Watching how things were unfolding, Kim Muhyuk spoke in disbelief.
“Mr. Yamamoto. What is this?”
“....”
Yamamoto, who had been watching the monitor with him, was clearly flustered.
Suzuo was a renowned assassin within the organization—soone who had faithfully carried out nurous assassination orders.
“What the hell is this?!”
It was rare for Kim Muhyuk to raise his voice, but now he did—pressing down hard.
Yamamoto felt a chill run through him. How had things gotten this twisted?
On the monitor, Takayama was desperately trying to persuade Suzue.
— Hey! Suzue! Get a grip! He’s the Chief Cabinet Secretary! The Chief Cabinet Secretary! If you stop now, this can still be fixed! I can fix it! I’ll make sure nothing happens to you!
Kim Muhyuk shook his head.
The mont an assassin hesitates, the assassination fails. And traces of that hesitation remain at the scene.
Just then, Yamamoto stood up.
“I’ll go myself. I’ll bring my n—”
“Stop. It’s unnecessary. I prepared rcenaries just in case.”
Kim Muhyuk restrained Yamamoto and signaled Manager Ma.
Manager Ma imdiately pulled out a small radio and contacted soone.
anwhile, the situation on the monitor had turned into complete chaos.
— Suzue! It’s , Takayama! Who would I betray? Tell . Who gave the order?
— Th-the Chairman...
Yamamoto’s face twisted viciously.
Takayama now knew who had given the order.
There was no more choice.
Takayama, Hiroyuki, and Suzue all had to die.
— What? The Chairman? ...Oyabun ordered you to kill ?
— ....
Suzue couldn’t answer.
Silence hung thickly on the other side of the screen.
Then Hiroyuki intervened, slamming the table.
— What do you think you’re doing? Do you even know who I am?!
His initial shock subsided into fury.
Both Takayama and Suzue turned toward him.
— You fight among yourselves, that’s none of my concern. But what do you think you’re doing in front of ?!
Suzue hadn’t known the man Takayama was eting was the Chief Cabinet Secretary.
He was spiraling in confusion.
Should he really kill a Chief Cabinet Secretary? If he disobeyed Yamamoto’s order, what would happen to his family?
And if he stopped now, could everything truly go back to normal?
Hiroyuki read the hesitation in Suzue’s eyes.
The only solution was to push harder.
— Drop the gun.
— ....
— Suzue! Drop it! Drop it!
Takayama had left his gun outside due to the restaurant’s security.
If Suzue made up his mind to kill them, both he and Hiroyuki would die.
Knowing this, Takayama shouted desperately despite blood streaming from his arm.
Finally, he played his strongest card.
— Suzue! Think about your family! Your mother—
— Shut up!
Suzue snapped, raising the gun toward Takayama.
— Suzue!
This ti Takayama didn’t duck.
It was a battle of montum now.
— If you’re going to kill , then do it! Do it, you bastard!
He showed no fear.
Takayama had survived decades in the underworld.
Suzue hesitated.
Takayama did not.
Amid the chaos, Hiroyuki calculated swiftly.
If used well, this could deal a major blow to Pri Minister Koizumi. Yamamoto and Koizumi could both be brought down.
He slamd the table again.
Suzue flinched.
— Suzue, was it?
Hiroyuki t his eyes steadily.
— As you know, I am Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki. Don’t pretend you don’t know who I am.
— ....
— I’ll make you an offer. Put the gun down and accept what I proposed. It will be better for you.
He didn’t wait for an answer.
— You ca to kill under Yamamoto’s orders, yes? If you testify that Pri Minister Koizumi ordered Yamamoto to eliminate , I will protect you.
Takayama and Suzue were stunned.
Hiroyuki continued.
— If you do that, your prison term will be short. Your family will be under my protection. When you co out, I’ll likely be Pri Minister. It won’t be difficult. What do you think?
Takayama seized the mont.
— Suzue! How long will you live as a dirty assassin? Take the Chief Cabinet Secretary’s hand! It’s a golden rope! Think about your family!
Suzue’s mind was in turmoil.
In this chaos, Hiroyuki’s offer didn’t sound so bad.
— You will truly protect my family?
— I am a man who keeps his word.
Suzue slowly lowered his arm.
But before he fully lowered the gun—
The door burst open.
— Hey. Let’s stick to the original plan.
