Free Web NovelI 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 me 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 some 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 me?”
The receptionist, caught off guard, asked again. I smiled more warmly and spoke slowly.
“I said I’m here to meet Chairman Yoo Seongjin.”
For a moment 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 appointment?”
“No.”
“Then you can’t meet 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 time since I’d gotten this sort of treatment, and it was amusing.
Wanting to draw out more of her reaction, I glanced at her name tag and said,
“Seo Eunsam, is it? Can’t you make an exception?”
She didn’t flinch even when I called her by name. She just recited the manual in a stiff tone.
“If you don’t have an appointment, you cannot meet 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 seemed 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 meet me.”
“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 men come and go... I’ve only been working here a short time, but it’s obvious. Please, just go back. Not long ago I saw someone dragged out of here. If you stay, something 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 comes.”
I couldn’t tell if she was worried about me, someone about her age, or worried for herself.
“Seo Eunsam, what’s going on?”
Just then, a man came up from behind me and called her.
“Deputy Manager...”
“I asked you what’s going on.”
Flustered, she stammered without answering. I decided to end the game 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 me directly.
He spoke in an unpleasant tone. I shrugged and replied,
“I said I wanted to meet the Chairman, but she said no.”
“Excuse me?”
Unlike Seo Eunsam, this man looked me up and down.
“The Chairman doesn’t meet just anyone. Leave.”
“You’re talking to me?”
“Who else? You look like some spoiled rich kid, but this isn’t how you behave. This is a company.”
He brushed past me and went over to Seo Eunsam.
“Hey, Seo Eunsam. What did I tell you to do if someone 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 me?”
“Yeah, you. Let’s see...”
I read the name tag on his chest.
“Kim Jiwon? What a fucking name.”
“What?”
“Forget it. Just take your hand off her.”
Kim Jiwon stammered.
“W-what are you saying?”
Seeing his name reminded me of Cheon Jiwon—Wasn’t he the one who wasted his life on gambling?
Thinking of that bastard at the bottom made me 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. freewёbnoνel.com
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 me and then to Ma.
They flinched when they saw Ma.
“Sorry, but what’s going on here?”
“This lunatic came to see the Chairman without an appointment. When we told him no, he caused a scene.”
Kim Jiwon was smearing me to cover his own actions.
Typical parasite behavior. I smirked.
“So you came to see the Chairman?” one of them asked.
“That’s right.”
“Not you, Deputy. Shut up. I wasn’t asking you.”
Not something a security guard should say to a deputy—if this were a normal company.
But Kim Jiwon immediately shut his mouth.
“You came to see the Chairman?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No. I came without one.”
Unlike when he spoke to Kim Jiwon, the guard’s tone with me was polite.
“I’m sorry, but in that case, please make an appointment 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 me,
“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 me?”
“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 me!”
Panicked, Kim Jiwon snapped at Seo Eunsam.
“Hey, Seo Eunsam! Did I harass you?”
He tried to force her to deny it.
“Well? Answer me!”
“....”
She stayed silent, biting her lip, tears trembling in her eyes.
The guards turned to her.
“Is it true?”
“....”
She still didn’t answer.
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. This was one of those times.
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 me.
“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 me.
“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-armed 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 emergency button under the desk.
The siren blared, and within three minutes dozens of men stormed down from upstairs.
Some blocked the entrances; the rest surrounded me and Ma.
“What the hell’s going on?”
The one who looked like the leader frowned at the sight of two men 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.
