Sweet Hometown (3)
Starting with the Han Jae-moon education incident, Kang Hyeon quickly took control of the guild.
“I told you I hate thuggish behavior, didn’t I?”
“Who are you to criticize and tell us what to do!?”
Of course, there was resistance.
In this world that had turned grim and chaotic.
With the concept of public safety lost, the Badass Guild had no choice but to adapt to the harsh world.
Things that would have been considered evil acts and frowned upon in the past were now happening as everyday occurrences.
“Come at me if you’ve got a problem, you bastards. If you win, I’ll hand over the guild leader position.”
Kang Hyeon smiled fiercely at the guild members who drew their weapons before him.
“You think I won’t do it!?”
These people were extorting money from the market under the pretext of protection fees.
The guild knew about this, but since it wasn’t too severe and such practices were common nowadays wherever you went, everyone kept quiet about it.
Similarly, the residents had no reason to resist.
If they had to pay protection money anyway, it was better to pay it to somewhere they could get more reliable protection.
Additionally, it was better to pay protection fees to Badass Guild members who demanded relatively small tribute.
“You newcomers probably don’t know, but in our guild, my word is law.”
“Are you crazy!? We’ve been here for over 2 years, what newcomers!?”
But Kang Hyeon didn’t like these things.
This didn’t mean he wasn’t following the trends of the times.
‘If you’re going to collect money, do it officially. What do you get off skimming?’
He just believed that if they were going to take money, it should be clear and transparent.
And they should protect people properly for what they received.
“Take them all down!”
The Badass Guild members charged at Kang Hyeon.
Looking at them, Kang Hyeon smiled contentedly.
“At least I like your spirit.”
He planned to show these cute newcomers who the real guild leader was.
***
Ippotranslation
***
“Jae-moon. Report.”
In the Badass Guild office.
Kang Hyeon, sitting arrogantly in a rare high-end boss chair, nodded his head.
“Yes…”
Han Jae-moon, still showing bruises on his face, picked up some documents.
“Currently, there are a total of 4 forces in this area called Badass Town.”
“Quite a few?”
“While our guild is the largest force, the others are not ones to be ignored.”
Han Jae-moon spread out a hand-drawn map and continued his explanation.
“The 4 guilds each divide their territories to collect tribute, which is the main source of income for the guilds.”
Kang Hyeon frowned at the mention of tribute.
“About that.”
“Yes?”
“That thing about extorting money from merchants. Why do you do it? Doesn’t the guild pay salaries? Or is there no other income?”
“Well…”
How should he explain this? After pondering briefly, Han Jae-moon continued.
“These days, the concept of currency doesn’t exist. Besides gold, there’s only exchange vouchers from Hyeseong Group that we can give as salary like in the past.”
Gold.
The precious metal that had served as currency for human society since ancient times.
Its status remained unchanged even after the world collapsed.
“I understand about gold, but what are these exchange vouchers from Hyeseong Group?”
“That’s a bit of a long explanation… Simply put, you can think of it as currency specifically for buying Hyeseong Group’s products.”
“Oh…”
Hyeseong Group was the country’s largest business conglomerate, run by Ahn Moo-seok, the father of Ahn Yu-seong.
“I see. Let’s talk about Hyeseong later, continue about the salary situation for now.”
“Yes. To conclude, for various reasons, it’s difficult for the guild to properly pay salaries to guild members.”
“So you let them skim money on their own?”
“Yes…”
In other words, since the guild couldn’t properly pay money, they turned a blind eye to individuals collecting money while backed by the guild’s authority.
“Even if it’s not gold or exchange vouchers, luxury items like alcohol and cigarettes serve as currency. Guild members make up for their lack of money by collecting such things as tribute from citizens.”
“Hmm”
Kang Hyeon stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Han Jae-moon, thinking Kang Hyeon was angry, hastily continued.
“But we’ve always collected within reasonable limits! The guild itself prohibits excessive tribute! That’s why merchants don’t resist and actually gather here more and more!”
“Is that so?”
Kang Hyeon understood the general situation.
But he didn’t like it.
“This won’t do.”
“Pardon?”
“Those other 4 forces you mentioned. No, 3 excluding us?”
