/

Chapter 13




< Twenty, First Experience. >
#13
Twenty, First Experience.
In front of the house of Chairman Cheon in Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Chairman Cheon was laughing loudly, as if the living room would shake.
“Hahaha! Crazy guy!”
“Chairman, are you feeling good?”
“Didn’t you see his interview? That guy is just that guy.”
“Young Master is also very straightforward.”
On the TV, Muhyuk's interview was playing.
Seeing Muhyuk's face, which was not only calm but also shameless, Secretary Ha shook his head.
“Hahaha! That’s how a man should be. Yeah, that’s right.”
But it seemed that the interview perfectly matched Chairman Cheon’s taste.
After laughing for a while, Chairman Cheon asked with a smile.
“So, have you set up the meeting with the in-law? I told him I want to meet him alone, without Muhyuk.”
“Yes, but it’s difficult for you to move alone... I think you should go down there, Chairman.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“Then I’ll prepare for it.”
Chairman Cheon couldn’t take his eyes off the TV, his lips curling up.
“I felt so relieved when I talked to that old man from Il Sung Group today. How much did he look down on us, saying we only know money and are ignorant? He bragged about how all his children went to Seoul National University and famous foreign universities...”
“Those people came here to borrow money from you, didn’t they? Even if they curse you behind your back, they still wait for hours to ask you for help.”
Secretary Ha rarely chimed in, and Chairman Cheon nodded with satisfaction.
“I didn’t even finish primary school, and my kids weren’t good at studying. But Ji-soo and that guy are saving my face. Ji-soo was pretty good, right?”
“Yes, he got into Seoul National University. At that time, you gave him 1% of Il Sung Electronics as a gift, didn’t you?”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
The smile on Chairman Cheon’s face faded.
“How’s the president-elect doing?”
“There’s no particular movement yet. I heard they are in the process of forming the transition committee and selecting personnel. Two of your people have been assigned, but where to place them...”
“Two?”
“Yes, this government, even though it’s the ruling party, has a different color from the military regime. So, too many requests...”
“Alright. I understand. Two... Where do you think is best?”
After a moment of thought, Secretary Ha spoke.
“One person should definitely go to the economic division, and I think it would be good to place one in the political division.”
“Political?”
“Isn’t the political division the largest? I heard they will be in charge of public security and prosecution.”
“Hmm.”
After a brief moment of thought, Chairman Cheon nodded.
“Do that. They will go directly to the Blue House, right?”
“Yes, they plan to place a chief of the civil affairs office from our side.”
Chairman Cheon stroked his chin, deep in thought, then changed the subject.
“What are the two of them doing?”
“...”
Secretary Ha hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“It seems that the second president is doing something separately without the first president’s knowledge.”
“Really? Is it a problem?”
“He’s involved with gangsters, so...”
“What? Gangsters?”
Chairman Cheon frowned.
“Aren’t the big organizations all caught?”
“Two organizations under the protection of the Cheongpung Association have been growing secretly. They don’t cause violent incidents, pretending to be legitimate businesses.”
“What are they doing?”
“It seems they are involved in the slot machine business.”
“Worthless guy. All he can do is run a gambling business?”
“But it’s the first time he’s done something separately from the first president. It seems he received help from his father-in-law.”
Chairman Cheon clicked his tongue.
“Just cleaning up after his in-law. There’s nothing good about getting involved in such things...”
“Will there be a problem?”
“Keep a close eye on him.”
“Yes.”
After the conversation ended, a smile slowly spread across Chairman Cheon’s face, which had been still for a while.
“No matter how I think about it, Muhyuk is really to my liking. If he were my son instead of my grandson, how great would that be?”
“...”
That day, Chairman Cheon called several places and got deeply involved in boasting about his grandson.
“Hey... Our grandson, you know. Yeah, the one who got a perfect score this time, Kim Muhyuk. He’s my grandson...”
* * *
Even as the new year dawned, my daily life didn’t change. I planned to take more active steps when I went to Seoul, but for now, I focused on spending time with my grandmother.
