The moment he threw the axe, he drew a gun from Section Chief Kim's waist at his side and pressed it against his temple. Thud. Chairman Kang collapsed, and Ja-kyeong turned to look at Il-hyeon.
"Sorry. You're an orphan now."
A trace of ecstasy brushed across his face. Even though his father had just fallen before his eyes with an axe buried in his head, he showed no sign of sorrow. The fallen Chairman Kang twitched as if convulsing and groaned, while his subordinates, flustered, belatedly aimed their guns at Ja-kyeong.
In the tense standoff with guns trained on each other, Section Chief Kim shouted.
"What! What are you all doing! The Chairman! Attend to the Chairman first! You worthless fools!"
Since most were hired mercenaries paid for their services, confusion only grew among them. Ja-kyeong shouted at them.
"Make the right call. The person who was going to pay you is dead anyway. Getting into a shootout here is reckless."
As if to prove this true, Chairman Kang's writhing gradually ceased. Several subordinates looked at Section Chief Kim with troubled expressions. Section Chief Kim's face also turned pale with alarm. Ja-kyeong, still aiming his gun, took a knife from Section Chief Kim's inner pocket and moved behind Kang Il-hyeon.
"Representative Kang here will pay you the same compensation. Of course, only if you put down those guns."
After cutting the bonds to free him, Kang Il-hyeon slowly rose from his seat. Section Chief Kim's face went white. Fearing for his own life, he repeatedly shouted for them not to shoot. Ja-kyeong took Section Chief Kim as a hostage and began slowly backing away.
That was when Takeya Jun, who had been mixed in with the group, drew his gun and fired without hesitation. Bang. The sound echoed through the building, and the flying bullet grazed past Ja-kyeong's face. Damn it. He stood aiming his gun and smiled eerily.
"Listen well, everyone. That bastard there is the one who made my eye like this. You think I'd spare any of you?"
At those words, everyone began to waver. Ja-kyeong frowned, and Jun delivered his decisive blow.
"I'll pay you the money. Kill those two!"
Fuck. The moment he reached out to counterattack, Section Chief Kim's head exploded from a second bullet, and Ja-kyeong's face was covered in blood. Bang, bang. Ja-kyeong immediately counterattacked, using the instantly killed Section Chief Kim's body as a shield while quickly making his way toward the exit with Kang Il-hyeon.
After discarding Section Chief Kim's corpse on the floor and rushing downstairs, he could hear the sound of Chairman Kang's subordinates who had been below the building coming up, having heard the gunfire. The two turned sideways and searched for somewhere to hide.
The footsteps drew closer. Kang Il-hyeon, having noticed something, grabbed Ja-kyeong's arm and pulled him into a nearby empty office. As expected, construction was unfinished, so the window side was openly exposed, with pillars and unfinished construction materials piled in the middle.
After locking the door, the two stepped back. Shouts came from outside along with footsteps. Il-hyeon quickly swept his gaze up and down Ja-kyeong. The white t-shirt he had worn for their date was ruined with blood. Blood continued to pour from both arms as well.
"Are you okay?"
Ja-kyeong nodded. He was probably not the one who should be asking that question. Kang Il-hyeon was in equally bad condition. Il-hyeon looked around. Construction had progressed considerably, with construction tools, welding machines, and welding gas scattered here and there. He pulled Ja-kyeong along to the window. After looking down once, he grabbed Ja-kyeong's shoulder.
After checking below, Ja-kyeong discovered the safety net and roughly guessed what he intended to do. The safety net didn't look sturdy enough to support two grown men. Sand was spread below it, but there was no guarantee how much cushioning it would provide.
Thud, thud, here! Here! The closed door shook as if it would be torn off at any moment, and soon gunshots were heard. As bullet marks began appearing one by one on the iron door, Il-hyeon grabbed Ja-kyeong's cheek and roughly devoured his lips. Blood from who knows whom entered his mouth and mixed with saliva.
Their lips parted, and Ja-kyeong hurriedly grabbed his arm.
"Wait. We can't both jump from here together."
Il-hyeon answered with a smile.
"Go first and wait for me."
Ja-kyeong's eyes went wide. What does that mean? Before he could ask further, Il-hyeon pushed Ja-kyeong's shoulder. He tried to grab Kang Il-hyeon's arm, but because he suddenly stepped back, he plummeted straight down.
Ja-kyeong's body caught in the net once, then the safety net tore and he tumbled onto the sand pile. Perhaps due to the shock, he couldn't easily get up, but externally he didn't seem badly injured. Il-hyeon picked up an electric saw and pulled the cord. After two or three tries, the motor started, and the sharp blade moved at terrifying speed.
Carrying it, he walked steadily toward the door.
Bang, bang, bang. The door handle rattled, then fell off with a clatter, and the door opened with a sound like it was breaking apart. Il-hyeon swung the saw blade indiscriminately at the men rushing in. Amid horrific screams, flesh flew everywhere and blood ran freely.
Bang bang. Gunshots rang out, and Il-hyeon stumbled backward.
