CH181 | VOC

After 15 days, Yong Gi-un arrived at a solitary island in the vast ocean. The island was so far from the mainland that nothing but the sea was visible in every direction.

“Let’s go,” Black Tiger urged.

Yong Gi-un wished he could jump into the sea and swim back to shore. I’ll drag out the construction as long as possible and assess the situation. A project this size will require a lot of manpower. They’ll all be abducted like me, right? I’ll convince them to join me, and we’ll escape this nightmare!

Even with heavy machinery, a project of this scale would require at least a hundred workers for the detailed work. He was sure he could rally them and escape.

“Alright,” he replied.

“Follow me.”

The island wasn’t large, but it was densely covered in vegetation, making development difficult. Black Tiger led him through the thick undergrowth to a cleared area, where a substantial amount of construction materials and heavy machinery were piled up. And most importantly, the workers.

Yong Gi-un’s eyes lit up. Yes!

There were about 200 workers, but only about ten men in suits, like Black Tiger. Even if they were armed, 200 men could easily overpower them in a coordinated attack under the cover of darkness.

Black Tiger approached one of the suited men and bowed.
“I’ve brought the architect, Yong Gi-un.”

The man nodded curtly. “Good work.”
He approached Yong Gi-un with a smile. “Welcome. I’m Jin-sam, the project manager.”

“Jin-sam” was a first-generation member of the Baek In-hwi squad, one of the ten who knew Park Sol’s true identity.

“Did you have a comfortable journey?”

Comfortable?! It was a nightmare! he screamed inwardly. But he forced a smile.
“Hehehe, thanks to Black Tiger’s care, it was a pleasant trip.”

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear that. We’re counting on you for this project. You’ll receive your payment as promised after the construction is completed.”

“Absolutely! I’ll do my best!”

“That’s reassuring. If you need any materials or equipment, just let Black Tiger know.”

Jin-sam turned to the workers. “Attention!”

The workers snapped to attention and shouted in unison, “Sir!”

“This is the architect in charge of the project. Treat him with respect. Address him as ‘Director Yong.'”

“Yes, sir!”

Yong Gi-un, stunned by their discipline, muttered,
“These are… construction workers? Are they…?”

Were all 200 of them part of the same organization? The workers, whom he had hoped to recruit as allies, were obeying Jin-sam without question. His face fell.
“Are they all… on the same side? Except for me?”

Black Tiger, overhearing his words, said, “Of course. We wouldn’t use outsiders for a secret project like this. We only hired you because we had no choice. Are you…,” he narrowed his eyes suspiciously,
“…having second thoughts?”

Yong Gi-un hastily waved his hands. “N-no, sir! Absolutely not! I was just… impressed by your organization’s size.”

Black Tiger smiled for the first time. “Impressed? By a mere 200 men?”

‘A mere’ 200 men to keep a secret?‘

“Just let us know if you need more manpower. 300, 500… or even…” he smirked slightly, “…1,000. Just name the number.”

Yong Gi-un, intimidated by the scale of their organization, shook his head frantically.
“No, sir! 200 is more than enough!”

Even with 200 workers and 10 guards, his chances of escape were zero. He couldn’t ask for more.

“Is that so? Then I expect you to work hard. Shall I show you to your quarters?”

“That would be… appreciated.” He followed Black Tiger, feeling like a lamb being led to slaughter.

***

“Yong Gi-un has arrived at the island,” I said.

“Yes,” Li Yang replied, nodding. “Now that the architect is here, the construction can begin in earnest.”

“Good. Keep providing him with everything he needs.”

We were building a state-of-the-art underground facility, not a traditional Korean house, so we needed an expert to design and supervise the construction.

“But Chairman…” Li Yang narrowed his eyes. “What about Yong Gi-un after the construction is completed?”

I sighed. “Here we go again.”

“Secrecy is paramount. Eliminating Yong Gi-un would ensure complete confidentiality.”

The only people who knew the island’s location were the ten first and second-generation heihaizi we had sent there and the crew of the Mujinhahm.

The fourth and fifth-generation recruits had been blindfolded during their transport, just like Yong Gi-un. And the captain and crew of the Mujinhahm had been hired under the name of Li Hansung, a fake businessman, with 30-year contracts. They just transported the goods and had no idea what was happening on the island.

The only real problem was Yong Gi-un, an outsider who would know the layout of the facility.

“So you want to kill him?”

“If necessary, shouldn’t we?”

“We’re businessmen, not gangsters. We created the Baek In-hwi squad out of necessity, but it’s not a real gang.”

“But there’s no risk of him revealing…”
I interrupted him.

“Think differently. Do we have to kill him? Can’t we just recruit him? We’ll be building more bases like this. Are we going to kidnap and kill an architect every time? You said he’s desperate. Let’s help him and then recruit him. It’s more rational.”

I thought for a moment. “Tell them to treat him well. Give him everything he needs. Even women, if he wants. Make him enjoy life on the island. And once the construction is complete, the base will be like paradise. New facilities, everything provided for free. Let him enjoy it for a while, give him his money, and then send him home. How much debt does he have?”

