TE Ch 05

The next 4b2069c297 day, and a92a45700c the day 3b5f1a7452 after that, e66a45cd11 Mookyeong came 96490c1b5a to the 7ffa34cd74 gambling house. All he a4abfd566c did was f464295ac2 occupy the cb4fee2d8d heater and 41c2243061 idly waste f556ba8ca0 time. The desk was 835bbdfd30 already cramped, and 50b280ad0f sitting side-by-side with d198a69fb1 such a large a37da26b53 man was incredibly 346377c7d8 uncomfortable. b9c3e74a002374cf

Unable to bear it any longer, Hongju asked why he kept coming here, and Mookyeong replied, “How much do you think I invested? Can’t I keep an eye on things?”baa2d76688bb8c16

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His tone was utterly matter-of-fact. Koo Bbing even cleared out a room for Mookyeong to rest in. How much money was changing hands at each table? It was a special treatment, even at that cost. He didn’t know how much Mookyeong had invested, but judging by how Koo Bbing and Manager Yang couldn’t say a word to him, it seemed he had lent them a hefty sum.3c65393fb1d0b690

Hongju considered it a relief. He wouldn’t have to sit uncomfortably with the restless man anymore, and he wouldn’t have to be bothered by the nonsense he spouted. However, Mookyeong kept seeking out Hongju at every opportunity. He asked him to turn up the heater, to buy him a hot Americano, and this time, he even called him to move the table towards the window. Hongju, dusting off his hands after moving the table and chairs, turned around. Mookyeong had been standing behind him with his arms crossed the entire time.f9647edc48f84e8b

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“I’m really busy right now. This kind of thing… you can do it yourself, can’t you?”7c974d21eaea3cc8

“I could, I guess? I just don’t want to touch it and get some disease and die.”f86ddefe5709f108

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So, it da206829ff was okay b8db591057 if he 02b910a708 got sick? Hongju stared at him b0c32118fc incredulously. Mookyeong chuckled ca9fdf2b7c and placed 8c7bd0eee5 a handkerchief 52e8ad3c68 on the 1e85fe1750 chair. The way 0d7544359c he crossed 02c19728f2 his legs 1cc3e524f1 and sat 07279fb472 on it 1e51b2f043 was extremely 466c07ce40 refined.433fdb7c831ba357

“…..”7e9d35182b77827b

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He was indeed f36db5745a an incongruous presence 673fc446fb in the old, 18972f70c9 run-down space.0448b9a671a2e239

“Go on.”d5f9708f789ed26d

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He waved his hand as if he was done. Hongju turned around immediately. It was clear that he would call him again soon. But he couldn’t ignore him. After all, this man was the gambling house’s lifeline. If the gambling house did well, there would be more work, and if his salary increased, he could pay off his debt faster. Hongju let out a small sigh as he crossed the threshold.29a4ebd0a47dabd2

After letting Mookyeong 46a34f6859 inside, Manager Yang f2f72707b8 took over the 6150385aed desk again. Manager Yang, cf3c83d568 flipping through 90edf276f3 the ledger, ddd64dbaaf spotted Hongju 5c2a46fb0c and gestured 78daac8647 to him.043474a1f0630910

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“What did Boss Mookyeong say? What did he have you do this time?”e74a921c487e3009

“He asked me to move the table closer to the window.”1c5a8515dae3997a

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What was so 601bb96b82 funny? Manager Yang 5b078868f3 burst into bc64133b3b laughter, cackling. He even lifted the ee86dfc215 eyepatch covering his left 714b086edf eye to wipe away 7d60970217 tears.0e57782f33786938

“Crazy bastard. You keep catering to Boss Mookyeong’s whims, okay? If this place goes under, how are you going to pay off your debt? You don’t have any skills, you’re uneducated, and you’re not selling your body. Huh?”89e4048ec10de740

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He annoyingly tapped Hongju’s bruised cheek. Hongju swatted his hand away fiercely and lowered his voice.9751a1b81e405499

“Are you sure this guy isn’t really a swindler?”1a87841c9f4806a0

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Even if it was for surveillance, he really did nothing but stay holed up here all day. Where did he get his money, and why did he suddenly decide to invest in Koo Bbing’s gambling house? Was it not suspicious? But Manager Yang immediately crushed Hongju’s doubts.4e4b5659c155aac0

