What am I feeling guilty for?
Of course I want to help the poor little Chan, but bounty hunting is not like that. It's not like I'm abandoning them on purpose.
Joshua's smile flashed in my brain again. It was empty and it bothers me. He bothers me again. Can this boy leave my brain alone?
Good thing Hoshi invited me to drink tonight so we went at our favorite tent.
"Wooh! I feel like my liver had a detox. Been a month since we went here." Hoshi said.
"Right? Our liver's ready than ever."
We went inside and this place is not as crowded as usual.
"Hi boys! Long time!" A woman in tight black dress approached us.
"Madam!"
Disclaimer, this ain't a strip club. It's just a restau bar with waitresses in, let's say, more revealing clothes than those in regular restaurants. But madam doesn't allow touching here. You can only look. Not that I'm complaining, though.
"Our girls missed you!"
"Haha! Of course, this pretty face is sure something you'll miss."
"Hoshi-ya, she's talking about my face. Sorry for that madam. I want to show myself here more often as possible, but you know, work."
Madam assisted us to our seats and left to get our usual orders. Soju and kimchi jeon.
"Don't you think there are less people here?" I said.
"Now that you said it, I think so too."
"Those guys are mostly from the Quartz." I pointed my finger to the other tables.
"Oooh. Where are the Rose?"
"What are you talking about? Serious faces keep the customers away." Madam placed our food down.
"Nah, we're just wondering if your business is going down. Where are your regulars?" I asked.
"So you don't know what happened?"
"What what? I love gossips."
We picked up our glasses and made a toast to our first shot of soju in a while. Now we're ready for madam's story time.
"The Quartz are actually celebrating for their near victory.
The Rose laid low after their recent brawl with the Quartz. Their first battle, they said that the Rose went all out, used every single machineries they have. Even with that, they lost. Many of their members were severely injured, so another money out for their treatment.
After that, many of the Rose left the group, so the budget contribution decreased. So, here comes the funny part: they made a loan with the mafia."
"They don't know what they're doing." Hoshi commented.
"Desperate measure indeed." I second.
"Right? Remaining Rose used the loan to buy high end bombs and guns. What's funnier, they lost again in that last brawl. Now 2/3 of their territories had been acquired by the Quartz, and they still have a debt to pay with the mafia."
"Damn. That's impossible to survive. Kissing a mafia is a death wish." I said.
"Too bad. Look at that guy over there." She pointed at the man in baggy clothes with a frown. "His face is bad for business. Anyway, he quitted Rose."
"Madam!!"
"Coming!!" She stood up. "Have a good night, boys."
And she left again.
"Hoshi, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Jeonghan. It's mafia."
"Right?"
"No."
"What? I have-"
"I don't want to hunt a mafia down. We almost died the last time."
I saw the sad Rose guy stood up and exiting the bar.
"I'll ask him." I stood up and followed the guy.
"How about our food? Jeonghan? Hey."
I didn't answer Hoshi since he eventually followed me.
The man didn't notice us tailing him so I suddenly pulled him towards the alley.
"Please please I don't have money!"
Hoshi locked his arms on his back and I put my elbow on his throat.
"Tell me the name of the one whom you loaned to." I asked.
"I don't know!"
"I wouldn't lie if I were you." Hoshi said.
I kneed his gut. He whined in pain.
"Go. Tell me."
"Please! I really don't know."
"Hoshi."
Hoshi kicked the man and made his face flat on the ground. I leaned down on him and showed the knife I brought out.
"I told you not to lie."
"Now." I bring the knife closer.
"I'm dead if I told you!"
"You're also dead if you don't."
"But they're more morbid!"
"We can be morbid.."
I clicked the tip of the knife in between his eyes.
"Waaah okay! Woozi! Woozi!"
"What?" I looked up at Hoshi. "He called you, I think?"
"Me? Hey, who's that again?"
"Woozi! Oh man."
"Sushi?"
"Woozi!"
"Boozy?"
"Woo!"
"Woo?"
"Zi!"
"Zi?"
"Ahh. Woozi."
