Dokkaebi
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Three precise raps on the office door, and the Beggar Pathfinder vanished as silently as he'd come. He had tucked a folded note into the gap of the doorframe before disappearing.
Danshin hurried over and fetched it.
Won-goo sat in his chair receiving a massage — though the one working out his shoulders was no human. It was Dulla, grown to enormous size, kneading Won-goo's shoulders with hands the size of pot lids.
"I'm good. Next customer, step right up."
With his head now anchored to his neck, Dulla could do far more than before, and the crew had begun running experiments to find out exactly where his limits lay. One trial had led to another, and somehow it had ended with him giving massages.
"Does it actually feel good?"
"Man, the grip on this guy. Try it. Regular massage parlors can pack up and go home."
"Then I'd better get in line."
As Pacific settled into the chair, Dulla strode over with long, lumbering steps. In the meantime, Won-goo took the note Danshin handed him and read it.
"What does it say, the part of it?"
Mu Beob-sa asked from his hammock, where he was buried in a book.
"It's from the Giant region. They say this wave was repelled without losses."
"That is good news, the part of it being so."
And Mu Beob-sa returned to his book.
"We've got a few Big Waves left, and time to spare. Nothing worth losing sleep over."
"So are all the information brokers gathered up?"
Pacific asked. Won-goo nodded.
"All of them. They'll be collecting nicely by now."
"Then isn't everything ready?"
"Not yet. We still have to dispose of that bastard."
He gestured toward the coffin where Ganjeol lay sealed away.
"You really think a deal's going to happen? He's not Number Society — just some subordinate faction. What leverage do we even have to trade with?"
"Subordinate faction or not, Ganjeol Point was no corner grocery store. And on a pure tier basis, Ganjeol's Gift ranks first-tier. You think that old bat Yeom-gwi is going to pass up a prize like that?"
"Well... you're the head, so the deal's yours to make... but that Cheon character gives me the creeps too."
Won-goo smirked at that. His thoughts were exactly the same.
Just because he and Bohwacheon were walking a similar road didn't mean he owed them absolute trust or unconditional cooperation. If he'd truly believed that, he would have simply placed himself under Bohwacheon's banner and reaped far more generous benefits for it — and judging by the look in their eyes, that was precisely what they were hoping he'd do.
The reason he hadn't was simple: in the future he remembered, there was no organization called Bohwacheon.
It was possible it simply hadn't registered in his memory, or that it had operated under a different name. There had been plenty of similar groups, after all.
But his instinct told him that if a faction wasn't destined to distinguish itself, reckless all-in bets were a mistake. Won-goo lived in the present, yet he always kept the distant future tucked in one corner of his mind — because he was the one who would have to answer for all of it.
He had no choice but to choose carefully. All the more so when forging alliances with organizations as large as Bohwacheon.
With groups like Montage's, Fresh's, or Mosquito's, close ties carried little risk. If he ever decided to cut them loose, he could clean house any time he pleased.
Bohwacheon was different.
He couldn't even estimate how many cards he'd have to flip over before an incident with them could be brought under control. Which meant keeping his distance was the right call — exactly as he was doing now. Give what had to be given, take what could be taken, and price them precisely.
And while he was at it, he idly ran a hypothetical match against Bohwacheon in his head.
The group that had come last time — Yeom-gwi, Allium, Mulg-eoksae, Begonia — was well within his current strength to handle. Begonia didn't know it yet, but to a straightforward enhancement-type like him, Won-goo was practically a natural counter. He didn't know Allium's or Mulg-eoksae's abilities, but against just the two of them, he'd manage fine.
The real problem is that I have no idea how many more are waiting behind them.
While he was resting with that thought, Bohwacheon's people arrived at the office. Two of them this time — Yeom-gwi and Allium.
Allium was wearing sunglasses, unlike her last visit.
"Let's start with an apology."
The moment Yeom-gwi sat down, she said something unexpected.
