THE STREET KING

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1. New Threats, Old Wounds

Jinwoo stood on the rooftop, staring into the endless Seoul skyline. He should've been dead tonight.

Instead, Seo had escaped.

And now, a new player had entered the war.

The woman's voice echoed in his mind:

"Someone who wants what you have."

Jisoo leaned against the railing, wincing as he pressed a hand to his bandaged shoulder. "That woman… She wasn't some street-level player. The way she moved, the way her men fought—they were trained, military-level precision."

Hye-jin nodded. "She didn't come here for fun. She has a plan."

Jinwoo exhaled. "Then we find out who she is before she makes her next move."

Hye-jin's phone buzzed. She checked the screen, her expression darkening.

"She already has."

She turned the screen toward Jinwoo.

A news report.

"Mysterious Fire Destroys Gang Headquarters in Itaewon. Multiple Deaths Reported."

Jinwoo's stomach turned. He knew that place.

It belonged to one of his allies.

She wasn't just making a move.

She was declaring war.

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2. The Woman with No Name

The next morning, Jinwoo's network worked fast.

Jisoo met him in their hideout, a cigarette burning between his fingers. "Her name is Cha Mirae."

Jinwoo's gaze sharpened. "Cha?"

Hye-jin crossed her arms. "As in the Cha family?"

Jisoo nodded grimly. "Yeah. The same Cha family that ran the black market arms trade before the government wiped them out ten years ago. Or at least, that's what we thought."

Jinwoo frowned. "If she's from that bloodline, she's more than just a threat. She's got resources, connections, and a reason to burn this city down."

Hye-jin exhaled. "And she just made her first move against us."

Jisoo stubbed out his cigarette. "So what's the play?"

Jinwoo's jaw clenched. "We send a message."

Hye-jin smirked. "I was hoping you'd say that."

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3. The Night of Fire

Jinwoo's men moved fast.

They hit one of Mirae's warehouses in Busan first. Silent. Efficient. Burned it to the ground.

Then they took out a club in Hongdae—one of her money-laundering spots. Destroyed everything.

Within twenty-four hours, they had crippled three of her operations.

But Mirae didn't react.

Not immediately.

It wasn't until the next night that she struck back.

Jinwoo was in his private club, going over his next move, when the doors burst open.

One of his men stumbled in—covered in blood.

"Boss… it's bad."

Jinwoo stood. "What happened?"

The man barely managed to speak.

"They… they took Hye-jin."

Jinwoo's blood ran cold.

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4. A Dangerous Exchange

The next call came shortly after.

Mirae's voice was smooth, calm. "Did you really think you could attack me without consequences?"

Jinwoo's grip on the phone tightened. "Where is she?"

Mirae chuckled. "Alive. For now."

Jinwoo's vision blurred with rage. "If you touch her—"

Mirae cut him off. "Relax. I'm not Seo. I don't torture for fun. But if you want her back… you know what to do."

Jinwoo's stomach tightened. "Name your price."

The line went silent for a moment. Then she spoke.

"Your empire."

Jinwoo's heartbeat pounded in his ears.

"You want the streets?" he asked.

Mirae's voice was soft but firm. "I want everything."

Jinwoo exhaled, his knuckles turning white. "And if I say no?"

Mirae chuckled. "Then I send you a gift."

A soft ding came from Jinwoo's phone.

A picture.

Hye-jin—bound to a chair, a knife pressed against her throat.

Jinwoo's breath turned sharp.

Mirae's voice was like ice. "You have twenty-four hours."

The call ended.

Jinwoo had a choice to make.

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End of Chapter 43