I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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071-Code S
71.
Incheon Airport.
Immigration Office.
“Team Leader. Code S. Gong In-bae’s flag has come up. He’s entering South Korea.”
Choi Eun-chae, an Immigration Office employee, reported to the Team Leader after seeing Gong In-bae’s name appear in the system.
“Is that so? Which agency requested the notification?”
“The National Intelligence Service and the Police.”
“You sent the alert?”
“It goes out automatically.”
“Then that’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“But Team Leader.”
“What?”
“Wasn’t Gong In-bae originally someone we were planning to remove Code S from because his suspicious circumstances were cleared?”
“That’s right.”
“Then why are the National Intelligence Service and Police paying attention to Gong In-bae?”
“Eun-chae. Have those guys ever given us a reason when they make requests like this?”
“No, they haven’t.”
“That’s how those bastards are. They treat us like their errand boys. They just say to let them know when someone comes through. We need to know the details so we can decide whether to take action or not. But when you ask, they say it’s classified information. I don’t know where all this classified information comes from. So don’t worry about that stuff. Just send the notification whenever they request it.”
“Understood. Should we delete him from our Code S management list then?”
“Leave it. Since the National Intelligence Service and Police are watching him like this, we need to keep track of his movements too.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
Jeollanam-do Regional Investigation Team, Violent Crimes Unit 3.
They were—
“Team Leader, Gong In-bae is entering South Korea?”
“He’s coming through Incheon?”
“Yes. He arrives at 8 PM tonight.”
“What? Less than five hours left. He must have bought a ticket at the airport and gotten on a flight right away. Gyeong-uk, come with me. Let’s head to Incheon right now.”
.
.
.
Inside the car heading to Incheon.
“But Team Leader, isn’t Gong In-bae just an ordinary citizen? He has no criminal record, his military service record is clean, his occupation is legitimate, and there don’t seem to be any problems.”
“Gyeong-uk. A criminal is a criminal. Have you ever seen one walking around with it written on their forehead? You feel it too when you catch criminals. It’s always the ones you’d never suspect who turn out to be the perpetrator.”
“That may be true, but in Gong In-bae’s case, there’s absolutely no criminal history. I’m curious why you’re paying such close attention to him.”
The Team Leader paused for a moment, then spoke in a low voice as if sharing exclusive information only he knew.
“Word got out last time that the Dae-hoon Faction has a real owner behind the scenes.”
“Ah! I’ve heard those rumors too, but they’re just rumors, aren’t they?”
“You know Geun-su from the Dae-hoon Faction?”
“Jung Geun-su, the second-in-command of the Dae-hoon Faction?”
“Yeah. That bastard’s a romantic. If you treat him as your hyung, he’ll follow you to hell itself, and if you don’t, he won’t budge even if his head gets smashed in. So far, only two people have ever heard him call them hyung. Seo Dae-hun and Gong In-bae. Just those two.”
“Isn’t that evidence too flimsy to base suspicion on?”
“There are other suspicions too. There’s talk he provided funds, talk he helped bring down the Geumho Gang, talk he participated in violence.”
“Those are all just suspicions, though.”
“That’s exactly why we’re going to find evidence right now. Looking for whatever evidence might exist. So stop talking and just drive.”
“Yes.”
“But here’s the thing. Didn’t Gong In-bae say he runs a travel agency in the Philippines?”
“Yes. According to our confirmation, that’s correct.”
“Could he be supplying drugs from there?”
“The entry records are too sparse to suspect that.”
“Come on, who carries it in person? He’d send it by cargo or international mail.”
“Wouldn’t customs almost certainly catch that? And besides, the Golden Triangle, not the Philippines, is where most drug manufacturing happens in Southeast Asia.”
“Who doesn’t know that? I’m just saying it seems odd, so let’s keep an eye on it. If we watch and find nothing suspicious, we drop it. If something looks wrong, we move in.”
“Understood.”
********
University Hospital Funeral Hall in Seoul.
I came straight from the airport to the funeral hall and offered my condolences to CEO Jang Yun-mi.
“My deepest sympathies to the deceased.”
“Thank you. How did you manage to come all this way? It’s so far.”
I’d expected her to be completely consumed by grief,
but CEO Jang Yun-mi’s expression wasn’t particularly sorrowful.
