Chapter 198: Cheontae Tae-san and Ha Myung-hoon

Will we be okay, hyung?"

Ma Seok-dae asked, glancing at Ha Myung-hoon. Hesitation was written all over his face.

"What do you mean? We have to do this. We can't just starve to death. The director's already run off, so what are we supposed to eat?"

"Still…"

Ha Myung-hoon delivered a sharp smack to the back of Seok-dae's head for his uncertainty.

"Get your head straight! You and I have to look after the younger ones!"

In the 1960s, South Korea was a whirlpool of chaos.

After the Korean War, a flood of orphans wandered the streets, begging for scraps, becoming vagrants, or running errands for gangsters just to scrape by.

The young Ha Myung-hoon was no different.

But after the military coup, the gangsters in Myeong-dong were captured by soldiers in the name of social cleansing.

The orphanage director, perhaps sensing trouble, abandoned the children and fled.

"Fine,"

he said. "If this goes well, we won't have to do this anymore. We'll be able to eat our fill with the younger ones. Just keep that in mind."

Ha Myung-hoon murmured, his gaze fixed on a dilapidated building.

"From what I've seen running errands, the loan shark's office has plenty of cash. When I attack on the way out, all you have to do is grab the bag and run. Don't be scared!"

"…Okay, hyung."

"Good. Stay focused, Seok-dae!"

Although he reassured Seok-dae not to be afraid, Ha Myung-hoon's small hands trembled as he gripped the steel pipe.

"You can do this, Seok-dae."

Ha Myung-hoon whispered, uncertain if he was encouraging Seok-dae or himself.

Time passed slowly until Seok-dae finally called out,

"Hyung, hyung. Someone's coming out!"

From the building they had been watching, a figure stepped out.

A burly man had a hefty bag slung at his side.

"Hyung, be careful!"

"Yeah, you guys take it easy on the way in. If anyone's late, they'll meet a miserable fate at my hands!"

"Yes, hyung!"

The man from the building waved his hand over his head as he walked away, swaying unsteadily.

"Hide!"

Ha Myung-hoon whispered to Seok-dae.

Seok-dae pressed himself tightly against the wall.

They waited in the dark, narrow alley for the man to approach, knowing that this was their only chance in this obsidian gloom.

Just beyond this point lay Myeong-dong's bustling nightlife, filled with bars and revelers.

The man seemed drunk, singing off-key as he spun the bag in his hand.

Finally, he stumbled into the dark alley.

Thud!

As he was engulfed in darkness, Ha Myung-hoon swung the steel pipe at the back of his head.

"Ugh! Who's there? Who the hell are you?!"

Despite his determination, Ha Myung-hoon was still just a teenager.

Plus, he'd hardly eaten, leaving him weak.

He intended to knock him out, but the man only staggered.

"Run!"

However, the man's shock was enough to make him drop the bag he was holding.

Seok-dae swiftly scooped it up.

"Who are you? Who sent you?!"

The man's booming voice echoed in the silent alley.

Hearing his shout, the man's thugs sprinted over from the stairs.

"Hyung!"

"Catch those brats! If you let them go, you'll regret it under my wrath! Got it?"

The thugs turned to see where he pointed. A pair of kids were dashing toward the entertainment district.

The two ran for their lives, breaths coming in ragged gasps.

But it seemed the pursuers weren't going to give up easily either.

"Catch those punks! Block them!"

A shout from behind drew the attention of bystanders towards Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae, but their intrigue faded swiftly.

Such events were a dime a dozen in Myeong-dong's nightlife.

As the gangsters' places became filled with petty thieves and vagrants, the security deteriorated.

"Huff, huff! Hyung…"

Seok-dae felt as if he might collapse from exhaustion, his legs near giving out.

"Hold on! Huff, ha… No matter what, keep running. If we're caught, it's our end—especially with the younger ones waiting for us!"

Though struggling himself, Ha Myung-hoon pressed on with sheer grit.

Thud!

After a long time of running, they looked back only to crash into someone coming forward.

"Whoah! Kids really shouldn't be running around here without watching where they're going!"

Both Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae stumbled backward, but the man they bumped into brushed himself off, seemingly unbothered.

"Huff, huff! You little brats! Do you think today's some kind of funeral?"

Meanwhile, the men chasing them caught up.

Frozen in fear, Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae could only stare wide-eyed.

"What are you two doing?"

The man they had collided with spoke up toward the pursuing thugs.

It was only then that the thugs lowered their heads in a hurry to the man's authority.

"Oh, Chairman Cheon! We didn't see you there. My apologies!"

"It's not about manners, but what are you doing roughhousing with kids?"

The thugs looked around for their boss, clearly on edge.

"These little punks hit my hyung and ran away with his bag."

"Who? Hyung Heo?"

"Yes! That's right!"

Chairman Cheon laughed uproariously at that.

The men seemed sheepish in return, silent and still.

"Hyung Heo was bested by kids who can't even eat a proper porridge? Hahaha! What a delightful sight!"

"…Then, we'll take our leave now."

One of the thugs, glancing at their leader, signaled to the others behind him.

The thugs holding Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae lifted them easily off the ground.

"Let go, let go! You bastards! I said let go!"

Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae struggled futilely against the adults' strength.

Chairman Cheon grinned coldly.

"Hey, Manager Kim. What are you doing, really? Did I say it was okay to leave?"

His low voice made Manager Kim break out in a cold sweat.

"What are you asking?"

There was a simmering anger in Chairman Cheon's words.

"These kids are the ones who attacked my brother."

