrain from any rash actions. That woman is my benefactor."
To some, Park Ji-sook might just be a simple villain.
But to him, she was the benefactor who gave him a new life.
He had to protect her, even if it cost him his own.
- ....
Lee Dae-hyuk felt a flicker of interest at Kim Chan-wook's reply, but just for a moment.
No more excitement or curiosity beyond that.
- Rash actions... Interesting. Absurdly so.
He was an enemy he had to declare war on anyway.
What meaning was there in getting curious about the life of a target for elimination?
- Let's see you try. I'll do as I please, too.
"Is that a declaration of war?"
- Who knows?
"I've seen plenty of friends suffer disasters from half-assed chicken games. You should be careful."
Kim Chan-wook's declaration of war, refusing to back down.
Lee Dae-hyuk stifled a laugh and replied.
- That's how I've lived until now.
"......"
- Sorry to interrupt your meal. See you in Korea.
Click-!
The call cut off abruptly.
"......"
Kim Chan-wook clamped his mouth shut and sank into thought.
'Those two... failed? Couldn't handle one punk like that?'
Moreover, Lee Dae-hyuk's voice carried subtle anger and hostility.
If he had the intel to uncover a North Korean operative's old nickname and the power to overpower elite killers...
'I can't underestimate him.'
Kim Chan-wook's steps grew heavy as he returned to the dinner table.
***
Back in his Kim Gun-woo days, Lee Dae-hyuk would unsettle opponents' psyches like this before a full war broke out.
Contacting Kim Chan-wook was for the same reason.
Even after returning to Korea, they wouldn't move rashly.
And he'd use that gap to...
'Prepare a surprise attack.'
With that strategy in mind to dismantle Kim Chan-wook—no, Park Ji-sook's security team, Lee Dae-hyuk tossed his phone in front of the killers.
Thud-!!!
"......!!"
"......!!!"
For a moment, hope for life flared in their eyes.
"......"
But Lee Dae-hyuk coldly ignored their wishes.
Right before the call, he'd used psycho metry to uncover the atrocities these two had committed.
'They've killed a lot.'
Unlike him, who spared the elderly and weak, these guys had killed women, children, and seniors.
And enjoyed it.
On top of that, the attempted kidnapping of Kim Sung-hee.
'Trash needs to be properly disposed of.'
Lee Dae-hyuk spoke in a cold tone.
"Please clean up."
"Pardon?"
"Handle it yourselves."
"How should we dispose of..."
"......"
Lou Wilson met Lee Dae-hyuk's icy gaze without another word.
He asked no more.
"Understood. You can head out now. We'll bill the additional fee separately and contact you."
"...I'll wait for your call."
As Lee Dae-hyuk turned to leave after his curt reply, the killers who'd overheard shouted desperately.
"Hey! You said you'd spare one of us!"
"Lee Dae-hyuk!! Young Master!! Keep your promise!!"
The killers begged for their lives in desperation.
But.
Step, step-
Crack-!
The moment Lee Dae-hyuk stepped away, their punishment began.
Execution.
No mercy.
All that awaited the killers was death amid the pain and terror their victims had suffered.
Yoon Tae-ho alternated glances between the killers and Lee Dae-hyuk.
"Y-Young Master..."
His eyes wavered with anxiety and worry.
But Lee Dae-hyuk spoke in his usual tone.
"Let's go."
Leading him, Lee Dae-hyuk exited the warehouse.
Creak-!!
The warehouse door shut, and the killers' gut-wrenching screams erupted.
"Kuaaaack!"
"Aaaaack!"
***
"......"
Yoon Tae-ho glanced at the detective agency driver in the front seat.
Watching Lee Dae-hyuk's expression, he said,
"Kim Chan-wook, the Level 2 security team leader, is a tough opponent. They say his nickname is 'Buldo-kkabi.' When he gets mad, he burns everything to the ground."
A voice mixing concern for him and hostility toward Team Leader Kim Chan-wook.
Lee Dae-hyuk felt relieved at Yoon Tae-ho's steady eyes, as if he understood the warehouse decision.
"Is that so? Interesting nickname."
Lee Dae-hyuk replied indifferently, his face expressionless.
He turned his gaze to the window.
One last thing left on his U.S. itinerary.
Tomorrow, back in Korea.
'It'll be war.'
The next few years would be nothing but war.
Park Ji-sook, Lee Dae-hwan.
Then Yoo Jae-man.
And someday, The Company...
Whew-.
Lee Dae-hyuk sighed, thinking of the mountain of enemies.
But when all these battles ended, his own harsh life would...
'Find peace.'
He had no choice but to fight for that day.
Clench-
Fueled by rising fighting spirit, Lee Dae-hyuk unconsciously gripped his fist.
***
That afternoon.
Finn Xavier, founder of Finn's Coffee,
"Thank you. Hero of Silicon Valley."
"Pardon?"
Hugged Lee Dae-hyuk tightly the moment he saw him.
Shocked by the bolder-than-Kelvin Figgy gesture, Lee Dae-hyuk stiffened.
As the hug ended, he said,
"It was just self-defense. Hero is too much."
"As expected of a hero—humble. Heroes really are different."
"No, that's..."
"Businessmen don't need excessive humility. Others might not know, but everyone in Silicon Valley is grateful to Mr. Lee."
