A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 45

A cop? And not just any cop, a superior?

A surge of questions exploded inside me like a volcanic eruption.

But all I could do was blink at Park Ha-hyun, unable to form a single word.

The last trace of his soft, playful demeanor vanished, and suddenly, he felt like an entirely different person.

Without the mask of his usual charm, his once warm and lovable face now appeared sharp and cold.

A chill ran down my spine, and goosebumps prickled along my arms.

The lingering haze of alcohol that had clouded my mind lifted in an instant.

“You really didn’t know, judging by that look on your face.”

His voice was calm, but I could barely process it. It felt like watching a horror movie unfold in real time.

Stammering, I forced out a response.

“W-What did you just say? A superior? Did you get promoted fast, or was I just slow?”

“Is that what you’re worried about right now?”

“No, I mean… it’s just so ridiculous.”

“Obviously, I moved up quickly. I’m highly competent, after all. Want me to fill in the details?”

“…No. Forget it. Never mind…”

I exhaled sharply.

So he was after Choi Taejoon, just like I was.

But why were there two hunters for the same target?

Why would the police send two undercover agents, doubling the risk?

Was it because I had survived when I was supposed to disappear?

If that was the case, who was the real operative here—me or him?

Or was he just lying?

Undercover agents weren’t supposed to reveal their identities. Not even to each other. It was a strict protocol.

Yet, he had casually exposed himself to me without a hint of hesitation.

Why?

What if he was testing me? What if the whole “I’m a cop too” act was just a bluff to see my reaction?

I narrowed my eyes and studied him.

“Can’t tell if you actually don’t remember… or if you’re just playing your role.”

I hesitated, debating whether to fall back on the car accident excuse again.

But then, Ha-hyun scoffed.

“I thought it was just a rumor from Team Leader Baek… but it’s real, huh? You really don’t remember?”

My breath hitched.

If he knew Baek, that meant he really was a cop.

Seeing my expression shift, he smirked slightly, as if pleased by my reaction.

“You don’t trust me, huh? Well, I guess it’s better than trusting too easily.”

It dawned on me then—he might be more dangerous than I thought.

Maybe Kim wasn’t the one I should be worried about. Maybe the real threat was standing right in front of me.

Cold logic began replacing my earlier drunken haze.

The heat in my flushed cheeks faded, leaving my skin cool.

Meanwhile, the liveliness returned to his expression, as if he was enjoying this far too much.

“This isn’t a conversation we can finish in one night. Let’s set up a proper meeting later, senior.”

He deliberately emphasized the word senior, then stood up from his seat.

In a blink, he was back to looking like rookie actor Park Ha-hyun—the perfect facade.

“Oh, and this.”

“Huh?”

“Take it.”

Ha-hyun reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plastic container, barely the size of my pinky finger.

I hesitated, not taking it immediately.

Instead of waiting, he grabbed my hand, slowly uncurling my fingers one by one before placing the container in my palm. Then, just as carefully, he closed my hand around it.

“What is this?”

What’s inside?

The moment I started to open it—

“Ah—!”

A dark shadow loomed over us.

Before I could react, a rough hand seized my wrist and yanked me up.

“Ah!”

The force of the pull lifted me off the sofa.

Instinctively, I clenched my fist, refusing to let go of the plastic container.

“D-Director Choi?”

When had he gotten here?

I hadn’t sensed anyone’s presence nearby.

Taejoon’s eyes flicked between me and Ha-hyun, his face completely unreadable.

“What’s in your hand?”

Without warning, he tugged my wrist again.

This time, my body nearly left the floor, dangling precariously as he held me up.

“Open your hand.”

His voice was cold—so cold it made my heart shrink in fear.

“I-It hurts when you pull like that!”

“Then open your damn hand before I crush it.”

His grip tightened.

It wasn’t just strong—it felt like he could snap my wrist bones without effort.

Tears welled up from the sheer pressure, my body instinctively recoiling.

Taejoon had never directed this kind of raw aggression toward me before.

I had only ever seen him like this when dealing with Ha-hyun.

But now…

Now, he looked ready to tear me apart too.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it had dropped to my feet, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps.

Ha-hyun, too, seemed momentarily stunned by Taejoon’s sudden entrance.

His mouth hung slightly open as he glanced between me and Taejoon, unsure of what to say.

What the hell had he just handed me?

If this tiny plastic container contained anything that could expose me…

If it held something like a USB with incriminating evidence…

Then I was screwed.

