Let's Destroy the Association: Part 2
"Director?" A junior member entered the Director's office and shut the door. He sweated nervously, worried that his boss already looked annoyed. "Is something wrong, sir?"
The Director sighed and rubbed his temples. "Song Taewon was just here. He keeps asking about the missing guide files. He's bothersome." He turned to the low-ranking member. "Tell me some good news."
The junior member bowed his head. "T-The gangster said the last batch of guides we sent him wasn't enough."
The Director's jaw snapped. "Damn, bastard. Did he say anything else?"
"He wants ten more guides before the end of the month."
"I thought he was going to lie low? He promised to disappear until Song Taewon got off my back."
The junior member nodded. "He said he will once he gets this last shipment of guides. He's moving his operation further away. Said it will be harder to track down."
Resting his elbow on the desk, the Director rubbed his temples. The headache he had since he talked to Song Taewon hadn't gone away. "It doesn't matter how good the money is. This bastard is a hassle to work with."
The junior member stayed quiet until the Director asked what was wrong.
"Sir…what does he do? To—to the guides that disappear?"
The Director's lips thinned, and his eyes narrowed.
"I-I mean—it's none of my business, sir. Sorry, I asked."
"Good." The Director held out his hand. "Get me the complete list of new guides, including newly registered ones and all those currently at the Association. There has to be somewhere we can cut ten."
The junior member rushed to the cabinets and pulled out folders of guide files, both registered and not. He set the pile on the Director's desk. The top file read, in large letters, "Guiding License Contracts."
Memories From Eleven months ago.
(Warning: A flashback no one asked for.)
Yoojin pushed his bike alongside him. During his deliveries, the bike chain had snapped, and a rainstorm had left him soaked. And, of course, no one was tipping today.
The back wheel of his bike dragged at a twisted angle, but he didn't stop to fix it. He was so tired and just wanted to get home. It was dark on the last few streets till he reached his restaurant. Most of the streetlights were broken, and this part of town was so bad that no one came to fix them. And his phone died. He would've called Yerim and told her to go home long ago. He knew she had an exam tomorrow and shouldn't be up this late. But his phone only had a charge that lasted four hours, and the day had been so hectic that he had forgotten to charge it.
He sighed. He was so tired.
Was there enough money in his savings for a new bike?
Who was he kidding? He barely had enough for a new chain. Not to mention, he was short on his monthly payment to Diarma.
His stomach tightened, and he felt like throwing up. Only two days until he saw him again. He had tried mailing in his payment or even asking if he could give the money to someone else. But Diarma was creepy. He wouldn't let anyone else interact with Yoojin. Shouldn't a mob boss be too busy to handle each of his debtors individually?
Somehow, after the long day, he had an extra order of cakes left over. He must have counted wrong before he left. The packaging kept them dry from the rain. At least he could give them to Yerim since she worked so hard today.
The ground shook. Yoojin paused and looked up, his mouth falling open.
A giant black dragon descended on a building. Yoojin recognized it as the local mob boss's building, whom he paid protection money. Was this a monster break!? There was no alarm!
The dragon moved quickly and destroyed the building. No one made it out. But then something strange happened. The dragon changed into a small figure. A person? They quickly disappeared.
If that was a person…was that an assassination?
Yoojin shook his head. Not wanting to get involved, he started running with his bike before stopping in front of a tall man in a long, red coat.
Yoojin's eyes widened as he stared at the golden eyes that studied him without emotion.
"Hmm," the tall man mused. "The police station is in the other direction."
"Umm." Yoojin shook. Today had turned into a terrible day. "Wh-what are you talking about?"
The blond looked in the direction of the dragon person. "I had wanted to see what a dragon attack would look like from this perspective. She seemed to have changed forms too quickly, and an unawakened spotted her. Luckily, it was just you who saw."
When those eyes turned to Yoojin, he lowered his head. This man had sent the dragon to attack that building? He gripped the handlebars tightly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh?" The blond stepped around Yoojin, looking him over.
Yoojin's neck tingled. A faint electric static surrounded this strange man like an invisible force. Undoubtedly, he was an esper, but Yoojin was too scared to use his powers to estimate his abilities.
Not that it would matter. He was a guide, and even an F-rank esper was stronger than him.
The esper stopped in front of him. "And what exactly did you see, Han Yoojin?"
Yoojin's eyes darted up, shocked. Lips parted to ask how he knew his name, but he saw the esper holding his wallet. His heart sank. His citizen's license. Name, height, eye color, and address were all on that.
He swallowed hard. "I… I'm just trying to get home."