"An apology? From me?"
"You brat. Do I look like someone who hands out apologies for free?"
"It just caught me off guard. What could you possibly have to apologize to me for?"
"Begonia confessed that he was rude."
"Ah. He was pretty lacking in manners."
"But that's just how Begonia is."
"Sounds like a great way to get punched in the face."
"That's what Begonia wants, mind you."
"Establishing hierarchy? What a dusty old method."
"Understand it. It's the only way the boy has ever lived."
"Eh, forget it. The job got done well enough. So — did you come loaded with gifts this time? If you show up empty-handed again like last time, I'll be sorely disappointed."
"Kukuku. Don't you worry, brat. We came prepared. Prepared something worthy of that Ganjeol fellow's price tag."
"Tsk. That alone won't cut it."
"...?"
"The world's updated a lot in a short while. We've got information to hand over now, too."
"What you squeezed out of Ganjeol isn't enough for a trade, you brat."
"Old woman. Who are you calling a two-bit hustler?"
"Isn't that what everyone calls you? Brat."
At that, Lee Hyun-sung's expression hardened in an instant. Sensing it, Won-goo raised a hand.
"Hyun-sung. Between the old woman and me, this much is fine."
"Kukuku. You'd best stay quiet. At this distance, I'm the faster one."
"Don't ruin the mood. Let's write up the contract and look at the goods."
"A contract, you say?"
"Cleanest way to do business, no? I had Sanghae draw one up nice and thick for the occasion — all you need to do is sign."
Won-goo showed the contract to Yeom-gwi. The moment she saw it, the corners of her mouth curled upward.
"So you've gotten your hands on something rather good, haven't you."
"Then let's sign and be done with it. No poison clauses. A perfectly fair contract — you hear the information, then pay what it's worth. Simple as that."
The contract Won-goo had prepared for Bohwacheon was simple on its face, but with real depth to it. The principle: Won-goo hands over the information, Ganjeol included, and they pay according to its assessed value.
At a glance, it looked like Won-goo was showing his hand first — a bad position. In practice, it was anything but. A contract written on such equal terms carried tremendous enforcing power.
If Bohwacheon paid anything less than the information's true worth, the contract's sanctions would come down on them. In other words, it was a contract that compelled Bohwacheon to pay with something equal to or better than the hand Won-goo had revealed.
"Kukuku. I can see your play plain as day, you brat."
There was no way a veteran like Yeom-gwi wouldn't.
"Then take it as a measure of just how confident I am in this information."
Yeom-gwi beckoned Allium over with a flick of her hand. Allium bowed her head and exchanged a few whispered words with her.
"Fine. Show me the contract. This time I'll play along with your tune."
Yeom-gwi signed with hearty flourish, and Won-goo smiled.
"It's about the Seal Collectors. That's unconnected to Ganjeol, correct?"
"Kukuku... You've picked your mark well. Yes, the Seal Collectors are among those we've been watching. But I'll admit I didn't expect this. I thought you'd bring Number Society information."
"Making contact with the Number Society is far too dangerous."
"Contact?"
"Contract's signed, so I'll tell you. I had a full-blown run-in with the Seal Collectors."
"...?"
"...?"
This time, both Yeom-gwi and Allium failed to hide their shock.
"My, my. And here you all are, not a scratch on you."
"That wasn't their full roster."
"Well, that explains it."
"No need to look so disappointed. I made sure to extract the information solidly first. How up to date is Cheon on the Seal Collectors? Their numbers? Their abilities?"
"We never said we'd be handing over our information."
"You've at least got a headcount, don't you? How far have you mapped their abilities?"
"Hurry up and say what you know, boy."
"Then how about I tell you we cut their numbers down by one."
"...!?"
"...!?"
The two of them reeled again, even harder. It was Allium, quiet until now, who stepped forward.
