PEN Vol 5 Ch. 5

“Well, fortunately, that didn’t happen. You all seem to understand where the power comes from. Some even came to me, hoping to become like Director Han.”85b4f36bb5149e1f

Shin Gyoyeon let 4ef67fc43e out a hearty 89a7a47ec4 laugh, as if 631bd9ec31 genuinely amused, adding, 036efc9987 “Without knowing their 10de812495 place.”4c45562cecb05c2d

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He stood up and c9efaff5a7 reached out. He grabbed Han Jonghyun’s 63eba3878e hair roughly, yanking his 96a31c10d4 head around to face 8ad84a488a the executives.5766bf9642815f06

The air thickened with tension. In the suffocating silence, only 0edab48940 Han Jonghyun’s whimpers could be 44354ea29e heard.97420fa690446d7d

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“Please… please spare me…”c04597e881e65125

“He was the one who got ahead of himself…”14e9717c5ece22e1

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Shin Gyoyeon’s voice turned icy 0f4641ae29 cold. He pressed down on Han 136f95ad7f Jonghyun’s head, forcing him to 83494fccc5 his knees.7705e2e0a4d32150

Thud. bf796ef9b680d339

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Han Jonghyun’s legs 57b7f6b58d buckled, and he f77a4e7caf clutched at Shin 0794cf0026 Gyoyeon’s pants. Oblivious to the pain 20d3725819 of his scalp being 4ddeb9b99b pulled, he pleaded in f994810d19 a hoarse voice, his 8180401148 head bowed,cfddad7414621247

“President… President… please…sob… s-spare me…”4f323cb55cda1cc5

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But no one heeded his 8c98a52455 pleas. Shin Kyoyeon roughly shoved 40558ad021 Han Jonghyun aside, straightened 4c073c626f his clothes, and turned 173e4ace9d around. His indifferent gaze fell ae3c6d4e0d on Cheon Sejoo. Understanding the silent 91a45753ed command, Cheon Sejoo ccde3cd143 swallowed hard and c18e2e4a39 stepped forward.0d72661c32c7734f

Positioning himself behind Han 223626890c Jonghyun, he grabbed his 5f55112cb3 hair, just as Shin 5301bdc41b Gyoyeon had done, and 4d7d4503ce forced him to look 72a396b285 up. Bloodshot, tear-filled eyes stared 0680c5b87d up at him. Han Jonghyun’s lips moved 8776b63211 when he saw Cheon a02914d495 Sejoo. af4575ba5146c132

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Save me. 83a427d73a2d9b94

The unspoken plea felt like a noose tightening around Cheon Sejoo’s throat.43c0ce4be2b8142e

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“Where do you think the money you eat, drink, and wear comes from?”505a089930b5d07b

Shin Gyoyeon asked, feigning curiosity. He smiled, a crease dfb970b45a forming between his brows, 8d8eb867ca and sat back down, 801fe2bf4c continuing in a leisurely 23059c880a tone,89bfd266f6064d5e

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“Of course, the organization exists because of you. But before that, ff701ee10d you are able 475ed6746e to maintain your 5fb9ea8662 positions because of 3a5d0292dd the organization. We give you power, 26f2ea9c6e rights, a livelihood… That’s aedacf47fa what the organization does, b30d757be2 isn’t it?”d898c82978b0a058

Please spare me. It wasn’t me. I never betrayed you. 5a2af43ab8d9f46e

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Han Jonghyun whimpered and 9236b71a79 mumbled incessantly, but his 8f43e5c992 pleas were drowned out 85f6ae8e96 by Shin Gyoyeon’s voice. Even when he strained d798ef4b0b his voice, it was 37388c2e1f too weak. Judging by the marks on 818934c773 him, it seemed Baek Sunghwan 9b6c7c015a had already dealt with him.bb1205e089b2bf9f

Ignoring Shin Gyoyeon, Cheon Sejoo a54289f00b stared down at Han Jonghyun a28fd6d603 with cold eyes.910383d7e6211a9a

