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Chapter 19




#19
Four Bosses of Myeongdong Loan Market.
The punch flew straight and true.
Twisting my head to dodge the punch, I threw a merciless one at his face.
The guy staggered back, reeling from the hit to his nose.
In the meantime, the two onlookers lunged at me simultaneously.
Ignoring them, I closed the distance with Hyunwoo and grabbed his collar, throwing several punches.
Punch! Punch!
As the guy staggered, the other two panicked and grabbed him.
“You fucking bastard!”
The guys charged at me, cursing even more.
I uppercut the jaw of the guy on the left. Blood spurted from his mouth.
The guy on the right, foolishly, tried to kick me.
I threw a short punch, striking his ulna.
“Gah! Cough... Huh.”
The guy hit on the ulna gasped for breath, clutching his neck.
“...Do you want more?”
In just a few minutes, the situation was over.
“Hyun?”
When I called his name, only then did Jeong Hyun, trembling, look at me.
“Hyun, I’ll say this one last time. We’re both uncomfortable, so let’s not get involved with each other. And stop hanging around with these guys and acting like a thug. It’s embarrassing. Isn’t it time to stop being a brat? You’re in your late twenties, for God’s sake. Get your act together, please.”
Jeong Hyun couldn’t say a word, like a bee that had eaten honey.
He looked so pitiful that I involuntarily clicked my tongue.
“...This is really the last time. If this happens again, I won’t let it slide, no matter what. Got it?”
The three who had attacked me were sprawled on the floor or crouching, groaning. I said to them,
“You guys, do you really want to clean up after such a guy and get free drinks? It’s embarrassing, really.”
I picked up my coat and turned to leave.
As I left, I didn’t forget to add,
“Hyun, you clean up the mess. You’re good at that, right? Don’t bother me with this. If you do, we’ll meet again.”
I left the shop, leaving the speechless Jeong Hyun behind.
Outside the building, Myeong and three others were waiting.
“Hey! Muhyuk! Are you okay?”
“What? Let’s go now.”
“Eh? Oh. You’re not hurt, right?”
“I just had a talk.”
I greeted the seniors.
“Well, we’ll be going now, seniors.”
Myeong and I walked to where we had parked the car.
The March night was still cold.
* * *
“Did you say that guy is living with the old man and learning from Manager Ha?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Huh... I can’t figure out what the old man is thinking all of a sudden.”
Chun Su-man frowned and leaned back on the sofa.
The secretary, who was reporting, glanced at him.
“Manager Ha is personally taking him to corporate meetings and introducing him to influential executives. If rumors start that he’s the successor...”
At this, a loud voice echoed through Chun Su-man’s office.
“What? Successor? With my eldest son still alive, who would say such a thing!”
“...I apologize.”
“Annoying, really.”
Chun Su-man took out his frustration on the innocent secretary.
“What’s Suhan up to these days?”
“He’s working on the Kim legislator’s case.”
“What exactly is he doing?”
“Well, it seems...”
“Huh... If it’s the Kim legislator’s case, it won’t be easy. Look into it more. What about the Myeongdong Four?”
“They haven’t made contact with Kim Muhyuk yet. But I think they’ll meet soon. Should I look into it?”
Chun Su-man scratched the back of his head irritably.
“I’ll handle it. You look into Suhan and Kim Muhyuk, and keep an eye on the old man’s recent activities.”
“Yes.”
“Out.”
After the secretary left, Chun Su-man, alone, flipped through his notebook.
“Let’s see, the viper’s phone number... Ah, here it is.”
Chun Su-man dialed the number.
— This is No Ik-seon.
“Hey, No. This is Chun Su-man from Myeongdong. Do you have time? I’d like to meet today.”
— Today?
“Yes. I’d like to gather all the Myeongdong family for a drink. Is that okay?”
— Hmm, I understand.
“Great. I’ll call the others too. Let’s meet at our usual spot.”
— Yes, Mr. Chun.
After hanging up, Chun Su-man continued flipping through his notebook and made another call.
A few hours later, at a bar in Myeongdong.
