Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Assassination Attempt
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“Understood.”
Lee Sang-wook’s voice no longer trembled as he replied again.
He had steeled himself the moment he decided to enter this world.
‘It’s not about killing someone. It’s about saving my parents.’
It was all for his parents.
Was that why?
Lee Sang-wook’s expression calmed as he asked once more.
“Who do I need to kill?”
***
Gamjatang restaurant.
Kim Min-gyu was having a meal with his younger sister, Kim Min-seon, for the first time in a while.
“Oppa. Gamjatang’s fine?”
“Yeah.”
His sister, Kim Min-seon, asked worriedly.
Today was an important day.
The day she was introducing her fiancé—the man she was going to marry—to her beloved brother.
The fiancé was even covering the meal.
Yet her brother had dragged them both to a gamjatang joint no matter what.
“Hyung-nim. This is really okay?”
“Save the fancy, expensive stuff for you two. This is plenty for me.”
“Oppa…”
Kim Min-seon felt a pang in her chest.
She was grateful, sorry, and tender all at once.
Ever since their parents died in a car accident, her brother had raised her all these years.
Even if he was family, taking care of a much younger sister must have been tough.
But her brother had never shown any hardship, caring for her all this time.
She knew there was only one way to repay his sacrifice.
“Oppa, I’ll live well.”
“Hyung-nim, don’t worry. I’ll make Min-seon happy without letting her suffer.”
With Min-seon followed by her fiancé making their vows, Kim Min-gyu broke into a wide grin.
“Good. Break that promise, and you’re getting your ribs kicked in.”
“Huh? Ri—?!”
Her fiancé’s face went pale in an instant.
“…Oppa!”
As his sister raised her voice too, Kim Min-gyu quickly smoothed his expression and burst out laughing.
“Just kidding, kidding. No one’s getting ribs kicked. Right?”
“…Yes.”
Her fiancé, still pale, bowed his head and started shoveling down the gamjatang.
.
.
.
“Yeah. This is life. Gotta have moments like this to be even a little happy.”
After finishing the gamjatang.
Kim Min-gyu, face flushed from soju with his future brother-in-law at a street stall, was walking home.
Just one week until his sister’s wedding.
What could be happier than this?
“Man, I’m so damn happy.”
Muttering about his happiness nonstop as he walked.
But the moment he turned from a quiet sidewalk into a dark alley.
His brief happiness ended.
“Whew. Fuck.”
Kim Min-gyu’s face twisted as he spat out a curse.
“These bastards always show up on days like this.”
He turned around, shooting a cold glare into the alley’s darkness.
“Park Chun-ho send you?”
Step-.
As if in answer, a man emerged from the shadows.
Black hoodie, mask.
But those eyes were familiar.
“Face rings a bell.”
Still young-looking eyes.
Kim Min-gyu recognized him immediately.
“Mask doesn’t hide shit.”
“Yes. It’s me.”
An immature voice came from behind the mask, narrowing Kim Min-gyu’s eyes.
“Yeah. Sang-wook, good to see you.”
“Long time no see.”
Kim Min-gyu clicked his tongue at Lee Sang-wook’s reply.
“Came to see hyung-nim ’cause you missed me?”
“Sorry.”
Lee Sang-wook kept it short.
People were meant to live by fate anyway.
He just had to kill Kim Min-gyu.
Meanwhile, even as killing intent poured off Lee Sang-wook, Kim Min-gyu just smiled leisurely.
“Take off the mask and greet me properly. Not hungry?”
Kim Min-gyu tossed it out casually, but he knew Lee Sang-wook wasn’t here for chit-chat.
He knew the kid’s skills too.
The boy Park Chun-ho trusted for his innate fighting sense.
He’d seen Lee Sang-wook in action himself.
Lightning-fast moves dropping three or four enemy gangsters in seconds—impressive stuff.
But still weaker than him.
In peak condition, that is.
‘Gotta sober up first.’
The alcohol hadn’t worn off yet.
He needed to stall.
“How about some haejangguk and a shot?”
“I’ll pour one on your grave, hyung-nim.”
With that short reply, Lee Sang-wook charged at Kim Min-gyu.
Tadadadot-!!!
