Image Management
That evening, Jaehyuk returned home after school. “I’m back.”
“Jaehyuk, you’re home?”
The moment he stepped through the front door, a rich, slightly savory aroma tickled his nose. His mother, Han Sejin, emerged from the kitchen with a warm smile to greet her son.
“What’s for dinner tonight? Smells like doenjang jjigae…”
“I’m making your favorite—beef brisket doenjang jjigae.”
“Oh, nice… You got off work early today, though?”
“The workload was light, so I finished early.”
“What about Dahyun?”
“She went to karaoke with her friends and just got back. I’m not sure what she’s up to now…”
Jaehyuk glanced toward Dahyun’s closed door and smiled faintly. Whatever she was doing, it was far better than the sight of his sister lying comatose like a vegetable in their previous life.
“Well, it’s her life. She’ll figure it out.”
Even as he said it, Jaehyuk couldn’t help worrying about Dahyun’s plan to attend the Giant Night concert with Suyeon that weekend. He didn’t think the Burning Island cartel would target her, yet an inexplicable unease kept creeping into his chest.
Just then, his phone rang. The caller was Min Taeseok, the violent crimes detective and his close older brother figure.
“Hey, hyung.”
“School over? Let’s hang out for once, kid.”
“Right now?”
“Ah, did you eat dinner yet? If not, eat first. I saw your mom at work earlier—she said she got off early today. She’s making something good, right?”
“Yeah… Okay. See you later.”
“Sounds good. Eat well and meet me at the high-end PC bang later.”
Jaehyuk hung up. Sejin looked at him. “Taeseok?”
“Yeah. He wants to hang out after dinner.”
At that moment, Dahyun emerged from her room. “Mom, is dinner ready? Oh—when did you get home?”
“Just now. I’m heading out again later anyway.”
“Going to meet Taeseok oppa? You’re probably playing Guardians together.”
“How did you know…?”
“Just a guess, but looks like I was right?”
Sejin set the dishes on the table and spoke to her children. “Let’s get ready to eat.”
The siblings helped their mother finish setting the table and sat down together for dinner. If only Uncle were here with us too…
The thought made Jaehyuk’s eyes sting. He fought back the tears in front of his family. No. Don’t think weak thoughts. There could be far harder things ahead. I can’t afford to break down now.
He looked at his mother and sister and made a firm vow. In this life, he would never lose any of the precious people in front of him.
After dinner, Jaehyuk stepped outside and walked until he reached the building housing the high-end PC bang where he was meeting Taeseok.
“Hey, kiddo!!”
Taeseok spotted him and waved brightly. Jaehyuk smiled and walked over.
“Haven’t seen you game in a while.”
“It’s been a long time.”
“I’ve been practicing tank lately. I wiped the whole team with my ultimate once, you know?”
“Wasn’t that just pure luck…?”
“Hey, come on. You’ll see later. Hyung will carry you all the way.”
They entered the PC bang, put on headsets, and started playing.
“No… Do these bastards not see the tank? Heal me, you damn idiots. Seriously…”
…Guess that team wipe really was luck.
While they were gaming, someone tapped Jaehyuk’s shoulder. He turned, still wearing his headset, and saw Lee Suyeon smiling at him. Kang Jihun stood beside her. The height difference between the petite Suyeon (mid-150s) and the tall Jihun (late-180s) made them look more like uncle and niece than a couple. Her youthful face only added to the impression.
“Who…?”
At Taeseok’s question, Jaehyuk answered, “Jeonghan’s little sister. You’ve probably seen her a few times.”
“Hmm… Ah! I remember! Lee Suyeon, right?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
Jaehyuk turned to Suyeon. “You two here to game?”
“Yeah. We’re playing LOM today, trying to hit Grandmaster.”
“Grandmaster…?”
The second-highest rank in LOM. Jaehyuk, Jihun, and Taeseok all stared at her with wide eyes.
Suyeon’s good at games? That’s an unexpected talent.
“Let’s sit here, behind Jaehyuk oppa’s group.”
“Sure.”
After a few more matches, Jaehyuk took off his headset and turned to Taeseok. “Let’s take a short break.”
“Yeah. My eyes are starting to hurt—must be getting old.”
…You’re not even thirty yet.
Jaehyuk watched Taeseok massage his eyelids, then glanced behind him at Jihun and Suyeon still deep in their game. Suddenly Suyeon’s character died. She looked furious for a split second.
“These damn—!!”
She caught herself, glancing around as if worried someone might hear, and quickly softened her voice. “…How are you even aiming? The game is… honestly…”
Jihun kept playing and spoke without looking away from his screen. “Suyeon-ah, you can swear if you want. It helps relieve stress when you’re mad.”
“Huh? No, it wasn’t that bad. Haha… Should we play Guardians after this round? You’ve probably built up some stress too, oppa. Let’s switch games and unwind.”
