Chapter 129: Go Namseok
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: Go Namseok
Somewhere on the outskirts of Seoul, in a place devoid of passersby, a stately hanok mansion exuded a subtle presence.
People emerged from several luxury sedans parked in front of the building.
Wolhwajeong (月華亭).
This was a yojeong, a high-end tavern frequented by politicians, high-ranking officials, entrepreneurs, and other members of society's upper crust for secret socializing and entertainment.
To create an exclusive, luxurious, and clandestine atmosphere, not only were the walls high, but the building itself was plastered with numerous security barriers.
“Haha! Chairman Jung, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Of course, same as always. But you, District Mayor, you’re looking exceptionally well! Have you been taking some kind of elixir?”
Go Namseok, the District Mayor of Sujeong-gu in Seongnam City, and Jung Chunbeom, the Chairman of the Redevelopment Committee, displayed their close relationship as they headed inside Wolhwajeong.
Guided by an employee, they entered a room where a group had already gathered, chatting and laughing amongst themselves.
“Oh, District Mayor! You’ve arrived.”
The first to rise at the mayor’s entrance was Choi Hocheol, the president of DK Construction, one of the companies selected for the Taepyeong-dong redevelopment project.
Though spry for a man of sixty, the large and small scars covering his face spoke volumes about the life he had led.
Also present were presidents of other construction companies, members of the Seongnam City Council, local influential figures, and even media personnel.
Pushing past them all to take the seat of honor was none other than the Sujeong District Mayor, Go Namseok.
Go Namseok sat down with an affable smile and picked up his glass. The others, who had been waiting without so much as touching their chopsticks while the food grew cold, finally picked up their own glasses.
It was far too deferential an attitude for a mere district mayor.
“Well then, shall we all have a toast? If the District Mayor would be so kind as to give us a magnificent toast, we will echo it!”
“Haha, shall I?”
This was the Jangbaekhoe, a cartel formed by Seongnam’s politicians, entrepreneurs, and local magnates. Go Namseok was its second-in-command and the younger brother of the Heuksan Guild’s master.
In terms of scale alone, the Jangbaekhoe was massive enough to be ranked among the top three in Gyeonggi Province.
Gathered without regard for political affiliation, they had involved themselves in various businesses, funneling all sorts of concessions to one another and reaping unjust profits for years.
“May all our endeavors prosper, and may fortune smile upon us! To a bountiful harvest, Daepung!”
““Daepung!!””
As they shared drinks, sordid talk of bribes and sexual favors filled the air. The female employees pouring drinks beside the men showed no reaction, as if it were all routine.
“Director Jo, I’m indebted to you for many things last time. Thanks to you, we were able to proceed with the redevelopment project without any trouble.”
“Haha, don’t mention it. It was nothing. Isn’t it all public service for the good of the country and its people?”
“Indeed, but the problem is that too many people don’t understand that.”
“Tsk, tsk. Isn’t that just how the public is? They need to see the bigger picture, but they only focus on what’s right in front of them.”
In modern society, they had even mobilized hired thugs to force the redevelopment through, creating hundreds of evicted residents, yet not a single news article had been published about it.
It was clearly strange, but the people gathered here were the modern-day power brokers who could make such things possible.
Of course, the biggest reason was that a Dungeon Break had occurred in the Taepyeong-dong area decades ago, killing and injuring many, which meant there weren't many residents left.
They had threatened and coaxed the remaining few into leaving by force, and to prevent any unnecessary noise, they had even brought the editor-in-chief of a major media company into their fold.
As a result, the fact that the Jangbaekhoe had intervened in the selection of construction companies, taken kickbacks from them, and inflated construction costs to embezzle the difference was buried forever, unknown to anyone.
Of course, that wasn't the extent of their corruption.
Under the direction of the Jangbaekhoe's leader, the governor of Gyeonggi Province, the amount they had amassed just from misappropriating residents' compensation funds, pocketing profits from land deals, and inflating service and design fees reached tens of billions of won.
“By the way, I heard there are quite a few of those bastards protesting in front of City Hall.”
Go Namseok’s single comment sent a chill through the room.
“...I will handle that matter immediately, so you have nothing to worry about.”
A murderous glint flickered in Go Namseok’s eyes as he stared at his aide, who was sweating and rushing to answer. There was no one in this room who didn't know what a cruel and ruthless man Go Namseok was.
“You only get one chance.”
“...I’ll keep that in mind.”
After that tense moment, they began sharing drinks again, and the atmosphere soon mellowed.
As the night deepened and dawn approached, the first to leave was Go Namseok.
“I’ll be heading out first. The rest of you, please stay and enjoy yourselves.”
“Oh, no, sir. My wife has been on my case lately, so I was about to leave myself.”
“Haha, my kids are clamoring to see their dad, so I should get going before it gets any later.”
“S-Same here.”
“Ahem... As I get older, it’s not easy to stay out drinking for long.”
If anyone had dared to say they wanted to stay longer, they might have been branded a traitor plotting a rebellion.