Gripping his fist as Lee Sang-wook rushed him, Kim Min-gyu thought.
‘Yeah. This is more like Kim Min-gyu.’
Stalling was pointless anyway.
And sappy family melodrama didn’t suit him.
His genre was action thriller.
Shwak-!
Sidestepping half a pace laterally, Kim Min-gyu dodged the first strike.
Dodging the opener was easy.
Innate fighting sense or not, Lee Sang-wook was a rookie compared to him.
Rookies telegraph with their eyes before fists.
Read the gaze, and a few punches were child’s play to evade.
Then spot the opening?
Shuk-!
Land a light jab to the left side.
But.
Grab-.
“Too predictable.”
Whipping his left arm like a lash to bat away Kim Min-gyu’s fist, Lee Sang-wook’s right foot flashed.
Ppeok-!
“Urk!”
With Kim Min-gyu’s groan from the hit to his left thigh.
Taaak-!!
Leaping powerfully, Lee Sang-wook’s right knee targeted Kim Min-gyu’s nose bridge.
The booze again?
His body wouldn’t move as he wanted.
In the end.
‘Huh?!’
Pakak.
Lee Sang-wook’s knee smashed Kim Min-gyu’s nose bridge.
“Eugh!”
Unable to bear the pain, Kim Min-gyu staggered.
Lee Sang-wook didn’t miss the gap.
‘Can’t drag this out.’
Pulling a combat knife from his jacket, venom filled Lee Sang-wook’s eyes.
‘Finish it here.’
He’d thrown punches, but never stabbed.
Hesitate, and he’d screw up.
Had to steel his heart.
Chwaaak-!!!
Without hesitation, Lee Sang-wook thrust the combat knife into Kim Min-gyu’s gut.
But.
As the blade’s tip pierced toward Kim Min-gyu’s abdomen.
Whoosh-!!!
Something whistled through the air toward Lee Sang-wook’s head.
Shukak-!!
Reflexively, Lee Sang-wook slashed at the unknown flying object.
But.
Thud-!!!
What hit the blade and rolled on the ground was an empty PET bottle.
“Huh?”
As Lee Sang-wook blinked in surprise.
The foot of the man who’d thrown the empty bottle loomed before him.
Ppeok-!!!
A hulking figure who’d closed in kicked Lee Sang-wook square in the chest.
“Gah!”
Kudangtang-!!
Lee Sang-wook rolled across the ground from the blow.
“That’s far enough.”
Clutching his chest with his left hand, Lee Sang-wook glared at his attacker.
A massive man at least twice his size.
It was Yoon Tae-ho.
“Young Master was right.”
Tak-!!!
Kicking away the fallen combat knife, Yoon Tae-ho jerked his chin toward Kim Min-gyu.
“How old are you? Still getting beat up?”
“Had my fill… Wait, why’re you here?”
Slightly pissed, Kim Min-gyu raised his voice.
Yoon Tae-ho’s face crumpled like discarded paper.
“Young Master said you might be in danger. Been stuck on unpaid overtime for three days straight because of it.”
Yoon Tae-ho sighed deeply.
Pathetic, having to guard a gangster now.
But Kim Min-gyu was useful manpower, no denying it.
‘Yeah. Gotta protect him this time.’
If this earned Kim Min-gyu’s full loyalty to Lee Dae-hyuk, it’d be a win.
“Kid. Come here. Let’s end this painless.”
“You alone?”
Lee Sang-wook ground his teeth.
If solo, he could at least escape capture.
“…Not alone, but you? I can handle solo.”
Yoon Tae-ho smirked coldly.
He’d read Lee Sang-wook’s mind.
Kid probably thought he could take him one-on-one.
But weaknesses were obvious at a glance.
Lee Sang-wook had exposed them taking down Kim Min-gyu.
‘Quick body, but lacks power. Not enough killer instinct. Let’s wrap it fast.’
Even pounding Kim Min-gyu showed raw talent.
But fail to drop with one hit, and talent’s worthless.
Sure, he was older, but in pure fighting talent, Yoon Tae-ho was the man Choo Dong-hyun acknowledged.
Still, he wouldn’t underestimate Lee Sang-wook.
