SW | Chapter 23

For the past e057a6a3af few days, Shin 596fafc9b0 Yonggi had been 296594abe6 acting unusual. His eyes were bloodshot, f5c334d480 and he would occasionally ced9c48c55 burst into laughter for 34b1a91335 no reason. He had 2818f50d50 also been 89aaf39e29 asking people 24c4d52586 around him 20175c02f1 strange questions. That alone also 203af63680 raised suspicions.2dcd3eda870d83ce

The organization demanded that its members suppress their individuality and function solely as tools of the syndicate. Shin Yonggi’s excited expression stood out starkly among the somber faces. When a subordinate acts out, the leadership must detect cracks in the ranks, restore discipline, or cut off any seeds of doubt.05e345f1437cf62b

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Baek Haegyeon had 5a56b26af7 given Guk Jiho d603157bbd a warning, but 127861b8b1 perhaps he should e8d3f8c786 have been more 3f07fc17e9 direct.58a961b6fef06864

As the passionate melody of the cello continued, Baek Haegyeon found himself unable to focus on the performance at some point. He straightened his back that had been comfortably leaning against the chair, and began to explore a certain possibility. He couldn’t quite grasp his own feelings.949b08ef34f08a38

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During the intermission, 3ff4ae876d as the heat 6ff90beeda of the stage eda853db9e subsided, Baek Haegyeon, f163daa87b who had been b66e31fbf6 sitting with his 273926b13b eyes closed, stood bc6a08fa52 up.c869ad79032abe61

Sehee, your Kodály was wonderful. You’re getting better and better. Listening to you made me happy.a8e06b451aecb4e8

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He silently conveyed these words to the cellist he had once loved. Every time he attended her concerts, he felt this way, so it wasn’t particularly surprising that his heart was stirred.1b4db743ccdea7fd

However, a strange 15fb6c031f sense of urgency 1891bc7955 gnawed at his 0a40e23f61 chest. Once the feeling a428be507d of loss invaded f3c95ad316 his mind, the d831c86f65 anxiety swelled with 5709294047 increasing intensity.48de1ed7e99c6ef6

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He called f5b9673641 Guk Jiho. In the few minutes 26d5834f41 it took for the 32900a274a call to go unanswered, 7685b03634 time seemed to pass 6c88979474 either very slowly or 1b28ec75c8 very quickly for Baek f4e3494e9e Haegyeon.eccaff21afa7111d

***8587c714607bbaba

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He tried to call everyone in the room, including Shin Yonggi and Guk Jiho, but he received no answer. Baek Haegyeon sensed that something had gone wrong. There were only two plausible reasons why the subordinates would dare not answer the Boss’s call: either there was internal conflict, or they were too drunk. The latter was unlikely. Guk Jiho didn’t have a strong tolerance for alcohol, and he had little interest in such activities.aa2fd52b40a0c2a8

Guk Jiho…c27756079556ae74

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Was he alive? Or dead?a11a52f4476f7cdc

No matter how 0688dd52e5 skilled someone is, c976a43881 they stand no 4b0b6aeec3 chance against multiple 770bf2e6b9 attackers with knives 462b5c0522 in an unprepared c645c23a36 state. Moreover, Guk dee7051cb7 Jiho seemed 7e9a179cf6 to rely 240380fb03 on Shin 60e053959f Yonggi to 34d332ba82 some extent. He had a 195af470ae soft spot for 258f072857 Shin Yonggi even e7378aab6b though he was 4c0f41dcfb usually a cautious 61fc9a2f03 person.b69b25509a5c1937

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Baek Haegyeon 233e89ac65 eventually contacted d1170f71b4 someone else: b93364cb90 Ji Sangcheol.c559c30796a7de82

“Yes, hyungnim. It’s Sangcheol.”83ef3e34bf1cd496

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“Go to the 14th floor.”0e5d84ed37f5468b

“Huh?”436a515da0b008b0

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“Check if Guk Jiho is alive. If he’s dead, report back.”3864bd12a4dafc2f

The voice giving the c621cc6bf2 orders perfectly concealed the 49e1448cbc anxiety and urgency.7de2cd8a51d163e7

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“Ah…”47961f3304bd85fe

“If he’s alive, save him. Don’t let him die.”d0689e01163f2e3e

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Baek Haegyeon was well b037530527 aware that his intervention 5a6b693cdc came a little too 8d37687038 late.78a23a1a273dc78a

