Monopolizing Fortunes (17)
Monopolizing Fortunes (17)
"Yes. If anything comes up, contact me anytime. Sell lots."
The restaurant owner kept saying, "Yes, yes," but couldn't hide his bewilderment. Thanks to Do Tong-dal, he had learned for the first time that a thug could be kind.
'What are those bastards scheming?'
He was certain they meant to squeeze more money out of him, so he had braced himself for it.
But the merchants on Seonhwa Road who paid protection money saw the same unchanging Do Tong-dal day after day.
He dealt with troublemakers, of course, and sometimes even mediated disputes between the merchants themselves. For the first time, they could feel why they paid protection money.
So someone asked. Why had he changed so much? They asked while bracing for a beating.
What came back was a friendly answer full of smiles.
"You're the people who put food on our table, so of course we should help you kindly."
Do Tong-dal slowly built trust with the residents like that. The Underworld must not remain a vague object of fear.
Just as the emperor valued the hearts of the people, the Underworld also needed bonds with the residents to rule the night.
It was a lesson he had learned living sixty years in his past life. Fear was most effective only when used exactly where and when it was needed.
"Squad Leader Do! Squad Leader Do!"
It was Hwangbo Yang, a member of Squad 5.
"Big trouble! The government office is arresting our people!"
"The government office? Why?"
"They've charged them with murder, assault, battery, and the like, but nothing like this has ever happened before!"
Because there were so many entertainment districts, Hangzhou had more Underworld fights than other regions.
If the law were enforced to the letter, the government jail would burst at the seams, and no official was willing to risk danger by hauling in thugs.
The under-the-table money the Underworld slipped them was decent, so as long as ordinary citizens weren't hurt, the government looked the other way.
And now, all of a sudden, they were enforcing the law?
"How many were taken?"
"Over forty, and Protector Hwang Seon-jung was dragged off too."
Because clashes with the Black Dragon Society had broken out here and there lately, the number taken was high.
"Is the Society Leader safe?"
"Yes. They say the official bastards came to arrest him, took money, and left."
'Even if there were minor scuffles, the big fight is already over, so why are they making arrests now?'
Hwangbo Yang chased after Do Tong-dal's quick steps and spoke.
"I overheard what the officials were saying. They say it's a special order from the new magistrate."
"The new magistrate?"
"Yes. But it's probably a lie to squeeze out more money. How long has the magistrate been in office? Why would he create such a headache?"
"Any of our Baekdong Branch people taken?"
"None."
"Not a single one?"
"No. The officials didn't even come near this area."
"As expected."
"Huh? Do you have some idea what's going on?"
"Let's head back to the branch first."
The Baekdong Branch was bustling with thugs who had returned after hearing the news of the arrests.
When they went up to the second floor, Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho were in the middle of a serious conversation.
"Tong-dal! You're safe!"
Wang Chil let out a sigh of relief.
"Boss, come with me to the government office."
"The—the government office? To turn ourselves in or something?"
Wang Chil instinctively feared the government office. He was a thug to the bone, after all.
"We'll talk on the way. Oh! Jin-ho, you come too."
"M—me too?"
Jo Jin-ho was also a thug to the bone.
"It'd be good to get acquainted with the magistrate while we have the chance."
The two men, who had been following Do Tong-dal down the stairs, turned to stone.
"The mag—magistrate?"
"The new magistrate. Hurry up."
They quickened their pace to catch up with Do Tong-dal, who was hurrying off.
"How can thugs like us meet such an exalted person! He wouldn't even meet the Underworld Society Leader!"
"He'll meet me, so don't worry."
Wang Chil muttered.
"If he meets you, that's what worries me more."
The magistrate was the absolute ruler of Hangzhou's daytime. Just hearing they were going to meet such a lofty figure made cold sweat run down their backs.
Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho glanced sidelong at Do Tong-dal. His face looked the same as always.
'How the hell is this guy going to meet the magistrate?'