The esper tilted his head. "Then let me escort you. It's dangerous to be out alone."
Who was the dangerous one?
The esper touched the bike handles. "Are you a delivery boy?"
"No," Yoojin answered.
He chuckled. "Not very good at being honest."
Yoojin scowled. "I'm a manager."
"Do all managers make deliveries?"
He ground his teeth. How could Yoojin even think to send Yerim to make deliveries when she could run into mobsters like this? He hoped when she awakened, she would grow up to be a good esper.
Yoojin looked the man over. The rich red coat concealed a luxurious double-breasted suit. The tailor pants looked like nothing Yoojin could ever afford on his own, and the leather shoes didn't have a speck of dust on them.
Damn rich espers. Damn gangsters.
"Some of us can't rely on others to do our work for us," Yoojin shot back.
The esper grinned. "You assume I do?"
He stayed silent, but he knew all espers did. They used people and treated guides horribly, and then they threw them away like they were nothing. Just like his brother—
Yoojin cleared the thought from his mind before it got worse. He didn't want his last thoughts before he died to be about his brother. He just hoped…he hoped his brother was eating well and caring for himself.
The esper leaned forward, and Yoojin barely moved back in time. His face came too close. Where was he aiming?
"You don't seem scared of me."
Yoojin begged the differ. He was terrified. He had just seen a dragon destroy a building, and now an esper threatened him. Anyone would be scared.
"Hmm. How impressive for an unawakened."
"I've dealt with the mob before…I know not to say anything."
The esper's lips lifted. "Say anything about what?"
Yoojin kept quiet until the esper looked amused.
"All right, Han Yoojin. Let me walk you home. I wouldn't want my little delivery boy getting wet again. The storm is coming back."
What was with that title? Yoojin stepped forward, feeling the presence of the esper beside him. Then, he witnessed in utter shock as he stole one of the little cakes from the basket. A murderer and a thief.
His heart pounded the entire walk home. He thought any second now, the esper would surely kill him once they were out of sight. One swipe of his wrist or flick of his finger was all it would take. Each step Yoojin took caused tension to build through his body, making walking increasingly difficult. He fought to breathe normally and not run off in panic. His neck muscles were so tight he couldn't turn his head.
Would Yerim find a new job? Who would take care of Peace? What about his brother? Would Yoohyun even care that he died, or would he be happy that the brother who almost killed him was gone forever? He hoped Diarma found out he was dead and didn't think he had run away or something. That could cause problems for Yerim and his brother.
Yoojin stopped in front of his restaurant and looked up. There was nowhere left to go and no one around whom he could call for help.
The esper smiled. "I'll see you soon, Han Yoojin."
The esper was gone. He had disappeared faster than Yoojin could see. Had he just wanted to walk him home? Had he really left and—Hey, wait. What happened to all of Yoojin's cakes? His basket was empty, with only a few crumbs left.
Yoojin didn't think "soon" meant the next morning. He opened his shop and screeched as he found the esper from last night sitting in his restaurant.
The well-dressed, handsome esper didn't look right in the middle of the small dining room. His appearance screamed rich, while everything Yoojin owned whispered discount.
"Sit." The esper gestured to the seat in front of him like he owned the place.
He swallowed his annoyance, but his eyes flickered to the papers on the table. "What are those?"
The esper tapped the pile. "Read them."
Yoojin hesitated, but it wasn't like he had anywhere to go. He had to open the restaurant today and pray he made enough to cover the difference for Diarma's payment. He hadn't eaten a proper meal in two days and still needed to buy a new bike chain. What would the handsy mob boss do if he was late on another payment?
Yoojin sat down. He couldn't stop his hands from shaking as he took the papers. What horrible things would they say? Was this the new mob boss for the neighborhood? Was he going to raise the protection fee? Was he making Yoojin sign a contract of forced labor? What if he found out he was a guide?
"You're billing me?" Yoojin looked up, caught between outrage and shock.
"You're in debt, aren't you?"
"…yes… do you work for Diarma?"
He chuckled. "No. But it seems the Boss of Lauchtas is low on funds, just like you. He sold me your debt."
Yoojin set the papers down. "Do I get a say in this?"
The esper grinned, setting his head in his hand on the table. "I'll listen to anything you have to say."
But that didn't mean he would listen.
"What do you get in return?" Yoojin asked. "I don't have much. What you see is pretty much it. I'm… I'm... I'm not an esper, so I can't work for you."
He tilted his head. "Have you never interacted with the mob before? You seem to have forgotten something important."
