Mother Tape Chapter 9.2

“If you were going to treat her like that, why did you even mention love.”

After confirming that what was on the ring was Kwak Bonyoung’s blood and flesh, Jaekwon personally went to his mother’s hometown. There, he sought out the mother of the village head, who was said to have been born and lived there her entire life, and asked.

That day was the first time he had heard his mother’s name so many times.

They said Sooyeon had a man she was seeing. Kwak Bonyoung was a guy who had come saying he would buy land, and he had been so persistent and attached to Sooyeon, even knowing she had someone she liked.

One day, the man named Seokho, one of the two who had been so head over heels for each other, disappears. And soon, a rumor spreads. That Seokho had started frequenting the town’s teahouse and had run off with a waitress there. That he already had a child. That he was living a double life. That Sooyeon must have known about it too….

The source of the rumor, and the person who relayed those words to Sooyeon, was Kwak Bonyoung. Sooyeon did not believe those words. She had pleaded so much to her father, saying she had already been intimate with Seokho and was planning to have his child, but Kwak Bonyoung had courted her with what amounted to threats, asking why she was twisting her own fate.

‘Is that courting, or is it a threat?’

When Kwak Jaekwon asked coldly, the village head avoided his gaze.

The village people were simple and weak.

‘Those were different times.’

That was not even an excuse.

In the end, Sooyeon ended up marrying Kwak Bonyoung. They said it was a grand wedding. They said several cows were slaughtered. Sooyeon’s father, meaning Jaekwon’s maternal grandfather, had only drunk alcohol and eventually collapsed, so he did not see the two of them leave.

He investigated what happened after that separately. He didn’t know how many people he had to go through.

Kwak Bonyoung wanted to take Sooyeon to a hospital to confirm that she had no experience.

However, the seed of doubt was already in his heart, and his heart was nothing but rotten filth, making it the perfect environment for the seed to grow.

Until Kwak Jaekwon was conceived and born, no matter how he put it together, it was clearly his child, yet Kwak Bonyoung doubted.

He was a bastard who had many crevices from the very beginning.

“If you were going to fall for a conman bastard who was just all talk, why did you act so high and mighty.”

As expected, no answer came back.

“If you were going to treat her like that, why did you even speak of love.”

Jaekwon’s voice was chillingly dry.

“Was that your way?”

The dead do not speak.

“You… you fucking bastard.”

Jaekwon cracked his knuckles, making a crack, crack sound.

The fact that he could not take revenge directly tormented him. He was certain once again. If it hadn’t been for Seon Wisoo, he would have died of emptiness, unable to release this aimless rage.

But thanks to Kwak Bonyoung, he had met Seon Wisoo, and Kwak Bonyoung had contributed to Seon Wisoo’s abuse. Among the many footprints that had ruined his life, Kwak Bonyoung’s remained distinct.

“Wasn’t ruining my and my mom’s lives enough for you?”

Jaekwon asked in a sunken voice.

“You drove her to her death, then called Seon Wisoo and had him wear Mom’s slip, wanting to hear that voice…. Was it fun…?”

Jaekwon finally bit his lip hard.

There was no need to say more. It was worthless.

Jaekwon called someone to take out the urn. On paper, he said he was going to move the urn to the family burial mountain. However, the re-interment that should have been the next step did not happen. Jaekwon carried the urn and went to the vacant lot where he had burned the slip. Coincidentally, he was dressed in a black suit.

Jaekwon put a cigarette to his lips and overturned the urn in the thicket of overgrown weeds. Whether stray dogs or water deer or wild boars came, the things from the surrounding mountains would come here, shit, and trample over it.

With the cigarette held loosely between his lips, Jaekwon unbuckled his belt. Then, he pissed on the spot where the white powder was scattered.

“See you in hell.”

Lastly, he threw the cigarette butt in and turned away.

Revenge is not refreshing.

It wasn’t even revenge. It was just sorting the trash.

The aimless feeling is lonely.

Jaekwon’s phone rang while he was leaning his head back tiredly in the driver’s seat with his eyes closed. The caller was Hwang Gujo.

“…Yeah. What is it.”

—The items are ready, where should we start?

He pressed the bridge of his nose between his eyebrows with his index finger and thumb. Headaches had become a daily occurrence.

“Start with Kwak Jaekyung’s production company and entertainment side.”

—The crank-in just happened, and they had a good luck ceremony.

“The sponsors must all be in place too.”

—They’re solid. It was a good move to slowly spread the rumor that our capital was involved.

Jaekwon had liquidated the company Kwak Bonyoung owned and, unlike before, exposed it aggressively. Since the capital base was originally large, there were many bastards drooling over it. The media companies were already in a frenzy trying to get in line.

