SECRETS & LIES | VKOOK ✓ [EDITING]

twelve.

"Would you enlighten me again on what we're supposed to do here?" Seokjin asked with a skeptical look as Jeongguk arrived at his place—almost immediately after his meeting with Jieun.

Jeongguk sighed, clearly frustrated by the repetition, and sank into a chair across from Seokjin. "You remember the information leak from three months ago, right?" His gaze was sharp, locking onto Seokjin.

"The situation with Park Si-hyuk, yeah. What about it?" Seokjin replied, his curiosity piqued but his patience wearing thin.

"A few weeks ago, I sent Yoongi to... handle things," Jeongguk said with a smirk, knowing the context of Yoongi's work. "He did his job and stumbled upon something useful." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a USB flash drive, placing it on the table.

"This little thing here," Jeongguk said, pointing to the flash drive, "contains documents about old rivals and new ones." He leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched Seokjin's reaction.

"Jeongguk, what's your point?" Seokjin asked, his frustration evident.

"Hoseok contacted Lee Jieun—"

"Yah, out of so many people, you had to talk with her?" Seokjin interrupted sharply. It was clear that Lee Jieun's reputation was less than favorable among their circle. "Why not someone else?"

"Fucking Hoseok decided it, could you sit down now?" Jeongguk snapped back, visibly annoyed by Seokjin's overreaction. "As I was saying,"

"Jieun might be helpful this time, even if I don't want to believe it," Jeongguk continued, grabbing Seokjin's laptop from the table and inserting the USB drive. He navigated through the folders and brought up a mysterious code. "When I was reviewing the documents, I found this." He pointed to a folder labeled 'Kim Taehyung' that contained only a sparse amount of information.

"And when you click here..." Jeongguk clicked on the code, revealing a string of characters on the screen. "At first, I thought it was useless. But then, coincidentally, we had an argument the day I found out about it."

Seokjin frowned, processing the information. "And?"

"And it looks like the code points to Hannam Hill Building," Jeongguk said, his tone serious.

"You mean the one built last year?" Seokjin asked, trying to connect the dots.

"Exactly that one. I need you to come with me," Jeongguk said, sliding the USB back into his coat pocket.

"Because?" Seokjin queried, standing up to check if Namjoon was still asleep. Jeongguk's unexpected visit had clearly disrupted his morning routine.

"Because Jackson Wang works there. It wouldn't hurt to forge more partnerships, you know?" Jeongguk explained, his confidence palpable.

Seokjin glanced back at the partially open bedroom door, a look of concern on his face. "I've heard a lot about this Wang. What if he's the one who leaked the information?"

"Whoever leaked it, Jackson works for him. He owns the building, and we won't lose anything by investigating further," Jeongguk assured him. He took his seat again, placing the chair back in its place. "Don't tell me you're afraid of Wang."

Seokjin shook off the thoughts and regained his composure. "Are you going to stay there all day or do you want a special invite?" His confidence returned as he grabbed his leather jacket.

Jeongguk raised an eyebrow at Seokjin's sudden shift in attitude but didn't comment. They both left the apartment, leaving Namjoon unaware of their departure.

The two mafia members took a quick ride to Hannam Hill Building. As they approached, Jeongguk's mind briefly flashed back to a few nights earlier. He had been drunk and had hoped he saw Kim Taehyung with a beautiful woman. Although he hadn't mentioned it to anyone, including Namjoon, the memory lingered.

Shaking off the distraction, Jeongguk and Seokjin entered the building. The interior was opulent, reflecting the wealth and status of its owner. Jeongguk casually walked with a swagger, while Seokjin followed, still haunted by his fleeting memories.

They approached Jackson Wang's secretary, a woman who seemed too demure for her role. "Name?" she asked politely.

"Jeon Jeongguk," Jeongguk replied, barely masking his disdain for the formalities. His eyes roamed the extravagant surroundings, assessing the wealth on display.

Despite Jackson Wang's recent entry into the business, Jeongguk couldn't help but note the excessive expenditure on the building—funded, no doubt, by his influential father. Unlike Jackson, Jeongguk had built his empire from scratch, relying on his own skills and resources.

"Seventh floor, sir," the secretary said, her eyes focused on her computer screen.

Jeongguk didn't bother to thank her, instead, Seokjin offered a polite bow as a gesture of gratitude. They both hurried to the elevator.

While waiting, Jeongguk leaned against the wall, tapping his foot impatiently. "They're testing my patience," he muttered, looking up at the ceiling.

Seokjin tried to calm him, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I know you've been busy all morning, but it will be worth it."

"It better be," Jeongguk replied with a grin as the elevator doors opened. He walked out and headed towards the office, Seokjin following closely.

"Let's see what's so special about Jackson Wang," Jeongguk said, his eyes narrowed in determination as they approached the office door. The encounter promised to be both revealing and critical, and Jeongguk was ready for whatever awaited them.

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