𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟕: 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 1
Siwoo returned to Seoul at dawn, over a day later.
He had to draw a magic circle to return because he had been teleported near the Demon Realm, and even after spending 9 hours drawing the magic circle, he had to use ether because he didn’t have a magic stone.
Siwoo felt like drinking a mana potion, which he didn’t usually enjoy, because his dantian, which he had filled to the brim, was now completely empty.
“Senior. . . Where in the world did you go?”
Hwang Jeong-gu, who had been cleaning up the scene until late at night, asked with a smile when he found Siwoo.
“I was returning after being kidnapped.”
“What? Kidnapped? What nonsense are you talking about? Where did you go and kill someone again?”
Hwang Jeong-gu looked at Siwoo and asked back with an expression that said he had heard enough of these strange jokes.
‘Why doesn’t this punk believe me?’
Siwoo stared blankly at Hwang Jeong-gu and thought that he would have to discipline him later.
Suddenly, Hwang Jeong-gu felt an inexplicable chill.
“I suddenly got goosebumps. . . By the way, Senior, didn’t you say you were going to the US?”
“I’m leaving this evening, so I still have time.”
“Oh. . . Then what? Are you here to help clean up the scene?”
“Am I crazy?”
“Well, no. I didn’t expect it either. Then why are you here?”
“You’re buying me dinner.”
“. . . . . .”
【𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤! 𝐈’𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲!】
“Did you hear me? Let’s go eat.”
“Hey, Senior. I still have a lot to clean up. It doesn’t look like I’ll be able to go home. . .”
“Is that so? Then have dinner and come back to finish the work. Let’s go.”
Siwoo put his arm around Hwang Jeong-gu’s head and dragged him away.
“Hey, wait! Oh, the kids are watching! Senior!!”
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
Cargill Juan sat in his study, puffing deeply on his pipe.
There wasn’t much time left now.
His future would be determined in less than two days.
Cargill Juan put down his pipe and poured himself a drink of the strongest liquor in his liquor cabinet.
“Ugh. . .!”
The liquor burned its way down his esophagus, clearing his mind.
It wasn’t until after he had poured himself another drink in quick succession that he felt his anxiety begin to subside a little.
Creak.
The leather chair creaked as it leaned back.
“I’m getting impatient.”
Wherever he was, Cargill Juan always wanted to be at the top.
Whether it was the slums of Harlem or the underworld’s money laundering scene, he wasn’t satisfied unless he was the best, regardless of his social status.
Therefore, the moment he stepped foot in HSIU, his goal was to become the head of the organization.
At first, he hadn’t thought it would be that difficult.
Becoming the top, in other words, meant eliminating the legs supporting the top one by one and finally taking the top spot.
There was nothing he had ever set his mind to that he had not achieved.
It had only taken him 3 years to become the head of the cartel from the bottom, so he thought it would be similar this time.
However, the top of HSIU was a place on a completely different level from any other position he had held.
“Damn it. . . the Blackwood family.”
Cargill Juan’s true feelings spilled out in a fit of pique.
He had thought that he would take Edward’s place as soon as the president is gone stepped down.
Of course, Cargill Juan couldn’t compare to Edward C. Blackwood in terms of recognition or influence, but he had one ability that Edward didn’t have.
Lobbying.
It was an ability he had cultivated since his time in the organization.
He had built connections after designing a comprehensive plan like a lobbyist, and as a result, Cargill Juan’s position within HSIU was able to grow to be just as large as Edward’s.
It was just one step away.
If he could just take that one step, Cargill Juan would be able to reach the top position that he had never been able to reach before.
However, the reality was that he had been stuck in place for years because of the symbolism of the Blackwood family.
“There’s not much time left, Edward.”
Cargill Juan exhaled a long plume of smoke and recited as if making a declaration.
Power so great that it was impossible to think of it as merely the head of an organization.
If he could just get his hands on that power, he would revel in it with joy, even if it meant getting his hands covered in blood.
Ring ring.
At that moment, Cargill Juan’s cell phone rang.
His gaze naturally moved to the screen at the sound of the loud ringtone.
“Are you ready?”
Cargill Juan asked the person on the other end of the phone as soon as he answered.
━You should be the one who’s ready, not me.
“Hey, Crowel. I’m the one attending the meeting, but isn’t it your job to do the groundwork to make sure it goes smoothly?”
━There’s a limit to what I can do. It’s not like I can just go and kill that Edward guy.
“If that were possible, I would have done it first.”
Cargill Juan couldn’t have forgotten the number.
However, that was the worst possible method, not even counting as a last resort.
The moment Edward was kidnapped or killed, it was obvious that HSIU Hunters all over the world would go on a rampage to find the culprit.
If he didn’t want to stir up a hornet’s nest and ruin everything for nothing, he shouldn’t do anything to directly harm Edward.
━Anyway, I’ve mobilized people from all walks of life that the organization has planted to attract as many votes as possible. If we include your supporters, it shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Even if you say that, I’m not at ease. The biggest obstacle hasn’t been removed yet.”
━Biggest obstacle?
When Crowel asked, Cargill Juan poured himself another drink and opened his mouth.
“I’m talking about Min Siwoo. He’s definitely being taken care of, right?”