I went out to do my morning exercise.
How long had I been running? A car stopped beside me.
“Hey! Dong-sang!”
Turning my head, I saw Park Dong-soo, who was lowering the window and grinning.
“...Brother, aren’t you going too far? I told you last time.”
“Hahaha! You haven’t changed~”
“Are you finally making a move?”
Park Dong-soo nodded.
“I have to start moving soon. I have to fill the gap left by my brother, don’t I?”
“Still calling him brother? Don’t you know what happened to him? If it’s about gangster loyalty, I have nothing to say.”
“Tsk, you crazy guy. Do you really talk to a gangster like that? This world is like that. It’s important to have a good reason. But we have to take care of our brother, even if he’s in there for life. Right, guys?”
“Right, brother.”
You’re really something.
“Well, you do what you have to. But now that the government is changing, you won’t be able to openly use violence like before. Unless you have the government’s protection.”
“That’s true?”
“Yes.”
“Dong-sang, I heard you’re good at studying? You’re smart and strong, wow, I’m so envious.”
I ignored his nonsense.
“I’m telling you this because of the connection I made at the hospital. It will be very different from before. My advice is to focus on legitimate businesses. You’ll have to use violence when necessary, but try to walk the line between legal and illegal as much as possible. A loophole is not illegal.”
Park Dong-soo frowned.
“I don’t know. I’m not smart enough to do that...”
“Hahaha. You don’t need to do it yourself. Hire smart people, like lawyers. Create a legitimate company and do something else behind the scenes. You’re an expert, so you know what I mean, right?”
“Hmm...”
“Start with Busan. Then I’ll help you expand to Seoul. Mutual benefit, got it?”
“Hey, Dong-sang. What’s your real identity?”
“Later... Start with Busan. I’ll come see you later. See you then. Uncle!”
“Hahaha, I’m looking forward to it. Let’s go, guys!”
I followed the moving car with my eyes.
When the car was out of sight, I started running again.
‘Will he do well? I don’t know if he can handle the Cheongpung Association’s cleaners alone, but if I make a hidden weapon that no one knows about, it will help him.’
The cold winter wind dried my sweat quickly.
At the end of my exercise, Myeong-su and Hyun-seong were waiting for me.
“Hey! Why are you so late?”
“Sorry. I met someone I knew and talked for a bit.”
“Who?”
“Someone. Like that.”
“What? Is that it?”
Myeong-su wiggled his pinky finger.
I grabbed his pinky and bent it slightly.
“Ah! Ah! Damn, it hurts! Stop it. I’m sorry, I won’t do it again!”
Myeong-su, who was in pain, glared at me.
“...Damn you.”
“But why did you ask me to meet here? What are you planning?”
“Now we’re adults, right? Twenty years old! Let’s go to Dad’s place and have some drinks.”
I looked at Myeong-su, who was grinning, with a narrow eye.
“...You’re already hooked.”
“Hey, hey! I’ve been studying for three years, right? And I’ll keep studying hard in college. We should try it now. Right, Hyun-seong?”
“Hmm.”
Hyun-seong didn’t answer, but he seemed a bit excited.
“Sigh... Alright, let’s go. Go!”
“I told Dad. I was going to book a private room, but I just got a table. It’s our first night, so we should enjoy it properly.”
“Hmm, hmm.”
“Sigh... You kids.”
“Hey, Kim Muhyuk is being so formal. Who would think you come here often? Let’s go quickly!”
Myeong-su led the way, and Hyun-seong followed.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the usually argumentative Myeong-su obediently following.
Standing still and watching, Myeong-su turned his head and shouted.
“Hey! Muhyuk! If you don’t come quickly, we’ll go without you!”
“Alright, I’m coming, I’m coming.”
We eventually arrived at Arabian Night in Nam-dong.
It was a nightclub run by Myeong-su’s father.
“What? Myeong-su?”
The person managing the entrance recognized Myeong-su.
