Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Demon in Eden Hell
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Lee Jae-hyun slowly scanned his surroundings.
Thanks to Serhen's help, he had fortunately figured out where Choi Su-jin was.
Otherwise, he would've had a real headache.
What a relief.
He turned his head with that thought.
"Hic!"
A startled hiccup echoed.
Park Hyun-jin, whom he'd forgotten about amid dealing with the others.
It was her voice.
Following the sound, he spotted her huddled and hiding behind the karaoke counter.
She looked terrified, trembling as she stared at Lee Jae-hyun.
'Where'd she go?' he'd wondered.
When Do Kang-cheol had called.
He'd clearly heard Park Hyun-jin's voice beside him.
So he'd assumed they were together, and when she wasn't visible, figured she'd fled.
But apparently, she hadn't run—instead, she'd been hiding here.
'Does tormenting people really amuse you that much?'
Lee Jae-hyun gazed at Park Hyun-jin with utter incomprehension.
She was just a high school girl.
Sure, kids her age might squabble.
But to call in gangsters for a kidnapping over some childish spat?
Like father, like daughter, huh.
"Get up."
Lee Jae-hyun extended a hand toward her.
Frankly, her methods mirrored those of criminals, and Lee Jae-hyun despised their mindset and actions.
Even if she was just a young student.
Still, the reason he was taking her along was simple.
To prevent her from fleeing.
She was the one who'd put out the hit on Choi Su-jin this time.
No matter what anyone said, that made her a criminal.
Leaving a criminal at the scene was as good as giving her an escape route—and Lee Jae-hyun wasn't that naive.
"N-No!"
"That's not for you to decide."
Lee Jae-hyun looked down at Park Hyun-jin with icy eyes.
His tone was devoid of emotion, like thin ice over a frozen lake.
Under his words, Park Hyun-jin trembled violently, clinging to her spot under the counter.
She knew what awaited her if she emerged.
But he had options.
Lee Jae-hyun exhaled once and slowly stepped toward Park Hyun-jin.
"D-Don't come closer!"
Park Hyun-jin shrieked from her huddled spot behind the counter.
Suddenly, he sensed where her gaze was fixed.
Behind him.
And there lay the Axe Gang's big boss, Do Kang-cheol, and his men, out cold like the dead.
Worse, twin axes—Do Kang-cheol's signature weapons—were embedded right by his head.
The already gruesome sight must've looked monstrous with Lee Jae-hyun in the foreground.
Probably like a towering, terrifying beast.
Just like how Do Kang-cheol must've appeared to the tenants they'd been evicting.
"Park Hyun-jin. You're under arrest for—"
Lee Jae-hyun took a step forward as he spoke.
Park Hyun-jin clutched her disheveled hair, staring at him in horror.
"—solicitation to murder, solicitation to kidnap, and violation of the School Violence Special Act."
His voice was flat as he advanced another step, closing in on Park Hyun-jin.
Then he pulled his wallet from his pocket.
Park Hyun-jin desperately searched for an escape from him.
But in the confined space of the counter, there was nowhere to hide.
"—effective immediately."
"Liar! You're lying, right? A warrant! You can't arrest me without a warrant!"
As Lee Jae-hyun stepped closer and uttered "arrest," Park Hyun-jin screamed in fury.
Cornered, she spat out lines straight out of dramas or movies.
But Lee Jae-hyun showed no reaction, simply advancing.
"Emergency arrest doesn't require a warrant."
"No way."
Even after mentioning warrants, his steps didn't falter, twisting her face into a wail of despair.
Whatever.
With one final step, Lee Jae-hyun drew handcuffs from his belt and spoke.
"You have the right to an attorney, to remain silent, to refuse statements that may incriminate you."
Did she sense her end nearing?
Park Hyun-jin thrashed desperately to break free.
But Lee Jae-hyun wasn't one to just watch.
He locked eyes with her and stepped forward.
His pace quickened.
Snap!
In an instant, he was at her side, gripping her shoulder.
Startled, Park Hyun-jin twisted wildly to escape his grasp.
But her high school girl's strength couldn't shake him off.
"You can apply for a review of the arrest in court."
Lee Jae-hyun snapped the cuffs onto her wrist.
Even as they clicked shut, she writhed to flee.
He wasn't letting go.
"Wait!"
Realizing brute force wouldn't work, Park Hyun-jin stopped struggling and smirked up at Lee Jae-hyun.
"Hey, detective. How about a deal instead?"
"A deal?"
"Yeah. You came here for Su-jin, right?"
Even as she spoke, she strained to pull away from him.
