Chapter 74: Star, The Shadow (5)

In the executive meeting room located on the seventh floor of the White Tiger Clan’s head office, twenty executives who had gathered early in the morning busily exchanged glances with each other.

Executive Director Oh said, “Anyway, I would like to discuss how we should deal with the trainees from this year’s training session.”

‘Of all occasions…’

‘Why did it have to happen now…?’

‘What on earth should I do?’

‘We won’t be able to disregard that matter.’

‘What’s on Executive Director Oh’s mind?’

Each of the White Tiger Clan factions had different opinions about what suggestions to make, but they could not reach a conclusion, unable to sort out their thoughts. They could have done so if they had experienced a similar incident, but there was no precedent for the big case before them.

Still, they could not just end the training session, because the Clan members had been looking forward to this year’s trainees. Not only did they include the world-famous super rookie Lee Chang-Sun, there were also many hugely talented Players such as Baek Gyeo-Ul, Shin Eun-Seo, Lim Joo-Han, and Kim Hyeong-Jun. If they had taken part in previous years, they would have been on top of the ranks with overwhelming scores.

If the Highoff Clan scandal had not been exposed, the Clan members would have focused all their attention and support on them. However, the Clan had been busy with the Highoff Clan, and now they had an even bigger incident to take care of. They could not disregard their exceptional trainees by not giving them proper training, so they had to come up with a solution as soon as possible.

‘It wouldn’t be so problematic if the trainees had gone through at least half of the training session,’?

the executives thought.

As the training session had lasted for less than a month, the trainees had only learned basic knowledge, which would not be enough for the White Tiger Clan to immediately deploy them in actual missions. Thus, there was only one solution they could come up with.

‘We have to put them through a new training session.’?

The thought crossed every executive’s head, but they were unsure what kind of training to implement, so it was difficult for them to make suggestions. In the end, only awkward silence filled the executive meeting room.

Executive Director Oh frowned with discontent and glared at the other executives; they busily cleared their throats aimlessly, unable to meet his gaze.

‘Isn’t Director Gwon too quiet today?’

On the other hand, some of the executives glanced at Director Gwon Hyo-Hae, because he always picked a fight with Executive Director Oh; they thought it was past time for him to provoke Executive Director Oh. However, the strange part was that Executive Director Oh did not also look in Director Gwon’s direction, as if he were avoiding Director Gwon on purpose. They did not appear to care about each other at all. Just what had happened?

As some shrewd executives busily exchanged glances…

“Why don’t we deal with it and the Highoff scandal at the same time?” Director Kim Yeon-Seung, who was in the lowest seat, suggested after he turned on his microphone. Although he was the youngest executive, he had left a lasting impression. As he had not taken any sides within the Clan, there was even a rumor that both Executive Director Oh and Director Gwon had spared no effort to try to make Director Kim join them.

Perhaps because the rumor was true, or simply because he was the first to make a suggestion, Executive Director Oh looked at Director Kim with great interest and asked, “How do we deal with it and the scandal simultaneously?”

“I recently heard that the Future Strategy Department had successfully found traces of the ‘Phantom Demon’ who was hiding like a rat,” Director Kim explained.

Even the Council did not know that the White Tiger Clan had found the Highoff Clan Leader, which meant it was supposed to be among the most classified of secrets, but Director Kim had mentioned that nonchalantly.

“So?” Executive Director Oh replied, squinting at Director Kim as if he would crush Director Kim’s skull if he said something absurd.

Seemingly not even feeling pressured, Director Kim casually replied, “Why don’t we use this year’s trainees to capture the ‘Phantom Demon’? According to the instructors, the trainees luckily had a positive effect on each other, so they completed their basic training. So, what they lack is actual experience… There can be no better way for them to gain experience.”

“What if the Highoff guys blab?” Executive Director Oh asked.

“Only the Highoff executives know the exact details, so we can let the trainees deal only with small fries, not the executives. And most of all…” Director Kim paused briefly, smiling coldly. “Who would believe those unpardonable demons?”

All the executives nodded in agreement because, just as Director Kim said, no one would believe the Highoff Clan’s remnants. Even if they said the demonic group and one of Korea’s biggest Clans had a close relationship, the public would think of it as a false rumor made up by busybodies.

Tap!

Tap!

