My Territory
“Wh-what do you want us to dooo…???”
It was absurd enough for me, but these arrogant middle-aged bitches were the ones acting shocked, putting on these exaggerated gestures. Throwing their chins up dramatically with deep sighs, shaking their heads. Every damn move they made grated on my nerves.
If they’d at least gotten some basic anti-aging treatments or a management package to look halfway decent, I could’ve at least enjoyed the view of their faces and figures. But no, these slobs with fat spilling out the sides had the nerve to carry on like this—how could I not be pissed?
“No, it’s not ‘what do you want us to do’—if you’re launching a project this big, shouldn’t you at least talk to the local residents first?!”
“Why the hell should I?”
“Why?!?!”
“Listen up. I just told you. Do you have any idea how much damage those eyesores have caused us over the years?!”
“Even this time, when we bulldozed the place, they made such a fuss about some resident evacuation order. What if a stray shell had landed in my yard during the op? We took risks in this operation too. So naturally, we get a say in the benefits!”
One of them opened her mouth, and the rest of the aunties chimed in like a chorus. Their shrill voices grated like nails on glass—my ears were about to bleed. I dug in my ear with my pinky while clenching my other fist.
I’d try talking them down first, but if that failed… well, no choice. The best cure for entitled pests had always been a solid punch to the face.
“Look, you can’t do this here.”
“Ma’am, please go home. Keep this up and it’s obstruction of official duties.”
The cops I’d brought along tried to intervene. But were they rookies, or just spineless? They were fumbling against these nobodies. Hardly the proud pride of Demonic Incheon’s finest.
A real Incheon cop would’ve thrown the first punch naturally. That’s what made them Incheon cops.
“Hey, wait! We’re talking to the young master here!”
“Hey, don’t touch me!”
“Ma’am, seriously, you can’t—,”
They looked hopeless anyway, so I waved the cops off casually. They backed away like they’d swallowed honey, and the aunties took it as a win, puffing up even more.
“Guess being on TV makes you easier to talk to.”
“Why keep telling people asserting their rights to leave?”
“So? What do you want?”
“Quit with the informal talk…. You don’t seem to have crunched the numbers on the local situation, but over the last 20 years—,”
“I already said. House prices didn’t rise for 20 years—they dropped. That’s the loss right there. While others hit 700-800 million, yours stuck at 300-400. At 4% average interest over 20 years, that’s like 300 million in lost interest alone.”
“Y-yeah! Factoring in inflation and stagnant prices, each household’s out around 1 billion!”
“And we bore the risks of this op too, so—,”
I blew the earwax off my pinky. The aunties flinched, faces twisting.
“Wh-what the hell?!”
“Risks from the op…. So you’re saying we should’ve left Namdong Industrial Complex as is to avoid those risks? Life was better back then, huh?”
“Th-that’s not… but we need to consider—,”
“Risk, auntie? It’s your daughter getting snatched off the street by Namdong scum and turned into a cum dumpster. That’s risk.”
“What kind of example is that?! You trying to piss us off?!”
“I fixed it. Thanks to me. I should be charging you, but here I am at an undeveloped site, and you’re pulling this shit—how shouldn’t I be mad? And house prices? Gangs kept them low. They’re gone now, so they’ll rise. Do I have to lecture you on basics?”
It was obvious, but the reason their houses were cheap was Namdong Industrial Complex right next door. An uncontrolled gang den? Prices tank. I fixed it. If anything, I should get paid.
“Right. Since we’re on it—your prices will rise now, thanks to me mobilizing my assets, manpower, and connections to wipe out Namdong. Pay up.”
I clapped my palms with the gesture, and they freaked.
“Wh-what?! Pay money?!”
“Your prices rise because of me. You said 300-400 million if they match Incheon average. Humanely, give me 30%. You here, and all residents in your complex—1 billion per household. Sua, get all their info.”
“Yes, Director. Everyone, look here.”
Sua touched her temple. Her eyes glowed gold, scanning the aunties rapidly.
“Wh-what are you doing?! Why should we pay—,”
“That’s what I’m saying, you fucking bitch!”
I slapped the shrieking one hard across the face. A crisp smack! echoed as a few white teeth clattered to the ground.
I vaguely heard Sua’s “Oh my—,” amid the horrific screams as the floored auntie drew a crowd of panicked onlookers. Even the cops rushed over, stunned.
“Y-you can’t do this, young master…!”
“Trying to dip into my business? Do you know how much I’ve sunk into this?”
Land alone cost 100 billion, you bitches. The nerve.
“Sua, draft an official notice.”
“You’re really billing them?”
“Damn right. Bill them all.”
Of course, I wasn’t serious about collecting. Just venting. Stay in your lane and shut up. Hell, even doing nothing, prices would rise—why stir shit? Greed really knows no end. Charging ahead blindly.
“Wh-what the hell is this?!”
“Y-you think you’ll get away with this?!”
“A politician…! Beating civilians like this!”
“I’ll never vote for scum like you!”
What bullshit was this?
“Politician? Who? Me?”
When did I say I was running for office? Where’s this crap from?
“…Seems they’re referring to your speech last time. I’ve seen some people speculating that way.”
“…”
I glanced at the cops, just in case. They looked conflicted too, thrown off by me hitting a civilian. Assuming the same.
Hah. Pathetic.
So, after I beat the ward chief half to death and gave that speech, some idiots thought I was going political? My actions looked political?
That’s why the cops couldn’t handle these pests. Because of me.
My speech had already tied the Namdong redevelopment to me. Trouble here would stain my name. Cops felt the pressure.
“Hilarious. How the world turns. Politics, my ass.”
“From a civilian view, politics is the top rung.”
“Tch.”
I squatted by the bullshit-spewing aunties. One good hit finally triggered their danger sense—they flinched at me.
“Auntie. I don’t do politics.”
She trembled wordlessly.
“Ever seen a master take a servant’s broom?”
“…!”
“Quit dragging me down to your level on your own.”
“Y-you…”
The aunties shut up. Punch really is the ultimate pest control.
I pulled out my wallet, tossed a few checks on the ground.
“Medical bill. I overpaid, so no whining later.”
“…”
I slipped some bills to the dumbfounded cops too, as a tip.
“Next time pests show, punch first.”
“I-it’ll be okay… right?”
“This crap is worse. Think how much time I wasted?”
Checked my watch briefly.
“Ten minutes.”
“S-sorry. We’ll do that from now on.”
“Tell your superiors too. No dumb assumptions—if you don’t know, ask.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll pass it on.”
I patted their shoulders and walked past.
“Hey, all of you, get up.”
“You’re under arrest for obstruction and assault.”
“Eek—! What the hell?!”
“We’re the victims!”
“Get up, you bitches.”
I half-heard the cops’ flipped attitude. The aunties tried their old tricks but quieted fast amid slaps.
“Now that’s Incheon PD.”
“…What do you even think cops are for?”
“To think like my Sua here.”
I groped Sua’s ass, stuck to my side.
“Excellent corrupt cops.”
“…”
Sua went speechless.