P.M. 5 o’clock. Muay Thai training time. For reference, since there were no guys who wanted to spar with Hwang Jegu, this was said to be the quietest time of day.
P.M. 7 o’clock. Come back to the butcher shop to manage the store and put effort into expanding the distribution network. He’d heard that the large refrigerated truck mobilized for the gang fight in Myeongdong not long ago had also been acquired cheaply through his resourcefulness. He probably didn’t know he’d use the vehicle he purchased dreaming of becoming a godfather of the meat industry for transporting thugs…
P.M. 9 o’clock. After the butcher shop closed, full-scale nighttime activities began. Time for on-site inspections. To Yeon Cheonguk, this seemed like the really core schedule.
He’d visit near schools or entertainment districts that needed careful attention to ask after people’s wellbeing, strengthen friendships, and solidify order. He also apparently visited warehouses in remote places or sinister entertainment district alleys, but Yeon Cheonguk was forbidden from entering those places. Once he went home and made a courtesy call to Hwang Jegu, the day was finished.
This was that bastard’s daily schedule up to here. Switching identities with Hwang Jegu was a torture-level schedule for Yeon Cheonguk, who was born with a naturally easygoing temperament.
“Ugh… I’m tired…”
He threw his exhausted body onto the bed and pressed the cordless phone dial. Since he’d promised to contact him every morning, lunch, and evening, he had to make the call before sleeping.
– Hello.
“It’s me.”
The first day or two, the call content was nothing special. The main purpose was delivering news about the butcher shop and new manga releases. It was nothing more or less than dry and parched men’s conversation.
“How’s the situation there?”
– Jerked off this morning.
“…No, how’s Jeongseon!”
– It’s going well.
“Dad, did you meet him?”
– Not yet. Still investigating.
That was all. There was no small talk at all like asking after each other or how was your day today.
“I heard <Ravages of Time> volume 3 came in.”
– Read it tomorrow and tell me a summary of the content.
“Got it.”
With three calls a day, the phone card quickly ran out. That much could be sufficiently paid for with the five ten-thousand won bills taken out daily from the money box on Hwang Jegu’s orders.
By the third day, their conversation began to loosen up a bit.
“Today Gakseori said the scar on your arm is from swinging a knife to cut meat. Doesn’t that not make sense? No matter who looks at it, it’s at minimum a scar from fighting with a robber.”
After all, they’d come to share the nickname “Gakseori” that Yeon Cheonguk had arbitrarily given. Hwang Jegu suddenly burst into loud laughter. It was bewildering as he laughed heartily enough to hurt his stomach. It didn’t seem like content to laugh that much at, but Hwang Jegu laughed breathlessly for a long time.
At the end of his laughter, he uttered a faint curse and answered.
– Got hurt cutting meat… Well, it’s somewhat true. That’s right, fuck…
There seemed to be a story about the 20cm-long scar that only Hwang Jegu and close acquaintances knew. He was curious what the real story was, but his pride didn’t allow pressing further.
Moreover, there was a more important matter. He was starting to doubt whether Hwang Jegu could find his father whom even the police couldn’t easily locate.
The police were apparently also searching for and investigating Yeon Cheonguk’s father, but there were no clear results. His mother and older sister waited anxiously every day for the house phone to ring.
His impatience was growing. He wanted to ask how Hwang Jegu could find his father, what kind of plan it was.
Yeon Cheonguk chose and chose his words before broaching the subject.
“That… the company on the business card you took. Did you go there?”
– Your father. I found him today.
At the words heard inadvertently, Yeon Cheonguk doubted his ears. Flustered, he bolted upright and sat on the bed.
“What?”
– I said I found him. I’m on my way back after confirming it was Yeon Taeho just a bit ago.
Yeon Cheonguk, who was breathing heavily, poured out questions.
“Where, where was he? Is he safe?”
– All four limbs intact, health condition okay. Completely safe. I guarantee one hundred percent.
“Ha… thank you. Really thank you…”
– That’s right. Say that a hundred times.
“Are you together now? Let me talk to him.”
– No. I confirmed his whereabouts and just got his contact info, we haven’t talked yet.
