Monopolizing Fortunes (14)
Monopolizing Fortunes (14)
The new 5th Squad, created because of Do Tong-dal, took charge of Seonhwa-ro. There weren't many shops paying protection money there—just one gambling den and a small red-light alley.
"Hey, lady! If you keep paying your protection money late, we can't protect your shop!"
"I'm sorry. Business has been so bad...... I'll definitely pay within five days."
"You'd better keep that promise. This whole shop looks like it's made of wood—it'd burn real nice if it caught fire."
The middle-aged woman's face filled with terror.
"N...... next time I'll definitely pay. Definitely!"
Judging by the woman's expression, the thug's warning wasn't going to end as just a warning.
Hwangbo Yang glanced at Do Tong-dal, who was following along without a word.
"Our squad leader doesn't do anything. Someone in a high position ought to set an example."
"Hehe...... boss, the squad leader has to get a feel for the atmosphere first."
Jang Baek-dong quickly stepped in and volunteered himself as Do Tong-dal's shield.
"Squad leader this, squad leader that—sure rolls off the tongue for a fellow recruit. Gutless little shit."
Two of the four men who became Do Tong-dal's squad members openly disrespected him like this.
Jo Jin-ho had warned them, but if they were the type to listen that well, they never would have become gangsters in the first place.
Veins bulged on Do Tong-dal's forehead as he followed at the very back.
'Should I teach them a lesson right now?'
He was confident he could make them docile within one ke.
'Let's hold back a little. Just a little.'
In three days, a fight would break out with the Black Dragon Society, one of Hangzhou's four major underworld societies. The fighting would drag on for quite a while and ultimately end in the Black Dragon Society's victory, with the Red Tiger Society negotiating to hand over three-tenths of its territory.
That was also when Jang Baek-dong took a blade to the back and died. And it happened in the very first fight, three days from now.
Of course, in this life, Do Tong-dal had no intention of letting Jang Baek-dong die like that.
When night came, Do Tong-dal studied the blackmail ledger Gwang Hae-bong had left behind and laid out his plans for the future.
"First, I need to raise Boss Wang to a higher position."
No matter how outstanding Do Tong-dal's abilities were, he couldn't go to a high position yet. High places always have fierce winds.
So for the time being, he had no choice but to use Wang Chil as a windbreak.
"It's good for him too."
He planned to make sure Wang Chil secured a solid share and retired honorably—so he could live long and well, as they say.
"I'll have him earn merit and move up to headquarters naturally."
The fight three days from now would be the start of that.
* * *
"Oh my! It's been a while since you've come."
Yeon Ja-yeon spoke as if they'd met by chance, but she had rushed over the moment she heard Do Tong-dal had arrived.
"Yes. Since I transferred to the Baekdong Branch, I haven't had time to visit Cheonsangru."
"If I want to see you, Mr. Do, Cheonsangru will have to request protection from the Baekdong Branch."
She was actually seriously considering the idea. It was the best way to maintain a point of contact with Do Tong-dal.
"The Gwanghwa-ro Fixer Office would try to kill me, so please bear with it."
'Right. He's the kind of man who chooses loyalty over money. Ugh—!'
She sighed inwardly and asked.
"What brings you here today? Surely not as a customer?"
"A single bottle of liquor here costs my entire monthly wage."
Since he would clearly refuse even if she offered it for free, she didn't bring it up at all.
Do Tong-dal said.
"I came to borrow Mr. Jang for a bit today."
He was going with Jang Yu-seom, and while he didn't need Yeon Ja-yeon's permission, Jang Yu-seom spent most of his time at Cheonsangru, so he notified her as a courtesy.
"For as much time as you take Mr. Jang, would you spare some time for me later, Mr. Do?"
She asked impulsively.
"If you wish."
"Thank you for granting such an unreasonable request."
Being on good terms with the owner of a high-class establishment like Cheonsangru couldn't hurt.
When asked if he could come along, Jang Yu-seom replied, "Should I bring weapons?"
"With Mr. Jang's skill, a wooden sword will do."
Even so, Jang Yu-seom tucked two daggers into his waistband.
"The first promise I made to you still stands."
"If you mean the promise that I don't have to do anything I don't want to do, I still remember it."
"Your hands have gotten harsher."
"I'm part of the Underworld too."
