“From here, I’ll go alone.”
Yeo-jin, the owner of Cafe ‘Morak Morak’, suddenly stopped walking and said. In response, the burly man waved his hand as if to say, “What nonsense.”
“Oh! You can’t do that. I’ve received orders too.”
“It’s near my house, so it’s okay for me to go alone. I feel bad for taking up your time unnecessarily.”
“It’s not okay with me. If something happens after you go ahead first… Ah-!”
Something unbearable might happen. The man closed his eyes tightly. Yeo-jin chuckled in response.
“Haha. Okay, I get it. Let’s do it that way. I’m actually grateful.”
“No, I’m more grateful. Oh, and by the way. Ahem. I’ve been… um… sorry for the past.”
“Yes? I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”
“I, um, I’ve been sorry for the past. Including the radio silence.”
“Are you sorry for shouting at the cafe customers too?”
“Yes, yes. Looking back now, I realize I’ve done a lot of bad things. There won’t be such incidents in the future. So…”
“So?”
“So let’s bury our past.”
For a moment, memories of what had happened with the members of the Poison Toad flashed through Yeo-jin’s mind like a passing comet.
It goes without saying that there were no pleasant memories. However, Yeo-jin decided to bury the past as the man sincerely apologized. It was different from the encounter with Kim Seok-ho’s wife earlier in the morning.
“Okay, got it. Should I not mention it to Chief Dok?”
“Well, I didn’t mean it in that sense.”
“Oh, then can I tell him?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Haha. Instead, let’s not do it again in the future. Honestly, it’s been really tough all this time.”
“Don’t worry. You’ve really turned over a new leaf! Once again, I’m really sorry for everything.”
Yeo-jin, who accepted the apology, could now have a relaxed conversation with the man.
The man from Poison Toad said he would guard her way home tomorrow night, and Yeo-jin didn’t refuse.
How long had they been walking like that?
Eventually, they arrived in front of Yeo-jin’s house.
“We’re finally here. I’ll go inside now.”
“Yes. Please go inside. I’ll wait and see you go in. Oh, and didn’t you say you’ll leave work at two tomorrow?”
“Um, since there’s also closing time, is two-thirty okay?”
“Understood. Then I’ll be in front of the cafe by two fifteen. Wait for me instead of going in first.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Yeo-jin turned her back and opened the door of her house. The man was watching her silhouette from outside the gate.
As Yeo-jin climbed the stairs to the second floor and entered her house, she quickly pressed the door lock’s password and disappeared from view.
“Now, shall I go too?”
The man also moved with a relieved heart.
No, he intended to.
“Ack- Ugh!”
If he hadn’t heard that piercing scream.
Though faint, it was definitely Yeo-jin’s voice.
“Oh no, what’s going on here?”
The burly man pressed the emergency bell installed next to the gate. Then he swiftly ran up the stairs.
“Boss-!”
-Beep beep beep beep!
It was the first time an emergency bell had rung in Sangwon-dong.
***
The hunters’ operating procedure was as follows:
Step 1: Hide inside the house, avoiding the target’s sight.
Step 2: Quickly ambush the target when they enter the house after taking off their shoes.
Step 3: Render the target incapacitated using prepared drugs.
Step 4: Package the unconscious target and leave the scene.
What a truly simple operating procedure. However, today, the target came in before they could even hide.
As a result, there was a slight hiccup in the hunters’ plan.
The hunters, lying in the dark living room, leisurely playing mobile games.
– Ring ring ring ring.
At the sound of the door lock, the guys hurriedly got up. But it was already too late.
They met eyes with the target standing in the entrance.
“Oh, damn it. Grab him-!”
“Ahh!”
With a scream, the target turned to flee the house. But soon, the target was caught by the back of the head.
“Gyah!”
“Well, that was a close call.”
Almost let her slip away. The hunter covered the target’s mouth. The target struggled fiercely.
