The sky was turning bright, and the aroma of seafood soup wafted from the kitchen, waking Lee Tae. He sniffed the air and opened his eyes to see Han Yarin, still in her cute pajamas, bustling around. The dining table was set with kimchi, white porridge, fried eggs, and buttered toast, making Lee Tae smile slightly. Having a woman around certainly made things easier—better than him fumbling around alone.
"Oppa, why are you up so early?" Yarin asked, carrying a steaming pot of seafood soup. "Did I wake you up with all my cooking?"
"No, you just got up early," Lee Tae yawned. Yarin had been on night shifts lately, yet she still got up early. As he was about to sit down and enjoy the meal, Yarin pouted and pushed him toward the bathroom. "Oppa, brush your teeth and wash your face first."
After freshening up, Lee Tae sat down and savored the breakfast. "I might be out for a few days," he mentioned.
"Alright, just be careful out there, Oppa," Yarin replied, knowing he worked with a gang. Fights and dangerous situations were inevitable, but it wasn't something she could interfere with, so she could only pray for his safety.
"It's just work," Lee Tae chuckled. "Maybe when I get back, we can move to a new place."
They chatted and laughed through breakfast, and once they finished, Yarin went back to catch up on some sleep while Lee Tae, now dressed sharply in a suit, stepped out with a renewed energy.
"Good morning, Boss!" a dozen young gang members greeted him as he entered the arcade. Overnight, the group had gained five new recruits—showing their enthusiasm for growth.
"Boss, I'm Seok Mu," one of the newcomers shouted, "ready to follow you to the end!"
The others looked at Seok Mu with annoyance. Damn it, he'd just arrived and was already trying to steal the spotlight. That should have been the veterans' line.
"Boss, I'm Han Dong-soo," another chimed in. "At your service."
Following their lead, the other three quickly introduced themselves.
"Alright," said Lee Tae. Since everyone was here, he led them to the manager's office for a meeting. Ding Qing, that joker, wasn't around, but it didn't matter much if he was or wasn't.
"Yellow Ox."
"Yes, Boss."
"Take the new recruits and start their training," ordered Lee Tae. The new guys were all young and full of energy, like blank slates. The organization needed fresh blood like this—eager to fight and easy to brainwash.
"I only have one demand from you: loyalty," said Lee Tae. Unlike traditional Chinese gangs that worshipped Guan Yu, South Korean gangs prioritized hierarchy. Each approach had its pros and cons, but Lee Tae's focus was on loyalty. Loyalty was the foundation of everything; he didn't want any traitors around him.
"Loyalty!" the group shouted in unison.
"The veterans, you stay and watch the place. The rest, follow Yellow Ox to the gym."
"Yes, Boss."
"Well, well, look at that, more recruits," Ding Qing's playful voice echoed as he strolled in, wearing sunglasses even this early in the morning, looking like a street performer with an air of mischief.
"Good morning, Boss!" The underlings quickly bowed.
"Get on with it," Lee Tae dismissed them before turning to Ding Qing. "Why are you here so early? Didn't manage to 'tame' anyone last night?"
"Kid, what nonsense are you spouting?" Ding Qing said, feigning offense but still smug. "I had those beauties crying out my name."
"Hey, come grab some breakfast," Ding Qing continued, but his smile faded when Lee Tae said, "Yarin already made me breakfast."
Ding Qing clutched his chest dramatically, as if suffering a blow. "Damn, looks like I need to train a chef for myself."
"Hey, you, go buy some breakfast!" he shouted outside, then turned back. "The boss is arriving this afternoon. But a few board members might be here by noon."
"Guess we'll wait then," said Lee Tae, a bit surprised there were board members coming along. That kind of entourage meant negotiations were on the table, but why come to Yeosu? To keep things discreet?
Ding Qing, with his feet propped up on the desk, puffed away at his cigarette. "Something big is definitely happening."
Lee Tae glanced at him thoughtfully. If this was indeed a negotiation, it could be Ding Qing's opportunity to rise. After all, this joker was set to become one of the top three leaders of the Geumgang Group—his role was practically the stuff of a protagonist in a novel. From a small-time gangster to a big boss—it didn't get more dramatic than that.
"You planning to go?" asked Ding Qing.
"Stop messing around, man. I'm nowhere near qualified for that yet," Ding Qing replied lazily, waving it off. "But don't worry. I'll make sure you soar to the top, kid."
"Let's get you a penthouse," he joked.
"No need," said Lee Tae, unfazed. "Living in Hannam-dong will do."
In South Korea, streets were often referred to as "dong." Famous areas like Cheongdam-dong and Sinsa-dong were actually just streets. Ding Qing choked on his cigarette smoke, his face turning red as he coughed. "Oh my god, man, your ambitions are high."
Most of South Korea's rich lived in Seoul, especially the famous Gangnam area. However, the wealthiest were found in Seongbuk-dong, where conglomerate families lived, while Hannam-dong, where Lee Tae mentioned, was reserved for the top-tier elites.
"You've got to have goals," said Lee Tae, casually. "There's no such thing as an everlasting empire. Just because they're on top now doesn't mean we can't catch up."
Ding Qing nodded, impressed by this new side of his little brother. "Alright, let's make Hannam-dong our home. I'll take half, and the other half's yours. How's that for brotherhood?"
"Eat your breakfast," said Lee Tae, noticing one of the underlings arriving with a takeout bag. He got up. "I'm off to check on the arcade."
"All is well," Ding Qing said, taking the bag and inspecting it. It was a simple breakfast of fried bread, soy milk, and sandwiches. "Damn it, couldn't you have gotten something more interesting, like fried dough sticks? We're Chinese, after all. Hey, mind your manners, and wait for your big brother."