Four men were waiting for Chun Su-man.
“Hey! Ma-jeok. Do you know why Mr. Chun called us?”
“I don’t know. Do you know, brother?”
“No. Why did he call us again? Does Mangchi know anything?”
“No. He’ll tell us when he comes. Let’s wait.”
“Ugh~ I can’t stand these meetings. Why do the two bosses make us suffer like this?”
At that moment, the door opened, and Chun Su-man entered.
“All four of you are here. It’s been a while.”
The four men quickly stood up and bowed to Chun Su-man.
“Yes, Mr. Chun. It’s been a while.”
“Sit down. Let’s talk while sitting.”
Only after Chun Su-man sat at the head of the table did the four sit down.
“Let’s have a drink first. Finish one glass and then we’ll talk. Then we’ll call the girls and go somewhere else. How about it?”
“Yes.”
They all raised their glasses and drank in one shot.
“Ah! It’s good to drink together after a long time.”
Watching Chun Su-man, Mangchi immediately took the lead and asked.
“But, sir. What’s the matter? You called all four of us.”
“Yu, do we only meet when there’s something to talk about? Why are you making it awkward?”
“We sometimes meet one-on-one, but it’s rare to gather all of us, isn’t it?”
Chun Su-man scratched his chin.
They all looked at Chun Su-man, agreeing.
“Ugh~ I can’t leave when I’m in front of the Myeongdong bosses. Well, I called you because I have something to say.”
“Please speak.”
After drinking another glass of whiskey, Chun Su-man spoke.
“You all know that there’s a kid living at the chairman’s house these days, right?”
“Do you mean the chairman’s grandson?”
“Grandson, my ass. Anyway, I heard that the kid is following Manager Ha and learning the business. But I’m worried that strange rumors will spread even though I’m here. I called you because I need your help, Mr. Bosses.”
“Help?”
The bosses exchanged glances.
Chun Su-man watched their busy eyes with a relaxed face.
“Honestly, the chairman doesn’t have much time left, so I, as the eldest son, should pay more attention, right? It’s not good if a strange kid sticks around and blocks the chairman’s view.”
At this, Ma-jeok Shin Seong-il suddenly got angry and said,
“Mr. Chun. Be careful with your words. How can you say the chairman doesn’t have much time left? He’s still in good health.”
Chun Su-man frowned at Shin Seong-il.
“I’m just saying, I’m just saying!”
“Still, it’s not right to say such things about your father.”
Chun Su-man clicked his tongue.
‘What a thick-headed kid...’
He put on a fake smile and shrugged.
“Huh... I’m sorry for the slip of the tongue. Anyway, Manager Shin, think about it. For the chairman’s sake, shouldn’t we remove anyone who blocks his view?”
“Hmm...”
No one answered.
The first to speak was Ssangkal.
“Is it really the chairman’s grandson?”
“According to the chairman, it’s certain. The youngest, Misook’s son.”
“If it’s certain... We don’t have a reason to get involved, do we? It’s a family matter. What can we do even if we help?”
Ssangkal, Kim Ho-sik.
An elite from Yonsei University. He started working under Chairman Chun due to debt and quickly rose to the position of boss with his sharp mind.
It was a sharp question, but Kim Ho-sik’s words made Chun Su-man chuckle.
“Huh~ Kim, or Ho-sik. It’s not a family matter. Am I afraid of that young kid? I’m worried that the chairman might make a wrong decision.”
The four didn’t believe Chun Su-man’s words.
“Anyway, Manager Ha will bring the kid to you soon. When he does, don’t just bow to him because he’s the chairman’s blood. Test him. You can do that, right? You’ve all been under the chairman for at least ten years.”
Ssangkal, Kim Ho-sik.
Ma-jeok, Shin Seong-il.
Mangchi, Yu Ji-gang.
Viper, No Ik-seon.
The four were deep in thought.
Shin Seong-il, who finished thinking first, spoke.
“No. We shouldn’t test what the chairman has decided. I’ll just follow Manager Ha’s instructions.”
Chun Su-man