THE STREET KING

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1. A City Painted in Blood

The news of Baek Sung-min's death spread like wildfire.

The underworld of Seoul was shifting again, but this time, it was in Jinwoo's favor. With Sung-min gone, most of his remaining forces either surrendered or scattered like cockroaches. The war seemed over.

But Jinwoo knew better.

Victory was never that simple.

Inside his penthouse, he stood by the window, staring down at the city. His hands were still stained with blood, but he felt no relief.

Jisoo poured himself a drink. "Sung-min's men are either dead or too scared to fight. It's over, Jinwoo."

Jinwoo exhaled. "Not yet."

Hye-jin leaned against the counter, her arms crossed. "What are you thinking?"

Jinwoo turned to them. "Someone set this up. Sung-min wasn't acting alone."

Jisoo frowned. "You think someone higher up was pulling the strings?"

Jinwoo nodded. "And I think they're still watching."

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2. A Ghost from the Past

That night, a message arrived.

A single envelope left on Jinwoo's doorstep.

No name. No sender.

Inside, a photograph—

Mirae.

Jinwoo's breath caught. It was an old picture, taken years ago, before she had become the ruthless queen of Seoul's underworld. Back when she was just a girl standing beside…

Jinwoo's heart stopped.

Beside him.

Jisoo and Hye-jin looked over his shoulder. Jisoo let out a low whistle. "That's you, isn't it?"

Jinwoo clenched his fist. "Yeah."

Hye-jin's voice was quiet. "Who sent this?"

Jinwoo turned the photo over.

A single sentence was written in blood-red ink.

"Did you really think it was over?"

Jinwoo's jaw tightened. Someone was still out there. And they knew everything.

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3. The Judas Among Them

The next day, Jinwoo met with his remaining allies.

The heads of the surviving gangs sat around a dimly lit table. Some were still shaken from the war, others eager to take Sung-min's place.

Jinwoo wasted no time.

"Sung-min was a pawn," he said. "Someone else was playing the real game. We need to find out who."

One of the gang leaders scoffed. "Why should we care? You won, Jinwoo. Take your victory and move on."

Jinwoo's eyes turned cold. "If we don't stop them now, they'll come for all of us next."

The room fell silent.

Jisoo leaned in. "We start with the people who benefited the most from this war."

Hye-jin nodded. "Who rose to power while we were busy fighting?"

Jinwoo's mind was already racing.

And then, a realization struck him like a gunshot.

It was someone close. Someone they trusted.

His gaze shifted—landing on Jisoo.

Jisoo smirked. "You're staring at me like you just saw a ghost, Jinwoo."

Jinwoo's fingers twitched toward his gun.

Hye-jin frowned. "Jinwoo?"

Jinwoo's voice was quiet, almost dangerous. "Tell me something, Jisoo… when did you know where Hye-jin was being held?"

Jisoo's smirk faltered. "What?"

Jinwoo took a slow step forward. "You didn't hesitate when we stormed the warehouse. Almost like you already knew the layout."

The tension in the room thickened.

Jisoo chuckled, shaking his head. "Come on, man. We've been through hell together."

Jinwoo didn't blink. "Exactly. Which is why I need you to tell me the truth."

The smirk disappeared.

Jisoo sighed. "You always were too damn smart, Jinwoo."

And then—BANG!

Jinwoo ducked as Jisoo pulled a gun and fired. The room exploded into chaos.

Hye-jin screamed. The gang leaders scrambled for cover.

Jinwoo rolled, drawing his own weapon, but Jisoo was already gone—vanishing into the night.

Jinwoo cursed. His best friend had betrayed him.

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4. The Beginning of the End

Jinwoo stood in the wreckage of what had once been his alliance.

Hye-jin clutched his arm, breathing hard. "Jisoo… why?"

Jinwoo's voice was grim. "Because he was never on our side to begin with."

He stared down at the bloodstained photograph of Mirae.

Jisoo had sent it.

Jisoo had played him from the start.

And now—Jisoo was coming for him.

Jinwoo holstered his gun, his expression like stone.

"This isn't over."

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End of Chapter 48

(Next Chapter: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted.)