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Chapter 142
“…….It’s nothing.”
“He’s upset 1 because breakfast didn’t taste good.”
I also didn’t want the after-effects of our disharmony to show, but Seo Dawon’s cold response stung my sensibilities. I mean, no matter how much the other tried to help, how could you pretend to be so intimate after making a mess and leaving?
I stared at Seo Dawon’s tranquil self. But, because Jung Garam angrily shouted, ‘What, it’s my first time cooking!” I missed the chance to be angry at the Mage.
Eventually, I silently swallowed a sigh–because there was nothing wrong with the food–and forced myself to swallow a bite of the fried rice.
“I think we can proceed with the operation faster than we thought.” Kim Olim placed her laptop on the table, fiddled with it alone, and then turned the screen towards us to show us something. On it was a picture of Park Hoseok, our target for next week, being issued tickets at the airport.
“This information arrived in the morning; it’s said that Park Hoseok is headed to Jeju Island. We don’t know what for, but he said he was in a hurry and is moving secretly without a security detail.”
“Without the family too?” Jung Garam, whose eyes shone when it came to matters regarding Park Hosek, immediately squeezed himself between Kim Olim and me and concentrated on the screen.
Kim Olim nodded gently. “Koo Hui-seo was the one who handed this information to us. According to him, Koo Kyungman enjoyed golf as a hobby and stopped by Jeju Island whenever he had a break. Also, the family villa Park Hoseok purchased in Jeju Island was close to a villa owned by Koo Kyungman.”
“Then, why is he moving alone this time?”
“According to Koo Hui-seo, the police had expanded their scope to Jeju Island during the investigation into Koo Kyungman’s whereabouts. He thinks he’s acting upon that news. There must be something hidden all the way out there.”
Since Koo Kyungman was currently in custody, he couldn’t contact Park Hoseok. However, as he became a prime suspect in Chairwoman Shin’s murder and the police couldn’t find his location, it seemed that his personal villa and his entourage had become implicated in the fires of suspicion.
Since Park Hoseok was previously affiliated with the [Red Dragon], he had no choice but to be entangled with Koo Kyungman. Both of them had not lived conscientiously until now.
“Perhaps……there’s something at the Jeju Island villa?”
“Because of that, Koo Hui-seo was caught on that detail as well. He asked his brother how many times he visited his villa and how often he traveled with Park Hoseok: Koo Kyungman said he visited about 20 times last year, and 14 of them were spent with Park Hoseok.” As she said that, Kim Olim showed the documents requesting approval for vacation, which drew from the company’s public funds.
…..No, 800 million won? No matter how rich you may be, how could you spend 800 million won on a week-long vacation? Wouldn’t that mean he spent more than 100 million won a day?
However, while I was shocked by the cost, Seo Dawon asked Kim Olim a question after listening silently, “Did Koo Hui-seo ask his brother about his vacations in JeJu Island?”
“He asked, but it seems like he couldn’t ask thoroughly since Koo Kyungman’s condition is quite bad these days. He’s lost at least half of his language skills.”
‘Did he ask?’…I guess that was akin to asking if he had tortured him. I got goosebumps when I recalled Koo Kyungman’s creepy, dulled voice through the voice recorder.
Jung Garam confidently shouted, “Well, in any case, this is a good thing, right? He went alone without his security detail nor his bothersome family; we should get rid of him before he returns to Seoul Hub.”
“…….”
“We’re not fully prepared yet, but…I agree with Jung Garam’s opinion. It’s the best opportunity.”
Even in my opinion, it would be best to attack when Park Hoseok was separated from his security.
However, instead of readily agreeing, Seo Dawon looked at me; when we locked gazes, he turned away.
“……?”
“Fine. Then, let’s leave straight away on a morning flight.” Soon afterwards, Seo Dawon nodded, getting rid of the coyness he held while looking at me. I felt a bit awkward, but I couldn’t take the initiative to hold his attention because of the distance I felt from earlier events.
* * *
That evening, we finished our meal quickly and informed Koo Hui-seo that we would depart tomorrow.
Originally, it was not a simple procedure for Users to leave the hub and head to Gimpo Airport 2, but Koo Hui-seo had provided passes that [Red Dragon] guild executives used, allowing them to leave for Gimpo Airport at dawn without any hassle.
Koo Hui-seo, through his secretary, had not only sent passes but had also sent chauffeurs and luxury limousines. It was very considerate since I had no car, but the small amount of gratitude that I gained had shriveled up when we sat down in the rear seat and Koo Hui-seo’s video was shown on the backseat screens.
