*TRIGGER WARNING: THERE WILL BE GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF THE BLACK MARKET AND UNETHICAL ACTIVITIES IN THIS CHAPTER. IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THESE TOPICS, I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU TO STOP READING*

     "See what?" I wondered the horrors Jungkook would show me that would change my perception of him.

    He leads me to a hallway with a shiny, wooden floor and gorgeous chandeliers on the ceiling, lighting our way.

   "This ain't scary," I snort.

    Jungkook tightens his grip around my hand. "Just you wait."

   As we walk down the glorious hallway, we pass by well dressed men in suits of varying ages.

   "Sir, we finally sent all the packages of cocaine to the US. We received 11 billion won (about 9.8 million US dollars) in compensation," a man bows.

    11 billion won? No wonder why Jungkook's family is so rich!

    Jungkook nods. "Perfect. Make sure that money ends up in the bank account in Switzerland- not here."

    Jungkook whispers, "Switzerland bank accounts are the most safe and secure. They don't disclose your privacy to anyone."

    "Ah." I nod, digesting this strange information.

    Another man walks up to Jungkook. "The heroin transaction in Russia has been completed. 30 billion won (about 27 million US dollars) was given in compensation."

     Jungkook pats his shoulder. "Okay. Remember- send the cash to the Swiss bank."

     "Of course. Good to see here you here, sir. It's been awhile since I've seen you since you aren't present at many meetings."

   Jungkook forces a tight-lipped smile. "Don't get used to my presence. Carry on with your work."

    We continue walking down the hallway, and all of the men passing by bow and greet Jungkook respectfully.

   "Selling illegal drugs? That really isn't that bad. Ain't that what all gangs do? Even people at our school do this," I laugh, to show Jungkook I wasn't afraid.

   Jungkook purses his lips. "I really wish this was the worst of it."

   We continue walking down the hallway, and it gets wider and wider.

    We make a turn and Jungkook shuts his eyes upon seeing a bearded man. "Oh no... why does he have to be here..."

   I squeeze Jungkook's hand. "It's okay. I'm sure I can handle it."

   Jungkook opens his eyes and tears up. "I don't think I'll be able to."

    The man bows and behind him I see a bunch of... shirtless women only wearing underwear. Their chests were completely revealed.

    I recall to the time I was in Jungkook's room and he needed to apply medication on my stomach.

     "Look, you taking your top off won't have any effect on me. If it makes you feel any better, I've seen tons of girls shirtless before, so I'm immune."
     Jungkook covers his mouth and realizes what he just said.

     "Damn, Jungkook. Really didn't need to know that information," I scrunch my face and look away, disgusted.

Jungkook begins panicking. "That's not what I meant! The circumstances required it. You see-"
I put my hand up in front of his face.
"I'd rather not hear about the situations that led you with being with shirtless girls."

    Every strange thing Jungkook has ever said is starting to make sense.

"Jungkook..." I gulp. "So when you told me that you've seen tons of women shirtless..."

He winces. "This is what I mean. I've been introduced to the family business since I was young. Ever since then, I've been forced to go through this hallways, to learn and see about all of this. One of the many ways my family makes money."

   "Prostitution? I mean it's illegal if you aren't a licensed business but as long as the women consents, enjoy what they're doing and get paid-"

    Jungkook tightens his lips. "That's the problem. Some of these women don't give consent."

"Huh?"

    "Some of what my family business does is... human trafficking."

    I pinch myself. This has to be a nightmare. Jungkook couldn't be involved in something so evil. Wake up!

    Unfortunately, this was all real.

    "What? How?" I was at a loss of words.

    "Some of the gang members lure in women into their cars. Kidnap them and force them into prostitution. Some women continue willingly, some are brainwashed to love it, and some just hate it but have to live with it," Jungkook explains.

   "So the women in front of us?" I choke.

    "Some were willing. But some of them have lived this lifestyle for so long... they don't know anything else. And are just traumatized and attached to their capturer who kidnapped them. Sorta like..."

   "Stockholm Syndrome." I finish his sentence.

      Jungkook grits his teeth. "Precisely."

    "So how do these women live? Do they even get paid?" I questioned.

"Oh yeah. Especially since most transactions are with celebrities, businessmen and politicians."

We pass by the women, and they bow, respectfully. They grin and wave at us, looking quite excited.

"Are they happy?" I ask Jungkook.

Jungkook wipes his moist eyes with his sleeve. "They might have smiles but their eyes appear dead."

I look at the women's faces again and Jungkook was right. They may have plastered on gorgeous smiles with bright red lip stick, but their vacant eyes... told sad stories.

There were a few that looked genuinely content. But that's only because they wanted this lifestyle. But most of these women... didn't.

"So why the heck are these women shirtless?" I demanded to know.

"It's their uniform down here."

"Uniform?"

"Yup every worker in our mafia has to wear a uniform. Different uniform for different position. Except for my family. Because we're in charge," Jungkook blankly states.

