Free Web NovelIt happened a few months ago, around the time Chairman Cheon had ordered Chief Ha to investigate Cheon Misook’s case. Dozens of days had passed.
“Chairman, it’s Myeonghun.”
“Come in.”
As Chief Ha stepped into the study, his face was rigid. For someone who rarely lost his composure, this was unusual.
“What’s going on? Why the stiff face? Something happen in Myeongdong?”
Chairman Cheon asked, sounding slightly alarmed, but Chief Ha didn’t open his mouth right away.
“Huh, Myeonghun, what’s with the hesitation? That’s not like you. What is it?”
“...Chairman.”
“What the hell’s going on today? What’s so serious?”
“It’s about Miss Misook’s case.”
As Cheon Misook’s name left Chief Ha’s lips, Chairman Cheon’s expression hardened at once.
As though he already had a premonition about what he was about to hear.
“There was only one police officer involved in the case still alive, and I managed to find him after extensive searching abroad.”
“...Was it a hit?”
Chairman Cheon might have already suspected it. Even if he had turned away from it, blood ties didn’t just disappear.
“I’m sorry. I should have paid more attention.”
“No, it’s not your fault. Before we start pointing fingers, just tell me. Who was it?”
“...It was orchestrated by Mr. Pyo. Which means Cheongpunghoe was behind it.”
As soon as the name Cheongpunghoe was mentioned, Chairman Cheon closed his eyes silently.
Chief Ha stood before him like a criminal awaiting judgment.
After a long silence, Chairman Cheon opened his eyes again.
His voice, when it came, trembled.
“What the hell would Cheongpunghoe gain from killing Misook? What could be worth going to war with me? After everything I’ve done for those bastards...”
Chief Ha gave no reply.
“Don’t tell me... No, that’s not it, right?”
“I’m sorry.”
Chief Ha couldn’t bring himself to say that President Cheon Sooman had been involved.
But some truths didn’t need to be spoken to be known.
Chairman Cheon’s face crumbled.
“Tell me everything as it is. No embellishments. Nothing left out.”
“...The man our agent met said he only conducted a formal investigation on orders from above. But when the other officers who had investigated the case all died, he got scared and immigrated. That’s when we started looking into it domestically.”
As he listened, Chairman Cheon intertwined his fingers and rubbed his thumbs together.
Chief Ha, watching his movements quietly, continued with difficulty.
“We dug into the upper levels of the police... and confirmed that President Cheon Sooman was involved.”
Chairman Cheon’s hands stopped moving.
“It appears he didn’t directly participate, but based on the fact that he intentionally blocked information from reaching you, it seems there was a prior deal between both sides. The only ones who had anything to gain from her death were the presidents.”
Even Chief Ha, who rarely showed emotion, was trembling by the end.
Chairman Cheon’s hands were visibly shaking as well.
“We’re currently tracking the two men who actually killed Miss Misook. We believe they’re still in the country. We’ll apprehend them the moment we find them.”
But Chairman Cheon could no longer hear a word.
The mere fact that his sons were involved in his daughter’s death was enough to shatter him.
It was his fault for not seeing them for who they were.
In the silence that followed, only the sounds of Chairman Cheon and Chief Ha breathing could be heard in the study.
“No need to bring them in. Kill them on the spot. Don’t let them die easy. Make it the most painful death imaginable... Yes, like in the old days—throw them to the dogs.”
“Understood.”
“This must never reach Muhyuk’s ears. Track down everyone involved and eliminate them. As for Sooman... leave him alone for now.”
“But...”
“Myeonghun, I know you thought of Misook as a sister. She always cherished you kids especially. But... I can’t kill my own blood with my own hands. What about Suhan? Did he know?”
“...We found no trace of President Cheon Suhan’s involvement.”
“Good. That’s at least something.”
Hearing that Suhan’s name hadn’t surfaced gave Chairman Cheon a sliver of relief.
He rubbed his chin in thought as Chief Ha quietly watched him.
Time passed before Chairman Cheon spoke again.
“Myeonghun.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“If we go to war with Cheongpunghoe, what are our odds of winning?”
“...You mean war?”
“Yes. A fight where one side must disappear.”
“The chances of victory would be under twenty percent.”
“Ha...”
The sound that escaped Chairman Cheon’s lips was somewhere between a sigh and a low growl.
“And if we use the ledger?”
“If you use that... we could raise the odds to around fifty percent. But Chairman, the moment you use that ledger, all your power becomes worthless. Even if we win, you’ll lose everything—your family, your wealth... even your life.”
The ledger recorded all the bribes Chairman Cheon had paid to politicians, bureaucrats, and military officers over the years—including Cheongpunghoe.
Even with that, the odds were still only fifty percent.
That meant even throwing everything away wouldn’t guarantee victory.
Chairman Cheon closed his eyes, speechless.
“Why would they side with Sooman of all people? What are they thinking?”
“They’re thinking ahead to when you’re no longer around. Ever since the new regime, you’ve been cutting back support to Cheongpunghoe, haven’t you? From their perspective, President Sooman is much easier to deal with.”
“...Yes. That’s it. It all makes sense now. I thought he was just trying to curry favor with Ilseong Group, but there was a reason he kept offering them money. There was no choice.”
All the pieces were falling into place.
Sooman’s constant fixation on Cheongpunghoe.
His obsession with sidelining Kim Muhyuk.
