Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Uninvited Guest
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He knew the trash were tailing him.
But he couldn’t start a brawl in a crowded area.
Especially around here, where Daehan Construction employees might be wandering about—mess up, and they could witness it.
His true identity(?) would come out eventually.
But right now, he couldn’t let others see him fighting gangsters.
‘Handle it quietly and quickly.’
Crunch!
Having steeled his resolve, Lee Dae-hyuk turned around to find Jeong Hyeok-su and his crew already blocking the alley.
“If you’ve been rude, you must be prepared to pay the price, right?”
“Seems like you’re the ones who’ll be paying.”
Lee Dae-hyuk shot back provocatively, making Jeong Hyeok-su’s eyes twitch.
It was the first time some young punk had acted so cocky toward him.
“Guess I’ll have to rip that mouth open first.”
Tearing that damn mouth would at least vent some anger.
Jeong Hyeok-su, imagining slicing Lee Dae-hyuk’s mouth with his fish-gutting knife, continued.
“Anticipate it. It’ll be pretty thrilling.”
Despite Jeong Hyeok-su’s attempt to intimidate him, Lee Dae-hyuk remained unfazed.
He’d dealt with guys like Joo-oh before.
Some knife-wielding thug from Busan? Nothing to worry about.
“For a guy sent by President Park, you’re pretty underwhelming. Disappointing.”
“!!”
“If you’re a knife man, play with your knife instead of your tongue. Or is that just third-rate chatter?”
“……?!”
Jeong Hyeok-su flinched in surprise.
How did he know he was a knife man?
As if reading his doubt,
Lee Dae-hyuk flashed a grin and pressed on.
“Why so shocked? I could just tell at a glance.”
Lee Dae-hyuk’s nonchalance forced Jeong Hyeok-su to heighten his guard.
Not only staying calm while sizing him and his men up, but nailing that he was a knife specialist too.
“Sharp eyes. But can’t read the room, huh?”
Lee Dae-hyuk waved off Jeong Hyeok-su’s question.
“Who’s the one who can’t read the room?”
“What?”
“And I don’t travel alone either.”
Clap clap clap!!
Lee Dae-hyuk clapped his hands.
At that moment, the five men, including Jeong Hyeok-su, whipped around to look behind them.
But.
“…….”
No one was there.
Turning back, Jeong Hyeok-su muttered.
“Ha, where’s this kid get off playing games? Boys, beat him down!”
The night was short.
Hating to waste time, Jeong Hyeok-su ordered his men to attack.
Once they roughed Lee Dae-hyuk up good, he’d finish it off himself.
But.
Thwack!!!
Instead of a reply came a dull thud.
“Huh?”
Jeong Hyeok-su’s eyes went wide as he turned.
A group had suddenly burst in, striking his men down with one blow each.
‘Seven?’
Seven burly men were pummeling his crew without mercy.
Thud thud!!
Splat!!!
“Gah!!”
“Urk!!”
As his men crumpled with agonized grunts, Jeong Hyeok-su drew his knife.
“Who the hell are you guys?!!”
“We’re his lowly employees.”
Kim Min-gyu smirked after landing a fist right between one thug’s eyes.
“Ha, you punks think Busan’s streets are a joke? Wanna die?”
“Busan this, Busan that. Can’t you read the situation?”
Kim Min-gyu’s taunt shut Jeong Hyeok-su up.
He was right.
In an instant, all his men were subdued, and the tide had turned.
But Jeong Hyeok-su didn’t back down easily. Damn pride wouldn’t let him.
‘I can take a few at least.’
On the other hand, regret gnawed at him.
‘Should’ve listened to big bro and left that punk alone….’
Grit!!
But as always, regret came too late.
No choice but to fight now.
“Anybody wanna see their guts, step up!”
Gripping his fish-gutting knife in one hand, Jeong Hyeok-su glared fiercely at Kim Min-gyu and his men.
Lee Dae-hyuk snorted.
“Cut the bluffing.”
“Bluff or momentum, come find out yourself if you’re curious.”
Jeong Hyeok-su subtly baited Lee Dae-hyuk.
If that arrogant punk charged in relying on his backup, he’d grab him as a hostage.
Unfortunately, Lee Dae-hyuk wasn’t that stupid.
“Min-gyu, no dragging it out. Rush him all at once.”
Even the best knife man couldn’t handle a surround.
Kim Min-gyu nodded at Lee Dae-hyuk’s order.
“I’ll wrap it up in 10 seconds.”
Grinning, Kim Min-gyu and his men charged at Jeong Hyeok-su, who was sweating bullets.
***
A high-end Japanese restaurant in one corner of Haeundae.
Patter patter!
Premium sashimi. And even pricier sake.
Despite the delicious food and expensive drinks, Park Jung-ki’s face was stiff.
“What a pain, all because of one lunatic.”
Kim Jin-taek chuckled as he poured more sake, but Park Jung-ki’s hand trembled.
“A young guy like you with shaky hands? What’s with the guy who’s supposed to do big things?”
Kim Jin-taek clucked his tongue sympathetically, and the elderly man beside him chimed in.
“Yeah, President Park. If you’re meant for big things, start with self-control. Can’t betray our trust again, right?”
The elderly man, Min Seung-su, president of Seojin Construction, spoke in a gentle tone.
At his words, Park Jung-ki finally steadied his trembling hand and downed his sake in one gulp.
Gulp!
The sake was bitter.
No, the real bitterness and sting came from their contemptuous stares.
They were sharing a table and drinks, but the two treated Park Jung-ki like a subordinate.
