Sudden Ambush
"President. We've finally got a lock on him."
Han Jae-min was reporting to Lee Yoo-ri.
"Oh.. You figured it out faster than I expected?"
"I happened to catch wind of a rumor about one guy, and digging deeper confirmed it—he's the one who messed with us."
"Yeah? Who is it?"
"Yes. Here's the report. Name: Cha Hyun-su. Age: 20. Korea University Business Administration student. Family: both parents alive, one sister in her first year of high school. Hometown: Taean, currently rooming alone in Seoul."
"What? 20? You're saying a kid who's barely 20 gave us this much trouble?"
At Han Jae-min's words, Lee Yoo-ri shot up from her desk.
"From what I gathered by chance, he's supposed to be a math genius. They say he's exceptional at reading charts and predicting stock trends."
"Really? Someone like that exists?"
"Yes. I heard it from a reliable source. He uses that talent to manage investments for several university professors, generating profits for them."
Lee Yoo-ri sat back down, propping her chin on her hand and lost in thought for a moment.
"Hmm..... Someone like that—we should recruit him, right?"
"I agree. Snatch him up, rough him up a bit, and he'll be putty in our hands."
"Yeah. Grab him quick. I'm curious to see his face."
"Understood."
Han Jae-min finished his report to Lee Yoo-ri and left the room.
After class, the three of us slipped out of school to grab a meal together.
"Where to?"
At my question, Soo-min said anywhere was fine.
"How about Itaewon? I know a great spot with tons of food.."
"Itaewon? I hear it's hot these days. Let's go there."
With Soo-min's agreement, we headed to Itaewon. None of us had a car yet, so subway it was.
"Maybe I should pick one up on this trip?"
"Huh? Hyun-su, you have your license?"
"Yeah. I drive well."
"Then why haven't you bought one yet? Get it now~"
"I was gonna wait till I made a bit more money..."
"Aigoo.. Are you possessed by the ghost of a broke dead guy? Buy one now. You've got the cash."
"Alright, alright~ Your nagging is the worst..."
"This?"
Soo-min's headlock came right away. It didn't hurt at all—in fact, with her breasts rubbing against my cheek, it felt great.
"Ah.. The fact that I can't move when it hits my dick is so frustrating?"
"What?!"
Soo-min squeezed my head harder. As a bit of pain kicked in, I jabbed a finger at her pussy, and she collapsed instantly. Not pussy poke, but finger poke.
"Eek! That's too much!"
"I'll let it slide today~"
"Ehh~? For real?"
Her face lit up with a grin right away— so straightforward. We messed around like that until we reached Itaewon.
Itaewon was packed with people. Who knew it was always this crowded back then.. Something I never noticed in my past life.
We pushed through the throngs in the alleys until we found a quieter one.
"A hidden gem out here?"
"Of course~ I'm a born-and-bred Yongsan local."
"Ah.. Got it~"
Soo-min and I weren't familiar with the area, so we just followed Hyun-sook's lead.
As we neared the restaurant Hyun-sook was guiding us to, some guys approached us. Six men closing in from front and back, surrounding us.
"Hey.. You Cha Hyun-su?"
A guy who screamed thug asked me.
"Yeah, and?"
"Someone wants to see you. Come with us."
"Who's that?"
"No need to know. You'll find out when you get there. Or get dragged after a beating."
Looking around, it was a deserted spot—no one to help.
Soo-min and Hyun-sook stepped in front of me.
"Who the hell are you to boss people around?"
"Cheeky bitch? Step aside, it's dangerous. You'll get hurt."
The thug gave Hyun-sook's head a light shove. Big mistake getting close to her—she'd let her guard down otherwise. In real combat, judo throws meant near-instant KOs.
She grabbed the hand shoving her head and flipped him over her shoulder.
Thud!
He hit the hard concrete and passed out cold.
"Wha.. What the?!"
As they panicked from the sudden attack, Soo-min dashed forward and front-kicked a guy's jaw. I saw teeth flying. He dropped to his knees and face-planted.
