Chapter 54

#54 <The Joker Boss>

***

Son Kwang-yeon had to watch his wife’s mood for two days.

It was already July, and the weather was hot, but a cold breeze was blowing from his wife. It was worse than when he had to make hospital rounds due to a winter cold.

“Is that Sang-nyeo?”

Heh-heh-hek-?

It was because of Yoo Jin, who was calling Jang Gun-i strangely.

Even while watching Jang Gun-i devour his dog food mindlessly.

“Oh, our Sang-nyeo eats well, doesn’t she?”

Even when drawing in the yard.

“Mom! Yoo Jin drew Sang-nyeo!”

Even when looking at a picture book, she pointed at the puppy and spoke clearly.

“Mom, mom. This is Sang-nyeo, right?”

“Yoo Jin, that’s a puppy.”

Han Yu-young just stroked her daughter’s head and corrected her expression, acting like a silent practitioner without scolding her husband.

“Mom, I’m off to school.”

“Okay, be careful on the road, son.”

Still, she smiled warmly at her son as he left for school.

So Jin-hyuk just pedaled away, unaware of what was happening at home.

Seeing his wife enter the house with a whoosh, Son Kwang-yeon pouted his lips.

‘Ugh, she only hates me.’

Even though it was our son who caused the trouble, why is she like this to me? Is this what the loneliness of being the head of the household feels like? It felt like I was left alone in the world. Checking his wristwatch, he neatly set aside the broom he was using to sweep the yard and headed inside.

‘It’s time to assert my authority as the head of the household.’

Meaning, it was mealtime.

Having endured neglect for two whole days, his wife must be prepared.

The bitterness of enduring while eating unripe fruits in the yard was finally over. Even though Han Yu-young diligently prepared meals, he had been eating only half portions, feeling so weak that the sky looked yellow.

In front of the passionate plea of a Seoul man, his wife would probably smile as if she had never been in a low-pressure mood and serve him a mountain of rice.

“E-hep!”

Son Kwang-yeon, full of energy, opened the front door politely and humbly.

***

Time passed, and some of the parties involved in the incident and parents gathered near the school.

At first glance, it seemed like the roles of perpetrator and victim were reversed, but the incident was handled as agreed in the principal’s office.

As they left for Seoul, as requested by Hong Ki-jun, Kang Jun-seong and his fellow detectives took charge, with the expectation that the wanted man, Yoon Gil-joong, might appear. The detectives’ pockets weren’t light, and with the investigation funds likely insufficient, they couldn’t ignore the sincerity of Hong Ki-jun, who even slipped them an envelope.

The third-year students in casts and bandages listened to a long lecture from Kang Jun-seong, their eyes wide. Their parents were the same. They gritted their teeth when gas and glue sniffing were mentioned, and their faces turned red when they were told they were imitating loan sharks or gambling. Some parents even clutched their chests, finding it hard to breathe when they heard that the students had been drinking with female students.

“Do any of the parents have anything to say?”

“I hope the shock isn’t too great. I wish the students a speedy recovery.”

Han Yu-young forced a smile to comfort the students, and the kids bowed their heads slightly, though not fully due to their casts.

Son Kwang-yeon gritted his teeth, remembering that Jin-hyuk had gone berserk because of insults directed at his wife. He kept wanting to grab the glass ashtray on the table, which looked satisfyingly breakable.

One of the parents of the injured students mumbled.

“…Thank you for the medical expenses.”

Even in their own eyes, their child’s actions weren’t justified, so as parents, they felt ashamed. At first, they had planned to demand not just medical expenses but also a settlement fee, but when politicians, including the county head, and the police chief from a neighboring city came to bow to Son Kwang-yeon, they had to give up completely. It’s easy to pick at a bone with a little meat, but if you try to bite into a big, tough chunk of meat, you might lose your jaw.

“Does anyone among the students have anything to say? If not, let’s just stamp the agreement and-.”

Jin-hyuk had something to say but bit his lip hard.

‘Let’s never meet again.’

Yoon Sung-dong and the third-year students also couldn’t bring themselves to look at Jin-hyuk, thinking the same thing. Remembering the terror of that day while looking into Jin-hyuk’s icy eyes made it hard to even breathe.

***

Hong Ki-jun, who had gone up to Seoul, was busy again.

