บท 18: Chapter 15: The Meeting
Michael woke to the train's announcement as they pulled into Cheonliang. As he stepped off the platform, he saw Daniel and his friends in front of him, their laughter filling the air. Parked a short distance away was a sleek Rolls Royce Phantom, catching their attention immediately.
"Wow, Daniel, look at that car! That's a seriously expensive ride. I hope I can own something like that someday," Zack said, pointing in awe at the luxury vehicle.
Before Daniel could respond, a voice behind them did. "Well, thank you. I worked quite hard for it, kid," Michael remarked casually. The group turned to face him.
Michael eyed them up and down thoughtfully, his presence imposing. "So, you're part of the second generation, huh?" he mused, stroking his chin. His gaze lingered on Daniel and Zack, but especially on Daniel. "A lot of potential here, especially you." He stepped closer, leaning in just enough to whisper so only Daniel could hear, "A guy with two bodies."
Daniel's eyes widened in shock. How did this stranger know his secret? Before he could respond, Michael smirked and continued walking toward his car, where a tall man—Oliver—opened the door for him. Daniel called out, "Hey, mister—"
Michael glanced back briefly, cutting him off with a cryptic smile. "You'll know in due time, Daniel."
The Rolls Royce glided away, leaving Daniel standing there, stunned.
Daniel's POV
How does he know about my two bodies? And how did he even know my name? Thoughts swirled in Daniel's mind, but before he could dwell too deeply, his friends interrupted him.
"Hey, are you okay?" Zack asked, noticing his dazed expression.
Daniel shook it off, forcing a smile to assure them. "Yeah, everything's fine. Let's go to the villa. Jay's waiting for us." Though outwardly calm, Daniel's mind raced, full of unanswered questions.
General Pov
As they cruised smoothly through the city streets, Michael flipped through a few final documents in the backseat of the car. Without looking up, he asked, "Have you arranged the meeting with Charles Choi for tomorrow?"
Oliver, focused on the road, nodded. "Yes, boss. The meeting is set right after the press conference where they'll announce the joint development deal between us, HNH Group, and H Group."
Michael hummed in approval, his fingers lightly tapping on the armrest. "Good. It's been a while since I've seen him. There's something I need to confirm."
He leaned back, staring out the window for a moment, deep in thought. "That's all for today. Tomorrow might be a bit hectic if things don't go as planned… but let's not dwell on that now."
Closing the folder of documents, he set them aside, allowing himself a rare moment of relaxation. "Let's head home and unwind."
Oliver gave a quiet nod, shifting gears as he drove them smoothly toward Michael's home, the quiet hum of the engine the only sound as the city lights flickered past.
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Next Day
Dressed sharply in a tailored suit, Michael adjusted his cuffs with a calm, focused expression as he stepped out of his house. The morning air was crisp, and the sleek, black car was already waiting at the driveway, gleaming in the early light.
Oliver stood by the car, immaculately dressed and as composed as ever. As soon as he saw Michael, he moved to open the door for him.
"Everything ready?" Michael asked as he slid into the backseat, his voice smooth yet laced with an air of calm authority.
"Yes, boss. We're all set for the meeting," Oliver replied, shutting the door and moving swiftly to the driver's seat.
The engine purred to life, and the car smoothly glided down the driveway, headed toward their destination. Michael's mind shifted to the upcoming meeting, thoughts already anticipating every potential outcome.
Today's events had the potential to swing in either direction—good or bad—but Michael was prepared for whatever the day had in store.
As they arrived at the venue, flashes from the reporters' cameras illuminated the entrance, capturing the Chairmen of both HNH and H Group, as well as CEO Ray Yu. Michael watched as Ray turned to leave, while Steve Hong exchanged a few words with Charles Choi before stepping away as he talked to the reporters, as they were leaving. Charles Choi, accompanied by Goo Kim, headed toward his office.
Just then, a boy awkwardly approached Charles, saying something in a nervous tone. Michael recognized him instantly—Johan Seong. However, Charles walked past him without acknowledgement. Goo Kim, ever quick to act, aimed a swift kick at Johan. Surprisingly, Johan blocked the strike with ease, and the tension spiked as they prepared for a fight.
Watching with interest, Michael leaned back in his seat and asked Oliver, "How much time before the meeting?"
"Five minutes, Sir," Oliver replied, his voice calm as ever.
Michael smirked, eyes fixed on the scene. "Then let's wait and see how this fight plays out," he said, eager to observe the outcome.
