Monopolizing Fortunes (23)
Monopolizing Fortunes (23)
Do Tong-dal closed in on the old man's outstretched hand in a single stride. Now that he was certain who the leader was, there was no reason to waste time attacking arms and legs.
The startled men attacked Do Tong-dal as he ran toward the old man, but they couldn't stop his advance.
Do Tong-dal snatched a two-ja blade swinging down at his shoulder and slashed one man's thigh with it.
He knocked aside two more blades, and the distance to the old man shrank by another stride. The startled old man gripped the scythe handle with his left hand and swung it at Do Tong-dal.
But a polearm is worse than a club when the range closes.
Clang!
Do Tong-dal knocked away the shaft connected to the scythe with his blade, then circled behind the old man, who had fallen on his backside.
"Stop!"
By the time Do Tong-dal shouted, his blade was already pressed against the old man's throat. The butchers, who had been attacking like madmen, froze as if by magic.
"I'm fine, so kill this bastard!"
Despite the old man's shout, the butchers did not rush at Do Tong-dal. They only circled him like wolves hunting a bull.
"I can cut the old man's throat and then fight all of you again."
Do Tong-dal pulled the blade inward against the old man's neck as if he truly meant to do it. Blood welled from the old man's throat as he jerked his head back.
"Stop! Stop it!"
A middle-aged man shouted and threw his blade to the ground.
"You idiot! Pick that blade back up!"
"Father......"
"Do you want to repeat the years of having your blood sucked by Underworld vermin?! I'd rather die than that!"
They had evidently been tormented badly by the Underworld for a long time. Do Tong-dal whispered into the old man's ear.
"Let's stop the fighting here and have a talk."
"I have nothing to say to you people!"
"If you don't like our conversation, we can just fight again, can't we?"
The old man had nothing to lose in this situation. At the very least, he would be released.
"Fine. Everyone, put away your blades!"
As soon as the old man spoke, the butchers hid their blades behind their backs and withdrew.
Do Tong-dal also pulled his dagger away from the old man's neck. Just then, the squad leader who had gone to fetch physicians came running back, panting.
Behind the squad leader, who was gasping for breath, stood four physicians whose faces had gone pale from exhaustion.
Do Tong-dal spoke to one of the physicians.
"Treat this old man first."
"Your own wounds aren't light either, are they?"
"They're not serious."
He said they weren't serious, but a fair amount of blood was flowing from the gash left by the scythe. While the physician treated the shoulder where the dagger had been embedded, the old man asked.
"Are you Do Tong-dal?"
"How do you know me?"
"I heard a young fighting demon had appeared on Gwanghwa-ro. The rumors weren't exaggerated. But why are you here? This is Seo-ung Branch territory."
"I've come as the Deputy Branch Chief of Seo-ung Branch."
"A Deputy Branch Chief at your age? Even in the Underworld, a promotion is a promotion."
The old man told the physician, 'Just do a rough job for now.' Once Do Tong-dal's wounds were also treated, the two men went inside the slaughterhouse.
Inside the slaughterhouse, which spanned over two hundred pyeong, there were not only pigs and cattle but also wild game like boars and roe deer.
A small office of about three pyeong sat in the inner part of the slaughterhouse. The old man brewed tea himself and served it.
"I'm not sure there's anything for us to talk about."
The old man thought the time for conversation had passed. Do Tong-dal asked.
"How much protection money are you paying the Red Tiger Society?"
The old man grumbled, 'Protection money, when we never even asked for protection,' then spoke.
"Two nyang of silver a month. Two nyang of silver is eight months' wages for a butcher working here."
"They're charging you a lot."
"It's hard work. Anyway, if we throw away two nyang of silver a month to Underworld scum, that's that much less for our own people. I have no intention of giving the Red Tiger Society any more free money."
The old man's resolve was firm. Do Tong-dal had planned to subdue everyone and then negotiate from a position of strength, but a change of approach was unavoidable.
"What if it weren't free money?"
The old man snorted.
"You're going to make us some new enemy and then protect us from them?"
"Not a new enemy. I'll give you a new client."
"A client?"
"Wouldn't the government office be a fairly large client?"