Truth be told, they were in different leagues from the start.
Kim Jin-taek was a former Blue House secretary, a shoo-in for National Assembly member.
Min Seung-su was Yoo Jae-man’s most loyal vassal.
Plus, he was president of Seojin Construction, leading most of Korea’s major redevelopment projects.
In their presence, Park Jung-ki was just a lackey.
He knew they weren’t equals, but their looks still made bile rise in his throat.
Grind!
Park Jung-ki clenched his teeth quietly and set his glass down on the table.
“…Sorry.”
At his curt apology, Kim Jin-taek and Min Seung-su, sitting across from him, twitched their eyes.
Displeasure and contempt.
Sharing the sentiment, Kim Jin-taek spoke first.
“Anyone can apologize after failing. But what matters isn’t the three-inch tongue—it’s actions.”
“Secretary Kim, it’s not a failure yet. Let’s give it a bit more time. Then decide whether to replace him or keep going.”
Tremble!
Humiliation made his fist clench and shake under the table.
But these men were essential for this project.
If he nailed the Jesong-dong redevelopment, he could go from ‘slave’ to ‘master.’
So for now, he had to unclench that fist.
“He’s the psycho demanding 100 billion. My guys will give him a beating at our level. Then somehow….”
“Get our land back?”
Park Jung-ki nodded at Kim Jin-taek’s retort.
“Yes. I’ll get it back for sure.”
Did his bold promise please them?
Min Seung-su burst into laughter.
“Good. I like this side of you, President Park Jung-ki. Full of fight. One more round.”
As Min Seung-su reached to pour him more,
Suddenly, a server’s voice came from beyond the sliding door.
“One of your party has arrived.”
‘Party member?’
Hearing the staff, all three tilted their heads.
Today’s special gathering was just the three of them.
No one else was coming.
But their question was soon answered.
Slide!
Before they could speak, the door opened, and the man holding their most vital leverage stepped inside.
“Were you talking about me?”
“Who…?”
Kim Jin-taek stared in bewilderment, while Park Jung-ki slammed down his glass and snarled.
“You bastard! How’d you know to come here? Get out!”
“You, why so worked up… no way?”
Min Seung-su, who’d tried to rein in Park Jung-ki’s cursing, gaped.
He’d realized who this intruder was.
“Hello. I’m Lee Dae-hyuk.”
The intruder, Lee Dae-hyuk, beamed and extended a hand to Min Seung-su.
Min Seung-su eyed the proffered hand impassively.
“…….”
It was blatant provocation, so stewing in irritation, he still shook it.
He was Seojin Construction’s president.
He had to show some class to a yapping pup baring its teeth.
“I’m Min Seung-su.”
Flash!
The instant their hands met, Min Seung-su’s info flooded into Lee Dae-hyuk’s mind.
‘A dog who thinks he’s a wolf…. Easy to toy with.’
Min Seung-su saw himself as the project’s core and commander.
And that type was exactly what Yoo Jae-man despised most.
Yoo Jae-man always delivered what his underlings wanted.
Some became Supreme Court justices or prime ministers; others, presidents of solid affiliates.
But among them were those who mistook themselves for wolves instead of dogs.
Mad dogs meeting miserable ends.
Just like… his past self.
‘Even without me, it wouldn’t have ended well.’
He seemed to know his place outwardly, but his arrogant heart always botched things.
Having judged Min Seung-su, Lee Dae-hyuk released his hand.
“Do you know what kind of gathering this is?”
Min Seung-su asked.
He was wary of Lee Dae-hyuk.
Showing up where he, Kim Jin-taek, and Park Jung-ki were meant he knew something.
‘A kid not even thirty.’
As Min Seung-su glared suspiciously, Kim Jin-taek’s smooth voice interjected from beside him.
“If a guest arrives, you invite them to sit. Why’s everyone so rude?”
Kim Jin-taek smiled and offered his hand to Lee Dae-hyuk.
“Nice to meet you. I’ve wanted to see the man of the hour. Kim Jin-taek.”
Grab!
Lee Dae-hyuk seized it without hesitation.
And.
Smirk!!
Lee Dae-hyuk wore a satisfied smile.
‘Got ledgers, huh? Sharper than I thought.’
Kim Jin-taek knew power wasn’t eternal.
Countless politicians ended up in prison for bribes, humiliated.
Chaebols, meanwhile, always kept their seats and perks.
Kim Jin-taek understood that dynamic well.
So he’d prepared insurance.
For emergencies, he’d documented all the instances where the senior land corporation officials he’d introduced met with Min Seung-su and Park Jung-ki for bribes or entertainment.
Even buying pen cameras and glasses cams himself.
‘Perfect. Can use this right.’
Handing over evidence on a platter—what a gift.
Lee Dae-hyuk almost wanted to bow to Kim Jin-taek.
But greetings could wait.
‘After squeezing 100 billion.’
Releasing Kim Jin-taek’s hand, Lee Dae-hyuk took a seat.
“Thanks for the welcome.”
“Of course. I adore ambitious, capable youngsters like you, Mr. Lee.”
Having played host, Kim Jin-taek signaled Park Jung-ki and Min Seung-su with his eyes.
The two sat silently without a word.
Kim Jin-taek held the power here.
Mouthing off in anger could provoke him, so best to shut up.
Lee Dae-hyuk glanced between them and casually broached the topic.
“But sorry about this. Truth is, I don’t like people like you, Mr. Kim Jin-taek. The type who live off their tongues instead of ability.”
At Lee Dae-hyuk’s provocation, Min Seung-su and Park Jung-ki’s faces drained of color.