Chapter14
Chapter14
Jeong Jin-woo had been walking around with a 2-trillion-won watch strapped to his left wrist.
He had thought of the broken watch as just a memento of his biological father, Jeong In-seok. But now, knowing its true value, wearing it felt like a heavy responsibility. Losing it would mean 2 trillion gone.
A certification symbolizing true superpowers?
Jeong Jin-woo examined the watch carefully, undoing the strap several times. There were no jewels, no gold or platinum decorations. It was just a hefty, ordinary broken watch—heavy enough to double as a hammer if needed. Yet, its current value was 2 trillion won.
Learning more about the watch’s history only added to the astonishment. The world’s superpowers had created a kind of fund and divided its symbolic artifacts among themselves. They had collected $2 billion in 1965. Adjusted to today, that’s roughly 40 trillion won—an enormous sum even for that time. That money had been used to run programs helping war refugees and people suffering worldwide.
‘Petty…’
The intention was noble, but 40 trillion? If twenty superpowers had pooled their funds, it should’ve been 4,000 trillion.
It was 2 p.m. in Itaewon, at Café Berber.
Jeong Jin-woo was seated, sipping coffee brewed in the North African nomadic style, watching passersby.
“Is the coffee to your liking?”
The owner, a mustached man fluent in Korean, held a necked coffee pot.
“Yes! It’s delicious.”
The coffee, brewed using hot sand and carefully roasted beans, was strong enough to verge on bitter.
“Would you like some more?”
“No, thank you.”
“If you go upstairs, you can enjoy a more flavorful Arab-style coffee.”
“No… I’m fine.”
Watching the owner’s eyes, Jeong Jin-woo noticed them flicker nervously, like a robot experiencing a bug because the scenario hadn’t unfolded as planned. Only after a subtle nod did he understand the owner’s intention.
“Upstairs, then.”
“Follow me.”
Why this secretive meeting, like a spy movie? The second floor looked like a normal café. But ascending the stairs to the third floor, a massive Arab-style tent had been set up.
“This way.”
A young man in his thirties, impeccably groomed, sat on a cushion with a tea set before him.
“Please, have a seat.”
Jin-woo dropped onto the cushion opposite him.
“Do you like mint tea?”
“Yes.”
The man poured the tea with the saucer and handed it to Jin-woo.
“I’m Jerome.”
“I see.”
“I regret your father’s passing. I am grateful for the foresight and guidance he offered over the years.”
His slightly tanned skin, jewel-like blue eyes, thick lashes—it felt like a painting had come to life.
“How do you speak Korean so well?”
“K-content is popular these days. Knowing a bit of Korean goes a long way.”
“Hmm?”
“Being here, I have to adjust to people’s tastes, know what they like, what they aspire to…”
“Oh…”
Jeong Jin-woo sipped mint tea, observing the man. Younger and far more charming than he had imagined.
“The Gold Coin project… bold and extremely risky. But I think it might become a future standard currency.”
“Yes, that’s one way to see it.”
“Many families expressed concern, but I welcomed it.”
He smiled innocently, like a child, revealing his perfect white teeth.
“If it weren’t an exceptional coin, why bother? A mediocre cryptocurrency like Bitcoin—why waste the effort?”
“Excuse me? You think Bitcoin is mediocre?”
“It’s crude. It represents the start of cryptocurrency, but its volatility makes it almost useless as a currency. In contrast… Gold Coin is a gold-backed stable coin. Brilliant. If launched, it could be added to multiple Wall Street portfolios. May I?”
“No reason to refuse.”
“Indeed… you are even more impressive than I expected.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
His mesmerizing blue eyes and the unusual mint scent made everything feel dreamlike. The man before him was Jerome Musso, representing the Rothschild family—the superpower among superpowers. He looked favorably at Jeong Jin-woo.
“I wanted to meet your father often, but I also wanted to meet you, Jeong Jin-woo. And now I understand. I have a feeling we’ll be working closely for a long time.”
“It’s an honor.”
As Jin-woo bowed slightly, Jerome extended his hand.
“I’m older, but will you be my friend?”
With such a solid background and an even warmer impression after meeting, there was no reason to refuse.
“Of course. I’m truly glad to make a good friend.”
Jin-woo shook Jerome Musso’s hand.
“This is… my personal phone number. I only give it to friends. Feel free to contact me anytime.”
He handed over a slip of paper with only a phone number—unusual for a business card.
“And… if it’s alright… I’d like to have a casual drink together, just the two of us. I want to experience Korean pork belly and soju properly.”
“Of course. I’ll treat you.”
“Then… hand over the shadows. Since yesterday, our security team has been on high alert because of them.”
“Pardon?”
Apparently, the shadows Go Yun-seok had mentioned were moving without Jin-woo even knowing. Go Yun-seok had said, “If the shadows move, problems are prevented before they arise.”
“I understand now.”
“I’ll have the security team leave as well. We can enjoy a drink like ordinary Koreans.”
“Like ordinary Koreans?”
“Yes. Not in hotels or fancy restaurants. I want to eat like regular young Koreans.”
