Chapter 102:
Chapter 102:
Chapter 102
Shin Ara, she's the head of Sura Sect and the older sister of Shin Sooah.
Shin Sooah was glaring at her sister as if she was an enemy. Meanwhile, Shin Ara had a pleasant face.
"I came to see Seo Gangrim-ssi, and to see you too since we only talked briefly at the hospital after you got out."
Shin Ara quietly approached Shin Sooah and tried to grab her arm but all she could grasp was an empty shirt sleeve.
"...Looks like the treatment didn't work in the end."
Shin Ara's voice trembled weakly. She looked like an ordinary person worrying about family.
For a moment, Shin Sooah seemed startled by the sight of her sister like that.
"It's no use. Come home, Sooah."
"I'm not going back."
"Everyone's worried about you. Losing your arm like this and not even coming home..." Shin Ara spoke in a mournful voice.
Just looking at this, they seemed nothing more than a caring older sister and a rebellious younger sister.
Nevertheless, even as Shin Ara clung to her desperately, Shin Sooah remained unmoved.
"I'm not going home. And why did you come to see Seo Gangrim-ssi other than me?"
"To recruit him into our sect."
"No. He said he'd join the same sect as me."
"Then you can both come to me, right?"
Shin Ara kept clinging to her younger sister but Shin Sooah coldly pushed her away.
"I have nothing more to say to you. Leave."
"Sooah, please. Let's talk. Father wants to see you too. He hasn't been well lately. He might pass away soon."
At those words, Shin Sooah seemed to waver for a moment. She seemed shaken by the talk of her parents dying.
Shin Ara carefully said, "I know you hate me. But... if you change your mind, please contact me. Okay?"
Just a moment ago, Shin Sooah was resolute, but this time, she couldn't respond.
Shin Ara patted her sister on the shoulder before quietly leaving the room. With her departure, the atmosphere felt gloomy, like a storm had just passed. Even Yoon Bom seemed bewildered.
She glanced around before quietly saying to Shin Sooah, "Is she really the head of Sura Sect?"
"Yeah."
"Amazing! It's a really powerful sect now!"
"Well, they're just gangsters." Shin Sooah spat out. Her tone seemed contemptuous.
Yoon Bom was surprised and said, "I'd heard rumors Sura Sect were gangsters but didn't know it was true... She didn't seem like a gangster earlier though..."
"To be precise, the Sura clan's boss is my father. My sister probably took the head position just as a public face..."
As she spoke, Shin Sooah's expression grew progressively darker. Of course, she disliked her family.
In Seo Gangrim's past life, he didn't understand Shin Sooah well. She was born into a rich and powerful family, yet abandoned it all because of her convictions. If she had remained at Sura clan, she could have lived without worries.
When asked why she cut ties with her family, Shin Sooah said regretfully, [Every bit of power and money my father gained was through killing and harming others.]
She even demanded her father to dismantle Sura clan, but of course he would not accept such a demand. In the end, the least she could do was leave that house. She made that foolish choice all because of her principles.
"And now they've set up a sect and are actively expanding... There's no guessing how much bigger the organization will grow." Shin Sooah muttered weakly.
She wiped her face with one hand before saying, "Bom-ah, sorry but could you give us some space? I need to talk to Seo Gangrim-ssi."
"Ah, yes! Call me if you need anything!"
Yoon Bom looked worriedly at Shin Sooah before leaving her seat. Meanwhile, Seo Gangrim just stood stiffly in place.
'What does she want to talk to me about?'
"Um..."
Shin Sooah fidgeted with her clothes before saying, "Do you want to go to Sura Sect? It seems my sister wants to scout you, but I refused in your behalf without asking you..."
Thinking about it, Seo Gangrim realized he didn't respond to Shin Ara's offer earlier.
Sura Sect. One of the sects growing in power. They have the financial backing, connections, and unity to make joining early advantageous. More importantly, even if Baek Young comes to kill all the sect members, Seo Gangrim wouldn't be bothered. The conditions were good in many ways, but...
"No, I don't plan on joining."
At those words, Shin Sooah's face brightened a little. She had been tense and stern until just now.
'Is it that much of a relief to her that I'm not joining Sura Sect?'
Seo Gangrim stared blankly at her before asking, "So was that all you wanted to talk about?"
"Ah, no. There's a favor I need to ask... I think I should go meet my sister and father, could you come with me?"
***
As they descended the stairs to the meeting place, shouts could be heard from inside the rooms, and the unique underground smell lingered around the place.
Entering the dim basement, Seo Gangrim asked Shin Sooah, "Is this the meeting place?"
"Yes. This is definitely where my sister said, but..."
He found it hard to understand why the other party chose a place like this for the meeting. The room specified in the message was deep inside.
Upon opening the door and entering, Shin Ara was visible sitting in the darkness. "Ah, you both came."
Since she had a mic, her voice boomed loudly. Seo Gangrim frowned and stood across from her.
She handed him the mic, saying, "Seo Gangrim-ssi, want to sing a song too?"
"No... I'll pass."
