Chapter 117
The Head of Aoshika
In-hyuk, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the sight of Jang Hyung-cheol's suddenly sparkling eyes, took a sip of the water beside him.
"If you want to hear the story, could you do something about that look in your eyes first?"
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"You're already making so much money, but you still want more?"
Only then did Jang Hyung-cheol back down a little, clearing his throat.
"Hrmm—! It's not so much greed as it is expectation. You and AMK, both, keep raking in huge profits from whatever you touch. How can I just sit back and watch that?"
"You're good with words."
"Well, what can I do? I just have to take whatever comes my way. Hahaha—!"
In-hyuk shook his head at his brazen answer.
Jang Hyung-cheol stopped laughing and continued speaking.
"So, what kind of business is it? If it's according to the nature of Bridge... is it a corporate loan case?"
This was because they were now a financial company under AMK Partners, not just a moneylending firm.
Of course, what they did wasn't much different from before, but their image, credibility, and stability were all better than before.
"That's right. There's a company with strong growth potential. We're planning to expand this time."
Jang Hyung-cheol cocked his head slightly.
"Then wouldn't it be fine to have Taeshin Asset Management invest? Or just acquire it."
"We're already investing. But we can't keep doing it with no strings attached. Also, we're not considering an acquisition. The other side doesn't want that either."
"I see. Do you have any material?"
In-hyuk handed over the envelope he had placed next to him.
"It's a company called Myungshin Tech. Please take a look, discuss it internally, and decide."
"If I just blindly trust your proposal, wouldn't that look like I have no discernment? I'll check carefully and then decide. But... are you really okay?"
He was bringing up the incident where their lives had been targeted.
Jang Hyung-cheol's expression was filled with worry.
"Well, I'm not dead, so I guess it's fine."
"How can you say that? Weren't those the guys who used guns and even bombs to carry out a terror attack?"
However, their real target had been Tae Ju-ha, not In-hyuk.
What he felt during the escape from Vladivostok was that they had moved meticulously to kill her.
'It means information about the company with Taeshin Group's shares was leaked to those guys. But Tae Seok-ho still seems unaware of this.'
Next to Tae Seok-ho was Reina Blackwood. Just like Baek Si-hwan, she was confirmed to be affiliated with Kooou.
If information wasn't shared between them, then it was clear they were being thoroughly exploited.
After a brief moment of thought, In-hyuk smiled faintly.
"I'm taking precautions too. I don't intend to be taken down easily, either."
"Huh... is it really as easy as you say? Of course, you being safe so many times is impressive, but at this rate, you could get sniped."
From the look of things, Kooou was clearly working to determine the heirs of both Taeshin Group and KQ Group.
In-hyuk, at this point, was the biggest concern for Taeshin Group Chairman Tae Gun-seung and a leading candidate for KQ Group's next successor.
Because he now wielded such influence, Kooou also couldn't move against him easily.
Of course, In-hyuk wasn't being careless either.
He was always keeping his location and destination concealed and prepared for whatever might happen.
"If those guys needed that kind of method, I'd already be dead. So there's no need to worry too much."
"I still wonder if you'll really be okay."
"In any case, please review the material I just gave you. If the company accepts, it would look good for AMK Partners to acquire it as well."
Jang Hyung-cheol let out a hearty laugh.
"In that case, wouldn't you benefit more than me since you already invested in the company?"
"We're both going to profit. I'm counting on you."
"I should be the one thanking you. And I really hope you don't get hurt."
It was a sincere concern.
Having finished their important conversation, the two began their meal.
* * *
A few days later, at a UID safehouse on the outskirts of Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.
Jung Yoon-ju, the deputy general manager and prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, hurried into the house, which was lit up inside.
Inside, chairman Baek Ji-woong of W&W Group and Im Deok-chang, the deputy general manager of the National Intelligence Service, were already waiting.
"What's the reason you suddenly called us together?"
The question came from Im Deok-chang.
Jung Yoon-ju, walking up to the sofa, placed the envelope in her hand down with a grave expression.
"Please take a look at this first."
Im Deok-chang, looking puzzled, pulled out the photos from the envelope. Baek Ji-woong, who was seated beside him, checked the contents as well.
A brief silence passed, then Jung Yoon-ju spoke again.
"Two days ago, the Anti-Corruption Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office received a tip about prosecutor corruption. When I looked into their identity, it turned out to be someone who belonged to Taeshin Group's security team but suddenly went missing about a year ago."
Sensing something odd, Baek Ji-woong called Do Jung-geol, who was standing further back, to confirm.
"I think it's Kim Seong-tae, a Level 4 intelligence agent from TSS who was managed by our side."
That explanation made Baek Ji-woong's face twist slightly.
Meanwhile, Jung Yoon-ju asked, her curiosity piqued.
"You say 'was'—so they're not anymore?"
After exchanging a glance with Baek Ji-woong, Do Jung-geol finished the explanation.
"About a year ago, when an operation failed and we tried to extract a compromised agent, the tail was caught and he was disposed of."
"Are you sure?"
"We didn't leave a body behind. But was this really taken two days ago?"
Because according to Jung Yoon-ju, the agent—already presumed dead—had appeared to disclose information about prosecutor corruption.
"How can you say that, even after seeing this?"
Kim Seong-tae in the photo was captured on a vehicle's black box.
It was discovered only after searching around a nearby internet café, because the IP address used couldn't be tracked.
With a serious expression, Baek Ji-woong spoke up.
"Right now, the only suspicious group is Skull."
At the time, it was Skull who subdued Kim Seong-tae, Pyo Jun-woo, and other agents at the scene.
It was obvious that only their side would have a reason to suspect or impersonate him.
