The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 184

He trades with everyone who isn’t his enemy.

Hong Ki-jun’s principle of conduct was clear.

Hong Ki-jun, who smiled at his daughter as she narrowed her eyes as if watching him, started with some playful banter before revealing his purpose.

“It’s a bother because of me, but it’s awkward for me to call the front-line police station directly.”

– “Ah, yes. If you do that, the detectives can’t work. You have a certain status, so you should talk to me.”

He was just throwing out a bait out of courtesy, but they were talking about status.

It seemed like he was trying to elevate himself, but he was trying to raise Hong Ki-jun up with his poor speaking skills.

– “I know that even the president has to make an appointment to talk to the vice chairman.”

“I’m embarrassed.”

After a few trivial and uninteresting greetings, Hong Ki-jun revealed his purpose.

“Shouldn’t we quickly announce this achievement so that other regional police agencies can also be encouraged?”

Since ancient times, it has been the front-line police who kick the table even when a feast is prepared for them [a Korean saying referring to those who are unappreciative or cause trouble even when things are going well].

From the outside, it seemed like they were wasting time with their ridiculous principles and petty regulations. Hong Ki-jun, who looked into the reality, knew that there were chronic problems due to avoidance of specific tasks and an imbalance in deployment, but anyway, that was a problem for the front lines, and the high-ranking officials who were thirsty for achievements had a different position.

– “That’s right. So, I also have a real-time reporting line open, but since the black market trading between acquaintances doesn’t involve ledgers…”

Still, in Hong Ki-jun’s view, the current police chief was more of a person who defended his subordinates than someone who squeezed out results. That doesn’t mean he liked that aspect.

“I heard that the guy’s truck is out of commission?”

– “You even know that, so I have nothing more to say.”

It was natural for the police chief to react like that.

He wouldn’t know that Hong Ki-jun’s information network was already superior to the police.

Hong Ki-jun had already secured the personal information of the arrested criminal.

Even if that wasn’t the case, how could he not know?

It was his best friend’s house, and it was a place where his trusted SSS members were stationed. Hong Ki-jun was one of the people who knew best what had happened last night.

“Try to coax him by saying you’ll compensate for the property damage. Wouldn’t he cooperate if he’s tempted?”

– “What? A truck isn’t cheap, and he’s a criminal, so how can we…”

“You’re talking about money when we’re talking business. I’m disappointed.”

– “Ah, are you saying that the vice chairman will provide support?”

Huh-, Hong Ki-jun, who covered the receiver with his hand, slightly frowned.

“If a situation arises where we have to give it, I’ll support it.”

Hong Ki-jun, who responded with a somewhat annoyed tone, covered the phone again and let out a shallow sigh.

It was because of the frustration that came from the fact that the other person’s mind was not working as he wanted, even though he had thrown out words that could be misunderstood.

“Chief, you’re a graduate of the Higher Civil Service Examination, right?”

– “Yes. Why do you ask…”

It seemed like he was trying hard to hide his displeasure, but Hong Ki-jun didn’t care. It was a remark intended to make him feel unpleasant.

‘How frustrating.’

It would have been faster to talk to the field investigation personnel.

He was saying to coax him, not that he would give him money.

Detectives and public officials are all human. It’s the same with their minds changing when they go to the bathroom and when they come out.

“What do we care about promises? Isn’t it enough to find out what we want? Is this guy going to go somewhere and complain because the police broke a promise?”

Is that the kind of work ethic you wanted to become a director of the Sein Group with? Hong Ki-jun suppressed the urge to lash out.

Anyway, under current law, if Kim Woo-don files a civil suit, Son Kwang-yeon would have to pay. Of course, that’s assuming he loses the case.

He knew what Jin-hyuk was thinking when he did that, and Hong Ki-jun was also secretly pleased, so he was willing to compensate for that truck, which wasn’t worth much.

– “Surely, how many criminals would be so shameless as to file such a lawsuit? I was just worried that the vice chairman would waste his precious money…”

The police chief changed the subject, noticing Hong Ki-jun’s slightly raised tone.

