The air inside the warehouse was thick with tension. Ji Hwan, bruised and bleeding, leaned against a stack of crates, catching his breath. Tae Min stood a few steps away, still gripping his knife. Across from him, Kang Ryun stared down the younger boy with an unimpressed expression.
Tae Min narrowed his eyes. "Before we continue, answer me this." He tilted his head, a twisted grin playing on his lips. "Who killed my grandfather?"
Ji Hwan, despite his pain, let out a small scoff. "Why the hell would we know?"
Tae Min ignored him and turned to Kang Ryun. "You must know, don't you?" He studied the older man for a moment, then smirked. "Wait a minute… now that I think about it, you look familiar." His expression darkened. "Aren't you Kang Dae Ho's younger brother? That would make you Ji Hwan's uncle."
Kang Ryun crossed his arms, his lips curling slightly in amusement. "Well, well. Took you long enough to figure that out."
Tae Min's eyes flickered with something unreadable—curiosity, anger, maybe even desperation. "If you're his uncle, then you should know the truth." His voice turned sharp. "Tell me. Who killed my grandfather?"
Kang Ryun sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Why should I tell you, kid?"
Tae Min's jaw clenched. "Because I want to know the truth. I need to know."
Kang Ryun took a step closer, his expression hardening. "Then ask your own damn family. Don't go around blaming others just because you're too much of a coward to face reality."
Tae Min's grip on the knife tightened. "Tch… You're just like Ji Hwan. Annoying as hell."
Kang Ryun smirked. "And you're just a high school brat playing gangster." He tilted his head mockingly. "Now, be a good kid and drop the knife."
"Like hell I will." Tae Min lunged.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Kang Ryun sidestepped, grabbing Tae Min's wrist mid-air and twisting it.
CRACK!
Tae Min gasped in pain as the knife clattered to the floor. But instead of retreating, he swung his other fist towards Kang Ryun's face.
Kang Ryun blocked with ease and countered with a sharp elbow to Tae Min's gut.
THUD!
Tae Min staggered backward, coughing. His gang members hesitated, unsure whether to jump in.
Just then—
BANG!
The warehouse doors burst open again.
"JI HWAN!"
A loud voice echoed through the space.
Everyone turned to see Ji Yeon standing at the entrance. Beside her, Seung Woo and Joo Hyuk stood at the front of a large group of classmates.
And right behind them—
Park Yoon Ho and his gang.
The reinforcements had arrived.
The warehouse had turned into a battlefield. Kang Ryun stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Tae Min's gang. With ease, he dodged their attacks and knocked them down one by one with swift, practiced strikes. Despite his injuries, Ji Hwan fought alongside his friends. Seung Woo and Joo Hyuk took on Tae Min's men, while Park Yoon Ho and his gang helped finish off the remaining fighters.
But in the middle of the chaos—
KLIK!
Kang Ryun pulled out a small device from his pocket and switched it on. A tiny light blinked in his hand. Tae Min narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is that?"
Before anyone could answer—
BANG!
The warehouse doors burst open once more.
"POLICE! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
Several uniformed detectives stormed in, guns drawn. Tae Min's eyes widened as he instinctively took a step back. "Shit… Is this a setup?"
One of the detectives stepped forward. "Tae Min Jung, you're under arrest for kidnapping, assault, and other criminal charges. Come quietly."
Ji Hwan looked at Kang Ryun in shock.
"You planned this?" Ji Hwan whispered.
Kang Ryun smirked. "Easier to catch him with solid evidence."
Tae Min tried to resist, but the police quickly restrained him and locked the handcuffs around his wrists. "This isn't over, Ji Hwan!" he shouted as he was dragged away.
Ji Hwan let out a long breath, his body finally relaxing. He stared at the ceiling of the warehouse, feeling like a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Elsewhere, at Jung Corporation's headquarters, tension filled the meeting room. The news of Tae Min being sent to juvenile prison had reached the company's top executives.
An elderly man, CEO Jung, tapped his fingers on the table. "So, my foolish grandson has finally been caught."
One of the executives swallowed hard. "Sir, what should we do?"
CEO Jung sighed heavily. "We cannot allow our family name to be ruined. Get the best lawyers ready."
But another man at the end of the table hesitated. "Sir… the evidence the police gathered is strong. Tae Min might be locked up for a long time."
CEO Jung narrowed his eyes. "Then we must ensure he remains useful… even from inside."