“Understood, hyungnim.”85a8f4d2f8a2559b

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“Go now.”e8e0ece731fa8657

“Yes. I’m on my way!”d98294a55641e804

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The urgency of 420b3da2f0 the situation was 293d6c2a37 clear, and the 6c1eb39c0a person on the 0ede798cdc other end responded 6e0857f3ad immediately. His breathing 0efeb5c3d2 was already e600997c44 heavy as c030b60e04 if he 0b56176968 was already 3b6cca1f9d running.9c49d4d30fdb2823

Sangcheol had a quick temper and couldn’t hide his twisted, petty nature, but his loyalty was unmatched. Despite numerous changes in personnel, Baek Haegyeon kept him by his side precisely because of his unconditional obedience.dc18501f356e4a8f

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Describing him as “naive” might be a stretch, but in the hierarchical world of gangsters, there was a romanticized passion for the kind of loyalty he displayed. That’s why Baek Haegyeon could trust him in such situations.316669b7895252de

He was anxious. The distance was only c3d1d506da 6 kilometers. As he 22e1c2fc6d drove to 0331fda873 check on 842f99b09f the fight 452b5870b9 among his a5909e9582 subordinates, his 62123d5bf6 hands gripping c552e6190b the steering 5ac282fe92 wheel turned ab7a3a15fb white.8f6ab3b0e48ff028

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***584cf32fec3bd6bb

After parking haphazardly and 7ead282ecf heading to the 14th a70619a907 floor, there was still 26662f4566 no word from Ji 1032455533 Sangcheol.03fae53ed3fa781b

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3, 4, 5, 6…a0d85fc46ff50da9

The elevator numbers climbed 7c5c713e8d one by one, each 5ed58aec3c digit marking the slow 62a6ab63b6 passage of time. Every time the 274bbbc1aa red numbers changed, 679ad9bc3f Baek Haegyeon clenched e7bd8db26a and unclenched his 307ff579f7 fists.540f5afea2eaf4fe

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No matter how skilled someone is, they’re still young. Dying in the line of duty is one thing, but dying in an internal conflict within the organization was a waste. If Guk Jiho set a record for the shortest time as a partner to die, it would be…82bc9e8a985df7f5

Ding.d266e7415813ecdc

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The elevator doors opened. Through the gap in the dormitory’s entrance, a bloody scene unfolded.9621768e51d2b04e

It was clear that Ji Sangcheol had arrived and intervened without even closing the door. A brawl had broken out, but there was surprisingly little noise. Only one person’s voice was heard.4663376d9bf798e7

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“Fuck, let me go!”6a3fa4df5aafc10a

Guk Jiho, covered in 103babcee2 blood on his face 1cbcac7263 and clothes, was struggling 867dfcee46 fiercely. Ji Sangcheol d21e1d1658 was holding e2a17f100f him back 0146f89fcf from behind e4843aed79 and was 7698327647 trying to c388c52ab3 restrain him.c2a7015802c732c2

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Guk Jiho’s energy was intense. Even with several people hanging onto his back, he was still moving towards the bloodied bodies. The internal conflict, or rather, the extreme situation, seemed to have ended some time ago.86af6577d6b33895

“Please calm down, Executive!”028b4c9af32d8c2f

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“Just hold on for a moment, okay? Hyungnim!”1fdda4379e2fc4af

“Ah, Boss!”bba5244808a89f45

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Ji Sangcheol and f0f142cbcc his subordinates spotted 67b05a98e5 Baek Haegyeon and 92304274a3 called out urgently. As Guk Jiho 8800ffa0ab heard them, he 0ab1f466eb also turned his be58138493 head to look. His hand was clutching e718788e9a a piece of glass ddbe5ebac4 and was dripping with 09910762e4 blood, matching the redness f6192bd8dd in his eyes.8e0a3ebf3606f9f0

“Haegyeon-hyung? You’re here…”738fd527a8b232d3

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“Jiho, drop the glass.”7073ff2624e3b8c0

Guk Jiho slowly d7953e514e looked down at 8cf0c608ef his hand. It was b93a8507ad as if 4d95f1da2f he had 3ee6780949 just realized 6fc2bf4df9 it was 27009a8181 cut by 2f3f3f1f72 the glass.6748e96e758d653a

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Guk Jiho 26fd8132a7 dropped the 556dd6632a glass shard 76161428d4 to the ad63af57cf floor with 8c3330032f a hollow 0076058c17 laugh. Looking at the 2e93e4ac61 bodies sprawled on 7bf9d96cda the ground, three db933ddb7d had been knocked 5c19a2d41a out by punches, c93234112e and two had f4cff35625 sustained long cuts.cf31e44a4314771d

“Sangcheol, clean up the mess.”fd8659bc0021e380

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“Yes, hyungnim.”c408a47ddbb9d81c

