The smile on my face must have really bothered him—his features twisted into an ugly scowl.
But the man didn’t charge recklessly. He just glared at .
“What’s your position here?”
“Chief of Security, Im Hwasu.”
“Chief Im Hwasu, all I’ve done is repeat that I want to et Chairman Yoo Seongjin. Yet that deputy over there threatened , called guards, and those guards tried to assault . Tell —did I do anything wrong? Looks like self-defense to .”
Of course, I’d provoked them a little, but nothing I said was untrue.
Im Hwasu looked at the two groaning on the floor and shook his head.
“This doesn’t qualify as self-defense. You know exactly where you are, don’t you...?”
His eyes flashed coldly.
“Keep pushing and you’ll really die. If you walk away now, I’ll overlook this.”
“Boss!”
One of his n, clearly dissatisfied, called urgently.
“Shut your mouth. Get them to the hospital.”
“But—”
“I said shut it.”
Im Hwasu’s eyes glead with nace as he muttered,
“You should’ve judged the opponent first. Look at him—obviously out of your league. You should’ve called us before things went this far. Those kids aren’t to bla.”
“...I’m sorry.”
“Enough. Just get them treated.”
“Yes!”
Once they left, Im Hwasu turned back to . His gaze was still murderous, but his tone and forced smile were polite.
“If you really know the Chairman, please make an appointnt and co again next ti.”
I ignored him and jerked my chin at the n trying to haul their injured comrades away.
“Who said they could leave?”
“What?”
“Apologize first, then take them. Otherwise, it’s just rude.”
“You son of a—”
His voice cracked like dry wood.
“What the hell do you want?”
“An apology.”
“Ha... fuck this. What a pain in the ass.”
He rubbed his face and sighed.
When he lowered his hand, the fake smile was gone. Only cold, killing intent remained in his eyes.
“Hey, bastard. What the fuck are you relying on that makes you so cocky? Think you’ve got nine lives? Or is your dad the Prosecutor General? You yap like a lunatic.”
“...”
Prosecutor General? Higher than that, actually.
I just kept smiling, saying nothing.
“Cat got your tongue? What, you hiding behind that big guy? Can’t you see how many n are here? This isn’t a movie—get lost before the floor’s stained with blood.”
He clicked his tongue and barked again.
“You back there. Why don’t you take your boss and leave before this gets ugly?”
He snarled at Manager Ma, but Ma wasn’t the kind of man to take orders from anyone but .
When Ma just glared silently, Im Hwasu’s expression curdled.
“Wow, fuck. Never seen anything this filthy in my life. Get them out. Don’t kill them, just drag them out of sight.”
In an instant, dozens of n closed in.
Even I felt a flicker of tension.
“Chief.”
But Ma didn’t look the least bit tense.
“I’ll cover your back.”
“....”
I patted his shoulder and stood back-to-back with him.
“Well, it’s been a while since we stretched our bodies. You know you rarely beat even when we spar.”
“I only let you win because you’re the Boss.”
“Let’s call it that. Anyway, no ti for talk now.”
His n would be here within minutes. We just had to hold out three at most.
It wasn’t like we’d die here.
The tension sent sweat to my palms. Strangely, it felt good.
Not even when Kim Jongil aid a gun at my head did I feel this sharp.
When was the last ti I fought like this? That raid at Brother Dongsu’s office years ago, maybe.
A smile spread across my face without realizing it.
“Boss, he’s laughing.”
“Must be insane.”
But the clash never ca.
“What the hell’s going on?”
A voice rang out from the elevators.
The thugs froze in place. Im Hwasu rushed over.
“Director, it’s nothing. Just so lunatic causing a fuss in the lobby...”
“What kind of fuss? Who is he?”
“No idea. Says he insists on seeing the Chairman. We were just about to teach him a lesson.”
“You idiots. The Chairman isn’t so neighborhood shopkeeper. Move aside—I’ll see his face.”
At his order, the n parted.
Our eyes t.
The director’s gaze trembled violently. Silence fell. Then he stamred,
“...Holy shit. Y-you crazy bastards! Step aside! Now!”
“Sir? What are you—”
“Didn’t you hear ? Move! You all lost your damn minds?!”
He sprinted over.
“President Kim Muhyuk! What brings you here without notice? If you’d called, I’d have co down myself.”
“Ah, Director Kang Junwoo, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Kang Junwoo. What on earth is going on? You could’ve been hurt.”
I unclenched my fists and flashed a bright smile.
“No danger of that.”
“Sir?”
“But it’s noisy outside. Shouldn’t you calm things down? Sounds like my n have arrived.”
Sure enough, commotion was rising outside.