Apparently, she’d been ill for quite a long time.
As the saying goes, a long illness produces no filial piety—prolonged caregiving exhausts anyone.
“Of course I had to come. You complained that I didn’t contact you.”
“Going from Seoul to Mokpo is different from coming all the way from the Philippines to Korea.”
“It’s quick once you get on a plane.”
“I feel sorry, so I’m grateful you came. Now that you’re here, have a meal, and let’s talk later.”
“All right.”
After offering my condolences, I noticed Dae-hun was already sitting in a corner.
As I approached, the Dae-hoon Faction members sitting behind Dae-hun greeted me first.
They bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle with utmost respect.
“It’s been a long time, hyung.”
“Hyung? Just call me mister. You’ve been well, right?”
“Thanks to you, hyung, we’ve been doing well. Thank you.”
“Why thank me? Thank Dae-hun. You all sit and eat comfortably.”
Only then did I meet Dae-hun’s eyes.
“You made it?”
“Yeah.”
We exchanged that simple greeting, drank a few shots of soju with the oxtail soup, and then headed outside.
There were too many ears listening and eyes watching for us to have any real conversation in there.
I was especially cautious because two unfamiliar men seemed to be watching our table intently.
We ate quietly and left.
“Want another drink?”
“Sure. I should grab a drink while I’m in Seoul.”
Seoul, after so long away, had changed considerably from what I remembered.
It was where I was born and raised, yet Seoul had become an increasingly distant city to me.
The ever-changing Seoul was beginning to feel unfamiliar.
And yet I still loved Seoul.
Dae-hun took me to a high-end establishment in Gangnam.
The kind of place commonly called a ten-pro.
“They say the most beautiful women in the country work here. I got introduced to the place myself.”
The moment we stepped inside, the luxurious interior was striking.
Despite being underground, the high ceilings prevented it from feeling cramped.
Sparkling chandeliers caught the eye.
I should bring Kang Jae-ho here next time.
I could use it as a reference for interior design.
“Welcome. You seem to be new faces—is this your first time at our establishment?”
As soon as Dae-hun entered, a beautiful female madam greeted us.
“Manager Kim from Hyunjin Distribution introduced us. He said all the beautiful women in South Korea gather here.”
“Oh my, you came through Manager Kim’s introduction. Manager Kim is one of our VIPs. Then I really must take excellent care of you. May I call you boss?”
“Whatever’s comfortable.”
When did Dae-hun become a boss?
But he responded naturally, as if the title didn’t feel strange to him.
Ten-pros were nice places.
They even made gangsters into bosses.
A ten-pro was a place where thugs could become bosses.
“Then we’ll take excellent care of you.”
“I’m just going to have a drink with my friend, so don’t go overboard. Just pour the drinks well.”
“Then Manager Kim will scold me. I have to do my best to serve you.”
“Do whatever you want. Just don’t interrupt us. We haven’t seen each other in a long time. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Understood. You seem to be in a great mood, boss. You keep smiling.”
“Of course I’m in a good mood. It’s hard to see this friend’s face. He’s always acting so aloof.”
“Is that so? Then I should create unforgettable memories for you. Oh my, I’m so scattered—I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Dan-ah, the manager of Onyx. You can look forward to today.”
“Really?”
“We have some new girls who just started, and they’re absolutely stunning. Cute too. I’ll have them serve you. They’re our aces.”
“Aces?”
“Of course, since you came through Manager Kim’s introduction, we have to serve you with our aces.”
“Sure? Then let’s get some of the girls in here first.”
“I’ll prepare only the best of the best for you.”
Dan-ah led us to the most secluded private room in the establishment.
I was taking note of the exits the entire time.
Habits are truly terrifying things.
Assessing the layout and identifying escape routes upon entering an unfamiliar place—it was a habit ingrained over years.
The madam who guided us to the innermost, largest room smiled warmly and spoke.
“While we prepare the aces, let me bring you some drinks first. Why don’t you start with a cold beer?”
The moment the madam left, food and alcohol arrived without anyone ordering.
The enormous table was laden with drinks and dishes.
“Shall we have a drink?”
Dae-hun picked up a bottle, and I raised my glass to receive the pour.
We clinked our glasses together and drained them cleanly.