“I’ve found someone good at coming up with sexy headlines, so give it to them. But tell them not to release it all at once, but to let it out in stages. Make it clear that if they ruin it by dropping it all at once, there will be no more exclusives for them in the future.”

—I’ve also sorted out the quick-witted ones.

After ending the call, Jaekwon closed his eyes again. I told you we weren’t just playing around even though we couldn’t find Seon Wisoo’s location. If he doesn’t come out on his own, then we just have to make him come out.

The headaches caused insomnia, and the insomnia made the headaches worse. Still, he had been getting by on fragmented sleep, but after starving himself like a madman for a week and jumping down the stairs to see an apparition, he could barely even get that fragmented sleep.

Just once was like this. Jaekwon could easily connect that unscientific apparition with his current physical condition. If just once did this to him, Seon Wisoo….

Like someone searching for a respirator, Jaekwon urgently picked up Seon Wisoo’s phone. It was the one left in that house. Of course, there was nothing new being updated. Still, he could look at the photos that remained inside it.

“…Haha.”

Jaekwon let out a dry laugh as he scrolled through the photos.

No matter if he looked at them tens, no, hundreds, or thousands of times, it was new. So this is what Seon Wisoo’s eyes are like. This was your heart. He once said that. That people photograph things the way they see them.

The photo album’s share was mostly made up of Kwak Jaekwon.

This is how you see me. So lovely and so affectionate, so bright.

The corners of his eyes throbbed. It was painful every time water seeped into his bone-dry eyes. Jaekwon gripped the cloned phone tightly and pressed his forehead gently. He slumped forward. The sound of the car horn endlessly echoed through the empty lot. Paaaaang….

❖ ❖ ❖

Kwak Jaekyung ignored everyone who greeted him and stomped down the hallway. Anyone could see that he was extremely angry.

He got into the elevator and repeatedly jabbed the button for the basement floor. He punched the close button, and as soon as the doors closed and he was alone, he screamed, Aaaargh. He stomped his foot so hard it seemed like the emergency stop might be activated.

There were about three rooms on the basement floor. This was Seon Wisoo’s home.

Among them, through a place made of glass walls and a glass door, he could see Jung Taekyu and Seon Wisoo. Jung Taekyu was gripping the back of the chair Wisoo was sitting in and threateningly questioning him.

“Still can’t see? If you’re of no use, you should at least be useful for something else. Wisoo-yah. There are many elders looking for you, do you want to go there? This time, if I send you, Teacher will be sending you to be used elsewhere, will that still be okay?”

Seon Wisoo had his head bowed low, like an artificial flower devoid of life. He had grown considerably thinner, and the bones at the back of his neck protruded.

“If you really can’t, there is another way. If you can see but are pretending you can’t, stop being stubborn.”

“…Teacher, you’re the one who’s been living for years, pretending to see when you can’t see anything.”

As soon as the backtalk ended, Jung Taekyu struck Wisoo’s thigh with the paddle he was holding, thwack. His body flinched. Even from the side, one could see him biting his lip until it turned white.

At that sight, Kwak Jaekyung recalled his collection of videos. It had been difficult to obtain. The things he had gathered bit by bit after gaining Jung Taekyu’s trust contained explicit shots of Wisoo suffering from the aftereffects of possessions after finishing his encounters with customers. It was a video he would provide for an extra fee. Seon Wisoo was so beautiful when he was in pain that he looked holy.

“I know that you’re hiding something from Teacher.”

Jung Taekyu disguised his cruel hands with a soft and affectionate tone.

“The assets Kwak Jaekwon has are on no ordinary level. If Teacher were to have that, think of all the good it could be used for. To help people with broken hearts, people dying of loss, people whose hearts are rotting away, why won’t you tell me.”

“……”

“The list of trust assets or Kwak Jaekwon’s shameful secrets, you must know something. If you served him like a male prostitute, you must have received payment for your services.”

“There’s nothing like that. I didn’t serve him like a male prostitute.”

‘Stupid bastard. He should have just kept his mouth shut.’

Kwak Jaekyung folded his arms and took rough breaths as he stared at Seon Wisoo.

Stubborn. Just like Kwak Jaekwon. He disliked it, yet it excited him.

Just watching was no longer enough. He wanted to defile him with his own hands. Carnal desire lurked in Kwak Jaekyung’s persistent eyes.

“Do you want to go back to that white room?”

Only then did Wisoo jerk his head up. His hair had grown a lot during the time that was approaching two months. He was pitifully pretty.

“You’d better think carefully. Teacher doesn’t want to see you suffer either. What is this state you’re in. Do you want to go to the hospital?”

