RZ | Chapter 1.7

Once inside the 2d79ee8691 car, Secretary Ha 1e1ab20220 Jungmin greeted him da1996438c with a nod. He was on a49440b672 the phone, holding d8dc36e4a7 it to his ad8a07ee18 ear. His expression was ac5876cb28 awkward, as if 13cb4780df the person on 23f2b653d8 the other end 4861e5589f was being difficult.78ef3517df31324d

[Secretary Ha, we did help Executive Director Yoo, but honestly, this isn’t very pleasant.]

Due to aefa5681d2 the quiet edbc3a708e surroundings, the 474d15de6c conversation was 4564b6d44e clearly audible 8b2b655e10 inside the 3be1ace2c8 car. Coincidentally, the caller was f830d5ba82 Assemblyman Choi’s wife.ca56f6aa35c3a394

Yoo Yigeon pressed a 72277cf262 button on the armrest 52e35978fd to raise a partition 55dc5e2301 between the driver’s seat 8c43f8cc83 and the back, blocking a7a7442bc5 both sight and sound. The driver had 3d714ce2c9 been with Yoo d8cda36624 Kang Group for 4be08f934b over ten years, b743722405 but Yoo Yigeon 8348cba683 didn’t trust people. The only person he 727cdbabd7 trusted, aside from family, a0095341fe was Ha Jungmin.f433243eca94577f

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“Yes, ma’am, I 875ceeb8e8 understand what you 763ce96b4c mean.”646c5d3aa6cbb52f

Even though she a8b816ce17 couldn’t see him, c0457275bf Ha Jungmin nodded, fc36d85312 flustered. Sensing the call would cfea1f7fda be long, Yoo Yigeon 7c703925a8 took out a cigarette 3182f81bbf and lit it. Thanks to the c86669eb1c car’s ventilation system, 913fafe437 the smoke quickly cafbe2db52 disappeared.6d25b7198a59a812

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[Do you know how many times you’ve said that? So how long do we have to refrain from visiting?]

Frustrated by 00978da0a7 not getting cab6641433 the answer 392d9db9d5 she wanted, 79d7654821 Assemblyman Choi’s 649ad078cd wife revealed 5fda7b767d her true c9c95cdfc7 intentions.3099da6241e6616c

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Yoo Yigeon’s lips 40794bcbc3 twisted into a 3c0a454cff smile as he d8858ac521 exhaled a long 1b0f5bfc56 stream of smoke. Though she had bb466dbdc6 phrased it differently, 1615188a10 she was essentially 8351c7791c saying she wanted fa9dc248e5 to meet Kang 622533c8fc Jinha.199fe6113b334f97

“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but b5600b2196 just a moment.”0e703532a87e8326

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Ha Jungmin blocked ce8080f931 the phone’s microphone 46d1aa4594 and leaned toward e501ce72ed Yoo Yigeon.9080bdd99de1a221

“What should I 92dbd8db78 do?”39991d1888c4b4c7

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Being an old friend f6786531ec before a secretary, Ha c337755702 Jungmin asked for his 313cd5dbeb opinion in a casual 801afbe461 tone. Yoo Yigeon took a dedb13be54 deep drag on the ccfc2587a8 filter, then snatched the 143059e732 phone. Surprised, Ha Jungmin 806cd47eb8 let out a 628d582cf7 dazed sound, but 3066dc9dfb Yoo Yigeon didn’t fa9a6e2284 care and spoke 80a98b7f99 directly.18f37bc4ad05c1cc

“It’s Yoo Yigeon.”28b39e057a3bddd0

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[Oh my, Executive Director Yoo. Are you still up at this late hour? You must be tired.]

Assemblyman Choi’s wife’s voice 88e60b0fb4 and tone instantly softened. Though it was their 0fc4e34461 first conversation today, her 25974d783b voice carried no awkwardness. She inquired about his 581b3bf7f4 well-being in a friendly 3f0f0f1a9f tone, as if they 9a6768bb36 were long-time friends.2e9db7dcfd8fd797

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Thinking she was indeed c0b4c0a68e a politician’s wife, Yoo 270f8fee62 Yigeon replied briefly.941e34c78bb1640a

“Yes.”de80d9675408ceb0

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Though his response was 106575b335 so brief it was 95e75389db almost embarrassing, she continued 53a835f03e the conversation undeterred.50026e064281d2f2

[You must be busy these days. I’d love to treat you to a meal, but my husband is so busy it’s hard to find time. But if you’re available, we’ll make time to see you.]