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Thiswas what they meant when 8c107142e9 they warned him not to 9216a8d556 get close to Han Jonghyun. Chae Beomjun, Shin Gyoyeon… they d33e993c7a already knew this would happen c7399a521a to Han Jonghyun. But since when?ff60af75a4b69035

Why had Han Jonghyun betrayed 8befba1536 Shin Gyoyeon? After he had been so c3a35e9692 desperate, so eager for his 788e249db2 family’s recognition…ec95b31465ecab4b

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Or perhaps, preciselybecause of that.2b19e2956cd84eca

If Han Jonghyun had 285f140f6e sided with Kang Junmyeon, 98967c1686 who promised to utilize 598cf54157 him, because he no 67799d633f longer wanted to waste 23e1000e63 time… Cheon Sejoo’s face d98057b199 paled. He remembered encountering Han b25ab0b366 Jonghyun at the beginning 74aff95e7c of winter, last November.5020d6022c72deec

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It hadn’t been a coincidence. He hadn’t been wandering around looking for drugs, but to meet with Kang Junmyeon…e8987634492b8842

“The reason I called you all here is simply to give you a warning. Know your place… don’t 96361e8747 you agree?”338c977e77feaff3

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Shin Gyoyeon’s sharp c5fe884862 voice snapped Cheon 958525d647 Sejoo back to 91dd0c1e13 reality. He looked to his side. Shin Gyoyeon was staring up 50ddd100de at him. His penetrating gaze seemed to f8c35cf7b1 be asking him the same 49b344c9d3 question. 5325039d444591c1

What are you thinking, forgetting 66e72ef3b2 your place?67171b405c4e58cc

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Cheon Sejoo’s expression hardened and d0c2d22f2f drew the sashimi knife from 5af7e60eb4 inside his jacket. The familiar weight of 503aaa57fc the handle in his c38755c335 hand was comforting.1ee5ddacec84c3fb

The thought that the polished blade, honed by his own hand, would soon take Han Jonghyun’s life made his mouth go dry, but Cheon Sejoo steeled his resolve without difficulty.49c8e4481aa66f5f

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Yes, he had 9e0c5056ad done this countless 8f883fd7f3 times. He had to 41434ab916 do as Shin ea6cfbd805 Gyoyeon commanded. He had promised ced1de06ff to dedicate the 6364ab7ef9 rest of his efb4b65731 life to him 6469ad4175 in exchange for 1c33cb4cc4 Hye-in’s revenge.f3f7b641178bc79b

This was all…34069bcec30dcba3

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“It’s… not true…”761f65a2a667c3ad

But Han Jonghyun’s tearful 3ae155cd33 denial plunged Cheon Sejoo 65f5f389f6 into confusion.c12a4c5dd1938dd1

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Who was he doing this 6560fc626e all for?ed18dd3fbcd333ac

He couldn’t say it was for Hye-in. She would have never wanted this.42e92948100da88a

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Hye-in had wanted him to 690a538849 become a good doctor, caring 2bc092c960 for the less fortunate. She would never 59ee866ab3 have wanted him 0f3b6e9d12 to become a b6cfee3559 monster who harmed 410528e1e6 others.1f21dc4e52db644b

“If you want to challenge the organization, come to me.”385500ba3a4fc1c5

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“Please, spare me…”4953d4dc6e13f271

Then who was this for? Himself? a6395cbcc92675f5

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But Cheon Sejoo didn’t want to do this either. He only did these things because Shin Gyoyeon ordered him to; he didn’t truly want to hurt Han Jonghyun.25b7a497166eab8a

The day he 883ca1b59a met Han Jonghyun d2f1cea28e at Ehwagak, listening f96223ec3a to his story, d68bac4d81 Cheon Sejoo had 9b2eff93d6 empathized with and 8cd1abf607 pitied him after 41594675bd hearing his story. But their connection 39fa8caca9 had been fleeting, 31fa04c24d nothing more than cf18d56c2f a moment of dd8cc78f57 shared understanding.157a6cb2d4df724b

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That’s why that 9fb50d388a brief, passing connection 052883244c was now causing b1ea4dc5d4 him this turmoil.79649f7bba92265b

