The hospital light flickered across Ha-Joon as he adjusted the strap of his bag. Having seen Somi, he no longer wasted time, moved outside of the hallway. As he exited the front door, the sun had risen completely which briefly dazzled Ha-Joon.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number saved under a single word 'Suwon'.
As he waited for the call, a groggy voice resounded from the other side of the phone.
"Yo, boy. How have you been lately."
Ha-Joon stayed silent for a moment, exhaling slowly as he spoke without any nonsense. "Prepare my ride, I'm coming back."
Hearing his word, Seokdu was stunned for a moment.
"South Korea? Already?"
He exclaimed, he had thought Ha-Joon would disappear for a month or two but hadn't expected him to come in between a few days.
"The detour's over. It's time to move forward."
Seokdu was a silent for a moment, then gave a slight acknowledgement. "Fine, I'll arrange a ride for ya. Airport or port?
"Port." He said. "No need to come by yourself. Just send one of your goons at Busan. I don't want to smell the air of Incheon."
"Sigh... Fine. Why take a lo-"
Ha-Joon quickly ended the call, before Seokdu could ramble on his way through phone. He took a deep breath and exhaled, took a last look at hospital before parting his way through port.
Though he could go his way through plane, he didn't want to attract unwanted attention upon himself. His fight with Suwon may have already been exposed to Kwak Jichang, and through him all his ally king may be alerted. And beside them there are other Kings which he didn't even knew the name.
Due to his early reincarnation, he didn't knew the specific intel about the other kings which 'PTJ' hadn't mentioned early in the chapter.
Though, even if they hadn't known about his recent deeds in Korea. He didn't want to take unnecessary risks. So, early cautions is required till he could grow strong enough to handle all the threat.
As his mind buzzed with various thought, Ha-Joon quickly arrived at the dock for travelling.
He quickly took off with boat towards Busan.
...
Ha-Joon took the long route, by boat. The ferry cutting across the sea from Japan to Busan rocked gently under his feet. He stood at the deck's edge, wind battering his face, eyes locked on the horizon. The mist-covered outline of South Korea slowly crept into view. His slowly pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Seokdu. I'll be arriving soon. Prepare the ride," he said, voice curt, low.
A pause on the line. Then, the familiar gruff voice of the Suwon king echoed. "Got it."
...
Early Evening,
Ha-Joon spoke in a rare moment of peace. "South Korea, I'm finally back."
As soon as he spoke, the boat hissed as it docked at the Busan harbor. Ha-Joon took a deep breath, stepped off the ramp and walked, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His 'signature' black coat fluttered in the wind.
On the other side of the port gate, a man stood out from the early-morning crowd, broad-shouldered, dressed in black, with a fade cut and an average face found everywhere in the region. He was holding a cardboard sign, crudely scribbled with the name 'Ha-Joon'.
The moment their eyes met, the man lowered the sign, gave a small bow, and nodded with the familiarity of someone seen in ages.
"Boss Seokdu sent me here," the man said quickly, voice filled with respect. "He has been waiting for your arrival. By the way, name's Jim."
Ha-Joon nodded, gestured him to lead the way.
"Let's not liger here."
He followed Jim through the lot, where a black sedan was parked inconspicuously near the edge, tinted with full black without any license plate.
Inside the vehicle, Ha-Joon leaned his head against the window, watching the coastal road roll by. The lights of Busan faded into grimy alleyways and industrial blocks as they moved deeper into Suwon territory.
As they pulled past the final checkpoint toward Seokdu Wang's current territory. Ha-Joon cracked his neck and muttered under his breath. "Looks like we have arrived."
The sedan came to a stop behind a closed warehouse on the outskirts of Suwon, one of Seokdu Wang's many rotating strongholds. From the outside, this place practically looked like a abandoned junkyard, but inside? The wall was painted to the point of shining and the ground was filled with polished tiles.
It was essentially a precautionary bunker dressed as an abandoned depot.
As Ha-Joon stepped out, he heard the distant clack of a mahjong tile landing.
"About time," a familiar voice called out casually.
Seokdu Wang leaned back in a reclining chair near a makeshift table. The Suwon king looked exactly the same, grizzled, built like a truck, and with his wide forehead filled with scars.
He raised a ceramic cup in greeting. "Welcome back to a hell hole."
Ha-Joon walked forward without a word, dropping his bag near the wall and planting himself opposite Seokdu. He reached for a cup of booze filled with ice by Seokdu.
Seokdu raised an eyebrow, gazed at Ha-Joon with amusement. "Looks like... you've through a hell of a ride."
Ha-Joon sat in silence, as he eyed Seokdu, before both man chuckled and raised their cup for a toast.
"I did," Ha-Joon replied evenly, taking a gulp without restraint. "Man, I really got tired from the constant rebellion, Though I can't help them vying for for power. So you know, I decided to end it."
Seokdu was certainly happy to see this newly obtained friend of his get into a trouble. Though he didn't said out aloud.
"You're just in time," Seokdu said, setting down his cup. "Shit's getting noisy in Gyeonggi-do. The rumors have gotten in the ears of other kings.. Though, I have promised not to leak your intel but I can't stop the rumors going in their ears."
"Especially Kwak Jichang, he should have dug out your identity by now."
Ha-Joon paused for a moment, and sighed. "Because of those old coot. I got delayed. Had I not been delayed, I would had dismantle them before the rumors get to their ears."
Seokdu's grin widened, but there was a sliver of caution in his voice. "Just make sure to leave them and their territories, if you defeat them that is. But if you threaten any of their life or their region. I've got no choice beside standing by their side."
Don't look them as a regional king wanting to conquer eachother region. Because even if they were kings of different region, they would stand united when outsider intervene with their affair.
Ha-Joon nodded." Don't worry, I don't have any interest on ruling any of your region."
Seokdu breathed a sigh of relief. Though he is confident of other regions king, but is also afraid of Ha-Joon's monstrous talent.
Ha-Joon spoke.
"But before that… I need manpower. Reliable ones. Not street scum."
"I hope," Ha-Joon continued, voice lowering, "by the time I returned, you would've gathered some talent I could use. After that, You don't have to look after me, because this is the one favor I'm asking you."
Seokdu let out a short breath, nodding. "I've been collecting names. A few promising ones in Uijeongbu and Wonju, though not as talented as you."
Ha-Joon finished the another cup of booze and stood up, stretching his back as if shedding the weight of the sea journey.
He stretched his arm towards Seokdu, as he spoke. "I know, we will part our ways from here on now. But let's stay in contact with eachother."
Seokdu slowly stood up and gulped down his booze, and stared at Ha-Joon.
For a moment tense silence followed, but soon Seokdu broke in a wild grin as he stretched his arm.
"Sure."
As long as, Nobody between them threatens eachother interest. They could remain as friend.
Even if they had fought, they had gained eachother respect through their fight.
And
This is the romanticism of fighting.