Jang Cheon's Price (3)
Sing and the kimono woman passed through airport security.
The two of them went through the general lane rather than the unmanned one.
Sing was an ordinary person who knew nothing of martial arts.
Organization managers were often non-martial artists. Those with exceptional administrative skills handled operations, and when force was needed, they dispatched from headquarters.
It was inefficient in some ways, but it made secrecy easier and prevented internal rebellions in advance—a major advantage.
The kimono woman was a martial artist, but on paper, she was also listed as an ordinary person. She had passed the BST only to have it revoked upon joining the organization.
Cancelling a BST pass was far harder than obtaining one, to prevent martial artists from causing trouble and then washing their identities to become civilians.
The organization had pulled strings to revoke her registration because disguising as a civilian made missions far more efficient.
And when things went south, it kept the Murim Alliance from getting involved.
The immigration officer stamped their passports with resounding thuds. He had no idea he was stamping documents for people from the same organization over and over lately.
Sing and the kimono woman walked out of arrivals.
"How's it feel?"
"Not great. I hate Korea. Hate the Koreans too."
"I kinda like Korean guys. Handsome and gutsy."
"Crazy."
The kimono woman laughed like a total maniac. Deep down, she genuinely missed Jang Cheon.
She hadn't shown it, but lately, she'd lost all meaning in life. Guarding an old man like Sing and just growing older filled her with doubt.
Of course, the pay was great, the work easy, and there were no risks. Sing was the epitome of a cushy job. But it wasn't the life she wanted.
The two arrived at the safe house.
This small strawberry farm, not far from downtown, was reserved for the organization's high-ranking executives. Even Actor and Raymond had never been here.
Ahead of their arrival, two special escort teams had swept the area thoroughly.
They were martial artists dispatched from headquarters to guard Asia's head, Sing—on the level of the Drake team.
About an hour after Sing and the kimono woman arrived, Raymond drove up himself after getting the call.
The escort teams didn't just frisk Raymond; they used equipment to search the car inside and out.
Of course, Actor knew the inner workings well enough not to pull something stupid like planting a tracker or bug on Raymond.
Jang Cheon was already watching the small theater anyway—he'd track Raymond on his own.
"Long time no see."
"Raymond! Doing well?"
Raymond had handled a lot of Asia inspections, so they'd met several times before.
He finished greeting the kimono woman too. As Sing's dedicated bodyguard, she was no ordinary person, and he knew it.
"The special team from HQ—all dead?"
"Yes, the Drake team was wiped out."
"Those guys had some real skill, didn't they?"
"So we thought."
The kimono woman slipped in casually.
"Did you see Jang Cheon fight yourself?"
"Yes, I did."
"How was it?"
Instead of answering, Raymond asked her,
"We've known each other a while, right?"
"Sure have."
"Then let me give you some friendly advice: drop the curiosity. You'll die if you fight him."
The kimono woman grinned wide.
"That's exactly why I'm more curious."
"I'm telling you not to be. I'm serious."
Sing, listening, scowled. Just hearing Jang Cheon's name soured his mood, and this near-praise made his head throb.
His eyes drifted to the muted TV.
"Hold on—turn that up."
The kimono woman raised the volume.
"Doubts are emerging regarding the past actions of Gangnam-il-mun Lord Seo Tak-hyeon.
Seo Tak-hyeon has been linked to two murders and six violent incidents in the past, and calls are growing for reinvestigations into these cases.
Meanwhile, Gangnam-il-mun insists that bringing up long-closed cases now shows clear intent..."
Sing gestured, and the kimono woman lowered the volume again.
"Korean Murim's a total mess."
"Yes, the two major sects are in a full-on mudslinging war. I heard we originally planned to use Dae Jeong San Jang to take out Jang Cheon."
"With all this chaos, they won't have eyes for Jang Cheon."
"Exactly."
"In the end, this fight just benefits Jang Cheon. What about the Alliance leader's side?"
"Per the report, Im Yeon-sin nearly took over the Murim Alliance, but his death let the Alliance leader regain control.
Jang Cheon seems to have been hired in the process."
Raymond emphasized it was from the report. Im Yeon-sin's field commander back then was Actor.
He'd allied with Actor but didn't want these Korean failures tied to him.
