4. un choix 
[a choice]

It was around four in the morning. The hallways in the penthouse were engulfed in a void of silence when a sudden wave of disturbance was created by the sound of a telephone.

Jungkook's cult made sure to only communicate through telephones over radio based smartphones. Options were indeed available, yet they couldn't risk the chances of the voices getting tracked or recorded by the cults functioning in other provinces.

The ringing was prolonged, even after Jungkook had boringly rejected the call thrice. His body ached, perhaps from the weather outside or either from the awkward position he was sleeping in with Lalisa's small frame snuggled into his naked chest.

Jungkook's body jolted up in a second.

No call was made to him more than thrice, unless it was something important.

The moment he rested the handset against his ear, a grave voice spoke through.

"Jungkook." Jimin raised concern over his voice. "There has been a problem."

Jimin was usually incharge and the chief of almost every mission Jungkook had planned. Be it controlling some violent uprisings or dealing with heinous crimes in the Busan province, Jimin was the ideal person that could be trusted. Not because he possessed meticulous leadership abilities and wit to guide things in an orderly fashion, but also because he always maintained a patient demeanour and could deliberately manipulate situations without even trying too hard.

Therefore this called in for a serious issue; one of those that couldn't be ignored.

He carefully removed Lisa's arm from his waist to dress up, in the slightest attempt to not wake her up. By the time he was done tucking his shirt inside his leather jeans, a shuffling noise caused Lisa to flutter her eyes open, for a brief second.

"Are you headed somewhere?" She rubbed her eyes to get a vivid picture before her eyes. Jungkook caressed her cheek with his thumb, before stroking it over her lip.

"The sun isn't up yet, go to sleep."

"What about..."

"Lisa." Jungkook murmured as he pecked her lips, before her eyelids shut and her voice was reduced in form of soft snores.

Jungkook sighed, before closing the door and departing out.

━

The base camp was surprisingly a quite place for the day. Everyone surrounded around leader Jungkook who sat on the chair with his legs sprawled out and ankles crossed over the table, not attempting to let out a frail cry.

"We had a deal." Jungkook folded his arms across his chest, his gaze narrowed upon a man who stood intimidated right opposite to him.

"Right Hwang-in?" He raised his voice at one of his members, who had now joined allies with the leader of the Seoul province; Kim Hyun Shik.

"How much."

"Excuse me?" Hwang-in asks, confused at the question projected at him.

"How much bribe have they paid you to sell yourself at their feet."

"Leader this is not how you—"

"Enough. I asked you a simple question. Stop manipulating around like a dumb arsehole."

"Two billion won." The latter quietly replied.

"How can you stoop so low for money Hwang In?! We trusted you, fed you like one of our brothers. In return just one request, of not disclosing any information that concerns leader, or his personal matters." Jihoon retorts, but Jimin signalled the boy to control his outburst of emotions.

"How is this by any chance, a personal matter? Miss Lalisa is from another province. She's an outsider and most importantly a blood relative to the leader of Seoul. All the provinces had signed a treaty ages back didn't they? To never allow an outsider to reside in their boundaries and slaughter them right then and there. But we're not only breaking the rule but also keeping her as a hostage as if she's a wanted criminal on the run. For over months now." The young boy, barely 20 years of age spoke for the first time in a while.

Hwang In first argued in a quivering tone, before clenching his fist soaked in determination.

"What I did was the right thing."

A few gasps and inaudible comments were passed on the boy's attitude. Jungkook merely stared at him, waiting for the indistinct whispers to halt, before he threw a sinister smirk.

"This isn't just about the monopoly I'm asking about. When you were accepted into the gang, I believe you must've made a commitment. This time, tight now, is the question of survival. Its a game of life risked with hungry scoundrels wanting to pounce over every wrong move you make. Just one step, and everything vaporises into ash."

Jungkook silently pulled the gun out, before lowering his legs down as he stood up, taking long strides towards Hwang In who was already quaking, struggling to bring back the mask of confidence he had collected a couple moments back.

The other members only stared in fear, finding it difficult to breathe under the air so thick and tense.

"I'll just ask you one simple question and I expect a proper answer from you, alright?"

Jungkook stared straight at him when he was standing just inches away in a point black range.

"Do you want to die?"

"N-no, no s-sir."

"Then what made you fucking think that exposing our inner secrets to a fucked up family will keep you safe and away from trouble? You just didn't risk your own life kid, but also of all the innocent citizens who are unaware that you brought war." Jungkook hollered, posting the gun right at Hwang In's forehead as the boy now terrified, lifted his hands as if surrendering to him.

"These don't work for the Jeons. Get out from here and don't try to trespass around my area anymore. You're lucky I haven't shoved a bullet up your arse yet."

Hwang In stood shocked for a moment before he hurriedly scurried out of the door. In maintaining his composure, he tripped once or twice, before slamming the door behind him.

"Anyone else wants to back off? Please do that now." Jungkook announced, his thumb massaging his temple to relieve stress.

Jimin took a seat beside Jungkook, his hand placed gently over his shoulder.

"What's next, Jeon?"

"Hyung. Guess we have to meet the man himself."

━

Jungkook hustled down the hallways of a well lit-up arena. This, after all was Seoul — bright, magnificent, lively and relatively a shady hub to a number of illegal businesses. The reining Kim family had been running dictatorship in this city for over years, trying to establish a number of wars and political relations in their name to expand their territory.

