Chapter 141: Music to My Ears

Episode 141

After the Boko Haram members who had chased after Jason returned empty-handed, Dangote gathered the survivors and ordered a retreat.

“We can’t attack the Slaughterhouse directly when they know we’re coming. They could be waiting in ambush.”

The surprise attack had already failed, and they had suffered quite a few casualties from the earlier bombardment.

A total of 42 people had died. Considering that the Boko Haram Clan had a little over 200 members, it was definitely not a small loss.

Under the circumstances, retreating was the right choice.

“We’re retreating!”

The Boko Haram Clan members returned to their headquarters in the remaining trucks.

After finishing the aftermath and disbanding, it was already past 7:00 AM, long after sunrise.

Kim Jinsung took a taxi back to his safe house, washed up, and immediately fell asleep.

* * *

He woke up as if he had passed out, and it was around 2:50 PM.

He habitually checked his smartphone and saw a text message.

It was from Dangote, the master.

– It’s Dangote. Come to headquarters before 6:00 PM. Let’s have dinner together, just the two of us.

‘Dinner, just the two of us…’

Kim Jinsung pondered the phrase “just the two of us,” then got out of bed and leisurely prepared to leave.

He arrived at the headquarters by taxi at 5:45 PM.

As soon as he got out of the taxi, the guards standing watch at the entrance saluted him in unison.

One of the guards greeted Kim Jinsung, who was looking at them with a puzzled expression, wondering why they were suddenly saluting him.

“Welcome. The master instructed us to escort you in as soon as you arrive.”

The guard bowed respectfully, his eyes filled with awe.

Kim Jinsung entered the building, receiving their admiring gazes, and went straight up to the third floor, where the master’s office was located.

Unlike the previous day, the headquarters was quite empty. He couldn’t even see the three luggage carriers, Terem, Musa, and Moffi.

But as soon as he reached the third floor, he started hearing loud noises.

**Bang!**

“What?! Say that again!”

Akuma’s roar, along with the sound of a desk being slammed, came from the meeting room, which was right in front of him.

“You’re saying I failed to manage my subordinates, and that’s why the enemies knew about our plan?!”

“Yes. That’s what I said.”

The voice that answered without flinching was unmistakably Wishan’s.

“Who’s responsible for managing the Boko Haram Clan members and mercenaries? Isn’t it you, Vice-Master Akuma?

Isn’t it because you failed to manage them properly that the detailed operation plan was leaked?!”

“If you hadn’t announced the plan in the auditorium, the information wouldn’t have been leaked! You made the biggest mistake, and now you’re blaming me?!”

“I didn’t mention the route or which Slaughterhouse we were going to attack during the announcement! Only the six executives here and Master Dangote knew about that!”

“Then you’re the most likely suspect! You’re the one who used to work for Slaughterhouse, and you’re the one who joined the executives last!”

“If you’re going to argue like that, then Akuma, who has many friends in Slaughterhouse, is the most suspicious!”

“How many times do I have to tell you that I’ve cut ties with those bastards?!”

“You know I left Jason because we became enemies, right? If it weren’t for the information I provided, the B18 district would already be under Slaughterhouse’s control!”

“Um, please stop fighting and let’s proceed with the meeting…”

A new voice, not Akuma’s or Wishan’s, was heard for the first time. It was Okolo, the leader of Boko Haram’s Hunter Team 1.

But Akuma’s shout immediately interrupted him.

“Shut up! How dare you interrupt while the vice-master is speaking?!

Speaking of which, why weren’t you fighting yesterday and hiding in the back? Are you the spy?!”

“Team Leader 1 was still recovering from his injuries and was in charge of support in the rear. Have you forgotten that?”

Wishan retorted on his behalf, and for the first time, Akuma was speechless.

Seizing the opportunity, Wishan attacked him.

“It seems like you’re trying to frame anyone as a suspect to hide the fact that you’re the culprit. Please stop doing that.”

“What?! You little…!!”

**Crash!**

“Calm down, Akuma!”

“Let go of me, you bastard! Let go! You’re in trouble now. Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you the spy?!”

The chaotic atmosphere inside the meeting room was vividly conveyed through the sounds alone.

‘What a mess.’

Kim Jinsung shook his head and continued walking towards the master’s office.

He arrived in front of the master’s office, which was guarded by two bodyguards, knocked on the door, and entered.

“Welcome! Hahaha!”

Dangote, who had been leaning back on the sofa, looking at his smartphone, jumped up and greeted him with a bright smile.

“How are you? Did you get some good rest at home? Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“That’s good to hear. A valuable asset like you, who will be working for ‘our’ clan for a long time, shouldn’t be feeling unwell!”

‘…Our?’

“Come on, let’s not talk here. Let’s go out and have a drink!”

Dangote immediately put on his coat, put his arm around Kim Jinsung’s shoulder, and pulled him out of the office.

* * *

The bulletproof sedan carrying the two soon headed towards the largest entertainment district in the B18 district.