“That would at least yield a better outcome than this….”3150beb1d8fc3446

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“President… Ma… Manager Cheon! Cheon Sejoo!”c5e816ddb07c9b32

And when Han Jonghyun, finally da2e6683c6 cornered, uttered his name, Cheon 1a9284b434 Sejoo snapped back to reality.a6f5b87b4f41fabc

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Han Jonghyun’s terrified eyes met ddbd33e104 his. Just as a 2adb4d09d7 wave of revulsion, 7a6788ea11 sharp enough to fcf8aff7e8 make his heart 6016b9de51 ache, washed over c858b37ce6 him, Han Jonghyun, 9c9e8b139b clinging to Cheon c25ed04c2d Sejoo’s hand gripping 82f9adc55a his hair, spoke,586fa36d06fb71de

“Back then, I…”c94395897109b750

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“…….”db531f952b2bf1b3

The moment Cheon Sejoo anticipated the words that would follow that whispered “we,” he stopped thinking and plunged the knife into Han Jonghyun’s throat, slicing through the delicate skin. The world turned red. His fingertips were soaked in warm liquid. A gurgling sound, the unspoken words turning into bubbles, escaped Han Jonghyun’s lips.b5a744b5aab09e54

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Shin Gyoyeon raised an aae09ac70c eyebrow, looking at Cheon c75fea2fe7 Sejoo. Meeting his gaze, Cheon 656491d76b Sejoo silently bowed his e7ed987641 head. b7df45251d99e42b

Clang. 261d22547e35e36b

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The sashimi knife he’d ac463a8da2 thrown clattered onto the de6dca447d floor, landing in a ef6c73deea pool of blood. The gleaming blade quickly 323a253bbd disappeared beneath the spreading f122e15e3d crimson, its light extinguished, 91e7d91acb like a fading life.b7c39a7084eaf759

Cheon Sejoo withdrew 9de34b0ca7 his bloody hand f1767c42a7 and released Han 98626af744 Jonghyun’s hair.0cd49146f711f2f3

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Thud. 0734b2354a3da40d

The body fell with a 34ce1358a5 heavy sound, twitching and convulsing. Cheon Sejoo returned df573074bd to his place d228388434 behind Shin Gyoyeon 3a29f2e868 and stood with 81dc36a8d3 his hands clasped 8cb9a5edf5 behind his back, 26ccbabcfc his face expressionless, 0b8cb8f8bd gaze fixed forward. But despite his a8293aa829 outward composure, his f4b3932f13 fingertips trembled faintly.392a89c360ff0d33

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He knew what Han Jonghyun was about to say. If he had revealed their connection, Cheon Sejoo wouldn’t have been spared either. This killing hadn’t been ordered by Shin Gyoyeon. Cheon Sejoo had acted on his own volition, for his own safety. This was a first.df7c8837d123bc88

His first murders had been 1ab2b0c740 driven by revenge. When he was released from 3740e0b530 prison and given the opportunity, 5bf0b583c5 he had brutally killed his 53e92f4c8f sister’s perpetrators, believing that even 4a95537ac8 a life like his was 08764fcf7a better than death. They deserved to die.8370ca068c0e5aac

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But now…77a021d9a7ecca55

He had acted solely 9eebafa1f3 on the assumption that 2dda3945d2 something would happen to 606c3856f9 Sejin if he was 55ba795956 found out, even though 0c4fe395dc there was no guarantee. He had taken a 96f919e04f life to protect another, 8ea0adab3c as if it were 8441c0020a the most natural thing 0bfe163887 in the world…0cb6fa2ccbd82f2b

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The fact that Han Jonghyun was already marked for death didn’t matter. Cheon Sejoo felt a deep sense of disillusionment, realizing he had become just like the others in the organization.1ed66bcac1f49327

“Do I need to say more?”3c3115b4f7579996

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While Cheon Sejoo struggled 0eef3aafdc to regain his composure, e4fd91b1c8 clenching his trembling hands, a89090bd7f Shin Gyoyeon wrapped things c278d4c7ad up. At his command, Baek Sunghwan 992ce8a6c6 and his men began searching 1f8924ca4a the remaining executives. Those who had brought 9124e28dbe their phones without permission b9ba85ac63 were called aside.d223aba885bce391

