CH 334

Next morning...

Bang!

Bang Jin-Hun roughly slammed shut the driver's side door. As this was a brand-new car, he had been extra careful with how he handled it. But that was yesterday's story. Right now he didn't have the mental leeway to sweat over a trifling matter like that.

While walking toward the reception with a nervous expression, Bang Jin-Hun switched his phone on. “I've arrived at your company's first floor, Chief Jo. What was your floor again?”

-The top floor, Mister Bang. I've already sent word to the security office, so they should let you through immediately if you give them your name.

“Got it.” Bang Jin-Hun abruptly ended the call, then headed straight to the elevator. The front entrance only allowed in those people who swiped their employee card first, but Bang Jin-Hun was let through without much trouble after he said his name to the security guard nearby.

Bang Jin-Hun stepped inside the elevator and headed to the top floor. The door opened to reveal Jo Gyu-Min waiting for him with a stiff expression.

Jo Gyu-Min pointed toward his office. “Please, follow me.”

Bang Jin-Hun asked in a hushed whisper. “Still no contact from him?”

“Unfortunately.”

Bang Jin-Hun tightly clenched his fists.

'Goddamn it!'

Unlike normal, powerless people, a martial artist should have recovered from their hangover by now, regardless of how much booze they had consumed the night before. And someone as powerful as Kang Jin-Ho would've returned to normal even if they had taken Class A narcotics, not some common booze.

So, the fact that Kang Jin-Ho hadn't contacted anyone yet... It could only mean there had been some kind of an incident. And, when a man boasting what amounted to 'absolute immunity' against the usual types of accidents was met with an event of suspicious nature... That was basically the same as saying the Yeongnam Group was involved.

'Or, maybe the Japs are responsible.'

Whoever was responsible, though, it didn't change the fact that Kang Jin-Ho must be facing a serious crisis right now. If that wasn't it...

“F*cking hell!” Bang Jin-Hun angrily shook his head. His loud yell caused people walking in the corridors to stop and look at him.

“This way, please.” Jo Gyu-Min hurriedly guided Bang Jin-Hun to his office.

“Okay.” Bang Jin-Hun obediently followed along while trying his hardest to wipe out the rubbish thoughts clouding his mind.

'That dude won't die even if a bazooka hits him.'

Some random bastards hurting Kang Jin-Ho was simply unthinkable to Bang Jin-Hun. Even if the entire Yeongnam Group attacked him, Kang Jin-Ho wouldn't have a problem extracting himself from the ensuing chaos. So, who would even be able to harm someone like that now?

Bang Jin-Hun stepped inside the secretary's office as frustration refused to leave him. He settled down on the couch as instructed by Jo Gyu-Min.

“For the time being...” Jo Gyu-Min settled down on the opposite side, then cautiously spoke up. “I've opened a missing person case with the police.”

“Mm? You think the cops will find Mister Jin-Ho?”

“No, the odds of that happening are poor, but... We need to do everything in our power, wouldn't you say? I can't certainly sit on my hands and do nothing, which must be the same for you, as well.”

“Goddamn it…” Bang Jin-Hun swore again, even though he didn't mean to. “I've let loose a few of my boys as well. I told them to investigate every one of his acquaintances, but... This is like looking for a needle in a haystack, so…”

In all honesty, though... If Kang Jin-Ho was in a situation where he could be found through a search effort like this, he would've contacted them by now.

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Jo Gyu-Min continued on. “I've also contacted Mister Jin-Ho's mobile service provider.”

“The mobile service provider? Why?”

“It's to locate his phone's whereabouts. We should be able to figure out where he was headed before his phone went off the grid. It's just that…” Jo Gyu-Min muttered in irritation. “The provider insisted that they can't give us the information without a warrant due to the protection of customer privacy or some such!”

“You reported it to the cops, so the warrant should be issued pretty soon, no?”

Jo Gyu-Min shook his head. “...That will take a few days at least.”

“What the f*ck! What bullsh*t is that, when those few days can be the difference in finding the missing person alive or not!”

Jo Gyu-Min sighed at that. Obviously, swearing loudly in the office was wrong, but he fully understood where Bang Jin-Hun was coming from, so he let it slide. If it was possible, Jo Gyu-Min would've flipped several tables by now, too!

“To get that information as soon as possible, Chairman Hwang has already spoken to the service provider's top representative. We should have a result in a couple of hours.”

“...Well, that's a relief.”

“Mister Bang, did you detect any suspicious movements by the Yeongnam Group?”

“We saw some hints of those punks doing something but couldn't find out where they were headed off to.”

“Perhaps digging more into that might be...”

“That's easier said than done…” Bang Jin-Hun quickly shook his head as a lengthy groan escaped his lips. “That's not as easy as you think since our current relationship is at its worst ever in history. Even those who used to provide us with information have all clammed up as if they have sensed the uneasy atmosphere in the air. Not only that…”

Bang Jin-Hun took out a cigarette and mouthed it. Jo Gyu-Min wordlessly pushed the ashtray on the coffee table toward his conversation partner.

