A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 117

Director Kim placed a cup of coffee in front of Taejoon and spoke.

“I heard Chairman Gil has been moving busily, but it doesn’t seem like something you need to be overly concerned about.”

Chairman Gil believed that his son, Kang Jaewook, could be released early through a special pardon or suspension of sentence, so he was naturally preparing for what came next. However, Taejoon still had plenty of ways to keep Kang Jaewook restrained. He hadn’t even begun yet.

When Taejoon gave no response, Director Kim carefully observed him and shifted the topic.

“Director Myung seems to be putting in a lot of effort to help you secure shares quickly. But as for the other executives… I wonder how they’ll respond.”

“They’ve survived until now by playing the role of elder statesmen among gangsters. They’ll know how to act accordingly.”

Hearing Taejoon’s indifferent reply, Director Kim swallowed dryly and placed the cup he was about to drink from back on the table. If it wasn’t about business, then the reason he had come all the way here at this hour must be related to Hyun Wookyung. Director Kim cautiously asked.

“Is Hyun Wookyung doing well?”

Only then did Taejoon lift his gaze from his coffee cup and look at Director Kim. His expression seemed to say, Since when do you care about Hyun Wookyung’s well-being? Taejoon’s reaction made Director Kim sigh inwardly and offer a slightly awkward smile.

“I’m asking about your well-being, sir. If Hyun Wookyung is doing well, then so are you. You still haven’t found the one who ordered the hit on him, have you?”

Taejoon silently nodded.

“This is the first time I’ve hit such a dead end. It’s likely an insider who knows the situation well, or someone who’s been in this line of work long enough to know how to erase all traces.”

“…The only evidence is the people involved.”

“Who are you referring to?”

“The culprit.”

He was referring to the one who had attacked Wookyung with a knife. After a brief pause, Taejoon continued speaking slowly.

“The culprit, and the only suspect who knows the identity of the one who ordered the hit. That bastard almost died at your hands.”

Taejoon set down his cup, slightly drawing out his words. As he waited for Kim Seo’s reaction, a look of distress gradually spread across the latter’s face.

“Ah…”

Since Kim Seo had been the one who captured and nearly killed the culprit, Taejoon’s words carried the implication that he had tried to eliminate the only witness. Taejoon, in a casual tone as if it were nothing significant, asked again.

“Was it because he was evidence? Did you want to kill him and get rid of the proof?”

“Sir.”

“Among the people who wanted Hyun Wookyung dead, you’re also a prime suspect. But that would be too careless. Someone as meticulous as you wouldn’t hire an incompetent fool who couldn’t even distinguish between Hyun Wookyung and me as the target.”

Kim Seo’s expression was a mix of anger and frustration. He didn’t even bother to hide it. Instead, he furrowed his brows deeply and exhaled a sigh.

“…You’re ruthless.”

In the end, Taejoon’s words meant, If you want to prove you’re not the mastermind, then find the real culprit.

“It wasn’t me.”

Kim Seo shook his head with a devastated expression. Meanwhile, Taejoon’s sharp gaze scrutinized every subtle change in his face.

“I won’t deny that I wasn’t fond of Hyun Wookyung.”

Kim Seo reluctantly began explaining, as if forced to make excuses.

“His status as an undercover cop, the fact that he lives in your house… None of it made any sense. There were times I wanted him dead and gone. He was of no help to Taeseong and was bound to hold you back.”

As Kim Seo continued speaking, Taejoon’s expression grew darker.

“But if anything were to happen to Hyun Wookyung, the person who would suffer the most… would be you, sir.”

Kim Seo’s voice trembled slightly, unable to contain his emotions.

“So how… how could I do something like that?”

He knew all too well what kind of madness Taejoon was capable of if anything happened to Wookyung—just like when he had stormed into Kang Jaewook’s house last time.

“I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

With a pale face, as if on the verge of tears, Kim Seo stared at Taejoon.

“Do you realize? You’ve changed a lot, sir.”

Taejoon narrowed his eyes.

“The Taejoon I know wouldn’t have come all this way just to ask me directly, nor would he be sitting here drinking coffee with me.”

Kim Seo looked directly at Taejoon, as if he had made up his mind, and continued speaking.

“It’s all because of that person. That’s why I was wary of him. When you’re with Hyun Wookyung… you become a completely different person.”

