Perfect Mission Chapter 18 - Counterattack (1)

Chapter 18 – Counterattack (1)

 

“Excuse me. We heard reports of suspicious individuals entering the building. Let me see your business card.”

He took the real estate agent’s card and stepped aside. Junho continued to eye him suspiciously, and Mortar, feeling the scrutiny, subtly averted his gaze. Not out of fear, but because he knew things could get complicated if Junho called the police. He now knew why they were there, which was enough for him to avoid causing a scene unnecessarily.

As Junho walked past the two men, he realized that the man accompanying Mortar looked familiar. He soon recognized him as the fake detective from Seunghwawon.

“There’s something wrong with the security in this building.”

Junho grumbled as they returned to the real estate agency. The agent wiped his sweat and said defensively,

“That just means the security is thorough. Some people prefer that.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. It wouldn’t be a 10 billion won building if just anyone could wander in and out.”

“Well, that’s true. But they were too aggressive. Honestly, I was offended.”

“Haha, I understand. But you liked the house, didn’t you?”

“I liked the house, but…”

While the agent inwardly cursed the security guards, Junho looked around the office, pointed at a CCTV camera in the corner, and asked, “Is that working properly?”

The agent replied, “I assume so? The security company would know for sure.”

“I see. Alright. I’ll be in touch.”

“Oh, your business card…”

“I just arrived in Korea, so I haven’t had any made yet. I know your number, so I’ll contact you.”

Junho gave a slight bow to the flustered agent and left the agency, hailing a taxi. Mortar would likely question the agent and then realize that the potential buyer was suspicious.

A man who came to see such an expensive house arrived on foot and left in a taxi? And that a client looking for a luxury villa just happened to show up two hours after the property was listed? That would be even more suspicious.

It didn’t matter. Even if they traced the taxi’s license plate and checked the driving records, Junho would get out midway and walk.

Junho, continuing on his way to his officetel, sent a text message to the real estate agent from his burner phone.

[If anyone asks for the passcode to the house, just give it to them. There won’t be any repercussions.]

He immediately turned off the phone. He’d turn it on again when the war began.

 

***

 

A building in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.

A strange company called Hanil Technology Co., Ltd. occupied a space in this newly built, clean-looking office building. They didn’t have many employees, and the CEO’s appearance didn’t scream “businessman,” but he was wearing a suit, complete with cufflinks.

“He listed the house? Who is it? Were we wrong?”

The man with the shiny bald head, narrow eyes, and a strangely twisted smirk was trembling with rage.

Sitting across from him, nervously gauging his mood, was Mortar, whom Junho had encountered an hour ago.

“Even if the person we killed wasn’t Gorilla, he must have been close to him. Otherwise, the file wouldn’t have been hidden in his tooth.”

“You damn idiot! What’s that thing on your shoulders for? Whether Gorilla is dead or not is the important thing! Don’t you know errand boys are a dime a dozen?”

“…I apologize.”

“One of these days, you’re going to be the death of me. You hear me? One of these days.”

“…”

“Anyway, why would he list the house?”

Mortar, never one for strategic thinking, remained silent.

The bald man stroked his shiny head, deep in thought, then looked up.

“Squeeze that real estate agent for information.”

“Understood. Can I… rough him up a bit?”

“Use your own judgment, you idiot. Do I have to spell everything out for you?”

“I apologize.”

“But don’t go overboard. The security guard incident was a one-time warning, you got that?”

“Yes, sir.”

Even Mortar, despite his lack of intelligence, was wary of Korean law enforcement. That’s why he had held back from retaliating against Junho’s provocation earlier. If he had lost his temper and hit Junho, and the police had gotten involved, he might have had to flee the country.

“I have a bad feeling about the man who came to see the house. Dig up everything you can about him.”

“I thought he was suspicious too. He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ or something like that. He’s all fat and flabby, just begging to be beaten up…”

The bald man, knowing how easily Mortar resorted to violence, was even more convinced of his suspicion.

“He really said that?”

“Yes! I almost hit him, but there were people watching, and I didn’t want to cause trouble with the police…”

“Good job.”

Mortar grinned at the bald man’s praise.

“I know when to hold back.”

“You better. Otherwise, you’ll die. Either by my hand, or Gorilla’s.”

Mortar gulped at the bald man’s chilling gaze.

 

***

 

As soon as Junho returned to his officetel with the cash, he sent an email.

[One Remington MSR and ammunition. Possible?]

The reply arrived within five minutes.

[Four days. 200 million won. Cash.]

