Cheonho Pharmaceutical Company (4): Hold the Line
"Called for support. Hold on." Blackie's voice rang in my ear.
Surrounded by seven guys front and back. I had no idea what "support" even meant, but it sure as hell wasn't closer than the fist right in front of me.
Maybe because the situation looked favorable to them? The guy who'd slugged Ma, the executive, smirked smugly.
"Ma Yongtaek, executive director? That's you, right?"
"Y-yes, but what's this about...?"
"Where's Executive Director Gong Hoseung?"
"I... I don't really know. To begin with, I have zero connection to those people."
"Tch, not getting through to you. Drag him... Hey!"
The guy yelled at me. I'd propped up Ma, who was bleeding and terrified, against the alley wall. Whatever this was, it wasn't normal.
"How about we call it quits here? Why hassle random company workers just passing by?"
"Ha, your attitude rubs me wrong. Fine, whatever. We're interested in that Ma executive over there anyway. You're free to go."
With that, the guy spread his legs wide and pointed downward.
"But crawl your way out. You can manage that, right? Chosun people live like dogs anyway, don't they?"
"Hmm..."
I couldn't figure out why every East Asian I met pulled this racist crap. Looked like I'd have to go with the hard way over the easy one.
"Support called. Hold the line."
"Nah, pass."
"What?"
"Pass, you outdated fossils. What era is this? Dressed like extras from some cheap gangster flick... tch tch..."
The translation program must've lagged, because the guy's face twisted in real time.
"This bastard!"
He reared back his right shoulder and swung a haymaker.
...Dude's only ever unilaterally beaten people, huh.
I slipped left casually and fired a right straight. It flowed right into a perfect counterpunch.
Crack!
"Guhk!"
The guy who'd eaten a clean shot to the face tumbled backward. My retaliation turned the surrounding voices feral.
"This konoyaro!"
"Kill him!"
Standing still would've meant attacks from both sides, so I charged straight ahead instead. The guy panicked as I closed in and swung at me.
Thwack!
A jab to the face raised his guard. His body opened up—I smashed a side kick into his ribs and dropped him.
"Kuh!"
"You punk!"
The guy next to him lunged with a punch. I blocked with my shoulder and drove a front kick into his solar plexus.
"Gaaak!"
In seconds, I'd floored three. Their faces changed.
"What the hell is this guy?"
"He's no ordinary punk! Watch out!"
The men drew sashimi knives from their waistbands.
"Hmm..."
Against blades, I'd normally wrap my tie around my hand or something... Instead, I faced the approaching foes barehanded.
"Die!"
"Foreign scum knifing up Korea?!"
I grabbed the stabbing arm and bulled in. Light guy. I wrenched both arms and hurled him backward.
"Son of a— Aaaagh!"
Thanks to that, the guys charging from the opposite side bowled into him like pins.
Thud!
"Whew..."
These guys... why so slow? Sure, my old instincts had sharpened since the Korea University incident. But compared to those desperate North Korean soldiers fighting for their lives? Laughably weak.
"Weren't we just grabbing some old fart?"
"What is this freak?"
Numerical advantage, and yet they hesitated to close. Soon their eyes flicked behind me—they scooped up their buddies and bolted.
"Tch, fall back."
"You'll regret this!"
With that cheesy line, they vanished into the alley.
"You... weren't you support? Thought you were a sniper?"
"Snipers can't fight?"
"Not that, but this feels... off-brand."
Blackie sounded like he had more to say. But a crowd approached from ahead, cutting him off. Big guys in black suits. One pointed at me.
"Hey! You, stop right there!"
"Ah..."
Misunderstanding city. Ma bleeding against the wall, me standing right in front like the perp. Luckily, the executive reached out.
"St-stop! This guy's the one who helped me!"
"Ma Executive, you okay?"
They eyed me warily as they propped him up. These guys... felt different from civilians. Similar vibe to those roughnecks earlier.
"B2, database check: those foreigners you just scrapped? Yakuza from Japan's Ryushin Gumi."
"Yakuza?"
"And the ones in front of you now? Manjae faction gangsters."
A pharma exec drawing heat from yakuza and gangsters... What the hell was Ma Yongtaek?
"No clue what's up, but it stinks. B2, dig in with your skills."
"Mm..."
Playing it cool, but I was rattled. How was I supposed to approach them?
Ma wiped blood and approached me.
"Thanks! Didn't expect Choi the boss to care this much!"
"Ah... no problem at all."
Whatever, I'd roll with it. The Manjae gangsters glanced at me after his words.
"Our boss? No way..."
"Executive, we just got the call too."
"R-really?"
Ma eyed me like then who the hell are you. I figured bluff and bail, but one gangster squinted.
"I-I saw this guy this morning!"
"This morning?"
"Yeah, chatting all buddy-buddy with our boss. Saw it with my own eyes."
This morning...? I dredged my memory. Yeah, the brown-suited guy called "boss." And this dude recognizing me...
...Went with it.
"You're the guy from then. Nice to meet you."
"Ah, y-yeah, n-nice to meet you."
I strolled up casually for a handshake. The gangsters exchanged looks, then muttered.
"Isn't this the guy boss... recruited recently?"
"Looks like it. Check the build and face. Totally fits, right?"
"...Come with us. Boss is waiting."
Just like that, I was rolling with the gangsters.
"Impressive. How'd you set that up? I didn't notice a thing. B2, what are you...?"
"Mm... simple."
...No clue myself.
Rode with the exec in their car. Route took us just past Seoul's outskirts.
"Total wasteland..."