"You eliminated one of the Seal Collectors? That's... that is by no means an easy feat—"
"I know. That Piercing bastard had a slippery-as-a-loach ability. Thanks to him the others got away, but I took one down for certain."
"Who did you kill?"
"Went by the name Dark Eye, from what I gathered."
"You truly eliminated Dark Eye?"
A faint tremor of excitement ran through Yeom-gwi's voice. At that, Won-goo drew something from inside his coat — leather, stitched together from patches.
It was about the size of a handkerchief. It was not a handkerchief.
It was the pieces of Dark Eye, fit together like some grotesque hidden-picture puzzle, stitched into as whole a shape as possible. By any reasonable standard, it was a horrifying object.
But not one person in that room found it horrifying.
"I pieced him back together as best I could... this was the limit. Enough to make a positive identification, though? And surely you don't think I'd lie after signing a contract."
"I truly cannot tell whether it's luck or skill you run on."
"Both. They didn't send their full force, after all. Arrogant bunch, too — brimming with confidence. Though I'll grant, the confidence was earned."
"Good. That was information well worth paying for, so name two things. We'll pay from what we have. Assistance like last time is fine, or we can part with items. I have gold prepared in ample supply today as well."
"Taking payment like this in gold would be a waste. What I want is two things. First, something related to curse removal. Second, a barrier — a barrier with considerable range. Can you supply goods for those two?"
"Kukuku. Piercing must have worked you over pretty thoroughly."
"He's as good as a sworn enemy now. A man prepares."
Won-goo hadn't asked for barrier-related goods with only Piercing in mind. Sde was in his calculations too.
"That's a fine attitude. However — we have no barriers in our possession. Curses, on the other hand... that we can manage."
"You have something?"
"Not something that removes a curse. An item that reduces its effects."
Before Yeom-gwi even gave the order, Allium drew a mask from her bag. Won-goo noticed at once that the small handbag she carried was no ordinary Subspace Backpack.
A bag linked to a warehouse? They already have equipment at that level...?
Won-goo resolved to raise his estimation of Bohwacheon another notch.
The mask Allium produced was covered in monsters bursting out of a human face — a mask that looked for all the world like agony given form.
Yeom-gwi set it down on the table.
"The Nightmare Dokkaebi Mask. While worn, the wearer suffers no influence from curses."
"Whoa."
This time it was Won-goo's crew who let out exclamations. It was a better item than anyone had expected — even Pacific was staring at it with wide eyes.
"Don't celebrate too hard. The price is just as steep."
Yeom-gwi said, glancing sideways at Pacific.
"What's the catch?"
"One day per minute."
"A day?"
"The Nightmare Dokkaebi invites the wearer into its own nightmares. Whoever dons the mask is forced to sleep, wracked by vicious nightmares."
"One day per minute..."
It was a brutal penalty by any measure. Won-goo stole a glance at Pacific — who, even so, was nodding.
A complete lifting of the curse. It meant Pacific returning to the man he'd been in his prime.
Not the stopgap of numbing the curse's agony with painkillers and patches and drugs — a true, proper cure.
"Deal. I'll take it."
"And the other?"
"I'd like to see what you have related to capsule monsters."
"Capsule monsters, hm..."
Yeom-gwi spoke while glancing back. For the first time, Allium pulled out a notebook and checked a few entries on a list, then drew several items from her bag.
Some of them they already knew — capsule monsters, the same kind Geum Chul-soo carried.
But Won-goo had no intention of choosing those. Capsule monsters were rewards with far too much gamble in them.
"So this one's a capsule... and this is a Capsule Sticker."
"That's right. Though what ability it grants, even we don't know. So no take-backs."
"I'm aware."
"Satisfied with this?"
"More than."
"Then tear up the contract. By my reckoning, we've given less than the information was worth."
Won-goo tore the contract to pieces right then and there.
"A good trade. Keep doing business exactly like this."
"Next time, let's meet over an even better affair, old woman."
"Kukuku. Just don't go and die on me first."