『Katsuya』: The only reason you're still breathing right now…
『Katsuya』: …is because I gave you a chance to live.
『Katsuya』: So, really—you should be thanking me.
『Ritsuki』: Young man, you'd better not
Before Ritsuki could finish his sentence,
he suddenly felt something clamp tightly around his neck.
A sharp, searing pain shot through him.
『Ritsuki』: Argh!
He couldn't help but cry out in agony,
struggling violently.
But he was just an ordinary man—utterly powerless to break free.
Katsuya had one hand wrapped firmly around Ritsuki's throat,
watching him with a faint, almost playful smile.
『Katsuya』: Threaten me?
『Katsuya』: Do you even have the right?
Just moments ago,
he'd been curious to hear if this man could say something fresh,
so he let him talk.
But it turned out to be the same worn-out, cliché threats.
Katsuya felt almost regretful
listening to this drivel was a waste of time.
『Katsuya』: Forget you
even someone from that March Group in your sorry little country wouldn't dare speak to me like this.
Katsuya knew Ritsuki was the heir of a chaebol family,
but that family's business wasn't any kind of true giant.
In fact, in this tiny place called Kōri-koku,
even the most powerful chaebol couldn't compare to Stark Industries.
Right now,
just Katsuya alone—combined with Tony's assets—
was worth more than the most valuable conglomerate in Kōri-koku.
And this insignificant heir thought he could threaten him?
Forget assets—
even if Katsuya were penniless,
he could still wipe Ritsuki's company off the map in an instant.
Ritsuki must have been tired of living.
A voice rang out from the side.
『Ritsuki's Secretary』: Stop!
The secretary, seeing his boss being strangled and grimacing in pain,
rushed forward to help.
『Ritsuki's Secretary』: Do you know who our Executive Director is? Let him go now!
Katsuya didn't even spare him a glance.
With a casual kick, he sent the man flying several meters.
Then he looked down at Ritsuki again.
『Katsuya』: You? Running into me is nothing but your death wish.
『Katsuya』: Now—
『Mayuzuki』: Oppa…
Hearing her voice, Katsuya turned toward her.
Mayuzuki's brows furrowed slightly.
『Mayuzuki』: Oppa, if you kill him here…
『Mayuzuki』: …it'll cause a lot of trouble. There are too many people watching.
She was worried—not only because she didn't want Katsuya to be dragged into unnecessary trouble,
but also because, as an ordinary person,
she didn't want to see someone die right in front of her.
『Katsuya』: Fine.
He gave a light chuckle.
With an almost careless motion,
he tossed Ritsuki aside.
This man was just a small fry, after all.
If Mayuzuki didn't want to see him die,
then Katsuya wouldn't kill him—
for now.
Yes…
once Mayuzuki wasn't around, he could always finish the job later.
『Katsuya』: Consider yourself lucky today. Next time you see me, you won't have that luck again.
Without even looking at Ritsuki,
he turned to Mayuzuki.
『Katsuya』: Come on, let's go watch that movie.
『Mayuzuki』: Okay!
She happily took his hand and led him toward the van.
Off to the side, Mayuzuki's manager stood frozen, completely at a loss.
As Mayuzuki's agent, she knew all too well—
the man lying on the ground was the heir to SC Group,
and also an investor in this very drama.
Now that Katsuya had assaulted him…
this was big. Too big.
『Mayuzuki』: Unnie, what are you doing? Hurry up and drive!
『Manager』: Ah—coming…
The manager gave Ritsuki a reluctant glance.
He could still move, so he was probably fine.
She quickly ran to the van,
and the three of them got inside.
The engine started, and they drove away.
Ritsuki, left lying on the ground,
wanted nothing more than to kill Katsuya on the spot.
It was the first time in his life he'd been treated like this—
strangled, injured,
and openly disrespected.
Katsuya had even insulted SC Group,
and his words carried an obvious contempt for Kōri-koku itself.
And then the threat—
that next time, Ritsuki wouldn't be so lucky.
It was unforgivable.
He decided—
he would kill Katsuya with his own hands,
no matter the current scandal surrounding his actress girlfriend.
This wasn't about business.
This was about showing Katsuya
what happened to those who dared become his enemy.
And as for Mayuzuki—
Ritsuki realized he'd been too gentle with her.
She clearly didn't understand the gap between a chaebol heir and a celebrity.
『Secretary』: Executive Director, are you alright…?
『Ritsuki』: Get lost!
Furious, Ritsuki shoved the secretary away with a vicious kick.
The man didn't dare complain—
he simply bowed and apologized repeatedly.
『Secretary』: I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
He had followed Ritsuki long enough to know how terrifying his boss could be.
Ritsuki rubbed his sore neck.
Damn it—
that bastard's grip was like iron.
He had no idea that Katsuya had already held back.
Otherwise, both he and his secretary
would have been reduced to corpses.
The earlier kick to his secretary's gut vented some of Ritsuki's rage,
but before he could speak further,
he noticed people watching from nearby.
This was a filming site,
and curious bystanders had been drawn by the commotion.
Even crew members from the set were looking over—
and many of them knew who he was, as the drama's investor.
If they recognized him…
and word got out that he'd been beaten here,
along with rumors of his pursuit of Mayuzuki—
SC Group's reputation would take a hit.
That was unacceptable.
『Ritsuki』: Let's get out of here, now!
As the heir to SC Group,
he was used to public appearances at high-profile events.
The last thing he wanted was for this humiliation to spread.
The secretary hurried to help him into the car,
and they drove off.
On the way, the secretary asked,
『Secretary』: Executive Director, where are we going?
『Ritsuki』: …Take me back to the company first. Then, follow Mayuzuki and that bastard. I want his address.
『Secretary』: Yes, sir.
『Ritsuki』: No—follow them right now. I don't want to lose them.
『Secretary』: Understood.
End of chapter...
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