I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 16

Yang Cheong visited the gambling den run by the Oryun Clan, skillfully navigating through the boisterous gamblers before entering a secluded room.

Inside, Ok Gang-il and about four men were stuffing money into pouches. The men bowed their heads upon seeing Yang Cheong.

“Is everything ready?”

Yang Cheong asked, looking at the money pouches. One of the men tossed five fist-sized pouches onto the table with a thud.

Yang Cheong looked back and forth between the money and Ok Gang-il, and said,

“Is this all? It’s only half of what it was last month.”

“Why are you asking us? We’re just doing as we’re told.”

“What’s going on?”

“You told us to take over Gaebong, right? Do you think that comes for free? We need to prepare, too. A war with the Nokheul Clan doesn’t come cheap.”

Ok Gang-il retorted, raising his voice at Yang Cheong, who was complaining.

“This is all we could scrape together. And from now on, we can’t give you a single penny until we completely push out the Nokheul Clan and finish reorganizing our group. Also, that young guy from the Mukdo Association told you to ask for any support you need, right?”

“So? You want money?”

“Of course. It costs a fortune to supply, feed, and house the guys who’ll take the hits. We’re going to get all of that.”

Ok Gang-il enjoyed Yang Cheong’s flustered expression. He had been waiting to repay the humiliation of being looked down upon while she flaunted the Mukdo Association’s name.

Yang Cheong was on the verge of losing her mind at the news that the money to be sent to the Mukdo Association each month wouldn’t be coming in.

“What are you talking about? Who decided to cut off the tribute? Stop talking nonsense and bring the money to fill it. Otherwise, you’ll be tasting the blades of the experts here before you even start a war with the Nokheul Clan.”

“Experts here? Ah…! Those swordsmen hiding in the escort agency?”

“Hmph. You know well. Did you forget where you are? Do you think if you tell us about your situation, we’ll say, ‘Oh, I see. You must be having a hard time, so we’ll waive the tribute from now on…’? Expanding our power is one thing, and tribute is another. Ok Gang-il! Don’t mess with me.”

“If I sell those escort agency swordsmen, do you think I’ll say, ‘Ah, yes. Of course. I’ll pay the tribute’? You need to watch your mouth. Filling the money is your job, and those guys will be the first to slice your neck off, right?”

“You son of a bitch…! I’ve been putting up with you… What did you just say? Bitch?”

Yang Cheong, who was shouting with veins popping out of her neck, felt something strange as she looked at Ok Gang-il’s still defiant face.

He was unusually harsh and arrogant today. Courtesy had long disappeared since they had worked together for so long, but this was the first time he had used such harsh language.

Moreover, as Ok Gang-il approached her with a fierce expression, Yang Cheong involuntarily took a step back.

When she was blocked by the wall and could no longer retreat, Ok Gang-il grabbed her by the collar.

“You’re a woman, so ‘bitch’ is right. I can’t call you ‘guy,’ can I? And…”

Slap-!

Ok Gang-il slapped Yang Cheong’s cheek with all his might. Yang Cheong bled from her mouth from the force of the blow.

“How old do you think I am, talking to me like that, you bastard?”

Ok Gang-il said to the men standing beside him,

“Guys, beat this bitch up a bit to wake her up.”

The men’s kicks did not stop until Yang Cheong lost consciousness.

* * *

When Yang Cheong opened her eyes, she saw Jo Gwang-yun’s face, not Ok Gang-il’s.

“You woke up quickly. Did you eat a lot of good medicine to have so much energy?”

“You, you’re…?”

“Why are you so surprised? It’s not like we’re strangers.”

Seeing Jo Gwang-yun smirking, Yang Cheong realized that he had orchestrated everything.

“You son of a bitch…!”

“You’re quick to catch on, as expected. You already figured it out?”

Yang Cheong examined her body as her arms and legs did not move as she intended. After confirming that she was tightly bound, her mind was filled with the thought that she had to survive no matter what.

“You got what you wanted. Why are you doing this?”

“You know very well. We pretended to shake hands while hiding our knives. I just took out my knife before you did. Don’t treat me like such a bad guy.”

