บท 47: Chapter 47: A Favor to Call In
As promised, Manager Ma brought Bae Won-chun to the factory the next day.
This guy was clearly different from the ones I saw yesterday. Being an ex-gangster really showed.
His eyes were still full of venom.
This should be interesting.
"Take the tape off his mouth."
Manager Ma ripped the tape off Bae Won-chun's mouth.
The moment the tape came off Bae Won-chun started cursing.
"You sons of bitches! Who sent you? Don't you know who I am? I'm Bae Won-chun! Bae Won-chun!"
"That's right you caught the right guy. Bae Won-chun from Geukseong Construction right? Nice to meet you I've been dying to see you."
A smile crept onto my face without me realizing.
Bae Won-chun seemed to be sizing me up scrutinizing my face.
"Who the hell are you? You little punk have you lost your mind?"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Does it matter who I am right now? Won-chun read the room. Is your head just for decoration?"
"What did you say? You little shit!"
Thwack!
Manager Ma kicked him hard.
As Bae Won-chun fell backwards still tied to the chair Manager Ma's fists and kicks rained down on him.
Even without any weapons his hands and feet alone left Bae Won-chun's face a mess in no time.
"Stop!"
Manager Ma dragged Bae Won-chun and made him kneel in front of me.
Blood trickled from Bae Won-chun's nose and mouth. Still he glared at me with surprising grit.
"I won't ask twice. Who ordered you to run Park Hyeonseong over with a car?"
Bae Won-chun looked startled as if he hadn't expected to be brought in for Hyeon-seong's incident.
"Park Hyeonseong? Why's that bastard's name coming up now?"
Tough but not too bright huh?
I clicked my tongue and stood up.
"Sigh… I said I won't ask twice right? Manager Ma please make him more cooperative. I'm going to make a call."
"Yes sir."
I stepped outside the factory and called the hospital.
– Hello?
"Mother it's Mu-hyeok."
– Mu-hyeok? Should I get Hyeon-seong?
"Yes Mother. Have you eaten?"
– Of course I have. What time do you think it is? Hyeon-seong it's Mu-hyeok on the phone.
After waiting for a few minutes I heard rustling followed by Hyeon-seong's voice.
– Yeah?
"Sigh… Just answer me since you're next to your mother."
– Yeah.
"I caught the guy who did that to you."
– What? Really?
"I'll tell you the details later. Anyway I'll make sure he ends up just like you. Wait for me. And I'm sorry."
Hyeon-seong seemed lost for words unable to respond.
"I'll visit tomorrow. Hanging up now."
After ending the call I suddenly craved a cigarette.
I'd quit since coming back but in times like these the urge hits.
I looked up. The night sky was bright with a full moon and stars shining oblivious to my mood.
It's my fault Hyeon-seong ended up like that. This really sucks.
A moment later Manager Ma came out as the factory door opened.
"Has his spirit been broken?"
"Yes sir."
When I entered the factory with Manager Ma Bae Won-chun was already lying there covered in blood.
The men receiving Manager Ma's signal dragged him in front of me.
"This is really the last time I'm asking. Think carefully. I don't care about loyalty or whatever. Whether Jo Hyun-gu ordered it or not I'm going to strip that bastard down to his underwear so don't count on him. Did Jo Hyun-gu order it?"
He seemed too weak to speak just nodding his head a few times.
"Let me sum it up for you. Nod if I'm right. When Park Hyeonseong refused to give up his spot on the national team Jo Hyun-gu gave you orders. You paid those brats lying over there to run him over with a car. Is that right?"
"Yes… yes…"
"Sigh… This is really messed up."
I couldn't help but sigh.
As I got up from my chair I spoke to Manager Ma.
"Cripple those bastards so they can never leave. Then send them to a salt farm."
"Understood."
"I'll wait outside. Come out when you're done cleaning up."
While I was outside organizing my thoughts Manager Ma quickly followed.
"I've instructed them to handle it as you ordered."