For a moment, Executive Director Oh stayed silent and pondered as he tapped his index finger on the table, analyzing the validity of Director Kim’s suggestion. Then, Executive Director Oh looked in the opposite direction at Park Sang-Ho, the Attack Team 1 Leader. As soon as Sang-Ho made eye contact with Executive Director Oh, he straightened his posture. As the Attack Team Leaders were considered important, they were treated like executives, entitled to participate in meetings like this.

“Team Leader Park,” Executive Director Oh began.

“Yes, sir,” Sang-Ho answered immediately.

“What’s your opinion of Director Kim’s suggestion?” Executive Director Oh asked, swiveling his chair in Sang-Ho’s direction.

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“I believe it’s a good plan,” Sang-Ho said with a nod.

“Is there a possibility of us sustaining great damage?” Executive Director Oh asked, tilting his head.

His canines gleaming coldly for some reason, Team Leader Sang-Ho smiled faintly and replied, “If they can’t even survive through this, how can they be tigers?”

“Good,” Executive Director Oh said with a nod. He looked around, but still avoided looking at Director Gwon, who was sitting beside him. “According to Director Kim’s proposal, we’ll substitute the training session with the Highoff annihilation operation. We’ll keep a record of the trainees’ performance and decide which department they’ll join.”

All the executives’ gazes were on Executive Director Oh as he continued, “On a separate note, we’ll no longer treat Lee Chang-Sun as a trainee, and transfer him to the Future Strategy Department, seeing as he cleared the Dungeon.”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

As if they had planned it beforehand, the executives’ eyes simultaneously widened, and they quickly exchanged glances with each other. They were already well aware of how Executive Director Oh had taken a profound interest in Chang-Sun, but they became nervous, because they had not expected Executive Director Oh to claim Chang-Sun so blatantly. He was practically warning the other executives to not covet his men.

Some executives naturally looked at Director Kim, because some time ago, Director Kim’s son had been severely humiliated by Chang-Sun. Despite his high scores in the tryouts and the training institute, he had peed himself, unable to say anything to Chang-Sun. The new trainee Kim Hyeong-Jun was Director Kim Yeon-Seung’s one and only son, so there had been a rumor quietly going around in the Clan about how Director Kim could potentially attempt to harm Chang-Sun. However, Executive Director Oh had openly claimed Chang-Sun, making the executives all pay attention.

However, Director Kim stayed silent with an expressionless face as if he had nothing to do with anything; thus, the other executives could not fathom what was going on inside his mind.

* * *

After all the other executives exited the meeting room, only Executive Director Oh and Director Kim remained. Despite the distance between them, Director Kim was immensely pressured by Executive Director Oh, judging from how his outfit was soaked in cold sweat.

Sometimes, Director Kim could not understand how such a small man could be so overwhelming, but Executive Director Oh’s power was not the main thing driving him mad. The real reason was that Executive Director Oh had asked him to stay after the meeting, and yet said nothing. The silence in the room suffocated Director Kim, making him wonder whether he had done anything wrong.

Suddenly…

Executive Director Oh broke the silence, saying, “Director Kim.”

“Yes, s-sir!” Director Kim exclaimed, suddenly standing up.

Regardless, Executive Director Oh merely rested his chin on his hands and observed Director Kim with a sharp gaze, calmly asking, “You aren’t up to anything, are you?”

“I would never do such a thing!” Director Kim solemnly swore.

“Can I trust you?” Executive Director Oh asked, his eyes shining.

“Yes, please trust me!” Director Kim quickly answered, trying not to cause any suspicion in Executive Director Oh.

.

Although they were both executives, they could not really be considered the same. Executive Director Oh was the White Tiger Clan’s second in command and had aided the Clan Leader while establishing the Clan. In contrast to him, Director Kim was like a fly that could disappear with a single snort. Not only his executive title would be endangered; his very life would be on the line, as Executive Director Oh was a demon who would not hesitate to take matters into his own hands in times of need.

“You know, I don’t really care for my subordinates, because I see every one of them as disposable tools,” Executive Director Oh began.

Director Kim stayed silent, wondering why Executive Director Oh was telling him that. Every word the executive director used was menacing, leading Director Kim to interpret it as a warning.

“And I happened to find a ‘sword’ I really, really liked,” Executive Director Oh continued, emphasizing the word ‘really’. Director Kim remained silent.

“But if the ‘sword’ shattered or got damaged before I could properly use it… it wouldn’t feel good, would it?” Executive Director Oh continued quietly.

Thud!

