Perfect Mission Chapter 33 - Seo Hae-rin (3)

Chapter 33. Seo Hae-rin (3)

 

Michael Hwang, formerly codenamed Evil Ghost, hadn’t been able to leave for twelve hours after the sniping incident. It wasn’t because he was afraid of being sniped. He knew that once morning came, they wouldn’t dare to snipe him in front of the hotel, where everything was exposed. Unless they were sniping from a boat off the coast beyond the golf course, there was no risk. The reason he couldn’t leave was because of the Korean intelligence agency.

“What about the body?”

Michael Hwang asked, sitting on the bed and looking towards the bathroom. His subordinate, naked except for a towel around his waist, peeked out and replied, “Almost done.”

Michael Hwang looked at his watch and said, “Good. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

“I’ll get everything ready.”

The subordinate went back into the bathroom, carefully moved the dismembered body, which was wrapped in plastic, and finished cleaning. He meticulously scrubbed the walls with a toothbrush, looking for any remaining bloodstains, a stark contrast to his large, intimidating frame.

Just as the ten minutes were almost up,

Beep, beep, beep—

The fire alarm went off.

The subordinate, now holding a large suitcase containing the body, opened the door and left. Michael Hwang followed. People were running out in a panic because of the fire alarm. Michael Hwang didn’t join the crowd but took the emergency stairs. His subordinates surrounded him, making it difficult to see his face, even from close by.

“Get in.”

Everything went smoothly in the parking garage. Another subordinate was already waiting with a car. He got in and made a call.

“Find out what assets Fēng Láng (風狼: Wind Wolf) had and bring them to me. There should be a safe in his office…”

Just then—

Screech!

A car blocked their path, and Michael Hwang was thrown forward by the sudden stop.

“What the!”

“Director, it’s…”

Michael Hwang finally looked in front of the car. A middle-aged man was standing there with his hand raised, and several other cars had blocked their way.

“Go back…”

“We’re blocked from behind too!”

“Damn it!”

Michael Hwang quickly ended the call and punched the back of the front seat. The middle-aged man who had blocked their car approached the back seat and knocked on the window.

Michael Hwang, looking like he’d just swallowed a turd, composed himself and lowered the window.

“What do you want? You’re blocking our way.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo of the NIS Industrial Security Department, out of breath from running, loosened his tie.

“I need to check your car.”

“Why?”

“We received a report.”

“What kind of report?”

“A tip that someone was transporting a body.”

Michael Hwang scoffed.

“Hmph! What are you talking about? That’s ridiculous.”

“Still, we have to check.”

Actually, Director Kim Cheolsoo had thought that Michael Hwang would move to another room and stay at the hotel. The Director of the Internal Intelligence Bureau had agreed. It would be difficult to remove the body without being seen, so they didn’t think he would leave. They hadn’t expected him to use the fire alarm to create a diversion. He couldn’t miss this opportunity to get a hold on Michael Hwang, so he had brought all his men and blocked the car.

“Can you take responsibility for this?”

“I’m just checking a report. What is there to be responsible for? If you keep avoiding us and acting so defensive, it only makes us more suspicious.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’ll tell you later. Hey!”

At Director Kim Cheolsoo’s command, NIS Deputy Oh Hyeonwoo banged on the driver’s window.

“Open the trunk! Now! If you don’t, you’re not going anywhere!”

The driver looked at Michael Hwang in the back seat, asking for instructions. Michael Hwang checked his watch again and nodded.

Thud! The trunk opened, and the Industrial Security Department agents pulled out a large suitcase.

“Open it.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo said, his face tense. The agents unzipped the suitcase.

But…

“This is…”

The suitcase was filled with clothes and various unidentifiable foods.

“Hey! Check the other cars’ trunks!”

Director Kim Cheolsoo, feeling a sense of dread, ordered his men to search the cars of Michael Hwang’s subordinates. They complied, and no trace of a body was found in any of the suitcases.

Deputy Oh Hyeonwoo approached Director Kim Cheolsoo, who was running his hand through his hair in frustration.

“We’re one man short.”

“Short?”

“We confirmed ten people on the CCTV. There are only nine here now.”

“Shit! Check again!”

Director Kim Cheolsoo had to admit that he’d been completely outplayed by Michael Hwang. Michael Hwang was the decoy; the real target had slipped away with the body, mixed in with the crowd. He was probably long gone by now.

Director Kim Cheolsoo’s expression changed, and he approached Michael Hwang’s car with a friendly smile.

“It seems it was a prank call.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m sorry, but revealing my name is against the law. If you have a problem, I suggest you file a formal complaint through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We were just following up on a report, so please understand.”

“I’ll remember you.”

“Yes. Then please enjoy your stay in Korea.”

Director Kim Cheolsoo bowed, and Michael Hwang raised the window.

“Phew…”

Director Kim Cheolsoo sighed as he watched Michael Hwang’s car drive away. He had missed a crucial opportunity, and he knew he’d be in hot water with his superiors.

 

***

 

Hyeonuk was fuming.

‘That bitch… she’s asking for it…’

He clenched and unclenched his fists, glaring at Haerin’s back. He looked so murderous that even his friends were getting nervous.