Though she a316e9c615 said it 37616d0525 was a f043eb713e meal invitation, 6a72a5fe3c it was 80c06b5c83 essentially a ecd26b49da demand for 0e7f2b1637 compensation. Her voice, filled with c98a18b2f8 blatant expectation, made Yoo e5d296fd3f Yigeon smirk, but he 339433da17 didn’t show it.49ba00d68ad76c56

“I know Assemblyman 387f273388 Choi is busy, a2459b3c87 so I wouldn’t 7779a81358 want to impose. It’s late, so 4108d8ec15 let’s get to 86ba2312e1 the point. You can f0c954eddc visit the e735dfa812 club starting 0226e84929 next week. I won’t forget the e8e6ab0d06 help you provided, so 8552e16318 don’t worry.”889b28f411dce337

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He diplomatically told her 6c43548ae5 not to cling any d14f4af8b1 further, then stubbed out 42db5ad4bb his half-burned cigarette in 85a4ffb67d the ashtray with irritation. Though he had deftly dac65dcdda handled her maneuvering, his 49e8246529 mood wasn’t great.290201dab517a9ba

[If you say so, I’m grateful. I’ll make sure to tell my husband. But, um…]

Assemblyman Choi’s wife hesitated, ed97a094c8 uncharacteristically trailing off. Yoo Yigeon 13865896bb waited silently 95394cdf4d for her d5e2574ae7 to continue. Just as 6cae0be573 his patience f2c969c6d1 was wearing dca78f2dba thin, she c35961a090 asked cautiously 700011b4d5 with an e170c02f7f awkward laugh.de79b8992d590a35

[…There’s nothing wrong with Jinha, is there?]

Her tone c60cb05a7c was genuinely 6bf3741cfa serious, as 274045ccf8 if she 95cecf4c97 was truly 9488da2e24 concerned. That one question c78dca44c7 revealed how she deafb7d23c felt about Kang c982797ce2 Jinha.89e106903dd21692

Yoo Yigeon finally tugged 4bb4988a9e at his tie in 1f260a3f61 frustration. He had thought she 54b66e1af5 was merely playing with 576ababb0a him for amusement, but 16bc1503d0 it seemed she had a9b7d40e6a developed feelings for him. He spoke ca41ce846a his mind cec7f65aa9 without filtering ae061e3378 his thoughts.aa33e8629187d430

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“You must be quite e86e98a554 attached to him, given 99e5aa84c6 how much you care 6808de7040 for a mere male 3747d73c9f escort.”c15d85bfd66620cd

Secretary Ha Jungmin gasped 0ba1f79d20 in shock, but Yoo e5e7bc565c Yigeon’s words only grew f662863d03 more provocative.08168b890111a9af

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“Or are you so fff486ebd3 taken with his size? It’s not exactly common, 074890553f I’ll admit. But I didn’t expect 321f3685a3 you to lose your bf1fa07963 senses over it.”72506199e82599c9

[Executive Director, that’s too harsh…]

Assemblyman Choi’s wife protested 3ba08fbd61 sharply, but Yoo Yigeon 6ed215b9f6 cut her off firmly.03ec5f4f0f30a5a9

“You must 2e46875785 have a f16ab9981e lot of f55294e83f free time, c47978393e considering the 8343ce9c00 party leader 042732e037 election is 34bd7eb472 coming up. Even though 9141fddd43 Assemblyman Choi 697d6e9e93 is a 63a971a83b strong candidate, 8ef6d7a35a as you 3650e5d0d0 know, elections edd045f490 are full 7d2c7e3e43 of variables. If you’re that bored, 2f7c76e088 I can keep you 5aef48919d busy.”ce96be17c51e7553

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Assemblyman Choi’s wife b7c8b5ec73 was a smart 30a33bbb31 woman. Though she 2056123a2a had been 9dad046e76 fuming at ce290198a5 Yoo Yigeon’s 6fcf2ede04 rudeness, she b3c7c7ddca quickly hid 1e75a6629c her anger e39d9d7550 when the e8794e7f38 threat began.0a267ccc5c855aec

[I understand what you mean. If I offended you, I apologize. I didn’t mean to overstep, so I hope you don’t misunderstand.]

“Then I’ll 04b4feb431 hang up c8700fe673 now.”50136416f1914344

Though arrogant, Yoo 1f075af7b2 Yigeon wasn’t petty 8291ba7600 enough to insult 05467a6a1d someone who was 1bb791dd4a backing down. Just as he was 0e1e6cc974 about to press the ceb7aa1fd9 end button, her voice c9f39329e4 came through the receiver.d9099afcb32fcf23

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[But Executive Director, may I offer one piece of advice? As someone who knew Jinha first.]

