Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 642

An hour later.

Hyun-sung arrived in front of the Daesung Building in downtown Gangneung.

*Beep.*

His phone rang.

“Hello?”

-Boss, it’s me.

The person calling was his wife, Yoon Ji-soo.

“Yes, Ji-soo, how is your mother?”

-She woke up a little while ago, but she still needs more rest. She’s still having trouble speaking; she must have been really shocked.

“Okay, I’ll head over there as soon as I’m done here, so stay with her.”

-But where are you right now?

Hyun-sung glanced up at the building’s sign to confirm the name and said, “I’m talking to those guys from the restaurant. I stepped out to the parking lot to take this call. It looks like things will work out, so don’t worry too much.”

-Are you sure everything’s okay?

“Of course, I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

-Okay, just remember the promise you made to me. If you get hurt even a little bit… you know?

“Yes, of course. I’ll see you soon.”

-Yes, see you.

Hyun-sung was about to hang up when he urgently called Yoon Ji-soo again.

“Ji-soo!”

-Yes, what is it?

“Nothing, I just wanted to call you. I miss you!”

-……

He couldn’t hear her voice on the other end. She answered with silence.

The meaning of silence!

Hyun-sung knew it was a good sign, not a bad one.

Was that why?

A smile began to spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

But only for a moment.

Hyun-sung’s expression hardened again. He knew how serious the situation was.

Hyun-sung turned off his phone and put it in his inside pocket, taking out a deck of cards instead. He’d deliberately bought them at the convenience store earlier.

These were the cards he always practiced throwing with in the early morning when he was home.

He never thought the day would come when he’d actually use them.

After dividing ten cards into each hand, Hyun-sung headed for the elevator.

First, he pressed the 4th-floor button. He’d heard that these guys’ office was on the 3rd floor. He didn’t press the 3rd-floor button right away because he figured they might be waiting in front of the elevator there.

*Ding!*

When the elevator stopped on the 4th floor, Hyun-sung looked around. Fortunately, there was no sign of them.

It was fortunate that they didn’t know what he looked like. Conversely, Hyun-sung could recognize them by their clothes.

He already knew from Hwang Seung-il at the restaurant that they always wore black suits as a uniform.

Hyun-sung got off on the 4th floor and headed for the stairs. Then, he quietly made his way down to the lower floor, sticking close to the wall.

Halfway down?

He heard people talking.

“Why isn’t this bastard coming?”

“I know, it’s been over an hour.”

“What kind of guy is he…”

“Well, it’s okay. It’s Boknal today [one of the three hottest days of the lunar year in Korea, traditionally a day for eating dog meat for stamina], so let’s just beat up a dog.”

*Smirk.*

A bitter smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face. He never thought he’d get caught up in this kind of thing after eating chicken on Malbok [the last Boknal of the year, when chicken is often eaten instead of dog meat].

They said there were fifty of them. He had already taken out two, so now there were forty-eight left. It was like he was going to get a proper beating on Malbok.

Hyun-sung started walking down again.

He had one step left when he heard someone’s voice again.

“We need to know what he looks like to recognize him, right?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Hyun-sung smiled once more and gathered energy throughout his body. The energy that had been dormant in his dantian [a traditional Chinese medicine concept referring to an energy center in the lower abdomen] started moving as if it had been waiting.

It didn’t even take a second for that energy to be transmitted to the tips of both hands. It was the moment when Hyun-sung’s internal energy was channeled into the cards in his hand.

Hyun-sung immediately went down the last step. Then, he walked naturally toward the elevator as if nothing had happened.

It was an action he could take because they didn’t know his face.

Six, that was the number of people wearing suits in front of the elevator. Hyun-sung left three cards in each hand and put the rest in his pocket. Then, he started walking naturally again.

Five meters, the optimal distance to use the cards. He shouldn’t let them know his identity until he reached that distance.

Eight, seven, six!

Finally, five meters, the moment he came within range.

Hyun-sung spoke to the six people who were staring blankly at him.

“Hey!”

The six people started rushing toward Hyun-sung like moths to a flame, as if they had made a promise. They recognized him instinctively.