“40 million yuan, I believe.”

“So even with the 20 million yuan payment, he won’t be able to repay all his debts, right? Have some of our men keep an eye on him, and when he seems to have let his guard down, tip off his creditors. Tell them he has money.”

I smirked. He wouldn’t repay his debts with the 20 million yuan. He would probably hide it and spend it gradually. And what would happen when his creditors found out?

“It would be better if he had never had the money in the first place. The despair of losing a newfound hope is crushing. And that’s when we approach him again, offer him another project. And then he’ll have no choice but to join us, right?” We didn’t actually need him to work. We would just blindfold him again, bring him back to the island paradise, where everyone was kind and helpful, and let him enjoy the good life while preparing for the “next project.”

Outside the island, he was surrounded by creditors. But on the island, he was treated like royalty, with all his needs provided for.

And then we would slowly persuade him to join us.

“Isn’t that our specialty? Rescuing people from despair and turning them into our loyal followers? Why resort to murder and cover-ups? That only increases the risk of exposure. Someone will notice if a person disappears, whether it’s their family or their creditors.”

Li Yang bowed his head respectfully. “You’re right, Chairman. I apologize for my shortsightedness.”

“If we turn him into our in-house architect, we won’t have to go through this process again, right?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll relay your instructions.”

“And of course…” I smiled. “…if he still refuses after all that, well, then we’ll have to…”

***

“Ugh, why are they working so fast?” The workers were incredibly efficient, like specialists.

Of course they were. They were fourth and fifth-generation heihaizi, experienced in construction work.

Yong Gi-un’s plan to delay the construction had failed. Unlike ordinary workers who often slacked off, these men were highly motivated. “Director Yong, we’re done. What’s next?”

A five-man team, one fourth-generation and four fifth-generation heihaizi, approached him, eager for more work.

“Y-you’re done?”

“Yes, sir.”

He rolled his eyes and said with a forced smile, “Then take a break, you must be tired.”

“We’re not tired, sir. We have to work hard to repay our benefactor.”

He found their devotion to their “benefactor,” whom they treated like a deity, unsettling. They were more like a religious cult than a construction crew.

And it made his escape even less likely.

“Then… we need more concrete. Prepare it.”

“Yes, sir!” They hurried away, and he bit his nails nervously. “What am I going to do?”

Their excessive kindness was also unnerving.

They provided him with any food he requested, and even when he made mistakes with the blueprints, they were understanding and encouraging.

“They treat condemned prisoners to their last meal, don’t they? Are they being nice to me because they’re planning to kill me after the construction is completed?”

He couldn’t think of any other explanation. “There’s no way out, and they’re working so fast… I’m going to die here. My life, full of twists and turns, is ending here.”

A tear rolled down his cheek.

“I’ve made so many mistakes. I shouldn’t have started that business. I should have let my wife go when she asked for a divorce. I shouldn’t have become an alcoholic. If I hadn’t been drunk that day…”

As he was reminiscing and sobbing, Black Tiger approached him. “Director Yong, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Black Tiger. Just feeling a bit sentimental.”

“You can rest today if you’re tired.” His concern was, as always, unsettling. He smiled. “Thank you for your concern.”

And he thought, ‘Are they trying to make me feel better before they kill me?’

A surge of defiance welled up inside him.

‘Fine, if I’m going to die, I might as well enjoy it while I can. They’re treating me like a king, aren’t they? I’ll enjoy this royal treatment. I might as well, I’m a dead man walking anyway.’

He had forgotten about the 20 million yuan payment. “By the way, Black Tiger…”

“Yes?”

“Can you get me some alcohol?”

He frowned slightly. “I’m afraid that would interfere with the construction.”

“I see.”

“But I can get you a small amount before bedtime. Do you have a preference?”

“I used to drink Louis XIII when my business was doing well. Do you know it?”

“I’ve heard of it. It’s about 50,000 yuan per bottle, right? Is that okay?”

Yong Gi-un smiled inwardly.
‘He’s casually offering me a 50,000 yuan bottle of alcohol? I’m definitely going to die.’

“And can you also find me a woman? I’m feeling a bit lonely.”

“I’ll bring someone discreetly. A top-class escort.”

“Actually, two would be better.” He was starting to lose control.
“And some aged Pu’er tea. And the bed is uncomfortable. A French handmade bed would be nice. And some nutritional supplements. I’ve been feeling sluggish lately. Preferably something with gold flakes.”

Black Tiger, unfazed by his increasingly outrageous requests, said, “I’ll have your quarters refurnished to a five-star hotel standard. I’m not sure about the nutritional supplements with gold flakes. I’ll find them if I can. And I’ll provide you with various types of tea. Anything else?”

“Haha, nothing comes to mind at the moment. That’s all for now.”

“Just let me know if you need anything else.”

He watched him leave, writing down his requests in a notebook. “Well, if I’m going to die, I might as well enjoy it. I’ll make this base my masterpiece and live like a king until the end. And I’ll ask them to kill me while I’m drunk. I don’t want to feel any pain. My life has been full of regrets, but at least my death will be spectacular.”