The End of Gods (A Welcome to the Underworld Novel, Book 4) by Con Template Page B

any indication, it was clear that he was using his entire strength to not punch Ju Won and his nemesis at that very second. He looked beyond pissed.
    “Where do you get your ideas, Tae Hyun?” Ju Won asked in bewilderment.
    However authentic Ju Won appeared in manufacturing confusion, Tae Hyun wasn’t fooled.
    “Listen,” Tae Hyun started inflexibly, moving closer to Ju Won. Tae Hyun towered over the Advisor, the build of the muscles hidden under his tuxedo overpowering Ju Won’s 5’7” frame—as well as almost every other individual in the rotunda room. There was a fatal air in the way Tae Hyun spoke to Ju Won. He was no longer composed; he was simply furious. “I didn’t get this far because of my looks, which may I add,” —he glanced over to Ji Hoon to just piss him off— “outranks this bastard’s here a million times over.”
    Ji Hoon cursed indignantly while Tae Hyun firmly went on.
    “But it’s because I have the best instincts. I have an uncanny ability to read people. There are few who could lie to me and even fewer who could lie to me and get away with it.” His eyes became severe as his gaze bore into Ju Won’s. “Don’t play me for a fool. I may have respect for you, but that doesn’t mean you’re above me. My authority far exceeds yours. Do not make the mistake of thinking that my reverence for you means that I’m afraid of you. I’m not afraid of you. I’m merely respectful around you because I understand that this world has high regards for you. I share in that regard—though it may waver quite often. But if you continue to insult me, I’ll treat you like any other subordinate and make you kneel in front of me before I kill you with my bare hands. Do we have an understanding?”
    Although Tae Hyun spoke in an even, diplomatic tone, it was clear in the uncomfortable shifting of Ju Won’s stance that he was afraid of Tae Hyun. The King of Serpents was a feared Underworld King for a reason, and even Ju Won had to acknowledge that.
    The Advisor sighed seconds later, straightening the jacket of his tuxedo. He took a gulp from his champagne glass to silently soothe his nerves. When he regained his composure, he said, “Ji Hoon’s method of going about what I asked him to do was problematic, but it got the job done nonetheless.”
    A muscle worked in Tae Hyun’s strong jaw. He looked like an angry lion that was prepared to kill everyone in this room to satiate his fury. “So, you’ve been having some fun, interfering with the lives of the people you call your Kings, right, Ju Won? My love life being the forerunner?”
    Insulted, Ju Won’s eyes grew severe as well.
    “This society has entrusted me to mold the first true Lord for our world, and you think I give a damn about whom you or Ji Hoon sleep with?” His spine straightened with pride as he plowed on, looking between Tae Hyun and Ji Hoon. “You can have a thousand girls kneeling at your feet, and I wouldn’t give a damn. But as every disastrous story goes, the downfall of great Kings will always be the woman they keep in their company.” He eyed Tae Hyun. “You, yourself, have said that our world is a society unlike any other. Do you think our people would give up their lives for a King who cared more about the wellbeing of his woman than the society as a whole? Do you think the Kings and Queens here are willing to be governed by anyone who is less than a God?”
    He breathed deeply, his eyes swiveling from Tae Hyun and to Ji Hoon. Both were quiet as he surged on. “Both of you are great Kings, but do you think you’d be able to take our world to great heights if there’s a woman wearing you down, making you vulnerable to human emotions?” He looked at Ji Hoon. “An Soo Jin was that woman for you.” He faced Tae Hyun. “And Choi Yoori was that woman for you.”
    He sighed, seeing the dawning lights of realization that filtered into both of their eyes. It had always been an age-old warning for any leader in the