Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: A Deal with White Storm
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“We only sell information. You could just leave that kind of work to the people you were originally commissioning.”
Eve turned down Lee Dae-hyuk’s request for now.
Truth be told, there was no real need to refuse Lee Dae-hyuk’s commission.
Hacking to extract information was their main line of business, after all.
But since she still couldn’t fully trust him, she made up some flimsy excuse to decline.
“……”
Lee Dae-hyuk pondered her response briefly before countering.
“I need the best in the business. The hackers Manager Kim Min-gyu knows are skilled, sure, but they’re not the top.”
“……”
“The best is White Storm, isn’t it?”
“You’re right. But we operate on a higher level.”
“I’ll make sure the compensation matches that level.”
Eve furrowed her brow.
As the head of White Storm, she carried immense pride.
Money was one thing, but she wanted more from Lee Dae-hyuk.
If her suspicions were correct, Lee Dae-hyuk would soon become a titan on par with Chairman Yoo Jae-man.
Forming an equal partnership rather than a subordinate relationship would benefit both her and White Storm in the long run.
“Money isn’t the only form of compensation.”
“Then what?”
Even as Lee Dae-hyuk smiled, he sensed that Eve was sharper than Jung Hee-joo.
‘She won’t be easy.’
But he wasn’t an easy mark either.
“Tell me what you want, and I’ll consider it as best I can.”
“You said you wanted dirt on Chairman Yoo Jae-man?”
“Yes.”
“Add one more thing to that.”
“……”
Lee Dae-hyuk’s eyes narrowed at Eve’s demand.
A mix of wariness and curiosity flickered through him.
Still, he kept his expression as calm as possible and asked her.
“What’s that?”
“I want information on you, Lee Dae-hyuk.”
“On… me?”
Lee Dae-hyuk nearly burst out laughing.
He knew what she was after.
His accomplishments far outstripped the scant info available on him.
It was only natural, really.
He’d lived such a quiet life up until now.
Eve found that peculiar too.
She’d mobilized every intel network at her disposal to dig into Lee Dae-hyuk, but nothing much came up.
Just the son of Lee Myung-guk—otherwise, an utterly ordinary guy.
‘Not just ordinary, but a depressed ordinary guy. And yet…’
His recent actions were downright shocking.
Dismantling the Cheonho Gang, crippling Wolfgang—one of the world’s top killers—not to mention extorting 100 billion won from Seojin Construction. That monster of a man…
‘A depressed patient? Who’d believe that?’
After mulling over Lee Dae-hyuk endlessly, Eve reached one conclusion.
‘He must’ve been acting his whole life.’
Fooling everyone around him.
His status as an illegitimate son probably forced him to hide his true talents.
Even so, achieving all this in just a few months made Lee Dae-hyuk all the more intriguing.
Lee Dae-hyuk knew exactly what piqued her curiosity.
‘The reason I’ve changed, huh.’
Plenty of people must be stunned by his transformation.
Especially those in the intel trade like Eve—they’d be particularly invested.
‘Even without the money angle, curiosity would kick in. Info brokers live for that stuff.’
He decided to leverage that psychology.
“Looks like you’re interested in me?”
“Anyone who’s seen your recent moves would be.”
“Fine by me. If you’ll take the job in exchange for my info, great. But… do we need to overcomplicate it?”
“Overcomplicate?”
Eve wrinkled her brow.
Her soft tone and curved lips suggested she was entertaining some wild ideas.
‘What’s his angle?’
With her years in the game, she could read people’s faces like a book.
But right now, she had to ask.
If only to satisfy her own curiosity.
“Stop beating around the bush and spit it out. I’m a busy woman.”
Irritation crept into Eve’s voice.
Seizing the moment, Lee Dae-hyuk spoke up.
“Thanks to you, a brilliant idea just hit me. No need for mind games—we both get a clear win.”
“What… kind of idea?”
Eve asked, half-doubting, half-intrigued.
A broad grin spread across Lee Dae-hyuk’s face. He paused thoughtfully before speaking.
“How about we become friends?”
.
.
.
The sudden word “friends” left Eve speechless.
‘Friends… in this world?’
She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d heard that word.
‘Ridiculous.’
Friendships didn’t exist in their world.
People like her, Wolfgang, or Park Jung-ki—nightworld lifers—would stab each other in the back for profit without a second thought.
And now he wanted to be friends?
‘Does he not know how this world works?’
Eve couldn’t mask her disbelief.
But she couldn’t stay silent forever.
She firmly rejected Lee Dae-hyuk’s absurd proposal.
“I don’t need friends.”
“That hurts my feelings.”
Lee Dae-hyuk shrugged with mock offense.
Of course, he’d anticipated her response.
The “friends” pitch was just bait to draw out the real relationship he wanted.
‘Being actual friends wouldn’t be bad, but for now… too soon.’
Still, Eve would play a huge role in his revenge against Yoo Jae-man.
