I had planned to sit back and watch.
But, as expected, negotiations weren’t going anywhere, so I decided to use the best weapon I had brought.
“I’ll give you ten million dollars. Kill every bastard who laid a hand on Eva, starting with Zhang Linfeng.”
My greatest weapon—money.
The entire warehouse fell silent, not a sound but the hum of tension.
Even i Hong’s previously calm face twisted at that.
“Ten million dollars... That’s worth more than the lives of every man here, don’t you think?”
While i Hong hesitated, Zhang Linfeng snapped angrily.
“You bastard! You think the Godfather would kill us over money?”
He said that, but his fear was obvious.
Suppressing a smirk, I kept my eyes on i Hong.
He maintained his neutral expression, but his gaze betrayed hesitation.
“You decide. Either we fight to the death, or you take the ten million and accept my offer. I don’t care which.”
Leaning back in my chair, I crossed my arms.
The mont i Hong walked in, the fight was already over.
If he fought us, he’d lose both n and influence. But if he took the money, he’d gain ten million dollars.
The Triad wasn’t known for honor or pride. Would they give up that kind of money to save a handful of subordinates? No chance.
“Eric.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“How’s the sniper team?”
“Great. The best.”
Eric grinned, giving a thumbs-up. The Black Bear rcenaries showed not a flicker of tension. They’d seen worse. Their faces stayed calm, their periter secure.
The decision didn’t take long.
i Hong nodded toward the n he brought. They drew their guns, but before they could even aim, Black Bear’s barrels were already pointed at them—and at i Hong.
“Young man, don’t be so tense. I accept your proposal.”
Bang! Bang!
Two sharp gunshots. Zhang Linfeng and a few others collapsed instantly.
Zhang Linfeng, who had tried to run as soon as the guns ca out, wasn’t killed instantly. Face pressed to the ground, he looked up at i Hong with a betrayed expression, trying to say sothing.
Bang!
A second shot to the head cut him off permanently.
“Kill all of Zhang Linfeng’s n. The ones here are already dealt with. Now it’s your turn to keep your word.”
“Give the account number.”
As i Hong reached inside his jacket, Chief Ma tightened his grip on his gun. But i Hong only took out a business card case, dropping a card on the table.
Chief Ma picked it up and handed it to .
The card listed only contact information and an account number.
I glanced at it and passed it to Eric.
“Deposit it through Black Bear.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Eric stepped back, phone in hand.
i Hong watched with an amused expression.
“You use rcenaries like they’re your own limbs.”
“Regular clients get good service.”
“I’d appreciate it if you lowered the guns now.”
I nodded at Chief Ma.
Weapons were lowered, but nobody dropped their guard.
“Bring Eva.”
Chief Ma moved toward Eva. No one tried to stop him.
Watching, i Hong asked lazily, “If I hadn’t co, what would you have done? Did you really think you could kill everyone here and get out of Hong Kong alive?”
“That’s not your concern.”
Chief Ma led Eva toward the back.
I shifted in my chair, crossing my legs.
“You were always going to co.”
“What?”
“You would’ve heard what it’s like in here. Unless you wanted everyone dead, you had to. Sure, you could let them die, but would the people backing you let you fail at sothing like this?”
i Hong’s brow furrowed.
Just then, Eric returned.
“Boss, it’s done.”
I nodded at i Hong.
“Check it.”
i Hong gestured to one of his n, who returned monts later, whispering in his ear.
“It’s confird. Young man, you must have a lot of money. Handing over ten million so easily...”
Greed flickered openly in i Hong’s eyes, making feel filthy just looking at him.
Business here was done. All that was left was to take Eva ho.
“One last warning. If even one of my people gets hurt, dies, or disappears, you’ll end up like that.”
I pointed to Zhang Linfeng’s corpse as I stood.
i Hong laughed loudly.
“Young man, that’s just youthful arrogance.”
“Arrogance or not, you’ll find out after you’re dead. Today it was money, but next ti, I’ll put a bullet in you.”
Leaving i Hong’s twisted face behind, I turned away.
“Let’s go.”
It felt like finishing a business eting.
As I moved, the others followed, guarding the periter.
Outside, rain had begun to fall. The heavy scent of blood was washed away by the downpour.
“Figures it starts raining now.”
I climbed into the car with Eva, Chief Ma, and Eric.
“Straight to the airport.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Eric signaled the driver, and the car moved.