"Are you all right with that name?"
Jang Yu-seom showed a rare smile.
"If it's your Underworld, Squad Leader Do, then I'm all right with it."
"My Underworld isn't much different."
"The only difference between a tiger and a cat is size. Some things don't need to be very different."
They walked around Seonhwa-ro, the area Do Tong-dal's 5th Squad was responsible for. There was no particular business there.
Do Tong-dal chatted with Jang Yu-seom about this and that while waiting for word to arrive.
"Squad Leader Do!"
Just as they were coming out of the gambling den, a man came running up, out of breath. He was a member of the Baekdong Branch, but since he'd passed by without so much as a greeting before, Do Tong-dal didn't even know his name.
"Where have you been?"
"What's the matter?"
"Manhwaru has been attacked by the Black Dragon Society, and a mobilization order has gone out to three nearby branches!"
Manhwaru was under the Bukro Branch's management, so it wasn't an immediate problem for the Baekdong Branch. But since another underworld society had attacked, they still had to answer the mobilization order.
"When?"
"It's been half a shichen already, and nearly everyone from the three branches has rushed over! If you don't hurry, you'll get a beating later!"
The man seemed to assume Do Tong-dal was trying to avoid the fight.
'If it's been half a shichen, the fight's probably almost over.'
The Red Tiger Society had likely been pushed back one-sidedly. The Black Dragon Society had originally been the stronger force, but it wasn't the kind of fight where they'd be pushed back one-sidedly if it came to war.
But the Black Dragon Society had brought in martial artists. They weren't particularly famous, but even a second-rate master of the martial world was beyond what an underworld thug could handle.
With martial artists at its back, the Black Dragon Society would soon grow into an underworld society controlling half of Hangzhou.
"If it's Manhwaru, even going slowly, one ke should be enough."
"This is no time to go slowly......!"
"If you're in such a hurry, go on ahead yourself."
"Huh? Ah...... no, I have to deliver word elsewhere......."
"Then get going."
The man shot Do Tong-dal a look full of contempt and moved off into the distance.
"Did you know there would be an attack today?"
Since he'd brought Jang Yu-seom along, it was a natural question.
"I'd heard some information. It wasn't certain, but it turned out to be right."
"Yet you don't seem to be in any hurry, Squad Leader Do."
"Whether we're late or early, the result won't change, so there's no reason to rush."
They strolled leisurely through the night streets of Hangzhou. They even took the time to enjoy some tasty skewers along the way.
When they had nearly arrived at Manhwaru, Jang Yu-seom said.
"In all my life, I've never met an oddball like you, Squad Leader Do."
"An oddball?"
"Yes. An oddball I'm glad is my friend. Hahaha!"
"Being called your friend is the greatest honor. No take-backs on that."
"I'm the one who's grateful you accepted me as a friend."
Do Tong-dal and Jang Yu-seom grinned at each other, then opened the doors of Manhwaru.
The space that would normally be filled with music, laughter, and the smell of liquor was wrapped in silence.
The pleasure house, lit but quiet, was even eerie. Past the garden with its pond, they came to a door with two red and two blue lanterns hanging on either side.
The door painted with plum blossoms in full bloom was firmly shut.
"I can sense movement inside."
Do Tong-dal heard what Jang Yu-seom heard: the sound of blows landing, low groans, bodies hitting the floor. It wasn't a fight—it was a one-sided beating.
Do Tong-dal pushed open the eight-ja-tall door. As the door slid aside, the interior slowly revealed itself.
The first floor was a wide space with hundreds of chairs and tables. It was a place made so that many people could enjoy themselves at relatively cheap prices.
The place that should have been ringing with music and reeking of liquor was instead covered in groans and the smell of blood.
"Oho! New guests."
A man in his mid-thirties with narrow eyes smiled brightly at the two of them.
'Hwang Chan-seok.'
He remembered seeing him once in his previous life. The man had stuck in his memory because of his long, slanted eyes and his cruel hands.
There were about thirty men standing at ease in the center. It wasn't hard to guess from their matching black clothes that they belonged to the Black Dragon Society.
And the fifty-odd people rolling among the broken chairs and tables were Red Tiger Society members.
Among them, he could see branch members from the Baekdong Branch. The Black Dragon Society had fewer men, yet most of the people on the ground were from the Red Tiger Society.
