Even If It’s Not Love - Chapter 50-2

All ten of them were taken to the hospital, but there was no telling what would happen to their lives. By the time it was over, Executive Director Kim’s white suit was stained with red blood. He raised the knife and spoke.

“This is what happens when you backstab your superiors or make them suffer. Money and honor if you are loyal, blood if you’re not. It’s simple, so keep that in mind, everyone.”

Executive Director Kim shouted like a slogan, eyes shining with madness, but those overwhelmed by his brutal appearance couldn’t even breathe. Executive Director Kim looked at Woo-hyun for the last time. As if to respond to him, Woo-hyun smiled brightly and raised his hands to applaud.

“As expected.”

It was difficult to tell whether those vague words were a compliment or an insult. People started applauding, following Woo-hyun. Facing the compliment-like insult, Executive Director Kim stared at Woo-hyun with red eyes until the end.

After that, Woo-hyun delivered the expensive gift he had prepared, but the atmosphere wasn’t as good as before. After the gathering was over, one of the chairman’s people approached Woo-hyun, who was about to go home.

“He wants to see you for a moment.”

After checking the face of the person the chairman sent, Woo-hyun went after him. The fact that the chairman had called him quietly meant that he should come alone without informing anyone.

After following the man inside the house, Woo-hyun stopped. Inside the living room, it was serene as if time had stopped. The chairman was sitting in the middle of the living room sofa, staring at him with a frightening face. There was a crack in his face, which had remained expressionless throughout the gathering. As the chairman waved his hand, the people rushed out of the house.

“Tsk, tsk.”

When the two of them were alone, the chairman clicked his tongue as if displeased.

“Why were you in such a hurry? With Executive Director Kim’s personality, that kind of thing is routine.”

The chairman raised his eyes as he held a cigarette in his mouth, something he did rarely these days. There was no way someone who was quick to grasp the situation and sensitive to change like Woo-hyun would not have noticed the people Executive Director Kim had planted and the disturbances in his business for a long time. Woo-hyun, who had been pretending not to know all this time, acted unusually. And it was also an intentional act, in front of everyone.

“Executive Director Kim must have done something.”

Despite the chairman’s words, Woo-hyun did not give much of a reaction.

Because of what happened today, Executive Director Kim may be praised by all organizations as a man with a brutal nature that keeps his words, but not by the members of his organization.

They risked their lives to spy and disrupt the business as they were told to, but in return, they got branded as traitors and their bodies turned into rags. Although that outcome didn’t happen yet, he could imagine it.

Depending on what Kim’s attitude was going to be like in the future, the outcome of whether or not he would regain the trust of the members of the organization will change, but it was clear that it would take a long time to settle that.

Above all, it was impossible for as many as ten people to exploit Executive Director Kim’s name. He was the second highest-ranking person in the organization, after the chairman.

In other words, some people became aware that Executive Director Kim had planted a spy on Woo-hyun and was causing a commotion in his business It was revealed that someone from the same organization, someone with a high-ranking position like Executive Director Kim, and above all, someone who emphasized loyalty, was keeping Woo-hyun in check. In many ways, it was a crisis for Executive Director Kim.

The chairman glanced at Woo-hyun.

“Are you not going to tell me why you did this?”

“He was acting out of line so I just conveyed my opinion.”

“That’s all? Why? Why don’t you just tell me that he touched something he shouldn’t have?”

The chairman blew out the cigarette smoke and spoke sarcastically. As Woo-hyun gave no answer, the chairman continued, burying his back in the backrest of the sofa.

“Did he say it was Kim Yoo-hwa, the name of that woman?”

The chairman did not beat around the bush and asked straight away. Then, he looked at Woo-hyun’s expression with squinting eyes. Woo-hyun was shaken up for the first time since he had come here at his call. Not letting go of that chance, the chairman pressed on.

“It’s been very noisy lately. I guess the reason why you two have been taking turns going to that redevelopment area where only a few people live is because of that woman. Why don’t you two behave? Why are you making such a fuss that I’m getting news from all over the place? What the hell is that woman? What is it?”

“… She’s someone I’m watching over.”

The answer finally came, but it was vague.

“Yeah, I suppose so. Then why didn’t you bring her in? Why did you leave her there and put her under surveillance? You weren’t asking Executive Director Kim to prey on her. Was it bait?”

The chairman said as if he already knew that Woo-hyun had stayed near Yoo-hwa’s house a few months ago.

“What are you doing, Woo-hyun?”

The chairman called his name with exert. He was asking him to say something.

Ever since the first time he took him in, Woo-hyun was a guy who was difficult to understand in many ways. However, it was the first time he didn’t understand him like this. Whether it was bait, why he left her there like that if it was bait, or why did he have to do that and cause friction with Executive Director Kim.

If he was going to cut Executive Director Kim out, he could have used a cleaner and smarter method, but this was a mess.