Noticing his hands slow on the cuffs, she pressed on urgently.
"I'll tell you where Su-jin is. We won't touch her again. So let me off just this once?"
Park Hyun-jin pleaded desperately.
Her offer implied he couldn't find Choi Su-jin without her.
"Hmm. I think I know already. Even without you."
"What?"
Park Hyun-jin blinked in confusion.
In that moment, Lee Jae-hyun cuffed her other wrist and waved casually at her furious protests to be released.
Like a farewell.
"See ya."
To hell.
* * *
How much time passed?
A commotion echoed from the karaoke stairs, followed by familiar faces.
Sergeant Oh Seo-hyun and Inspector Seo Yoo-jun, waiting in the car with fellow detectives.
Entering, they frowned at the scene.
"What the hell happened here?"
"Tables smashed, bottles broken... And what's that, axes?"
"You're here?"
As they recoiled at the mess,
"...Now I get why they call it Hell Faction. This place is hell."
Someone muttered.
The others nodded in agreement.
Only Lee Jae-hyun spoke up, unconcerned.
"I'll head out now. Take care of the scene."
"Already? Where to?"
"Eden Village."
With that, Lee Jae-hyun strode off swiftly.
Now, it was time to rescue Choi Su-jin.
* * *
A construction site in Incheon.
The half-built structure loomed ominously at night.
[Construction Firm, Resume Work!], [Eden Village or Hell Village?!] and more...
Protest banners amplified the eerie vibe.
On the third floor.
In the drafty center of the building, gangsters gathered, eyeing the student before them.
"Mmph! Mmmph!!"
It was Choi Su-jin.
Blindfolded and gagged with tape, hands bound, she struggled futilely.
"Boss. Why'd we bring this kid?"
A burly gangster griped to the man perched on a pile of materials.
An axe tattoo marked the man's hand—proof of his rank.
He exhaled cigarette smoke and replied.
"I don't know the details. Big Boss just said grab her, so here we are."
"Park Man-seok again, huh."
The burly one grumbled.
Most of their baffling recent orders tied back to him.
They were even at his construction company's site.
"Who cares? We follow orders from above."
"But still. Why protect that construction prez? I just don't get it."
"You little..."
The tattooed man scowled at the burly gangster.
A gang was one organism.
Strict hierarchy ruled it.
Orders from above were absolute.
Yet this newbie was already griping about it.
It grated on him.
'Tch. Can't just crush him outright.'
The tattooed man inwardly clicked his tongue at the burly one.
He was the number two's recommendation.
Too high up to manhandle.
With a sigh, he spoke.
"Sigh. Park Man-seok isn't just any guy."
"I know he's tight with Big Boss. But we're not a charity running on friendship. This is too much."
"You idiot?"
"Huh?"
Even for a higher-up's pal, that crossed a line.
"No brain? You think we do charity? It's all about the money."
"Ahem!"
"And originally, Park Man-seok was there when Axe Gang formed."
"Huh?"
The burly one looked stunned.
News to him.
The man sighed over another drag and eyed his men.
"So get that through your thick skull and watch the girl. One more whine, and you're first on my list."
"Yes, sorry, boss."
The tattooed man glared a final warning.
The burly one bowed, and figuring he'd pipe down now, the man turned to Choi Su-jin.
'I wonder too. Why grab this girl?'
She didn't look rich, no notable family.
'Whatever. Big Boss has his reasons.'
As his close subordinate, he knew orders weren't random.
Benefit or harm to the gang.
One or the other.
Lost in such thoughts, chain-smoking while awaiting word,
"Huh?"
Someone ascended the stalled building's stairs.
Spotting him, gangsters sauntered over lazily.
"Hey, old man! Work site's closed—get lost."
The burly one's aura would scatter civilians.
"Funny?"
He just smirked.
Enraged, the burly one reached for his shoulder.
Whoosh!
The man seized his arm, yanked him close, and twisted.
"Argh!"
The burly one shrieked incongruously.
Other gangsters rose.
Finally, the tattooed man stood from the materials.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Saw outside it ain't Eden Village—it's Hell."
He glanced at the banners, then back.
"What's in hell besides demons?"
"What're you yapping, psycho?"
"You'll see soon."
Grinning, he advanced on them.
Axe Gang outnumbered him, out-bulked him.
Yet none dared approach.
Finally, the tattooed man stepped up.
His men hesitated, backing away.
Facing one man, the gang retreated—a bizarre sight.
He spoke.
"Not coming? Isn't this a demon den?"
His eyes swirled with menace and madness, evoking "demon" clearer than any word.