I thought about summoning Chunha Group’s Yoo Seongjin to Myeongdong, but I decided instead to drop by unannounced, curious to see how a bunch of thugs managed to set up and run a legitimate-looking company.
Before long, I arrived at Chunha Group’s headquarters in Seocho-dong.
“Since I plan on going in quietly, except for Manager Ma, everyone else wait outside nearby.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The more bodyguards I brought, the safer I would be, but moving too openly drew too much attention.
That’s why in Korea I cut down the number of guards. Especially since I was entering Chunha Group’s headquarters—it wouldn’t do to march in with a parade of them.
After finishing the order, I got out of the car and looked up at the building.
“Funny, isn’t it?”
“Sir?”
“That a gang has planted its flag right in Seocho-dong, the very front yard of Korea’s prosecutors and judges.”
When I first heard Yoo Seongjin had decided to set up Chunha Group’s headquarters here, I laughed myself sick. It was a clear reflection of his aggressive personality.
“Let’s go in.”
The guards at the main entrance gave and Manager Ma a glance but didn’t stop us.
Even when I passed through the revolving doors into the lobby, it didn’t feel like so gang hideout.
I reached the reception desk, which looked like money had been poured into it.
“How can I help you?”
“I’d like to see Chairman Yoo Seongjin.”
“Excuse ?”
The receptionist, caught off guard, asked again. I smiled more warmly and spoke slowly.
“I said I’m here to et Chairman Yoo Seongjin.”
For a mont she couldn’t control her expression.
She didn’t say it out loud, but her face said everything: What kind of lunatic is this?
Noticing her slip, she quickly forced her face back into neutrality and apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
After clearing her throat, she asked,
“Do you have an appointnt?”
“No.”
“Then you can’t et him. I’m sorry.”
Manager Ma started to step forward, but I moved a hand behind my back to signal him to hold.
It had been a long ti since I’d gotten this sort of treatnt, and it was amusing.
Wanting to draw out more of her reaction, I glanced at her na tag and said,
“Seo Eunsam, is it? Can’t you make an exception?”
She didn’t flinch even when I called her by na. She just recited the manual in a stiff tone.
“If you don’t have an appointnt, you cannot et the Chairman. I’m very sorry.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, those are the rules.”
“It’s important. I really must see him...”
“Even so, it’s impossible.”
Seo Eunsam glanced nervously around.
I also looked around, but nobody seed to be paying us any attention.
“I really need to see him. Just put in one call. Tell him Kim Muhyuk is here—he’ll et .”
“No. If you keep insisting, I’ll have no choice but to call the guards.”
She leaned closer and whispered so only I could hear.
“I don’t know what your business is, but this company isn’t normal. I’ve seen scary-looking n co and go... I’ve only been working here a short ti, but it’s obvious. Please, just go back. Not long ago I saw soone dragged out of here. If you stay, sothing terrible might happen.”
She whispered like she was sharing a secret, but it was more like a warning.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Leave before my supervisor cos.”
I couldn’t tell if she was worried about , soone about her age, or worried for herself.
“Seo Eunsam, what’s going on?”
Just then, a man ca up from behind and called her.
“Deputy Manager...”
“I asked you what’s going on.”
Flustered, she stamred without answering. I decided to end the ga and turned my head toward Manager Ma.
“Con—”
“What’s going on here?”
Since Seo Eunsam didn’t answer, the man who had walked up addressed directly.
He spoke in an unpleasant tone. I shrugged and replied,
“I said I wanted to et the Chairman, but she said no.”
“Excuse ?”
Unlike Seo Eunsam, this man looked up and down.
“The Chairman doesn’t et just anyone. Leave.”
“You’re talking to ?”
“Who else? You look like so spoiled rich kid, but this isn’t how you behave. This is a company.”
He brushed past and went over to Seo Eunsam.
“Hey, Seo Eunsam. What did I tell you to do if soone suspicious shows up? Call security, right? When are you going to learn your job?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it.”
“....”
He raised his voice, as if to make sure I heard.
I frowned slightly. To talk like that right in front of ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the person involved.
“Manager, call him down here,” I ordered Ma.
As the so-called deputy scolded her, Ma stepped back and pulled out his phone.
“Why can’t you speak up? Damn, this is why I don’t rate graduates from provincial universities.”
“I’m sorry.”
His abuse grew harsher. I silently watched, curious how far he’d go.
“You’re pretty enough, but you’re useless at your job.”
“....”
“Look up.”
At his words, Seo Eunsam lifted her head. Her eyes were brimming with tears.
The man sighed at the sight, then slipped behind her.
“Going to cry just because I scolded you? It’s for your own good. Don’t you get it? You’re the face of Chunha Group. You’re the first person people see when they walk in, so do your job well. Got it?”
“Yes...”
She bit her lip, her face filled with humiliation.
“You’re still standing there? If you don’t leave, I’ll call security. And you—why aren’t you calling them already?”
The deputy pushed her. She nearly cried as her hands shook.
“What, can’t even dial a phone?”