Jung Taekyu asked, though he had no intention of taking him to a proper hospital.

Wisoo had a great fear of the hospital Jung Taekyu was talking about. He shook his head frantically. Then he said whatever came to mind.

“…I, I think I’ll be able to see if I have just a little more time. I heard something like a voice before I left the white room.”

In truth, he had heard nothing at all. The only voice was the voice of Kwak Jaekwon that he replayed in his mind.

“Yes…. Good boy. Let’s try just a little bit harder. Huh?”

Jung Taekyu caressed Wisoo’s cheek with the back of his hand. Then, after seeing Kwak Jaekyung beyond the glass window, he straightened his back.

He helped Wisoo up and headed toward a place that at least looked like a normal room. Kwak Jaekyung unfolded his arms and slowly followed behind him. Seon Wisoo, with his head bowed low, seemed not to have even noticed he had come.

After letting him into the room, Jung Taekyu closed the door and approached Kwak Jaekyung. He lit the tip-cut cigar and asked with an air of arrogance.

“Is something the matter?”

Kwak Jaekyung’s fingertips, hidden behind his back, twitched.

“No. I just came to see if I could coax and soothe the kid a bit with stories about Kwak Jaekwon.”

“Right. You have to raise them while giving them some carrots too.”

Jung Taekyu boasted.

“Raising a kid is so hard. You’re going through a lot too, Jaekyung.”

“How could it compare to you, Teacher.”

“So, you’ve started filming?”

“Thanks to your concern, it’s going smoothly.”

“It would be good if it does well. The lineup of top stars there is incredible, I’ll be dropping by during filming from time to time, so create a pretext. And make some space.”

“Yep.”

Kwak Jaekyung laughed vacuously.

The assets Jung Taekyu had hidden were substantial. Jung Taekyu knew that it would take a long time with ordinary people, and he also knew that small fries wouldn’t satisfy his greed in the first place. The lofty people up there had such an elitist mentality that it took too much effort to make them listen to him. So what he thought of was the entertainment industry. The entertainment industry, as always, has waves of somber crevices, doesn’t it? As the light gets stronger, the shadow deepens.

“Good work. I’m going to head down there for a bit.”

“Work hard.”

At the roundabout way of saying he was going to his villa, Kwak Jaekyung bowed his head deeply.

Kwak Jaekyung, who had stayed like that until the elevator doors closed, changed his expression completely and headed for Seon Wisoo’s room.

As he threw the door open, he saw the open bathroom door. From inside, a pathetic sound of retching, retch, retch, could be heard.

“So pathetic.”

Closing the door, Kwak Jaekyung took out a bottle of fruit juice from his pocket. This was his carrot.

He placed the juice bottle on the nightstand and sat on the bed with his legs crossed, waiting. After the sound of running water went on for a long time, Wisoo appeared.

His gaunt face was full of sickliness, but there was also something bewitching about it.

“……”

Wisoo, who was fiddling with his wet lips, stopped when he saw Kwak Jaekyung.

“What is it?”

At the weak voice, Kwak Jaekyung smiled faintly.

“Drink it. You look like you have no energy.”

Wisoo glanced at the juice bottle.

Then, with an expression full of suspicion, he examined the bottle meticulously.

“I didn’t put anything in it. I brought it as is from the convenience store.”

“……”

“Who do you take after to be so suspicious?”

Kwak Jaekyung shook his head exaggeratedly, then opened the bottle and took a sip.

“There, see?”

A third of it was gone in an instant. Only then did Wisoo take the bottle with both hands and drink it slowly in portions.

“A rumor is going around.”

“……”

“A rumor that our kids who are participating as main and supporting actors in the movie this time are involved with a strange religious group.”

“A religion…?”

“Yeah. It’s nonsense. Still, it won’t be good if it reaches Teacher’s ears.”

Kwak Jaekyung tapped his crossed leg with his hand.

Wisoo realized that gesture had become a habit from imitating Jaekwon and his expression hardened. The inferior Kwak Jaekyung, unable to hide his cheap, wannabe air.

“No matter how much I dug, they wouldn’t tell me where the rumor came from. Where could they have planted their informant? Or is it the other way around? Was an informant planted?”

“……”

“Kwak Jaekwon, I mean.”

Wisoo’s hand flinched.

Kwak Jaekyung watched Wisoo like that, then made a call somewhere.

“Yeah. Bring that over.”

Not knowing what ‘that’ was, Wisoo’s body stiffened with tension.

Kwak Jaekyung waited silently. He said nothing. The silence suffocated Wisoo.

And after some time passed, someone arrived in the basement. It was Kwak Jaekyung’s secretary.

“I’ve brought what you asked for.”

