[Police have apprehended a group of individuals manufacturing drugs in a building located in the rural mountains on the 20th. The group has been arrested on charges of drug manufacturing, human trafficking, organ trafficking, and procuring prostitution, and currently…]
“Next.”
Beep?
Under the direction of Kim Dae-chun, the boss of the Poison Toad Gang, his right-hand man Oh Kang-yeol diligently pressed the remote control.
As a result, the television screen changed. While before, the screen was filled with the face of an anchor, now it showed the scene of a drug manufacturing facility.
“Here is reporter Choi Dae-woo at the scene. The victims confined here were forced to engage in activities such as drug manufacturing without any safety equipment…”
“Return my daughter! Where’s my daughter-!”
“Unfortunately, there are still victims who have not returned. Outside the factory, families of the victims are crying out.”
The composed voice of the reporter overlapped with the tearful voices of the victims’ families.
Kim Dae-chun shook his head in frustration, holding back curses.
“Tsk, making them work in drug manufacturing without providing any safety equipment? Those damn bastards are all the same. And there are still victims missing? They should at least return the bodies-!”
However, this broadcast was not the news he was looking for.
“Tsk tsk. It’s a pity. Next.”
“Yes, boss.”
“The real estate prices in Seoul’s Sangwon-dong are skyrocketing. Sangwon-dong has recently become known as a place where famous hunters are moving one after another. This recent arrest of human trafficking organization members also began in Sangwon-dong….”
“Next.”
“The human trafficking organization has been revealed to plan crimes targeting acquaintances of kidnapped victims in order to evade surveillance by police monitoring delinquents and debtors.”
“Hmm. Where could it be? Next.”
“According to the rescued victims, the human trafficking organization is engaged in the act of ‘delivery,’ transferring people to those known as ‘VIPs.’ There are still 212 individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown….”
After going through several channels, Kim Dae-chun finally saw the screen he intended to find.
“Here it is. Here!”
It was the broadcast featuring himself, Kim Dae-chun. The video of the ‘Brave Citizen Award’ ceremony. Channel 823. No wonder it was hard to find.
“Ah, darn it. They should’ve aired this on regular TV. I almost missed it.”
“Yeah, you’re right. By the way, boss. You look really good on camera.”
“Hmm. You think so?”
“Yes, yes. Out of all the footage captured on camera so far, this is the coolest.”
“Well, of course, you little rascal-!”
Kim Dae-chun’s appearance on TV was not new.
However, this time, Kim Dae-chun stood in front of the camera for a different reason than in the past.
In the past, if the scene was of him being handcuffed and getting into a police escort vehicle…
[Today, the city of Seoul awarded the Brave Citizen Award to resident Oh Dong-chi of Sangwon-dong. Oh Dong-chi is currently hospitalized, and representing him is the volunteer organization leader, Mr. Kim Dae-chun.]
Now, the scene of Oh Dong-chi receiving the Brave Citizen Award was being broadcast on TV.
Kim Dae-chun, well done. Well done indeed!
Chuckling, he called for Oh Kang-yeol.
“Kang-yeol.”
“Are you asking me to film, sir?”
“This scoundrel!”
“Gasp. Oh, I, I didn’t mean-”
“That’s right. Pretend if you want. Our Kang-yeol here is very perceptive.”
“Well, sir, I’ve been with you for over ten years.”
“That’s true. But why was this guy so clueless before? Darn it. He’s still as clueless as ever.”
“…Haha. I really didn’t know that Boss Dok was in the office. Sir, I apologize.”
Under Kim Dae-chun’s uncomfortable gaze, Oh Kang-yeol quickly bent over and then redirected the boss’s attention to his phone.
“Uh, sir. It’s happening now. The scene where he receives the plaque and shakes hands!”
“Hmm. Is that so? Make sure you film it properly. It’s going to be a matter of pride for our Poison Toad.”
“Yes, sir!”
Although the name engraved on the plaque is that of a subordinate, Oh Dong-chi, it’s okay.
An organization is like one body, isn’t it? What belongs to Oh Dong-chi belongs to Kim Dae-chun, and what belongs to Kim Dae-chun is Kim Dae-chun’s.
Well, whether he liked it or not, Kim Dae-chun smiled proudly and asked about Dong-chi’s well-being.
“So, how’s Dong-chi?”
“He’s doing well. Oh, and the owner of the ‘Molak Molak’ cafe is hospitalized in the room next to his. When I visited them this time, the atmosphere between them seemed a bit…”
“A bit what?”
“Awkward. Hehe.”
“Is that so? Hehe. Well, that’s the best reward.”
At that moment, as Kim Dae-chun and Oh Kang-yeol exchanged sinister smiles…
– Is that guy the head of a volunteer organization? So cool!^^
– Volunteer organization? He’s talking nonsense.
– Those are just trash living off Sangwon-dong. lol
– They’re called the Doke Gecko Faction. You can tell why by looking at his face, right?
– Why give an award to someone like him? Isn’t the Seoul city government bribed?
At the bottom of the screen, viewer opinions kept popping up. Most of them were negative.
Channel 823. I thought nobody watched it, but it seems there are quite a few viewers.
“Trash? Are they talking about us? How do they think we’re living right now! And bribes, darn it. We can’t even afford protection money, let alone bribes!”
“Sir, please calm down. I’ll handle it.”
Stopping the video recording, Oh Kang-yeol quickly typed a text message. Soon, the message he sent appeared on the screen.
– Trash? Bribes? Stop spreading fake information. I’ll sue.
– Sue? That’s a joke lol. Gangsters are trying to act tough. Can’t sue lol. Aren’t you yourself?
– Yeah. The broadcasting station doesn’t give out personal information. You damn Doke Gecko.