The number of people working directly or indirectly for the government office alone reached three hundred, making it the largest single client in Hangzhou.
"But that place is locked up tight by others."
"I'll redirect it to you."
The old man shook his head.
"Not interested."
"Why? The government office is every merchant's top-priority customer."
Not just the slaughterhouse, but all merchants did.
"To get in there, we'd have to get squeezed for money again. The filthy officials will take as much as we earn, and I don't want to fatten those bastards."
"You won't have to pay bribes to the government office."
"You expect me to believe that nonsense?"
"You supply goods without any bribe conditions, and the protection money you've been paying until now goes to our Red Tiger Society. How about it?"
The new income would exceed the protection money they had paid so far, so there was no reason to refuse Do Tong-dal's offer.
"What trick are you pulling? The Underworld would never offer such good terms."
"We get our protection money without conflict, and what does it matter to us which slaughterhouse supplies the government office?"
Hearing that, it did make sense.
"The bribes going into the government office must be no joke. You're really saying we won't pay a single coin?"
"Of course. If my promise turns out to be false, you may pull out my guts and use them as a jump rope."
* * *
Four nyang of silver was placed on the desk.
"I collected last month's unpaid protection money too."
Jang Jeong-baek looked at Do Tong-dal with an expression that said, 'What is this guy?' He had thought it would be fortunate just to get out alive, and now he had even collected the overdue protection money?
"Good work. You can go."
After dismissing Do Tong-dal in a dry voice, Jang Jeong-baek summoned the leader of Squad 5, who had gone with him.
Goosebumps rose on his skin the entire time he listened to what had happened at the slaughterhouse.
'This guy is the real deal!'
Not only had he single-handedly subdued the butchers, who would have been difficult to suppress even with the entire Seo-ung Branch, but he had also negotiated directly with the old man in charge and collected the protection money.
'He's someone worth the Society Leader's attention. How did that Wang Chil fellow get a guy like that under him?'
For the first time, he envied Wang Chil.
'But right now, he's under me.'
The corner of Jang Jeong-baek's mouth twitched. He could take Do Tong-dal under his own wing instead of leaving him under Wang Chil.
He had told the Society Leader he would clip his wings, but a promise made with his mouth meant nothing.
"I shouldn't clip his wings. I should make him one of mine."
* * *
The Gangseon Merchant Company was one of the three wealthiest houses in Hangzhou. As such, Bae Dong-cheol, the Second Hall Master of the Gangseon Merchant Company, was a man who usually carried himself with considerable pride.
But today, he had to bow his head to a mere eighteen-year-old, and an Underworld lowlife at that.
"Please take good care of me."
He was thankful that they were alone on the second floor of the teahouse. Do Tong-dal casually checked the promissory note placed on the table.
'One hundred nyang of silver.'
It was a fortune. But if what the Gangseon Merchant Company wanted was the mining development rights, it was by no means a satisfactory amount.
"You must have a lot of places to spread money around, right?"
Bae Dong-cheol answered while thinking, 'He's an Underworld thug, so he doesn't know how to speak indirectly.'
"I am working on it."
He didn't like having to bow his head to a young Underworld insect, but this mining development matter was too important, so he had no choice.
If only Do Tong-dal weren't the only path to the county magistrate, he wouldn't have to suffer this humiliation.
Slide.
The envelope containing the promissory note was pushed back toward Bae Dong-cheol.
"Your efforts seem insufficient. And you're not making those efforts alone, are you?"
"What do you mean by......?"
Do Tong-dal grinned.
"You know exactly what I mean. Competitors exist everywhere, and the competition for this mining development will likely be fierce."
Do Tong-dal knew nothing about mining development. But flies were bound to swarm where a fortune was at stake.
The Gangseon Merchant Company was the first to approach, but others would soon come to meet him as well. So there was no need to rush into accepting a bribe.
"Oh dear, I've made a mistake. This is a separate gift for you, Squad Leader. I should have presented them together."
He had intended not to give it if possible, but since Do Tong-dal was acting this way, he had no choice. However, Do Tong-dal didn't even check the contents of the envelope.
"It seems your information about me was a bit lacking. I don't take bribes separately."
With those words, Do Tong-dal stood up.