"I have?" Yoojin sat straighter. Even when Diarma came here directly, Yoojin never heard a complaint.
The esper tapped the table. "You haven't offered any refreshments. They make negotiations smoother."
He stared at him, face blank. "We're not open."
"What's a few drinks between business partners?"
"Until I sign this, we are not partners."
The smirk was devilish and almost challenging. "Would you like to know what happens if you don't sign it?"
Yoojin glared before getting up and walking to the kitchen, but a hand stopped him.
"Don't forget cakes."
Yoojin yanked his arm away and scoffed as he stormed into the kitchen. The cheerful laughter from the mobster deafened his ears. He served tea. It went best with the little cakes. But the esper didn't touch anything while he went over the contract.
The interest was low—lower than he had ever seen from a broker, quick cash place, or loan shark. The esper had bought not just Diarma's loan but all his other debts. The true amount of his debt was staggering, but with this low-interest rate… maybe in fifteen or twenty years, he could actually be free.
But that's not why he picked up a pen to sign. He looked at the esper before he sold his soul again. "You promise I don't have to see Diarma anymore?"
He raised an eyebrow, examining Yoojin's expression more than his question. "Your debts are with me now."
His hand flinched. Right, he knew nothing about this man. He was so ready to leave Diarma that he was willing to get into bed with anyone else. But what did he know about this esper?
"I never got your name."
"Sung Hyunjae."
It was a nice name. "I have one more request," he asked, and Sung Hyunjae waited. "You said my debt is with you now. Right? That means you're responsible for them."
"That's correct."
"Then… I would like for you not to tell your boss about me."
"My boss?"
"I don't want to see any more mob bosses. Ever. I'll sign and never miss a payment. But swear to me, you won't tell your boss about me."
The smile he gave was almost reassuring. "I will never tell any boss about you."
The words were so honeyed and promising that Yoojin could have gotten a cavity from them. He should have been more suspicious. He should have asked more questions. Why was he willing to take the debt of a broke manager? Why was the interest so low? Why not just kill him for being a witness?
But just the relief of not having to see Diarma tomorrow…
Yoojin signed the contract. He lifted the paper and looked at his name. Unable to believe that it was his name that darkened the final line.
It was done. He thought he would never sign another contract. Maybe he never learned his lesson.
The first time he took a loan was to buy medicine for Yoohyun's awakening pains, but they had hundreds of hidden fees and could change the interest rate at any time. Then when he tried to get his guiding license, the Association changed his contract to a dedicated guiding contract. Not only had Yoojin given up on being a guide after that, but he also needed to take out a loan with Diarma just to buy his own contract.
He felt foolish. One little signature shouldn't make him feel hopeful again. He should know better. There was no such thing as a quick fix. If it felt too good to be true, then it was. It was only a matter of time before the consequences of this contract revealed themselves.
Sung Hyunjae held his hand out for the contract. The grip around Yoojin's heart tightened in dread as he passed it over.
Sung Hyunjae smiled fondly. "I look forward to working with you, Yoojin-ssi."
Sung Hyunjae stood, and for the first time, Yoojin really looked at him. He didn't know the first thing about him. Not his rank or position or even which syndicate he worked for.
He walked him to the door, but Sung Hyunjae stopped and turned. He reached for Yoojin. His fingers touched his choker and glided down his throat.
Yoojin stepped back so fast that he slammed into a table.
Sung Hyunjae blinked, surprised by his own actions as well. He recovered smoothly and smiled. "I'll see you soon, Yoojin-ssi."
Yoojin waited after the door closed and sighed, falling against the table again. He laughed—genuinely laughed—and covered his face while a few tears came forward. Relief was sweet. He felt ten pounds lighter. Suddenly, the room was much brighter than before, and he could hear the birds singing.
He didn't have to deal with Diarma anymore.
He silently prayed that Sung Hyunjae wasn't as crazy, but it almost didn't matter. The interest rate was unbelievable. Whatever reason Sung Hyunjae had for buying his debt was suspicious. There was no way it couldn't be. But he was just so relieved.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and thought about what had happened within the last twelve hours. What did he know about Sung Hyunjae besides that he tried to touch him? All espers were handsy. There was nothing he could do about that. But he would keep his distance and be more guarded the next time they met. Diarma had slowly wormed his grip around Yoojin until it was choking. He would not let the same thing happen again.
He could laugh gleefully that he didn't have to see Diarma tomorrow. He cleaned up and prepared to open the restaurant.
His hand paused on the empty tray of cakes. Where had the cakes gone?