Perfect Mission Chapter 35 - White Tiger (2)

Chapter 35. White Tiger (2)

 

It was the second time. A student was stabbed with a knife at school. And it was the same student, twice. It was as if the school was cursed. The principal had even sent out a school-wide text message, begging everyone to refrain from commenting until the detailed results of the investigation were released.

The paramedics who arrived at the school said that although they had been told it was a stabbing, the victim’s injuries were surprisingly minor and that everyone should calm down.

Hyeonuk, his eyes glazed over, was loaded into the ambulance.

Of course, Hae-rin wasn’t taken in an ambulance. She was driven to the hospital in a passenger car, accompanied by a man and a woman in their early thirties. It was Assistant Manager Yoo Hyeri and Deputy Oh Hyeonwoo, who had rushed over after receiving the news.

“What happened?”

Haerin looked down at her bandaged, blood-stained palm and said,

“I think he was trying to do something to me. I had my phone recording, so you can use it as evidence.”

“Well… then couldn’t you have just… not used the knife? If he knew you were recording, he wouldn’t have crossed the line.”

“I was showing him.”

“Showing him what?”

“I was at a chicken restaurant with my dad once. We were enjoying our chicken when a fight broke out. One of them was clearly a gangster, and the other guy was small… like a middleweight, I guess?”

The word “middleweight” sounded strange coming from a young girl, but Assistant Manager Yoo listened silently.

“And?”

“Anyone could see that the small guy was in trouble. But he broke a beer bottle and cut his own chest. Blood was streaming down his chest, and the gangsters hesitated.”

“Uh…”

Was it because her father was Goblin? Assistant Manager Yoo found Haerin increasingly extraordinary. She had experiences that most people would never have in their lifetime.

“I asked my dad later. Why did the man cut himself? My dad said he was showing them. This is who I am. Sometimes, when you first meet someone, you introduce yourself with a business card. But other times, you have to introduce yourself in a different way. That was one of those times.”

“So that was your self-introduction?”

“Yes.”

“At school? For your teachers and classmates? It’s a pretty big incident, you might have to transfer.”

“I can see why you’d think that. Transferring isn’t a big deal.”

Assistant Manager Yoo had no choice but to shut up. There was nothing more to say if she didn’t care about transferring. And she didn’t know that Haerin’s self-introduction wasn’t meant for the teachers and students.

 

***

 

Junho didn’t find out about the incident at school until he received the principal’s text message while he was in the middle of his disguise. He had thought Hae-rin would take care of it, but the stabbing was a bit… surprising.

“She’s tough.”

He knew that she had stabbed Hyeonuk to send a message to him. That she was capable enough to be his partner. But Junho didn’t care. Stabbing a high school bully was a world away from dealing with professional agents. He didn’t know how her father had raised her, but to Junho, Hae-rin was still a kid.

And since she had caused such a big incident, she would probably have to transfer. If so, he could just ignore her if she tried to visit him at his new school. There was no need to worry about it now.

Junho, disguised as a middle-aged man as before, headed to Yongsan. It was late, and he thought he might have to come back tomorrow if the shop was closed, but fortunately, it was still open.

“Welco—”

The owner, Jeong Hocheol, with his receding hairline, frowned at the customer.

“Why the long face?”

“I’m happy to see you. This is how I get rich.”

“I’m envious. I need to get rich like you.”

“Everyone says that. But most of them die before they can spend even a quarter of their money.”

“Haha, that’s why I’m going to spend my money as soon as I get it. So I won’t have any regrets when I die.”

“No, you’ll still regret it.”

“Why?”

“Everyone regrets it when they’re about to die. I’ve never seen anyone who didn’t.”

“…”

“So, what are you buying today? A camera? Or…”

“A pistol. Two magazines, a silencer, and 100 rounds. Do you have it?”

Jeong Hocheol’s expression turned grim.

“I have it.”

“As expected. How much?”

“Walther P99. 50 million.”

“Sigh~”

Junho sighed at the ridiculous price.

“You can buy it somewhere else if it’s too expensive.”

Jeong Hocheol’s tone was dismissive.

“No. I’ll take it.”

“You thought you could get it for $1,500 in the US, right? But do you think it’s easy to smuggle this into Korea? And what if I get caught selling it? I won’t make any profit even at 50 million.”

Jeong Hocheol returned from the back room with a black case. He also brought out two extra magazines and two boxes of 50 9mm rounds.

“Yeah, right.”

“So, what are you going to use it for?”

“Isn’t it a rule in this business not to ask that question?”

“I know. But I’m worried. I don’t have to sell it, you know. This is only the second time I’ve seen your face, which means you’re a rookie. And when rookies get their hands on a gun, they cause trouble. I don’t want to get caught up in it.”

Junho transferred 50 million won worth of Bitcoin to the crypto wallet Jeong Hocheol had given him before and said, “Don’t worry about that. Can I ask you just one question?”

“No.”

He was quick to shut down anything that could be a disadvantage to him.

“Even for 10 million won?”

“…I’ll hear you out first.”

