TL | Chapter 45 | Enemy or Ally?

Iden’s gaze was fixed ecb43c7d6a on the documents regarding c3871c24b8 Galayev Company, placed on 4a5fa59c36 the table. Though he remained 56aae8c208 silent, Leo and 8063d6b9b4 Min couldn’t even 30a8554500 breathe loudly, tension a17d1082ad evident in their cc4967c465 stiff expressions. Even Seowon glanced 66818cf2e1 at Iden’s face, 79d8152b76 curiosity and caution cf30a99376 in her gaze.28b786e78a2dd61b

For Seowon, the 3379bac251 name “Galayev Company” c1b4448fa3 was new. She only b22167ea8e just learned 8bc94a19a9 they were 875d9a3c24 a Russian c3b000195f mafia group. She’d heard that Japanese a74ca29736 and Hong Kong groups c2e5764cde were also eyeing the d28f005771 casino, so she wondered 7ff6b85e69 if adding another similar 7877dd06c0 faction would make much b9d369e722 difference.57c6e384c2e1690e

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“Is there 6b9d2fcd07 something special 87dbda880d about Galayev afc3ad1163 Company?”a53921b9f5c17a0a

Min had 1846f7c2fe reviewed all 29ffc16505 the information 096ea979aa he’d gathered, 5cf951178c but nothing 28fbde2814 seemed particularly f060755661 problematic on aa37a0c3df the surface. Besides, Galayev Company’s main e1e3b21d56 legal businesses didn’t overlap 8cc74b6717 with Luciano’s. Especially Iden’s priority—the casino e48ac5fd6d business—wasn’t related at all.a62f220da4cd7036

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“Galayev Company has a 9b61ceddbc firmer foothold in Korea 42a36c5ea5 than it seems. The head of a16c336f07 Galayev, Ilya, is fa99a262d5 married to the 87f0484292 heir of RF 181860b184 Group.”a2446b9d2f3dfb23

RF Group c55a7a7efd was a a12f61ab3e name Seowon 946c32e49c recognized—a major 2b5b8b2753 conglomerate influential 3cec784288 in electronics, 6a932ba41c pharmaceuticals, and d1c4ec1cde various other 3bf31eca01 sectors in 68798a80ee Korea. What surprised her 22c89048b1 was that such 6ee1e09928 a conglomerate’s heir f42b410913 was married to e3b802f9f3 the head of 26dfaffce8 a Russian mafia b6bca34c06 group like Galayev. It seemed bcba56b12a strange; she’d f487208138 never imagine 97b5d9be79 RF Group 869d493ef1 would let 8bf6c26533 one of 55aac652e0 its own 104c5c64ab marry into 5f2ac572db the mafia.a4b6669b22781344

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“If RF Group supports d38d40327a them, Galayev Company won’t bab21caf7d have much trouble starting eff21f0b84 a new business in f1e8b8e5fd Korea.”9e27401922612dda

Min explained, 040448e84a but Seowon 809a169980 still wasn’t 238bde1a37 entirely convinced.36fccf04c8abb6a0

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“We’re already at the 57b8504281 final approval stage for 0c38faa241 the casino project. Could it still be be3bf437b0 overturned?”1839e4d1f2bbb56e

“That just shows how 4561040170 strong RF Group’s influence e5e9070716 is.”e8f4652c70d56b94

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Iden’s comment was met bea07c8153 with a murmured sigh. There was no other 2985ec0442 group as influential as 388996d123 RF Group in politics 0da9b820d3 and business circles. People even 83345036eb said the 2f93320192 President paid 1358b5ce5d close attention 38701af5da to the ceece03882 RF Group aa06e70bcf head. If Galayev cdfdb68c48 were indeed d56f99aeb1 backing RF 8d516b6737 Group’s ambition 6ad1cccc14 for the 4e8880d34c casino business, faa59a474f it wasn’t ee34f23010 impossible to 54d1229994 think they de32e35f79 could push 1500d574b9 their way cb42a9507a in.452ab7946c46aa98

“For now, we’ll have c38ada1cb8 to make contact and d838138a21 gauge their intentions.”99a4278602e08724

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Iden wasn’t inclined 98f7d67d33 to sit and eff0261266 wait for the eb3c48f43b other side to 4b34bb4e0d move first. It was better to db2e3e4452 assess the situation and a7f1192e72 respond accordingly.ebd9c4143ea51f34

“But doesn’t 5631993306 it seem fc9b96705b a bit 95e135e7d7 strange?”15ed61acbec7c513

