Since You Can't Beat Me with Force
"Since you can't beat me with force, you're suddenly trying to argue the law? Isn't that a bit too petty for a gangster?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. We're just company employees who came to collect a debt. Even if it's self-defense, is it really okay to beat people up this badly? Huh? You didn't get hurt at all."
The thugs snickered at Kim Chang-shik's words.
'As expected of the boss.'
'He's got him cornered.'
Gangsters didn't just use their fists. If they caught an opponent's weakness, they could easily use this kind of intimidation.
However, Tae-hyun didn't even blink.
"Of course I can beat you."
"...What?"
"I said, I can beat you. If you feel wronged, go to the police and sue me. We can just see each other in court, right?"
"..."
"If you look at the car I drove here, you can probably estimate my worth, can't you? What kind of person I am, what kind of lawyers I can hire. I'm really curious whose side they'll take when a gangster and I face off in court."
Kim Chang-shik's face stiffened. The opponent seemed like a young punk, but he was incredibly sly. The threat didn't work at all.
"Actually, I didn't even need to come here and do this. I've already finished wrapping things up for you guys."
At this point, the thugs didn't understand what Tae-hyun meant. No one would have. Who could have guessed where Tae-hyun had called before coming here?
"But the reason I bothered to come here and beat you up is... to vent my anger."
"V-Venting your anger?"
"Yeah, you bastards. Barging into my partner's house and making a mess, her not even asking for help despite being my partner, and me staying quiet until things got this bad out of some misguided attempt to be considerate... It's venting my anger about a lot of things."
Tae-hyun dusted off his hands.
"Now, kneel."
"..."
"Are you crazy? Why should we?"
"This is your last chance. Kneel and beg. Then I might consider showing a tiny bit of mercy."
"Stop talking out of your ass, you little punk..."
Even they had their pride. They'd charge all at once and crush Tae-hyun! Murderous intent flared in the thugs' eyes.
Ring ring ring—
An atmosphere-ruining ringtone echoed through the room. The thugs stared at Kim Chang-shik. He cleared his throat and answered the phone.
"Hello? Ah, Boss..."
"You crazy son of a bitch! What kind of insane shit are you doing out there?! Are you out of your mind? Are you trying to get us all killed? What the hell did you do to make orders fly down from the very top?!"
"Huh? Boss, I didn't do anything..."
"Shut up! Don't say a word. From this moment on, you and I don't know each other! Don't you dare tell anyone you know me, or I'll kill you myself!"
"...?!"
But the call from his boss was only the beginning. The next call was from the big shot Kim Chang-shik was supposed to borrow business funds from.
"Manager Kim. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to provide the business funds I promised to lend you this time."
"What do you mean by that! You promised, you can't do this! Without that, how am I supposed to run the business...!"
"That's why you should have known your place and kept a low profile. I'm not doing this because I want to. I have to survive too, don't I? If you want to live, Manager Kim, I suggest you crawl into a corner and stay quiet. Because someone is absolutely furious right now."
"...?!"
Kim Chang-shik was utterly dazed. What on earth was happening?
"Boss, Boss! The police just raided our office! Everyone except me got dragged away! I was outside so I didn't get caught, but you need to be careful, Boss! They were asking where you are!"
"What kind of bullshit is that! I didn't get any calls! What about Detective Lee? Didn't Detective Lee contact you? Do you know how much bribe money that bastard took?!"
"Boss! Detective Lee was the very first one to walk through the door! That son of a bitch must have lost his mind! He confiscated all of our secret ledgers! It looks like he's determined to ruin us!"
Clack—
He didn't even have the strength to hold his phone anymore. Kim Chang-shik dropped the phone and staggered. Tae-hyun was watching them with a smirk.
"Do you feel like kneeling now?"
"You... Who the hell are you?"
"That's none of your business. What's important right now is your situation."
Kim Chang-shik snapped back to reality at those words. He had to survive somehow. He couldn't let everything he had built up until now end like this.
Thud—
"B-Boss!"
"What are you bastards doing! Kneel, damn it!"
He didn't know who Tae-hyun was, but one thing was certain: he was someone who could play with their lives like toys.
"Not to me."
"...?"
"Isn't the person you just harassed standing right behind me?"
"..."
The thugs quietly stood up, turned around, and knelt.
"...!!"
Lee Da-bi was shocked. Not only because the gangsters had come over to kneel, but because Tae-hyun had suddenly appeared.
"Tae-hyun. How did you get here..."
"I'll explain later. It's a long story. For now, these bastards apparently have something to say, so let's listen."
Kim Chang-shik gritted his teeth. He felt like his chest was burning with humiliation.
"We... sincerely apologize for what we did."
"...!"
Lee Da-bi blinked. Beside her, Tae-hyun spoke in a nonchalant tone.
"And the debt?"
"There were some... illegal aspects to what we did. I think... what you've paid back so far is more than enough."
"Good job."
"Is... is it over between us now?"
"What is?"
"Since we knelt like you asked..."
"I told you earlier."
"...?"
"That was your last chance. You can't refuse then and expect it to work now. Didn't you apologize just because you had to?"
"...!!"
Realizing he had been tricked by Tae-hyun, sparks flew in Kim Chang-shik's eyes.
"You... you..."
At that moment, police sirens wailed loudly outside.
Pitter-patter—
The dazed thugs were dragged away one by one without even putting up a proper resistance.
Tae-hyun stared at Kim Chang-shik and said, "You probably won't be coming out for a long time. Maybe never. Actually, the latter is highly likely."
"You... I will never forget this. No matter who you are..."
"Wait, before I listen to your grand vow of revenge, let me tell you one more thing. Before you worry about my life, you should worry about your own."
