Chapter 160

<Summer Camp of Chaos (8)>

Jin-hyuk served well-cooked meat to Jang Gun-i and Hongsi, letting it cool first. Of course, he didn’t forget Cheon-ma and Gwang-ma, who were wagging their tails behind the boss. Placing the meat on dry firewood kept it clean from dirt.

“Jang Gun-i, eat a lot, okay?”

Grrr.

Judging by how Jang Gun-i bared his teeth at Jo Seol-chan, it was clear he looked down on Jin-hyuk’s friends. You could say his attitude was consistent, to say the least.

“Hmm, hmm!”

The SSS agents, who had taken over night duty, were also lurking behind Jang Gun-i.

How many people in the world could resist the smell of grilling pork belly late at night? They were energetic youths with high metabolisms, after all, and probably had more muscle mass than the average person.

The kids, who had been munching on the meat, suddenly made room as if they had made a pact. The pot lid was wide, and there was plenty of meat to go around.

“Jang Gun-i, I’m just passing through, okay?”

Grrr.

The SSS agent kindly asked for permission, but Jang Gun-i stubbornly held his ground. It seemed Jang Gun-i even looked down on them, his unwavering sense of hierarchy leaving no room for compromise.

“What’s the occasion today?”

Min Yong-rak, who had been enjoying the breeze with a book in hand, peeked from behind.

Min Yong-rak loved how cool it was at night, even in summer, so he never left his burrow even on vacation. That’s why his girlfriend and family had visited him in Seoul.

Despite the mosquitoes and moths, the pork belly party was a roaring success, with no room to even step.

Thanks to that, Jin-hyuk had to make several trips between the dirt house and the main house to fetch more meat and drinks.

‘Phew, good thing it’s late.’

If Sun-hyung and Mi-kyung had come, they might’ve had to slaughter a few more chickens for Duck Johnson Jr.

“Oppa, what are you doing?”

Perhaps it was the lingering smell of smoke and meat, but when Jin-hyuk opened the front door, Yoo-jin, half-asleep, sniffed the air.

“Yoo-jin, want some meat?”

“Mmm. Meat is yummy.”

As if she had just woken up, Yoo-jin focused her eyes.

‘Scary kid.’

After confirming the bedroom was quiet, Jin-hyuk pulled out some aged kimchi from the depths of the fridge.

Now, he had to wash the chili powder and seasoning clean and tear them into small pieces.

Mom always did this when Yoo-jin ate meat, saying it helped kids who couldn’t handle spicy food enjoy kimchi and that aged kimchi aided digestion.

Crunch, crunch.

‘Mmm! Washed kimchi is the best!’

Of course, Jin-hyuk, who had tried wrapping meat in kimchi, was also obsessed with the taste.

After packing the meat, cold rice, and kimchi, Jin-hyuk picked up Yoo-jin.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s go-!”

“Shh! The adults and babies are sleeping, so be quiet, okay?”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Jin-hyuk enjoyed these moments of carrying Yoo-jin and chatting with her. His small joys hadn’t changed since she started kindergarten and wouldn’t change even after she entered elementary school.

“Yoo-jin, after eating meat, brush your teeth, wash your face, and get all sticky, okay?”

“Okayyy.”

Well, Yoo-jin didn’t seem too thrilled.

“Oh-?”

When they reached the meat party, Yoo-jin, nestled in her oppa’s arms, smiled wider with happy anticipation. Her smile peaked when she spotted the cola Min Yong-rak had brought.

“But where’s Uncle In-rang?”

“Ah, well…”

That uncle?

He’s been busy every night lately.

He’s been going to town and coming back with messy hair, damp with dew.

If you look closely, his clothes seem a bit disheveled too.

“He’s probably… up to something.”

Kids, just go.

***

Hwang Ga-yun sat in the passenger seat of Kim In-rang’s car, biting her nails.

It was understandable to see her father, Hwang Yeong-mo, on the way home from a date. Even if it had been a while since he last came home, there was no reason to find it strange.

The problem was the people who had grabbed Hwang Yeong-mo by the collar and dragged him inside.

Even though he was a troublesome father, seeing him being dragged around like that wasn’t pleasant.

“Wait. I called someone, so they’ll be here soon.”

After finishing a call, Kim In-rang held Hwang Ga-yun’s trembling hand and firmly stayed in the driver’s seat. Besides wanting to calm the frightened Hwang Ga-yun, Moon Seok-il had warned him not to intervene no matter what.