Considering what Do Tong-dal had done so far, it probably wasn't bluster. The two men followed Do Tong-dal to the government office like cattle being led to the slaughterhouse.
Two officials holding spears guarded the main gate of the government office. When asked what business they had, Do Tong-dal answered.
"I've come to see the magistrate."
The official looked back and forth between the fidgeting Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho and the confident Do Tong-dal, then let out a snicker.
"I'm thinking of going to the Forbidden City tomorrow to meet His Majesty the Emperor myself. If you want to meet someone, you just meet them—that's how it is with lofty elders."
"Go and tell him Do Tong-dal has come to see him."
"This brat doesn't understand words. Do you think the magistrate is some restaurant owner? If you want an audience, you give notice first, get permission, and then come on the appointed day!"
"Are you confident you won't regret this?"
"Wh—what?"
"Do you want to lose that piddling post of yours?"
Of course, the official wouldn't actually be dismissed for failing to relay the message, but Do Tong-dal was confident enough to rattle him.
"I'll give you half a ke."
When the two officials just exchanged glances, Do Tong-dal urged them on by saying, "Half a ke isn't that long."
One of the officials dashed inside. Strong against the weak and weak against the strong seemed to be the nature of low-ranking officials.
About half a ke later, the official who had gone inside came back out.
"Please come in. I've received orders from the magistrate to escort you courteously."
Do Tong-dal followed the official as if it were only natural, but Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho were stunned.
They had been on pins and needles thinking they might be flogged, and now they were told to be escorted courteously? Directly by order of the magistrate himself?
"Tong-dal, what's going on? Nothing bad's really going to happen, right?"
"There had better be something. We have to get our people out, don't we?"
"C—can you really do that?"
"If I didn't think I could, I wouldn't have come in the first place."
To Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho, it seemed as if Do Tong-dal were working magic. Yang Su-pan greeted them with a smiling face.
"Welcome. You came sooner than I expected."
"I'm on the quick-witted side."
"I like quick-witted people. Saves me from having to say much. But the two on either side of you are...?"
"They're two senior men I serve under."
"I see. Have a seat for now."
In the center of the room stood a round table with four chairs. When Yang Su-pan sat, Do Tong-dal took the seat across from him, while Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho stood meekly behind Do Tong-dal.
"What are you two doing? Sit down."
"Huh? W—we're comfortable standing here."
Jo Jin-ho nodded in agreement with Wang Chil's words.
"Right. We prefer standing."
"Sit down. He's not the emperor—why be scared of a mere magistrate?"
At the words "mere magistrate," Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho felt as if their souls were leaving their bodies.
"Y—you brat, in front of His Honor the magistrate, wh—what kind of insolence is that?"
Wang Chil, who had scolded Do Tong-dal, turned to Yang Su-pan with a groveling smile.
"Th—this kid is still young and doesn't know how the world works. Please, Your Honor, be magnanimous and forgive him."
But Yang Su-pan, who had become a mere magistrate, showed no sign of displeasure.
"Squad Leader Do hasn't said anything wrong."
"Of course not. You're a magistrate now, but you're not someone who'll stay a mere magistrate forever."
Yang Su-pan let out a laugh.
"Heh heh heh... You flatter with class, too."
Yang Su-pan gestured to the two standing men.
"If you stand, it makes me uncomfortable too, so sit."
Wang Chil, who had been gauging the situation, sat down with a "To hell with it!" expression. Jo Jin-ho also reluctantly took a seat. Both perched just the edge of their backsides on the chairs, looking as if standing would be more comfortable.
Yang Su-pan asked.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Release our people."
"Our people? You mean the Red Tiger Society thugs?"
"I'll settle the life debt."
"I'm offended that my life seems to be worth only a few months of jail time for some thugs."
"To me, a few months of jail time for my people is more important than Your Honor's life."
"Can't you act like a thug?"
"How could an ordinary thug become Your Honor's business partner?"
"A thug becoming the magistrate's business partner? Depending on how one hears it, that's a dangerous statement."
"Whatever name you put on it, that's the essence. Calling shit a rose doesn't make the stink go away."
