by Con Template
Besieged with horror, she mindlessly stumbled forward, her face paling as she continued to watch the film. Sounds of gunshots filled the large room she was in, causing her own heart to race thunderously.
Four of the bodyguards, despite the wounds that marred their chests, raced to cover her father, blocking him as countless more bullets continued to infiltrate their bodies. In front of them, the remaining four began to fire shots all around, shooting at the sniper who was burying metal into their bodies.
In the course of all this, her father withdrew two guns of his own and began to shoot. His efforts were halted when a single bullet came speeding toward him, entering through his elbow, and then puncturing into the neck of the bodyguard protecting him. Shortly after that, another bullet was fired, penetrating her father’s kneecap and causing him to plunge to the floor.
Unfathomable pain ripped through her when this occurred.
And then, all was lost.
One by one, his men were shot down, their bodies twitching incessantly before the life dissipated from them. Her father was left all alone, struggling to stand up despite the bullet that was lodged in his kneecap. He was alone . . . until Kwon Ho Young, who was dressed in a black pinstriped suit, walked into the screen with a black gun in his hand.
The way he walked was triumphant and mocking.
The grip Soo Jin had on her gun tightened; she would give anything to be there to save her father.
Ho Young kicked her father’s guns away. She could see that Ho Young was laughing at him. His back was turned to the camera, but she could discern that he was laughing and ridiculing her father.
Her father, despite the fact that he had been shot twice, tried to fight Ho Young. His efforts proved to be fruitless. He could scarcely get a punch in before he was shot again in the back. The bullet came from the exact direction of where the warehouse stood.
Then, the world froze.
From the area in which the most recent shot was fired, her brother—Young Jae—stepped into the range of the screen. He was holding a gun of his own.
Her extremities went cold, her eyes unblinking.
The betrayal that marked her father’s face was undeniable when he collapsed to the ground. Blood flooded from his body, yet none of that pain equated to the agony in his eyes as he stared up at his son and realized that he had been betrayed by his own flesh and blood.
He was there . . . he was there all along, she thought horrifically.
An Young Jae wasn’t protecting their father.
He had just shot him in the back.
He had just helped Kwon Ho Young.
There was no regret in Young Jae’s emotionless face. It did not hurt him to see his father staring up at him with anguish in his eyes. To make the betrayal worse, he had the audacity to kick their father’s stomach while he was already down. Soo Jin’s fury reached new heights when Young Jae lifted his foot and proceeded to press the sole of his boot into her father’s neck. Her father struggled underneath, desperately trying to push his foot off so he could breathe. Young Jae did not budge. Instead, he motioned for Ho Young to come forward. Ho Young inched closer, and without hesitation, he slammed his foot onto her father’s mouth. Coagulated blood spurted from her father’s mouth. It was only then did Young Jae release his foot from her father’s neck.
Soo Jin was shaking.
She was shaking with so much shock that she couldn’t even breathe. It felt like her world was collapsing all around her. Her mind grappled with the realization that her older brother—the one she adored and promised her undying loyalty to—was the one behind her father’s demise. She would not have believed this travesty if she had not witnessed it with her own eyes. Soo Jin swallowed tightly, unshed tears beginning to gleam in her eyes. Her heart was racing beyond all levels of acceleration, and then, just like that, her heart stopped pounding when the horror occurred.
The seconds before her father’s death . . .
Young Jae and Ho Young, both of whom were standing above her father’s fallen body, lifted up their guns. They stared straight into her father’s widened eyes. No hesitation marked the nerves in their bodies. Simultaneously, they pulled the trigger.
Boom! Boom!
Two earth-shattering bangs thundered into the quiet room, causing Soo Jin’s eyes to ripple with tears.
Soo Jin remembered that day perfectly. She remembered how her father looked, how his body was bleeding every which way. Two bullets laid where his eyes should’ve been, forever ridiculing him even in death. His mouth was parted open from shock, dismay, and hurt.
