The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 31 - We Get Victory (1)

 

 

They must have left by now.

 

As I opened the delivery box, I glanced out the window. With summer approaching, the days had grown longer, and it was still bright outside—almost like midday.

 

That was when I heard a soft knock.

 

“CEO? Are you in there?”

 

“Yes, come in, Chris.”

 

The moment I answered, the door opened.

 

“Gasp! What are you doing?”

 

Riiip—

 

After unboxing it, I said, “Just checking some items we’ll need for Victory’s follow-up promotions. I bought them this morning after talking with Kang Ye-seong.”

 

“You bought them this morning, and they’re already here?”

 

“Yeah, well…”

 

No need to mention that I’d had someone go out and buy them directly.

 

“So, what’s up?”

 

“It’s almost time to leave.”

 

Just as Chris said, it was already 5 PM. Only about two hours remained until Victory’s comeback showcase. We needed to leave soon to check everything one last time.

 

“Thanks for letting me know.”

 

I stood and pulled on my jacket. Then—

 

Bzzzzt!

 

My phone buzzed loudly.

 

I gestured for Chris to leave first, then answered the call. A restricted number. Suspicious—but I already had a strong guess who it was.

 

Sure enough—

 

“Hello?”

 

—Ah, CEO, how are you?

 

A familiar voice.

 

“Mr. Kim Sang-cheol?”

 

—Oh, sharp memory. Must be because you’re young.

 

His teasing tone made me chuckle lightly.

 

“How did you even get my number?”

 

—There are ways of finding these things.

 

Finding ways, huh…

 

“Did you hire a private investigator or something?”

 

Even so, it shouldn’t have been easy to get my number. Instead of answering directly, Kim Sang-cheol let out a scoffing laugh.

 

—I was going to, but then a certain kind gentleman was generous enough to tell me himself.

 

What?

 

I furrowed my brow as he continued.

 

—If you’re curious how I got your number, why don’t you come see for yourself?

 

“Where?”

 

—Well, let’s see… where am I right now…

 

Kim Sang-cheol dragged out his words and chuckled.

 

—Was it called T.U.?

 

I frowned.

 

This wasn’t the first time he had called me like this. Every Victory comeback showcase, he always found a way to interfere.

 

The meeting spot changed each time.

 

‘So this time, it’s T.U., huh?’

 

Not good.

 

If he was calling me to T.U., that meant he’d already bought off the club’s security and turned them to his side.

 

‘Once this is over, I’ll need to hire new staff.’

 

Especially since I had no intention of leaving scratches on the club that would eventually pass into Seo Do-hwan’s hands.

 

As if mocking my thoughts, Kim Sang-cheol spoke, his voice dripping with contempt.

 

—You’d better hurry. Otherwise…

 

—Kyaaah!

 

—You heard that, didn’t you?

 

His voice carried a mix of laughter and menace.

 

I frowned. That scream… I recognized it.

 

—Word is, it’s the aunt of the bastard who crumpled our office door like paper. Who knows what’ll happen to her if you don’t hurry?

 

Kim Jeong-hye.

 

Lee Yoo-seong’s aunt—captured by Kim Sang-cheol?

 

‘How is that possible?’

 

In all 365 regressions, Kim Sang-cheol had never used her as leverage. He had always threatened me using Victory’s members.

 

Besides, Kim Sang-cheol wasn’t the type to investigate Lee Yoo-seong’s family. Just finding out his full name—Lee Yoo-seong—should have been difficult. Yet now he’d tracked down and captured his aunt?

 

‘What went wrong here?’

 

No, nothing went wrong.

 

This was just one of the countless possibilities I hadn’t encountered before.

 

Yes, that’s all.

 

—You know you have to come alone, right? And don’t forget to bring money.

 

Stay calm.

 

I kept my voice steady.

 

“Fine. I’ll bring money and come alone. Just don’t lay a finger on Ms. Kim Jeong-hye.”

 

—Kim Jeong-hye?

 

“The person you’ve taken hostage.”

 

—Well, of course. Naturally.

 

Kim Sang-cheol snickered and hung up. Rude as always.

 

Anyway—

 

“Hello?”

 

I picked up my phone again.

 

I wasn’t stupid—there was no way I was really going to face Kim Sang-cheol alone. And he certainly wouldn’t be alone either. Time to call in some backup.

 

A smirk tugged at my lips as I immediately dialed another number.

 

***

 

“Yeah, I got it. Just don’t go charging in like an idiot. Wait there. Hey, are you even listening? Hello? Hey!”

 

Seo Do-hwan shouted, but the call ended abruptly.

 

“Argh! He never listens!”

 

He yanked out the wireless earbuds and frowned.

 

“What did Yoon-hoo hyung say?”

 

From the passenger seat, Lee Yoo-seong leaned forward, curiosity written all over his face.

 

“Lee Yoo-seong, do you even have a driver’s license?”

 

“Nope. Haven’t had my birthday yet.”

 

Even if he had, driving was out of the question. Lee Yoo-seong had never driven a car—neither in the world before his return nor in this one.

 

Seo Do-hwan muttered a low curse.

 

“Do-hwan hyung! Yoon-ju’s here too!”

T/N: Kang Yoon-joo changed to Kang Yoon-ju.

 

“That’s why I said it quietly! Quietly!”

 

In the back seat, both Kang Yoon-ju and the child’s grandmother were dozing. Seo Do-hwan glanced back at them and muttered under his breath:

 

“Kwak Yoon-hoo might be in some danger.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

“Well…”

 

Seo Do-hwan hesitated before explaining the situation Kwak Yoon-hoo had gotten into—and how, somehow, Lee Yoo-seong’s aunt was caught up in it. Lee Yoo-seong’s expression hardened.

