Grandfather's Shotgun
Just to be sure, I decided to ask one more time.
“By any chance, is that relic the old gun from back then?”
“A gun? Ha, an old gun.”
Right? Who would use such an outdated piece—
“It was a pretty antique double-barrel shotgun. I bought it as a relic, but its only real merit was how sturdy it was, so it ended up gathering dust on the study wall without ever seeing use.”
“A shotgun...”
“Yeah. Come to think of it, when your father came asking for permission to marry, that happened to be the first thing I grabbed, so I blasted him with it. Didn't quite kill the damn bastard, though...”
“Pardon?”
“Ahem, it's nothing. Anyway, he seemed to be in quite a bit of pain, so it must've been effective...”
Is he seriously saying this in front of his grandkids, that he tried to kill my dad...?
Still, no matter how I heard it, it sounded exactly like the item I was looking for.
“Grandpa. Did you shoot Papa with a gun?”
Perhaps lost in old memories, Jiyoon paused mid-chew and asked innocently.
Han Jin-wol's face stiffened as if realizing his slip-up.
“It's not what Jiyoon thinks—it's just a joke. A joke. You know what that is, right?”
“Joke? I know! Jokey-joke!”
“Right, a joke. Jokey-joke.”
He seemed to smooth it over somehow.
Even so, now that I'd learned the item I'd come for was gone, I couldn't just leave empty-handed.
“Grandfather.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Would it be alright if we stayed here just one night?”
“Hm? Here?”
Grandfather looked shocked, as if I'd said something utterly unexpected.
“Well... I don't mind. But are you sure it's okay? You have academy prep, and you'd need your father's permission...”
He reverted to his gruff tone, but under the table, his leg was trembling fiercely.
“I'll convince Father. The academy assignment due... I can handle it quickly.”
Luckily, this week's workload wasn't heavy or difficult.
Or even if it was, did that matter right now?
“Ahem. If you're that insistent... Fine, stay the night.”
“Are you referring to me, sir?”
Inomiya Haru glanced at me upon hearing the question directed her way. I poked her leg lightly under the table and flashed a grin.
“It's fine, right?”
Having her on board would make things go much smoother.
Thankfully, she nodded without issue.
“I can handle most of my work online conveniently, so no problem.”
“Is that so? Haru, you said you live alone...?”
“Yes.”
“...I see. Still, huh. Anyway, Eugene, check with your father first. Even if you two get along great, if he says no, there's nothing I can do.”
“Understood.”
As Grandfather said, I needed Father's permission first. I excused myself and contacted him right away.
* * *
Long story short, it was a resounding success.
Father sounded flustered at first but soon relented, saying to rest well since it had been ages since I'd seen Grandfather.
“So, we're sleeping over at Grandpa's house?”
Jiyoon tilted her head up and asked Grandfather.
He stroked her hair and nodded.
“Yeah, looks like it. Kangcheol. Prepare rooms for the kids and the Calione folks.”
“Right away, Chairman.”
Kim Kangcheol left at Grandfather's order. Once he was fully out of the room, I turned back to Grandfather.
“Sorry for the sudden request when you're so busy.”
“No need to apologize. I was planning to rest this weekend anyway. Thanks to the elixir tonics three times a day, my body's quite healthy—not quite Awakener level, but still.”
True to his word, despite well past his prime, his straight posture, sturdy build, and sharp eyes made him seem not just hale but vigorous.
“Glad to hear that. So... Grandfather, would it be okay if Haru and I caught that thief?”
“You two?”
“Us, sir?”
Grandfather looked surprised, and Haru seemed baffled.
Still, I pressed on steadily.
“We're academy cadets, so we won't be a burden. Just... got interested.”
“Interested, you say?”
To make it clearer, I pulled out Al Capone's Tommy, the 'unique armament' I used at the academy.
“Truth is, I love these antique firearms. Wanted to see it myself.”
Of course, this was bait.
And sure enough, any Korean grandparent with grandkids would—
“Haha! That's the reason? Fine, if you want it, just take it.”
—end up gifting it to their grandkids.
“If you insist... I won't hold back.”
“Go ahead. If you need anything else, tell the head butler you just saw... Hm? Getting sleepy?”
Mid-conversation, Grandfather glanced down at Jiyoon.
She was nodding off, food coma hitting hard.
Come to think of it, it was about naptime back at the mansion.
“I've neglected Jiyoon too much.”
Grandfather stood, scooping her up gently and rocking her.
“Guest rooms aren't ready yet, so I'll put her down in my room. You two want to keep talking here?”
“No, we're done eating—time to get up. Mind if we look around the mansion?”
“Treat it like your own home. Oh, Haru.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Have some tea with me tonight. We'll talk about the Inomiya Group.”
“Understood.”
Seemed Grandfather had business with her regarding Inomiya too.
After they left,
“...Sorry for the sudden request.”
“It's fine. If word spreads, people will think Hanwol Group backs me. That's to my benefit.”
She'd already calculated that far in this short time?
Her own wheels were turning.
“If you say so, good. Shall we head out?”
“Where to?”
“Outside first. Lots to prep to catch the culprit.”
Haru tilted her head, puzzled, but followed quietly as I led the way out.
Far off, our organization members and Alesia waited in the car. They stepped out and bowed as I approached.
“We heard from the head butler, Young Master.”
“Sorry for the abrupt decision.”
“It's a break for us—no cleaning, no duties. The others were thrilled by your grace too.”
Just as she said, everyone looked upbeat.
“Glad to hear. Quick talk.”
I briefed them on the inside story. Alesia's eyes widened in shock.
“Shot the Don with a shotgun...? The Hanwol Group Chairman did that to the boss?”
She's the shocked one? Well, it was shocking, but...
“...Not incomprehensible.”
Eugene Han Calione was a speed-wedding baby. In the West, they call it a shotgun wedding.
The time-honored tradition: shove a shotgun in the face of the guy who knocked up your daughter pre-marriage and ask, die or marry?
Grandfather's version was a twist—blasting first on sight—but who could deny Father's noble intentions?
Father probably still felt apologetic toward him.
“I see why you're after it. Start with evidence gathering?”
“No. It's Grandfather's mansion—not a place we can snoop freely.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Nothing big. Just kidnap one person.”
“...Pardon?”
Well, was it big?
What I asked Alesia wasn't hard: find the maid with the scar on her eyebrow.
She was around when we arrived, so likely still in the mansion.
As we discussed plans in the garden,
Alesia returned from her task.
“Found her.”
“Already?”
“Calione and Hanwol are blood-tied, so members often transfer here for legit work. One of ours knew a guard here—easy.”
She handed me a folder.
“Her profile, name, and current room number.”
Photo, name, age—it matched. I grinned.
“Let's get to work.”
It'd be quick.
* * *
After Kim Kangcheol showed us to our rooms,
“...Her, you say?”
He looked puzzled at my sudden request for a dedicated maid.
“She seemed familiar when we arrived. Wanted to say hi.”
“...I see. I'll ask her.”
Some time later, a knock and a woman's voice.
—Young Master? I heard you wanted me.
“It's open.”
The door clicked open. In walked a girl with an awkward expression.
The scar on her left eyebrow—bingo.
“You said you know me...? Have we met?”
“...”
“...Young Master?”
No answer.
Instead,
“Haru.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
As she raised mana to seal the door from behind the bed, Alesia sprang out and bagged the girl's head with a cloth sack.
“Mmph—?!”
It happened in a flash; she toppled over.
I pocketed my hands, approached the fallen girl, and whispered in her ear.
“...Can't grasp the situation?”
You've been kidnapped.