What the man was holding in his hand was similar to what waiters carry when serving in a high-end restaurant. It was covered with a dome. It was placed on the nightstand. Kwak Jaekyung threw open the food cover.

“Eat. You like this, don’t you?”

What was revealed was egg bread.

That wasn’t all. Perhaps thinking that Wisoo liked bread, there were other things as well. Among them were strongly scented items like garlic bread and pizza bread.

As soon as Wisoo smelled the strong ketchup scent of the pizza bread, he felt nauseous and covered his mouth.

“Ugh.”

With the short cry, he dropped the bottle he was holding and headed for the bathroom. The loud sound of glass shattering rang in his head. However, Kwak Jaekyung and his secretary paid no attention to the broken bottle and only exchanged glances.

“Huh…?”

After a long moment, Kwak Jaekyung let out a hollow laugh and slowly rose from his seat.

Even after throwing up all the juice he had drunk, Wisoo was dry heaving because of the ketchup smell lingering in his nasal cavity. He was retching so hard it felt like his organs would fall out, so he didn’t even notice Kwak Jaekyung had come to stand at the doorway.

“Hey…. you.”

Kwak Jaekyung called to Wisoo, suppressing his laughter with great effort.

“You’ve got a bun in the oven, haven’t you?”

Wisoo’s hands, gripping the toilet, turned white and began to tremble.

Kwak Jaekyung disgustingly patted Wisoo’s back and flushed the toilet. Then he helped the completely drained Wisoo to his feet.

“So it was. So that’s what it was.”

He muttered as if humming and turned on the sink faucet. In the mirror, the reflection of a deathly pale Wisoo and a delighted Kwak Jaekyung could be seen.

From behind, Kwak Jaekyung grabbed Wisoo’s chin and lifted it, forcing him to look at the mirror. Even though they were cousins and had some resemblance, not a single trace of the fondness one felt for Kwak Jaekwon could be drawn from Kwak Jaekyung. Wisoo looked at Kwak Jaekyung with distorted eyes.

“What are we going to do.”

Kwak Jaekyung smiled faintly and met Wisoo’s eyes through the mirror as well.

“Wisoo-yah. You’re fucked.”

“……”

“If I tell Teacher about this, what do you think will happen to you, and your baby?”

Kwak Jaekyung collected water and splashed it on Wisoo’s face, chwak. Wisoo, who had squeezed his eyes shut, could not open them again. Out of fear.

Meanwhile, Kwak Jaekyung felt a thrill at the key he was holding.

It was electrifying. Because what was in his grasp right now guaranteed a smooth road ahead for him. This was the key to heaven.

“Fuuuck…. Our Wisoo really is a lucky charm.”

“…Don’t tell. Please….”

“Tell? Why would I? I won’t do it easily.”

Kwak Jaekyung chuckled. Then, he rubbed his lips against Wisoo’s wet ear.

“You’re my product now.”

A chill ran down his spine.

“So where should I sell you to get a high price? Jung Taekyu? Kwak Jaekwon?”

It was a relief his face was wet. Wisoo did not want to cry in front of Kwak Jaekyung.

“It is Kwak Jaekwon’s, right? Next time, will you bear my child?”

There was charcoal in his solar plexus. The solar plexus, so burnt that it had turned black and died, felt faint.

“It’s not even certain. I-It’s just indigestion.”

“Ahem. You need to speak properly. Be polite. Don’t act like a mongrel with no pedigree.”

Kwak Jaekyung was also steeped in elitism. The elitism and the level that failed to meet what he thought it should be were what had turned Kwak Jaekyung’s entire body into a very somber and foul-smelling puddle.

Wisoo lowered his long, wet eyelashes.

“…Please, keep it a secret. Please.”

“Alright. I’ll do that for now.”

Kwak Jaekyung chuckled.

“I’ll bring a pregnancy test next time, so let’s see each other soon. If there’s anything you want to eat until then, tell me. Let’s see each other often from now on, shall we?”

“……”

“Jaekwon should be grateful. I’m playing daddy to this little tadpole here in his place.”

Wisoo is in agony. The fact that he was powerless had never tormented him to this extent before. It was a pain on a different level from anything he had ever felt.

Kwak Jaekyung abruptly let Wisoo go. Wisoo, whose legs had given out, nearly collapsed but managed to catch the sink and barely hold on before sliding down to the floor.

Leaving Wisoo like that, Kwak Jaekyung adjusted his own clothes in front of the mirror and muttered as if to himself.

“But I wonder what you’ll name the baby.”

“……”

“Should I go and sound Jaekwon out?”

Wisoo couldn’t hear anything. Only then did Kwak Jaekyung crouch down in front of Wisoo.