There was a brief moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
Just as Cargill Juan was about to ask again, the person on the other end let out a soft sigh and replied.
━He will be. My colleague said he would. He may be unlucky, but his skills are solid.
“Is it right to carry out the operation before he goes to the US?”
━Sighㅡ You’re so suspicious, man. I’ve already received a message that the operation has begun. Min Siwoo will die, 100 percent. He won’t even be able to set foot near the airport, let alone the plane.
“Kukukuk, really? I’ll believe it. If that guy’s gone, we can definitely reduce Edward’s share in this election. Then I’ll have 〈Pandemonium〉 reward you handsomely.”
━. . .Okay. I’ll be looking forward to it.
Crowel hesitated for a moment before nodding and ending the call.
“Tsk.”
Cargill Juan clicked his tongue.
He had never liked that guy’s attitude.
He used the presumptuous term ‘you’ and spoke informally.
However, today was the last day he would have to see that kind of behavior.
‘𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 〈𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮〉 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮.’
As the president of the HSIU International Headquarters, even a large organization like 〈Pandemonium〉 wouldn’t be able to treat Cargill Juan lightly.
They must have chosen him because they thought he was an easy pawn, but he was a king disguised as a pawn.
“Excuse me, Mr. Juan. Harry is here.”
Marco entered with a knock as he was chewing on those thoughts.
Cargill Juan smirked as he noticed Harry, who had followed Marco in, and relayed the news he had just received.
“Oh, dear. I wanted to ask you guys for a favor. According to the news I just got, Min Siwoo is going to die soon.”
“Mr. Juan, what are you talking about?”
“The organization I belong to said they’re going to take care of him. They said he probably won’t even be able to set foot on US soil.”
“Well, I don’t know who that guy is, but one thing’s for sure. Your information is very slow.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, Harry took a tablet PC out of his bag and showed him a screen.
The screen clearly showed Min Siwoo going through immigration at what appeared to be an airport CCTV.
“Wha. . . what the?! He’s alive and well, that son of a b*tch!”
“That’s right. Mr. Juan, I don’t know who your source is, but they don’t seem to be very reliable. For your reference, this footage was taken an hour ago. . . He’ll be boarding a flight to the US soon.”
“Damn it. . . that Crowel bastard!!”
In contrast to what he had heard just a few dozen seconds ago, Siwoo was alive and well.
Cargill Juan grabbed his cell phone, fuming.
He wanted to show Crowel this video right now and scream at him at the top of his lungs.
However, Harry grabbed his arm.
“Something. . .!”
“Calm down, Mr. Juan. Didn’t you hire us to prevent this?”
Cargill Juan raised an eyebrow for a moment.
He hadn’t directly hired Harry and his gang yet.
He had just waited, believing that 〈Pandemonium〉 would take care of it, as insurance was just insurance.
“Can you really take care of it if I pay you?”
“Of course. What do you think we’ve been doing while we were in hiding? We’ve made thorough preparations to take that guy out again, Mr. Juan. Please trust us.”
“. . .Okay, I’ll give you one last chance.”
He had no choice but to do whatever it took when his back was already against the wall.
Cargill Juan wanted to show that he had the upper hand, so he replied leisurely, but his heart was actually burning with anger.
He didn’t know what kind of impact Min Siwoo’s appearance would have on the election tomorrow.
“Thank you, Mr. Juan. We will definitely kill Min Siwoo and make sure you become the HSIU president.”
“Okay. Keep this in mind. That guy should never come to the meeting room. If I see him alive. . .”
He tapped Harry’s forehead with his index and middle fingers.
“You guys will never be able to harm anyone again. Got it?”
“We will keep that in mind.”
Harry nodded and quietly disappeared.
“Hey, Marco.”
“What is it, Mr. Cargill?”
“Keep an eye on those guys. If they look like they’re going to leak anything. . . you know?”
“You don’t have to worry. Martinez is following them.”
“Hmm.”
Cargill Juan nodded as if reassured.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
A large conference room with a round table.
The dozens of people sitting there and the hundreds of people sitting outside the round table surrounding it.
The executives and high-ranking Hunters of the HSIU headquarters were having animated conversations with slightly excited faces, while the others were staring at the conference room in silence.
“Long time no see, Mr. Blackwood.”
“Long time no see, Cargill Juan.”
The two leaders who divided HSIU greeted each other with sharp eyes.
“Now, everyone please take your seats.”
At that moment, the moderator of the meeting spoke to those who were still standing and began the meeting.
A few minor agenda items were brought up, and the agenda was passed each time people added a word or two.
“. . .Now, the last agenda item for today. A vote will be held for the current vacant position of HSIU Headquarters President. The candidates for president are the current Vice President, Edward C. Blackwood, and the executive, Cargill Juan.”
At the moderator’s call, Edward and Cargill Juan took turns standing up from their seats.
“Does anyone have any objections to this? If not, we will proceed to the vote right away. . .”
“Objection.”
At that moment, one of the executives raised his hand.
“What is your objection?”
“There are allegations of misconduct against Hunter Min Siwoo. Shouldn’t we look into it?”
He smiled slightly at Cargill Juan and submitted the documents to the moderator.
Leave a Reply