Chapter 246: Investigating (1)

Chapter 246: Investigating (1)

Yi Jae-Seok didn't know what he was even talking about. But this situation didn't seem all that strange to him. He wasn't even sure what his... 'conversation partner' wanted to hear from him, anyway. Kang Jin-Ho simply said, “Talk,” and didn't add anything else.

It wasn't as if Yi Jae-Seok was too much of a coward to ask what Kang Jin-Ho wanted to hear. No, he just didn't have the mental leeway to think that far.

Yi Jae-Seok talked about everything he knew and then talked some more. Everything from the Yeongnam Group to the truth about himself, his relationship with the group, and why he was targeting Kang Jin-Ho. He yapped on and on about every little thing, even matters that weren’t really related to this kidnapping incident. And he did that desperately—more desperately than ever before.

At the start of his 'confession,’ Yi Jae-Seok hoped what he said contained the information Kang Jin-Ho wanted to hear. However, his thoughts quickly changed the more he talked.

'No, it's too soon!'

Yi Jae-Seok ardently prayed that Kang Jin-Ho still hadn't found the information he was looking for. That was because he could guess what his fate would be like once Kang Jin-Ho had gotten what he wanted.

Yi Jae-Seok would no doubt end up in the same wretched state as his colleagues, whose bodies couldn't even be seen right now!

'Too soon! It's too soon!'

Yi Jae-Seok felt hurried and desperate. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop himself from talking. Even though he knew full well that the more he talked, his lifespan would decrease, it was still impossible to hide information or stop talking when confronted by those withdrawn, cold eyes of the monster crouching before him.

It all felt like he was gradually strangling himself with his own hands. Yi Jae-Seok found his situation as the world's most bizarre suicide. If it could even be called 'suicide,’ that was.

“Stop.”

“Kurgh...”

The word Yi Jae-Seok dreaded to hear finally came out of Kang Jin-Ho's mouth.

“That's enough.”

With that, the corners of Kang Jin-Ho's lips curled up slightly.

'What... What have I been talking about?'

Yi Jae-Seok couldn't even guess what kind of information Kang Jin-Ho had gleaned from his confession because it felt like he wasn't consciously thinking about what things he should say by the midway point of the confession. His mouth had been moving on its own to spit out the information stored in his mind.

He couldn't even remember what he said toward the end, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that Kang Jin-Ho had already gotten what he wanted and that Yi Jae-Seok's usefulness had been exhausted.

Just like his dead colleagues...

“W-wait, I-I still know more! I really do!” Yi Jae-Seok desperately cried out.

He had to do whatever it took to prove his usefulness to Kang Jin-Ho. Otherwise, what was in store for him was too obvious to even imagine.

Unfortunately, Kang Jin-Ho didn't seem willing at all to listen any further.

“What are you so scared about?” Findd new stories at novelhall.com

He even smiled in the darkness. Kang Jin-Ho’s teeth seemed to glow pure white in this chilling darkness, and Yi Jae-Seok could only shiver like a lone leaf in the winds.

“Humans can be such strange creatures.” Kang Jin-Ho slowly patted Yi Jae-Seok's cheek. “Haven't you killed many people before? So, haven’t you thought that you might end up in the same state as your victims one day? It seems humans mistakenly believe they'll remain unscathed for the rest of time, don't they? So, let me ask you something. How does it feel to have your assumption disproven by me?”

Yi Jae-Seok failed to understand it. His ears might be hearing all this, but none of the words seemed to reach his brain. However, what Kang Jin-Ho said next lodged itself firmly within Yi Jae-Seok's mind.

“No need to worry. I won't kill you.”

“...!”

Yi Jae-Seok's eyes shook powerfully.

“However, you shouldn't rejoice.” A grin floated up on Kang Jin-Ho's face.

That grin was so creepy and bone-chilling that Yi Jae-Seok wanted to squeeze his eyes shut.

“All humans have a line. As long as that line isn't crossed, people will continue to exist as humans. However, when that line is crossed, they will morph into beasts... Yes, I'm talking about that line. The line that makes an ordinary man take up a knife and stab the armed robber breaking into his house. The line drawn by the morals and regulations of human beings.” Kang Jin-Ho leaned closer and whispered into Yi Jae-Seok's ear. “And you lot have crossed that line.”

