Chapter 107: I Really Missed You

Wh-Who are you?"

As I smiled and spoke, the man kneeling before me looked up, his voice trembling with fear.

I crouched down to meet his gaze. Though I was smiling, the reflection in his eyes showed no warmth.

"Seong-gi, I really missed you."

The man who had once killed me—Chief Park.

A younger version of Park Seong-gi knelt before me.

"Who… who are you?"

"I'm someone who owes you thanks. Thanks to you, I've seized a great opportunity. I'm grateful."

"What are you… talking about?"

Park Seong-gi stared at me in confusion, unable to grasp my words.

"What would you know? Forget it. Where's your boss? Did you really think a bit of sniveling would get you off the hook? Still so naive. Or maybe you just don't realize the situation you're in?"

"My boss?"

"Teacher Pyo. The man you serve. He's real, isn't he?"

It had taken me this long to track down Chief Park because I didn't have much information about him.

All I knew was that he'd been abandoned at an orphanage as a child and was taken under Teacher Pyo's wing when he was eight.

Looking back, it was a miracle I found him at all.

"I never imagined you'd be living so quietly in Seoul."

Even now, as an adult, he wasn't registered in any official records, making him incredibly hard to track down.

Teacher Pyo was even more elusive—there wasn't a trace of him anywhere.

"What? Teacher Pyo? Who is that?"

"The one who raised you. No, the one who turned you into a killing machine. Don't even think about denying it. I know everything. And Park Seong-gi isn't even your real name, is it?"

Though his face remained expressionless, likely due to years of training, his eyes betrayed a flicker of panic.

"Let's make this easy. Tell me who Teacher Pyo is and where to find him. I'll make sure it's painless."

"I told you, I don't know this person!"

I sighed and slowly stood up.

"Manager, you have the drugs, right? He's been trained since childhood, so he won't talk easily. Torture won't work. Use the drugs. He's not Special Forces, so they wouldn't have prepared him for that."

Not long ago, I smuggled a variety of drugs, including truth serums, into the country through Black Bear.

The U.S. military used these drugs covertly, and their efficacy was beyond question.

"What? Why are you doing this to me? I really don't know! Who the hell is this Teacher Pyo you keep talking about?"

The mention of drugs made his voice rise in panic.

I sat down in a nearby chair while Manager Ma looked at me, puzzled.

"Are you planning to watch this yourself?"

"I need to see this one with my own eyes."

Manager Ma didn't know, but this man had ended my life once before. This time, I needed to witness the closure myself.

"Understood."

At Manager Ma's signal, a man approached with a square briefcase in hand.

Inside were neatly arranged vials and syringes.

Manager Ma grabbed a vial and inserted it into a syringe.

"I'll begin, Boss."

I nodded, and Manager Ma approached the man. Two subordinates held him down, pulling one of his arms out.

"Don't! Please, don't do this!"

"Just talk. That's all it takes."

"I told you I don't know anyone like that! Please, stop!"

Park Seong-gi thrashed and screamed, but he couldn't overpower the men holding him down.

Even after the drug was injected, he continued to struggle for several minutes before his eyes finally glazed over.

"He's ready."

Manager Ma dragged the limp Park Seong-gi over and stood him in front of me.

"Your name?"

Park Seong-gi didn't respond, his mouth hanging open, lost in a daze.

Manager Ma slapped the back of his head.

Park Seong-gi stumbled forward and collapsed. Manager Ma yanked him back up by his hair.

"Your name?"

"…Pyo Bong-il."

"Teacher Pyo's name?"

"I don't know."

"Where is Teacher Pyo?"

"I don't know."

I couldn't tell if he truly didn't know or if the drug hadn't fully kicked in yet.

"Are you sure the drug is working?"

"Yes."

"What happens if we give him another dose?"

"It's risky. Let's keep questioning him for now."

I nodded at Manager Ma's suggestion and resumed the interrogation.

"You know Teacher Pyo, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"When and how do you meet him?"

"He contacts me. The meeting place changes every time."

"You don't meet him face-to-face?"

"Usually, he sends someone else…"

"How many others like you are there?"

"I don't know. I only know of three."

Manager Ma spoke quietly.

"The drug's definitely working. His speech is clearer now."

"Is this normal?"

"Yes. It starts with a dazed look, but gradually their speech and focus return. They won't remember what they said afterwards."

Just as Manager Ma described, Park Seong-gi's eyes were regaining their sharpness.

Despite the ongoing interrogation, we learned nothing about Teacher Pyo's whereabouts or identity.

"There's nothing more to gain."

Even after risking another dose, the answers didn't change.

I felt a bit disappointed.

I clicked my tongue as I stared into Park Seong-gi's empty eyes.

"Clean this up."

Just as he had done to me, I loaded him into a car by the lake and released the parking brake. Manager Ma closed the door and stood beside me.

I watched the car slowly roll down the hill before turning away.

Fate had been reversed.

* * *

Wall Street relentlessly hammered Japan, and the Japanese government was starting to show signs of frustration towards the U.S.

"What does Washington want from us?"

In the Japanese Prime Minister's office, Prime Minister Obata rubbed his forehead in frustration.

The Vice Minister of Finance spoke up.

"Secretary Rubin isn't explaining anything clearly. It's all criticism without any specific demands, just continuous negative statements in the media. You should contact the White House directly, Prime Minister."