“What? Why?”
– It’s a situation where that’s not possible right now. Just wait quietly for about two days, I’ll definitely bring him back.
“……”
Along with questions, countless imaginings passed through his mind. Yeon Cheonguk didn’t know what was happening at Kangwon Land right now. He could only hear the conclusions Hwang Jegu briefly stated. Whether what he was saying was true could only be known on the day he returned.
Yeon Cheonguk calmed down his soaring feelings and started pressing.
“…Do you have proof?”
– My word is proof.
“Why can’t you talk?”
– You don’t need to know the details. If I suddenly go find him now it’ll backfire, so don’t worry and just do your proxy regency.
“Where was he? Don’t tell me he was homeless or… imprisoned… something like…”
– Haa… stop watching useless news, baby. Do you have a lot of time?
Hwang Jegu shut Yeon Cheonguk’s mouth with a sluggish yet cool tone.
– I found him today, we’ll go to Seoul together, but I need two or three more days. I explained once more, right? Don’t make me do it again.
He’d cut off at the source any pressing about why two more days were needed. How could he believe those words with just one phone call? It could be a baseless lie. Yeon Cheonguk gathered courage and raised objections again.
“From my position, wouldn’t I be curious? Try thinking from my perspective.”
– I fully understand. If I bring him, it’ll all be proven anyway, right?
“If it’s a lie.”
– Why would I tell a lie that’ll be exposed anyway, fuck. I have a reputation.
“……”
– I don’t say empty words.
From the voice that was gradually losing playfulness, he could feel his patience was at its limit. But Hwang Jegu didn’t get angry, and persistently repeated the same words.
– Just wait two or three more days. It’s to bring him without any fuss.
“……”
– Trust me and wait. Yeon Cheonguk.
Yeon Cheonguk, who glared at the floor with a dissatisfied face for a while, decided to trust Hwang Jegu. As he said, he had a reputation that couldn’t be damaged by lies. Yeon Cheonguk fell asleep that night repeating Hwang Jegu’s words to trust only him.
On the fifth day of calling three times a day like that, the two naturally became close enough to exchange jokes. The fact that Hwang Jegu would return after completing his mission and make compensatory demands was almost forgotten from memory.
– Haa… I can’t jerk off in this lodging. The wallpaper is so tacky.
“…What kind of lodging are you at?”
– A motel room with cockroaches.
If Yeon Cheonguk had a cell phone, he’d tell him to send a photo via MMS, but right now he had no choice but to believe Hwang Jegu’s words. Yeon Cheonguk, who placed the cordless phone on his forehead and lay on the bed looking at the ceiling, changed the subject.
“Kangwon Land is a casino, right?”
– It’s a gambling den.
“I don’t know why they build things like that. There are clearly people whose lives are ruined from getting addicted there.”
– Enough, don’t think about that stuff. Once we find your father it’s over. There’s no need to dig into thoughts like that.
Before he knew it, chatting about trivial things had become natural. Yeon Cheonguk continued muttering.
“I wasn’t on good terms with Dad… I don’t know, maybe blood is blood, I got worried.”
– Blood. It’s important.
Thinking he’d misspoken, he closed his mouth, when a joke twisting what Yeon Cheonguk had said came from the other end.
– I don’t know why things like blood exist. There are clearly people who get addicted to that stuff and make babies then abandon them.
“……”
Yeon Cheonguk gave back the answer he’d heard from him as is.
“Hey. Don’t think about that stuff. As long as you live well it’s over. There’s no need to dig into thoughts like that.”
Hwang Jegu, who giggled faintly, answered.
– Fuck. Hey, when I see you going ‘hey’ this and that, I want to just smash your mouth open, but you babble so well that I end up watching.
“……”
– You, are you good with your mouth?
“My mouth and throat need to be insured.”
When he bragged jokingly, Hwang Jegu laughed loudly. He didn’t know if it was a joke to laugh that loudly at, but Hwang Jegu laughed by himself for a long time.
– Ha… right… I’m soooo curious what your mouth and throat skills that need insurance will be like…
