Daily Life (1)

Buzz~ Buzz~

“Can you only do a hundred thousand won worth?”

With current street prices, a hundred thousand won worth of what? That wouldn't even cover gas money.

“Sorry.”

I am a drug dealer. Though “dealer” is just a fancy way of saying I'm basically a delivery rider. The only difference is the package contains recreational substances instead of fried chicken.

Buzz~ Buzz~

Another one. These days demand is so high that selling is easy. The real problem is the crackdowns.

I have a close hyung who always says it wasn't like this back in the latte days.

“Pick up the goods. Eunpyeong-gu, Jinkwan-dong, XX Apartment.”

Oh, it's the boss. I don't know his real name or even his last name. He's the guy who supplies me when I request product, so I just call him boss. He only contacts me when stock is low or an order comes in. The best part is how fast he responds; it's almost like talking to an answering machine.

But there's one iron rule. Ask for personal details or act like an entitled customer and a warning flies your way. A terrifying one.

I arrived and messaged him.

“I'm near the apartment.”

“Location will be sent in one hour.”

I hate this part. The boss must hate police attention too, because waiting is routine and he always makes me stand by after multiple checks. Last time I delivered early and got chewed out.

Buzz~ Buzz~

“203 building, recycling vinyl bin. Retrieve within thirty minutes.”

Damn. That's on the complete opposite side of the complex. I need to hurry, but not look like I'm hurrying. I also have to watch my surroundings, especially the CCTV.

Our country has way too many cameras. Still, caution above all. Act like a resident. It's a recycling area, after all. I should grab an empty box to look natural. All tricks I learned from my close hyung, a veteran in the game.

“Retrieval.”

Today's package is ten grams of weed, one million won worth. My close hyung does ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hundred-million-won deals. This is my entire world. People say this is cheap for small-scale, but I don't know. The boss is my only supplier.

My close hyung always says one supplier and one customer is enough. The old proverb: if three people know, the secret's already dead.

Buzz~ Buzz~

“Sorry, sorry, just two hundred thousand won worth.”

Fine. I'll give him one gram and call today even.

“Price as usual. Location: Guro-gu, Gasan Digital Complex Station.”

I should act like the boss, just like I was taught. Who knows, maybe there's a subcontractor under me too?

“Okay. Thirty minutes.”

“Contact in one hour.”

I need time to get there, don't I? Time to go earn my daily bread~

Damn it. No contact. Missed appointments happen often, and as long as the cops don't show it's a good day. This kid isn't going to work out. Ordering one gram at a time, breaking promises; I shouldn't deal with someone this unreliable. But let's give him ten more minutes.

Buzz~ Buzz~

There we go.

“Words. Five. One hundred.”

Oh! VIP. I don't know his name or face, but that's the nickname I gave him. He always texts in short bursts, pays the proper rate, and keeps things clean.

“Words” means the product with extra processing into cigarette form.

“Okay. Six p.m., Gangnam Station.”

Time to go to work~

My house is in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. My close hyung let me use this empty rural house with its own small yard. Looking at everything he's done for me, I sometimes wonder if a real older brother would do this much.

The key with “words” is making them look as close to real cigarettes as possible. Some people want additives depending on taste, but I don't add anything unless specifically ordered. The boss told me to work that way. There's no official after-service, but my close hyung said following instructions exactly makes the customers come back.

I split the product I received earlier into 0.5 gram portions, wrapped each one neatly in cigarette paper, shaped them nicely, and as a bonus put them inside a cigarette case I bought at Daiso.

Okay, let's head out~

Gangnam Station has massive foot traffic, so any time works. Crowded in the morning, crowded in the evening, crowded even at dawn. One thing I've learned doing this is that people only blend in when they're hidden among other people. That's why I usually pick high-traffic areas like Gangnam, Hongdae, or Seongsu.

When I work, this is my system: take the order, set a time, receive payment, set another time, then deliver. Prepayment is non-negotiable and it's cash only. I once even received an Onnuri gift certificate. Thought it was real money at first.

“Gangnam Station Exit 2, McDonald's bag on the railing in front of the tax office.”

Must be in a hurry. It's not even five-thirty yet and there's already a McDonald's bag sitting on the railing in front of the tax office. They're careful, but if the police really want someone, they'll catch them one way or another. Still, they won't mobilize a whole team for a small fry like me. I just have to make sure I don't accidentally get swept up in any nets. In other words, I need to stay careful enough that the authorities won't bother digging.

Customers can screw you over too!

“Waiting in front of Megabox at Gangnam Station Exit 9.”

This lets the customer know I'm close. It puts them at ease. They're using me to avoid getting scammed themselves, so I need to show at least this much trust.

The VIP checks his phone, sets the McDonald's bag on the railing in front of the Yeoksam tax office, and walks away. I follow at a distance. He might be watching to see if I actually pick up the money. Our VIP is very obedient. He probably was a model student back in school.

After watching him head down into the underground driveway, I circle back, retrieve the bag, slip into an alley, and count the money. Oh, it's not the right amount. One million one hundred thousand won. A tip? Anyway, we're good.

“Thank you. The product has been placed on the Starbucks A-frame sign at Exit 9.”

Since he's a customer, I thank him politely and get out of there fast! Money received, deal done! I don't know what happens if I don't get paid, though~

Buzz~ Buzz~

“OK”

It was a beautiful sunny day.

Buzz~ Buzz~

Another customer found me today!

“Do you have marijuana by any chance?”

Tsk. A total beginner. I hate amateurs! I only want to deal with professional VIPs~ But for a bottom-feeder like me, customer acquisition is crucial.

“I think you have the wrong contact.”

“I'm pretty sure I used the right ID… Sorry.”

