Hyeon-su's Cold Calculation

Eric is a black man with a well-built muscular physique, his skin adorned with tattoos that covered his neck and half of his cheeks, giving him an intimidating appearance. Despite being in his 50s, his physique and demeanor conveyed strength and authority, though his hair had turned mostly white with age. 

Upon hearing his subordinate's call, Eric stood from his kneeling position and turned, his imposing presence was undeniable. His subordinate quickly handed him the phone. Eric took it without a word and placed it to his ear. 

"Yes. What is it?" Eric's deep voice resonated through the quiet church. 

Min-ho, on the other end, responded, "Father is beside me. He wants to know how long it will take for you to finish this job." 

Min-ho had already put his phone on speaker so that Hyeon-su could hear the conversation. Eric replied, "That bastard is a tough nut to crack. I've made him a very generous offer, but he's still rejecting it. I haven't used violence yet, but the way things are going, I think it's necessary. I suggest we use Plan B. It's almost hassle-free, and I can guarantee he'll agree instantly." 

Min-ho opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak, Hyeon-su interjected from the side, addressing Eric directly. "No need. Stick to the original plan. Last time we went with Plan B, it took a lot of effort to cover it up. Besides, working with those greedy police officers is a hassle in itself. Because of them, our last business venture didn't yield much profit. Try using some violence now and see if he agrees. But if he still doesn't know what's good for him and his family, then he can't blame us for making him a short-lived ghost." 

Eric replied, his tone measured, "Okay, I'll try that. I didn't want to resort to hurting God's creation with my own hands, which is why I came to pray for God to give him the intelligence to make the right decision." 

Hyeon-su paid no attention to Eric's seemingly pious words. Having worked with Eric for more than 20 years, he knew very well how ruthless the man could be, despite his claims of being a devout believer. Even after all these years, Hyeon-su couldn't determine whether Eric was mentally ill or just sadistic by nature. 

Hyeon-su, disregarding Eric's previous statement, gave his directive in a calm but firm tone. "The party has given us a 24-hour deadline. Try to get him to agree tonight. If he doesn't, start Plan B. When using violence, ensure there are no visible marks on parts of his body that can't be covered by clothing. He has to appear in front of a camera in the next day or two." 

Eric acknowledged the instructions with a curt "Okay," and ended the call, handing his phone back to his subordinate. 

After the call ended, Min-ho put the phone back in his pocket. He then heard Hyeon-su say, "The matter is almost settled. But to be on the safe side, call our client and inform him that he can have a press conference anytime after tomorrow." 

Min-ho nodded in understanding. Hyeon-su continued, "Look at these properties and give me your opinion on what we should buy with the money once this deal is completed." He handed Min-ho an iPad containing pictures of various properties. Min-ho took it and started scrolling through the photos. 

At that moment, there was a knock on the door of the study room. Both Min-ho and Hyeon-su turned towards the door. Hyeon-su said loudly, "Come in." The door opened, and Hyeon-su's wife, Kang Hye-won, entered the room. She asked, "Honey, are you free now? Is your discussion complete? I need to talk to you about something important. Or should I come back later?" 

Before Hyeon-su could reply, Min-ho spoke up, "Aunt, don't worry. Our discussion is complete. You can talk with Father." He then turned to Hyeon-su and said, "Father, you talk with Aunt first. There is still some time before the work is done. We can decide later about which property to buy after discussing with the others when they return. I will be leaving now." 

Hyeon-su nodded, and Min-ho stood up from his chair. After saying good night to both of them, he left the room. Once Min-ho had left, Kang Hye-won closed the study door and walked to the side of her husband. She said, "Honey, we really need to think about Na-ra. I am becoming increasingly worried about her as the days go by." 

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On Eric's side, when he ended the call, he walked forward and climbed a few steps to reach the statue of Jesus. He walked behind the statue, followed by his subordinate. Standing behind the statue, he pressed a hidden switch on its back. As soon as he did, a passage creaked open in the wall behind the statue, revealing stairs leading to the underground of the church. 

This church was actually built by Eric. This church was built by him for two primary reasons. It served as a symbol of his devotion, but it also provided a hidden place to conduct his illegal activities. When constructing the church, Eric ensured the creation of an underground floor with many hidden rooms to facilitate his operations. 

After Eric and his subordinate entered the hidden passage, the door closed behind them, and they began descending the stairs. After a short while, they reached the end of the stairs, where four guards with guns stood watch over a door. The guards nodded at Eric and opened the door. Eric entered the room with his subordinate trailing behind. 

Inside was a spacious chamber with three additional doors leading to other underground rooms. In the middle of the room, a man was bound to a chair. Opposite him, in the corner, two women were also bound to chairs – one was his wife, and the other was his 19-year-old daughter. Both women were gagged with cloths, their eyes wide with fear. The man was not gagged and across from him sat a kind-looking old man dressed as a pastor. The old man had been speaking to the bound man, but they both turned their heads towards the door when they heard it open. 

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