Jang Cheon's Price (4)
Raymond and Actor sat side by side in the audience seats, sipping coffee as they watched the stage.
"Isn't it tough, living as an actor?"
"It is."
Raymond turned to look at Actor. In response to his gaze—which seemed to ask why bother with acting if it was so hard—Actor replied,
"Because I love it."
"Ah!"
It had been ages since he'd heard words like that. "Because I love it"—a reason from a time so distant he could barely recall it.
"Are you satisfied with your work, Team Leader?"
"Well..."
Raymond's wry smile already contained the answer, so Actor didn't press further.
As they sat lost in thought, an unexpected visitor arrived.
It was Sing and Sato Mi.
Raymond and Actor were startled by their arrival.
"What brings you here?"
"Came to see how you're doing. Why? Am I not allowed?"
"No, not at all. Welcome."
Actor bowed politely to Sing.
"It's been a while. I hope you've been well."
"I was doing fine. Until you botched the job."
"I'm sorry."
"Why mess up when you were doing so well?"
Even under Sing's rebuke, Actor offered no excuses. After all, he had been the strategist for the Korean operation.
Raymond asked cautiously,
"What about Jang Cheon?"
"That's why I'm here."
"Please, go ahead."
"I'm planning to hire Jang Cheon for one year. He's agreed to that. The problem is the price he demanded."
"How much?"
"1.2 trillion."
"What?"
"For just one year."
"My God!"
Raymond was stunned, and even Actor was shocked. Actor barely suppressed a burst of laughter.
Damn, Jang Cheon. You're something else.
It was an absurd sum, but coming from Jang Cheon, it felt fitting. Somehow, it was satisfying.
Raymond asked carefully,
"What mission are you assigning him?"
"To take control of the Murim Alliance. If the Murim Alliance Leader hired Jang Cheon, there must be an opportunity."
"Will Jang Cheon take that on? Even he might hesitate to tangle with the Murim Alliance."
"He demanded 1.2 trillion. No one calls a price like that without the resolve to do anything."
Raymond and Actor nodded.
Sing then revealed why he'd come in person.
"Even so, we can't pay the full amount. Central approval won't come through."
He wanted them to negotiate it down. It was awkward for him to step in directly, and he figured these two would handle it better.
"Actor. You go persuade him. Handling people is your specialty, isn't it?"
Actor was inwardly thrilled at the chance to meet Jang Cheon officially, but he feigned a troubled expression.
"I'm grateful for the high regard, but I'm not sure I have the ability to take on such a heavy responsibility."
"Succeed in this, and it'll wipe the slate clean on your past mistakes."
Actor glanced at Raymond. Raymond gave a subtle nod, signaling him to accept the order.
It was an order from a higher-up anyway, one he had to obey regardless. But by glancing at Raymond for "permission," Actor preserved his superior's face.
"Understood. I'll meet Jang Cheon and negotiate."
"I expect good results."
As Sing turned to leave, Actor asked,
"How much should I cut it down to?"
Sing replied without turning back as he walked away.
"As much as possible."
Once they were gone, Actor sighed.
"An unexpected order. Doesn't look easy."
Raymond added his concern.
"Indeed. Jang Cheon won't budge easily on the price."
"I'll make it work somehow."
"Be careful. Jang Cheon's a scary one."
"I know."
How could he not? Jang Cheon was the man who had changed his life.
"Please, find my mother!"
The one pleading tearfully before Cheon Myeong-jin was Yang Do-hwa's son, No Gae-cheol.
"I can't trust anyone anymore."
No Gae-cheol had never even called Cheon Myeong-jin for holidays. He'd lived like a stranger until trouble hit, then come running.
"I understand. Now, get up."
"Alliance Leader, it has to be Dae Jeong San Jang."
"Don't jump to conclusions without evidence."
"No, it's definitely that bastard U Myeong-hwan."
"Why do you think that?"
Cheon Myeong-jin had already heard the full story from Jang Cheon, but he pretended ignorance and let No Gae-cheol speak.
"I see. The Murim Alliance is investigating. Go home and wait."
"Yes, understood."
No Gae-cheol left dejectedly.
The next to enter was Bi Ryong Dae leader Joo Won. His expression toward No Gae-cheol had been sour.
"No Gae-cheol was drinking heavily at a club yesterday and slept with a woman."
Even if that was his usual lifestyle, it wasn't behavior fitting for someone whose mother had just vanished.
"On top of that, he met a lawyer to ask about his mother's assets, how to find hidden ones, and how to renounce inheritance if there were debts."
Cheon Myeong-jin's face darkened. He'd heard bad rumors about No Gae-cheol, but not to this extent.