“That’s correct.”
“Let’s clean them all out.”
“Uh…”
Less than 3 days after Kang Hyeon’s return.
A storm was about to hit.
***
Ippotranslation
***
There were four guilds total in Badass Town.
First, the Badass Guild, which was practically the ruler of the city.
And three slightly smaller guilds that checked each other while dividing their territories.
Gwangwol, List, and Peace Line.
Among them, Peace Line had the ridiculous slogan of ‘restoring peace and goodness,’ and they were Kang Hyeon’s first target.
“Did the money come in well?”
“Yes.”
Seon Eun-hye, a high-ranking executive of Peace Line Guild, frowned at the pile of alcohol and cigarettes.
“Is this all?”
Though it wasn’t a small amount, it wasn’t enough in her eyes.
The tribute collected every ten days.
It was a very small amount considering it came from a hundred merchants.
“Well… Due to the recent rift disturbance, business hasn’t been going well… Kheuk!”
The man speaking flew back from Seon Eun-hye’s kick.
“Hey. Is this the attitude you joined our Peace Line Guild with?”
“I’m, I’m sorry!”
Though it must have been painful, the man hurriedly got up.
“We need money to maintain peace. How many times do I have to tell you? Still don’t understand?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Seon Eun-hye heaved a deep sigh.
“How am I supposed to face the guild leader with this?”
“What do you think will happen if I get scolded by the guild leader because of this measly tribute?”
“That…”
“Peace will be broken.”
Seon Eun-hye pulled out a gun with eyes full of madness.
The man was terrified when the gun was pressed against his head.
“Hii..! Please spare me!”
“Double it.”
“What…?”
“If you want to live, bring back twice this amount.”
In truth, even this amount was not a small burden.
If they demanded more than this, there would surely be resistance.
If conflict arose in their territory, it might give the Badass Guild reason to intervene.
“I understand…”
Various thoughts rushed through his mind, but the man had no choice.
If he didn’t comply, he would die with a breathing hole in his forehead.
He had to do anything to survive.
“And you know what.”
Seon Eun-hye crossed her legs and put a cigarette in her mouth.
-Chik! Chiiii…
The man quickly approached and lit the cigarette she was holding.
“The atmosphere around Badass Guild doesn’t seem right these days.”
“Yes.”
“Phew… I hear rumors that Kang Hyeon, who died, has returned or whatever, but that can’t be true. They must be plotting something.”
For the past few days, rumors that Kang Hyeon had returned spread widely through the city.
But Seon Eun-hye didn’t believe the rumors.
‘Who do they think they are fooling?’
Seon Eun-hye was an ability user who directly participated in the battle 3 years ago.
Having clearly seen Kang Hyeon’s death at the end, she couldn’t possibly believe the rumors.
-Bang bang!
That’s when it happened.
The sound of someone roughly pounding on the iron door at the entrance rang out.
“Who is it?”
Seon Eun-hye frowned while looking at the entrance.
Simultaneously, ten guild members inside drew their guns and aimed at the entrance.
They were preparing for any contingency.
“Delivery!”
“Is this person crazy…?”
This was underground.
A back alley that ordinary people avoided approaching.
The most gloomy place even within that area.
It wasn’t a place where someone would knock on the door so casually making jokes.
“Something’s strange. Everyone be careful.”
Moreover, there were dozens of guild members on the way here.
If it was an enemy, there should have been gunshots or commotion, but there was none of that.
As Seon Eun-hye drew her own sword due to an inexplicable uneasiness.
Suddenly the surroundings became quiet.
It was so quiet that you could hear someone gulping.
The brief uncomfortable silence was broken by an explosion-like boom.
– Kwaaaaaang!
“Iron door delivery here!”
The thick iron door flew in with a thunderous sound.
“Get them!”
– Tat tat tat tat tat!
-Bang! Bang!
The guild members fired their guns without even checking who was at the entrance.
After about ten seconds had passed.
– Shiiiii…
Hot steam rose from everyone’s gun barrels.
The Peace Line Guild members who had cleanly emptied their magazines frowned.
“There’s no one there?”
One guild member said with a stupid expression.
