Chapter 8

Chapter 8. Secret Contract

“Really?” Kim Jinsung asked with a face full of disbelief.

“Of course! Hey, Daejoon, bring the contract.”

Daejoon, who was sitting beside them, went to the desk, opened a drawer, and brought over a file.

Representative Jo spread out the contract and handed it to Kim Jinsung.

“This is the contract I made with Go Junkyung last year. It’s written exactly as I told you. Read it carefully.”

Kim Jinsung read every line of the contract thoroughly.

In summary, it stated:

– If you follow Representative Jo’s instructions for the 2-year contract period, you will be granted freedom.

– If you are a forced laborer, we promise to ask the government to upgrade you back to a regular citizen.

“Is it really possible to be reinstated as a regular citizen?”

“I have some connections with the government. With a bit of money, they’ll change it in a minute. I’ve done it for about three of my acquaintances.”

Kim Jinsung still wore a look of distrust, not at the contract, but at Representative Jo, who had drafted it.

“You still don’t believe me, huh? Listen to what I have to say.”

Seeing Kim Jinsung’s face, Representative Jo began to persuade him.

“In this fighting business, when one person dominates as the strongest for too long, people don’t bet much. They know who will win, so all the betting money goes to the strongest. Sometimes you bet a million won and win less than ten thousand, you know?”

“That’s what’s happening with Go Junkyung. He’s so dominant that people have no expectations when he fights anyone! In fact, viewership has been dropping lately, and that’s why!”

Representative Jo raised his voice.

“When I’ve milked enough from him, I plan to sell his contract to another clan for a signing fee. It’s a much more profitable deal for me if I sell him for a big sum. You get what I’m saying?”

“Right.”

Kim Jinsung thought the explanation sounded plausible.

“Go Junkyung’s contract ends in six months. After that, Jinsung, you’ll have to take on this role. As the club’s top star, you’ll need to ‘act’ to draw in the audience and the money.”

“Got it? Now sign it. You don’t have a choice anyway, do you? Are you planning to stay trapped underground forever?”

Having finished explaining, Representative Jo cracked the whip.

But he wasn’t wrong.

‘I really don’t have a choice right now. But…’

Kim Jinsung still didn’t trust Representative Jo.

But refusing wouldn’t change anything. In fact, it might just earn Jo’s ire.

Better to try to please him by doing as he says, even if the contract’s promises aren’t kept.

“Jinsung.”

Then, Representative Jo gently patted Kim Jinsung’s shoulder and offered a carrot.

“If you do as I say, I’ll treat you well for the next two years. We’ll have barbecue together sometimes, have a drink! Go to nice places, huh?”

He pushed a pen towards Kim Jinsung.

Having already made up his mind, Kim Jinsung didn’t hesitate long before picking up the pen and moving his hand to the signature line on the contract.

After leaving the office, Kim Jinsung, accompanied by two employees with guns, headed back to the waiting room.

On the way down,

“Hey!”

A boy covered in patches from the infirmary approached with a cheerful voice.

It was Park Seongtae, his fellow newcomer.

“Wow, you were insane! How does such power come from that small body?”

Park Seongtae, acting friendly, slung an arm around Kim Jinsung’s shoulder.

Despite Kim Jinsung’s puzzled expression, Park Seongtae kept talking.

“I knew it the moment I saw your match today! You’re the only one who can kill that bastard Go Junkyung!”

“If anyone messes with you, I’ll take care of them first! How dare they touch the future champion…!”

Park Seongtae didn’t let go of Kim Jinsung’s shoulder until they reached the entrance to the waiting room.

As soon as they entered,

“…Huh?”

They both stopped in their tracks, confronted by the chilly atmosphere.

Looking around, everyone was watching Kim Jinsung while also keeping an eye on one side.

Kim Jinsung turned his head in that direction and saw…

‘Ah…’

Go Junkyung’s gang, glaring at him with a murderous intent.

The reason was obvious.

Two of their members had died today, and their opponents had been Park Seongtae and Kim Jinsung.

“Let’s go in.”

Park Seongtae pulled Kim Jinsung by the shoulder towards the crematorium, where their room was.

He glanced back at Go Junkyung, which seemed to have provoked him.

“Hey.”

Go Junkyung stood up and approached Kim Jinsung, with his gang following.

Looking down at Park Seongtae, he spoke.

“Did you just glare at me?”

Picking a fight for a trivial reason.

Two weeks ago, Park Seongtae wouldn’t have dared to respond, but this time it was different.

He had a strong backer right beside him.

“Yeah, I glared. So what?”

He boldly looked Go Junkyung in the eye.

One of the gang members stepped forward, fuming.

“This punk’s got guts!”

“Get lost, you piece of trash!”

“What, what?!”

“Damn, I thought you guys were tough because you always stick together, but Choi Hangil was nothing special, was he?”

Before the gang could react, Park Seongtae unleashed all his pent-up feelings at Go Junkyung.

“Stop ruining the mood in the waiting room just because your gang lost, you pieces of trash!”

“You little bastard!!”

“You’re dead today!”

The gang, enraged, moved to attack, but Park Seongtae didn’t back down.

“Come at me, all of you! Did you see what happened to Kang Kyungmo today? How many of you can take even one punch from Jinsung, huh?!”

