Chapter 3: The Second Chance

The next morning, Kang Tae-hyun woke before sunrise.

The city outside remained asleep.

Most people were dreaming.

Kang Tang was planning a war.

He sat at his desk, staring at a notebook filled with names.

Hundreds of names.

Gang leaders.

Businessmen.

Politicians.

Corrupt police officers.

Every important person he had encountered during his previous life.

In the future, these people would shape Seoul's criminal world.

Some would become allies.

Some would become enemies.

Some would die.

And some would regret ever crossing paths with Kang Tae-hyun.

He slowly wrote one particular name.

Kim Eun-woo.

A loyal friend.

One of the very few people who never betrayed him.

In his previous life, Eun-woo had saved his life countless times.

Unfortunately, Kang Tang remembered exactly where Eun-woo was right now.

Working part-time jobs.

Drowning in debt.

Living a miserable life.

The future right-hand man of the Black Dragon Mafia was currently carrying food deliveries on an old motorcycle.

Life truly had a strange sense of humor.

Kang Tang closed the notebook.

"First, I need money."

No empire could be built without money.

Power required resources.

Resources required capital.

Fortunately, he knew exactly where to find it.

---

Three hours later.

A crowded internet café in Seoul.

The room buzzed with noise.

Students played games.

Office workers browsed the internet.

Nobody paid attention to the young man sitting quietly in the corner.

Kang Tang stared at a financial website.

Numbers filled the screen.

Stock prices.

Investment reports.

Company announcements.

Most people saw random data.

Kang Tang saw the future.

He remembered several major stock surges that would happen over the next few months.

In his previous life, he had watched wealthy investors make fortunes.

This time he intended to join them.

He invested every won he possessed.

It wasn't much.

But it was enough to begin.

As he clicked the final button, a strange feeling appeared inside him.

Excitement.

The future had officially changed.

No longer was he merely surviving.

Now he was moving.

The first domino had fallen.

---

That evening.

A narrow street near the Han River.

Kim Eun-woo sat beside his motorcycle.

His face was bruised.

His clothes were dirty.

Three men stood around him.

Loan sharks.

Their leader kicked him in the stomach.

"Still can't pay?"

Eun-woo gritted his teeth.

"I need more time."

The leader laughed.

"We already gave you time."

Another kick landed.

Eun-woo collapsed.

Pain shot through his body.

Yet he refused to beg.

That stubbornness was exactly why Kang Tang respected him.

The loan shark raised his fist again.

Then a voice interrupted.

"Three against one."

Everyone turned.

A young man stood beneath a streetlight.

Hands in pockets.

Expression calm.

Dangerously calm.

The leader frowned.

"Who are you?"

Kang Tang smiled.

"Someone who dislikes unfair games."

The loan sharks laughed.

One stepped forward.

"You want to be a hero?"

"No."

Kang Tang's smile widened.

"I want to test something."

The thug blinked.

"What?"

Kang Tang's fist slammed into his jaw.

CRACK!

The man crashed onto the pavement.

The other two froze.

Even Eun-woo stared in surprise.

The future mafia king moved forward.

Fast.

Precise.

Brutal.

Ten years of fighting experience remained inside his mind.

His body was younger.

Slower.

But his instincts were still deadly.

Another thug charged.

Kang Tang dodged.

Elbow.

Punch.

Kick.

The man dropped instantly.

The leader attempted to run.

Bad decision.

Kang Tang grabbed his collar and slammed him against a wall.

Fear appeared in the man's eyes.

"Who are you?"

Kang Tang leaned closer.

His voice became ice cold.

"Remember my face."

The man trembled.

Because for a brief moment, he felt something terrifying.

The presence of a predator.

A future king.

Kang Tang released him.

"Get lost."

The three loan sharks ran.

Within seconds they disappeared.

Silence returned.

Kim Eun-woo slowly stood.

"Thank you."

Kang Tang looked at him.

Loyal eyes.

Strong spirit.

Unbreakable character.

Exactly as he remembered.

"No problem."

Eun-woo scratched his head.

"You seem familiar."

Kang Tang nearly laughed.

Apparently everyone in this timeline thought that.

"We've never met."

"Really?"

"Really."

Eun-woo nodded.

Then extended his hand.

"I'm Kim Eun-woo."

Kang Tang shook it.

The moment their hands met, history changed.

Because this simple handshake would eventually create one of the most feared partnerships in South Korean criminal history.

"Kang Tae-hyun."

"Nice to meet you."

"The same."

For the first time since returning to the past, Kang Tang felt genuinely hopeful.

One loyal ally had returned.

Many more would follow.

---

Late that night.

A black luxury sedan stopped outside an expensive hotel.

Inside sat Chairman Jang Min-seok.

The undisputed ruler of Seoul's underworld.

At least for now.

A bodyguard approached the vehicle.

"Chairman."

"What is it?"

"We received interesting information."

Jang looked up.

The bodyguard hesitated.

"A young man fought three loan sharks alone."

The chairman laughed.

"That's your interesting information?"

"No, sir."

The bodyguard handed him a photograph.

Jang examined it.

The image showed Kang Tae-hyun walking beneath a streetlight.

Alone.

Calm.

Dangerous.

Something about the young man's eyes caught his attention.

Those eyes did not belong to an ordinary person.

They belonged to someone who had already seen blood.

Someone who understood power.

Someone who possessed ambition.

The chairman studied the picture for several moments.

Then smiled.

An unusual smile.

"A dragon hiding among ordinary people."

The bodyguard looked confused.

"Sir?"

"Keep watching him."

The chairman placed the photograph inside his jacket.

"I want to know everything about Kang Tae-hyun."

Outside the window, Seoul sparkled beneath the night sky.

Neither man realized what was coming.

The city was changing.

A storm was rising.

And at its center stood a young man who had already died once.

This time Kang Tang intended to take everything.

Power.

Money.

Revenge.

And perhaps...

The love he lost.

End of Chapter 3

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***