– Even if someone dies, don’t step in. Stay by the young lady’s side. That’s your place.

They had known each other for years, sharing life and death. Moon Seok-il and Kim In-rang weren’t the type to take words lightly.

Kim In-rang was a kind soul, but his mind interpreted the words as if someone had to die.

‘This isn’t right.’

To Hwang Ga-yun, this was her parents’ store, the place where she had grown up.

Though not proud of it, she had always emphasized her mother’s sacrifices whenever she met Kim In-rang.

Kim In-rang, having grown up under a similar mother, understood Hwang Ga-yun’s feelings.

‘How can I just stand by when something might happen to someone like that?’

Hwang Ga-yun’s family was inside that building.

Men with steel pipes and knives longer than a hand’s width hidden in their waists had dragged Hwang Yeong-mo inside like a dog.

Even if nothing happened, something already had. Hwang Ga-yun had witnessed the shocking scene, and other family members must have seen it too.

Even now, screams and shouts could be heard mixed together.

‘Oh no, what should I do…’

Seok-il hyung never explains things in detail. His clear instructions during operations were another weapon to save time and energy. Kim In-rang always followed orders, and the results were always the best, so his trust in Moon Seok-il was absolute.

That’s why he was confused.

This wasn’t a mission to eliminate enemies and rescue a VIP. It was a scene where a woman he cared about was watching. Torn between the instinct to act and the duty to follow orders, Kim In-rang had no choice but to struggle.

“I can’t just sit here. I’ll be right back.”

Clunk.

Just as he opened the car door to step out.

“Oppa, be careful.”

“Don’t worry, wait here.”

As he tried to calm the trembling Hwang Ga-yun and get out of the car, Kim In-rang’s body was forced back into the seat by a strong pressure.

“What the—”

Just as a harsh word was about to escape, Kim In-rang’s face brightened upon seeing who it was.

“Hyung!”

Moon Seok-il, who lived in town, had a weed in his mouth, from who knows where.

Ptoo.

Spitting out the grass, Moon Seok-il grinned.

“I told you to wait until I got here, man.”

Moon Seok-il wasn’t alone.

A massive shadow stood behind him like a screen, staring emotionlessly at the building.

“Is that the place?”

A friendly yet strange tone came from behind Moon Seok-il’s shoulder.

“In-rang, take care of your sister-in-law.”

Most shops had closed, and the sign lights were sparse. Jang Jin-nam led the way, followed by Moon Seok-il, who walked with his hands in his pockets.

Kim In-rang felt a sense of relief watching their backs.

“Will they be okay? Mom and Ga-young…”

“Yeah, don’t worry.”

Hwang Ga-yun, still pale, gave Kim In-rang a worried look.

She had always thought of him as a slim office worker, but the more she knew, the more suspicious he seemed.

The scars on his back, chest, and thighs…

“But who are those people?”

“They’re close hyungs.”

Even the so-called hyungs seemed suspicious.

They looked more like thugs than the ones who had dragged her father inside.

“Are they office workers too?”

“Mhm.”

Definitely office workers. Part of SSS Security Services.

Just as Kim In-rang was about to give a vague answer.

Crash! Boom. Shatter.

A second-floor window exploded, and a large object and glass shards fell.

Kim In-rang quickly covered Hwang Ga-yun’s eyes.

***

Jang Jin-nam’s voice was still emotionless.

It almost sounded like he was scolding Moon Seok-il.

“We’re not a detective agency. Do we have to handle this kind of thing too?”

“It’s the vice chairman’s orders. You don’t have to step in, Senior Jang.”

At the mention of the vice chairman, Jang Jin-nam, who had been about to add something while climbing the stairs, closed his mouth. Min Yong-rak lived in a different world, so he was an exception, but Moon Seok-il was the closest to Jang Jin-nam in the burrow, aside from his duty assignments.

Late at night, he had followed Moon Seok-il, who had been on a walk and received a call on the security phone. He thought it was just some cleanup for the boss’s family, related to Han Yu-young. She was a grateful person who taught him recipes for red pepper paste, soybean paste, and soy sauce, so he felt a sense of debt to her. But that didn’t mean he was willing to venture into the dark for a stranger.

But if it was the vice chairman’s orders, that was different.

