Monopolizing Fortunes (16)
Monopolizing Fortunes (16)
"Boss! You're out!"
"Boss! How are you!"
"Squad Leader Do, you're out early."
The moment Do Tong-dal stepped into the first-floor office, the thugs scrambled over one another to greet him.
Only yesterday they had looked at him like some upstart who had gotten a lightning promotion thanks to Wang Chil, but overnight that had completely changed.
The change was even more dramatic among the thugs who had been at the Manhwaru scene. When they greeted him, their backs bent lower, and even the squad leaders' heads dipped.
The nature of the Underworld, where power was law, was on full display.
"Boss! Elder Han has been waiting for you for a while now!"
Jang Baek-dong announced the message with a pleased face. For someone of elder rank to come looking for a squad leader rather than summoning him to headquarters was extremely rare.
"Oho, Squad Leader Do really is something else."
"You should have seen Squad Leader Do at Manhwaru. He'd be called a master even out in the martial world."
Leaving that murmuring behind, Do Tong-dal climbed the stairs to the next floor.
Han Dong-san's face was full of smiles as he greeted Do Tong-dal.
"Yesterday's fight must have been hard on you. Why not take today off?"
"I slept until the sun was up over my ass, so I'm fine. I was meaning to come see you anyway, so this works out."
Do Tong-dal took an envelope made of traditional Korean paper from his chest.
"Put this inside your daughter-in-law's pillow."
Do Tong-dal added in a whisper, "A pillow used for certain nighttime activities would be even better."
"Wh-what is this?"
"A talisman. The materials weren't easy to come by, so it took some doing."
"Oh! Then can our line finally be continued?"
"People do their best, and isn't the blessing up to heaven?"
"Right, right!"
"Still, it should have some effect. Tell your son and daughter-in-law to eat plenty of good things and firmly warn them not to do anything that invites ill fortune. Then there should be good news in about two months."
He remembered that two months after the Black Dragon Society's attack, Han Dong-san had held a feast. He had once run into Han Dong-san, whose mouth had stretched ear to ear because his daughter-in-law was with child.
"T-two months? Heh heh heh... If you say it, it must be certain. Thank you, truly thank you. If there's anything you want, just say it. As it happens, the Society Leader told me to give you a reward."
"Knowing the Society Leader's character, the reward won't be much, will it?"
"Hah—! Standing next to that man, I can't tell whether I live in Hangzhou or by the seaside. The saltiness just wafts off him. Still, tell me what you want. I'll grant it even if I have to empty my own pockets."
"Then please give some consolation money to the members who were hurt in this fight."
"Hm?"
"They were hurt defending the Red Tiger Society, so they deserve compensation."
For thugs, getting hurt in fights was routine, and they were grateful just to receive proper treatment.
"What about you?"
"Having all four limbs intact is my compensation. I'm fine."
Right now, winning the goodwill of the Red Tiger Society's thugs was a hundred times more profitable than taking pocket change.
Do Tong-dal had finished his calculation, but Han Dong-san was moved.
Han Dong-san nodded, thinking, "He's too good a man to be in the Underworld."
"Understood. I'll see it done. And about the friend who came with you last night."
"Jang Yu-seom?"
"Branch Chief Wang said he isn't a Red Tiger Society member but a friend of yours."
Since Jang Yu-seom hadn't formally joined, calling him a Red Tiger Society member was a stretch.
"There are circumstances, but it's not wrong."
"The Society Leader seems to have his eye on that friend."
"Jang Yu-seom?"
"He means to take him under his direct command. From what I hear, he's stronger than you."
"He could be called a first-rate master even out in the martial world. But Jang Yu-seom won't go under the Society Leader. We'll be lucky if he doesn't suffer needless humiliation."
"Humiliation?"
"If a dog tells a tiger to come under it, do you think the tiger would feel good about listening?"
* * *
He had come because the leader of the Red Tiger Society had summoned him. Still, since Jo Chi-un was the head of the underworld organization Do Tong-dal belonged to, he thought showing his face was only polite.
"This is where I work, and right now is working hours. Neither the time nor the place is appropriate. So, if you'll excuse me."
