Two days later, in the eastern suburbs of Houston.
The xican fugitive introduced by the chieftain was living a quiet retirent life on a ranch close to the lake and the sea. To be honest, it was quite unexpected. I had anticipated a rough life of squandering money on gambling and drugs, leading to destitution. Not only because of preconceptions about cartels but also because I believed he had to reach that point before he would finally offer his connections.
‘By the way, he asked to buy dog food on the way.’
I could understand showing around the front yard, but it was the first ti soone had asked to buy dog food. I couldn’t tell if the person was naive or intentionally testing my reaction. If the chieftain hadn’t explained that he was closer to the forr, I might have simply ignored it. If it was an attempt to test my disposition, well, there was a chance I might not comply.
A faint sll of manure seeped in through the open window with the chilly winds. The sign that read “Dos Vaqueros” was getting closer as we drove at speed.
“We’re here.”
Kyung-tae, who had taken the wheel himself, parked the car in front of the store. The escort vehicles that had been following us parked on either side. The land had plenty of pastures, but it wasn’t a comfortable place for people to live, as many trees opened their circuits and distributed themselves near the quiet store.
“Will you wait in the car, or…”
“I’ll enjoy the winds too.”
“Sure.”
Kyung-tae, who had gotten out of the car, opened the door for . The guys in the escort vehicle were waiting inside.
Bawk, bawk, bawk.
I watched as the chicks pecked at the feed in the chicken coop fence. Among these aspiring roosters, there were individuals with opened circuits. There seed to be so connection with the bloodstains left in the corner of the chicken coop. Kyung-tae clicked his tongue, savoring the mont.
“It might be harder to eat chicken from now on.”
Even though they couldn’t see everything as I could, the guys I had personally adjusted to awakening for had senses open enough to indirectly perceive changes in the magical field. In other words, they had the ability to detect awakenings. The guy who occasionally ordered chicken and beer for the organization’s headquarters expressed genuine concern in his sighs.
“Are you really worried about that?”
“Hyungnim, chicken is a very serious matter. Haven’t you heard the saying that C between B and D is the chicken between birth and death? The disappearance of chicken is like the disappearance of life itself.” ( )[1]TLN: I’ll explain this below.
Suyeon slightly furrowed her brow.
“You’re making jokes too lightly in front of Hyungnim.”
“Oh, Noonim. This is a trend, a trend. Who else but could keep Hyungnim up to date with the trends of today’s generation? I’m here to help Hyungnim stay young not only in body but also in mind. People age as much as they fall behind in trends, you know.”
“……”
Suyeon, with a puzzled expression, kept her mouth shut, not knowing what to respond with. Turning a taciturn person into one who displays such a variety of expressions could also be considered an ability.
Although it was a joke, Kyung-tae’s prediction had its reasons, as always. The reason there might be more chicken restaurants in Korea than McDonald’s outlets worldwide could be that chicken was considered a representative of humble, commoner food. However, in the future, discerning between chicks would require awakening individuals with the ability and sense, and even mass breeding and chanical slaughter using battery cages could beco more difficult due to frequent accidents. When that day ca, the prices of all ats that relied on factory farming would skyrocket. The success of the franchise business would no longer be the sa as it is today.
In fact, the market had already shown signs of this change. It had been discussed in detail in the 3rd quarter investnt report by Kim-ssi in Yeouido.
Ding, ding…
Hearing the clear sound of a notification bell, a staff mber who was tidying up the shelves welcod us with a smile.
“Hola.”
“Hola.”
Kyung-tae, upon receiving the greeting, showed the staff mber a note with the na of the feed written on it. The staff mber, understanding, gestured toward the interior of the spacious store. One of the security personnel followed the staff mber. The staff mber, who walked ahead, was openly carrying a pistol.
anwhile, I glanced at the newspapers on display in front of the counter and the posters on the corkboard on the wall. Among the posters, one that stood out prominently was a recruitnt notice for a local militia.
[Old River Tau-Militia is recruiting new mbers!]
The notice was written in both English and Spanish and ntioned that anyone in the Tau-Power region could apply.
“Tau-Power” here was, of course, a local expression aning supernatural power.