Junho stared into his eyes and asked, “Do you know why so many agents have been coming to Korea lately? I don’t understand why there are so many competitors. Is there a reason?”

It seemed like a simple question, but Jeong Hocheol looked at Junho’s clear eyes for a moment, then looked away.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Was that a difficult question?”

“You want a simple answer? Not the exact truth?”

“Well, you know what I mean.”

“Don’t try to test me.”

Junho placed his hand on the glass display case and asked in a low voice,

“Are you not answering because you don’t know? Or because you’re scared? Or…”

“The price is not right.”

“Ah~”

“I can’t just give away that kind of high-level information for a measly 10 million won.”

“This question is worth high-level information? I don’t understand. Alright. Then how much?”

“500 million.”

“Heh… you’re getting greedy, aren’t you?”

“You’re the one who’s trying to get something for nothing. So… are you buying?”

“No, thanks! Why would I pay 500 million for that… See you next time.”

Junho waved his hands, packed his things, and left the shop. It wasn’t just because of the price. Paying 500 million for that information would be crossing a line, and it would draw attention to him. Just asking was one thing, but buying it for 500 million was another. Of course, Jeong Hocheol might keep his mouth shut, but assuming he would was a good way to get a bullet in the head. Junho gave up on getting information from Jeong Hocheol without any regrets.

Meanwhile, Jeong Hocheol, watching Junho’s retreating figure, chuckled and muttered,

“Does that kid know something? Well, I’ll find out eventually.”

Jeong Hocheol hadn’t sold a gun to anyone recently. He didn’t want anyone to die with a gun he had sold. It wasn’t regret, just… a bad feeling. But he had sold him a gun today out of curiosity.

He looked like a rookie, but he had a different aura. Sooner or later, he would hear stories about an agent who used a Walther P99, and he was curious to see what he would hear.

 

***

 

Pogok-eup, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do.

Junho had lied to his mother again, saying he was sleeping over at Daeseong’s house. He was standing alone here. It wasn’t completely rural, but it wasn’t a residential area with apartment buildings either. There were wide rice paddies a short walk away, and a few well-known franchise restaurants. It was the perfect place for someone to hide.

Junho bought a whole chicken at a nearby chicken restaurant. The best way to avoid suspicion in an unfamiliar neighborhood was to carry food. Then, no one would be suspicious, even if he rang the doorbell of a random house. If he had a food delivery bag, it would be even better.

Junho, holding the chicken that smelled so good, walked to the address on the note. He realized he hadn’t eaten dinner, which was why he was so sensitive to the smell.

‘Should I sneak a few pieces?’

He ignored the temptation and stopped in front of a blue gate. It was an old, two-story villa.

Creak!

The doorbell was annoying. But no one answered, no matter how many times he rang. He gently pushed the gate, and—

Clang.

The gate opened. It was unlocked. Junho, holding the chicken in his left hand and a knife hidden behind his back in his right, walked slowly to the front door. If the gate was unlocked, the front door might be too. But he didn’t touch it rashly. He carefully examined the door, the handle, the floor, and how it was closed. And then…

He spotted something and took a step to the side, attaching a silencer to his pistol. He had found several footprints on the floor. He scanned the area again, then gently touched the doorknob. He had already confirmed that the door was unlocked. When there was no reaction, he threw the door open and tossed the chicken inside.

“Chicken delivery!”

Now, his senses, especially his hearing, were crucial. At night, sound could provide more information than sight. Junho strained his ears, focusing all his attention, but he heard nothing. After a long time, he confirmed that there was no movement inside. He turned on his flashlight with his left hand, held it under his right hand, which was holding the pistol, and shined it inside.

The sofa, the dining table, the kitchen… But something was strange.

‘It’s familiar. Very familiar.’

Not only the layout but everything he saw was strangely familiar. He would know for sure if he turned on the lights, but he couldn’t, not knowing what was waiting for him.

‘What is this? Did Jo Gyeongcheol know this place? No, he must have. But it’s more than just familiar…’

Junho paused by the bedroom door, took a breath, then threw the door open, his gun aimed. He was ready to pull the trigger at the slightest movement, but…

“Uh…”

He unconsciously lowered his gun. The bedroom was a mess, as if it had been turned upside down. Someone had clearly been here before him, but he could see in his mind’s eye what it had looked like before. The black comforter and pillows, slashed with a knife, the desk drawers, smashed with a hammer, the old but large wardrobe, and the clothes.

He realized that all of this was his.

Junho slowly pushed aside the clothes in the wardrobe and found a small, recessed groove in the bottom right corner. He pushed it hard with his fingernail. A hidden door slowly opened.

Junho put his gun in his back pocket and squeezed his large frame through the opening. There was a ladder leading down. A secret basement, not on any blueprints.

He climbed down the ladder into a room of about 7 pyeong, where various weapons were perfectly preserved in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment.

He finally remembered. Jo Gyeongcheol’s real home wasn’t the 10-billion-won luxury villa in Cheongdam-dong, but this place.

“Tsk… I wasted my money.”

Junho took out the pistol he had just bought for 50 million won, looked at the numerous weapons hanging on the wall, and smacked his lips.