The Heuksan Guild, led by District Mayor Go Namseok’s brother, operated in the gray area between White Guilds, which acted within the law, and Black Guilds, which committed illegal acts with the backing of powerful figures.
If they didn't want to get caught in a mysterious car accident or simply disappear, they had to act like dogs constantly showing their bellies.
And so, seen off by the others, the vehicle carrying Go Namseok cut through the darkness.
“A light.”
The aide sitting next to him quickly lit his cigarette.
Fwooo. The thick smoke in the car settled. It was a special cigarette containing a weak narcotic component.
“Fucking idiots. What am I supposed to do with morons like them?”
Go Namseok had always been displeased with the fact that he was merely a district mayor.
If it weren't for the current mayor of Seongnam, Lee Woonryong, he could have solidified his position as the mayor, not just some district head.
But within Seongnam, at least, there was no politician who could beat Lee Woonryong.
As for getting rid of him, the Heuksan Guild had recently come under the scrutiny of the Hunter Association due to various suspicions.
If Mayor Lee Woonryong were to die in an accident under these circumstances, the Association would, nine times out of ten, suspect him and the Heuksan Guild, which would undoubtedly lead to an internal investigation.
The old method of sacrificing guild members to cut his losses no longer worked.
“Hey.”
“Yes, District Mayor.”
“First, take care of that bastard Jang Ilhoon. I hear he’s been in and out of the mayor’s office lately. We need to make an example of him so the other fuckers don’t get any funny ideas...”
“District Mayor!”
As he was speaking, the district mayor saw his driver lunging toward him. Then, an explosion erupted beyond the front windshield.
BOOOOOM!!!
*
Watching the situation from a nearby road with no traffic, I walked toward the burning vehicle that had crashed into the guardrail.
The car was in better shape than I expected. Then again, it was probably my own greed to hope that a 1st Circle magic spell like ‘Fireball’ would destroy a vehicle worth hundreds of millions of won.
Moreover, to hide the fact that the attacker was a mage, I had matched the power to that of the most common Fireball scrolls sold on the market.
A Fireball with an unmodified magic circle was at least three times weaker than the ones I normally used.
“Is that why? No one’s dead.”
“H-Help me...”
I stared blankly at the man crawling on the ground.
He had burns all over his body, but he must have put out the flames himself, as he was still breathing.
However, the car had slammed hard into the guardrail in the accident and was half-demolished. The chances of him surviving after taking that impact with his bare body were slim.
“P-Please...! I’ll give you as much money as you want...!!”
If he didn't receive treatment from the Church and emergency surgery right now, he wouldn't last long.
“Jung Mangyu, age 31. Aide to Go Namseok. Took kickbacks from the chairman of the Taepyeong-dong Redevelopment Committee and the union leader. On Go Namseok’s orders, you hired thugs to threaten and evict residents.”
“Th-That was... I had no choice...”
“Right, I’m sure. You had to follow your boss’s orders to keep your job. It was probably the only way to protect your family.”
I ignored Jung Mangyu, who was pathetically begging for his life, and walked past him.
“But do you know what? Dozens of families were shattered and people committed suicide because of that ‘choice’ you had to make. If you're an adult, take responsibility for ignoring your own guilt and the suffering of others.”
The sounds of Jung Mangyu’s begging, resentment, and curses from behind me soon faded.
All that was left was cold blood staining the asphalt road.
“...Do you have any idea who this is you’re doing this to?” a man covered in wounds muttered, blocking my path to Go Namseok. His killing intent was refined; he was at least a C-rank expert.
“I’m not a terrorist. You think I’d do this to a random citizen?”
My current fashion, which tolerated not a sliver of exposed skin, let alone my face, proved I was an assassin.
I quietly drew a dagger from my coat.
[Viper's Fang
Grade: Rare
Increases the power of attacks from behind.
Reduces the user's presence.
On hit, has a chance to inflict a poison effect on the target.
Allows the use of ‘Wind's Walk’.]
I never imagined the day would come when I’d use this. Just in case, I had even strapped a cheap iron sword to my waist.
But looking at the level of the man before me, I doubted I’d even need to draw my sword.
Crackle. The muscles beneath my black clothes swelled and twitched.
This is why I can't stop using support magic, even if it consumes a lot of mana. My physical abilities were enhanced by at least two-fold, if not more.
“What are you doing, you bastard?! Hurry up and kill that son of a bitch!” Go Namseok, who had been diligently applying pressure to his wounds with a handkerchief, screamed. The man sighed and took his stance.
“I thought you’d run.”
“I’d love to, but if I run, the enraged guild master will hunt me to the ends of the earth and kill me. And not just me—my family and all my relatives will be slaughtered too.”
“How pitiful.”
“Will you let me live?”
“No.”
“...Fucking hell.”
“Think of it this way. The people you've killed probably begged for their lives just like this. Did you ever grant their wish?”
“...”
Deciding that further conversation was pointless, the man gripped a dagger in each hand and charged at me.