A black Mercedes with thin red racing stripes cut smoothly through the road. Joe and Woo-jin occupied the back seat while Hyeon-ju gripped the wheel. Geon-woo sat in the passenger seat and watched the road.
"Juju, where are we headed exactly?"
Hyeon-ju winced at Woo-jin's overly affectionate tone. "Can you lose the voice? It's giving me the creeps. We are going to the orphanage I mentioned. Since Geon-woo's apartment address was leaked, it is not safe for his mom. Grandpa told me to take her there for the time being."
Geon-woo turned to Hyeon-ju with a look of genuine gratitude. He managed a small smile. "Thank you, Hyeon-ju."
"Don't mention it. I am the one who dragged you all into this mess. It is the least I can do."
"I am just glad I can help," Geon-woo said firmly. "I only wish I could do more."
Woo-jin piped up from the back and punched the air. "Damn right! Let's kick those bastards' asses!"
Joe cleared his throat and spoke in a low voice. "It is only going to get more dangerous from here on out. Do not let your adrenaline do the thinking."
"Joe is right," Hyeon-ju added. She pulled the car to a stop in front of a massive building. A banner draped over the entrance read: LOVE ORPHANAGE. "Now, get out. We are here."
Woo-jin and Geon-woo stepped out of the car. They groaned as they stretched their stiff limbs on the pavement.
"Aren't you guys coming in?" Geon-woo asked as he looked back at the car.
Hyeon-ju shook her head. "I am not really in the mood for a tour. Make it quick."
Joe remained silent and fixed his gaze on the distance. In his world, silence was a clear no.
"Suit yourselves. We will be right back," Geon-woo said. The two of them headed inside the building.
A heavy silence settled between Hyeon-ju and Joe in the car. Hyeon-ju felt the awkwardness and decided to break the ice.
"So, are you actually training them? Geon-woo and Woo-jin?"
"I am keeping them on their toes," Joe answered. "Preparing them for what is coming."
Hyeon-ju rolled her eyes. "That is exactly what training means, you know."
Joe did not bother responding. Hyeon-ju muttered under her breath. "Total introvert."
"I am not," Joe said. His hearing was sharper than she expected. "I simply prefer to speak when it is necessary."
Hyeon-ju sighed. "Fine. If you are not an introvert, you are just difficult to work with. Whatever. Tell me, why did you become a boxer anyway?"
A soft smile touched Joe's lips. Hyeon-ju blinked and her jaw nearly dropped. "Holy shit! You actually know how to smile?"
"I am human. I have emotions just like anyone else."
"Okay, okay. So, what is the story?"
Joe leaned back and tracked a memory. "Nothing grand. I was an orphan. I had a hair-trigger temper so I was shuffled from one orphanage to another. I hated it. I just wanted to be free. I tried to escape constantly and got caught every time until one day I finally made it out. I spent my days gambling, street fighting, and scamming people for pocket change. Looking back, those days were almost funny. I was not even fifteen yet."
Hyeon-ju nodded slowly. "Yeah. Sounds like we lived the same life."
"I know. When I heard your story at the BBQ place, I was surprised."
Hyeon-ju offered a small smile.
"Just like you found Mr. Choi," Joe continued, "I had someone, too. I was a real ass to him at first. His name was Danpei Tange. When we first met, he was a drunk trying to shake me down for cash. I beat the hell out of him. But instead of getting angry, he was fascinated. He told me I had a gift and begged me to box. I refused for a long time but the old man was stubborn. He pestered me until I finally stepped into the ring. After that, the ring became my whole world."
"Seeing you now, it is hard to picture you as some feisty punk," Hyeon-ju remarked. "You look like a dead fish most of the time."
Just as Joe was about to retort, Geon-woo and Woo-jin emerged from the building.
"Guys, it is all okay. I have shown the place to mom. She likes it. I will bring her by noon."
Hyeon-ju nodded. "Hmm."
---
That night, Du-yeong pulled his bike up to a neon-lit pool house. He stepped inside. The room was washed in a hazy blend of blue and green light. His eyes landed on a man in the corner who was exhaling smoke through a hole in his mask.
Du-yeong approached. "Hey, Gwang-mu. Been a while."
Gwang-mu stood up immediately. "Sir Du-yeong. I hope you have been well."