"Is there any reason for them to deliberately disguise themselves as Kim Seong-tae and do this?"
While still examining the photos, Im Deok-chang interjected.
"It's a kind of warning."
"... A warning?"
Baek Ji-woong echoed, drawing Jung Yoon-ju's attention.
"I don't know exactly how they did it, but by putting forward Kim Seong-tae—who is already dead—they're warning us that they know about us."
Everyone's expressions turned grim, apparently convinced.
Then, Baek Ji-woong let out a long sigh through his nose.
"For now, we should report this to the Organization."
"And this tip about corruption—does it pose a problem?"
At Im Deok-chang's question, a long sigh escaped Jung Yoon-ju's lips as well.
"It was information about corruption involving 18 prosecutors. Some of them are under my command, so I'm troubled about how to deal with it."
"That's what they were aiming for. But there's no way they know exactly who are your people. So non-targets are likely mixed in."
But that didn't mean they could rest easy. Everyone in the room understood this, so no one relaxed.
After pondering for a moment, Baek Ji-woong spoke up.
"Were you unable to track where the person disguised as Kim Seong-tae went?"
"They disappeared in an area with low CCTV coverage. The email was sent from a PC café, so there were no fingerprints, and because they used cash, there were no other leads."
"They're extremely thorough. How on earth did they find out about us...?"
"So this mess started because you failed to deal with Skull at the outset."
That muttering was clearly provocative.
However, even Baek Ji-woong couldn't protest, as Im Deok-chang's point wasn't wrong.
"Shouldn't we be coming up with countermeasures?"
"We don't know anything about those guys, do we?"
So far, all they'd discovered was someone with an unidentified, full-face skull mask.
Moreover, Skull had also appeared not long ago in Naya, Mongolia, where the WID camp had been located.
They didn't know the details, but it felt as if the threat had come far closer than expected.
Lost in thought, Baek Ji-woong cautiously opened his mouth again.
"... How about the hypothesis that AMK Partners is behind them?"
"AMK?"
"The timing of their involvement lines up with AMK Partners' emergence. Plus, they have plenty of capital, and they've interfered with our operations multiple times—taking TN SOFT away from us, for one."
Im Deok-chang's brow furrowed at the mention of his failure.
"Hrmm! Would AMK have a reason to target us?"
"If Aoshika is behind them?"
Everyone's face hardened.
Aoshika had been the original headquarters of the Hongu Society, which they all once belonged to, until four years ago.
However, due to internal strife and taking a huge blow, the society's head, Nomen, vanished along with it.
Given their knowledge of the Hongu Society, the strongest opposition would likely be from there.
"If they had enough strength to grow their business and force like that, would we have been able to withstand them?"
Again, this wasn't wrong.
After a moment, Baek Ji-woong shared a story he had kept under wraps.
"What if the guy even knows about TMT?"
At the same time, Im Deok-chang's face became even more twisted.
"What are you talking about?"
"During the Pyo Jun-woo extraction, the guy also asked about TMT."
At this, Im Deok-chang jumped to his feet.
"Why are you only saying this now?!"
TMT (Tactical Murder Technique) was a combat skill developed by the Organization, along with the military special force UID under the Ministry of National Defense.
There weren't many agents who had mastered it, but unless someone belonged to WID or UID, knowledge of TMT was impossible.
Obviously, for Skull to ask about TMT meant there was a connection to the Organization.
"If it were Aoshika, there's no way they'd ask about that."
The special force UID began in 2016 and was disbanded in 2023.
Given the period when Aoshika was ousted from the Organization, if Aoshika were targeting Hongu again, they'd go after executive members, not TMT.
"Still, shouldn't you have reported it?"
"Even if I did, would anything change? We still don't know anything about those guys."
Im Deok-chang's breathing became rough, as if he were snorting.
"So, even if Skull's backer is AMK Partners, the chances of it being connected to Aoshika are slim?"
"Most likely."
"Then it's even more perplexing. If it's unrelated to Aoshika, what reason would AMK Partners have to target us?"
With one major hypothesis dismissed, it became even harder to connect the dots.
As frustration mounted, Baek Ji-woong slowly continued.
"They might be moving with a similar goal and structure as us. So for now, the best we can do with nothing to go on is just try fitting things together."
"But will that get us anywhere? We haven't even figured out Gordon Grimes' location or identity after he finally showed himself."
There was still too much shrouded in mystery.
"I'll have to put them under close surveillance. Speaking of which, is the vetting of the former Notex staff proceeding smoothly? To avoid arousing suspicion from the director, we need to be thorough."
By changing the topic, Im Deok-chang's face grew even harsher.
"So now you want a report on a problem from your side that I'm cleaning up?"
"I just want to know something."
"I'll handle it, so don't worry."
With that, the conversation ended, and Im Deok-chang was the first to leave.
Jung Yoon-ju, still watching from the living room, kept silent for a moment, then turned to Baek Ji-woong.
"Honestly, I don't know if this situation is okay."
"What can we do, even if it's not? We just have to keep moving forward...."
They had already crossed the point of no return. Now, all they could do was somehow carve out a path forward.
"I'll take my leave, too."
"See you next time."
"Not like this, I hope."
Jung Yoon-ju also headed for the door.
Not long after, the sound of a car departing from outside the safehouse was heard.
Baek Ji-woong met eyes with Do Jung-geol. After briefly checking outside, Do Jung-geol returned and gave a nod.
Baek Ji-woong pulled out his phone from his coat and made a call somewhere. When the line connected, he spoke carefully.
"Skull has found out about TMT. Nomen."
That was the name of the original head of the Hongu Society—Nomen, the head of Aoshika(青鹿).