In my previous life, Hyunseong was selected for the national team and won a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Looking at the current situation, it seems he was originally planning to give up on the Asian Games next year.
But perhaps because of a favor I asked when I came back, he rejected that offer this time.
Could it be that Hyunseong ended up in a hit-and-run accident because of the repercussions of my actions?
'I didn't expect this kind of situation.'
I felt bitter, unable to prevent Hyunseong from suffering unnecessary harm.
“Gangsters often choose legitimate businesses like construction. But this can't be anything but suspicious, right?”
“Yes, I think so too. Should we investigate further?”
I shook my head at that.
“Section Chief Ha said he would look into it, so let's wait and see. He's using the people under his command, right?”
“I've only taken over a few of them.”
“Are they reliable?”
“They're all people I know well. If any problems arise, they won't reach you.”
I smiled at Manager Ma's face.
* * *
In the office of Geumseong Construction.
A loud shout was followed by the sound of something hitting the wall and breaking.
A large, middle-aged man was throwing things at a man who was bowing before him.
“Hey, you! You crazy bastard. I told you to make sure he couldn't participate in the competition, but not to run him over with a car! Why did you make things so complicated!”
“I'm sorry, sir.”
“You damn fool, hey! Bae Wonchun! I told you not to call me sir. Are we still street thugs? You couldn't even do this right? What kind of business do I run with guys like you?”
Bae Wonchun couldn't even answer, just bowed his head.
After a long moment of fuming, the middle-aged man asked,
“So, how is he? Is he alive?”
“He's not dead, but his father is the head of the violent crimes unit... The police are searching for him with a vengeance...”
“Damn... You should have been more careful!”
A wad of paper flew at Bae Wonchun's face. Jo Hyungu glared at him as he bowed even lower.
“Did you leave any evidence? Absolutely nothing must connect back to us. Since you made things complicated, you'll have to clean up the mess yourself. If you get caught, don't let my name come up. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about the kids who did the job?”
“I sent them to Gangneung.”
“Are they trustworthy?”
“They don't even know who you are. Even if something happens, it won't reach you.”
Only then did Jo Hyungu's angry expression soften.
“That's a relief. Ah, that kid. I told him to back off. Why is this young punk making things so complicated? Right, Wonchun?”
“You're right.”
Jo Hyungu changed his tone and began to console Bae Wonchun.
“Wonchun, do you know how I got to where I am? It took me ten years to get rid of the gangster smell. Thanks to that, we've avoided the war on crime. You all have your own positions now, living decently. Isn't that right?”
“Yes, sir. Thanks to you, we don't get called gangsters anymore.”
“That's right. We need to live decently now. If we get caught, I'll take care of it, but you need to cut your losses. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
He took a few bundles of 100,000 won from the safe and threw them at Bae Wonchun.
“Good job. You can go now.”
Bae Wonchun took the money, bowed deeply, and left the room.
As the door closed, the smile on Jo Hyungu's face disappeared.
“Damn, they can't even handle a simple job. Maybe I should just beat them to a pulp?”
Even in a businessman's disguise, a gangster is still a gangster.
* * *
Hyunseong's condition had improved a lot.
Hyunseong's father was constantly going to the police station, pressuring them to find the culprit, while his mother was by his side, nursing him.
When I entered the room, Hyunseong's mother stood up.
“Is it Muhyeok? Have you eaten?”
“Yes, I've eaten. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. Thanks to you, Muhyeok, we're living like we're in a hotel, not a hospital room.”
Seeing her smile, I felt better.
After a brief conversation with her, I looked at Hyunseong.
“Hey, are you still alive?”
“I'm sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“I don't think I can keep our promise.”
Ah... This stubborn kid is talking about the promise even now...
“Stop being ridiculous and don't worry your mother. Right, Mother?”
“Hyunseong has been stubborn many times. Muhyeok, you understand him. His father will be here soon. I'll go out front for a bit. Talk to him.”
Hyunseong's mother patted my back a few times and left the room.
I sat down next to Hyunseong's bed.
“How are you feeling?”
“I'm fine.”
Seeing his smiling face, my anger flared even more.
“Didn't you get beaten up at school before the accident? Damn... I'm sorry. I didn't know until I heard from Myeongsoo. I should have been more attentive as a friend, and I shouldn't have put you in an awkward position by asking for my favor.”
“It's okay.”
“No, it's not. You've suffered for years... I know. Damn, this is unacceptable.”
Hyunseong's eyes seemed to well up with tears at my words.
The doctor said that, fortunately, his broken arms and legs could be fixed with surgery, and he would be able to live a normal life, but intense physical activity would be difficult...
“I'll catch the guy who hit you and make sure he pays.”
“Don't bother. It's not because of me.”