After lighting up his cigarette, Bang Jin-Hun groaned and muttered in barely-contained frustration. “Only a small number of people must've been mobilized. Logically speaking, that's the only way to avoid being detected by us. However, there's no freaking way such a small number can deal with Mister Jin-Ho's strength. That's impossible.”

Bang Jin-Hun shook his head, his voice firm and unyielding.

“If hurting Mister Jin-Ho that way was even remotely possible, he wouldn't be going outside his house any time soon. Even if we're in the middle of a city, once you step into those deserted areas... It's pretty easy to dispose of someone without leaving any eyewitnesses behind in those areas, you see? But that is utterly, completely impossible, and that's why the Yeongnam Group hadn't come after Mister Jin-Ho yet. Because, they know they'll be losing a crap ton of people by playing a numbers game with Mister Jin-Ho.”

“...I'm sure that's the case.”

“I'd have looked into that side of things more closely if I thought it might be plausible, but…” Bang Jin-Hun exhaled the thick cigarette smoke, then scratched his head in helplessness. “Instead of the bastards from Yeongnam, I'm more suspicious of the Japanese.”

“The Japanese?”

“Yes. Mister Jin-Ho got entangled with the Japanese while dealing with that matter of the Assembly Master position the last time, you see? At the level of the Yeongnam Group, they might find fighting Mister Jin-Ho with a small number practically a suicide, but with the Japanese, it's not out of the question. Their level is so much higher than the Yeongnam Group's, you see.”

“Looks like we need to consider that angle as well.” Jo Gyu-Min muttered, his expression growing gloomier.

However, Bang Jin-Hun tried to sound more positive. “Let's not get too anxious here, Chief Jo. We both know that that dude isn't the type to get his butt kicked by some random nobodies, anyway.”

“Yes, you have a point there.”

“Who knows? He might be in the arms of a pretty young lady somewhere, snoring blissfully away.”

“...” Jo Gyu-Min didn't say anything to that joke.

Bang Jin-Hun could only lower his head at the awkward atmosphere.

'Dammit...'

If he was being honest, this situation couldn't get any worse even if it tried. The biggest reason why Bang Jin-Hun got to control the Martial Assembly was Kang Jin-Ho. Not to forget, Lee Jung-Geol had submitted to Kang Jin-Ho, not Bang Jin-Hun. The former Assembly Master probably wouldn't raise the flags of rebellion even if Kang Jin-Ho was removed from the picture, but... That old fox would most likely not fully cooperate with Bang Jin-Hun anymore.

In that case, the Assembly would descend into chaotic division and disunity. And Bang Jin-Hun was supposed to lead such a fractured Assembly against the Yeongnam Group?

Even before all this happened, the Martial Assembly was often evaluated as weaker than the Yeongnam Group in terms of pure combat strength. But now, Bang Jin-Hun must step into the battlefield without having the time to put out all the fires burning in his own house?

'This is no bloody joke...!'

Bang Jin-Hun was suddenly reminded of how much influence Kang Jin-Ho wielded in the Martial Assembly. Even though Kang Jin-Ho never revealed himself to the Assembly members, nor did he personally issue commands, his mere existence alone was enough to stabilize the organization.

'This is getting us nowhere!'

Bang Jin-Hun's frustration got the better of him, and he had to look outside the window to calm down.

Jo Gyu-Min shook his head. “For now, let's wait until the GPS tracking of Mister Jin-Ho's phone is completed. Besides, we aren't the only ones dying of anxiety over Mister Jin-Ho's whereabouts, anyway.”

“...Mm? Who are you talking about?”

“Of course, I'm talking about...” Jo Gyu-Min sighed loudly. “Mister Jin-Ho's family.”

***

“That crazy, insane lunatic!!!” Kang Eun-Yeong spat proverbial flames out of her mouth. “He dares to stay out the whole night?! Not only that but with his phone switched off, too?!”

Her burning eyes quickly shifted over to Baek Hyeon-Jeong nearby.

“Mom! This is why! I told you not to talk about grandkids and all that other nonsense!”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong could only stare at her daughter in stupefaction as if she didn't have enough energy to retort.

Kang Eun-Yeong was still not finished, however. “It's obvious, isn't it! I'm telling you, mom! He's definitely in some lowly woman's house right now, probably drunk out of his mind doing lecherous things! Why did you have to say all that nonsense and set a fire going in a well-behaved bachelor's heart like that, Mom?!”

“...Yes, yes. It's all my fault.” Baek Hyeon-Jeong waved her hands dismissively.

She obviously knew that this wasn't what her daughter really thought about this situation.

Kang Eun-Yeong was simply saying all these things as a way to lessen her mother's worries, even if it was only by a little bit.

“We'll see what happens when he finally crawls back home! I'm gonna yank out all of his hair!” Kang Eun-Yeong growled in anger.