“Come to think of it, Teacher will be overjoyed if you tell him you’re having a baby. He’ll start treating you with utmost care again. Kwak Jaekwon as the baby’s father is more appealing than Kwak Jaekwon as just a guardian, don’t you think?”

Only then did Wisoo lift his trembling gaze. A sense of dread washed over him. At that moment, for the first time since returning to this place, he saw that puddle and the sticky water. Something undulating from Kwak Jaekyung was coming toward him, about to overwhelm him.

“Oh my…. Wisoo-yah. What are we going to do. It seems no matter how hard you try, you’re just a weight dragging Jaekwon down.”

“Heuu. Heu….”

Only when prodded this far does he start to cry. Kwak Jaekyung felt a twisted pleasure along with a thrill.

“You really… ruin Kwak Jaekwon’s life in so many ways.”

So he drove the final nail in. Wishing for Seon Wisoo to fall further into misery.

It was true when he watched him through the screen, but he really is a pretty kid when he’s rolling on the floor.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kwak Jaekwon, who had been staring at the monitor like a madman, whipped his head around.

“Who what?”

Hwang Gujo, with a stiffly hardened expression, spoke to Jaekwon again.

“Kwak Jaekyung-ssi says he needs to see you, President. He insists he must see you.”

“Tell him to fuck off and get lost. Ah, right. Sprinkle some salt too.”

Jaekwon now utters such superstitions. Whether he means it or it’s just something he says without thinking.

“I think it would be good for you to see him once.”

“Why? And don’t say ‘see him.’ There’s no need to respect that guy. You’re my friend.”

Jaekwon retorted while searching for a marked item in the mountain of documents.

“In my personal opinion, they only realize it when they have no more room to escape, which is why you have to let up a little before cornering them.”

“……”

“Of course, this is something I learned from watching you work, President.”

Loosening his grip to tighten it again so that by the time they came to their senses there was no escape route, that was Jaekwon’s style. Come to think of it, driving things forward like this wasn’t his style.

He was being impatient. Because he wanted to see Seon Wisoo quickly. And because he had a sense of anxiety that he had to meet him as soon as possible.

With a sigh, Jaekwon sank into his chair. Then he ran his hands through his hair repeatedly, lost in deep thought. His brow furrowed handsomely.

“…Fine.”

“The location, Kwak Jaekyung-ssi….”

“No. Call him to the hotel.”

Jaekwon sat up straight again. In order not to waste any more time on a decision he had already made, he fixed his gaze on the monitor. What was on the monitor was Jung Taekyu’s hidden assets, which had cost a fortune to find.

“The one in a hurry should be the one to crawl.”

There was no trace of personal feeling in Jaekwon’s muttered voice. That very monotony sounded even more cruel.

❖ ❖ ❖

Entering Jaekwon’s hotel room, Kwak Jaekyung let out a whistle. A small shopping bag hung from his wrist. The way it dangled frivolously showed his vulgar gait.

“Wow, this place was booked for the next three years and they said it was absolutely unavailable. How did you get it?”

The room, which was comparable to a penthouse, was as large as a sizable mansion, so much so that Kwak Jaekyung’s monologue echoed pathetically.

While waiting for Jaekwon, who had not yet appeared, Kwak Jaekyung idly rummaged through and opened various things. If I had known he would make me wait like this, I should have brought a bug or something. Or maybe a small camera. If I had taken some pictures or videos to show Seon Wisoo, that would have been a sight to see.

However, as if he had read Kwak Jaekyung’s trick, Kwak Jaekwon entered.

Dressed in a perfect suit with his hair slicked back, his expression showed only a hint of fatigue, and nothing else. To the point where he didn’t seem human.

“Hey, you’ve changed a lot.”

Kwak Jaekyung was momentarily intimidated by his presence. And annoyed at himself for it, he sneered.

“You seemed a bit more human at the 49th-day memorial service.”

Jaekwon ignored Kwak Jaekyung’s words and headed for the bar table. He found the alcohol that the hotel had stocked to his taste, took out only one glass, and poured.

Kwak Jaekyung felt insulted by Jaekwon, who was completely ignoring him. So he raised his voice and picked a fight again.

“No, that’s not right. The time I saw you last, when you were collapsed on the floor, that’s when you really seemed human. But now, well, it’s a bit boring, you know?”

“……”

Still, Jaekwon did not respond. Holding the glass, he flicked his eyebrows as if he had just noticed Kwak Jaekyung. He pointed with only the index finger of the hand holding the glass and asked.

“Are you out hustling for construction projects?”

“What?”

“You look like some has-been male host. Your taste is getting cheaper and cheaper.”

“Hey. Your words are harsh.”