It seemed like the saying “even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough” existed just for him.

First, he went to see his brother-in-law, Yoo Mun-sik.

‘I need to deal with Yoon Gil-joong first to feel at ease.’

According to Kang Jun-seong, he was a dangerous man who could do anything.

Waiting in the president’s office of Sain Chemical, Yoo Mun-sik entered with a smiling face.

Like Yoo Se-ra, he resembled his mother and was quite handsome.

“Brother-in-law, have you been waiting long?”

“I just arrived.”

Sitting on the sofa, Hong Ki-jun soothed his tired eyes with the steam rising from the green tea and spoke. His posture was relaxed, as if he were talking to a subordinate.

“We need to increase the number of people in the Steam team.”

“You know those guys get paid more than you, right?”

Yoo Mun-sik, sitting across from him, smiled broadly.

“If father finds out, it’ll be a big problem, right?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. Soon, I’ll take direct control-.”

Ahem. Hong Ki-jun swallowed his words.

But Yoo Mun-sik understood and just gave a friendly smile. Brother-in-law Hong Ki-jun was soon to be appointed as the president of Sain Electronics. In the public eye, Hong Ki-jun was described as Yoo Mun-sik’s strong competitor.

‘Competitor, my foot.’

Hong Ki-jun will set me free. That was a phrase Yoo Mun-sik had been carrying in his heart for years.

“Alright. It’s not just anyone, but my brother-in-law asking. I’ll help. But can I ask what you’ve been using those guys for over a year? You’re not planning a coup, are you?”

That playful expression. He once dreamed of being an actor, and it’s hard to tell if he’s serious or just acting. But looking at his face, which resembles Yoo Se-ra’s, it’s easy to see why Yoo Mun-sik’s personality is the way it is.

Should I tell him?

Hong Ki-jun rolled his eyes for a moment. No. It’s something no one would understand.

“It’s just one of the projects we’re planning. It’s still confidential. But if I were to tell you, brother, it’s something that will benefit the company. And the family.”

President Yoo Mun-sik nodded with a blank expression.

As expected, he’s the type who doesn’t understand if you beat around the bush. The way he deals with unfamiliar fields also resembles Yoo Se-ra.

Leaving Yoo Mun-sik, who was scratching his sideburns, Hong Ki-jun left the president’s office.

A passing employee bowed.

“Good day, President!”

He was still a department head, but the flattering greeting made him snort.

Leaving the Sain Chemical president’s office, Hong Ki-jun looked for a payphone booth. It was a noisy place with cars speeding down an eight-lane road, but closing the booth door created a perfect private space.

“Captain Yang, no, Team Leader Yang, are you there? Yes, I’ll wait.”

He showed his palm to the person waiting outside the booth and gave a slight smile.

In a world where people get stabbed for talking too long on a payphone, he had to be careful. He wasn’t as strong as Son Kwang-yeon or as good at fighting as Son Jin-hyuk.

“Team Leader Yang? Did you receive the documents I sent by registered mail? How many people do you need to handle forty gangsters? Originally, there were over two hundred, but the weak ones have all gone into hiding. Detective Kang said they’re scattered not far from your workplace. The mobile investigation unit also has information, but these guys don’t move in groups. Mobilizing police forces in such a wide area would be a headache. It’s different from the city- Oh, really?”

A fairly reliable answer came from the other end of the line.

Even though it’s not my money, is this what it feels like to spend money?

“Handle it somehow and hand it over to the police. Vacation? I’ll find a way this Chuseok. Keep up the good work. And we must find and deal with Yoon Gil-joong. Yes. I’ll leave the method to you. Of course, I’ll cover your travel expenses.”

A sigh escaped. It’s hard to protect a friend.

‘Definitely need to take precautions to avoid future trouble.’

Thinking about how much he owed his in-laws, he felt he had made a good marriage. I should treat Se-ra well.

Now, what’s next? Hong Ki-jun tapped his forehead and checked his next plan.

Pressing the redial button to ensure the call was truly over, he placed the receiver back on the hook and left. He had put in 300 won, but 60 won remained. Starting next February, it’ll go up to 30 won, but it’s still a good communication tool for personal use without worrying about the company’s eyes.

He bowed to the man waiting behind him.

“Sorry for taking so long.”

“Hahaha, no problem!”

The man laughed heartily at Hong Ki-jun.

