108.
The first thing blocked was the legitimate route for going overseas. With the departure ban order issued, he could no longer board planes. But planes weren’t the only means of getting overseas. Jang Deokman hadn’t been working carelessly all this time either.
“If planes won’t work, I can take a boat.”
Though cruder and longer than planes, once he got to China, that would be enough. Then he planned to move again to Southeast Asian countries.
“Who do you think I am!”
The boat passage was quickly arranged. Since they were originally people who illegally transported people anyway, they excitedly jumped at the chance when he said he’d pay extra. Though it was bothersome to move secretly at dawn, it was still better than staying in the country.
‘Those bastards will strip me clean.’
It wasn’t a problem that could be solved by receiving a trial and being punished according to his crimes. Choi Mujin had never quietly sent potentially problematic people to prison. Becoming crippled and heading to prison was the best ending. Everything else resulted in disappearances with no trace to be found in Korea. He had raised and ordered such things. But thinking that this could now come back to him made him shiver with chills.
‘No way.’
Moreover, Baek Sira was also a problem. What exactly had made her so dissatisfied? She was helping to bring down Jang Deokman. So if he wanted to spend his remaining years in peace, he had to leave Korea.
The dock was still shrouded in darkness. The sea was lit up with lights from boats busy catching fish. But amid such bustle, there was one quiet boat.
“Hey there. Mr. Jang.”
An old man who came sauntering out of the boat raised his hand to Jang Deokman. It was a connection he had known since he was young and didn’t do much properly. He had met him several times when learning work from his father. Though he looked frivolous on the outside, he was someone you could trust if you stuffed his pockets with money.
“Everything’s ready. Just need to board.”
Jang Deokman grabbed the tie of his shirt with his hand and pulled it down. Only then did his stuffy breathing feel a bit relieved.
“Couldn’t you have worn some decent clothes?”
Though he knew suits were rare to see at the docks, there was no other way. He had to show others that he was running around to handle the situation. To create even a little gap, he had visited people he knew and even knelt down.
“Stop the bullshit.”
“Still prickly as ever. Fine. Get on.”
Jang Deokman grinned and carefully boarded the boat following the moving hand. Then he entered a small room on the boat. A space about one pyeong, with dirty linoleum flooring. Plus, what was hanging all over the walls? He wanted to run right back out.
“Hey, move quickly!”
Since he couldn’t navigate the boat alone, the sound of urging a crew member who boarded late could be heard. Usually they carried several people each trip, but today’s only passenger was Jang Deokman. Jang Deokman leaned against a corner and tightly hugged the bag in his hands.
The boat departed before long. The feeling of the boat’s bottom rumbling wasn’t very pleasant. Jang Deokman grimaced at the unpleasant sensation of seasickness washing over him. How much time had passed like that? The boat that had been running for a while gradually slowed down.
At that moment, he had an ominous feeling. Jang Deokman took out the pistol he had hidden in his bag. And as he slowly opened the door of the small room, light poured down.
“Ugh!”
Startled by the piercing light, he dropped the pistol, and a voice came from above.
“Catch him.”
A low, resolute man’s voice echoed through the quiet. When Jang Deokman’s vision adapted to the bright lighting, he saw people in familiar uniforms standing outside the cabin. It was the uniform worn by security guards from Isaac Finance’s security team. Confirming this, Jang Deokman looked with a dejected expression at the person standing at the bow of the opposite boat.
“Choi Mujin!”
Anger rising from deep in his chest burst out of his mouth. Having taken everything away and now blocking even his escape, evil surged up at the sight of him.
“Again, again you! You’re doing this to me!”
Jang Deokman belatedly fumbled around and picked up the pistol that had fallen to the floor. But before he could properly grip it in his hand, someone beside him struck his hand down with a stick.
“Hehe, still the same shitty personality.”
It was the captain who had put him on the boat. Only then could he understand the entire situation. From the beginning, everything had been a well-designed play.
“You never intended to take me to China from the start!”
“My goodness, why would I? That side will pay much more money than this side.”
People change as time passes. And the old man wanted more money than his loyalty to Jang Deokman. Realizing this, a hollow laugh leaked out.