Right at that moment.

*Whoosh!*

The six cards in Hyun-sung’s hands flew into the air simultaneously. They flew toward the necks of the six people, drawing their own trajectories.

It happened in an instant.

Shortly after.

“Ugh!”

The six people grabbed their necks with both hands as if they had made a promise. Red liquid began to seep out between their fingers.

*Shushushuk!*

Hyun-sung passed them and walked quickly inside.

It was then.

Six more men in black suits came into Hyun-sung’s view. Hyun-sung again divided three cards into each hand. Then, he walked toward them at a faster pace.

At some point!

Hyun-sung flung six cards into the air again. This time, too, the six cards flew toward their respective targets without even an inch of error.

“Ugh!”

The six men in black suits were at a loss, grabbing their necks as before.

It was the moment when the twelfth person was eliminated.

Now there were thirty-six people left.

Hyun-sung quickly moved his steps inside again.

Right then.

The sign ‘Shilla Savings Bank’ came into Hyun-sung’s view.

This time there were four people. Hyun-sung started moving toward them at an even faster speed.

At that time.

Oh Myung-hwan, who was in the office, turned his head and looked at the clock. Then he immediately continued speaking.

“What? Why isn’t this bastard coming?”

“Hyung [an honorific term used to address an older brother or male friend], maybe this guy got scared and ran away?”

“Seung-il clearly said it was a Delta situation [a high-priority situation requiring immediate action]…”

“Maybe that bastard misjudged it?”

“Call Seung-il.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Han Sang-tae immediately took out his cell phone.

Right then.

*Bang!*

The office door opened loudly.

“Which bastard…”

Han Sang-tae was about to shout, but his mouth dropped open because a man was standing proudly at the entrance.

Meanwhile, Hyun-sung tilted his head.

Six people at first, six people the second time, and four people in front of the last office. That’s a total of sixteen people. Then there should be thirty-two people in the office. But no matter how much he looked, he could only see twelve people.

Twenty people were missing from the number of people who should be there.

There’s no way they’re hiding somewhere in this situation, so that means these guys ignored him from the beginning and didn’t call the rest of the people.

A smile spread across Hyun-sung’s face.

But only for a moment.

Hyun-sung scanned the office.

There were two in the center and five on each side.

Hyun-sung quickly divided the cards into three in one hand and two in the other. Then he immediately turned his body to the right.

It was then.

“What are you doing? Catch that bastard!”

Han Sang-tae’s voice echoed in the office. But the first to move at that moment was not them but Hyun-sung.

*Whoosh!*

Hyun-sung flung five cards at the same time.

*Ssaeak!*

The five cards filled with internal energy flew toward their respective targets without fail this time as well.

“Ugh!”

The five people on the right grabbed their necks at the same time as if they had made a promise. Their eyes were full of astonishment.

Hyun-sung immediately turned his body.

But he couldn’t use the cards anymore because the five people on the left were already rushing toward him.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Hyun-sung avoided the flying fist and jumped onto the desk. Then this time, an attack came toward his legs.

But Hyun-sung’s body was already on the other side.

“Come on!”

Only then did Hyun-sung take a proper stance and raise both hands. Then two guys rushed at him at once. But this time, too, Hyun-sung’s movements were faster.

*Whoosh whoosh!*

With the sound of wind twice, two people fell to the floor.

“Kill him!”

This time, three guys rushed toward Hyun-sung. Hyun-sung jumped from the spot and attacked the neck of the guy who rushed in first with a turning kick.

*Thud!*

One guy fell to the floor right away. Then the remaining two guys exchanged glances and pulled something out while stepping back.

It was a sashimi knife that was obviously over twenty centimeters long.

But there was something they made a mistake about.

They stepped back to swing the sashimi knife. That means the distance from Hyun-sung has widened that much. Of course, they had no way of knowing that it was a misstep.

Card and sashimi knife.

The distance between Hyun-sung and the guys is two meters.

In order to attack, they have to move two meters, but Hyun-sung doesn’t have to.

Hyun-sung already had one card in each hand.

