THE STREET KING

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1. A Line in the Sand

Jinwoo stood over the photograph, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The image of Hye-jin's brother—bloodied, bound, and barely conscious—burned itself into his mind.

Chairman Seo had just made the worst mistake of his life.

The room was silent. The remaining men of Jinwoo's crew watched him, waiting for his response.

"We attack now," Jinwoo said coldly.

Hye-jin, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Jinwoo, we need a plan. We can't just—"

"We end this tonight."

His voice was final.

Hye-jin exhaled, her hands trembling. She knew that if they rushed in without a solid strategy, they might not come back out.

But she also knew something else—Jinwoo wasn't going to stop.

Chairman Seo had pushed him past the point of no return.

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2. The Final Battle Begins

It was raining in Seoul.

Heavy drops fell against the pavement, mixing with the neon lights of the city. Jinwoo and his crew stood outside an abandoned shipping yard, one of Chairman Seo's private compounds.

They weren't going in silent.

A black SUV screeched to a stop at the gates. One of Seo's men walked up to check—

BOOM!

The vehicle exploded, sending metal and fire through the air. The ground shook from the blast.

Jinwoo didn't hesitate. "Go!"

His men charged forward, automatic weapons blazing.

Gunfire erupted from the shipping containers. Seo's men were ready, but they weren't expecting a full assault.

Jinwoo moved like a phantom in the chaos, his pistol silent, deadly.

One.

Two.

Three shots.

Each bullet found its mark. Every kill was personal.

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3. Breaking into Hell

The compound was a labyrinth of cargo crates and steel corridors. Jinwoo knew this was a trap—Seo was waiting for him inside.

He didn't care.

Hye-jin stayed at his side, covering his blind spots. She wasn't just here to rescue her brother anymore—she wanted Seo dead as much as Jinwoo did.

A sudden movement—

A knife lunged toward Jinwoo's throat.

CLANG!

He blocked it with his forearm, twisting the attacker's wrist until the bone snapped. The man screamed before Jinwoo silenced him with a bullet to the skull.

"Jinwoo, the main building!" Hye-jin called out.

They ran.

Each step brought them closer to Seo.

Each kill pushed them deeper into hell.

And Jinwoo wasn't turning back.

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4. A Father's Ghost

The main building was eerily quiet.

Jinwoo and Hye-jin moved carefully, their weapons raised.

A familiar voice echoed through the hall.

"I taught you better than this, boy."

Jinwoo froze.

The doors to Seo's office swung open.

Inside, Chairman Seo sat behind a mahogany desk, completely calm. Two men stood beside him, guns at their sides.

Jinwoo stepped forward, gun aimed at Seo's head.

"Where is he?"

Seo smiled. "Safe, for now."

Jinwoo's finger tightened on the trigger.

"Let him go."

Seo leaned back. "Do you know why I never killed you before, Jinwoo?"

Silence.

"Because you remind me too much of your father."

Jinwoo's heart stopped.

His father.

The man who had raised him in the streets. The man who had died protecting their territory.

"You never told me the truth about his death," Jinwoo said, his voice dark.

Seo chuckled. "That's because it wasn't Kyung-min who betrayed him."

Jinwoo's breath caught.

"What?"

Seo's smirk widened. "Your father… died because he was a fool. A weak king. He thought he could protect the streets, keep the gangs in line. But the moment he refused to play by the real rules…"

Seo leaned forward.

"I pulled the trigger."

The world stopped.

Jinwoo's entire body went numb.

All these years… all the blood, the pain, the revenge…

And the man he had respected, the man who had helped raise him…

Was the one who had murdered his father.

"You're lying," Jinwoo whispered.

Seo simply smiled.

"Then why don't you ask your uncle?"

Jinwoo's mind snapped.

The truth hit him like a bullet—his uncle had known.

The entire time.

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5. No More Mercy

Jinwoo's grip on his gun tightened.

Seo's laughter filled the room. "Go ahead, boy. Take your revenge. But if you do—"

BANG!

The shot echoed like thunder.

Seo's laughter died.

A bullet hole burned between his eyes, his body slumping forward.

Jinwoo didn't wait for his body to hit the floor. He turned, firing two more shots at Seo's men.

Hye-jin moved fast, cutting down the last guard.

Silence.

Just the sound of the rain outside.

Jinwoo stood over Seo's lifeless body, his chest rising and falling.

"That was too quick for him," Hye-jin muttered.

Jinwoo didn't answer.

There was no satisfaction.

Only emptiness.

The man who had destroyed his life was gone.

And yet, the war wasn't over.

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6. The True Enemy

Footsteps echoed in the hall.

Jinwoo turned—a figure emerged from the shadows.

His uncle.

Jinwoo raised his gun.

"How long?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

His uncle sighed. "Since the beginning."

Jinwoo's pulse pounded.

"Why?"

His uncle stepped closer. "Because, Jinwoo… your father was too weak to rule. And now, so are you."

Jinwoo's breath hitched.

This wasn't over.

Not yet.

His uncle smiled coldly.

"Let me show you what a true king looks like."

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End of Chapter 38