Kamman had anticipated a bloodbath from his decision to go after Cheongyeon, but the next day was quiet, and the gangs of the South Korean underworld still co-existed 'peacefully'. Chaos had not arrived. Yet.
In the middle of this peace was a buzz about a certain union between Geumgang and the Bronze Orchid. This move would drastically solidify Geumgang's standing among the gang Kings of the underworld, and by the rumors flying everywhere, it had already begun. Other gangs sent their delegates to Geumgang's zone, wanting to be on the right side of history once it was made.
Former rivals began to lose their composure, fearing for their livelihoods.
The leader of Corpse Tribe, another minor gang, was the seventh person they were sending away that day, and others were still coming, all with alluring offers. The proudest man in the world must have been Park Jangseok. He lifted his shoulders so high they almost grazed the sky.
Kamman's fleet was more luxurious than that of a royal or even a presidential escort, and this was no exaggeration. They snaked through the entrance, and everyone's jaw dropped. Park Jangseok had seen fit to wait for him at the entrance, all his men, exceeding thirty, lining up behind him in black suits and dark shades. Kamman inwardly chuckled at the effort.
Kamman was in a white car this time, still personalized, with a gold phoenix symbol attached to the front of the car. It gleamed under the light, threatening to blind anyone who stared directly at it. His escort wasn't large; he was against big companies, as he felt it mostly slowed him down, so he kept a tight squad of men and women skilled in martial combat. The impact of his arrival, however, was always big and lasting.
Park Jangseok struggled to get up from his seat, and it squeaked loudly, as if glad it had been relieved of holding his overweight body. Rei opened the door for Kamman, and he got out of the car.
Park Jangseok stretched his hand to greet him. Kamman stared down at it, smiled, and nodded in acknowledgment, but he didn't receive it. The hand was retrieved awkwardly.
"Mr. Chen, I've heard a lot about you. Welcome in."
Kamman's eyes searched his men, all of them, but he didn't find the face he was looking for. After a moment, he faced Park Jangseok and answered, "Thank you."
Gesturing with his hands, Park Jangseok ushered him into the building. Walking side by side, they really fit the description of the beauty and the beast. Even Geumgang's gangsters were gagged by Kamman's insane visuals, and they couldn't help but stare in awe.
Inside, Kamman said little. Small talks by Park Jangseok were barely acknowledged, and Rei answered questions selectively. Geumgang's men stared at each other in confusion. They had initially thought he was coming to discuss business, but things were not going as planned.
"Mr. Chen, I've always wanted to be an associate of the Bronze Orchid. I'm glad we can discuss it. Of course, Geumgang's assets shall be at your disposal." Park Jangseok went on rumbling and boasting of the might of Geumgang Pa.
Rei almost laughed out loud. Geumgang's assets were most probably a drop of water in an ocean when compared to the Chen family's assets alone. He needed to do better than that to sway Kamman.
Kamman was losing his patience, thinking he had wasted his time coming all this way. He twisted the rings on his fingers gently, his calm demeanor radiating from where he sat. He had left the questions to Rei and Jeff, not having the patience to handle them at the moment.
After a long time, he finally came.
Rules existed, and Asia existed to break them. They didn't get along at all. Park Jangseok's men would die if any of them arrived after him to such an important meeting, but Asia did just that.
In his head, he wasn't supposed to be coming in today, so he was actually doing them a favor, and the least they could do was be grateful that he showed up.
The venue was at one of Park Jangseok's clubs. He and the Phoenix were seated in an open space, and when Asia walked in, he could see them from above. Coincidentally, he met the Phoenix's eyes the moment he stepped inside. Chills, a very foreign feeling, greeted him for a brief second. He brushed it off and went down the stairs.
Park Jangseok had followed Kamman's line of sight and saw Asia walk in. He lowered his head in embarrassment, thinking that Kamman would call his men out for lack of professionalism. Instead, Kamman said, surprising them all:
"There he is. What I came for."
Park Jangseok and his men looked at him wide-eyed. Asia too.
"Mr. Chen. What do you mean?"
"I want to speak to him," he repeated as he pointed at Asia casually, then turned to Rei to confirm his name, even when he couldn't possibly forget it.
"It's Asia Song."
"Yes. Him. The rest can leave."
Nobody moved for a moment, wondering if they were the ones being asked to leave, in their own territory. When Kamman's men saw hesitation, they suddenly drew their guns, cornering Geumgang's men.
"The Phoenix demands that you leave!" Rei bellowed with extreme authority.
Park Jangseok laughed bitterly.
