Chapter24，Part1: Things that Couldn't be Imagined (4)
There was no way that a snake would be roaming around a fancy hotel like this. Considering Seok Kang-Ho described it in French, he had to be referring to the French gang.
Hitman, human trafficking, drugs.
‘Serpent Venimeux’ was the biggest French organization that did anything for money. They were easily recognizable due to the red snake tattooed right above their left thumb, its head thick like a scar due to the mercury added to the ink when tattooing that part.
Seok Kang-Ho even had experience fighting them once in Paris, so there was no way he could have mistaken them.
When it came to the Serpent Venimeux, even Kang Chan wouldn’t have been sure about his back if he hadn’t gone to Africa back then.
– Three of them are seemingly protecting Smithen. That fucker.
This was very unexpected.
– I don’t think today’s the day.
Dayeru sounded freaked out. If they were to stop here, then Seok Kang-Ho and even Michelle, who was obliviously drinking wine, would get hurt. Plus the three ladies had many reasons to go to France.
– It looks like they’re going into the club.
“Okay. I’ll call back after thinking about it a bit. Don’t even think about moving alone..”
– Understood.
Seok Kang-Ho’s voice sounded surprised and discouraged.
“What’s wrong?” Now slightly calmer, Michelle asked as she looked him over.
No matter how much Kang Chan would regret this, he couldn’t carelessly drag them into this.
“Smithen, the guy we were planning to negotiate with showed up, but he’s with the ‘Serpent Venimeux.’”
The trio’s faces hardened quickly.
There was no way the girls wouldn’t know about that organization due to one famous case. A detective had shot and killed a member of the ‘Serpent Venimeux,’ and the gang had gotten revenge by dismembering his wife and placing her head on his bed and her limbs on his children’s beds.
There wasn’t much time left until 8 pm.
‘It’s happening today.’
If they missed today’s opportunity, then they would have to handle Smithen and Sharlan at the same time. However, if they weren’t careful, Serpent Venimeux might actually prove easier to handle than those two. Kang Chan turned his head and sought out the manager.
“Do you need anything?” asked the female manager after quickly coming to his side.
“I heard that Suh Do-Seok was the managing director here. Can you bring him over?”
“He’s the senior director. I’ll contact him right away.”
Suh Do-Seok’s position wasn’t important right now.
Kang Chan became anxious and kept glancing at the clock.
After about three minutes, Suh Do-Seok quickly walked toward Kang Chan and greeted him grandly.
“I heard that you were looking for me, hyung-nim?” Suh Do-Seok asked.
Kang Chan talked to him as quietly as possible.
“Four French people went into the club. Think you could get all the customers out of there and lock the door from the outside after I go in?”
Suh Do-Seok looked at Kang Chan with flustered eyes, seemingly wanting to know what was going on.
“You might have to close the club today,” said Kang Chan.
“Gwang-Taek hyung-nim is a shareholder so it might be good for you to talk to him.”
Kang Chan took his phone out right away. Since he had Gwang-Taek’s number saved, all he needed to do was press a button.
‘Answer quickly.’
– Yo! Kang Chan!
“I’m short on time, so I’ll get straight to the point. Close the club for today.”
– What? What did you just say?
“Close the club for today.”
Oh Gwang-Taek stayed silent for a moment.
– What’s wrong? That’s a famous hotel. Closing it so abruptly will cause a lot of problems. There’s also the problem with other shareholders.
“Just do what I’m telling you to do right now, Oh Gwang-Taek. If I survive this, I’ll owe you one.”
Another moment of silence.
– Will you really owe me one?
Although that question was like asking if he was going to dip his foot into a pit or swamp, Kang Chan couldn’t afford to think about the future.
“Suh Do-Seok is right next to me. I’ll hand over the phone.”
When Kang Chan pushed the phone toward him, Suh Do-Seok took it with two hands.
“Yes, hyung-nim. I was told to lock him and four foreigners inside. Pardon? Understood, hyung-nim.”
Suh Do-Seok handed Kang Chan the phone again.
“Hello?”
– I did what you wanted. Take my guys with you since it will become problematic if things get out of hand.
In all honesty, Kang Chan felt greedy. If they could handle the French gang…
– Take Do-Seok and his younger brother for now. I’ll be sending the others after our call. They should arrive in about 30 minutes.
