A Different Goal in This Life
The Mercedes carrying the two men came to a stop in front of the main gate of Taegwang High School. Before getting out, Jihun turned to Taebeom with a serious look.
“Keep a close eye on that girl I saw earlier. I’m counting on you, Uncle.”
“......I’ll keep my promise.”
“Got it. Dark Pink concert VIP tickets plus a five-million-won bonus. I’ll definitely deliver, so make sure you protect her properly. If you guard her like you do my dad, that’d be even better.”
Jihun only knew Taebeom as his father Kang Jiyong’s personal bodyguard. At Jihun’s promise, Taebeom gave a small nod. Jihun then stepped out of the car and headed toward the school.
Meanwhile, in a remote, run-down building. Descending the stairs leading to the basement revealed an incredibly thick steel door that looked like it could withstand even sustained fire from a heavy machine gun. Behind that door, the basement was nothing like the shabby exterior above. Expensive computers lined the walls in neat rows, their cables meticulously organized in a clean, professional interior.
In front of one of those computers sat Seongyun with his signature red hair, earphones plugged in as he rapidly typed on the keyboard and hummed a tune.
“As expected, music really is the best. Dalla Dalla yeah~”
Jang Seongyun. Information broker of the underworld.
The red-haired, somewhat sloppy-looking Seongyun sipped an energy drink while working on the computer. The screen displayed lines of incredibly complex code and characters.
At that moment, a man approached from behind him. He stared blankly at Seongyun’s back as he hummed and typed, then quietly pulled out the earphone from his left ear.
“Hey, this is the highlight part, you son of a—!!”
“It’s me, hyung-nim.”
Seongyun paused the music, removed the other earphone from his right ear, and turned to look at the man. He was roughly 185 centimeters tall with broad shoulders, appearing to be in his early thirties. He looked down at Seongyun, who was still seated.
“Next time, at least tap my shoulder before you speak…. Anyway, did you finish everything I asked you to investigate?”
“I’ve compiled it all and sent it via Telegrammer.”
Min Donghyuk. Subordinate of Jang Seongyun.
“Okay. Let’s see here.”
Seongyun pressed the Alt key, tapped Tab several times to switch windows, then hit F5 to refresh. He scanned the new Telegrammer messages before opening the file Donghyuk had sent.
The file contained photos and detailed information on Giant Bomb idol group member Lee Seunghun, Gangryonghoe boss Kang Jiyong and his executives including Choi Kyungsoo and Ha Seongjun, among many others.
Seongyun continued scrolling, skimming through data on high-ranking members of domestic and international criminal organizations, senior police officials, National Assembly members, and other major figures. He muttered with a bored expression.
“Hmm…. Nice. It’s well organized. Now, shall we take a look at the most important page?”
He scrolled all the way to the final page of the file. The moment he stopped, the lighthearted expression he’d worn until then completely vanished. His face hardened as he examined the contents with intense focus.
While Seongyun silently studied the file with a serious expression, Donghyuk spoke up.
“Should we start moving?”
“......What did the boss say?”
“He ordered us to add more personnel and strengthen surveillance. In case of emergency, we are authorized to take full action.”
At Donghyuk’s reply, Seongyun tapped the mouse rapidly with his right index finger. He stared at the monitor in deep silence, as if lost in heavy thought.
The file contained a detailed investigation of Park Jaehyuk, Park Dahyun, and their mother Han Sejin. Every piece of information about where they had been, what they had done, and when was meticulously recorded.
And within it was this entry:
[Prince. Estimated conflict with Burning Island broker (O). Risk of friction with Burning Island.]
Prince appeared to be a codename referring to Park Jaehyuk.
After maintaining his silence for a while, Seongyun finally gave Donghyuk instructions.
“Donghyuk, add more people and continue monitoring Princess and Queen together with Gain. I’ll team up with Seoganghyeok to handle Prince personally.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, and just to be clear out of caution—unless it’s an absolute emergency, you must never let those people discover our existence. Got it? Never.”
“Yes. Understood, hyung-nim.”
After answering, Donghyuk left the room. Seongyun stared at Jaehyuk’s photo in the file and let out a deep sigh, as if the situation had become annoyingly complicated.
“Haa…. This is going to be a pain. Such a damn pain…. How the hell did we end up tangled with those worthless bastards….”
Meanwhile, at Cheon-gang High School. The now nineteen-year-old Jaehyuk was sitting through a math class.
Just a few days ago I was out there slashing people and shooting guns…. Well, can I really call it a few days ago? Those were things I did at thirty.
Right up until his death and regression, Jaehyuk had been relentlessly pursued by Gangryonghoe operatives and assassins—including Choi Kyungsoo and Ju Taeyeol—his life under constant threat.
It’s so peaceful and comfortable right now. I just want to give up on everything and live an ordinary life. But….
Every time that thought crossed his mind, Jaehyuk remembered the disgusting smile Choi Kyungsoo had given him as he looked down at his dying self. He recalled the fact that his uncle Park Minho had been murdered. And he reminded himself that he had to take revenge on Gangryonghoe and Choi Kyungsoo.
