In the heart of Gangnam, Seoul's most expensive, modern, and exclusive business district, there was a building that, from afar, looked like a luxury corporate office — but that was only its dazzling, deceptive face.Its name was — The Black Pearl Tower.
The entire tower was made of black-tinted glass, where the reflection of the outside world shimmered, but not even a glimpse of what was happening inside could be seen.Chrome edges, designer lighting, and automatic sensor gates gave it the appearance of a high-class office.It was an ultra-luxury office building.
By daylight, the tower stood tall and proud among the other buildings.But at night, its lights gleamed as if something rare had been placed on display in a museum or an art gallery.People often wondered —"Perhaps it's the office of some international tech company…"
But the truth was — what you saw… was not what it was.The Black Pearl wasn't just a building…It was a cover. A place where only those who were part of the system, or dangerously close to it —or those who held the secrets to controlling the system — were allowed to enter.
No information ever left this tower.Nothing ever got out.
It had 54 floors, but some of them were places no one ever visited.Up to the 38th floor, it looked like a normal office — each level handling different company operations, with employees moving in and out, clients coming and going.
But beyond that…No regular employee was ever allowed upstairs.They said — no one knew who went past Level 38… or who came back.Security was so tight that even the elevators responded only to special fingerprints.
Up to the 38th floor, it was the face of a successful international company.But beyond that —Special work was done there.
A modern defense supplier — producing military-grade surveillance systems, small arms, and tactical security gear.To the public, it looked like just another high-tech supplier.But in reality, it secretly conducted illegal arms deals, mercenary contracts, and covert hacking missions — connected to a powerful mafia network that reached into agencies themselves.
From the outside, it all looked like a professional empire.But inside…It had become a deadly weapon for the underworld.
At the very top was the final floor — Floor 54.There, only one special conference room existed.
And today, a very important meeting was taking place inside.
Twelve people sat around the room — most of them high-level officers from South Korea's military secret agencies.They were preparing for a major mission.Their plan was ready.Their team was fully prepared.
Joon-hyunk and Min-jae sat in the meeting room with the other officers, once again reviewing the mission with their entire team.Min-jae was going over everything step-by-step to ensure that no critical point was missed —because even a tiny mistake in their work… could cost lives.
The meeting was just about to end…When there was a knock at the door.
Just then, a guard entered and bowed to Joon-hyunk, greeting him formally.
"Chief ,
Lee Tae-woo wants to meet you,
Tae had been summoned just yesterday by Joon-hyunk to come to the office.
Joon-hyunk told everyone to leave the room — except Min-jae.
He turned to the guard and said in a cold, flat tone,"Send him in."
Min-jae instantly became alert.The moment he heard his brother's name, his face hardened slightly.It had been a long time since Joon-hyunk had called Tae to the office — and that too, so suddenly.
His gut told him — something was about to happen.Something big.Something serious enough for Joon-hyunk to summon Tae after all these years.
As Tae entered the room, for a moment… his breath stopped.
His eyes landed directly on Joon-hyunk —Sitting in his chair just like always —with the same commanding calm, the same cold authority.
A presence that wrapped around your neck like an invisible rope —tightening with every breath.
Tae felt the hairs on his arms rise.His throat went dry.
But this feeling… wasn't new.
Whenever Tae stood before Joon-hyunk, this always happened.Even the most elite, most highly trained officers would rethink every word before speaking in front of him.
And the most dangerous thing?Tae had never figured out what exactly could trigger the Beast's anger.
And making the Beast angry…was like sending yourself a death invitation.
Tae stepped forward slowly —but with each step, his heart pounded faster.
His fingers trembled slightly, but he forced calm onto his face.
Because in front of the Beast,you couldn't hide weakness.You couldn't hide anything.
The Beast's eyes were cold —but behind that coldness was a repressed fury,a fire that could explode at any moment.
His posture was relaxed.But his gaze — sharp and unmoving —was making Tae deeply uneasy, just like always.
Tae kept walking forward...
The Beast looked straight at him,as if he could see right through his chest.
The room was quiet.Too quiet.But that silence had a strange weight to it...
And that weight pressed heavier and heavier against Tae's chest.
He could feel the tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead.He quickly tried to wipe them with his hand —but he couldn't hide his nervousness from Joon-hyunk, no matter how hard he tried.
Nothing could be hidden from the Beast's eyes —and Tae knew this all too well.
(Why has my brother spent so many years working beside a man like this…?)That question echoed in his mind again and again.But he had never found the answer.
Tae was now standing in front of the Beast's office desk.
This was the same desk from which the entire underworld of Korea danced to the Beast's strings.
He was one of the most powerful men in Korea —From the mafia… to the military.
Joon-hyunk.Just hearing his name was enough for people to understand — getting tangled with him was like writing your own downfall.The smaller gangs? The Beast had eliminated them long ago.The ones still remaining were either working under him… or too terrified to oppose him.Even if someone didn't work with him, no one dared to go against him.
And now, Tae stood in front of that very man —the one who had committed his first murder at the age of eleven.And by now… the number of deaths at his hands?No one really knew. No one dared to even guess.
Tae couldn't look away from the Beast's cold stare.His heart thudded heavily in his chest.
Joon-hyunk leaned back slightly, his voice calm, his tone unreadable.
"I know you've said it many times — that Yun never spoke to your friend about her brother Mr. Hwan's work. That he knows nothing about his underworld connections. That he's completely unaware of any of it.But I want to hear about it from you — personally."
Tae nodded slowly, clearing his throat before speaking — carefully choosing every word.
"Yes… just like I told you before.he doesn't know anything about his brother's illegal business.he has no idea about any of it."
He paused for a moment, trying to hide the tension rising in his throat.Because the task the Beast had given him — to gather information — hadn't been fulfilled properly.And he knew what it meant to make a mistake in front of Joon-hyunk.He didn't want to trigger that infamous rage.Because facing the Beast's fury… was something he wasn't built for.
Now, even forming words was difficult.But he tried.
The Beast's gaze — cold, sharp —was like a scalpel that cut straight through lies.He could sense dishonesty in a heartbeat.And Tae knew that well.
Lying here… could mean suicide.
Joon-hyunk narrowed his eyes.
"And Yeo-jun… what kind of boy is he?"
The interrogation wasn't over yet.The Beast's interest was still active, still circling.
Tae hesitated for a second, then answered honestly.
"If I'm being truthful… he's strange.Really hard to figure out.He's not easy to read."
Joon-hyunk smiled faintly — not with warmth, but with something darker.He reached into his pocket, pulled out his antique lighter, and lit a cigarette.The small click of the metal echoed slightly in the heavy silence of the room.
"Strange people…" he exhaled slowly, smoke trailing in the dim light,"are always the most interesting."
His voice was deep — casual, almost relaxed — but there was an edge to it that made the air feel heavier.
Tae could only think — the Beast must be in a good mood today.On any other day, a single question from him would've had people chattering like parrots, desperate to please, desperate to survive.