The Manager Is a Gangster

1 – 10 Years in Prison? I’d prefer that.

0.

Wae-eeng-

Piercing through the sound of rain filling the world, the siren echoed like needles.

For guys like me, thugs, it’s the scariest sound in the world, making you reflexively leave your spot when you hear it. But today, there’s no need to run.

“That was fast. It’s like they were here before I even made the call.”

Because that police car was summoned by me.

“They’ll be here soon… It’s time to slip away.”

The sirens getting closer. No matter how complex the maze-like harbor is, it won’t be long before they reach this place.

If I don’t leave soon, it’ll be dangerous. So, I turned my head to look at my only ally.

“Go, hyung. Leave the rest to me.”

Even when stabbed in the back by a trusted subordinate, even when facing a mad swordsman ready to strike, my brother always laughed heartily. But today, his face couldn’t find a smile.

My brother looked at me with a more twisted face than when he got scolded by our mother, and he spoke with a hesitant voice that still lingered.

“Jinhyuk. This is not it. I would rather…”

“Brother.”

I’ll go instead.

Since I already knew what he would say without hearing the rest, I interrupted my brother.

Normally, I would have rushed in, saying, “Who’s this brat interrupting what my brother is saying!” But today, I couldn’t do that.

“You know it’s not possible.”

The situation now and the responsibilities I had to bear since before entering this harbor… Yes, it was predetermined from the day my brother and I first met.

“Even so, I…”

Despite the promise that I would take responsibility when a day like today came, my brother couldn’t let go of his lingering regrets until the end.

So, I decided to use the last move that my brother could never turn away from, the final move that I didn’t want to use.

“Brother, it’s raining. You might catch a cold in this cold weather.”

“Jinhyuk…”

Lowering the gaze from my brother’s face reveals the most beautiful lady embraced in his arms.

Due to the forcibly administered sleeping pill, she looks so comfortably asleep in this noisy place, as if she is alone in a different world.

Saaek. Saaek.

Even the sound of her breathing while asleep made me unconsciously try to pat her head, realizing suddenly that my hand was covered in blood.

“hahahaha.”

Thanks to that, I recalled the harsh reality multiple times. I must not touch the lady.

But it would have been nice if he could have comforted me just once.

But it was already too late.

My hands had long been covered in blood, and she was someone who should not be tainted with blood.

I clenched my half-raised hand and looked at my brother, whose face was now so wrinkled that tears were about to flow.

“If you’re seventeen, you’re still young, brother. It’s the age when you need a father.”

“Damn it. You know that the stars… love you more than me.”

Still, I forced a bitter smile and replied to my brother’s attempt to hold on to me.

“A close brother can replace anyone, but a father can’t be replaced.”

“Fine.”

Finally, my brother realized that he couldn’t break my will and lowered his head.

Waaahhh!!!

Right after that, the sound of dozens of wheels racing on the rainy road signaled that the end of our parting was near.

If I hesitated any longer, both my brother and she would be involved in this heinous incident. So, I bid farewell to my tearful brother and the peacefully sleeping girl.

“Brother, I’m going now. You must succeed while I’m away. You know that, right?”

It was an extension of the dream story that my brother and I had shared before coming here, a story we had never shared before.

In response to this undoubtedly burdensome farewell, my brother nodded with a face covered in tears and snot.

“Yes, I’ll succeed miserably while you suffer. I’ll do my best to make your dream come true.”

“I believe you. As always.”

With those words, my brother and I went our separate ways.

I headed towards the bright main road illuminated by the orange light of the harbor. My brother headed towards the dark alley where no light reached.

Is this finally the end? The life of gangster Kang Jin-hyuk.

A world of blood and fists, where he entered without knowing anything, fueled by youthful energy.

The story of a fool who disregarded all the rules of society that any normal person should follow and simply sought to achieve his desires through fighting, comes to a close today.

“W-what the heck… huh? Hey, isn’t that person…?”

“Hey, you idiot! Anyone can see that you’re a suspect! Run over there and subdue him!”

“Yes, sir!”

Two detectives who got out of the police car noticed me and approached with hostility in their eyes.

Swoosh!

At the same time, a dozen police cars followed behind them and parked on the street. Seeing the unfamiliar crowd of law enforcement for the first time in my life, I obediently extended my wrists.

“W-why are you willingly offering your hands?”

“I-I mean, right? No, why… I mean, right now, that’s not the important thing! He’s an important suspect. Put the handcuffs on quickly!”

“But he’s not resisting and willingly extended his wrists.”

“Why would he extend his wrists? Because he must have committed a crime! Of course, you didn’t resist, but we came here today to arrest everyone in this port. So hurry up and put on the handcuffs and read him his rights!”

“Oh, yes. Um… you have the right to remain silent…”

“Heh.”

