A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 119

The café was buzzing with energy, its window seats bathed in morning light. Hugging my backpack tightly, I scrutinized the person sitting across from me.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?”

Park Ha Hyun smiled, casually bringing a straw to his lips.

Just looking at him made my already tangled thoughts even more unbearable. His smug expression and smooth-talking ways grated on my nerves. I hated how easily people got roped into his flow, myself included.

And yet, the moment I picked up his call, I had no choice but to come here.

“You said you know where Executive Director Choi Taejoon is.”

Suppressing my irritation, I got straight to the point.

“Where is he?”

“Just get in my car, and I’ll take you there.”

“Just tell me the location. I’ll go by myself.”

“Come with me.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know what you’re up to, but when did you ever care so much about Taejoon that you’d drag me along to see him? If you really know where he is, just tell me. Don’t play games.”

“You didn’t know? I like Choi Taejoon.”

I had heard enough. I stood up without another word.

“I’ll handle it on my own.”

“Sit down. You don’t even know where he is.”

“I’ll find out.”

“What, are you just going to storm into random police stations and say, ‘I’m Inspector Hyun Wookyung. Where’s Choi Taejoon?’”

He smirked.

“You do realize that ‘Inspector Hyun Wookyung’ doesn’t exist in the police database, right? Or… wait, don’t tell me you were planning to call Team Leader Baek?”

I couldn’t deny that the thought had crossed my mind. Seeing my hesitation, Park Ha Hyun shrugged.

“You really think Baek would just let him go? He must be thrilled right now—probably savoring the moment, breaking Taejoon down piece by piece.”

What the hell was he talking about?

“Let me guess… Baek told you, ‘I have no intention of dismantling Taeseong,’ or maybe something like, ‘Taeseong needs to stay intact to maintain the balance of power.’ That sound familiar?”

“……”

“But let’s be real—if Taejoon takes over as chairman, do you really think he’ll maintain this so-called ‘balance’? Do you think he’ll listen to Baek? Or will you be the one whispering in his ear every night, feeding him exactly what Baek wants him to hear?

“Because we both know you wouldn’t do that.”

Park Ha Hyun’s voice quickened, sharp and precise.

“Baek isn’t an idiot. If he can’t have Taejoon, it’s better to get rid of him. Think about it. He uses Taejoon to take down Kang Jaewook, then fuels Chairman Gil’s rage over losing his son, and that’s how he takes down Taejoon.

“Meanwhile, he keeps the aging chairman in place, dangling his dead son’s memory as a leash. It’s the easiest way to control everything. Even an idiot would come up with that plan.”

My legs gave out, and I sank back into my seat.

If Park Ha Hyun was right, then there was no way Taejoon was getting out of this easily.

“So instead of wasting time arguing, wouldn’t it be better to come with me?”

I still didn’t trust him.

Earlier, when I had stepped outside after his call, I found a car waiting. He wanted me to get in and go see Taejoon.

I refused.

So instead, he dragged me here, claiming he had something to say.

The reason I had rejected his offer wasn’t just suspicion.

It was something deeper—a strong, unshakable feeling that getting into his car was a very bad idea.

“I felt bad about some things in the past, so I thought I’d do you a favor. But why are you so suspicious?”

“You showing up at my place this early, claiming it’s all just a favor—isn’t that suspicious? It is to me.”

“We live in the same neighborhood. It’s not like I went out of my way to find you.”

Even with his casual response, my distrust didn’t waver. Seeing my expression, Park Ha Hyun sighed as if he had no choice. He stood up.

“Fine. Just wait, then. When Taejoon finishes his interrogation, he’ll step in front of the press. You’ll find out through the news, like everyone else.”

“…The press?”

His lips curled in amusement.

“You do know how badly Chairman Gil wants Taejoon’s head, right? You really think there aren’t any of his men in that station?

“If he could, Chairman Gil would gladly pay billions just for the chance to kill Taejoon with his own hands.”

“…Are you threatening me?”

“Take it however you want. It’s up to you whether you accept my help or not.”

Park Ha Hyun was always a smooth talker. He had a way of twisting conversations, leading people exactly where he wanted them to go.

