Chapter 195: The Shaking Empire (8)

The air inside the warehouse was frozen like a blade.

At the moment Prosecutor Son Yu-jin was about to quickly wrap up the situation, a clamorous sound suddenly burst out from outside.

The sound of police exchanging radio messages.

Even the sound of someone running was mixed in.

While everyone was confused, Shin Jung-woo conversely wore a leisurely expression. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Even the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

In fact, before coming here, he had prepared for a situation like this in advance.

He had people hidden separately nearby in case things got twisted.

He had taken measures so that they could escape this place even by using force if necessary.

It was also something possible because he knew well that the police could not deploy a large number of personnel for this kind of matter.

If the people who were waiting outside stepped forward, they would sufficiently be able to escape this place.

If that happened, Chairman Nam Kun-ho could just clean things up later.

However, for some reason, the commotion did not last as long as I thought.

Before long, the sound subsided as if it were a lie.

Only then did Shin Jung-woo’s gaze waver for the first time.

Son Yu-jin spoke while crossing her arms.

“It seems it is over now. It is late, so let us move quickly. Ugh, it’s cold. So cold.”

That manner of speaking was so nonchalant.

Son Yu-jin even walked while taking the lead herself as if it were nothing.

Shin Jung-woo was led out of the warehouse by the police while wearing handcuffs.

The moment he saw the situation before his eyes, his face hardened.

Near the warehouse, the bulky men he had gathered were lying face down on the ground after being subdued.

They were only letting out groans with their faces contorted as their hands were twisted behind their backs.

The number of people was also considerable.

While he was grasping the situation, someone walked over slowly.

A man holding a cell phone in his hand while wearing a thick coat.

He scanned the scene once and then approached Son Yu-jin.

“Prosecutor.”

Son Yu-jin turned her head.

She showed no sign of surprise even after seeing me.

I, Lim Hyunjun, spoke with an indifferent expression.

“It was correct that Chief Shin Jung-woo had hidden personnel separately nearby. Since he moved as expected… I blocked them for you first.”

At those words, wrinkles formed on Shin Jung-woo’s forehead.

I looked at Son Yu-jin while lowering my head slightly.

“You owe me a debt this time, Prosecutor.”

Son Yu-jin puffed out her lips.

“Let’s call it even with what I have helped you with so far.”

I said while narrowing my eyes.

“Is that not a loss for me?”

“What, a loss?”

Son Yu-jin snorted as if it were absurd.

“I just even arrested a person caught in the act for you. Can't you see?”

I exhaled a short sigh.

I turned my head and looked at Shin Jung-woo.

Shin Jung-woo still tried to wear a fishy smile, but his gaze was wavering.

I spoke in a low voice.

“Chief Shin Jung-woo.”

Shin Jung-woo turned his eyes up narrowly.

However, it was useless against me.

I continued my words while wearing a cold expression.

“They call a person like you a mutt.”

Shin Jung-woo’s mouth twisted.

I stepped one step closer and spoke into his ear.

“If you are a mutt, live like a mutt. If you want to live, you should bite your master first. Don't you think so?”

Shin Jung-woo snorted and shouted.

“You bastard….”

My gaze sank.

“Do not stubbornly try to keep something like loyalty stupidly…. You also know. What kind of human your master is.”

Shin Jung-woo’s fishy smile grew deeper.

As he laughed as if it were absurd, I spoke quietly.

“I shall watch to see how long you can keep that smile.”

Beside him, Son Yu-jin added a word while wearing a coy expression.

She had intentionally waited for a moment.

“With this much, I have given you a hefty bonus. Is it not too much of a loss for me, Representative Lim Hyunjun?”

I turned my gaze and bowed my head to Son Yu-jin for a moment.

Then, Prosecutor Son Yu-jin gestured with her hand.

“Now, now. Let’s organize. Secure the evidence well, and we must preserve the scene well. Prepare to transport the suspect.”

At her single word, the police began to move.

I moved my steps into the warehouse.

The moment I crossed the iron door, a damp moldy smell and a fishy smell of blood rushed in strongly.

Lim Do-hyun was slumped over while tied to a chair.

His face was severely swollen and blood had dried up as if his mouth had burst.

His gaze was also blurry.

Seeing that sight, instead of pity, I was swept up in anger that surged up hotly from the bottom of my chest.

I approached Lim Do-hyun closely and grabbed his hair without hesitation.

His body tied to the chair clattered and shook.

Lim Do-hyun’s head was forced up.

I spat out while gritting my teeth.

“Do you know what you have done right now?”

Whether Lim Do-hyun had regained his senses, he let out a hollow laugh.

“What… the hell… does that… mat…ter.”

Realizing the strength in my hand, I gritted my teeth and pulled my hand away myself.

I clenched my fist as if trying to hide that my fingertips were trembling.

“Do you know what kind of sacrifice Grandfather paid just to save you alone!”

A voice boiling with anger echoed through the warehouse.

Lim Do-hyun’s eyes wavered, but what flowed from his mouth was only a curse.

Strength entered my clenched hand.

My fingernails dug into the skin.

I opened my hand and checked for a moment.

The sensation remaining on my palm was alien yet cold.

“You are not even worth cursing at.”

Leaving those words, I turned my head.

Advisor Hong Jang-gun was standing at the door.

I spoke while walking toward him.