"Uh-huh. And who is the bearded man?" I ask about the guy Jungkook was afraid to see.

    "He's in charge of the illegal prostitution ring. And he's really proud of it."

   I gag.

    Jungkook grimaces. "Exactly how I feel."

    I finally say what I've been thinking. "There's nothing wrong with women and men profiting from sex work... but this way just didn't seem right at all. Especially the women who were forced into these lifestyles. They were robbed of so many years from their existence."

   Jungkook quickly nods. "I agree. But what can I do?"

"Can't we report this to the police or something?"

Jungkook laughs for the first time we've been here. "Oh, Y/n you're so simple. You can't do that unless if you want the gang to torture and kill every one of your loved ones."

I instantly shut up and regret saying anything.

    We continue walking down the hall. It can't get worse, right?

    Of course, I'm wrong.

    "Namjoon wants you to know our family's dirty secrets... I'll let you know," he mutters to himself.

    "On the right, is the room for organ harvesting," Jungkook casually mentions.

    "Say what now?" My jaw dropped.

     "For any recently found dead bodies, their organs are stolen and sold on the black market."

     "Oh," is all I can manage to say. I grab my stomach.

     "On the left is where the dark web activities take place," Jungkook points.

     "Dark web?" I raise my brow.

    "Illegal videos and pictures are bought, sold and traded, anonymously. Anything from pornography, torture, drugs, animal cruelty, selling your exes' nudes, I could go on..."

    "Please don't," I felt nauseous.

    Jungkook apologizes. "I'm sorry."

    "It's okay. Just continue on with the... tour."

    Jungkook purses his lips. "Right..."

    "The room we just walked past is where blackmail is planned and done," Jungkook speaks like an automated machine with a monotone voice.

    "Blackmail?"

    "Yeah. Like videos are recorded of people cheating on their spouses or having unforbidden love affairs. Then, copies are made in that room and we plan the blackmailing process of calling and harassing them, threatening them with release of the video."

     "So, extortion," I conclude.

     "Yup," is all Jungkook could say.

For the next half hour, he continues listing horrors that his "family business" was known for.

"Ah, we finally made it the Grey Deaths."

"Grey Deaths?" I asked.

"That's what we call our hitmen."

"H-hitmen..? Those are real?" I widen my eyes.

"Yup. We have a group of men who are paid large quantities of money to take out people," he stared at the floor while saying so.

"So murder. Your family's business is responsible for paid murders."

"How else do you think we got so rich? By playing fair?" His voice sounded like he was mocking me but there was also a tone of pain. He sounded like he needed help.

    "But your mother's business... how was that made?" I questioned.

    "Well, she inherited Geum's clothing line from her parents. Then, my mother extended the business to jewelry and other things. The business became huge but she paid the workers well. She started a movement by her fair working practices and so many billionaires were threatened. They were scared they'd be forced to give up their wealth and pay the people below them better."

    "Then she met my father. He was a poor man who was secretly part of the gang life. My father loved her but thought she wasting her potential by paying the workers so well and not extracting enough profit from them or using child labor," he continues.

   "It didn't matter because my mother became one of the most powerful women in South Korea. My dad's political career flourished and so did his gang. Things were going well until my mom suddenly ended her life, and now my dad has inherited both businesses. With lowering wages and placement of inhumane working conditions, he made billions and is one of the richest men in the world."

"But doesn't your father do a lot of charity? Why would he do that?" I questioned.

Jungkook snorts. "Tax evasion. You donate enough to corporate charities and the government stays off your back from cutting your wealth. Plus, it helps his image as a politician."

"So why exactly is he a politician? Isn't handling a huge gang and your mother's business enough?"

"To control what the government does. My father has a consistent fear of an influential politician taking over and distributing his wealth-so why doesn't he just become a politician himself and create the policies that help him and destroy the ones who don't?" Jungkook shrugged.

So many children looked up to Mayor Jeon. Even I did at one point- who wouldn't want to be a self-made billionaire philanthropist? But it was all a scam. His political career was just a cover up to protect the money he made from the black market.

"I-I." I was speechless.

"You dream of being rich, right?" Jungkook steps closer to me. "Well don't. You may think your existence doesn't contain meaning but at least you lived simply, yet peacefully. You've never hurt so many people to get what you want. Your life has way more value than mine does."

And now, I could finally understand Jungkook's suicidal thoughts. What's the point of being wealthy and renowned if you have the burden of thousands of deaths upon your shoulders?

And with this new information, now how am I gonna be able to convince Jungkook that his life has as much value as anyone else's does?

AUTHOR'S NOTE: yup, this book finally came to be about how there is no ethical consumption under capitalism.. tbh isn't everything about that🥵

and wooo this was a hell of an intense chapter.. I had this reveal planned since the beginning of the book😂 tbh I was planning to discuss darker topics but I didn't wanna make it tht scary. plus this is a wattpad fanfic so I didn't wanna severely traumatize anyone.. but yea u can add to ur imagination about how evil the black market is