Kim Hyun Shik, as Jungkook had known was a person of class but not the one that deserved to be respected. The man was infamously known to be a criminal before the failure of the government and wasn't one of those who compromised. He would agree to support the provinces that were running out of resources in exchange of their lands; and those of which hadn't agreed of giving their lands away, he would make futile efforts to start war amongst them to engulf it in hid borders, like the power hungry scoundrel he was.

"Who are we meeting again? Oh Jeon." The man greeted distastefully as Jungkook entered the room and sat opposite to his seat. He had noticed the familiar face of Hwang In standing quietly in the corner, shook and equally scared to find his ex-leader here.

"I see both of you must have met before, need I give an introduction there?" The elder laughed in a raspy voice.

"That wouldn't be required unless you wish to continue blathering around like a fool." Jungkook answered calmly, before crossing his arms and reclining back on the chair.

"So coming back to the business. I heard you're keeping my dearest niece captive at your headquarters."

"Captive? Protection sounds better, don't you think?" Jungkook cleared his throat, before adding on. "If you were better off peacefully controlling your territory instead of treading over others' toes, she wouldn't have escaped in the first place. So just take this as a favour in disguise, however you would like to accept it."

"Don't think too lowly of me, you aren't a saint of a good leader too. Your region is living in far off worse conditions than us, with people desperate for money to get out of the hellhole you've created for yourself." Hyun Shik smirked whilst eyeing the traitor Hwang In who had his head hung low in shame.

"At least I project the truth. You're merely killing the natives and you don't care if they live or died. And jus how many times, Hyun Shik, have you dragged smaller cults and pitted them against each other just to enjoy the bloodshed and war?"

"Your father would've done the same. You are an infant, you know nothing about what fortune your father left for you and you're wasting all of it in kindly serving your people. But it is acceptable, considering you're too young to lead the district." Hyun Shik gave a stern remark.

"Don't bring my father into this." Jungkook sneered. "I don't know what golden words you've used to cast a spell on people to believe you, but the only thing I'm here to convey is that your district is bombing others and causing conflicts, making the natives flee away into other provinces. Since Lalisa is in my district, I'll be the one governing her and you shouldn't be concerned of slamming your business on her."

"She's my niece. I'm her guardian, I demand you to return her back to me."

"She is a human and not someone to be toyed with. If anything I know is that she'll stay safe with me as long as she stays away from you."

"Look Jeon. I don't like to repeat myself." Hyun Shik growled in silent rage. He held the edge of the table so hard that Jungkook suspected it would tear in half.

"Don't think I am unaware of your trafficking business overseas. You are just a pathetic criminal and you don't have a tad bit of respect for your niece, isn't that why you're planning of selling her off to a fucktard like you who will estroy the living hell out of her? Thats your only source of income to maintain this lavish life you're living in."

"Enough. What I do with her shall not concern you. Why are you even bothered anyway?" His nostrils flared in anger as a realisation struck to him, before his lips curved into a cunning smile.

"Uh oh, bunny boy, too pain stricken in love I see...what a pity, tsk, tsk." His smile widened as he spread his arms, perplexed.

"You're probably right then, Jeon Jungkook. She fleed away from my district into yours. I can't express control over her anymore and she isn't yours to hold either."

"What are you trying to insinuate Kim?"

"The only thing I'm trying to hint you is the treaty we signed years ago, young lad." Hyun Shik lis up a cigar before taking a puff. "Let me remind you that as per the terms that were agreed upon in the signed treaty, betrayers and outsiders are unacceptable in the society. They don't deserve protection and trust, rather they should be punished for treason. And you know what the punishment for treason is."

"...death." Jungkook barfed at the sudden realisation. The terms in the treaty had wafted from his mind, his blood boiled at the audacity of bringing the damned thing again.

"It was made decades ago, my father signed it and he isn't there anymore. I never agreed to these nor do I support them."

"And this is where you've faltered, my dear." Hyun Shik exhaled. "Your father had chiefly come up with this exclusive contract. So even if you disagree with the terms you must abide by it; he may not live anymore, but we still are. So it will last for generations to come and the terms still remain."

Jungkook banged his fist in frustration as he found himself losing the argument. His hands rummaged through his pockets for a cigarette when his fingers brushed against a lolly. He pulls it out and unwraps it, shoving the lollipop into his mouth, earning astonishing glares from Hyun Shik and his men standing in the background.

"Woah, she really did change you. What have you done to yourself, Jeon?" Hyun Shik let out an airy laugh, crying to catch his breath.

"Try smoking some more, it would be a sight to see your tar soaked lungs and it suits you a lot, by the way." Jungkook savagely waves his lolly, before getting up from his seat.

"Until we meet again."

Jungkook trudged out of the massive building before getting into his car. He sat inside but leaned his head onto the headrest in stress; he wasn't sure if he could peacefully drive back home just yet.

He heaved out a tired sigh. He didn't have the slightest of idea of what he'd do next. Hyun Shik indirectly invoked a war that could start anytime soon.

It would bring widespread damage to both the allies; probably destroy the already disturbed nation as a whole. The people would be forced to go on lockdown again to protect themselves against the risk of losing their innocent lives.

Jungkook had been trying to suppress all chances of a war breaking out for the past seven years that he had acquired the position of a leader.

This time however was making it difficult to make a decision — he had a choice to make.

He was burdened with responsibilities; to think of the nation or to think about the woman he had loved, who wasn't safe either way.

Jungkook couldn't tell Lalisa about it, at least not yet.

With a heavy heart he started the engine and drove off, his intuition alerting him that the worse was yet to come.

｢A/N」

The book is about to end in another two or maybe three chapters, I hope everyone's still reading this cause at this point I have no hopes from what I'm writing :)