A Contracted Gangster Who Has to Die to Survive - Chapter 92

“Vice President Choi?”

It was Director Kim. Unlike his usual composed demeanor, he was dressed in comfortable sweats and slippers, holding a black plastic bag that clinked softly with the sound of glass bottles inside.

“What brings you all the way here…?”

His face flickered between surprise and mild relief before quickly settling into a composed expression. Without a word, he gave a slight nod in greeting and stepped past Choi Taejoon to open the front door.

“If you’ve come looking for me…”

Creak—

The rusty hinges groaned, the sound stretching through the narrow alleyway.

“You must have something to say if you’ve come all this way. Come inside.”

Taejoon shoved the lighter he was holding into his pocket before following Director Kim into the house. Assistant Manager Yoon, who had been glancing around nervously, hesitated before trailing in after them.

Inside, the house was far tidier than it appeared from the outside. The small courtyard was well-kept, with a neatly tended flower bed and a vegetable patch in the opposite corner. Taejoon had never imagined Director Kim as someone meticulous enough to care for plants.

Near the edge of the yard, he spotted what looked like a traditional earthenware jar stand, though it was difficult to tell what was inside.

Instead of heading into the house, Director Kim placed the bag on the wooden bench in the courtyard with a thud. Then, turning to face Taejoon and Assistant Manager Yoon, he spoke.

“Have a seat.”

Taejoon, however, merely stared at him without moving. As if expecting this reaction, Director Kim turned to Yoon and asked in a detached tone.

“Assistant Manager Yoon, have things been well?”

“Huh? Ah, yes! Thanks to you, everything’s fine!”

“I figured as much, seeing how quiet things have been lately.”

Not too long ago, Yoon had been calling Director Kim dozens of times a day, yet now he seemed to have stopped. Looking sheepish, Yoon scratched his head before cautiously perching on the edge of the bench.

Director Kim quietly set out small cups and simple tableware, preparing the setting with a practiced ease. Then, he poured liquor into three cups in turn before speaking.

“You’ll be driving, won’t you, Assistant Manager Yoon? Don’t drink—just sit with us. And Vice President, there’s no need to stand there like that. Sit down.”

Yoon hesitated, glancing between them, before picking up a long, thin snack and munching on it while chatting.

“I always thought someone of your level, Director, would live in a penthouse or something. But what’s with this house? From the outside, it looked abandoned. I almost turned back, thinking we had the wrong place.”

Director Kim merely swept his gaze around the area without responding.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes, Director.”

“And security?”

“Well, Vice President Choi actually—”

“Keep quiet, Assistant Manager Yoon.”

At Taejoon’s sharp reprimand, Yoon, who had been reaching for another snack, sprang to his feet and obediently stood beside him. Director Kim remained unfazed as he asked,

“Aren’t you going to take a drink?”

“Stop wasting time and get to the point.”

“In that case, I’ll drink alone.”

Without hesitation, Director Kim emptied his cup in one gulp before refilling it. His demeanor was getting on Taejoon’s nerves. It was obvious that he was either hiding an important card up his sleeve or deliberately trying to break down Taejoon’s defenses.

And more than anyone, Director Kim was someone who could quickly read Taejoon’s emotions. There was no way he didn’t know how irritated Taejoon was right now. The fact that he continued to drink so indifferently meant that he had no intention of considering Taejoon’s feelings at all.

“The reason I came here is—”

Director Kim cut in abruptly.

“Am I reinstated?”

Taejoon raised an eyebrow.

“You wouldn’t have come all the way here otherwise, would you? You need me. You’re here to bring me back to the field, aren’t you?”

“Are you already drunk?”

A tense silence settled between them. Caught between the two men, Yoon could only hold his breath, unable to move.

“Assistant Manager Yoon, step outside for a moment. I have something to discuss with the Vice President.”

Yoon, clearly relieved, gave a deep bow—so low his nose almost touched the ground—before hurriedly scurrying out the door.

Taejoon turned his gaze to Director Kim, who remained seated on the bench. Behind him, the sunset had faded, and dusk was settling in. He had known this man for a long time, yet today, he felt strangely unfamiliar.

Though Taejoon wasn’t sure of the exact reason, one thing was clear—something had changed in him. Whether that change was for better or worse, he had yet to determine.

Once he was sure Yoon had gone far enough, Director Kim gave a small nod in Taejoon’s direction.