I nodded weakly.
"I'm tired. Let's go home. I need some rest."
I got into the back seat that Manager Ma opened for me. After closing the door he sat in the driver's seat and slowly started the car.
"We've arrived Boss."
I opened my eyes at Manager Ma's call.
Looks like I dozed off…
"You've worked hard today. We'll talk about the rest tomorrow."
Leaving Manager Ma bowing his head I went into my room.
Too tired to even wash up I just took off my clothes and went straight to bed.
When I opened my eyes morning sunlight was already streaming into the room.
Strangely I feel awful…
I'm sure I dreamed something but I can't quite remember what.
After having breakfast with Grandfather I headed to Hyeon-seong's hospital.
When I opened the door to the hospital room only Hyeon-seong was sleeping.
I sat down next to him quietly watching him sleep.
You idiot why didn't you just tell me? Did you think enduring would solve anything?
But I knew even if something like this happened again he wouldn't tell me afraid it might hinder me.
As I closed my eyes wondering how to talk to Hyeon-seong it happened.
"You're here?"
Hyeon-seong had woken up at some point and was looking at me.
"Just now. Did you sleep well?"
Hyeon-seong started to sit up.
"Is it okay for you to move?"
"Yeah what's up?"
This foolish guy is quick-witted when it comes to this.
"Is it that obvious?"
Hyeon-seong just nodded silently staring at me.
"What? What is it?"
I stared back at Hyeon-seong's eyes silently.
"What are you going to do now that I can't play sports anymore?"
"Huh? It's fine."
He said it was fine but there's no way it could be.
"I'm sorry. It's because of me."
"Why have you been like this since yesterday?"
I'm not sure how this will sound to Hyeon-seong but I didn't want to hide it.
"It wasn't an accident. Someone deliberately ran you over with a car. That senior's father ordered it because you wouldn't give up your national team spot."
Hyeon-seong's expression didn't change at my words. That made me feel even worse.
"I never imagined things would turn out this way because of my ambition. I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
"Why is this idiot talking nonsense first thing in the morning? How is this your fault?"
"You held on to the national team spot because of what I said right?"
"Mu-hyeok even if we're friends do you think I'd aim for the national team just because of that? I wanted to be number one in the sport I started that was a bigger reason."
This guy who usually doesn't talk much was explaining in detail.
"It's my choice what can I do? It's for me to accept. What do you have to be sorry for? Am I your subordinate? I'm your friend."
"Why are you stating the obvious?"
"But if you say it's because of you what does that make of all the years I spent training? That's enough."
His calm demeanor made me feel even more sorry.
"Still…"
"Hey Kim Mu-hyeok!"
I was surprised and looked at Hyeon-seong.
It's the first time I've seen Hyeon-seong angry since middle school.
"Okay I get it. Don't be mad."
"Say you're sorry one more time and I won't see you again."
"Ah! You punk okay I get it."
Hyeon-seong chuckled.
"I thought you'd forgotten your dialect but you haven't huh?"
"Sigh…"
He was one of the few people I could open my heart to a precious friend.
"So what should I do now? I can't do intense sports anymore and I can't follow you around like Manager Ma either."
"There's plenty to do. But you're talking a lot today aren't you?"
"…"
At that Hyeon-seong immediately shut his mouth.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Still I'm going to make the bastards who did this to you end up just like you. No I'll make sure they can never stand up again. This isn't for you it's for me."
Knowing my stubbornness Hyeon-seong didn't say anything more.
"I'm going. I'll come again tomorrow."
"Stop coming. I told Myeong-su to stop coming too."
"I'm leaving!"
Outside the hospital room Manager Ma was waiting.
"Please find out everything about Geukseong Construction. Their ongoing construction sites financial status shareholder list anything."
"Understood."
"I'm going to school for a bit. Call me when you're done with work and I'll have you pick me up then."
Manager Ma looked at me with restraining eyes as he spoke.
"I don't think you should go to school alone anymore."
