章 24: The Prey and Predator V

Harry Nam POV

I ended the call and handed my phone to the secretary standing beside me. I stood up, pushing my chair back with a measured grace, my movements deliberate and controlled. The room I was leaving was one of opulence, filled with Korea's most influential business leaders, as well as key foreign dignitaries. It was the annual business meet, an event where power was not just discussed but displayed, where alliances were forged over expensive wine and where the fate of entire industries could be decided with a single handshake.

Naturally, my sudden departure in the middle of such an important gathering drew everyone's attention. Conversations halted mid-sentence, eyes turned towards me, and the weight of their collective gaze settled on my shoulders. I could feel the tension in the air, a mix of curiosity and concern, but I was used to it. After all, I was Harry Nam, the CEO of the Nobles Conglomerate—a name that carried with it a certain expectation. The Nobles Conglomerate wasn't just a local powerhouse; it was a global titan, renowned especially in Russia and Korea. We owned numerous businesses across various sectors, but my domain was Nobles Construction and Heavy Metals. These industries were the backbone of our empire, and I was the one who kept that backbone strong.

In the world of business titans who ruled over Seoul's corporate landscape, my decisions weren't just respected; they were regarded as law.

As I stood, one of the foreign dignitaries—a man with a silver mane and piercing blue eyes—raised his glass slightly, his voice cutting through the sudden hush. "Leaving so soon, Mr. Nam? I thought you were going to grace us with your insights on the market trends."

I paused briefly at the exit, turning to face the room one last time. I offered a formal apology, bowing slightly as I flashed a practiced, fake perfect smile "I'm afraid something urgent has come up, Mr. Langston. I trust the rest of you will manage just fine without me Please, enjoy the rest of your evening."

with that, my face took a complete 180 degree turn

As I made my way out of the room, my secretary followed close behind, her heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor. The sound was a stark contrast to the muffled conversations and the clinking of glasses that filled the room we had just left.

The moment we stepped outside, we were flanked by fifteen men, all dressed in the standard attire of bodyguards—dark suits, earpieces, and the stern expressions of men who were ready for anything. They moved into a protective formation around me, a living wall of muscle and professionalism that kept the world at bay.

"Ready the chopper," my secretary said into her earpiece, her voice calm and composed. It was a tone that reflected years of experience, not just in the world of high-stakes business but in the darker, more dangerous undercurrents that ran beneath it.

She wasn't just some secretary picked from the ranks of fresh business graduates; she was someone who understood the dirty waters of our world, someone who knew how to navigate them with the same precision and cold efficiency that I did.

She could anticipate my actions, my needs, better than anyone else—a quality that made her invaluable.

As we walked towards the helicopter pad, she turned to me, her eyes sharp and focused. "Straight to the location, sir?" she asked, her voice cutting through the night air as I gave her my coat.

I gave a curt nod, appreciating her efficiency. She was someone I had carefully selected after a long and rigorous interview process, someone who had proven herself time and time again. It was rare to find such talent, especially someone who wouldn't crumble under the pressure of our world.

In this line of work, having someone like her by my side was not just a luxury; it was a necessity.

The helicopter was waiting for us, its rotors already spinning, kicking up a whirlwind of dust and debris. We boarded swiftly, the door closing behind us with a solid thud. The interior of the chopper was sleek and modern, outfitted with the latest technology—a necessity for the kinds of operations we ran.

As we lifted off, the city of Seoul spread out beneath us like a glittering carpet of lights. But tonight, those lights were dimmed, pockets of darkness spreading through the city as power outages rippled across the grid. It was as if the city itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

It took us only about twenty minutes to reach the location, a speed that would have been impossible in anything other than a military-grade helicopter. As we approached, I could see the barricade of vehicles below, blocking off the street.

They resembled a line of tanks, heavily armored and positioned with precision in front of a workshop that was clearly the epicenter of the chaos. The workshop itself was nondescript, but the level of security around it told me everything I needed to know—something significant was happening here.

As our helicopter descended, the mercenaries on the ground reacted instantly, pointing their guns at us and opening fire. The sharp, staccato sounds of bullets hitting metal filled the air, but I remained calm.

The helicopter we were in was a tandem-rotor model, built to withstand heavy fire. The pilot was experienced, his hands steady on the controls as he maneuvered us out of the direct line of fire. Even the mercenaries below seemed bewildered; they hadn't expected a chopper like this to appear out of nowhere.

The pilot glanced back at me, waiting for orders. I could see the hesitation in his eyes, the unspoken question of whether we should abort the mission or press on. But I was done playing it safe. The time for cautious maneuvers had passed.

I opened the door of the aircraft as it made a sudden tilt to avoid another burst of gunfire. The wind whipped around me, pulling at my clothes and sending a rush of adrenaline through my veins. Without a moment's hesitation, I jumped out, free-falling through the air.

The sensation was brief, a blur of motion before I landed in a crouch, my body absorbing the impact with practiced ease as it was not my first time.

The helicopter veered off, retreating from the danger zone as I stood up, surveying the scene around me with veins popping around my neck and face as I was feeling angry after a long time.

Thanks to some gadgetry they installed, the area within a one-kilometer radius was plunged into complete darkness, the lights and camera fried by a targeted EMP.

The mercenaries below were using night vision goggles and hand-held lights, desperately scanning the area for any sign of me. They had seen something fall from the helicopter, but they had no idea what—or who—it was.

As I stood there, taking in the situation, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. More than fifty men, all heavily armed and fully equipped, were searching the area. They had the numbers, the firepower, and the tactical advantage of knowing the terrain. But they were dealing with the unknown, and that gave me the upper hand.

I took off my watch, sliding it into my pocket, and then rolled up the sleeves of my shirt. and unbuttoning the first two buttons, The night was still, the air thick with tension. I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar surge of adrenaline that always came before a fight. This was going to be a long day, but I had been through worse. And right now, I had a job to do.

Slipping into the shadows like a ghost I started to access them,their weapons and their movement.

The mercenaries were on high alert, their movements tense and calculated, but they were hunting in the dark, blind to what was coming for them.

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Wrapping up this arc in next chap and its gonna be a long one!

Any suggestions?

Btw I was the school topper this year with a score of 98%