Director Kim quickly got out of his seat and kneeled, slamming his forehead against the floor. He hit the ground so hard that his forehead bled, but he did not care at all as he shouted, “Sir! I’ll bring a whetstone and clear out all the unnecessary obstacles myself, so your ‘sword’ will never get damaged. Please don’t doubt my loyalty!”

Executive Director Oh remained silent this time.

Thud!

Thud!

As Director Kim slammed his forehead against the floor multiple times, so hard that some would expect his skull to crack at any moment, a horrible sound filled the room. However, Executive Director Oh looked coldly down at the back of Director Kim’s head.

“Please trust me! I beg you!” Director Kim desperately shouted, but Executive Director Oh remained silent for a long time.

* * *

After quite some time, Director Kim exited the meeting room.

“F-Father! There’s blood on your face…!” Hyeong-Jun, who had been waiting in Director Kim’s private office for his father to return, anxiously called out, because his father’s forehead was covered with injuries and his face was smeared with blood. Thus,he hurriedly looked for the first aid kit that had been placed in the corner of his office, but Director Kim suddenly grabbed Hyeong-Jun’s wrist.

“Fath… er?” Hyeong-Jun began, his eyes losing focus as he looked at Director Kim.

His father’s eyes shone more brightly than ever as he began, “Son.”

“Huh? Yes?!” Hyeong-Jun quickly replied.

“You must kill him,” Director Kim said in a low voice.

For a moment, Hyeong-Jun’s expression froze; he did not need to ask whom his father was telling him to kill.

“I was going to tell you to just give Chang-Sun as good as you got to repay the humiliation, but I changed my mind. You should kill him no matter what,” Director Kim said, tightening his grip.

“Can… I ask… why I should…” Hyeong-Jun began, his voice trembling. No matter how determined he was to have revenge on Chang-Sun, he had led an ordinary life, so murder did not sit well with him.

However, Director Kim grabbed Hyeong-Jun’s shoulders as if he were telling his son to calm down and emphasized his next words. “He’ll always be in your way and overshadow you. I’m not telling you to kill him just because he humiliated you. I’m telling you to get rid of him in advance or else he’ll hinder you.”

Although Director Kim had desperately insisted he would not harm Chang-Sun multiple times, he had a totally different plan in mind—no, it was more accurate to say he was even more determined to carry out the plan because of Executive Director Oh’s reaction. He could tell how much Executive Director Oh valued Chang-Sun; that meant he was bound to feel threatened, feeling that someday Chang-Sun would not only endanger his son, but also himself.

“…Yes, I-I will,” Hyeong-Jun said, nodding with a heavy heart. He was unable to say anything because the pressure from his father’s bloodshot eyes gripped his heart. Strangely, however, as he answered and decided that he would do it, his nervousness subsided as if it should have done so from the start. In fact, a sense of anticipation, or perhaps excitement, about how he would be able to take revenge soon overwhelmed him.

‘Yes, a man should toughen up a bit. I need to make an example, and let people know that people who have humiliated me won’t have a good end,’?

Hyeong-Jun thought with determination. As he reached that conclusion, however, his obsession with Eun-Seo flared up again. He thought ecstatically,

‘After that, that bitch will…!’

Hyeong-Jun’s delusions had grown out of control in his mind. After that day, the Adios team members had begun avoiding him. On top of that, all the White Tiger Clan’s members had heard about the incident, including this year’s trainees, so he could no longer hold his head high as he went to Director Kim’s office. In such a state, his future in the Clan would surely be a mess.

Thus, there was a need to straighten everything out. If he eliminated Chang-Sun… No one would consider him pathetic, and then he would be able to have his revenge on Eun-Seo, who had looked at him with disgust.

Director Kim’s gaze turned cold as he asked, “You’re already aware that you shouldn’t leave any traces, right?”

“Don’t worry. I have a plan,” Hyeong-Jun said proudly.

“What’s your plan?” Director Kim asked.

“Did you know that there’s another person who was humiliated by Chang-Sun?” Hyeong-Jun replied.

“Oh, really?” Director Kim asked, sounding intrigued, as there was no better way to leave no trace than using another person to take out the target.

“Yes, his name is Lim Joo-Hwan. He created a strange team called Mr. Lim or something,” Hyeong-Jun explained.

“Tell me about him in detail,” Director Kim said, encouraging Hyeong-Jun to speak.

Hyeong-Jun then unraveled the bundle of delusions that had been hidden inside his mind.