Chapter 18 : Overdose (1) (Part-1)

[It’s fine if you come. The first floor doesn’t seem to have noticed anything yet.]

“Okay.”

The car that was transporting Cheol-woo swiftly departed from the parking lot of the office building.

At that moment, it appeared that none of the individuals on the 10th floor had any awareness of the events that had transpired, allowing Cheol-woo to access the main road without encountering any obstacles or interference.

It was not until a considerable amount of time had passed that the first floor of the building began to bustle with activity, likely due to the growing realization that something was amiss on the 10th floor.

There were no vehicles trailing behind Cheol-woo as he made his escape.

The car that was transporting Cheol-woo swiftly departed from the parking lot of the office building, maneuvering smoothly and efficiently through the spaces designed for parking, as it made its way towards the exit with a sense of urgency and purpose.

At that moment, it appeared that none of the individuals on the 10th floor had any awareness of the events that had transpired,

Allowing Cheol-woo to access the main road without encountering any obstacles or interference, as the atmosphere remained unchanged, and the normalcy of their activities continued uninterrupted.

It was not until a considerable amount of time had passed that the first floor of the building began to bustle with activity, likely due to the growing realization that something was amiss on the 10th floor, prompting people to rise from their desks and engage in discussions, casting glances toward the elevators and stairwells in concern.

There were no vehicles trailing behind Cheol-woo as he made his escape, ensuring that his departure went unnoticed and unbothered, leaving behind a scene of calm despite the underlying tension of the situation.

Cold sweat didn’t stop.

Since he had taken the life of Manager Jeong, Team 1 was essentially rendered out of commission, with the exception of those individuals who were directly beneath Yu Siljang’s command.

Teams 2 and 3 appeared to have lost all sense of direction and purpose following their recent endeavor to pursue him.

But why did he still feel such an overwhelming sense of unease?

His stomach growled and ached, signaling discontent, and an ominous feeling settled over him, thickening the air around him with dread.

[Are you sure you weren’t hit? Really?]

“I told you, no, I wasn’t.”

[No, you kept saying Manager Jeong was dangerous, so this is what happens… Even low-ranking employees got shot, but you’re telling me you didn’t get hit while facing him? Really? Are you lying?]

“Sis, you’ve been fooled your whole life.”

Getting shot while facing low-level opponents, yet never even receiving a graze while confronting Manager Jeong?

The logic appeared sound, but the reality was far from that.

The individual he had been at that time and the individual he was at present stood in stark contrast.

In the past, his anger had consumed him entirely; his vision had become obscured by rage, and his instincts had run rampant, driving his actions without restraint.

However, in the present moment, he shot with a calculated precision, devoid of any thoughts or emotions influencing his decisions.

At that time, his heightened senses and quick hands were something he couldn’t quite handle, swinging his gun wildly.

Now, he possessed a comprehensive understanding of his limitations as well as the operational range of the weapon he wielded, effectively utilizing it as a precisely honed tool that had been refined through extensive training and practice.

Even in the act of aiming and shooting at Manager Jeong, it was not as if he was deeply contemplating or dwelling on the decision.

“I’m going to kill that bastard no matter what.”

It was more like,

“I have to kill him, so I will.”

Of course, Cheol-woo was still fundamentally human, which meant that his actions were not completely devoid of thought or reflection; however, the only sensation he truly experienced in that moment was a complex interplay of exhilarating emotions.

It wasn’t that he derived a perverse sense of pleasure or joy from taking the lives of others, nor did he find satisfaction in the act of killing individuals; instead, there existed an almost primal rush—a raw, instinctual thrill that surged through him at the precise moment he pulled the trigger of his weapon.

Beyond this fleeting euphoria, he carried out his actions with an eerie detachment, shooting without any trace of emotion whatsoever, as if he was merely executing a task devoid of personal connection or sentiment.

[If you hide being shot and collapse, I’ll leave you behind.]

“If you’re worried, just say it honestly.”

[Yeah, you bastard. I’m worried. I should’ve gone with you. That guy, Manager Jeong, was pretty tough too. I think I could have killed him with my sword.]

Wasn’t it a significant underestimation of the situation to believe that he managed to navigate it without sustaining any gunshot wounds?

If Yuri had been present during that encounter, there is no question that it would have resulted in a cut lasting no longer than 0.1 seconds without a shadow of a doubt.

