Mr. Yang was pacing back and fo next to the tall, broad window when Min Hyun let himself into his father's office. The man threw a quick look at his son, then returned to his chair, sat down, and gestured for Min Hyun to come closer to his desk.
"I need you to go to the warehouse. Our men noticed some strange movement going down there, so I need you to go and check it for yourself. In case of a conflict, you are allowed to settle all matters down. If you know what I mean."
Min Hyun was surprised by his father's darkened face. It was not often that he had a chance to witness it but when it happened, it meant that the matters were really worrisome.
"Alright, I'll take care of it. Anything else?"
Mr. Yang waved his hand without even looking at his son and turned away from him.
"Just try to not disappoint me this time. Now leave."
Min Hyun offered his father a light bow and disappeared behind the door where Ji Seon was already waiting for him, smiling as if ready to do anything. The intern slapped him on the back of his head and put a cigarette in his mouth.
"What are you smiling about? Wanna die tonight?"
"Are we gonna?"
Ji Seon rubbed his throbbing head and smiled again. Sometimes Min Hyun could not tell whether he was crazy or simply stupid. He was his best friend and the most reliable partner, therefore, his recklessness oftentimes was rather burdensome.
"Gather team 01, we're going to the warehouse. All means necessary."
"Understood."
"All means necessary" was the phrase Min Hyun used when he was about to face a serious confrontation, and it often required killing. That type of job was not complicated but it sure was mentally exhausting, especially since in the end, he was the only one who had to stand before his father when everything was settled.
The warehouse was a secret place located in the H District, an hour's drive away from Seoul. It was the place where his father stored drugs and weapons that were coming from China. He was the "middleman" whose sole responsibility was to make sure that people involved in that risky business did not face any trouble coming from either police or local gangs. It was the place where his father started. Now it was the place he never dared to step into again. And while he could no longer continue doing that work as respectable "Mr. Yang, the CEO of YL Corporation", he still did not want to give up his legacy, therefore, Lee Min Hyun seemed like a perfect scapegoat for that kind of job.
"Hyung, we're here."
Ten cars pulled up to a black, poorly-lit building that looked like an abandoned barn. Min Hyun tapped his hand on the left side of his jacket several times as if trying to even the fabric out, then nodded at Ji Seon, and left the car, while others, as if having predicted it, followed his example right after.
When everyone was ready, the guy punched a seven-digit code into the metal passcode lock, and when it responded with a light beep and an open automatic door, he went inside followed by the rest of his team. A short, skinny man ran towards them as soon as they stepped inside and greeted them with a ninety-degree bow as if they were some important political figures. The man then straightened back up and said in a strangely trembling voice,
"Mr. Lee, there is a problem! It looks like we're about to have an internal conflict!"
That was what he expected and was also afraid of. When it came down to any kind of illegal trading and supplying, internal conflicts were inevitable due to numerous reasons - theft, internal gang formation, attempts at betrayal, outside scouting, and last but not least, sabotage. When you stay in this field as long as Mr. Yang, gaining a few rivals and competitors is a given, although always burdensome.
"It's been a while since the last time we had one."
Min Hyun put a cigarette in his mouth and flinched as it touched his damaged lips.
"So, what's going on now?"
Thick, poignant smoke reached the short man and enveloped him like a serpent. He looked down as if scared of looking back at Min Hyun, and continued,
"I think some of our guys were approached by the Fang men, I heard them talking about arson... I notified Mr. Yang as soon as I heard, I swear!"
His pleading eyes jumped frantically from one person to another, and when Min Hyun let out a surprisingly loud exhale, the short man finally fixed his terrified gaze on him and swallowed dryly. The intern brushed his hair back and smiled.
"It's alright, you did well. Okay, let's go check it out ourselves, then."
He jerked his head, gesturing for the man to start moving, and walked slowly behind him like an arrogant king who was about to face his unruly subjects. The short man stopped in front of one of the thick metal doors at the end of a long corridor and turned around.
"They've been coming here for the past week, I saw them going inside today, too."
Min Hyun pushed the man away, then knocked on the door three times, and when the room responded with a muffled sound of commotion behind it, he burst the door open and smiled.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Five men, dressed in all black were caught off guard while trying to hide a bunch of documents and drug samples in a large canvas bag. Min Hyun sized the men with his dark sharp eyes, then threw his cigarette on the floor, walked up to the nearest man, grabbed him by the hand, and twisted his wrist, making him open it as he groaned from the pain. Something small fell out of the man's hand and made a dull sound as it hit the concrete floor. The intern looked down, kicked the thing toward Ji Seon with his foot, and frowned as he looked at the flustered man's face.
"Let's see who was stupid enough to send you here to snoop around and gather evidence."
Ji Seon stepped forward and placed a gun to the back of the man's head, while Min Hyun's hand unzipped his black hoodie and reached all the way down to his belt. He grinned again as he pulled out a gun and waved it in front of the man's face like some kind of a trophy.
"Fang's little toy soldier, huh?"