And if Taejoon got his hands on it…

My entire cover—everything I had worked to hide—would be blown.

This was practically a live arrest scene.

The realization hit me hard.

And then, I got angry.

Of all times, he had to hand me this right after bringing up the police?

Why did Park Ha-hyun have to be so damn cryptic?

“Hyun Woo-kyung.”

“Ugh… Agh, that hurts!”

“Open your hand.”

The pressure around my wrist tightened.

A sickening crack echoed faintly—I wasn’t sure if it was my bones or just the strain, but it sent a chill down my spine.

Was he actually trying to break it?

“I-I don’t even know what this is!”

“Then why—”

“Because you keep suspecting me…!”

“Cut the excuses. Open it.”

One look at Choi Taejoon’s face told me he wasn’t letting this go.

And now, Ha-hyun decided to intervene.

“It’s nothing. I just gave it to him because I was worried—”

Which, of course, only made things worse.

“Open it!”

I had no way out.

…Fine. If I couldn’t stop this, I’d just swallow it.

If I ate whatever was inside, no one would know what it was.

With that single, desperate thought, I yanked my fist toward my mouth.

“If you don’t trust me, I’ll just eat it. I’ll swallow everything—”

“The hell are you doing?!”

Taejoon actually sounded caught off guard.

“See? Problem solved—urk!”

Just as I was about to shove my hand into my mouth, a blinding flash crossed my vision.

“Ah—!”

“Senior! Are you okay?”

Taejoon had let go of my wrist—just as I punched myself in the face.

Pain exploded across my nose.

I clutched my burning face and sank back onto the sofa.

“Ahhh….”

How could I be this stupid?

Taejoon, still looking stunned, stared at me—but didn’t bother asking if I was okay.

Instead, he bent down and picked up the dropped container, which had rolled across the floor.

Inside the small plastic case were six blue pills.

His expression hardened.

His gaze shifted to Ha-hyun, now cold and unreadable.

“What the hell is this?”

Ha-hyun answered without hesitation.

“Medicine.”

“What kind of medicine?”

“Senior was struggling with a hangover. These help with nausea and stomach pain. If he doesn’t want them, he can give them back.”

Medicine?

Then why the hell did he hand it over so discreetly?

It looked suspicious to anyone.

“Don’t feed him weird shit.”

Taejoon’s voice was sharper than usual.

Normally, people shrank under his glare.

But Ha-hyun? He didn’t even blink.

Instead, he calmly repeated himself.

“It’s not ‘weird shit.’ It’s stomach medicine. Give it back.”

Taejoon exhaled slowly, buttoning up his previously undone jacket, straightening his tie, and checking his wristwatch before speaking again.

“You a pharmacist?”

“No. But you don’t need to be one to know hangover pills exist. You can buy them anywhere.”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t go to convenience stores.”

Liar.

Who had never stepped into a convenience store before?

Ha-hyun narrowed his eyes.

“Why shouldn’t I talk to him? I’ve known Senior way longer than you have.”

Taejoon scoffed.

“Right. A high school acquaintance he doesn’t even remember?”

For the first time, Ha-hyun faltered.

Taejoon took advantage of the silence, slipping the pills into his jacket pocket.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll find out what’s in these. A simple lab test should do.”

For the first time, Ha-hyun’s voice wavered.

“A lab test? I told you it’s stomach medicine!”

If obsession and stubbornness had a limit, Taejoon had already crossed it.

And honestly, even I wasn’t buying Ha-hyun’s excuse.

If those were just stomach pills, why was he so desperate to get them back?

The moment he realized Taejoon wouldn’t return them, his entire posture tensed.

For a second, I thought he might actually reach into his pocket and snatch them back.

But he never got the chance.

“Excuse me! Director Choi? It is you, right?”

A bright, cheerful voice rang out from down the hall.

Seconds later, the sharp click of high heels echoed closer.

Song Seo-hee approached, her face alight with excitement.

“I think Director Yoon has finally made up his mind!”

Ha-hyun had no choice but to step back.

Taejoon exchanged a few hushed words with her before following her toward Yoon’s private room.

And just like that, the pill situation was left unresolved.

But judging by how Ha-hyun’s face had turned completely pale, it was definitely not something he should have given away.

“…Ha-hyun.”

Once Taejoon and Seo-hee were far enough away, I lowered my voice.

“What the hell are those pills? Are they really for hangovers? Or is there something else?”

Support