ANTITOXIN Chapter 21

It was not a curse directed at the broker. It was closer to a sigh uttered simply because the tension had eased. Not only Executive Director Hwang, but Team Leader Go and Manager Kim reacted in a similar manner.

“Great work, Executive Director.”

“Yeah, you two worked hard as well. …But what do you think? Go? Or stop?”

“Well, in my judgment, it seems like a go…”

“What about Manager Kim?”

“I have the same thought. First of all, isn’t it a positive sign that they showed interest in our project? In the first place, they were the ones who contacted us first.”

“As I thought, right?”

“Yes. For now, let’s wait for their next reaction.”

“Right. …No, but anyway, how can a person be that stiff, seriously.”

Excluding Seolwon, who was an outsider, they continued their work talk for a while. They also began to drink in earnest, having been unable to enjoy the alcohol comfortably while the broker was present.

Since the broker had left, there was no reason to stay here any longer, so Seolwon scanned the atmosphere and timed his departure. It would be enough to say he would leave first and stand up. There was no one who would hold him back by force. The problem was that the opportunity to speak hardly arose. Because of that, he had to sit there forcedly for a long while longer.

It was only after another 30 minutes had passed that signs of breaking up finally appeared.

“Oh, I’m tired. I should get going now.”

Executive Director Hwang, whose face had turned red, stood up from his seat. Seeing him stumble slightly, it seemed that the intoxication had risen quite a bit.

“Ah, are you leaving first? I will see you out.”

“Forget it. There is someone here to see me out, so why bother. Don’t worry about it and you two drink more or do whatever before you leave. I already paid the bill in advance.”

Executive Director Hwang, who refused the send-off, looked down at Seolwon. It was an urge to get up. Since Seolwon had no intention of remaining behind anyway, he stood up obediently and grabbed his coat hanging on the coat rack.

“Then I’m off. Make sure to commute well tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir. Please get home safely!”

“Please get home safely, Executive Director.”

Team Leader Go and Manager Kim, who stood up side by side, bowed their waists with polite greetings. Following behind Executive Director Hwang, who stepped out of the inner room first, Seolwon also went outside.

As they passed through the long hallway and reached the entrance, the woman in a hanbok who had guided them when they first entered came out to see them off.

“Are you leaving already? Why so early today? You didn’t even call the girls.”

“Aigu, I thought about hanging out before leaving, but I have no energy. I’ve grown old too. Now it’s hard to mingle with young kids.”

“In my eyes, you still look hale and hearty. Shall I call your car? You left your keys, right?”

“Yeah. But is a designated driver available? As you can see, I’m not in a condition to drive.”

“Of course. I’ll instruct them to escort you safely home. Get home safely, and please come visit again.”

“Right, good work.”

Leaving the friendly send-off behind, Executive Director Hwang and Seolwon walked to the main gate, following the staff member who was waiting outside the entrance.

“Ugh, damn it. Spinning, it’s spinning.”

While walking, Executive Director Hwang muttered to himself every now and then. The alcohol influence was thick in his breathing and tone of voice. Seeing how his steps went this way and that stumbling, it appeared that the intoxication was rising more and more.

“Whoops!”

Just when it felt unsafe, he ended up faltering heavily after tripping over a stone. Seolwon, who was walking about half a step behind, reflexively grabbed Executive Director Hwang’s arm to support him. If it hadn’t been for Seolwon, he would have rolled right onto the ground.

“Ah, shoot… This won’t do. Hey, can I borrow your shoulder for a bit?”

Far from being grateful for the support, Executive Director Hwang put his arm over Seolwon’s shoulder arbitrarily as if it were a good thing. Seolwon reluctantly moved his heavy steps while supporting Executive Director Hwang. Naturally, it was uncomfortable and unpleasant, but he was not harsh enough to cast away a person who was too drunk to even walk well. They say being ambiguous in everything is the worst, and Seolwon’s personality was exactly like that.

After walking for about 10 more minutes, they reached the main gate. The employee who came out to see them off opened the gate, gathered two hands, and bowed from the waist. It was a polite finish. To that employee, Executive Director Hwang slipped two 50,000 won bills as a tip. Seolwon momentarily pondered whether he should give one too, but because his pocket situation was unfavorable, he just pretended not to know.

What greeted them as they stepped out of the main gate was an SUV. It seemed to have been brought out straight from the parking lot upon receiving the call.

