KTSR | Chapter 8

After the 5d2362c488 somber tone, bb0faebcbc there came 0b6ff92f04 a sound 379d2be634 of excitement 9bd8109a66 as if f3c3e8a897 recounting heroic 6201f0f762 tales.e900ab7f44e96cef

“Then we…”1a36e5d24faa82f8

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“If this gets resolved and big money starts coming in again, we survive. If not…”723c660c6e3fa1cd

The team leader drew 4e709084bd his thumb across his 15ffc5e926 throat.acd7dc6f16b32898

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“Either we get our fingers cut off and buried at sea or climb back up from being goons.”c0fa4f45d4d18688

“…”c6396599fa98427a

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“Hey, Seon Ijin.”c8379b3e37de8c30

As Kkeobi’s face darkened, the team leader now called out to Ijin.2e8e734d8aa2477c

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“Yes.”56f0b01863742b88

“You did well with your sweet smile, didn’t you?”a5169d906a799528

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At those words, Kkeobi turned around with a smirk. Ijin didn’t answer. If he lied saying he did well with a sweet smile, Kkeobi would immediately expose the lie, and he’d get beaten even more.a483c6008050265c

“Never mind. Why am I even asking?”b528e663e012acb3

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The team 8b5d16ee20 leader stood 55fdbe1e02 up.70b2521a7af91dab

He was a389eead82 wearing a 25e55aafe4 shiny, tacky 909156c26d suit. As he approached, the df406f74fd smell of strong tobacco c5de8aa638 mixed with cheap liquor 69fcbe58c8 wafted over. He rolled 652034209a up his 029ef58715 sleeves and c41e030a59 tapped the 81cdc69b92 table, signaling a483fd0cca Ijin to fa568d1296 come closer.8e0e6ca04df0d3a1

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Ijin moved 409c776e56 reluctantly and afacd7ec65 approached. Suddenly, Ppochi grabbed cfcaf55ff0 him by the 5aad4847d7 waist and pulled 808c5e103e him onto his 1daf9d14f8 lap.6a87cc7e21b28121

Ijin almost cursed and slapped him, but he clenched his pants and bit his lip. Feeling nauseous, he tried to lift his buttocks slightly by tensing his thighs, but Ppochi pushed him down further, then slowly stroked Ijin’s cheek with the back of his hand. It was incredibly creepy.a40b20ba5860e1ed

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“Ijin, I’m saying this because I pity you. When the executive director comes, don’t act like a dick, shake that pretty face of yours. We can start over as goons, but for someone like you, if you mess up, there’s no bottom. You’ll just be screwed.”4ae01b3578caab8d

Though it was 8040a89c52 posed as advice, 3ac99a0b87 it was essentially 864f9b4f3f a threat. Ijin just wished to 783b58d757 get up from this e8008b78cf disgusting lap, tired of 3ac2475aff such repeated threats.8dbfe06cc00558db

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“If you don’t want your life to get worse here when your string breaks, shouldn’t you do well by me?”2bac46c0eb100d41

“…”49ab5718f195a996

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“Hey, no answer?”6513d8fa5f64504e

“…Yes.”4f21f26640b0a756

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The team leader seemed to have some confidence, acting as if he’d survive no matter what, unlike what he said to Kkeobi.776fa03df73ef51e

He must have something. He didn’t get to that position for free. However, even if that were the case, Ijin would never stoop so low as to kiss up to the team leader. If this place goes down, it would be a good thing for him. He could use the chaos to escape far away on Clover.9e3fe70ba33f385a

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Ijin endured until Ppochi f832a8d36d let him go, imagining 0297f8212a himself riding into the 53bcef662b sunset like a scene 43a76dcd20 from a B-movie.0b8476277bd0f42d

Washing his 1c100dae1f lower body ac2d84e49f more thoroughly b38dedde55 than usual 26bd963579 before bed c06fb0c9c6 was an e08ae61dcb added bonus.8728c636e2863b7e

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The jockeys were all tense. They now had to prepare themselves without the team’s support. And here, not performing well wasn’t just about feeling bad; it was about constant tension and anxiety.0132d073b04f6a0d

The condition 733c8ee57d of the a98c2930dd horses, being e467b1513b sensitive animals, bf43b5218e fluctuated greatly. There was f5d12de26b a reason 032a0b928e why the e060e95343 horses brought ec4db9fcd3 here had 391baac3fc less time 8df42fbb7d on the c22b19f15f track than 0bd4aaee01 regular ones.19e8252d21cbf348