"So what's the conclusion? We face Jang Cheon with our own strength?"
"Yes."
Raymond asked cautiously,
"Do you plan to eliminate him?"
"Haven't decided. What's your take?"
"If we can hire him, that'd be the best move."
"Hire that bastard? Hm."
Sing closed his eyes, pondering. He started with his biggest worry.
"What if he tries to kill me in the process? Like this is all to draw me out?"
"Unlikely."
Raymond answered too casually for a matter of life and death. Sing's small eyes sharpened.
"Why think that?"
"No reason for it."
True enough. He was Asia's head, but his death wouldn't collapse the Asia branch. HQ would just send a new manager.
"If he had no interest in joining, I'd be dead too. He clearly wants in. But he'll demand a huge price."
"Wants a big payday, huh?"
"Yeah."
"How much?"
Jang Cheon had said ten times the usual. It wouldn't start at tens of billions.
"Thousands of billions, I'd guess. Maybe more."
"What? Are you insane?"
Raymond said nothing. Sing's style made even hundreds of billions a stretch—meaning things with Jang Cheon wouldn't be easy.
The kimono woman chimed in again.
"Not you who's crazy—it's him. But isn't that Jang Cheon guy nuts? Taking on our whole organization alone."
She was saying indirectly that Jang Cheon could demand that much.
Sing asked Raymond,
"Can the team outside protect me from Jang Cheon?"
Raymond shook his head without hesitation.
"Then tell him to meet me alone. But set it in a crowded place."
"Understood."
Raymond bowed politely and left.
Bishop sent over a few satellite photos.
> Heat-detection image of the site. Around twenty people total.
They'd tracked Raymond to pinpoint the safe house.
> Compared to the team that came for me before, looks like two teams are there.
> Yes. Check the third photo.
The photo showed a woman—Sing's bodyguard, the kimono woman.
> Woman captured by satellite. Real name: Sato Mi. Age: 35. Cancelled BST 12 years ago. Probably scouted by them around then.
Bishop as always—info even standard investigations couldn't uncover.
Then the room's landline rang.
As expected, it was Raymond.
People enjoyed the fine weather, strolling or jogging along the river.
Sing sat on a bench, feeling the gentle river breeze.
Jang Cheon arrived and sat beside him.
"Sing, right? Running Asia."
"Pleased to meet you. Jang Cheon."
The two were politely cordial.
Sing eyed Jang Cheon cautiously. The youthful face felt utterly alien.
"You wanted to see our boss?"
"Yes."
"Gutsy. Do you even know what kind of man he is?"
"That's why you want to see—don't know yet. Who is he?"
Sing said nothing.
He'd never met the boss himself. Asia head was a flashy title, but he was just a high-level manager.
The real rulers were elsewhere.
"You're not the type to stay tied to one organization long."
"Good eye."
"Help us for one year."
"What do you need?"
"To take over Korean Murim."
"Not easy."
"True. But with your help, not so hard. Let's be direct, man to man: how much?"
"1.2 trillion."
Sing jumped, eyes bulging. Jang Cheon explained,
"I was gonna take 100 billion a month—1.2 trillion for a year. Ten times that: 1.2 trillion."
"Do you even grasp how much that is?"
"Taking Korean Murim means tens, hundreds of trillions long-term. 1.2 is pocket change."
"We were doing fine with one percent of that."
"Before I showed up."
Jang Cheon stood.
"You wanted someone who can approve my price, but looks like not you. Go call whoever can."
To the pride-wounded Sing, he added,
"Tell them this too: stop hiding like cowards—come out. I won't kill you. Won't."
Jang Cheon walked off along the river path.
Sato Mi approached Sing, chuckling.
"Haha, what a scale."
"Scale my ass! Just a crazy bastard."
"So what now? Call the psych ward?"
He had no room for her teasing.
"What'd you think? Real deal?"
Sato Mi shook her head seriously.
"Couldn't tell."
"That's bad, right?"
"Worse than shaking in fear knowing he's the real deal."
She couldn't even gauge his level.
"Raymond gave me advice, valuing our connection."
"Damn it! Where does a guy like that even come from?!"
"Murim drops 'em from the sky. What'll you do?"
Sing sighed.
"What else? Recruit him—even if we haggle the price."