“Boss, if it’s about restaurant work, I’m your go-to guy. Just tell me what needs to be done. I’ll repay the favor any way I can.”
“Me too! I’ll help too.”
The mother and daughter clasped their hands together.
They wanted to repay the kindness they received, but sadly, they couldn’t offer much. As mentioned earlier, they were not well-off. So, they wanted to make up for it with their labor.
Jong-sik and Jong-pal firmly rejected such intentions from the mother and daughter.
“There’s no need for that.”
“Boss, we can’t just leave like this. You saved our daughter’s life and treated her illness. How can I just leave like that? I’m not that shameless of a mother.”
A thought flashed through Jong-sik’s mind for a moment.
“If that’s the case, please take a few more scarves.”
“…Scarves?”
Nods.
“In a few days, we’re going to take a family photo. I thought it would be nice if we all wore scarves and took a picture together.”
Jong-pal chimed in, supporting Jong-sik’s proposal.
“Oh, brother, that’s a great idea! Yeah, the kids will definitely love it.”
What’s wrong with a cheap scarf? What’s wrong with wanting it? It must have been just a polite remark to consider oneself. The middle-aged woman knew that.
“You seem a bit tired. Is it too tight?”
The middle-aged woman raised her head, tears welling up.
“No, the scarf will be ready soon.”
“But we have a large family. Apart from my brother here, there’s another younger brother, and two nephews. Four in total.”
“Four is doable. I could knit for four hundred if needed.”
“Haha. Then please do so.”
In the end, the mother and daughter could only express their gratitude and leave the shop.
Some time later.
During a break, Jong-pal put up the “Break Time” sign. He suddenly hugged Jong-sik and said.
“Hyung!”
“What is it?”
“I feel so good. Really.”
“Why are you being so weird? Won’t you just quit it?”
“I didn’t understand it well in the past. But I feel like this is what life is about when you give. So, hyung.”
“What now?”
“There are human trafficking victims, you know.”
“Hmm.”
“Those people might be experiencing similar side effects as Hyemi. If possible, I want to help them.”
After taking charge of the Hunter Lunchbox business.
Jong-pal added a very small amount of sanctity to the food, unlike before.
Because he didn’t want to waste sanctity.
But today was different. At his brother’s request, he added a large amount of sanctity to the food.
The result was rewarding. The bright faces of the mother and daughter warmed Jong-pal’s heart.
“So this is why people do volunteer work? It’s really nice.”
As he realized such emotions, he thought of others. Just like he helped Hyemi, he wanted to help others too.
But there was a small problem here.
Identifying the victims, conveying this desire to help them, gathering people…
Certainly, it was something that an individual couldn’t do alone. Maybe his brother could. So Jong-pal wanted to discuss this with his brother.
“You’re already so busy, and now you’re trying to start something else. Don’t think about unnecessary things.”
But Hyung, DokJong-sik, expressed a negative opinion.
“What’s unnecessary about saving lives? And I’m not busy at all.”
“Right. And do you think this shop can operate as it is if your involvement becomes known? People will flock here all at once.”
That makes sense. Even now, it’s crowded like this. Jong-pal hesitated and replied.
“Well, can’t we do it secretly?”
“Where’s the secrecy in today’s world? Everything will eventually come out.”
“If you put it that way, what about Hyemi?”
“Is stopping one person’s mouth the same as stopping many?”
“So, should I just act like I didn’t see anything? It’s something we can easily help with, right? Are you serious? Hyung?”
Jong-pal looked disappointed, as if he had expected more.
“Just listen to me for a moment!”
“Yeona and other victims of the same age are also there. Is that it? There are even kids as young as Haeli.”
With continued persuasion, Jong-sik had no choice but to reveal the truth. That’s why they say there are no secrets in this world.
“I know too. Hey. So I contacted team leader Pyeong-ari separately. I told him to take care of it…”
An hour ago. Jong-sik called Pyeong-ari . The matter was simple.
“What? I can’t hear you well.”
“I bought all the detoxifiers produced by the Healing Guild and decided to distribute them to the victims, so you don’t need to worry!”
“What? You bought detoxifiers? Hyung?”
“There was leftover money, so I thought I might as well do something with it. Anyway, it’s all settled, so there’s no need for you to intervene unnecessarily.”
So, what goes around comes around.
At the unexpected news, Jong-pal burst into laughter.