"What does that have to do with me? Can't you see that they've bumped into me? My outfit is ruined. Are you going to take responsibility for this?"

Chairman Cheon pointed at his clothes.

While slightly wrinkled, they were completely spotless.

"…"

It was blatant bullying, yet Manager Kim had no rebuttal.

"Can't you hear me? Are your ears blocked? I might have to let some air in for you. Hey, Secretary Paeng, I think this kid doesn't hear me clearly."

"Yes, sir!"

A burly man standing behind Chairman Cheon stepped forward, head bowed.

Manager Kim turned pale.

"N-No! I can hear! Stop! Let them go!"

The cold stares of the thugs released Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae.

As they lowered them, Chairman Cheon eyed the thug grasping a bag.

"Now that we have the bag, if this gets any louder, you know what's coming, right? They need to settle some matters with me, so let them sort that out first. Any issues?"

"No, sir. I'll let them know that Chairman Cheon has taken them away."

"Alright then, off you go."

Manager Kim and his thugs turned to leave, their eyes on Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae as if trying to memorize their faces.

Once the men disappeared, Chairman Cheon looked down at the crumpled forms of Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae and asked,

"Who sent you?"

"What's it to you?!"

Unlike with Manager Kim's men, Ha Myung-hoon growled defiantly despite the soft tone from Chairman Cheon.

"An adult is asking, and this isn't the way to speak to me. So who sent you?"

"Who sets me off?"

"You think it's a coincidence that Hyung Heo was passing by at that hour?"

"…"

No response came.

But Chairman Cheon found Ha Myung-hoon's glaring eyes rather interesting.

"What's your name?"

"…"

"You need to answer when an adult speaks. Should I hand you over to Hyung Heo instead? I'm doing my best to keep you two safe here. Can't you at least give me your name?"

Chairman Cheon spoke playfully, making Ha Myung-hoon glance sideways at the trembling Seok-dae.

"…Ha Myung-hoon. Just take me. Let Seok-dae go. He was only dragged into this because of me."

"Hyung!"

"Be quiet. Do you want me to hit you again?"

Seok-dae tugged at his clothes, but Ha Myung-hoon shook him off with a snarl.

Chairman Cheon chuckled as if amused.

"You siblings sure have a bond."

"Siblings? He's just some kid I happened to meet on the street."

"Hyung…"

Water tinged Seok-dae's voice as Chairman Cheon pressed for answers.

"Where do you live?"

"…Just take me!"

"You said your name is Myung-hoon, right? Don't mistake me for being dangerous. I'm not here to hurt you."

Ha Myung-hoon didn't believe Chairman Cheon's words.

He had realized through his time on the streets that there was no one left he could trust.

Instead of responding, he merely glared at Chairman Cheon with icy eyes.

"I like your spirit. Secretary Paeng, let's clean them up and find them something to eat at the office."

"Understood, sir!"

Following Chairman Cheon's orders, Secretary Paeng signaled the thugs behind him.

"Just take me!"

Ha Myung-hoon shouted, trying to block the thugs aiming for Seok-dae.

"Haha, the more I see you, the more I like you."

For reasons known only to him, Chairman Cheon laughed heartily.

He watched as Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae were dragged away and, once they were out of sight, wiped the smile off his face.

"Find out where they live."

"Yes, sir!"

"Secretary Paeng."

"Yes, sir!"

"Lately, Myeong-dong has been teeming with petty thieves and vagrants."

The cold tone made Secretary Paeng bow his head deeply in deference.

"You stopped them from getting caught in the army for that reason, so they should be handling that. What should I do if the ones you spared don't do their jobs properly?"

"…I'm sorry."

"This is my territory. If I don't keep petty thieves in check, then customers won't come."

Secretary Paeng remained bent in apology, his voice quivering slightly.

"Understood. I will take care of it starting tomorrow. I'm sorry for causing you concern."

"As long as you understand. If the police or soldiers start asking questions, or if anyone gets caught, you come to me. I'll sort it out for you."

"Yes, sir!"

Since the Japanese occupation, Myeong-dong had long been a den of thugs.

By this time, Chairman Cheon was already the undisputed owner of Myeong-dong.

He had quickly approached the coup leaders with the help of the Cheongpung Group as soon as it happened.

Thanks to many bribes won him their favor, his men never fell under the soldiers' scrutiny.

What was his had never been taken away from him. It had always been this way, and it would continue in the future.

Chairman Cheon surveyed the streets of Myeong-dong as he walked.

Arriving at his office, he put down the newspaper as he heard a knock.

"Sir!"

"Come in."

Secretary Paeng entered after opening the door.

"So, what did you find out?"

"Yes. They are children raised in an orphanage. Ha Myung-hoon is the oldest among them."

"An orphanage?"

"Yes."

"Hmm…"

Chairman Cheon drummed his fingers on the table as he pondered.

Secretary Paeng waited quietly for his directive.

"How many kids are there?"

"About thirty boys and roughly ten girls."

"What about the adults?"

"The director recently fled after disposing of everything. Now the children are simply surviving on their own."

"Huh…"

Chairman Cheon let out a deep sigh.

An adult fleeing and abandoning children. This was the reality of South Korea at that point in time.

Just then, there was another knock at the door.

Nodding, Chairman Cheon prompted Secretary Paeng to open it.

A washed-up Ha Myung-hoon and Seok-dae walked in clad in clean clothes.

Unlike the stammering Seok-dae, Ha Myung-hoon stared straight at Chairman Cheon with piercing eyes.

"Haha, that kid really does have some fire in his eyes."

It intrigued Chairman Cheon.