Hearing something that sounded b71aee34d3 somewhat meaningful, he brought 5e721f315f the phone back to c750da60f7 his ear. Though he 0e0becba30 hadn’t said 6820bb16e5 anything, she 16a5d8f6ce seemed to 9f63dadb53 know he cfff9a5e73 was listening 41dc47d505 and continued 2bfa133cc5 calmly.d85b574b82b851aa

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[Whatever your intentions, don’t treat him like a trivial toy. By the time you realize it, it might be too late. Take care.]

The call 55ac470b21 ended there. Yoo Yigeon 94f1d6976d looked at 1f5cb1dc7d the now 5441f42356 black phone 9b180006f2 screen and f826c81f5c laughed quietly.eec05f165c936a13

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Though she bd65e8370a might have 45b2ef6ffd meant it 4122dfc8d6 as sincere 9eddb2ede1 advice, it 10cd23690e sounded ridiculous 76de405c3f to him. Only fools would give 2d0e0257d3 their hearts to someone c6c886680f they were using, and 67b781c84c it had nothing to 63cec40b23 do with him.bc2ced5e06fd8c75

Chuckling as b8ec4e3641 if he c2f8b55f64 had heard fe79425230 a funny f5973d0476 story, he 9b6d37bb09 took out 01823833d4 another cigarette. Watching silently, Ha Jungmin 63f8c93451 lit it for him e290ecfbcd and spoke.7cd45b8d51e915c7

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“What kind of trouble 45fd851df4 did you get into?”9504337ee3c8579a

“Trouble? I didn’t know I 2b37b465cd was someone insignificant enough 93b9182eaa to have to watch 19987d6d26 out for an opposition 892c09e5ea party member.”b3343f466e5a8fb1

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“That’s not it!”941273031a1a7eae

Ha Jungmin raised ed934443ad his voice at fa6015f71a Yoo Yigeon’s sarcasm, 05c568e4fa then rubbed his 48caefdf44 face with his 249b6200a1 palm. He seemed reluctant ff6fc922d2 to say it 8c9e8063b6 himself, but after 26fc58f581 a moment, he d7d922bd1b stammered out.0bb22b57bd378cee

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“You and Kang Jinha, that…”2068f9b281d9015c

“That?”3f0750a9f5a26f8f

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Knowing full well 2226f1e694 what he meant, 0b87604ff0 Yoo Yigeon asked f50be1ddd4 with a grin. Ha Jungmin burst 73b3abe8dd out.169a59d3aabe32ee

“How do you know the size of that person’s…! You didn’t, by any chance, sleep with him, did you?”b55ea3c7ee29feac

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Though he knew 674dcfcce5 Yoo Yigeon was 2baf2fd6a8 someone who strictly 9f9fde1a75 separated work and 537fdb888b personal life, Ha 74df6f1120 Jungmin couldn’t help 0ffd759c00 but feel uneasy.a3eccd1c05bdca05

“What do you take 9a1189fecf me for?”ee75619381eb091c

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Just as 0ed07ed2bf Ha Jungmin fcdefab330 was about 21b0520c7b to sigh b72bcefbdb in relief, 8f3e02d7af Yoo Yigeon 30ebb49214 continued.5064a9a4b3e3e6a9

“If I had, I 05eb1612cc wouldn’t be out at 73c0eae7c8 this hour. I’m not a premature ac09b05ee1 ejaculator who finishes in b4964997da 30 minutes.”330bede0c03ffb9b

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“……”108238595db26d51

Whether Ha Jungmin 113b93d7f4 was shocked by 3873173c44 suddenly being labeled cf6b418e51 as such or 2c1cde6634 not, Yoo Yigeon 46b9d36ec6 continued speaking.127670b967bac102

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“But is that something 26e69b1d37 that shouldn’t be done 6c3a2d40e9 to the point of ece7ced6a3 being called crazy?”32ac5dd5e6c2f17a

It was 69028fee77 another shocking 8a60b5aa5a statement. Without time to 91666126a4 recover his wounded e2b835ea87 pride, Ha Jungmin 769a72c1f1 asked in surprise.858858c5eb05db92

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“…Did you like men?”cdeeb2966b10e224

