The Genius Grandson of the Loan King - Chapter 40 (40/840)
< Revenge or Contract Murder. [Subscription Series Begins] >
#40
Revenge or Contract Murder.
As I scrutinized him, my grandfather said,
"Go to your room and talk to him."
I got up from my seat and headed to my room on the second floor. He followed me up the stairs.
Once inside, I straddled the bed and looked at him again.
Without asking if he could sit, he stood there with a blank face, meeting my gaze without flinching. He was also observing me.
"What were you doing before you came here?"
"I was in Africa."
"Africa...?"
No wonder his skin had a brownish tint, as if he had been tanned. It seemed he had been in Africa.
"What did you do there?"
"I worked as a mercenary. I quit and came back after receiving a call from Hyunho."
The way he mentioned Mr. Ha's name made it seem like they were very close.
"What's your relationship with Mr. Ha?"
"We grew up together since we were young."
"Hmm... Is that so?"
His expression remained unchanged as he answered.
It felt like talking to a robot.
"Can you follow me and only listen to me? No matter what Mr. Ha or my grandfather says, can you only listen to me?"
"Yes, I came back with the intention of doing so. However, I haven't decided if I will completely follow you yet."
I smiled slightly at Ma Seokdae's words.
"Take your time to think about it while following me. For now, you don't have to go to school with me, but you should accompany me for other schedules."
"Understood."
Although I wasn't sure if he would become completely loyal to me, his honesty in expressing his thoughts made him more trustworthy.
'But, a mercenary. Did Mr. Ha also work as a mercenary? If they knew each other since they were young, and if they had a connection since their teenage years, I might be able to learn more about Mr. Ha.'
While I was thinking, he stood there silently.
"You can leave now."
Ma Seokdae bowed and left the room.
* * *
Ha Myunghoon and Ma Seokdae were sitting face to face.
"You've aged a lot."
"Are you going to say that to me? Your face looks pretty bad too."
Despite their usual stoic expressions, a hint of joy was visible on their faces.
"Now that you're in Korea, settle down here. Don't keep traveling abroad. Stop the mercenary life, you never know when you might die."
"Hahaha, you're saying this to me? You shouldn't be saying such things."
They continued their conversation, asking about each other's well-being.
"Take good care of the young master. No matter what anyone says, his word should come first, you understand?"
"Yeah, I'll make up my mind after seeing if he's someone I can truly follow. Don't worry."
The trust Ha Myunghoon had in Ma Seokdae was evident in his expression.
"I've left the room next to mine empty, so you can use it. Let's gather the kids together; it's been a long time since we've seen each other. I'll get the chairman's permission and let you know."
Ma Seokdae nodded.
"Are they all doing well?"
"They're always the same. They only move when I call them, otherwise they live their own lives."
"Is the chairman planning to hand everything over to the young master?"
Ha Myunghoon shook his head.
"I don't know. Don't even try to find out, and don't worry about it. When the chairman retires, I'll disappear too. You'll have to take over."
"Okay."
"Take good care of the young master. I introduced you because I trust you the most."
They smiled at each other.
* * *
After being introduced to Ma Seokdae, I was spending my time without much to do.
"I've been thinking about what you said before... I'll need your help."
This was what Han Minkyung said when she called me to meet alone.
I smiled and responded to her words.
"You made a good decision. Don't feel pressured."
"Thanks. I'll stop tutoring and everything at the end of this month. I'll start paying you back slowly after I graduate and start working."
I had almost given up, thinking she wouldn't respond for weeks.
"Of course. Were you planning to run away without paying?"
I made a light joke to ease her burden.
"I'll send you 200,000 won per month to your account."
"Really? That much?"
I nodded at Han Minkyung, who was surprised and wide-eyed.
"Don't worry about household chores, focus on your studies. We'll take the exams together, and you won't have to worry about money until you graduate. If you need anything, just let me know."
"Thanks... I can't refuse this."
The starting salary for new graduates at major companies was around 500,000 won per month, so Han Minkyung was genuinely surprised by the offer of 200,000 won per month.
"Don't worry about it."
I meant it. Compared to Han Minkyung's true value, it was nothing.
Feeling that things were going according to plan, a smile never left my face.
"By the way, keep this a secret from the others. There's no need to tell them first, right?"
Han Minkyung nodded, and a sense of relief was visible on her face.
We changed the topic to the bar exam and parted ways.
Next, I went to Myungsoo's house to meet Hyunseong's father.
"Father, hello."
Hyunseong's father greeted me warmly, as it had been a while since we last met.
"Muhyuk, you look good. How's life in Seoul?"
A drinking session was already underway, and I naturally joined in.
"Have a drink with me."
Hyunseong's father poured me a shot of soju. I accepted it with both hands, drank it, and then poured him another.
Hyunseong's father laughed.
"Every time I drink with you guys, I realize how fast time flies. I suffered a lot trying to clean up after your accidents. Don't cause any more trouble."
He finished the drink I poured and stood up.
"Muhyuk, come with me, I want to talk to you."
While Myungsoo and Hyunseong looked puzzled, I followed Hyunseong's father into his room.