Instead of Executive Director Hwang, who showed absolutely no intention of moving, Seolwon reached out and opened the back seat door. Only then did Executive Director Hwang sluggishly climb into the car. As Executive Director Hwang, who felt like a piece of luggage, finally detached, Seolwon let out a sigh of relief, whew.

It was just when he was about to close the door again.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you getting in?”

Executive Director Hwang urged him to board. For Seolwon, it was an unwelcome kindness.

“I will just go separately.”

“Hey, what do you mean separately. Just get in. I’ll tell them to drop you off. Taxis don’t catch well around here anyway.”

“…”

It certainly was a very remote area. It was obvious that there would be no passing taxis, and it wouldn’t be easy to catch one with an app either. Even so, because he did not want to be with Executive Director Hwang any longer, Seolwon hesitated. At this, Executive Director Hwang snapped in annoyance.

“Geez, why is a person so sluggish. I told you to get in?”

He was not someone he would see again after today. There was no need to follow Executive Director Hwang’s words. Nevertheless, unable to rule out the possibility that he might have to walk alone through this night street full of eerie energy if a taxi couldn’t be caught, Seolwon climbed into the car as if giving in.

Thud!

As he sat down next to Executive Director Hwang and closed the door, the car started moving as if it had been waiting.

The landscape soaked in darkness passed sluggishly beyond the car window. Seolwon stared blankly out the window. There wasn’t anything particular to see, but it was because there was no suitable place to set his eyes.

It was something he had felt when coming here too, but perhaps because there were no signs of people in the neighborhood, it exuded a considerably eerie atmosphere. Even wandering spirits that weren’t visible during the day caught his eyes several times. It was a relief they were inside the car; they were ghosts with energy so strong that his blood would have run cold had he encountered them directly outside.

Executive Director Hwang was closing his eyes while letting out alcohol-soaked breaths, poo— poo—. It was a sign that he was about to fall asleep. A short while later, a ringtone interrupted the silence. It wasn’t Seolwon’s.

The ringtone with a cheerful melody did not stop quickly and continued on. Belatedly realizing that the sound was coming from his own cell phone, Executive Director Hwang opened his eyes blearily and fumbled through the inner pocket of his coat. Soon, he pulled out the phone and checked the caller, and his brow furrowed heavily. With a face clearly showing annoyance, he answered the call.

“Yeah! It’s me. …Where else, on my way home. …Uh-huh, what problem could there possibly be? …What do you mean fun, he didn’t even think about calling girls. I just talked my mouth off to match his humor. …That bastard? How was he. He was haughty. That son of a bitch, his neck was just stiff as could be. But well… he was more ordinary than I thought?”

That bastard, that son of a bitch, were all words used to refer to the broker.

More ordinary than I thought, huh…

Seolwon inwardly agreed with Executive Director Hwang’s assessment.

It really was so. He was more ordinary than thought.

But really, could he be the broker?

The doubt that had occurred to him in the garden resurfaced in his mind once again. Given the circumstances, that man should be the broker, but strangely, his intuition kept nitpicking.

What is it?

Why?

Because of what is it weighing on my mind like this?

The more he thought over it, only question marks arose instead of certainty. The business card smelling of gunpowder, the wandering spirit in a wretched plight, the merciless handiwork toward the tailers… No matter how much he thought, the clues encountered in advance and the broker he saw earlier just wouldn’t connect at all.

Rather…

‘By any chance, do you hear that you’re naive a lot? Or that you’re lacking here.’

That man side seemed to fit better…

Wait.

‘Company business… interesting, yeah.’

Why was that person there?

Besides…

‘Mr. Han Seolwon.’

…Had I ever told that person my name?

It was right at that moment when the sense of incompatibility toward the man he had suddenly run into rushed in unexpectedly.

“Huh? What’s that, over there?”

The designated driver who was driving muttered in a puzzled voice.

And,

“…!”

Suddenly, a tingling chill climbs up his spine to the crown of his head.

Subsequently.

“Huh? Uh, uh, uh! What the, fuck…!”

At the voice of the designated driver, which grew louder before turning into a scream, Seolwon’s head turned reflexively. Beyond the car window, a massive shadow is seen rushing forward while flashing a bright light.

At that moment.

“Aaargh!”

Screeeech―!