Ah, a real newbie.

“Who referred you? The name written at the bottom of the post.”

“GB…”

“Ah, you reached the right person. How much do you need? The going rate is one hundred fifty thousand won per session.”

“Just one session, please.”

“How would you like it prepared? Anything other than the original incurs extra costs.”

“Huh? I don't know anything about that.”

Ah, this is getting annoying. Should I drop him? My big mouth is the problem. And there's no money in it.

“Then we usually start with the words. They're similar to regular cigarettes.”

“I'll take that.”

“Understood. Including the extra cost, it's two hundred thousand won.”

“Okay.”

Today I successfully upgraded another beginner to intermediate and headed home in a good mood.

After finishing business in Seoul, I took the express bus, then the village bus, then another bus, repeating the transfers for two full hours before I finally got home. I showered, turned on the TV, and my close hyung messaged me.

Buzz~ Buzz~

“You home?”

“Yep~ Finished work and back at the house haha”

“Ten o'clock. GS in front of the city library.”

“Okay.”

His texting style is exactly like our VIPs. Does this life make everyone write shorter messages?

I arrived at the convenience store around nine-fifty, grabbed a beer, and was drinking when a Benz pulled up and stopped. If you're coming by car anyway, why not just pick me up at my house?

“Hello.”

“Get in.”

I opened the door and climbed inside. The thick smell of a man mixed with cologne and leather seats hit me.

After driving about twenty minutes, he parked on a hill overlooking a reservoir. A sudden chill ran down my spine. What does he want to talk about?

“How long have you been doing this?”

“Um… this year makes three years.”

“Let's do a job together.”

I thought lines like that only existed in movies.

“Didn't you say you wouldn't work with me? What was it again? That you didn't want to kill me with your own hands?”

“Situation changed. Can you handle it?”

“Yes. Didn't you tell me not to take on more than I could handle?”

“Let's start with one chunk. I'm counting on you.”

I had no idea this proposal would completely change my life.

“Ding-dong~ Delivery.”

“Yes~ Coming~”

I wonder what my favorite delivery driver brought me today~

Huh? It's heavy. I didn't order anything this heavy. Misdelivery? As a fellow delivery rider, I cannot accept this kind of mistake! But I'm curious. What is it?

What the hell? Inside was a massive brick that looked like it had been wrapped a thousand times, a cell phone, and a note.

“Hyung, what is this? I don't have money to pay for this.”

“It's one kilo. Money is on credit. Give me eighty million, keep the rest for yourself.”

Eek! I can't handle this volume. My random intermediate customers and VIPs can't move this much!

Am I supposed to spend my whole life paying it back?

“Hyung, I'm sorry but even if I sell for a whole year I won't move all of this.”

“Turn the phone on. And be careful.”

I turned on the phone that came with the package. It wouldn't start until I charged it. What kind of phone is this? I plugged it in, powered it on, and found only one app installed. Sky-blue background with a yellow sun icon. The name read Skylight.

After the loading screen, two options appeared: Seller / Buyer.

What is this? I pressed Buyer. A window popped up asking me to enter an ID. No membership registration, no password field? I typed GB and hit confirm. A request form appeared.

It said to write the type, volume, and amount in order. Any other information would invalidate the transaction. There was only a single Register button.

Hyung, you could've at least sent instructions. What the hell am I supposed to do?

I went back and selected Seller. It asked for ID and password. Ah, right, I'm the seller. I entered them. Then it told me to register my fingerprint. From now on only fingerprint recognition would work.

Whatever. After registering my print, the app opened. Wow. The clean UI, the simple and clear system. It felt like an entirely new world.

The app had three menus at the bottom: Sales, Messages, Self-Destruct. The only decoration was that sun icon from earlier. Fine by me.

Is this real? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠No way… I tapped one. The screen changed to a message window with a Send button at the bottom.

Ah, so this is how orders work. Can these people really be trusted?

I opened the Messages tab. There was already one waiting.

The temperature next to each username must be some kind of credit rating. Most IDs showed temperatures similar to normal body heat. But this person… 47.5? Some kind of veteran?

I tapped the post.

weed/50g/1000-Flashmob(47.5)

I sent a message.

A system message immediately appeared.

Whoa, jackpot! He sent the full amount in advance? How do I receive it?

I tapped the link. A new app installed itself next to Skylight. It had a dollar symbol and was called SkyBank. I opened it with fingerprint recognition. The deposit history showed up along with “Delivery Pending.” There were Deposit and Withdrawal buttons.

When I pressed Deposit, various banks and virtual accounts appeared. I pressed again and different ones showed up. Real-time account switching. When I pressed Withdrawal, it showed current balance 10,000,000 won and pending delivery 10,000,000 won. The sender was listed as “wisestone.” Whoever that is.

There was a Withdraw button. A popup explained that delivery usually takes one day and contact would come through the light app first. Fees ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were listed. When I entered ten million won, it tried to take a ten percent cut. What a rip-off. There are free ATMs these days. Whatever, I'll deal with it later. For now, let's package and send.

I unwrapped the brick the hyung sent, weighed it on the scale, measured exactly 50.5 grams, and wrapped it again a thousand times. In my personal opinion, a one percent margin of error should be acceptable, so I threw in an extra 0.5 grams as service. Just in case, I took the village bus to a subway area, put the package inside a document envelope like an office worker, and called a quick service.

I went back into the light app and messaged.

About two hours later a message arrived. I opened the app and saw a red “1” on the message icon. When I entered, there was a red “1” next to Flashmob's ID. Inside was the previous conversation plus one new system message saying the transaction had been completed.

Since this was my first customer on the light app, I thought I should say thanks.