Blood gushed from his right abdomen. Fuck. Cursing, he snatched one of the automatic rifles the men had been carrying and hurriedly hid behind a pillar. Bang bang bang. Ruthlessly flying bullets embedded into the pillar, and cement fragments scattered in all directions.
Il-hyeon leaned out from between the wall and aimed at the men. Bang, bang. Heads exploded, and several men fell in an instant. By the numbers, it seemed everyone who could gather had gathered. Il-hyeon aimed at the welding gas cylinders behind the men.
In that gap, a bullet flew and grazed his shoulder. Ugh. The bullet aimed at the gas cylinder went astray, and the moment he hid, Takeya Jun's voice was heard.
"What a pity. The insolent young master has been cornered like a trapped rat. But where did Lee Ja-kyeong go? Hmm?"
Il-hyeon exhaled roughly. Looking down, blood gushed from his side. Several of the men, apparently under Takeya Jun's orders, tried to head toward the entrance. Il-hyeon didn't miss that opening and shot their heads directly. As the men fell in front of the entrance, bullets rained down on the pillar without even time to breathe.
Cement powder crumbled and scattered everywhere, revealing the iron framework.
Il-hyeon caught his breath and smiled eerily.
"None of you are leaving here alive!"
The moment he finished speaking, he concentrated his attack on the men near the entrance. They also hid behind pillars. He had to buy time for Lee Ja-kyeong to escape somehow. Il-hyeon caught his breath, removed the magazine, and checked the remaining bullet count. Holding out any longer was impossible. He could see the gas cylinder behind Takeya Jun, but from this angle, it was difficult to hit. It was a position that required him to go out from behind the pillar.
If luck was bad, he could die here. But if he hesitated, Lee Ja-kyeong would die too. That was absolutely unacceptable. No matter what, he had to save him. Fuck, if I knew I'd die this soon, I should have revised my will. This inadequate lawyer wouldn't really be buried with him, would he?
Belatedly regretting, he gave a bitter smile.
He made his final decision. Breathing became increasingly difficult, and cold sweat ran down his forehead. Whether from the sweat or the pouring blood, his consciousness kept blurring. After slowly taking a deep breath, he extended his body out from behind the pillar.
Bang, bang. He returned fire at the men, then aimed at the gas cylinder and fired. Bang. The moment one bullet hit, a bullet from the opposite side embedded into his right abdomen. Kugh. His body swayed from the pain. Hiss— at the sound of gas leaking, his eyes met Takeya Jun's.
Il-hyeon fired a second bullet and immediately threw his body behind the pillar.
KABOOM! With an ear-splitting explosion, the ceiling shook, and chunks of cement poured down from above.
Ugh! Coming to his senses, Ja-kyeong first looked up. Kang Il-hyeon, you crazy bastard. You son of a bitch! He hurriedly tried to stand, but his legs wobbled. They weren't broken, but they seemed cracked. Gritting his teeth, he stood up and ran with a limp. He hurried toward the building, and in the distance, several black cars were approaching at high speed, kicking up dust.
Among them were several ambulances. There was no time to check whether they were Chairman Kang's people or not. Ja-kyeong limped into the building. Grabbing the stair railing, he ran upstairs when suddenly— boom! An explosion sounded from above.
The building shook, and Ja-kyeong, who had been climbing, stopped in his tracks. What was that? Following another boom! debris fell from the ceiling with a clatter. In that moment, Ja-kyeong was seized with fear. Don't tell me...! Forgetting his injured leg, he began climbing frantically.
Just then, a familiar voice came from below.
"Wei!"
Ja-kyeong, who had been turning back, hesitated. Park Tae-soo, Wang Han, Wang Ryun, and several other people appeared armed. On Park Tae-soo's always-composed face, he read tension and anxiety. Slow footsteps sounded from the stairs above where the explosion had occurred.
Park Tae-soo's subordinates simultaneously raised their guns. Ja-kyeong held his breath and looked up.
"Wei. Come here."
Wang Han called out, but he stood his ground and didn't move. Wang Han started coming up to protect Ja-kyeong, then stopped. Covered in blood, Kang Il-hyeon descended with a pale face, staggering and dragging his legs. Blood gushed and poured from what looked like holes all over his body. Every step he took left a trail of blood.
He discovered Ja-kyeong and smiled faintly.
"Thank goodness..."
As he spoke, blood gurgled from his mouth. At that sight, Ja-kyeong felt like his breath was being cut off.
"You're in one piece... our darling..."
He smiled brightly, then collapsed toward Ja-kyeong as if crumbing.
Representative! Park Tae-soo ran up, and Ja-kyeong caught and held him. The smell of blood was overwhelming, and his body was so cold it felt like hugging a corpse. His heart sank heavily. As if that wasn't enough, he went limp with no strength. Ja-kyeong's voice, holding him, trembled mixed with sobbing.
"Hey. Representative Kang..."
There was no answer. Even the faint sound of breathing that could barely be heard was gradually fading away.