Despite being the same beer, it tasted different from what I’d drunk in the Philippines.
Was it the water?
The atmosphere?
Dae-hun?
Moments later, the door opened and the women known as aces entered.
Seven or so women walked in, emanating a heavy fragrance and wearing short, form-fitting dresses.
So they really were aces, as the name suggested.
Every single one of them was strikingly beautiful.
They seemed even more gorgeous than celebrities on television.
With those faces and figures, they could easily be entertainers themselves.
Dan-ah asked with a smile.
“Just choose whichever girl catches your fancy, sir.”
“Alex, you pick first. I’ll be generous.”
“I don’t mind. They’re all fine.”
“Really? You greedy bastard. You want them all, don’t you? Hey, my friend here wants all of you. Everyone, sit down.”
That’s not what I meant, you idiot.
I said I didn’t care who it was.
I never asked for all of them to sit down.
“Wow~~ Really? Oppa?”
“Oppa, you’re so cool.”
“Oppa, but you’re so handsome, aren’t you?”
“Oppa, are you a model? You’re so tall and have such an amazing build.”
“Wow! Look at those forearms. See those veins? I absolutely love forearms like that.”
The aces settled into their seats, each offering their own comments.
They subtly touched my forearms and hands.
Is this how it normally goes?
“Alright, let’s all have a drink.”
Dae-hun took the lead in pouring drinks.
Pour. Drink.
Pour. Drink.
The alcohol circulated at a rapid pace, music played, and we danced.
Honestly, it was fun.
In the Philippines, there weren’t many occasions where people drank like this—pouring and drinking so freely.
But in South Korea, my heart felt at ease.
Even though it felt awkward, did having home advantage matter?
At least knowing I was in a country safe from firearms, my tension melted away.
I started to blend in and enjoy myself with them.
I drank the drinks they poured for me, and though I couldn’t sing the songs properly, I belted out the lyrics at the top of my lungs.
Shouting like that felt cathartic.
It was simply refreshing.
The Aces who came with me seemed thrilled too, swaying their bodies enthusiastically.
After playing for who knows how long, exhaustion set in, so I sat on the sofa for a moment.
But I couldn’t resist and drank more alcohol during that brief rest.
Now I understood why people came to these clubs.
Embarrassing as it is, this was my first time at a club like this.
The Aces were truly professional.
Even if I just thought about something or gave a glance, they anticipated my needs from beside me.
If I wanted a drink, they poured one.
When I drank, they offered snacks.
When I was about to sing, they already had the remote in hand, waiting.
After playing so enthusiastically, my physical limits began to approach.
We must have had too much fun.
Everyone sprawled across the sofas.
“This would be perfect with a little something extra.”
One of the Aces muttered the words under their breath.
It seemed we’d all become quite comfortable in a short time.
The way they couldn’t distinguish between what to say in front of a customer and what to say among themselves made it clear.
Honestly, I could understand it a little.
Fundamentally, the people who come here are typically older.
You need money to come here.
The drinks are expensive.
The main customers are either elderly men or a handful of crazy young ones.
There are almost no normal young customers.
With about seven of their colleagues here.
And only two customers.
Drinking with people around the same age, singing, dancing, and having fun—they seemed to have lost track of whether this was a workplace or a place to have fun.
Alcohol flowing, dopamine bursting out.
When you’re exhausted and worn out, you might think about a quick fix.
I understand.
It could happen.
Though I’ve seen plenty of people die that way.
Noticing the atmosphere had turned awkward, Alex quickly changed the subject.
“Please don’t misunderstand, oppa. We’re just tired, and there’s a vitamin that’s perfect for when we’re exhausted. Yes, that’s right—vitamin. That’s what I meant.”
“That’s right. Vitamin injections are great. You should try them too, oppa. They say your energy comes right back.”
“It’s really good for your body.”
The Aces began making excuses that didn’t hold up, but my face had already hardened, and Dae-hun saw it.
Still, Dae-hun didn’t shout or scold the Aces.
“Then why don’t we take a break and have some fun? We need to rest anyway, and I have some things to discuss. I’ll call you back later. Just relax for now.”
“Yes, oppa. We’ll be waiting.”
“Me too.”
.
.
.
The Aces left.
Dae-hun and I sat alone in the large room.
I asked casually.
“Do you deal with a lot of drugs here too?”
