A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 104

“How exactly do you want to ‘take care’ of them?”

At Choi Taejoon’s question, Team Leader Seo growled, his expression menacing.

“Rip their teeth out. Sew their mouths shut. They’re too damn loud.”

“Don’t take your anger out on them.”

But judging from his stance, if given the order, Team Leader Seo would charge in and act immediately.

“This isn’t about anger. They’re just all talk and no action.”

When Choi Taejoon had first asked him to return, Seo had refused outright. He had insisted that he wanted to live a normal life, open a shop, and leave everything behind.

But the moment he heard about Director Kim’s accident, he had dropped everything and come running back.

“What about the shop?”

“I left it with Minsu. Oh, he’s my nephew. He stayed with me while I was here.”

Choi Taejoon nodded as if remembering something.

“I owe your nephew a lot.”

If it hadn’t been for Kim Minsu’s call that night, he never would have found Wookyung in time.

In a way, he owed the kid a huge debt.

Back then, Minsu had sounded like he was in bad shape too, but it seemed he was doing fine now.

“I heard most of the details… I didn’t want to come because I couldn’t stand seeing Director Kim like that, but if I had known he’d go like that….”

Seo trailed off, avoiding eye contact.

“…And I’m sorry.”

“For what now?”

“For being stubborn. If I had been here, maybe Director Kim wouldn’t have ended up like this. I keep thinking about that.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’ll make sure his absence isn’t felt. I’ll make it up to you.”

Choi Taejoon clicked his tongue.

This is going to be a problem.

When Seo finally met Kim Sun-oh and realized he had been tricked, there was no way he’d let it slide with just one punch.

His gaze flickered to Seo’s tightly clenched fist before he sighed and pushed open the conference room door.

The second he and Team Leader Seo stepped inside, the loud chatter in the room died instantly, like cold water had been poured over the crowd.

The men inside greeted them, but Choi Taejoon barely acknowledged them, slowly making his way to his seat.

Their faces were twisted with anger and frustration.

While Director Kim’s death had strengthened their resolve, they needed to be controlled—they were on the verge of spiraling out of hand.

Then, someone at the far end of the room suddenly stood up.

A massive man, radiating aggression, began speaking without hesitation.

“Executive Director, sir! My name is Han Youngsun. Just say the word, and I’ll go cut off Kang Jaewook’s head right now.”

His face was flushed red, his fists clenched so tightly they trembled.

He wasn’t just talking—he meant it.

Choi Taejoon stared at the unfamiliar face.

Assistant Manager Yoon leaned in and spoke in a low voice.

“He was a leader of the Yeonhan faction, part of the Gaenari group. He officially joined headquarters last month.”

Ah.

He remembered now—this was the guy Wookyung had met outside the bar.

The one who had introduced himself as part of the Gaenari group.

Leaning back lazily, Choi Taejoon pulled out a cigarette and glanced out the window out of habit.

Boom.

A sudden clap of thunder echoed through the sky.

I miss Wookyung.

What’s he doing right now?

Is he really going to be okay sleeping alone tonight?

He had seemed really shaken after seeing Director Kim.

Would he actually be able to sleep alone?

Now, even while working, he was thinking about Wookyung.

He was losing it.

Right now, he wanted to drop everything, drive back, and be with him.

Taejoon rubbed his temple and glanced around the room.

Everyone’s eyes were locked on him.

The man at the far end was still standing, fists clenched.

Choi Taejoon stared at him for a long moment before asking,

“And what would I do with Kang Jaewook’s head?”

“…What?”

“I mean, where exactly am I supposed to use it?”

Caught off guard, the man stammered.

“Well, I… I just thought—”

“If you cut off his ugly head, just leave it with the rest of his ugly body.”

His words teetered between a joke and a command, leaving the man flustered and unable to respond.

“…I mean it, sir! If you just give the order—”

This time, Assistant Manager Yoon cut in.

“Sit down. If killing him was all it took to solve the problem, don’t you think we would’ve done it already?”

“….”

As the man awkwardly sat back down, another voice chimed in.

Unlike the previous outbursts, this one was calm, measured.

A man in a clean-cut suit spoke.

“The media is starting to circle. There have been requests for interviews—some from major networks. Investigative programs are already reaching out for exclusives.”

Choi Taejoon idly flicked the ashes from his cigarette, looking completely uninterested.

His mind was elsewhere.

Why the hell does it rain so often?