“Mmm, mmm!”
“Where do you think you’re struggling for?”
A struggle is futile against force.
Thud, thud, thud!
While trying to subdue the target with punches, they heard commotion outside. Simultaneously, a loud “Beep beep beep!” rang out.
“Boss-!”
Hearing the noise, the hunters assumed their attack positions.
“Damn it. Seems like we’ve been rumbled.”
“What’s that noise again? It’s not a fire.”
“For now, let’s ignore that. Let’s deal with whoever’s coming.”
“Youngest, you hold onto the target.”
Eventually, the door opened, and the Poison Toad man appeared. Two of the three hunters faced him. The youngest held onto the target.
“What are you guys doing? Is the boss okay?”
“Ugh.”
“Whoa. Can’t lose focus.”
As the words were spoken, the hunter drew out his machete.
Slish. The machete, wielded in reverse, surged toward the Poison Toad man’s abdomen. Instinctively, the burly man leaned back, narrowly dodging the sudden attack. He, too, was a tough guy who relied on brute force.
“Whoa, you dodged it?”
“Hyung, isn’t that guy with us?”
The man swallowed hard, feeling his waist for a moment. Then, he gripped his hatchet. Swinging it, he said, “I don’t know where you crawled in from, but it’s best if you leave while you can.”
“You’re kidding. Sangmuk, attack!”
Slish. Clang!
Between the clash of the machete and the hatchet, a dagger plunged into the Poison Toad man’s side. The flesh tore apart in an instant. Crimson blood splattered, staining the floor.
“Ugh…!”
That’s why they say there’s no business with daggers involved. Two hunters pounced on the man, their threatening weapons tearing into his body.
Soon, the burly man was a mess. He could barely hold the hatchet, his strength drained.
“Darn it, just when I thought I could start anew…”
He reflected on his past as he watched the machete closing in. The dreadful pain would surely follow now.
But strangely, he didn’t feel any pain.
Moreover, whose voice was that he heard?
“…Boss?”
That’s right. When he opened his eyes, he saw Jong-sik in front of him, holding the machete with his bare hands.
It was inexplicable to see the former enemy now standing before him, yet it brought a sense of relief.
The man breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as though he had been given a second chance.
“Take a breather.”
Jong-sik spoke and turned his gaze. In his line of sight were three captured individuals, all wearing expressions filled with uncertainty.
‘What on earth is going on.’
‘When did they come in?’
‘He grabbed the machete with his bare hands?’
Though they were having different thoughts, their current emotion was the same: fear. They looked at Jong-sik with fear in their eyes. It was an instinctive reaction.
“G-guok.”
Moreover, witnessing Jong-sik effortlessly subdue one of the hunters in an instant…
“So, who are you guys, and why are you here?”
The remaining two couldn’t help but answer.
A moment later.
People began arriving one by one at Yeo-jin’s house. At this rate, it seemed like the whole neighborhood had shown up.
“What on earth is going on here?”
“Hey, Seok-sam. What happened to your body?”
“Is Boss Dok okay?”
Jong-sik spoke as he looked at the newcomers who arrived late.
“Yes. But these guys seem to be members of the human trafficking organization that’s been in the news lately.”
***
Ten people kneeling in a row, all wearing eyes filled with fear.
“Hey, you scumbags.”
The source of their fear was the man standing before them.
The man in charge of the “action unit” in the human trafficking organization. His foot stomped on someone’s head.
Thud!
It was undoubtedly a human head, yet the man showed no hesitation as if he were kicking a soccer ball.
“G-guh.”
“I must have made myself clear.”
Thud!
“If you get caught lying, you’re done for. And yet, you still dared to lie!”
“Cough.”
Thud!
“You wanted to die, didn’t you? If that’s your wish, then I’ll grant it.”
He chuckled cruelly as he mercilessly struck the fallen man’s head on the ground.