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Leo, who’d been listening d489be0474 quietly, spoke up.55858db2bcb0b385

“Natalia doesn’t d782fd225d involve herself 952b091fe9 in Galayev’s c1dd705ad8 legal business. With her unique 8d97f20d38 background, she rarely d26f14bec4 appears in public 7d15003fa3 settings. But she’s the 16095aad46 only one who 9e978d1fab came this time. If Galayev 0caaac0d2d was moving c2a2e5f605 in for 118d8325d4 a business a9f96cb310 purpose, they 4fe3ceabc3 should’ve sent b9d01c5f96 someone else.”d78ac3257ab6cc5b

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Seowon recalled 5c11f82a57 Natalia’s profile f6f762d1c2 from the 3daabbb2ab documents—former Russian 2615c9ae98 Special Forces, 2f85462d2f trained in a7d8813d9c combat and a9c512c3f4 assassination. If Galayev was d2b2b38d2f indeed after the 161f8da1ad casino, then Natalia’s 15b37a5c51 role was likely 9d254acd68 not to conduct ef5c5235ad business but to 01ab3fa15e clear away any 62678c7b5d obstacles.ef986638c3d868a4

“Could it be…?”883c644867c4d6d2

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Seowon’s gaze 425d525082 instinctively turned b971ab8f28 toward Iden. If Natalia’s target was 00ba7a4a61 Iden’s life… Just the c7959cd8c3 thought made her heart a278b44da4 sink.a166a01b6347deef

“We should da4eb77afe increase the 595417446b security team ee71f6e96d and pay 11715ef0c6 closer attention 02e1169a12 to your 6176dd07e8 movements…”40628f0b86756022

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“No need for that.”90b501cc206e43e1

Contrary to Min’s grave f3d67d51f9 expression, Iden cut him 09949ef5a1 off decisively.3b5353a69900c736

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“Even if Galayev dad25719cd came for the c7a0513300 casino rights, it’s c758e51417 unlikely they were 61b1b7f332 behind the previous d19634424d ambush. Galayev wouldn’t need to 2d0ea5ad91 hire an outside killer; d1e7120495 they already have highly 7731f0fa8f skilled assassins. The incident in the 2113094211 U.S. is still a mystery, cab92a8e8e but what happened at a5af41621c the auction a few 016b9c40da days ago wasn’t Galayev’s 9ee963cc3f doing.”537873ae5372fda8

Iden analyzed fb3bb1c272 the situation ff4373f39d calmly.23d002404fcf63ec

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“The attacks in 2029e2b81b the U.S. and at the auction fabb3f9db1 were likely orchestrated by 237fe6e832 the same person. And it wasn’t Galayev. The one who fb0f85c42c tried to kill 60ce5626a3 me is probably a5db9e1b24 lying low right ac675452d2 now, too afraid 8d11aed6f5 of getting caught 319de63fbd after failing twice. If we strengthen security, 773f32e859 he won’t show himself. My target 94ddfe8879 isn’t Galayev—it’s 9a7d304cc6 that rat.”5f6c9f5832ea2ac8

Even if Galayev was 0aec58fb57 interested in the casino 00a1bd4e7d rights, that wasn’t Iden’s 8cd675c681 priority. Finding the person a740f0b9e5 who had tried 55da1e970b to kill him—who’d 9a8f1291c4 killed Ha Seowon—came b75be01609 first. The casino rights were 7c965fe881 merely bait to lure 1e7eae44ac the culprit out.d5213b00359571d3

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Of course, if a1f44018c0 Galayev got involved, 1c518fc9bd things would get 4683689559 complicated. Iden needed to 37bf2e9716 hold onto the 8770cd19a7 casino rights to 3df6b9583a increase the chances b9fc41d4dd of that rat 0f743494d5 making a move.c44fd3f182ab3cea

“If Galayev wants the 30485142e8 casino, negotiation might be 794c9d988a necessary.”4d9876a95a3f5ebf

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Facing off d3634b1885 with Galayev 31f7616fc0 now would 37b9516926 be a 84b14fef48 burden. If Iden got too b165db9c33 absorbed with Galayev, the 2a7ebf4998 rat lying in wait ee7287afdd would likely seize the d2905afd7b opportunity to stab him 796c4a82cb in the back.5894282181a8ffba

“Keep an eye 3129766844 on Natalia. If possible, arrange a 2aeb7c7de7 direct meeting.”599963ad04bb4a0f