“All I can say is that I did my utmost to protect you, Vice President.”

His voice was tense, betraying his unease.

“I know that, right now, I am not in your favor. But if nothing else, I just need you to understand this—you have to trust me.”

“Trust you?”

Taejoon let out a short, bitter laugh.

This was the same man who had tricked Hyun Wookyung into leaving, only to throw him into a death trap. And now, he had the audacity to ask for trust?

Director Kim furrowed his brows slightly before soon nodding with certainty.

“Yes, Vice President. Now, more than ever, I am certain. I believe my choice was not wrong.”

“Because of your ‘certainty,’ an innocent person nearly died.”

“I sincerely apologize a hundred, even a thousand times, if that incident caused you any distress, Vice President. But everything I did regarding Hyun Wookyung was justified. I should have acted even faster.”

His throat felt like it was burning.

This lunatic—what was he even saying?

How much time had passed? The courtyard had become so dark that it was difficult to distinguish objects. The only thing that remained visible was the glint in Director Kim’s eyes as he stared at Choi Taejoon.

The silence stretched long before Taejoon finally spoke.

He pulled a sealed envelope from inside his jacket and placed it on the wooden bench.

“You’ve worked hard.”

It was closure.

To put it more bluntly, no one knew as much about Taejoon’s weaknesses as Director Kim did. That was precisely why their ending had to be clean, with no loose ends.

“What is this?”

“Use it however you want—whether it’s for rent or to start a small business.”

Director Kim’s eyes, filled with resentment and reproach, flickered with turbulence.

“I don’t trust you. So how could we possibly keep working together? Let’s end this here.”

Director Kim seemed about to say something, but Taejoon ignored him and turned away. If he ever put Hyun Wookyung in danger again under the pretense of protecting Taejoon, then Director Kim’s own life wouldn’t be spared.

“Hyun Wookyung… is he doing well?”

Taejoon stopped in his tracks at the mention of Wookyung’s name.

“You still trust him, don’t you? That he’s not a cop.”

“…A cop?”

Taejoon turned to face him.

Director Kim met Taejoon’s sharp gaze head-on, his voice steady as he repeated,

“Yes. I’m asking if you still believe that he’s not a cop.”

His voice wavered, struggling to suppress the emotions threatening to spill over.

Taejoon let out a hollow chuckle through his twisted lips.

Ah.

So this was it.

The perfect moment for Director Kim to claim, once again, that Hyun Wookyung was a cop—a dangerous person who couldn’t be trusted.

“There’s a limit to my patience. This conversation ends here.”

“Vice President!”

“Kim Sun-oh!”

Director Kim, who had been pushing aggressively, fell silent at Taejoon’s sharp rebuke. He lowered his head in resignation, his face clouded with disappointment, frustration, and grief. With a heavy sigh, he muttered,

“…It’s just pitiful. Frustrating. And tragic.”

If it had been anyone else other than Director Kim, Taejoon might have broken their jaw right then and there to make sure they never spoke nonsense again. Instead, he took a long breath, suppressing his rising anger, and lit a cigarette between his lips.

“I’m the one who’s pitiful? Not you, Kim Sun-oh?”

Instead of answering, Director Kim set down his empty glass and stood up.

“…Come with me. There’s something I need to show you, Vice President.”

With that, he strode into the house.

Taejoon, after watching him for a moment, followed.

The old wooden floor creaked with every step, and the scent of aged timber filled the air. The house was sparsely furnished, holding only a few essential pieces.

Shortly after, Director Kim returned, dragging a suitcase. When he unzipped it, familiar clothes came into view—all the clothes and personal belongings Taejoon had bought for Wookyung.

“These are Hyun Wookyung’s belongings.”

On the day Director Kim had thrown Wookyung out, forcing him to kill Kang Jaewook, he had also packed his belongings and sent him away with nothing.

So this was that suitcase.

But why had Director Kim kept it all this time? And why was he showing it to Taejoon now?

Director Kim reached into the suitcase and pulled something out.

“This phone… do you recognize it?”

It wasn’t the one Taejoon had given to Wookyung.

Director Kim pressed the power button, and the screen lit up with a bright flash.

“…This is…”

Director Kim thrust the phone toward Taejoon’s face, making sure he got a good look.

His bloodshot eyes searched Taejoon’s expression intently.

“This is proof, proof that Hyun Wookyung is a cop.”

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