Free Web NovelThe 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 me.
“What’s your position here?”
“Chief of Security, Im Hwasu.”
“Chief Im Hwasu, all I’ve done is repeat that I want to meet Chairman Yoo Seongjin. Yet that deputy over there threatened me, called guards, and those guards tried to assault me. Tell me—did I do anything wrong? Looks like self-defense to me.”
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 men, clearly dissatisfied, called urgently.
“Shut your mouth. Get them to the hospital.”
“But—”
“I said shut it.”
Im Hwasu’s eyes gleamed with menace 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 blame.”
“...I’m sorry.”
“Enough. Just get them treated.”
“Yes!”
Once they left, Im Hwasu turned back to me. His gaze was still murderous, but his tone and forced smile were polite.
“If you really know the Chairman, please make an appointment and come again next time.”
I ignored him and jerked my chin at the men 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 men 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 me.
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 men 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 me even when we spar.”
“I only let you win because you’re the Boss.”
“Let’s call it that. Anyway, no time for talk now.”
His men 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 aimed a gun at my head did I feel this sharp.
When was the last time I fought like this? That raid at Brother Dongsu’s office years ago, maybe.
A smile spread across my face without me realizing it.
“Boss, he’s laughing.”
“Must be insane.”
But the clash never came.
“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 some 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 some neighborhood shopkeeper. Move aside—I’ll see his face.”
At his order, the men parted.
Our eyes met.
The director’s gaze trembled violently. Silence fell. Then he stammered,
“...Holy shit. Y-you crazy bastards! Step aside! Now!”
“Sir? What are you—”
“Didn’t you hear me? Move! You all lost your damn minds?!” freewebnøvel.coɱ
He sprinted over.
“President Kim Muhyuk! What brings you here without notice? If you’d called, I’d have come 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 men 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 men inside.”
“Sir?”
“Are your ears stuffed? Want me to repeat myself?”
“N-no, sir.”
He rushed to obey.
“...President, why are you doing this? Did we make some mistake?”
“Mistake? No, I ought to commend you.”
“...Commend 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 commend 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 men 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 meaning of this?” Yoo asked.
“All I did was ask to meet 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 men offend you? Are you hurt?”
Funny—and oddly touching—that he treated me like an ordinary guest, checking first if I was harmed.
“I’m fine. But there are too many eyes here. Let’s move upstairs. Bring your key men—Kang Junwoo, Im Hwasu, and that one.”
“Understood.”
Yoo turned to his men.
“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 moments 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 moment.”
I pointed at her with a smile.
“That employee.”
“You mean the receptionist?”
“Yes. Give her a nice severance package and tell her to quit. If she stays here, I doubt she’ll come 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 me.”
Her reaction startled me for a moment, 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 something in you. You’re lucky. He means 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 me and whispered.
“Did he do something 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 name alone made Kim Jiwon tremble. He begged, hands rubbing frantically.
“Please forgive me. I was only massaging her shoulders because she looked tired, I swear!”
“That’s your excuse? Think even he can be fixed?”
Yoo beamed, 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.