The shout had quite an effect.

The approaching gang members all stopped in their tracks and looked towards Kim Jinsung, flinching.

In their minds, the scene of Kim Jinsung breaking Kang Kyungmo’s guarded arm and shattering his jaw was still vivid.

Kim Jinsung, who had suddenly become the center of attention, sighed inwardly.

‘Why did he pick a fight and then use me as a shield?’

Kim Jinsung glanced back at Park Seongtae, who had retreated behind him.

That’s when it happened.

Bang!

The sound of the waiting room door being violently opened turned everyone’s gaze in that direction.

Representative Jo had burst into the waiting room with employees carrying rifles.

“Everybody down!”

“Don’t move!”

At the employees’ shouts, all the boys immediately dropped to the ground.

The gang members, Park Seongtae, and Kim Jinsung also lay down, with Go Junkyung being the only one still standing, looking towards Representative Jo.

“I knew it would come to this.”

Approaching Go Junkyung, Representative Jo began to speak.

“Didn’t I clearly say not to gang up and bully the newcomers? Huh?”

“Sir, it’s not that, this guy started it—”

“Shut up!!”

Representative Jo cut him off with a shout.

“I hear you didn’t even change their rooms? Why aren’t you listening to me lately? Do you think I put you in a leadership position for this?”

Go Junkyung, silenced by the scolding, looked away.

“It can’t be helped. Come with me.”

With that, Representative Jo left the waiting room.

The employees quickly surrounded Go Junkyung, who muttered under his breath and glared at Park Seongtae as he reluctantly walked towards the door.

Soon, all the boys slowly got up from their places.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ve never seen Representative Jo yell at Go Junkyung like that…”

“Is he going to get shot outside…?”

“Nah, he’s the champion, after all…”

The boys began to murmur among themselves but fell silent when the door opened again 10 minutes later.

Go Junkyung returned looking surprisingly unharmed.

He looked straight at Kim Jinsung and said,

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Shortly after,

Only Go Junkyung and Kim Jinsung were inside Room 1.

The queen-size bed in the room looked impeccably clean and comfortable, a stark contrast to the worn and shabby bed in Room 99.

Sitting on the bed, Go Junkyung broke the awkward silence.

“You signed the contract, didn’t you?”

“I just heard it from the representative.”

Go Junkyung continued speaking to Kim Jinsung, who gave no response.

“I hear that once I’m released, you’ll be taking over my role. So, for the remaining six months, you’re supposed to help me out a lot…”

Ah, so that’s why he called me out of the waiting room to talk… Kim Jinsung realized.

The details of their contract were top secret and not to be known by the other boys.

Go Junkyung, after glaring at Kim Jinsung for a while, let out a snicker.

“Seriously. I can’t believe it. Handing over the leader’s position to this nobody?”

“Well, what happens after I leave isn’t my concern. Anyway…”

Go Junkyung looked straight at Kim Jinsung.

“From this moment on, neither I nor my friends will bother you. Do whatever you want in the waiting room. But!”

But?

“Don’t try to take over as leader in my place. I am the leader here, and as long as I’m here, you follow my orders. Got it?”

Kim Jinsung nodded.

“Just so you know, if you or anyone else messes with me and my gang, I won’t hold back, contract or not. If you want to fight me, wait six months! Then it won’t matter to me if you get beaten to death.”

“Now get out. Go.”

As Go Junkyung was dismissing him, he suddenly remembered something.

“If there’s a room you want, let me know. Any room but this one.”

Kim Jinsung shook his head in response.

“No, I’m good.”

After briefly replying, Kim Jinsung left Room 1.

Go Junkyung, watching the closed door, frowned for a while before taking out a pack of cigarettes.

After lighting up a cigarette he had just received from Representative Jo, he exhaled a long stream of smoke and muttered,

“Annoying bastard…”

At that moment.

“Boss.”

Back in the representative’s office, Daejoon asked Representative Jo,

“Do you really plan to release Go Junkyung as per the contract?”

“Hmm.”

“I just had a thought, if Go Junkyung gets out and spreads the word about us burning bodies…”

“It would be a disaster. I know.”

Seeing Daejoon’s questioning look, Representative Jo continued while sorting papers on his desk.

“I do plan to really release Go Junkyung in six months. That is, if he’s still alive by then.”

“Ah…”

Understanding the implication, Daejoon looked at Representative Jo, who gave him a sly smile.

“Do you think I’m crazy enough to let the word about this place get out? That would be the end of our business, right?”

In reality, the government was probably already aware of the illegal activities like burning bodies or hosting death matches with minors.

However, given the times, they chose not to intervene.

With monsters and clan fights already straining Seoul’s law enforcement, they couldn’t afford to focus on these shady operations.

Plus, Representative Jo was regularly bribing key officials to ensure their silence.

But if Go Junkyung were to spread the word and it became a national issue, the government would have to act due to public pressure.

At that point, the Fight Club would be shut down, and Representative Jo would face at least the death penalty.

“There’s no need to create a situation that could lead to talk in the first place.”

“You’re right, boss.”

Agreeing with Daejoon, Representative Jo added one more thing.

“Boys who come here never leave alive. It’s been that way until now, and it will continue to be so in the future.”