After visiting the grave, Jae-Hoon sought comfort in a dimly lit hotel room. The shower revealed his jacked body adorned with a full sleeve Irezumi, each design telling tales of resilience and ruthlessness. As the water flowed over his tattoo skin, memories of brutal battles in the underworld flooded his mind, and a scar on his body, a symbol of conquering a once-legendary figure, marked his skin—a reminder of trials endured and shadows in his past.
(Note:- Irezumi is a symbolic tattoo for the Yakuza, most of the Korean underworld also use the same tattoo)
After a while, Jae-Hoon steps out from the bedroom, granting himself a brief respite. As he rests, the task at hand looms large – understanding the enigmatic Seong-hoon Kim. With the knowledge that Kim is the orchestrator behind the demise of his family, the intricate details of his underlings and their connections remain concealed. The complexity of this underworld puzzle demands Jae-Hoon's strategic approach. With his abilities, he could have gone straight to Seong-Hoon if he wanted to, but he wanted everyone related to him to suffer too.He wanted to take everything away from them, just as they had taken everything from him. Moreover, he wanted to assess their strength, preparing to annihilate them all in one fell swoop.
Jae-Hoon decides to delve into the gritty underbelly of Seoul to gather information. Aware that Seong-hoon Kim operates in the shadows, he seeks out an illegal gambling den known for being a hub of criminal activities. Jae-Hoon stepped into the dimly lit gambling den, his gaze sweeping across the room with the precision of that predator. The low hum of whispered conversations and the rhythmic shuffle of cards created an atmosphere thick with anticipation. As he observed the patrons, his instincts guided him to the bartender who aged around 50– a figure seemingly inconspicuous yet radiating an aura of clandestine knowledge.
Jae-Hoon approached the bartender, coolly ordering a drink. As the bartender delivered the concoction, in a low and calm voice, he initiated a dance of words with the bartender.
“Silence has a price, and information pays well,” Jae-Hoon murmured, his words carrying a subtle weight.
The bartender, caught in the crossfire of professionalism,responded cautiously,
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“In this world, secrets have their value. What kind of information are you seeking?”
Jae-Hoon, the orchestrator of clandestine exchanges, slid a stack of bills across the counter. He said; "Names, affiliations, and the whispers of the shadows," Jae-Hoon murmured, a steely edge beneath his words. "I need to know every detail about the infamous five "dragon" in Korea. Who's the key figure in each clan? Who holds the strings?"
Caught in the intricate dance of shadows, the bartender hesitated after hearing the name before responding. “Some secrets are locked behind doors even the most skilled cannot open.”
Jae-Hoon, unfazed, maintained his unwavering gaze. “Doors can be unlocked, and keys can be found. Everything has a price, including silence.”
The bartender, a guardian of hidden truths, remained guarded. “The darkness you seek may consume you.”
Jae-Hoon, with a determined resolve, leaned in. “I have danced with the shadows for too long. Provide the keys, and I will navigate the darkness myself.”
In the dimly lit gambling den, the battle of wills continued, each player carefully guarding their secrets in the game where the stakes were not just information but the very fabric of the underworld’s clandestine tapestry.
Jae-Hoon, sensing the bartender’s resistance, leaned closer, his eyes reflecting a tenacity born of navigating the shadows.
“Every guardian of secrets has their vulnerability,” he remarked, a subtle threat lingering beneath his words.
*Chill*
The bartender, feeling the weight of unspoken implications, finally yielded. “For every secret unveiled, a debt is incurred.”
Jae-Hoon, understanding the intricacies of the clandestine economy, acknowledged, “Debts can be repaid. Information will be the currency, and your ledger will be balanced.”
The bartender eyed the money on the table, wariness mingling with curiosity. The information trade in these circles was a dangerous dance, and Jae-Hoon had just stepped onto the floor. As the tension in the air thickened, the bartender hesitated, then leaned in.
"There's abandon warehouse at the alley behind this joint, when the clock strikes midnight, meet me there. If you're serious about diving into the abyss, that's where you'll get what you seek."
Note:- "Whispers of the shadows" metaphorically refers to the secretive and hidden information within the criminal underworld. It implies confidential details, rumors, and clandestine dealings that are shared discreetly among those involved in criminal activities. In this context, it suggests that Jae-Hoon is seeking insider information about the notorious five crime families in Korea, and the bartender holds the key to unlocking these concealed truths.