Ripples (2)
From morning, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office had been buzzing.
"Yoo Su-hon! Where the hell is Yoo Su-hon!"
Chief Prosecutor Yang Jumun stalked the hallway, bellowing at the top of his lungs.
Yoo Su-hon of Criminal Division 1 at the prosecutors' office—this year’s model prosecutor—came walking down the opposite corridor, talking on the phone.
"Chairman Kim. I really ate too well today. Honestly, I feel bad getting treated every single time—what am I supposed to do about it? Ah, tomorrow’s golf? Of course. After that, how about the place we went last time? The girls there were so young and pretty..."
The easygoing Yoo Su-hon suddenly flinched and stopped in his tracks.
In his field of vision, Yang Jumun was storming toward him with blazing eyes, his face twisted in anger, shouting Yoo Su-hon’s name like a madman.
"Chairman Kim. I’ll call you back in a bit."
Yoo Su-hon straightened his tie and hurriedly put on an act, pretending to jog.
"Huff. Haaah. Did you call for me?"
"You little bastard. Where the hell were you hiding all this time?"
He had been on his way back from a meal appointment.
From a high-end sushi restaurant where a single person’s bill could easily run into the hundreds of thousands of won.
"I was making a firsthand site inspection for the sake of the investigation...."
"Bullshit. Come with me."
"Aaagh!"
Yang Jumun yanked Yoo Su-hon by the ear and dragged him off somewhere.
The two of them headed for a conference room.
Only then did Yang Jumun let go of Yoo Su-hon’s ear, lock the door, and lower the blinds.
It was now a sealed room no one from outside could see into.
Yoo Su-hon looked around.
"Chief. What’s going on?"
"How’s the thing I told you to do coming along?"
"Ah, that?"
Yang Jumun’s order had been this: find a way, through Gyeongso Daejeon, to weaken the power of police officers who had colluded with villains.
Yoo Su-hon scratched his head.
"Didn’t the whole thing turn into a total shitshow before I even had a chance to do anything?"
Including the police commissioner, six high-ranking officials had been relieved of duty.
They had technically resigned on their own, but in truth, it was more accurate to say they had been forced out.
The president had issued a statement and sharply condemned the police for their long-standing corruption.
As a result, public fury naturally turned toward Seoul police commissioner Park Nam-yong.
Unable to withstand the storm of criticism, Park Nam-yong resigned from the police, citing a sense of responsibility.
"Don’t feed me that shit. Do you even know what that word means when you use it?"
"What, some Buddhist term?"
"You little punk. Your brain always gets brilliant in the dumbest places. Anyway, you’re just going to sit on your hands and do nothing?"
Yoo Su-hon pouted.
By now that should’ve been enough. What more am I supposed to do?
Yang Jumun raised his voice.
"I told you, a chance is only a chance because it doesn’t come easy!"
By then, Yoo Su-hon had already shifted gears.
"Yes, sir! That’s right, Chief. What do you need me to do? Just give the word."
Yang Jumun set a stack of documents down on the desk.
"This came from the Blue House. Have you read it?"
It was a request for cooperation from Jeong Jin-ong, the presidential chief of staff.
Now, with public trust in the police in the gutter, the contents were simple: the prosecutors were to step up, work with hunters, and wipe out the villains in one sweep.
Yoo Su-hon flipped through the pages.
"Yeah.... I saw it, but do we really have any reason to do what the Blue House tells us?"
"Jeong Jin-ong’s still connected to us, isn’t he? We help each other out."
For the record, presidential chief of staff Jeong Jin-ong had come from the prosecutors’ office.
The prosecutors and the Blue House were usually in a constant state of mutual check and balance, but this time they had decided to enter a honeymoon period.
"We’ve decided to put together a special investigative team. Hunters brought onto the team will also be given investigative authority and arrest powers."
"Wow. That’s pretty bold. So who are we pairing up with?"
"We don’t need many. All we really need is a face."
Putting a hunter on the prosecutors’ team was, at the end of the day, just a matter of legitimacy.
The goal of this operation was clear.
To leave the public with one undeniable impression.
It boiled down to a single line.
Unlike the corrupt police, the prosecutors are righteous!
Yang Jumun slid a row of photos across the desk.
"Pick just one from here."
The faces of the representatives of Korea’s three great guilds were lined up before him.
