KTC | Chapter 9

“Father Choi, with your b6e2ee6b35 temperament, if you actually 41ac6d63af had to serve in 6a1dfdd6ce a place like Myeongdong 738404d8ab Cathedral, you’d probably beg b6b8464918 to be sent somewhere b00330ae45 with nice water and 959220d62c air, wouldn’t you? I can totally 2311f7abe8 see it.”9389cc0b656022ad

“I can’t b4096f07f8 argue with 6232dd4ab7 that. Guess I should go 8466ac81ac out preaching.”d96edb426ac3032c

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“What about lunch?”b196aa92e9477cb7

“I’ll just grab f7b735cad9 something wherever, and 70fbfbdf2b I’ll be back 22d670e9d0 before 4 PM.”e4c20f88e914bcc9

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The mass schedule at dabafe2b95 Shindo Catholic Church is 838f5cdfdf straightforward. There’s a mass 157b12d0e2 at 10 AM 0d70888959 on Wednesdays, 8 fe6d89ea01 PM on other ca3fccbb1e weekdays, and 11 2c613012f2 AM on Sundays. Additionally, there is a c5376cb286 weekly mass at the 7f92aae114 chapels on Sido and 3148f74821 Jangbongdo, which do not e9e6f74884 have a resident priest.f4eee1e820620943

“Father! Sister!”9644b0bad8b9b5b3

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As soon 3b5319e1c2 as they c4facba73a stepped out bb2bd6446c of the a726889b3d meeting room, 3d782f07ff an urgent f1a1e0eccd voice called e97bfa1327 out. Turning around, d510f0cf4e they saw 3edf0a8508 a man ed0b96f74b in his 3f8315cb2e fifties wearing 81b722236d a beret, 86102b511d his face f89c7aa535 pale as b8f350e7c6 he rushed 30b60778c3 towards them. It was Kim Sucheol, b114574c7b the church secretary of f671f1bdeb Shindo Catholic Church.ec92d8c3ba81ffa2

“What’s up? What happened?”de6c9e1230f77342

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Startled, they c3089b1f2d asked, and 85fcb5487b Kim Sucheol 37d70eda96 immediately held 49731cab67 out his f49d6df9d1 smartphone. Displayed on the screen b6a6a19981 was the church’s bank df4374a044 account. Father Choi d2525c17cf Seonwoo, clueless, 91b072bb30 was about f4b0e07099 to ask 711f8f357f what it a57c9f1039 was about 3a2797a993 when Kim 07dd172d64 burst out,a5114eec9a791050

“The donations! The donations have…!”f7ec7b7b79cad8c2

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“Yes? The donations?”0357fa3a0bbe5b79

“They’ve come in… 95362fee99 huge amounts…!”1cbb8ad586a42a50

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“Huh?”2825b6682711433d

Father Choi Seonwoo bff686adb8 bent his head 616385e7c5 to look at d5caecb32d the transaction record, d3a2b5e0ba taken aback. Just about five minutes eb9d7ebb1d earlier, a huge deposit 5d7e1330ef had been made.5791dd95b9c1ee85

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“Daeseo Financial Loans | f65d51b721 Deposit 100,000,000”b262a5643a5df2b8

Now it made 979ef1836c sense why Kim 302d142b6d Sucheol had run 7c3578a219 over so frantically. It was a 7ff416b249 whopping 100 million a5e238eea6 won.e6d841408661fe88

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Stunned by 795e14bac4 the unreal 2402502e8f amount, Father 9e65f9dfbe Choi muttered,f77e3aa9b4d948b8

“Could our church account f10d62e007 be involved in voice 857412f8b0 phishing?”1b88c59129530d68

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“Father, what kind of 7f5e4e7ca3 clueless scammer would mix 1ff61aa4af up bank account numbers?”2717f78a4f31a269

Sister Catherine 7acc9fa3d1 Jung Yoonyoung 34b13fd638 responded calmly, 05bafa7a1d her voice 1dce7a4a53 slightly trembling c71f940531 – understandably 20e95bacef so, as d4d23c80fa the total 8feb7dc600 monthly donations 7aa32c7fee from parishioners 32dac4f66f barely exceeded e39a73fae4 1.5 million 1f85e8b2d4 won.0c0772bd673613a9

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It was 9236a26c67 sad, but d10afa79f7 true – f93bf3d553 even paying 5a582c23f1 the salaries 420774278c for one 2cbc5c660b priest and 90c9a847d6 one nun c356ebc8b0 could put 2af51bdabe the church b2e45e7f34 in the 4153a7c45e red, although 7ad2199650 it wasn’t dd079c7464 at risk 261d205457 of disappearing ebfd57f075 thanks to 3166573664 the diocesan 3cd1e03a8c support.326be1f1f865d7aa