“Revenge will have to wait. Now isn’t the time. We’ll strike when the odds are over seventy percent.”
“...Understood. And what about the presidents?”
“Leave them be. Once I hand everything over to Muhyuk, I’ll send them to Jeju Island. And once again, do not let Muhyuk hear a word of this. I won’t allow bloodshed among family.”
“Understood.”
“I want to be alone. Leave me.”
Chief Ha carefully closed the door and exited the study.
The only sound left in the quiet room was the small, stifled weeping of an old man.
* * *
Tears welled in my grandfather’s eyes, but in the end, he couldn’t give me an answer.
“Grandpa, please... I don’t want to end up hating you too.”
“Muhyuk. I won’t ask for your forgiveness. But can’t you just turn a blind eye this once?”
“Are you asking me to let this go? Who’s going to give me back the childhood I spent without parents? I have to avenge their wrongful deaths. Don’t you see? If we don’t settle this now, they’ll come after my life too.”
“Still... how can I kill my own sons with my own hands? Not until I’m dead and buried.”
Just as I expected.
The reason he had postponed revenge against Sooman and Suhan was because of his own heart.
Even a man as cold-blooded as Grandpa was weak when it came to family.
“I won’t ask you to kill them. Just get them out of my sight. Send them somewhere {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} they’ll never be able to face me again. Take away everything they have. Make them realize what they’ve done.”
I could’ve killed them any time.
Even now, I could’ve done it if I wished.
But I didn’t want Grandpa to suffer the pain of losing more family.
I wanted to trust his sincerity one last time.
“How did you find out?”
“That’s not what matters right now, Grandpa.”
“...Would it be enough if I send Sooman abroad?”
“If you take back everything you gave him.”
I grew furious at his hesitation.
“If not, I’ll leave your side instead. I’ll go abroad. And I’ll come back when I have the strength to take revenge on my own.”
If Grandpa couldn’t let go of them, then I would let go of him.
“I’ll leave Korea with Grandma. Thank you for everything, Grandpa.”
For the first time, I saw genuine panic on his face in response to my firm words.
“Muhyuk.”
For the first time in two lifetimes, I ignored his voice and turned my back first.
As the study door opened, I discarded all attachments and resolved to grow strong enough to take revenge with my own hands—even if it took time.
This time, it was something I could definitely do.
“...Fine. That’s enough. Your grandfather was wrong.”
I stopped in my tracks.
When I turned back, the man I saw wasn’t the imposing Chairman Cheon—but a powerless, lonely old man, like Grandma.
“As long as I’m alive, I swear I won’t let your hands be stained with your uncles’ blood. That’s my promise.”
“...Did Suhan know too?”
“Yes. I heard it from him. Whether he learned late or knew from the start—he knew.”
“...Don’t hate Jiwon, Jisoo, or Jiyoung.”
I wasn’t afraid of Grandpa anymore.
“Yes. I promise.”
“Myeonghun, come in.”
Chief Ha entered with a similarly rigid face.
“You heard everything, right? Take back everything I gave those two. I’ll call Chairman Ilseong myself. You go to Jiyoung’s mother and get her to sign the divorce papers.”
“Chairman, are you alright?”
Grandpa didn’t answer.
“And once you’ve taken it all back, send them abroad. Give them just enough to settle somewhere. They’ll still have to live.”
“Chairman...”
He was still Grandpa, even to the end.
But I didn’t blame him for that. There was no need to push further now.
“Put everything else on hold and do this first. As for Suhan—strip him of all the privileges he’s receiving there. Once he returns, send him abroad like Sooman.”
“Understood.”
“Is this enough for you?”
“Yes.”
“Then both of you leave. I want to be alone.”
As Grandpa turned to face the window, he dismissed both me and Chief Ha.
We stepped outside.
“Chief Ha, how could you? How could you keep what happened to my mom from me?”
“I’m sorry. What happened to Miss Misook... pains me too.”
“...I’ll trust you.”
Leaving Chief Ha behind, I walked away from the house.
There was no way I could get through this day sober.
“Take me to Myungsoo’s.”
Chief Ma drove in silence.
Soon, we arrived at Myungsoo’s house.
When I rang the bell, he answered.
“What’s up? No call or nothin’—”
He stopped when he saw my face.
“What the hell? Something happen?”
At that, my vision finally blurred.
“What the—why are you crying, you little shit? Just come in already.” frёewebnoѵēl.com
I entered the house with Myungsoo.
He brought me a cold glass of water.
“Damn, you’re the last guy I’d expect to show up crying like this. What the hell happened?”
“You got booze?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Give me some.”
He sighed and brought out a bottle of soju.
Before he could open it and pour me a glass, I snatched the bottle from his hands.
I downed the whole thing in one go.
“Jesus, you’ve really lost it.”
The sharp burn of alcohol filled my nose and throat.
“Myungsoo... just let me be like this today. I’m sorry.”
Grabbing onto Myungsoo, I poured out all the emotions I had left.
I cried until I fell asleep, exhausted.
When I opened my eyes the next day, I made a promise to myself.
No more sadness.
Crying alone wasn’t going to get me what I wanted.
Live every day on edge. Live in fear that death could come any moment.
What I promised Grandpa was that I wouldn’t kill them.
Fine. Then I just won’t kill them.
<I Won’t Ask You to Kill Them.> End.