“I was one step too late. Fine. Tell me what you want. There’s no need to make things difficult for each other, right?”

Yang Cheong was definitely a woman who had rolled around in the dirt. Having survived countless dangers, she knew how to say what was necessary.

‘Most men wouldn’t even be able to hold a candle to her? She’s no ordinary woman.’

Having more guts than a man was a poison in this situation. It would have been easier if she had been a weak woman.

“I’m sorry to say this, but we have no choice but to make things difficult. I promised that friend that I would eliminate you when I joined hands with him. You’re going to die today anyway.”

At the word ‘death,’ Yang Cheong’s blood-stained face turned white, and only her lips trembled.

“But I want to give you one last chance. Listen carefully and make a wise decision.”

Yang Cheong sensed that the words ‘you’re going to die today’ were true, and the words ‘last chance’ were a lie to get something out of her. But to survive, she would grab even a rotten rope.

Her eyes became a little clearer.

“Spit out all the money you’ve made and saved so far. Then I’ll not only spare you but also give you some retirement money. At least you won’t have to go hungry.”

“In the end, it’s money?”

Her eyes were full of ridicule.

“Everything is money. Why else would I go through this if not for money?”

Jo Gwang-yun spoke faster, as if he didn’t want to waste time on useless talk.

“You’ve seen and collected money in a woman’s body, so it must be a shame. But I’m telling you I’ll make sure you don’t have to worry about making a living. This is a generous offer, giving you a chance to retire honorably.”

“What if I refuse?”

“You’ll taste excruciating pain until you hand over the money. Of course, the end is death. Isn’t this enough to leave you with no choice?”

“Does this bastard think I’m an idiot? You’ll kill me the moment I take out the money… Do you think I’ll fall for that? Do as you please. I’ll die anyway, so I’d rather die with the money.”

“Do you think I’ll never kill you if you don’t hand over the money now?”

Jo Gwang-yun shook his head with a smile.

“You still don’t know me, but I’m not interested in your money. If you want to die with that money, go ahead.”

“Bullshit. You said everything is money? And a guy like that isn’t interested in money? Do you think I’ll believe that?”

Yang Cheong’s voice was venomous again.

“You and I have different approaches to money. You only think about the luxury you can enjoy with money, right? Money isn’t such a vulgar tool. Money is the result of someone’s effort. The money you’ve collected is the money those guys earned by beating people, killing them, and squeezing tears from their eyes. I feel sorry that that effort is sleeping forever in a jar in the ground.”

Jo Gwang-yun raised his hand and pointed to Ok Gang-il and his subordinates, who were standing a step away, watching.

Ok Gang-il frowned and muttered Jo Gwang-yun’s words.

“The result of effort is money… That’s a very interesting saying.”

“Boss. If we let that bitch live, it will be a problem. What should we do?”

“If that guy was the type to leave even a shred of possibility, I wouldn’t be working with him. Let’s wait and see.”

“Yes.”

Jo Gwang-yun, who didn’t hear their whispering, still only watched Yang Cheong’s expression.

“Haven’t decided yet? Opportunity doesn’t come often. You have to seize it when it comes.”

“Stop talking nonsense and kill me if you can. You won’t have the confidence if you think about the money!”

Jo Gwang-yun sighed as he saw Yang Cheong avoiding his gaze. Now he had to give her the excruciating pain he had talked about, but he had never tortured anyone or even seen it… No, he had seen it. Through the screen.

“Hey, you!”

Jo Gwang-yun called Ok Gang-il’s subordinate.

“Bring a saw.”

“Yes? A saw…?”

“Don’t you know what a saw is? The thing you use to cut wood?”

“Ah, yes.”

Yang Cheong’s eyes widened at the word ‘saw.’

Jo Gwang-yun grabbed Ok Gang-il’s subordinate as he handed over the saw and turned around.

“Cut here, here! And here.”

Jo Gwang-yun said, holding the saw to Yang Cheong’s ear, wrist, and ankle.

“Cut the wrists and ankles above the joints. You’ll damage the saw if you cut below.”

What movie was this from again? New World? Inside Men? Jo Gwang-yun was a little confused.

End