Jerome Musso’s eyes sparkled.
“Alright. Keep tomorrow evening around 7 free. I’ll text you.”
“I’ll wait. And…”
Jerome made a playful face.
“Shall we speak casually now? In Korea, friends speak casually with each other, right?”
“That’s….”
“Does age really prevent friendship? That’s disappointing.”
“Let’s try again over drinks tomorrow.”
Jerome chuckled.
“Auntie, three orders of pork belly and one bottle of soju, please.”
Like ordinary thirty-year-olds, they sat in a typical Hongdae pork belly restaurant. Jerome wore a shirt over a T-shirt—too much for casual wear—but yesterday he had worn a white garment over a suit for courtesy. Now, he looked like a walking model.
He was over 190 cm tall, blue-eyed, with a strong, well-trained physique. Women couldn’t help but stare.
“Did I overdress trying to look casual?”
“It’s not the outfit… but you attract attention even casually.”
Of the ten tables, three filled with women were openly staring. Jin-woo, tall by Korean standards at 185 cm, paled next to Jerome’s height. Like a crane standing among crows. And a blue-eyed foreigner among Koreans—blending in was impossible.
“This is the magic green bottle.”
Jerome held up the soju bottle, fascinated.
“Magic?”
“Drinking it supposedly makes friends and opens secrets easily.”
This guy must watch a lot of K-dramas.
“Shall we start the magic time?”
They clinked glasses and drank. Jerome’s smirk grew.
“This leaf… smells amazing. Delicious. Why isn’t this in France?”
He made Korean-style wraps with four pieces of pork belly, garlic, and perilla leaves, eating them with a satisfied expression. Though… why four pieces at once?
“Auntie! Three more orders of pork belly, please!”
After ten orders of pork belly, five bottles of soju, and a bowl of cold noodles each, leaving the restaurant, they felt like true friends.
“I’ll come again… let’s come back here!”
“Anytime! Jerome is always welcome!”
“Jin-woo! Visit France too! I’ll treat you fully. Hahaha. That’s how it’s done, right?”
The magic green bottle worked. Conversation flowed, similarities emerged, and they spoke freely.
[Thud!]
“What?”
“Ah, sorry, my bad.”
Someone bumped into them. Jerome, towering, bowed and tried to apologize, but…
“Korean? Hey, stop right there!”
Five tattooed men approached aggressively. It seemed the earlier bump was deliberate.
“Sorry, he’s a foreign friend… I apologize.”
Jin-woo stepped forward to intervene, but…
“Move aside! Hey Yankee! You hit someone, pay for it!”
“Not a Yankee—French, French!”
“What’s he saying? You hit someone and just leave? Come here!”
The five men surrounded Jerome, trying to drag him into the alley.
“What are you doing?”
“Sir, stay out of it!”
Jin-woo stepped forward, but one blocked him while the others dragged Jerome into the dark alley.
“G-Get back… you don’t know who this is…”
Jin-woo shouted, trying to follow, but was held back.
“This brat… causing trouble in Korea after drinking? Hey!”
The four were about to attack Jerome.
Jin-woo’s mind went white. The superpower among superpowers—Jerome—getting beaten by Korean thugs? A global disaster in the making.
As Jin-woo miraculously pushed one aside and ran into the alley, an incredible scene unfolded.
[Bang! Bang-bang-bang… bang… crack!]
In an instant, all four men collapsed. Jerome had knocked them out with boxing moves.
“Je-Jerome!”
Jin-woo was dumbfounded.
“Jin-woo, get out of the way!”
With that, Jerome countered the man about to strike Jin-woo. They had just finished five bottles of soju… and the men were massive, over 100 kilos with tattoos… yet they fell instantly.
“Let’s run!”
Jerome smiled, leading Jin-woo as they ran.
“Haa…”
Jin-woo followed, breathless. After three blocks, Jerome stopped, exhilarated.
“Wow, Korea is fun… the best!”
Not a child in a theme park, and yet so excited?
“Jerome, how did you fight so well?”
“France has gangs like wild dogs! Basic self-defense is necessary to survive.”
Not basic—it was superhuman. He’d taken down five men in seconds.
“Still, Jin-woo, I saw your loyalty, coming to help!”
Jerome was their guest. Of course Jin-woo would help. A Rothschild representative getting beaten in Korea? That was unthinkable.
At that moment…
[Screech!]
A black car stopped beside them. A tall, muscular Black man stepped out, speaking.
“Boss! You okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“Should we grab one of them and find out who’s behind this?”
“No, that’s all! Why follow me?”
It seemed Jerome’s bodyguard had arrived. Jerome turned to Jin-woo, smiling.
“Now that the security is here, no more fun for today… Jin-woo, you were amazing! I wanted to go hunting and karaoke, but I guess not. Thanks for understanding!”
Jerome hugged Jin-woo, got into the car, and waved.
Dumbfounded, Jin-woo waved back.
Even witnessing it firsthand, it was hard to believe. Five men taken down instantly… not even Mike Tyson could have done that.