Chapter 15: I Became a Boss
Im Seokjun pulled one of the women closer and laughed.
"Without things like these, there's nothing left to enjoy. Don't you think?"
"I suppose."
"Take one with you. My treat."
"I'm fine."
"Why? Still haven't gotten over your ex-wife?"
Instead of answering, Friend emptied his glass.
Im Seokjun poured him another drink and spoke in a low voice.
"Starting next month, increase it."
"...By how much?"
"About thirty percent."
"Chairman."
"Prices have gone up. Fuel too."
Fuel?
Something flashed through Friend's mind.
But nothing showed on his face.
Chairman Im Seokjun gestured with his chin toward the men being beaten.
"Do you know why those guys are getting hit?"
"No."
"They were managing one of my slush funds. Someone cleaned it out. One billion won. Every last bill."
Friend's gaze briefly swept across the bloodied man and the two men lying face-down.
The one beaten half to death is A-rank.
The two taking the bat are B-rank.
His judgment was quick.
Im Seokjun continued.
"One billion won is more than enough compensation for beating these guys, right? Money calculations should always be exact. Don't you agree?"
"Yes."
Around 1 a.m.
The lights of Gangnam flowed past the windows of a luxury SUV.
Friend sat in the driver's seat with his arms crossed and eyes closed.
How long had it taken for the 420-million-won ring to change owners?
Five seconds.
Money is power.
Real gangsters weren't defined by fists.
There had been a time when he acted like a gangster using fists.
But in the end, money was what controlled the world.
Thirty percent more tribute. Starting next month.
He had to pay it.
He had no choice.
Those were the rules of this world.
If I want to change the rules...
He had to become bigger.
Bigger than Chairman Im Seokjun.
Big enough to become the one who controlled the rules.
Friend opened his eyes and took out his smartphone.
He opened his contacts.
DivineMan.
He stared at the saved number for a long time.
The offer he'd rejected earlier that day returned to his mind.
Fifteen billion barrels.
One point five trillion dollars.
Can I really believe him? Oil in Korea?
But when he thought about it...
That kid.
Friend had no idea how he'd obtained an S-rank weapon.
Shadow Dagger originally belonged to Lee Jinho.
Friend knew that much.
That kind of information wasn't difficult for him to obtain.
But then he tried to sell Lee Jinho's own weapon back to Lee Jinho?
What exactly had he done?
I never asked.
There was no point.