"My identity isn't that well-known yet. I want to attend school comfortably at least for now."
"…"
"Just for a while."
"Alright."
"I'll take the car. You take a taxi."
After sending Manager Ma away I arrived at school.
A breeze that had lost summer's heat brushed past me.
It had been a while since I'd seen the school.
"Mu-hyeok!"
As I entered the lecture hall Oh Hyeon-woo greeted me with a raised hand. Everyone was already gathered.
I sat down next to Myeong-su.
"Did you visit Hyeon-seong?"
"Yeah."
"Who's Hyeon-seong?"
"A childhood friend. The three of us Mu-hyeok and I were like the three musketeers back then."
"If he's your friend he's my friend too. Introduce us sometime I'd like to meet him."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Oh Hyeon-woo's words.
"How's everyone's bar exam prep going?"
"We've been meeting often for group study sessions. But someone who suggested we form a study group hasn't shown up even once."
Yoon Jae-ha spoke teasingly and Han Min-kyung picked up on it.
"Well I guess that person doesn't need to study. Confident enough without it though it's a bit annoying."
"I've been busy with trips to the U.S. and stuff. I'll make time to join the study sessions."
"That's great. Though studying with the top student might make us feel relatively deprived."
As everyone laughed I nudged Myeong-su's side.
"I'm borrowing Myeong-su for a bit."
I took Myeong-su out of the lecture hall.
"I think I'll be pretty busy for a while. Hang out with the others and build some friendships. When Hyeon-seong is discharged my mother said she'd cook at your place. I'll drop by then."
"Why?"
"Some complicated stuff came up. I'll tell you later."
Myeong-su didn't question further.
"Alright. You know my social skills right? I hang out with them almost every day. It's much better than preparing for the exam alone."
"That's good then."
"Are you just going to leave then? You'll fail if you keep this up. At least attend classes."
"If it comes to that I'll take a leave of absence. I'll attend classes today. Just giving you a heads up."
"Okay."
After attending two classes I left school early.
Upon arriving home I called Chief Prosecutor Yoon.
"Chief Prosecutor it's Mu-hyeok."
– It's been a while junior.
"Are you doing well?"
– I'm doing well thanks to you.
"I heard you've become the most popular prosecutor among the junior prosecutors these days."
– Hahaha that's what they say.
I broached the subject to the calmly laughing Chief Prosecutor Yoon.
"Actually it's about the favor I mentioned before. The one we agreed on earlier… I think I'll need to use it."
– You want to use the favor?
"Yes it's a personal matter. And it's something you absolutely must do."
– Hmm alright. Tell me about it.
"There's a company called Geukseong Construction. I plan to take over that company soon. Once the preparations are complete I'd like the prosecution to step in as well."
– Geukseong Construction? What kind of company is that? I've never heard of it.
Chief Prosecutor Yoon asked curiously.
"It's not a major corporation. I hear it's quite well-known in the Chungcheong region. Their headquarters is in Seoul. I'm still gathering information so I'll give you the details when we meet after everything's prepared."
– Isn't it a waste? You could use it for something bigger later. Like after I become the head of the prosecution or something.
Honestly I never thought I'd need to use it.
Back then I planned to create connections with the court and put Chief Prosecutor Yoon in my debt. Originally I intended to make my gains benefit Chief Prosecutor Yoon.
"Just know that it's that important to me. For now it's a company run by a gangster who's rebranded himself as a businessman. I want to make someone else take the core assets make the president there broke and send him to prison. With tax evasion or something the work should be easy for you if you have the materials right?"
– We'd have to do it even without materials. Let's talk about the details when we meet next time.
"Yes I'll hang up now."
I ended the call with Chief Prosecutor Yoon.
Looking at Manager Ma standing in front of me I said.
"Find out as quickly as possible. Instead of killing we need to take everything they have and send them to prison. Anything can happen in there you know."
"Understood."
Of course I planned to put his son in the same situation as Hyeon-seong before that.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง