THE STREET KING

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1. The Meeting Before the Storm

Jinwoo stood at the edge of the rooftop, staring at the city that had shaped him. Seoul's neon skyline flickered like dying stars, a chaotic beauty masking the bloodstains beneath.

Kyung-min was alive. And that meant this wasn't over.

Joon-ho sat behind him, loading a pistol. "We go in with a plan, or we die like fools."

Jinwoo's grip tightened around his knife. "I'm done waiting."

Hye-jin folded her arms. "So, what? You storm his stronghold and hope for the best?"

Jinwoo turned. "I won't hope. I'll kill him."

Joon-ho let out a dark chuckle. "That's exactly what he wants."

Jinwoo frowned.

Joon-ho met his eyes. "Think about it. Kyung-min faked his death and left you hunting shadows. Now that you know the truth, he doesn't run. He waits. Because this time, he has the advantage."

Jinwoo exhaled sharply. He hated that Joon-ho was right.

Hye-jin stepped forward. "Then we change the game."

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2. The Trap Within the Trap

Joon-ho smirked. "I know where he is. But he won't expect us to hit him tonight."

Jinwoo crossed his arms. "How do you know where he is?"

Joon-ho's face darkened. "Because he's been watching us. And I let him."

Jinwoo's jaw clenched. "You baited him."

Joon-ho nodded. "And he took it. His people think I'm still on their side. That's our opening."

Hye-jin's eyes narrowed. "You're playing both sides?"

Joon-ho shrugged. "That's how I survived this long."

Jinwoo wasn't sure whether to trust him. But trust or not, they had the same target.

And that was enough.

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3. The Lion's Den

They moved at midnight.

Jinwoo, Joon-ho, and Hye-jin entered a high-rise in Gangnam—one of Kyung-min's many hidden bases.

The halls were silent. Too silent.

Jinwoo's instincts screamed at him.

"Something's wrong," he muttered.

Joon-ho pulled out his gun. "Keep moving."

They reached the top floor. A massive office with floor-to-ceiling windows.

And in the center—

Kyung-min.

Alive. Smiling.

"Ah, Jinwoo," he said smoothly. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't come."

Jinwoo's body went rigid. Every fiber of his being wanted to kill the bastard.

Kyung-min raised his hands. "Before you try, there's something you should know."

Joon-ho tensed. "Don't listen to him—"

Kyung-min turned his gaze toward Joon-ho. "Tell him, brother."

Jinwoo's blood ran cold.

Brother?

His grip on his gun faltered. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Joon-ho didn't move.

Kyung-min smirked. "He hasn't told you, has he?"

Jinwoo turned to Joon-ho, heart pounding. "Tell me what?"

Joon-ho's expression was unreadable. Then, he sighed.

And dropped his gun.

"Joon-ho?" Hye-jin whispered.

Jinwoo's voice was sharp. "What the hell are you doing?"

Joon-ho exhaled. "I tried to warn you. But you didn't want to hear it."

Jinwoo took a step back. "Don't do this."

Joon-ho's next words shattered everything.

"This isn't my war, Jinwoo. It never was."

Kyung-min smiled. "Now you understand."

Jinwoo felt something inside him break.

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4. Betrayal's Final Cut

Kyung-min walked forward. "Your father created this empire. You were always just a pawn, Jinwoo. Joon-ho knew that. And now, so do you."

Jinwoo's fingers tightened on his gun.

Joon-ho didn't move.

Hye-jin's voice was desperate. "Joon-ho, don't do this."

He turned to her, his voice softer than before. "I'm tired, Hye-jin. I've been fighting for something I never wanted."

Jinwoo's vision blurred with rage. "Then why bring me here?"

Joon-ho sighed. "To end this."

And then—

Gunfire.

Joon-ho moved first, his pistol flashing. But not at Jinwoo.

At Kyung-min.

A single shot—straight to the chest.

Kyung-min's eyes went wide as blood bloomed across his suit.

Jinwoo froze.

Joon-ho's voice was steady. "I never chose his side."

Kyung-min staggered back. "You… you bastard—"

Joon-ho's next shot was to the head.

Kyung-min collapsed. Dead.

The room was silent.

Jinwoo stared at his brother. "Why?"

Joon-ho lowered his gun. "Because I owed you the truth."

Hye-jin let out a shaky breath. "Then why make it look like a betrayal?"

Joon-ho gave a small, sad smile. "Because I wanted you to be ready to kill me if I was wrong."

Jinwoo didn't know whether to punch him or hug him.

But then—

A beep.

Jinwoo turned. Kyung-min's watch flashed red.

His final words echoed in the room.

"You were always just a pawn."

Jinwoo's stomach dropped.

A bomb.

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5. The Last Escape

Jinwoo grabbed Hye-jin's wrist. "We need to move!"

Joon-ho was already at the door.

The floor beneath them shook.

Jinwoo ran, dodging falling debris. The entire building was wired to explode.

The hallways became a maze of fire and dust.

Hye-jin coughed. "Joon-ho!"

Jinwoo turned—his brother was behind them, but limping.

A shrapnel wound in his leg.

Jinwoo rushed back. "Come on!"

Joon-ho shoved him away. "Go!"

Jinwoo refused. "I'm not leaving you!"

Joon-ho gave him a bloody smile. "Yes, you are."

He shoved a USB into Jinwoo's hand.

"This is the real truth. Take it and run."

Jinwoo's eyes widened. "No—"

Joon-ho pulled out his last grenade.

Hye-jin grabbed Jinwoo's arm. "We don't have time!"

The roof collapsed.

Jinwoo was dragged into the stairwell just as the world exploded behind him.

Flames swallowed the building.

And Joon-ho was gone.

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6. The War Isn't Over

The next morning, Seoul's news was filled with reports of a mysterious explosion in Gangnam.

Jinwoo sat on the rooftop of an old motel, staring at the USB in his hand.

Hye-jin sat beside him, silent.

After a long pause, she spoke. "Do you think he made it out?"

Jinwoo clenched his jaw. "I don't know."

Hye-jin glanced at the USB. "Are you going to open it?"

Jinwoo didn't answer.

Because now, there was only one question left.

If Kyung-min wasn't the real enemy… then who was?

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End of Chapter 34