Chapter 80

Quietly moving along, a sigh escaped.

I had requested a patrol at the town police station, but they said there was no one available.

They only mentioned that there was no designated jurisdiction between the two stations. Even though they couldn’t disclose detailed circumstances due to work reasons, the police were likely busy with drunkards in town.

Jin Hyuk didn’t expect help from the police anyway. He knew how poor the working conditions were and that the police couldn’t handle certain opponents.

“The land is vast, and the police are scarce.”

In such a rural area, patrol cars only come out for formal reasons, like finding unexploded ordnance or shell casings. If it were really ghosts or grim reapers, even the Marines wouldn’t be able to catch them.

Rustle, rustle, clack, clack.

The unripe, twisted beans, not yet ready for harvest, cried out as they rubbed against each other in the autumn wind. Thanks to that, it wasn’t hard to mask the sound of footsteps. Jin Hyuk, hiding in the commotion of the autumn field, paused for a moment. An unexpected figure had caught his eye.

“You rascal. Where are you sneaking off to like a thief? Going to catch mice?”

Heh-heh, Cheon Gil-ryong flashed a childlike smile that didn’t match his age. His attire was the same as before, but strangely, he was holding combat boots with a gloved hand. The book he was holding seemed to be a hymnbook, and in his other hand, he carried an olive-colored, plain military uniform.

The strikingly noticeable appearance sparked curiosity in Jin Hyuk’s eyes.

“Hello.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve already beaten the spirit out of those guys and warned them thoroughly, so don’t kill them. It’s a field that old folks who can’t even go to the market have worked hard to cultivate. It’d be a damn shame if some young punk’s hot blood ruined it.”

“Uh…?”

Without waiting for a response, Cheon Gil-ryong walked past Jin Hyuk without even a glance. His brisk steps were always uncharacteristic of an old man, and the sound of him humming a hymn trailed behind like a tail.

‘What is he talking about?’

Don’t kill them?

Jin Hyuk vaguely understood that the “young punk” referred to him.

***

Bang!

Moon Seok-il closed the trunk with a hollow look in his eyes.

It was a strange day. Not only did he see a young man effortlessly dragging a wild boar, but an old man suddenly appeared and ransacked their car.

“You scoundrels! What are you trying to steal, crawling all the way out to this countryside?”

The old man had an overwhelming presence.

He rummaged through the car and took candy and gum. Even Moon Seok-il, who had once been labeled a delinquent in school, was left speechless by the old man’s audacity.

“Hey, you there, open this for me.”

He even made them open the trunk. Overwhelmed by the old man’s charisma, a junior opened it without thinking. Moon Seok-il couldn’t even scold the junior for not resisting.

“Hoh, nice stuff. What’s the size?”

They were A-grade combat boots Moon Seok-il had brought back after his discharge. The old man took off his rubber shoes to compare sizes, so Moon Seok-il couldn’t even lie about them not fitting.

Not only did he lose the boots, but he also had to hand over the plain combat uniform. It was the kind of clothing that could be rolled up or folded, so even the tall old man could wear it.

The old bandit didn’t stop there; he was sharp-eyed too.

“Hey, what’s in your pocket?”

Jeong Sang-tae, Moon Seok-il’s friend, had the leather gloves he kept in his jacket pocket taken. They were a gift from an American soldier he befriended during high-altitude infiltration training.

“I’ve received gifts, and I’ll give you a piece of advice since I feel sorry for you wandering around during the holidays. Beg for your lives unconditionally. I’m not a cruel man, so if you plead, I’ll show mercy. I’m telling you this because you don’t have the face of someone who’ll die young.”

The enigmatic old man disappeared after saying things no one could understand.

With the combat boots, leather gloves, combat uniform, and snacks all taken.

Moon Seok-il patted Jeong Sang-tae’s shoulder, who was sulking after losing his gloves.

“Ha, what a strange day. Let’s just go with it.”

“Maybe it’s not the day that’s strange, but the neighborhood.”

“Right. It feels like we’re haunted.”

The other colleagues reacted similarly.

One junior shuddered like he’d seen a ghost during winter training. If only he had retorted, it would’ve been less frustrating, but in front of the old man dressed like a scarecrow, he just stood there dumbfounded.

It was clearly an incomprehensible phenomenon. They all froze as if they’d seen a ghost, as if they’d made a pact.

“Hyung, can’t we just give up on this job?”

“What about your wife? What about your mother?”

Moon Seok-il scolded the junior for speaking weakly.

The juniors, reminded of reality, fell silent.

As if trying to shake off the unease, Moon Seok-il shook his head firmly.

The unease wasn’t just about the old man.

Meanwhile, the colleagues, still unsettled, continued their conversation.

“Even though we’re getting paid a lot, it’s still a bit uncomfortable.”

“Yeah, but the job was just to bring the couple.”

“But is that the right house?”

“Definitely. We checked multiple times.”

They tried to act nonchalant, but no one looked happy.

“What kind of mess is this during Chuseok?”

“If not now, we’ll never get another chance.”

They had intercepted a radio signal and determined that now was the only opportunity since the security team was away.

“Hyung, should we go into that house and grab some food?”

“Are you crazy? Are we robbers?”

“Where did they go, leaving their daughter behind during the holidays?”

“Maybe they left her with her uncle and went out. Since we’re here, let’s wait.”

The conversation was chaotic, reflecting their growing anxiety. Even the bravest among them seemed uneasy, so Moon Seok-il stepped in.