The person, who had been whimpering softly, eventually became unable to make any sound. He had likely died from the beating.
“Heh heh heh.”
Those who were watching stifled their cries. Especially the nine individuals kneeling were in a serious condition.
Some had lost consciousness and fallen, while others had relieved themselves in their kneeling position.
Knowing they would soon face a similar fate, they couldn’t maintain their composure.
Then, someone raised their hand and shouted.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll tell the truth this time. I promise. Please spare me.”
At the earnest plea, the leader turned his head.
“Oh? Now you decide to tell the truth?”
“Yes, yes! I’m absolutely sure this time.”
The kneeling person began to provide information about their target.
“It’s my girlfriend. She lives alone near the university. Her routine is simple. She only goes between the library and home.”
“What’s her address?”
“In Gangwon Province…”
“Okay, noted. And does she share her house password?”
“It’s my birthday, no… 1123. I’m really telling the truth this time. I’m absolutely sure.”
“Whether it’s true or not will be confirmed by the hunters.”
“Then what about me…?”
With a cruel smile, the leader said, “You? You’ll die right here.”
“W-what…?”
“I always keep my word. I said if you get caught lying, you’ll die.”
“That’s, that’s what I told you, isn’t it? Why are you doing this? Please, spare me. Ugh…”
“Oh. I appreciate that. But did I say I’d spare you? No, I didn’t. You just spilled the beans. Hehe.”
“Ugh…”
“You said she’s your girlfriend, right? We’ll make good use of her.”
It was sheer brutality. The leader upheld his word and ruthlessly took the lives of nine individuals, including the man who divulged his girlfriend’s information.
Wiping the blood off his hands, he spoke to a fellow member of the organization.
“Did you record all the information about the girl he mentioned?”
“Yes. I’ll immediately pass it on to the hunters.”
“Good. Since the delivery date is approaching, tell them to bring her back as soon as possible.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll handle things here, so you can leave now.”
The armed member of the organization left the room. Inside were the gruesome corpses, the leader, and about a dozen people.
“You all saw, right? This is what happens if you get caught lying. There’s a way to verify everything. Right? Of course, even if you don’t talk, it’ll end up like this.”
It wasn’t for nothing that he showed them the horror. He ingrained in them the consequences of lying.
The effect was undeniable. The leader could sense resignation in the remaining individuals’ eyes.
“I don’t want to kill any of you. So, can we all cooperate? Now, who’s going to cooperate first? You, over there.”
Those who avoided the leader’s gaze.
“If nobody steps forward, I’ll pick someone. You, in the yellow clothes.”
At his call, the woman trembled.
“Let’s start with you.”
“Pl-please spare me.”
“Ah, this woman is really getting on my nerves. Who’s going to die for her? I said I’d spare anyone who listens carefully, didn’t I?”
Instead, they had to bring someone they knew into the abyss of evil. That was worse than death. Hye-mi avoided the leader’s gaze and lowered her head.
“…Please…”
Just means shut up and die.
Tears fell onto the floor.
“Even after seeing that, some people can’t get their act together.”
The leader spat out in a harsh voice.
I thought I laid the groundwork, but this is how they repay me.
“I guarantee you won’t die peacefully. I’ll make sure of that.”
The leader approached her from behind and roughly grabbed her hair, forcing her head down.
“Ugh.”
Even so, Hye-mi didn’t beg for her life. She resigned herself to death. But for a moment, hope flickered in her eyes. It was because of the man she saw through the window.
“Am I seeing things? Is that person…”
He was someone she had recently come across while searching for a good restaurant.
[Photo]
#DokgaRestaurant #SangwonDongDelight #Dokjong Food Hunter in one shot. #PotionFood #APlaceIWannaKeepSecret
An influencer who posted about ‘Dok’s Family Restaurant.’ The man in the photo she posted.
His unforgettable appearance made him memorable. He was undoubtedly the Hunter, Dok Jong-sik .
