Chapter 344 - Halia's Condition

Jackson ran out of the warehouse with Halia in his arms. She had been unwell since they were on the plane that morning so he began to worry. Was she sick? Was it something serious? Or was she hurt during the fight with Eagle?

As he exited, he spotted a familiar figure waiting for them inside a car. Although he was tempted for a moment to run away with the money that Eagle gave him, Herman Song thought about all the trouble he had caused and decided to stick by what he had promised and wait outside. 

"Mr. Song, you have made the right choice," Jackson said briefly as he walked past.

"I hope so," Herman replied as he watched Jackson carry Halia into his car. "Is something wrong with Mrs. Wu?"

A moment later, Kwon approached the two men and said, "I will take Eagle and his assistant straight to the Interpol office. With so many witnesses and evidence, they won't be able to deny their crimes even if they have any other insiders. Mr. Song, you can come with me. You are vital in apprehending them."

Even though he was confused, Herman nodded his head and followed Kwon to his car.

As soon as Kwon started the car, Herman asked, "Is something wrong with Mrs. Wu? Did she get hurt?"

Kwon shrugged, "We're not sure yet. Jackson is taking her to the hospital to check."

Herman frowned and turned around to look at Jackson's car worriedly. If they were really to become family like Jackson said, then Halia was family too. Kwon looked at the man and smiled. This man actually had a heart.

"Why did you turn back to crime when you were released? You don't seem all that bad. Wasn't 6 years in prison enough of a lesson for you?" he couldn't help but ask.

Herman sighed turned back to the front and replied, "I had no other means for survival. It's all I've ever done and it's the only thing I know how to do. Plus, with my history, who would hire an ex-convict?"

Kwon glanced at the man. He could tell he wasn't a completely bad guy, he simply thought he had no choice. Kwon once felt the same way and he had met many people that felt that way too, but he knew now that there was definitely a choice.

"When you get released from prison this time, come look for me at the 'Second Life Bar' in Itaewon. I will find you a job and help you get back on your feet," Kwon offered.

Herman turned his head and looked at the man in surprise. As he looked at him in detail, he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

"Have we met before? Why are you helping me?" Herman asked.

Kwon focused on the road in front of him and smiled, "We met briefly about 7-8 years ago..."

Herman thought carefully and scanned his eyes across the man with curiosity. That was when he noticed there was a tattoo wrapped around his wrist. 

A dragon's tail!

However, the tattoo had been reworked a little and there were lotus flowers around the base of the tail. Lotus flowers were a symbol of purity; of rising from the darkness. Just like the way that a lotus flower emerged from muddy waters unscathed, it seemed, this man had emerged from prison and started a new life.

Kwon saw the man look at his tattoo and smiled. With one swift movement, he lifted his sleeve so the man could have a better look. As expected, the base of the tattoo was exactly the same as Herman's. It was the same dragon from the same artist. The only difference was, Kwon's tattoo had been reworked to convey a completely different meaning. Not only did the dragon look like it was emerging with the lotus flowers, the white pearl in its mouth was transformed into a Yin-Yang symbol and its body was surrounded by splashes of water. The dark, dull underworld tattoo was now a piece of art with multiple meanings. Like a dragon emerging from the darkness (the lotus), Kwon was cleansed (by water) and had reached a balance in life (the Yin-Yang symbol).

At that moment, Herman suddenly remembered the man. 7-8 years ago, when Kwon was in his early 20's, he accompanied his boss to meet with Herman. He was a foul-mouthed, arrogant punk at that time, but now, that scrawny little troublemaker had turned into a mature businessman that owned one of the most popular bars in Itaewon.

Hope glittered in Herman's eyes. Kwon was the perfect example of someone that had picked himself up, turned a new leaf, and started a new life. If this man could do it, then he could do it too...

...

Meanwhile, Jackson and Halia arrived at the nearest hospital they could find. Kwon had left one of his boys with them to help with translation if needed and the young man quickly got one of the doctors to check on Halia. The young man's name was Lucas. He was only 18, but he could already converse perfectly in Korean, Mandarin, and English.

As Jackson and the young man waited outside for the doctors to run a thorough checkup on Halia, Jackson asked Lucas with interest, "How did you end up working for Kwon?"

He knew that Kwon generally hired ex-convicts, reformed gangsters, and troubled teens, but this young man looked clean-cut and well educated. What was his story?

Lucas smiled, "I met him when I was 15. I ran away from home because my father was a drug addict and I ended up on the streets. If Kwon didn't happen to walk past me one day, I may have joined a gang to survive. Kwon practically raised me like a younger brother. He gave me a place to stay, he found me a part-time job at a convenience store, and he paid for my tuition fees so I could continue studying. Since his bar is in Itaewon, I decided to repay him by studying languages. That way, I can help with the foreigners that visit. I'll be working there starting from this summer when I turn 19."

Jackson nodded proudly, Kwon had turned into such a great person and he was happy for him.

At that moment, the door to the doctor's room finally opened and Halia walked back out.

The doctor looked at Lucas and said a few things in Korean. Although she knew some basic English, it was easier to explain Halia's condition in her mother tongue, so she let the young man do the translating instead.

Lucas nodded his head as he listened. The doctor seemed to be saying a lot and it made the couple anxious. They even saw Lucas furrow his brows at one point. Was Halia's condition serious?

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the doctor finished speaking and Lucas bowed politely at the middle-aged woman. He then turned to the couple and said, "The doctor told Mrs. Wu to go home and get some rest. Don't strain your body too much, remember to eat breakfast, have foods with fiber if you can, take some iron and folic acid vitamins, eat about two meals of fish or shellfish a week, stay away from soft cheeses and lunch meat, limit caffeine and avoid alcohol..."

Lucas listed all the things that the doctor had told him, but the couple were getting impatient. "Stop, Lucas! Can you tell us what the diagnosis is first? Is it something serious?" Jackson finally interrupted.

Lucas looked at the anxious couple and shook his head, "The doctor said...Mrs. Wu is pregnant..."