Jihyeon woke up feeling a bit sore. As he got up, some of his bones cracked. He headed to the bathroom and washed his face. In the mirror, he noticed a few bruises—nothing serious. He changed clothes while sending a message to Chulwoo to meet up, though he didn't want to do it in his room. So they agreed on a café.
Jihyeon arrived first. He ordered a juice and waited calmly. After a while, Chulwoo showed up, with a bandage on his nose. He sat across from him.
"Want something?" Jihyeon asked.
"I'm fine," Chulwoo replied, curtly.
Jihyeon nodded as he sipped his juice. Chulwoo frowned.
"Why did you call me?"
Jihyeon set the glass aside.
"Well, now we can move forward. Finally. Lucky it turned out well, right?"
Chulwoo grunted.
"Bastard, get to the point."
Jihyeon smiled slightly.
"Okay, okay, don't get upset."
Then he grew more serious.
"Have you heard of the assembly of the Gwanak-Gu thugs?"
Chulwoo tilted his head, thoughtful.
"I've only heard rumors. A place where thugs gather and talk about events or conflicts in the area that affect them. That's all I know. Maybe it's not even true."
"Part of what you said is true," Jihyeon replied. "But since you know a little, I'll get straight to the point. You said they meet to decide what to do in conflict cases, right?"
Chulwoo nodded.
Jihyeon said simply, crossing his arms.
"Now you should prepare to go to that place."
Chulwoo put his hand on his cheek, leaning back.
"Huh? Is this because you want me to be a representative or to join a team?"
Jihyeon frowned, looking at Chulwoo seriously.
"Honestly, you're too weak to be a representative. So you should join the team."
Chulwoo raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed.
"And which team?"
Jihyeon sighed, looking away for a moment before answering.
"Boramae-Dong. That girl, Siyeon, is looking for a representative."
Chulwoo crossed his arms and tilted his head, hesitating.
"So I have to join, no matter what?"
"Well… the truth is, you don't really have a choice," Jihyeon said, with a serious expression.
Chulwoo looked at him strangely, blinking as he processed what he just heard.
"What are you talking about?"
Jihyeon took a deep breath, staring at Chulwoo.
"Since you attacked members of the council… what do you think will happen to you?"
Chulwoo opened his mouth, sweat trickling down his forehead.
"Exactly," Jihyeon straightened up. "You'll be a target for the Gwanak-Gu thugs."
"Shit! Why the hell didn't you say so earlier? So they're coming for me?" Chulwoo hit the table lightly with his palm, frustrated.
Jihyeon shrugged.
"Relax. That will be decided at the assembly. So you can be calm… for now. Besides, if you join the council, nothing bad will happen to you."
Chulwoo looked at him as if he wanted to hit him, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
"So when is that damn assembly?"
Jihyeon squinted, thinking for a moment.
"I don't know."
With a disbelieving face, Chulwoo said,
"What do you mean you don't know?"
With a little chuckle, Jihyeon shrugged.
"I'm not a fortune teller. How would I know? I'm not part of the thug council either. I just had some information… I got it by beating up some thugs and through school rumors."
But in his mind, he thought: I know some things from reading Reality Quest before transmigrating into this body. Obviously, I can't tell Chulwoo that. And I wouldn't know for sure anyway… this is now real life. Not everything happens like in the manhwa. There are no events with exact dates.
To calm him down, Jihyeon said,
"So now all that's left is for Siyeon to contact you. She'll take you to that place."
"Okay, I understand," Chulwoo said. Then he asked, "Does that mean there are other candidates for the leader of Boramae-Dong too?"
Tapping the table with his finger, Jihyeon replied,
"Correct. That's why I said it's better for you to be a member. Leave the leadership to someone else."
Already bored and tired, Chulwoo said,
"How many are there? And how strong are they?"
Jihyeon thought for a moment.
"There are two. And about their level… they're roughly equal. Maybe a bit stronger, but not too much."
Though he was thinking that now they're almost equal, but in the future it will be difficult. Kang Sehun also gets stronger, though his growth is slow compared to someone like Dowan, who has a system. If we make a growth scale: Dowan would be number one, Kang Sehun second… that leaves Chulwoo last. Though we'll see if this idiot gets strong… or maybe not.
Chulwoo sighed.
