Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

The man in military uniform had three stars pinned to his cap.

But Ahn Hyunsu did not notice at all.

Ahn Hyunsu’s gaze was fixed on the man in the suit.

“Ahn Hyunsu, captain. What are you doing here when this isn’t even your jurisdiction?” the man in the suit said.

The question dripped with sarcasm. Ahn Hyunsu clenched his lips and snapped a salute.

“Loyalty!”

The man in the suit was the provincial police chief I called, Lee Seongjae.

Lee Seongjae took Ahn Hyunsu’s salute halfheartedly and continued.

“What are you doing here?”

When Ahn Hyunsu hesitated, Lee Seongjae’s face twisted with anger and he growled,

“You’re not answering? Fine — I’ll call Commissioner Han and ask him myself.”

Lee took out his phone, and Ahn hurriedly spoke up.

“We rushed here after a report of an armed shootout.”

“A shootout? What nonsense is that?”

Lee Seongjae frowned and turned to the man in uniform beside him.

“Corps commander, did you have any training nearby?”

“We did live-fire training today. Of course shots would be heard.”

“Is that so? Oh — introduce yourself. You’re Major General Park Jihoon, in charge of the 5th Corps covering Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do.”

Only then did Ahn Hyunsu glance at Park Jihoon.

“Pleasure to meet you, Major General Park.”

Park Jihoon tilted the corner of his mouth and spoke.

Ahn Hyunsu’s face went pale for a moment, but he composed himself and returned the salute.

“Sir. Good to meet you. But what brings you here?”

“We happened to be eating at the promotion hall with Chief Lee, and we heard that armed thugs were coming this way. We quickly mobilized subordinate units and came.”

Soldiers were already streaming down from the military transport trucks, taking up positions to guard ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the area.

“...Does a corps commander normally take charge of incidents like this?”

“You’re saying armed thugs entered my area without permission? For the safety of citizens, of course I had to move.”

It was rare for a corps commander to take direct action, yet he spoke as if it were the most natural thing.

Something about this felt off. Feeling the two men’s gazes, Ahn swallowed his anger and asked inwardly,

“You mean armed thugs?”

“Can’t you see them, chief?” Park Jihoon said as he turned his gaze toward the SWAT team.

“No — are you calling our police SWAT thugs? We are the Special Weapons and Tactics unit formed to protect citizens from terrorism and crime!”

Ahn raised his voice as he saw where Park’s gaze landed.

“If this were a legitimate dispatch, sure. But is this even a proper dispatch? I heard this was a unilateral operation. Should I apologize?” Park Jihoon’s cold stare made Ahn catch his breath.

He could not answer easily; it was true that he had sent the SWAT unit without higher authorization.

He had even moved the unit into another jurisdiction — something that could become a problem later.

“Why aren’t you answering? Speak up,” Park pressed.

Still no reply. Park turned to Lee Seongjae and asked,

“Chief Lee, was this an authorized dispatch?”

“No. Incheon Police Special Response Unit would not deploy into Gyeonggi without my permission. They must send a cooperation notice and get my approval even for joint operations,” Lee answered.

Park looked back at Ahn and said,

“Chief Lee says no. How about you?”

“...It was so urgent that we couldn’t follow proper procedures,” Ahn replied.

“Then the answer’s clear. Will you continue the operation or go back?”

Ahn bit his lip and said nothing. Park Jihoon raised an eyebrow.

“I’m the one who must protect this place.”

“You’re meddling in police affairs,” Ahn objected.

“Med­dling? Chief Lee. Did I overstep?” Park asked.

“No. I requested it,” Lee Seongjae said.

“You heard that? The head of Gyeonggi police personally asked me to move troops here. Is that still called overstepping?”

It was indeed overstepping. No matter how high a corps commander’s rank, the military could not be deployed willy-nilly. Still, Ahn could not bring himself to say it.

“We still have to confirm. We came after receiving a report. We can’t just leave. We should at least check inside,” Ahn said.

Lee responded, “Really? Then let’s all check together. Troops, stand back.”

“But—” Ahn began.

“Team Leader Ahn!” Lee barked and kicked Ahn in the shin. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Staggering, Ahn straightened at Lee’s fierce glare.

“Do you think rank means nothing? You want me to be insulted? Was this ordered by Commissioner Han? You want to ignore me?” Lee shouted.

“No!” Ahn stammered.

“I outrank your commissioner! You punk!” Lee roared.

“Sorry. That wasn’t my intention,” Ahn said.

“Don’t think you can let this slide quietly!” Lee ordered the SWAT team behind Ahn.

“I’m Lee Seongjae of Gyeonggi Provincial Police. Everyone, get back on the bus and wait.”

Despite Lee’s order, the SWAT officers hesitated.

“You cowards! You hear me? Do you know who you are? I outrank your commander! Don’t you obey?” Lee yelled.

At last the SWAT members lowered their weapons one by one.

“Get on the bus and wait. I won’t make this an issue,” Lee said.

Only then did they salute and move toward the bus.

“Team Leader Ahn,” Lee said.

“Yes, chief,” Ahn answered.

“You said we should check inside. You’ll go in with us. I’m curious why you ignored procedures to come here,” Lee said.

Ahn had nothing left he could do.

While Lee spoke with Ahn, Park Jihoon walked forward.

“Loyalty!” Kim Daesung, team leader of Black Secret, saluted as Park approached. Park lowered his hand.

“I heard Colonel Kim entered Black Secret. Strange to run into him here,” Park said.

“Yes, Sir.”

“You used to be a division commander, now you’re a corps commander,” Kim Daesung said conversationally.