He hugged his brother, who was smiling coolly, and said, “Ah, man. Why are you like this? Disgusting.”
“That’s how our brother is. Even if he pretends not to care, he has a lot of affection.”
Some time later.
[Exclusive] Donation News from Domestic Guild ‘Healing’
– We bring you heartwarming news amidst the severe cold wave. The advanced detoxifiers donated by the guild ‘Healing’ will be delivered to those suffering from side effects among the victims of human trafficking.
A heartwarming article adorned the front page of the newspaper.
***
Thanks to Jong-sik’s financial support, some of the victims of human trafficking were able to overcome various side effects.
However, not everyone recovered from the side effects.
“When is he coming? *Sigh*.”
“Just a little more, just a little more, and I could have escaped too. *Sigh* *Gasp*”
Lost control, bloodshot eyes, burning thirst, insatiable appetite.
Those called VIPs were experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.
Their withdrawal was not something that could be resolved with detoxifiers or the like.
Unless they consumed a human full of vitality.
However, with the human trafficking organization being busted, the supply of humans was cut off.
Moreover, there were rumors that the current authorities were actively seeking them out.
As a result, they couldn’t move recklessly. Especially if they were to roam around openly like this, it would definitely attract attention.
So the VIPs gathered in a secret location to monitor each other. It was to prevent any sudden actions and also to wait.
How much time had passed like that?
Suddenly, the door of the secret location opened.
*Clang*
“He’s here! He’s here!”
“Why are you so late?”
“Hehehe. Better late than never.”
Revealed was the successor of the Iron Blood Guild, Park Won.
But unlike the others, Park Won maintained a neat appearance. It was thanks to his escape.
There weren’t any special conditions for escape. He just took more sacrifices than them.
Park Won received sacrifices from various sources besides the human trafficking organization.
Thanks to that, Park Won could become a complete demon. It was a level far beyond those incomplete demon experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
“You must have been hungry. Eat to your heart’s content. Hehe.”
Thus, he could also engage in activities outside freely. Park Won threw the illegal immigrant he brought along into the midst of his brothers.
Soon, the demons rushed forward like a pack of wolves. A scene straight out of a slasher movie unfolded. How much time had passed like that?
After finishing their meal, one of the mines looked at Park Won and asked. He seemed calmer compared to before. His once bloodshot eyes had returned to their normal color.
“How much longer do we have to stay like this?”
“Until the day of the Integrated Defense Training.”
“Hehe. Not much time left.”
“Yeah. That day will be the day when he wakes up. So everyone should finish their escape before that.”
A crimson glint appeared in Park Won’s eyes.
***
The neighborhood was unusually quiet. Even the members of the Toad Slicer gang who used to roam the streets were nowhere to be seen.
And that’s not all. The lights of the Sangwon-dong Royal Pork Trotters, a shop boasting year-round business, were also off.
“Today, we only serve dinner!”
The ‘Molak Molak’ cafe in front of it also had its doors locked.
The Dok’s Family Restaurant was no different.
“What’s going on in the neighborhood today?”
“Why is everything closed and where did everyone go?”
“Ah! I should have checked social media!”
“Should we wait?”
“What’s the point of waiting? It says they’re closed today. Let’s just go.”
So the outsiders who had come to Sangwon-dong for leisure had to turn back without any gain.
Meanwhile, at that moment,
A girl in a red scarf came running towards the trio.
“Uncle. We’re here!”
It was Yeona and Haeli.
“Oh my. Yeona and Haeli are here?”
“Yeah. Is this Uncle’s restaurant?”
In response to Haeli’s question, Trigo burst into laughter and replied,
“Not a restaurant, it’s a forge.”
“A forge?”
“Ahem! Remember the toy Uncle made for you last time?”
“The barrel and the hammer?”
Yeona still had no interest in forging skills. That’s why Yeona hurriedly left.
“Oh, I failed again today.”
In the end, Trigo was left alone. He turned his head and followed the direction where his nieces and nephews had disappeared.
The gathered residents of Sangwon-dong were visible.
A resident working in the food industry was helping Jong-pal cook.
“Hey there! The chair is crooked. Can’t you align the lines properly?”
Members of the Poisonous Toad were setting up chairs for people to sit on.
So, what was the reason for their gathering?
“Trigo, I’m here.”
“Oh, Hunter Kang, you’re here?”
“Congratulations on the opening.”
That’s right. Today was Trigo’s forge opening day.