"Alright. I won't cause trouble and will do what you said. But if I get stronger in the future… I'll challenge those candidates for the position. I don't like being subordinate to two people."
Jihyeon nodded.
"Sure, I won't deny you that."
He sighed. This guy is very arrogant.
"Now we can move to the second topic."
Chulwoo covered his face with his hand.
"Is there more? What do you want to do now?"
Seeing this reaction, Jihyeon laughed a little.
"Nothing as risky as before. It's just about starting to think about creating a gang. Don't you think? We need capable people… and also a territory that's not too close to the council."
Paying more attention, Chulwoo asked,
"So you want to start more seriously now?"
Tilting his head, Jihyeon said,
"Of course. But I don't want to gather a hundred thugs under my command or anything like that. I want strong people, not useless ones. Ideally, a small group. At least for now."
Chulwoo sighed, already exhausted from hearing so much crap in one day.
"Do you already have people in mind?"
Jihyeon shook his head.
"Unfortunately, no. I think I'm going to go to other places to look for people."
Nodding, Chulwoo added,
"Sounds reasonable. Anyway, most of the capable thugs are in the council," said Chulwoo, though deep down he doubted that Jihyeon would find anyone truly strong outside of it. After all, the best thugs were already gathered in that place.
Jihyeon nodded.
"By the way, I planned to go with those lackeys of yours."
Chulwoo frowned.
"Minho and Hyunseok?"
He asked, surprised. After all, those guys don't matter at all. They're useless.
"Yes. Since there are two of them, I think they can gather more information than just me, right?"
Already fed up, Chulwoo, frowning, said,
"Do what you want. I'll inform them."
Jihyeon nodded. Then he yawned and checked the time on his phone. They had talked quite a bit.
They stood up to leave. On the way, Jihyeon reminded him,
"Don't forget to train."
Walking without stopping, Chulwoo waved his hand.
"I won't."
They said their goodbyes.
Jihyeon went back home to rest. Although he didn't do anything that day, yesterday had been different. He yawned and went to sleep. After all, he had to be recovered to use the training he got after reaching 20%… when he fought Jichang in his dream.
…..
The next day, Jihyeon got up and got dressed to go to high school. As he walked, he ate a toast and checked his phone. He was looking for interesting places and figuring out which areas would be more practical to visit for recruiting people. The Yeongdeungpo area caught his attention.
Jihyeon muttered to himself,
"Maybe that place is suitable to start…"
He stopped thinking about it as he arrived at his classroom. The same usual bustle. He sat down, took out his notebook and a pencil, and rested his arms behind his head. The teacher hadn't arrived yet.
He sighed.
It's quite complicated to find people who aren't incompetent.
As if something activated in his mind, he squinted and scanned the students. He found Jihan Yoo, sitting nervously, as if wanting to go unnoticed.
Jihyeon clicked his tongue.
"This guy is quite capable… but an idiot with too many problems with himself. Also, I don't think he'd be compatible with the organization I want to create."
A while later, Chulwoo came in yawning. Jihyeon looked at him.
"What the hell? Does this guy have problems or something? Why is he always covered in bandages?"
He said that because right now he had bandages on his hands, and yesterday he seemed perfectly normal. But it was probably because he had been training or something like that.
Classes passed normally. Afterward, Jihyeon was walking through the hallways when he ran into Chulwoo, Minho, and Hyunseok. He greeted them.
"I already got that girl's message," Chulwoo said in a bored tone.
Jihyeon raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so? Well, don't cause too much trouble. So now you're heading to that place?"
Chulwoo nodded.
"And you? When are you going to recruit?"
Jihyeon checked his phone.
"Well, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go now. You two aren't busy, right?"
Minho and Hyunseok looked at each other and answered in unison.
"We have nothing to do."
Nodding, Jihyeon made a decision.
"Then let's go. I'm curious to see who our new ally will be. And you, Chulwoo… try to behave."
Chulwoo snapped his fingers and left.
Meanwhile, Jihyeon said,
"Let's go."
…..
Chulwoo arrived at the café. Upon entering, he saw her. Siyeon, arms crossed, with her usual icy expression. He stopped in front of her and said,
"Well, if it isn't the ice queen."
Siyeon completely ignored him.
"I need you to do me a favor."
Chulwoo sighed.
"Is this how favors are asked now? What's it about?"
"But if you help me, I'll give you money."