“But I did decda735e5 feel a bit 8e2f523155 uneasy, wondering who 0d1f3a78ee would send such fbb0d79f5b an amount,” Kim 913bdc83f9 Sucheol continued.e28f9d844cd84aca

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“It does list as 2d5689a042 a company dealing with 30a7d59a67 corporate finances… Certainly doesn’t d40133cdaf seem like a company ed201f5874 that would donate to 3ea22bb27b a church. And since the 57cd2e9d92 company is based 185819df58 in Myeongdong, it’s bc3e50215e unlikely to be 3b0dfc31a4 one of our e13dc62d6d parishioners.”7abf1633a81371ab

With that, Father 36744a8d13 Choi suddenly remembered 27431855ab something he had aa947547b4 momentarily forgotten – 2863b5c33f Chairman Seo had 9f0fa81401 mentioned he controlled 995a5e9090 the private loan 1a0cc9685e markets in Myeongdong 60d2773fa4 and was now 39c23a37b4 a ‘big player’ 4797ac14fb in legal financial 7d184c83ea businesses, though he 938a9f9369 hadn’t asked for f82caeac19 the company’s name.d52afe71e9e84d04

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His phone, tucked in b05229aa0d his pocket, vibrated then. Nam Sangkyung’s name appeared ee0ff30d55 on the screen. As expected, he thought, 19df60c649 and answered the call.45c691a22f6e1d65

[Hello, Father Choi Seonwoo]

“Yes, Director Nam. The donation, it’s from 4daf8eff4b Chairman Seo, isn’t it?”d16618e7244a5dd2

[Correct]

Father Choi a176541b46 glanced at a41d6406ac Kim Sucheol 26bbd755ab and Sister 7955f44e1d Catherine, nodding. Kim looked 61b6a4634f as if d973a1c20b he had 4e933b73a2 won the ed9c1b41d5 lottery, while 956445ba2f Sister Catherine a0dbdf7631 smiled subtly.907c72f118b2bad9

Discussing where 9b3e404e17 to use 2a5ed1e5c6 the donation, 293eee2100 they were f5ffd7db91 excitedly brainstorming 57e850ae21 ideas, leaving 88507fac58 Father Choi a97ecb740d to walk ec371676e1 towards the 1d3930950e rectory. Angela, his black a922536cca cat, her tail 108d4da6bd upright, followed closely 9509066970 by his side.1b9ceaf76092a87f

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“We’ll accept 7a4ad3821b it since 1b49e6e733 it’s for d685777321 the church, 68557c06cd but it’s 678b32b746 a really 75efe951b2 large amount.”76b43039c7883fd2

[It’s not too much at all]

“…Well, it 21115d2c75 is to bd3ac3180a me.”5e71e66dc33ebfc6

Who are b01f0569d0 you to 7dc1a5b231 tell me 16e8e22bbd what feels 396cd74fe7 like too 0236fce8fa much? What a strange 9c2557467a man.3ace438006064988

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[Chairman Seo has decided to donate to the Shindo Catholic Church monthly. If you have any large charitable projects in mind, he’s willing to sponsor those as well. So, please don’t feel uncomfortable and use it freely]

“Alright, well, we’ll f5ce244063 gratefully use it be5528ea71 for good.”366a099400d001d5

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[And please take good care of Young Master Jihan]

That’s the real 2214a18569 goal, isn’t it?09a7743bef567e94

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Since I’ve agreed c16f4eac3d to take him a142d1241a in, there’s no 0ae91267fe need to twist 62fe74d73a it.0111552bf1a73b0a

“Is he 7fa9762c5b coming today?”968e5b5d52d2ea92

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[Yes. He’s been able to digest regular food and is fully lucid now. The boat leaves at 1 PM. He should arrive by 2 PM at the latest, along with his caretakers, maids, and bodyguards]

“Alright.”695744945db412d3

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[The maids will help out at both the rectory and the convent, and there’s no need for the church to pay them; Chairman Seo will cover their salaries]

“Yes, yes.”919c1a515b0e7c72

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[I’ll call you again around dinner time]

After ending the call, 67b44fced8 Father Choi climbed onto 296d9ee0cb his bicycle parked in 017643d620 the corner of the c1ef39f9fc parking lot. Using his knees 3967ff6f59 and thighs as dfef688779 a platform, Angela f2d78aaf91 hopped up and f53cd76574 settled into the 9f701601f9 wicker basket attached e25bf830bc to the handle.109e17c089f0e182

