CH 372

Splaaaash...

The sound of running water was shockingly refreshing. While listening to the highly-pressurized water gushing out of a shower nozzle, Lee Hyeon-Su's head faltered lower.

'What the hell am I doing?'

Even if he had already given up resisting, wasn't Kang Jin-Ho still his enemy? And that enemy was taking a shower right in front of his eyes, utterly defenseless! Yet, Lee Hyeon-Su was standing around nearby like a guard dog...!

Something about this situation felt so wretched. And somewhat dismaying, too... Lee Hyeon-Su's emotions were as complicated as they could possibly get.

'That man is insane.'

Of course, any person covered in blood would've wanted to take a shower first. That... would be one of the human desires, after all!

However, knowing when and where to act on one's desire was what separated humans from animals. Regardless of what, how could Kang Jin-Ho nonchalantly take a shower inside the Yeongnam Group HQ building after turning it into a slaughterhouse? How did that make any sense!

“Hah…”

Lee Hyeon-Su wasn't sure how to explain his emotions. However, if he were to try...

'...It'd be a sense of awe, wouldn't it?'

His head was filled with negative thoughts, but only 'awe' seemed fitting to describe the emotions in his heart.

That was what 'power' was like. And this power was a combination of financial muscles, political authority, and physical strength.

Why did people pursue power? Tonight, Kang Jin-Ho demonstrated the reason. Even though he willfully broke common sense and accepted etiquette and even the established rules and laws, no one dared to criticize him. No one could.

This was the special 'privilege' of power.

Lee Hyeon-Su was certain that some of the strongest warriors in South Korea were present in this location. In fact, it wouldn't be strange for the government to declare a national emergency after so many strong individuals had come together in one location!

However, even within this collection of abnormally strong people, Kang Jin-Ho still deserved to be called the special one. Only he could escape the standard of measuring in this place.

'...Which makes him a king.'

Lee Hyeon-Su suddenly had an epiphany. He now understood why the trio of kings in China was referred to that way.

He used to think titles like the 'Crimson King' or the 'Azure King' were too anachronistic. Too old-fashioned. He thought only the Chinese and their twisted naming sense would enjoy using cringe titles like that.

However, he was wrong. Even if they were humans like Lee Hyeon-Su, what was he supposed to call individuals that broke all the rules without repercussions? Rules that were meant to keep everyone in check? Only the term 'King' seemed suitable when referring to individuals that defied all constraints despite existing within them like everyone else.

And one such 'King' was leisurely stepping out of the shower now.

“...!” Lee Hyeon-Su tightly clenched his teeth.

Kang Jin-Ho's torso, it... It was slightly different from what Lee Hyeon-Su had imagined.

'I thought he'd be more muscular and bulkier. Much bigger, in fact...'

As it turned out, Kang Jin-Ho's physique wasn't that big. If Lee Hyeon-Su was being honest, he seemed at least half a handspan taller than Kang Jin-Ho.

However, not once did he think Kang Jin-Ho was smaller than him. That was until now. Only by witnessing this sight did he become conscious of the height difference.

'I'm not sure how to describe this...'

Kang Jin-Ho's physique was like... It reminded Lee Hyeon-Su of a lump of solid rock. Kang Jin-Ho wasn't the tallest person in the room. His shoulders weren't the broadest, either. Even his muscles weren't all that pronounced. A local gym should have plenty of dudes with more defined muscles than Kang Jin-Ho.

However, this... How should Lee Hyeon-Su describe this?

It felt like Kang Jin-Ho's physique was 'compressed'. His tightly-compressed muscles seemed ready to burst at any given moment. His entire torso seemed tightly packed with superbly-defined muscles as if any useless flesh would bring forth a catastrophe!

'This... This is the true physique of a martial artist, isn't it!'

Those weren't gym muscles pumped up to look good to other people but the real deal that had been trained for the sole purpose of winning life-or-death battles!

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Do you have towels, too?”

“...Here.” Lee Hyeon-Su pushed the towel in his hand to Kang Jin-Ho.

'I want to bite my tongue and kill myself...!'

Despite calling Kang Jin-Ho his enemy, Lee Hyeon-Su rummaged through the shower to find spare towels ahead of time. He suddenly felt a serious urge to stab himself to death from the shame of it all!