"Ah..."
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded at that.
Joseph Griffin's target was him.
The crime scene would've been Silicon Valley for sure.
Catching Lee Dae-hyuk's affirmative gesture, Finn Xavier excitedly poured out words.
"And that's not all! If that bomb had gone off in Silicon Valley, my shops would've been closed for days—no, months. You protected me and my employees too, Mr. Lee."
'Didn't realize... He's got an over-the-top reaction.'
Lee Dae-hyuk inwardly shook his head.
Finn Xavier spat as he ranted on.
"Thank you for giving me a chance to repay the favor, Dae-hyuk Lee."
But he was right.
Silicon Valley was already chaotic from the death of Steven Gibson's bodyguard Michael and his family.
If another terror attack happened here?
Companies would've switched to remote work, and commerce would've ground to a halt.
'Well, thinking that way... I get it.'
"Still, hero feels a bit much. Just call me Mr. Lee."
"If it's a hero's request, how can I refuse?"
"......"
As Lee Dae-hyuk predicted, Finn Xavier was an annoyingly affable guy.
Thanks to that, the meeting went enjoyably, with satisfying results.
The moment Lee Dae-hyuk proposed, Finn Xavier readily agreed to open Finn's Coffee branches in Korea.
Of course, with the condition of using the original recipes.
In the end, he accepted every condition Lee Dae-hyuk proposed.
'Feels like getting repaid.'
Following Lee Dae-hyuk's proposal wouldn't cost Finn Xavier much anyway.
He just had to share the brand and recipes—nothing else.
But the fame of being a Silicon Valley staple was a weapon in itself.
Finn Xavier handed that weapon over willingly, grinning nonstop.
"Consider it reward for saving Silicon Valley."
Lee Dae-hyuk bowed politely at the gratitude.
"Thank you for your kindness and warm words. I'll brief you whenever things progress in Korea."
***
After successfully wrapping up the Finn's Coffee meeting, Lee Dae-hyuk and Yoon Tae-ho headed to the airport.
Time to board the flight back to Korea at last.
Just before entering the gate.
Kim Sung-hee had come to see them off.
Her eyes red and puffy.
Seeing her face, Yoon Tae-ho teased mischievously.
"Whoa, what's with your face? Didn't sleep? Your eyes are totally..."
"Shut up. When you get back, say hi to Mijin noona for me. And President Lee."
Kim Sung-hee bowed toward Lee Dae-hyuk.
"You gave me so much while you were here. Thank you."
"It wasn't free. I'll collect it all back."
"What?!!!!"
What was she imagining?
A screech like a bad note from karaoke rang out.
Startled by her reaction, Lee Dae-hyuk waved his hands frantically.
"N-No, I don't mean literally pay me back. I mean, I'll ask you to handle Finn's Coffee and Marvel Studios stuff, so work hard—that's what I meant."
"Oh... I thought... Ha, ha."
Kim Sung-hee let out a sigh of relief.
Even then, she offered sincere final thanks.
"Take care, and see you again."
"We've still got five minutes?"
"You need rest on the plane. Hehe. You must be tired—sleep well."
A send-off disguised as concern.
Catching the true intent behind Kim Sung-hee's words, Lee Dae-hyuk said,
"Yes. See you soon. Take care."
She bowed at his farewell.
Yoon Tae-ho smiled and gave his last greeting.
"Yeah. Stay well. Hit me up if you come to Korea."
"Yes! See you all in Korea!!"
Leaving Kim Sung-hee's booming farewell behind, Lee Dae-hyuk and Yoon Tae-ho walked to the gate.
Along the way.
"Young Master."
Yoon Tae-ho shared his true feelings with Lee Dae-hyuk.
"I... think I should avoid the U.S. for a while. Like ten years. No, I might puke just seeing Americans."
Shuddering at memories of his horrific(?) U.S. days.
In contrast, Lee Dae-hyuk smiled broadly and made a scary prophecy.
"What are you saying? We'll be back soon. There's a hot event in June."
"Hot event? Like the wild parties in movies...?"
"......?"
"Ahem! Young Master, I'm a married man."
As Yoon Tae-ho emphasized, Lee Dae-hyuk shut his mouth on whatever he was about to say.
"...Right. I'll explain later. For the record, it's a great, wholesome event even married guys can join."
"Whew-. Good."
Yoon Tae-ho sighed in relief like Kim Sung-hee.
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head at the sight.
'But June 29th is really important.'
June 29th.
The ePhone launch day, and Steven Gibson's presentation.
Lee Dae-hyuk wanted to celebrate his friend's historic moment in that historic space.
And then.
'I might run into Yoo Jae-man... or the 'me' who's still alive.'
At this point, Kim Gun-woo was faithfully assisting Yoo Jae-man, even on his business trips.
'Someday... we'll have to meet.'
Ironically, to take down Yoo Jae-man, he might have to take down this timeline's 'Kim Gun-woo.'
'Ha...'
Absurd even to him.
A chuckle escaped Lee Dae-hyuk's lips.
But it didn't matter.
If 'himself' stood in the way of revenge, he'd take him down too.
'Yeah. That's all.'
Step, step, step-.
Shaking off the thoughts in his head, Lee Dae-hyuk quickened his pace.
Boss, Become a Chaebol