Chapter 57: Myeongdong's Hwang In-su
“I want to crush Kim Min-cheol.”
Straightforward words. But a remarkably aggressive statement. Even Shin Jaewoo himself flinched at what he'd just said. Yet Lee Jinmyeong's face remained utterly composed as he heard it.
“An easy task, sir.”
The tension deflated from Shin Jaewoo in an instant. He hadn't expected it to be framed so simply.
“Really... you'll handle it? There are some formidable people backing him up.”
“We're aware, sir. You've mentioned it yourself, and we've looked into it separately.”
Hearing Lee Jinmyeong's matter-of-fact tone eased Shin Jaewoo's mind a little. But it was surprising. 'It's an easy job.' The way he put it so plainly made the whole issue suddenly seem straightforward.
With Shin Jaewoo sitting across from him, Lee Jinmyeong spoke up. “If that Kim Dong-su is the obstacle, then we simply remove him, don't we?”
“Well... yes.”
Shin Jaewoo nodded. But the real question was how to remove a Kim Dong-su.
“He's no pushover, though. Can we pull it off?”
“We can.”
A resolute reply. Lee Jinmyeong met Shin Jaewoo's gaze. “That said, sir, there's one thing we'll need your approval on.”
“What?”
“If we're clashing with someone like Kim Dong-su, it's simple. We just outmoney him.”
Shin Jaewoo blinked, then nodded. He still couldn't quite wrap his head around it, though.
'Like a game of chicken...?'
That was the first thing that popped into his mind. A mutual game of chicken. It reminded him of the Excel battle he'd waged not long ago.
'Excel's basically a pure chicken game system.'
Thinking of Excel brought Nyanbyeol to mind. He'd only exchanged a few words with her while Kim Minseo was in the shower, but since she was on his thoughts, maybe he'd swing by her stream later. Not now, though.
“...Could you explain exactly what you mean?”
He'd gotten as far as chicken. But going toe-to-toe in a money game with a shark like Kim Dong-su felt like a losing bet. And would it even work?
'Even if it did, it'd drag on forever...'
That was when Lee Jinmyeong cleared his throat. “Hmm. I didn't particularly want you to know about this, sir, but I suppose an explanation is in order.”
Shin Jaewoo startled at the preamble.
'Not your standard chicken game, then.'
If he hadn't wanted Shin Jaewoo in the loop, it wasn't going to be above board. And that made perfect sense.
“You don't fell a giant by leaping straight at its head.”
Shin Jaewoo cocked his head.
“Sure, in most comics the heroes are superhumans who scale the body and go for the noggin... but for normal folks, the proper hunt is different.”
Can't reach the head. It's too damn high. So step one...?
“Topple the body first? Is that the analogy here?”
“To topple it, where do you strike?”
“Well...”
The feet and legs.
“You sever the Achilles tendon.”
Shin Jaewoo nodded.
“But that's not enough to neutralize it. Next, you slice the waist of the now-kneeling giant. Even without the head, it can't fight back.”
“So the feet and waist... they tie into having deeper pockets?”
Lee Jinmyeong nodded at Shin Jaewoo's question.
“Crucial when facing someone like Kim Dong-su.”
Kim Dong-su. The shadow giant with ties to thugs and gangsters, as Han Taeho had spilled. Sure, he had legit money in the open, but his real muscle was underground.
'And that kind of money packs a punch—but it can slip the leash sometimes.'
Lee Jinmyeong's eyes flashed cold. He'd managed such operations before; he knew. No one runs it solo. You've got partners. And money? It turns even decades-long allies.
“First, we make Kim Dong-su kneel.”
Target the feet. Make him squirm.
“We hire someone to fight our battle.”
Guys like Kim Dong-su always have enemies. Rivals. Someone else must be scrapping for turf in the shadows.
Myeongdong. Korea's loan shark hub since time immemorial. These days, even that scene had withered. But it hadn't vanished entirely. And the biggest player left in Myeongdong's market? Hwang In-su.
Hwang In-su scowled.
“So...”
He trailed off.
“You're backing us to hit that fucker Kim Dong-su?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Get outta here. You think it's the '80s or something? We don't storm territories and brawl anymore.”
Over eighty, Hwang In-su waved dismissively.
“My boy's a beast under me, sure—but all-out war? Nah. We just loan to folks in need, collect when due... that's the gig.”
The man before him nodded at the scolding tone.
“I get it, sir.”
“Then quit pushing proxy fights and shop elsewhere.”
“But who else fights Kim Dong-su but you, sir?”
Hwang In-su's eyes narrowed.
'Knew it wasn't small-time from the jump—and they did their homework.'
That briefcase? Stuffed with 50,000-won bills. Quick check: real. Over 300 million, easy. And this wasn't a down payment. Just to meet him.
“...Fighting those pricks costs us big.”
Bribes to cops, business hits. These days, goon scraps are triple-subbed out. Hire randos, punks. Cash sink.
“We'll cover more than your losses.”
“You don't know the tab. Minimum a billion.”
Hwang In-su waved it off.
“Then ten billion it is.”
His face shifted.
“What? Ten billion?”
Myeongdong vet, bad deeds with his crew—he had ten billion. Could scrape it together. But they're offering it?
'One scrap with Kim Dong-su's crew for ten billion?'
As shock hit, the man pressed. “Cash, wire—your call.”
Gulp. This guy's league was way above.
“Ahem.”
Leaning back on the sofa, Hwang In-su pitched forward. Time to talk for real.
“So where's our client from...?”
Korean tycoons? Cheapskates. No way they'd drop ten bil on this.
“Tell me. Who's gunning for Kim Dong-su?”
This sum meant no show. Moderate cash? Fake a beef. But this? They wanted him gone.
“No need for you to know.”
“Hmm. Long as the wire clears...”
“Want muscle? We've got combat specialists. No guns needed.”
Chills deepened.
'Who'd Kim Dong-su fuck over?'
Cold sweat trickled down his neck. Kim Dong-su was a beast even for him. No loss expected—just blood both sides. Weakened? Sharks circle. This world ate the wounded.
“You know how it goes.”
The man did.
“Hit 'em light. Kim Dong-su implodes on his own.”
His crew. His spine. Shatter it, he folds.
'Guys who know the secret stashes.'
And covet them. Loyal while he's ironclad. Weak? They pounce. Or sooner, if they think the shield's down...
“...Bribe his lieutenants with ten bil?”
“More if needed.”
“Heh, haha...”
“His loot's yours to fence.”
No claim on spoils. Spearhead the assault, claim support, turf, everything.
“...Deal?”
“Turn that down? Not a real Hwang In-su.”
Seoul's night streets. Tectonic shifts brewing.