Chapter Text
"It’s all over, isn't it?"
Jeonghan spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of relief, as if a heavy burden carried for years had finally been lifted. Seungcheol hummed in response, glancing briefly at him before returning his gaze to the scene unfolding before them—police officers escorting the criminals away. For some reason, an indescribable unease stirred in his chest. It didn't feel like a true conclusion. He recalled the cryptic smile the leader, had flashed them before being led away. Intuition told him that something even more sinister was looming on the horizon.
"Seungcheol-hyung, it’s time to go." Mingyu’s voice called out, snapping him back to reality. Seungcheol stole one last glance at the villa before slowly making his way back to their car.
On the drive back, sitting in the passenger seat, Seungcheol watched his younger brothers with a warm smile as they excitedly planned their upcoming trips. Everything had come to an end, leading him to reflect on the early days of his decision. He remembered that fateful night as if it were yesterday.
Seoul, Years Ago.
The city never truly slept. Its lights stretched out like glowing veins, nourishing a metropolis where events unfolded in the shadows without hesitation. In the heart of this city existed another world—silent, yet deeply rooted, influencing the mechanics of an unnamed society and governed by the most ruthless rules. This was where Choi Seungcheol stood, in a position fate never allowed him to refuse. He was the heir to the Choi Syndicate, a long-standing organization that had become part of Seoul's underground architecture, inconspicuous yet woven into every corner of the country. From a young age, he was groomed to be its center—unwavering, devoid of weakness, and cold enough to let logic override emotion. For a long time, he was exactly that.
Beside Seungcheol were those who needed no definition. Lee Jihoon, Wen Junhui, Kim Mingyu, Lee Seokmin, and Chwe Hansol were his longest companions—his right-hand men in whom he placed absolute trust. Together, they functioned as a perfect entity.
The change didn't start with a single event, but through minute shifts in his subconscious—pauses that lasted longer than usual before delivering a verdict, and moments of silence where conclusions used to be. Violent solutions became increasingly difficult to stomach. Seungcheol realized that the life he once desired was never this. The weight of inheritance and the legacy of an ancient clan had turned him into someone he despised. After many sleepless nights, he made a choice. He didn't flip the world overnight; he started small, with more merciful decisions.
Lee Jihoon was the first to notice. He observed Seungcheol’s subtle shifts, understanding his leader’s desires better than anyone. Naturally, Jihoon supported every decision without a single word of complaint.
When the rest of the group began to sense the shift in the system, Jun was the one who dared to ask a question that was seemingly simple yet heavier than anything they had faced:
"Have you given this enough thought, hyung?"
Seungcheol smiled, looking directly into Jun’s worried eyes. He didn't answer immediately, but that silence was an admission—he was indeed searching for a different answer for their lives.
Mingyu didn't ask, but he felt the shift in their operations. Hansol observed quietly, calmly accepting the transition, while Seokmin showed unwavering support regardless of the cost. They all knew their fates were about to change.
During an ordinary dinner, Seungcheol announced his decision, brief and decisive: "We are putting an end to all of this."
The air in the room thickened. This wasn't a tactical choice; it was a clean break from their past. Before they could fully process it, Seungcheol continued, explaining they would cooperate with the government to transition the Choi family into a legitimate, clean entity. It wasn't just a plan; it was a betrayal of everything they had been, in order to save who they were. In that moment, no one reacted. Not because they opposed him, but because the gravity of it was too immense to grasp instantly. After a moment of silence, Hansol asked if he was sure. Seungcheol gave a firm affirmative. He didn't demand anyone follow him, yet the others knew they would stand by him at any cost.
Their first meeting took place in a neutral, sterile space where two worlds stood face-to-face without defenses. Yoon Jeonghan was the government representative. He wasn't the rigid, dry official Seungcheol had expected. Instead, he possessed a gentle yet sharp exterior, controlling the situation with something softer than force. Beside him were the elegant and perceptive Hong Jisoo, the quiet and observant Jeon Wonwoo, the high-energy and flexible Kwon Soonyoung, the indifferent yet profound Seo Myungho, and Boo Seungkwan, their primary communicator who always hit the mark.
Seungcheol observed them all before speaking first, stating they weren't there to demand power, but to offer a mutually beneficial partnership. After a thoughtful silence, Jeonghan accepted. Though they came from two different worlds, their ultimate goal was the same.
Their cooperation began not with trust, but with necessity. Every piece of information was a test; every mission was laced with suspicion. But over time, situations forced them to rely on one another, changing their perceptions. Jihoon and Jisoo began exchanging intel more freely; Mingyu and Soonyoung still argued fiercely but coordinated with lethal efficiency; Jun and Seungkwan became as close as old friends; Wonwoo and Hansol understood each other without words; Myungho and Seokmin kept the group's rhythm steady. And Jeonghan no longer watched from across the room; he gradually integrated with them all.