Had to be ready to trade flesh for bone.
“No time wasting.”
Beckoning with his fingers, Yoon Tae-ho prompted the gritted-teeth Lee Sang-wook to charge.
Tadadadadot-!!!
Sighing unconsciously at the rushing boy.
‘Yeah. Disobedient punks…’
Chwaaak-!!!
Lee Sang-wook unleashed a spinning side kick at Yoon Tae-ho’s face.
Whipping whoosh again.
But blocking a predicted attack was simple.
Pakak-!
Crossing his arms to block the kick first, Yoon Tae-ho countered with an outer reap.
‘Huh?’
Lee Sang-wook, pulling back his leg, lost balance.
Then.
“Sweet dreams.”
Lightning-fast, Yoon Tae-ho burrowed in, grabbing Lee Sang-wook’s collar.
Bwooooong-!!!
Lee Sang-wook’s body floated into the air.
‘Throw?’
Kick blocked, now flying?
Hoped it was a dream, unreal as it felt.
Kwaang-!!
But his body had already slammed the ground.
***
Inside a warehouse once filled with art stolen from Yoo Jae-man.
Lee Dae-hyuk grimaced bitterly at Lee Sang-wook, passed out and tied to a chair.
‘Moving exactly as expected.’
He’d predicted Park Chun-ho would send someone after Kim Min-gyu for revenge.
But a future celebrity?
‘Meeting like this… Coincidence? Or scary?’
Lee Dae-hyuk furrowed his brow.
He knew this boy well—a famous figure.
The Gangbuk gangster serial killings.
Ten years from now, Lee Sang-wook murders fifteen gangsters.
Victims from different groups and ranks.
But.
‘One thing in common.’
All once under Park Chun-ho.
Didn’t know the details, but Lee Sang-wook killed fifteen, vanished, then got hunted down and shot by police.
Lee Dae-hyuk had seen his face on TV news a few times.
Hollow eyes, lost will to live.
Prominent cheekbones stood out.
Compared to then, now…
“Too young.”
Heard Lee Dae-hyuk’s mutter?
Suddenly awake, Lee Sang-wook asked.
“Wh… who are you?”
“Kim Min-gyu’s employer. Lee Dae-hyuk.”
“…….”
Lee Sang-wook shut his mouth.
What to say to a clear enemy?
Even if spared, Park Chun-ho wouldn’t let it slide.
‘Same end either way.’
Better to die now than live as Park Chun-ho’s puppet and die later.
Then Park Chun-ho wouldn’t touch his mom either.
‘Better to end here…’
Giving up everything, Lee Sang-wook awaited Lee Dae-hyuk’s judgment in silence.
Lee Dae-hyuk was deep in thought too.
From Park Chun-ho’s character and Lee Sang-wook’s psych profile, he could guess the situation.
Park Chun-ho had initially believed in Lee Sang-wook’s talent, investing heavily.
Gave money, saved his mom’s kidneys, cleared his dad’s debts.
Now demanding he repay by killing Kim Min-gyu.
Without precautions, he’d have done it.
‘Probably same when I was Kim Gun-woo.’
Lee Sang-wook would’ve followed orders.
Then, like Kim Min-gyu, when he grew threatening in the org, Park hit his family.
Resulting in Lee Sang-wook’s horrific revenge.
‘But Park survived.’
No memory of Park’s fate.
Wouldn’t have recalled the news without seeing Lee Sang-wook.
‘Anyway, can’t keep him locked forever.’
Sorting his thoughts, Lee Dae-hyuk spoke with serious eyes.
“Lee Sang-wook. Heard your name from Min-gyu.”
“…….”
“You know Park Chun-ho’s trash, right?”
No reply to Lee Dae-hyuk’s question.
He’d seen the horrors Park committed up close—how could he not know?
His family was hostage too.
But hard to speak before Lee Dae-hyuk.
What to say?
Trash, so kill him?
Or…
“Whew…”
Unable to find words, Lee Sang-wook sighed deeply.
Watching his frustrated silence, Lee Dae-hyuk finally spoke.
“How about a deal?”
Breaking the silence with his decision.
“A deal?”
Boss, Become a Chaebol