“Enough.”

He felt the need to refocus. If this continued, they’d get nowhere. They needed to steel themselves for the task ahead, but they were faltering.

“How many years have you been in the NIS? The rice you’ve eaten over the years would cry in the toilet, you bastards. Harden your hearts.”

*

‘NIS means the National Intelligence Service, right?’

Watching them talk without noticing his approach, Jin Hyuk took a moment to catch his breath. Thanks to growing pains, he had reached a point where he didn’t just throw punches recklessly. These guys didn’t seem like easy opponents.

‘They’re being paid to take someone away?’

He began to understand why the men felt so shady. If they had good intentions, they would’ve come to the house directly.

He also understood why Cheon Gil-ryong had warned him.

‘He was worried I’d go on a rampage.’

In a neighborhood where someone could quietly disappear without a trace, with no security cameras, and on a narrow cement road barely wide enough for a car, it was clear these men had ill intentions. For Jin Hyuk, that was motive enough for murder—if he were a violent person.

While angry, he also felt relieved.

‘They’re human.’

He was glad he had come out to check. If they had barged in while he was away… Just the thought was horrifying.

“If you’re not robbers, then what are you?”

The men’s voices suddenly fell silent. Startled by Jin Hyuk’s sudden voice, they slowly turned around. Their expressions were calm, without a hint of panic.

Jin Hyuk’s eyes narrowed as he assessed their demeanor.

‘Properly trained agents.’

Their eyes were hidden behind translucent brown sunglasses, but Jin Hyuk could read their thoughts clearly. When did this guy show up? Did he hear our conversation? That’s probably what they’re thinking.

When the men didn’t answer, Jin Hyuk growled and asked again.

“I heard everything. So, I can’t just let you leave quietly. Who are you?”

To Jin Hyuk, family was everything.

He wouldn’t let anyone harm his family.

Jin Hyuk slowly released the boiling rage he had been suppressing.

Sssss.

A chill crept across the field, pushing back the warm breeze.

Like a tightly stretched rubber band, Jin Hyuk’s senses locked onto the intruders.

Now, which one should I take down first-.

“Sir, hold on.”

One of the men raised his palm toward Jin Hyuk. It was a stop signal, as if commanding everything to freeze.

But “sir”? Are they talking to me? Jin Hyuk unconsciously scratched his cheek and looked back.

The man quickly gathered his colleagues.

‘What’s going on…?’

The situation was unpredictable, and it was unfolding in an unpredictable way. Jin Hyuk stared blankly at the men. It was ridiculous to just wait because they said so, but Jin Hyuk’s mind was racing quickly and suspiciously. He had to.

As the men huddled and whispered, Jin Hyuk recalled a conversation he had with Hong Ki-jun.

It was at the school playground.

“It’s a world where more people envy others than admire them. Since that’s how the human world is, it’s also a method to confidently show off how great you are. That way, you can reduce your enemies.”

It was probably advice for a clueless teenage boy. He must have been worried about what other trouble the boy might get into. The boy’s father, a friend of his, was so focused on playing with his son that he acted even more childish than the boy. So, Jin Hyuk thought he should step in to prevent the boy from going astray.

“Reduce enemies?”

“Jin Hyuk, you’re still young, so you might not understand. People, especially men, size up others who seem better than them. How much smarter is this guy? How much richer? How much better at fighting? But if they think they can’t possibly measure up, what do they do? They back down. They don’t even think about challenging them. The only people who try to surpass them are either those with a grudge or just plain crazy.”

Recalling the conversation—or perhaps one-sided lesson—with Hong Ki-jun, Jin Hyuk observed the men. Even though they were whispering among themselves, his sharp hearing caught everything.

It was unexpected. The content, the calm tone—there was no visible hostility. He had sensed hostility even from the young punk Yoon Seong-dong and his gang, but these intruders with dubious intentions seemed surprisingly mild.

“Don’t keep those who bow and flatter close. They’re the ones who’ll turn their backs and leave at any moment.”

Jin Hyuk took a step toward the men. His movement carried clear hostility. It was different from the men’s demeanor, and he was determined not to show any weakness.

One of the men raised his palm again, signaling that they were still in a meeting. It probably meant to wait a little longer… But holding a meeting in this situation and asking the opponent for time? These guys were really something. Maybe they thought they had the upper hand with their numbers and were being overconfident.

The atmosphere was absurd. The rage he had built up felt embarrassing, and a bitter smile formed on its own.

‘What the hell, this is awkward.’

Jin Hyuk resisted the urge to punch himself. Still, they were adults, after all.

“The most reliable people are those you recruit from under your enemies by paying them. It’s simple. Just pay them more. Once they’re compromised, they’ll work harder to keep your trust. But you can’t just throw money at them; you need groundwork. Like listening to their personal stories…”

For Jin Hyuk, who had spent over forty years just working, this was a foreign world of strategy. It was the strategy of someone who had surpassed his brothers-in-law, taken over the group, and risen to the position of chairman. Maybe it was worth copying, even if imperfectly.

But Jin Hyuk didn’t have the money to buy these men. In that case, another method was necessary.

“More reliable than money is saving their lives. Like Heungbu, who chased away a snake and fixed a swallow’s leg. It’s a method many chaebols in this country use. But you know you shouldn’t break the leg on purpose like Nolbu, right?”

Wait, but these guys. Aren’t they taking bullying too far?

“Excuse me…”