Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Fighter Mega Punch
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I honestly couldn't care less about how the hell he's been scraping by.
"How much cash can you liquidate right now?"
"Hmm... Pure cash? Around three billion won."
"What?"
"It's slush funds. Use them however you like."
"No, I don't give a damn if you're dodging taxes or wiping your ass with bills. Three billion in cash?"
No clue what kind of revenue that club must be pulling in.
"Yes."
His deadpan reply told me I'd heard him right.
As I mulled it over, Manuk must've misunderstood again, because he started rambling some nonsense.
"Carpon pulls in about 150 million won a day. Cash payments make up roughly thirty percent of that, and that's what we use for slush funds."
"I'm not curious, you punk. Why the hell are you explaining tax evasion to me?"
"Hmm."
Manuk stroked his chin once more.
"We kick seventeen percent of sales upstairs as tribute. Then rent and loan interest get deducted. Whatever's left covers utilities and pays the crew."
💥 CRACK! 💥 "Guh!"
"You punk, why are you so squeaky clean it gives me the creeps?"
"Fire management insurance... Hic!"
He kept yapping even while rubbing his forehead, so I raised my hand again. He immediately clamped his mouth shut.
"Three billion is a massive sum. How loaded are you to hand it over like it's nothing?"
"It wasn't easy money."
"Exactly. So why toss hard-earned cash like it's trash?"
"...Pro...tect..."
"What?"
Manuk was still massaging his throbbing forehead when he mumbled something. It was so faint, even my enhanced hearing couldn't catch it.
"Noona said she'd protect me."
"And?"
"I've clawed my way through life my whole damn life so no one could take it from me. Came to my senses one day, and now all I've got are things worth protecting. Never had anyone say they'd have my back... but noona did. Said she'd protect me."
He babbled on about crap I never asked for, fiddling with his pistol and letting out a faint, sleazy grin.
Gangster sob stories? Zero interest. Not even a speck.
"Plus, noona's a superhuman. I've got a killer nose for cash. Feels like I'll rake it in big time under you."
"Ugh."
I shook my head, but whatever—he just kept grinning like a fool.
"Still, our liquor game's got killer margins. If it's not cash-only, I can hook you up with more."
"Cash only."
"Got it. On its way."
Manuk whipped out his phone and hammered away at the screen.
Looked like he was firing off a text.
"Where do you stash all that dough anyway? Buried? Vault?"
"Old-school gangster shit."
"Then?"
"Noona, parking towers are the meta these days."
"Meta?"
For a second, I thought I'd misheard. Gangsters following trends?
"Hide it inside the crane mechanism of automated towers."
I wanted to end this conversation with Manuk right there.
The longer it went, the more useless intel kept flooding in.
"Even the fuzz won't crawl in and pry off the panels."
"Enough."
One more word, and my brain might melt.
[Universal Antidote] An antidote capable of countering every poison in the world. [Price: 220 billion won] "Shit."
"Noona? Everything okay?"
"Nah."
[Alchemy] [Price: 100 million won] Weird-ass sighting the first time, downright absurd the second.
"Hmm."
Right now, priority one: swing by Hong Moon's place and grab what I need.
God, I wanna crack that old hag's skull open... but every scrap from Albert just hammers home how impossible she is to pin down.
Territory's too goddamn vast.
Plan B: snag what I can for tutorial clear, ditch the rest.
Least Manuk's haul gives me enough left to snowball hard.
"Huh?"
Me poking at thin air must've looked odd—Manuk was staring blankly from the side.
"Guys with the cash are mostly here."
"Cool. Thanks."
"No prob, noona."
"Oh, wait."
I cracked open my sub-space, fished out an item, and chucked it his way.
"Screw that on. Use it only if you have to."
"Silencer?"
"Yup."
Manuk toyed with the silencer, flashing that sleazy grin again.
Men and their gun fetish—universal constant.
"So, uh, that rabbit a pet?"
Manuk's eyes locked somewhere above my head—straight at Snowy.
"My partner."
"Ah... gotcha."
He sneaked a finger out like he wanted a pet.
Poke.
"Gah! Rabbit said hi."
"She warms up to anyone."
"Better than people."
I was mentally sorting optimal cash spends when a knock-knock echoed from outside.
Click.
"All of it?"
