章 14: Chapter 12: Zenith
"Sir, we found him. He's currently in South Korea," reports Seo Hwi-jo, his voice carrying both tension and certainty.
"South Korea?" Cho Tae-hwa replies, leaning back in his chair with a contemplative look. The faintest hint of a smile flickers across his lips.
"Yes, sir. It turns out he's been teaching at a school called Songdo," Seo Hwi-jo continues.
"A teacher... That suits Gwigwan Hyung very much," Tae-hwa muses, a touch of nostalgia in his tone. The thought of his elder brother, Cho Gwi-gwan, choosing such a quiet life seemed almost poetic.
"But, sir, we might have a bit of a problem," Seo Hwi-jo interjects, his voice lowering slightly, almost as if he feared disturbing Tae-hwa's train of thought.
Tae-hwa's smile fades. "What is it?" he asks, his tone sharp.
"It looks like Mister Gwi-gwan has associates," Seo Hwi-jo informs him.
Tae-hwa's eyes narrow. "Hmm... he's reacting quicker than expected."
"That seems to be the case, sir," Seo Hwi-jo replies.
Tae-hwa taps his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. "I guess he hasn't lowered his guard all this time." The realization that his brother had stayed vigilant, even after so many years, was impressive but troublesome.
"How many countries have we covered?" Tae-hwa asks, his tone now all business.
"From South Korea to Japan, the USA, Russia, China, Indonesia, and Thailand. We've recruited the best of the best assassins," Seo Hwi-jo answers, laying out the vast scope of their operation.
Tae-hwa's eyes glint with cold calculation. "Who is the most likely to succeed?"
"The one in South Korea," Seo Hwi-jo replies confidently. "It's his own country, and he has the structural advantage. Don't worry, sir, it's going to be finished today."
Tae-hwa nods, but his expression remains tense. "I hope so." He knew better than to assume victory too early, especially with his brother, a man far more cunning than most would assume. The pieces were in place, but there was always the chance of unforeseen resistance.
His mind buzzes with anticipation. Today would determine much.
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Michael, having finished off the last of the assassins, wiped the blood from his face in the bathroom, scrubbing the red stains from his hands and neck with a towel. The adrenaline still hummed beneath his skin, but his face remained calm, cold. After cleaning up, he stepped outside, lighting a cigarette as he made his way downstairs.
As he descended, the sounds of fists colliding echoed through the hallway. Rounding the corner, he saw Jincheol in the middle of a heated fight with a yellow-haired man—Goo Kim, Charles Choi's notorious bodyguard and a weapons genius. Michael immediately recognized him.
Without missing a beat, Michael casually walked toward them, his presence causing a subtle ripple in the room. Both men paused, their attention shifting as Michael's footsteps approached.
"Just keep going, Jincheol. That guy's pretty strong since he's Charles Choi's bodyguard," Michael said nonchalantly, taking a drag from his cigarette as he moved to pass by them.
But before he could get far, Goo's voice rang out, sharp with suspicion. "Oi, who are you?" His tone was serious, as if he sensed something dangerous in the air.
Michael turned his head slightly, exhaling smoke as he responded with a calm yet chilling demeanor. "You should've heard about me from Charles Choi."
Goo's eyes widened as Michael's name registered. "I'm Michael Kang," Michael added, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Goo's expression quickly shifted from shock to a sly grin. "So you're the King of Seoul, huh? How about becoming my secret friend?" he said with a mischievous smile as he slowly walked toward Michael, sensing an opportunity.
Michael's smirk faded, his eyes hardening as he released a wave of bloodlust that filled the room like a suffocating fog. Goo's playful demeanor evaporated, his instincts kicking in. He froze in place, his body going rigid as he entered a state of heightened alert, realizing the sheer danger he was now in.
Michael's voice was icy. "Do you really think you're anywhere close to my level?" His bloodlust deepened, and Goo's usual confidence was shattered. For a moment, Goo could hardly breathe, trapped in the weight of Michael's presence.
Michael took another drag from his cigarette and continued, "Do you know why Charles Choi sent James Lee after the other kings but never sent him after me?" He leaned in slightly, his voice a low, menacing growl. "It's simple. I'm just that much stronger than all of you."
Goo remained silent, his face a mix of shock and unease.
"But not today." Michael exhaled smoke as he flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his foot. "We'll fight another day. Right now, I've got more important matters to deal with."
With that, Michael turned and walked away, leaving Goo frozen in place, still processing the encounter. His next objective was clear—find Cho Gwi-gwan. The real battle was yet to come.
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Cho Tae-hwa stared at Seo Hwi-jo, still processing the gravity of his words. The room felt tense, as if the temperature had dropped a few degrees.
"You said the South Korean team has the home advantage. If that's the only reason, I'm quite disappointed," Tae-hwa had initially remarked, his voice calm but pointed. He leaned back, waiting for a more concrete answer.
Seo Hwi-jo, not wanting to disappoint his superior, began again. "Master Zu, when he was alive, always mentioned South Korea as a hotspot for dangerous individuals, despite how small the country is. It's a place crawling with monsters... and above monsters, lunatics."
"Lunatics?" Tae-hwa's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Yes, lunatics," Seo Hwi-jo nodded. "Master Zu always spoke of an order: Monsters on top of the strong, and lunatics on top of monsters. One of the three 'lunatics' that Master Zu recognized, is in South Korea, and he has accepted the job."
Just as Seo Hwi-jo finished speaking, his phone rang. He answered, listening to the panicked voice of his subordinate on the other end.
"Sir, there's a monster wreaking havoc all over the place!" the voice trembled with fear.
"Do you know who it is?" Seo Hwi-jo asked, his tone now sharp and urgent.
"No, but I've got a photo. Sending it now."
As soon as the image loaded on his phone, Seo Hwi-jo went pale, his entire body freezing up. The phone almost slipped from his hand as his legs seemed to give out under him. Tae-hwa, shocked by Seo's sudden shift in demeanor, quickly grabbed his arm to steady him.
"Director Seo, what's going on? Why are you reacting like this?" Tae-hwa asked, concern etched on his face.
Seo Hwi-jo's voice was barely above a whisper, yet the weight of his words was unmistakable. "Do you remember what I told you? Monsters on top of the strong, lunatics on top of monsters?"
"Yes..." Tae-hwa replied, feeling a chill creep down his spine.
"Master Zu had one title that surpassed all the rest: 'Zenith'—the one at the pinnacle. He gave that title to only one person. Master Zu once said he would trade the entirety of Tian Wai Tian Group just to have this man as his subordinate, knowing he could rebuild everything ten times over if that man stood by his side."
Tae-hwa's eyes widened, disbelief starting to take hold. "Who is this person?"
Seo Hwi-jo swallowed hard. "That man... is from South Korea. In his homeland, they call him the 'King of Seoul.' His name is Michael Kang. And he's not just here... he's coming to protect the successor in Master Zu's name."
Tae-hwa stood frozen, the color draining from his face as reality sank in. "Michael Kang... the King of Seoul?"
"Yes," Seo Hwi-jo confirmed. "As long as he is protecting the successor, we stand no chance. We have to move fast, before he tracks down the successor."
Tae-hwa's tone turned grim as he asked the question hanging in the air. "And if he makes it in time?"
Seo Hwi-jo's expression hardened. "Then not only will we fail to kill the successor, but we're as good as dead. If Michael Kang decides to kill us, there will be no escape."
The room went silent, the gravity of their predicament settling heavily on both men. Time was running out, and they were up against a force that even the most powerful people in the world feared.
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