“Or are you starting to resemble the tastes of the kids you have under you?”

“……”

Jaekwon, who had spoken only a few words, had launched a faster and deeper attack than Kwak Jaekyung, who had been chattering lightly.

“Like those kids of yours who trust that charlatan old fart because they have nothing else to believe in.”

With this, Jaekwon made no attempt to hide it and revealed everything.

“You heard the rumors, right? That’s just the teaser. You can look forward to the main screening. I saw the headlines beforehand, they came out sexy and well-written. It was a bit of a hassle picking people who are good at spicing things up. Like you said, I don’t know this world well.”

Jaekwon pushed the alcohol he had been drinking toward Jaekyung.

“That rumor… so you were the bastard who spread it.”

“If you didn’t know that, I’m disappointed, and if you did, then fuck, why should I praise you for doing the obvious.”

Jaekwon smiled languidly. He folded his arms and gestured with his head, alternating between Kwak Jaekyung and the glass.

“Come and drink. You’re dying to imitate me. I left it for you to lick.”

The corners of Kwak Jaekyung’s mouth twisted. At the same time, his hands trembled. The white shopping bag he held shook violently.

“Ah. Is this my share?”

Kwak Jaekyung, who had barely managed to feign composure, managed a smile.

Jaekwon observed Kwak Jaekyung, noticing his unusual reaction.

The end of his gaze landed on the white shopping bag that Kwak Jaekyung was clutching. Noticing that Jaekwon was looking at it, Kwak Jaekyung finally became cheerful.

“I’d like to drink, but I can’t. I have to go take care of a baby.”

Jaekwon’s expression slowly distorted. Yes! This is exactly what I wanted! Kwak Jaekyung rejoiced inwardly.

He approached the bar table and held out the shopping bag.

“It’s someone you know, but I wonder if you know.”

The people that both Kwak Jaekyung and he knew were either the family that wasn’t like a family or… there was only one. Jaekwon’s entire body, all his muscles, tensed.

“I’ve been doting on him a lot lately. He’s pretty to look at, but he’s even cuter when he cries.”

“You fucking bastard.”

Jaekwon’s composure completely shattered. Kwak Jaekyung burst out laughing. As Jaekwon lunged fiercely, the glass shattered with a crash. It crunched under Jaekwon’s slipper.

Kwak Jaekwon hates violence. Because he was Kwak Bonyoung’s son. Not wanting to be like Kwak Bonyoung, he tried not to use violence himself unless it was a controlled situation, but he couldn’t anymore. No, that line had already been crossed.

“Clench your teeth. I don’t want to clean up your knocked-out teeth.”

“What…. Ugh!”

Normally, a person’s gaze should change before they commit violence, but Kwak Jaekwon’s eyes were as cold as ice, so Kwak Jaekyung couldn’t predict it.

The fist that suddenly flew out struck Kwak Jaekyung squarely in the jaw. It was a part that could kill. Kwak Jaekwon knew a person’s vital points precisely and also knew how much force to apply to cause suffocation or bring someone to the brink of it. Though he never thought it would be used like this.

Kwak Jaekyung’s consciousness flickered. He couldn’t resist. Just as he felt his body go limp, Kwak Jaekwon grabbed his hair, lifted him up, and this time, struck him with an open palm. It was definitely a palm, but it hurt tremendously, as if he had been in a traffic accident.

“Keok, keoheok…!”

“We’re not done yet. If you pass out, I’ll wake you up.”

It would be best not to even dream of moderate methods like splashing water.

“Wa, wait a minute.”

Kwak Jaekyung grabbed Jaekwon’s wrist. He shook it off lightly and clenched his fist again.

It felt as if his mind was being dyed crimson. The Jaekwon now was not the one Wisoo knew. The black puddle flowing from Kwak Jaekyung was coming toward Jaekwon, trying to soak him. Just as it seemed he would be soaked, Kwak Jaekyung shouted.

“You crazy bastard…. You’re doing something you’ll regret right now!”

Kwak Jaekyung shouted, coughing. Blood spat from his mouth, spattering Jaekwon’s face.

Jaekwon, who had one knee up on the collapsed Kwak Jaekyung, looked down at Kwak Jaekyung emotionlessly. And asked back.

“…Regret?”

His voice, his gaze, were like those of a completely mad person.

“That’s my line. Will you lead the way, or should I drag you by your hair.”

Jaekwon’s knee moved toward Kwak Jaekyung’s solar plexus. The pressing force was enough to break his ribs and then some, so Kwak Jaekyung shouted to save his life.

“Ah, aaaargh! Ah! Seon Wisoo, Seon Wisoo!”

