Ephphatha Chapter 6

“Where’s Seo Han-seong?”

 

Chi-gyeom, who had his legs casually propped up on the central table, lay back on the sofa and pulled out a cigarette. He raised a hand to stop Jin-ah, who was about to light it for him, and instead flicked on his own lighter.

 

“No changes in his movements. As you know, he’s not the type to wander around.”

 

“Ah, how boring.”

 

Chi-gyeom sighed, recalling the face of someone as rigid and upright as he’d heard.

 

Seo Han-seong was someone Han Ji-seon had preselected. He had ties to Yugang Group, didn’t fuss over conditions, had a good personality, and was decent-looking enough. While Chi-gyeom had considered a few other candidates, even he acknowledged that Seo Han-seong was the most suitable choice.

 

Judging by how she couldn’t take his eyes off the photo, it seemed the target selection had been done well. However, the tedious task of inserting Han Seul-ah into the life of Seo Han-seong—who had spent his student years studying and his working years buried in work—remained a challenge.

 

“First, they need to meet. Any opportunities?”

 

“Next week, Lee Kyung-sook is scheduled to visit the charity exhibition.”

 

“Where?”

 

“Eunha Gallery. You were also invited, sir.”

 

“Ah, that. But I heard Seo Han-seong isn’t interested in art.”

 

Chi-gyeom was acquainted with Lee Kyung-sook through their shared hobby of art collection. The most notable piece of information he had obtained from her was that Seo Han-seong was still a virgin. Of course, Lee Kyung-sook never explicitly described her son that way, but the fact that he had never even held a woman’s hand made it an easy conclusion.

 

“This time, there’s a chance. The following day is his mother’s birthday, so he might accompany her. As you know, he’s a filial son and always makes a sincere effort for his parents’ birthdays.”

 

“I see.”

 

“I’ll monitor the situation and update you.”

 

“Alright.”

 

As Chi-gyeom exhaled smoke in the shape of a ring, Jin-ah shifted his posture and stared at him. Noting the expression that suggested he had something to say, Chi-gyeom tilted his head slightly, prompting Jin-ah to speak.

 

“Boss, why not just take the easy route?”

 

“Easy route?”

 

“If we strip Han Seul-ah naked and lock her in a room with Seo Han-seong, she’ll get pregnant in no time. No matter how much of a gentleman he is, he’s still a man. With a body like hers, most guys wouldn’t be able to resist.”

 

“……”

 

“The key is getting that marriage certificate stamped. If she gets pregnant, we use it as leverage to make him sign, then open the safe. Han Seul-ah is already in our hands, so we just need to bring Seo Han-seong in. There’s no need to waste time trying to make them fall for each other—”

 

“Wow. Our Jin-ah is a real piece of shit, huh.”

 

“……”

 

Despite the criticism, Chi-gyeom was laughing as if amused.

 

“How can you say something so cruel about that little chick of a girl? She’s younger than your own sister.”

 

“……”

 

“Forced pregnancy? Geez, even the devil would be running to pass me the baton at this rate.”

 

Chi-gyeom flicked the ashes from his cigarette onto the floor as he jested. Jin-ah didn’t take his words as genuine criticism. After all, the Chi-gyeom he knew was far from a moral person. Given his composed reaction, he had likely considered the same thing at some point.

 

Even so, Jin-ah couldn’t understand why Chi-gyeom was deliberately taking the long way around when the easy path was right in front of him. He stubbed out his cigarette and asked again.

 

“Then, may I ask why you’re insisting on a proper marriage?”

 

“Jin-ah, you’ve never used Ephphatha, have you?”

 

“No.”

 

“That’s why you can say such nasty things so easily.”

 

Ephphatha. A vault known only to a select few, its name meaning “Be opened.”

 

No one knew when it was established or who ran it. Initially used by organized crime syndicates to launder money, its security was so reliably maintained over the years that high-ranking officials eventually started using it to store emergency funds.

 

“Ephphatha doesn’t open its doors so easily.”

 

“……”

 

“Do you think you can just hand over a marriage certificate and say, ‘Please unlock it quickly’?”

 

“Then…”

 

“Han Ji-seon added extra conditions.”

 

Since this was new information, Jin-ah was about to ask for details when his phone vibrated briefly. Seeing Chi-gyeom motion for him to check it, Jin-ah read the message. It was from Tae-joo, who had been keeping an eye on Han Seul-ah.

 

“Han Seul-ah is currently taking a walk in the park.”

 

“Wow.”

 

Chi-gyeom was genuinely impressed. Han Ji-seon had mentioned that she walked in the park at the same time every day as a way to maintain her frail body. However, he hadn’t expected her to continue even right after the funeral.

 

“Surprisingly resilient.”

 

He had assumed she would spend her days wandering in search of her mother. As he smirked, recalling the frail and delicate girl, Jin-ah asked again.

 

“So, what conditions did Han Ji-seon attach?”