Kang Jin-Ho, remaining oblivious to Lee Hyeon-Su's inner conflict, began drying himself off with the towel. After drying his hair, Kang Jin-Ho stared at his ruined clothes.

“Hmm…” Even Kang Jin-Ho seemed unwilling to put on the blood-soaked clothes again. He glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su again. “Perhaps...?”

“...Yes, I've prepared a change of clothes.”

“Mm…” Kang Jin-Ho smiled as if he was satisfied by the service being offered.

'Looks like I've chosen the wrong career...'

Lee Hyeon-Su groaned inwardly. If only he worked as a hotelier, all the tips he received over the years would have ensured prosperity for three of his future generations...!

For the first time in his life, Lee Hyeon-Su discovered he had a knack for acting as a butler.

Kang Jin-Ho leisurely put on the tracksuit Lee Hyeon-Su had prepared. While standing in front of a mirror, Kang Jin-Ho finished drying his hair, then tossed the towel aside. He glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su for one more time. “Ahem. Maybe...?”

“A cigarette, perhaps?” Lee Hyeon-Su asked.

Nod.

Lee Hyeon-Su took out a cigarette from his breast pocket and presented it to Kang Jin-Ho.

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head slightly. “You don't smoke?”

“Yes, I don't.”

“In that case, why do you have a cigarette?”

“I've prepared it beforehand while thinking that... you might need one.”

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled slightly. “In that case, I won't stand on ceremonies.”

He accepted the offered cigarette and mouthed it before lighting it with a snap of his fingers. The cigarette tip burned to produce clouds of unhealthy smoke.

Lee Hyeon-Su watched Kang Jin-Ho silently smoke away and instinctively realized that his job was over.

'Maybe I should've prepared a drink or something, too.'

It seemed the blood of a hotelier was really flowing in Lee Hyeon-Su's veins. To think he'd be so rueful about a missed opportunity like this!

“Okay, so…” Kang Jin-Ho sat on one of the chairs found in the shower, then looked up at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Why were you waiting for me?”

“Well, I…” Lee Hyeon-Su was about to say something, only to clamp his mouth shut.

Even he wasn't sure why he stayed put and waited for Kang Jin-Ho instead of fleeing from here. There could've been a myriad of reasons, but nothing concrete enough to say, 'It's this one right here!'

Lee Hyeon-Su eventually replied, “...I just wanted to see you in person.”

“See me in person?”

“Yes. You. I wanted to witness what kind of person you truly were when your viciousness was at its peak.”

“I see.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded while dusting the ash off his cigarette. “Okay, so? What was your impression?”

“...I thought it was as I expected. No, maybe it was more extreme than I thought? No, I'm... I'm not quite sure. I'm not sure what I've witnessed. I don't know if what I saw is really you, and... And how much you're still hiding about yourself. I still don't know anything.”

“What a boring evaluation that is.” Kang Jin-Ho slowly sucked in the cigarette smoke. Hints of languidness were visible in his expression. He was like a once-starving lion lying down to relax after sating his hunger with a freshly-killed kudu. “Well, whatever. It's fine either way. However, I do want to ask you about something…”

“...Yes, go ahead.” Lee Hyeon-Su lightly bit his lip.

And so, it begins.

“Who are you, anyway?”

“...Eh?”

“...I'm asking who you might be.”

Lee Hyeon-Su's jaw dropped as his mind blanked out.

'What the hell? You want me to explain who I am?'

Good day, sir. My name is Lee Hyeon-Su, and all the Yeongnam Group's operations that have been annoying you so much until now came from my brain, sir. Since you'd never leave me alone, I figured that instead of hiding somewhere while fearing for the inevitable day, I might as well die with my dignity intact, you see? So, here I am, my neck all clean and washed for your pleasure, sir!

'...What the hell is up with this lame sh*t?!'

What Lee Hyeon-Su wanted was a dignified exit from his life, but it seemed his life wasn't a TV show.

Kang Jin-Ho was still looking up at Lee Hyeon-Ju with a face that asked, 'Just who are you, and why are you doing all this for me?'

“I, uh... uhm…” Lee Hyeon-Su grabbed his head while thinking how undignified and stupid this was. “M-my name is Lee Hyeon-Su, and I…”

While feeling like crying his heart out, Lee Hyeon-Su began introducing himself.

***

“Oh, is that right?” Kang Jin-Ho nodded while looking rather amused.

