Former Mastermind To Chaebol Son-in-Law

Chapter 47

This Is Driving Me Crazy

After finishing up the Chulsan Capital bid, In-hyuk wrapped up the work with his employees and went down to the lobby on the first floor.

"Thank you all for your hard work today."

Team leader Jung Jong-hyun stood with the employees and spoke.

"We were only handling the proceedings. Honestly, division director, you took care of all the important parts."

It wasn't just a polite gesture. The majority of the profits generated within the M&A/PEF division, Chulsan Capital included, came from In-hyuk's project portfolio.

Of course, it wasn't that the employees didn't do any work, but compared to the profits In-hyuk had brought in so far, their contributions were a drop in the bucket.

"Still, you all worked hard. Take care on your way up."

"Division director, aren't you coming with us?"

The staff had planned to take a taxi to the airport and then fly, just as they did when they came to Busan.

Since In-hyuk had arrived separately, they didn't know how he planned to leave.

"I drove here."

"That'll take a while, won't it?"

"I have somewhere to stop by on the way. Well, I'll excuse myself then."

In-hyuk moved to the underground parking lot with Van Hester, who was standing beside him.

Hong Yu-geon had already gone ahead and stopped the car in front, ready to depart.

"Should we just head straight to Seoul?"

As Hong Yu-geon started the car and asked, In-hyuk from the back seat handed over a note.

"Go here."

"...... Mungyeong? Why there?"

"There's something I need to do. Drop me off there, and you guys can continue with what we discussed."

"Moving around alone? There wasn't anyone tailing us today but... you never know."

"It's important. I've made all the preparations at my destination. Just drop me off."

"What's going on? Need any help?"

It wasn't really worry; Hong Yu-geon just had too many questions for In-hyuk.

"Not really."

The car sped on toward its destination.

A little over three hours later, they arrived at a construction site near a rural road outside Mungyeong-eup, mungyeong City.

It was a site where a resort was to be built, but construction had been halted for a long time.

Hong Yu-geon stopped the car, his face full of suspicion.

"...... Is this the place?"

"Yeah. Now go do what we discussed earlier."

Thud―

In-hyuk got out right away, watched the car depart, and then headed inside.

Walking past the eerily gray buildings, he spotted a van and a sedan—someone had clearly made preparations.

He searched under the van's trunk for the key, as if it was second nature, and opened the door.

Inside were a black tactical suit, a full-face skull mask, and a knife.

He changed into the gear first, then transferred his original clothes and belongings to the sedan.

At that moment, In-hyuk paused and drew the knife he'd tucked into the back of his waistband.

"If you don't want to get stabbed for being reckless, it's best to come out quietly, don't you think?"

Though he murmured, his voice was clear enough to be heard.

From a building that was only at the frame stage, a man poked his head out cautiously.

It was Hong Yu-geon, who had just dropped him at the construction entrance.

"What the hell? President... did you know it was me?"

"If you really intended to tail me unnoticed, you wouldn't give off that much presence."

Hong Yu-geon sidled up with a sheepish grin.

"Still, I didn't think I'd get caught this fast."

"Never mind. Where's Van?"

"He's got work to do, so he left separately."

"Call him and tell him to come back."

"All dressed up like that, where are you headed? Going to take care of someone?"

His tone was almost teasing.

In-hyuk's face turned serious as he let out a long sigh through his nose.

"If necessary."

"Hey! Why say something so scary like it's nothing?"

"If you plan to follow me, forget it."

"What's really going on?"

"I'm not giving you an explanation—that's why I'm acting separately."

As In-hyuk climbed into the driver's seat of the van, Hong Yu-geon hurried around and got into the passenger side.

"Come on∼! Why act so cold?"

"If you come with me, you might regret it."

"You're really not going to explain anything?"

"I'm giving you fair warning. Whatever happens after this, don't blame anyone else."

The van left the construction site. Over an hour of silence passed before Hong Yu-geon stretched and broke it.

"Ugh―! Where on earth are we going?"

Perhaps the tension was finally getting to him—he seemed genuinely worried.

Still, In-hyuk remained silent.

The van carrying the two crossed out of Chungcheong Province and entered Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi Province.

After driving along a forest road for a while, the van finally stopped.

"...... What are we doing here? You're not here to bury me or something, right?"

In-hyuk grabbed the mask that had been on the dashboard.

"From this point on, you really might find yourself regretting this. Whatever choice you make after, I won't stop you—but if you interfere, I won't just sit back."

"...... What are you saying? Can you at least explain properly?"

"I doubt it'll make any difference even if I do. Got anything to cover your face?"

Hong Yu-geon's eyes landed on the skull mask In-hyuk had just picked up.

"Are we robbing a place? Don't tell me... your hobby is robbing country houses?"

In-hyuk rummaged through the glovebox and a pocket behind the passenger seat, then found a black plastic bag.

"If nothing else, poke holes in this and use it."

"......."

"If you won't, just wait here."

"Jeez! Is this all you've got? Ugh... what used to be in here?"

The bag stank—who knew how long it had been left in the car?

"No idea. And there's nothing else."

At In-hyuk's blunt response, Hong Yu-geon grumbled but poked holes and pulled the bag over his head.

"I'm really losing my mind! Fine, satisfied? What are we really about to do?"