"Yeah."
Abandoned buildings everywhere—agreed.
Car stopped at a structure with jagged rebar jutting out.
"Get out. Taking you to the boss."
Dark around, no sign of life.
"Could be risky...?"
"Support called. Incoming soon. Stall if it gets hot."
Blackie's words bolstered me. Followed the gangsters up rickety concrete stairs to the second floor. Blue tarps walled off the space. Inside lit up surprisingly bright.
One gangster stepped forward.
"Boss! Got the guy you wanted!"
"Huh? You brought Ma too?"
A guy in a blue plastic chair turned. The brown-suited dude from morning.
He eyed me puzzled.
"This guy's... the new hire from this morning?"
"What? New hire? Bro, isn't this the one you called us to fetch?"
The man stood, scrutinized me, then glanced aside.
"No way... that guy's only just arrived?"
All the gangsters in the room stared. Chills hit as I mapped escape routes—then a voice.
"One of ours came?"
"What happened? Thought you said solo."
With the man's words, a figure pierced the gloom. Standout appearance: plain black jacket and jeans, but blond hair, tanned brown skin. Pale blue dead-fish eyes.
The blond fixed creepy eyes on me.
"You're one of us?"
"Uh... yeah."
Acted chill; seemed bluffable. If he bought it, no reason to doubt I belonged.
Blond closed in. Arms' reach.
"No chance. I can solo this crap easy."
"Easier together, right?"
Matched his cool to hold ground. But he smirked twistedly.
Something... off. Instinct screamed—I extended my arm first.
Blond drew something black from his coat.
Clack!
Reflex-snatched the pistol, twisted. Bang! Ear-splitting crack grazed my face. Yanked the slide back hard to jam further shots.
"Tch!"
He strained to wrench it free. I thumbed both slide stops with my other hand and racked it.
"Huh?"
Blond's eyes bulged, dead-fish orbs rattling like marbles in a jar.
'Cause I'd just field-stripped his gun.
Unfired round rolled free. I smashed the slide into his temple.
Thud!
"Urk!"
Unexpected blow to the head dropped him. Silence blanketed the room like it was empty.
Shattered by the gang boss. Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Hahaha, what? What's this? You're no new hire—you're their guy?"
Brown-suit—Choi Manjae—approached, clapped my shoulder.
"Yeah, that's the vibe I remember. Good call bringing you in. Oh, I'm Choi Manjae. Choi Boss works."
"...Glad you approve."
Choi eyed me, then glared at the floored blond like vermin.
"Where'd this roach crawl from?"
Not wrong—Choi stomped the blond relentlessly.
"Who sent you! Sucker! Dog treat?! Yakuza scum? Or..."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Panting after a while, he rifled the blond's pockets, pulled documents.
"The 'process' item we discussed. Sooner the better."
"Got it. Leave it to me."
Took mystery papers, turned to leave—Choi grabbed me.
"Hold up. Chat alone."
Told his men wait, we descended. Outside view, his demeanor flipped. Weird for a gang boss.
"Slight snag. But fixable."
"Mm..."
"I'm loyal to the organization always. Buy me a little time?"
Desperate, unlike before. Guessed what he wanted to hear.
"I trust you."
"Yes! I'll prep my guys for your escort."
Yelled at the building—the escorts rushed down.
"Take him wherever."
"Yes, boss!"
Two minders grated. Car ride felt wrong.
"Not taking the car?"
"...Business nearby. I'm good."
"Then we'll see you as far as we can."
Started walking to ditch politely. Past the ruins, about to bail—then running footsteps.
Thud! Thud!
Figure burst from dark. Before I spoke, a knee to my gangster's thigh sent him flying.
"Argh!"
"Wh-who?!"
Startled gangster punched—arm caught, ghostly takedown slammed him down. Thigh choke flawless.
I gawked till near-murder, snapped to.
"Hold! Not enemies!"
"Huh?"
Black-haired woman pinning the bearish gangster. Shai eyed me.
"These aren't foes?"
"Uh... more like allies?"
"No idea what that means...?"
"Release first. He'll croak."
Shai let go. Gasping gangster rose.
"Th-that... your colleague?"
"Yeah. Minor mix-up."
"Ah..."
The beaten duo looked off. Seized chance.
"We'll head out now. You guys go back."
"Y-yeah... got it. We... uh..."
"Good work."
Random words, and they fled anxiously.
Why? "Beating spread by a woman? Embarrassing as hell."
"Ah..."
Never clocked that against Shai.
"...You just thought something rude, huh?"
"No way, was thrilled to see you."
"Really? Feels off..."
Dodged her glare. Relief washing over—missing voice returned.
"S-sorry! Things escalated faster than expected—late response!"
"Eh? Fine. Ended well."
"Blackie! You idiot! Why direct him every which way? Beat up the wrong damn people!"
Shai yelled at my badge. Blackie excused; she unleashed Chinese curses. Calmed after ranting, turned to me.
"So? What the hell?"
"Long story..."
Shai leaned on the wall, sighed deep, eyed me. Rushed here? All black, skin-baring free-spirited getup.
"Shai, not cold? Autumn and all..."
"Cold, so gimme your jacket."
Draped my suit top over her sniffing nose. She muttered pulling it on.
"Conel said it was simple..."
"Really?"
"Dunno details. Ask her direct."
Conel here? Then Blackie's voice—now audible to all—boomed.
"Switched to speaker. Conel, you're good."
"B2... what the hell is going on?"
Hearing her welcome voice, it hit me. That's what I wanted to ask, Conel...