Kang Jin-Ho silently stared into her eyes before slowly nodding away. He agreed that a 'cleaner' would be necessary to deal with the aftermath.

If someone stumbled upon the gruesome sight inside the factory during the day, that could lead to a series of concerning events. And Lee Hyeon-Ju's people might be more suitable to mop such a mess up than Jaegyeong.

'However, that means...'

Kang Jin-Ho's expression hardened slightly. Choosing this route meant he would have to coordinate with the Martial Assembly, the group Lee Hyeon-Ju was affiliated with. Since he had never entertained the idea of working together with that group before, the prospect of doing so now was leaving a sour taste in his mouth.

'...Does he want me to use them?'

Then again, Jo Gyu-Min would have thought about that, too. Even so, he still sent Lee Hyeon-Ju here. That could only mean he had determined that the best way to deal with this situation was to join hands with the Martial Assembly.

When Kang Jin-Ho continued to stare at her without saying anything, Lee Hyeon-Ju involuntarily gripped her thigh hard. She was scared.

The more she talked to Kang Jin-Ho, the more monstrous he seemed in her eyes. At this point, her first encounter with Kang Jin-Ho seemed like it had ended on a good note. Hadn’t he turned the Fallen into a wretched state reminiscent of an insect before killing him? And hadn’t he just turned the Yeongnam Group's infamous 'cleaning crew' into blotches of blood?

In that case, Lee Hyeon-Ju should be grateful for walking away with her life intact, even after being at odds with a man like him.

However, she still would love dearly not to stand face-to-face with Kang Jin-Ho in this fashion. Honestly, she was worried about getting a heart attack if she had to stare at Kang Jin-Ho's face any longer!

“W-we can definitely take care of this mess, Mister Kang Jin-Ho.” Lee Hyeon-Ju decided to break the uncomfortable silence.

“Take care of it, you say?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head a little.

“Yes. We're experts at these sorts of things, you see? We can mop everything up before the civilians learn about what happened here. We know someone within the upper echelons of the Korean police force, so we can also prevent unnecessary rumors from spreading.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded again. He couldn't see a reason to refuse if the other party offered to help without expecting anything in return. It wasn't as if he were joining hands with the Martial Assembly, anyway. “...In that case, I'll leave it to you.”

“Y-yes! Don't you worry!” Lee Hyeon-Ju cried out involuntarily, then hurriedly covered her mouth in shock.

Kang Jin-Ho stared weirdly at Lee Hyeon-Ju before saying, “Can you ascertain that the ones inside the factory really belong to the Yeongnam Group?”

“I'm sorry? Oh, uh... I haven't been inside to check, so...”

“I left someone inside.”

“H-he's still alive?!”

“What do you think?” Kang Jin-Ho coldly smiled.

Lee Hyeon-Ju shuddered as goosebumps broke out on her skin.

'Yup, I've gone mad!'

She cursed herself for feeling even a second of goodwill toward this madman. Kang Jin-Ho was definitely crazy, albeit in a different meaning than all the other crazies she had run into so far!

“Yes, he's alive. For now,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“...For now?”

“Yes. So, go and make sure. And if that man really is a part of the Yeongnam Group, bring me all the information you have on them.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju didn't bother asking what Kang Jin-Ho was willing to pay for such information. It was plainly obvious to her, after all. If the payment for the Yeongnam Group's destruction were some information on them, then well... Nothing would be a better compensation than that.

“...What do you want us to do with that survivor?” Lee Hyeon-Ju cautiously asked.

Kang Jin-Ho's reply sounded unconcerned. “Let him go.”

“Let him go? Really?”

“That's right. We'll see each other soon enough, anyway.” Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders, then turned around to leisurely walk toward the nearby highway.

Lee Hyeon-Ju watched him walk away as intense confusion washed over her.

'Am I... doing the right thing here?'

Although she had finally created the chance to join hands with Kang Jin-Ho, Lee Hyeon-Ju couldn't help but hesitate about this. Maybe... It felt like she had just shaken hands with a terrifying devil.

And that possibility sent a wave of chill through her heart.