As if dying with her father’s last breath, the recording stopped. Darkness ensued, and then a blue screen took over, informing Soo Jin that there was no more footage to display.
“How long have you had this video?” Soo Jin asked long seconds later, her tear-cloaked eyes still staring unblinkingly at the TV screen. She was so incredibly stunned that she couldn’t even discern her emotions at that point. The images of her father’s death replayed in her mind, tormenting her with every passing moment.
“Last night,” Ju Won answered. In a rare display of emotions, his own eyes were also shrouded with pain. It was clear that the death of Soo Jin’s father, one of his few good friends in the Underworld, devastated him tremendously. “It was given to me last night.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“Who do you think?”
Soo Jin brokenly pondered over the answer. If what Ju Won said about her brother was true—that there was an ulterior reason why he chose to exterminate the entire Siberian Tigers’ lineage—then there was only one person who could’ve given Ju Won that tape.
“Tony,” she stated, never feeling more rage and hurt course through her.
Ju Won nodded, and Soo Jin’s congested mind continued to ponder over memories that didn’t make sense before, but made perfect sense now.
“He didn’t ask me to help kill them that night,” she ruminated slowly, recalling how odd it felt to her when Young Jae decided to attack the Siberian Tigers’ estate. He did not even recruit her to help him. “He said he didn’t want me involved in it.”
“Because he had Ho Young’s help,” Ju Won supplied. “The only reason why Young Jae was able to infiltrate the estate and kill nearly the entire lineage was because Ho Young joined forces with him and helped him that night.”
“Somehow,” Soo Jin reasoned, the pieces of the puzzle coming together for her, “they knew that the Siberian Tigers had the tape.”
Ju Won nodded again. “That was why Young Jae and Ho Young raided the estate.” Disgust cloaked his voice. “It wasn’t to kill the lineage so Young Jae would succeed the Scorpions’ throne—he could’ve done that by just killing Hee Jun. It was because the lineage had a video recording of the conspiracy that showed his partnership with Ho Young. It was because they had footage that showed Young Jae’s betrayal. If anyone else saw that tape, their reputations would be tarnished because everyone would know that they helped each other become Kings.”
“My reputation hangs on the line. We need to find Tony and kill him immediately. We also need to silence any necessary people who are threats to ruining the reign of my throne.”
Her brother’s words resounded in her mind, reminding her of the situation they were in.
“How did Tony survive?” Soo Jin finally asked.
“Ho Young and Young Jae were messy. The Siberian Tigers’ estate wasn’t an easy place to raid, and they were too distracted with finding the tape. They killed Hee Jun and assumed Tony was dead since they shot him several times. Fortunately for Tony, one of his men found him in time. He was hospitalized and sent to the Philippines for two years to recover. He was on the brink of death before he was able to regain some strength and return to Korea. His extended family provided a home for him and helped him find me. Young Jae and Ho Young found one tape, but they didn’t realize there was another one. They also didn’t realize Tony was in possession of it. I didn’t know he was alive until he app
eared on my doorstep last night, telling me that he had something to show me and that he needed you to watch this.”
Soo Jin inhaled slowly, still fragmented with all that was happening. “Where is he now?”
“Missing,” Ju Won answered at once. A long pause stole his lips before he said, “Young Jae has him, Soo Jin.”
“Not possible,” she dismissed, replaying the conversation she had with her brother earlier. “Why would he have me kidnap an entire family if he has—”
Soo Jin stopped speaking when the sudden realization dawned on her.
“Young Jae isn’t the type of person he pretends to be,” Ju Won said to her, aware of what was running through her mind. His wise eyes held the same knowledge. “Why do you think he’s having you kidnap an entire family if he already has Tony? What do you think he’s going to do to them once you bring them to him? Why do you think he’s giving you the task of retrieving the family?”
For the first time in her life, Soo Jin was speechless.