As Jang Yu-seom turned to leave, Hwang Seon-jung, who had come with Jo Chi-un, spoke.
"If that's what bothers you, you needn't worry. You'll be leaving Cheonsangru today."
"What do you mean?"
"The Society Leader has prepared a very fine position for you at headquarters. Looking into it, you simply haven't gone through the initiation ceremony, but you're practically one of our Red Tiger Society family. We can't let a capable friend like you rot away in a place like this."
"I like this place."
"You're still naive about how the world works. If you come to headquarters with us, you can live in a grand house and visit places like this as a guest every day. A paradise you've never known is waiting for you."
"It doesn't sound much like paradise."
As Jang Yu-seom turned away, Hwang Seon-jung said.
"No matter how outstanding your martial arts, an organization has hierarchy. Do you think you can stay in the Red Tiger Society while ignoring the Society Leader's words?"
"As you said with your own mouth earlier, I haven't gone through the initiation ceremony. You people didn't even know I existed. And now you want to take me? In your eyes, do I look like some mongrel that comes running and wagging its tail at a beckoning hand?"
"Look at this insolent bastard! Do you know who you're running your mouth at right now! Even if you have skill, when the Society Leader comes in person, you ought to bow until your nose touches the floor, and instead you're spouting insolence!"
In truth, Hwang Seon-jung had been inwardly displeased that Jo Chi-un wanted to bring Jang Yu-seom in.
One person treated as a master in the Red Tiger Society was enough. He didn't like sharing that honor with Jang Yu-seom.
And when Jang Yu-seom acted insolent on top of that, he had stepped forward with inward delight. Of course, he was also confident he would win if they fought.
Martial skill was always inflated by those who watched it. If Jang Yu-seom were truly the master the rumors claimed, there was no way he would be guarding a mere pleasure house.
"So?"
Jang Yu-seom's question was short. Hwang Seon-jung said to Jo Chi-un.
"If we let this insolent bastard go today, the Society Leader's dignity will fall to the ground."
Jo Chi-un had no intention of stopping Hwang Seon-jung if he insisted on fighting. In fact, he was also curious about Jang Yu-seom's skill.
"There's nothing better than growing fond of someone through a fight. Go easy on him."
Jo Chi-un would have been satisfied if Jang Yu-seom were merely as strong as Hwang Seon-jung.
'Azure Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right—they'd make a fine pair.'
"Let's go outside right now!"
Compared to Hwang Seon-jung's raised voice, Jang Yu-seom's answering tone was low.
"There's no need to go outside for someone like you."
"What? You insolent bastard!"
In forty-five years of life, he had never suffered such an insult. Hwang Seon-jung threw himself at Jang Yu-seom.
The distance was barely six ja, so his fist reached Jang Yu-seom's face in an instant.
'First strike, certain victory! You son of a bitch!'
Smack!
Hwang Seon-jung was certain he had struck Jang Yu-seom's face, but the one who felt pain was himself.
The world spun around, and his mind went hazy.
'Why?'
He never resolved the question before losing consciousness. Jang Yu-seom, having subdued Hwang Seon-jung with a single blow, turned his gaze to Jo Chi-un.
"And you?"
"Ahem!"
Jo Chi-un cleared his throat awkwardly and quietly averted his eyes.
"The Society Leader of an Underworld society can't go brawling in a pleasure house."
Jang Yu-seom let out a soft sigh.
"Looking at Squad Leader Do, I overestimated the Underworld far too much."
* * *
The proverb that birds hear the words spoken by day and mice hear the words spoken by night exists for a reason.
Jo Chi-un had ordered them to keep quiet, but word of the humiliation the Society Leader and Hwang Seon-jung had suffered at Cheonsangru reached a few ears.
Wang Chil happened to hear the news as well.
"Hah—! Couldn't he have held back a little? I don't know about Protector Hwang, but the Society Leader must have lost a lot of face."
Jo Jin-ho said.
"I don't know if the Society Leader will stay still."
Wang Chil glanced at Do Tong-dal, but his face showed no worry.
"Tong-dal, aren't you worried?"
"Who should I be worried about?"
"Who else? Jang Yu-seom."
Do Tong-dal chuckled.
"What can the Society Leader do?"