Chulwoo frowned. Reluctantly, he replied,
"Fine… now you like playing mysteries, huh?"
But seeing Siyeon's face, he gave in.
"Alright. What do you want me to do?"
"You'll find out in time."
Chulwoo's veins bulged. Siyeon indicated for him to follow her.
They walked together to a house. When Siyeon knocked on the door, Chulwoo was surprised to see Dowan come out.
"You said you'd grant me a favor, right?" Siyeon said.
Dowan, clearly nervous, replied,
"Yes…"
Siyeon asked them to come along. No one spoke during the walk. The atmosphere was tense.
When they arrived at the mall, Chulwoo and Dowan looked at each other, confused.
"What are we doing here?" Chulwoo asked.
Siyeon pointed at their clothes.
"You need new clothes. You both look like you're from a low-budget movie."
Chulwoo was outraged.
"I think you have vision problems. I'll admit he," he pointed at Dowan, "is ugly, but me…"
"Bastard, you're just as ugly as I am," Dowan replied.
"Shut up!" Siyeon ordered.
They reluctantly accepted the wardrobe change. At the mall, Siyeon picked out the clothes and threw them at them without a word.
After changing, Chulwoo looked at him mockingly.
"You look like an idiot now."
"Your clothes look like a clown. I don't think you're in a position to mock me," Dowan replied.
Then Dowan invited Siyeon to eat and later to karaoke rooms, trying to show off. Chulwoo watched with a smirk, not wanting to play. Dowan pressured him, calling him a coward. Chulwoo reluctantly joined… and ended up humiliated.
Dowan won some plush toys and ran to Siyeon.
"Siyeon, look what I got for you!"
Siyeon looked at him like he was foolish. She was about to speak, but someone grabbed Dowan by the hair.
"My hair! Let go!" he shouted.
It was Sehun Kang, dressed in a tracksuit, accompanied by two laughing girls. He wouldn't let go of Dowan.
"Who's this idiot?" he asked, looking at Siyeon.
Dowan couldn't answer. Siyeon did for him.
"He's my boyfriend. So take your hands off him, Sehun Kang."
Chulwoo, who was drinking a beverage, spit it out. Dowan and Sehun both shouted at the same time with incredulous faces.
"Boyfriend!?"
"Let go," she repeated.
"Fine," Sehun said, releasing him.
Dowan fell to the ground, rubbing his head. Sehun looked at Chulwoo.
"And who the hell is this?"
Chulwoo raised his middle finger.
"What does it matter to you, piece of shit?"
Sehun squinted and tried to step closer, but Siyeon stopped him.
"Let's go."
She grabbed Dowan off the ground. Chulwoo followed them, smirking as he looked back. Sehun got irritated, but Chulwoo just stuck out his tongue as they walked away.
After a while, the three arrived at another place. A large building. Siyeon, ignoring the thoughts of the two, walked inside.
In the elevator, Dowan kept asking questions. Chulwoo interrupted him.
"By the way, why are you involved in this?"
Looking somewhat nervous, Dowan explained his version.
"That day at karaoke, I had to fight some thugs… and then Siyeon showed up."
Chulwoo raised an eyebrow.
"And that's it? What a weak bastard."
Dowan's face tensed, ready to defend himself.
"I'm not done explaining what happened…"
"We're here. Don't talk," Siyeon interrupted.
The two fell silent.
When the elevator doors opened, they found themselves in a spacious room, dimly lit, surrounded by rows of chairs filled with thugs. Some were quietly talking, others just observing. The atmosphere was heavy, full of authority and hierarchy.
Siyeon stepped out of the elevator with a firm stride, completely ignoring the tension in the air. Chulwoo and Dowan followed, though with very different reactions.
Dowan was paralyzed, unsure of what to do. His eyes nervously scanned the room, as if every gaze was a threat. In contrast, Chulwoo was more focused. This place is pretty organized. They don't seem like just a bunch of delinquents…
In the center of the room, on an elevated podium, a man elegantly dressed struck a small wooden hammer. The sound resonated with authority, silencing the room.
"Now begins the assembly of the Gwanak District Thug Council," he announced, with a firm and resonant voice.
Everyone present fell silent. All eyes turned to the podium.
Dowan swallowed hard. Chulwoo crossed his arms, keeping his gaze forward.
"So this is the famous thug meeting place…"