AGENT 31

Hong Kong Cartel Yiwon. This was a famous criminal group known to anyone involved in criminal organizations or those with even a little knowledge of that world.

While a large organization called the Triads had existed in Hong Kong much earlier, four years ago, a newly formed organization, Yiwon, eliminated the two most powerful heads among the Triads’ four bosses. As a result, the Triads had currently abandoned the drug trade and were merely operating clubs and casinos, unable to spread their wings.

Yiwon’s primary businesses were drugs and casinos, but they did not deal in easily obtainable methamphetamine or fentanyl at all; instead, they reaped massive profits by independently distributing E8, which they had developed themselves. Additionally, they owned several famous casino hotels in Macau, the largest of which was the hotel exchanged for the life of the fourth Triad boss.

However, unlike its prominent reputation, Yiwon was an organization shrouded in many secrets.

For one, some said the boss of the organization was Korean, while others said he was Hong Kongese; it was rumored that the confusion existed because his right-hand man was Korean. Furthermore, one of the famous rumors circulating was that the right-hand man had a face one could never forget.

“That right-hand man has a face you can’t forget?”

“That’s what they say, but have you seen him?”

A face one could never forget. That definitely referred to the man. His face was the kind that would inspire such words. Yongnae had expected the man to hold a high rank, but to think he was the boss’s right-hand man. Even that was stylish and cool. But he’s Korean? When the man’s name is Susu? Wasn’t that some kind of misinformation?

“…Yes. I have seen him.”

“Really? You saw his face in person?!”

“Yes.”

“What does he look like? Do you have a photo by any chance? Or, like, any prominent features…!”

When Yongnae answered that he had seen him, the hyung-nim asked urgently, greatly surprised, if he could describe the appearance or draw any memorable features or tattoos. Why was he acting like that? As if he were trying to find the man.

Huh? …Finding the man?

“Why are you asking that?”

“No, because that fucking bastard turned our hyung-nim over to the police!”

“Pardon?”

“Just because we tried to show him who’s boss, he took such petty revenge immediately…!”

“Revenge?”

As if suddenly surging with rage, the hyung-nim began to vent to Yongnae about what had happened.

“Rumors were spreading far and wide that Yiwon’s right-hand man was coming to Korea to sell drugs. But our Black Horse Gang had a tight grip on the Korean drug market, you know? No matter how much of an organization they are for taking down the Triads, to have no business ethics… So our hyung-nims said we should give that right-hand man bastard a little scare on the day he crossed over to Korea. To show him that our Black Horse Gang isn’t a pushover.”

The Black Horse Gang reportedly deployed organization members at the port where he was smuggled in and waited for Yiwon’s right-hand man. However, as if Yiwon had somehow known, he didn’t show his face on the smuggling ship, and the Black Horse Gang, judging that he had gotten scared and run away midway, returned triumphantly.

However, it was said that starting from the next day, the executives of the Black Horse Gang were kidnapped one by one. First, the executive of Area A, then the executive of Area B.

“And… finally, our hyung-nim was kidnapped. We thought hyung-nim wouldn’t make it back alive. But…”

In a dark organization where “living and dying by style” was the motto, the least stylish thing was neither death nor being half-beaten to death.

“Those bastards threw our hyung-nim, big hyung-nim, and little hyung-nim out as bait at the very site where they were making their drugs.”

It was, quite simply, being helplessly caught by the police. And three organization bosses at the same time, no less. The day after Yongnae first met the man, he had found it questionable when the news reported that three members of a methamphetamine distribution organization had been caught; he figured those must have been the three executives of the Black Horse Gang.

“So, we received a secret order to avenge the hyung-nims, and I absolutely have to get revenge on that guy. But none of our kids have seen that right-hand man bastard, and we have too little information. So, I need some information from the civil servant teacher.”

These Black Horse Gang members were trying to take revenge on the man who had brought shame upon them. But since they had no information, they were asking Yongnae—who had seen them most closely—about his characteristics. To find the man based on that.

“…Are you going to Hong Kong?”

That meant if they got the man’s characteristics, they would pursue him.

“Yeah. If we just have the information, we’re going after him immediately.”

“………”

In other words, it meant they would also go to Hong Kong to catch the man who had left for Hong Kong.

“Then, please take me with you.”

It was an opportunity.

“What?”

As if he had misheard Yongnae’s words, the hyung-nim asked back, his eyes widening into circles. Seeing that stupid expression, Yongnae figured this person called hyung-nim wasn’t a Black Horse Gang executive either, but just one of the lackeys. That’s why the kidnapping was so clumsy and he was spilling everything the organization had suffered to someone he just met.

“Please take me with you, too.”

And so, the thought flashed through Yongnae’s mind to use these stupid organization members. The fact that he was being kidnapped in the parking lot would have been caught on CCTV. So, he could just pretend to be kidnapped, go to Hong Kong with them, and find the man.

“…The civil servant teacher? Wh-Why?”

Whether Yongnae’s request was flustering, the hyung-nim was so surprised he naturally began using polite speech.

“Since I’ve seen all the faces of the Yiwon people, it will be faster to go and see for myself when it comes to tracking them down.”

No matter how much he described their appearances through writing or explanation, actually seeing and confirming them would be different. Therefore, taking him along to confirm in person would be a much better choice for them as well.

“No, I mean. Why are you trying to go, teacher?”

“…Pardon?”

“You said you were kidnapped by Yiwon. A normal person wouldn’t want to be involved with the guys who kidnapped them ever again, so why are you trying to see those bastards again, teacher?”

He had seemed ditzy and stupid, but he had a sharper side than expected. Is that why he’s the hyung-nim among these lackeys?

“…I want to get revenge, too.”

He couldn’t say he was going to see that right-hand man again because he truly couldn’t forget that “face you can’t forget.” If he did, he’d be branded as a total madman.

So, he had to appear as if he had a goal of revenge, just like them. But it wasn’t as if such a feeling was entirely absent. The heart longing for the man was so large it likely covered and obscured the resentment, but in truth, he did harbor some resentment toward the man.

Even though he remembered me and had Weizhen and Lee Suji kidnap me. Even though he didn’t show his face even once the whole time, then appeared right before I was about to die and made me fall for him once more. To leave me behind in that unpleasant and dirty place without a care.

Even though he smiled at me like that, telling me to fall in love, to just return to Hong Kong alone.

It couldn’t be said that there was no resentment. He did want to get revenge on him. But he didn’t know how he wanted to carry out that revenge. Of course, he didn’t want him to die, nor did he want him to get hurt. Just… would it be okay if it hurt a little?

“So, why? Did you have something done to you by Yiwon too, teacher?”

Far from having something done to him, he had even received 300 million won, but only by saying something was done to him would these people accept his desire for revenge. But what should he say was done to him?

“Something was done, indeed…”

“What was it?”