Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Sho Sho Sho
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"Friend, I can't eat it."
"It's delicious."
"Then just a little."
After ending the broadcast and stepping out into the yard, my eyes met Albert's—he had his mouth wide open, trying to feed it a flower petal.
"Looks like you two got close in the meantime. That's something our little puffball loves, so she doesn't share it with just anyone."
"Ahem. Yes, we've become friends."
He scratched his head sheepishly.
Probably embarrassed about getting caught chatting with a small animal he couldn't even communicate with.
"Baeksul, let's go."
"Yeah!"
Hop.
I scooped up Baeksul as she bounded into my arms mid-air, and Albert stood up from his spot beside us.
"Albert, you rest here."
"I'll escort you."
"I'd appreciate that."
I straightened my clothes and followed Albert as he led the way. Soon, a black car pulled up.
Albert approached the rear door of the stopped vehicle, opened it, and looked at me.
It felt pretty awkward being treated like some movie damsel.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
As I climbed into the back seat, a man with bright platinum blond hair got into the driver's seat.
He twisted around right away, beaming at me with a big smile.
Nothing like the rock-solid Albert.
"Miss, hello there?"
"Hi. I'm Ga-eul."
"Haha, no way. My boss is such a knockout? I'm Albert's partner, Jeremy Farrell. Just call me Jeremy."
"Sure, Jeremy. Nice to meet you."
Totally the opposite type from Albert.
He flashed a bright, toothy grin that made me want to pluck just one tooth out.
His skills were beyond doubt since he was Albert's partner, but I couldn't fathom how two such polar opposites stuck together.
Thud.
The car dipped noticeably as the hulking Albert squeezed into the passenger seat.
"Jeremy. Don't be rude to the miss."
"You stiff. I was just saying hi."
"Touch the miss, and I guarantee your life won't last long."
"Damn punk, why say it so scary? We're friends, aren't we?"
"Just drive. Destination's that loan shark spot we scouted last time."
Watching them bicker right off the bat, it seemed like their partnership bordered on real friendship.
The car hadn't been driving long when we arrived at a cluster of rundown buildings.
"We warned them last time, and they're still hanging around this neighborhood?"
"Yes, no changes."
We parked and walked over. On the second floor of a weathered building where the paint had peeled away to reveal gray concrete, a sign read "Smile Happiness Loans."
Click.
"Whoa! Miss, what's with that scary mask?"
Jeremy freaked out as I slipped on my usual mask.
"It's a traditional mask from my country."
I ignored Jeremy's nonstop questions from the side and started the broadcast right away.
⚙ BROADCAST STARTED ⚙ Han Gyeolnim has started streaming "Hey, my babies? K Secret Weapon, Winter here."
— Viewer Kiyaaak!! She's here!!! — Viewer Crazy bitch appeared!! — Viewer Where the hell is this? — Viewer Sorry sorry After exchanging warm greetings with the viewers, I handed Jeremy the phone mount.
"Ooh, me as cameraman? Live long enough, you see everything. Right, Albert?"
"Quiet."
— Viewer English? I hear English? — Viewer What?? We entered the building and climbed to the second floor, where a surprisingly spacious room greeted us, unlike the rundown exterior.
"Who the hell are you?"
Along with some lumps who looked like they were bragging about being gangsters.
"Miss, let me han—"
—Crack!
Thud.
The guy who got slapped went tumbling down.
"Damn! Our miss is badass."
One of the remaining lumps in the back, slow on the uptake, finally pulled out a sashimi knife from his coat.
"This crazy bitch, you know where you are?"
"Shut your stinking mouth if you don't wanna die."
They all pulled out sashimi knives, one after another, and swung them just as predictably.
Pretty straightforward guys, in their own way.
Wrong direction, though.
—Smack!!
Crash!
Hearing the commotion from outside, someone poked his head out from an office-like room at the end.
"Hey, Boss Kang."
"Who're you?"
"It's me, you shithead."
"...Ari Rang Pa sent you? I already handed over the Rodeo Market to the higher-ups. Didn't you hear?"
"That's my turf, fucker. Ari Rang Pa my ass, you dumb shit. Wanna die? Want me to turn your neck into an Arirang?"
— Viewer Real curious, who's the bad guy here? — Viewer Hmm dunno — Viewer Real gangsters? — Viewer Looks like Ga-eul's the gangster to me As I approached step by step, the guy in front of me backed up a good distance.
Not because of me—he shrunk back at the sight of the two hulking figures behind me.
"G-Gang Boss. Why alone? Where's your crew? Out collecting?"
At the word "alone," Boss Kang's eyes flicked to the two lumps passed out behind me.
"I knocked those guys out. Don't worry, friend."
"...Sent from the top? First time hearing about a female exec around here."
"Fuck, answer the damn question if you don't wanna die."