Kim Dae-chun and Oh Kang-yeol’s faces turned pale for a moment. For every opinion sent, ten more responses came back. It was impossible to argue with them.
And how they insulted them. Kim Dae-chun and Oh Kang-yeol gritted their teeth.
“Aaargh! These guys who can’t even speak up in person!”
– Can you see them blabbering? Shouting out loud?
“Sir! They’re saying that guy’s watching us!”
“Darn it. Where’s the camera? Where is it?”
“I’ll call the guys and have them thoroughly check the office. You, you punk. You’re still watching, aren’t you? You won’t stay still. You, I-!”
– He seems like a hothead lol.
– lol, no way.
“…!”
“I, I want that guy here now.”
The two men who had been fooled so nicely. Their faces turned as red as autumn leaves.
Decades of gangster life. They had never experienced such ridicule before. That’s why it ignited even more anger.
Kim Dae-chun overturned the table, and Oh Kang-yeol wrote curses and sent them.
Of course, Oh Kang-yeol’s message didn’t appear on the screen. Instead, another viewer’s opinion popped up.
– That guy’s definitely a gangster. But it’s also true that he volunteers. He’s someone who’s living well and has his head on straight. Don’t say anything too harsh.
– Right. Don’t speak unless you live in Sangwon-dong. That uncle is nice. He comes to our mom’s store and helps us move stuff every day.
– That’s right. When I finish studying at the library, it’s always scary going home in the early morning, but thanks to those uncles, I feel relieved.
– We’re the ones being targeted, but we’re fine. Why are they making a fuss? Uncle, congratulations on the Courageous Citizen Award lol.
– He used to be unbearable to look at, but not anymore. Now he’s necessary for Sangwon-dong.
This time, there were opinions supporting the Doke Gecko Faction. Kim Dae-chun and Oh Kang-yeol seemed to know who sent those messages.
‘…Residents?’
Kim Dae-chun and Oh Kang-yeol felt a strange emotion that couldn’t be described in words.
They had never been ridiculed before, but they had never received such encouragement either.
This was a turning point. If they had volunteered until now because of ‘others’.
“Hmm. Didn’t you say today’s the day when the vegetables come in at the Sangwon vegetable store?”
“Yes, sir. Didn’t the vegetable seller complain about his weak wrists? We should probably go help.”
“Hmm. That’s right. It’s not really difficult for us. You know, that’s why people say we’re necessary for Sangwon-dong.”
“Haha. That’s right, sir. Shall we go move some vegetables then?”
“Sounds good. Let’s go.”
Now, Kim Dae-chun and Oh Kang-yeol were stepping forward voluntarily. When the upper stream did so, there was no need to mention the lower stream.
***
Despite the cold winter rain pouring down heavily, Dok’s Restaurant was packed to capacity today as well.
A long line stretched out. Even though they had umbrellas, one shoulder still got wet from the fierce rain and wind.
Nevertheless, people stood their ground without a care.
Among them were those who were visiting Dok’s Restaurant for the first time.
No matter which television channel you tuned into, all the news was related to “Sangwon-dong” at the moment.
Sangwon-dong had become the hottest neighborhood in South Korea.
It was a neighborhood where famous hunters had moved in en masse. A neighborhood where famous hunters were actively serving as members of the neighborhood watch. A neighborhood where you didn’t have to fear gangsters.
There wasn’t a single ordinary corner in this neighborhood, making it hard to believe without seeing it firsthand.
For this reason, people came to visit Sangwon-dong. To see for themselves.
In the midst of this, they came across “Dok’s Restaurant” in Sangwon-dong.
Just how delicious could the food be for people to stand in such a long line despite the rain?
So, those who visited for the first time couldn’t resist their curiosity and joined the line.
“Ugh, I overslept for nothing.”
Among them was Jong-sik.
Jong-sik, who emerged from the door, took a short breath and got in line.
Of course, Jong-sik could have just walked in without waiting. But he chose not to.
In his opinion, everyone should be equal at the table.
So, he chose to wait.
During this time,
“Wow! Hunter Dok Jong-sik?”
Someone called out to Jong-sik. It was quite a surprised voice. Jong-sik turned his head towards the source of the sound.
Two women were running towards the line.
It was those with the masks.
“Huh?”
“Wow! Just seeing your back, it’s unmistakable. Our daughter was right. Hello!”
“Hello. Um, you helped us at the drug factory. Do you happen to remember…”
“Yes, it’s Hye-mi, right? And this is Hye-mi’s mother.”
“That’s right. Hehe.”
She was someone who could smile so brightly. The middle-aged woman searching for her daughter revealed her front teeth and smiled widely.
“Hehe.”
That’s why blood can’t be fooled, Hye-mi, too, smiled like her mother.
Jong-sik looked at the mother and daughter and asked, “Is Hye-mi doing okay?”
“Yes. She’s doing much better now.”
It was when Hye-mi answered, trying to hide her trembling fingertips.
“Next customers, please come in. Huh? Mr. Big Boss!”
“Oh, is there a table available?”
The restaurant staff opened the door. He looked surprised when he saw Jong-sik waiting in line.
“You were waiting in line? You could’ve just come in and told us!”
“It’s not like I have a separate table reserved, and what’s the point of telling you when there’s no solution. Besides, I didn’t wait long.”
“Hmm. Anyway, please come in!”
“Is it a table for one?”
“No, it’s for four, but…”
“That’s perfect. Then I’ll sit with the people behind me.”
Jong-sik looked at the mother and daughter behind him and asked, “Would you mind sharing a table?”
“Oh, that would be wonderful for us. We actually wanted to meet and thank you anyway.”
The middle-aged woman nodded eagerly as if there was no need to think twice.