"...?"
"Because the other gangsters who got dragged down with you are probably looking for you with fire in their eyes right now. If they don't get rid of you, they're the ones who'll go down. Do you think they'll just sit still?"
"...!!!!"
"Anyway, if you want to target my life, go ahead and try. Though I doubt I'll ever see you alive again."
Kim Chang-shik was dragged away, unable to even reply. Tae-hyun called the private investigator again.
"You did well. Don't forget to keep monitoring the guys on the list. If any of them try anything funny, report it to me immediately."
"Understood. They won't even be able to try."
Though the employee had seen plenty of rough and bizarre things in his line of work, the display Tae-hyun had just shown was truly unprecedented.
A revenge where he couldn't even fathom how or where Tae-hyun had wielded such power! Just watching it gave him goosebumps.
"..."
"..."
Tae-hyun and Lee Da-bi faced each other in the ruined house. Both had a lot to say.
"We're still partners, right?"
"Pardon?"
"I just wanted to make sure. I'm asking in advance because you might get mad when I tell you what I did."
"I won't get mad."
"Listen first, then decide."
Tae-hyun spoke as he recalled what he had done. Thinking about it now, digging into her background felt like he had gone a bit too far.
But Lee Da-bi spoke firmly and quietly.
"I won't get mad. No matter what you did."
"...Really?"
"Yes. Why would I get mad? When you did... such a..."
Da-bi choked up, unable to finish her sentence.
"...thing for me..."
"Are you okay?"
"My legs just gave out a bit. I'll be fine after some rest."
Lee Da-bi sat down with a thud. Only then did the ruined house enter her sight. She smiled and said,
"You came all this way, but I have nothing to offer you. Would you like some water?"
"Before that, listen to what I did."
Tae-hyun began his explanation. Where he started investigating, and how he ended up coming here today. At the mention of him monitoring her, Da-bi let out a hollow laugh. She laughed for a while, then stopped.
Tae-hyun peeked at her reaction.
"Are you okay?"
"I told you, I'm not mad. Thank you so much. I don't think I can say it enough, but I'll say it again. Thank you so much. So you don't have to worry about that."
"Right. I'm glad you're not mad. Then, can I get a little angry now?"
"Pardon?"
"I considered you a friend. I don't know how you thought of me, but if you thought of me as a friend too, couldn't you have asked for help when something like this happened?"
"I didn't want to be a burden."
"What's wrong with being a burden? That's what friends are for. Is someone a friend if they only do their own thing? If you try to handle it alone like that and suddenly disappear, do you think I'd feel comfortable? I asked for your help when I needed it. And I'll keep asking for your help in the future. Why can't you do the same?"
"Because I've only ever received favors..."
"Yeah, I get the reason. But that's not what I want to hear."
"...?"
"Do you think of me as a friend?"
"...Of course. Even more than..."
"More than what?"
"A-Ah, it's nothing."
"Anyway, you do think of me as a friend, right?"
"I do, but..."
Tae-hyun seemed to be pressing her for a definitive answer.
"Then you'll ask for my help if anything happens in the future, right?"
"...Yes. I understand. I'll do that."
Lee Da-bi smiled. She could feel Tae-hyun's sincerity.
But it was too early to laugh. When Tae-hyun's next words came out, Da-bi's face turned pale.
"Great."
"Pardon?"
"Pack your bags. We're moving you to a different place."
"..."
"I-Isn't this a bit much?"
Lee Da-bi spoke timidly, but Tae-hyun ignored her.
"Ah, Manager. You're here."
"Yes, Boss."
The manager drove the car himself to pick up Tae-hyun, Da-bi, and her younger sisters.
"I'll have the next car load up the luggage and follow us. Though... there doesn't seem to be much luggage?"
Lee Da-bi's face turned slightly red.
"Let's go. Where did you say the vacant house was?"
"Ah, about that, Boss..."
The manager spoke with a troubled expression.
"All the buildings that are ready to move into currently have tenants..."
"Really? Hmm. Should I just take them to my house then?"
"T-T-That is definitely not a good idea!"
When Tae-hyun suggested bringing Da-bi and her sisters to his house, Da-bi waved her hands in a panic. No matter how she thought about it, that was absolutely out of the question!
"Well, even though we have plenty of spare rooms and it's spacious, it might be a bit uncomfortable to stay there. Especially with someone like my father around."
"I don't think that's the problem..."
"Shh, be quiet."
Lee Da-sol nudged Lee Da-saem's side as she muttered.
What happened today felt like a dream. But it was definitely reality. The two younger sisters faced each other and nodded.
'Unni has always suffered because she only worries about us. Now it's our turn to help her!'
'But how?'
'Just watch. I'll show you.'
Meanwhile, Lee Da-bi tried her best to persuade Tae-hyun.
"That house is really fine. It's a mess, but if we clean it up..."
"No, those bastards know the address. It's better to move somewhere else."
"T-Then I'll just..."
"Tsk. Are we friends or not?"
"W-We are, but..."
"Then stay quiet."
"Okay..."
Lee Da-bi quietly shut her mouth.
Meanwhile, Lee Da-sol asked Tae-hyun with an innocent face.
"Oppa. By any chance, are you my sister's boyfriend?"
"What on earth are you talking about?!"
"We are friends. More importantly, are you girls okay with moving? I forgot to ask for your opinions."
Tae-hyun asked with concern. Even if Da-bi was fine, the younger sisters might dislike leaving a place they had grown attached to.
"We love it!"
"We've wanted to leave that place for a long time!"
'You guys...'
Lee Da-bi hung her head low. She couldn't believe her own sisters weren't helping her at all.