When Yang Su-pan fell silent, Do Tong-dal continued.
"If you don't like the business partner, you can refuse. But I guarantee you'll have a hard time finding a better partner than me."
Do Tong-dal stood without waiting for Yang Su-pan's permission.
"It would be proper to give you time to think. Then I'll be taking our people with me."
Wang Chil and Jo Jin-ho sprang up like coiled springs. As Do Tong-dal was about to bow and leave, Yang Su-pan asked.
"Do you think you're qualified enough to be my partner?"
"That's for Your Honor to judge."
Once out of the room, Do Tong-dal let out a deep breath inwardly. Even for him, treating the magistrate this way was not easy.
But if he went in with a submissive posture from the start, he would only be ordered around like a subordinate while still having to pay bribes.
That was how all the thugs who had bribed officials so far had ended up. He didn't want to become an idiot who paid and was still looked down on.
Of course, he had to pay. It was just that the Underworld needed to receive something in return, not merely have crimes overlooked.
Do Tong-dal was taking a gamble to create a give-and-take relationship. If Yang Su-pan were like any other official, Do Tong-dal's nerve would do more harm than good.
'I'll find out soon enough.'
They moved toward the jail building. Wang Chil, who was following, asked in a low voice.
"What's this life debt you mentioned earlier?"
"I happened to save the magistrate's life once before."
Do Tong-dal told them about what had happened back then. Aside from the word "happened," there was no lie.
"So that's why you came here with such nerve? But will the magistrate really release the people who were locked up?"
"Not all of them."
"Then?"
"Only the Red Tiger Society people. That's the deal."
They had almost reached the building where the jail was when a messenger rushed past them, out of breath.
"Looks like the magistrate is sending word now."
By the time the guard at the jail had finished reading the message, Do Tong-dal's group had arrived.
"You've come from the Red Tiger Society?"
"That's right."
"Wait here."
The jailer went inside.
"When our people come out, you greet them, boss."
Wang Chil was startled.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Wang Chil waved his hands in refusal.
"That's not right. It's all thanks to you—I can't steal the credit."
"You're not stealing credit; you're blocking trouble for me."
"Huh?"
"There's a saying that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. If I stand out too much, people will start keeping me in check."
"But what talent do I have to say I got them released?"
"Just say I saved the magistrate and you used that."
Since they couldn't coordinate their story with Yang Su-pan, they just had to mix truth and lies to make a plausible reason.
"No one gets jealous of someone at your level, boss."
Jo Jin-ho spoke.
"Squad Leader Do is right. To become a big shield, you need to earn big merit too. You've rescued our people from jail, so your standing within the Red Tiger Society will rise considerably."
"Well, that's true, but..."
Wang Chil felt uneasy, as if he were stealing Do Tong-dal's credit.
'Anyone else would be dying to steal the credit. Honestly. That's why he hasn't gotten ahead all this time.'
Even as he thought that, Jo Jin-ho wore a smile at the corner of his lips. That was why he liked Wang Chil.
Before even one ke had passed, the imprisoned Red Tiger Society thugs began coming out one by one.
The Black Dragon Society thugs who had been locked up with them remained in jail, so the released men wore bewildered expressions at being the only ones freed.
Do Tong-dal pushed the hesitating Wang Chil's back. So the person who greeted the first freed thug was Wang Chil.
"Branch Chief, what's going on?"
At one thug's question, Wang Chil scratched his cheek and said.
"I—I negotiated directly with His Honor the magistrate."
"What? Not even the chief clerk, but directly with His Honor the magistrate?"
"That's right. Let's hurry back."
Among the thugs swarming after Wang Chil, praise poured out that Wang Chil was amazing or highly capable.
He had often heard that he was a good person or loyal, but praise for being capable was a first.
'This is really going to give me hives.'
Wang Chil glanced at Do Tong-dal, who was following behind. The smile on his face looked like he was absolutely delighted.
'Was that brat my parent in a past life?'
* * *