“Oh, it’s possible now. I’ll head there right away.”
Jong-sik left home. It was because he had received a call from the real estate office he had visited recently.
The real estate agent had informed him that he had set up appointments with the owners of the properties listed for sale.
Since the first contract had been signed, all he had to do today was go, stamp the document, and transfer the remaining balance.
“Now I can take them home with peace of mind.”
With that thought, his heart felt lighter.
Perhaps that’s why.
Although it was early winter, the weather felt warm.
Of course, it was still winter.
Yellowed gingko leaves fell softly. Jong-sik found himself in front of the real estate office without realizing it as he walked on the fallen leaves.
Ding-dong.
“Huh? Mr. Dogk you’re here already.”
“Yes. Am I late?”
“Oh, no, not at all! I called a little while ago. I didn’t expect you to come so quickly. Were you nearby?”
The real estate agent greeted Jong-sik with a bow. The reason was clear. To him, Jong-sik was an esteemed guest like no other in his life.
Just because he was a regular at the “Dok Family Restaurant,” just because he was a fellow resident in the neighborhood, Jong-sik had given him a big opportunity.
The real estate agent, who had earned millions in brokerage fees alone, was wealthy.
“Aside from mediating the blacksmith’s site, if I successfully conclude the contract today as well? It’s as enviable as winning the lottery. Dal-su, get yourself together!”
As he made up his determined mind,
Jong-sik looked around and asked.
“It’s not that, but I hurried because I was worried that everyone might be waiting. But I don’t see anyone?”
“Oh, that’s what I meant. Actually, You said you would buy everything as soon as you arrived, so I gathered up all the properties I could find. But there were too many people wanting to sell, so I couldn’t accommodate them all here. So I rented another place. Everyone agreed to gather there. But…”
“?”
“The number of people who gathered is way more than I expected.”
“But?”
“I’m worried that the budget you prepared might exceed. I might have gone overboard with the contract. Hehe.”
“If that’s the case, you don’t have to worry. You could buy the entire neighborhood here.”
Being able to buy the entire neighborhood.
I worried for nothing.
The boss called out with relief.
“Cough. Well, then, that’s really fortunate.”
But there was a strange feeling.
“A family with such crazy wealth runs such a small restaurant? It’s quite strange.”
‘If it were me, I would have enjoyed life for generations. Or are they pursuing simple happiness?’
At that moment, a fleeting thought crossed his mind.
“Could it be?”
The thought spiraled.
Meanwhile, the real estate agent’s mouth also hung open.
“Why did they buy up all the properties in the neighborhood? Ah, that’s why! Well, the food they sell at that small restaurant isn’t just any food.”
‘It seems like they have the intention of building a large-scale landmark. The landmark would be a gigantic restaurant.’
Now Jong-sik’s statement about buying the property without needing to confirm it visually makes sense. Since they’re planning to bulldoze everything and rebuild! It’s a large-scale redevelopment.
“Wait, then the value of this neighborhood…”
At that moment, the real estate agent swallowed hard.
Is this how an ant feels when it obtains valuable information? He couldn’t calm his racing heart.
‘It will surely rise, it will definitely rise! We absolutely must not sell our house.’
As he struggled to catch his breath.
“Ah, ahem.”
“Sir, are you alright?”
“Ahem. Yes, I’m fine. I’m just, just so happy.”
“Pardon?”
He couldn’t show his excitement.
He couldn’t dare to ask.
“I’m just so happy to meet someone like Mr. Dok. Thanks to you, I think I’ll be able to spend the coming year warmly. And I might even be able to arrange a good marriage for my son. Thank you so much.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you also, we were able to smoothly conclude the contract. I’m also grateful.”
‘How can he be so kind?’
‘Even though he doesn’t have a daughter, he wants him as a son-in-law.’
‘Ah, this is not the time for such thoughts!’
The boss glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Thank you for saying that. But we still have some time before the appointment. Would you like to have a warm cup of tea before we leave?”
“If you’re offering, I’ll gladly accept. I’m feeling a bit thirsty.”
“In that case, green tea, coffee, dalgona, and…”
“The tea you gave me last time was delicious.”
Jong-sik subtly mentioned the tea he had previously.
“Of course, how could you not know! The tea you had last time was a blend of Lykan juice and Yakwanmun. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
“It was just delicious.”
“Hehe. That’s right. The taste is incredible. Please have a seat for a moment. It’ll be ready soon.”
He stored the precious tea deep inside the reception room.
While the boss went to make the tea, someone arrived at the real estate office.
Ding-dong.
“Huh? Mr. Dok?”
“Why is the boss here?”
“Oh, um, I should call you Mr. Dok too. Mr. Dok It’s nice to see you here!”
It wasn’t just one person.
Four more people crossed the threshold of the real estate office.
“So, everyone’s here?”
Pyeong-ari, Kang Chang-soo, Jason, and Jang mi-ae.
‘They were the members of the operation team and the craftsmen representing South Korea.’
‘What could they be doing here?’
As he pondered, Team Leader Pyeong-ari asked.
“Just a moment, Mr. Dok. I wonder if it’s okay to ask. Is it possible that the person buying up all the properties around here is…?”
Jong-sik nodded.
At that, the four of them seemed to relax.
“I see. Ah, so that’s why they weren’t selling!”
“Well, we can consider this fortunate, I guess.”
“It is fortunate. Haha! Ah, now I feel a bit relieved.”
What exactly was fortunate?
It didn’t take long to find out.
A little while later.
