By Zephyria 
Jeon Ho-chang twitched his lips again, as if he was about to say something. But before that, President Hwang responded to Tae-hwon’s words.
“Full of spirit. Is that what it means to be the guy who took the chairman’s head?”
“No, sir.”
“No, no. It sounded like there was a bone in your words. Woo Tae-hwon. Was it revenge that made you kill Chairman Kwon?”
“I don’t remember what happened back then. I don’t know anything.”
“Yeah… you’d make that excuse. But I heard that Woo Tae-hwon was the one who taught Kwon Hyeon-oh and his cronies a lesson. Even though you don’t remember anything, your body moved on its own when you were in danger, or something like that? Or are you deceiving us all and pretending to be an amnesiac?”
“…”
“Huh? What is it?”
A tense atmosphere filled the room, so cold that it felt like a chill. President Hwang frowned. The deep wrinkles seemed to prove his experience and authority.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Kwon Rae-i stood up to calm the situation.
“That’s enough. I thought that matter was settled?”
However, at this moment, Tae-hwon knew instinctively. Unlike the situation a moment ago, now was the time for him to speak. The other party had lit the fuse first, and Tae-hwon didn’t have the time to gloss over it with silence. Every moment was a chance that might be the last for Woo Tae-hwon.
With composure and firm resolve, Tae-hwon pulled Kwon Rae-i’s hand. He stopped him from controlling the entire space and opened his mouth.
“If you ask me that much, President, then fine. I’ll tell you everything.”
“Tae-hwon, you don’t have to answer.”
“Kwon Rae-i. Let Woo Tae-hwon speak.”
“Yes. It’s true that I regained my memory for a moment. Or rather, it would be better to say that my body moved on its own.”
Tae-hwon continued with a cold and firm expression. His tightly closed jaw further emphasized his will. His expression contained a determination not to yield.
“My instincts took over when I was in danger. You could say that I reacted to the murderous intent.”
“Murderous intent, huh.”
“If anyone tries to kill me, I will retaliate. If, as a result, all my memories that I had quietly forgotten come back… who would be most harmed?”
Their eyes met in the air. The gaze of the experienced President Hwang, trying to find a weakness, and the gaze of the serious Woo Tae-hwon collided in the middle, as if sparks were flying. The round table, a mess of broken porcelain shards, was like a harsh wilderness, and a suffocating silent battle continued.
Sharp energy and cold cruelty surged with the intention of defeating the opponent. No one moved first. No one avoided the confronting gaze.
President Hwang slightly raised the corner of his mouth. His expression, mixed with mockery, seemed relaxed, but his fingers, holding the teacup, were slowly tapping the handle, deep in thought.
“…I see.”
President Hwang finally muttered quietly.
“Indeed, I see.”
President Hwang, who had read Tae-hwon’s true intentions in his eyes, turned his gaze away. The psychological warfare that had dominated the room finally came to an end. The result was clear.
The one who would be most harmed by Woo Tae-hwon regaining his memory was none other than Kwon Rae-i. And the Jeun Faction as well. Internal division when they had to fight an enemy called Gyeongjeong. Wouldn’t that be a crisis that shouldn’t happen?
In other words, it was a warning to the Jeun Faction.
If they tried to kill Woo Tae-hwon, they would not be safe either, and they might even regain their lost memories.
In other words, it was a warning to try and wake the sleeping tiger if they were confident.
“Reacted to murderous intent? Huh, I should have cut off the fuse earlier… I guess you’ll be too scared to move a muscle from now on, fearing that Woo Tae-hwon will explode.”
President Hwang gestured to the two men on either side of him. Jeon Ho-chang and Kim Woo-shik, who had been lowering their posture and guarding as if they were about to pounce at any moment, sighed silently and relaxed their guard. President Hwang deliberately pointed out the conclusion as if wanting Kwon Rae-i and Woo Tae-hwon to hear.
“You all heard it well. No one touches Woo Tae-hwon. Behave yourselves.”
“Yes, President.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Kwon Rae-i, that guy, only picks guys like himself. The two of them say the same things, huh!”
The same?
Tae-hwon glanced at Kwon Rae-i. He was smiling thinly, curving his tightly closed lips. His smooth, sculpted white face gave Tae-hwon an epiphany.
