Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The 2nd Black Dragon Clan Regular Meeting
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“Hey, Seong Ha-yeon.”
In the dark room, his disheveled hair caught the light from the bulb, shimmering iridescently. Seong Ha-yeon kept her head bowed deeply and nodded as she replied.
“Yes. Senior Brother Jun-hyeok.”
“You think this is your bedroom at home? Are you the master of the Black Dragon Clan?”
“No, sir.”
“Why the hell did you go and do something I didn’t tell you to? Huh? Yeah, let’s say Diamond Club rigged it. So what? You think you can do anything with testimony you got by threatening to chop off their arms and legs? If this blows up, do all the Diamond Club guys die? Or what, all their S-Ranks suddenly quit and the guild collapses?”
“I’m sorry.”
“If you’re sorry, then why the fuck did you do it, you idiot? Hey. If you’re gonna pull shit like this, then get out. Why do something on your own that I didn’t order? Huh? You think you’re the only one who suffers if this explodes big? You’re lucky you’ve got at least a shred of sense and handed the data to me first. That recording you gave me—if you’d sent it to the cops or the press, what do you think would’ve happened? The investigation would kick off a shitstorm, but there’d be no real evidence. We’d just look like idiots. Tell me. Besides Kim Chun-bae’s testimony here, what solid proof do we have? If the judges are bought off and all those S-Rank Hunters are in on it together, you think one recording takes them down? You sure?”
“.....No.”
“No, you moron. Say this blows up and everyone involved gets fucked. You think we can handle the fallout? Hey, their league is miles above ours—why put the guild’s name on the line like this? Did I tell you to do this shit? Diamond Club has three S-Ranks alone. What the hell were you planning to do, poking at this?”
“.....I’m sorry.”
“Watch yourself. Huh? Guys who fuck with the wrong thing like this vanish every year, and not just one or two. You think people ignore this crap because they wanna live dirty? They just close their eyes because there’s no other way. Right?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Seong Ha-yeon hung her head even lower. Lee Jun-hyeok let out a deep sigh and slammed the documents down on the desk. Exhaustion was etched all over his face. He fiddled with his cigarette pack for a moment before speaking.
“Today I met with the Diamond Club guys and settled it on the down-low. Decent amount’s been wired to your account, so split it with the others or whatever. Do what you want.”
“Pardon? No, I don’t need the mo——!”
“Hey!”
Seong Ha-yeon blurted out in panic, but Lee Jun-hyeok cut her off with a stern glare.
“You idiot. If you don’t take the money, who’d believe you’re keeping your mouth shut? Just take it. Got it?”
Seong Ha-yeon let out a heavy sigh. Normally, that kind of behavior wouldn’t fly in a meeting like this, but Lee Jun-hyeok didn’t reprimand her for it. She nodded and replied.
“Understood.”
He glanced around before putting the cigarette pack away again. He shook his head and let out a wry chuckle.
“....Still, you landed a solid hit on those bastards. Annoying pricks. Rigging the Rookie King Tournament right out in the open now? They deserved a real smackdown. Shame we couldn’t lock up the ones involved, but what can you do? Evidence isn’t ironclad anyway.”
Just as he said, the evidence was thin. That was why Seong Ha-yeon hadn’t handed the recording over to the police but instead to Lee Jun-hyeok, a Black Dragon Clan executive. Even if the cops investigated, it was obvious they’d just cut off Kim Ju-seong and Kim Chun-bae as scapegoats and call it a day.
It’d make waves, sure, but Diamond Club wouldn’t crumble from a single blow like that.
Incurring grudges between guilds was a hassle.
Considering how Diamond Club would retaliate in some form or another afterward, it was better to just take the money and bury it. The gap in guild size was too wide. But Seong Ha-yeon clearly wasn’t thrilled about this massive scandal ending with her pocketing cash. She looked uneasy, sighing heavily over and over.
Kim Yu-jeong gently patted her shoulder.
Lee Jun-hyeok changed his expression. The scolding session was over. Now it was time for good news. He tidied up the papers he’d tossed on the desk and continued.
“And we’ve got some great news this time. Our Clan Leader got discharged yesterday, right? Did you send him a text congratulating him?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Kim Yu-jeong, who’d been distracted, realized her mistake but nodded anyway. She’d send it after the meeting. Lee Jun-hyeok didn’t seem interested in checking if they’d actually done it—he just noted their responses and moved on.
“I’d originally planned for us all to bow deeply in front of the hospital as a group performance, but the Clan Leader said that was too much and told me to cut it out. You guys secretly wanted to do it too, right?”