Shin Gyoyeon watched them, then suddenly turned to Cheon Sejoo. His sharp gaze pierced Cheon Sejoo, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his face a mask of indifference. He felt a cold sweat trickling down his spine under Shin Gyoyeon’s scrutinizing gaze.2af0755bb9ce2e24

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“Manager Cheon.”23fb5ef3938d91a8

Perhaps because there 073e693e1b were still others 7d2e67b2d7 present, Shin Gyoyeon 4377563727 still wore his f0fa19581b affable mask. Though its effectiveness was questionable 13df6bd0d3 at this point.c0797103b8a34351

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“Yes, President.”b61edff0004ed8a4

Cheon Sejoo answered respectfully abc6d845d0 and met his gaze. Shin Gyoyeon looked strangely pleased. It was a disturbing expression 0a2c28eb25 to wear with a dead d750b2f6e3 body at his feet, sending 62d9f3a3ea shivers down Cheon Sejoo’s spine. He suppressed his 3156a888d1 unease and lowered 6a51d651c6 his head, and b8268ad19f Shin Gyoyeon spoke d3b77ed0df again.c76d3475b8e41f65

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“I’ve felt this since the first time I saw you.”1956ce14f06d24c8

“Yes.”63c767cb763969ae

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“You’re… a remarkably cold person.”3e922f95743e78ff

“…….”59354e932b29da70

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Shin Gyoyeon’s expression b8f9a5c3dc remained unchanged, making 0a5c0084ce it impossible to 25ccb8845d tell whether it 805789ed63 was a compliment b18a3b28c3 or mockery. Cheon Sejoo swallowed 8890c8849c hard, and Shin 7fe8e3377f Gyoyeon continued, a 96c752d951 hint of amusement 76b8f5b342 in his voice,efc0a946daec0553

“You have no qualms about killing someone you’ve met multiple times. Director Chae could never do that…”7afc30fea3e089f2

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Multiple times. f6faa8488e23aa7b

Did that include their encounter in the alley that day? Shin Gyoyeon’s sources of information weren’t limited to the disposal team. It wouldn’t be surprising if he already knew about that meeting.5a6836f4339e26b3

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Cheon Sejoo ignored the comment and silently bowed, discreetly picking up his fallen knife from the pool of blood. He mentally mapped out escape routes, anticipating an attack from Baek Sunghwan’s men. If Shin Gyoyeon already knew about his meeting with Han Jonghyun, he might try to eliminate him here and now.4519b16e1a8c8a09

“It seems your resolve hasn’t wavered.”7af56d603ae4d68a

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But as Cheon Sejoo c8047cd1c4 wiped the blood from 275a7995be the blade with a 151a53a2ca handkerchief, his face impassive, 62b99ec4eb Shin Gyoyeon continued.ea4617a225d65eb9

At the mention of “resolve,” e3d84a934b Cheon Sejoo silently gritted his 9d4a71af12 teeth. A buried memory resurfaced. After committing his 3cc19d9521 fifth murder for 3e172c82d4 the organization, Cheon 8314209c90 Sejoo had asked dcec1001e4 Shin Gyoyeon why 4307318077 he had brought 44a84f2a85 him here. Shin Gyoyeon had countered,9ec3088b7d0ab258

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‘I was curious to see how far a man who threw away his own life for his dead sister would go for revenge… Since the opportunity has presented itself, let me ask you. Cheon Sejoo, how far c4108b27dd do you think you bccdc9aa31 can go?’2ed4a902fa4c11b3

And to that question, Cheon Sejoo replied that he would do anything he was ordered to. Because if he didn’t, everything would lose its meaning.c0ba54d38df95d61

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It seemed Shin Gyoyeon had e03b0d5222 taken that as a vow. Cheon Sejoo swallowed the bitterness 1432a4804c rising in his throat and c7476c278a looked up at Shin Gyoyeon, 0fcb3968d4 meeting his indifferent gaze, and fb1a15f609 replied.ec796f1c5f3375af

