A Scorching Day Chapter 60

“Anyway, he’s useful. For a nephew of mine, he’s quite a specimen, that one.”

Ki Woohyun, the current head of the organization ‘Cheonghyeon,’ flicked his cigarette ash and let out an admiring remark.

The knife-fighting skills he had brutally trained over the past three years were certainly a fine sight to behold. Ki Joon’s abilities, which drew admiration with each passing day, made Ki Woohyun even more ruthless. To the point where he would throw his own nephew alone into the midst of men swarming like packs of dogs.

“AAARGH!”

The eyes of the enraged men blazed fiercely. Ki Joon’s hand, as it sliced diagonally across the throat of a man charging in with a yell, was clean and without any wasted motion. Blood spurted like a fountain from the severed carotid artery, and the man, clutching his throat, collapsed.

Just as another bastard behind him was raising his knife, Ki Joon ducked low, kicked his ankle to bring him down, and nimbly rose again. He drove his knife into the side of one charging from the flank, then slashed deeply across the abdomen of the one standing behind him in a continuous motion.

The sharply honed knife pierced and tore through violently moving flesh in an instant. Every time the blood-soaked blade glinted in the darkness, the men’s screams overlapped. Blood-soaked air boiled up from all sides. The groans of the thoroughly battered men scattered wetly across the floor.

Byun Inhwan, the Executive Director standing beside Ki Woohyun observing the situation together, also nodded as if mesmerized.

“Remarkable skill. Just like the President in his prime.”

“I wasn’t at that level back then.”

“…”

Seeing Byun Inhwan, who had clumsily attempted flattery and failed to gain anything, Ki Woohyun smiled deeply. He tapped his own temple leisurely and smiled.

“I use this well. Using fists like a brute is what the underlings do.”

“Indeed.”

“I was thinking of getting rid of him soon since I’ve worked him for three years… but at that level, he makes me greedy.”

Ki Woohyun stared intently at Ki Joon, who was weaving between men with a drawn knife, going this way and that. With the old directors’ eyes watching, he had planned to keep his nephew on a short leash and then bury him at an appropriate time, but before he knew it, Ki Joon had become his core asset.

Ki Joon was good at everything. From cleaning up the ragtag members of other organizations who greedily eyed territories, to managing the clients of ‘Cheonghwa,’ and even keeping the girls from running away.

Whatever was going on inside that head, the fact was that getting rid of such a capable bastard who did as he was told and lay down when ordered felt like a real waste.

“Should I just bring him into Cheonghyeon proper?”

As he muttered, lost in thought, Byun Inhwan shot him a surprised look.

“Pardon? But that would be… giving him something far more than he deserves, wouldn’t it?”

“It’s about time to throw him a carrot.”

Ki Woohyun said, exhaling a long stream of cigarette smoke.

“I stuck him in Cheonghwa to live like a wild beast… but seeing how he acts, he’s practically a Buddha.”

He clicked his tongue and grumbled. This wasn’t just any place—it was where the best of the best from across the country were gathered. He’d thought Ki Joon would get addicted to the pleasures and struggle once he got a taste, but apparently Ki Joon didn’t so much as lay a finger on the girls. What kind of bastard was he?

“I’d rather keep him by my side and work him to the bone. Once he gets a taste of money, he won’t be able to think straight either.”

“But… what if he gets any funny ideas?”

“A brat with barely dry blood on his head? What could that kid possibly do?”

Ki Woohyun chuckled. Even if he could use his fists, that was just a phase of hot-blooded youth. A complete orphan with nothing had no one to lean on but him. He was nothing more than a puppy with no one to even keep him in check.

In fact, it had only been a year since Ki Joon had taken on the position of managing director of Cheonghwa—the only role that could even be called a proper title. For the first two years after he became an adult, they had only given him odd jobs and errands. To the point where the directors had meddled unnecessarily, saying it was no way to treat the only son of the former president.

But Ki Joon silently carried out everything he was told. The reason the bastard who had once glared and raged so fiercely had voluntarily bowed before him was simple.

He would find one person.

Ki Joon had handed over his leash in exchange for that one trivial condition.

“Still, just in case, I’ve put a safety measure in place. A hostage that’ll keep him from moving a muscle.”

“You mean that kid.”

“Yeah.”

Ki Woohyun smiled faintly, looking at Ki Joon as he panted, drenched in blood. Even now, just thinking about it made him laugh. About that absurd, almost tearfully ridiculous connection.