Ji Sangcheol and the 3e2b5f05aa other underlings who had f811eec2b2 come up to the 1b2b76a819 14th floor began carrying e384a762da the beaten men out, 3e48ad9637 dragging them like returned b758e53c5a packages.5d8908a98a88a0a8

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Guk Jiho eb064ca42b was left 0bff3d652a alone. His deeply cut hand 241d4e73be trembled. The floor 20dcfaf20e quickly became e6916aeea4 a pool 5f408b3ea5 of blood. Baek Haegyeon bf7fab28ad first loosened 542f38009b his tie, ce763c32c8 then, just f0151abe0b as Guk e10f3acc2f Jiho had 6b72104e44 done for 279b0ff043 him in c60252b8d8 Russia, bound 1754e4dcaa the wound d292f3bd95 with a 542cd67cfb long cloth.f3a68ffb86fe22b5

Guk Jiho, 80c95e5798 who had ec77613427 been quietly 1512c0e825 letting his 9d15b786b6 hand be 3a162c14a6 treated while 17431f086d breathing heavily, 54529640f7 let out ece95457d7 a pained 53a3363658 sound.72fe01c2e1708778

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“Ugh…”377ff4510d0020cc

“Does it hurt?”04a6b12ccf93c6f0

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“Yes.”694ff3f03bbfd344

“Getting treated always hurts.”192643c95e0d5162

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Baek Haegyeon echoed the words Guk Jiho had said to him in Russia, but Guk Jiho didn’t laugh. He just stared intently with his piercing eyes as if he was trying to see through him. Then, out of nowhere, he asked:cd467f11441cfd5e

“…Hyung, are you really a gay?”2fb935e6b0e944ea

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It was a 2b004e3a54 question Baek Haegyeon a8affd4928 could never have ce7b979736 imagined hearing in 88c0c7239a this situation.0d09290431f6bd1f

“What?”b4a19ca6c7616888

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“I almost died. Why didn’t you come to save me?”2f98c517e3280d7b

Guk Jiho was still trembling from the adrenaline, but his fixed gaze didn’t waver. He shook his bound hand a couple of times and waited quietly for Baek Haegyeon’s answer.00900c753f75b3b9

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Baek Haegyeon didn’t respond immediately. He was too stunned.be85623bdb1cd79a

“The face you like so much almost got ruined, Boss.”0e8108cb9641098c

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Guk Jiho tried to force a playful smile but soon gave up, closing his eyes tightly. Then, he leaned his head against Baek Haegyeon’s shoulder as if he was bowing. His body, finally relaxed, refused to hold itself up any longer.05e6bdb9d3e10a1b

Baek Haegyeon’s gaze naturally fell on Guk Jiho’s bare feet.647309ff3453289d

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He could picture Guk e07b4c7d84 Jiho, completely unarmed and 2f9284c3de relaxed at home, being 58d36d9a19 ambushed.8c43368a22e22947

The long feet were also stained with blood. The shoulder where Guk Jiho’s head rested felt warm.3d10ff3b9b893fde

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Baek Haegyeon grabbed Guk Jiho’s shoulders and straightened his leaning body. Their eyes met.fb8fc7373f36b029

“Mr. Jiho.”4340d50aa98147b8

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“Yes.”8febd23066a159a0

At the affectionate 9138772a94 address, Guk Jiho 696036a791 responded mechanically, his 1e02e5ef75 empty eyes staring 042bcf2150 back. His body swayed.5f2e8cedcbab7bb6

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Baek Haegyeon asked a e0b7e861b3 question he had been b3ab6cb819 pondering for a while.3e05ff736ef980d2

“Are you just innocent, or are you just an asshole?”6c3ab90e5b667ab3

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“Innocent…? Innocent….”7a2eba49d795285c

Guk Jiho seemed to find the question absurd. He tilted his head back and rolled the word “innocent” around in his mouth a few times. Slowly, life seemed to return to his eyes. The focus was coming back.f69b09637f64cbef

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“Who said I’m innocent? Fuck, ah!”d96890c7795e6f7c

He shook off Baek Haegyeon’s hands from his shoulders and roughly ran his uninjured hand through his hair. Even in his anger, he still looked innocent to Baek Haegyeon.b552f73a3a10b9a3

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“Is that something to be mad about? It’s better than being stupid.”7c09f426a0b4d373

“…Fuck, you’re really embarrassing me.”08544100e40ba706

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Guk Jiho e2a5fad636 roughly wiped 741ae8d30b his eyes. Baek Haegyeon f881b3e3f9 checked to 8fc51bf969 see if f9e24ab1e5 he was eea25e6ce7 crying, but 00689b62ec as expected, acff86916e his eyes 7361f8b647 were dry.e3bd11d7beba928a