Translator - Zofu
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Having finished my thoughts, I decided to act immediately.
As far as I knew, the biggest organization around here right now was Cheongseong. But I didn't know the details about Cheongseong either. I started my proper gang life in the winter when I had just become an adult.
I dropped out before my second year of high school, did whatever I could to get by, and started working for a loan sharking organization when I came of age. So for about two years, I was completely clueless about the future. Back then, I was barely surviving day to day.
I decided to start with the place I knew best.
I took a taxi with the cash I had left. It didn't take long to reach my destination.
I got out of the taxi and looked around. It was a place full of old, shabby buildings. But it was all too familiar.
And I saw the sign on my destination building.
I saw an old sign that read [Il-soo Loans]. Memories came flooding back. This was the place that took me in when I was at my hardest, and also where I first betrayed someone and killed someone.
Choi Il-soo, the owner of this place, was a surprisingly sentimental guy for a gangster. In some ways, he was a benefactor to me. And I realized once again what a piece of shit I was for betraying such a benefactor.
I climbed the stairs. I grabbed the doorknob and tried to open it, but it was locked. I figured no one would be here this early, but I heard conversation from inside.
I forced the door open with strength and shouted as I entered.
"Il-soo!!"
I saw four men frozen mid-bite of their jajangmyeon at the uninvited guest.
The familiar face sitting at the head of the table slurped up the jajangmyeon he had in his mouth and asked:
-Slurp
"Who are you? No, how did you get in?"
"How else? Through the door."
Choi Il-soo said, looking at the big guy next to him with an incredulous expression.
"Hey, did you lock the door?"
"Huh? I definitely locked it."
"If you locked it, how did that bastard get in?"
"I'm sorry."
Choi Il-soo pushed his flustered subordinate aside and spoke to me.
"Kid. This isn't a place for kids, so get lost."
"No customers allowed?"
"Ah, for fuck's sake. Just go! What are you doing, boys? Get him out of here."
At Choi Il-soo's words, the big guy closest to me got up, grabbed my body, and said:
"Don't just stand there, get ouuut!"
Before his hand could touch me, I grabbed his arm and snapped it. And when his colleague went down, the other two rushed in. I struck the throat of the guy coming at me with a fist from the left.
"Gaaah!"
I kicked the head of the guy who collapsed in pain from the throat strike. I controlled my strength, so he probably wouldn't die.
And the last guy rushed in too. I kicked his leg to throw off his balance and struck his chin with my knee. Seeing me dispatch three men in an instant, Choi Il-soo got up, pulled out a knife from his pocket. He threatened me with a sashimi knife that you'd only use for sashimi, but it was just cute.
"You crazy bastard... where did you come from?"
"I told you, I'm a customer. Still, it's nice to see your face again, Il-soo."
"Cut the bullshit and tell me your purpose!"
"Purpose? I'm here to take over your organization."
"This guy's completely nuts."
Looking at the incredulous Choi Il-soo, I snatched the sashimi knife from his hand.
"Huh?"
Looking at Choi Il-soo flustered from having his weapon snatched in an instant, I said:
"Want me to show you a magic trick? Watch closely, it's a disappearing knife trick."
I flattened my palm and pushed the tip of the sashimi knife with force. The sashimi blade bent and lost its original shape. Then I pressed what was once a knife tightly with both hands, compressing it.
I threw the newly reborn round-shaped former knife over my shoulder.
"Ta-da. It's gone."
At my playful words, Choi Il-soo looked at me like I was crazy. Then he turned his eyes to where the remnants of the sashimi knife had disappeared and had a fearful look in his eyes.
"Y-you crazy bastard..."
"Hey now, calling your Brother a crazy bastard is a bit harsh. And you shouldn't play with knives dangerously. How about you take just one hit?"
"I-I'm sorry, can't we just talk it out?"
"Nope. Not happening."
-Smack!
Leaving behind Choi Il-soo who had fainted from a single slap, I moved to where Choi Il-soo had hidden his safe. When I removed the oriental painting frame, I saw a safe inside. It was a small safe. I tore off the safe door with my strength.
Inside, there were stacks of cash. There were other things too, but they were of no interest to me, so I only took half the cash. Then I turned around and spoke to the big guy staring blankly at me.
"Hey, big guy, order a double portion of jajangmyeon and one tangsuyuk."
While I ate, Choi Il-soo and the three thugs knelt on the floor. One of the thugs was drooling at the sight of me eating deliciously, but I ignored it.