Regardless of how proficiently his sister wielded a sword and how much she had honed her strength, what chance did she stand against the incredible speed of someone like Manager Jeong, who possessed an exceptionally sharp perception and reflexes?

In a scenario where the two were not positioned so closely that they could almost touch noses, it was utterly impossible for a sword to triumph over a gun.

“Why are you acting like you wanted to kill him? Got a taste for it now?”

[No, it’s not like that… I just… I think I need to get used to the ‘feel’ of it, you know? I think I need to gain some experience.]

He threw it out into the conversation as if it were merely a jest, an offhand remark meant to elicit laughter or perhaps a lighthearted response, but Cheol-woo was taken aback by the level of seriousness with which she received it.

Wasn’t this the same sister who had been vocal about her disapproval of his actions, specifically lamenting about him shooting people just yesterday or, at the very least, the day before that?

“According to Manager Jeong, we’re likely to run into some drug addicts in the future. The sword might actually be useful.”

Certainly, when encountering adversaries who were impervious to the destructive power of bullets, wielding a sword emerged as the most sensible and effective option for confronting them head-on.

However, this notion was only valid when the opponents displayed characteristics akin to mindless zombies, those devoid of thought and reason.

In contrast, individuals like Manager Jeong presented a significant challenge, as he possessed a physically robust form combined with a keen intellect and mental acuity, allowing him to strategize and fight effectively.

This stark difference in the nature of the opponents was a source of considerable frustration, as it highlighted the contrasting characteristics and motivations that defined each side in the conflict.

The drugs remained unchanged, consistently present in the equation, but the individuals involved exhibited a varying degree of transformation; some people evolved in their perspectives and responses, while others remained steadfastly the same, exhibiting a stubborn resistance to change.

What was the real difference that delineated those who adapted from those who did not?

The inability to consult Manager Jeong prior to making the decision to eliminate him was a profound regret that weighed heavily on his conscience, an unresolved question of what insights or information could have been gleaned from that conversation.

In the pursuit of clarity, it became imperative to seek answers from the higher-ups at Han Sajaeng regarding this matter.

These individuals were likely concealing numerous secrets, and given that they held hostages in their grasp, the likelihood of them providing responses under pressure was significantly increased if the situation were leveraged correctly.

[But what’s that noise… like a muffled sound? Is something wrong with the car?]

“Oh, that… There’s a woman in the trunk.”

[…What?]

Yuri exclaimed in disbelief,

“What the hell? Did I hear that wrong?”

He waited for an explanation, but no matter how much time passed, his younger sister didn’t seem to show any intention of providing one.

Frustrated, Yuri shouted out.

[Hey! Finish your sentence!]

“I’ve told you everything. What else do you want?”

[A woman in the trunk? What woman?]

“There’s a woman. She was gagged and tied up in the office cabinet. She seemed to be an employee from Oriental Shipping. Her name was Kim Mi-young, I think. I figured I could use her as a hostage when negotiating with their boss, so I re-gagged her and brought her with me.”

[No. Hah. Seriously…]

Yuri’s sigh mixed with exasperation burst out.

Even if you say it, what’s the point of doing that?

Compared to leaving her behind or killing her, it’s true that this was the better option, but the way you’re saying it sounds like a psycho.

Anyone who hears this would think you’re a kidnapper.

“The woman’s small enough to fit into a travel trunk when curled up. We’ll check her out at the hotel. I need to confirm what she knows and what she doesn’t.”

[Could you change your tone? It sounds like you’re planning to torture her.]

“…”

He was thinking about possibly torturing her if necessary, but swallowed those words.

Cheol-woo fell silent.

After hanging up the phone with a vague “See you at the hotel, uh, yeah,”

Cheol-woo looked at the rearview mirror.

That ominous feeling still lingered.

He deliberately took a longer route and checked to make sure no tailing cars were following him, but the uneasy feeling wouldn’t go away.

‘But what was that call from Director Park about?’

The source of his unease clicked in his mind — the phone call from the office.

He distinctly remembered hearing the voice of Director Park coming through electronically, conveying a message that was something along the lines of, “Min Cheol-woo is still in the office.”

While he could not recall the precise wording, the overall tone was unmistakably present.

How was it possible for Director Park to have knowledge of my whereabouts? Confusion enveloped Cheol-woo’s mind.

‘Location tracking?’

If there was a tracker, where could it be?