*Whoosh!*

As Hyun-sung’s both hands cut through the air, at the same time, the two guys grabbed their necks and fell to the floor. Then Hyun-sung’s gaze immediately turned to the center.

“Are you the boss?”

Hyun-sung pointed his chin at Oh Myung-hwan in the center. Then Han Sang-tae, who was next to Oh Myung-hwan, spoke first.

“Who are you?”

“I don’t need to know that. Who is Oh Myung-hwan?”

He already knew through Hwang Seung-il that the boss was Oh Myung-hwan.

It was then.

Oh Myung-hwan spoke.

“It’s me, but isn’t this too much for a first meeting?”

Right then.

Hyun-sung’s right hand cut through the air. A card flew in a straight line toward Oh Myung-hwan with a ‘ssaeak’ sound.

*Thud!*

The flying card grazed Oh Myung-hwan’s face and then stuck into the wall behind him.

Oh Myung-hwan couldn’t believe it even though he saw it with his own eyes.

He has been living in this world for twenty years. He has experienced so many things so far, but it is the first time he has seen a paper card pierce a cement wall.

If this card hadn’t gone astray, his face would have been half blown away already.

Why hesitate any longer?

Age? After all, age is useless in this world. Oh Myung-hwan knew too well that only skill mattered.

*Thud.*

Oh Myung-hwan approached Hyun-sung. Then he immediately knelt down.

“Hyungnim [a respectful term for an older brother or senior]!”

Shortly after.

The two people sitting face to face.

Hyun-sung spoke first.

“I’m not going to talk long. What are you going to do now?”

“What do you want?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“I’m…”

Oh Myung-hwan couldn’t speak properly. Then Hyun-sung immediately continued speaking.

“Bring the promissory note.”

“The promissory note?”

“Listen carefully. If you make me repeat myself, you’ll have one tooth pulled out each time. Got it?”

“Yes, I understand, Hyungnim!”

Oh Myung-hwan bowed his head toward Hyun-sung and nodded while looking at Han Sang-tae next to him. Then Han Sang-tae ran somewhere and brought a few pieces of paper.

“Here it is.”

Hyun-sung’s expression seemed to twist while looking at the promissory note, and then his hand moved.

*Thud!*

Oh Myung-hwan grabbed his chest momentarily. It felt like his heart was stopping. It was the first time he had experienced such pain in his life.

“Don’t act up and sit up straight.”

“…Yes, Hyungnim.”

Oh Myung-hwan barely answered and straightened his posture. Then Hyun-sung’s words continued again.

“Who wrote this promissory note?”

“That’s…”

Oh Myung-hwan looked at Han Sang-tae next to him. Then Han Sang-tae immediately knelt down and said.

“I, I wrote it.”

“This bastard really!”

Hyun-sung raised and lowered his hand. Then he immediately continued speaking.

“You go over there and bang your head. Execute!”

“Execute!”

Han Sang-tae repeated and went to the corner of the office and banged his head. Then Hyun-sung immediately called Oh Myung-hwan.

“Hey, boss!”

“Yes, Hyungnim.”

“Don’t say much, let’s resolve this amicably.”

“Yes, just tell me.”

“You said my mother-in-law borrowed 20 million won [approximately $15,000 USD], right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

When Oh Myung-hwan answered, Hyun-sung took out two checks from his wallet and handed them to him, saying, “Here, take it. It’s the principal.”

“Yes, Hyungnim.”

“Now, the problem is the interest…”

Hyun-sung looked at Oh Myung-hwan while speaking. It was a way of telling him to figure it out.

Oh Myung-hwan is forty years old this year. He couldn’t not know what that meant. Oh Myung-hwan’s words immediately followed.

“Hyungnim, it’s okay.”

“It’s okay?”

“Yes, that’s right. We are grateful just for receiving the principal.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

“If you say something different later, you’re really going to die then.”

“Yes, Hyungnim!”

Oh Myung-hwan bowed his head 90 degrees toward Hyun-sung. His eyes were in a state of wanting Hyun-sung to get out of here as soon as possible, even for just a second.

But Hyun-sung crossed his legs as if he had no intention of doing so and continued speaking.

“Okay, then shall we start settling accounts in earnest from now on?”