And Choi Il-soo, perhaps his knees hurting, subtly watching my reaction, suddenly stood up from his spot and naturally sat in the remaining chair.
"Hey, stop stuffing your face and tell me why you're here!"
Ignoring Choi Il-soo's words and half-listening, I looked incredulously at Choi Il-soo who was naturally sitting and talking.
"Getting comfortable?"
"Hmph, well I'm older than that punk, and it'd hurt my pride to kneel there with my subordinates..."
Choi Il-soo muttered, avoiding my eyes.
"Well, I guess that's not what's important."
"Exactly! I'm frustrated, so tell me why you're here already, please!"
"Come on, I told you earlier. I'm here to take over the organization."
"Are you really crazy? What is there to gain from taking over this tiny place? Even if you call us a family, there's only twelve of us, what's there to take?"
"That's for me to decide."
At my words, Choi Il-soo, frustrated, beat his chest and said:
"Oh god, what sins did I commit in my past life to deserve this shit, I'm going to lose my mind."
"What's the point of going crazy? Just accept the situation as it is."
"Sigh... fine, let's say I accept that you've taken over our gang. What are you planning to do now?"
"Grow the organization, obviously."
"As if that's easy."
"Well, that's my problem. First, do you know anything related to being a piece of shit?"
"Cheongseong? Why them?"
"Because they're my next target."
At my answer, his eyes widened and he spoke rapidly like a machine gun.
"I'm really going crazy. Do you think Cheongseong is some neighborhood convenience store?"
"So do you know anything about them or not?"
"Ha, Cheongseong is the organization that controls this entire area. Those bastards are into prostitution, drugs, liquor—everything. They're crazy fuckers who openly bribe the local police. Even the Seoul guys can't touch them, so why don't you stop this nonsense and just go home?"
According to my memory, Cheongseong didn't exist two years from now. Chinese guys had taken over that spot. And those Chinese guys didn't last long before they were completely wiped out by the police. That year, there was a massive crackdown when large amounts of heroin and meth were discovered. I also took over the empty spot left by those who were swept away.
I spoke while looking at Choi Il-soo, who was still yapping.
"Stop the bullshit. Can you find out where the Cheongseong boss is?"
"You want me to just go dig him up?"
"Or would you rather die by my hand?"
When I raised my fist threateningly, his body trembled as if he had just remembered what happened earlier.
"No, this isn't something you can just tell me to do and I can do it! If we get caught, all our heads will roll."
"That won't happen. Just do some digging."
"Ah, fuck. I'm going crazy."
"Are you going to do it or not?"
"Fine! I'll do it!"
Choi Il-soo, finally agreeing, leaned back in his chair with a soul-drained expression.
"And from now on, I'm your Brother. Address me as Brother every time you speak."
"You're really a crazy son of a bitch. Is that really important right now?"
"Of course it's important. What's more important in an organization than hierarchy?"
"Sigh... what am I even saying to you."
"Hey now."
Seeing Choi Il-soo who wouldn't call me Brother even if he was about to die, I smiled and got up.
"Ah. Right. You guys deal with burner phones here too? Give me one."
"Seung-hyun, hand one over."
The big guy called Seung-hyun got up, took a phone from a box, and gave it to me.
"First, call this number and save it as 'Brother Tae-yang.'"
"I got it. Now get out of here!"
Geum Tae-yang, having finished my business, left the office.
And Choi Il-soo, who was in the office, looked at the departed Geum Tae-yang and said to his subordinate next to him.
"Is that bastard gone?"
The subordinate carefully stuck his head out the door to check and said:
"He's gone."
"Pack only the important things and get ready to leave quickly."
"Huh. Aren't we doing what Brother ordered?"
"Who said he's my Brother? Move your ass, what are you sitting around for?"
After giving orders to his subordinates, he sat down to cool his aching head, but at that moment, he was startled by an unwanted voice and got up again.
"And if you ignore my orders and run away, this is what will happen, so think carefully before you act."
Geum Tae-yang, appearing again, tore the entrance's iron door in half like tearing paper.
"Alright. I'm really leaving now. Make sure you do as I said."
Only silence remained in the office after he disappeared again.
"What are you doing? Hurry up, drop your stuff and do what that bastard ordered!"
"No, he just told us to pack up..."
-Thwack!
"Argh!"
"You hopeless bastard. Stop mumbling and move your ass."
"Yes!"
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