Chapter 322 - The Beginning of the End (4)

Songil was extremely nervous but kept his cool demeanour. Junhyung was sitting next to him, glancing at the man every now and then. The man showed no signs of being afraid of the President.

They were at the mansion, waiting for the President to call them in. He was holding a meeting with some of the remaining members of the Cartel. The man did not inform Ash but Junhyung, being a double agent, had already told Ash of the meeting. The latter had said he was not interested to attend but was expecting a minute by minute detail of what was going on.

Junhyun was in a very tight spot. He was working with both the grandfather and grandson, two of them having extremely different agendas. The President wanted to destroy Abyss and KJ but Ash was the problem. The man was secretive about his plans although his goal was clear: to take over the Cartel. Between the two, Junhyung was more wary of Ash Park. There was no telling what he was going to do.

"If you don't tell me what the old man is planning, then I will not hesitate to shoot you down," Ash had warned him last night. Junhyung could feel the icy chill in his words. He really meant the threat and would not think for a second before carrying it out.

"Why did the President call me?" Songil asked lazily.

"I don't know," Junhyung replied. "He only told me to summon you here to the meeting."

Songil shrugged but his mind was already on high alert. Was the President going to reveal his plans to them. After Ziko's death, he took over his former boss' businesses while supplying Abyss with the information. So far, he had not been caught but now that the President was out in the open, there was no telling what he was planning to do. The informers were being hunted down and killed mercilessly. Songil had so far evaded that fate but for how long could he work in secrecy?

I have to think of something, he thought. Fast.

Junhyung's phone rang up. "It's time," he said to Songil. The older man stood up and followed Junhyung to the President's study.

There were two other people there. One was a plain looking man in his mid forties while the other was a younger man with dark hair in his twenties. Both of them were dressed like office workers, carrying suitcases. If Songil had not seen them there, he would have thought them of as ordinary citizens who were only minding their own businesses.

No doubt they were high level spies for the Cartel.

The President was not facing them. His chair was turned away. Songil tried not to show his eagerness at meeting this man. For many years, he had operated from the shadows and there were many rumors about his actual form. Some said he looked like the devil himself but those who saw him in person did not live to tell the tale. Songil had heard some very disturbing tales about what he did to those who had tried to sneak in to see his face.

"Sit down."

His voice was raspy and croaked as if it pained him while talking. Songil sat next to Junhyung.

"Introduce yourselves," the President ordered.

"I'm Jay Kim," the younger man said.

"My name is Choi Junshik," the older man stated.

"I'm Songil," Songil greeted. "I take care of Ziko's businesses now."

"I know," the President said. "And what are the updates? Are you trading the girls as usual?"

"Yes," Songil replied. "They are being sent to all the high profile clients."

That part was not a total lie. In order to keep up with the ruse, Songil kept on sending the girls to the clients. Only this time, the clients were members of Abyss who secretly freed the girls or received information from Songil via them. Since cash transactions were always the preferred method of the Cartel in order to avoid any tracking of their illegal businesses, it was an effective method. It was how Songil managed to fool the Cartel for so long but he knew that he was running out of options.

"Yes, I've heard the girls are being sold to the clients for longer terms," the President stated. "If Ziko was this clever, he would have lived. Too bad, he could not survive Abyss' assault."

He was killed by your own grandson, Songil said inwardly. Either the old man did not know how Ziko was truly killed or he was turning a blind eye to it.

"Why have you summoned us here?" Songil asked. He hesitated a little before adding, "Sir."

"Mystic Entertainment is going to celebrate their anniversary next week," the President informed them. "It's time for us to enjoy this party as well…"

Songil was confused but maintained a poker face. The old man was silent but he was deep in thought, as if pondering his next words. Then slowly, the chair began to rotate.

The younger man, Jay, gasped in shock while Junshik looked a little mortified. The ghastly sight of the burnt face was making them sick to their stomachs. They had seen many gruesome things in life but this man was probably the most disgusting of them all. There was a faint smell of pus in the air which coupled with the disgusting face, added a sense of disgust in them. Only Songil and Junhyung were unaffected by the man's appearance.

"What are we supposed to do?" Songil asked.

"Bring KJ to us," the President said. "By kidnapping Jung Mirae."

"That's almost impossible," Songil frowned. "The Cartel tried many times. Even Ziko tried but she's always protected by a large security force. Many of our men were taken out by their secret snipers who tail her. Moreover, as the CEO of Abyss, she's quite capable of taking down our men. Look at what happened to Ziko."

To their surprise, the President's burnt lips were curving into a smile. 

"This is why Junshik and Jay are here," he replied. "You see. Abyss is keeping a security lapse in the party in order to lure us. Since they are giving us such a good opportunity, then why should we not take it?"

"Jay will enter the party as a DJ," Junhyung explained. "While Junshik will be a server. While the celebrations will go on, there will be balloons and a confetti shower. During that show, there will be a blackout."

"I will tamper with KJ's drink," Jay replied. "It's known that he suffers from panic attacks. I'll add a drug to his drink which will temporarily increase his anxiety. Once people become distracted by the blackout and the chaos starts as he collapses, we will whisk his wife away from the venue. Everyone will pay attention to where KJ is. No one will notice Jung Mirae gone."

"After that, Kwon Jiwon will come to us himself," the President finished. "Songil, go with Jay and prepare for the party. You will act as their transporter."

"Y-yes," Songil stammered. He got up to follow Jay out of the room.

Junhyung turned to the President. "Do you think he bought it?" he asked.

"No doubt he'll inform Abyss," Junshik commented.

"That is what I want him to do," the President said thoughtfully. "Abyss' attention will be diverted elsewhere and our path to Kwon Jiwon will be clear. You know what to do, Junhyung."

He threw a sly glance at Junhyung. The latter heaved his chest.

"I do," he replied. "I won't fail you."

"Oh and one more thing," the President added. "Tell Ash only what Songil knows. Nothing more. Nothing less."

He gave Junhyung a hard stare which held unsaid threats. Junhyung gulped and replied, "I will."

With that he stood up to leave. On his way out, Junhyung was replaying the actual plan of the President and the task he was entrusted with. If he failed, then there would be only one thing left for him. Death.