Indeed, in a payphone, the remaining balance is your charm.

***

Park Yong-seok received a week of probation for being involved.

He cleaned the garbage incinerator and followed Lee Byeong-se around to repair the schoolyard.

He also patched up holes in the fence, sighing regretfully when he had to block holes he had made himself.

“Teacher, I really saw the Grim Reaper.”

“Since probation seems easy for you, should I send you to a mental hospital?”

After finishing his probation, Park Yong-seok no longer talked nonsense about the Grim Reaper or anything else. The mental hospital was scarier than the Grim Reaper.

Feeling it was unfair, Jin-hyuk went to the student affairs teacher to request probation. He felt a great sense of guilt. But even that was rejected.

“You didn’t do anything wrong? If I were you, I would have done the same. Do you know what self-defense is? In such situations, we have to acknowledge the self-help measures of those in unfavorable positions. In that sense, school rules are more flexible than the law. Hey-, back in the day, I was into taekwondo and kickboxing-.”

He was a social studies teacher, after all.

The student affairs teacher’s mouth spewed out words and information non-stop. To Jin-hyuk, it was all useless information. Maybe the teacher was punishing him by causing eardrum bleeding.

Jin-hyuk kept saying yes, yes, and left the counseling room.

Even when they accidentally met in the hallway, Park Yong-seok would subtly avoid him, but Jin-hyuk approached him. There was an intention to reassure him.

“Let’s live honestly without bullying others.”

“…Okay.”

“You’re behind in your classes, right?”

“….”

Jin-hyuk’s strong belief that students should study was at play.

Park Yong-seok started receiving tutoring from Jin-hyuk, sandwiched between Lee Seung-hoon and Shin Woo-sung.

“Is it because I’m scared? I feel like I understand better…”

When Chae Kyu-ho asked who was the scariest, Park Yong-seok’s finger wandered between Son Jin-hyuk, Lee Seung-hoon, and Shin Woo-sung. It was like the gaze of the Four Heavenly Kings at the temple entrance—no exceptions.

“I’ve caught up with the lessons, so can I stop coming now-ah?”

Park Yong-seok was enduring the extreme patience required to use polite language.

One evening, Jin-hyuk saw his father talking on the phone with Hong Ki-jun, pointing at the newspaper with his finger.

When his father left, he checked what it was about.

「Yoon ○○ (42, male) disappears in Gumi, Gyeongbuk.」

– A man wanted by the authorities for murder, violence, and organized crime. Police say, “He vanished as if evaporated.”

Why his father and Hong Ki-jun were talking about this, he didn’t know.

He just thought it was because he was Yoon Sung-dong’s father, so they were interested.

‘Evil is always fast, they say.’

And stronger, too.

Rolling the words in his mouth felt unnatural. It was a phrase that suddenly came to mind, one he never used. He comforted himself by thinking of it towards the police, who were being criticized for failing to capture him.

‘I wish he would come for me instead.’

Even better if we meet in a quiet, secluded place.

Jin-hyuk clenched and unclenched his fists. Was it an illusion that he felt stronger the more he harmed someone? From the fat real estate guy to the wrestling club members on the first day of middle school, and then Yoon Sung-dong’s gang. It felt like his body was reacting to violence.

‘It must be because I’m in my growth phase.’

Right after the seven guys beaten by Jin-hyuk left the school, Jin-hyuk asked his father to distribute bread and drinks to the entire school.

It was a common practice at the time, an act of apology by students who caused trouble.

“I want Picnic, not Del Monte!”

“The red bean bread is choking me-.”

“Anyone want to trade one choco pie for two big pies?”

“Who wants to sell for 200 won?”

With so many students, the items couldn’t be standardized, and the school turned into a marketplace. Cool deals were happening everywhere.

With such a skilled nation in bartering and trading, no wonder they created Junggoro and Hongdangmu Market.

There were no classmates deliberately avoiding Jin-hyuk. The kids just cheered for the unexpected snacks, hailing the Joker Boss. Jin-hyuk was just grateful for those friends.

Amid the chaos, peace was restored.

‘Has Woo-sung’s future changed?’

He hoped so.

After all, he caused this mess for Woo-sung.

It was a secret he couldn’t tell anyone.

‘There must be one more person besides Woo-sung.’

That student must be fine now, right?