Chapter 25 – Flames of Vengeance

The room was silent. Too silent.

Joon sat in the darkness, his eyes fixed on the phone screen, replaying the moment over and over. The gunshot. The way Dae-suk's head snapped back. The way Hwan spoke as if he was untouchable.

He exhaled slowly, setting the phone down.

Soo-ah, standing across from him, spoke carefully. "Joon…"

Her voice was filled with worry, but she knew. This wasn't just a battle anymore. This was war.

Joon leaned forward, his fingers interlocking. "Min-soo."

His mentor straightened, awaiting orders.

"Every company under Hwan's name. Every business, every bank, every politician he owns. I want them crushed."

Min-soo smirked. "Consider it done."

Joon turned to Tielen, who was already standing, his expression unreadable. "We're not just shutting them down." His voice was cold. "We're making sure they never stand again."

Tielen nodded. "Understood."

---

That night, the city burned.

Phoenix Conglomerate's warehouses exploded in flames, shipments were hijacked, and confidential files were leaked to the highest authorities.

The media went into a frenzy. Headlines screamed about corruption, illegal dealings, and tax fraud. The government launched an official investigation, freezing all Phoenix assets.

Hwan was drowning.

But it wasn't enough.

Joon wasn't satisfied.

--

Hwan was holed up in a private skyscraper, his most trusted men surrounding him. He knew Joon would come. He expected negotiations, a desperate plea.

Instead, Joon arrived in silence.

The building's power cut out. Elevators stopped. Security systems failed.

Then, the doors burst open.

Joon walked in, flanked by Tielen and his most elite men. The guards tried to react, but it was over in seconds. Gunfire erupted, bodies dropped, and within moments, Joon was face to face with Hwan.

The once-mighty businessman was trembling. "You—You don't have to do this."

Joon tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You killed Dae-suk."

Hwan swallowed. "It wasn't personal."

Joon's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Neither is this."

A single gunshot echoed through the room.

Hwan collapsed.

Joon turned, his voice calm. "Burn everything."

Tielen nodded. Within hours, Phoenix Conglomerate was nothing more than a ghost of the past.

---

Joon stood on the rooftop, watching the city lights flicker below.

Soo-ah joined him, her eyes searching his face. "It's over."

Joon exhaled, a slow smirk forming. "No."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

Joon's gaze was distant, calculating.

"This was just the beginning."

--