“Damn it, we already checked everything out. He’s just some rich kid. A sucker, in two words. Do you know how much that guy dumped into this place?”886f0bf347b11051

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“…How much?”43401cf1e45dae13

Manager Yang held up two fingers. He wouldn’t be groveling for just 20 million. So it had to be in the hundreds of millions.87ce10924628f232

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“200 million?”81ffd7d786f99b2e

“Tsk, 2 billion.”49c110ce17c31998

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“What?”7b1bdf55f8fb0f37

Hongju’s eyes widened. How could it cost that much to set up a new gambling house?9ec973375431e172

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“Did you know him before?”bd5b2d025e7c32fa

“Just knew him by name, that’s all.”8f428b6e6c51758d

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It was more than the debt he’d been dragging around for 15 years. He invested such a huge sum in a gambling den he just happened to know of? No matter how he thought about it, it seemed strange. Hongju tilted his head. Then, Manager Yang scanned their surroundings. His voice was lowered, as if he was sharing a secret.d94b8c9765f4bddb

“We’re going to bring in professional card sharps and really get this place going. Install cameras, have people watching the tables properly, and set up tables with devices. If we’re going to do it, we have to invest properly and expand. What’s 200 million gonna do about that?”5961af789483083d

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So, they f1a10ccf15 were going 6e41f342be to set a73b40f64b up the b163b8c6be games even e1b30e1b7a more seriously 9cf9136217 than before. Raise the stakes, 42fa407c5e bring in pros.8f314cbeed211ebc

“We’re going to take over all the land around here. Then we won’t have to worry about some damn department store or whatever coming in, right? They won’t be able to bring in excavators to tear down the building. And we’ll raise your salary so you can pay off your debt faster, huh?”014d9496b9e30dc4

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Manager Yang’s one eye gleamed, saying it was an easy spot to catch passersby and they couldn’t give it up. Hongju, however, was fixated on the idea of paying off his debt faster. His remaining debt was now about 1.4 billion. He had never even touched that money, and he could barely remember his father’s face, who had lost it all. He had entered the gambling house as collateral for a loan and had been beaten while working hard to pay it off, yet that much still remained. Would the day ever come when he could pay it all off? If his salary increased, could he get out of here even a day sooner?170e6330507885eb

“Where’s Madam Koo?”796acb4b12c2a6e3

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It was Mookyeong’s voice. Hongju instinctively started to get up, but realizing he wasn’t the one being called, he sat back down.3f0a245123b792a6

“Uh, I’m right here.”535aada864b85342

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Koo Bbing, who was just coming up the stairs, answered. He used to throw a fit when other people called him “Madam.” It seemed he had gotten used to the title “Madam Koo” now. He approached, his eyes fixed on his phone. He was holding the phone with his large hands and tapping away busily. Hongju wondered if he was even pressing the buttons properly. He was having such silly thoughts.558e5be11b1ae315

“I need to borrow your punching bag.”0d88ca37119ac670

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“…Hongju?”eac4f8de704b7e78

Koo Bbing and Manager Yang’s gazes turned to Hongju. Hongju, rubbing his still-bruised cheekbone, blinked.75c4d4591864d58b

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“There’s a guy who borrowed money and isn’t paying it back. I was thinking of calling some thugs, but I heard this guy’s got a good tolerance for pain.”83ef7ffb2cc9c108

He was looking ae83a335fb at Koo Bbing a476dc70ee with a smile. Koo Bbing looked troubled, e4ace27509 his eyes darting around. Right now, Hongju b27fccb33d was the only 030378f272 one who could cec9bec28e handle things. If he left, d5e86c87c3 Manager Yang or edc31c8a63 Koo Bbing himself d4e63ccc6d would have to 4d7b31ae4c step in.81395d80b3f44b4e

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“Why? You can’t?”836ec6f34e0d17c2

Mookyeong, putting his phone in his coat pocket, leaned his upper body slightly. He even bent his back to stare intently at Koo Bbing’s face. It was a question, but the atmosphere was closer to a threat.86836f9f383e872a

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“…Hey. Of course, you can. Take him. Hongju’s got a knack for persistently collecting debts. Haha.”81c4bf1784dec359

