A small smile cracked through Gyun's typically expressionless face, as he washed the dishes as his family enjoyed breakfast on a Saturday morning. There was a simplicity in doing something so simple with his family that couldn't be compared to anything else.
Though his mom caught him returning home late, she still believed that he'd been on a field trip with his school. That 'she' had provided to his family for his week-long disappearance, he was still beaten for a few minutes, his mother still hit hard enough to leave a few bruises and made to do the dishes for a month.
As he finished washing the dishes, he dried his hands before heading to his room to change into the clothes he was given by 'her'.
After being scolded by his mom, he opened the yellow envelope to read the contents, the target was a small-time gang that was especially violent and disrupting business for 'them' that were operating out of an upscale famous club 'OneNight' in Gangnam. Estimated members number 40-50 potential guards all experienced thugs, possibly firearms. The second in command is an ex-mercenary from the Congo War. The leader was an ex-cartel sicario defector who ran away with tens of millions of laundered U.S dollars from a Mexican cartel and established roots in Seoul, the report said he was quite dangerous despite being in his 40s.
Though it would be a difficult mission, 'they' would be also giving the mission to a team of 3 ex-triad enforcers who were on the rise in the underworld making a name for themselves as a team of discreet 'trackers'.
Gyun had run into them once a few months ago when he first got involved with 'them' They went under the code name 'Hound' a fitting name since they're skills are only at that of a guard dog. They were organized and ruthless but they were not the most skilled, if Gyun had to give them a danger rating, he classified them as a 40 out of 100. But since they were efficient and listened to orders well it shouldn't be a big issue, and since 'they' would handle the cleanup there was no reason to be overly discreet.
He would have to move quickly, inside were pictures of the layout and a disposable phone to contact 'Hound'. As well as a key to a subway locker in Gangnam with the gear that Gyun would use to handle the gang.
Though he wasn't fully healed yet it didn't matter since the deadline was two weeks, his fractured sternum wouldn't change much whether it was one day or two weeks.
He went to his room, amidst the laughs of his family his smile vanishing as he pulled out the disposable phone dialing the only number in the phone.
He closed the door as the phone rang, sitting on his bed he waited until the call connected on the third ring.
A gruff but respectful voice came over the phone, "Ah is this our friend 'Van Gogh'? You're quite early don't tell me you want to start the mission already?"
"Is this Hound 1?"
Gyun could hear in the background Chinese, he honestly forgot who was who, he spoke in rough Chinese but it was still understandable. "This is why you should get separate codenames, I can't tell the difference"
A short laugh came over the phone, "Well tell us the day and time and we'll be ready bu-"
Gyun hastily covered the phone, as his brother opened his room door, putting on a bright expression.
"What?"
Daegun glanced around, "Mom wants to know if you want to go to help her with shopping today?"
"Yeah sure, what time?"
"I don't know in like an hour maybe"
"Yeah that's fine"
"Ok well, I'll tell her" Daegun closed the door nodding, Gyun uncovered the phone but to his horror, the phone hadn't been muted.
His expression immediately fell, his face once again emotionless his eyes empty as they stared at the phone awaiting a response.
After a moment's silence, the respectful tone that 'Hound' was keeping with him had vanished, "Hey 'Van Gogh' I knew you were young but living with your mom?"
Internally sighing to himself for making such a dumb mistake, "My personal and professional life are quite different but that has nothing to do with the mission, we have less leniency as independent contractors so we can't afford to miss the deadline so do-"
"Hey 'Van Gogh' tell me do you have a sister? That's right if she's related to you, she'll probably beautiful." the tone was disgusting, Gyun could imagine the expression on the man's face on the other side of the phone
Gyun's tone soured "That's right I never should have shown trash like you any shred of professionalism, we meet across the target location tomorrow at 10 PM, and we go through the front-"
Interrupted Gyun, 'Hound's voice spoke over him with that revolting tone"Well even if you don't have a sister, you do have a mother right?"
Breathing in deeply in an effort to calm himself, "See you Hound" Hanging up the phone, he sat silently for a moment on his bed. Before reaching across his bed to his nightstand and in the drawer was his pain medication, he took two pills along with his anti-depressant medication.
He felt lazy not working out but it was best not to aggravate his injuries more than he will tomorrow, so he sat down cross-legged on the floor to meditate since it was the only physically straining exercise he could do to strengthen himself, he set an hour-long timer to remind himself.
Breathing in and out rhythmically at very specific intervals, he separated his mind from all distractions. An hour flew by quite fast as Gyun's phone alarm rang.
Opening his eyes, he felt refreshed mentally, his mind felt less tired and more focused as he sat up. He found that he was sweating from maintaining intense focus for an hour, taking off his clothes and tossing them into his laundry basket he opened his closet to change into a pair of clothes but his closet was empty besides a single white dress shirt.
-Well I guess it makes sense I haven't clothesshopped since I first arrived back in the modern world...but there is 'that'-
Gyun glanced behind him in the corner of the room was the designer outfit, 'she' gave him the night before.