37 Second hun (2/2)
”You- you shouldn't use it for any bad purposes. Okay?”
”Yeah, don't worry. I am preparing a gun shop, remember?”
”Yes, but-”
”It's for emergencies. You surely know how many fans I have now. If I start the business, the store will a be hit. Then I will have broken equipment that I will need replacements for. I can't let them wait too long or else they will become impatient and hit me back. Then my shop worth 600 million won will go down altogether. But I can't use only authentic stuff, you know. It's too expensive.”
Joonbum explained calmly as Taesoo listened. His worries seemed to be fading.
”So can I take a look?”
Taesoo scanned the area. There was nowhere to hide. He raised the cover up to show the rifle placed neatly inside the wooden box.
'It's crazy.'
The rifle inside was something called an AR-22 assault rifle. Its low-maintenance and durability earned the rifle its fame.
'Good, good.'
The wooden box contained two more AR-22s. He counted the number and closed the cover.
”And the sniper rifle?”
”Here.”
Taesoo opened another box, revealing two Korean-made sniper rifles called the KSA-24. There were extra parts laid beside them.
'Two will be enough.'
Taesoo opened another box to show the other parts such as the scopes. Next, he opened many other boxes that contained ammo, packed gunpowder, and a machine for making bullets.
'He really did get all of it.'
Joonbum turned his eye to look at Taesoo.
”Thank you.”
”It's okay, but make sure you don't use it for any wrong purposes,” Taesoo reminded him as he was handed over the money. His hand was shaking terribly.
”Don't worry. Shall we load it?”
Taesoo nodded at the suggestion.
*
'I guess money can buy a lot of things.'
Joonbum never thought there was a way to buy real guns in Korea. So he opened up a shooting range, but the money did all the tricks for him. This was proved with how Taesoo managed to acquire those guns. He was the middleman, providing Joonbum what he needed for his shooting range.
-Oh, if you do it on your own, it won't cost you a lot. Get some equipment, an empty shell, and get your bullets. It's easy.-
It was him who thought of the idea of making his own bullets. It was illegal to recycle shells, but many did it to cut costs. Joonbum looked it up on the internet and it seemed to be really easy. There were chances of creating faulty ones, but it wouldn't pose any problems otherwise.
'I moved it here so no one can intervene now.'
Joonbum moved his car into the greenhouse and connected the trailer that was loaded with the shipped goods that his mother received while he was out. Joonbum then took out his guns and started test firing them. He disassembled them all and started cleaning them when he was done.
”Hmm. Why am I so calm though?”
Joonbum mumbled as he was cleaning three assault rifles, one handgun, and a sniper rifle.
”I was never this calm. Maybe I've changed.”
Joonbum glanced at the mirror. He was called a toad before, but now he looked like a frog. It was not only his face that changed. There was no more fat on his body as it had been replaced by muscles. It even caused the viewers to suspect them to be fake.
”Son, get ready.”
His mother brought him coffee as she finished preparing.
”I think you like it better than me.”
His mother frowned. ”Of course. I feel like I'm getting healthier when I'm there. The air is so bad here that I don't want to come back anymore.”
”But you don't know anyone there.”
”What do you mean? I made friends with those Ainos people already. I think I have more friends there than here. I don't even remember last time I met my friends here because of work.”
Joonbum suddenly felt sad after hearing her words. He brightened up and spoke out.
”Let's go, ma'am!”
”Yes, time to go.”
They hopped on the truck and waited for the Gate to open. Joonbum slowly drove towards the oncoming phenomenon that had many names, going back to the other world.