Chapter 1.1

The rain poured heavily, scattering streams along the car window. The navigation indicated that they would enter Seoul in about five minutes.

Baek-geon gripped the steering wheel tightly with his large hands. His broad forehead had been slightly cracked since leaving Busan.

The night was dark, and the view was obscured by thick rain clouds. A small curse slipped through his stiff lips.

“Damn.”

It was the worst possible weather for driving. He skillfully maneuvered the wheel, weaving between cars.

It had been a while since he went down to Busan. He had met with Chairman Han’s subordinates, who were his former colleagues, to hold a meeting on business matters.

If it weren’t for that bastard, he wouldn’t be rushing back to Seoul like a wild boar struck by lightning.

He had received a call during the meeting while having an early dinner, abandoning everything and rushing back. His foot pressed harder on the accelerator.

Baek-geon looked ahead and gripped the wheel again. He rubbed his forehead as he gazed at the night streets beyond the car window.

He hadn’t slept for two days, leaving him in a daze. The coffee given by President Yoon’s secretary at the Gwangalli casino had already gone cold.

He hadn’t even stopped at a rest area because of that piece of trash. He gritted his teeth and spat out the bastard’s name through clenched teeth.

“So Yoon-ryeol.”

Hatred burned like flames in his eyes. Baek-geon pressed the accelerator again, releasing a dark fury.

The car sped down the road without hesitation. As the black vehicle charged heavily along the highway, cars repeatedly swerved to avoid it.

Baek-geon entered Seoul in one go, shook his head once, and gripped the wheel again. He sped fiercely along the riverside road to the quiet residential area, but the anger in his chest did not dissipate at all.

Arriving in front of the mansion, which stood proudly overlooking the Han River at the end of a long hill, Baek-geon turned off the engine and leaned back, exhaling deeply.

Meanwhile, the gate opened. Though invisible, those guarding the mansion had already informed of his arrival.

The men rushed over and stood politely in front of the car. Among them, Gong Cheong-o, Baek-geon’s right-hand man and Chief, approached and opened the car door.

“Did you return safely, CEO?”

“Did you return safely?”

As if his words were a cue, everyone bowed their heads in greeting. Baek-geon nodded slightly with an indifferent expression.

Getting out of the car, he took off his jacket as if it had been stifling. Cheong-o, who opened the door, accepted the jacket politely and draped it over his arm.

“Would you like a drink, or…”

“Chief Gong.”

Baek-geon’s eyes flashed. They were the eyes of a predator that never missed its prey.

“Cheong-o.”

This time, he called Cheong-o by name. Calling him again was proof that it was not an ordinary matter. Cheong-o, who knew his temper well, bowed deeply.

“Let’s get down to business.”

Baek-geon spoke quietly as he unbuttoned his cufflinks and rolled up his shirt sleeves. Cheong-o swallowed dryly at the sight of his robust forearm muscles twitching.

“Nothing unusual?”

“We went to the hideout where he was hiding and cleaned up perfectly. No one will find that bastard’s traces.”

At Cheong-o’s response, Baek-geon nodded and crossed the garden. As the garden work ended, the gardener and his assistant hesitated and retreated.

Baek-geon’s gaze never lingered on the employees. Only after he passed by did the gardener’s assistant sigh with relief, and the gardener pursed his lips with a pale face.

The butler was waiting at the entrance. Butler Song, who had long managed the mansion’s affairs, treated Baek-geon as respectfully as he did Chairman Han.

He had no choice. Baek-geon was practically like a real son to Chairman Han, having inherited his surname, and was now implicitly the number one in the organization.

In this mansion, Han Baek-geon was a figure of absolute power and authority. Everyone knew that.

“Have you arrived? Dinner is prepared.”

“No need.”

Baek-geon arrogantly replied and went inside. As he entered the house, the female employees’ gazes fell on him all at once.

Whenever they glanced at him, they were enthralled, yet they hurriedly hid when their eyes met. None possessed the courage to withstand the cold intimidation Baek-geon exuded.

Baek-geon wasn’t one to respond to every gaze from the employees. He absolutely hated paying attention to unnecessary matters.

Although he might seem arrogant, with his focus and drive, he had nearly rebuilt the broken organization in two years.

“He’s tied up in the basement room.”

As he looked around, Butler Song tactfully catered to his mood. Only then did Baek-geon nod and head toward the elevator.

The stairs leading to the semi-basement floor were mainly used by resident employees. He had never gone down the stairs.