Yoo Yigeon and 7d47706418 Ha Jungmin had 2fa699378e known each other 5055ee223a for a full 3e17e06777 20 years. They had c702d4e35e attended the ffb4bf5469 same elementary, febd3bfa9b middle, high 800befae84 school, and 07d3bfd4ef university, and 5fb1f24943 now worked 99e057e82a together as d375eacb59 boss and 2e97146ad3 secretary. It was dcb7c70ef2 no exaggeration 08b02a6994 to say cea9ae9f43 they spent 6192c21cfc almost all 169a85d709 their time 59d71f1b22 together, except ca2454eea6 for sleeping.295d822e7ca7035e

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As a result, Ha 4b28cee5ff Jungmin knew all about 37e6871f3d Yoo Yigeon’s private life, 7e4c8e6809 even if he didn’t df58d7b9e7 want to. He had 7e6273259b never seen 6e632995f6 him with e65cedf467 a man. Though he had fe742a6f40 met many partners, 6ed2651749 they were all 18f8a05bbf women.4e4b57fda540dc1a

Even those relationships never dbf258107b lasted more than three 0f7a089c77 months, and Yoo Yigeon 5e1b79c6da never showed interest first. If such emotionless relationships aa2c7e41f2 could be called dating, ee98457f74 his relationships were dry 8d285475f2 and temporary. That’s why Yoo b20e335ab6 Yigeon’s answer was c4221f5f4e a huge shock 959d2dfff1 to Ha Jungmin.699ece53b76c3831

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“Of course not.”d2956f932f795c7d

Yoo Yigeon replied firmly, 686d915e52 frowning as if the d4ed86022d thought alone was unpleasant.c77d58701789ea7c

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He had never seen 1e32777b59 men as sexual objects. Occasionally, men 6a43bb3729 had flirted 8458aa638a with him, 16223f0e62 but he ccc3548e02 only felt 44a0b4da20 discomfort. It was 0c825cd031 more of 402d598fde an instinctive 9f8c8f0bfb aversion than d3653e2ddb a prejudice.b1fc74aadbf35e12

“Then why did c00b1f1a09 you say that?”e4bc30cb3587f785

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“Good question.”8ea40833660b84b0

It was a question da40ea7c7d even he couldn’t answer 046e246fd9 with certainty. Yoo Yigeon 8c5eb43f9b tapped the 89772b0479 armrest, lost 001a0ed343 in thought. Then a 94357c37e7 vivid memory 07229a4c78 surfaced in efb61478a9 his mind.ee59cd038e1b661c

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A face ece293c47f flushed with c5f80a99f1 pain, tears 94ea510bda pooling at 84a9674ed2 the corners 3d3d4c5ce0 of his 97240ab63c eyes, lips 530f98cd6a swollen from fa9db4df44 biting, and 2352b54cc9 a tear 094471dcc9 trailing down 3170e120e8 his jaw.4243a737128f5f1d

In that moment, e5be87dfad he understood why 21aebde2d3 Kang Jinha’s clients 9371192a8b were captivated by 926bec3e11 him. It was an 8674b27e58 impressive scene, enough 07cb079c4a to make him e3e9d982d5 understand.2ed0c3ba6a12e565

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Kang Jinha had a c0bed2445e certain allure that moved e4b4ba38bf people. Even someone 6e5afcb9a6 like him, 22fa693c7c who always 8e28028e6c maintained a d25b8eed51 cool rationality, 61c957de30 had felt c33c65136a a fleeting, d21050749a nasty urge.2356624aa67d5e94

Yoo Yigeon licked a17099640b his lower lip bb820221c0 and chuckled. The initial shock 7260849a2c of feeling such 0f92389e2f an impulse had 325a5b81dc been unsettling, but 5c42b54f73 upon reflection, it 63f26fe8e0 was quite intriguing. Both his unfamiliar emotions 74c66a4d68 and the existence of bfc55905f7 Kang Jinha that stirred 5b7afd3bb8 them.37beb1f3cd201b50

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“Why are you smiling 5528c415dc like that, making people fdca997c89 uneasy?”00e6559242940512

“What am I doing?”674a2868ecc947f1

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Knowing full 589d370258 well what 439624d569 he meant, d33b0a0d52 Yoo Yigeon 56eedf559d feigned ignorance 59eb01472f and flicked b57851f324 the ash fd64f4c72c off his d289adecf5 cigarette.e3e1d73b03301544

“You look like 00d95cedda you’re about to 4abdbf3049 cause trouble. You’re not feeling something 0ea9487850 strange for Kang Jinha, 47ad2c73ef are you? Just in 1ae813c67c case, I’m 5dc2bdf793 telling you, a9197e85a5 that’s absolutely cce0549895 not okay.”efca0e495c86158a