“Alright. I know, but I'm a bit upset. I'll take care of it.”
Hyunseong, knowing my stubbornness, didn't say anything more.
“Don't worry, just rest well. You've been so busy with sports that you haven't had time to play or rest. Think of this as a chance to take a break.”
“Alright.”
There was no more conversation.
Hyunseong and I didn't need many words to understand each other.
At that moment, Hyunseong's parents came in.
“Is Muhyeok here?”
Hyunseong's father, who didn't look too good, sighed when he saw his son.
I stood up.
“Father, let's go have a cigarette.”
“Alright. Hyunseong's mother, I'll be back after talking with Muhyeok. Stay with him.”
“Try to quit smoking!”
We went down to the first floor and sat on a bench.
As soon as we sat down, Hyunseong's father took a cigarette and sighed deeply.
“We can't find any leads. A few witnesses came forward, but none of them remember clearly. We've checked all the nearby repair shops, but there's nothing special.”
“Don't worry too much now that Hyunseong is awake.”
“What else can he do besides sports? Even though he went off track for a while when he was young, he's invested almost half his life in sports. Now, he can't do it anymore. What a mess.”
I couldn't answer his loud, agitated voice. No matter what I said, I couldn't console the grieving father and Hyunseong...
Exhaling a long stream of cigarette smoke, his father looked at me.
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking it out on you, but...”
“It's alright. I'm angry too.”
“Still, it's a relief. They said it won't affect his daily life, right? That's all that matters.”
“Yes.”
“We'll have to go down next week. Hyunseong's mother will stay here. You should come often. Got it?”
“Don't worry. I'll take care of it.”
“Won't it interfere with your studies?”
“Father, don't be silly. It won't interfere. Don't say that.”
“Damn... What will that kid do now...”
His father's sigh echoed through the hospital.
When I got home, Section Chief Ha was waiting for me.
It had been a week since I asked him.
“Did you find the perpetrator? Can I see them?”
“Really?”
“Yes, but they're not just a hit-and-run driver. They were targeting Mr. Park Hyunseong, just disguised as a traffic accident.”
‘Bad feelings are never wrong.’
Thinking that Hyunseong was hurt because of me, my anger boiled up.
I tried to stay calm, but my voice came out a bit stiff.
“Where are they?”
“Handling them yourself...”
“Damn... Section Chief, I wouldn't go myself for other matters. This is about my friend. My person. Don't make me say it twice. If you hand it over to Manager Ma, I'll meet with him directly.”
“Understood.”
Section Chief Ha didn't argue further.
A short while later, I set off with Manager Ma to the place where they were holding the guys.
It was the abandoned factory where I had dealt with the hammer incident.
* * *
When I opened the factory door and went in, there were several men inside. They nodded at me with familiar glances and took their positions by the door.
Inside, three men were kneeling.
Manager Ma brought a chair for me to sit on.
When they heard the noise, they looked up, but quickly bowed their heads again when they met my eyes.
I sat down and examined them.
They can't be much older than me.
“You're younger than I thought. Who told you to do this?”
One of them, who seemed to be in the best condition, spoke up.
“I'll tell you everything. Just spare my life.”
“Just tell me who and why. Don't make me ask twice. It'll be tiring for both of us.”
“Bae Wonchun, sir, told us to do it.”
“Who's that?”
“I don't know. He's a neighborhood senior who sometimes gives us pocket money. I know he's a gangster.”
I looked at Manager Ma.
“It's the same name as the executive director of Geumseong Construction.”
It was a predictable move, and I snorted.
They tried to avoid getting caught, but...
“Alright. Anything else?”
“No, no... We don't know anything else. He just told us to run him over and go to Gangneung. It's the truth.”
“How much did you get paid?”
“Huh?”
I shifted my gaze to Manager Ma.
One of the men standing by the door approached with a metal pipe.
“I'll tell you. I'll tell... Ahh!”
He hit the guy a few times. The guy rolled on the floor, screaming.
“Stop.”
The man with the metal pipe stopped at my command and returned to his position as if nothing had happened.
The guy, now in even worse shape, crawled on the floor, gasping.
“I told you not to make me ask twice. Don't repeat yourself. It's annoying.”
“Yes, yes...”
“How much did you get paid?”
“Fifty thousand won each.”
So, 150,000 won for the three of them?
I laughed bitterly.
Hyunseong's life, which he invested half of, was ruined for just 150,000 won.
“Manager Ma, how long will it take to catch Bae Wonchun?”
“Give me half a day. I'll bring him here tomorrow.”
I nodded and stood up.
“Take care of these kids appropriately and put them aside. I'll decide after meeting Bae Wonchun. Don't kill them.”
“Of course.”
I turned and left the factory with Manager Ma. The sounds of beating and cries for mercy faded as the door closed.