A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 91

“It says so in his profile.”

“Profiles can be changed as easily as you please.”

And it said they were badminton club seniors and juniors. Some even claimed they had dated. Was that all just a fabrication, an act too?

Chief Baek waved his hand dismissively, as if bored with the topic.

“Anyway, forget about Park Ha-hyun. Focus on yourself, Woo Kyung. A guy who can’t even remember his own hometown or recognize his father shouldn’t be worrying about high school connections.”

My head was spinning.

If Park Ha-hyun had been faking it to deceive Choi Taejoon, wouldn’t he have broken character at least once when we were alone? But he never did.

I ran a dry hand over my face multiple times. What was real? What was just a front? Everything was blurring together.

“If you give the okay, we’ll hand Park Ha-hyun over to them. So don’t do anything reckless. You’ve been making me nervous lately.”

Hand him over?

He spoke as if Park Ha-hyun was a piece of meat.

In Alcohol Swab, ‘Woo Kyung’ should have been dead long ago. The real me, Woo Kyung, didn’t belong in this world. But if Park Ha-hyun died instead of me… then what?

I stood frozen, unable to say anything, my mind blank.

Chief Baek glanced toward my father sitting in the living room and spoke again.

“This is the best way to protect both your father and Choi Taejoon.”

“…What?”

“If you just follow my lead, Choi Taejoon will be completely ruled out as a suspect in Vice Chairman Gil’s murder.”

He added that the police tailing him would disappear, and he wouldn’t have to deal with endless interrogations anymore.

So, were they planning to pin the crime on the real culprit—someone from Kang Jae-wook’s side?

Even if Choi Taejoon was cleared, what did that have to do with my father? There was no link between him and Kang Jae-wook.

If Vice Chairman Gil’s murder was solved, what would that change for my father?

Something wasn’t right.

“…Did you catch the murderer?”

“Well, you could say that.”

“And what does that have to do with Hyun Eui-taek?”

“The new murder suspect is going to be him.”

I followed Chief Baek’s gaze to the living room. My father sat there, dozing off, completely unaware that his name was being thrown into a murder case.

“…A murder suspect?”

“That’s right.”

So, if I understood correctly, my father was going to take the fall for Vice Chairman Gil’s murder instead of Choi Taejoon.

And if that happened, the loan sharks after my father would no longer be an issue. The police wouldn’t need to protect him anymore.

But my father hadn’t killed anyone. And neither had Choi Taejoon.

“What happens next? He gets framed and goes to prison—then what?”

“Don’t worry. When the time is right, we’ll pull him out, clean up his records, and send him abroad.”

I glared at Chief Baek.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“So that’s it? Just cover up a murder case, frame an innocent man, throw him in jail, and then quietly pull him out? How is that any different from what Taeseong does?”

Chief Baek chewed his apple nonchalantly, then said,

“Well, when you put it that way, we do sound like a crime syndicate.”

He took another bite, wiped his chin with the back of his hand, and slowly swallowed.

“Drop out of this mission. Let me and Park Ha-hyun go. If you can’t do that, I’ll resign.”

“You think this is a joke?”

“It’s not a joke, which is exactly why I want out. And what makes you think that after Ha-hyun dies, I won’t be next?”

“We’re trying to achieve the best results with the least sacrifice! If we pull out now, you think they’ll stop with just Park Ha-hyun?”

“If the goal is to bring down Taeseong, isn’t the evidence we’ve gathered enough?”

“Bring down Taeseong? And who exactly benefits from that?”

Chief Baek scoffed as if I had just said something utterly ridiculous.

“All we need is the head of Taeseong to be on our side. You don’t get that?”

So, in the end, their goal wasn’t to destroy Taeseong, but to control it.

“Shut up and do as you’re told. Unless you want to see everyone you care about die.”

Chief Baek grimaced at the apple he was holding, as if suddenly disgusted by it.

“Rich people… even their damn apples taste different.”

“Chief!”

He shot me a glare, clearly irritated.

“If you want to spend your life eating bruised apples, go ahead. Then again… once you’re dead, the only apples you’ll see will be on your funeral table. That is—if your father, who doesn’t know if he’ll be alive tomorrow or the next day, manages to set one up for you.”