Once, after everyone had left, Jeonghan asked Seungcheol what he was truly seeking. Seungcheol claimed he was looking for a way out for himself. Jeonghan smiled and shook his head, saying that Seungcheol was actually looking for a place where his brothers' hands no longer had to be stained with blood. Seungcheol didn't argue, nor did he admit it; it remained a silent truth he wasn't ready to voice.
Time flew by, and the boundaries between them blurred. Touches were no longer accidental; lingers after missions were no longer about work. No one defined it, but everyone understood they had crossed a line. One quiet night, they sat together in Seungcheol’s villa. No mission, no meeting—just presence. In that moment, Seungcheol realized he was no longer just a gang leader; he was part of them. When Jeonghan gently took his hand, Seungcheol looked into his eyes and realized everything had become clear. They didn't need words; they belonged together.
They thought it was a new beginning. They walked forward together, unaware that they were heading toward a dead end—a path that would demand a price none of them could afford. Because some mistakes condemn you to a lifetime of guilt and remorse.
Seoul, Present Day.
"Seungcheol, Hwang Jinhyeok wants to see you." Jeonghan returned after a call from the police station.
"Why?" Seungcheol raised an eyebrow.
"He says since he can’t escape his sentence anyway, he’ll confess everything—on the condition that he speaks with you first." Jeonghan scoffed, remembering the man's tone.
"Fine. Let's go. Hansol, when the kids get back, tell them we went to see him." Seungcheol stood up, grabbing his coat and signaling Jihoon to follow him and Jeonghan.
At the station, Jisoo met them and led them to the interrogation room. He signaled for Seungcheol to enter while he, Jeonghan, and Jihoon waited outside.
"You’re easier to meet than I imagined," Hwang Jinhyeok remarked as Seungcheol sat down.
"When a 'senior' requests a meeting, how could a 'junior' refuse?"
Hwang Jinhyeok ignored the sarcasm, wearing a smile that looked pitying. "I shouldn't waste the great Choi Seungcheol's time. It's time for a trip down memory lane."
He leaned back like a mentor reminiscing. Seungcheol waited in silence.
"Do you remember Lee Jungmin? That little spy you were so proud of?" Seungcheol’s brow twitched at the name. "And her brother... what was his name? Lee Chan? Lee Jungchan? Whatever. As long as you remember them."
Hwang paused, then chuckled. "How does it feel to be a part of my grand play, Choi Seungcheol?"
He didn't give Seungcheol a chance to speak. "Those two siblings were equally stubborn. You really raised them to be such 'good' kids."
"That girl was a nuisance—a little mouse. She took quite a bit of intel to you before I caught her. But luckily, I found out in time. She was tough; no matter how I tortured her, she didn't utter a word. And of course, to reward such loyalty, I had to give her the greatest prize, didn't I, Seungcheolie?"
Under the table, Seungcheol’s fists tightened, though his face remained a mask of cold indifference.
"I didn't expect her to have a backup plan. She must have sensed her end. Lee Chan... I was going to pull that thorn out by the roots, but then I thought, why not create a play where Choi Seungcheol is the lead? So, I let him find you. I patiently waited for him to integrate into your group, adding details to make the performance perfect. And you didn't disappoint."
Hwang leaned forward, peering into Seungcheol’s eyes. "I want you to remember every detail of that day. Every scene was a work of art. Unfortunately, the play ended sooner than I thought. The boy was just like his sister—stubborn. I wondered what method you used to make them so loyal. But eventually, I realized... he truly knew nothing. Haha! He knew nothing of the world he stepped into. So, I pitied him. A naive child dragged into the mud by you, leaving with a shattered heart. I helped him end his suffering with the gentle embrace of the sea."
Seungcheol’s ears rang. He fought to keep his expression calm—it was what he was best at—but the trembling of his hands beneath the table betrayed his internal chaos. Outside, the three men listening shared a horrified glance.
"So, how does it feel, Seungcheol? To personally push both people you loved to their deaths?" Hwang Jinhyeok smiled expectantly.
"So what, Hwang Jinhyeok?" Seungcheol replied with a chilling smile.
"Oh, come on. Don't act. I know how you feel. Show me."
Seungcheol stood up slowly, looking down at him. "If you wanted to see me suffer, I’m sorry to disappoint. I feel nothing for your story. After all, you know I’d do anything to achieve my goals. How dull."
He turned and walked toward the door.
"NO! THAT’S NOT RIGHT! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN AGONY! YOU SHOULD BE GOING MAD! CHOI SEUNGCHEOL, COME BACK HERE! I WANT TO SEE YOU SUFFER! I WANT—"
Seungcheol stepped out without looking back, closing the door on the man's frantic screams.