"You probably don't have much time."
* * *
Jang Jeong-baek burst out in frustration.
"You stupid fool! You're going to ruin your life over some whore!"
His mother, Geum Geum-bun, who was sitting across from him, chimed in for the moment.
"That's what I'm saying. That bitch seduced our So-baek, and now this mess has happened. What are we going to do? We can't let a lowborn wench ruin your brother's life. Do something about it."
"It's not an easy matter, even for me."
His younger brother, Jang So-baek, had beaten the prostitute so badly it was a miracle she hadn't died. He had even blinded her in one eye, so it wasn't something that could simply be overlooked.
"I can't stand to see your brother suffer in prison."
"I'll look for a way, so please go home."
His mother cursed the prostitute for a while, begged him to get his brother out no matter what, and then went home.
"That bastard finally caused a major incident."
Jang So-baek was the type who was normally quiet but turned into a complete animal the moment he drank.
They had somehow managed to smooth over more than ten assault cases so far, but the damage in this one was too severe.
'Could Tong-dal perhaps resolve this?'
Do Tong-dal had proven he had connections with the county magistrate during the fight with the Black Dragon Society.
"Hey! Is anyone out there! Go and bring the Deputy Branch Chief!"
* * *
The doors of the government office were always open to Do Tong-dal. He had sometimes waited due to work, but he had never failed to meet Yang Su-pan.
That day as well, after waiting for about one ke, Yang Su-pan came in.
"You look tired."
"If I'd known the county magistrate's job had this much work, I would never have come to Hangzhou."
"Just take it easy like the other county magistrates."
"I am taking it easy. Damn it, I can't even properly enjoy the taste of Hangzhou, the earthly paradise."
"Let me treat you to that famous Sagiju sometime."
"When is 'sometime'? I really hate vague talk like that. If it's today, say today. If it's a year from now, say a year from now."
"Then shall we make it today?"
"Heh heh heh...... My mouth is already watering. But what brings you here today? You're a nasty friend who never shows his face unless he has business."
"I came to ask for a favor without a bribe."
"A request with no compensation...... I don't like it. What is it?"
"There's a man named Jang So-baek. The one who beat a woman nearly to death."
"I know of him. He has quite the record. I was just thinking about cutting off his member and hanging it in the marketplace."
It was a joke, but he did intend to impose a punishment to match the crime.
"Release him."
Yang Su-pan's eyebrows shot up.
"What?"
"Jang So-baek is the younger brother of the Branch Chief of Seo-ung Branch, where I am stationed."
"So you want me to release a man who did that to a woman, not some petty thief? Have I been misjudging you all this time?"
"You said you'd cut off his member and hang it in the marketplace, right? I'll do that. But right now, I need to get in the Branch Chief's good graces."
"You're asking me to hand a criminal over to vigilantes instead of the law?"
"In truth, if this goes through the law, Jang So-baek will serve at most one year. Petitions will pour in from all sides, and the woman he beat will be publicly shamed. To cut off his member and hang it in the marketplace, you would have to ignore all procedures. Are you willing to do that?"
"At the very least, I'll make him spend money."
"He'll spend money and receive punishment."
Yang Su-pan asked with a serious expression.
"Can you be a proper vigilante?"
"He'll receive the maximum sentence."
"And squeeze out as much money as possible."
"Understood."
"What time shall we drink Sagiju today?"
"Come to Cheonsangru after work. I'll have it prepared."
* * *
"Five nyang of silver?"
"No matter how close I am to the county magistrate, I can't get your brother out with empty words."
That was only natural, and in truth, five nyang wasn't that expensive. The Criminal Affairs Bureau, which handled criminal cases, had initially asked for ten nyang.
And that wasn't even the price of release. They had only offered to reduce his sentence as much as possible, down to three years.
There was room for negotiation, but no one could ever offer terms better than Do Tong-dal's.
"Understood. I'll prepare it."
If he told his mother, she could arrange that amount at any time.
"I've arranged to have a drink with the county magistrate tonight, so it would be best to have it ready by then. Then he can be released tomorrow."
"That quickly?"
"Whatever the job, it must be done quickly and accurately."
He truly was a likable fellow.
* * *