Meanwhile, Choi Mujin had jumped over from the opposite boat to this side. When he boarded, the small boat swayed slightly.
“Now everything is over. Chairman Jang. No, now it’s Mr. Jang Deokman.”
“You, how could you do this to me!”
When Jang Deokman shouted in indignation, Kim Chunbong, who was standing beside Choi Mujin, shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s a tiresome thing to say. Considering what you’ve been doing, isn’t this natural? You should have just quietly received your trial.”
At Kim Chunbong’s words, Jang Deokman’s face turned pale.
“Are, are you going to kill me?”
“Of course not. Our Director Choi has such a thorough law-abiding spirit that he doesn’t engage in personal revenge.”
It was bullshit. Choi Mujin having a thorough law-abiding spirit? When he knew about all the people who had disappeared by his hands until now? Jang Deokman gritted his teeth.
“Do you think I’ll die alone?”
Only then did the expression of Choi Mujin, who had been standing quietly, begin to change. He smiled with his back to the light, pulling up the corners of his mouth. That smile was like that of a devil. Jang Deokman trembled without realizing it.
“I know you’re not someone who would die alone.”
When Choi Mujin gestured with his hand, the men surrounding the area pressed down on Jang Deokman’s body.
“You’re not someone who would quietly receive a trial either.”
“It would have been better if you had. It’s regrettable.”
Kim Chunbong chimed in with Choi Mujin’s words. Then he took out a small case from his jacket and opened it. Jang Deokman blinked seeing the syringe inside.
“Then we wouldn’t have had to do such things.”
Jang Deokman struggled desperately. But where they were was the middle of the sea, and everyone around was Choi Mujin’s people.
“The police will soon come rushing in, so I’ll finish this quickly.”
The syringe needle pierced through the flesh. And soon he felt the drug being injected, and his consciousness gradually began to fade.
“To think he’s addicted to drugs too, what a troublesome fellow.”
Kim Chunbong muttered this and threw the used syringe straight into the sea. And as he had predicted, it wasn’t long before the marine police found them.
* * *
News was flowing from the TV.
『Breaking news. Former Isaac Finance Chairman Jang Deokman, who was identified as the mastermind behind the hospital fire, has been urgently arrested while on the run. Former Chairman Jang is facing multiple charges including the accounting hospital fire, accounting manipulation, and illegal contracts, and the investigation is expected to expand in all directions.』
Haseo watched it blankly and then voiced what he had been thinking all along.
“It’s over now.”
“It’s almost over. Since things have turned out this way, he won’t be able to escape again either.”
Choi Mujin hugged Haseo from behind and rubbed his face against his neck.
“I can’t believe it.”
“But it’s reality.”
“That’s right. It’s reality.”
Haseo let out a small sigh and leaned his body against Choi Mujin. Jang Deokman would now be properly punished and go to prison. There would be no more threats to people around him. Then what should he do now?
Should he return to the goshiwon and continue studying while working part-time? While thinking such thoughts, Choi Mujin’s voice reached his ears.
“First, you can’t leave here. You can find part-time work nearby, and you can attend academies nearby for studying too.”
“Is there an excavator license academy nearby?”
“No, but there are college prep academies.”
“College prep?”
Choi Mujin nodded and pulled Haseo to face him in an embrace.
“Haseo. What were you planning to do after getting an excavator license?”
“Well, I’d have to do related work.”
“That would require a lot of physical strength.”
“But wouldn’t it work out somehow?”
Haseo’s eyes rolled around avoiding Choi Mujin.
“No way. You know it’s too much. Rather, study more and go to college. Find new work you want to do there.”
“…But tuition and school fees are expensive?”
“I’m here, so why are you worrying about money?”
“On the contrary, why would hyung pay for my school fees?”
“You know why. I like you. So I don’t want you to suffer.”
Haseo also knew Choi Mujin’s feelings. When people around him got hurt and he returned to Choi Mujin’s house again, he had also become certain of his feelings. But hesitation still remained. The actions Choi Mujin had taken until now remained and made Haseo that way.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
