KTSR | Chapter 24

Ijin stood blankly in the hallway.

The makeshift building, stacked together with cement blocks, always smelled damp. In winter, it shrank as if it might collapse at any moment. If it ever caught fire, the toxic gas from the Styrofoam insulation would be enough to kill everyone inside. And yet, standing in this hallway always sent chills down his spine, even in the middle of summer.

“Up to fourth place, come in.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

The team leader’s voice snapped Ijin out of his dreary thoughts.

“Up to fourth place?”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Normally, jockeys were grouped into the top, middle, and lower ranks, and only the top group was called in. Calling up to fourth place was unusual. Ijin asked again, just to be sure.

“Are you sure I’m supposed to go in?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His face twisted in suspicion. The way he questioned everything with that attitude must have annoyed the team leader, who muttered under his breath, “Damn brat’s mouth never tires out, even after a whole race. Maybe I should cut off that tongue first. Or just bust his eardrums.”

Before Ijin could argue, he was dragged inside by the team leader.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

The moment he stepped into the office, he saw it—a long coffee table lined with flask cups filled with yellow liquid.

Somehow… this felt bad.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“‘My Dolpung’?”

Kwon Hyeongdo was leaning against the desk, lazily flicking through an A4 sheet of paper as he called out the name of the winning horse.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Y-Yes, sir!”

The jockey who had placed first today stepped forward. Kwon Hyeongdo crossed his arms and smiled lightly.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“According to this… your horse was drugged.”

The paper in his hand was a doping test result—analyzed from the horses’ urine samples.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The jockey, who had been visibly trembling since the start of the test, immediately turned pale. His knees hit the floor in an instant.

“E-Executive Director! I-It’s not what you think! I-I swear, it wasn’t me, it was just that the timing—”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He stammered, desperately trying to explain himself, but it was already too late.

Normally, he wouldn’t have even had to explain himself. The problem was that he had been unlucky enough to get caught in the randomly implemented doping test—a test that had only happened because of Kwon Hyeongdo’s sudden whim.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Hyeongdo rose from his seat, his movements leisurely. He approached slowly, then stretched his fingers wide—just like the open mouth of the snake tattooed on his shin—and grabbed the jockey’s hair, snapping his head downward.

“A-Aaah! S-Sir, please! P-Please spare me—AARGH!”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He tossed the jockey aside like trash, then stomped down hard on his shoulder. A sickening crack echoed through the room.

It was broken. No, it was completely broken.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

The unmistakable sound of human bone snapping filled the air, making Ijin’s stomach lurch. His breath hitched as he turned his gaze to Kwon Hyeongdo.

Their eyes met.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kwon Hyeongdo had been looking at him the entire time.

And then, as if this were nothing more than a pleasant vacation resort, Hyeongdo flashed a bright smile, as cheerful as the obnoxiously colorful shirt he was wearing.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Number 5. Congratulations. You’re in third place now.”

Drugs that induced estrus in animals were one of the most common doping substances. Adjust the concentration, mix it right, and you’d have a cheap ticket to Hong Kong-level highs. Out of all the possible drugs, aphrodisiacs—and the evidence of additional modifications—meant that someone here had real expertise in pharmaceuticals.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The doping test hadn’t been some random whim. And it hadn’t been some elaborate ploy for Hyeongdo to corner Seon Ijin, either.

Ijin had just been unlucky—collateral damage.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The real jackpot was this test result and that jockey’s existence. Because now, Kwon Hyeongdo knew for certain. Drugs were flowing through this place.

***

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kwon Hyeongdo lazily stroked my cheek with his hand while speaking to someone on the phone.

“I’m going to pee. Catch it well. It might leak in the middle, but what can you do? That’s how pee is.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

[Hey, you punk. Wrap it up properly. Put it in a sealed container or something.]

“You think it’s snake wine, so you’re scared it’ll leak out, huh? You still drinking that stuff? That’ll wreck your liver.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

As Kwon Hyeongdo tucked the phone between his shoulder and ear, he took off his watch. His accessories were neatly arranged one by one on the floor mat.

“Did you manage to get those drugs from Incheon? Compare them. They might be a bit different, but the main ingredients should be similar.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

[Where am I supposed to find that?]

“I don’t know that far. Maybe find someone and put it there. Then it’ll be analyzed by the National Forensic Service, right?”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

[You’re talking like you’re planning a murder.]

“Ah, I don’t know. I’m busy. Hanging up.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

[What are you busy with, you scoundrel! The race is over, everyone knows that!]

“No, I have a private life, old man. I’m off work and busy now. My cutie is waiting for me. I’m hanging up.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Kwon Hyeongdo abruptly ended the call with Chairman Choi and threw his phone over his shoulder. Then he rummaged through the bag he had brought with him.