 

Chi-gyeom, looking slightly annoyed, explained.

 

“There are several, but the most important is that it mustn’t appear forced. At the very least, Han Seul-ah must genuinely want the marriage.”

 

“We could easily fake that, couldn’t we? Just threaten her into acting—”

 

“Do you think Ephphatha is stupid? They verify everything before unlocking it.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Jin-ah, realizing this was Ephphatha’s greatest strength, nodded in understanding.

 

While it could be used simply to store valuables and retrieve them later, its most distinctive feature was that transactions could be made through the vault itself. Since it accepted even the most unreasonable conditions as long as payment was made, it was far more effective than a regular bank vault.

 

According to what Chi-gyeom had heard, Ephphatha was at the center of a collusive relationship between a certain politician and a corporation. The corporation entrusted its slush funds to Ephphatha, and in return, the politician had to comply with their demands in order for the vault to be unlocked.  

 

The vault usage fee was proportional to the amount set, making it quite expensive. However, compared to the risk of the prosecution catching wind of it, it was considered a bargain, and those with ambitions for fame frequently made use of it.  

 

There was a risk clause stating that if Ephphatha were to be publicly exposed, the funds would be immediately incinerated. To prevent such incidents, Ephphatha assigned managers to each vault and conducted rigorous screenings. So far, it had never been brought to the surface.  

 

“How did Han Ji-seon come to know about Ephphatha?”  

 

“Are you a damn middle schooler, Kang Jin-ah? Why are you so full of curiosity?”  

 

“I’m sorry.”  

 

“Never mind. What about the body?”  

 

At the abrupt question thrown his way, Kang Jin-ah straightened up from his relaxed posture.  

 

“It’ll be taken care of soon.”  

 

“Okay.”  

 

“But are we really going to bury it like this? It’s probably related to Han Ji-seon’s suicide.”  

 

“What does that have to do with me? All I need to do is open the vault.”  

 

“……”  

 

“If it causes unnecessary noise, it’ll be annoying. Get rid of it cleanly. Not even ashes should remain.”  

 

“Understood.”  

 

Chi-gyeom, now fully reclining on the sofa, rested his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.  

 

– “If she doesn’t go out for a walk, it means something’s wrong, so check on her. She has a regular routine, so it should be easy to tell.”  

 

– “As if she would commit suicide.”  

 

– “Of course, this all applies only if I end up being murdered.”  

 

“She’s not the type to kill herself. That’s for sure.”  

 

Spitting to the side, his twisted lips released a short cigarette butt. Kang Jin-ah, recalling his own impression of Han Ji-seon, silently agreed.  

 

*** 

 

Living alone remained eerily the same as before.  

 

Waking up at 9 AM, a quick stretch, a shower, and breakfast would bring the clock to 10 AM. Then, two hours of translation work, finishing half of the day’s task, followed by a break and lunch until 12:30 PM. Another two hours of work, then a brief rest before a walk in the park around 3 PM. After returning, another shower, preparing dinner, then self-study in English until 6 PM.  

 

Evenings were spent watching TV, reading, or studying a bit more, with bedtime never passing 10 PM—an utterly normal routine.  

 

How could this be? Her mother was dead.  

 

Slumped in front of the TV, mindlessly letting a dull variety show play, Seul-ah shifted her gaze to the urn sitting beside it.  

 

“……”  

 

Without realizing it, she pressed her thumb firmly against her dampening eyes, wiping the tears away.  

 

It had all already happened. Crying wouldn’t bring her mother back. Grieving was a luxury for those with the strength to afford it. In her situation, it wouldn’t do any good. For someone frail, emotional exhaustion was just another poison.  

 

Sighing deeply, Seul-ah sat up. Eating something always helped lighten her mood. Humans ultimately ran on energy—fill the body with sustenance, and it would keep going somehow. Having lived her whole life in a weakened state, she knew this better than anyone.  

 

She retrieved a handful of cherry tomatoes from the fridge, washed them thoroughly, and returned to the sofa. Just as she plucked one by its stem and lifted it to her mouth—  

 

Beep-beep.

 

Her head snapped toward the front door at the sudden noise. What was that? If she wasn’t mistaken, it was the sound of a door lock being entered. And it wasn’t just one digit—she heard all four.  

 

Then—beep—the lock disengaged.  

 

What the hell…?  

 

Click. The door swung open.  

 

Someone had unlocked the front door. And they were stepping inside. Her mind registered the situation clearly, but her body froze stiff, unable to move.  

 

Why? Who? How?

 

Step. Step.

 

As the approaching footsteps grew closer, her face drained of color. The hand gripping the cherry tomatoes began to tremble. The tremor spread up her wrist, her arm, her shoulders—until suddenly, a large figure emerged from the corner.  

 

“Good morning.”  

 

The person who had audaciously entered her home by unlocking the door—unbelievably—was Kwak Chi-gyeom.