"Well... I suppose?"
Unless he brought every thug in the Red Tiger Society, Jang Yu-seom was not someone Jo Chi-un could do anything about.
Jo Jin-ho said.
"The sparks could fall on you or the boss."
"At a time like this? That would be handing the Red Tiger Society straight into the Black Dragon Society's jaws."
Jo Chi-un was in a position where even one master was sorely needed. Whatever else he lacked, Jo Chi-un was quick with calculations and would not drag the Red Tiger Society into a swamp.
"I'll make a round of the whole district and go see Jang Yu-seom."
The person most troubled by this incident was perhaps Jang Yu-seom.
"I apologize."
Sure enough, the moment he met Do Tong-dal, he apologized first.
"I should have just endured it."
"You did well."
"Pardon?"
"The promise I made when I first brought Mr. Jang here remains valid until our contract ends. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Honestly, does someone like the Society Leader even have the capacity to take you in?"
"Hearing you say that makes me more ashamed. But when does our contract end? I don't think we ever discussed the end of it."
"It will be the day I rule the nights of Hangzhou."
Jang Yu-seom's eyes glinted.
"You had such a plan?"
"If I hadn't had at least that much of a plan, I wouldn't have brought Mr. Jang here in the first place."
"Then I'm a little disappointed. They say pleasure comes after hardship, but you mean to enjoy that pleasure without me?"
"Would it turn out that way? Well, if you wish, you may stay longer. I'd welcome it."
"To rule Hangzhou, you'd have to swallow the Red Tiger Society first..."
He had no intention of hiding it from Jang Yu-seom.
"At the latest, within two years. At the earliest, within one."
"You have it all planned, Squad Leader Do?"
"It's still a half-baked plan. Full of confidence without any basis."
"You're more than capable of it, Squad Leader Do. From what I can see, even Hangzhou is too small for you."
"Then shall I rule the nights of the Central Plains?"
"Shouldn't you at least aim for that? Hahaha!"
Seon Hye-min's voice came from outside.
"May I come in?"
Seon Hye-min entered the room carrying a tray. The faint scent of tea was pleasant.
"What's making you so happy?"
Hearing Jang Yu-seom's hearty laughter for the first time in a while had lifted Seon Hye-min's mood as well.
"Just meeting Squad Leader Do is enjoyable."
Seon Hye-min playfully shot Jang Yu-seom a look.
"Should I start getting jealous?"
"Oh dear, from now on I'll have to meet Mr. Jang secretly outside. Hahaha!"
Do Tong-dal said to Seon Hye-min as she poured the tea.
"Your complexion seems much improved."
"It's thanks to you, Squad Leader Do."
"The physician in black did the treatment, so the thanks should go to the physician."
"The one who gave three nyang of silver is you, Squad Leader Do."
"The physician in black is worth the price."
Do Tong-dal lowered his voice.
"Can you two keep a secret?"
"Of course we can. What is it?"
"The truth is, the physician in black was originally an imperial physician."
Jang Yu-seom stared at Do Tong-dal for a moment, then asked, "You're joking, right?"
"A back-alley doctor who treats venereal disease was an imperial physician—of course it's hard to believe. But I swear on my name that it's true."
With Do Tong-dal going that far, there was no way not to believe him.
"Why would someone who treated the emperor in the Forbidden City come all the way here?"
"Apparently, while serving in the Forbidden City, the physician became involved with a palace maid. Well, even without hearing the details, you can guess the rest."
Every woman inside the Forbidden City belonged to the emperor, even if she had never received a single glance from him. If he had become romantically involved with such a woman, it was a wonder he had kept his life.
Jang Yu-seom asked.
"It's clearly something no one but the person involved knows. How did you come to know it, Squad Leader Do?"
It would come to light about ten years later, and the physician in black would become a favorite drinking-story topic for a while.
"I have my ways."
Jang Yu-seom and Seon Hye-min did not pry any further.
"Since you're being treated by an imperial physician, you'll recover soon."
The reason Do Tong-dal had deliberately revealed the physician in black's identity was that he wanted to tell Seon Hye-min this.
A patient's positive state of mind is the best medicine of all for healing.
* * *