"Come on."
Soo-min beckoned them tauntingly, making them flinch. But they still had the numbers.
I pulled out my phone and dialed someone. Not the cops.
"Hey! Call more guys!"
I saw them on their phones too.
One guy swung at Soo-min, but she backstepped, then roundhouse-kicked his gut. He knelt, and she soccer-kicked his face—out like a light.
Hyun-sook advanced on them instead. They'd seen their buddy go down and backed off hesitantly.
"Just two girls. Gang 'em!"
Hyun-sook caught a punch, yanked him forward, and wrenched his arm.
"Arghhh!!!"
His scream echoed. Now only two left.
My girls can fight. I'd seen Hyun-sook get overwhelmed by Soo-min and Soo-ryun before, but she was still better than most guys. Thugs might scrap a lot, but not against a pro judoka.
Hyun-sook tossed them like ragdolls, one by one.
"Over here!!"
As we laid them out, ten more reinforcements arrived. Bigger operation than I thought.
Soo-min and Hyun-sook looked a bit winded but stuck by my side, guarding me.
"Insolent bitch! We'll drag you off and dunk you!"
With the numbers now in their favor, their confidence surged.
"Try it. If you can."
Soo-min stepped up, and they hesitated.
"Don't go one by one—rush her all at once!"
They charged without care, grabbing for Soo-min. She front-kicked the first guy's jaw, backflipped into a spinning heel kick on another. But a third tackled her waist, taking her down. The rest piled on, stomping the fallen Soo-min.
Hyun-sook rushed in, knocking some over, but Soo-min struggled to get up. Hyun-sook downed three more, but six remained. Soo-min was pinned and restrained. Hyun-sook couldn't handle six alone.
That's when it happened.
"Who let thugs into my turf?!"
A voice rang out. The person I'd called—Shim Soo-ryun. Masked, here as the Yongsan branch manager of SM Club. Itaewon was her domain. She'd agreed eagerly to my request and come to help.
Five guys with her joined us. Numbers evened out, and the brawl erupted.
Soo-ryun's crew was far superior. Soon, the enemy was on their knees.
I rushed to the downed Soo-min.
"Soo-min. You okay?"
"Ow.. Everything hurts.. Give me some TLC later.."
Still cracking jokes—good sign.
I approached one on his knees.
"Who sent you?"
No answer. Hyun-sook knee-kicked his face—nose smashed, out cold.
I went to the next.
"Who sent you?"
He flinched; Hyun-sook kneed him too.
To another:
"We're from the Seongbuk Gang."
He spilled before I asked.
"Seongbuk Gang? Why are they after me?"
"I.. I don't really kn—"
Hyun-sook's knee flew again.
"No one here knows? Gotta beat it out one by one?"
One raised his hand—our attacks were merciless.
"Seongbuk Gang just took the job. The client told us to bring Cha Hyun-su to this address."
Seoul, Seongbuk-gu, Seongbuk-dong 132-3, 4th Floor
I took the address, called the cops to haul off the Seongbuk guys, then headed out with Soo-ryun's crew.
On the way, I called one of my professor club members who was a prosecutor.
"Yes, Prosecutor. How have you been?"
"Aigoo, Cha Hyun-su. What's up?"
"Well.. This is awkward to say, but.. I almost got kidnapped."
"Kidnapped??"
"Yeah. About 16 guys tried, but luckily there were people around, so no real danger. They said they were Seongbuk Gang."
"Seongbuk? I've heard they're stirring things up lately.. You okay now?"
"Yes.. Fine. They were supposed to take me somewhere. Heading there with my guys."
"Send me the address."
"Got it. Thanks, Prosecutor."
The call with Lee Geun-ho, senior prosecutor at Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, went smoothly. Relieved, we arrived at the address—a big building.
Fourth floor, so Soo-ryun, Hyun-sook, and I took the elevator; the rest stairs. Soo-min was resting—still sore from the injuries.
The fourth floor had one office taking up the whole space.
E&F Investment Office
As we entered, a group poured out—looked like at least 20.