Once the door was closed, Hyunseong's father took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.
"Do you remember the favor you asked me about? The case involving your parents. It seems very suspicious. The investigation records are insufficient, and it feels like they just went through the motions."
Hyunseong's father's forehead was creased with worry.
"Is that so?"
He exhaled smoke and spoke with a bitter expression.
"Based on my decades of experience as a detective, there's definitely something. I want to investigate further, but since it's almost a 20-year-old case, the detectives who handled it have all retired."
"Do you know who they are?"
He nodded heavily.
"But two of them are already dead. One has immigrated to a foreign country, but I'm not sure where."
Hmm... a foreign country. I'll have to look into it.
Hyunseong's father, noticing my deep thought, added,
"It seems too suspicious to be a simple robbery. I don't know if I should be telling you this..."
He paused, flicking the ash from his cigarette.
"It's okay. Please tell me."
Hyunseong's father glanced at my face and then looked away.
"Robbery murders usually only take valuables, not causing such severe... injuries."
He closed his eyes tightly as he chose his words.
"Damn! I'll just say it. There were too many injuries, especially on your mother's side."
As I listened, my expression involuntarily twisted. I raised my hand to cover my mouth, finding it hard to control my expression.
Hyunseong's father stopped speaking when he saw my expression.
"Please continue."
"......It looks like your mother was targeted. In such cases, it's usually considered a revenge or contract murder. If the investigation had been proper, they would have focused on that angle, but it just fizzled out with some local criminals."
"......So it wasn't a simple robbery murder?"
Hyunseong's father nodded and stubbed out his cigarette.
"That's my opinion. I want to investigate further, but I don't know what I'll find. Still, I'll keep looking. Don't worry."
My mind was a mess.
'Running away to Busan and living here, it's unlikely there was any revenge. Was it someone related to my grandfather? No, if there was someone with a grudge against my grandfather, it's strange that they would have carried out a contract murder and kept it hidden from my grandfather all this time.'
"Are you worried? Muhyuk!"
I snapped back to reality and looked up to see Hyunseong's father looking at me with concern.
"Yes... I'm a bit surprised... Thank you for looking into it."
"I should be the one thanking you. If I had known, I would have looked into it sooner. I feel bad. I never thought about it, I just assumed they had passed away, not knowing the real story."
"No, I never thought about it either. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have found out so quickly."
"You should have. I should have paid more attention."
Seeing Hyunseong's father blaming himself, I calmed down and looked at him.
"......Please don't tell my grandmother."
"I understand. How can I tell her such a thing? She's already worried about Hyunseong's mother, who visits often. She and Myungsoo's mother come and go frequently. Don't worry about her. If anything happens, I'll call you immediately."
They are truly kind people. I regret not appreciating them in my previous life.
Myungsoo and Hyunseong's family have always been like this.
Even when I caused trouble with Myungsoo and Hyunseong, they never said, "Don't hang out with our kid"...
"Stop causing trouble. Muhyuk, you should worry about your grandmother. How upset she must be."
That's how they treated me.
Hyunseong's father patted my shoulder.
"Anyway, I'll look into it further. Wait a little longer. Let's go. The kids are waiting."
"Thank you."
Hyunseong's father patted my shoulder and opened the door first.
I watched his back for a moment before following.
"What were you two talking about for so long?"
Myungsoo, with a slightly slurred speech, asked Hyunseong's father. Hyunseong's father playfully hit Myungsoo's forehead and sat down.
"Shut up."
"Father! Give me a drink!"
But when Myungsoo poured him a drink, Hyunseong's father smiled and accepted it.
"Have a drink too."
I sat down as Myungsoo poured me a drink.
"Father! I love you!"
Myungsoo raised his glass, flirting with Hyunseong's father.
Hyunseong's father laughed and drank, and we clinked our glasses.
The next day.
Hyunseong's father woke us up.
"Get up and eat."
I opened my heavy eyes, got up, and walked to the dining table. Hyunseong's father had already made a pot of bean sprout soup and was waiting.
"Father!"
Myungsoo sat down, rubbing his eyes, and gave his father a thumbs up.
"Crazy kid. Eat your breakfast."
We all sat down and literally drank the bean sprout soup.
"Phew... Looking at how you guys live, I can't help but worry. Muhyuk, you seem to be doing well on your own, but what about you two? Hyunseong, how did you do in the national team tryouts? Why haven't you said anything?"
Hyunseong avoided his father's gaze.
Hyunseong's father tilted his head.
"What? Did you fail? That's strange. There was no one like you in high school, right?"
"......"
Hyunseong's silence made his father's voice rise in frustration.
"Why aren't you talking? Is something wrong?"
"......No, nothing is wrong."
"Ah, frustrating kid. Speak up."
I looked at Hyunseong, wondering what was going on.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"......No."
"Are you sure? It seems like something is wrong."
"Nothing."
Hyunseong's determined expression showed that he wouldn't say anything.
Hyunseong's father, realizing this, sighed a few times and gave up.
I sipped my soup and glanced at Hyunseong.
'......I need to look into this.'
< Revenge or Contract Murder. [Subscription Series Begins] > End