Do Tong-dal's gaze swept the hall and fixed on three people positioned in the left corner.
The three men with swords on their backs wore blue martial uniforms. Even at a glance, anyone could tell they were martial artists, not thugs.
"I'll take two of them."
Jang Yu-seom said that while looking at the three martial artists. If Do Tong-dal had recognized them, there was no way Jang Yu-seom hadn't.
"Be careful."
"Now I'll finally earn my keep."
Indeed, unless those men were first-rate masters of the martial world, they couldn't be a match for Jang Yu-seom.
As Do Tong-dal walked inside, he checked the condition of the Red Tiger Society members. Quite a few had been cut or stabbed, but fortunately there didn't seem to be any dead.
Even in underworld fights, things generally didn't go as far as killing.
Fighting only to the point where the authorities wouldn't step in was an unspoken rule of the Underworld. Of course, it wasn't a rule that was always kept.
"What's this? Only two of you came? I suppose we'll have to wait until more of you gather."
Do Tong-dal closed the door and barred it with a wooden beam.
"The two of us should be more than enough, so there's no need to accept any more guests."
Hwang Chan-seok, who had been staring blankly at the two men, burst out laughing.
"Puhahaha! I thought this was a gathering place for cowards, but the Red Tiger Society has someone with real nerve after all! Or has he lost his mind!"
"Baek-dong."
At Do Tong-dal's call, Jang Baek-dong, who had been lying face-down without moving, flinched. Playing dead wasn't a bad way to avoid taking a few extra hits.
After hesitating for a moment, Jang Baek-dong got up, brushing himself off.
"Uh...... no, yes, Squad Leader."
"Move the wounded to one side with the members who can still move."
Having allies underfoot would only get in the way of fighting. Jang Baek-dong glanced sideways at Hwang Chan-seok, checking his reaction.
Hwang Chan-seok said.
"An amusing fellow. Fine. I'll give you time."
The Red Tiger Society thugs who could still move helped their injured comrades over to the wall.
"Who's that guy?"
"Some guy named Do Tong-dal. He was at the Gwanghwa-ro Fixer Office, then followed Wang Chil to the Baekdong Branch."
"I heard he's good with the books, but he's lost his mind."
Even to the Red Tiger Society thugs, Do Tong-dal's actions seemed utterly reckless.
Fifty of them had been beaten without landing a single blow—what could a mere two men do? This was truly like striking a rock with an egg.
"The stage seems ready. Now shall we see what you've got? Baekseok, take two men and test them."
The man called Baekseok asked.
"If it comes to it, can we cook them too?"
"If you're going to, make it tasty."
Baekseok and two other men stepped forward, gripping their blades. Their middle-length swords, with blades about two ja long, gleamed in the lamplight.
Do Tong-dal kept his eyes on the martial artists standing to one side and said.
"Our opponents aren't those three small fry—they're those three over there putting on airs."
The eyebrows of the martial artists Do Tong-dal had pointed out twitched.
"I can't tell whether that bastard has a good eye or no eye at all. If those gentlemen step in, one of your four limbs is coming off."
Do Tong-dal drew a dagger from his waist.
"Enough fighting with our mouths."
Do Tong-dal crooked his finger at Baekseok and the two men.
"You cocky little brat!"
The three men charged at Do Tong-dal all at once. The two in front swung their blades down, aiming for Do Tong-dal's shoulders.
When the blades were right above his head, Do Tong-dal turned his body to the side. The two blades narrowly grazed past his face and the back of his head.
Dodging the attacks with a simple movement, Do Tong-dal lowered his stance and slipped past the two men.
Slash! Slash!
As he passed, his blade cut through the muscles of their heels.
"Urgh!"
Leaving the two men collapsing almost simultaneously behind him, Do Tong-dal thrust his dagger straight out.
The third man never even got to bring down the sword he had raised overhead—his stomach was pierced.
Thunk!
With a stifled groan, the man dropped his sword and fell forward clutching his stomach. He would bleed a lot, but the blade had missed his vital organs, so he wouldn't die.
Unless he was left bleeding for far too long, that is.
The moment Do Tong-dal took down three men in one breath, the surroundings fell into sudden silence. This was a result no one had expected.
* * *