The rcenary Kim Muhyuk had prepared stord in.
— What the— /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Who are you?!
Hiroyuki shouted.
The masked man grinned.
— Who else? The grim reaper.
He tackled Suzue and aid his gun at Hiroyuki.
Bang.
Smoke filled the room.
When it cleared, Hiroyuki lay collapsed over the table.
A bullet had pierced his forehead mid-sentence.
He died instantly.
Suzue struggled, but the rcenary’s grip was unyielding.
— Fool. You forced us to move.
The masked man turned the gun toward Takayama.
Another shot.
Takayama’s forehead was pierced cleanly.
He fell with hollow eyes.
Kim Muhyuk watched everything on the monitor.
The masked rcenary looked toward the hidden cara.
“Manager. Let’s finish.”
Manager Ma nodded and gave the order.
— The order’s co. You go too.
— W-wait—
The final shot rang out.
Suzue fell, blood blooming across his chest.
The rcenary placed the gun used on Suzue into Takayama’s hand.
He staged the scene to look like a shootout between the two, with Hiroyuki killed by a stray bullet.
When everything was done, Kim Muhyuk stood.
He looked at Yamamoto, who stared at the monitor in a daze.
“I’m disappointed, Mr. Yamamoto. This is your last chance. Clean it up properly. If you fail to handle even this and disappoint again, our relationship ends here.”
Leaving those cold words behind, Kim Muhyuk walked out.
* * *
The next day.
Japan exploded.
Three bodies were found at a restaurant in Kyoto.
One of them was Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki.
— Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki has been found dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
All Japanese broadcasters suspended regular programming, airing live from the restaurant.
The Tokyo tropolitan Police set up cordons. The Self-Defense Forces were deployed.
The entire nation watched in real ti.
Kim Muhyuk observed from his hotel.
“How is Yamamoto moving?”
Manager Ma replied,
“The police have already dispatched officers to Yamaguchi-gumi headquarters. Yamamoto is cooperating.”
One of the bodies was the Yamaguchi-gumi vice boss.
That alone gave the police justification.
No matter how powerful the Yamaguchi-gumi was in Kobe, the Chief Cabinet Secretary had been killed.
The police moved faster than usual.
“Yamamoto will be arrested soon.”
Even if not imprisoned, he had to be detained for questioning.
But the script had already been written.
Yamamoto would comply.
Just then, Kim Muhyuk’s private phone rang.
He glanced at the na and smiled.
— Hey! You’re in Japan right now, right?
Myungsoo’s sharp voice rang out.
“Yeah. I’m in Japan.”
— It’s chaos over there. Get back to Korea imdiately. Don’t get hurt.
His tone was blunt, but concern filled his words.
“I won’t get hurt. I still have things to finish.”
— Why are you so calm? Was this you again? Are you involved?
“What are you talking about? Sothing happens and suddenly it’s .”
— The timing’s weird. You’re in Japan and the Chief Cabinet Secretary gets shot?
“I didn’t do it. Anyway, Japan contacted the Korean governnt about Block 7, right?”
He remained suspicious.
— Hmmm... Strange. It really feels like you.
“Just answer.”
— Yeah. They did. I’ll probably lead a delegation to Japan next month.
“Doesn’t our governnt have anyone else? They keep sending you.”
— That’s because of you! You keep making trouble! Where are you? I’m coming right now!
Kim Muhyuk laughed.
“It’s good news. If oil and gas co out of Block 7, Korea becos an oil-producing nation.”
— True. I just called because I was worried. Let’s talk properly later.
After hanging up, Kim Muhyuk smiled.
“He asked if I did it.”
Manager Ma nodded knowingly.
“Any change in Korea?”
“With Han Hyunsoo gone, Kim Sunja moved first. Then Han Hyunjin and Han Hyunwoo began mobilizing believers.”
As before, Kim Sunja and the two sons had begun their struggle.
If left alone, Heaven’s Church would split into three factions.
“Think of a way to bring Han Hyunsoo back to Korea. Not the normal way.”
“Yes.”
“Send one Black Bear team to him. A Korean team. Let him settle everything at once.”
“To what extent?”
“Support whatever he chooses. Whether he kills his family or spares them—I’m curious.”
The television shifted.
Pri Minister Koizumi appeared, face rigid, stepping up to deliver a special address.
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