The series of events leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, which were ultimately canceled without even having a closing ceremony, had been a turning point in making humanity realize the changes occurring in the world. There had been signs and incidents before, but the impact of the failed Olympics was unprecedented.
Here, Suyeon’s actions against London also had a great effect.
‘The Marquis of Exeter, Count of Wiltshire, Count of Uxbridge, Lord Boyle of Derby, and the daughter of the Count of Plymouth…’
A list of nobles with a high probability of being contacted by the Round Table Cabinet for the domination of the magical world order. Based on this list I provided, Suyeon succeeded in exposing the contacts between the Round Table’s Masters and the intelligence networks of various countries in London. It was a remarkable achievent that made the eight million dollars spent on the budget seem well worth it. The hacking group that received more than half of that budget would probably be raising their glasses at a luxurious resort sowhere in the third world right now.
On the other hand, because intelligence agencies around the world had already caught a whiff of it, it was a relatively easy task. In the public’s eyes, the Tor network’s hidden services, commonly referred to as the “Dark Web” or “Dark Net,” alone held a number of requests related to valuing information. Just the size of the implied compensation alone indicated that there was sothing substantial behind it.
This was due to the power struggle within the Round Table leadership, which had spilled over to affect even the nobility attending The Senate. While the British Senate was just an honorary gathering, it still held significance within certain circles of British politics. However, it was arrogant to hope that their secrets could be maintained while they openly quarreled and drew attention, even from the nobility.
The aged imperialists, blinded by greed, had lost their advantage. I owe them deep thanks for their mistakes.
“We found it.”
One of my subordinates, carrying a bag of dog food, approached and placed it on the counter. I paid for the dog food, along with the local newspaper, “Houston Chronicle,” which I had picked up while waiting.
Sitting in the car, I began to read the newspaper. Nowadays, I rarely had the ti to look at printed text, so the sll of paper and ink felt especially nostalgic. The pages of the “Houston Chronicle” were filled with various incidents and accidents, more than one would expect for a local newspaper. It was evidence that the world was in turmoil, even at the local level.
Nevertheless, the front-page headline covered the largest ard robbery in history, which had occurred at the Bank of France.
“It looks interesting.”
“What do you an?”
“The European gangsters.”
“Ah.”
Kyung-tae imdiately understood what I ant just from hearing the term “European gangsters.” Considering the amount of dia attention and the coverage by influential outlets worldwide, it was impossible not to know about it.
Kyung-tae gave a disgruntled look, saying.
“To think that even Kim Kyung-tae would be surpassed. How do those guys look, I wonder?”
“Hmm? Surpassed you?”
“I an the amount, the amount. I’m not saying this out of greed or anything, but they’ve crossed the 1.9 trillion mark, after all. I’ve held the title of world champion for several years now. Taking all expenses into account, wouldn’t it be a perfect defeat on my part?”
“…”
In a half-joking manner, he boasted about his skills, drawing a sigh from Suyeon.
This ti, the stolen gold bars and cash at the Bank of France amounted to 1.52 billion euros, just over 2 trillion won. Prior to the Bank of France incident, the largest robbery had been the Bank of England heist in 2009, which was worth approximately 900 million won. Even considering inflation, France had lost nearly twenty tis more than the UK. The dia would surely make a fuss about it.
I sent my sincere complints to the robbers who Kyung-tae wanted to see.
‘Those bastards were really screwed.’
If it weren’t for the unfortunate connection with the Round Table, my most despised nation would have been France, not the UK. These lunatics were still the dominant imperialist nation in the 21st century, running colonies in Africa. Independence was rely nominal. I hoped that the assets they lost this ti were 100% pure French gold and bills, as dealing with the foreign exchange of African nations bound by “colonial agreents” would not be enjoyable at all.
In a world where selected humans could beco close to bipedal equipnt, the security systems of ancient tis had undergone inevitable changes and decay in various ways.
