Chapter 34: El Municionero (2)

Chapter 34: El Municionero (2)

Two days later, in the eastern suburbs of Houston.

The Mexican fugitive introduced by the chieftain was living a quiet retirement life on a ranch close to the lake and the sea. To be honest, it was quite unexpected. I had anticipated a rough life of squandering money on gambling and drugs, leading to destitution. Not only because of preconceptions about cartels but also because I believed he had to reach that point before he would finally offer his connections.

‘By the way, he asked me to buy dog food on the way.’

I could understand showing me around the front yard, but it was the first time someone had asked me to buy dog food. I couldn’t tell if the person was naive or intentionally testing my reaction. If the chieftain hadn’t explained that he was closer to the former, I might have simply ignored it. If it was an attempt to test my disposition, well, there was a chance I might not comply.

A faint smell of manure seeped in through the open window with the chilly winds. The sign that read “Dos Vaqueros” was getting closer as we drove at speed.

“We’re here.”

Kyung-tae, who had taken the wheel himself, parked the car in front of the store. The escort vehicles that had been following us parked on either side. The land had plenty of pastures, but it wasn’t a comfortable place for people to live, as many trees opened their circuits and distributed themselves near the quiet store.

“Will you wait in the car, or...”

“I’ll enjoy the winds too.”

“Sure.”

Kyung-tae, who had gotten out of the car, opened the door for me. The guys in the escort vehicle were waiting inside.

Bawk, bawk, bawk.

I watched as the chicks pecked at the feed in the chicken coop fence. Among these aspiring roosters, there were individuals with opened circuits. There seemed to be some connection with the bloodstains left in the corner of the chicken coop. Kyung-tae clicked his tongue, savoring the moment.

“It might be harder to eat chicken from now on.”

Even though they couldn’t see everything as I could, the guys I had personally adjusted to awakening for had senses open enough to indirectly perceive changes in the magical field. In other words, they had the ability to detect awakenings. The guy who occasionally ordered chicken and beer for the organization’s headquarters expressed genuine concern in his sighs.

“Are you really worried about that?”

“Hyungnim, chicken is a very serious matter. Haven’t you heard the saying that C between B and D is the chicken between birth and death? The disappearance of chicken is like the disappearance of life itself.” (+)[1]TLN: I’ll explain this below.

Suyeon slightly furrowed her brow.

“You’re making jokes too lightly in front of Hyungnim.”

“Oh, Noonim. This is a trend, a trend. Who else but me could keep Hyungnim up to date with the trends of today’s generation? I’m here to help Hyungnim stay young not only in body but also in mind. People age as much as they fall behind in trends, you know.”

“......”

Suyeon, with a puzzled expression, kept her mouth shut, not knowing what to respond with. Turning a taciturn person into one who displays such a variety of expressions could also be considered an ability.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

Although it was a joke, Kyung-tae’s prediction had its reasons, as always. The reason there might be more chicken restaurants in Korea than McDonald’s outlets worldwide could be that chicken was considered a representative of humble, commoner food. However, in the future, discerning between chicks would require awakening individuals with the ability and sense, and even mass breeding and mechanical slaughter using battery cages could become more difficult due to frequent accidents. When that day came, the prices of all meats that relied on factory farming would skyrocket. The success of the franchise business would no longer be the same as it is today.

In fact, the market had already shown signs of this change. It had been discussed in detail in the 3rd quarter investment report by Kim-ssi in Yeouido.

Ding, ding...

Hearing the clear sound of a notification bell, a staff member who was tidying up the shelves welcomed us with a smile.

“Hola.”

“Hola.”

Kyung-tae, upon receiving the greeting, showed the staff member a note with the name of the feed written on it. The staff member, understanding, gestured toward the interior of the spacious store. One of the security personnel followed the staff member. The staff member, who walked ahead, was openly carrying a pistol.

Meanwhile, I glanced at the newspapers on display in front of the counter and the posters on the corkboard on the wall. Among the posters, one that stood out prominently was a recruitment notice for a local militia.