Huh…? When she plays with me, “fuck” and “bastard” are basically passives. Don’t tell me…?
Jaehyuk looked at the backs of Suyeon and Jihun. Maybe she actually likes him? Trying this hard to manage her image…
Just as he was about to put his headset back on, Taeseok pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the pair and asked in a low voice, “Are those two dating?”
“Dating? Hmm… I think they’re still in the talking stage.”
“Still just talking, huh… Man, must be nice. But they say the weather’s warming up, so why does my side feel so cold?”
Probably not as cold as mine—died a kissless virgin at thirty.
Jaehyuk gave Taeseok a wry smile. The four of them continued gaming and enjoyed the evening.
Two days later, just before dawn, at the Incheon branch of Crown Hotel.
Three Mercedes-Maybach S600s pulled up in front of the hotel. The driver of the middle car stepped out in a black suit, opened the rear door, and Kang Jiyong emerged slowly, wearing a navy coat over a black suit. Bodyguards from the lead and trailing cars got out to escort him. A massive man who had exited the front car’s rear seat took his place at Jiyong’s side.
“Where’s the guest from Jawolbang?”
“He arrived a moment ago and is waiting in Room 1012.”
Kang Jiyong’s Bodyguard Chief. Standing nearly 190 cm tall with a bodybuilder’s broad shoulders and thick, powerful arms and thighs, his suit jacket and trousers looked ready to burst at the seams.
Jiyong and his bodyguards entered the hotel. Dongseok gave orders to his men. “Five of you stay on the first floor. Report anything suspicious to me immediately.”
“Understood, Chief.”
The rest of the bodyguards, along with Dongseok and Jiyong, took the elevator to the tenth floor and headed for Room 1012. Dongseok knocked and spoke in Chinese. “{Chairman Kang Jiyong has arrived.}”
“Understood.”
A Korean voice answered from inside. Dongseok stepped back. The door opened, revealing Ryu Baikhan. He greeted Jiyong with polite respect. “It’s an honor to meet you. I am Ryu Baikhan of Jawolbang.”
“Kang Jiyong of Crown Holdings.”
When Jiyong extended his hand, Ryu Baikhan bowed slightly and shook it respectfully. “I didn’t expect the chairman himself to come.”
“It’s an important matter. I need to hear it and decide personally.”
Jiyong sat on one of the single sofas. Dongseok and two bodyguards positioned themselves behind him. Once Ryu Baikhan was seated, Jiyong spoke. “I heard from our people that you’re planning to go to war with Honglyeonbang soon.”
“That’s correct. We’re fully prepared.”
“If we strike their businesses here while you attack them, we could certainly crush Honglyeonbang. But I have two questions.”
Ryu Baikhan raised an eyebrow. Jiyong continued. “First, what exactly do you want from Gangryonghoe in exchange for all this? Second, I’ve heard your forces are roughly equal to Honglyeonbang’s. What guarantee do we have that you can actually bring them down?”
Jiyong’s skeptical tone made Dongseok narrow his eyes at Ryu Baikhan in agreement. After a brief silence, Ryu Baikhan answered. “We want the same business rights in Korea that Honglyeonbang received when they first arrived. More precisely, we plan to take over and operate their existing businesses. Of course, we’ll pay tribute—fifteen percent of profits earned in Korea.”
“Fifteen percent… Honglyeonbang agreed to twenty.”
“In return, we’ll provide three Southeast Asian routes for Colombian cocaine. That should bring Gangryonghoe more revenue than the deal with Honglyeonbang.”
“And what’s your proof you can definitely defeat them?”
“…Honestly, defeating Honglyeonbang with only our own forces would be difficult. But if the Russian Komarov Bratva provides support, it’s a different story.”
What…? They’ve secured backing from those giants?
Surprised by the unexpected information, Jiyong raised an eyebrow. The Komarov Bratva was a massive Red Mafia syndicate with influence not only across Russia’s underworld but also parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Rumors even claimed they trafficked biochemical and nuclear weapons.
“Komarov has promised us funding, weapons, and manpower. With their support, crushing Honglyeonbang will be easy.”
Ryu Baikhan crossed his legs in an almost arrogant posture and added, “And just in case you’re worried we might break our promises like Honglyeonbang did—don’t. A business backed by such powerful figures wouldn’t dare speak with two mouths.”
Though his lips smiled, the words carried an implicit threat: We’ll keep our end of the deal, but if you don’t, you’ll regret it.
He’s using his connection to Komarov to gain our trust while simultaneously pressuring us. The implication is clear—Komarov stands behind them.
Jiyong leaned back, arms crossed, and studied Ryu Baikhan in silence. We’ll need to prepare countermeasures on our end soon. For now, let’s proceed with the contract.