Chapter 378: Chinese Food Group |
In the world of criminal gangs, there is a well-known organization called the Chinese Food Gang.
The boss, Jo Joong-sik, is a charismatic young gangster of 29 who has dominated the Seoul region.
However...
“What? What did you just say?”
“I’ve come because I want to be a gangster! Please accept me, boss!”
It was the first time Jo Joong-sik had seen a freshly-turned adult voluntarily come to join his gang.
“What’s your name?”
“My name is Hwang Yong-min. I’m about to graduate from high school.”
“So, Hwang Yong-min, you’ve come to me because you want to be a gangster?”
“Did you research everywhere?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, guys.”
At Jo Joong-sik’s signal, the burly men briefly nodded and approached Hwang Yong-min.
What they did was...
Wham!
“Argh!”
They ruthlessly beat him.
“He’s down. Kick him!”
“You insolent brat!”
“Where did you get the nerve to spout such lies!”
Hwang Yong-min curled up like a turtle while enduring the brutal beating.
With his whole body aching, Jo Joong-sik’s cold voice pierced his ears.
“Hey, which family are you from?”
“What?”
“Who sent you here, you punk?”
“What are you talking about...?”
“No way, keep kicking.”
“Yes, sir!”
The ruthless gangsters’ blows continued.
Hwang Yong-min was reduced to a pitiful state, unable to express his indignation.
“Do you think I’m a joke? Do you think this life is a game?”
“Ghh...”
“Do you think this is the first time I’ve seen someone like you? You’re a spy from another gang, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not... absolutely not...”
“Still lying?”
Jo Joong-sik gave the order again.
And the burly men’s blows continued.
However, Hwang Yong-min continued to insist on his innocence until the end.
“No, I’m not a spy... I really came because I respect Jo Joong-sik... Please believe me...”
“...”
At this point, Jo Joong-sik couldn’t help but reconsider.
‘Is this kid for real?’
Come to think of it, it was strange.
Even if a rival gang sent a spy, they wouldn’t send an inexperienced kid like this.
It would be obvious he’d get discovered quickly, so they’d send someone experienced—why send a novice?
Moreover, Jo Joong-sik’s gang’s position in Seoul was so dominant that they had no competitors left.
“Hey, Hwang Yong-min. Did you really come here to become a gangster?”
“Yes. I’ve always dreamed of joining Jo Joong-sik’s gang since I was a student...”
‘This kid’s crazy, isn’t he?’
Even to Jo Joong-sik, a gangster, this was a different level of madness.
A high school student dreaming of becoming a gangster.
‘I don’t know how well he fights, but he’s got guts and resilience. Hmm...’
In reality, fighting skills aren’t the most important thing to become a gangster.
What matters is attitude, spirit, bravery, and resilience.
The fact that he came alone to find the gang and still had that fighting spirit after being beaten shows he’s not lacking in any of that.
In short, he has the potential to be a good gangster.
“You said you’re about to graduate, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then you meet the requirements to join.”
“Does that mean you’ll accept me...?”
“Do you think it’s that easy to join our gang? It’s the most famous in Seoul.”
“Then...?”
“You have to pass a test to join. Guys, prepare the test!”
“Yes, boss!”
“In the meantime, sit and rest.”
Jo Joong-sik pointed to a sofa and turned around.
Hwang Yong-min, with his aching body, sat down to rest on the sofa.
After about 30 minutes, the burly men returned.
They brought with them an older man.
“Get in, you scumbag!”
“Please, spare me! Please...!”
A skinny man in his 50s, begging for his life.
“This guy owes us money, and the interest has surpassed the principal, but he hasn’t paid anything.”
“I’ll pay it, I swear...”
“Enough with the nonsense! We’ve heard that enough times, scum!”
“Ah!”
Making a gesture as if to hit him, Jo Joong-sik restrained his anger.
“Hwang Yong-min. You need to take this man’s life.”
“What?”
“That’s our entrance test. Can you do it?”
Killing a person.
Hwang Yong-min was shocked, but only for a moment.
“Yes.”
“Then get started.”
Nodding with a calm expression, he approached the man.
“Please, spare me! I’ll find a way to pay the money! Please...!”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
With a murderous look, Hwang Yong-min approached and...
Wham!
He struck the man with his fist.
“As the boss ordered, you have to die here.”
Wham! Wham!
He threw two more punches and then climbed on top of the man to strangle him.
“Gah... gah...!”
The man’s face turned purple as he struggled to breathe.
It really seemed like he was going to die, but...
“Stop.”
Jo Joong-sik halted the killing.
“That’s enough. I’ve seen your determination.”
“What?”
“Did you really think I’d order you to kill? Killing this guy wouldn’t get us any money. Even if we sold his organs, they’d have to be fresh to fetch anything.”
“Ah...”
Finally realizing it was a test, Hwang Yong-min backed away from the man.
The man was unconscious and foaming at the mouth.
“You passed the test. Hwang Yong-min, welcome to our family.”
“Thank you!”
Hwang Yong-min, bowing deeply, couldn’t contain his joy.
“Are you that happy?”
“Of course! It’s a great honor to be under the command of my role model, Jo Joong-sik!”
Looking at the grinning Hwang Yong-min, Jo Joong-sik let out a laugh.