Plus, her ability to pull intel on demand would prove invaluable in the chaebol wars ahead.
‘Someday, I’ll win her over for real.’
To gain her loyalty, he’d need to offer substantial gains.
Racking his brain for what he could provide, Lee Dae-hyuk continued.
“How about business partners, then? The kind who share even basic intel.”
Eve sighed at his follow-up pitch.
“…Fine, let’s settle on that.”
She wrapped it up neatly.
It felt like she’d danced to his tune, but what could she do?
She needed to keep a close eye on this man too.
“We’ll pull the CCTV footage by eight tonight.”
“Oh, make sure to wipe the copies on your end.”
Eve instantly saw through his intent.
“You want to hold all the leverage yourself… You’re more of a villain than I thought, Mr. Lee.”
“Villain? I’ll take the compliment.”
Lee Dae-hyuk flashed a relaxed smile at her jab.
He liked her even more for clocking his plan so quickly.
‘Not someone to underestimate.’
She drew lines firmly, read intentions fast.
People like her moved on logic and profit, not emotion.
Hurt her interests even a little, and she’d turn in a heartbeat.
‘Doesn’t matter.’
As long as he profited, Eve would be the steadiest ally.
And with a regressor like him—who knew the future—as her partner, there’d be no losses.
***
That afternoon at seven, in front of Gold Moon.
Reporter Bae and Detective Yoon Dong-chul, meeting again after yesterday, sighed heavily.
Yoon spoke first.
“Take good care of the article.”
“You too… good luck.”
They had plenty to say.
But with eyes everywhere, one wrong word could bring trouble.
Better to shut up and do their jobs.
Both thought the same as they entered Gold Moon.
‘Work now. Deal with the fallout later.’
To them, Lee Dae-hwan’s repercussions paled next to the immediate terror of Lee Dae-hyuk or Kim Il-jung.
.
.
.
Ten minutes later.
“Hyu, hyung?”
Kim Hyun-seung, lounging in the president’s office, gaped at the sudden arrival of Detective Yoon Dong-chul.
Detective Yoon Dong-chul.
The cop who took pocket money and favors from him, hitting saunas and golf courses together.
For that guy to barge in waving an arrest warrant?
“Kim Hyun-seung, you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court… Just come quietly.”
“Hyung, you messing with me? I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
Kim Hyun-seung was seething.
No word from Im Seo-ran.
Lee Dae-hyuk had reportedly gone home safe.
Even calling Yoon Dong-chul as a precaution—straight to voicemail.
“Why pick up now to screw around after ghosting my calls?”
Yoon lowered his voice at Kim’s retort.
“This isn’t a joke. Kim Hyun-seung, from this moment…”
“……”
Kim Hyun-seung still couldn’t process it.
Year-end prank? But Yoon’s serious face said otherwise.
“……”
“Hyun-seung.”
Stunned silent, Kim Hyun-seung heard Yoon call his name.
Finally grasping the gravity, he shot back.
“This isn’t a joke… How could you do this to me, hyung?”
“Sigh. I came alone out of respect for you. Step outside, and my team’s waiting. Don’t make me bleed too—watch your mouth.”
Kim Hyun-seung’s face hardened at Yoon’s grave tone.
“…Why are you doing this?”
“Lee Dae-hyuk’s got dirt on us too. That’s why… Sorry.”
“Hyung…”
“We’ve got evidence and witnesses locked down. Gotta pick your fights. Damn idiot.”
Scratching his head in frustration mid-explanation, Yoon felt a pang of kinship with Kim Hyun-seung.
He might end up just like him soon.
But survival came first.
“Hate me all you want. Expose my corruption later if you must. I won’t last long in this game anyway.”
“……”
Half-resigned, Yoon’s ramble let Kim Hyun-seung piece it together.
Lee Dae-hyuk had leverage on both him and Yoon.
Probably Im Seo-ran and her drugs.
“…Hyung. One favor?”
“Shoot.”
“Can I make two calls? Five minutes tops.”
“Three minutes.”
Yoon leaned against the door.
Kim Hyun-seung hesitated, then dialed.
It rang, and the line picked up.
“Director. It’s Hyun-seung.”
- I heard.
“Sorry.”
Silence from Lee Dae-hwan on the other end.
Kim Hyun-seung sensed the man weighing options: save him or cut him loose.
‘Who got me here, and he’s hesitating?’
Kim’s face twisted.
He wanted to curse, but held back.
Seconds ticked by in silence.
Then Lee Dae-hwan’s voice.
- I don’t have time to spare for failures.
“Director!”
Abandoning him outright.
Kim Hyun-seung’s eyes blazed.
“This is because of your orders!”
- No, it’s because you botched them. Good luck…
“Director. Our club’s got CCTV everywhere, you know?”
Kim Hyun-seung cut him off.
Something he’d never dare normally.
But today, cornered, fear was gone.
“Curious what’s on them?”