A New Beginning (12) 'Have You Been Well, Boss?'
"Have you been well, Boss?" — Hamo-hamo (36.8)
Our logistics division's deputy manager. What brings you here? Your temperature's risen a bit, Deputy Manager. Before you left for Cancun, I asked you again and again to be careful. Even so, after you tried to help the Trio brothers in Cancun by asking for fifty thousand dollars, didn't you end up on the national blacklist? Since then, I've urged even greater caution. I instructed you to avoid contact unless absolutely necessary, to the point of developing safety paranoia.
"Yes. Have you been well too, Deputy Manager? What can I do for you?" — GB (37.6)
"It's nothing much..." — Hamo-hamo (36.8)
Back in his younger days, Hamo had been caught selling my product at the nightclub where he worked. Instead of reflecting on it, he defied his direct superior, and the Admiral brought down the charge of treason, leaving him with lasting injuries. The memory still fills me with guilt. After that, struggling with his disability and barely scraping by, Hamo received help from friends and acquaintances. Kind by nature and eager to repay kindness, three of those friends now work with us, settling their debts. The fourth runs a small disability support group, and Hamo has been quietly sponsoring it ever since. Our deputy manager is a man of principle and loyalty.
His real request was a personnel recommendation. He wanted me to hire some people from that disability group.
"Could you perhaps take on a few more workers? Even simple delivery jobs would do." — Hamo-hamo (36.8)
Our organization has to stay clean. That's how we avoid getting caught. If we draw unnecessary attention, we'll just end up like me on the blacklist, meeting in prison. After thinking it over, I realized he was right. Bringing in people we know only to have everything collapse would be pointless.
"Thank you for reaching out. If you'd simply put them in logistics because you knew them, I would have been deeply disappointed." — GB (37.6)
Still, as the boss, I had to issue a warning. Charismatic leadership.
"What kind of people are they? Send me a simple resume at least." — GB (37.6)
The next day, a document envelope arrived at the hideout by express delivery. When I opened it, I sighed. Deputy Manager, I'm sorry, but we're not a conglomerate. What am I supposed to do with five applicants? Still, I read through them.
Name: Lee Eunseong
Gender: Male
Education: High school graduate
Specialties: Agile and strong. Quiet, responsible, and persistent.
Disability: Left arm missing due to accident.
The security team that Flashmob had recommended suddenly came to mind. Maybe I could assign him physical work? But without one arm, would it be too difficult? I kept reading.
Name: Seong Yunhyeong
Gender: Male
Education: High school graduate
Specialties: Excellent computer skills. Proficient with advanced equipment.
Disability: Severe lower-body paralysis.
This one seemed difficult. We still operated on analog systems; our most advanced equipment was smartphones. The only apps we used were Skylight and SkyBank.
Next.
Name: Kim Hyeongtae
Gender: Male
Education: Elementary school graduate
Specialties: Quick hands, trained in various techniques, former subway panhandler for a criminal organization.
Disability: Right wrist missing due to organizational retaliation.
Did Hamo think I was running a welfare center? What was I supposed to do with "trained techniques"? It didn't seem like anything I needed. Probably pickpocketing skills, I guessed.
The last two resumes were attached together.
Name: Park Mincheol / Park Yeonhui
Gender: Male / Female
Education: Elementary school graduate
Specialties: The brother is extremely devoted to his sister and says he will do anything if they can work together, though his mind is somewhat limited. Physical disability. The sister suffers from polio and has mobility issues, but she is highly intelligent, especially with remarkable memorization ability.
Disability: Male / Physical disability. Female / Polio.
The moment I finished reading, the Haman Factory came to mind. Could it work? We had the recipes and the equipment already ordered from Japan. If they simply followed instructions, it might be manageable. I contacted the deputy manager and asked to meet Lee Eunseong and the siblings first. I also requested their Skylight IDs. Showing my face was complicated, but what choice did I have? I was already on the national blacklist.
Walking through the city, I noticed fewer people with visible disabilities than I expected. Statistically, a significant portion of the population has disabilities, though many are invisible. Research shows most stay in welfare facilities or at home. I decided to meet in a less conspicuous park. The park beside Masan Baseball Stadium, on a day with no game. After setting the time, I took the bus from Suwon. Suddenly I felt a pang of melancholy. What good was twenty billion won in my account when I was still riding buses? Maybe I should ask Uncle Woojoong to help me get a car. After five hours on the road, the thought became urgent. My back ached, and too much sleep had left me dazed. I shook it off and focused on work. Compared to Cancun, this place was paradise.
The two groups might know each other, so I scheduled Lee Eunseong for today and the siblings for tomorrow. Out of habit, I arrived thirty minutes early and was circling the area when I had my first encounter with Lee Eunseong. I was alone. His build and presence reminded me of Kang Hodong, the legendary ssireum wrestler. He stood just under 180 centimeters, but his left arm... On closer inspection, it might be noticeable. I circled once, then three times. Then I understood. It was a prosthetic. The left arm and shoulder moved independently. I contacted him via Skylight and suggested changing the meeting spot. His first impression and physique were promising. His eyes were good too. I guided him toward the baseball stadium and then behind the public restroom, a blind spot for CCTV. I launched a surprise attack and gave him the acceptance notice. He had withstood one of my eighteen linked strike combinations. More importantly, he reacted the moment I struck. He felt trained. Solid endurance, sharp eyes. Approved.
Afterward, I went to the Masan fish market for a bowl of agutang, then checked into a shabby motel near the Changwon industrial complex, posing as a factory worker. It was called a security team, but for now it was just one man. No personal secretary needed. We'd treat him as a freelancer for the time being. Base pay at minimum wage plus incentives. Running the numbers, even one Skylight errand a month would cover his base salary, incentives, and still leave me with management costs.
The next day, I arranged to meet at Changwon Station in front of the central sculpture. These applicants were so eager they arrived thirty minutes early again. Couldn't they just show up on time? I needed a moment to prepare mentally too. I circled the area three times as usual, observing. The woman sat in a wheelchair while the man stood behind her. He had an ordinary face you might pass once on the streets of Seoul. His pupils were slightly unfocused, that vacant stare making me uneasy. The woman, by contrast, had bright, alert eyes. A blanket covered her lap, and she gave off the air of a Korean literature teacher—gentle yet capable. The dynamic wasn't the man protecting the woman; it felt like she was the one in control. The interview ended. Time for the real test. I decided to be straightforward. If they refused, there would be no real problem. Even if they reported the Haman Factory out of spite, as long as I wasn't caught, money could solve it. Still, I needed basic safeguards. I told them to report to Haman in two weeks. The exact location would be shared then.
I contacted our Vietnamese veteran. Mai, the one who spent most of his military service digging tunnels.
"Boss, good to see you. It's been a while!" — Dragonmay (36.9)
"Ah, yes. Have you been well?" — GB (37.6)
"Your temperature's much higher, Boss. You must have made a lot of money." — Dragonmay (36.9)
The excessive chatter was starting, so I cut him off.
"Can you handle a job for me?" — GB (37.6)
"Of course. I don't have much work these days." — Dragonmay (36.9)
He arrived in Haman the very next day, as if he truly had nothing else to do. Watching from a distance, I directed him through Skylight just like the hideout construction.
"Mai, check the CCTV lines like last time so there are no blind spots. Connect everything so it can be viewed through the app and at the hideout." — GB (37.6)
"And I'll send you a blueprint. Please unpack the items inside the warehouse and set them up." — GB (37.6)
"If you need anything, buy it first and bill me later. You did such a great job last time that I'm asking again." — GB (37.6)
"Yes, sir, Commander!" — Dragonmay (36.9)