Finally, I looked at Eva.
“Eva.”
“Boss...”
“You did well.”
At that, Eva finally broke down in tears.
No one in the car tried to comfort her.
“Boss, I’m sorry.”
I spoke firmly.
“You made ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ one mistake—you didn’t tell . You put yourself and others in danger.”
Eva was one of the few who knew about the shell companies in offshore tax havens. She couldn’t move that money herself, but even its exposure could be used against .
Eva had been working with plenty of funds and desperate Korean markets. She probably thought this would be just as easy as taking over Peregrine.
But Triads and mafia were a different breed entirely. To them, fists mattered more than laws.
“I know what you were thinking. But because of that decision, your bodyguard died. He died because of you.”
Eva stayed silent.
“We got lucky this ti. It ended with money. But if it hadn’t, a lot more people would’ve died.”
This could’ve waited, but after what she endured, I wanted her to hear it now. She’d held out under torture, never giving up her trust.
I owed her that much honesty.
“I’m sorry...”
“Enough. No more apologies. We’ll talk when we’re back in Korea. Rest for now.”
She hadn’t slept properly for days under torture. I didn’t want her reliving it.
Eva eventually fell asleep, worn out. Chief Ma helped her lie comfortably.
“Eric, give Han Kyungyeong and Eva the sa level of security I have.”
“Not possible right now.”
Eric’s tone was firm.
“We need people for Kosovo. The company’s growing, and we need warzone experience. Oliver’s team and the new recruits will all be deployed there.”
I nodded.
“Then use the Korea branch as a full security team.”
“That’s the best option. But let’s rotate staff, not keep them permanently assigned.”
“Agreed.”
We arrived at the airport mid-discussion.
Han Kyungyeong was waiting.
“You made it?”
He was my final card. With him personally escorting , the Hong Kong authorities wouldn’t dare interfere.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Solved it with money.”
We boarded Dreamhigh’s private jet imdiately.
Chief Ma settled the sleeping Eva into a seat.
Han glanced at her.
“First ti seeing her in person. She going to be okay?”
“For now. We’ll check her thoroughly once we’re back in Korea.”
He didn’t ask more.
Outside, Hong Kong was swallowed in darkness.
We landed at Gimpo Airport soon after and took Eva straight to the hospital.
“Run every test once she’s awake. She should stay hospitalized for now. Make sure nothing leaks.”
“Of course. Our hospital is known for discretion.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
The hospital director left, and after watching Eva sleep under sedation for a while, I stood.
Outside the room, Team Leader Jin greeted .
“Take care of her.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I had offered Jin the presidency of the Korea branch, but he’d refused, preferring fieldwork. Still, he effectively ran it.
I left through the underground parking lot.
“Good work, Eric.”
“Haha, no problem.”
“When are you heading back?”
“Tomorrow. Oliver’s team will likely head straight to Kosovo. It’s a ss over there—people ignoring peacekeepers and killing civilians. There might be real fighting.”
NATO’s bombings had forced Serbia to agree to peace talks and withdraw from Kosovo, but ethnic cleansing was still ongoing. If not for Russia’s economic crisis, Russian intervention could’ve triggered World War III.
“Complicated tis.”
The familiar scenery of Pyeongchang-dong passed by. I felt tired.
A few days later, Eva’s test results ca in.
The hospital director’s face was grim.
“I don’t know what happened to her, but there’s hardly a healthy spot on her body. Unfortunately, the wounds are old enough that scars will remain.”
“Any lasting effects?”
“No life-threatening injuries, but she’s showing severe symptoms of anxiety disorder.”
Given what she’d been through, being ntally sound would’ve been stranger.
“She needs absolute rest.”
“I understand.”
I headed to her room. Guards opened the door respectfully.
Eva looked up and smiled weakly when she saw .
“Boss~”
Her forced cheer only made her look more fragile.
“Feeling better?”
“I’m bored from being in the hospital. I need to get back to work.”
“Not yet.”
“But the Taesan Finance schedule is already delayed—”
“It can wait. Focus on getting better first.”
Eva didn’t argue.
“When you’re discharged, there’s soone I want you to et. So get better fast.”
“...”
“If it’s hard, say it. If you want to cry, cry. No one’s going to hurt you anymore.”
Before I even finished, tears stread down her face.
“Yeah. Cry. Then forget.”
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