"Yessir, boss."
Manuk fished bills from his wallet and stuffed them into his errand boy's hand.
"Good job. Grab the crew some meat."
"Much obliged, boss."
Click.
The guy popped the front door, jammed three massive suitcases onto the seat, and sauntered off.
"Noona, ten billion a bag."
"Ten bil in one? That fits?"
"Fifty-thou bills shrank the bulk. Way handier."
No interest in the details.
"Thanks."
Shoved the monster cases into sub-space. Balance spiked.
[Remaining Funds: 3.02314 billion won]
[Basic Alchemy Lv.1] Beginner Metal Alchemy Beginner Potion Alchemy [Price: 200 million won] [Remaining Funds: 2.92314 billion won]
Snagged the skill I'd eyed—extra deets popped up.
Status window's a dick about info, so it was a gamble. Looks like I hit paydirt.
"Manuk."
"Yeah, noona?"
"Keep the meds steady till I grab that antidote."
"...Thanks. Appreciate it."
"Cool. Headin' out."
"Noona! I'll drive."
I hadn't even answered—he bolted out, hopped in the driver's seat.
"Where to?"
"Hang on."
Powered up my phone I'd stashed. Predictably, absolute bedlam.
⚔️ Guild Chat — [⚔️ Han Lion Rooooar!!] — [⚔️ Explain! Explain! Explain! Explain!] — [⚔️ Going insane going insane] "Whoa there, pipe down."
— [⚔️ She's here!!!!!!!!!] — [⚔️ Guild master, why so late!!] "Sorry. My babies wait long?"
— [⚔️ So damn flirty again] — [⚔️ Lol teacher 32nd time next one's no-no got it?] Cute punks with their cute little threats.
— [⚔️ Guild master! Guild master!] "What?"
— [⚔️ Guild master check Twitker!!] — [⚔️ Hurry!!] "Twitker? Why?"
Viewers were buzzing about fresh snitch material, all begging me to check it.
Hopped into TripleNet community. Viewers were dumping intel like crazy.
📰 TripleNet Post Title: Hubble Shit-Eating "This one?"
— [⚔️ No no no lololol] — [⚔️ Wtf who dropped that turd lol] — [⚔️ Scroll down] Followed their lead and scrolled. One post buried under a landslide of downvotes.
📰 Critical TripleNet Post Title: FighterMegaPunch Snipes Guild Master HimgyeongDukingGa-eul Just saw gangster-lookin' dudes in guild master's stream Dunno if staged or what MegaPunch sniped it tho Said halfwit losers cosplaying gangsters lol If pissed, bring 'em all—gonna chew 'em bones and all "Who's this clown?"
— [⚔️ Perpetrators always forget] — [⚔️ Judge victim's tears are evidence] "What're you on about? Who's the guy?"
— [⚔️ Dubai trip? Guild master sent us] "Oh!"
Bits and pieces clicked from the chat history.
Viewers bickering nonstop, so to vent, I'd told 'em to crash some trash streamer's pad.
"That's him?"
— [⚔️ Yup ex-gangster streamer lol] "Ex-gangster my ass—why's he coming at me?"
— [⚔️ Guild master's blowing up, cheap aggro to leech fame] — [⚔️ Low-rent bait fr] "Hmm. Fine. Let's roll."
— [⚔️ Kyaaaa guild master stirring shit again!!] — [⚔️ Emergency emergency] "Manuk, hit this address."
"On it, noona."
— [⚔️ Manuk who?] — [⚔️ Who tf calls guild master 'noona'? Die] — [⚔️ Steel squad deploy] Flashed the post to Manuk up front. He punched the gas.
"Hey Manuk, how old are you?"
"Over forty, noona."
"Uh... yeah. You look young. My bad."
"Haha, all good, noona. Talk casual."
"'Kay."
Chatting with Manuk felt a tad awkward now. Pushed it aside, sorted my skill menu. Car started slowing.
"We're here."
"Nice one."
Glanced outside, reached for the door—Manuk beat me, swung it open.
Stepped out. His crew had beaten us there.
"This the spot?"
"Yup, noona."
Guess he heard I was coming. The streamer who'd trashed me was already out front—looking like he'd seen a ghost.
Dude calls me out, then pulls this death-mask face? Beats me.