Six people, including the real estate agent, were gathered together.
“We need properties to move. As soon as we’ve looked into each property and finished talking with this real estate agent, he says he absolutely won’t compromise. So, is there anything we can do?”
“Hmm.”
As if they were really going to show up. The real estate agent coughed at Pyeong-ari’swords.
They, including her, incessantly called the real estate office, pleading for some concessions on the properties they had acquired.
But their efforts were in vain. The real estate agent had brushed off all their calls.
“He really worked hard.”
Jong-sik smirked as he learned the reason for their visits. Once again, it seemed like a wise decision to entrust the work to the real estate agent here.
As he pondered, Team Leader Pyeong-ari intervened.
“So, Mr. Dok, would it be possible for you to concede a few of the properties we’ve set our eyes on? I really want to live in this neighborhood.”
“Oh, we do too. I absolutely must live here.”
“Me too. Mr. Dok.”
“Well, that’s not too difficult. But you all have nice homes already. Why suddenly move to this neighborhood?”
-A penthouse with 24-hour security.
-A defense system capable of warding off monsters.
-The most expensive penthouse in South Korea.
That’s their home.
Sure, Jong-pal chose this neighborhood because of his restaurant and Yeona’s school, but why are they coming here?
“Master Jang mi-ae needs to work at the Trigo Company’s forge for a few months, but it’s too far from home. She wants to buy a place nearby for commuting, and I have similar reasons. Since I have to visit Dok’s Restaurant frequently for the lunchbox business. And Kang Chang-soo, he, um….”
Kang Chang-soo and Jason hurriedly added to the explanation.
“I just like this neighborhood. It brings me peace of mind. I really want to live here!”
“Me too! I really want to live here! I want to eat Dok’s Restaurant’s food three times a day. It needs to be close. It’s too hard to wait in line every day.”
Such primal reasons, Jong-sik chuckled.
Yet, he felt good about it.
“Well, I’d be delighted to be neighbors with all of you. Since the real estate agent has secured many properties, why don’t we go together and sign the contract…?”
He was about to give them the answer they wanted. If only there hadn’t been a thought crossing his mind in that moment.
“There’s a condition before we proceed…”
“A condition? What condition?”
Later on, as they heard Jong-sik’s condition, they nodded without hesitation.
And the real estate agent listening to their conversation felt ecstatic, as he rightly should.
A neighborhood where landmarks are erected.
A neighborhood where renowned high-level hunters gather to live.
It was only a matter of time before property values skyrocketed.
—
After the world underwent a revolution, many professions disappeared while new ones emerged. However, one profession remained unchanged, just as it was before the revolution.
That profession is being a gangster. It might be ridiculous to call being a gangster a profession, but gangsters still roamed around as active as ever.
Like cockroaches that couldn’t be eradicated, they lived off merchants under the guise of protection money.
Cockroaches are everywhere, and gangsters can be found anywhere in the country. That means they also exist in the neighborhood where Dok’s Restaurant is located.
The gang that manages this area is called the “Poison Toad.” The organization’s name became Poison Toad because the boss resembled a toad.
And now.
The boss of Poison Toad, Kim Dae-chun, was suspicious of his subordinates.
“Hey, Kang Yeol. Are you kidding me right now?”
The protection money collected by his subordinate, Kang Yeol, was clearly insufficient. This was undoubtedly a failure.
“Kidding? How could I dare to play a joke on you, boss!”
“Or do I look like a naive fool to you?”
“Boss, it’s not like that. Please listen to me!”
“No need to play innocent. I know exactly what’s going on.”
“It’s really unfair, boss!”
“You there. Bring me that axe hanging on the wall.”
At Kim Dae-chun’s command, the subordinate grabbed the axe hanging on the wall. This could result in losing his hand. Kang Yeol stood up as if having a seizure.
“Oh, boss! It’s really unfair. If you don’t believe Kang Yeol, who will believe me? Please believe me!”
“Hmm. Keep going while holding the axe.”
Time was running out. Kang Yeol spoke as if shooting a flare gun.
“I didn’t fail. This month’s collected protection money is really all there is.”
“Hehehe.”
“It was the day to collect protection money, so I went around the area. But all the shops were empty.”
“The shops were empty?”
“Yes! They all disappeared without a word. And it happened all at once, on the same day.”
“I see. But Kang Yeol, I won the lottery.”
“Boss, please believe… What? Really? Boss, you won the lottery? Congratulations?”
“Don’t believe me?”
“…”
“I don’t believe you either. If you’re going to lie, at least lie convincingly. This! Oh, Kang Yeol, you’re in for a severe punishment.”
“Boss!”
As the subordinate handed the axe to Kim Dae-chun…
Suddenly…
“Kang Yeol hyung-nim. There’s a moving truck parked at Oguri’s store. Looks like someone is trying to enter! And there are moving trucks coming to Dok’s Restaurant street too! You should go quickly!”
A younger brother under Kang Yeol’s supervision rushed in through the door. He widened his eyes at the sight before him. Kang Yeol breathed a sigh of relief as if he’d just been saved, while Kim Dae-chun looked puzzled and asked in surprise,
“What? Did they really empty the shops?”
“Yes. Boss! When have I ever lied to you? It’s all true.”
“Hmm. I believed you. Just wanted to test you. But did these guys drink and leave? They should’ve reported and then gone!”
“That’s right!”
“It won’t do. Get your weapons. We need to compensate even the newcomers.”
“Yes, boss-!”
The lackeys hurriedly left the office.