“Advisor Hong, put him in the ambulance.”

Advisor Hong Jang-gun nodded his head.

“I understand.”

I added.

“Save him. Today is not the end… It is the beginning now.”

I walked out of the warehouse.

There was no such thing as an emotion called pity in my eyes.

There was only one reason Lim Do-hyun had to live.

Because he had to be alive to pay for his crimes.

Therefore, keeping him alive was not mercy, but the beginning of punishment.

Until he admits his sins himself.

***

The hallway in front of the Taeseong Hospital emergency room did not have a moment of silence all night.

It was full of the sound of medical staff running every time a patient bed passed by.

In the middle of such a commotion, only one area was silent.

In front of the elevator going up to the VIP ward.

Two bodyguards wearing black suits were guarding the entrance.

Just looking at their posture with their shoulders squared, they did not look like employees working at the hospital.

A passing nurse glanced and then avoided their gaze.

In the hospital room next to the one where Lim Man-seok was hospitalized.

Lim Do-hyun was lying in bed while asleep with an IV connected.

His jaw was firmly fixed with a splint, and his face, which was heavily swollen and bruised, made one frown just by looking at it.

He furrowed his brow a lot as if he felt pain even while sleeping.

A bodyguard was also standing in front of the hospital room.

Of course, it was the same inside as well.

When someone walked over at that time, the bodyguard recognized him and bowed his waist.

“You are working hard.”

The person who entered the hospital room after delivering a short greeting was me, Lim Hyunjun.

Inside, there was already a bodyguard with a familiar face and the primary physician.

When I delivered a greeting, the bodyguard stood up from his seat and moved out of the way tactfully.

I asked the primary physician.

“What is his condition?”

The primary physician spoke carefully while looking at the chart.

“It will look quite severe outwardly. The facial contusions and edema are severe. There is a finding suspicious of a fracture on the lower jaw side, so we have fixed it temporarily. We have put in a request for joint consultation with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.”

The doctor continued his words.

“What we were most concerned about was the abdomen. There are traces of being hit severely on the abdomen, and the pain is strong, so we first looked at the possibility of internal organ damage… but on the abdominal CT, there are currently no findings of bleeding or rupture in the liver, spleen, pancreas, or kidneys. There is no air shading that would suggest bowel perforation either. The blood test values are also in a state with no major problems.”

My gaze moved minutely.

The doctor finished the explanation as if organizing.

“He is in a less dangerous state than he looks. However, the ribs are the problem.”

The doctor continued the explanation while turning the chart.

“There are fractures on the left rib side. It is not just one or two places, so the pain cannot help but be severe. If he breathes shallowly, there is a possibility that complications on the lung side will occur. Currently, pneumothorax or hemothorax were not clearly seen on the chest X-ray and CT. Since they can occur as time passes, we must monitor him closely for at least 48 hours.”

When I was silent, the doctor added a word.

“And right now, he is in a state of using sedatives and painkillers. Even if he wakes up, he might be excited or unable to speak properly because of the pain. Rest is needed so that he does not move excessively or struggle.”

My expression did not change much even after hearing the explanation.

The doctor added that he had passed the danger, but additional tests were needed.

I merely nodded my head and spoke in an indifferent voice.

“Please make it so he cannot have visitors for the time being.”

“Pardon?! Ah, yes. I shall do so.”

The primary physician hesitated for a moment.

He looked as if he had many things to say about patient rights or such, but those words disappeared from his throat upon seeing the people standing in front of the hospital room door.

Moreover, how could he say such things to a third-generation member of Taeseong Group.

I added.

“Do not let him die at all.”

“There… will be no situation you are worried about. We will… do our best to keep him alive.”

Only after spitting out those words did the doctor realize what he had just said.

He hurriedly lowered his head and withdrew.

I was staring blankly at Lim Do-hyun, who was lying on the bed, as if not caring at all.

At that time, in the next hospital room, Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo was making a call somewhere.

The first person he contacted was Acting Chairperson Lim Hye-seon.

“The Chairman was hospitalized at Taeseong Hospital last night.”

A neat voice was heard from beyond the receiver.

“Why are you contacting me only now? You should have contacted me immediately.”

“Young Master Hyunjun asked for a favor.”

Lim Hye-seon’s voice became lower.

“For what reason was he hospitalized? Is it an accident, or is it because of the time he collapsed before?”

Kang Cheol-woo caught his breath once and answered only the necessary words.

“He was hospitalized because he hurt his hand. He has currently found stability, so you do not have to worry too much.”

The words that he suddenly hurt his hand felt strange, but Hye-seon did not ask further.

“I understand. You have worked hard. I will go to the hospital immediately.”

Exhaling a short sigh, Hye-seon added one more word.

“I hope you will contact me without fail next time.”

“Yes. I shall do so.”

Secondly, he contacted Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung.

Vice Chairman Lim was also surprised, but he accepted it as calmly as possible and said he would come to the hospital.

The morning of the Taeseong family began.

While my family members were coming to Taeseong Hospital, I took out the work I had prepared one by one.

When I came out of the hospital room and stood at the window at the end of the hallway, the outside of the window was full of morning sunlight.

I took out my cell phone and checked the messages.

Dozens of messages were lined up.

Among them, the answer I wanted was visible.

[Preparation complete.]

I pressed the call button instead of a reply.

“Start.”

It was a short sentence.