The entrance road to the destination, the ranch, stretched for 600 ters through the green pasture, far from the national highway. Even to my unobstructed eyes, there were only a few buildings within a few square kiloters. Apart from that, sporadic windbreaks and dark-stained trees ford the boundaries of the property on the other side of the pasture. The road on this sparsely traveled property was covered in dusty soil brought by the winds from the sea and the plains. As the line of vehicles moved, the dust kicked up, causing so naless wildflowers to sway at knee height.
It was a peaceful and serene landscape that gave a sense of tranquility. If I were to retire one day, I’d want to live in such a static and quiet place. It would be perfect if there were no other people there.
The vehicle ca to a stop. Once again, Kyung-tae was the first to get out and open the door. In front of the ranch, a large satellite dish stood like a decorative ornant in the middle of the open field. It resembled a snowman made by rolling snowballs together, complete with a rounded appearance. After getting out of the car, I instructed Kyung-tae and Suyeon to proceed. The forr cartel boss, who was waiting for us leaning against a pillar near the entrance to his residence, raised his hat in greeting when our eyes t.
“Mucho gusto[2]Nice to et you. You’ve co a long way; I appreciate it.”
Beside the forr cartel boss stood a woman who appeared to be his wife. They seed quite relieved to see most of the security guards waiting near the car. I approached the boss, extending a gloved hand, disregarding the submachine gun he held at an angle.
“You may have heard it from the chief, but my na is Hwang.”
“Huang.”
The boss repeated my alias while shaking hands.
“You appear much younger in person than I expected, probably because you’re Asian. I’m Ricardo, and this is my wife, Araceli.”
Ricardo and Araceli. Were these their real nas or aliases? In truth, even if they were their real nas, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. High-ranking cartel fugitives typically had several identities prepared, and as long as they lived quietly and paid their taxes, the US authorities wouldn’t pay much attention to their nas. As long as they didn’t get caught red-handed.
Moreover, in xico, first nas were tools of anonymity. Because there were so many repeated nas among the people there, they often referred to each other using their last nas officially and informal nicknas (apodos) privately. The fact that cartel bosses called themselves by various nicknas was not unrelated to this cultural practice.
The fugitive received the dog food from Kyung-tae, placed it near the entrance, thanked us briefly, and then signaled with a fist bump, asking indirectly.
“Earlier, I noticed a drone flying around in the distance. Was that you guys who sent it?”
Indeed, there was a designated security team that was dispatched whenever necessary, responsible for identifying threats beyond my line of sight. I nodded in confirmation.
“You noticed it well. It was just routine reconnaissance. Did it make you uncomfortable?”
“It was unsettling. Caution is good, especially if it’s the caution of a business partner.”
Ricardo chuckled and nodded in the direction of his wife.
“That’s why I would appreciate it if you considered the fact that you were brought here from so far away and my wife’s cautiousness as caution. Even though you were introduced by the chief, it’s still quite unsettling to welco soone without a single gun in my forr workplace.”
“I understand. After all, one’s life is the best guarantee of good manners.”
“Haha! That’s a splendid expression! It seems like you’re growing on already. Let’s go inside.”
Ricardo opened the door and gestured for us to enter. As we walked, the wooden floor creaked softly underfoot. I stepped into the negotiation room, where the air carried the scent of dry firewood and lavender.
This phrase “C between B and D is the chicken between birth and death? The disappearance of chicken is like the disappearance of life itself.” is a humorous play on words in Korean, using the letters of the alphabet as placeholders for concepts. Let break it down:
B: Birth (탄생 in Korean)
C: Chicken (치킨 in Korean)
D: Death (죽음 in Korean)
So, in this phrase, “C” (Chicken) is humorously placed between “B” (Birth) and “D” (Death). The saying suggests that chicken (in the context of eating chicken) is sothing enjoyable and often consud between the two significant life events of birth and death. It’s a lighthearted way of emphasizing the importance or enjoynt of simple pleasures like eating chicken in life.
In essence, it’s a humorous way of saying that chicken is a significant and enjoyable part of life, like a comforting and tasty experience between the profound monts of birth and death.
1. TLN: I’ll explain this below. 2. Nice to et you Author's Thoughts
Disclair:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elents inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find so error in translation please do let know by tagging (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to translate. But I'll try my best to make it at least readable :)
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