Chapter 84: No Redemption
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1. The Weight of a Gun
Jinwoo's finger rested on the trigger.
His vision was hazy from blood loss, his side burning where the bullet had grazed him.
But none of that mattered.
Not anymore.
All he saw was Haneul.
The man who had betrayed him.
The man who had stolen everything.
Haneul's breath was ragged as he staggered back, holding his broken nose.
For the first time—he looked afraid.
"Jinwoo," he rasped, raising a hand. "Let's—"
Click.
Jinwoo cocked the gun.
"Talk?" he finished, voice like steel.
Haneul swallowed.
He knew.
There was no talking his way out of this.
Not this time.
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2. A War Between Brothers
Hyun-seok coughed, still slumped against the ropes, blood seeping through his clothes.
Jinwoo didn't take his eyes off Haneul.
"You killed them," he said.
Not a question. A fact.
Haneul's jaw clenched.
Jinwoo pressed on.
"You killed Jisoo. Sangmin. Woojin."
Each name hit like a bullet.
Haneul's lips twitched.
"I did what had to be done."
Jinwoo's grip on the gun tightened.
Haneul exhaled sharply, voice low and cold.
"You think I wanted this?"
Jinwoo's eyes darkened.
"You think I care?"
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3. The Fall of a King
Haneul's smirk returned, even through the pain.
"You're not going to kill me."
Jinwoo didn't move.
Haneul laughed, shaking his head.
"You've spent years chasing ghosts, Jinwoo. You don't know how to stop."
Jinwoo's finger twitched on the trigger.
Haneul took a step forward.
"Pull the trigger. End it. But if you do…"
His eyes gleamed.
"You'll be just like me."
Silence.
A heavy, suffocating silence.
Jinwoo's heartbeat thundered in his ears.
This was it.
The choice that would define everything.
And for the first time—he hesitated.
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4. Consequences
Hyun-seok's voice was barely a whisper.
"Jinwoo."
He turned.
Hyun-seok's gaze was steady.
"I told you before."
Jinwoo's chest tightened.
"There's no redemption," Hyun-seok murmured.
Jinwoo looked at Haneul.
The man who had burned his world to ashes.
And yet—
Would killing him change anything?
Would it bring back the people he lost?
Would it bring back the man he used to be?
No.
Jinwoo took a breath.
Then—
He lowered the gun.
Haneul froze.
Disbelief flickered across his face.
Jinwoo looked him in the eyes.
"You're already dead to me."
Then—
He turned.
Hyun-seok's eyes widened.
"Jinwoo—"
But before he could stop him—
Jinwoo walked away.
Leaving Haneul behind.
Letting the past die.
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End of Chapter 84
(Next Chapter: A New Throne.)