Chapter 37: CRIMSON OBSESSION

 

The Gathering Storm

The office was quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of Taehyung’s fingers tapping against the polished mahogany desk. His gaze remained fixed on the sprawling city below, the endless expanse of lights reflecting the chaotic pulse of the world outside. A storm had begun to brew within him—an unease that gnawed at the edges of his empire. The undercurrents of tension were subtle at first, but now they were unmistakable. Something was wrong, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

His empire had always been an intricate web, each thread pulling at another, each movement calculated. But recently, there was a shift. A fracture in the balance. Someone—somewhere—was testing him.

Jimin stood by the door, his posture stiff and uncomfortable. He shifted from foot to foot, unwilling to break the silence that stretched between them. Finally, with a measured sigh, he spoke. “The reports came in. Everything seems normal, but… the numbers don’t match up. Someone’s skimming off the top.”

Taehyung’s jaw clenched, his grip on the armrests of his chair tightening. The calm façade he had maintained for so long was starting to crack. “Who?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Jimin hesitated, then leaned slightly forward, his eyes flickering with concern. “We’re still looking into it, but whoever it is, they know how to cover their tracks. It’s almost like they’ve been doing this for a long time.”

A slow smile spread across Taehyung’s lips, but there was nothing warm in it. It was a smile of someone who had been underestimated, who was now preparing to remind the world of their power. "Not for long," he muttered, his voice cold as ice.

The storm outside raged, its echoes reverberating in the hollow silence of the room. Taehyung’s empire had always been a fortress—impervious, unshakable—but cracks had begun to form in the walls. He could feel them. And while Jimin and the rest of his men searched for the traitor, Taehyung knew one thing for certain: someone was testing his resolve, and whoever it was would soon learn just how dangerous it was to betray the King of the Underworld.

Meanwhile, in the shadowed corners of the city, Jungkook moved like a predator stalking its prey. The cool night air carried the scent of danger as he slipped through the darkened alleys, his senses sharpened to an almost painful degree. Every whisper, every slight rustle, was a signal to him. He had been listening—always listening—waiting for the first sign of betrayal within Taehyung’s ranks.

It had come sooner than he had anticipated.

Jungkook had intercepted the whispers of a traitor long before Taehyung had even suspected it. The sound of clandestine meetings, the murmur of hushed conversations, the shifting of money between willing hands. All of it pointed to the same conclusion: there was someone within Taehyung’s inner circle who had grown tired of serving the King and had begun plotting his downfall.

Jungkook’s grip on his knife tightened as he followed the trail deeper into the underbelly of the city. The abandoned warehouse ahead was quiet, its desolate exterior hiding the dangerous conversation taking place within. He had to be careful. This wasn’t just about finding a traitor—it was about finding the mastermind who had the audacity to go up against Taehyung, to challenge his power.

Jungkook stood in the shadows, watching through a cracked window. Inside, two men exchanged briefcases, their words low but charged with the weight of a dark secret. Money changed hands. Deals were sealed. But as Jungkook’s eyes narrowed, he saw something more than the typical exchange of power. There was something in their eyes—something that spoke of more than just betrayal.

Jungkook stepped back into the darkness, his mind already working. He could end this now. The traitor was in his sights. But no, this wasn’t about quick kills. This wasn’t about delivering justice right away. He had a different plan.

He wanted to see just how deep this betrayal ran. And when the time came, he wouldn’t just expose them—he’d make them wish they had never crossed him. He’d make them beg for mercy.

He wanted to watch it all burn. And with Taehyung’s empire crumbling from within, the flames would be all the more satisfying.

Back in the heart of his empire, Taehyung sat at the head of a long, polished table, surrounded by his most trusted men. The room was thick with the stench of tension, the air crackling with unspoken accusations. He could feel the eyes of his men on him, waiting for the next move. He had always been a master of control, a puppeteer pulling the strings of those who pledged loyalty. But this time, the game had changed. The loyalty he had once demanded was being tested—by the very people who had sworn to serve him.

Jimin stood by Taehyung’s side, arms crossed, his gaze flickering between the men seated before him. His expression was unreadable, but the concern in his eyes was unmistakable. "We’ve narrowed it down to three suspects," he murmured under his breath, leaning closer to Taehyung. "But the evidence is still too clean. There’s something off about this."

Taehyung’s lips curved into a dark, knowing smile. He knew exactly what was happening. Someone was trying to play him, trying to outsmart him. But they had underestimated him. He had always been the one pulling the strings.

"Then we make them dirty," Taehyung replied smoothly, his voice cool and calculating.

Jimin’s eyes flickered. He knew what that meant. No one could outplay Taehyung—not for long. The King would use his own methods to flush out the traitor, and when he did, there would be no mercy.

Meanwhile, Jungkook continued his shadowed pursuit. He had followed the traitor to a hidden meeting spot in an alley, watching as the man conversed with an unknown figure. The words were hushed, but the intent was clear. This wasn’t just about money or power—it was about an assassination.

Jungkook’s fingers twitched over the hilt of his knife, his blood running cold at the thought. Taehyung had been targeted. The traitors within his ranks weren’t just looking to take his empire—they were going for the heart of it.

Jungkook’s lips curled into a cold smile. He had the traitor in his sights, but killing him now would be too easy. No, this needed to be played out carefully, with precision. Jungkook wanted to see who was behind the scenes, pulling the strings, orchestrating this treason.

So, he stepped back into the shadows, blending with the night. His eyes never left the men in the alley, watching, waiting. He wasn’t about to make the first move. Not yet. He had a bigger plan in mind—one that would unravel everything.

The days stretched on, and Taehyung’s paranoia grew. His empire, once a fortress, now felt like a house of cards, precariously balanced, each piece ready to fall. But he would not let it crumble. Not yet.

As the traitors continued to move in the shadows, their plan unfolding, Taehyung prepared for his own counterattack. He knew he couldn’t let this betrayal fester. He would strike before they even knew what hit them. His men were loyal, but he knew that loyalty could be fleeting. It could be bought, stolen, manipulated. And now, more than ever, he needed to keep his grip tight on his empire.

But there was one thing Taehyung hadn’t counted on: Jungkook.

Jungkook wasn’t just a shadow in the night anymore. He was a force, a challenge to everything Taehyung had built. And as much as Taehyung wanted to destroy him, to claim victory in this game of cat and mouse, he realized that the stakes had changed.

This wasn’t just a power struggle.

This was personal.

And Taehyung would have to fight for everything he had—his empire, his power, and his pride.

As the storm continued to gather, the city became a battleground. And in the heart of it all, Taehyung and Jungkook were on a collision course, both driven by their own obsessions, both unwilling to back down.

In the end, only one would emerge victorious. But for now, the storm raged on, and no one knew who would survive its fury.

 

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