Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: A Knife for Hire
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Lee Dae-hyuk's completely unexpected proposal made Lee Sang-wook's eyes go wide.
In contrast, Lee Dae-hyuk was still smiling leisurely.
"A deal. We give each other what we need."
"...Are you messing with me? Just..."
"Just kill you? Sorry to disappoint, but I'm no murderer. Unlike some, I've got a lot to lose."
Lee Dae-hyuk replied with a sly grin.
Of course, that didn't mean he'd never kill anyone.
If the time came to get blood on his hands, he could take down anyone without hesitation.
Just not now.
Besides, someone like Lee Sang-wook could be useful as his tool.
Why toss away a perfectly good tool?
"But if you really want to die, I won't stop you. You don't want to go out like a dog, though, do you?"
"...What can I even offer you?"
In response to Lee Sang-wook's question, Lee Dae-hyuk said,
"I need a blade."
To wield in the power struggles to seize Daekwang Group.
And plenty of blades to stick in Yu Jae-man's neck, that giant.
"I'll give you a chance at a normal life. And when I need you, you help me out."
"Like killing people, the way Park Cheon-ho ordered me to?"
"You won't have to kill anyone right away. But if necessary, we'll have to make someone disabled, at least."
"So you're saying you might order a murder someday?"
"Yeah."
Lee Sang-wook bowed his head and fell silent at Lee Dae-hyuk's blunt honesty.
Lee Dae-hyuk felt no shame watching him struggle for a response.
It was a straight-up deal.
He'd treat him fairly, and Lee Sang-wook would fight when needed.
The same went for Lee Sang-wook.
"You'll even get a proper job while working for me."
"A proper... job?"
Lee Sang-wook tilted his head at Lee Dae-hyuk's words.
"You've never properly trained in martial arts, right?"
Lee Sang-wook furrowed his brow at the sudden question.
Martial arts? Out of nowhere.
"What are you talking about?"
"I told you. You'll get a proper job."
Through Psycho Metry, Lee Dae-hyuk had sensed Lee Sang-wook's pure longing for strength and his burning desire for honor.
Strength and honor.
What else but martial arts could deliver both?
Plus, Lee Sang-wook was a fan of the sport himself.
"There are only two legal ways to fight in Korea: pro fighter or bodyguard. Sounds like a proper job to me, doesn't it?"
"The person I'd have to protect would naturally be..."
"Yeah, me."
"......"
Lee Sang-wook couldn't make a clear judgment.
To get recruited by the employer of the man he'd come to kill.
It was tempting, and he knew this was his chance.
But he still couldn't give an answer right away.
'What do I do? What should I do?'
Lee Dae-hyuk made his pitch to the man lost in thought, lips pressed tight.
"You like gukbap?"
"...Pardon?"
Lee Sang-wook tilted his head again at the random question.
***
Steam rose from the gukbap bowl.
But Lee Sang-wook didn't pick up his spoon.
He couldn't believe the situation.
He'd come here to kill someone.
Now he was sitting across from his target's boss, eating a meal.
Not just the boss—Kim Min-gyu and Yoon Tae-ho were there too.
The target himself, Kim Min-gyu, wasn't eating either, just scowling.
Yoon Tae-ho had his arms crossed, staring at Lee Sang-wook.
In this awkward atmosphere, Lee Dae-hyuk, who had been quietly eating his gukbap, spoke up.
"You guys look like you're at a funeral. We're here to eat. Let's enjoy it."
At Lee Dae-hyuk's urging, Yoon Tae-ho and Kim Min-gyu finally started eating.
Crunch crunch-!!
Munch munch-!!!
As the silent meal continued, Lee Dae-hyuk spoke up.
"You like fighting?"
"I got into this just trying to survive."
Lee Sang-wook said no more.
He didn't want to chat unnecessarily.
Either way, he was a blade.
What did it matter if he switched from Park Cheon-ho's blade to Lee Dae-hyuk's?
Munch munch-!!!
As long as he could earn some money to take care of his mother, that was enough.
Without any emotional stir, Lee Sang-wook scooped up a big bite of gukbap and shoved it in his mouth.
Watching him, Lee Dae-hyuk got down to business.
"Park Cheon-ho's real target is me."
"...That's not what I heard."
"Yeah. I'm better looking than the rumors, right?"
"...I meant your personality, not your looks."
Lee Sang-wook had heard stories about Lee Dae-hyuk from the organization's other grunts.
Mostly trash talk, but seeing Kim Min-gyu pledge loyalty like this confirmed it.
This guy was different.
"My personality's great too. That's why I'm trying to save this lost lamb."
Lee Sang-wook's shoulders twitched at 'lost lamb.'
'He's definitely a cocky bastard.'
While Lee Sang-wook thought that, Kim Min-gyu, who knew his situation well, spoke first.
"Join us, hyung."
"...I don't trust people's words anymore."
"Then?"
To Kim Min-gyu's question, Lee Sang-wook replied in a low voice.
"I'll only believe what you show me."
Pfft-!
Lee Dae-hyuk let out a chuckle at the response.
"Fine. Then let's go see it right now."
"See what?"
To Lee Sang-wook's question, Lee Dae-hyuk replied with confident conviction.
"The best fighter on the legal stage."
***
"Ch-Chu Dong-hyun... the player?"
Seeing Lee Sang-wook's jaw drop in shock upon meeting Chu Dong-hyun, Lee Dae-hyuk felt a sense of satisfaction.
On the other hand.
"Who's this guy?"
Chu Dong-hyun, roused from sleep by Lee Dae-hyuk's call and rushed to the gym, was a bit annoyed.
