Card And Rabbit
While I was gathering information about the circle the kids mentioned through our informants in Bucheon, a loud commotion erupted.
It was Latte's shouting.
"Number One Mouse! You call that work?!"
"S-Sorry!"
"Sorry? Get it together! From now on, your responses are 'Chirp!' only!"
"Ch-Chirp!"
From the looks of it, they were getting properly trained under Latte's regime. Since they'd attend school on weekdays, the ambitious plan was to give them this kind of "education" every weekend, along with barista training at the cafe.
They'd apparently skipped school before, but whatever. It seemed to be working.
"If this were Niflheim, you'd already be puking blood in the coal mines by now! Got it?!"
"Chirp!!"
Uh...
"Is this coffee?! Even water on charcoal would taste better! These beans are so under-ground, they'll come out as civet coffee!"
"Eek!"
"Assay!!"
"Chirp!"
...Though her methods seemed a bit extreme.
Is that Niflheim?
Just then, a cheerful melody started drifting from where the kids were training.
Wondering what was up, I turned to see Number One Mouse—Han Ji-yeon—holding a phone blazing with colorful lights, looking utterly baffled.
"Number One Mouse, is that an important call?"
"W-Well..."
She shot Latte a troubled smile.
"I think... a call came in. From the circle."
"Huh?"
Latte froze in bewilderment at the sudden development, then glanced at me with a lost expression.
"...Check it."
I approached and peered at the phone screen.
The flashing name: 'Branch Manager Bastard'.
"Branch Manager?"
"Yes. He's the circle handler in charge of us."
"Hey, wait! You gonna say that out loud? Are you nuts?"
Ki Min-ho hurriedly clamped a hand over Han Ji-yeon's mouth, but a crunch echoed, followed by his scream.
"Take your hand off! If not now, when?!"
"Guh! If we talk more here, it's not just a beating—we're all dead!"
"K-Kids. Calm down..."
The atmosphere turned tense in an instant.
"Answer it."
She looked at me with trembling eyes. I nodded to show I trusted her, and she slowly swiped to accept the call.
"You damn brats! No money by this hour—what the hell are you doing?!"
The voice boomed through the warehouse speakers.
"You know the deadline's today, right? Protesting by getting your asses kicked?!"
Han Ji-yeon flinched with a sharp "Eek!" at the furious tone.
"What? No answer?!"
At the same time, Ki Min-ho snatched the phone.
"Branch Manager. It's Ki Min-ho."
"You little shits... Get your asses here now?!"
"We haven't met quota yet. We'll head back as soon as we do—"
"You nuts? Quota unmet? You think I'm a joke? Huh?!"
"It's not that, Branch Manager—"
I snatched the phone from Ki Min-ho.
"H-Hey?!"
"—Hey."
The voice shifted, sensing the change.
"...Who the hell are you? That's not one of our kids' voices."
It wasn't anything grand—just wanted to let him know who was coming.
"Wait there. I'm on my way."
I hung up, tossed the phone in the back seat, and turned to the kids.
"You all stay here. I'll be right back."
"Wait! You really going there? Bro, you could actually die!"
Kim Hyun-su jumped in alarm.
Then, a snort from beside him.
"...?"
"Ah. Sorry."
Latte slipped back into stern instructor mode like nothing happened.
Guessing why she laughed wasn't hard. The idea of me dying to local thugs was ridiculous.
"Don't worry. Just spit out their hideout."
"...Club inside Bucheon Harlem Street. Card And Rabbit. That's their base."
"Han Ji-yeon!"
"We're dead either way if they don't go!"
Ki Min-ho's shocked reaction confirmed the address was legit.
"Card And Rabbit... Latte, keep the kids safe here."
"Yes, Young Master."
"And if you don't want to die, don't step foot outside tonight."
I'd warned them. With a hideout and guards, what more could I do? Realizing their choices meant life or death, they wouldn't dare leave.
Outside, Han Seojun stubbed out his cigarette and straightened up.
"Business inside done?"
"Yeah. Looks like we head out now. Oh, right—recent reports of missing teens?"
Among Familia reports, Bupyeong and Bucheon had kids vanishing. Police dismissed as runaways, but if it tied to this circle, better handle it now.
"Yeah, heard something like that. Why suddenly...?"
"Found the cause."
"...Pardon?"
Looks like tonight would be busier than expected.
Gazing out the window, the scenery shifted. Unlike Incheon Foreign Quarter, lawless urban sprawl: drunks vomiting in alleys, groups puffing blue smoke, armed men patrolling.
A true Harlem vibe.
"How about backup?"
Han Seojun asked from the driver's seat, lips quirked.
"...Backup?"
I caught his intent immediately.
"Joking, right?"
"Busted?"
"Obviously. No need for backup against trash like that."
Maybe from facing high-level foes lately, this felt like mere cleanup.
"If you say so, Young Master, no backup. But I'll standby nearby for surprises."
Fair—entering enemy turf, and any issue on me would reflect on him.
"Got it. I'll call if needed."
"Absolutely, Young Master. Ah, we're here. That's Card And Rabbit."
The club's exterior matched my expectations: dingy cement building with a flickering pink rabbit neon sign, surrounded by shady flies barely visible.
───♪ ────♬
Music vibrations pulsed through the glass—from this club, no doubt. What ugly truth hid behind the tune?
"Young Master. Suspicious group approaching from the right."
Han Seojun eyed them lazily. Following his gaze, three guys approached, hands in pants.
High-end sedan in Harlem? Bound to attract hyenas.
And I knew exactly how to handle it.
Vreeee—
Window down slow, they grinned and sauntered over.
"Hey, Young Master. Lost? Parking here's pricey."
"—Hey, you treat customers like this around here?"
"Customers?"
"What else would a rich kid in a fancy ride be doing here? Invited, and you're souring my mood? Move!"
Act like the original Eugene Han Calione—a spoiled thug.
"What're you doing, punk? He's a customer! Make way!"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Some might question a rich kid in a back-alley joint, but reality differed. The elite played in shadows like this.
And these workers knew that better than anyone.
"We'll open for you, Young Master!"
They flipped attitudes, opening the back door. I stepped out, spat on the ground.
"Fun tonight?"
"Yes. Busier than usual, top-shelf stuff. Won't regret it."
"Yeah?"
The guy looked dim. Easy to win over.
"Hey."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Got a business card?"
"Business... card?"
"Yeah. Good service, so on a whim—give me one to flash while I play."
"Guh...! I'll do my b-best!"
He bowed 90 degrees, handing it with both hands.
Black background, pink text: [Card And Rabbit]. Back had his name and title.
"MD Ma-ppak?"
Old-school name.
As we headed to the entrance,
"Uh, Young Master. One question."
"Hm?"
Ma-ppak spoke up.
"What?"
"Well... club's members-only, right? Means someone recommended you. Invitation or referrer's name?"
Translation: This dump's for the filthy—whose filth are you wearing?
Dim, but sharp instincts maybe. Or just asking blindly.
"Mind if I ask one?"
"Sure, anything, Young Master."
I flipped it.
"Where're the kidnapped kids?"
"...Pardon?"
"The ones who couldn't pay activity fees and got nabbed. Where?"
"...Who the fuck are you."
His business smile twisted vicious.
"You said it yourself just now? Precious young master from a fine house."
Asks his own answer again. Definitely dumb.
"Oh, right—you asked about an invite?"
Knew it'd come. Prepared.
"Worked everywhere else. Hope it does here."
A massive gun barrel emerged from my cube, aimed at his head.
"This gets me in, right?"
Of course, he could refuse.