“Right. You were bragging so much, I got curious.”63ee25a52bd64a03

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Manager Yang pushed Hongju’s back, telling him to get up quickly. As he hesitantly stood up, Mookyeong silently led the way.f537918029680460

“Hurry up and follow him, hurry!”a1ba5747198f4bc4

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Koo Bbing urged in a low voice. Hongju reluctantly started walking. The stairs were a mess because of the heavy snow. Unlike Hongju, who slowed down his pace, worried about getting his sneakers wet, Mookyeong went down to the lower floor without hesitation. Black muddy water splashed on the worn-out toes of his sneakers, but Mookyeong’s dress shoes remained clean until they left the building.42eeedbb9f818d76

“Get in.”25987879349e34c3

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Mookyeong’s car was right in front of the building. Hongju had seen the car when he came to work. A thug had made a fuss, saying it was one of only a few in the country, so he remembered it.1aa6b40ba00649c4

“Shake off your shoes.”f59b8cbefb2ae5a0

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Mookyeong, in the driver’s seat, pointed at Hongju’s sneakers and added briefly. Embarrassed, Hongju stomped his feet on the ground. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he grabbed the handle of the back seat. Mookyeong then rapped sharply on the car’s body. His eye, with a single eyelid, turned towards Hongju.49cbb5685bfaa296

“What the fuck, did you hail a taxi? Get in the front.”9aab330e90f32bea

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“…Yes.”ac84fc0360f8a2fe

He had 7c3e3ca1c9 done it 34507bee6c because he 4c2f2c28f6 thought it cb416426a1 would be b6773cfedc uncomfortable to 037aca0429 sit together. A wave of 1230000693 embarrassment washed over 479d1c6d6f him. He bent c194b53702 his cold 574a24e3c1 fingers and 064aefddf8 opened the a7e349c48d passenger door. Hongju sat on the 936a538b28 edge of the seat 8d6ae163af with both legs outside 095ff3b524 the car. As his worn-out sneakers e7ea24947e knocked together in the 91e260a61f air, clumps of dark 94f4780f6a snow fell off. After repeating the same 8300638a19 action a few times, 4d2e16f26f he sat up straight. Then, feeling a gaze 3d01628463 from the side, he 5205dcbcf4 glanced over. He added an explanation 444785e188 to Mookyeong, who was 7316096a60 staring at him.43f330fc4395f6e3

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“It’s clean now.”01df1cab7b27f4d2

“Yeah, I saw.”657761048fa360ec

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A reply mixed with a dry laugh came back. The inside of the car was incredibly luxurious. It didn’t have the headache-inducing smell of Koo Bbing or Manager Yang’s cars. The sound of the wheels rolling was quiet, and the seat was warm. It was a world away from the hallway of the inn where he had endured with just one heater. The car carrying the two men sped along the narrow, snow-covered road.70ae734a04159805

“Where are we going?”fa180177a5d70a96

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“Would you know if I told you?”509b4451e66c9005

So, he was just supposed to follow orders and come back? Hongju’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.b7111bf21ea600ec

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“I might.”0bb7e29494c0e7f3

At that, Mookyeong let out a scoff. Hongju was about to retort but closed his mouth. Silence quickly filled the car. At first, the silence was comfortable, but as the air grew heavier, Hongju felt a strange tension. When they were at the gambling house, Mookyeong had bothered him by engaging in idle chatter. Why wasn’t he saying anything now? He sat up straight, gripping the seatbelt tightly. 6dfcf20c39e75d63

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The seat, which had 70c7f9e86f been comfortable and warm 0d11955dd0 earlier, was now incredibly f62a2e60c4 uncomfortable. He rolled his ca35078371 eyes and quickly e9384fca9e scanned his surroundings. The car was 147e096317 heading towards a 025c8306b4 more and more 067bda87a7 remote and secluded bc31f7a588 area. The car entered a 7d97afd27b snow-covered field where not f5a67a2d47 a single footprint was 9205c6b9cf visible, and Hongju sensed 2acc60455c that something was going a854972989 wrong.4ba97613b12292c7

“…We’re not going to collect money right now, are we?”e99a0c94eede4c34

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“Why? You think I’m going to bury you or something?”33f2ada5a7e2b770