Neither woman answered. Lee Jun-hyeok pouted, lips twitching as he narrowed his eyes. Kim Yu-jeong gave a wry smile, and Seong Ha-yeon spoke up.
“Eh, even so, that’s a bit much.”
At her words, Lee Jun-hyeok shouted in exasperation.
“Hey, our Clan Leader’s out of the hospital, and you can’t even do that? Anyone else, fine, but not you. Hey, you—he even gave you a plane ride when you were a kid.”
Seong Ha-yeon’s stiff expression softened, and she chuckled back.
“Ah, why bring up ancient history? I was still at the orphanage then, right? That’s gotta be over ten years ago.”
“This is why raising kids is pointless. Pointless. Huh?”
Lee Jun-hyeok gestured toward Kim Yu-jeong as if seeking agreement. She just gave another wry smile. He shook his head and got back to business.
“Anyway, with the Clan Leader back, I’m stepping down from management again. He’s jumping right back into work the second he’s in—kinda worrying, but hey, it’s him. He’ll handle it fine.”
Both Kim Yu-jeong and Seong Ha-yeon nodded. Lee Jun-hyeok slicked back his hair and continued.
“And you know that movie [Urban Heavenly Demon War] coming out, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
The two nodded. [Urban Heavenly Demon War]. The novel their Clan Leader adored, about a Heavenly Demon reincarnated in the 21st century who roots out society’s corrupt evils and turns Korea into a prosperous powerhouse. The film adaptation was Part 2, the [Fake Heavenly Demon] arc, chronicling the hero’s adventure to catch an imposter posing as him.
Lee Jun-hyeok pulled a poster from the papers and showed it to them.
“Here, take a look.”
[Who is the True Heavenly Demon? Who dares block the Heavenly Demon’s supremacy?]
The two squinted slightly as they read the poster tagline. The simple design featured a young man with long hair tied back, dressed in a suit. At the bottom were the lead actor’s credits: hot S-Rank Hunter Lee Hyun-woo starring as the [Heavenly Demon]. Lee Jun-hyeok said.
“Killer tagline, right? ‘Who is the True Heavenly Demon?’ Epic! Straight out of the novel’s best lines! I still vividly remember my brother acting like a kid when he heard the movie was coming—he was over the moon. He even consulted on the martial arts for the extras and supporting cast.”
“Ah, yeah. We know.”
Kim Yu-jeong nodded knowingly. Lee Jun-hyeok tucked the poster away and said.
“So, all guild members are required to watch this. Got it?”
“Yes.”
That much they could handle. Seong Ha-yeon actually seemed pretty interested in the film, and for Kim Yu-jeong, it was a perfect excuse for a date with Jeong Su-hyeon. Lee Jun-hyeok added.
“I caught the premiere screening first, and man, the action and story are killer. That final fight scene? I was this close to tears. For real. That’s how movies should be made. In my book, the director deserves an award.”
“Is that all?”
Before the tangent dragged on, Seong Ha-yeon shook her head and asked. Lee Jun-hyeok shook his head back.
“Nah. Write a one-page A4 review. Our Clan Leader loves that old-school analog stuff. Handwrite it and bring it in. Got it? Submit your ticket receipt, and I’ll reimburse from guild funds at month’s end.”
“.....Thought it was an easy gig for once.”
Seong Ha-yeon sighed deeply. The idea of writing a review suddenly made watching the movie feel like a chore. Kim Yu-jeong figured she could manage a review. Lee Jun-hyeok said.
“Alright, meeting adjourned.”
Kim Yu-jeong was relieved Lee Jun-hyeok hadn’t brought up Jeong Su-hyeon. He’d fought buffed-up Kim Ju-seong on equal footing—no, crushed him outright. Didn’t that seem suspicious? But she saw no need to poke the bear and pry into Lee Jun-hyeok’s thoughts.
The meeting room door closed, and the two women stepped out amicably. As soon as they exited the building, Seong Ha-yeon leaned against a utility pole and lit a cigarette. Kim Yu-jeong asked.
“You okay?”
“No. Feels like shit.”
Her face, smiling just moments ago, twisted into a rotten scowl—like someone who’d swallowed a handful of bitter pills. Kim Yu-jeong ventured carefully.
“Couldn’t be helped. That plan was kinda impulsive anyway, and you didn’t think through the aftermath.”
“Still, feels like I used you guys to make money, leaves a bad taste. I hate shit like this.”
“Buy me something tasty later, then.”
“Fuck. That fix it?”
Seong Ha-yeon tossed her half-smoked cigarette to the ground and vented her frustration.