‘I should have just dealt with her then.’

Even though Hyeonuk was popular with girls and never hit them, a humiliating situation like that would usually make him lash out. But when he was face to face with Haerin, he had been inexplicably intimidated. It was as if her beauty had rendered him powerless. It was a first for him, and it made him even more furious. And to top it off, it had happened in front of that fat pig. If it hadn’t been for him…

“Alright, you’ve all worked hard. The mock exam is coming up, so now’s the time to raise your scores. Do your best, okay?”

“Yes, sir~”

After the long class, as everyone was packing up to go home, Hyeonuk approached Hae-rin, who was quietly packing her bag.

“I need to talk to you.”

“Why?”

“Just because.”

Usually, his intimidating tone and expression would scare girls. But Hae-rin just glanced in Junho’s direction. It was so natural and curious that Hyeonuk followed her gaze and looked at Junho.

But…

“See you tomorrow~”

Junho, who had clearly heard Hyeonuk, waved at Daeseong as if nothing had happened and left the classroom. He had been so confrontational about other things, but now he was just running away. Hyeonuk couldn’t understand it.

And what was this?

Hae-rin, watching Junho leave, didn’t seem disappointed. She nodded to herself as if she understood something. And then she asked calmly, “Where?”

“Huh?”

“Where do you want to talk? Here?”

Hyeonuk was about to stutter but then summoned his anger and said,

“Just follow me.”

“Okay.”

She grabbed her bag and followed him to the school rooftop. Hyeonuk’s crew was already there, including some girls.

“Hyeonuk, what’s up? You got a girlfriend?”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Then?”

“I’m going to teach her a lesson…”

At Hyeonuk’s words, everyone crowded around Haerin.

“What did you do to Hyeonuk? Just apologize.”

One of the girls tapped Hae-rin’s shoulder and laughed. Hae-rin glanced at the girl who had touched her, then at the smirking Hyeonuk, and said, “Is this what you wanted to talk about? So, how do we do this? One by one?”

“…”

“Hahaha! What is she saying?”

“That bitch has seen too many movies. Hey, are you crazy?”

As the bullies burst out laughing, she took something out of her bag. The smiles vanished from their faces.

“Do you know what this is?”

Haerin flicked open a collapsible baton and asked.

“Whoa~ You carry a weapon to school? You’re a badass.”

One of the girls said admiringly, but no one was laughing anymore. She wasn’t trembling with fear; she was staring straight at Hyeonuk.

“So you know what it is. You said you were going to teach me a lesson. Go ahead.”

Hyeonuk, frustrated that things weren’t going his way, was about to lose it. Normally, a few of the guys would have hit her, subdued her, and then he would have stepped in to comfort her.

But no one was making a move. There was only one reason: she was too pretty. None of them had ever seen anyone as beautiful as Hae-rin, so even though they threatened her, they didn’t want to be the first to touch her.

Finally, Hyeonuk stepped forward.

“You think you won’t get hit just because you have that?”

Honestly, a few hits from a collapsible baton wouldn’t be a big deal. He could take a hit from a baseball bat and still fight back. A baton swung by a girl was nothing. But her defiant attitude was what made everyone hesitate.

Just then, Haerin tilted her head, put down the baton, and took something else out of her bag.

“Really? Then what about this?”

She was holding a small, black paring knife.

“That crazy bitch brought a knife to school.”

Someone muttered in disbelief. Hyeonuk said to Hae-rin, “Hey, are you crazy?”

“My dad taught me a lot of things, and this is one of them. Anyone recognize this?”

“…”

“It’s a Cold Steel SRK. It’s used for survival and rescue. It’s a good size for a woman.”

She twirled the knife in her hand. She looked like a goddess, but her actions were like a gangster’s. Hyeonuk was getting increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. Especially that knife. Having been stabbed once before, he felt a cold sweat break out on his palms. The problem was that if he backed down now, he’d be a laughingstock. Like Yongjin, once you were labeled a loser among the bullies, your life was worse than an otaku’s.

“You’re going to get hurt if you keep this up.”

As Hyeonuk took a step forward, Haerin said, “One more step, and this will be in your body. I’ve warned you.”

Hyeonuk didn’t realize that she was only warning him because he was a student.

“You crazy bitch, you’re asking for it…”

Hyeonuk, unable to control his anger, kicked her in the stomach. Hae-rin stumbled back and fell. Hyeonuk rushed at her. He grabbed her hair as she tried to get up, clutching her bag—

“Gah!”

Haerin held her bag against Hyeonuk’s chest and stabbed him through it.

Hyeonuk, stabbed, felt a sharp, chilling pain in his stomach and collapsed to his knees. The knife hadn’t gone deep, since it had gone through the empty bag first, but the shock of being stabbed again triggered his trauma. His limbs went numb, and he couldn’t speak.

“Uh…”

“Hey! Isn’t he stabbed?”

As the others froze in shock, Haerin, her hand bleeding profusely from a deep cut, took out her phone and said, “I saved you once, sacrificing my bag and my hand. Remember that.”

She then made a call.

“Yes, mister. I stabbed someone. Please call an ambulance. Where? The school. The other person is a student, but…”