At Kang Dae Ho's office, the atmosphere was tense. He had just received news about Tae Min and the scandal surrounding the Jung family.
He rubbed his face, feeling exhausted. "So, everything is finally coming to light…"
One of his subordinates reported, "Boss, there's a chance the Jung family will retaliate."
Kang Dae Ho let out a small, sharp smile, but his eyes remained cold. "Let them try. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."
He picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Ryun, make sure Ji Hwan is safe. This is just the beginning."
Joo Hyuk and Ji Yeon quickly helped Ji Hwan to his feet. His legs were weak, his body bruised and battered, but he still managed to grin at his friends.
Raon, seeing his bloody mouth, smirked. "Damn, Ji Hwan, your teeth are covered in blood. Are you trying to start a new fashion trend?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Jin Woo and his gang patted Ji Hwan on the back. "Hey, don't forget, you owe us a meal for all this trouble!"
But Ji Hwan's classmates immediately objected. "No way! Ji Hwan should treat us first! We were the first ones to come help!"
The friendly argument continued as Kang Ryun, watching them, simply shook his head with a small smile. "Alright, kids, let's get out of here before someone calls more trouble."
Just as they were about to leave—
"YA!!!"
A loud voice echoed through the warehouse.
Everyone turned just in time to see Ms. Lee running toward them, holding a wooden plank as if she were ready to fight. But she stopped in confusion when she realized the fight was already over.
She was too late.
The entire class stared at her, then turned to look at Kang Ryun. A suspicious silence filled the air.
"Wait a minute…" one student muttered.
Ji Hwan smirked and raised an eyebrow. "Could it be… Ms. Lee and my uncle have a special relationship?"
The room erupted into chaos.
"WHAAAT?!"
"No way!!"
"You two know each other THAT well?!"
Ms. Lee's face turned red. "What?! N-no! That's ridiculous!"
Kang Ryun chuckled but said nothing, which only made the teasing worse.
Meanwhile, on the side, Park Yoon Ho exchanged glances with his gang, signaling them to quietly slip away from the madness.
Ji Hwan, Ji Yeon, and Joo Hyuk also took the chance to leave, joining Yoon Ho's gang as they exited the warehouse.
Behind them, their classmates were still teasing Ms. Lee and Kang Ryun.
Ji Hwan sighed, smiling tiredly. "Man, what a crazy day…"
Tae Min, Kyung Ho, and Mi Soo sat with their hands cuffed. Their faces were filled with anger, exhaustion, and a hint of fear. There was no power or status that could save them this time.
The door to the room opened.
Jung Dong Wook, Tae Min's father, entered, dressed in a sharp suit. His face remained calm, but his eyes held deep disappointment. Behind him, Jung Ha Joon, Tae Min's older brother, stood with a conflicted expression.
Ha Joon stepped forward, looking at his younger brother, who sat in the chair with a bruised face.
"I warned you…" he said, his voice steady but sharp. "I told you, Tae Min. But you never listened."
Tae Min lifted his head, his eyes burning with anger. "You don't know anything, Hyung! I was just—"
"Enough," Ha Joon cut him off. "You always justify everything you do. But look at yourself now. Was it all worth it?"
Tae Min fell silent.
On the other side, Jung Dong Wook stood firm. There was no pity on his face—only deep disappointment.
"You have disgraced our family," he said coldly. "And because of that, I cannot save you."
Tae Min stared at his father in disbelief. "What? Dad… I'm your son!"
Jung Dong Wook remained unmoved. "I have given you everything. But you chose this path yourself."
Ha Joon clenched his fists. "Father… What's more important to you? The family name or your children?"
Jung Dong Wook turned to him, his eyes sharp. "That question does not need to be asked. The family's image is everything."
Silence.
Tae Min let out a small, bitter laugh. "I should have known. In the end, I was just a piece in the bigger picture you wanted to protect. Just like Hyung."
Ha Joon looked at his brother with sadness. They were both treated the same way—like tools to uphold the family's reputation, not as children who were truly loved.
The police officer stepped forward, signaling that their time was up.
Ha Joon let out a long sigh. "Tae Min… I can't save you from this. I just hope you learn from it."
Tae Min lowered his head, saying nothing.
As the police escorted Tae Min away, Ha Joon watched his younger brother's back for the last time, feeling as if he was losing someone he had always wanted to protect.
Jung Dong Wook simply turned away and walked out—without looking back even once.