As he said, there was no one standing at the entrance.
“No. They’re coming now.”
As soon as Seon Eun-hye spoke, something fell into the room.
***
Ippotranslation
***
“I’ll handle this.”
“Really? Can you do it?”
Shin Seong-ah nodded confidently.
“I’ve done this kind of thing many times before. Leave it to me.”
“Still, I think I should do it…”
Ordinary guns couldn’t pierce Kang Hyeon’s skin.
In other words, he was immune to firearms.
Although he could be fatally wounded if hit in vulnerable places like the eyes, that was an exceptional case.
But Shin Seong-ah could collapse with her whole body riddled with bullets if she wasn’t careful.
Therefore, Kang Hyeon wanted to go inside alone if possible.
“Please give me one chance.”
“Alright… Fine.”
Kang Hyeon reluctantly agreed.
Their current location was underground where Peace Line Guild’s executives were.
There were quite a few guild members on the way here, but.
-Thud!
“Urgh!”
They all fainted quietly after being hit by Kang Hyeon’s lightning-fast punches before they could do anything.
“Shall we start the main game?”
Kang Hyeon cleared his throat and stood in front of the thick iron door.
-Bang bang!
“Delivery!”
Shin Seong-ah smirked at that sight.
“Mr. Kang Hyeon. These days only weapon trafficking gets delivered.”
“Ah, really?”
Kang Hyeon scratched his head awkwardly.
“Then there’s no choice.”
Kang Hyeon took a deep breath and kicked the iron door with full force.
“Iron door delivery here!”
-Boom!
Simultaneously, tremendous gunfire flew toward the entrance.
“Shin Seong-ah! Are you really okay to do this!?”
“I’m fine!”
The sound of gunfire echoing through the underground.
To be honest, even Kang Hyeon was overwhelmed, but Shin Seong-ah calmly pulled something out.
-Clink!
Shin Seong-ah bit off the pin of a flash grenade and immediately threw it inside.
-Bang!
“Urgh!”
“What is this!?”
Noise from inside.
Shin Seong-ah, who had already drawn guns in both hands, quickly rushed in.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shin Seong-ah fired bullets in all directions while moving quickly.
Though it seemed like random shooting at first glance, the bullets were accurately embedding themselves in the enemies’ hands.
“Kuaaak!”
Those with holes in both hands screamed and dropped their weapons.
“What kind of woman is this!?”
Just then, Seon Eun-hye, who had recovered from the flash grenade’s effects, quickly rushed at Shin Seong-ah.
A blade swung down cleanly.
-Clang!
Shin Seong-ah quickly crossed her guns to block the sword.
“You… Are you Shin Seong-ah!?”
“Long time no see, Ms. Seon Eun-hye.”
Seon Eun-hye, who recognized Shin Seong-ah immediately, scrunched up her face.
“What is this… You want to fight!?”
They were acquainted with each other.
They were practically the faces of their respective guilds.
The vice guild leader of Badass Guild.
The highest executive of Peace Line Guild.
Both had quite a reputation as rare high-ranking female ability users with outstanding beauty.
“I’m sorry, but from now on our Badass Guild will take the city.”
“What nonsense is that!? Do you think other guilds will stay still!? It could mean war!”
Seon Eun-hye couldn’t understand Shin Seong-ah’s sudden change.
A relatively peaceful city.
There was no reason to suddenly do this when everyone was living well in their own territories.
Originally, Shin Seong-ah had a personality where she wouldn’t get involved unless provoked first, which made it even more puzzling.
“Step back now. Then I’ll let this slide quietly too.”
“That’s not possible.”
Shin Seong-ah slowly pushed back with her guns.
As she was overpowered, Seon Eun-hye gradually stepped backwards.
‘The sword won’t budge!’
For some reason, the sword caught between the guns wouldn’t move at all.
“Why are you doing this!?”
“Because the guild leader wants it.”
“What…?”
Seon Eun-hye frowned at the incomprehensible words.
Fortunately or unfortunately, that question didn’t last long.
Because a man was walking toward them.
He was someone Seon Eun-hye knew well.
“Kang Hyeon…?”
It was the Badass Guild leader she was seeing again after 3 years.