"A new trainee."
"Trainee? Doesn't look like a regular civilian."
Chu Dong-hyun scanned Lee Sang-wook up and down.
A fighter's instinct was telling him.
'This guy's got the smell of blood.'
Honestly, he was a little greedy too.
But the ring was no street brawl for thugs.
It was a battlefield where technique and fighting spirit clashed, not raw violence.
'His technique's probably a mess, but that fire in his eyes...'
Looking at Lee Sang-wook's fierce gaze, Chu Dong-hyun continued.
"I like your eyes."
"Th-thank you."
"But is Mr. Lee Dae-hyuk right? You really wanna train here? If so, you'll need to pass a simple entry test. We don't take just anyone."
Lee Sang-wook's eyes trembled at Chu Dong-hyun's words.
Seeing a world-class superstar made his heart pound.
"Y-yeah."
"If you're serious, I'll train you hard."
"......"
Lee Sang-wook couldn't respond right away.
His heart had already gone to Chu Dong-hyun.
But with Park Cheon-ho still threatening his parents, what choice did he have?
Then.
Slide-!!
Lee Dae-hyuk placed a hand on Lee Sang-wook's shoulder as he agonized and said,
"Wanna step out and talk for a sec?"
.
.
.
"Cigarette?"
"No thanks."
Lee Sang-wook shook his head at Lee Dae-hyuk's offer.
"You drink?"
"Not really."
"You live clean."
Lee Sang-wook clamped his mouth shut at Lee Dae-hyuk's words.
Clean living or not, he was still a thug.
"......"
In the silence, Lee Sang-wook gave a wry smile and spoke.
"Can you... really take down that bastard Park Cheon-ho?"
"Yeah."
"Got it. But I need money."
"Sure. You'll get a salary separately."
"Thank you."
Neither Lee Dae-hyuk nor Lee Sang-wook said more.
They both knew it was a deal where they needed each other.
From Lee Dae-hyuk's view, he needed a blade to fight in even riskier spots to protect Yoon Tae-ho.
For Lee Sang-wook, life under Lee Dae-hyuk beat staying with Park Cheon-ho.
He was grateful to Park Cheon-ho, but sticking with him meant an obvious end.
Killing someone, then rotting away in prison.
He was a disposable tool either way, but better to take Lee Dae-hyuk's hand.
"Please take care of me."
"Let's head in."
As Lee Dae-hyuk turned to enter the gym after the reply, Lee Sang-wook hurriedly blocked his path.
"Before we go after Park Cheon-ho... there's something you need to know."
"What?"
After hesitating, Lee Sang-wook spoke.
"Park Cheon-ho has a secret weapon."
"Secret weapon?"
"Yeah. I only found out recently."
Lee Dae-hyuk stroked his chin.
Not fear—interest sparked.
"Only a handful in the organization know. When Min-gyu hyung left and things split, he mentioned it as a threat. A secret weapon loyal since Park Cheon-ho's father, Park Il-man's time."
"Loyal since the previous generation..."
At Lee Dae-hyuk's murmur, Lee Sang-wook continued.
"Name's Juo (朱烏). A Joseon-jok blade master also called the 'Red Crow'."
"Kinda childish name for a secret weapon."
Juo (朱烏). Red Crow.
Lee Dae-hyuk grimaced playfully.
But Lee Sang-wook remained serious.
"You saw it on the news, right? His underlings involved in organ trafficking all got stabbed dead right before arrest."
"Yeah. No way?"
Only then did Lee Dae-hyuk's mouth slightly agape.
'A new variable.'
His expression turned serious.
If such a factor existed, he needed to watch out.
But one thing to clarify first.
"Is this 'Juo' stronger than you or Kim Min-gyu?"
"I can't kill. Min-gyu hyung hasn't killed either. That's a big difference."
Lee Dae-hyuk stroked his chin, deep in thought at Lee Sang-wook's words.
If this Juo was that dangerous, he needed to wipe out Park Cheon-ho's crew even faster.
' Gotta hurry.'
.
.
.
A moment later.
In front of the gym, Yoon Tae-ho's security car.
Kim Min-gyu and Yoon Tae-ho couldn't hide their shock at Lee Dae-hyuk's orders.
"Speak up if you have objections."
Kim Min-gyu spoke first at Lee Dae-hyuk's prompt.
"I know Sang-wook wants a normal life despite how he seems. No complaints about taking him in."
"Same here."
Yoon Tae-ho nodded.
To be precise, he'd given up trying to dissuade Lee Dae-hyuk.
What really troubled them was Lee Dae-hyuk's other order.
"Hitting Park Cheon-ho right now is too dangerous."
Yoon Tae-ho tried to dissuade him strongly.
Kim Min-gyu nodded too.
"He's right. We need prep time."
As he chimed in, Yoon Tae-ho looked at Lee Dae-hyuk with agreeing eyes.
"If we prepare, so will they. Better to strike when they least expect it."
Lee Dae-hyuk's stance was firm.
With a secret weapon like Juo, taking out Park Cheon-ho in one swift blow would minimize risks.
After a brief silence.
Kim Min-gyu said,
"No choice then. I wanted to trash Park Cheon-ho quick anyway."
"Protecting the Young Master anywhere, anyhow—that's my job. I'll follow."
Yoon Tae-ho agreed too.
A sudden raid worried him, but cutting out the rotten tumor Park Cheon-ho fast wasn't bad.
Hearing them, Lee Dae-hyuk declared war.
"Today, we take down Park Cheon-ho."