Kapitel 19: Chapter 16: Weakness
Thank you guys very much for getting me over 50 power stones, this means very much. Hope you all will support me in the future, with reviews, to see what's good and bad, and may you all have a great day
-------------------------------------------------
Michael stepped out of the elevator with quiet confidence. His polished shoes made no sound as he crossed the marble floor leading to Charles Choi's office. A quick glance at Oliver, who stood by the door, earned a nod of silent understanding. Michael then turned his gaze to Goo.
"Goo, wait outside while I speak with Michael," Charles Choi's commanding voice cut through the room.
Goo merely nodded, stepping out to join Oliver in the hallway. The two exchanged knowing looks—both men accustomed to waiting outside while power plays unfolded behind closed doors.
Inside, the office was expansive yet minimalistic. Sleek furniture and abstract art adorned the walls, but it was the man behind the mahogany desk who commanded the space. Charles Choi, his sharp eyes scanning documents, acknowledged Michael's presence without lifting his gaze.
"You've certainly taken your time to visit me, Michael. We haven't seen each other in years, not since we began collaborating on the Cheonliang development," Charles said in a calm, measured tone.
A soft chuckle escaped Michael as he approached the desk. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, analyzing every detail. "Well, it's been quite some time since I've had the pleasure of seeing the infamous "Elite" Former Number 2 of the legendary Fist Gang."
At this, Charles finally looked up, locking eyes with Michael. The tension between them was palpable, an unspoken power struggle neither could deny yet neither would acknowledge outright.
"Sit," Charles gestured to the leather chair opposite him. Michael obliged, smoothing his suit as he sat, an air of ease surrounding him. Silence hung between them for a brief moment as Charles steepled his fingers, studying his guest with piercing intensity.
"I heard you had a run-in with my bodyguard Goo a few years back," Charles remarked, his voice casual, but his eyes sharp with interest.
Michael's expression remained calm, his tone light. "Yes. Goo's… interesting. Rough around the edges when I first met him, but I can see he's come into his own since then. But let's not dwell on that." His gaze sharpened, and a knowing smirk tugged at his lips. "You're aware of the 4 Major Crews, I assume?"
Charles's eyes narrowed slightly. For the first time, a flicker of caution passed through his usually impenetrable exterior. "So, it's not the Cheonliang project you came here to discuss, is it? You've always been straightforward, Michael. What is it you want?"
Michael's expression remained cold and unreadable as he spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion. "I've always been curious how the Chairman of HNH Group expanded so rapidly in just four years, so I dug into the four major crews. Turns out, someone was receiving money from them. And look what I found." Michael slid a photo across the table toward Charles. "Recognize him? One of your bodyguards, isn't he?"
Charles didn't flinch, but the tension in the room thickened, an invisible weight pressing down on them.
"You built your empire by exploiting minors, Charles," Michael continued coolly. "I wonder what Steve Hong would say if he got his hands on this evidence. What do you think he'd do?"
Charles took a moment, choosing his words carefully. "The four major crews—the Workers, Big Deal, Hostel, God Dog—they all played a part in my success, but you already know that. What exactly are you after, Michael?"
Michael's eyes were cold, his voice as neutral as ever. "I'm not interested in the details of your little operations. You know exactly what I want—my weakness."
Charles leaned back, a slight smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "And why would I give that to you?"
Michael leaned back in his chair, a smile creeping across his face, though it was far from warm. "Gapryong Kim's death… it's fascinating, isn't it? A few years ago, I told James I knew he and Gitae were involved, but the more I looked into it, the clearer it became that someone else pulled the strings."
There was a brief pause before Charles replied, his demeanor subtly shifting—more guarded now. "And who do you think that someone is?"
Michael tilted his head, his voice dropping to an icy tone. "Charles, I didn't come here to play games. I know it was you."
The air between them crackled with tension, thick and suffocating. Charles's eyes darkened, and for the first time, his calm exterior slipped just a little, revealing a flash of irritation. "You should be careful with accusations like that, Michael. You don't know as much as you think you do."
Michael's smile widened, though his eyes remained cold. "Oh, but I do." He pulled out a file, sliding it toward Charles. "I have the evidence right here."
For a brief moment, a flicker of shock crossed Charles's face before he quickly regained control, masking his emotions. He glanced at the documents, then back at Michael. "I see you've been busy."
Michael remained unfazed, his voice calm. "You know how this ends if my weakness goes public. Sure, I'll take a hit, but I'll recover. You, on the other hand… you're the chairman of a conglomerate. If word gets out that you orchestrated the murder of Gapryong Kim, a man whose death shook the nation, your entire empire crumbles. You'll lose everything. So tell me, Charles, who has more to lose here?"
Charles's lips pressed into a thin line. "Hmm, I see… Looks like you've got me in a corner, Michael." His voice turned cold. "So, what's your proposal? You give me back the evidence I have against you, and I'll hand over what you want."
Michael watched as Charles pulled out a document from his desk drawer, his expression unchanging. "Here. I don't have any copies," Charles said, passing the papers to Michael.
Michael took the document, glancing at it briefly before meeting Charles's gaze once more. "I hope that's true. But just so we're clear, if you do have a copy, I'll destroy you," he said, his voice low and threatening, his expression deadly serious as the tension in the room grew even heavier.
Rising from his seat slowly and deliberately, Michael's movements were calm, almost casual, as he spoke again. "Now that I have what I came for, we have no further business." Without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving Charles to ponder the brewing storm.
Outside, Oliver straightened as Michael approached, opening the car door without a word. Goo, standing off to the side, watched with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension in his eyes.
As Michael slid into the car, Oliver glanced at him. "How did it go?"
Michael smirked as he settled into the seat, his confidence palpable. "It went exactly as I expected. But I'm sure Charles still has a copy somewhere. He's trying to wipe out the four major crews to bury the dirty money he used to build his empire. That'll keep him busy, too distracted to deal with me. I'll work from the shadows, helping the kids behind the scenes. Besides, I have the red paper.
When the time comes, I can destroy him whenever I want." His voice was calm, but the underlying threat was unmistakable. "Now that my only weakness is gone, everything is finally falling into place."
Oliver nodded as he started the engine, the car humming to life. "And what about the development project in Cheonliang?"
Michael's gaze shifted to the window, his expression unreadable. "The old man, Steve Hong, will probably take Charles down himself. He must have something on him, something big."
As the Rolls Royce pulled away from the office, the tension left behind was palpable—Michael, a man with too many secrets, now in full control of his game, ready to shape the world from the shadows.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein