Chapter 17: 2nd Affiliate

As Michael finished signing the last of his documents, his eyes never leaving the papers in front of him, he spoke in a calm, measured tone. "What have you found out about the 2nd affiliate of the Workers?"

Oliver, standing a few steps behind Michael's desk, replied with his usual precision. "The legal front of the 2nd affiliate consists of a casino, catering to foreigners from all over the world. Since the casino exclusively serves non-locals, it operates within the boundaries of the law, as the government allows such establishments to profit from foreign currency."

Michael looked up from his paperwork, locking eyes with Oliver. "And the shady side of their operation?"

Oliver's expression remained composed, but the information he relayed was chilling. "We infiltrated the 2nd affiliate and uncovered the illegal side of their business. They run an underground arena known as the 'Circus.' They kidnap some of the world's most dangerous criminals and force them to fight to the death for the amusement of the casino's VIP guests. 

This practice started a few years ago when they shifted the underground arena from the 3rd affiliate—specifically, the basement of Club Vivi—to the 2nd affiliate due to its growing popularity. Since then, the Circus has flourished. Recently, the operations have evolved, splitting into four distinct games: Ant Shaking, Gas Hell, Quest-ism, and Catch-the-God."

Michael leaned back in his chair, thoughtful for a moment. "And the invitations? Our identities?"

Oliver nodded, his planning thorough as always. "I've arranged everything. You'll be going in as a shareholder of MK Electronics, under the alias Jackson Smith. I'll be your associate, Mason Johnson, also a shareholder. The invitations have been secured."

Michael's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he rose from his chair. "Excellent work, Oliver. Let's see this Circus for ourselves."

He strode confidently toward the door, Oliver following closely behind, both men ready to dive deeper into the underbelly of the Workers, ready to see the intresting games that lay ahead. 

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As the sleek car made its way through the dimly lit streets, Michael gazed out the window, his expression calm but calculating. Oliver sat in the passenger seat, silently reviewing their plan. The city lights began to fade as they approached the location of the underground "Circus"—a notorious den of violence and illegal thrills, hosted by the 2nd affiliate of the Workers.

When they arrived, several sharply dressed men awaited them at the entrance. As the car came to a halt, the door was opened swiftly by one of the attendants. Without a word, he handed Michael and Oliver two white masks—simple yet eerie, covering everything but their eyes, nose, and mouth.

With the masks on, they were escorted into a private elevator. The silence was thick, broken only by the soft hum of the elevator as it descended into the depths of the underground arena. As the doors opened, the atmosphere shifted. The VIP section was half-filled, with opulent leather chairs encircling the large pit where the Circus would soon begin.

"It looks like there's still some time before the 'show' starts," Michael remarked casually, his eyes scanning the crowd. He spotted a towering figure in a beige suit, the man's mask covering just his nose and the upper part of his eyes. Michael smirked, immediately recognizing the man.

"Oliver, let's go greet that gorilla," Michael said, heading toward the seat next to the man. As they approached, Michael sat down with Oliver by his side. He turned to his left and addressed the large man.

"Oi, Gorilla," Michael teased with a grin behind his mask, "if you're going to hide, at least wear something that can actually cover your big, ugly face."

The man turned, recognizing the voice. A grin spread across his face as he faced Michael. "Michael, it's been a while. What brings you here?"

Michael leaned back in his chair, relaxed. "I heard this 'Circus' is quite the spectacle. Thought I'd see it for myself. But what about you? The esteemed boss of the White Tiger Job Centre, slumming it in a place like this? Did a client hire you?"

Tom Lee chuckled. "As perceptive as ever, Michael. Yeah, I'm here on a job."

"Figures," Michael said, giving a nod. "Well then, let's enjoy the show."

The VIP seats quickly filled up, signaling the start of the event. A woman in a cat mask stepped onto a small stage in the center, her voice ringing out.

"You've all been waiting for this moment! Let the players enter!" she announced. "Tonight, we have some ambitious participants. Who will claim victory? Let the Circus begin!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as profiles of each participant flashed on a large screen. Michael's sharp eyes scanned the participants, then shifted toward Tom.

"You betting on Choi Minsik, huh?" Michael asked, his tone casual but knowing.

"Of course," Tom said with his usual grin. "It's been a while since I've seen my adorable Minsik."

Just then, the screen flashed—someone had placed a one-billion-won bet on Choi Minsik.

"Well, he is from the pre-generation, like you," Michael noted. "But I'll place my bet on the high schoolers."

Tom raised an eyebrow. "You think those 2nd generation kids can take down someone from our time?"

Michael smirked, his eyes glinting. "You underestimate them. Especially that guy with glasses. See him? He's from Cheonliang. And he's no ordinary kid."

Tom's interest piqued. "Who is he?"

Michael leaned in slightly. "That's Mujin Jin's son. You know, the guy Gapryong Kim once considered his rival."

Tom's grin widened. "Well, well, who would've thought."

As the Circus progressed, the high schoolers breezed through the early rounds, showcasing an uncanny mastery of the brutal games. They made it to the third game—where Choi Minsik and Warren Chae finally squared off.

Tom, for the first time, seemed surprised at Warren's strength. "Looks like Manager Kim trained him well," he muttered, watching the fight with interest. "But there's no way a second-generation fighter can take down someone from our era."

Michael's eyes never left the fight. "Don't be so sure, Tom. The 2nd generation is full of monsters—look at Eli. You raised him, didn't you? Let's just see how this plays out."

Warren took a brutal beating, getting slammed into the wall by Minsik. But just as Minsik made the mistake of grabbing Sally Park, tearing at her clothes, something inside Warren snapped. He awakened, his movements precise and lethal, his CQC training from Manager Kim now fully unleashed. With brutal efficiency, Warren overwhelmed Minsik, knocking him out cold.

Michael leaned back, a smirk hidden behind his mask. "What did I tell you?"

The games continued, with Vin Jin triumphing over his opponent. Only the high schoolers remained when a man in a dog mask entered the ring, effortlessly dispatching the remaining fighters. But as the fight reached its climax, the man stumbled, clutching his head in pain.

"That style… it's like James Lee and Charles Choi's," Tom muttered, watching intently.

Just then, another figure entered—this one wearing a fox mask. The two men exchanged looks, and the dog-masked man removed his disguise. Michael's eyes widened briefly before a smile crept across his face.

"Jake Kim," he murmured. "I haven't seen that kid in years. I was supposed to meet him soon, but it looks like the meeting's come to me."

As the Circus abruptly ended, Tom grabbed the unconscious Daniel Park, preparing to leave. But before he could go, Michael stood beside him.

"Looks like we're heading in the same direction," Michael said, looking at Daniel.

Tom grinned, hoisting Daniel over his shoulder. "Yeah, it seems like it."

Together, they walked toward their destination, an unspoken alliance between them as they ventured into the unknown chaos that awaited.

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As Eugene strolled toward Big Deal with a smug smile, the Workers' main crew followed closely behind. "Attacking the 2nd affiliate... quite the bold move," he remarked, his voice dripping with confidence. "Need I say more? Today, we will annihilate Big Deal."

Jake Kim, the leader of Big Deal, felt a twinge of anxiety. "That's quite the threat," he replied nervously, glancing at his worn-out crew. 'I didn't expect the Workers' main crew to show up here. We've wasted too much time, and now we're too exhausted to keep fighting,' Jake thought, his heart heavy.

Eugene's smile never faltered. "Shall we begin?"

Suddenly, Sinu Han placed a firm hand on Jake's shoulder. "Jake, this is my fault. You and the boys need to get out of here. I'll buy you some time," Sinu said, stepping forward.

"We've kept Big Deal safe all these years," Sinu declared, his aura intensifying. "Who do you think you are, threatening to eliminate us?"

The man in the white cap from the Workers leaned in, intrigued by Sinu's confidence. Eugene, his grin widening, commented, "Oh dear, it looks like he's found someone interesting. You see, that guy has a thing for strong fighters."

Jake, still hesitating, whispered, "You'll buy us time... so we can escape?"

Suddenly, Jake's resolve hardened. "What a joke," he said, slipping on his gloves. "There's no way I'm losing you again, Sinu. Anyone who's not up for another fight can leave now. Otherwise, stand your ground!"

With renewed determination, Jake shouted, "Big Deal, this is war!"

Eugene chuckled. "Now that's what I'm talking about. A one-sided fight wouldn't be much fun." He addressed Big Deal, "We'll do to you exactly what we did to Sinu Han. Soon, you'll all be Workers."

Samuel Seo, leaning against a wall and smoking a cigarette, sighed, "What a shame. Just when you found him, you'll have to say goodbye." He and Jake squared up, the tension palpable.

But before their clash could begin, a commanding voice interrupted the scene. "On me, all eyes on me. Looks like I showed up just in time."

The crowd parted as Tom Lee strode in, with Michael and Oliver flanking him.

Eugene raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you Tom Lee?"

Tom in shock said. "How could you tell?" as his mask began breaking.

Michael quipped, "Your mask isn't exactly hiding that big face of yours." Tom grinned at the remark.

Eugene, still calm, asked, "Are you here to help, Tom? I'm not interested in hiring you today. We've got Big Deal handled."

Tom's expression shifted. "Help you? No, Eugene. I'm not here for you. I've got a different client today." With that, Tom effortlessly picked up the now-conscious Daniel Park.

"Red light, green light. You know the game," Tom said with a teasing grin. "If anyone moves, I'll have to scold you." His gaze fell on the Workers, daring them to make a move. Then, turning to Big Deal, he added, "Why don't you guys head home? I'm only here to play with the Workers today."

Michael approached Jake and Big Deal. He placed a hand on Jake's shoulder, giving it a firm pat. "Jake, kid, you've grown. You're nearly as tall as me now," Michael said, measuring their height with his hand. Then he turned to Jerry, grinning. "And Jerry, look at you! You've grown even taller. I have to look up at you now."

Jake looked confused, narrowing his eyes. "Excuse me, but... do I know you?"

Michael laughed. "Oh, right. Forgot to take off the mask. One sec." He pulled off his mask, revealing his face.

Both Jake and Jerry gasped in unison, shouting, "Michael hyung?!"

"The one and only," Michael said with a smile. "I was going to contact you, but when I heard you were in the same place today, I figured I'd drop by."

"It's been a long time, hyung," Jake said, his relief evident.

"Yeah, it has," Michael replied. "But we'll catch up later. Right now, I need you to listen. I owed your dad a favor, so if you need anything, call me. I'll help you," he said, handing Jake a card with his personal number on it.

"Now go home, Jake. You guys can't beat them—not in your current state."

Jake's face hardened as he glanced at Sinu, thinking of the pain his friend had endured. "Are you telling me to walk away after what they did to Sinu?" Jake's voice shook with frustration.

Michael's expression turned serious. "Jake, remember what I taught you when you were little. Retreating from a battle doesn't mean losing the war. You've already lost one person close to you. Do you want to lose more?"

Jake clenched his fists but nodded. "You're right, hyung. We'll go." He signaled to Big Deal, and they began to retreat.

As Jake passed Tom Lee, Tom called out, "You're just like your father."

Jake stopped, his brow furrowing. "You knew my father?"

Tom nodded. "I knew all of Gapryong Kim's children."

Jake's eyes widened in shock. "Did you just say... children?"

Tom smirked. "Hasn't your mother told you? Your father only got a vasectomy after you were born. You're not his only child."

Jake turned to Michael, who gave a silent nod. "He's telling the truth," Michael confirmed.

Still processing this revelation, "Jake, let's go," Sinu said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. , and Jake muttered, "R-Right," and followed Sinu as Big Deal left the battlefield, the weight of his father's secret hanging over him.

With Big Deal gone, Tom Lee turned to Eugene, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Now, where were we?"

"Mr. Tom Lee, what is the meaning of this?" Eugene demanded, his usual calm replaced with a stern seriousness.

Tom Lee, ever the relaxed figure, grinned as he replied, "What do you mean? I just wanted to maintain a good working relationship with The Workers, so I came up with a clever little workaround." He shrugged, as though he had just offered the simplest solution to a minor inconvenience.

Eugene's eyes narrowed. "A good working relationship? This was our chance to destroy Big Deal, and you took that away with your childish game. Now we've lost Sinu Han, one of our most valuable resources."

Tom chuckled nonchalantly, "Haha, that's too bad. You should've taken better ca—" His sentence was abruptly cut off as the guy in the white cap surged forward, delivering a swift kick to Tom's face.

"He has a bad habit of losing control the stronger his opponent is," Eugene mused as he watched, unphased by the sudden violence. "But I've thought of a way to make up for the resources we've lost. The White Tiger Job Center is a mercenary group. If we take you down and lure your people away with money, they'll become mine."

Tom wiped the blood from his mouth, but before he could respond, Eugene continued with a sly smile. "I never really understood why people call you the 'fighting prodigy.' We've never actually seen you fight properly. Maybe you're just a bullshit prodigy instead."

Before anyone could react, a loud laugh echoed across the battlefield, turning all heads.

"Hahahaha!" Michael laughed, walking back toward the group. "You're really letting some second-generation kid question your strength, Tom? Seems like they don't know what you're capable of."

Michael then turned to Tom. "Well, sort out your mess. I've done what I came here for, so I'll be off." He waved casually and started to walk away, but his path was immediately blocked.

The man in the white cap stood in front of him. 

Eugene says " Who said you could leave" 

Michael takes a cigarette out of his pocket as he lights it up and smokes it " Kid me and you dont have any, so i'll just leave" said Michael and turns around. The man in the white cap does a fast spinning kick at Michael, but he avoids it, and grabs his leg, and throws it into the wall.

As Michael turned his back on the confrontation, he waved a hand dismissively. "I've got no interest in sticking around," he said, his voice calm but filled with authority. Oliver silently followed, his presence as imposing as ever.

Neither Michael nor Oliver glanced back as they began walking away, leaving the tense atmosphere behind them. Eugene and Tom watched in silence, the weight of what had just transpired hanging heavily in the air.

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Tom grinned at Eugene, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Eugene, that guy over there? Trust me, he's someone you don't want to cross."

Eugene, taken aback by the display of strength he'd just witnessed, narrowed his eyes. "Who is he?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of caution.

"Michael Kang," Tom replied casually, his grin widening. "Surely you've heard the name."

Eugene's expression shifted from surprise to shock, his eyes widening behind his glasses. "Wait... Michael Kang? The King of Seoul?" His voice was now tinged with disbelief.

Tom grinned wider, clearly enjoying the shock on Eugene's face. "That's right, King of Seoul, Michael Kang," he repeated with a casual tone. 

Eugene's mind raced as he observed their retreating figures. His usual smug expression faltered slightly, realizing the sheer power Michael wielded—both physically and in reputation. "So that's the King of Seoul," he muttered under his breath, still processing everything.

The battlefield was a mess. Tom Lee stood amidst the fallen Workers' members, effortlessly defeating one after another. His eyes scanned the area with a calm yet dangerous energy as he tightened the man bun on his head. Only three remained standing: Eugene, the man with the white cap, and the towering black guy.

Eugene watched with calculating eyes as his two strongest subordinates prepared to engage Tom. The white-capped fighter darted forward first, throwing a rapid series of kicks that were fast and precise. Tom dodged with minimal movement, a small grin playing on his lips. Then, the black giant launched himself at Tom with a powerful punch. This time, the hit connected. Tom stumbled back slightly but regained his composure quickly, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth.

"Not bad," Tom said, cracking his neck. "Let's see how you stack up compared to those two other guys—Goo and Gun."

The mention of Goo and Gun sent a chill down the spines of Eugene's subordinates. They knew those names carried weight in the underworld, and Tom wasn't the type to make such comparisons lightly. As the black guy and the white-capped man prepared to attack in sync, Tom's expression hardened.

He began to untie his man bun, his muscles visibly tensing as if preparing for something far more serious. The air around him seemed to change, growing thick with intensity as if the real fight was only about to begin.

But before Tom could fully engage, Eugene stepped forward with a sly smile, raising a hand to halt the action. "Congratulations," Eugene said smoothly, his tone annoyingly nonchalant. "You've passed the test."

Tom's eyes narrowed dangerously as he grabbed Eugene by the throat in one swift motion, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. The smile vanished from Eugene's face, replaced by a choking gasp as Tom's grip tightened.

"Are you out of your mind?" Tom growled, his voice low and full of menace.

Eugene, struggling to breathe but maintaining his composure, gasped, "I know... where you can find the one you're looking for… Jinyoung Park… Action Chief… Kim Gapryong's Fist Gang."

Tom's expression shifted, the rage in his eyes dimming slightly, replaced by shock. He slowly lowered Eugene to the ground, releasing his grip but keeping his gaze locked on the younger man. "What did you say?" Tom demanded, his voice now steadier but still laced with suspicion.

Eugene, coughing as he caught his breath, smiled despite the bruises forming on his neck. "I can give you Jinyoung Park. I know where he is. But… I want something in return."

Tom's eyes narrowed. "I'll do anything you want. Just tell me where he is."

Eugene's smile widened as he adjusted his glasses, his usual calm demeanor returning. "What I want is simple," he said, brushing off the dust from his suit. "Become part of the Workers."

Tom's eyes flickered with disbelief. The very idea was outrageous, and yet… the promise of finding Jinyoung Park was enough to make him consider it, even if just for a moment.

"Alright, I'll do it," Tom Lee finally said, his voice heavy with reluctant acceptance. His eyes bore into Eugene's with a deadly seriousness. "But if I find out you're lying, even by the slightest chance, I will kill you." His voice dropped to an icy whisper, making it clear that this was no idle threat.

Eugene, unfazed, maintained his usual composed expression. "No problem," he replied smoothly, adjusting his glasses with a casual flick. His tone was calm, almost amused, as if he was entirely unbothered by Tom's lethal warning.