I caught Boss Kang's right hand sneaking toward his back pocket as his eyes darted around.
"Hey, pull that out and you're dead. You cool with that?"
Sweat dripped down Boss Kang's face.
He looked seriously torn about whether to draw it.
"We paid up on time, so what's this about?"
A brainless thug would've swung wildly by now, but it was kinda admirable how he tried to talk it out, playing head honcho.
"Some pest crawled into my turf, so I'm here to exterminate. You really have no clue why I'm here?"
— Viewer No cluuue — Viewer lmao cuuute — Viewer This staged too? Real deal? — Viewer Her dry mouth says it's our boss for real — Viewer Should we call the cops? — Viewer Who to report? Our boss? She looks like the victim lol "I even sent a polite warning last time. Didn't see it?"
Boss Kang, who'd been pondering, cautiously opened his mouth.
"You mean the guy whose wrist you crushed?"
"What? You saw it. Then why play dumb? Our Boss Kang got decorative glasses? Need a new ink cartridge for that brain?"
He kept backing up until he hit the desk and stopped.
"G-Gang Boss. Shoulda just stuck to loans, why touch drugs? Loans, expand a bit, that's plenty."
Step. Step.
As I closed in right up to his face, his ragged breaths grew louder.
"Fucker, why try to live easy? Drugs pay that well?"
"......"
"One taste and it's honey pot sweet? Gonna skyrocket the gang's slice?"
"I'll cut ties."
"Hand's already elbow-deep in the hive. What to cut?"
"Th-then what do you want?"
"Gotta chop it off, right?"
Boss Kang's face turned ashen as he slowly slid his hand back to his pocket.
"Die!!"
Thwack!
—Clang!
I grabbed his swinging hand, and veins bulged on the back of Boss Kang's.
"You all do the same shit."
Drip.
"Guh. Sp-spare me and I'll vanish."
Drip drip.
"Ugh. Won't show my face again! I'll clear out of here too!"
Grind.
"Gaaah! P-please. My wrist!"
"Gotta chop it off, right?"
Even now, he shook his head frantically.
"Kang Boss. Gotta chop, right?"
Crunch. Cruuunch.
"Gaaaaah!!"
"Gotta chop, right?"
He whipped his head side to side like mad.
"Yeah?"
I let go, and he collapsed, clutching his half-crushed wrist.
Good thing Jeremy was filming from behind—viewers wouldn't see.
"Now recite it."
"Guhh. H-huh, h-heuk."
"Tick tock tick tock tick tock."
— Viewer Ga-eul fighting?? — Viewer Just now realizing? Lol — Viewer We thought it was a toy at first but turns out we're the ones getting played lol "H-heuk. I'll t-talk. Ask anything. I'll spill everything I know."
From experience, to get close to people, match their eye level.
I squatted down to meet Boss Kang's eyes. He trembled, staring at the floor for dear life.
— Viewer Damn that stance is pro-level scary. Veteran? — Viewer Huh? Why's there a warm pizza bun in my hand? "Where'd you get the drugs?"
"The sellers set a date and drop 'em at designated spots!"
"Yeah? Jeremy, kill the mic please."
I glanced back, and Jeremy, who'd heard me, gave a thumbs-up.
— Viewer What? Let us hear too — Viewer Damn it was getting good!! "Speak."
"Mondays. Monday at 4 AM, they stash in marked spots midway up the hills, unmanned bus terminal lockers, and toilet tank lids in public restrooms. That's all I know! Drugs started with one guy dropping 'em off too."
"Hear that?"
"Yes, miss. Plenty to track from here."
Albert's reliable reply had me nodding automatically.
"What's the higher org?"
"Don't know the name. Big outfit. Pay tribute, they greenlight managing your turf."
"Don't pay?"
"Retaliation. Small fry like us grabbing one market can't fight back or resist."
I signaled Jeremy again, and he quickly turned the phone mic back on.
"Ta-da! That's Winter's Sho Sho Sho for now."
— Viewer ???? — Viewer Real show? — Viewer Looked super real tho? — Viewer Ga-eul's content game strong af — Viewer What was that flying lump after the slap? Stuntman? — Viewer Still believing that lol — Viewer Easier to believe boss beating gangsters is fake than real. Brain can't keep up I placed a hand on Boss Kang's shoulder, feeling his body shudder.
"C'mon, it's real, right Boss Kang?"
"......"
"Answer."
"Y-yeah!! Yeah, it's real!"
"LOL."
"Ha, haha, haha."
"Hmm. Feels like you picked the wrong boss..."
At the last voice, I shot Jeremy a look, and he slyly turned away.
— Viewer So who do we report? — Viewer That weirdo in the mask imho ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 💬 Side Story — Unasked Q&A [Q. Boss won't let me sleep. How does Ga-eul sleep?] A. Raw as hell. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — Q. What about Baeksul? A. Puffball.