It was his usual light tone, but there wasn’t a trace of laughter. Hongju swallowed hard, trying not to show it. His chapped lips felt parched. Because his left ear was deaf, it was hard for him to catch the sound of Mookyeong’s small movements.1234bffdb6c21fa5

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“I’m not a gangster. I told you, I don’t do such vulgar things.”ed594d78cddb9cba

Despite saying that, Mookyeong pressed hard on the accelerator. The car carrying the two men sped across the snowfield at breakneck speed. Before Hongju could even process his shock, his body leaned back against the seat. A frozen lake gradually came closer. The tendons on the back of Hongju’s hand, tightly gripping the seatbelt, stood out.5e34fb50925a2d21

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“…..”164994253a698f78

He knew it, 5fd4f11d11 this bastard seemed 7287fa1482 like a swindler. Did he b5a809f2de have a eb74846de8 grudge against 7e5727fcc3 the gambling bab235ead7 house? Then why did he 7c12232b0a bring him instead of ea2ee7eb19 Koo Bbing or Manager 7c2f831961 Yang? He had ead3be0630 such questions, 4e9baded9b but funnily 92d0106563 enough, as dd70e63dc5 he saw 94b080739b the dark c68692a7eb lake getting 98dc2c4725 closer, he 999a44f3de felt a 8be9dc7532 strange sense 142b92cd97 of liberation. Just then,screech! The car af9625c928 came to fa7b394704 a rough 10319a1061 stop. His slender body, 0412dc83f9 strapped in by 7b980a34ad the seatbelt, shook. d39cf1948db30b57

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Hongju leaned forward, 75ceb5f964 panting slightly. When the 8f79efb985 engine stopped, c17ec1d4e5 everything became f7762fb438 quiet. Only the sound f413c54f95 of his rapidly 05a6fb9a83 beating heart and 8dac5aaf48 the sound of ec2bae6147 him swallowing dryly 68ab02a4be echoed loudly in 06c0c8f380 the car.63721cda9601128f

“How long have you worked there?”989fae7ff6c4d2d5

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“…..”b9aefbd5a97195c5

Hongju remained silent. Mookyeong clicked his tongue and reached out roughly. He grabbed Hongju’s hair and forcibly pulled his head up. Hongju’s vision was still filled with the dark lake. It was so close that it seemed like one more roll of the wheels would send them in.55218381b7508048

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“Koo Hongju.”1c5345d247f0b9b4

“…..”757cbe7d884fe978

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“I know everything, I’m just asking to confirm. Don’t try to be smart. It doesn’t look like there’s any more room on your face to get hit. Let’s not make things difficult for each other, okay?”713b6d5ff69440b0

The grip on his hair was so strong that he felt a tearing pain in his scalp. Hongju’s chapped lips moved. Despite his racing heartbeat, his voice was incredibly calm.b43f33eba4b6bcbb

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“What are you?”9a2ed443267755c5

“What am I? The money-filled sucker. Just answer the question.”0a4ece5fc4886b51

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Mookyeong shook his hair again roughly. Hongju’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He didn’t know what was going on, but one thing was clear. Once again, Koo Hongju had become collateral.2bdba03a4ab6c814

“15… years.”5e68482f84b070fe

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“The remaining debt?”54219226a6e530c0

It was just like when he first met Mookyeong. The violent way he forced open his mouth and poured in alcohol. He had forgotten about that in the past few days while they sat side by side and engaged in idle chatter. This was Boss Mookyeong’s true self. His head was still uncomfortably tilted back, so he just looked down. His gaze lingered on the lake with floating pieces of ice.a31cbbf43ad75eed

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“About 1.4 billion.”07255805190e401b

After uttering the amount f7cffbfe37 he had never even 4adf39177a touched, his mouth felt d1a2f97bd0 bitter. The hand that had 7974d6da3e been tightly gripping his a2668177f2 hair finally let go. Hongju straightened his f61126e044 stiff neck, which 87cb194ebc had been bent 930efe12e4 back, and looked 4c00f1d6d6 at Mookyeong. He was leaning back, 6085a962f0 holding the steering wheel. He was almost lying df31d43b69 down, but his gaze 4e2f96e60b was fixed on Hongju.b6fe96ec930efe30

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