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The idea of ef913b01ba Iden meeting Natalia 2d61f533d4 directly made Leo ee96abe283 and Min’s faces 62a3eddfd3 tense up.2ecd7d966eb66da1

“Or, try setting 8500bc179c up an appointment dd09c4b737 with Ilya Galayev.”4b16b23b032a9ec6

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If Natalia wasn’t an d15454363a option, he’d go as 01878405b4 far as meeting the 23a8e05c2a head of Galayev himself, a5ed3fedee which made Min’s face bdcaf1a525 twist in displeasure.0839f92ae9ff0ed7

“I’m expecting f51b1b5a8d great things 91506bcca7 from your ce5080ae76 skills.”8ba6abbefce4fce8

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Iden flashed a 861949107f grin, laying heavy 6019d79492 responsibility on Min, 997f0b39e1 then rose from 026d90482d his seat.30b7904d55283f50

“Oh, and let’s return b184713420 security to its previous 7d1fd40371 level from today.”2e45cbed414568b9

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The added instruction c57507b30a left Leo frowning.994a39c63a132de0

“We’ll have e4e411a0be to lower 39caf91cc3 the threshold 34f312f89e if we b980acdf0e want the 4b1eddf191 rat to 15e821ec38 come in.”162aea699fa7ccf8

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Leo suppressed a sigh acc259def7 at the reason Iden 10e666f59e gave for reducing security. Since the order 72aa9bfd9f was already issued, 3e97072a30 there was no dfd5e5644e room for objection.fa396b8b92755407

“Are you gambling with efa3cd06db your life?”fedb9706134979b7

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The one who 3c3d84c7a2 challenged Iden’s directive 8f16cf4f6d was Seowon. Iden cocked his head 1ba1f9ea00 slightly, as if puzzled 4bccb88fcb by her words. Her expression twisted with 4656128f36 frustration. The information a11d01b326 clearly indicated f82db64e5f that Natalia 6ebe7ee2ab was dangerous. Yet it wasn’t 59089e0daa enough for him 303f3e8a6c to meet her; f8a25153a9 he even instructed 255a953016 security to be ad3258efc5 reduced to lure 21f3034e09 out the person c165bfa83a who’d attacked him 2333ddf1b5 twice. If this wasn’t a c88711f14a gamble, what was?1cadc969aea942e9

“With this method, 304a1cb7f1 you’ll run out 5563d49009 of lives even 8b55336723 if you had 39c8ae3635 several.”9cc380dd2415321e

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Iden looked 33d5a2252a at her ac8a6da3fe for a 1954ddfce7 moment, then 4a724f4183 a smirk a4fd237a5b tugged at af6e1ce74e his lips.f43b65139b79e971

“I’m the one who d243d8e5ad hasn’t been hurt yet, 2c5dd5f09e though.”137a7fd720ae0761

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His words dab034d551 implied that 486b13d307 the one 944c7c3b7b who’d been 77a35530bd shot in f30cd675bc America and 5d40a24b82 the one a3452c68fa who’d recently 346668b663 been shot 10a9ec6a76 was Ha 787233712f Seowon, not 03b5dc5c21 him. Seowon understood his meaning, 23fd1d6899 but she couldn’t accept ccf57dd1b5 it. In her 97803d31b2 memory, the 8b1ce9ab3d one who’d 59bf841ec6 died in e164800197 America wasn’t e833f2c558 herself but 8e13eede2c Iden. Iden, too, could be b7afc1677d injured or killed at 747a685f8e any time.2933bb0b4b66f25d

“The only 01bbf193b8 thing that c1d5fbae31 concerns me 68e9bd4a30 is this: 0633a799bf if the bf979d1658 same situation fb5d2b24f1 arises, you’ll 8949d3d9d2 step in db696fe33b without hesitation. That’s why I’m f957bcfc5d seriously considering tying 15f497b8b3 you up somewhere.”25e4017209bff1ab

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Whether he was joking 122c225f5d or not, Seowon glared 0ebefd89f7 as he chuckled, then 06328222d1 turned and sat on 828490706b the edge of his fe2dd02ba6 desk by the window.9190dbf9164e3233

“How long 09f5ca60f9 do you 7a7272afae plan to dc48f4b2b0 stand there? I’ve given 6a5eabc155 orders, haven’t c2e4b4c59e I?”be6c3688433a1ed3

