THE STREET KING

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1. No Time for Grief

Jinwoo didn't have the luxury of mourning the betrayal.

Jisoo was on the loose, and he knew everything—Jinwoo's hideouts, his tactics, his weaknesses. If Jinwoo wanted to survive, he had to move fast.

Hye-jin was pacing the room, her arms crossed tightly. "He played us," she muttered. "All this time."

Jinwoo stared at the bloodstained photograph of Mirae, his thoughts racing. "Jisoo didn't just betray me. He was working with someone bigger."

Hye-jin turned to him. "Who?"

Jinwoo's grip tightened on the photo. "Mirae."

Hye-jin's eyes widened. "She's alive?"

Jinwoo exhaled. "Not just alive. She's been planning this for years."

Hye-jin shook her head in disbelief. "But why?"

Jinwoo's jaw clenched. "Because I left her behind."

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2. The Woman from the Past

Twelve years ago.

Mirae was bleeding, her small frame trembling in the cold. Jinwoo stood over her, his hands covered in someone else's blood.

"Jinwoo…" Her voice was weak, almost a whisper.

Jisoo was behind him, gripping his shoulder. "We have to go. Now."

Jinwoo hesitated.

Mirae looked up at him, pain in her eyes. "Don't leave me."

Jisoo pulled harder. "She's dead weight, Jinwoo. If we stay, we die too."

Jinwoo swallowed hard. He turned his back and walked away.

The last thing he heard was Mirae's broken whisper—"You'll regret this."

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3. The Trap is Set

Jinwoo snapped back to the present.

His phone buzzed. A message.

Meet me at the old Han River docks. Come alone. – Jisoo.

Hye-jin saw the message over his shoulder. "It's a trap."

Jinwoo smirked. "Of course it is."

Hye-jin grabbed his arm. "Then don't go."

Jinwoo turned to her, his expression unreadable. "I have to."

Hye-jin shook her head. "Not alone."

Jinwoo gently pulled her hand away. "I need to end this myself."

She clenched her fists, but said nothing.

Jinwoo grabbed his gun and stepped into the night.

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4. A Betrayal Paid in Blood

The docks were empty.

The wind howled, carrying the scent of salt and metal.

Jinwoo stood in the open, his gun loose in his grip. "Jisoo!"

Footsteps echoed.

Jisoo emerged from the shadows, a gun in one hand, a cigarette in the other. "You actually came."

Jinwoo's eyes darkened. "You knew I would."

Jisoo exhaled smoke. "Yeah. That's the problem with you, Jinwoo. You're too predictable."

Jinwoo's grip on his gun tightened. "Why?"

Jisoo flicked his cigarette away. "Because I wanted to be free."

Jinwoo frowned. "Free?"

Jisoo smirked. "You always acted like we were in this together. But we weren't. I was just another pawn in your war. And now? Now I have a chance to be king."

Jinwoo's heart turned to ice. "You're working for Mirae."

Jisoo nodded. "She's not the girl you abandoned. She's stronger now. Smarter. And she's coming for you."

Jinwoo exhaled. "Then why are you still here?"

Jisoo chuckled. "Because I wanted to look you in the eye before I killed you."

BANG!

Jinwoo dodged just in time, the bullet grazing his shoulder.

BANG! BANG!

Jinwoo fired back, but Jisoo was already moving.

They weaved through the shipping containers, gunfire echoing across the docks.

Jinwoo reloaded, his mind racing. Jisoo wasn't just some thug—he had trained alongside Jinwoo. He knew every move Jinwoo would make before he made it.

Which meant Jinwoo had to be unpredictable.

He tossed his empty gun aside and rushed forward.

Jisoo grinned. "Bad move."

He swung his gun at Jinwoo's face, but Jinwoo ducked, driving his knee into Jisoo's ribs.

Jisoo stumbled but recovered fast, tackling Jinwoo to the ground.

They rolled across the concrete, fists flying. Blood splattered the ground as they fought like animals.

Jinwoo grabbed a rusted metal pipe and swung—CRACK!

Jisoo fell back, clutching his face.

Jinwoo stood over him, breathing hard. "It didn't have to be like this."

Jisoo laughed, blood dripping from his lips. "Yes, it did."

He pulled out a knife, lunging—

BANG!

A single gunshot rang out.

Jisoo froze.

Blood bloomed across his chest.

He staggered back, eyes wide. "You…"

Behind him, Hye-jin stood, gun smoking.

Jisoo fell to his knees. "Damn… Should've seen that coming…"

And then—he was gone.

Jinwoo stared at Hye-jin. "You followed me."

She lowered her gun. "You're an idiot if you thought I wouldn't."

Jinwoo exhaled. "Thank you."

She stepped closer. "What now?"

Jinwoo looked at Jisoo's body, then back at the city beyond the docks.

"This was just the beginning."

Mirae was still out there.

And she was waiting for him.

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End of Chapter 49

(Next Chapter: The Queen of Seoul.)