Chapter 298 - The Envelope

Junhyung was nervous about the upcoming events. The President had summoned him to the mansion on an urgent basis. He had just arrived at the study where the old man was sitting behind a desk, quietly observing him. 

The man's burnt face was disgusting to look at. Chunks of skin fell over his eyes, making Junhyun doubt whether the man could even see anything. There were only a few strands of hair left on his head and his lips were completely black. 

Song Sia's wrath transcended the limits of vengeance; it was madness. She had seen to it that he would never be able to show his face to anyone. The man never had an identity but she took away his entire existence.

"You have called for me, sir," Junhyung said with a bow, trying not to wince at the old man's horrible face. His burns smelt like rotten pus even from afar but if Junhyung even slightly scrunched his nose in disgust, the man would kill him on the spot. And Junhyung happened to love his life a lot.

"It seems your old friend has disappeared," the President said in his wheezy tone.

"Disappeared?" Junhyung frowned. "Surely, Kwon Jiwon has run away? Since you have directly challenged him. He may have gotten scared. I'll put my men to look for him-"

"No need," the President said. "He'll be back. But what concerns me, is the fact that Kwon Jiwon is able to disappear from under our noses whereas I had been told that we keep constant surveillance on him."

"Ever since Abyss has taken over his security, tracking him down has been difficult," Junhyung admitted. "Their guards have taken down many of our spies in secret which only increased the obstacles in our way-"

A ceramic ashtray came flying at him. He only dodged it by a millisecond and it shattered loudly on the wall behind him. Junhyung's heart skipped several beats as he had narrowly avoided serious injury or even death.

"Are you telling me that we are so incompetent that we couldn't keep track of one bloody idol?" the old man yelled. Even with his raspy voice, he was able to hold a menacing threat in his tone which would make anyone cower away. Junhyung tried to hold his ground but his hands were shaking behind him.

"We have taken down their informants," he said at once. "They know very little detail about us and-"

"That's because I had their informers killed!" the President sneered. "All of you let Abyss kill my best men and now left me out in the open to deal with my enemies myself! Is this why I have hired you all?"

He glared at Junhyung who was trying to keep his composure. "Remember this Shim Junhyung," the President stated. "I know all about you. I know who your father was and also that you have an agenda to join my Cartel. I kept you close to me not because you were competent. I merely kept you to see if you would harbor foolish thoughts like revenge. I thought you were smart but clearly, I overestimated you."

His every word was a warning to Junhyung. There would be no second chance if he screwed up this time.

"What do you want me to do?" Junhyung asked, gulping.

The President pushed forward an envelope.

"The details are in there," he informed him. "I'll leave the time and place to you. But I want this to be done."

Junhyung took the envelope and opened it. Taking out the doc.u.ments, he read through it. His eyes widened in shock.

"Sir, this is…"

"This is Kwon Jiwon's weakness," the President finished for him. "Take out his weakness and he'll come to us himself."

"But sir it's too risky!" Junhyung argued. "Abyss will not let this be! They will turn the whole city into a bloodbath!"

"Let them," the President smirked. The dangerous smile on his lips was ominous as if he was enjoying the game. "I want them to turn the city into a bloodbath. Their fury will fuel our plan."

Junhyung could not believe the orders he had just received. Not only was it dangerous but it would mean immediate death for him. Not to mention what Ash would do to him if he found out. Remembering Ash's last threat, Junhyung was in a grave dilemma.

"But sir-"

"And one more thing, Secretary Shim," the old man said, standing up from the chair. He walked across the desk and approached the young man. The pungent smell from his burnt face got stronger with each step, making Junhyung almost nauseous.

"If I were you, I'd have been careful of where I put my manhood into," the President warned. Junhyung stiffened with fear at his words. 

He knows! Junhyung thought in panic. He knows about Nida and me.

"I do know," the President confirmed, reading his mind. "I have already punished her. My men enjoyed every bit of her last night. They still are catering to her...needs."

Junhyung felt a chill down his spine. He shuddered to think what Nida's fate was going to be. Junhyung fell to his knees.

"I swear it was an accident," he claimed. "I swear she had seduced me! I didn't mean to betray you sir."

But the President kicked him aside. "Complete the mission, and I may spare you," the man spat at him. He turned on his heels and left the room, leaving Junhyung on the floor.

Junhyung took the envelope again. There was no other way. He must fulfill this mission otherwise the President would not let him go. Nida's fate was cruel enough and he had no intention of facing the same thing.

But Ash...Ash was not going to spare him. After he tried to harm Mirae last time, Ash had annihilated all the men he had hired to harm her and also warned Junhyung not to meddle with his plans. If Junhyung attempted anything on his own, Ash would not only kill him but before that, he would give Junhyung a fate worse than hell.

Thinking quickly, he came to the conclusion. He must do everything he could to survive. The envelope he held was the key to his survival.

"Time to remove all the obstacles in my way," he decided.