The first warning came from the security room.
The second came from the sound of glass breaking.
Minjun looked up from the documents on his desk as the office lights flickered. Somewhere beyond the corridor, someone shouted. A moment later, the door swung open and Seongho rushed inside.
"Minjun! We've got intruders!"
"How many?"
"Six that we've seen. Possibly more."
Minjun closed the folder.
"Where?"
"Ground floor. They came through the loading entrance."
"Then why are you standing here?"
Seongho gave a brief nod and turned to leave.
Minjun followed him.
By the time they reached the main training floor, the situation had already deteriorated.
Two Black Dragon members were on the ground. A third was holding his bleeding forehead while trying to get back to his feet. Several unfamiliar men stood in the middle of the room, wearing black jackets with small Workers insignias.
At their centre stood a broad-shouldered man with a shaved head.
He was calmly wiping blood from his knuckles.
"Which one of you is Kang Minjun?" he asked.
Hajun stepped forward.
"You're looking at him."
The man looked him up and down.
"Not you."
Minjun walked past Hajun.
"I'm Kang Minjun."
The stranger smiled.
"Kwon Daeho sends his regards."
Minjun's expression remained unchanged.
"Then he should have come himself."
The man's smile disappeared.
"Manager Kwon wanted to see whether you're as dangerous as people say."
Minjun glanced at the injured members.
"And this is how he measures that?"
"They got in the way."
One of the injured men tried to stand. The stranger casually kicked him back down.
Something in Minjun's expression changed.
It was subtle, but Seongho noticed.
"Taehwan," Minjun said.
"Yeah?"
"Get our people out of here."
Taehwan immediately began moving the injured members toward the medical room.
The stranger laughed.
"What's wrong? You don't want to fight?"
Minjun removed his watch and placed it on a nearby table.
"I do."
The first attacker rushed him.
Minjun stepped forward rather than backward.
His right hand struck the man's throat, stopping his charge. Before the attacker could recover, Minjun seized his jacket and drove him face-first into the floor.
The impact silenced the room.
A second man swung a metal baton.
Minjun caught his wrist, twisted until the weapon dropped, then drove a knee into his stomach. The man doubled over. Minjun struck him across the jaw and sent him sprawling.
The remaining attackers hesitated.
That hesitation cost one of them.
Minjun crossed the distance, grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head against a support pillar. The man collapsed.
Three down.
The shaved-headed stranger stepped forward.
"Enough!"
Minjun looked at him.
"Were you planning to do something?"
The stranger threw a heavy right hand.
Minjun tilted his head just enough to let it pass. He caught the man's arm, stepped inside and drove a short punch into his ribs.
The stranger grunted.
Minjun followed with an elbow to the jaw.
The man's knees buckled, but he managed to stay upright.
He was tougher than the others.
Good.
The stranger swung again, this time with his left. Minjun blocked it and struck him twice in the body, each punch landing with enough force to make the man's breathing falter.
A final kick slammed into his thigh.
The stranger dropped to one knee.
Minjun caught him by the back of the neck and forced his face toward the floor.
"Who sent you?"
The man spat blood.
"Go to hell."
Minjun drove his face into the mat.
"Try again."
The stranger groaned.
"Daeho…"
"Full name."
"Kwon Daeho."
"Where?"
"Gangnam. Underground club. He wanted you to come looking."
Minjun released him.
"Then I'll visit."
He turned toward the remaining attackers.
"Take their phones. Search their messages. I want every name, every address and every payment."
One of them tried to run.
Hajun intercepted him.
"Where are you going?"
The man threw a desperate punch.
Hajun slipped it and answered with a vicious combination. A right hook caught the man's jaw, followed by a knee to the stomach. The attacker crumpled.
Hajun looked down at him.
"Should've stayed."
The security footage revealed the real problem.
Someone had opened the loading entrance from inside.
Minjun watched the recording twice.
A young employee entered the frame, looked around, and unlocked the door. Thirty seconds later, the attackers walked in.
Seongho stood beside him.
"Lee Gyeongsu. He joined six weeks ago."
"Bring him."
Gyeongsu was found in the staff room, trying to leave through the back exit.
Two members dragged him into the office.
"Boss, please. I can explain."
Minjun placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed Gyeongsu accepting an envelope from a man outside a convenience store.
"Three million won."
Gyeongsu's mouth opened, but no words came out.
"You sold the entrance code."
"I didn't know they were going to hurt anyone!"
Minjun stared at him.
"You opened the door."
"They said they only wanted to scare you!"
"And you believed them?"
Gyeongsu lowered his head.
"I needed money. My brother—"
Minjun struck him.
The punch sent Gyeongsu crashing against the wall. He slid down, holding his mouth.
"Don't use your family to excuse your stupidity."
Gyeongsu began pleading.
Minjun crouched in front of him.
"You knew who I was when you accepted their money. You knew what this organization was. And you knew people were working here."
"I'll pay it back!"
"You think this is about three million won?"
Minjun stood.
"Seongho. Find his brother's address. Make sure nobody uses him to threaten us. Then take Gyeongsu to the warehouse."
Seongho nodded.
"What do you want done?"
"Make an example of him. He betrayed the organization. He doesn't get to walk away and pretend it was a misunderstanding."
Gyeongsu started screaming.