“This crazy kid is smiling after getting beaten up.”
“Now call me big brother, huh?”
“Ah, yes, big brother. Can I ask you for a favor?”
“What?”
“Is this kid crazy?”
At the word “favor,” the surrounding thugs frowned. They thought the newcomer was overstepping without knowing his place. Although Jo Joong-sik thought the same, he decided to listen first.
“What’s the favor?”
——————–
“Big brother, we’ve arrived.”
The driver’s words snapped Jo Joong-sik out of his thoughts.
“Ah. Where are we?”
“This is the school Hwang Yong-min talked about.”
Apparently, due to the graduation ceremony, the school’s exterior was quite busy. Along the street, all sorts of vehicles lined up, and many adults with flowers in hand entered the school gate.
“It seems like it’s about to start.”
Jo Joong-sik watched the school gate with the gaze of a predator stalking its prey, then smiled.
“Find a suitable place to park. We’ll go in when it’s time.”
“Yes, big brother.”
While waiting, Jo Joong-sik recalled Hwang Yong-min’s words again.
—Big brother, isn’t loyalty important in the Jo Joong-sik Guild? We can’t just ignore that one of our own was hurt, right?
—What are you trying to say? Speak clearly.
—Ah, yes... What I’m trying to say is that there’s a guy named Ryu Min in my class. I took a picture of him, he looks like this...
—And what about this guy?
—He’s overstepping... Could you get revenge for me?
—Don’t tell me this guy beat you up?
—Yes... Something like that.
—You got beaten up by a weakling like him? You’ve got more guts than brains, huh?
—No, that’s not it, it’s just that this guy fights really well. Five people attacked him, and he skillfully took them down. He must’ve learned boxing or something...
—A guy who wants to join the organization is making excuses! So, you joined just for this?
—No, it’s not exactly that. I really respect Jo Joong-sik a lot, he’s my role model...
—Enough! What do you want me to do with him?
‘Is this kid crazy? Asking me to kill him? Even if we’re not afraid of anything, does he think it’s easy to stab someone in a place full of people?’
Hwang Yong-min’s request was to kill him, but Jo Joong-sik couldn’t accept that. He still had unfinished business and many things he wanted to do before going to jail.
‘If I were planning to retire, maybe, but for now, I’ll just make a public threat.’
Time passed.
As people began to leave the school, Jo Joong-sik snapped back to reality.
“It seems the graduation ceremony is over. Let’s go.”
“Yes, big brother!”
Jo Joong-sik got out of the van along with his burly men.
—————–
“Come on, smile for the picture!”
Click!
Ryu Min’s father captured the image of his son smiling.
“My son turned out well in the picture.”
“Brother, you also need to do the victory sign with your fingers.”
“No, thanks.”
“Now, stand together, brothers should take a picture.”
Following his father’s instructions, Ryu Min and Ryu Won stood shoulder to shoulder for the picture.
Click!
After taking the photo, their father smiled in satisfaction.
“Now I see that Ryu Min is taller. I thought Won was taller.”
“Come on, Dad, my brother is clearly taller than me.”
“When did you grow so much? When did you get so tall?”
The parents were intrigued, and it was understandable.
‘It’s true, I used to be shorter.’
Due to the additional effect of the Rune, Ryu Min had grown by 10%, reaching a height of 181 cm.
He had been shorter before acquiring the rune, but now everything had changed after returning to the past. He possessed all the runes and skills, the complete Thanatos equipment set, the Elsis system, and millions of stat points.
“By the way, we should take a family photo.”
“Who should we ask for help?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find someone.”
Saying this, Ryu Min went to find Min Juri.
“Min Juri.”
“Oh, Min!”
“You haven’t taken your photo yet, have you?”
“No.”
“Who’s this? A friend of yours, Min Juri?”
Min Juri’s father, Min Do-hoon, looked at Ryu Min with curiosity.
“Hello, I’m Ryu Min, Min Juri’s classmate.”
“Ah, nice to meet you.”
“Dad, I told you before. I said I was friends with the top student in our class.”
“That’s you? Oh, I didn’t know you were a boy. Are you two dating or something...?”
“Min, what do you need?”
Quickly interrupting her father, Min Juri turned to Ryu Min.
“I came to ask if we could take a photo together. We want a family picture, but we don’t have anyone to take it. Could we help each other out?”
“Huh?”
“That’s a good idea. We also need someone to take our picture.”
With Min Do-hoon’s approval, Min Juri’s family joined Ryu Min’s family.
“Ah, hello.”
“Who are they?”
“They’re my friends.”
“I’m Min Juri.”
“I’m Min Juri’s father.”
“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Ryu Min’s father.”
After a brief introduction, they began taking pictures.
“Smile! Say cheeeese!”
Click! Click!
“Now we’ll take a picture for you. Stand over there. Perfect, the framing is great.”
The photos were taken quickly, and the encounter didn’t last long.
“All done. Here you go.”
“Thank you. The picture came out well.”
“Min and Juri also look great together.”
“You two look good together. You make a cute couple.”
“Dad... please don’t say that...”
Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, something unexpected happened.
“Sorry to ruin the good mood.”
Jo Joong-sik and his men appeared alongside Hwang Yong-min.