The junkyard was quiet. Rusted car frames sat stacked in rows under the open sky, and the small one-story house at the center looked weathered and easy to miss.
Inside, Kangmi sat tied to a chair, her wrists and ankles bound tight to the frame. She watched Gun cross the room toward an old trunk in the corner.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Gun lifted the lid and dug through it. "I need you to stay put for a while. I'll go get the Red Paper in the meantime."
Kangmi's eyes sharpened. "You know there's no way out once you're caught. Why are you doing this? Who are you working for?"
Gun didn't answer. He pulled out a roll of tape and walked back toward her. "That's not your concern." He peeled a strip from the roll and stopped in front of her. "So be quiet for now."
He pressed the tape over her mouth. Kangmi kept her eyes on his the entire time.
Gun looked at her once, then walked out. The door closed behind him.
---
The Seoul Central District Court was a wide stone building set back from the street, its entrance lined with concrete pillars and bare trees. A security guard stood by the front doors and a few people moved in and out with the slow pace of people wrapping up their day.
Seongji and Vin Jin came up the steps together. Seongji moved at a steady pace, but his shirt was dark with blood in several places and he kept one hand pressed against his side. Vin Jin stayed close.
Seongji checked his phone. It was nearly 2:30. Kangmi should have already been here. He dialed her number and waited.
The call connected after a few rings.
"Mrs. Choi?" Seongji said.
The voice that answered was deep and calm, and it wasn't hers. "King of Cheonliang. You didn't hand the Red Paper over to her, so it's still with you."
Seongji went still. When Goo had mentioned Gun earlier, it hadn't occurred to him that Gun was also after the Red Paper. It hadn't occurred to him that Gun already had Kangmi.
"Gun Park." His voice came out hard. "What have you done to her?"
"She's alive," Gun said. "But if you want her to stay that way, bring me the Red Paper."
"Why do you want it? What does it have to do with you?"
A short laugh came through the line. "Everything. But you don't need to know that. I'll send you a location." A brief pause followed. "If you're planning something else, ganbare."
The call ended.
Vin Jin watched Seongji's face. "What happened?"
---
Gun slipped the phone into his pocket and walked toward the junkyard exit.
Someone was already standing there.
Gun stopped. "Big Daniel."
Daniel stood at the entrance with his arms crossed. "Let Mrs. Choi go. She was just doing her job. This has nothing to do with her."
Gun smiled slowly. "Did little Daniel give you this location?"
Daniel didn't answer.
A voice came from behind him. "Daniel Park, we're here. Is this the place?" Jake Kim walked in with Jerry Kwon beside him.
Then another voice, colder and quieter. "Gun Park. Release Mrs. Kangmi." Eli walked in, and Warren followed a step behind.
Then a third voice, low and steady. "Gun Park. Workers came here to hunt you down. There's no way out." Mandeok Bang walked in with Yuseong at his side.
Gun looked at all of them. The smile on his face grew wider and wilder.
"Three of the four major crews, all in one place." He rolled his neck and his knuckles cracked at his sides. "Subarashi!"
Daniel stepped forward and everyone moved with him.