‘Ah. They had already said the same thing.’
No wonder Kwon Rae-i seemed so relaxed, it seemed like it was a discussion that had already been settled. Tae-hwon had just brought it up again.
‘Then does that mean President Hwang can’t touch me anymore…’
Is this what they call a blessing in disguise?
Although Tae-hwon was anxious and apprehensive about whether his memories would return, this actually allowed him to form a solid united front with the Jeun Faction. Neither side wanted to be the first to touch and detonate the bomb that was Woo Tae-hwon, whom they were both stuck holding.
If they tried to get rid of Woo Tae-hwon, they might end up like Kwon Hyeon-oh. Besides, Kwon Rae-i certainly wouldn’t stand by idly. Trying to deal with Woo Tae-hwon would bring more harm than good. So, even President Hwang of the Jeun Faction had to change his mind.
‘An unexpected reversal.’
Woo Tae-hwon, at thirty years old, was acting as the worst kind of deterrent, and it had led to an alliance with the Jeun Faction.
So, things could turn out like this too. It was a novel feeling.
“Alright, then we move out in four days. To hunt down Kwon Hyeon-oh and the old geezers.”
As the situation came to a peaceful conclusion, Kwon Rae-i wrapped up the discussion and helped Tae-hwon up from the round table. Tae-hwon pushed back his chair and stood beside him. The breakfast meeting was over. He hadn’t even gotten a glimpse of the food, but he had no desire to eat at the ruined table anyway.
“Wait.”
Just then, as the two were turning to leave the office, someone called out from behind.
“What about this?”
It was Jeon Ho-chang.
He gestured towards a piece of the porcelain shard that still remained on the round table. It was the largest piece among the broken fragments.
The largest piece of the Gyeongjeong.
‘Kwon Tae-oh.’
They were going to capture Kwon Hyeon-oh and the old geezers first, but what were they planning to do with Kwon Tae-oh after that?
Tae-hwon was curious about the plan as well. Probably everyone in this room was curious. However, Kwon Rae-i ignored the question as if it wasn’t even worth answering and simply turned to leave.
* * *
The two walked across the carpeted hallway and around the corner. The building’s structure was quite complex, but Kwon Rae-i seemed to know it like the back of his hand, reaching the elevator without hesitation.
While waiting for the elevator to reach the top floor, he asked Tae-hwon how he was doing.
“How’s your body? Are you overdoing it?”
“I’m fine.”
“Really?”
Kwon Rae-i carefully examined Tae-hwon’s shoulders, showing his concern. It seemed he hadn’t touched his meal at the breakfast meeting because he was worried about Tae-hwon’s condition. He had broken the moon jar from the start, ruining the atmosphere for a leisurely meal and trying to leave quickly. He didn’t need to be so concerned.
“I’m fine. It’s not like I’ll recover just by lying down. This is nothing.”
Staying put and lying down would only make him lose muscle.
‘The move-out is in four days, so I need to prevent muscle loss until then.’
As Tae-hwon stood firm, Kwon Rae-i also stopped worrying. He knew that the injury wasn’t life-threatening.
Kwon Rae-i, having boarded the arrived elevator, pressed a floor button.
“Then shall we go eat something delicious, just the two of us?”
B1. It was the floor that led to the underground parking lot.
“The food at Jeun won’t taste good anyway. Let’s just go, you and me, Tae-hwon.”
As Tae-hwon hesitated for a moment, the elevator began to descend. Tae-hwon blinked a couple of times and replied with a slight hesitation.
“What if something happens…?”
What if his memories suddenly returned? What if the thirty-year-old Woo Tae-hwon tried to attack Kwon Rae-i?
If something went wrong while they were in the Jeun Faction building, the Jeun side would join in to stop Tae-hwon, but if it was just him and Kwon Rae-i, wouldn’t he be the only one in danger?
Then, Kwon Rae-i subtly pulled out a syringe from his suit pocket. It was a familiar-looking syringe.
“A sedative. I’ll inject you if something happens.”
“Oh…”
“I’ve increased the dosage too. Even Woo Tae-hwon would have to collapse with one shot of this.”
Right. And when he woke up, his hands and feet would all be tied up, and he’d be wearing a leash.