“This is a country where even the descendants of traitors file lawsuits demanding the return of land they obtained by selling the country. Where is there any face in front of money?”

He shot back one more line and then closed his eyes tightly.

He needed to soothe his frustrated heart.

After a moment of silence, the police chief spoke as if making a resolution.

– “That’s a very… good idea.”

He was going to be his boss in the future, so he had no other choice.

“I’d really like to see some progress today.”

– “It will be as you wish.”

After ending the call, Hong Ki-jun soothed his dry mouth with a sip of coffee.

‘Tsk tsk-. Those who only look at books and take exams are just…’

They don’t even follow the principles themselves, but they talk about principles at the drop of a hat and hesitate.

They use the plausible guise of interpretation to overturn principles like flipping their palms, and they don’t hesitate to create new regulations that violate the rules. Furthermore, they abuse what they’ve learned to escape the law or protect each other.

That was a common characteristic of those who had succeeded by only studying for exams, as Hong Ki-jun had observed.

‘I also only studied because I didn’t know how to succeed at one time, but frustration is frustration.’

Apart from the frustration, there was also a strange sense of elation.

‘Power is really good.’

Power is only mutually independent among people who are not involved in any interests, but once a master-servant relationship has been established, those who have taken the position of a servant do not even distinguish whether they have a pen or a gun in their hands.

The human nature that Hong Ki-jun, who had organized the power structure centered on the Sein Group, had insight into was so insignificant.

‘I’m not going to live forever, and I can’t keep this good thing to myself.’

Anyway, the actual work is handled by tens of thousands of employees, and among them, outstanding talents will lead the group on their own.

Hong Ki-jun, the returnee who had been suffering from headaches while walking on thin ice, was merely holding the rudder as a person in power. While keeping in check the executives who were trying to create factions and engage in internal politics and cronyism.

However, he couldn’t be intoxicated by power.

He had seen how miserable the end of those who had reveled as if they had the world in their hands was, so he was always on guard.

Life may end in death, but infamy will be passed down through generations.

‘I need to raise someone to take over.’

He knew very well that the end of a person in power without power and a successor could never be a happy ending.

‘I don’t have much time.’

Getting old happens quickly.

Even if he was destined to disappear overnight, he didn’t want to live in vain.

He didn’t want his daughter to suffer, and his son was too young.

“Dad, is Jin-hyuk oppa going to be on the nine o’clock news today?”

How many times is she going to ask this?

Hong Ki-jun, who let out a hollow laugh that made his chest heave, gently placed his hand on his daughter’s cheek.

“Even if it’s not today, I’ll make sure he gets on it.”

That coward, he needs to become famous.

Blocking media access was enough once when he was thirteen at the national competition.

***

“Ugh-!”

Jin-hyuk, who was picking fleas while grooming Jang-gun’s fur, shuddered.

It was because he felt a sudden chill and goosebumps for no reason.

The sun was warm, and the wind wasn’t cold. It wasn’t like a drop of water had fallen, but it was strange.

“Did a sparrow pee and fly by?”

I’ll catch it and roast it. Jin-hyuk muttered with a blank face.

Night and day coexist, but they have different faces.

Like the commotion of last night that had become a story of another world with the dawn, only the sound of birds remained in Jin-hyuk’s house as it approached lunchtime.

Crunch crunch-. Slurp slurp-.

The sound of Jang-gun scraping his ribs couldn’t be left out either.

“Our Jang-gun, is it delicious?”

Hohehek-.

Jang-gun, who had his belly on the floor, was just calmly gnawing on the bone, and he didn’t seem interested in the heroic tale of saving his dog friends. Of course, for a dog, a bone is more important than a narrative. In that sense, Jang-gun might be a role model for someone who pursues an ordinary life.

“Eat this meat too.”

Hehet-.

As if he understood, Jang-gun wagged his tail but still showed affection for the bone.

Even though there were plenty of ribs with meat still attached, he seemed to be planning to finish them one by one.

“Jang-gun, is it that delicious?”

Hehehehek-.

Jang-gun stuck his tongue out at Jin-hyuk and then started gnawing on the rib again.