At the name that came out of Kwak Jaekyung’s mouth, Jaekwon paused. Kwak Jaekyung, whose mouth was busted and the gaps between his teeth dyed red, grinned.

“You lay one more finger on me from now on. You’ll never know where Seon Wisoo is for the rest of your life. Ah! And Seon Wisoo, I’m taking care of him.”

“……”

“So be nice to me.”

As soon as he saw Kwak Jaekwon’s gaze waver violently, Kwak Jaekyung was certain. I have the upper hand now. For the first time in his life, he stood above Kwak Jaekwon. Kwak Jaekyung had been compared to his cousin his entire life. He couldn’t understand it. Even though his own father hated him and their family was a mess, how could that bastard not ignore or treat anyone carelessly. People curse at him and ignore him, but in reality, everyone wants to be by Kwak Jaekwon’s side.

He thought it was because of his uncle. But even after Kwak Bonyoung died, no one could treat Kwak Jaekwon carelessly. It was a talent he possessed entirely on his own. He was so envious of it that he felt like he would go crazy.

But that same Kwak Jaekwon couldn’t even lift a finger now because of one crazy omega.

“Wisoo, he’s not feeling well lately, you know?”

“…Since when were you so close as to be calling his name so affectionately?”

“We’ve gotten a lot closer. You’ve been searching your ass off for him, but you can’t find the kid, right? Korea is small, but it’s also fucking complicated. That bastard, Jung Taekyu, he’s a master at running away, been doing it since the 70s. The only people who can manage that place and get close to Seon Wisoo are Jung Taekyu or me…. Keok!”

Kwak Jaekwon grabbed Kwak Jaekyung by the collar and lifted him. The skill with which he twisted the hand holding the collar a half-turn to press on his windpipe was adept. Seeing him undo his own tie and wrap it around his hand, even Kwak Jaekyung, who had been certain he had the upper hand, felt a chill run down his spine.

“Gwangha-dong, Shinbal-dong, Shilgae-eup in Jinhae-si, Hoyang-myeon in Gowol-si. Just say the number.”

For a moment, Kwak Jaekyung was genuinely terrified. The addresses Kwak Jaekwon mentioned were all addresses where Jung Taekyu had offices under the guise of spiritual healing and where he had actually made Wisoo stay. How did he know. For a moment, he was so flustered his hair stood on end, but Kwak Jaekyung licked his lips and laughed, ha, haha.

“Fine. I guess you’ll remember after a few more hits.”

However, Kwak Jaekwon’s patience had already run out. Gwangha-dong? One hit. Shinbal-dong? One hit. Shilgae-eup? One hit…. Jaekwon didn’t aim for the face, but raised his arm and beat him evenly on the inside of his arm or his chest. Even when Kwak Jaekyung tried to stop him, saying ‘wait,’ he only muttered with unfocused eyes.

“Ah. And it’s okay if you can’t say it until the end. I’ll find him somehow.”

At the fist that was rapidly moving away from his face, Kwak Jaekyung urgently played his last card.

“Jaekwon-ah!”

“What. Did you remember?”

“Jaekwon-ah, Jaekwon-ah…. If you’re going to play around with a kid, you should have used a condom properly.”

“…Don’t change the subject and tell me the number. Which one is it.”

“No, Jaekwon-ah. You definitely called him a baby. You’re pretty shameless too, aren’t you? You act all high and mighty as if you’re not, but you fit in really well with this world.”

“I won’t say it twice.”

“I won’t say it twice either. I told you I’m the one taking care of Seon Wisoo. That means I’m not someone you should be doing this to right now.”

Keok, there was a sound. Jaekwon had twisted his wrist once more to tighten his grip on the collar. Through his choked throat, Kwak Jaekyung whispered.

“He… he’s carrying your baby, you know?”

Thwack. Kwak Jaekyung’s face turned severely to the side. At first, Kwak Jaekyung couldn’t even scream, but then he let out a shriek, Aaaargh. And Kwak Jaekwon, as if he wouldn’t wait, raised his fist again.

But that was also brief, his hand fell away, trembling with rage.

“What…?”

Jaekwon’s hands were visibly trembling before his eyes. His face had been hit twice, the rest of his body had been hit all over. Even while wondering if his ribs were broken, Kwak Jaekyung chuckled, seeing Jaekwon’s agitated state. His mouth was busted and hurt, and a dry cough kept coming out, but he was delighted.

“Teacher doesn’t know yet.”

“…What, what’s your scheme.”

“A portion of your assets won’t do. Give it all to me.”

“……”

Kwak Jaekyung took out a business card holder from his pocket and picked out a few cards. Then he pulled Jaekwon’s fallen hand and pressed them into it as if handing over a few pennies.

