THE STREET KING

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1. Shadows in the Smoke

The motel room was dimly lit, the air thick with unspoken tension. Jinwoo sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the USB Joon-ho had given him. Hye-jin leaned against the window, arms crossed.

"You've been holding that thing for hours," she finally said.

Jinwoo didn't look up. "I'm trying to decide if I'm ready for what's on it."

Hye-jin sighed, pushing off the wall. "Joon-ho died to give you that. The least you can do is see why."

Jinwoo clenched his fists. Joon-ho's death was still a fresh wound, burning through his chest like acid. But she was right.

With a deep breath, he plugged the USB into his laptop.

The screen flickered.

Then a video file appeared.

Jinwoo clicked it.

The footage was grainy, security camera quality. But he recognized the setting—Kyung-min's private estate. The timestamp was from five years ago.

And then—his father appeared.

Jinwoo's blood ran cold.

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2. A Father's Sins

His father stood in the center of the screen, surrounded by men in suits. Crime bosses. Corrupt politicians. Military officials.

And among them, Kyung-min.

Jinwoo leaned closer.

His father spoke. "The balance of power in Seoul is fragile. We must maintain control, or we will all fall."

Kyung-min scoffed. "Control? You mean we follow your rules while you sit on the throne?"

His father's voice hardened. "This isn't a debate. The city needs order. And order comes from fear."

A new voice spoke. A deep, chilling tone.

"You talk about order, but you're just another king who forgot he could be replaced."

Jinwoo's entire body tensed.

Because the man who spoke wasn't Kyung-min.

It was someone else.

A shadowed figure in the back of the room.

The voice continued, calm but deadly. "Your time is up. The streets don't belong to you anymore."

Then—gunfire erupted.

Jinwoo watched in horror as the camera shook, bodies dropping as bullets tore through the room. His father dove for cover—but a single shot hit him between the eyes.

He collapsed.

And the shadowed man stepped forward.

For the first time, the camera caught his face.

And Jinwoo's stomach dropped.

Because he recognized him.

It was Joon-ho.

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3. The Truth Hurts More Than Blades

Jinwoo slammed the laptop shut. His breath was ragged, his hands shaking.

Hye-jin's eyes were wide. "Joon-ho… killed your father?"

Jinwoo couldn't breathe.

The man he had fought beside. The man who had just sacrificed himself. The man he had trusted.

Had been the one who started everything.

His fists clenched. His mind raced. Why? Why would Joon-ho do this?

Hye-jin placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jinwoo, I—"

He shoved her hand away and punched the wall. "Everything was a lie!"

Hye-jin flinched at his outburst but didn't step back. "Maybe not everything. Maybe there's more we don't know."

Jinwoo's voice was low, dangerous. "Or maybe I was just too blind to see the truth."

Silence filled the room.

Then Hye-jin spoke. "What now?"

Jinwoo's jaw tightened. "Now?"

He grabbed his gun.

"I find out if Joon-ho is really dead. And if he isn't—I kill him myself."

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4. The Return of Ghosts

Jinwoo and Hye-jin moved quickly, abandoning the motel. If the USB held this kind of truth, then they weren't safe anymore.

Jinwoo made a call.

The other line picked up. "I was wondering when you'd reach out."

"Do you still have contacts in the underground?" Jinwoo asked.

The voice chuckled. "I do. But information isn't free."

Jinwoo's voice was cold. "I don't care about the price. Find out if Joon-ho's body was recovered."

A pause.

Then, "Understood."

Jinwoo hung up and turned to Hye-jin. "If he's still alive, we end this."

Hye-jin hesitated. "And if he's dead?"

Jinwoo looked out at the city.

"Then we find out who he was really working for."

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5. The New Enemy

The call came two hours later.

Jinwoo answered. "Talk."

The voice on the other end was tense. "Joon-ho's body was never found."

Jinwoo's grip on the phone tightened.

The voice continued. "And there's something worse. The power vacuum Kyung-min left behind? It's already being filled."

Jinwoo frowned. "By who?"

A pause.

Then—

"The man Joon-ho was working for. The real power behind all of this."

Jinwoo's breath slowed. "Who is he?"

The voice was hesitant. "We don't know his real name. But on the streets, they call him—"

A deep breath.

"The White Serpent."

Jinwoo's mind raced. He had heard the name before. A legend whispered in the darkest corners of Seoul. A ghost. A myth. A nightmare.

And now—his next target.

Hye-jin's voice was quiet. "What do we do now?"

Jinwoo exhaled.

"We find the White Serpent."

A shadow fell over his face.

"And we bury him."

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End of Chapter 35