It was a peaceful and serene landscape that gave a sense of tranquility. If I were to retire one day, I’d want to live in such a static and quiet place. It would be perfect if there were no other people there.

The vehicle came to a stop. Once again, Kyung-tae was the first to get out and open the door. In front of the ranch, a large satellite dish stood like a decorative ornament in the middle of the open field. It resembled a snowman made by rolling snowballs together, complete with a rounded appearance. After getting out of the car, I instructed Kyung-tae and Suyeon to proceed. The former cartel boss, who was waiting for us leaning against a pillar near the entrance to his residence, raised his hat in greeting when our eyes met.

“Mucho gusto[2]Nice to meet you. You’ve come a long way; I appreciate it.”

Beside the former cartel boss stood a woman who appeared to be his wife. They seemed quite relieved to see most of the security guards waiting near the car. I approached the boss, extending a gloved hand, disregarding the submachine gun he held at an angle.

“You may have heard it from the chief, but my name is Hwang.”

“Huang.”

The boss repeated my alias while shaking hands.

“You appear much younger in person than I expected, probably because you’re Asian. I’m Ricardo, and this is my wife, Araceli.”

Ricardo and Araceli. Were these their real names or aliases? In truth, even if they were their real names, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. High-ranking cartel fugitives typically had several identities prepared, and as long as they lived quietly and paid their taxes, the US authorities wouldn’t pay much attention to their names. As long as they didn’t get caught red-handed.

Moreover, in Mexico, first names were tools of anonymity. Because there were so many repeated names among the people there, they often referred to each other using their last names officially and informal nicknames (apodos) privately. The fact that cartel bosses called themselves by various nicknames was not unrelated to this cultural practice.

The fugitive received the dog food from Kyung-tae, placed it near the entrance, thanked us briefly, and then signaled with a fist bump, asking indirectly.

“Earlier, I noticed a drone flying around in the distance. Was that you guys who sent it?”

Indeed, there was a designated security team that was dispatched whenever necessary, responsible for identifying threats beyond my line of sight. I nodded in confirmation.

“You noticed it well. It was just routine reconnaissance. Did it make you uncomfortable?”

“It was unsettling. Caution is good, especially if it’s the caution of a business partner.”

Ricardo chuckled and nodded in the direction of his wife.

“That’s why I would appreciate it if you considered the fact that you were brought here from so far away and my wife’s cautiousness as caution. Even though you were introduced by the chief, it’s still quite unsettling to welcome someone without a single gun in my former workplace.”

“I understand. After all, one’s life is the best guarantee of good manners.”

“Haha! That’s a splendid expression! It seems like you’re growing on me already. Let’s go inside.”

Ricardo opened the door and gestured for us to enter. As we walked, the wooden floor creaked softly underfoot. I stepped into the negotiation room, where the air carried the scent of dry firewood and lavender.

This phrase “C between B and D is the chicken between birth and death? The disappearance of chicken is like the disappearance of life itself.” is a humorous play on words in Korean, using the letters of the alphabet as placeholders for concepts. Let me break it down:

B: Birth (탄생 in Korean)

C: Chicken (치킨 in Korean)

D: Death (죽음 in Korean)

So, in this phrase, “C” (Chicken) is humorously placed between “B” (Birth) and “D” (Death). The saying suggests that chicken (in the context of eating chicken) is something enjoyable and often consumed between the two significant life events of birth and death. It’s a lighthearted way of emphasizing the importance or enjoyment of simple pleasures like eating chicken in life.

In essence, it’s a humorous way of saying that chicken is a significant and enjoyable part of life, like a comforting and tasty experience between the profound moments of birth and death.

1. TLN: I’ll explain this below. 2. Nice to meet you Author's Thoughts

Disclaimer:

This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.

Also, if you find some error in translation please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to translate. But I'll try my best to make it at least readable :)

Enjoy reading~!