My Bloody Valentine - 85

“Driver, could you stop here for a moment?”

The taxi carrying Woosin stopped on a dark street, in front of a seven-story tourist hotel.

‘Aroma Tourist Hotel.’

His eyes checked the sign, “Jade,” at the entrance of the hotel, built with red bricks. The sign, which would have been brightly lit if the business were running, was turned off.

The area was a nightlife district filled with bars, karaoke rooms, and motels. Neon signs flashing in primary colors reflected on the asphalt. A more humid wind blew through the street where the flowers had withered and the greenery had deepened.

When Woosin showed no signs of getting out, the taxi driver, holding the wheel, grumbled, asking what he’d do if they got a parking ticket, urging him to get off.

Woosin handed his business card to the complaining driver. A detective in the violent crimes division hands out as many business cards as a salesperson.

“If you get a parking ticket because of this, just give me a call. I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, well… alright.”

The driver’s complaints ceased as soon as he checked the business card.

Woosin, on high alert, surveyed the street. Three gang members stood beside the entrance of a basement shop.

People out for entertainment noticed them and kept a distance. The men had an intimidating aura about them. Their shoulders, clad in matching black suits, were tense, as if preparing for a critical battle.

As Woosin observed the men with rough appearances, a black sedan passed in front of him. It was the same car that had just been parked in the underground lot, where Jang Taeshin had leaned and smoked a cigarette.

Taeshin got out of the driver’s seat of the car that stopped right in front of the establishment. The bouncers guarding the entrance naturally glanced at the car’s passenger and back seats to see if anyone was with him. As the guarded expressions and searching eyes faded, a suspicion arose as to whether he had truly come alone.

Woosin kept a close eye on Taeshin as he passed the men and entered the basement entrance, recalling the conversation they had a moment ago.

‘Why would I trust you and ask for help?’

‘That person trusts you. Even knowing who you are.’

‘…’

Taeshin not only knew that Woosin was a cop, but he also knew that Han was aware of that fact. He might even know that Woosin had failed when he tried to plant a bug through Han.

“I’ll get out now.”

After quickly paying the fare, Woosin got out of the taxi and leaned against a utility pole. Then, as if waiting for someone, he pretended to look at his phone and made a fake call, keeping his watchful gaze on the area.

❖ ❖ ❖

The hallway was so dim that it was hard to make out one’s steps, and a camera was installed on the ceiling’s edge, angled toward the entrance.

As Taeshin entered, the men behind the counter, who had been eating Chinese food, put down their chopsticks in unison and stood up.

Though he was alone, Taeshin was none other than Jang Taeshin, and the men who knew his reputation were slightly anxious and tense.

“Where is Director Oh?”

When Taeshin asked, one of the men pointed inside instead of answering.

Three men outside the entrance, and three behind the counter. Taeshin counted the number of gang members as he walked further down the hallway, until he encountered a door guarded by two more men.

As Taeshin approached without hesitation, the two men with fierce appearances blocked his path. Taeshin glanced them over. Their eyes, accustomed to fighting, and their solid builds. It seemed Oh Seong-jin had taken security seriously.

“Director, may we check you for weapons?”

“…”

Taeshin nodded. Just as the men were about to reach into his jacket pockets, the door suddenly burst open, and Oh Seong-jin appeared. His receding hairline and greasy face contrasted with his eyes, which were as sharp as razors.

“It’s fine. If Director Jang wanted to kill me, he could do it bare-handed. Isn’t that right?”

Seong-jin grinned and opened the door, clearing a path for Taeshin. He gestured for Taeshin to come in, while motioning for his men, who had intended to follow, to stay outside.

Taeshin surveyed the room from where he stood. In the middle was a round table, surrounded halfway by a sofa, where No Il-yeong sat. No was more known for his ability to navigate connections than for fighting.

Including these two, there were ten men. There might be a few more waiting elsewhere. Fighting a large group was difficult in an open space, but in a small, obstructed area like this, it wasn’t as bad. They couldn’t all attack at once.

“Oh, you really came alone after being told to? Director Jang, I have to give you credit for your nerve.”

Admiration and resentment swirled in Seong-jin’s eyes simultaneously. But to walk into his own death over a mere lover? It seemed too easy, almost anticlimactic.

Seong-jin sat down and invited Taeshin to sit once more.

“Why don’t you take a seat?”

“Where is she?”

“Let’s talk first. Don’t worry about your girlfriend; she’s fine.”

“…”

“This is some fine liquor. Representative No, was this 32-year-old?”

“It’s 36 years old.”