Butler Song pressed the button. As the door opened, Baek-geon and Cheong-o entered the elevator. Cheong-o operated the button, and the elevator moved.

When the door opened, the subordinates standing in the hallway all bowed their heads. Baek-geon glanced at them and crossed the hallway toward the inside.

The side with large windows was occupied by the employees’ quarters, gym, and laundry room. Baek-geon passed those rooms and walked straight to the innermost, sunless corner.

As he lightly clenched his fist, his muscles tensed at the thought of seeing blood. The instincts he had suppressed for business stirred.

Of course, it wasn’t without reason. He had caught the guy who had been troubling him for months.

Two years ago, thanks to Chairman Han’s agreement with the prosecutor to replace his last years in prison and not cause drug problems, the collapsing organization was able to resume business.

But the guy under President Bae Kyung-tae, Chairman Han’s old right-hand man managing Incheon, touched drugs without permission.

The boss’s sacrifice had become useless. The fact that a mere punk could potentially dismantle the entire organization was infuriating to Baek-geon.

Of course, Baek-geon wasn’t the only one consumed by anger. The executives under him and all the organization members began to track the guy down, grinding their teeth.

But just a week after placing a bounty on his head, he came here on his own. He even boldly entered, using his name.

‘If you listen to what I say, CEO, you won’t be able to avoid forgiving me.’

It was absurd. Baek-geon scoffed as he approached the door. Cheong-o quickly ran to open it. As Baek-geon entered, he followed and locked the door.

Cheong-o pressed the switch, and the light turned on. Baek-geon’s cold gaze swept past the guy sitting inside the room and the woman sitting next to him.

“So Yoon-ryeol.”

Cheong-o spoke disdainfully, mixing contempt as the guy raised his head. Already beaten so badly, his swollen eyelids were bruised black, and there was no intact part on his lips or cheeks.

“C-CEO.”

Despite his split lip, So Yoon-ryeol’s tongue seemed fine. He called out to Baek-geon with utmost sincerity and earnestness.

Baek-geon did not respond. The anger he had barely suppressed filled his heart again, spreading through his veins.

Instead, his gaze turned to the woman crouching beside Yoon-ryeol, her face flushed. Despite her shabby appearance, she looked quite pretty.

However, to Baek-geon’s eyes, she looked excessively like a lump of blood. Yet, he couldn’t stop his gaze from drifting toward her.

Even amidst his rising anger, he wanted to know why the woman kept drawing his eyes. Baek-geon’s eyes narrowed.

The woman was pale and slender. Her pigmentation was so light she seemed to blend into the air. Her large eyes were moist with fear, and her cheeks were flushed.

Baek-geon’s gaze fixed on her long, slender neck. Suddenly, his blood surged. He wanted to bind her wrists and ankles tightly and sink his teeth into that white neck.

He licked his lips at the sudden, violent impulse that stirred within him. For some reason, a savage and fierce thirst for blood hidden deep inside him boiled over.

“CEO.”

It was a fleeting moment. Baek-geon diverted his gaze from the woman and focused on Yoon-ryeol.

At the icy gaze, Yoon-ryeol swallowed dryly but soon began to speak smoothly.

“I, I have acquired a new manufacturing technique this time. There was a guy who was a factory manager among those working at a factory in Yanbian. I think you’ll find it interesting, CEO.”

Baek-geon watched him without revealing his boiling anger. Yoon-ryeol, sensing Baek-geon’s interest, quickly continued speaking.

“This isn’t just any ordinary drug. It’s like a mild aphrodisiac, but the moment you take a bite, it drives you crazy.”

Baek-geon silently waited to hear what he would say next.

“But the funny thing is, it’s less addictive. Unlike other drugs, you don’t become a wreck without it. There are hardly any side effects. It tastes good too, so it’s like a snack when you’re drinking.”

Yoon-ryeol passionately explained.

“You can enjoy it with women without addiction, so it’s popular. Even bartenders and club MDs like it, so they don’t refuse it.”

Encouraged by Baek-geon’s gaze, Yoon-ryeol babbled on. He licked his lips and poked the woman sitting next to him.

“Hey. Get up.”

The woman rose and knelt demurely. Baek-geon saw the sweat trickling down from her face to her neck.

“She’s my sister, CEO. She might be a bit slow, but she’s got a body like a gem, what do you call it, a rare beauty. Anyway, she’s got a body that many find appealing. If you want to test the effects of the drug, I can give you a sample tonight….”