Maybe I should just move somewhere with a desert climate like I joked before.

“Of course, I’ll block it on my end, but if any reporters manage to reach you, please only say what’s written in the Q&A sheet I provided.”

Choi Taejoon silently stared at the A4 paper Attorney Kim handed him.

The moment the lawyer finished speaking, the room erupted in loud voices.

“Let them hold a hundred, even a thousand press conferences! Public opinion won’t change a thing.”

“This is an era where even conglomerates can be taken down by public sentiment. How is this not serious?”

“That’s because they’re conglomerates. Our business operates on an entirely different level!”

“This isn’t as simple as you think.”

“Just take out Kang Jaewook first!”

“Wipe them out completely!”

Unlike Wookyung, who would have been overwhelmed by the noise, Assistant Manager Yoon seemed to assume that Choi Taejoon’s prolonged silence meant he was furious.

Growing increasingly restless, Yoon finally lost his patience and barked at the others, trying to restore order.

“You idiots aren’t seriously suggesting we run around waving knives in broad daylight, are you?! The days of cutting off loose ends and having someone take the fall in prison are over! Get your heads straight!”

It was at that moment that Choi Taejoon finally spoke.

“Do whatever you want.”

The room fell into a stunned silence.

All eyes turned toward him.

Leaning back, he crushed the half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray and continued in an indifferent tone.

“Flip the table, raise hell, do whatever makes you feel better. If that’s what you need to vent, then go ahead.”

“S-Sir….”

“I’ll take responsibility for what comes after.”

Attorney Kim’s face darkened immediately.

Assistant Manager Yoon’s jaw hung open in shock.

This wasn’t just scarier than outright forbidding it—this was a thinly veiled threat.

What he was actually saying was:

“Go ahead, act out. I’ll take the fall and go to prison. Wreak havoc, make a mess—I dare you. See what happens.”

Translation?

“Try it, and I’ll make sure you’re all dead before I step foot in a cell.”

“W-we will do everything in our power to ensure that doesn’t happen! You morons! Get it together! Do you even know what era we’re living in?!”

“R-right! We were just venting. No one’s actually going to do something reckless.”

They all quickly backtracked.

But in truth, Choi Taejoon wasn’t concerned with what they would do.

He just wanted this meeting to be over.

Letting out a slow exhale, he rose from his seat.

“Go back and wait for orders. Yoon, Kim—you two, follow me.”

He gestured for the two to come with him to his office.

“Illegal possession of firearms will only hold him for a week at most. If it gets converted to an out-of-custody investigation, it’ll be even harder to keep him detained.”

The room fell silent.

Choi Taejoon said nothing, staring at Director Kim’s empty seat.

After a pause, Attorney Kim hesitated before speaking.

“It’ll be difficult, but I’ll do whatever I can to push for full detention.”

Gathered in the room were Choi Taejoon’s key players—Attorney Kim, Assistant Manager Yoon, and Team Leader Seo.

This was the follow-up meeting for the “Turn Manager Kwak Against Kang Jaewook” mission.

“…So, if I understand correctly, sir,” Assistant Manager Yoon finally spoke, “You’re saying… in the meantime, we should persuade Manager Kwak into handing over evidence to bury Kang Jaewook?”

“It’s not persuasion. It’s coercion.”

Team Leader Seo’s correction was blunt.

Yoon shook his head.

“I don’t think Manager Kwak will ever betray Kang Jaewook. He may seem careless and stupid, but he’s not an easy target. The fact that he’s lasted this long under a maniac like Kang Jaewook proves it. He may act impulsive, but he’s much more thorough than he appears.”

There were two ways to break someone like Manager Kwak.

One—offer life-changing money.

Two—threaten whatever he valued most.

The first method was effective but came with high risks.

The second took more time and effort but was equally powerful.

But if you combined both?

It became easy.

“He has a weakness.”

Choi Taejoon’s voice cut through the silence.

“He has a woman.”

Assistant Manager Yoon’s eyes widened.

“M-Manager Kwak has a lover? How did you find out?!”

In truth, Taejoon had known even before Wookyung mentioned it.

Director Kim had already provided that intel.

Taejoon’s lips curled in a faint smirk at the memory.

“I heard it… from a ghost.”

A stunned silence filled the room.

Their expressions were a mix of shock and disbelief.

Assistant Manager Yoon, in particular, looked deeply concerned.

His eyes practically screamed, Did our Executive Director get corrupted by hanging around Wookyung too much?

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