On the way to the vice president's office, Kim Dong-jun carried himself with unusual confidence. Though suspended for misconduct, he believed his father's influence within the Honor Group would shield him. In his mind, there was no danger in this summons. After all, his family's power was vast, enough that even Go Tae-hyun, the true power within the Association, would tread carefully.
But when he entered the office, that confidence faltered. Go Tae-hyun's gaze was cold, sharper than any reprimand Dong-jun had faced before. Without hesitation, the vice president revealed the truth: Kim Ki-yeol, the captured Shadow Brother, had confessed. The assassination attempt on the returnee Lee Seong-jun had been commissioned by the Hwanseong Guild.
The pieces fell into place. Dong-jun recalled his recent dealings at the Hwanseong headquarters, the bribes, the whispered conversations. Panic pressed against his chest, but he forced his expression into calm denial. He claimed ignorance, tried to hide behind the excuse of being only a distant relative of the guildmaster.
Yet Go Tae-hyun did not relent. One envelope of evidence was placed before him, then another. Photographs of meetings, proof of bribery, undeniable records of corruption. With each piece revealed, Dong-jun's defenses crumbled. At last, cornered, he lowered his head and offered empty words of submission, promising to accept punishment.
But this was no negotiation. Go Tae-hyun delivered judgment with finality: dismissal from his post as director. Shocked, Dong-jun threatened retaliation, invoking the Honor Group and his father's power. Yet his words only revealed his weakness. The vice president's killing intent pressed down upon him, and Dong-jun fled the office pale-faced, his final threats ringing hollow.
When the door closed, Go Tae-hyun calmly drew another file from his desk. Within lay evidence of corruption tied to Kim Seok-hoon himself, the father Dong-jun so proudly invoked. This information was the Association's hidden weapon, a last resort prepared long ago. If unleashed, it could silence even the Honor Group. With this, Go Tae-hyun felt no hesitation. The guild that dared to threaten the Association's treasure—the returnee Lee Seong-jun—would pay dearly.
The storm broke quickly. At the headquarters of Hwanseong Guild, armed investigators from the Association and the prosecution stormed in, carrying a legal warrant. Their sudden appearance threw the guild into uproar, but Hwanseong's strength was undeniable. Hunters rushed to the entrance, led by Park Kyung-jun, an S-rank who demanded answers. Yet the investigators pressed forward, their authority stamped with the seal of the court.
Even the guildmaster himself, Kim Dong-hyun, arrived with his guards, radiating murderous pressure. As one of the leaders of Korea's five great guilds, he believed no one would dare move against him. His aura clashed with that of Seo Jae-moon, the S-rank leading the raid. The hall seemed ready to erupt into violence. But Seo Jae-moon stood firm, declaring the authority of the law and ordering his team to begin confiscation.
Behind his calm mask, Kim Dong-hyun retreated, slipping into the underground lot. He had no intention of fighting here. He trusted in his connections, his ability to bend the highest officials to his will. Pulling out his phone, he attempted to reach the Prosecutor General himself, confident that a single call would dissolve the warrant and scatter the intruders.
But no answer came. Again and again, only silence. Each second without response tightened the noose around him. Even as investigators advanced through his halls, even as his guild's pride was shaken, the one call he relied upon went unanswered. Frustration surged within him like wildfire, his certainty unraveling into fear. For the first time, the guildmaster of Hwanseong felt the ground beneath his feet begin to crumble.