"What about the investigation into this incident?"
"We found evidence linking it to Dae Jeong San Jang."
"Solid?"
"Yes. Among the bodies found, one was connected to An Bae-su, U Myeong-hwan's right-hand man."
"Good. Don't acknowledge them yet—press Dae Jeong San Jang hard!"
"Understood. I'll issue a summons for An Bae-su."
Just as ordinary people must follow the law, Murim folk must obey the Murim Alliance's rules and orders. They were far stricter than civilian laws.
Jang Cheon fell silent for a moment. Bishop waited quietly as always, knowing this was the time when Jang Cheon organized his thoughts and planned the next moves.
-If they hire me, they'll surely task me with seizing the Murim Alliance.
In that case, we might need to exploit the feud between the two major sects. Keep a close eye on both sides.
-Yes, understood. Oh, you finally met Queen?
-How'd you know?
-Phone reported it.
-Haha.
Jang Cheon laughed. It was hard to imagine that big guy contacting Bishop so quickly.
Then again, who could picture him listening to classical music and sending food or landscape photos?
-How was she?
-Great.
-That's it?
-What more is there?
-Come on, there has to be more. This feels like watching a trailer and missing the main feature.
-A movie where the trailer is the whole thing. The end!
-Fine. I'll watch this one at another theater.
Jang Cheon laughed, knowing he meant he'd hear it from Queen.
-Think it'll premiere there?
-I'll line up at the box office from morning. The soft-hearted owner might screen it.
-Haha.
Jang Cheon ended the call with a smile. For Bishop, the lonely genius with severe social anxiety, these people were his entire world.
Jang Cheon sincerely hoped that someday Bishop would step out of his workshop filled with computers and machines, and live among people, laughing.
Then his phone rang. Not Raymond, but Actor.
He met Actor on the bench where he'd seen Sing.
Jang Cheon scanned Actor's body with a small device he'd brought to check for bugs.
Not out of distrust, but because even Actor might unknowingly have a tiny one implanted.
Confirming nothing, Jang Cheon spoke casually.
"Been well?"
"Phew, every day feels like walking a tightrope."
"Why'd they send you?"
"Sing acknowledges my talent in this area."
"Then I should live up to expectations."
"How much will you cut?"
"200 billion."
That would make it exactly 1 trillion.
"You're really taking a trillion?"
"Of course. Enemy money flowing to me is double profit. Can't pass up a chance like this."
"Fair enough. But will they be satisfied with just 200 billion off?"
"Enough for your role. Cutting more would look suspicious. And they'll try again. I'll shave off another 200 billion then."
"You've thought it through."
Jang Cheon was aiming for 800 billion final. When he'd first called 1.2 trillion, he'd calculated for that.
"First, gain trust. Then meet someone higher than Sing."
"Possible? This organization's secrecy is ironclad."
"I'll make it so."
Actor stared at Jang Cheon's confident reply.
"What are you, really? Never met a character like you before. Won't again. What do you plan next?"
Jang Cheon stood.
"An actor who loves spoilers? Ruins the fun if you know everything."
Things unfolded as Jang Cheon intended.
Actor was praised for cutting 200 billion, but Sing wasn't satisfied.
He sent Raymond for another round. Sending Actor first had been planned for two negotiations.
Jang Cheon cut another 200 billion, as promised.
Final price: 800 billion.
"800 billion."
Sing shook his head. He worried about upper approval, but couldn't cut more.
"It's settled. Yes, we've successfully hired Jang Cheon. Yes. One-year contract for 800 billion."
"I negotiated it down 30%. Yes, thank you. It's expensive, but..."
"Considering the damage if he keeps blocking us, and the value if he's on our side, it's not that bad."
"Yes, yes. Payment via market. He'll cover the fees. Yes, we'll wait."
Sing waited without hanging up.
After a moment, he smiled in satisfaction.
"Yes, thank you. Report coming soon."
Hanging up, Sing said to Sato Mi,
"Approval granted."
"Congratulations."
"Yeah, worth celebrating."
One hurdle cleared. If approval failed and an elimination order came again, it'd be a real problem—they'd have to fight Jang Cheon to the death.
Sato Mi said enviously,
"Jang Cheon's rich now."
"Jealous?"
"Of course. He could live off it forever."
"You've made plenty too."
"It's how you live off it that matters. Still not enough."
"Greed knows no end."
Sato Mi smiled brightly in agreement. Greed or whatever—for her, clinging to something kept life from being too bleak.
"What order will you give Jang Cheon first?"
Sing replied,
"Take over the Murim Alliance."
"Cheon Myeong-jin's already got real power there. Won't be easy."
"Not my problem. He asked a high price—make him earn it."