 

Seo Do-hwan glanced at him again and said,

 

“Don’t worry too much. The reason your aunt ended up like that is because of—”

 

“I know it’s not my fault,” Lee Yoo-seong interrupted firmly, his voice steady. “But I think I need to go.”

 

“What?!” Seo Do-hwan exclaimed. “Go? Go where?!”

 

“T.U.”

 

“Do you even know what kind of place that is?!”

 

“It’s a club. I’ve tagged along with Yoon-hoo hyung a few times. Never went inside, but… looks like I’ll be going this time.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong unbuckled his seatbelt.

 

“Don’t worry about Yoon-hoo hyung.”

 

“You—you…!”

 

“Then, see you later.”

 

“Hey! Lee Yoo-seong!!”

 

Seo Do-hwan’s red sports car had just crossed Dongho Bridge when—

 

“Hey!!”

 

Lee Yoo-seong leapt out without a second thought.

 

Seo Do-hwan knew Lee Yoo-seong would land safely—he knew it all too well—but it still drove him crazy with worry.

 

“…Um, Do-hwan ahjussi?”

 

Kang Yoon-ju had woken up from the commotion.

 

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she asked, “Where’s Yoo-seong oppa?”

 

“…He stepped out to take care of something.”

 

“The restroom?”

 

“Something like that.”

 

Something like the restroom?

 

Kang Yoon-ju tilted her head and let out a big yawn, soon losing interest in Lee Yoo-seong.

 

“Oppa!”

 

Her attention shifted to Kang Ye-seong’s face on a giant billboard screen on a tall building. Her little face lit up with joy.

 

***

 

Current time: 5:25 PM.

 

With about an hour and a half left until Victory’s comeback showcase—

 

“Oh, our CEO. You really did come alone?”

 

I had arrived at T.U.

 

As expected, Kim Sang-cheol wasn’t alone.

 

“Young as you are, you really don’t know fear, do you?”

 

Standing in the middle of a group of thugs, Kim Sang-cheol sneered. I returned the same smile.

 

“Isn’t that the same for you, Mr. Gaechul?”

 

“I told you, my name’s not Gaechul!!”

 

Kim Sang-cheol shouted, clearly annoyed at the nickname Nike had given him.

 

He cleared his throat a couple of times, then asked, “The money?”

 

“Right here.”

 

I opened the bag I’d brought and placed it on the table.

 

Kim Sang-cheol’s eyes widened at the sight of the bundles of cash. As soon as I saw his reaction, I closed the bag

 

“I can’t just hand it to you.”

 

Kim Sang-cheol furrowed his brow and muttered in dissatisfaction.

 

“Hey, bring her.”

 

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

 

At his command, one of the thugs dragged a woman forward.

 

“P-please! Please save me!”

 

It was Kim Jeong-hye. The moment she saw me, she cried out desperately.

 

“Please, save me!”

 

“Of course.”

 

I smiled reassuringly at her, then turned to Kim Sang-cheol with an offer.

 

“How about a trade? Ms. Kim Jeong-hye for the bag.”

 

“Well, that’s how it should be, isn’t it?”

 

Kim Sang-cheol smirked. He yanked Kim Jeong-hye’s arm and dragged her toward me. I made a show of hefting the bag and stepped forward to meet him.

 

When we were face to face—

 

“Kyah!”

 

I shoved Kim Jeong-hye behind me.

 

Pssshht!

 

From inside my coat, I pulled out the gas gun I’d hidden and sprayed it toward Kim Sang-cheol and his gang.

 

T.U. was instantly filled with white smoke.

 

“Arghh! Cough—!”

 

“This, this crazy—!”

 

“Cough, ack—!”

 

Kim Sang-cheol and his lackeys coughed, tears and snot streaming down their faces. I coughed a little myself and waved the smoke aside with my hand.

 

As I thought, a stun gun would have been more effective than a gas gun.

 

But more importantly—

 

“Are you alright, Ms. Kim Jeong-hye?”

 

Thankfully, she seemed unharmed. Like the others, she was coughing and tearing up, but that wasn’t my concern.

 

“Hyung-nim! Are you okay?!”

 

“I’m fine—cough—fine! Kill him! Kill that bastard!! No, screw it! Move aside! I’ll kill him myself!!”

 

Dealing with those guys was the priority. Seo Do-hwan would arrive soon if I held out a little longer.

 

“Please stay back.”

 

I made sure Kim Jeong-hye moved away. She wouldn’t be of any help here, and if she got hurt, it would only complicate things.

 

Lee Yoo-seong would blame himself if anything happened to her.

 

But Kim Jeong-hye didn’t step back. Instead—

 

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

 

“Th-that’s—”

 

She grabbed me tightly—so tightly I couldn’t move. Her voice trembled as she forced the words out.

 

“I-if I do this… then… then they’ll lend us money.”

 

What the hell was she saying?

 

“A-and they said… they’ll release my husband too.”

 

She actually believed that?

 

Her face twisted unnaturally as she asked,

 

“You understand, don’t you?”

 

Understand? My ass. I tried to shake her off, but it was too late.

 

“You son of a bitch! Die!!”

 

Kim Sang-cheol charged at me, bloodshot eyes and a dagger in hand.

 

‘Damn it!’

 

I tried to pull out the stun gun from inside my coat, but couldn’t.

 

“I-I’m sorry! But you understand, right?! It’s because of you—my family, me—this is all your fault!!”

 

Kim Jeong-hye clung to my arm with impossible strength.

 

And in that instant, Kim Sang-cheol closed the distance.

 

For one foolish moment, I wished for the impossible—an end without regression. A true death.

 

And then—

 

Stab!

 

The blade pierced flesh.