Without any resistance, I obediently extended my wrists, and as the short comedy unfolded and an awkward Miranda warning was given, I chuckled and looked up at the sky.

“It’s really pouring.”

“What? What do you mean?”

As I raised my head and looked at the sky, rain poured down as if it could wash away any stain.

“It’s raining. It’s pouring heavily.”

Note: The “Miranda warning” refers to the right to remain silent and the warning that anything said can be used against the suspect in a court of law.

“······Ah, yes. It’s early spring, but with rain like this, it feels like it’s going to be incredibly cold for a while.”

“Hey, punk! What are you chatting with the suspect for! Finish up and hurry, take him to the car!”

“Ugh?! Yes, yes, understood!”

Relentlessly, as if capable of erasing even the bloodstains that seemed impossible to disappear, the sky poured down rain.

“Well, now that the questioning is over······ would you like to go?”

“Ah······ Yes. Let’s go.”

Lowering my head again, I continued to walk towards the police car following the somewhat awkward guidance of the police officer.

※※※

Ten years of imprisonment.

A sentence handed down under the charge of attempted murder, the responsibility of the years I had to bear.

The older brother who witnessed the first verdict, with a fiery temper, was expelled, shouting, ‘How does a gangster getting beaten by another gangster turn into attempted murder!’ I accepted this verdict with humility.

Ten years is enough time for a third-rate punk like me to be forgotten by the world, and I hoped the world would forget me.

“But to call this attempted murder and give 10 years. It’s quite fascinating.”

There seemed to be a clear intention somewhere trying to inquire about my existence, but I, who happened to desire a long life, didn’t have any particular doubts.

Feelings of revenge or injustice are emotions that arise when you’re unfairly angry or upset. For someone like me who wanted to live long, the verdict of ten years in prison was actually a good thing.

“No, is ten years really too long? Wouldn’t seven be enough to forget everything?”

I had given up on the appeal and accepted the verdict, so having regrets now wouldn’t change the sentence.

But still, a bit of regret lingered, leading me into some utterly pointless thoughts while in transit.

“Ah, sorry about that. There was a sudden signal.”

The detective who had gone to the restroom returned, and as he grabbed the handcuffs binding my hands, he erased the lingering thoughts from my mind.

“No, it’s okay.”

“hehehehe, then of course it’s okay. You guys are just going to prison late for the time I spent in the bathroom.”

“hahahaha, that’s true.”

With the last pointless joke, I followed the detective’s lead and took a step.

No, I tried to take a step.

“Why aren’t you even appealing? Did you just give up knowing it won’t work anyway?”

Until a very unfortunate voice came from behind.

When I turned my head, I saw the prosecutor in charge of my case, the one who sentenced me to ten years in prison. I can’t remember his name.

To be precise, I don’t remember because I don’t need to remember.

“No, it’s not that. Someone who knows it won’t work wouldn’t do something like that.”

Muttering incomprehensible words, the prosecutor approached me with heavy steps.

And with an unfortunate face wearing unfortunate glasses, he faced me and spoke with an eerie voice.

“Cutting off your tail? Do you have a reliable backer? No, there was no such thing when I investigated. A guy with no backer, no colleagues, no peers, why did you do such a thing? I can’t understand it. That’s why I came. Why did you do it?”

There were many words I could say if asked why I did it, but because his face, voice, and expression were all unfortunate, I didn’t say anything.

“Ha. You won’t answer, right? Well, it’s pointless to ask for answers from a first-timer who got 10 years for attempted murder. It’s hard to get the answer you want. Life sucks, so I don’t want to say anything. Especially to a prosecutor who messed up his own life. Right?”

I’m actually glad to have received 10 years. But there’s no reason to mention that fact.

If I’m stamped as a crazy guy who actually likes receiving three years in prison, it could cause problems when I get released and start a new life.

So I remained silent, and the prosecutor let out a sarcastic laugh and said,

“Fine, I understand. I must be crazy for asking a messed-up guy about things I’m curious about. I messed up my own life as the puppet of the people above, so I achieved my goal… and it seems like you’re not causing any trouble either. Alright then. Go. Detective? Take good care of the prisoners, please?”

“Ah… Yes, sir.”

With those words, the prosecutor, oozing a scent as if hinting at some dark conspiracy, turned his back and left.

Watching his retreating figure, I thought to myself.

What a useless man, this so-called prosecutor.

Whether there’s a conspiracy behind my sentence or not, I’m content with the prison life given to me, so I decided to simply ignore that matter.

Right, I’m too busy thinking about self-improvement in the slammer to spare time for some weird conspiracy.

My only task is to strive towards realizing the dreams I harbored in my heart during my gangster days, once I’m out. I have no leisure to be distracted by other trivial matters.

Thus, erasing the prosecutor with his unpleasant words and face from my mind, I firmly resolved to picture myself ten years from now.

Once released… I’ll definitely become the best idol manager!