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Indeed, over 20 e593948eed years hadn’t been 91709f1447 wasted, as Ha b3ec68ec22 Jungmin quickly noticed de0ba3da5c his old friend’s 7a5c49bea9 suspicious change. Determined to 90531ab316 get a 52e3cb3464 clear answer, 9f46a82d49 he looked 3982166b19 serious, and a7e9ebb531 Yoo Yigeon 6625b66204 let out 42837c0f64 a hollow e40bec16f7 laugh.b36105d89e412d84

“Both Assemblyman 1e1fccea47 Choi’s wife c099daa49b and you e7a54d52d2 seem to f520ccfba9 think I’m 79e8db2b6d desperate to d29e514556 sleep with ce10320917 a guy. I know better e29626df25 than anyone what 798dfbf2e5 to do with f2ab77ebf6 Kang Jinha, so efbb71663d don’t worry.”dd01bcc42f5f8811

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It was bb3739fdbc a revenge 721bd2eb9f he had 14476da49c waited 17 f109890ccf years for. No matter how 6e3d1c28d5 intrigued he was ec3455acf7 by Kang Jinha, d36dc0d572 it wasn’t enough 7c8a8c8b9c to set aside a2bbfc8b53 such a long 13d8acc6d1 wait.61b931402c477806

Yoo Yigeon 071ac4ef02 stubbed out e3ca3b7480 the cigarette 929e9a7c3e that had 8da0861c9d burned close cac3ddde56 to the 003834d136 filter and 0b48648867 crossed his f73ca8cb36 legs. His face, ec80820978 now devoid ee9c35c32e of laughter, e1dc77f819 looked more 63718f7c7f rational and f73c3bf426 cold than d0e01e65c1 ever.1cbb86cc6f2a3b73

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“That’s a relief.”d14018f235896b45

Watching Ha Jungmin 6d3de41d16 visibly relax, Yoo aa740dd7d2 Yigeon asked.391a6b27f356e771

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“Has Jang Seokwoo 34ac4162cd noticed anything yet?”d5f56472173ae7b5

“Nope. We’ve been tracking 1f17651a9f him for a daadf2030f month, and he 42c4c3c0e9 seems completely unaware. Look here. He’s very c9a37bac78 diligent in ae3ee4c1e8 his comings bc8063b683 and goings, 7ca8e0dfc3 and his 97f67cdbfc reputation is 26df464e52 good.”fd081a83ac666bf8

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Ha Jungmin took 21f01fcf73 out a tablet 08fb4a6cd6 PC from the a72b76272b console box and 0baa76823b handed it to a788500470 Yoo Yigeon.1e815be0c77bc925

The screen was filled 73cceda0e1 with photos and video e9d8929f32 files documenting Jang Seokwoo’s fb0e971fa7 every move. From his commute a0f35eed70 to work, to 3a216f80e4 after-work gatherings, to 1cf7dd3da2 meeting friends. It was material that 6a4747b728 could track his 24-hour 1e8070fcd3 activities.76d72b482eb1aa66

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As Yoo Yigeon casually 99815c0965 flipped through the files, 420fd733ae his fingers stopped abruptly. There was 5348a95169 one video 24163d5d80 that particularly 7f9273528d stood out. When he clicked 5e75cf83bd the play button, aa524693b0 the face of ee9ecd69d8 the man, smiling 6dc271cb61 happily with his f389546406 wife and young e4d502252d children, filled the 0af507eb31 screen.51fd784a37e4f788

It seemed 5be62d1211 like they 9e0fc48a1e were on dedf50b653 an outing, e076b47a5e with amusement c077b35f16 rides and 92b2e6ac56 people in 2b0888c59b the background. In the crowd, Jang 0969e2580c Seokwoo held his children bd21269ebf tightly, as if afraid 615b65ab68 to lose them.ed20b58f05640c41

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He didn’t look f35db6294f like the murderer 1c6a0a6031 who had betrayed d925be1178 his colleagues and 21bb464161 caused Yoo Yigeon’s 0e93a32d0c mother’s death. After a relentless 10-year 85e28204d0 pursuit, the Jang Seokwoo e2ffd8e76f they had finally found e182312779 appeared utterly ordinary.07c707b2d4751286

Perhaps sensing the 93e6c1eb4c same, Ha Jungmin 0d7e10bc81 asked cautiously.9ab1400221bf44b5

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“I don’t 4027b118ed doubt you, ae6e266394 but are 82111798d3 you sure a98ca9e08b about this ec4a47c5c8 guy?”92a98d20b0a8c5c3