One Month Later— Workers Headquarters
Eugene sat at his desk, waiting for someone. "You're here. It's my first time seeing you at headquarters. If you came all the way here, it must mean we've gotten closer, right? Our Workers director, Tom Lee."
Tom Lee tilted his head sideways as he entered through the doorframe—he was too large to fit otherwise. "I'm here. Don't say whatever you want."
He walked to the desk and sat in a chair, then continued, "The White Tiger doesn't belong to the Workers. We'll work as mercenaries for a while since you let me meet Jinyoung Park."
Eugene smiled. "It seems you and Baki Hanma have a good relationship. I didn't expect you to change your stance just because of one person."
Tom Lee waved his hand dismissively. "Why did you call me?"
Eugene's smile widened. "I've decided. I'm going to merge the four major crews."
Tom Lee raised his eyebrows. "Four? There are only three major crews left.Hostel A has been destroyed since Olly Wang was jailed. Are you going to bring him out and rebuild it?"
Eugene smiled. "Why would I? There's still an intact Hostel, isn't there?"
Tom Lee squinted. "You... Why are you so determined to invite death to your doorstep?"
Eugene smiled. "You don't have to worry. A good friend from China is very eager to meet Baki Hanma. You just have to get Baki out in China somehow. I can handle the rest."
Tom Lee didn't answer. Seeing the silence, Eugene leaned forward. "If you can't show this bit of sincerity, how can we work together in the future?"
Tom Lee shook his head. "You're such a loser, President Eugene."
---
Baki passed a bottle of water to Hajun. "You've grown stronger. The next phase is something you have to do by yourself."
Hajun grabbed the bottle and gulped down the water. "Are you going somewhere?"
Baki nodded. "I have work to do, kid. See you later."
With that, Baki got on his bike and left.
Hajun stood up. His previously ripped physique seemed even more pronounced now—his frame had grown larger. Most noticeably, his demeanor had changed significantly.
Hajun glanced at his hands. "From now on... I will always win."
◍ Stats:
- Strength: LR
- Speed: UR+
- Potential: A
- Intelligence: C
- Endurance: UR
---
Han Sanghee took out his phone and called Robert. Behind him, several runaway kids lay beaten and bruised.
"Yes, it's me. I just met a runaway crew, but they don't know where Hostel is."
Robert Choi answered, "I don't think they're even in Gangdong anymore. Shouldn't we be searching in Central Seoul?"
Sanghee laughed. "Haha. Do you think the director really wants us to search for them when they're not even in Gangdong anymore? He just wants us to draw Hostel to us. The director wouldn't want to create a mess where Baki lives. As long as we create a ruckus here, Hostel will find their way to us—"
Suddenly, a kick and a knee struck Sanghee's neck and side simultaneously. Sanghee blocked them with both palms.
Derrick asked, "Who are you, Ajusshi? Why are you looking for Hostel?"
Max added, "You're messing with kids to find us? Are you from the countryside too?"
Sanghee laughed. "Hoho. It seems they've already found us."
---
Baki arrived at Incheon International Airport. After a month-long break, Tom Lee had given him a new mission. Surprisingly, this was Baki's first international assignment since the Tian Wai Tian mission. This one was also in China.
He moved through check-in and security with his single duffel bag containing everything he needed. The departure gate was moderately crowded with business travelers and tourists. Baki found a seat near the window and watched planes taxi across the tarmac.
The boarding announcement crackled through the speakers—business class passengers were called first. Baki stood and joined the priority line. He handed his boarding pass to the attendant, who scanned it with a polite smile and gestured him toward the jet bridge.
The jet bridge stretched ahead, fluorescent lights humming overhead. Baki's footsteps echoed against the metal floor as he approached the aircraft entrance. Flight attendants greeted him at the door with warm smiles. One checked his boarding pass before directing him to turn left into the business class cabin.
Baki found his seat and stowed his bag in the overhead compartment. The business class cabin was quiet, with only a few other passengers settling in. He sank into the leather seat.
As he buckled his seatbelt, Baki pulled out his phone to check the time. Without thinking, his thumb swiped up to the control center.
A flight attendant's voice came over the intercom: "Ladies and gentlemen, please ensure all electronic devices are switched to airplane mode as we prepare for departure."
Baki tapped the airplane mode icon. The signal bars disappeared from the top of his screen.
Two seconds later, his phone vibrated once in his hand before the connection died. He glanced at it briefly, but the screen showed nothing—just the airplane mode symbol glowing at the top.
He shrugged and slipped the phone into his pocket.
---
Back in Gangdong, Sanghee was sitting on the badly beaten Max and Derrick.
"What are we going to do now? We need to catch the rest of Hostel. Why did you knock them out?" Yeongcheol said, smoking a cigarette while leaning against a pickup truck.
Sanghee smiled. "Did I? You're the one who did it."
Yeongcheol released smoke through his nostrils. "...Well, first we'll have to wait for them to wake up."
"You're doing great~ After all that effort, you end up knocking them out. Now, when are we going home?" Robert Choi said as he walked in with a kid over his shoulder. Gabriel Park followed with another kid draped over his shoulder.
Sanghee smiled. "Oh, you're here, Robert, Gabriel."
Yeongcheol took a drag of his cigarette. "Who did you bring?"
Robert put the kid down in the back of the pickup. "Will those Hostel members talk when they wake up? We need to take these runaway kids as hostages and make them speak."
Sanghee smiled. "Kyaa~ As expected, Robert is good at his job."
Just then, someone jumped onto Sanghee's shoulders, grabbed his neck with both hands, and twisted. Sanghee spun in the air before falling.
Yeongcheol turned around. "SANGHEE...!"
But suddenly, he noticed another guy standing behind him in a CQC stance. Before Yeongcheol could react, he was hit with several rapid blows.
Eli and Warren turned toward Robert and Gabriel. "You guys are hunting Hostel?"
Eli said with a serious expression, then turned to Warren. "I guess we looked easy to them."
Warren smiled faintly. "There are two left, right?"
Seeing Robert and Gabriel, Warren recognized them from 4A. "Woah, it's been a while."
Robert smiled. "Woah, it's been a while. You're Gangdong's Mighty, aren't you?"
"Wow, I almost died. Look at the way he twisted my neck. I've returned from death. I can tell from your style—you're the kid Tom Lee raised, right? Eli Jang." Sanghee said with a smile as he slowly stood up and fixed his hair.
"You know what's more upsetting? These kids didn't use their full strength because we're weaker than them," Yeongcheol said.