Taking a deep breath, Chief Baek adjusted his glasses and added,

“This deal is the best outcome for you. Your father lives. Choi Taejoon is safe.”

“…I’ve made my decision.”

Chief Baek smirked, as if he had expected this all along.

“Good. You made the right choice. After all, Woo Kyung, you’re one of our most promising officers—”

“I’ll just die instead.”

The smirk disappeared instantly.

“…What?”

“I’ll die. That’s easier, isn’t it?”

“You’ve lost your damn mind.”

“I don’t want to sacrifice Park Ha-hyun just to save myself, and I sure as hell don’t want my father taking the fall for a murder when the real killer is still out there.”

“Woo Kyung!”

Of course, I had no intention of actually dying. But saying I would gave me some time to maneuver.

If I disappeared, the easiest pawn they had in play would be gone. That would force them to rework their strategy, which was bound to frustrate them. In other words, there was no way Chief Baek would just let me be handed over to Taeseong that easily.

“Instead of wasting time here, shouldn’t you be out catching the real murderer? That way, Choi Taejoon’s name will be cleared naturally. If you’re willing to pin this crime on my father, then that means you already know Taejoon isn’t the real culprit.”

“…What?”

“And is it even true that I’ve been exposed? Do you have proof that my cover as a cop has been blown? Bring me solid evidence, and then I’ll consider deciding who dies—me or Park Ha-hyun.”

“You little—What the hell makes you so cocky?”

Chief Baek’s hand shot out and grabbed me by the collar.

“Guh—! Let go! I—can’t breathe!”

“Fine! Go ahead and take the fall for him, then! But don’t come crawling to me later, begging to be saved.”

“That—That won’t happen. I will never beg you for my life, so if you’re done talking, take my father and get out.”

He glared at me as if he wanted to rip me apart.

It felt like his hand wasn’t just gripping my shirt but squeezing my lungs, making it hard to breathe.

But I couldn’t let him have his way.

If I was going to die, I would make damn sure to turn this whole game upside down before I went.

The road grew steeper, twisting through several corners, until we reached a dead end where cars could no longer pass.

Manager Yoon frowned at the GPS.

“That’s odd… Sir, the GPS says we’re here. Is this really Mr. Kim’s house?”

“Yes, this is the place.”

Taejoon stepped out of the car and looked up at the building.

It was a worn-down, two-story house.

He had visited once, years ago, by chance. If Kim hadn’t moved, he should still be living here.

The chipped iron gate had a small doorbell attached.

Taejoon pressed it a few times, but no sound came from inside.

As expected—no one was home.

The wall was too high to see over, and no movement could be sensed from within.

After being told to stay put and reflect, Kim had completely vanished from sight.

It was strange behavior for him, but at the same time, it was perfectly in character. If he was ordered not to show himself, then he wouldn’t.

Taejoon pulled a cigarette from his pocket and leaned against the wall.

Click. Click.

He flicked his lighter open and closed absentmindedly, repeating the motion as he let the time pass, one cigarette’s worth.

The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the quiet residential alley.

Kim’s house was nestled at the very end of the street, isolated and empty.

It wasn’t as if he had no money. His salary wasn’t low, and he had saved up a decent amount.

Yet he never moved.

Even when Taejoon arranged for an officetel for him, he barely used it before canceling the lease.

Taejoon had figured there was a reason and hadn’t pressed him about it.

Kim Sun-oh. Kim.

Taejoon crushed the remainder of his cigarette beneath his foot and shoved his hands into his pockets.

If he only focused on personal feelings, he might never see him again.

“I believed Woo Kyung would be able to get rid of Kang Jae-wook.”

The thought of what Kim had done to Woo Kyung still made his blood boil.

Not to mention, Kim was the one who had thrown Woo Kyung out of his house without Taejoon’s knowledge.

Because of that, Woo Kyung had nearly starved before ending up living with Park Ha-hyun.

Even if he tore Kim limb from limb, it wouldn’t be enough to settle his rage.

But he still needed answers.

Why?

Why had Kim done it?

Once he got his answers, he would decide how to deal with him.

He couldn’t just leave things unresolved.

At that moment, he sensed movement from the opposite alley.

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