Jang Jin-nam was, after all, an employee of Hong Ki-jun, working for SSS.

His tone and job might make him seem tough on the outside, but he was a man with clear principles.

Watching Jang Jin-nam’s twitching glutes as they climbed the stairs, Moon Seok-il silently laughed.

‘The vice chairman told us to work for Jin-hyuk, so it’s the vice chairman’s orders, right?’

Clunk.

Jang Jin-nam pushed the black-coated glass door on the second floor, but it was locked.

In such cases, instead of forcing it, it’s better to reassure the other party.

Jang Jin-nam knocked on the door with his thick fist.

Thud, thud.

“Anyone in there?”

Jang Jin-nam’s tone seemed to help ease the other party’s guard. Soon, the latch was undone, and the door opened a crack, revealing a man’s face.

“We’re closed, go away.”

The man tried to close the door.

But it didn’t budge.

Jang Jin-nam had braced it with his hands and feet.

“I’m coming in. Relax. You might hurt your shoulder.”

“Huh?”

The man was lightly pushed back along with the door.

*

The hall was relatively clean.

Except for the table and sofa occupied by three men.

Kim Eung-nyeo and Hwang Ga-young were huddled in a corner, sighing. Though they looked haggard, their faces showed this wasn’t the first time. At least, that’s how Moon Seok-il saw it.

The leader, with a scar on his cheek, sat on the sofa backrest with his feet on the table, while the other two circled behind Moon Seok-il and Jang Jin-nam.

The scarred man jerked his chin at Moon Seok-il.

“Who are you?”

Moon Seok-il furrowed his brow and raised his palm.

It was an easy-to-understand “shut up” signal, showing he had no intention of talking.

“I won’t repeat myself. Answer only what I ask unless you want to bleed.”

“You—!”

Just as the man behind Moon Seok-il swung a steel pipe.

Jang Jin-nam, who had appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the man and threw him.

The man flew out the window in the same swinging posture.

“Aaaah!”

Crash!

Jang Jin-nam lightly dusted his hands.

“Interrupting a conversation is unsportsmanlike. Violence isn’t desirable either.”

Is throwing someone out the window sportsmanlike and non-violent?

The scarred man bit back the question and carefully got off the sofa backrest. He placed both feet on the ground, hands clasped in front of him.

***

Only Min Yong-rak could handle alcohol.

Claiming beer was just water, he downed ten bottles alone, his voice full of excitement.

“Hahaha! This is so good! So delicious! Right, hyung?”

“Mhm. It’s good.”

Though he was eating comfortably, the SSS agent, technically on duty, awkwardly smiled without touching the beer.

Min Yong-rak, excited, shrugged his shoulders like he was dancing.

“Jin-hyuk, any more meat? There are so many people here.”

“I’ll bring more.”

If he drank that much water, he’d be full, but beer is different, right? Jin-hyuk licked his lips and headed home.

He brought out all the thawed meat.

Well, Mom wouldn’t get mad over food, right?

Seeing his friends devouring the pork belly and Yoo-jin enjoying herself made the meat party satisfying.

‘This is the fun of getting along. So enjoyable.’

Until morning came.

Everyone was happy, enjoying the feast.

***

Early in the morning, Han Yu-young’s eyes widened as she entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

“Oh my, Chef Jang? What happened? Are you hurt badly?”

A white bandage was adorably stuck on Jang Jin-nam’s burly arm.

“It’s nothing. Just put some red medicine on it.”

“If you move around in this heat, it’ll get worse. I can handle breakfast alone today, so rest.”

“Ah, it’s not that—”

“Go rest. Hurry.”

As Han Yu-young pushed him, Jang Jin-nam had no choice but to retreat.

Not because of her strength, but because he was embarrassed by the contact.

He was the type to freak out if someone touched him.

After shooing Jang Jin-nam away, Han Yu-young checked the menu on the fridge and opened the refrigerator.

“Meat is better for breakfast or lunch, so— huh?”

The compartment where she had stored ten pounds of meat was empty.

Did I forget and leave it in the freezer?

Clunk.

It wasn’t in the freezer either.

She opened the fridge again, but the missing meat didn’t reappear.

“Even the meat I got for Jang Gun-i and the kids is gone?”

It was 11 pounds of pork she had gotten from a butcher shop, meant to be thrown away because it had gone bad.

Geez, where did all that pork go?