“Bro! I’m coming in.”
“...You’re already old enough to come here?”
“Yeah, I told Dad. Can I come in?”
“Sure, have fun. Don’t cause any trouble.”
We greeted the doorman and went downstairs.
The louder the music got, the more my ears were ringing.
Thinking about it, I’ve never been to a nightclub before.
At that moment, a waiter with a name tag that read “Sung-dragon” approached Myeong-su.
“Hey! Myeong-su!”
“Hehe. Bro, get us a good spot.”
“Sure~ Let’s go. It’s Myeong-su’s first time, so we need to book a lot. You guys are coming too, right?”
Following Sung-dragon’s lead, we went inside.
The music and the bright lights.
On the stage, men and women were dancing together.
“I can now go up there and dance. I used to just stand and watch when I came here occasionally.”
Hyun-seong was rolling his eyes, looking around the club.
The big guy was excited, his nostrils flaring, which was kind of cute.
We sat at the assigned table, and even though Myeong-su didn’t ask, whiskey was already on the table.
“Let’s drink and have fun today!”
“Hmm.”
“Take it easy, it’s your first time... If you start acting up, I’ll just leave you here.”
“Wow! You heartless guy. Hyun-seong, let’s drink together!”
“Alright.”
The music was so loud that we had to speak louder.
Myeong-su, who was excited, opened the whiskey and poured a glass for each of us.
Then he suddenly raised his glass and shouted.
“Our friendship is eternal!”
Damn... This is so embarrassing.
“Eternal!”
Hyun-seong echoed. I had no choice...
“...Eternal!”
I followed suit.
“Let’s drink the first glass straight.”
“It’s strong, isn’t it?”
“No problem.”
The taste of the alcohol sliding down my throat was quite strong.
This was the first time I drank whiskey in this life...
‘...It’s fake, isn’t it?’
It seemed to be mixed with soju.
In my previous life, I drank a lot.
From expensive alcohol to soju, I drank every day with people, and all I gained was a drinking habit and a beer belly.
The moment the alcohol entered my body, I knew it was fake. Well, since it’s Myeong-su’s father’s place, I’ll just drink it.
“Wow! This is whiskey. How is it?”
“...It’s okay.”
“It’s like water.”
“Hey! This is expensive alcohol! Hyun-seong, you’re enjoying this because of me. Don’t forget it when you go to Seoul.”
Because the conversation between the two was getting longer, I took a beer bottle by myself.
I held the bottle and gulped it down.
‘This is much better.’
After a few rounds of drinks, the party continued in a pleasant atmosphere.
We booked girls and even went on stage to dance.
“I’m tired. Let’s go home.”
“Hey! Muhyuk. Why are you leaving alone? Let’s play a bit more. Right, Hyun-seong?”
“Hmm... I agree with Myeong-su.”
Because of their insistence to play a bit more, we booked a few more girls.
“How old are you guys? I don’t play with kids, but he’s okay.”
“Muhyuk? He’s a talent, a talent.”
“So your name is Muhyuk? Do you want to play with the sister?”
“No. I’m here to drink.”
Sung-dragon kept bringing girls.
Mostly, he seated them next to Myeong-su, but he kept showing interest in me.
“...Let’s go. Grandma is waiting.”
“Just one more booking, okay? Can’t we?”
Seeing Myeong-su’s pleading eyes, I sat back down.
At that moment, a woman was led to our table by a waiter. She was the prettiest woman I had seen so far.
Myeong-su, who seemed to like her, immediately poured her a glass and started talking.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-one. How about you?”
“Twenty.”
Myeong-su raised his glass and said.
“Let’s all have a drink. Meeting like this is a kind of fate.”
“Looks different, but you’re a man. Alright, let’s drink.”
He raised a beer bottle and clinked glasses with us.
We chatted for a while when a man came out of a corner room.
After looking around for a moment, he approached our table.
“Hey! What are you guys doing?”
< Twenty, First Experience. > End