“I don’t know what kind of person you think I am, but when necessary, I drink coffee and have conversations too. And the reason I came here today—”

Taejoon placed his cup down, then slowly stood up as he continued.

“—is because the person I’m dealing with is you, Kim Seo.”

But before Taejoon could finish speaking, Kim Seo cut in with a sharp retort.

“It wouldn’t have been any different no matter who the person was.”

Taejoon swallowed back the words, “Since when have you ever given me special treatment? You’ve completely lost yourself because of that cunning bastard, Hyun Wookyung, and you don’t even realize it. What’s so great about that naive, airheaded kid?”

If he voiced those thoughts, his relationship with Taejoon might be irreparably broken. That was the one disaster he wanted to avoid at all costs.

Kim Seo took a deep breath, calming himself.

“I’ll say it again—I wasn’t involved.”

“…I see.”

If possible, Taejoon wanted to bite off his own tongue and rewind time by a few minutes. If he had been his usual self, as Kim Seo had pointed out, he wouldn’t have confronted someone he suspected like this. He would have gathered irrefutable evidence and cornered them so thoroughly they wouldn’t be able to make a sound. He wouldn’t have been this careless—especially not against someone as meticulous as Kim Seo.

But Kim Seo had changed as well. No matter what he was thinking internally, he was never the type to verbalize feelings like, “You’re cruel.” or “You’ve changed.”

Kim Seo’s ragged breathing, which had been filled with frustration and resentment, gradually steadied. Then, as if nothing had happened, he asked in a calm voice,

“By the way, how was the coffee?”

The question was so unnervingly serene that for a brief moment, Taejoon wondered if it had been poisoned. He furrowed his brows slightly, prompting Kim Seo to quickly add,

“Once everything is settled, I’m thinking of using the building you gave me to open a café overseas.”

“A café?”

“Yes. This isn’t exactly how I wanted to bring it up, but… Since we’re here, I might as well say it. When this is all over, I just want to live an ordinary life.”

Taejoon silently stared at his half-finished cup of coffee.

“When the time comes, bring Hyun Wookyung along. I’ll serve you the best beans.”

“You expect me to take Hyun Wookyung to a café run by a former gangster?”

Kim Seo had fully recovered, and he was more than capable of returning to the field at any time. But judging from his words, he had no intention of doing so.

“You’re not going to tell Team Leader Seo either?”

“I have no plans to let the organization know that I’m alive.”

Taejoon lifted his gaze, studying him in silence. Maybe, from the very beginning, Kim Seo had wanted to leave everything behind—to fake his death and disappear for good.

“Seriously… That ended up being your severance pay.”

“Thank you for everything.”

Taejoon left without another word, leaving Kim Seo behind. But just as he stepped outside—

“Ah! Sir, I have something for you.”

Kim Seo suddenly remembered and handed him a folded note.

“You asked me to find the screenwriter for Terminal a while back.”

The note contained an eight-digit phone number.

“A landline?”

“I’m not sure. I tried calling a few times, but no one answered.”

“Got it. Good work.”

Taejoon gave a brief nod before getting into his car.

Kim Seo was just as ruthless as ever. Bringing up his resignation in such an atmosphere—leaving no room for old emotions to resurface.

It was so characteristic of Kim Seo that Taejoon could only let out a bitter chuckle.

With a heavy heart, Taejoon arrived at his building’s underground parking lot. As soon as he got out of the car and pulled out his phone, a group of men approached him.

“Are you Choi Taejoon, Executive Director of Taeseong Industries?”

A well-mannered man flashed an ID badge.

“I’m Detective Lee Jihoon from the Special Investigation Unit.”

“What’s this about?”

Taejoon narrowed his eyes, subtly scanning his surroundings. Several plainclothes officers had already positioned themselves around him.

“You need to come with us for questioning as a reference in Kang Jaewook’s narcotics case. Please accompany us to the station.”

“A voluntary summons?”

“Yes. It won’t take long. We’ll explain on the way.”

But for a so-called “voluntary” summons, the atmosphere felt far too tense. If this was about Kang Jaewook, it wasn’t entirely unexpected that they had come to find him.

Taejoon silently stared them down, and the detective who had introduced himself as part of the Special Investigation Unit lowered his voice.

“If you come with us quietly, this will end quickly. But if you resist… Well, I can’t guarantee how long it will take before you see the outside world again. The presiding judge is on standby to issue an arrest warrant as we speak.”

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