The Prime Minister frowned at the suggestion.

"They don't even have a proper plan…"

"There's nothing wrong with our economic policies. This is all political. Only you can resolve this, Prime Minister."

As the Japanese government bickered, passing the blame, the yen plummeted to 147 yen per dollar.

Japan frantically tried to stabilize the yen by releasing foreign reserves, but Wall Street's predators only intensified their attack.

Wall Street was feasting, and Japan was on the verge of collapse.

A few days later, unable to hold out any longer, Prime Minister Obata called President Clinton at the White House.

If the White House intervened, Wall Street would have no choice but to stop the indiscriminate assault.

President Clinton agreed to Obata's request and summoned Secretary Rubin to the White House.

"Rubin, it's time to stop."

"Mr. President, without reforms in Japan, we can't contain the crisis in Asia."

"I spoke with the Prime Minister. He's willing to accept any demand—he just wants us to rein in the investors in New York."

"Then I'll handle the negotiations. If they commit to financial reforms, we'll offer our help."

"Do what you need to, but don't push too far."

"Understood, Mr. President."

Rubin pretended to agree, but his true intentions were different.

He believed that Japan only responded to pressure, just as they had during the Plaza Accord and its reversal.

After leaving the White House, Rubin called Han Gyeong-yeong.

"James, it's Rubin."

― Yes, Secretary.

"The President wants us to stop."

― Is that so?

"Yeah, he thinks it's best to stop here. It's political, nothing we can do about it."

― Understood. I'll pass the message along.

"No need to stop right away. We'll step in if they agree to our demands. But let them know we appreciate the chance to teach Japan a lesson."

― Haha, understood.

A smile crept across Rubin's face as he hung up.

"Looks like we're getting what we want without even lifting a finger."

* * *

― Looks like they're going to side with Japan in the end. Rubin contacted me.

"Figures."

― He wanted me to thank you. Said they were grateful for the chance to put Japan in its place. Funny how we do all the work and someone else reaps the rewards.

Han Gyeong-yeong grumbled over the phone.

"Hey, at least we made something out of it. And we had to do this anyway. We needed to keep Japan out of Korea's affairs to finish our plans."

― Seems like we still have some time, as long as Japan doesn't accept the U.S. demands right away.

I chuckled, imagining Rubin's smug grin.

"It's obvious. Japan might have enough foreign reserves to avoid an IMF intervention, but they've surrendered. The U.S. will push for financial reforms and other harsh conditions. Let them. It'll benefit me too. No need to stop it."

As I expected, Rubin's demands were brutal.

He made it clear that U.S. support would only come if Japan agreed to clean up their bad debts and enact sweeping financial reforms.

He even threw in an additional demand—Japan had to present their reform plan by the next U.S.-Japan summit.

But that wasn't the only card I had to play.

It was time to initiate the Yamaguchi-gumi coup.

"They accepted the proposal, right?"

"Yes, once they realized Japan was involved in this attack."

"Typical opportunists. I'd prefer a more agreeable partner, but there's no one else. Go ahead and proceed."

"Understood."

As the internal strife within the Yamaguchi-gumi began, I was ready to eliminate the Cheongpung Group.

I would need Black Bear's strength for this.

The elite Black Bear teams, contracted by the U.S. government, were currently deployed in the Kosovo War.

It felt like money well spent to recruit high-ranking military officers with connections in Washington.

"Did you say the elite teams are all in Kosovo?"

"Yes, except for Team 1, which is in Korea. Another team is on standby at headquarters."

"Call them in. I'm planning to cut off Cheongpung's arms and go after Lee Yong-hyun next. There can't be any surprises."

"Will the government just sit by?"

"We'll see."

By now, Kim Hak-gwon had probably uncovered quite a bit about me.

It was time for him to make a choice.

Since I had decided to wield my blade, I would take off heads and let the rest be judged by the law. Kim Hak-gwon would have to make his decision too.

"What about Teacher Pyo?"

"No one really knows if he even exists. It seems like only Lee Yong-hyun knows his true identity."

Rumors about Teacher Pyo, a professional assassin and Lee Yong-hyun's hidden weapon, had been circulating, but no one knew his exact identity.

"Once we attack Lee Yong-hyun, he'll show up. There's no way a hunting dog wouldn't come to its master's defense when he's about to die."

"We'll keep an eye on any movements."

Outside, the twilight had descended.

Sitting on the bed, I looked quietly at Manager Ma standing in the gathering darkness and spoke suddenly.

"I need to take out Lee Yong-hyun before my grandfather's health worsens. I want him to see that justice is done."

Recently, my grandfather had seemed weaker, rarely able to move.

Despite numerous hospital visits, the diagnosis was always the same—it was just old age. Just like in my previous life.

"What about Cheon Su-man?"

"He's lying low in Australia, right?"

Manager Ma nodded.

I couldn't help but sneer.

"Australia is a big place. It wouldn't be surprising if he had a little 'accident.' No rush. Once my grandfather passes, I'll take care of him."

"Understood."

Cheon Su-han would likely spend the rest of his life in a mental institution. I had thought about killing him too, but the image of Cheon Ji-young's face stopped me from going that far.

But as for Cheon Su-man, I'd kill him the moment my grandfather was gone.

It was time to sever all the ties that had bound me since my previous life.