I Got Fired, So I Built the Strongest Crime Syndicate Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Read chapter 11 of I Got Fired, So I Built the Strongest Crime Syndicate by TheSacredFlame on NovelPedia.

"You're telling me I wasn't even the first one?" Joon looked personally offended, one hand pressed dramatically against his chest like Jin had just betrayed him in the worst way possible. They were walking through the streets of Eunpyeong, moving away from the quieter residential blocks and back towards the inner parts of Seoul. It was a bit after noon, so he saw plenty of delivery scooters cutting through traffic like they owned the road, and the smell of grilled meat from a nearby street vendor made Jin realize he was somehow hungry again. Jin kept his hands in his pockets and walked at a steady pace, with Joon walking beside him. "You let some random guy beat me to it?" Joon continued. "After everything we've been through? After years of friendship? That's cold." Jin sighed. "Min." Joon glanced at him. "What?" "His name is Min, and he's not really some random guy.'" Joon narrowed his eyes dramatically. "Oh, my God! You know his name. My heart is broken." Jin rolled his eyes. "He works for me, of course, I know his name." "And yet somehow I, your lifelong friend, was chosen second." Joon shook his head slowly. "Where is the loyalty? Where is the respect? I should leave the organization immediately." "You joined like twenty minutes ago." "Yeah, but it's about the principle." Jin let out a quiet laugh despite himself. "Should I remind you that you invited me to be an accomplice to your crime without telling me anything?" "That is completely unrelated." "Is it really?" Joon clicked his tongue. "You focus too much on details." Jin shook his head. "You're impossible." "Yeah," Joon said with a grin, "but I'm useful." That part, annoyingly, was true. "Just shut up." They turned onto a wider street where the city felt fully awake now. Office workers walked by with coffee in hand, old men sat outside convenience stores, and people passed them both without a second glance. Which was a weird thing to experience, knowing you were a leader of a criminal organization. Life truly was the strangest thing. Joon adjusted the strap of the duffel bag on his shoulder. "Still," he said, voice lighter now, "I've got people I can talk to that might be able to benefit our organization." Jin glanced at him. "What kind of people?" Joon smirked immediately. "Ah, so now you're interested." "Obviously." Joon pretended to think about it for a second, then he shrugged. "Maybe if I were your first employee, I'd tell you." Jin stared at him. "You're serious?" "Completely." He pointed at him. "But no. I've been disrespected, deeply wounded in fact, so now I'm afraid I'll have to do as you say and shut up." Jin rubbed his temples. "You're acting like a child." "I'm acting like a valued member of management." "You are not management." "I'm literally your second-in-command." "You assigned that title to yourself." "And you didn't deny it." Jin opened his mouth, then closed it again. Technically, he was right plus he was definitely the one suitable for the role. Joon smirked at him. "Exactly." Jin sighed. "…Fine. Keep your mysterious criminal contacts." "Thank you." Joon nodded like he'd been granted justice. "But," he added, voice shifting slightly, becoming more serious, "they're not just going to jump because I ask." Joon continued walking, but the joking tone faded. "This isn't a school club. People don't risk their necks for a cool speech and friendship." He glanced at Jin. "They follow power, money, fear, and reputation." Jin stayed quiet because he was right; not everyone was like Joon. The only reason Joon joined was that they were lifelong friends and he believed in him more than others did. "If I tell them I've got a friend with big dreams, they'll laugh," Joon said. "If I tell them there's a name people are starting to hear…" His grin returned. "…then they'll listen." Jin thought about the silver paint on that wall that left the mark of their organization. APEX. "…So we make some noise first." Joon nodded once. "Exactly." He bumped shoulders with him li