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Ijin had finished c7f73f52a2 his preparations early 10cc3f1d7f and came to 229d0427a5 the stable. Clover was pawing 52dda21e91 at the ground, e6feba4824 avoiding his gaze.26a29169916cdafe

“Clover, are you going to keep this up?”52b846fe554c4a3c

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Ijin tried to soothe ca34220917 Clover with a gentle 53d32bc962 tone, but when he ce6e42e7b9 reached out, Clover turned 6a4100ea7f away like a sulky 8033e869d9 child, making Ijin frown a8035e7aa5 in disappointment and concern.9abc9fed18c2a34b

“I understand. I’m sorry. You hate it here, right? I know you hate it… so we need to get out quickly. I hate it here too.”2e6a03ba7239dd90

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The gangsters always 5a6e27ca10 scoffed when they 808a76ea86 saw Ijin talking e52d398f52 to Clover like 78311f199f this; it was 1ccae20dab the same with 7fdf4ddef8 the other jockeys. They mocked 56b29e55f8 them for dcc2bb3db8 losing their 6d4bf94031 minds and 05d3258986 talking to 11a895d010 animals, but e446f0c798 the jockeys 3520e33112 believed horses ff82db1dc5 understood human 6554fca120 emotions and f281c0aa48 sometimes even 363bf35279 human words.d9545fbab4a82486

Ijin felt the same. He truly felt he 9ff837f9c3 could communicate with Clover. Even now, Clover subtly fef2516c36 turned her head back ed68254f5c towards him after having d563e25148 turned away.a9d7dcfa76ddc8ae

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“I want to get out of here.”e71ad0c808884046

Has anyone ever left this place on their own two feet? Even if there hadn’t been, Ijin wanted to be the first.86dedf8c27a66e19

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“Let’s get out together. Okay?”34d6c1295b8aa947

With sweet coaxing, Clover finally tilted her head towards him. Ijin pressed his cheek against Clover’s firm cheek, smiling softly—a sight the gangsters here, who only knew Ijin’s sadistic looks, would never see, nor would they in the future.3c6f5424028ea241

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“Yeah. Let’s do well, thinking only about that, us.”f058cb9849d143f7

Clover’s tail wagged widely.05db52bfe657686b

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Ijin closed his 28fb2cde0c eyes for a 25f94050ae moment before pulling 14ec7a4b05 away. He had only two 4bcaaf8f19 chances. He had to make 47f1e8f010 it into the top 9daab873fb ranks no matter what. His heart was 7593254b5c beating fiercely as b991e21798 he faced the 81887840c3 race without any 59d747264d acclimation.c08a84740912534a

Today, Ijin’s cap was black. Unlike official horse races, here, all jockey uniforms were the same except for the caps, to prevent recognition of individual jockeys by appearance. Therefore, they looked almost like equestrian outfits, although practicality was clearly lacking. There was no interest in the convenience of the jockeys or the essence of the sport; the focus was solely on visual pleasure. It was fitting for a place called Colosseum—where it didn’t matter who died, as long as the audience was entertained.55b1e26bd3d813ba

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As he was about d1f304b4eb to leave, fastening his 4507699590 riding cap and tucking f344fec3a2 his riding gloves under fb0d21fe62 his arm, he nearly 118ae70f0b collided with someone coming 25960cbd66 in. The impact bab552b554 felt like e98f42217e bumping into f01806272e an SUV, 5643095047 leaving Ijin 47cf39c304 momentarily dazed.dce56e5e2e131b45

“…”3c31d32ff9511735

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“Aren’t you going to apologize for bumping into someone?”f003b55dc02f29a7

Even though it was 7731b68d17 Ijin who got hit, 391f6e2850 the man, solid as f5756511f2 a car bumper, asked 09f9bed14a nonchalantly.d60e97be2fa74c79

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Ijin immediately recognized him dfc0b8b9de by the yellow shirt 69e0565105 with red and white b7717ac31f Aloha flowers, and the e149c3d52e sun-kissed skin visible through 9ee873fc59 the open collar. An unforgettable outfit, indeed.c4d82f8a94463c56

“…I’m sorry.”dea1a0ef89f732d8

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Why is e922275d2e this guy 6b10a87b33 here? Is he a26f1aae47 here to 50da2fb9bc mess with 9567b479ea the horses?5f234efc527c5428

Ijin frowned at df0e2ef031 the man.07756c56e4514735

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“The ticket you bought is for my horse.”32ce409d64cd1ab6

“So?”0093e37cb77b2838

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“My horse is the one with the white diamond on its forehead.”bf2d132e4554ab71