But just because someone was good at talking didn’t mean they were persuasive.

Even if every word he said was true, I still didn’t want to listen. I refused to be convinced by him.

I narrowed my eyes, staring him down.

“If this is all for my sake—if this is truly just a favor—then you should be doing what I want.

“So tell me—why do I have to go with you?”

“Because you can’t get in on your own. Only authorized personnel are allowed inside.”

Checking the time on his phone, Park Ha Hyun’s voice turned firm.

“We don’t have much time. Decide.”

“…You’re not lying?”

He exhaled, visibly annoyed.

“Why do you keep saying that? What reason would I have to lie to you?”

I scoffed.

“The fact that we were classmates—that was a lie, wasn’t it?”

Park Ha Hyun smirked. He sat back down, resting his fingertips lightly on the table.

“Oh? Let me guess—Baek told you that?”

“……”

Tapping his fingers like a pianist warming up, he then clasped his hands together. He exhaled sharply through his nose, muttering to himself.

“So that’s what this is about.

“As if that’s such a big lie.”

His face remained relaxed, but his eyes darkened, turning ice-cold.

A chill ran down my spine.

Even though he was still smiling, there was something disturbingly off about it.

His expression was unreadable—except for the quiet, suffocating menace lurking beneath.

“So, I guess it’s really time to wrap things up. You know Alcohol Swab, don’t you, senior?”

I snapped my head up and glared at Park Ha Hyun.

“…What did you just say? Alcohol Swab?”

What had I just heard?

It felt as if someone had struck the back of my head with a blunt object. My mind went blank, words failing me.

There was no doubt about it—Park Ha Hyun had just uttered the name Alcohol Swab.

A wave of dizziness crashed over me, making my vision blur and my stomach churn.

“You know exactly what I mean, don’t you?” He smiled. “So just come with me—if you want to see Choi Taejoon.”

His voice clung to my ears, refusing to let go.

Without waiting for my response, Park Ha Hyun suddenly stood up.

There was something deeply unsettling about him—something that reminded me of the Do Hyuntae plushie I had pulled from Taejoon’s safe.

“Come on, let’s go. Don’t be stubborn.”

My heart pounded wildly, and my palms grew clammy.

“Alcohol Swab…”

Park Ha Hyun didn’t respond. He merely extended a hand toward me.

I knew this was dangerous.

But at the same time, I had a gut-wrenching feeling that if I didn’t take that hand, I would never find the answers I needed.

The sense of unease and dread only grew stronger once I stepped into his car.

Because sitting in the driver’s seat—was the squad leader.

The squad leader who had supposedly gone missing.

“S-Squad Leader?”

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, giving an awkward smile.

“…This—this isn’t right. Just tell me where Taejoon is, and I’ll—”

But it was too late.

Before I could react, Park Ha Hyun shoved me into the car, slamming the door shut behind me.

“Drive.”

Click.

The locks engaged. The car began moving.

Frantically, I reached for my phone, my fingers scrambling through my pockets.

Empty.

Nothing.

“Looking for this?”

My breath hitched.

Somehow, my phone was already in Park Ha Hyun’s hand.

“When did you—Give it back!”

Before I could finish my sentence, he casually tossed it out the window.

It hit the pavement with a sharp crack, shattering into pieces.

“Who were you planning to call?”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shouted.

“Senior, you’ve been kidnapped. So behave yourself.”

…Kidnapped?

What the hell were they planning to do with me that they had to kidnap me?

My first instinct was to jump out of the car.

I reached for the door handle, but—

“Stop.”

A cold, metallic object appeared before my eyes.

A gun.

My breath caught in my throat.

“A…a gun?”

I gasped.

I had never seen a real one before.

“You know what happens when you fire a gun in an enclosed space like this?”

“You have a gun?”

“Blood, flesh, bone shards—splattered everywhere.”

He tapped the pristine seat beside him.

“I really don’t want to stain the leather with your blood, so stay put.”

I forced down the lump in my throat.

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

Park Ha Hyun smiled, pressing the gun ever so slightly closer to me. His voice was soft.

“The original story wasn’t supposed to be like this.

I don’t like the way this Alcohol Swab is turning out.”

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