“You can launder it in this order. These are verified places.”

A fanfare was sounding in Kwak Jaekyung’s head. It was a victory sweeter than a first love’s kiss. Kwak Jaekyung felt a slight manic episode from the dopamine bursting with triumphant joy.

“I know it’s not a small amount, so I’ll give you a month. Hey, in a month, the baby will grow a lot. How about it, should I take the baby out for a bit and send you an ultrasound picture?”

Jaekwon couldn’t give any answer. In his hand was the crumpled shopping bag. Kwak Jaekyung pulled Jaekwon’s tie to loosen it and patted his shoulder as if they were close.

“…Is there a guarantee you’ll return Seon Wisoo?”

“I never said I’d return him.”

“Are you kidding me, you fucking bastard?”

Unbelievably, Kwak Jaekwon looked like he was about to cry. Kwak Jaekyung felt like he could get an erection from this alone. It was thrilling. If he could have Seon Wisoo in one hand, Kwak Jaekwon’s assets in the other, and even the connections Jung Taekyu had cultivated… if only he could…

Swallowing hard, Kwak Jaekyung acted slickly.

“Let’s take it slow, slowly. There are three stages. Not telling Teacher, when the baby’s belly grows it will be discovered but I will still manage Seon Wisoo, and when the baby is born I will send it to you. How about it.”

“Seon Wisoo. Send Seon Wisoo first.”

“For that, I’ll have to receive your personal assets as well.”

Jaekwon crumpled the business card. Then he ground out through clenched teeth. It wasn’t because he was attached to his assets. It was because he couldn’t stand the fact that Seon Wisoo was in this situation, being treated like this. Gwangha-dong, Shinbal-dong, Shilgae-eup, Hoyang-myeon. He muttered the place names he had practically memorized from narrowing them down again and again. Gwangha-dong, Shinbal-dong, Shilgae-eup, Hoyang-myeon….

…It’s none of the four. It wasn’t any of the four.

At that moment, Kwak Jaekyung’s reaction when he had mentioned these place names and a chilling premonition coincided in Kwak Jaekwon’s mind. Kwak Jaekwon bowed his head and muttered.

“…There are three stages, so I can’t give you my entire fortune right now. I’ll make a down payment of 10 percent. Then tell me your plan.”

“10 percent? I’ll tell you after I see the money come in.”

Kwak Jaekyung couldn’t believe the reality that Jaekwon was negotiating with him and that he held the key. He wanted to shout for joy. As expected, there was something about Seon Wisoo. He had given all that power and wealth to Jung Taekyu, and now he was giving it to him too. Could it be that Seon Wisoo brings luck to others by chipping away at his own life? Such things are rare in this day and age.

“Contact me after you send the money.”

“Send it with sincerity, with sincerity. As much as you love Seon Wisoo.”

“If I add my assets to it, will you also tell me Jung Taekyu’s weakness?”

“Jung Taekyu’s weakness?”

Kwak Jaekyung asked back as if he had heard it for the first time in his life.

“You’ve fucked him and you’re asking that? It’s Seon Wisoo. That bastard is nothing without Seon Wisoo.”

“……”

“He’s just a middle-aged man who’s all talk. Ah, he is a bit smart. He’s good at digging into people’s weak points in a gloomy way. I learned that well from being under him, didn’t I?”

That part was something Kwak Jaekyung didn’t like either.

Jung Taekyu knew that Kwak Jaekyung had a severe inferiority complex towards his cousin. He had been gently scratching at it. What was infuriating was that he couldn’t refute a single word of it. Listening to him, it really felt like this problem would be solved soon. It felt like Jung Taekyu was the one who would solve it.

But the reason Jung Taekyu felt so powerful was because of his clients, more precisely, the clients who craved Seon Wisoo. Jung Taekyu, with all the seasoning stripped away, was nothing more than an old hen that was difficult to even use for chicken soup.

Still, it was a good thing he hadn’t left. Look. It’s like Kwak Jaekwon is about to kneel before me. No, should I make him kneel?

Kwak Jaekyung grinned.

“Ah, right. If you hadn’t acted so primitively, I was going to wrap this up at this level…. Jaekwon-ah, I think I’ll have to get some compensation for my injuries too.”

“……”

“Delay the release of the articles and kneel before me.”

Jaekwon is, Jaekwon is, that Kwak Jaekwon, that bastard whom he had heard about until his ears were ringing, is kneeling before him. Kwak Jaekyung pressed down hard on Jaekwon’s shoulder. So that the glass shards under his knees would dig in.

Kwak Jaekyung, who had taken a picture of that, put his phone in his pocket.

“I was thinking of taking your picture to Wisoo, and a good one came out.”