“N-no, I’ll call now.”
Her expression twisted as his hand kneaded her shoulder. Just as she picked up the receiver, I spoke.
“Don’t call.”
“...What?”
She froze mid-motion.
“And you—take your hand off her.”
“You talking to ?”
“Yeah, you. Let’s see...”
I read the na tag on his chest.
“Kim Jiwon? What a fucking na.”
“What?”
“Forget it. Just take your hand off her.”
Kim Jiwon stamred.
“W-what are you saying?”
Seeing his na reminded of Cheon Jiwon—Wasn’t he the one who wasted his life on gambling?
Thinking of that bastard at the bottom made smile.
Seeing my smile, Kim Jiwon flushed, thinking I was mocking him.
“You! Call the guards! And you—just wait right there.”
Shoving Seo Eunsam aside, he grabbed the receiver himself and called.
Soon the guards arrived.
“What’s the matter, Deputy Manager Kim Jiwon?”
They were called guards, but they looked like nothing more than thugs. Still, I didn’t recognize any of their faces—just low-level muscle.
“This guy’s making trouble. Throw him out.”
The guards turned their eyes to and then to Ma.
They flinched when they saw Ma.
“Sorry, but what’s going on here?”
“This lunatic ca to see the Chairman without an appointnt. When we told him no, he caused a scene.”
Kim Jiwon was saring to cover his own actions.
Typical parasite behavior. I smirked.
“So you ca to see the Chairman?” one of them asked.
“That’s right.”
“Not you, Deputy. Shut up. I wasn’t asking you.”
Not sothing a security guard should say to a deputy—if this were a normal company.
But Kim Jiwon imdiately shut his mouth.
“You ca to see the Chairman?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have an appointnt?”
“No. I ca without one.”
Unlike when he spoke to Kim Jiwon, the guard’s tone with was polite.
“I’m sorry, but in that case, please make an appointnt and return later. Please leave now.”
“Hmm...”
“Leave before we have to drag you out.”
So Yoo Seongjin trained them well. At least they restrained themselves with ordinary people.
Ma finished his call and whispered to ,
“He says he’s ten minutes away, on his way now.”
I nodded. Perfect. Yoo Seongjin wasn’t here.
All the better.
Maybe I should push them a bit more. See how far Yoo Seongjin’s training went.
“No. I’ll wait for Chairman Yoo Seongjin. I need to see him.”
“...Excuse ?”
“First, deal with that trash over there—Kim Jiwon, or was it Cheon Jiwon? He was molesting her right here in the lobby. Should I send this to the papers?”
“W-what are you saying?!”
All eyes turned to Kim Jiwon.
“That’s a lie! He’s slandering !”
Panicked, Kim Jiwon snapped at Seo Eunsam.
“Hey, Seo Eunsam! Did I harass you?”
He tried to force her to deny it.
“Well? Answer !”
“....”
She stayed silent, biting her lip, tears trembling in her eyes.
The guards turned to her.
“Is it true?”
“....”
She still didn’t answer.
Sotis silence speaks louder than words. This was one of those tis.
The guards looked at Kim Jiwon like he was filth.
“I told you it’s not true!”
But they’d already figured it out.
The guards sighed heavily and turned back to .
“Forget everything you saw here today. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.”
“No. Why should I?”
“...This is a warning.”
“You’re threatening a law-abiding citizen right now?”
I kept provoking them, curious how long they could hold out.
Their strained faces showed they were trying hard to endure.
“You guys are gangsters, aren’t you? You look the part.”
“Ha... fuck. There are always assholes who won’t listen unless you break their bones. Hiding behind your big guy back there, huh? Keep it up and you’ll end up dead.”
Finally, they dropped the act. Took them long enough.
“Get him out!”
At the order, two of them closed in on .
“You’ll regret this...”
I just smiled calmly.
My relaxed smile enraged them further.
“You fucking bastard, laughing?!”
One of them lunged for my collar, but Ma’s hand shot out and seized his wrist.
The thug’s eyes widened in shock.
“Wh-what—”
“Easy. Thugs don’t know better, right?”
“Yes, Boss.”
At my command, Ma twisted.
The snap of bone was clear.
“ARGHHHH!”
“You crazy fucker!”
Another thug rushed at Ma, but what chance did a low-level gangster have against him?
Ma flung the broken-ard thug aside and swung a fist.
Thud!
One clean hit. The attacker dropped to his knees, clutching his nose.
“...You’re dead. You’re fucking dead. Hit the alarm!”
“Y-yes?!”
Kim Jiwon stuttered, panicked by the sudden violence.
“I said hit the alarm, you idiot!”
He fumbled and pressed the ergency button under the desk.
The siren blared, and within three minutes dozens of n stord down from upstairs.
So blocked the entrances; the rest surrounded and Ma.
“What the hell’s going on?”
The one who looked like the leader frowned at the sight of two n down on the floor.
The last guard still standing whispered a report into his ear.
“Do you know where you are?” the man demanded.
I didn’t answer.
I just smiled.
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