[I recorded in a hurry because I was worried you’d forget my face… I had planned to greet you with Kyungman-ie, but he’s a bit sensitive–perhaps because he’s in the early stages of his pregnancy. So you won’t get bored during your travels–]
When I forcibly turned off the screen, unable to endure it any longer, Jung Garam burst into uproarious laughter. “Ah, so fucking funny. Isn’t Koo Hui-seo so hilarious? He recorded and sent a video to Lee-kyung-ie…but he thought of including Koo Kyungman too…”
I shook the arm that the younger was leaning on since the way he laughed so openly about another’s misfortune was so despicable. However, Jung Garam said, “Did I record that video? Why are you frustrated with me?!” and clung even harder, tangling his arms with mine.
As soon as Koo Hui-seo’s video turned on, Kim Olim raised her eyebrows; when I turned off the screen, she crossed her legs and closed her eyes. It seemed, though, that she wasn’t able to completely relax; her eyes were open just a sliver, glaring at the turned-off screen.
And Seo Dawon, who I had been concerned about since yesterday, briefly looked my way before gazing out the window, as if he weren’t interested.
“With how much he likes Lee-kyung-ie…how did he stop himself from following us?” In the meantime, Jung Garam continued to be annoying.
“The police are suspicious of Koo Hui-seo; it’ll be hard for him to be at the front.” Surprisingly, Kim Olim gave a serious answer to Jung Garam’s jeers. With a frown, she continued, “There’s no reason in the first place for the guild’s successor to kill his stepmother and flee. In this case, Koo Hui-seo, the first one to report this incident, would be the most suspicious. If he were to get entangled in this mess, he’d be questioned intensively.”
The investigation’s focus was just barely out of Koo Hui-seo’s way since no corpse was found and evidence of Koo Kyungman’s wicked deeds were discovered.
It was honestly creepy for me when I had briefly convinced myself that all matters with Koo Kyungman had finished. Koo Hui-seo’s potential downfall was not only his business, after all; I was deeply tied to it.
‘It’s not completely over yet…’
If so, then shouldn’t we be cautious of our surroundings this time? Looking at Seo Dawon, who wouldn’t tear his eyes away from the window, I speculated that he wasn’t worried about whether or not Jung Garam would be able to beat Park Hoseok…but, instead, what would happen afterwards.
The young assassin was far from the type of person that would proceed carefully or think deeply about their actions. Furthermore, our revenge wasn’t within legal bounds either.
“We’ve arrived.”
However, I had no time to contemplate such matters deeply–the distance between the Seoul Hub and Gimpo Airport was close.
After traveling on an unobstructed road, we arrived at Gimpo Airport in about 30 minutes.
At the entrance of the Gimpo Airport, we went through the [User-only] gate. From there, the pass that Koo Hui-seo provided showed its strength.
Our trip certainly felt different from my high school field trip to Jeju Island, but the reception that came with the pass felt particularly awkward. The flight attendant personally came to the lounge; we only waited 30 minutes to board. Sweet comments like, ‘If you need anything, please let us know.’ were thrown our way twice.
‘How burdensome…’
I wasn’t the only person in the lounge; there were quite a few others. There were a few people that were obviously dressed like they were on vacation, but those that seemed to be Users kept glancing at me. The atmosphere felt a bit strange.
“…….Huh?”
At that moment, I heard a voice from behind.
I thought, ‘Of course, that’ll have nothing to do with me,’ but the protagonist of that voice (gah this is how it’s written in the original) made her way immediately in front of me with clacking steps.
“I’m right? The one who sold the Barnasiums…Do you remember me?”
“…….Yes?”
At first, I was taken aback by the fact that strangers were blocking my view, but gradually I began to feel that the woman in front of me was familiar.
Her bronzed skin, her sporty haircut, and the glimpses of the tattoos on her exposed shoulders. More decisively, her talk about the [Barnasiums].
“Uh, huh? Good morning…”
She was the last person to buy the [Barnasiums] I sold. Then, later, I ran into her alongside Bae Jaemin’s party at the department store…
Not knowing what I should do, I offered her a clumsy smile and a greeting, but my insides burned with anxiety. I had a feeling that something was about to go wrong.
“What are you doing?” a man asked.
My premonition wasn’t wrong.
While I greeted the woman, someone with green, cropped hair popped out from behind her and stared at me.
It was the man that began to release bloodthirst when Bae Jaemin had first shown interest in me… I made eye contact with the man who was confirmed as an executive member of HaHae on TV broadcast.
TL: Whoops, this chapter came a bit later than I wanted >.