Du-yeong patted his shoulder and took a seat. Gwang-mu sat across from him and leaned in.
"Did you find anything out?"
Gwang-mu nodded and flicked ash from his cigarette. "Yeah. I have an old school friend who works for one of Kim Myeong-gil's guys. He was there when it went down. From what I hear, it was brutal. They were waiting at a gas station. As soon as the Il Group heir showed up, they snatched him. They beat him and threatened to end him. They are probably the only crew in the country crazy enough to touch a family like that."
Du-yeong leaned in. "And?"
Gwang-mu took a long drag of his cigarette and exhaled slowly. "And they filmed the whole thing. But it is messy."
Du-yeong left the pool hall after finishing his talk with Gwang-mu. He kicked his bike into gear and headed toward Yang-jung's sushi restaurant. The closed sign was already hanging out front but he slipped inside through the back entrance.
He made his way to a private room and gave the sliding door a sharp knock.
Yang-jung slid the door open a moment later. President Choi and Mr. Oh were already waiting inside. Their faces were cast in shadows by the dim lighting.
Du-yeong took a seat at the low table next to Mr. Oh. Yang-jung sat beside President Choi.
Mr. Oh slid a few photos across the table. He tapped the first one. "This is Kim Jun-min, the Sales Director at Smile Capital. Six priors for fraud. Used cars, credit cards, you name it. He did a stint at the Seoul Nambu Detention Center."
Then he pointed to the second photo. "Im Jang-do. He was a cadet at the police academy until he got kicked out for harassing a junior. No priors. He is currently their Head of Strategic Planning."
Du-yeong raised an eyebrow. "That is a weird pair."
President Choi shook his head. "Not at all. Having someone who knows exactly how the police operate is how they have managed to stay under the radar."
Yang-jung studied the photos carefully. "So, it is these two?"
Mr. Oh nodded. "Yes."
Yang-jung pushed the photos back toward Mr. Oh. "Do you have addresses?"
"I have one for Jun-min," Mr. Oh said. He pointed at the photo. "He lives in Saseong-dong. We have his car model and the plate number."
Yang-jung turned to President Choi. "We need to hit them hard and fast. Before they see us coming."
"They will catch on soon enough," President Choi agreed with a grim nod.
Du-yeong reached out and dragged Jun-min's photo toward him. He pressed his index finger firmly onto the man's face. "This one. I will handle him."
Yang-jung nodded. "Tomorrow night?"
"How far should we go?" Du-yeong asked. His voice was flat.
Yang-jung looked surprised by the question. "What do you mean how far? Take them out of the game."
Du-yeong gave a solemn nod.
"I will deal with Kim Myeong-gil," Yang-jung added. He turned to President Choi.
"He never goes anywhere alone," Choi warned. "And he is a master manipulator. Make sure you and Du-yeong go together. Do not let him get in your head."
Yang-jung looked like he wanted to argue but he eventually gave in. "Fine. I will just tail him for now."
President Choi turned back to Mr. Oh. "Was there a massive guy with Myeong-gil, by any chance?"
Mr. Oh nodded. "Ah, yes. The agency asked for more time on that one. I will look into it further."
"Who is he?" Du-yeong asked.
"The man who threw me out the window," President Choi answered. His voice was cold. "He is as strong as an ox."
Yang-jung suddenly spoke up. "Sir, what is the plan for the cash at the bookstore?"
"We have to move it," Choi replied. "I have seen strangers hanging around the area for a few days now. I am afraid Myeong-gil already knows the location."
Yang-jung hesitated. "Why don't we let the kids move the money?"
President Choi looked him dead in the eye and his gaze sharpened.
Yang-jung sighed. "The truth is, we are running out of time and we are short on manpower."
"Those kids are the real deal," Du-yeong chimed in. "They mowed down thirty men."
Yang-jung glanced at him. "You saw that?"
"They were all face-down by the time I arrived," Du-yeong said. "Thirty men and they did not even use knives. They are not your average kids."
Yang-jung turned back to President Choi one last time. "Sir, if they move it early in the morning, it should be fine. Give them a chance. Hyeon-ju is smart. She will lead them well."
President Choi took off his glasses. His face was etched with tension. He remained silent for a long moment but he did not say no.