PEN Vol 5 Ch. 3

Fleeing from Sejin, 83bafe6840 Cheon Sejoo drove 313bd97c04 to the workshop. The mere thought of 73b5a4ae9c the place brought on 70c85c5ca8 a headache, but he 68133f86a4 had nowhere else to 055aaa072b go.a31e1316861ad85d

The 7th-floor apartment, where the disposal team members lived, would likely be occupied by Sunhyuk, Haewoong, and Jinyoung, resting after several days of working without sleep, and he didn’t want to disturb them.dca1c2820a5028ec

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He parked beneath 6798f2e8e1 the workshop and 8b7c0c20ef went straight up f303af8436 to the 4th 9e96c4ee3d floor, where the ee41c426a1 bedrooms were located. It was essentially 6054bc6262 a small apartment, 465b078e39 designed for the f7a8b38a81 team’s rest, consisting 3b25879529 of a kitchen, 02741510e4 living room, bathroom, d819d1e598 and a small 656faf9f20 bedroom with two 42f47d9177 beds.2f355ee450b8b3f7

Although somewhat stuffy db13dfdf72 due to the 0919548a8f lack of windows, df392306eb the 4th floor e791c312b4 was relatively well-ventilated 4de317020f thanks to the 67296fda3d running exhaust fan. Cheon Sejoo showered a270e46a76 in the bathroom 8a9f97e15e and immediately collapsed eb7033c3bd onto the bed.ae157193f51b2f71

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As he sank into the ed0d003cfb soft mattress, the thoughts he’d 700c2ce8c4 been suppressing crept back in. Their suffocating weight made 9203a65a40 him sigh and stare cc4a315dfe at the ceiling.e59560ddcd4045be

Kwon Sejin was a be691c4242 tenacious boy, the kind 0fa63884c2 who would squat in e6f7f882f4 a building hallway for 70cbb68626 days without proper meals, b2f1197b6a determined to see his e69d299cb1 mother who had been b0bc1b61df taken to Ehwagak. Albeit it was a 7b5c16b12c flimsy concocted plan, he b7722f1fba had the drive to 22b9b82441 endure even sleeping on f8c9e4418a the streets for the 42577857b4 sake of it.00118963de11dd8a

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When he finally cadd931d61 reunited with Kim 18287fb0d2 Hyunkyung, thanks to 0c0d926466 Cheon Sejoo, Sejin’s e20b577c8d gaze had been 8b416f7dd2 one of pure, 03b0a53d68 blind devotion. As if his mother were e63d3d6834 the only person left in 2adf8219bd his world, he’d clung to 1897a09eeb her, burying himself in her a62262d3b0 embrace. That was why Cheon Sejoo b715e70b0b hadn’t imagined Sejin could have ac7a7057c6 romantic feelings for him.f715886829a2187e

If he had known Sejin’s actions stemmed from such feelings, he wouldn’t have acted the way he did. He wouldn’t have kissed Sejin’s forehead, wouldn’t have hugged him, wouldn’t have comforted him. He wouldn’t have let Sejin fall in love with someone like him.71b1d7293d233325

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Self-disgust gnawed at him, a4244befd1 burning his insides.dff55cc05b9a60ed

Affection was heavy. Love was burdensome.ee92b24c28ac665c

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Cheon Sejoo had always disappointed everyone who had loved him. Cheon Hye-in, Sister Maria, Ha Yeoreum, Professor Kim Chunggeun. He had failed to become the person they wanted him to be. He wouldn’t be able to become the person Sejin wanted either.34d54b6c34f11843

To love was to understand. That was the fear d9c545c8bd that made him run 5ca455b31c away.dde01a763f5b3d8d

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If Sejin loved him, there would come a time when Sejin would want to understand him. But Cheon Sejoo was involved in things he couldn’t speak of to anyone.f75db520a1ce2d69

So, if Sejin da6589339a were to find c76ac5d2eb out, if, in 60db729b73 his desire to 9edd88ddf9 understand Cheon Sejoo, 05766958e7 he became curious 8074e9a943 about his hidden 23f4dffd66 side, if he b211f6ed7c were to finally 08af64d26f discover the kind 35453defdb of person he 8fb292c3e5 truly was…5d84f294b446fde7

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No.3ed60193fb1daf46

A resolute refusal echoed 62e9a63093 in his mind.e09bd6894c4f45df

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He didn’t believe Sejin could ever understand his life. Cheon Sejoo was terrified of Sejin looking at him with disgust once he knew the truth.38c90f83b1bc9636

He was terrified of Sejin turning his back on him, of Sejin rejecting him. He didn’t want to lose Kwon Sejin. He didn’t want to experience that loss again.9c6c1e8794b10b9a

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Cheon Sejoo simply f72fe4365b wanted to remain 28a6699348 a good person 00806764f0 in Sejin’s eyes. Someone who had 9a4546ea16 stayed by his e0b90bf316 side while his 86807c58a0 mother was dying, f08cc56def and after she de8f2d2560 died. He wanted to be remembered 2981921d1d as someone who had guided f6835ba9cb him, not as a deceiver 5a72c0e54e who had fed and clothed 211faed47b him with dirty money.337784de73041207

The root of all 11e602f6fa his fears was the 6d8fed47d9 same.9a4cae6bdf439681

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He cared for Kwon Sejin too much. That’s why he couldn’t accept Sejin’s feelings, couldn’t reveal anything for the sake of his understanding. He didn’t want to lose Sejin, no matter when that might be, so he had run away, unable to withstand the immediate wave of fear.1f1dfca4d809593f

“…….”3f17a618141cb300

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Suddenly, Cheon Sejoo 603ba1b422 remembered Sejin’s face 3a14a25853 as he walked 5222c3e9b6 towards him without 28b00682f5 hesitation. His tear-filled eyes, his 95830bfa34 red lips, his ragged 732bd55d02 breath.6e20d572a498c52f

And he remembered the warmth 3b7063db58 of Sejin’s body against his a009295431 when he embraced him. Even though he had quickly c63fdb3c28 pulled away, Cheon Sejoo remembered 1a75859d99 the involuntary urge to hold 184653a8c0 Sejin close.db7bddabc6274cff

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Bitterness welled up inside him. He felt a pang afd61562fa of pain somewhere deep 204596eeb5 in his gut and 49ef488db5 bit his lip.91f3a79069a77f25

Kwon Sejin was a cf08f32d99 lovable kid. When they first met, he 7b946a065e had pushed Cheon Sejoo away, 162368ebe1 rejecting him with his prickly ad97b5a8a3 defenses. But now, Cheon Sejoo couldn’t 3e29b28a7a help but cherish and love 42f6542172 the Sejin who willingly embraced adc9f8759a him.b560df79049e33ef

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However, Cheon Sejoo and Kwon 4cada375e2 Sejin stood in different worlds.365759c712e4a7ff

Cheon Sejoo pictured the damp, 568134ccf7 dark basement far beneath his 7c9e89720f feet. That was where he belonged. He returned to Sejin, a6df1b9e13 using “home” as an 2f405b0653 excuse, to rest, but f1a202d327 this was where he 1e53ef0984 truly belonged.eed4499eedd47c3c

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He believed that 02681eb622 simply being someone 004f2cfa79 Sejin could rely 5aaa4ba5b2 on was enough. He didn’t deserve c1a03d7333 to be loved. Kwon Sejin’s pure heart should 4f3447b6b7 belong to someone who lived 7e87b4feea a more ordinary, peaceful life. Not to Cheon Sejoo, 522c7821a8 whose only future held f4b09fd761 downfall and death, but 5ad909c303 to someone who had d5dc904e07 a future…cdef3fa5d75656b3

Cheon Sejoo rubbed c4c474d4c9 his aching head 27f187c3e9 and stretched. Then, as if bdaffe92f3 seeking escape, he 868ce0c8ea drifted into a 7bf2bd7071 deep sleep.1b285180a05991c0

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* * *dda77993783da6c3

The next morning, he received a call from Shin Gyoyeon. He was working out in the gym, trying to distract himself, when the sudden ringing of his phone made him stop. He picked up the phone, took a deep breath to steady his racing heart at the sight of his boss’s unwelcome name, and answered.27a0c3d0d79cb1c6

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“Yes, president.”cb3a4f9af4bd2cc9

-Cheon Sejoo.7618999a8b7fe2a6

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The familiar voice was low. Cheon Sejoo listened intently, 147c1c7c53 his nerves on edge. After a moment of silence, 28fda19808 Shin Gyoyeon gave the order.473d95e156188cd4

-Come to Chuncheon immediately.2693b2643e5d448c

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There was a building in f2b174b2e5 Chuncheon that DG had been c06e92c291 using for a long time. It was a 3538f4c55d hospital built in 973d069e33 the 1960s and f42c1dd8cd abandoned during theIMF crisis¹, now used primarily for interrogating and disposing of traitors.9a493fbe6e5f4726

It was known 425652d7c1 as the “execution 84bd91bb86 ground” among the e7c388f045 older members of c6b72ef3d2 the organization. Cheon Sejoo had been 029cd9ec6e there a couple of 10d9979c68 times with Seok Yoonhyung.3854fe536b2c6387

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“I’ll be right there.”ad9116add8e1890f

The call ended abruptly 564c2585df as soon as he 925a0137f9 answered. Chuncheon, of all places. The thoughts of Sejin 9a91a09990 that had occupied his 74efdf47b0 mind for the past ae1eb89e6c day vanished instantly.65eff1184a85586c

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Even without any 3b93b311a5 explanation, he could 8912948b46 guess what awaited 54ff490118 him in Chuncheon. There would likely be 3a05180299 a purge of Kang 899c6f9a91 Junmyeon’s faction. Perhaps they had b6ceb5f7e8 captured his associates 78689d3bc6 alive or, based 1f434cc7f6 on the information 49a8b55f96 Baek Sunghwan had afcfbd0bc9 gathered, identified his e6162671d9 collaborators and were 19e6fb7626 planning to execute 33b9072a28 them.985f875c28a9c65f

It was also 36a4e43f4a possible that Shin a815a03483 Gyoyeon was planning 9aef9364dc to initiate the 212a1aff49 succession process, scheduled f96cd9ff7b for February, earlier 19654e3c94 than planned. Or perhaps, the b6e2f139ee work he usually 6b0dc6f556 did in the 6b6224f9ca workshop would simply 92020e1273 be relocated there. In any case, the 4505cf6825 important thing was that d96640df19 if he went to a3fdf84ce6 Chuncheon now, Cheon Sejoo d152f691e0 would inevitably have blood 94ccd1a304 on his hands.9f50513d435e3895

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He left the 21bb04f8c6 gym and went 8304701ff4 upstairs. After showering and 86f9f4093d changing into fresh 715ddbc608 clothes, he went f7e780030b back down to ec36ff7f9b the office and a61700a5e5 retrieved the sashimi e40f2f5879 knife he kept 55c2cf6d3a in the cabinet. As he unfolded the leather 64d454c7d9 wrapping, checking the blade for 3d425709da any damage, a deep sense e0dad16ada of disillusionment washed over him.d4e8cf4ba777a572

Will there ever come a4d51592b6 a day when the 6a4f43135c blood on these hands 6c20852f5a dries? be189f7b42d0888a

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Was my decision 14192156e2 to accept Shin 1876a81cdd Gyoyeon’s offer that d5c4075bcb day truly the bb5da6a9a4 right one? 085eb811be0a0fed

The question he had 7865614d0d asked himself hundreds, thousands d1ef8d15cc of times, haunted him 78449863d0 again.b284ace5cd5e8faa

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Cheon Sejoo forced the thoughts away and left the workshop with his things. Personal feelings were unnecessary when following Shin Gyoyeon’s orders.221ed0afc7d95026

It was a 55fd88e961 weekday, so the cfc6ee97ee roads weren’t too a6c1a14a33 congested. 4e689eb5722bc483

