"You mean Jihoon-hyung?" Vernon asked.
"Is that Woozi?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, where is he?"
"He took a break since the antique shop incident. The whole department is on leave. All loans were also paused."
"He doesn't know what's happening here?" Joshua asked.
"I think so, no one's contacted him yet."
"Why'd you ask, Hannie?"
"Atty. Choi."
"What's with him?"
"See, Atty. Choi is a known lawyer and is a member of various groups. Let's ask if he can convince the military to help us."
"You're saying, let's reveal our location and identity to the government so they can help us?"
"Good analysis, Seungkwan." I pointed at him.
"You're kidding. Let's go." Minghao pulled Jun's arm to help him stand.
"Come on, let's give it a shot."
"Jeonghan." Joshua rested his hand on my leg.
"Joshuji, why don't we try that?"
"What if we make enemy of them?"
"Aren't we already?"
He put his hand on his chin. He looks so cute pouting.
"Let's try."
"That's my Joshuji!"
We asked Choi's phone number from Vernon and called him right away.
"Guys! Wait for us!" Hoshi called to everyone who's leaving the room.
"We need to hurry, though?" Vernon said.
"Shh. He's on the line." I hushed.
"Who's this?"
"Hey Atty. Choi, it's Yoon Jeonghan."
He hung up.
"That son of a-"
"Hannie, try calling him again."
I took a deep breath and redialed.
"What you want?"
"We need your help."
"We? Hong Jisoo?"
"Yes, and the rest of the mafia."
"What's up?"
"Nico and Jas are here, with an army."
"What? Is that an attack?"
"What attack?" I heard another voice in the background.
"Is that Woozi?" I guessed.
"Oh, uhm, yeah."
"Are they okay?" Woozi asked.
"Well, we're not. Nico has connections with the Investigation Bureau. So, I was wondering, if you have some connections too to match him."
"I got friends in the military reserve." Choi went back the line.
"That's going to help a lot!"
"But I can't send them."
"Why not?"
"They don't even know I work now for the mafia. They knew me as someone who swore to tear down illegal businesses."
"Seungcheol, you see-"
"Since when did we become first name basis?"
"Are you guys close now?" Woozi asked again.
"Doesn't matter. Seungcheol, we are outnumbered and they have a lot of weapons."
"And so is Mingyu." Woozi said. I think we're on loudspeak now.
"Mingyu?"
"He handles the arms-dealing department."
"Actually." Seungkwan sat with Joshua and I.
"What? Oh." I also put us on loudspeak.
"Last night, Mingyu's department received a huge deal. They ordered tons of machine guns and bombs."
"Uh-huh."
"They.. they were from the Investigation Bureau."
"Yeah?"
"And Nico's group are using all of it. They're using our own product against us. If we need new stock, we need to go to the port to get a new shipment. But we're here now."
"I see."
We sat in silence. It makes sense. Why the attack was sudden and impactful. It was planned all along. Why we had a month of peace. They were plotting their revenge.
We knew that, we know that they'll be coming for us any moment soon. But we did nothing. We savour the moment of harmony when we should have prepared for this.
Now, they are on our necks.
"That sucks." What a very Woozi thing to say.
"But why is the Bureau in this, too?" Joshua asked.
"Nico must have promised them protection. You know those kinds of people. Officials that already earn a lot and controls a lot are those who want more. They need the mafia for their transactions in black market and to make their way into the most powerful house." Suengcheol answered.
"The corrupts."
"Yeah. In return, mafia will need a legal player to watch over their illegal projects. Those corrupts can guarantee it."
"Did dad sought for a legal player, too?"
"Hong Jisoo." Woozi called.
"Current mafia, the one father reformed, has only three divisions: loans, drugs, and weapons. He abolished the human and animal trafficking.
He thought, it's too much for an illegal business. Those are living things.
But also, it's too much for an underground organization to handle. The government would definitely pursue and track us down.
So no, Jisoo. He didn't need a backer in the government because he didn't do things that will need protection."
Joshua relaxed his clenched fist. I touched his hand and smiled.
"Uhm guys." Hoshi called.
"But what are we going to do now?" Seungkwan asked.
"As I've said, I can't send you troops. I have a plan, I think I can expose the Bureau. I will then smoke out the corrupts in the government." Seungcheol offered.
"Hey guys." Hoshi called again.
"We got no choice then. We're all we've got." I said.
"We may be outnumbered, but I trust in our army." Joshua said.
"Yo guys." Hoshi again.
"I trust in you, too. Please, rescue our family."
"Did I really hear Woozi asking for help?" I'm shocked.
"Please rescue them, or I'll slit your throat even when you're dead."
"You should be nicer, you know."
"Thank you for you help, guys." Joshua said.
"Guuuys." Hoshi once again.
"We'll do our best, too. Stay alive, 'kay?"
"Thanks, Seungcheol."
And our call ended.
"So, we just need to make a plan. Again, we only have us." I dusted my pants.
"Guys!!"
"Stop it, Hoshi!!" Seungkwan yelled back at him.
"You're ignoring me!!"
"What is it?" Joshua asked.
"There are more gunshots upstairs."
"That's bad."
"And I hear people shouting outside."
"Huh?"
We all looked down and saw people in white shirt and denim jeans, holding different automotive tools.
"WHAT ARE WE?"
"QUARTZ!"
"Oh, we got reinforcements."