“Ah. Here it is.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With a cheerful voice, like opening a picnic lunch box, he found a condom. Kwon Hyeongdo turned around holding the shiny plastic.

“It’s American-made, and there’s only one left. What should I do?”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Mmph, mmph, mmph!”

Seon Ijin, whose mouth was sealed with duct tape, struggled. He flopped like a frog sprinkled with salt.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You bastard! You set this up! You fed me this! You did this to screw me over!”

As soon as Ijin heard he came in third, he snapped and lunged.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When the team leader and chief executive officer moved to intervene, Kwon Hyeongdo put his finger to his lips and waved them off. It wasn’t a big enough fuss to make.

“How did it end up like this! I followed the rules! I did everything right, why, why do I have to sleep with you!”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Kwon Hyeongdo easily subdued Ijin, who was grabbing his collar and yelling. A light punch right below the sternum was all it took. A hit to the sternum could be lethal, so it was a sort of mercy.

Ijin passed out in an instant.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

However, more than Ijin passing out, the last thing he said was the team leader and chief executive officer staring hard at Kwon Hyeongdo.

He’s sleeping…? Did he just say he’s sleeping now?

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

But Kwon Hyeongdo, the center of attention, didn’t care at all and simply marveled as he picked up Ijin.

“Jockeys really are skinny. Feels like hitting a sheet of paper.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Ijin was hoisted over Kwon Hyeongdo’s shoulder like a sack of cargo.

“I have some business with this guy now, so I’m clocking out. Seon Ijin isn’t last, so hold off on the ticket and figure things out on your own.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Kwon Hyeongdo, who had kept only half of his promised deal, puffed out his chest with pride as if he were some model citizen.

Then, he came straight here—to the Jangsu Hotel where he was staying. The neon sign labeled “Hotel” had the letter ‘ㅎ’ burned out, making it read ‘ㅗtel’, which he thought was more fitting anyway. The quality was hardly that of a hotel; it barely scraped past being a motel, just above a hostel. Having once been homeless after leaving the orphanage and before finding a ‘noona’ to take him in, Kwon Hyeongdo wasn’t picky about where he slept.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just stay still. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Right after waking up, Seon Ijin began to thrash about again, and Kwon Hyeongdo, despite having bound his wrists and ankles with duct tape like a frog, shook his head in disapproval.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Approaching Ijin, Kwon Hyeongdo shook the condom at his bedside and said, “Listen up. This is the only one left. But I’m not planning to finish with just one, and honestly, I’m not even sure I can. It’s been a while since I abstained. My balls are so swollen they feel like they’re about to burst.”

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Had his mouth not been sealed, Ijin would undoubtedly have said something like, ‘What the hell does that have to do with me, you bastard?’

“Seon Ijin. Feeling wronged?” Ijin nodded furiously, his eyes blazing with anger.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But I played fair and square.”

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“The one who didn’t play fair was the one who used drugs. Think about it, huh? Honey. You might be crazy, but you’re not stupid. Think about it.”

“Mmmph! Mmph! Mmmph!”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Kwon Hyeongdo sighed. Seems like nothing got through. He’s probably protesting inside that this is unfair, that he’s being framed. Kwon Hyeongdo wasn’t a fan of repeating himself.

“Whatever. You figure it out. It’s my job to do.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Finding and exposing the one who drugged the race was his job. All Seon Ijin needed to do was to cry pretty tears and agree.

Kwon Hyeongdo stripped off his jacket and threw off his aloha shirt. His clothes fell over the neatly arranged watch and jewelry.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’m going to take off the tape, but if you bite your tongue or anything, I’ll make sure you don’t end up in the same place as your grandma. She’s probably going to heaven, right? I’ll send you straight to hell.”

With that, the adult Kwon Hyeongdo peeled the tape off Ijin’s mouth. Before he even got it all off, Ijin shouted, some tape still dangling from his cheek.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Die!! You bastard!!”

Kwon Hyeongdo closed his eyes and covered his ears. Beyond that, the raving screams continued. Insults like ‘trash, scammer, dickhead, go to hell yourself, you piece of shit’ sounded almost sweet to him. Kwon Hyeongdo enjoyed it; he wasn’t one for engaging with someone unconscious.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Go on, kill me. Just try to take me down.”

Though Ijin had a pretty face, that could have been all there was to him. However, the Seon Ijin out of the ticket booth and with the horses exuded a downright intense and abnormally sexual aura. It wasn’t common to look so enticing next to a massive beast. It was innate. Kwon Hyeongdo was salivating.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve been thinking about stripping you since the racetrack.”

As Ijin continued to scream hoarsely, he shuddered. Kwon Hyeongdo’s eyes were wild, like a man who had starved for a hundred years and had just seen his first meal.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com