“Yeah, we do. It’s grown tremendously. Seoul probably does the most of all.”
“What about your organization?”
“We don’t touch drugs. The moment you get involved with drugs, everything falls apart. But it’s not easy to avoid.”
“Why?”
“Addicts who’ve gotten a taste of drugs elsewhere come looking for them. When we say we don’t have any, they just go somewhere else. That’s the problem—we’re literally losing customers right in front of us.”
“So you’re saying it’s difficult without drugs?”
“It would be easier with them, but I don’t want to make money selling drugs to people. It’s not just a one-day thing and then it’s over.”
“That’s true.”
“Maybe because of that, the Chinese side has been flooding the market with massive quantities lately.”
“From China? Isn’t drug trafficking banned in China?”
“Right. I heard they execute everyone caught with drugs there. So they can’t distribute in China, but they still want to run the drug business. And conveniently, our country is right next door—a blue ocean for drugs. The prices are high too. That’s why massive amounts are pouring into Incheon, Pyeongtaek, and this region right now. I’d bet almost all the drugs circulating in the Seoul Metropolitan Area are Chinese-made.”
“What about the Criminal Organizations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area? Don’t they control it like you do?”
“If they unified the organizations like we did, enforcement would be easier to manage. But there are so many organizations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area that it’s every group for itself. Nobody complains about selling drugs, and as long as you don’t get caught by enforcement, you make money fast. That’s why they’re trying to pull in even larger quantities now.”
“So the Chinese are flooding the market with massive amounts of drugs?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Drugs make money.”
It was unexpected.
I thought South Korea was a drug-free zone, but apparently not.
It seems there are more ordinary people looking for drugs than I thought.
This industry apparently can’t function without drugs anymore.
It’s not that the organizations are pushing it—
The customers are the ones who seek out drugs first.
It shows just how prevalent and widespread drug use has become.
As for me, I don’t particularly care whether people use drugs or not.
I think if someone chooses to use drugs of their own free will, that’s their personal freedom.
If someone wants to use drugs, then why not?
If they want to do it, they do it.
Still, I can’t help but feel some aversion to drugs.
Because it doesn’t end with just one person.
It spreads at an alarming rate,
and there are many cases where it’s misused—like date rape drugs and such.
I’d like to stop it if I could, but the scale is too massive for me to handle alone.
Anyway, these Chinese bastards are getting on my nerves.
I heard the ones who tried to steal the source code for GoGo Casino were Chinese too,
and now the ones selling drugs are Chinese as well.
I don’t like it.
*******
Outside the Onyx bar in Gangnam, Seoul.
Two members of the Jeollanam-do Regional Investigation Team’s Violent Crimes Unit 3 were staking out in their car.
They were conducting surveillance to track where their target, Gong In-bae, was moving and who he was meeting.
So far, they’d confirmed that he’d met with Seo Dae-hun, the boss of the Dae-hoon Faction.
They’d even witnessed the organization members bowing at ninety-degree angles.
They’d listened intently to what they were discussing.
But after eating, their entire conversation was just “Has it arrived?” “Yeah.”
They simply ate their gamjatang and left.
It didn’t even take five minutes from finishing their meal to leaving.
After spending four hours going all the way to Incheon Airport for identity verification and conducting surveillance to the funeral hall,
they could only observe for five minutes.
Five minutes of watching someone eat gamjatang.
Then he disappeared straight into a hostess bar.
Once inside, there was no way to find out what he was doing.
So all they could do was wait here.
All they could do was keep watch until he came out.
But was it normal to spend this long in a hostess bar?
It seemed like more than four hours had already passed since he went in.
What was he doing in there that he wouldn’t come out?
The night was long.
They were filling their stomachs with cup noodles while staring endlessly at the entrance of Onyx.
.
.
.
A nearby Gamjatang Restaurant.
Dae-hun and I were having another round of soju with our gamjatang.
After we finished at Onyx and paid the bill, we asked the staff where we could find a good gamjatang place nearby, and they told us there was one right outside the back exit, so we came here.
Gamjatang was one of the things I couldn’t eat in the Philippines.
The nutty aroma of perilla powder delighted my palate.
This place really knows what they’re doing.
As the night deepened, Dae-hun and I clinked our soju glasses together.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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