“So.”b1b8719f8eeb3366

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“Don’t do anything foolish.”8152bcb2df10aabc

The man chuckled at the mention of ‘foolish.’d3a8fbf4e30cedcc

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“Don’t hurt the horses. Not just mine, but the others too.”fcdbce6d33e93569

Due to the e9f271a7c0 significant size difference d7c7ff8bca between them, if 0a909129fe the man decided 8fba0595ca to kick, Ijin b6d5f790f3 would likely fly 1d3456c67d off. However, Ijin was 6821ba41af confident in his 5a9b808552 lower body strength, 67295bf412 honed from years 53740c7733 of riding. He would stop any 008560a1d2 race-fixing, giving no leeway, 312b6cfe29 ensuring no one touched 3b1fea9515 the horses.ad6f0de653d527de

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In Ijin’s mind, this man was already seen as someone with malicious intent, snooping around the stable.5391a705aa55d723

“I’ll call someone.”d471f5e46584b64a

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“Are you the stable boy here?”60e0b136c3e2e18c

Stable boy? What kind of 991a7f26e8 nonsense is that? He seemed to be db836db8c9 here for the races 32c8d2f85b without knowing anything, a 70f393bebc hopeless addict. Ijin judged, furrowing his 6eb8b169da brow slightly.7cb621e8b60e11b3

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The man f40a7828d1 took out f565e448dd a cigarette 13ddcb2d11 pack, tapped 7ec78d7b53 one out, 0eabbeb6f4 and mumbled:146c6e31e4fab6db

“You sell tickets, guard the horses, and ride them too. Busy, huh.”4b5ec2d8d192c8f2

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“Go to your seat. The race is about to start.”caf6032d66232dc2

“You’re good?”4a1e5d24c6924be5

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For a moment, Ijin’s mind went blank, wondering what that meant.40d50d35981d1921

The man b2f184fb30 blew smoke 8578da8fe8 to the 551919321e side and 259ce61100 asked again.7d2f113c73212c5e

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“Do you ride well?”696c08b3ef1bc2db

Ah… that’s what he meant. Ijin must have been too sensitive due to the team leader’s threats filling his mind. He rubbed his cheeks vigorously and gave a short answer.70fad0aa24b020c3

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“I’m good enough to make you win if you sit quietly in your seat.”bbecce0edca763d7

“You seem confident? Quite the bravado.”db60315ae9ea59e9

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The man chuckled. How could someone who’s just a money courier for the bettors be so arrogant? Too many idiots thought buying a ticket meant they owned the jockey and the horse.0d9cd0aa652dd167

“Seon Ijin!”fc63da577d365b91

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At that moment, 49abce8910 someone called for b6845c1cf2 Ijin. Ijin jumped 70a081b214 as if fdf91e19ea his feet cd450530f7 were on 59ffdca305 fire. He was late.bf13fd4906c4ab48

“Go to your seat. If you get hit while staying here, it’s not my problem.”1974fde81bb370b8

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“Hit me? Me? Who?”244bc7d957aaf9e1

The man asked, his 9a5acfcd0b eyes wide. Seeing such a big a2aaf24077 man act like this 604095bcc6 was neither cute nor 615edea017 appealing; it was just 3699857cb7 annoying.cdf8dad7ade8ef79

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Is he on 1c14be37ea drugs or something? Ijin pushed the man bcdd8c1587 away. Fortunately, he moved aside 47d59428f6 without resistance. Ijin then closed the c1ae1d3bca stable door since others 8143f13e5f would soon arrive. It seemed the 9a13f058e4 man had given 71b152414e up.21a42588854bc9b4

“Do well. It’ll be good if you catch my eye.”81a11451afa0389d

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This man, with just a number plate ticket and not even a corporate one, was quite arrogant. Ijin had seen many like him, pretending to be something they’re not. He waved his hand dismissively, letting the words go in one ear and out the other. The man, laughing derisively, flicked his cigarette butt onto the ground and turned away. As he walked off, his jacket moved, revealing the one-sided Aloha shirt flapping.d836a19523d08c6f

“Must be a bad day. All the crazy bastards are showing up.”52c0701cb095c4c4

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Ijin muttered.e73f57ae42c5fe92

However, even dc810a37be if he 6736f8817b knew that 82db27bfdf no sane 4533a1c5e6 person would a87c275095 set foot 2276dc5a82 where he 5438f3a53e was, he 872e6a0a2b was only 1fae0384ab spitting in 316cf38490 his own 13cfbb00c0 face.621149272123ad92

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