“Oh, right — you were just promoted. Three-star now,” Kim joked.

They seemed friendly; Kim Daesung’s tone changed when addressing them compared to how he had treated Ahn.

“I won’t just stand in the way,” Kim said.

“Sorry. I was ordered to prevent anyone from entering. I cannot act on my own,” Kim Daesung replied.

“You’re still so rigid,” Park chuckled.

At that moment a voice came from the entrance.

“Welcome, Major General,” someone called.

* * *

“Seo Jaehun, this won’t go your way,” I said.

Seeing the military force arrive not long after the SWAT team, Seo Jaehun narrowed his brows.

He was clearly trying to assess the situation.

“You thought you could frame me so easily?” I sneered instead of explaining.

“Don’t move. I warned you not to move,” he said.

“I told you — if you move, Lee Seokmin dies,” he warned.

I only turned my head and smiled at him.

He scowled at my smile.

“If you want Lee Seokmin alive, send everyone away,” he said.

Left alone like that, he treated people like chattel. I shrugged and replied casually.

“Seo Jaehun, do you think I’m a fool? Why would I send them away? I can corner you here. If you want to kill, do it — then you die too.”

I turned and walked toward the noisy lodge entrance.

Manager Ma followed, constantly scanning. One team kept their guns trained on Seo Jaehun.

I could hear Han Jiho quietly ask Seo Jaehun, “What shall we do?”

“...Wait,” Seo said.

How laughable. He treated other people’s lives like trash but valued his own.

He must have been careful because the muzzle trained on him could fire the instant Lee Seokmin died. His caution seemed almost comic.

When I reached the lodge entrance I spoke.

“Welcome, Major General,” I said.

Park Jihoon, Lee Seongjae, and Ahn Hyunsu all turned to look at me.

I nodded to Lee Seongjae as well.

“Good to see you, senior. You arrived in time.”

Seo Jaehun could not have revealed himself so easily if he hadn’t planned this. His behavior felt suspicious, so I had contacted Park and Lee — luckily they happened to be together and could move faster than the police. They even brought a corps unit capable of using firearms if necessary. It was insurance I’d pulled in case things went sideways — and it had worked out.

Seeing Kim Daesung still blocking the entrance, I signaled Manager Ma.

Ma glanced at me and then ordered Kim.

“Team Leader Kim, open the path.”

“Yes, sir.”

Kim Daesung stepped aside.

“Only the three of you may enter,” he said.

Ahn Hyunsu glared at me, but I smiled.

“Colonel Kim.”

“Yes, General,” Kim replied.

“When you took off your uniform, I felt sorry. I couldn’t protect you,” I said.

“Nonsense,” Kim answered.

Park patted Kim Daesung’s shoulder and then walked past the open door toward me.

Lee Seongjae followed and said to Ahn Hyunsu, “Let’s go in. You said we must check. We’ll go together.”

“We should be careful. It might be dangerous,” Ahn protested.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Major General Park Jihoon is here. Who’d be crazy enough to start shooting? Unless they want to die,” Lee snapped, and Ahn reluctantly stepped forward.

The three entered and the door closed behind them. Kim blocked the entrance.

“Kim Muhyuk. Long time no see,” Park Jihoon said warmly as he walked beside me.

“Yes, General. Since grandfather’s funeral.” I replied.

“Right. Thanks to you I got promoted to Major General and made corps commander, but you never called,” Park teased.

“No, it’s because you served well,” I deflected.

When the military purge connected to Choi Sunman had reshuffled things, many soldiers left the army. I had recommended Park for the vacancy because of a small old connection of his grandfather’s. Park rose to Major General and became commander of the 5th Corps.

“Haha, not really. Thanks to you, our military got cleaned up,” Park laughed. I smiled back.

“Don’t be too cozy, both of you. I’d feel left out,” Lee joked and stepped forward, extending his hand.

“Ah, senior. Long time,” Lee said.

Lee had an unusual background: he graduated from Korea University Law, passed the bar, and then entered the police force directly as a superintendent.

“We saw each other at the alumni meeting, right?” he added.

“Yes. At the Myeongdong Hotel,” I answered.

“I heard the president-elect has set up transition headquarters at the Myeongdong Hotel,” Lee said in passing.

Of course I had allowed it.

“Yes. They rented two whole floors for the transition team,” I replied.

“You even called me unexpectedly and I was surprised. But when I arrived, this fellow was here. You know him?” Lee asked, touching Ahn’s shoulder and glancing at him.

Ahn’s eyes wavered under the attention.

“No. This is my first time meeting him today,” Ahn answered.

“Really? Then where is this place? And...” Lee lowered his voice upon seeing Seo Jaehun.

“Isn’t that Ilseong Group’s Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun? And that man is Director Lee Seokmin. Why is a gun pointed at Director Lee’s head...?” Lee asked.

“This is complicated,” Ahn said, and his face turned white.

Lee sighed deeply and stepped forward.

“Vice Chairman Seo Jaehun. I’m Lee Seongjae, chief of the Gyeonggi Provincial Police. I don’t know what’s going on, but put the guns down and let’s talk. You’re someone with a reputation—why are you doing this?”

Seo Jaehun’s face contorted. But his options were few.

Even his own man, Ahn Hyunsu, was being overwhelmed by Kim Muhyuk’s forces.

He exhaled, ruffling his hair, and looked to Han Jiho.

“Manager Han, put the gun down.”

“...”

“Manager Han.”

“Vice Chairman, I’m sorry,” Han said.

Bang!

The sound of a gunshot echoed.