If a dog were to smile, it would look like this.

Jin-hyuk stroked Jang-gun endlessly, feeling proud.

“You rascal-. It would be nice if you could talk.”

He always felt sorry when he looked at the cheerful Jang-gun.

How nice would it be if they could communicate?

Wouldn’t they be able to share their worries and the joys and sorrows of life together?

They could have communicated by phone or radio last night.

Heuk-.

Jin-hyuk, who was having absurd thoughts, let out a chuckle.

‘I think I’m going crazy.’

It seemed like there was a problem with his intelligence, not his personality.

“Itcha-! Itcha-!”

Yu-jin came down the front steps one step at a time like a rabbit.

Following her, the entrance became busy as his parents, dressed in black, came out.

They didn’t say anything about going together, so he was just watching them, but it seemed like they were going alone after all.

“Eung-ah, eung-ah-.”

Jeong-won smiled brightly and moved from his mother’s arms to his older brother.

“Our eldest son, please look after your younger siblings.”

“Yes. Be careful on your way.”

Yu-jin ran over and took her brother’s hand.

Even when her parents went out, Yu-jin didn’t whine about going with them because she had a reliable older brother and uncles. She was a remarkable kid to see.

“Mom, bring back lots of delicious things-.”

Perhaps she was able to endure it well because her parents always had food in their hands when they went out.

Moon Seok-il, who was brushing Hong-si’s fur, opened the VIP door and politely saw them off.

“Please be careful on your way.”

“Okay. You worked hard last night, so rest.”

When Son Kwang-yeon patted his shoulder, Moon Seok-il burst into a silent laugh.

He had worked hard last night.

He had broken a sweat surrounded by dogs that had been kidnapped from another village called Jae-dong-ri. He had helped the police, gone to that village, knocked on the village chief’s door in the middle of the night, and even handed over the dogs.

‘Well, it was fun in its own way.’

Who else would have such an experience?

Life is fun because you don’t know how it will flow and what will happen.

When Myung Hyun-woo got into the driver’s seat and Yoo Tae-hwa got into the passenger seat, Han Yu-young, who had rolled down the window, called out to Jin-hyuk.

“There’s galbi-tang [short rib soup] in the pot, and there are jeon [savory pancakes] and seasoned vegetables in the fridge-.”

“Yes.”

It was when Han Yu-young’s face, smiling at her reliable son, was hidden by the car window.

Son Kwang-yeon leaned in as if he had something left to say. His crescent-shaped smile resembled his wife’s.

“If reporters come, don’t be nervous and speak well.”

“Huh?”

What did you say? Say it again.

Why reporters-?

“I got a call from Ki-jun? Wasn’t it something you knew about too?”

Son Kwang-yeon also made a blank expression.

His son knew more about what Hong Ki-jun was doing than his friend Son Kwang-yeon, so he thought he would know, but he had a look on his face as if he had never heard of it.

“I didn’t know…”

“Wow-. Is there something our oppa doesn’t know-?”

Whether she was teasing or surprised. Jin-hyuk, who ignored Yu-jin who was strangely admiring him, looked at Moon Seok-il with wide eyes.

Moon Seok-il pouted his lips and acted like he didn’t know.

“I told the vice chairman what you wanted.”

“Is that the answer?”

“I don’t know. He clearly said he understood, but isn’t it possible that there are things that the vice chairman can’t stop?”

Jin-hyuk shook his head strongly.

There was no way that there was anything that Hong Ki-jun couldn’t do in South Korea right now.

Moon Seok-il, who shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, was annoying. Just by the fact that he couldn’t make eye contact, it was clear that he knew something. But that wasn’t important right now.

‘What should I do, what should I do?’

This wasn’t the time to be like this.

He ran after the car that had already left.

“Bbaaa-!”

“Wow! It’s running-!”

Son Jeong-won, who was held in his brother’s arms, flapped his arms excitedly as he felt the strong wind.

And Yu-jin just ran after her brother.

Jin-hyuk tightened his lower abdomen.

He was shouting with the desperation he had when he was running to avoid being caught that winter.

“Let’s go together-!”

He had to run.