As Seong-jin raised his glass, No Il-yeong promptly filled it. All the while, Taeshin stood, glaring down with sharp eyes, waiting for an answer to his question.

“Oh, scary. Director Jang, why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I’ll release your girlfriend if you glare like that?”

“…”

“Just sit down already. You’re too tall. My neck hurts.”

Taeshin furrowed his brow and sat in the seat closest to the door. As if he had been waiting, Oh Seong-jin held out his glass and spoke.

“We should toast.”

“Do I look like I’m in the mood for that? In this situation?”

“…Does Director Jang still not know?”

Seeing Taeshin’s unchanged expression, Oh Seong-jin let out a disbelieving sigh.

“This guy, he really doesn’t know, does he? Chairman Bae has officially registered Director Jang in his family registry. Director Jang is now, on paper, Chairman Bae’s legitimate son.”

“…!”

Suddenly, Taeshin remembered something Chairman Bae often said.

‘When did I ever ask for your opinion?’

It was a signature phrase of Chairman Bae. Though it appeared as if he was asking for input, his questions were always just a form of notice, a command. This time had been no different.

Finally, everything clicked. The reason behind the greed in Oh Seong-jin’s wide eyes. What he truly wanted.

As if on cue, Oh Seong-jin tilted his head and emptied his glass, launching into a bitter complaint.

“I used to be someone who got called ‘hyung’… And then I spent three whole years driving for Chairman Bae. Three years… Can you believe it, three years.”

His eyes, which had seemed steeped in regret, quickly turned bloodshot.

“How can I hand over the position I crawled up to after enduring such humiliating times to a punk like you? To a wet-behind-the-ears brat?”

Oh Seong-jin slammed his fist on the table and glared at Taeshin. Even after those insulting words, there was no hint of a reaction on Taeshin’s face.

Sighing deeply, Oh Seong-jin tried to calm his anger, shoving aside the items on the table with the edge of his hand. He then took out a document he had prepared in advance and placed it on the table.

“It’s a transfer of rights. Sign it.”

Taeshin’s gaze fell on the document. It was a contract that promised to give up all the shares he held.

“Even if I can’t take the top seat, I should at least rise a bit higher, don’t you think? After all, how many years have I spent under Chairman Bae?”

“…”

“I was the only one who suffered and worked myself to the bone. Director Jang, you never cared about the shares anyway, did you? You probably didn’t even know they existed. So, isn’t this a fair deal, just handing over something you didn’t care about?”

Instead of responding, Taeshin narrowed his eyes, full of suspicion, as he stared at Oh Seong-jin. Sometimes non-verbal communication is more precise than spoken words.

What Taeshin saw in Oh Seong-jin’s eyes wasn’t just greed for money. It was an overwhelming inferiority complex, piled layer upon layer, so thick it was impossible to discern its depth. Seeing those murky, clinging emotions in his eyes, Taeshin realized something.

Even if I sign this document, he has no intention of letting me leave here alive.

Sometimes, a sudden intuition proves to be more accurate than any logical deduction based on experience.

Taeshin pushed the document away and leaned back against the sofa, his posture clearly rejecting the offer.

“I’ll do whatever you want—signing the document, anything—once I see that she leaves here safely.”

To think the famous Jang Taeshin could crumble like this. The value of that lover of his exceeded all expectations. Perhaps he would even do more—like kneeling or licking someone’s shoes—if asked.

A gleam of amusement appeared in Oh Seong-jin’s eyes.

❖ ❖ ❖

Without knowing what lay beyond the door, Han twisted the doorknob slowly, enduring the fear of the unknown. He moved so cautiously that no one standing outside, if there were any, would notice.

Creak.

The door’s ungreased hinges groaned. Han held his breath, waiting. After confirming that nothing happened, he gripped the doorknob again and pulled it. He cautiously poked his head out.

A mass of long, tangled hair blocked his view. He brushed the shiny, artificial locks aside and scanned the surroundings. The hallway stretched straight for about 10 meters before turning to the left. There was no one in sight.

She had said there was a laundry room near the refrigerator. Wanting to check if that was true, he turned back to look. The woman who had told him the escape route was still huddled in the corner of the room, anxiously pulling at her hair.

Han cautiously stepped out.

For a moment, he wondered if he had foolishly trusted the ramblings of someone high on drugs. But then, at the end of the hallway, he spotted the refrigerator. It was packed with wipes wrapped in plastic, alcohol, and bottles of water.

Just then, he heard footsteps. Han quickly opened the door right next to the refrigerator and slipped inside.