The car stopped in front of the largest, most luxurious, and glamorous-looking nightclub in the street, filled with flashing neon signs.

Dangote grinned at Kim Jinsung and said,

“This is the best bar we, Boko Haram, manage. Let’s go inside!”

He got out of the car, led Kim Jinsung into the building, and escorted him to Room No. 1, where a table was already set.

“Make yourself comfortable, make yourself comfortable.”

Dangote sat down at the head of the table and addressed Kim Jinsung, who was sitting across from him.

“First of all, I want to thank you. Thanks to your performance yesterday, we were able to retreat with minimal losses and preserve our forces.”

Kim Jinsung asked back with a puzzled expression at the phrase “minimal losses.”

“Didn’t quite a few people die yesterday?”

“No, no. None of the important executives or core members died. Considering that, we didn’t suffer major losses. We can easily replace a few low-level members. More importantly!”

Dangote suddenly raised his voice.

“It’s nothing compared to the damage Slaughterhouse suffered. They lost almost all of their pet monsters, which are their main force!

And it’s all thanks to you!”

Kim Jinsung nodded in understanding.

Indeed, the modified monsters he had fought yesterday were far superior to the Nature Animal Clan members in every aspect.

They were definitely strong enough to be considered a clan’s main force.

“We only lost a few small fries, and they lost their main force. Do you know what this means?

Jason, that scrap metal pig, must be furious right now, throwing everything he can get his hands on! Hahaha!”

Dangote laughed heartily, then picked up a bottle of alcohol from the table.

“We can’t let this joyous occasion pass without a drink! Do you know what kind of alcohol this is?”

He continued explaining to the silent Kim Jinsung,

“It’s ‘THE ABYSS’. It’s the most difficult to obtain, top-quality alcohol in the New Continent. This 30-year-old bottle costs over 100 million Blanc!”

‘100 million?’

“Here, cheers!”

They poured each other a glass and clinked their glasses.

Kim Jinsung slowly tilted his glass and took a sip.

‘…It’s definitely different.’

The only alcohol he had ever had was the soju that CEO Jo had given him at the Fight Club, so he didn’t know how good this alcohol was.

But it had a pleasant aroma and a smooth finish, definitely giving off a luxurious feel.

‘He must be really desperate to even offer me this kind of alcohol.’

As he finished his drink and put down his glass, Dangote subtly asked him,

“It seems like you haven’t been on this continent for long. I can tell because you haven’t had Abyss, the most famous alcohol here.”

He observed Kim Jinsung’s expression with sharp eyes.

Sensing his gaze, Kim Jinsung answered honestly,

“It hasn’t even been a month since I arrived.”

“I knew it!”

Dangote’s eyes gleamed for a moment.

‘If he’s a newbie who doesn’t know much about this continent, I might be able to persuade him to become my subordinate!’

He poured more alcohol into Kim Jinsung’s empty glass and continued asking,

“What did you do before coming to this continent?”

“…I worked as a mercenary.”

Dangote pressed further at Kim Jinsung’s evasive answer.

“Affiliated with where? It’s not easy for mercenaries to survive on their own these days, is it? Most of them form guilds and work in groups…”

Kim Jinsung pondered for a moment.

How should he answer?

But Dangote seemed to have interpreted his silence differently.

“Ah, you don’t have to answer! The past doesn’t matter once you’re on the New Continent! All that matters is your skill. You know that, right?”

“……”

“Here, have another drink!”

They clinked their glasses again, and Dangote emptied his glass in one gulp.

“Ah~! So, have you ever been affiliated with a clan? I heard that hunters who dislike the hierarchical atmosphere of clans usually work as mercenaries.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Hmm… No acquaintances or blood relatives on the New Continent either?”

“No.”

Technically, he had one, but he decided to lie for now.

Dangote was inwardly cheering at his answer.

‘He’s a typical case of starting from scratch. This makes it even easier to persuade him!’

He had already instructed his subordinates to request a background check on Alopsky from the information agency that Boko Haram frequently used.

But they had only received a response stating that there were no records of him.

According to the information agency, it was as if he had fallen from the sky, with no trace of his past.

They had also said,

– There are only two possibilities in this case. Either his records have been erased, or he recently arrived on the New Continent.

So he had arranged this drinking session to ask leading questions, and Alopsky had answered honestly, exceeding his expectations.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Dangote finally got to the point.

“How long do you plan to work for the Boko Haram Clan?”

Kim Jinsung hesitated for a moment.

He couldn’t honestly say, ‘Until both Slaughterhouse and Boko Haram are completely destroyed.’

“…I’m not sure. Maybe a month at most?”

He answered after a brief thought, and Dangote took a shot of his drink.

He then spoke in a serious tone,

“To be honest, I want you to work with me for just three months.”

“……”

He continued, addressing the silent Kim Jinsung,

“In return, I’ll treat you well. At least as an executive.”

Kim Jinsung smiled inwardly.

The words “executive level” were music to his ears.

—