I arrived home late at night.
The first thing I did was burn my new uniform. I had worn it for only a day, but it was already torn and soaked with blood from all the fighting. There was no point keeping it anymore.
After that, I took a long shower and changed into casual nightwear. Alfred had already prepared dinner, so I ate quietly.
Mom must be asleep. It's already too late, I thought.
I went to my room, lay down on the bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Next Morning
With my home gym finally fully equipped, my morning routine changed completely. What used to be simple calisthenics was now replaced with real training.
Iron and sweat.
I pushed this body harder than before, following a high-intensity split meant to draw out its full physical potential.
I began with a 10 km run to build cardiovascular endurance.
After that came heavy lifting.
Barbell Squats — 5 sets of 5
To build explosive lower-body power essential for Taekwondo.
Bench Press
Focused on chest and triceps to support the impact behind Fa Jin.
Deadlifts
Strengthening my core and posterior chain, stabilizing my center of gravity during high-risk fights.
By the time I finished, my muscles burned properly.
I showered again and went down for breakfast.
Mom was already there.
While eating, I told her about Seohee and her brother—about their situation and why I had invited them to stay with us. She listened carefully, her expression slowly changing as I explained their past.
When I finished, she sighed.
"Those poor children…" she said softly. "How much they must have suffered, living alone without parents like that."
She looked genuinely sad.
After breakfast, I stood up and headed outside.
As I was about to get into the car, Alfred stopped me.
"Young master," he said, "I've already arranged a superbike for you. If you'd like, you can take it for a ride today."
I turned to him, surprised.
"What? Didn't you say it would take at least seven days?"
"Yes," Alfred replied calmly. "The Kawasaki will still take about a week. However, I purchased another bike from a Gangnam showroom."
He gestured forward.
I looked—and froze.
A BMW S1000RR stood there, gleaming under the light.
Its price alone was over 25 million won.
"…I see," I said.
I thanked Alfred, took the keys, and climbed onto my new bike.
The engine roared to life.
I twisted the throttle and rode out, the sound echoing down the road .
When I reached the school gates, I noticed two people standing there.
Seohee and Seojun.
I parked my bike , walked toward them and greeted them.
"Why are you two standing here?"
"We were waiting for you," Seohee replied calmly. "And we brought our luggage."
I paused.
"Wait… does that mean you've decided to join the crew?" I asked. "You could've called me about the luggage. I would've sent my butler to pick you up from wherever you were staying."
She rolled her eyes.
"Like you answered when I called you yesterday evening."
I clicked my tongue.
"I was busy occupying clubs and bars for our future business," I said. "Just leave the luggage in the classroom. I'll call my butler to pick it up after school."
"So you're the one behind all the commotion last night," she said with a smirk. "Everyone's talking about you. They even gave you a nickname."
"Oh?" I asked. "What is it?"
Internally, I prayed.
Please don't be something stupid like Tank Top Suhyeon Kim.
Seojun spoke this time, his voice hesitant.
"It's… Kuroboshi."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Seohee answered, her tone casual.
"The Black Star ."
I nodded.
"Alright. Let's go. Class is about to start."
Inside, I couldn't help but think—
At least it's a good name.
After settling things, I headed toward the classroom where Sechan usually held meetings. I needed to meet my two subordinates.
As I approached the door, the two crew members standing guard straightened immediately.
"Good morning, sir," one of them said, bowing deeply.
I walked past without replying.
So this was what VIP treatment felt like.
Inside the room, the atmosphere was calm. Daniel was the only one there, leaning against a table while reviewing some documents.
He looked up when I entered, a rare, genuine smile appearing on his face.
"Congratulations, Choyun," Daniel said. "I heard what you did last night. Looks like everything is going according to your plan."
I thanked him briefly.
Almost immediately, a junior crew member entered the room and bowed.
"Would you like something to drink, sir?"
"Cold coffee," I replied. "Black."
He disappeared and returned within minutes, placing a chilled glass on the table before leaving quietly. I took a sip, feeling the caffeine spread through my system.
The door opened again.
Sechan and Haru walked in, followed by my two employees—Seonu Ha and Eunhyeong Ji. They looked at me with a mix of awe and professional calculation.
"You really did it," Sechan said as he sat down. "The whole district is talking about you. Congratulations, Choyun."
"Thanks," I replied. I didn't need the praise.
I looked at the group, already visualizing the structure of North Gangbuk in my mind. I turned to the two intelligence specialists first.
"Seonu Ha. Eunhyeong Ji," I said, my voice firm. "You two are in charge of logistics for the Far North and Far South of North Gangbuk. I want every ledger, every staff rotation, and every supply chain under your supervision. Nothing moves in those areas without you knowing."
They both nodded, expressions serious.
Then I turned to Daniel.
"Daniel, you'll handle the Central Area," I said. "It's the most volatile zone. I need your eyes on every moving part there. You'll be the pivot point for the entire operation."
Daniel inclined his head slightly.
"I can manage that."
"The goal is simple," I continued, leaning forward. "Every month, you'll collect income from every business operating under my name and deliver it directly to me."
After a brief pause, I asked,
"Daniel, do you think there are any bars left in North Gangbuk that I haven't taken over yet?"
He pulled out a map. I pointed out the locations I had already occupied. After studying it for a moment, he tapped a spot near the border.
"There's one left," he said. "It's on the boundary between North and East Gangbuk. But it's currently under Jaeha Han's control."
I nodded.
After assigning everyone their tasks and ensuring there were no misunderstandings, I left the room and made my way to class.