“If you’ve ruined soone else’s life, then even if your own life gets ruined you don’t get to complain. You wrecked it knowing the cost, didn’t you?”
“······.”
The man who had been answering well just monts ago now kept his mouth shut.
“Scared? You people who’ve always lived by oppressing and stealing from others are afraid of just this much?”
They were weak to the strong and strong to the weak. Trash so pathetic it was embarrassing to even call them gangsters.
That bastards like this were carrying Brother Dongsu’s na made bile rise in my throat.
I knew I bore part of the bla for letting dostic matters slide while I was busy with larger sches. That only made angrier.
Was trusting Yoo Seongjin the mistake? Or was it my mistake for trusting thugs at all? I ruffled my hair in irritation.
Was it just my greed, expecting soone else to be like Brother Dongsu?
“You’re not even fit to be called gangsters. You’re third-rate punks. I can’t allow you to wear the na Dongsupa. I won’t kill you. But······.”
I let my cold eyes sweep over the n kneeling before .
The only one who showed fear was Jeong Minwoo. He’d overheard my phone call with Chairman Yoo Seongjin on the way here, so that made sense.
But the rest of them still had defiant eyes, whether because they believed in the na of Dongsupa or because they were simply too dull to realize.
“I’ll make sure you can never again take what belongs to soone else.”
The punishnt for these n would not co from but from Yoo Seongjin’s own hand.
“Is there anyone here who can explain why Minwoo had to demand money from his mother in the marketplace?”
“······.”
Even the ones who had jeered so loudly at the market were now silent. I sighed and called Minwoo.
“Jeong Minwoo.”
“······Yes.”
“You said you’re Dongsupa, right? You get enough money sent down to your lodging to live on, don’t you? Then why treat your mother like that? Gambling money?”
Minwoo hesitated, still unable to give a proper answer.
“······Boss, it’s just—”
“If it’s an excuse, then don’t say it. Say it only if you’re ready to face it when your lie gets exposed later.”
“······.”
Minwoo clamped his mouth shut again at my warning. How had that kid, who used to trail after calling ‘big brother, big brother,’ turned into this?
I suddenly recalled his childhood face, and before I knew it I was shouting.
“Jeong Minwoo!”
He flinched at my roar, but still didn’t open his mouth.
“Speak.”
“Big brother······.”
His eyes welled up with tears as he glanced around at the others.
“You’re not afraid of , but you’re afraid of those you call ‘older brothers’? Fine. If you want to see who really stands above who—cut that bastard’s tendon.”
The man I pointed at turned pale.
One of Manager Ma’s n gave a signal, and his subordinates moved in.
“Don’t co! Stop!”
The thug scread, thrashing, but they subdued him easily and sliced his leg tendon.
“Uwaaaaghhh!”
His scream of pain echoed through the warehouse, but I kept my gaze locked on Minwoo.
Other than his cries, the warehouse was silent.
“Jeong Minwoo?”
“Huh? Uh? Yes, big brother.”
“Still not planning to talk? Then······.”
“No, no! I’ll say it! I’ll tell you everything!”
So, they really couldn’t be dealt with by words alone. I gave a small nod and jerked my chin at the man writhing in pain.
“Patch that bastard up enough to keep him alive and throw him to the side.”
“Yes, boss.”
My n dragged the bleeding man to the corner to treat him.
Minwoo kept glancing between him and with a terrified face.
“Now talk.”
“The gambling was just us ssing around, but it’s been a while since money stopped coming down to the lodging. So we’ve been taking turns scrounging money. And for ······ there’s no one but Mom to get it from. ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) So······.”
“Hold on. Money stopped coming down to the lodging?”
“Yes. It’s been quite a while.”
Not every branch of Chunha Group could live in abundance, but headquarters in Seoul always sent enough funds to cover shortages.
And this was Busan, Korea’s top tourist city, full of nightlife and hotels. It shouldn’t have been short on funds.
But the lodging wasn’t receiving money? Where had things gone wrong?
“······Go on.”
“The protection money from market people? The bosses take it all. We live on whatever money we can scrounge up in turns.”
“Ha, fuck. You’re even extorting protection fees from the market people?”
“Yes······.”
Damn it. A complete disaster.
Rotten beyond recognition, stinking to the core.
Seeing my expression, Minwoo stamred on.
“Mom gave money at first. But then she stopped. If I ca ho empty-handed, the bosses beat . So······.”
“You crazy bastard. You hit your mother because you were scared of being beaten yourself? Are you insane?”
“······I’m sorry.”
The scene from when I’d first walked into the shop ca back to .
Minwoo shouting with raised hands, his mother collapsed helplessly on the floor.
No resemblance at all, but in that sight I thought of my grandfather.
The grandfather who, even knowing Cheon Sooman’s evil, could not let go of him······. I closed my eyes for a mont, then opened them.
“When did you start this gangster life?”
“Not even a year yet.”
“Why? What were you lacking? That woman raised you like her only treasure, and all you do with it is beco a thug?”
“······I’m sorry.”
His parroted apologies only made angrier.
“You don’t owe apologies. You owe them to your mother. Only then are you human. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Just then, while I was speaking with Minwoo, the warehouse door opened and the sll of the sea swept in.
“Boss.”
I nodded at the guard who ca in. He continued.