Choi Kyungsoo, Gangryonghoe…. Now that I know how my uncle really died because of those bastards, I can’t just sit still.
Jaehyuk thought of his uncle Park Minho, who had treated him like his own son. The uncle who had cared for him and Dahyun in place of the father they were told had died when they were young. The uncle who had stayed by his side and become his emotional pillar. To Jaehyuk, Park Minho had been like a second father—someone who had looked after all of them, filling the role their real father could not.
At least until he was murdered at age seventeen, his death disguised as suicide caused by depression at the hands of Gangryonghoe and their collaborators.
But right now I’m too weak to get revenge for my uncle. I need to get into university first and think about this slowly. Speaking of which, what university should I go to….
In his previous life, Jaehyuk had graduated from a mid-to-upper tier university in Seoul before taking the civil service exam and becoming a police officer.
In my last life, even though my grades were decent, I chose that school simply because it was close to home. I didn’t have any clear goal back then. But this time is different.
The bell signaling the end of class rang. Most of the students in the room bolted out like wild colts released from their reins, gathering in small groups.
“Hey, don’t run. Walk slowly. We have plenty of time. What’s with you guys?”
Jaehyuk’s homeroom teacher and math instructor, Yu Gyeong-uk, shook his head with a sigh as he organized his teaching materials, then called out to Jaehyuk.
“Jaehyuk, come talk with me for a moment.”
Hmm…. This is probably about college admissions, right?
Jaehyuk followed Gyeong-uk to the teachers’ office. The teacher placed an empty chair in front of his own desk and asked,
“The college entrance exam is coming up soon. Have you decided on a university yet? Last week you said you hadn’t decided and would think about it.”
“That’s right.”
“So, have you thought it over? With your grades, you could get into most universities in Seoul. You could even aim for a top-tier school, couldn’t you?”
Jaehyuk had always been a decent student, capable of getting into almost any university he wanted. In his previous life, he had simply preferred commuting from home and chosen accordingly.
“When I say you could aim for a top school, I mean it’s not impossible. The competition is fierce, so your odds of getting in aren’t that high, but it’s worth applying. If you want a guaranteed acceptance, a mid-to-upper tier school would be safer….”
Jaehyuk remained silent for a moment as if thinking, then slowly opened his mouth.
“......There is one place I have in mind.”
“Really? Where?”
Jaehyuk looked at his teacher with eyes full of determination and spoke his goal clearly.
“Police University.”
At the same time, at Crown Holdings headquarters. Gangryonghoe boss Kang Jiyong was holding a meeting with his executive subordinates.
“The Honglyeonbang’s movements have been getting worse lately. Not only are they refusing to pay their proper share of profits, they’re now demanding excessive rights within our territory.”
At Kyungsoo’s report, Seongjun—who was seated across from him—frowned. A man in his late thirties wearing a blue suit, seated beside Kyungsoo, spoke up.
“If this continues, the Honglyeonbang’s influence will grow to the point where we won’t be able to do anything about it.”
Among the executives, a massive man who looked to be in his early forties—easily two meters tall with a fierce expression—spoke to Jiyong in a gruff voice.
“If what Director Seo says is true, shouldn’t we take the opportunity soon and wipe out all of the Honglyeonbang’s domestic operations?”
“I’d love to do exactly that, but if we don’t finish them off cleanly in one strike, it will turn into an all-out war with the entire Honglyeonbang. To wipe out every one of their people in Korea before their main headquarters can react, we’d need to eliminate them all within three days at most.”
At Taeyang’s words, Dongmin let out a sigh and clenched his right fist tightly.
“......What’s your opinion, Director Ha?”
Jiyong turned to Seongjun, who was seated to his right, and asked for his thoughts.
“Last Friday, I met with someone from the Jawolbang, which has a hostile relationship with the Honglyeonbang.”
Kyungsoo raised an eyebrow and asked,
“Jawolbang? Isn’t that the new organization that only appeared about four years ago?”
“It is a new organization, but it has rapidly grown its power to the point where it can threaten the Honglyeonbang. In their home base in Taiwan, they have less influence than the Honglyeonbang, but overseas—in places like Vietnam and Thailand—they hold more sway. So in terms of overall power, the two organizations are roughly equal.”
“So what did that Jawolbang bastard say?”
In response to Dongmin’s question, Seongjun recounted his meeting with Ryu Baikhan.
“They said they will soon go to war with the Honglyeonbang in Taiwan proper, and they want us to attack the Honglyeonbang’s businesses here in Korea during that time. They offered to cooperate with us.”
“Hmm…. Even so, a group that’s only been around for four years wants to wage war against the massive Honglyeonbang? They must know they have a lot to lose if a war breaks out.”
Jiyong fell silent for a moment as if pondering, then asked Seongjun,
“Do you have that Jawolbang contact’s number?”
“Yes. I received it when we parted ways.”
“Then contact them today. Tell them to meet me at the Incheon branch of the Crown Hotel at 2 a.m. the day after tomorrow.”
“Understood, Chairman.”