The place Shin Ara designated as the meeting location was a karaoke room. At first, Seo Gangrim thought the location was incorrectly marked, but it really was a karaoke room. Shin Sooah also seemed a bit confused.
Seo Gangrim sat on the couch and said, "This doesn't seem like a good place to have a discussion."
"But we needed a quiet place to talk privately. Here we can talk without interruption, right?"
"There are places like hotels."
"Huh? A hotel?" Shin Ara jumped up and said. For some reason she seemed embarrassed.
"A hotel! Ah, I'm not even married yet, a hotel!"
"Shin Sooah and I have been staying at a hotel."
"What? I thought there was something suspicious between you two, could it be...?! Sooah, I think it's too early for that..."
Shin Sooah lowered her head, covering her eyes. Her expression seemed to say 'How can I call her my sister...'
This was my first time meeting and talking to Shin Ara face to face. She was quite different from what I had imagined. To think an eccentric woman like this is the head of Sura Sect. It was the kind of impression an ordinary person might get.
Shin Sooah spoke to the flustered Shin Ara. "Sister, why did you call me here? I thought we'd meet at a hospital or something."
"Why a hospital?"
"You said Father was critically ill. Isn't he bedridden at home?"
"Ah, that. It was a lie. I had to say that to get you to come."
Shin Ara smiled innocently, without malice. Shin Sooah, on the other hand, did not smile, and she immediately tried to leave the room, but Shin Ara grabbed her.
"Sooah, I'm sorry! But I really wanted to talk to you."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Come to Sura Sect, Sooah. Sura Sect needs you."
At that suggestion, Shin Sooah bit her lip tightly. She twisted her arm forcefully to shake Shin Ara off.
"I'm not suitable."
"No, who would be more suited for Sura Sect than you?"
"I can't be a gangster!"
When Shin Sooah shouted, Shin Ara made a seemingly hurt expression. Seeing that, Shin Sooah's gaze wavered. She hurriedly turned her head away.
"Then I'll get going first. Don't call me for talks like this anymore."
Shin Sooah flung open the door. As Seo Gangrim moved to follow her out, Shin Ara grabbed me.
She spoke desperately, "Um, Seo Gangrim-ssi. You're friends with Sooah, right?"
"...Well, I guess so."
"Then I'll speak plainly. Gangrim-ssi, could you spare some time?"
'A talk?'
When he glanced at Shin Sooah, she hesitated briefly before nodding slightly and leaving first. Seo Gangrim could guess what Shin Ara wanted to talk about, but still... He sat back down and looked at her.
"So what did you want to discuss?"
"I have a favor to ask... If anything happens to Sooah in the future, could you let me know?"
It seemed like an ordinary request on the surface. Family worrying about family. But this was clearly surveillance.
"I don't intend to monitor Shin Sooah."
"No, not monitor! I'm just worried about her as her sister..."
She had a slightly shocked expression. Just looking at her face, it seemed like an innocent request out of genuine concern.
Shin Ara looked at him with faintly tearful eyes.
"It would all be resolved if Sooah joined our sect... And it would be good if you joined too, Seo Gangrim-ssi."
She slowly raised her head, then gripped his hand tightly.
"Our sect is really great. We'll support you completely. Ah, I prepared a gift for you!"
Saying that, Shin Ara went to get a suitcase she had left in one corner of the room. Next to it was a large carrier bag.
Shin Ara flung open the bag and slid it towards me, saying, "When you join our sect, I'll give this to you. It's small but..."
The bag was full of cash. Around 500 million won, Seo Gangrim guessed. It was definitely a large amount, but...
"No, I'll pass."
With his knowledge from his past life, 500 million is easy to earn. So it was too cheap a price to betray Shin Sooah.
Seeing Seo Gangrim refuse, Shin Ara had a contemplative expression before saying, "Hmm, I guess this gift was too half-hearted... Then what about this? I prepared one more thing."
Saying so, she dragged over the large carrier bag this time. It was an enormous bag, like she was going on a long trip.
Shin Ara spoke shyly, "I prepared something I thought you'd like, but you might not."
'More cash stuffed in this?'
Given the size, there was probably several tens of millions inside.
"Open it, go on."
Shin Ara kept urging him from the side. She's like an excited child giving a gift.
Seo Gangrim had no interest in whatever gift it was, but if he just left, she'd likely cling to him. So he grabbed the zipper of the carrier bag.
As the zipper opened with a ziiip sound, Shin Ara fidgeted happily.
"I heard you have the talent of stealing Destiny, so I prepared this specially."
The zipper opened fully, revealing the 'gift' inside. Seeing it, Seo Gangrim froze up for a moment.
Inside the carrier bag was not money or items. A terrified person with their mouth taped shut was looking at Seo Gangrim.
From the side, Shin Ara said in a shy voice, "He's one of our clan members who betrayed us, and we were about to dispose of him, then I heard about your talent and set him aside separately."
Shin Ara crouched next to Seo Gangrim, meeting his eyes.
She smiled gently and said, "I hope you like it."
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