“The Busan branch people have arrived.”
“Let them in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Soon after, a crowd entered the warehouse.
More of them than I expected. Even Manager Ma’s n stiffened at their numbers.
‘Well, well.’
I’d told Yoo Seongjin to send branch executives. No way all of these were executives.
So this was ant as so show of force? I couldn’t help but laugh.
Once everyone was in and the doors closed, an awkward silence lingered.
“Greetings. I’m Bulgom. Been a while, President Kim Muhyuk.”
A man stepped forward to break the silence.
I recognized his face. Didn’t recall the na, but I’d seen him with Brother Dongsu a few tis.
“You’re Bulgom? Why do you bastards all introduce yourselves with nicknas? And what’s with that stiff neck? Try it properly again.”
Crossing my legs, I smirked. The air turned frigid.
Bulgom froze, staring at .
“What, don’t like it?”
“······President Kim, the younger ones are watching.”
Him trying to put on airs in front of his “younger brothers” made laugh out loud.
At my sudden laughter, veins bulged on Bulgom’s forehead and those behind him.
My n and the guards adjusted their stances. The tension grew thicker.
“Funny, really funny. You think you’re so big shot, trying to keep face?”
“President Kim!”
Bulgom raised his voice, and I dropped my smile.
“Did I say you could shout? Bulgom, Polarbear, whatever—start over properly. You’re stiff with even though you know who I am? Guess you really are stupid. Well, that’s why you’re still playing gangster.”
“······.”
Normally I wouldn’t provoke him like this.
But after seeing in the market how people’s lives were being hard because of , I couldn’t just let it pass. I was angry at myself, and I owed them.
But the reaction I got ca not from Bulgom, but from a man behind him.
“This little brat’s gone mad? Talking to his elder like that? You wanna die?”
He leapt forward, pointing at . I raised one brow. Not even Bulgom, but so small fry.
Bulgom looked startled.
“Ha······. Unbelievable.”
“You son of a bitch, I’ll fucking kill you!”
I asked coldly as he kept spewing curses.
“Can you handle it?”
The man pulled a sashimi knife from his leg and waved it.
“What the fuck you saying? You little shit! If you don’t wanna die, apologize to the big boss right now. Then maybe we’ll let you live.”
As the knife ca out, Manager Ma’s n shifted cautiously.
Chaos, but Bulgom still stood still.
“So, should I take this as the Busan branch’s stance?”
Bulgom didn’t answer. Which ant yes.
I chuckled and nodded.
“Good. I like this kind of thing.”
“······Would you have done the sa if Brother Dongsu were here?”
At last Bulgom spoke, dragging out Park Dongsu’s na.
“What did you say?”
“I asked if you’d do this even if Brother Dongsu ca. No matter how angry, you wouldn’t have humiliated him in front of the young ones, would you?”
At that, my anger surged.
“You dare mouth Brother Dongsu’s na when you’re doing shit that’d make him claw out of his grave? Don’t you dare spit out his na again, unless you want to kill you all.”
“President Kim, please show so respect. I am the branch chief responsible for this region.”
Even now, this bastard was talking about respect and responsibility.
I wanted to kill Yoo Seongjin for putting a man like this in charge, and I hated myself for making Yoo the head of Chunha Group.
“The reason Busan branch carries Brother Dongsu’s na was to carry on his will. What you’re doing is no better than street punks. And you talk of respect? Enough bullshit. Kneel. If you don’t want to die.”
“What is all this about? I don’t understand.”
He didn’t even realize why this was happening.
A branch chief who didn’t know his own wrongs. I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
Then, the warehouse doors opened again.
Manager Ma walked in—he should still have been in the hospital.
His eyes scanned the room, then he strode straight over and smashed his fist into the face of the thug holding the knife.
The man went down instantly, and Ma began to stomp him rcilessly. Bones cracked audibly.
The Busan thugs stirred, but Bulgom stopped them.
Only when the man stopped moving did Manager Ma stop kicking.
His cold eyes swept over them before he walked past Bulgom to .
He bowed slightly, as if nothing had happened.
“Boss, forgive . I’m late.”
“You’re supposed to still be in the hospital.”
“I’m fine. Sorry for disobeying orders.”
“······No pain moving?”
“None at all.”
He looked fine, but I couldn’t help worrying. He was hurt because of .
“All right. We’ll talk later. But how did you know to co?”
“I was contacted on my way down to Busan. Didn’t get details, just heard you were here. What’s going on? Did Chairman Yoo raise a rebellion?”
“Who knows. That’s what I’d like to find out. I ca down for rest, and it turned into entertainnt.”
Rebellion from Yoo Seongjin, huh. I smiled bitterly.
But Bulgom looked frozen, like he’d heard sothing he shouldn’t.
“Do we kill them all?”
Manager Ma glanced back, voice icy.
I shook my head, the smile gone. Too early for that.
“Let’s talk first.”
“Yes, boss.”
He took his place behind .
Bulgom, more wary of Ma than , finally began to look nervous.
“Bulgom, greet properly again. Do that, and I’ll let what happened here today slide. Or in your own words—do it, and I’ll let you live.”
He still hesitated, stubborn pride stiffening him in front of his underlings.
“Last warning. Kneel.”
That was the last courtesy I would extend to Bulgom.
User Comments
0 comments from readers