12.When There’s Prey, You Have To Take It.

Night Bar

Under the pulsating, explosive music, men and women swayed on the dance floor. Ding Qing's eyes lit up the moment he stepped into the bar. "Wow, man, this is a paradise for men." The lead dancer on the stage was fair and delicate, while all the girls in the middle of the dance floor were heavily made-up, but still quite stunning under the neon lights.

"They all look great now," Lee Tae said, taking a jab, "but say that again after they take off their makeup."

"Damn it," Ding Qing grumbled, suddenly feeling less enthusiastic. "As long as they don't take it off while we're busy."

"Hey, man, can't you just enjoy yourself without being a buzzkill?" Lee Tae didn't respond, just smiled. Since coming to this world, Ding Qing was one of the few people he could chat with. Teasing him was part of the fun.

"Let's get a booth," he suggested. The four of them were led by the bartender to a spot with a good view of the entire place. Across the table, Park Tae-soo dutifully took out a book from his backpack and started to read.

"What are you doing, kid?" Ding Qing nearly spat out his drink, eyes wide in disbelief. "Big brother, I'm reading," Park Tae-soo said, a bit embarrassed.

"You're reading? In a bar?" Ding Qing looked like he couldn't believe his eyes. "Are you out of your mind? You're young! You should be drinking and picking up girls." He pointed to the girls on the dance floor. "We're here to have fun."

"Leave him be," Lee Tae said, shooting Ding Qing a stern look. "Just do your own thing."

"Oh my god." Ding Qing sighed. "Fine, I'll go find a girl to burn off some energy." He then got up and slinked into the dance floor, moving with a surprisingly smooth rhythm.

Meanwhile, Park Tae-soo's eyes widened with excitement. "Big brother, big brother, I can actually understand it now!" Before, he'd recognize individual characters but couldn't make sense of them when strung together. Now, it felt like a new world had opened up for him. He looked at Lee Tae with admiration. "Big brother, how did you figure this out? Are you a fortune teller?"

"I'm reading your fate, kid," Lee Tae said ambiguously. "Your fate is to become a prosecutor."

Park Tae-soo nodded vigorously. "Big brother, I'll definitely pass. I'll become a prosecutor for sure!" Relieved, Lee Tae thought to himself, It seems like the movie was right. "From now on, focus on your studies. I'll transfer money to you regularly for your living expenses."

"Thank you, big brother." Park Tae-soo was so engrossed in his book that he didn't even lift his head. Since the kid could focus on studying even in a place like this, Lee Tae felt reassured. He began scanning the bar, because who comes to a bar just to drink? The real goal is to have fun. And what kind of fun you find depends on your skill.

Luckily, this was a world where appearances mattered. Not long after, a lady with an empty glass walked over and leaned in. "Oppa, could you buy me a drink?"

Lee Tae glanced up. Her face was an 8, her figure a 9—she was very attractive. "One drink won't be enough," he replied.

She giggled, and without hesitation, sat beside him. "Thank you, oppa."

Seeing what was happening, Huang Niu tactfully got up, pulling Park Tae-soo to an empty seat nearby.

"Oppa, you're so handsome," the lady gushed, clearly infatuated. "I came here with my husband, but I never expected to meet such a handsome man."

"If I were your husband, I wouldn't let you out alone," Lee Tae said, pouring her a glass of whiskey.

She laughed, her body shaking flirtatiously. "I didn't know oppa was such a sweet talker."

"I'm not just good at talking; I can read fortunes too." Smiling, Lee Tae took her hand gently. "I can tell you have a very prosperous fate."

"If my husband's men see you, they'll beat you up," she warned, though she didn't pull her hand away, leaning in closer instead. "They're quite fierce."

Following her gaze, Lee Tae saw two men in a corner, seemingly in the middle of a conversation, not paying attention to them. A glance under the table told him everything he needed to know. A branch leaning out over the wall—clearly, she wasn't satisfied at home. As a hunter out for prey, letting such an opportunity slip away would be a crime.

In the dim light, Huang Niu had already prepared a private room. When the two entered, he stood guard outside. A brief, intense encounter ensued—short but satisfying. As a hunter, Lee Tae was ruthless, making sure to enjoy himself thoroughly.

After a while, the door to the private room opened, and Lee Tae exited first, followed by Huang Niu. Moments later, the woman emerged, her face flushed.

"Where did you go?" Ding Qing asked, curious as he watched them approach.

"Oh, I was just having a little chat with someone," Lee Tae said nonchalantly.

"Damn," Ding Qing said, his eyes filled with envy. "I see I'm going to have to pay for it, unlike you."

As the woman, still maintaining her composure, passed by, one of the men she was with glanced at Ding Qing and Lee Tae with a dark, malicious look before continuing on.

Ding Qing's brow furrowed. "Why is that bastard Lee Jung-gu here?"

"He's with the Jaehyung Gang?" asked Lee Tae.

Ding Qing nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, that bastard is the top lieutenant of Seok Dong-chul. He rarely leaves his side."

The two exchanged glances, speaking in unison: "Seok Dong-chul is here."

They had only just dealt with the Jaehyung Gang a few days ago, but did this mean they had managed to catch the attention of the leader himself? Or was the Jaehyung Gang planning something big in the area?

Suddenly, neither of them felt like drinking or having fun anymore. They quickly got up to leave. "See you at the restaurant."

Ding Qing was still envious as he said, "Damn, looks like I'll have to pay if I want that kind of action."

As the woman and two men brushed past, one of them, with a sinister look, glared at Ding Qing and Lee Tae before walking away.

Ding Qing furrowed his brow. "Why is Lee Jung-gu here?"

"Jaehyung Gang?"

Ding Qing nodded, his face darkening. "He's Seok Dong-chul's right-hand man and doesn't leave his side."

The two looked at each other, saying together, "Seok Dong-chul is here."

"Let's go."

Just a few days ago, they had clashed with the Jaehyung Gang. Could this mean they had drawn the attention of the boss himself? Or were they planning something else in the area? Suddenly losing interest in drinking, they quickly decided to leave.

"The restaurant," said Ding Qing, referring to their organization's regular meeting spot. Before they had control of the arcade, that's where they gathered to eat and hold meetings.

Lee Tae handed Park Tae-soo some money, telling him to take a cab home, before signaling Huang Niu to follow Ding Qing's car.