She knew exactly where Ju Won was headed with this logic, for it was the same road her logic paved for her. Slowly, the shock that swept over her became replaced with unfathomable rage. She clenched her fists, her animosity for her brother mounting as she listened to Ju Won’s words.
“You will be the one who kills them, Soo Jin,” he told her. “Somehow, some way, you will be the one to kill them all. Young Jae is a bastard, but he’s a smart bastard nonetheless. He knows the politics involved in our world. We are ruthless, yes, but we’re also honorable when we need to be. He killed an entire lineage because he didn’t want it known that he colluded with his enemy to kill his own father. He’s having you kidnap an entire family because he wants them all dead, and he wants you to take the fall for it.”
Ju Won stood closer to her, cupping her cheek with the palm of his hand like a father would for his daughter.
“All these years, you’ve stayed in his shadow and served him with your life. Yet all along, he never once offered you the loyalty you’ve shown him. What do you do in this situation, Soo Jin? What have I taught you, my child?”
“I will not kill him in his sleep,” Soo Jin breathed out, the tears that once blurred her vision drying up under the immeasurable anger she felt. Even the coldness of the room did little to pacify the volcanic lava erupting through her. “I used rat poison to defeat others when I was ten, but I am no longer a child. I cannot stoop that low.”
“No, I taught you greatness,” Ju Won said vehemently. “If you want revenge, you will bring a war upon him.”
“I have no soldiers,” she said at once. No matter how much Soo Jin wanted a war, she wasn’t a fool either. She had the loyalty of the Scorpions she personally trained and the loyalty of the Skulls as Ji Hoon would always stay by her side, yes, but that was it. The fact that Young Jae and Ho Young had an alliance meant that the war she intended to wage against her brother would not be a war—it would be a massacre of the people on her side. Ho Young and Young Jae were too strong compared to her and Ji Hoon. Even though she was a revered Queen, she wasn’t a crime lord. She had no commanding power over the Scorpions who would give up their lives for her older brother if he asked them to. Her numbers just weren’t strong enough to go against his.
“Tony wants to give you power over his gang, Soo Jin. He wants to give you his soldiers.”
She narrowed her eyes onto Ju Won. “The Siberian Tigers are dead.”
He shook his head. “The lineage is dead, but the gang is just inactive. They are waiting for the chosen one to resurrect their gang, and you’re going to be that new power.” Before she could protest, he went on. “I’ve already spoken to Tony. His arms are no longer the same. He will never be able to fight again. In this war, he knows that he will merely be a tool for you to seek revenge for his family, and he’s willing to give you reign over his throne. He’s willing to give you his Siberian Tigers.”
“How?” she inquired, seeing no hope in this matter. If it was true that her brother had Tony, then all of this was futile. “How would I lead his gang if my brother has him?”
“The Siberian Tigers’ jade knife,” Ju Won told her instantly. “Before his death, Hee Jun gave the jade knife to his girlfriend, Eve. He gave it to her for safekeeping, to protect it for Tony until he succeeded the throne. In order to lead the Siberian Tigers, their bylaws mandate that the new Siberian Tigers’ King must possess the jade knife. The new King must also perform a ritual based on a riddle that had been passed down from the Siberian Tigers’ forefathers. All the Siberian Tigers know about this ritual. Unfortunately, Tony did not give me the riddle. He wanted to personally give it to you. But now Young Jae has him, and Eve still has the jade knife.” He regarded her, his face swarming with conviction. “Your only saving grace is Eve. She not only has the knife, but she also knows the riddle. You must get both from her.”
A skeptical scoff escaped Soo Jin. There were so many holes in his plan that she could not even begin to take it seriously. “How would I do that? There are Scorpions watching her every move, waiting to kidnap her. I would never be able to get close to her without arousing suspicion.”
“There’s only one thing you can do in this situation that doesn’t give anything away.”
Soo Jin slanted her head and stared at Ju Won in disbelief. She knew what he was suggesting. “You want me to torture them for the information once my brother’s men bring them to the club?”
