CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48 - GHOST-6: EXTRACTION 04

[Seoul – Gangnam District – Silver Koma Nightclub]

The hallway wasn’t big, but it was packed tight.

Cold air from the central AC blew hard enough to make the place feel colder than outside.

People moved back and forth — some with girls hanging off their arms, some carrying beer bottles, some just wandering with that drunk stare in their eyes.

Red LED strips ran along the ceiling and floor edges, giving everything a dim, reddish glow.

Every few seconds, someone brushed past Jun-ho’s shoulder, the music from inside shaking the walls a little.

Seo Jun-ho stood near the door, leaning on the wall with his hands in his jacket pockets.

Plain clothes, simple sneakers, nothing flashy.

Anyone passing by would think he was just another tired worker trying to clock out.

But if someone looked a little too long...

They’d feel it.

That quiet pressure around him, like trouble didn’t want to get close.

"HEY! YOU THINK YOU CAN TALK BACK TO ME?! MY DAD OWNS THIS PLACE!"

People passing by didn’t even look anymore. They were used to this brat’s voice exploding every few nights.

Jun-ho didn’t move an inch. The door slammed open.

A spoiled rich kid stumbled out, gold jacket shining under the lights, face red from drinking, hair sticking to his forehead.

He pointed at Jun-ho like it was his fault.

"You! I told you not to let anyone near me!"

Jun-ho blinked slowly.

"You said not to let ugly people near you," he said. "Pretty ones were okay.

The brat froze. "...Did I really say that?"

"Yes."

Before he could say anything else—

The VIP door opened again.

Five men stepped out of the VIP room with him.

Tattoos covered their arms and necks, lines slightly faded like they’d been done years ago.

All of them looked half-drunk — flushed faces, unfocused eyes, breaths heavy with alcohol.

Two held metal bats.

One flipped a small knife between his fingers.

Another kept cracking his knuckles one by one.

The last man just stared at Jun-ho with a sour expression, already irritated before anything even started.

They were the exact same guys the brat was yelling at inside.

The brat’s eyes widened.

He whispered behind Jun-ho, panicked:

"Ar-Are they... pretty?"

Jun-ho tilted his head slightly. "...Why would they be pretty?"

"I said pretty girls are okay! Not pretty men! Look at them! They’re not even— they’re just—"

Jun-ho shrugged. "I don’t know your taste."

The brat smacked his forehead with his palm.

"Why are you like this?!"

The leader of the five stepped forward.

He spat on the floor and glared.

"Come on, golden boy. Say that stuff again like you did inside."

The brat immediately hid behind Jun-ho’s back like a scared cat.

"J-Jun-ho! You heard them! They threatened me!"

Jun-ho sighed, rubbing his eyebrow slowly.

"You’re the one who insulted them."

The brat’s face went pale.

"I—I didn’t mean all five! I only said it to the one guy with the ugly haircut—"

One of the thugs touched his hair. "What ugly haircut?"

The brat pointed weakly. "That... that one."

Jun-ho muttered, ’You really want to die today

The thugs stepped forward, cracking their necks and knuckles.

The brat instantly ducked behind Jun-ho.

"J-Jun-ho! Do something! That’s why I hired you!"

"You’re loud because you drank too much," he said. "Apologize and walk away."

The brat glared. "Why should I?"

Jun-ho let out a tired breath. He looked at the five men. "You sure you want to pick a fight here?"

Knife guy stepped forward. "You think one bodyguard scares us?"

Jun-ho rubbed the side of his neck, annoyed.

"...If I finish this in under ten seconds, can I go home early?"

They laughed in his face. The knife-man lunged first.

He swung fast, aiming for Jun-ho’s ribs.

Jun-ho moved his head slightly.

The knife passed through empty air.

Before the man recovered, Jun-ho grabbed his wrist, twisted it upward, and slammed his elbow into his jaw.

The man dropped to the floor like someone pulled his plug.

The first bat came next.

The man yelled and swung with both hands.

Jun-ho stepped in, caught the bat under his arm, and punched him once in the throat, quick and clean.

A dry choking sound escaped, and the guy fell backward holding his neck.

The second bat-man hesitated, but charged anyway.

Jun-ho didn’t dodge.

He lifted his foot and kicked the man’s knee sideways.

A loud pop came out.

The man collapsed, screaming.

By now, the brat was hiding behind Jun-ho again, clutching his jacket. "Go, Jun-ho! Beat them all!"

Jun-ho ignored him.

The knuckle-cracker rushed next.

He tried a wild swing — big movement, no control.

Jun-ho blocked it with his forearm and punched him twice in the stomach.

Fast. Sharp.

The man bent forward, coughing, and Jun-ho shoved him aside.

The last man — the one who looked angry for no reason — hesitated.

He looked at his friends on the floor, then at Jun-ho.

Jun-ho tilted his head.

"You’re going to try?"

The man threw a weak punch out of pride.

Jun-ho flicked his wrist and chopped the man’s neck.

Not even hard.

Just enough.

The man hit the floor with a dull thud.

Nobody moved after that.

The hallway suddenly felt still.

The music from upstairs was the only sound left.

The five men who were standing a minute ago were now scattered on the floor, breathing hard or not moving at all.

Even the people walking past the hallway slowed down, glancing once before pretending they saw nothing.

Jun-ho didn’t look proud or excited.

He just brushed dust off his sleeve like he stepped through a crowd, not a fight.

The brat peeked around him.

"Woah... you really did it... My personal guard! That’s why you’re the best!"

Jun-ho said nothing.

"You’re gonna get a raise! A bonus! Dinner with me—"

"I quit," Jun-ho said.

"What?! Why?!"

"You drink too much," Jun-ho answered. "And you attract too many stupid people."

The brat opened his mouth, but Jun-ho had already walked past him.

His phone buzzed. He looked at the screen.

[Internal Dispatch Notice]

Report for immediate extraction.

Basement Parking Exit C.

Operation: Ghost-6

He stared for one second.

Then he put the phone away and walked down to the parking lot.

A black sedan was parked there already.

A man in a full black suit stepped out.

"Seo Jun-ho?"

Jun-ho nodded.

"Get in."

Jun-ho opened the door without asking a single question.

Halfway through the ride, the driver looked at him through the mirror.

"You’re not curious why you were called?"

He leaned his head on the window."

"If they called me," he said quietly, "it means someone strong showed up."

"That’s enough for you?"

Jun-ho nodded once. "Yes."

He closed his eyes.

Back in the club... the five guys were still unconscious, and the spoiled brat was yelling alone down the hallway:

"YOU CAN’T QUIT! I HAVEN’T EVEN PAID YOU YET!"

Jun-ho didn’t hear any of it.