“Hmm...” Kang Yu-Hwan let out a quiet little moan. “Did the police call us with any new information?”

Kang Eun-Yeong shook her head. “We only reported him missing a few hours ago, so what new information could they have found, dad? When I told them my oppa hasn't come home since last night, they said we should be more patient and wait since stuff like this happens all the time with young people!”

“...Even though they are supposed to be the servants of the tax-paying people!” Kang Yu-Hwan frowned deeply.

“I think they don't treat young men going missing as a high priority, dad. Did you know how annoyed they sounded on the phone?! I almost shouted at them, you know!”

“I see. So that's what's happening...” Kang Yu-Hwan let out a loud groan.

His son never once made his family worry like this. Kang Jin-Ho was so straight-arrow that this one time, Kang Yu-Hwan seriously advised his son that 'As a man, you must loosen up and drink yourself to a stupor at least once in your life, son! And don't come home for a few days while you're at it, too!' Didn't that earn him several well-placed palm smashes on his back, courtesy of Baek Hyeon-Jeong?

So, a son as upright and incorruptible as Kang Jin-Ho not coming home and not calling anyone was indeed a huge deal.

“...I heard that Yu-Min oppa has contacted Chief Jo. He told me that we shouldn't worry since they'll find my oppa soon enough.”

“Indeed. That sounds about right.” Kang Yu-Hwan forced a smile on his face. “Seeing how our son is making us worried like this, he must be all grown-up now, honey. A man is supposed to experience all sorts of things as he grows older, after all.”

Baek Hyeon-Jeong shot her husband a sharp glare. “How can you say things like that as if it’s someone else’s problem, dear?!”

“...Cough.” Kang Yu-Hwan quickly zipped his lips shut when his wife responded quite poorly to his attempt to lift up the mood. Obviously, he was dying inside of anxiety, too. However, nothing would change just because they waited anxiously like this.

“...Eun-Yeong, can you turn on the TV?” Kang Yu-Hwan glanced at his daughter.

“Yes, Dad.” Kang Eun-Yeong surprisingly didn't throw a sassy remark and obediently did as she was told. She realized that her father's actual intention was to change this gloomy atmosphere, so she decided to comply right away.

“...Mm? What on earth is that?”

The first thing the family saw when the TV came to life was the collapsed tunnel.

“W-why did that thing come down?” Kang Yu-Hwan gasped in flabbergast while staring at the screen.

By a stroke of some luck, the news anchor was talking about the efforts by the authorities to see if anyone was trapped inside the collapsed tunnel.

“I'm telling you, shoddy construction is a big problem in our country,” Kang Yu-Hwan quietly tutted away. Despite experiencing so many incidents involving shoddy construction in the past, such things still happened in Korea. What a tragedy this was.

Baek Hyeon-Jeong narrowed her eyes. “...Where did they say that tunnel is located, honey?”

“Mm? It's quite far from here, honey.”

“Could Jin-Ho be...”

“...Dear, there are some things you shouldn't even dare bring up in the open!” Kang Yu-Hwan suddenly yelled in anger.

Baek Hyeon-Jeong sighed under her breath. “I must be out of my mind, honey. I keep thinking about all kinds of nonsense...”

“Why would Jin-Ho even go through that tunnel! That's in the other direction from our home! Honey, stop wasting your time on useless nonsense.”

“...I will, dear.”

Kang Yu-Hwan groaned at his wife's subdued reply. Unfortunately, the gloomy clouds were rapidly blanketing the atmosphere in the Kang household no matter what he tried to get rid of them.

'Damn it, son. Just where are you?'

Kang Yu-Hwan had to admit that foreboding thoughts were the only things in his head right now.

***

It felt like something was dripping onto her face. It sort of felt like water, but this liquid felt a little thicker, perhaps a little stickier than regular water, somehow.

Choi Yeon-Ha required a lot of time to become more cognizant of this sensation

. And when she slowly opened her eyes...

'...Where am I?'

Her still-dazed mind couldn't readily find a place to settle down. Choi Yeon-Ha remained stupefied and lost even as her eyes remained wide open for a while, only for another droplet to land on her face. That snapped her mind back to reality.

'...Ah!'

She finally remembered. The scenes just before she blacked out began filling up her mind.

The tunnel's ceiling caving in along with explosion noises akin to thunderclaps...! All the soil flooding down from between the cracking ceiling...!

And the final scene she recalled seeing was all that soil raining down on top of her. Choi Yeon-Ha suddenly wondered if she was dead. Such thoughts slipped inside her head so naturally that they didn't even surprise her. However, her suspicions were quickly driven out of her system by various aches and pain shooting up from her body. Her limbs, her waist, her back... It felt like every spot in her body was screaming in pain.

She briefly shook her head to sober up some more, then tried to focus her vision, her brows furrowing a little deeper.

“...Ah!”

And when her eyes, now more used to the darkness, looked up...

Choi Yeon-Ha's brows instantaneously shot up in alarm.