“You and I know that the extended family is dead the moment Young Jae sets his eyes on them. He doesn’t know how many of them know about the tape and the conspiracy, which means he’s going to kill all of them to keep his secret and his reputation intact. They are merely living on borrowed time right now, and if you can’t get the information from Eve, then you will miss your chance for your war. You can attempt to kill him one on one, but we both know that victory is only sweet if you get your vengeance during a war—when you’re making history at the same time. And after this, I will give you my empire. This alone will show our society the unending support I have for you. It will also show the trust I have that you will lead this world well. In addition to your revenge, you will also be the top candidate to become the Lord of the Underworld.”
Soo Jin could not conceal the glint that twinkled in her eyes.
Lord of the Underworld.
What a powerful name.
Ju Won smiled, looking at her with promise. “What do you say, Soo Jin? Are you willing to do what it takes to avenge your father? Are you willing to become what it takes to get your vengeance? Will you become the God you were always meant to be?” The air grew stern as he asked the last words that would seal her fate for the years to come. “Are you in, or are you out?”
Soo Jin thought back to the video she watched, the very evidence that proved what a ruthless bastard her brother truly was. All along, he conspired with Ho Young to kill their father. All along, he had been lying to her, using her. Her mind ventured on to the family he wanted her to kidnap. She realized now that the reason why he gave her this task was because he was throwing her under the bus. He wanted her to take the blame for the family that he was going to kill. He didn’t care about her father and he most certainly didn’t care about her.
A volcanic eruption exploded in her body.
A decade of constant training, a decade of killings, and a decade with a deteriorating soul washed over Soo Jin. It acted as the catalyst for the unfathomable rage that engulfed her very being.
Young Jae was never fit to be the King of Scorpions—a part of her had always known this. And now, with all that she discovered, she also knew he no longer deserved her loyalty. He deserved nothing but a cruel and painful death—the very same one bestowed upon her father.
He deserved a war.
Soo Jin said nothing for a long time.
Her eyes involuntarily roamed the room before they zeroed in on the gold coffin—her gold coffin. An unstoppable inferno raged inside her, bringing forth images of all the blood, sweat,
and tears she sacrificed to become the Queen of the Underworld. Her gaze migrated to the throne-like chair in the room. Hope heaved through her. She had the title, but now, she wanted a Kingdom befitting of her moniker.
With her ambition as her guide and her hatred for Young Jae as her motivator, Soo Jin made an unspoken promise to Ju Won. She utilized a method commonly used by the Kings in the Underworld to give their unbreakable word and effectively sealed her fate in this world.
Fire blazed in her eyes as she handed her gold gun to Ju Won.
Simply and resolutely, she said, “In.”
“You will be punished. . .”
28: The Changing of Tides
An Soo Jin was just like any other mountain that stood amongst the heavens, its peak reigning over its inferior inhabitants.
When untouched, she stands with towering pride and strikes fear into anyone who dares to cross her. However, when a certain tide changes and she feels that change, she fights viciously to hold on to the remainder of her inhumanity that had catapulted within her short, yet elongated lifespan. This was her therapy; this was An Soo Jin’s decade-long secret for her survival in a world so cruel that even monstrous beasts whimper before the society in fear. She lived and breathed power. She lived and breathed pride. She lived and breathed battles.
To fight the occasional crippling human emotions that plagued her, Soo Jin would, without fail, resort to killing people without mercy or battling a worthy opponent who would give her the fight of her life. These two tactics had always worked because they made her feel inhumane; they made her feel better than human. It had always worked, but now, as the current magnitude of human emotions pelted over her, Soo Jin couldn’t help but feel a bit more human than she had ever felt in ten years.
She didn’t like the pit-like feeling that made a home in her gut. She wasn’t fond of the headaches torturing her, and she sure as hell didn’t like that she was prone to tearing up whenever she thought of her father’s death and her brother’s ultimate betrayal. She was feeling a bit too human for her own taste and being this weak was simply intolerable for her.