"I always thought of you as a man of integrity. I guess I was mistaken. So what, are you going to shoot all of us dead?"
Kamman smiled, then responded,
"No, I'll just put them to sleep briefly."
With that, Kamman's men pulled the trigger, and Geumgang's men dropped one after the other. It was at such precise speed that nobody saw it coming. In less than a minute, three-quarters of the gang were down.
What was loaded in those guns was not bullets, but tiny needles that lodged onto the surface of the skin, part of it sinking in and instantly causing the victim to lose consciousness.
Asia stood still, knowing he stood no chance. He was really good, but not supernatural. He would at least get to the first opponent before those needles took him out, too. He nodded, signaling Park Jangseok, who was waiting for his signal to submit.
"Everyone leave, apart from Asia."
His men did as they were told. But then Rei spoke up.
"You too, Mr. Park. He only wants him."
"Chen Kamman! How bold!" Park Jangseok exploded, his injured ego bleeding profusely. Kamman didn't care.
However, he had no choice, and what he thought was a business meeting had quickly turned into a hostage situation, right in his own territory. When Asia was left alone, he moved to sit at the seat Park Jangseok had initially occupied, coming face to face with the terrifying Phoenix.
"Sir, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Asia finally spoke, his face hardly hiding his amusement.
Kamman felt the unfamiliarity once again in his tone, and it made him feel like a bucket of cold water had been poured on him.
Asia was low-key relieved that he didn't have to fight. He understood the Phoenix's motive behind his attack: to deflect any direct combat, while still crippling his opponent greatly. That was impressive. He gave him the impression of a wise man, which was rare in all the leaders he had interacted with, so he wasn't entirely mad about being forced to sit there with him.
Kamman, however, didn't share the same emotions, and his face grew dark when he stared at Asia.
"Why did you kill them?" He asked, getting straight to the point.
"This again?!" Asia rolled his eyes, thinking about that time Kamman accused him of killing his father. He was hoping for something more fun. However, Kamman continued:
"Cheongyeon, you killed the entire gang, and I had to clean up after you."
Asia, rumored to have perfect control of his emotions and an unparalleled poker face, was definitely not expecting that, and shock briefly ran through his eyes. He rushed to cover it, but Kamman had noticed it almost immediately. He smiled at the realization. He was right.
Asia knew he had sold himself out and had no choice but to concede. He was smart enough to know that a phoenix, the king of the skies, would easily tell from his reaction. He didn't intend to drag it on.
"I had my reasons. How did you know? Why did you clean up after me?" He asked, curious and visibly impressed.
"So that I can ask for a favor," Kamman replied, not really interested in his reasons at the moment.
He looked very calm, his smirk and posture emphasizing his dominance. Asia would never have known that his heart was beating to the point of almost tearing his skin.
They were too similar to be a coincidence.
"What favor?" Asia asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I'll be leaving for Thailand soon. Come with me."
Asia thought he heard a hint of softness in his voice, but dismissed the possibility. He was clearly taken aback by the request, taking him a moment to reply.
"You want me to work for you?"
"Well, not really. I want to own you."
Kamman said that so casually, but everybody else in the room was shocked, including Rei, who was never easily shocked when it came to Kamman.
Asia laughed, Kamman's audacity taking away his ability to speak.
"I'm afraid that even all the wealth of the Bronze Orchid cannot get you what you want," Asia finally answered, after he had regained his composure.
In their first encounter, he only suspected that there was something wrong with Kamman's brain, but now he was sure about it.
He was too busy to indulge himself with a madman. He got up to leave, letting Kamman do his worst. The worst, he thought, was to kill him.
Kamman stopped him, getting up from his own chair.
"I have another question," he asked as he slowly walked towards him.
"What?" Asia asked, letting out a sigh.
"Are you still afraid of heights?"
"Huh?" Asia was confused about the randomness of the question. Meanwhile, Kamman had gotten so close that his face was inches away from his. He raised his hand and touched Asia's cheek gently; then, all of a sudden, he grabbed his chin roughly, adding pressure.
All this happened so fast, giving Asia no time to react.
Asia finally raised his arms and violently shoved Kamman's hands off his face, causing the powder in between Kamman's nails to spread into the air. Asia unknowingly inhaled as Kamman held his breath.
"You..."
A wave of drowsiness instantly hit him, and images before his eyes blurred. Just before he completely lost consciousness, he saw Kamman smile, and then he fell into his arms, blacking out.
Kamman turned his head, and Jeff moved instantly, taking him from his arms and carrying him over his shoulder.
"Let's go!" Rei ordered, and all their men prepared to move out.