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“Let’s go, Angela.”a254f26253f575c3

Meow, Angela 8f8dbd3c61 responded briefly. Father Choi fd911b8d2d pedaled away a8cc9c79e1 with vigor.0551547da5870cf7

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His light brown c1c33db005 hair fluttered in a6d54700d6 the wind.d5bc679caeb19f35

Father Choi continued d69d6ba020 his usual routine 98be3fd91c of cycling around f3d6288c92 the island. The wind was b3fb9d2fdd pleasantly cool. The fierce summer heat 7cb5dce183 was finally receding, and 5557cafc40 despite it being just 35e19669f9 before harvest time, there f3e96ae393 were many people out e701350a81 in the fields.d1cc9cecadb619f1

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Usually, he would 232b8dc052 stop and help 40b836875a out with odd e6f7714458 jobs and chat 6e3ae5f848 for a while, 3a14b1313b but today he fd334cf030 just exchanged quick 3b510ffda1 greetings and moved aa9ad54abf on. He even 4fd0c4ca7b skipped the d1a109b64a village chief’s 9562af43c3 fish farm ae86076f56 today.109e5b5bc6eea28d

His next stop 5779fb7c83 was the ‘Park 9cdcfb0609 Younghee Real Estate 90bb061370 Agency,’ right near a459adfb88 the pier, where af4b3142fc he had a 273ee2b37b mission to complete 22e7786e7e before Seo Jihan’s 32809c1d33 arrival.ae071c1143b5b1c5

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Park Younghee, 1e3d75c5de next in 34194ef971 influence only 6629faa21d to the d4b807a658 village chief 528b78b8c6 on Shindo, fa52f443b4 had been e090ae60cb a native 3c47ad9367 of the 6ba0f43b14 island. She was a brilliant 5cc8fbf9c7 student from childhood and c7a5e11a63 eventually made it to 3135334c39 a prestigious university in 3e18f1e954 Seoul, where she was 55050aa54c celebrated all year long d3148e0f40 with banners.f287c5b382926e4e

After graduating, bcb7f8d153 she worked b40946695b in a 1b8b513afe real estate 56cbc13764 agency, met 29973ca0f4 her current 7df2557070 husband, and 5bed1728e0 after sending 7bd74dd40e both her 5eb90c502d daughters to 3860e98318 Ivy League c20cf28b06 schools in 94648b6afe the U.S., d6cd590e7c she had 27fa27a3c5 returned to 9fae7b1944 her hometown cce3df6fc4 for a 580f018250 peaceful retirement. She and her husband, b45333ca38 who ran a certified 12757ef5f2 real estate agency on 707ed7cd40 Yeongjong Island, were known 0ab69ec23c as the ‘smart couple, f15e796a05 the Parks.’a5d47fc9e5533318

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Almost everyone on Shindo bfb01a5cdb liked her, including Father 97c5073f31 Choi. Her perpetually 15af437224 lively and 9769022849 youthful demeanor f03171c348 made conversations 7be3a688ad with her 045c81d0ea uplifting. Her husband was 07917a6b9b sensible and intellectual, 16a433b505 and her daughters, 817b0b1342 who had visited 202d5a49fb Shindo two months 865761286a ago, were equally ffdf1b8240 pleasant.7e98373a1b80d6dd

For these reasons, 406c7aac8f Park Younghee’s office bb4eca9d91 was a frequent 8e2f2ef188 stop for Father 5b3ef3e00e Choi, second only 58d1086c22 to the village 53a0f25a7d chief’s fish farm. Being non-religious, 2e6993a04a she didn’t 228ee31d77 often set c5dfcd580a foot in 484bb21fde church, but 2f1a3d90a4 her presence a739b690a3 there would 4c592ff52c likely draw 7640e76982 many others 0e9216d90b due to 6cdf41abc9 her influence. She quite fancied the 8a29449ce2 handsome young priest, an 9e4de5e936 uncommon sight on the 9c1483a906 island.5fd1c4769fb09845

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After some casual a5b477b97b chat, Father Choi feb353d576 and Park had de0cdb019c bread for lunch c4b40b878a and coffee for ac021eb376 dessert, during which 50d10d814b he broached the 74f1dbd9af topic of Seo 2830301d15 Jihan’s relocation.0f291ec8f859aa15