Heo Jin-o, Bongseon of Jincheon.
Shin Hyunseung, Vulkan of Superior.
And Na Sang-min of the Dio Guild.
Every one of them was an S-class hunter.
There was no doubt about their ability.
"Who do you like?"
"Hm."
Yoo Su-hon studied the photos one by one.
"If you want hot-blooded energy, Bongseon’s the one. If you want something more gentle and refined, Vulkan’s better. Narak... let’s leave Na Sang-min out."
"Yeah, that mad dog wouldn’t let us control him."
Yoo Su-hon clicked his tongue.
"But, I don’t know."
"What is it?"
"Isn’t the script a little too obvious? The prosecutors playing lackey to an S-class hunter... that’s not exactly flattering. We won’t get any chance to shine."
"Hmm."
Yang Jumun nodded slowly.
That did make sense.
"Any other candidates?"
"There are."
Yang Jumun shook the photos out of a file folder.
The desk was soon covered in hunters’ faces.
It was a list of B-class and higher hunters, handpicked from guilds across the board.
"Then narrow it down."
"Yes, sir."
Yoo Su-hon pulled out a pen and began sliding photos aside one by one.
"Let’s see. Good enough looks, no criminal record, likable, and a public image that plays well with the masses..."
Using elimination, the pool of candidates narrowed quickly.
Only four people remained.
Yoo Su-hon picked up one of the photos.
"This guy’s perfect."
Yang Jumun took the photo and looked it over.
"Hm. Isn’t his rank a little low?"
"It is. But rumors say he was outstanding in Busan. Supposedly he was on par with an S-class hunter, or something like that. And..."
Yoo Su-hon lowered his voice.
"If he dies during the operation, that’s not necessarily a bad thing either. It’d be martyrdom, wouldn’t it? Our image would get washed clean automatically."
"Heh."
Yang Jumun patted Yoo Su-hon on the shoulder.
"You little shit. That’s why I can’t bring myself to push you away."
"Come on, why would you push me away? You and I have to go all the way together, Chief!"
Watching the sly grin on Yoo Su-hon’s face, Yang Jumun fell into thought.
Asari wasn’t profanity.
In Buddhism, it referred to a monk who guided his disciples correctly.
"Good. Then..."
Yang Jumun held up the photo and gave it a little flap.
"This guy is the asari for this round."
"Cut! NG!"
The director stepped in and shook his head.
Bright lights. Several cameras.
Three men were gathered around a dining table.
Na Sang-min, Lee Ji-jun, and me.
Just the three of us.
The director went on.
"The key to a mukbang is eating in a way that looks delicious. Please try to look as happy and as pleased as possible, all right? Okay, then, let’s do that again. Ready?"
This was a studio inside the Dio Guild.
The publicity team had set the filming date.
Na Sang-min grumbled under his breath.
"Do we really have to go this far?"
Lee Ji-jun, standing beside him, let out a long sigh.
"I’ve lived long enough to eat all kinds of things... and this is definitely one of them."
What was piled high on the tray before us wasn’t mouthwatering food.
It was a riot of colorful flowers.
This was how it had happened.
I was supporting the tuition of the children at Gratitude Orphanage every month.
Recently, in addition to helping deliver coal briquettes, I had also treated the firefighters of the Seoul area, including those at Gwanghwamun, to a buffet spread worth five hundred servings.
The reporters had rushed to cover my good deeds.
It hadn’t been something I’d done to attract attention.
I had seen the firefighters’ hard work at the battery fire scene, and I’d wanted to help them at least a little.
Anyway, I had also given the children at Gratitude Orphanage, which I supported every month, toys and flower bouquets.
Then I happened to learn that the flower market was having a rough time lately.
What could be done to encourage people to spend more on flowers?
The answer I came up with was...
"Ready. Action!"
Someone had to take the lead first.
I boldly picked up a purple edible flower and crunched into it.
Na Sang-min and Lee Ji-jun stared at me blankly as if they’d just seen a ghost.
"I-Is it good?"
"You’re really making flowers look appetizing."
Wiping a petal from the corner of my mouth, I said, "It’s edible."
Na Sang-min and Lee Ji-jun reluctantly picked up their spoons.
"It’s not bad with the bibimbap."
"It actually goes well with the yukhoe and salmon."