“Are you fine with a bloodbath here in Seocho-dong? I don’t care, but...”
“Hey! Chief Im!”
“Y-yes, sir?”
Im Hwasu looked bewildered.
“Pull our boys back. Bring his n inside.”
“Sir?”
“Are your ears stuffed? Want to repeat myself?”
“N-no, sir.”
He rushed to obey.
“...President, why are you doing this? Did we make so mistake?”
“Mistake? No, I ought to comnd you.”
“..nd us?”
“I liked how you tried to treat civilians politely. I kept provoking you, and you still held back.”
Kang Junwoo’s face shifted oddly—being praised by the man who caused the scene must’ve felt surreal.
“Just keep it up. When I see Yoo Seongjin, I’ll comnd him myself.”
Honestly, I’d been surprised. I thought Yoo’s violent temper would infect the whole company, but the atmosphere here wasn’t far off from a real business.
Of course, no matter what, they couldn’t fill it entirely with gangsters.
“Anyway, Chairman Yoo should be here by now...”
Yoo Seongjin wasn’t exactly a gentleman, but he wasn’t trash either.
Sweating buckets, Im Hwasu returned with Yoo Seongjin and my guards.
“Chief, have our n wait outside.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Ma nodded and strode over.
Yoo Seongjin dipped his head slightly toward him, and Ma returned the gesture.
“All of you, back outside. Stand by until the Boss gives orders.”
“Yes, sir!”
Once the guards marched out, Ma returned to my side.
“President, what is the aning of this?” Yoo asked.
“All I did was ask to et you, and it blew up like this. I may have been a bit mischievous. My apologies.”
I gave a sheepish grin. Yoo shook his head.
“No need. Did my n offend you? Are you hurt?”
Funny—and oddly touching—that he treated like an ordinary guest, checking first if I was hard.
“I’m fine. But there are too many eyes here. Let’s move upstairs. Bring your key n—Kang Junwoo, Im Hwasu, and that one.”
“Understood.”
Yoo turned to his n.
“Back to work.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
They bowed ninety degrees. I sighed softly.
So blatant, flaunting their gangster ways.
Embarrassed, Yoo muttered,
“The low-level guys can’t help it. I tell them not to, but they still do it.”
“I understand. It’s fine.”
“Then let’s head up. I’ve just received a fine batch of pu’erh tea. The taste is exquisite.”
“Is that so? How did you know I liked pu’erh? I’ll look forward to it.”
“Haha, you won’t be disappointed.”
As if the near-brawl monts ago had been a lie, warmth spread through the lobby.
Just before going upstairs, my eyes fell on Seo Eunsam, bowing her head deeply behind the desk.
This needed settling.
“Chairman, one mont.”
I pointed at her with a smile.
“That employee.”
“You an the receptionist?”
“Yes. Give her a nice severance package and tell her to quit. If she stays here, I doubt she’ll co to a good end.”
“...What?”
Thinking I’d called for her dismissal, she suddenly rushed over and bowed low.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t know you really knew the Chairman. I only followed the manual. Please don’t fire .”
Her reaction startled for a mont, then I understood.
I burst out laughing and waved a hand.
“Not fire—transfer. A better company. Don’t keep working under trash like that guy. Jungwoo, Hyeonhwa, or Daehyeon? What do you say, Seo Eunsam?”
“Sir?”
“Or do you have another big company in mind?”
Confused, she hesitated. Yoo spoke up.
“President must see sothing in you. You’re lucky. He ans it—if you want to move, just say so.”
Her eyes shook violently. I pressed again.
“No? Then you can stay here. But Deputy Manager Kim Jiwon—”
“Y-yes, sir.”
“Kneel.”
He dropped to his knees. Yoo leaned toward and whispered.
“Did he do sothing wrong?”
“In front of everyone, he molested her. If that’s what he does where people can see, imagine what he does when they can’t. He one of yours?”
“No. Just a regular employee.”
Yoo glared at him with open disgust.
Even gangsters had lines they wouldn’t cross.
To humiliate a junior just because she was young and beneath you—that wasn’t human. That was trash.
“We’ll handle him.”
“Can I trust that?”
“Im Hwasu’s good at fixing people. Right, Hwasu?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
The na alone made Kim Jiwon tremble. He begged, hands rubbing frantically.
“Please forgive . I was only massaging her shoulders because she looked tired, I swear!”
“That’s your excuse? Think even he can be fixed?”
Yoo bead, warm as spring sunshine.
“Pain is the best teacher. A man changes once he’s beaten enough.”
Satisfied with the answer, I nodded—then looked down at Kim Jiwon, still on his knees, and smiled coldly.
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