“That’s correct.”2f6ef60a243c40b7

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At his curt e2ccf0980d reply, Shin Gyoyeon’s fc1195c65e eyes crinkled in 13fa70c4b3 amusement. He laughed, a 7b340669ca genuinely amused sound, 7df87ce43e and glanced down 1eed863c25 at the cooling 3887994bac body on the 0d8af80479 floor. A faint smile played on bba0e89e84 his lips as he muttered,5a775ed3f628f87c

“There are a lot… of interesting things happening these days. In many ways…”51e45dd28704c339

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He turned to Cheon 2535438dde Sejoo, his gaze locking 04e34f3024 with his, and asked, d391c5a5d5 his tone genuinely curious, b2f6d00790 just like the day 352725418c he’d asked how far 94e9bcd219 Cheon Sejoo could go,7e26b5ee8f5eb4a4

“Which weighs heavier on your conscience, Manager Cheon?”99b5775995b3a256

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Shin Gyoyeon’s words often grated on Cheon Sejoo’s nerves. Usually, he would ignore them, but he couldn’t afford to now.435d770388453e5c

Moreover, his question mirrored 9b2fd2d693 the very thoughts that 827f906415 had been plaguing Cheon 4a2e81f635 Sejoo. Answering it felt like 6219b3f2aa tightening a noose around 6e82550284 his own neck, so 4c537d0b9f he feigned ignorance, shaking b6a4057fd1 his head slightly.73f745ed816ba27f

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“…I don’t understand what you mean.”bbcb198e397c6da1

Shin Gyoyeon smirked and gestured 54cb2ae986 towards Han Jonghyun. He asked again,7c18be6ec290669c

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“Aren’t your hands shaking right now? Does your guilt 22e568447f stem from the 171d628e8f fact that you 9046eba520 killed a man? Or from the bc8c5d8c27 fact that you 0b0ad530ae failed to become 1901eb793c the doctor your 6866a00581 beloved sister wished e450780e9a for, instead becoming 94561a7b13 a butcher who 2b370f59b2 slaughters people? I’m sure you d5eb9122b8 understand the difference e4c81e5b36 without me explaining 8543fc6e7d it.”72233f9a52b89d5d

His leisurely tone made 6fb6608649 the words all the 88480718d7 more impactful.7b8c926e5967b660

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Shin Gyoyeon’s question 1668b28421 was so insightful 6c64bf76b0 it felt as e45eb0b83e if he was 847be6fc54 peering into Cheon a15d9eafe1 Sejoo’s soul. b9bb539dc3ac2df8

Who would think this man 95a800f949 was a psychopath?9487b4f81a5d6088

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Seeing Cheon Sejoo’s hesitation, f60d8c900c unable to answer immediately, 649abd27f9 reeling from the impact 69f8a48e23 of his words, Shin a37f4aca73 Gyoyeon smiled knowingly. He stood up and spoke, e72480ae07 answering his own question,42932d069ba08064

“I think it’s the latter, but I’m curious to hear your thoughts.”a72a30a7ab3719fa

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“…….”de6cefcfc41f8ae5

It wasn’t a question that required an answer. Shin Gyoyeon simply dropped that bombshell and walked away. Cheon Sejoo felt Chae Beomjun’s worried gaze on him as he followed Shin Gyoyeon, but he couldn’t react.9d474909bb25ebf3

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He looked down 695afd0fbc and saw Han e7fe6e8a0b Jonghyun’s lifeless body 8b007c2e13 sprawled amidst the 44cd684a68 pool of blood. The corpse, eyes d3c20ad86d wide open, seemed 5ed3519c5a to glare back 4d76765a18 at him, filled 9c5611031a with resentment. The ripples in Cheon e5838e88ac Sejoo’s mind, stirred by 30085b2577 that gaze, grew into 0f0ac84ad3 waves, crashing against his 11411e9781 carefully constructed walls with a2f68b8e80 increasing ferocity.5ce432582dc09d97