Smithen wasn’t someone to stick around in a club with nobody in it for thirty minutes. And Suh Do-Seok didn’t seem like someone that was good at fighting even though he was a gangster.
Kang Chan actually felt at ease. It was better to solve this with Seok Kang-Ho instead of being in debt to gangsters, regardless of whether Kang Chan would live or die.
“It’s fine. Just lock the door.”
– Like I said, I’ve already given them the order to do that.
“Thanks.”
Kang Chan turned off the phone before Gwang-Taek could say anything else.
“Michelle, as you probably heard, let's stop here for today. Suh Do-Seok, you go and get everyone out,” Kang Chan said.
“Understood, hyung-nim.”
Suh Do-Seok said his goodbyes and turned away.
“You’re going to die if you provoke them,” Michelle told Kang Chan, seemingly frightened..
“This is Korea, and there would be no reason for me to go to France if everything works out today,” Kang Chan replied. “I just need to finish my business with him today. Anyway, I’ll get going now. It won’t be good if you’re seen with me. I’ll call you later,”
“Channy, how about we go and seduce Smithen to come out alone instead?” Michelle asked just as Kang Chan was about to stand up and leave.
While looking all scared?
Kang Chan smirked and shook his head. “You guys have to go to France one day.”
Her potentially tempting offer didn’t reach his ears because his mind was already set. He nodded to Michelle once and stood up.
“This is already paid for. Please come again anytime,” said an employee.
It was a waste of time to receive goodbyes.
Seok Kang-Ho was staring at the stairs that led to the club in the basement with a terribly subdued expression. Kang Chan first went to the table he was sitting at.
Seok Kang-Ho’s expression was perfectly venomous.
“Not only Sharlan but more of the gang members might come out tomorrow, so let’s end it today,” Kang Chan told Seok Kang-Ho.
“What are you going to do about the other customers?” Seok Kang-Ho asked, his eyes glinting as he looked at him.
“We decided to let them all out and lock the door.”
“Understood. Let’s go.”
Both of them smiled when Seok Kang-Ho answered.
“Ah, shoot!” Seok Kang-Ho exclaimed, his expression swiftly turning serious.
“I left the knife in the car.”
Shit. No wonder it was messed up from the start.
“It will take about five, maybe ten minutes to retrieve it,” said Seok Kang-Ho.
It wasn’t Seok Kang-Ho’s fault, considering they didn’t really plan to empty the club in the first place.
“Let’s just ask Suh Do-Seok for it and head in first,” answered Kang Chan.
The French gang might have good aim, but their combat skills were lacking. Dayeru managed to take down six of them back then before they took out their guns so it was worth a shot.
Kang Chan was thankful for the manager’s hand motion that signaled that the bill had already been settled.
The cost of a cup of coffee wasn’t the problem. He was just thankful that the manager bought them time. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho then ran into two young women that had been complaining at the entrance of the basement while they were going up the stairs.
“Daye, let’s hit those three first. Since they don’t know who we are, it’s best to do it while they have their guard down.”
“Understood.”
Suh Do-Seok stood at the entrance where the music was so loud that it made his heart pound. Kang Chan then shook his head toward him as a sign to not greet him, as such carelessness would only make Smithen more suspicious.
It was too early for customers to come in.
There was an empty space in front of the DJ box, which had seats surrounding it.
Smithen was drinking a small bottled beer while sitting at the left part of the entrance.
Kang Chan immediately walked toward Smithen. He needed to remove the glint in his eyes. Soon after, Kang Chan and Smithen’s eyes met.
Grin.
When Smithen smiled, the three gang members looked at Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho.
It was hard to tell if they were carrying knives or guns from the outside.
“Monsieur Kang!”
“You were here?” Kang Chan asked.
As expected, Smithen looked behind Kang Chan.
“I came here to save a seat before I brought three beautiful ladies. As you can see we’re short one person. Care to join?” asked Kang Chan.
Smithen held out his hand and gestured to the chair.
Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat facing each other because those were the only seats left.
Seok Kang-Ho also seemed like he was struggling to keep his emotions in check, just like Kang Chan did the day before.
“Beer?” Smithen asked.
“Sure.”
When Smithen raised his head to order, he tilted his head with a confused look. Kang Chan and the three gang members followed Smithen’s stare and saw Suh Do-Seok ushering a woman with a great body and long straight hair out of the club.
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