“For now, that’s the last resort, so let’s save it. I’ve worked him like a dog, so now it’s time to throw him a bone. Soothe him a little, let him get a taste of money, give him a decent position to puff up his shoulders. Hand him one powerful thing, and he’ll lose his mind. With that drug, he won’t be able to think of anything else, right?”

Unlike ‘Cheonghwa,’ which only managed the entertainment side, bringing him into Cheonghyeon’s headquarters meant giving him much heavier responsibilities within the organization. On the surface, it was construction company work, but in reality, the business was entirely different.

While the late President Ki Cheonghyeon had run the construction business relatively moderately, Ki Woohyun had handed over the construction side to a few brains as soon as he took office. Instead, he had aggressively pushed forward with the drug business he had been secretly working on underground. Having set up secret drug production facilities nationwide, he was actively expanding the business in partnership with Gangsan, who handled distribution.

Ki Woohyun had no intention of stopping there. Drugs commanded their own price, and there were endless avenues for money in the future. Until now, they had distributed drugs mainly domestically, but he planned to expand overseas as well.

Whether overseas or domestic junkies, the selling points weren’t that different. They opened their hearts and moved in the face of universal values.

A handsome appearance that could inspire favor. A build and stamina that didn’t lose to anyone. The boldness to push forward without flinching even before a gun barrel. Plus, his rapidly improving foreign language skills.

Ki Joon was the most suitable person for this job. That was why Ki Woohyun had decided to seriously develop Ki Joon, the double-edged sword.

“If Ki Joon comes to Cheonghyeon… are you planning to bring that kid to Cheonghwa now?”

Byun Inhwan asked cautiously. Ki Woohyun laughed cheerfully and nodded.

“Of course. If he’s tasted men for three years, he should be properly broken in by now.”

“I hear he’s also taking the largest share of sales at Maehwa.”

“He’s too good to be stuck there in the first place. You’re keeping him quiet, right?”

“Yes. Thoroughly.”

To properly execute the blueprint he had drawn, he needed key pieces in each sector. To sell drugs smoothly, he needed a steady supply of bribes to feed to blind high-ranking officials.

Over the course of three years, that kid would have learned how to receive men and matured like a blooming flower. Just as plants need repotting when their roots grow long, it was time to move him into bigger waters. At this critical moment when they needed to start lobbying more aggressively, it was a perfect fit.

“Start preparing to move Ki Joon to Cheonghyeon. Then move that kid to Cheonghwa. Make sure there are no loose ends in keeping them quiet.”

“Yes. Understood.”

At the same moment Ki Joon flung his knife aside with a clatter, the two men’s conversation ended. His appearance, gasping for breath with ragged pants, was a mess.

Behind Ki Joon, staggering as he walked toward Ki Woohyun, the men from the other organization lay strewn like piles of corpses. With each step, blood dripped from his hands and feet, staining the floor.

“Good work.”

Toward his nephew, a wounded beast, Ki Woohyun generously offered an encouraging smile.

“This will be the last cleanup of the remnants in this area, right? Let’s have a drink to commend your hard work. As it happens, Representative Seol of Gangsan also wants to see you. Go get ready and come back.”

Ki Joon inclined his head slightly, then passed by him without a word. Creak— The massive iron door that had completely sealed off the space opened on its own.

A couple of underlings waiting outside bowed upon seeing Ki Joon. Ahn Seongjoon, who had been anxiously waiting outside, rushed over and grabbed Ki Joon’s arm.

“Hey, fuck. Are you insane… Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Apart from a slightly twisted ankle.”

After replying curtly, Ki Joon got into the car with Ahn Seongjoon’s support. The waterproof vinyl-covered seats rustled loudly. With his face deeply furrowed, he cracked his shoulders and neck, and a thick smell of blood emanated from him.

After fully closing the car door, once they were completely alone, Ahn Seongjoon exploded.

“How many were there? Must have been at least eight or nine, right? Is he just throwing you in there to die, or what? Why did you have to go in alone? That fucking lunatic.”

“He seemed to be enjoying the show. Like watching a monkey at the zoo.”

Ki Joon sneered and scoffed. Only after tilting his head back and resting it on the headrest did he let out a thin, groaning sigh. He fumbled in his jacket pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.

“You should go rest right away. Should I call a doctor?”

“He said to come drink.”

“Fuck. Unbelievable.”

Ahn Seongjoon cursed irritably and stepped on the accelerator with annoyance. Vroom— The loud, tuned engine noise made Ki Joon frown. The vibrations that shook his body rattled his bones. This was definitely Ahn Seongjoon’s taste.