“...Yes,” Lee Hyeon-Su sighed deeply.

“Okay, so... It was your idea to trap me in that tunnel and kidnap Eun-Yeong?”

“Yes, that's correct,” Lee Hyeon-Su replied while feeling a load fall off his shoulders.

When he realized Kang Jin-Ho wasn't aware of who he was, Lee Hyeon-Su entertained the idea of dumping all the blame on the already-dead Kim Seok-Il. However, trying to dodge responsibility that way wasn't Lee Hyeon-Su's style. Since he was going to die anyway, he'd rather keep his dignity intact.

Thinking about the just punishment for everything he had done coming his way inexplicably put Lee Hyeon-Su's mind at ease. But then...

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “I see. And then?”

“...I'm sorry?”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“Huh?”

However, Kang Jin-Ho's response continued to shoot way past Lee Hyeon-Su's anticipation.

While sitting on that chair, Kang Jin-Ho was now making a face that asked, 'Oh, okay. I hear what you're saying, fella. But you still haven't told me what you want from me, you know?'

Lee Hyeon-Su stuttered ungainly. “I, I thought, uh... I thought you'd want to find me, so…”

“Me? Find you?”

“Y-yes.”

“Why would I?”

“Eh?”

When Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head in total confusion, Lee Hyeon-Su's jaw fell to the floor as a despondent expression formed on his face. To think he must explain with his own mouth and convince the other party of his guilt and the punishment...!

Where would anyone find a situation more bizarre in this world?!

“I, uh, so... I'm trying to tell you that I'm responsible for messing up your life, Mister Kang Jin-Ho! Since Kim Seok-Il had paid the price, shouldn't I also pay it?”

“Mm? Why?”

“Because that's common sense!” Lee Hyeon-Su cried out. He couldn't think of anything else to say. Just where should he even start explaining to make the other party understand?

Before Lee Hyeon-Su could feel more 'troubled', though, Kang Jin-Ho spoke up first. “Something tells me you've greatly overrated yourself there.”

“I'm sorry?”

“You might think you and Kim Seok-Il were equally responsible for creating the current situation. To me, though, you are nothing more than a pawn who did what Kim Seok-Il told you.”

“...” Lee Hyeon-Su's mouth clamped shut.

“If someone stabs me with a knife, I'll make the attacker pay the price instead of wasting time like breaking the weapon. You are Kim Seok-Il's knife. Nothing more.”

“However, if it wasn't for me, things wouldn't have been so troublesome for you, no?”

“Mm? Are you saying I should blame the knife for being too sharp, then?”

Lee Hyeon-Su became speechless after noticing the clear ridicule written on Kang Jin-Ho's expression.

Kang Jin-Ho was right. And accepting his assessment would go a long way to preserving Lee Hyeon-Su's life. In that case, why...!

Why did Lee Hyeon-Su feel something boiling deep inside the pit of his stomach!

Sure, he now acknowledged that Kang Jin-Ho was not an opponent he could do anything about. Even so, Lee Hyeon-Su still felt furious after all the desperate measures he had cooked up didn't even manage to ruffle Kang Jin-Ho's proverbial feathers!

“So, you sought me out hoping to die, is that it?” Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes and asked.

“N-no, not exactly…”

“Then, what's the problem?” Kang Jin-Ho tutted before getting up.

Lee Hyeon-Su tightly clenched his fists and stared at Kang Jin-Ho. “What if Kim Seok-Il didn't order me, but I still chose to attack you? What then? Would you have killed me as cruelly as you've ended Kim Seok-Il's life?”

Kang Jin-Ho silently stared at Lee Hyeon-Su before shaking his head slightly. “That wouldn't have changed much.”

“What? How come?”

Theft is never good, try looking at [ pawread dot com ].

“That's what being on top is like. When I choose a new direction to pursue, the people below me will try to think about my intentions and move accordingly. If Kim Seok-Il had never thought about eliminating me, you wouldn't have a reason to attack me. Since that's the case, Kim Seok-Il would've still paid the price.”

“...”

“It seems people of the current era have forgotten what it means to stand on top. Oh, and…” Kang Jin-Ho suddenly grinned. That grin looked so much creepier and crueler than anything Lee Hyeon-Su had seen. “Who said Kim Seok-Il was dead?”

Those words sounded like a loud thunderclap in Lee Hyeon-Su's ears.