Minjun had already turned away.
The following morning, Minjun received the information he wanted.
Kwon Daeho operated an underground fight club in Gangnam. Officially, it was a private boxing venue. In reality, it was a meeting point for fighters, brokers and Workers' recruiters.
Daeho had invited several independent fighters to attend that evening.
He had also sent a message.
Bring your best men. Let's see what Black Dragon is really worth.
Minjun read it over breakfast.
Hyejin placed a bowl of soup in front of him.
"You're going out again?"
"Yes."
"Will you be back late?"
"Probably."
She sighed.
"You used to be home more often."
Minjun looked at her.
"I'll make time tomorrow."
"You said that yesterday."
He smiled faintly.
"I'll make sure I keep my promise."
Hyejin studied him for a moment, then returned to the kitchen.
Minjun finished his meal.
He had no intention of letting Workers turn his headquarters into a training ground for their people.
The underground club was already crowded when Minjun arrived.
The ring occupied the centre of the room. Around it sat dozens of fighters, some with boxing records, others with reputations built on street fights.
Kwon Daeho stood beside the ring.
He was in his early thirties, with short hair and a thick neck. A scar ran along his left cheek.
When he spotted Minjun, he smiled.
"You came."
"You invited me."
Daeho glanced at the three men behind him.
"Only four? I thought you were building an army."
"I'm here to meet you. Not entertain your guests."
Daeho laughed.
"Still arrogant."
He gestured toward the ring.
"Let's start with your men. My fighter has been waiting."
A giant climbed into the ring.
His name was Choi Myeongho. Nearly two metres tall, he had thick arms and a reputation for knocking out opponents with a single clean punch.
Hajun stepped forward.
"I'll fight."
Minjun nodded.
"Don't embarrass yourself."
Hajun grinned.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
The bell rang.
Myeongho attacked immediately.
His first punch cut through the air where Hajun's head had been. Hajun slipped to the outside and kicked the giant's thigh.
Myeongho barely moved.
He swung again.
This time, the punch caught Hajun across the shoulder and sent him stumbling toward the ropes.
The crowd cheered.
Myeongho advanced, throwing another heavy strike.
Hajun ducked beneath it and drove a knee into his stomach. He followed with an elbow to the jaw.
Myeongho staggered.
Hajun pressed forward, landing two punches before a massive hand caught him by the throat.
The giant lifted him slightly.
"Too slow."
He threw Hajun into the corner.
Hajun hit the ropes, landed awkwardly and rolled onto one knee.
For a moment, he stayed there.
Then he laughed.
"Now we're talking."
He wiped the blood from his lip and stood.
This time, he didn't charge.
He circled Myeongho, watching his shoulders and feet. When the giant committed to another punch, Hajun stepped inside the arc and drove a kick into his supporting leg.
Myeongho's balance shifted.
Hajun struck his ribs, then his jaw.
The giant stumbled backward.
Hajun followed with a spinning kick that caught the side of his head.
Myeongho crashed onto the canvas.
The referee began counting.
At eight, the giant tried to rise.
His legs gave way.
The referee waved it off.
Hajun raised his arms.
The crowd erupted.
Daeho wasn't smiling anymore.
He looked toward Minjun.
"Your boy's got some talent."
"He does."
"Maybe you'd like to fight next?"
Minjun stepped closer to the ring.
"No."
Daeho frowned.
"No?"
"I came for you."
The atmosphere changed.
Daeho climbed through the ropes.
"You're making a mistake."
Minjun removed his jacket and handed it to Seongho.
"People keep telling me that."
Daeho raised his fists.
His stance was compact, experienced. He had the look of someone who had spent years fighting men larger and stronger than himself.
Minjun stepped into range.
Daeho attacked with a sharp combination.
Jab. Cross. Hook.
Minjun slipped the first two and blocked the third.
Daeho immediately changed levels, aiming for a body shot.
Minjun caught his wrist.
For the first time, Daeho's expression shifted.
Minjun twisted his arm and drove a knee into his stomach.
Daeho stumbled.
Minjun followed him.
A straight punch struck his face.
A second hit his ribs.
Daeho tried to retreat, but Minjun caught him by the collar and drove him into the ropes.
The ring shook.
Minjun leaned close.
"You sent men into my headquarters."
Daeho spat blood.
"It's business."
Minjun struck him again.
"Then you should have understood the cost."
Daeho attempted one last desperate counter.
Minjun avoided it and delivered a brutal uppercut.
Daeho collapsed.
Minjun stepped over him.
"Get up."
The man tried.
Minjun kicked his legs out from underneath him.
"Stay down."
The referee looked toward the corner, unsure whether to intervene.
Nobody moved.
Minjun turned to the crowd.
"Anyone else here working for Workers?"
Silence.
"Good. Then listen carefully. If you want to do business with me, come through the proper channels. If you want to attack my people, understand that I won't stop after winning a fight."
He looked down at Daeho.
"Find out who paid him. I want the entire recruitment network."
Seongho nodded.
Minjun walked out of the ring.
Behind him, the crowd remained silent.
Hajun approached, still breathing heavily.
"Think we made an impression?"
Minjun glanced back at the fallen manager.
"Not yet."
His phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
You have just made a very expensive enemy.
Minjun read it, then smiled.
"Now we're getting somewhere."