The two of them, who had been grumbling just moments before, took a bite or two and naturally became absorbed in the filming.
Lee Ji-jun aside, why was Na Sang-min—the mad dog of the Dio Guild—so obedient?
Probably because he’d felt his popularity for himself.
Lee Ji-jun, being handsome, had always had plenty of fans.
Na Sang-min, on the other hand, had once had ten million antis.
But that was old news now.
Ever since he appeared at the press conference after the Dirty Kraken incident, Na Sang-min’s popularity had kept climbing.
By now he had a surprisingly solid fan base, and he’d turned public opinion in his favor.
He was especially popular with big, macho men.
It was common for men to stop him on the street and ask to take photos or request autographs.
And, I’d heard, on rare occasions...
Even gorgeous women sent him DMs.
I smirked at Na Sang-min.
"How about you, Hunter Na?"
"You making fun of me? This tastes like absolute sh—"
Na Sang-min, about to swear as usual, seemed to notice the camera and shut his mouth.
This video was rated for all ages, so children would be watching it too.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. It tastes great! Bitter, like perilla leaves. Marigolds are rich in vitamins and have anti-inflammatory effects, you know? It’s basically a natural healer. Right, Ji-jun?"
"Y-Yes, of course. Edible flowers help with digestion and are good for your skin too. Ha. Ha. Ha."
Na Sang-min and Lee Ji-jun chewed through the script like they were reading a grammar textbook.
"Okay. Cut! That’s enough."
As soon as the director gave the signal, Na Sang-min shot to his feet.
"Ugh. Ptooey! I feel like I’ve turned into a damn cow from eating nothing but grass."
Lee Ji-jun let out a long breath too.
"I really am not cut out for vegetarian food. I want beef."
I thanked the two men for putting up with the shoot.
"I’ll buy the beef. Thanks for all your hard work, both of you. I know this probably wasn’t something you wanted to do."
Na Sang-min went dead serious.
"Wasn’t what? This helps save the flower farms, doesn’t it? Supporting each other is basic hunter philosophy, you punk."
Lee Ji-jun chimed in as well.
"This was your new guild leader’s idea, right? Pretty original plan. I liked it. Call me again if you ever need me."
I watched the two of them walk away side by side.
It felt strangely moving.
The Dio Guild, once a den of criminals and a garbage dump of human beings...
It really is being cleansed.
"Choi Yongki. Aren’t you coming? You said you were buying the beef. Hey, Ji-jun! Where’s good?"
"Let’s go somewhere expensive enough to hurt. Let’s strip that bastard Choi Yongki clean."
"Sounds good."
I was smiling to myself as I left the filming studio when...
"Good afternoon."
Someone stepped into my path.
It was a man in a dark blue suit, his hair slicked back with pomade.
"I’m Prosecutor Yoo Su-hon of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office."
He handed me his business card.
"Typhon. You are Hunter Choi Yongki, correct?"
"I am."
"Would you spare me a moment? I have something to discuss."
Yoo Su-hon smiled slimily, baring his white teeth.
Na Sang-min and Lee Ji-jun were already moving away down the far end of the hallway.
"I have an appointment."
I ignored him and kept walking.
"Oh? Uh—wait, just a second."
Yoo Su-hon hurried after me and caught my arm.
"This is important."
"So is my appointment. I can't help it."
I kept walking without stopping.
Yoo Su-hon chased after me, his voice turning urgent.
"This concerns the Dark Alliance. Not long ago, the villain boss Black Bear was murdered."
I stopped.
Since Gyeongso Daejeon, there was something I had to do.
Revenge on the villain who had killed my younger brother.
"I need to discuss something in connection with that."
"I’m on my way to eat. You can talk there."
"Eat? What’s the menu?"
"Beef."
"Oh, beef is great. Then I’ll tag along."
Yoo Su-hon gave a slick smile.
"Where are you going? Imperial Cow? Royal Steak? Gold Dining? Sorry to have you treating me when we’ve just met. Haha!"
He rattled off the names of several famous Gangnam beef restaurants in sequence.
What a joke.
This time around, I’d decided to keep my principles and never bow my head to anyone.
Villain, prosecutor, president—
I didn’t care who it was, even if the whole world showed up.
"Since you stole my time."
I pointed at Yoo Su-hon with my index finger.
"You’re paying."