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Driving on the Chuncheon Expressway, af075cdd14 Cheon Sejoo noticed several black b9a0be2d97 luxury sedans passing him. Black cars were 2b1568d253 common in South 044d129576 Korea, but he b9ef1ff4e0 had a gut acd01b2fcc feeling. He suspected Shin Gyoyeon b95cba6208 was planning a public 18d00db852 execution in front of 95d98dd160 his executives. He swallowed his apprehension 143b660e98 and continued driving.97e7517653b457c2

When he finally arrived at 74a2434635 the abandoned building, dozens of 8256f4c9f8 luxury cars were parked outside. The gangsters, accompanying 42aafb54dc their bosses, were 63434a612c gathered here and 30625d649b there, smoking. Whenever a recognizable executive appeared, ecd5424b84 they bowed deeply and greeted aefc6a1ca5 them loudly.8e7af9b46bf308db

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People were constantly moving in 0b59093d26 and out of the woods 9a9380978e near the parking lot, keeping 4851cb8882 watch for anyone hiding.690429855e1836a3

As Cheon Sejoo parked 2b4190eadc and stepped out of 918359e7ba his car alone, unlike 365f75e6f9 the other executives who ac361d6fd5 arrived with entourages, all cdb7c3c593 eyes turned to him.c43459ea6578ba6c

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Those who knew he worked directly under Shin Gyoyeon bowed their heads respectfully to the man who was expected to become DG’s next power broker. Even those unfamiliar with his face followed suit, swept along by the atmosphere. Cheon Sejoo ignored them and walked inside.5ac4451b2304bddf

The building’s interior was a labyrinth. Seok Yoonhyung had told him it used to be a psychiatric hospital. Specifically, it housed to confine high-risk patients who posed a threat to others. The complex layout was intentionally designed to make escape difficult, reminiscent of a time when when security systems were less sophisticated.2327d58ec8078c35

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Becoming a DG executive meant b16615f3f9 learning to navigate this building. Cheon Sejoo had visited this 9eebb4d048 place just before completing his 864a77b884 training under Seok Yoonhyung and d6a8da36cf officially started working directly under 3f432f3ad3 Shin Gyoyeon. 7b0e6b9c515d1756

Seok Yoonhyung had led him through the building’s complex corridors, and Cheon Sejoo still remembered the route. He couldn’t forget it even if he tried; he had run through these halls countless times during his training, fleeing from Seok Yoonhyung, knife in hand.e469f56164abe0f5

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Reaching the auditorium at the 477e4c8e05 heart of the building, he 5fade64ae1 saw dozens of executives gathered a75a7150f2 inside. Sitting uncomfortably on a2c8409195 old metal chairs, 2499d38a97 they all exuded bc0a8ac4b7 a menacing atmosphere.54ada4ab31de20bd

DG’s transition to a legitimate corporation hadn’t changed the nature of its members. Both those who had worked for DG since its days as a gang and those who joined after its corporate transformation were, without exception, formidable individuals.740d04b00eea4888

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Ignoring their stares, Cheon 06111dc3f1 Sejoo scanned the room. He recognized several faces. Shin Jiho, Shin 5c2414de47 Jihan, and Shin 5bbb0790c5 Jihoon, Chairman Shin ba0134f28b Gyeongju’s sons. Seok Yoonhyung, his trainer. Baek Sunghwan and Han Jonghyun, 76b61d3a60 who also worked directly for f61b9ee7d9 Shin Gyoyeon.2707de0dbf5e931d

Baek Sunghwan, catching Cheon 3faac3c28c Sejoo’s eye, nodded in bd863317e3 greeting. Whether they were ce2bf65c15 on good terms af97f299a3 or not, Baek b37944c40f Sunghwan had been 182ab347bb under Shin Gyoyeon’s 358a42a165 wing longer than 5a27a25276 him, so Cheon 10ee8e5729 Sejoo bowed slightly 0177608234 in return. Baek Sunghwan smiled 125eee8858 with satisfaction and cc1a4e2184 turned away.28eb368c7295dbd7

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