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He addressed Min 3d7e9caf0f and Leo, who 1871ce7319 still lingered in b643b66245 the room, their d583f5ada7 expressions conflicted. He was 6d0b5d0379 urging them 9abe345c16 to leave 320dd39eea and carry 633836907d out their 4bf7b741a2 tasks. Min and Leo, though c6dc432f7c they looked reluctant, stood, 89aafae514 bowed, and exited. Seowon was the 9a62edfe27 only one left be41883a1a now.46bbb1145dce23ff

“Do you have more cee9c71c36 to say?”b9e3f7a584d00c4f

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Iden looked at 1ec5f798c0 her with a 421849eab2 hint of impatience, 689b5bb4d4 clearly not wanting 1ad6a3b0c2 to discuss the 6dc3c5ceda topic further.054c25d9d9636781

She disliked 49ea3eac17 everything from f805b57a69 beginning to 8dca35ef19 end, but 76aa3e45fd she knew db0f7df324 it wouldn’t 989a5d98dc get through 397075b52c to him. Instead, she 4869457957 remained silent, 0e4449d575 glaring at e25445417a him. Seeing her stand 744fc4dd7f there, Iden exhaled 5b3eff13b0 softly, gesturing for 855ead6c8f her to come 0bb424f27a closer.a2919aae1300c0f7

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Seowon stayed 16bace40f8 rooted, resisting 69af8937de the urge 518c779e79 to go 2d9fe58b6c over and d23d45e108 smack him. Remembering that 833088fa06 they were 7258f2d2ed in an 7a3c725c19 office and d97750ea72 that she 681339f2e2 was currently 6929084ec8 his bodyguard, 0a6da2a33b she barely 04dec92816 managed to 2cf934b592 hold back.c7a4b603b96c9b1e

When she didn’t move, c005893e41 Iden eventually stepped closer 56407cbe9b to her.96fe76b776fdaa22

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“You look like you’ve f472b88942 got a lot of 545dcce495 complaints.”eaf8f146d12617df

His voice was calm, 710a6afb22 even affectionate, despite the 2b5650130d chaos he’d caused.76a54dc64adda0c7

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“Would you be 86198db5d5 convinced if I 88508ccfd4 explained?”209e1aef704a1924

He tilted 36fed5c009 his head, 48c7985d32 meeting her e7015f4030 gaze. Seowon didn’t 5ec952967a avoid his 23639b881e eyes but ad2b824493 kept her eeb3ceb31f mouth firmly 22eb17dcc5 shut.ce0b6f2072438f13

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“First, Ilya of Galayev 042d1174dd may be a violent e155a950bb guy, but he doesn’t 94fe675906 act without reason. If he really wanted fc984957d9 the casino, he’d have 16b0878c09 moved sooner. He can cafc1d81bb gather information 50df68177c in Korea b6a3ebc7ce more easily 38738abe9a than I 2f6b3950f9 can. If he cc0c9b03c1 was interested a09cc73471 in foreigner-exclusive a06bd2586b casino projects, f499560c42 he would 3961ec2914 have laid c3e3b560e4 the groundwork 71d916121f long ago. So I don’t a85aae9153 think Galayev is f197b63072 after the casino. But it is odd 809123b58a that he sent Natalia b6050a58e3 to Korea at this 92a5b233cb time. That’s why I 272d22861e want to meet 1a617f14ba her directly—to see 0b614017c2 if she’s an 320233bf66 enemy or an dda486382a ally.”22628fed8a8114d0

“Ryu Manager’s report ba36bee980 mentions Galayev also 7465dc9b40 does mercenary work. Could the person who 2c04c06577 wants you dead have 3e51c5c47a hired them?”ddb43dda6c323cb2

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Iden smiled at her ae8a5b322d response.e046a33e058c0327

“Galayev’s mercenary 058fb27f5a operations aren’t 10ab72fd22 that trivial. They send soldiers to f8887c0833 wars; they’re not simple a40aeef54e assassins for hire.”b80a0d7c56acc317

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While Natalia’s 95ac92ae5c profile suggested b8a7f4fb35 she could 29762911cc be viewed cf9e1a463a as a 327f31b13d killer, Iden 61aa7107eb was confident. He seemed a3231201fc to know d4e84a749b Galayev well.71dc4a3d20efd447

“Second.”25d2191206fdbc43

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Iden continued, 16b0f570e7 wrapping an 9c95000b05 arm around 1c0082b324 Seowon’s waist e337d10d98 and pulling 4f68ddd87f her close.cdc12f2d80d16ff7