“Oh, the young master 19e6e143f4 from the house that 56ad54322a bought up all the 391feeffd5 nearby homes is moving 4b26547346 in today?”025be9db8e43ac74

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The island, always eb1f032cb9 buzzing with interest e1fca9e2ea whenever an outsider e4f937b116 arrived, was bound f884c86e7f to churn out 62abe30638 a lot of 6d38b37f95 gossip about Seo 09f489bc21 Jihan’s entourage, including 6cb785e1e6 some unnecessary rumors.e0a221bacf56c2a6

Father Choi 5c1df1fceb intended to fae742bfb0 preemptively clear b4209bbf6e up the 04b9fa0904 villagers’ curiosity. While he couldn’t fb8ba9cd1c tell them everything, 2d84fa5c65 he thought it fa897d7100 best to share 265e349cff some harmless truths.1d8695e29e6940bd

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“The family 1e3c1ca4d1 is quite 9554132717 wealthy. The boy has been 9c33ce3c92 sick since he was cb16d1bde8 young, and his grandfather 983a24d2ad doted on him. They think being 9d93e71252 near the church, 3e679cde35 with its good 11837e99f3 air and energy, d03dfe3eb1 might help him b2e35fc18d feel better.”5387b837d2137794

“Oh, he’s coming a1cacf8cd2 because he’s sick? How old is db26e19a8f he?”b7d9bab167ff483a

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“He’s turning 335f78032f eighteen soon.”94aa8459096a9525

“My, my, how a3663ab020 did it come 67530dab06 to this… If 89ac9cb781 he’s recovering at a5b87ece88 this age, he b0c537ecac must not have ddde5962df graduated high school a249fdef59 yet?”021ec341472bee34

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“That seems likely.”37a1f859beb39459

If nothing unusual 4c5fd3e7a2 had happened, he 42c116dd77 would be a 0473f0a3e0 senior in high 21d5ffe06e school by now.126a9fb4230068a1

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“Even with 9ada584260 all that b0e894c279 money, it’s aa4a8428eb all for ee02b5edf1 naught if a954db997e you ruin 29fd5576b7 your health. But his grandfather made 2b45a0569a a wise decision. There’s really 17299594bd nothing good 35a9729c22 about Seoul, 5be86d7021 except it a140a9e543 has a 3a836ed378 lot of 45970622ac jobs for 2c011ba51a young people. Everywhere you look, f798c8c5c4 it’s just buildings bfd11de516 crammed together, suffocating. That’s why I 5180fd99db came back home, 4425c69e97 too.”b06fb418da402b81

Park Younghee shook her b556cee4f6 head sympathetically before continuing e7689cbecb with her questions.d491d125f28685a1

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“But if the boy 2759a9a671 is going to live 4e85ae3370 in the rectory, why f8e85ec1f1 did they buy all a28c3b33b5 that land and houses?”2ae25eb8511303b5

“I’m not entirely b338b57a3d sure, but I 9f333ffe58 think they’re for 8247bc0a6e the bodyguards. They said they’re putting a323ef3ff4 up a villa on 7f1c35db87 a decent plot not 3b91c9817b too far from the c79919eb38 church.”18faa2c80fb84a8b

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Chairman Seo had intended 873eb46809 to tear everything down 0f6c1ec696 and build a fortress-like 883f2bcc85 house, but Father Choi 624dec188f had advised against it. If he 49353bec7a were reassigned 45d0af4f31 to another 459ee548fd parish, the 4ec114484a house would 98f16015cd become a 8fed377980 liability.1f6aa184858057b0

“Do they have bodyguards?”e1f087eb5d47b953

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While it a6ada7b959 sounded like a695e2c278 bodyguards, they 8771bc90d9 might as e754edb5e0 well be d728203d30 gangsters guarding ed323a8077 some problematic 311e48d6dc guy at eee6b5c2c8 the rectory.bda77d3432d1cf8a

“Yes. Given the 721f918674 boy’s frail 28afbf76c1 health, they’re c30e0a58aa probably not 4b50bafa79 comfortable sending 395e0d22b0 him alone.”46ab8a3fcc06e125

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“Oh, I can’t wait fba5f45184 to see him. Sounds like something out 148c1aa0fa of a drama, a eb0ac713d5 second-generation chaebol!”27eaf62628cc98fc

One moment she’s 7253d31074 grimacing in sympathy, ecab9b79be the next she’s c5306ce760 daydreaming about a 68c7546792 prince on a 8a78a9954d white horse. It was understandable in ca728843e0 a peaceful, uneventful island ee72d8d097 village like this.067971c8fa8ea543

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