Junho grimaced at the reply.

“That’s fucking expensive. You can get it for $120,000 in the US…”

It couldn’t be helped. He should be grateful he could even get it, even with the markup.

Four days from now was Saturday. Perfect; it wouldn’t interfere with school.

[Time and place.]

A short while later, he received an email with the address and time.

‘Still the same, huh.’

The location hadn’t changed in five years.

After confirming the arrangements, Junho opened his bag and dumped the contents onto the floor. He started counting the bundles of cash. He needed 200 million won to buy the gun.

“Seventy-one, seventy-two, seventy-three…”

After counting all the cash he had, including what he’d just taken from the villa, it totaled exactly 210 million won.

“Must be a sign from God to kill you.”

Now all he had to do was wait a week. Junho resumed his training. He pushed his body to the limit, like a student athlete. He was walking a tightrope; one wrong step, and he’d fall into the abyss.

 

***

 

Two days after visiting the real estate agency, he casually walked past it. Looking through the glass door, he saw the agent working as usual, which was a relief.

By now, Jo Gyeongcheol’s safe would have been emptied. It was a good thing he’d taken the laptop on his first visit.

The next day at school, Junho asked Daeseong for a favor.

“So you want me to talk to my mom for you.”

“That’s right.”

“Sure, it’s no big deal, but where are you going?”

His friend, who had never mentioned anything other than games, had changed a lot lately and was now asking him to cover for him while he went somewhere. Of course, Daeseong was curious.

“There’s… something like that…”

“What is it? Tell me, or I won’t do it.”

His mother might not check, but it would be awkward if she asked to speak to Junho.

“I’m just… going on a trip.”

“A trip? Don’t make me laugh. You hate traveling.”

“That’s because being alone was depressing. I’m just going to spend a day or so at the beach or something, quietly.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m serious.”

“Then will you send me a picture?”

“I’ll take a selfie and send it to you. Deal?”

Daeseong finally nodded.

“Okay. Deal.”

Since Junho was actually going to the coast, there was no problem with taking a selfie and sending it to him.

“Where are you going?”

Suyeon chimed in again.

“Just going on a trip.”

“Alone?”

“Yeah.”

“A senior in high school going on a trip alone? You’ve completely given up on studying, haven’t you?”

“You make it sound like you’re studying so hard.”

Suyeon pouted and said, “I am studying these days. I’m even cutting back on dance practice until the CSAT.”

“Oh, is that so? Good for you. I’ll manage on my own.”

“Hmph! After all the thought I put into…”

“I think Yesol puts more thought into me.”

Yesol had brought him the Sim Youngwoong concert tickets yesterday. She looked so cute, shyly handing him the tickets with a smile.

“Bullshit… she’s a fox.”

“Pfft! Jealous much?”

Daeseong, seeing Suyeon’s face turning demonic, quickly interjected,

“Hey, Hyeonuk’s been disappearing during break time lately. Rumor has it he’s going to the storage room.”

“Probably playing bully again.”

“He’s been extorting a lot of money from the sophomores. If it weren’t for you, I would have lost all my allowance this month.”

Daeseong said, wiping his brow. Junho looked at Hyeonuk’s empty chair. He’d deal with him eventually. But right now, he had more pressing matters to attend to. Very urgent and important matters.

“Let’s not worry about it.”

Junho said, turning his gaze away.

The next day, Junho woke up at 5:30 a.m., went to his officetel, disguised himself as a man in his forties, put on hiking clothes, and boarded the KTX.

After a two-and-a-half-hour train ride, he arrived at Busan Station. He took a taxi and arrived at Busan Port.

The strong, salty scent of the sea filled the air. His rendezvous point was where the expensive and delicious king crabs were unloaded.

The captain of a large ship was watching the king crabs being unloaded by a crane. Junho approached the grizzled man in his fifties, whose hair and beard seemed to defy gravity.

“Did you bring a lot?”

The man turned his head. He was a white man, who then turned his attention back to the king crabs and said, “Mind your own business.”

Despite a slight accent, it was clearly Korean.

“Is that how you treat a customer?”

“…”

“I’m here to pick up the goods.”

The man turned to Junho again, looked him up and down, and said, “The money?”

Junho tossed his bag at the man. The man opened the bag, quickly glanced inside, and zipped it closed. He pulled out a piece of paper with a note on it from his pocket, handed it to Junho, slung the bag over his shoulder, and went back inside the ship.

『Dongjin, engine room』

Junho chuckled, put the note in his mouth, and walked away.