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Goo's kick lashed out at Johan, his voice cold and mocking, "Hey, copycat. You've got some nerve showing up here." But Johan, unflinching, blocked the strike with ease.
Surprised but still icy, Goo continued, "You blocked that? It was Gun's mistake to abandon you. We should've killed you back then." His words cut deep, and Johan's face tensed, fury flickering behind his eyes.
Goo glanced down at the money that had spilled from Johan's bag when he blocked the attack. With a sneer, he stepped on it. "What's this? You thought if you paid Mr. Choi, he'd fix your mother's eyes?" Goo taunted.
Johan's cold eyes locked onto Goo. "Pick it up. Pick up the money."
Goo laughed, the sound harsh and condescending "And if I don't? What are you gonna do? Even with all the crew heads combined, you wouldn't stand a chance against me.. You'd need Gun to be able to beat me"
Johan's body tensed. He could sense the overwhelming strength radiating from Goo—he was no ordinary opponent. But instead of backing down, Johan charged forward with a deadly focus, drawing upon Vasco's Muay Thai techniques, throwing powerful knees and elbows at Goo. Before Goo could fully recover, Johan transitioned into Jake Kim's MMA, slamming him to the ground with raw force.
But as he attempted to follow up with Gun's Kyokushin Karate, Johan's weakened left eye betrayed him. His strike missed its mark, smashing into the ground instead. Seizing the moment, Goo delivered a brutal side punch, knocking Johan off and forcing him to stumble backward.
Now standing, Goo dusted himself off, a newfound seriousness settling over him. His eyes glinted as he spotted a branch nearby, swiftly picking it up and wielding it like a sword. "Let's see how much of a 'copycat' you really are," Goo said with a smirk, ready for the next bout.
Goo wasted no time after picking up the branch. In an instant, he darted toward Johan, his movements sharp and vicious. With brutal precision, he struck Johan across the face—once, twice, three times—each hit landing faster than the last. The sound of the blows echoed through the air as blood splattered from Johan's mouth and nose, staining his face.
Johan staggered back, vision blurred and head pounding from the relentless assault. His body screamed in pain, but his will refused to break. Gathering every ounce of strength he had left, Johan launched a desperate kick, aiming for Goo's face. The blow connected, sending Goo reeling back a step, but the moment of triumph was short-lived.
Goo recovered in an instant, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Not bad," he muttered before lunging at Johan again. He swung the branch with ferocious speed, slamming it into Johan's side. The force was overwhelming, sending Johan crashing into a nearby wall with a sickening thud.
Johan slumped to the ground, barely conscious now, blood dripping from his face. His body felt heavy, his mind sluggish. Through his fading vision, he could see Goo approaching, his steps slow and menacing, like a predator closing in for the kill.
Just as Goo raised his hand, preparing to deliver the final blow, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind. Goo froze, turning his head slightly, his instincts suddenly on alert. Someone was approaching, and it wasn't just anyone.
As Goo watched the two figures approach, he overheard Michael's voice cutting through the air. "Oliver, that kid is pretty strong. What do you think would happen if I trained him?"
Oliver chuckled, " If you do train him, you will create one heck of a monster, Boss." Their banter flowed easily as they closed the distance to where Goo stood.
Michael's gaze shifted to Goo, a smirk playing on his lips. "I haven't seen you in a few years, blondie."
Goo grinned back, though a hint of seriousness crept into his demeanor. "Hehe, what's a guy like you doing here, Michael?"
Michael shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I have a meeting with your boss, but I stumbled upon something interesting on the way." He gestured toward Johan, who was barely clinging to consciousness.
"This guy looks very promising," Michael noted as he walked past Goo, kneeling beside Johan. The young fighter could only make out Michael's silhouette, his vision blurred and fading.
"Kid, if you want to be stronger, contact me," Michael whispered, slipping a business card into Johan's jacket pocket. The boy's eyelids fluttered shut, and he succumbed to unconsciousness.
Rising to his feet, Michael turned to Goo, his demeanor shifting to one of playful challenge. "You've become stronger since last time. Next time, let's have a fight and see how long you can last against me."
Goo's smile turned sheepish, his competitive spirit flaring. "If it's for money, I'll probably consider it. But if it's free, why would I do something so dumb?"
Michael chuckled lightly as he walked past him, a confident glint in his eye. "I hope to see you with a sword next time, so I can measure how strong you've become." With that, he strode toward the office, ready to face whatever awaited him in the meeting.
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