"Just quietly follow my lead. Whatever you see, don't interfere until everything's done."

In-hyuk got out of the van and put on his mask as well.

They went straight into the thick forest, ascending the mountain trail as if they'd done it before, not seeing a thing.

Rustle― rustle―

After about 30 minutes of bushing through the undergrowth, they stopped as the path turned downhill.

Around 400 meters below, there was an old house.

Hong Yu-geon quickly picked up on the oddity.

"What's with that place? It's got a seriously creepy vibe."

A two-story detached house without a wall, looking abandoned and uninhabited.

But in the yard out front, four black vehicles of various sizes were parked.

"What do you think it is?"

"It's not, like, a government safehouse, is it?"

"Exactly. More specifically, it was once used by special forces under military intelligence."

"How do you know this kind of place? And why past tense? From the looks, it's still in use."

UID, under military intelligence, was disbanded two years ago. Of course, In-hyuk, who left in 2020, shouldn't know this.

Yet, in his previous life he heard about it from an ex-UID member.

As Hong Yu-geon said, the safehouse shouldn't be in use now.

"I don't really know, either. Anyway, we're going to hit this place. I'd prefer if nobody's there, but with all those cars, that's unlikely."

"So what's the plan?"

"We're not killing anyone. If you encounter someone, just knock them out or disable them temporarily."

"President! Have you lost your mind? Why are you acting like this?"

Hong Yu-geon simply couldn't understand In-hyuk's actions.

"I'm not forcing you. So if you're not coming, just take the car and leave."

"What are you going to do by yourself?"

"There's something I need to find out."

"Haaa... I don't really get why a successful businessman just closed a huge deal is doing this."

"We don't have time. Make up your mind."

In-hyuk hadn't expected Hong Yu-geon to interfere, but he also couldn't just leave him, so he made him choose.

"Guess there's no choice."

"Then I'll go in front, you circle from the east and enter. Operation time is 30 minutes from now. We hit and run—no matter what. When the timer's up, instead of meeting at where we parked, go to point 37.132618, 127.676582 southeast."

Hong Yu-geon stared at In-hyuk in disbelief.

In-hyuk held out his watch. He meant for Hong Yu-geon to set the timer as he'd said.

"...... No. Move together. No matter what you're thinking, as a paid employee, I should protect my employer."

There was nothing for it but to sigh.

"Fine, then. Once inside, grab any storage devices you see. I'll search for something else."

"Haaa... This is driving me crazy! Shouldn't we at least wait until after dark?"

It was just after 3 p.m.

"If you're going to keep complaining——."

"Alright, alright!"

Finally, Hong Yu-geon set his watch timer like In-hyuk did, counted down, and pressed start.

Beep―

Simultaneously, the two ran toward the safehouse below.

As the distance closed, they slowed and hugged the house wall for stealth.

"I hoped nobody'd be here, but... three, maybe?"

"How can you tell?"

Even with his experience in combat zones, Hong Yu-geon found it hard to scan the numbers.

"Believe whatever you want."

They crept towards the entrance. Soon, they heard footsteps, and a man in casual clothes came out for a smoke.

Hong Yu-geon, almost resigned, moved first.

But In-hyuk was faster. From the right, he twisted the man's wrist inward and choked him from behind.

"Urk―!"

Struggling with his arm pinned, the man soon went limp.

Hong Yu-geon, watching from beside, was startled by the skill he saw—though he wanted to ask, the situation called for silence.

In-hyuk carefully laid the unconscious man down and gestured inside.

Then, in the entryway, he pointed in separate directions: signals to split up.

The living room was filled with a desk, computer gear, a whiteboard, and a stack of photos and documents that couldn't be deciphered at a glance.

He could sense people in the first-floor room and upstairs.

Just then, another man descended from the second floor. This time, Hong Yu-geon attacked first.

Crash―

"What the hell are you bastards?!"

Shouting, even the man from the room rushed out.

With the other two engaging, In-hyuk moved in, approaching from the side.

But the startled man, wary and tense, dodged In-hyuk's attack and countered, swinging for In-hyuk's head as if wrapping his arm around.

'Is he UID too?'

In a split second, In-hyuk feinted at the man's hand with his own extended arm—then grabbed and twisted it, locking the joint.

Crack― thud―

"What the—?!"

Shocked by a joint lock plus blows to his flank and solar plexus, the man was momentarily stunned.

In-hyuk took the opening, twisted his arm harder, lifted, and slammed him down.

Bang―

The heavy table collapsed with the man's body.

"Ugh......."

But the man was tough; he groaned and tried to get up through the pain.

In-hyuk didn't hesitate—he kicked the man in the jaw, knocking him out.

"Ugh!"

Crashwham—thud—

Meanwhile, by the stairs near the kitchen, Hong Yu-geon was brawling with the other guy.

"Am I just getting old? I'm not what I used to be."

In-hyuk glanced around, then walked to a cabinet in the corner of the living room.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the handle and ripped the entire door off.

Crunch—

Inside was an emergency stun gun. In-hyuk pulled one out and fired at the man fighting Hong Yu-geon.

Bzzzt—

"Aaaagh—!"

"Argh!"

But there were two screams, not one.

Right as Hong Yu-geon grabbed the man's neck to knee him, the stun gun fired.

"Ah......."