SW | Chapter 8

“What are you talking about…?”

“You’re flustered, aren’t you?”

Guk Jiho said it simply. The way he smirked with only one side of his lips twisted was both delinquent and aggressive.

“No, what, are you joking? Of course, I’d be surprised if you suddenly bring up something I don’t know.”

“You should be baffled, not flustered.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Min Jaegyu clenched and unclenched his fists. The smile that had naturally spread across his face while dealing with his affectionate junior hadn’t fully faded yet. His expression was a strange mix, neither smiling nor angry while his face was flushed as if he were drunk, even though he hadn’t had a drop.

“Whether you know or not, Sunbae… why aren’t you surprised? I was really shocked when I got called to the police headquarters. I even asked the director, ‘Do the police really do things like this?’”

“Hey, Guk Jiho.”

Min Jaegyu took a deep breath, his voice low. The veins on his neck bulged violently, as if pumping water, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Guk Jiho didn’t point it out.

“Are you interrogating me right now? Why are you suddenly…”

“If I leave the special forces, our commander won’t be happy about it. Team Leader Yoo is the same. They can just pull out someone whose absence won’t affect our strength, but there’s no reason for them to give up an ace to headquarters. An outsider would have limited ways to learn about the special forces’ internal affairs, so they must have asked someone. Who do you think recommended me…?”

It’s you, isn’t it?

Under Guk Jiho’s cold gaze, which felt like a knife stabbing him, Min Jaegyu blurted out something absurd in his panic.

“Jiho, calm down for a second.”

But the one who couldn’t calm down right now wasn’t Guk Jiho, who had finished a whole bottle of soju, but Min Jaegyu, who hadn’t had a single sip.

“By the way, someone was prying into my family’s situation.”

“…”

“They asked where my sister lives. Whether it’s somewhere close in Asia or Europe. They even asked that much.”

“…”

Min Jaegyu closed his eyes tightly as if he wanted to avoid the situation. It was an expression familiar to any South Korean who watches the news regularly, the same face ministers make during parliamentary audits when faced with difficult questions.

“Say something.”

“Jiho… Honestly, yeah. I recommended you. You’re a good shooter, agile, have a temper but adapt well. You’d survive no matter where you’re thrown.”

It started off sounding like praise. That you were the right person for the job. It could’ve ended there.

“Besides… almost everyone in the special forces is married. Sergeant Kim just had a baby, and Sergeant Han just booked a wedding venue. Even the ones who aren’t married have their parents…”

This wasn’t about what was best for the special forces or headquarters. As a person, as a human being, Min Jaegyu had simply decided it was right to sacrifice Guk Jiho. From a utilitarian perspective, it might have been rational, but it would’ve been better not to say that at all.

“I have parents too. In heaven.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I have family in Korea too.”

“Ah, your cat…”

Guk Jiho hung his head low.

“Shit… You really can’t trust people.”

His voice sounded muffled as if his nose was stuffed.

“I’m sorry, Jiho.”

“Before I joined, you were the designated sniper, weren’t you?”

“…”

Min Jaegyu couldn’t say anything and just gripped the edge of the blanket tightly.

“Sigh… I really have a bad eye for people.”

Guk Jiho sighed and stood up. The sudden movement sent the snacks scattering across the floor.

“Hey, fuck, it’s really not like that. Is that how little you think of me? After all the time we’ve spent together?”

As Guk Jiho pulled his cap low over his eyes and turned to leave. Min Jaegyu instinctively reached out to stop him.

Smack—

In an instant, Guk Jiho twisted his body and drove his fist into Min Jaegyu’s stomach.

“Ah, ahhh… Ugh.”

“Exactly. We’ve spent all that time together. I’d go myself if it were me, but I wouldn’t recommend you, Sunbae.”

Min Jaegyu curled up like a shrimp, groaning in pain.

“Ugh, ahhh…”

“You’ll probably need about a week to recover. Stop exaggerating and just rest. You’re annoying me.”

You’ve really mellowed out, Guk Jiho.

Thinking this to himself, he stormed out of the hospital room.

For some reason, it reminded him of the past. Back when he couldn’t do judo anymore, he had gone to Choi Kyungsoo with a baseball bat to vent a little. 

Do I have bad luck with people? Or is life just a cycle of repeats?

***

“Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you had a pleasant flight. We have arrived at Vladivostok International Airport. Please remain seated until the seatbelt sign is turned off.”

After a two-hour flight, the captain’s cheerful voice announced their landing.

In September, Seoul felt more like late summer than early autumn, often unbearably hot. In contrast, the autumn sky in Vladivostok was clear, and the temperature was a comfortable 12 degrees Celsius, perfect for walking around.

Being near the harbor, a cool, salty breeze blew in. Bored from sitting around, Guk Jiho had skimmed through a pamphlet on the plane, which mentioned that seafood here was quite affordable.

In Korea, king crab went for 800,000-900,000 won per kilogram. Here, he could get it for just 1,000 rubles. He was determined to eat king crab until he was stuffed during his stay.

With his sunglasses firmly on, Guk Jiho hummed a tune. He walked with a slight bounce in his steps. The thought of eating king crab had lifted his spirits.

***

6 PM.

The sun had set, and darkness was beginning to cover the sky.

A 120-square-meter office was filled with a cheerful yet solemn atmosphere. Though it was an office, the interior was warm and cozy, like a wealthy family’s home.

The walls were covered in patterned beige wallpaper, and the floor was carpeted in red. A large, dark walnut desk dominated the room, with a burlap sack casually placed on top. Occasionally, the sack wriggled as if it were alive.

As smooth jazz played in the background, a game of poker was seen in one corner.

Baek Haegyeon and three Russians were playing, each with their henchmen standing like statues behind them, guarding their bosses.

“Rosewood?”

“Yeah, rosewood.”

“Are you talking about the tree?”

“This desk. It’s made of rosewood.”

The Russian tapped the poker table with a thick Russian accent mixed into his English.

“It’s blood-red.”

“Red as blood. That’s why the Chinese go crazy for it. Red symbolizes wealth. It’s also durable, so it’s good for furniture.”

“Right.”

Baek Haegyeon sipped his vodka, looking like he was listening to something utterly pointless. The cards in his hand were four of a kind. A strong hand.

“A single log like this would cost around $100,000.”

“Expensive wood.”

“It’s all because of government policies.”

“Logging ban?”

“They designated it under CITES¹ and made a big fuss. Even though the wood is heavy and hard to log, people still cut it down.”

“Is it a new business venture?”

“No. Smuggling dr*gs is easier, and rosewood is heavy and bulky, so it’s a hassle. Our chairman just likes rosewood, so I mentioned it.”

“Is your chairman Chinese?”

“Haha… No way.”

“With a table like this, you could kill someone and not leave a bloodstain. I can see why he likes it.”

The Russians burst into laughter at Baek Haegyeon’s remark. Some even doubled over, laughing hysterically.

As always, their sense of humor was a bit different from Koreans’. They laughed at things that weren’t even funny, their eyes crinkling with laughter lines.

“Fold.”

Baek Haegyeon set his cards down. He had no talent for gambling, and his heart didn’t race during games. He’d been criticized for being a boring player, but he wasn’t stupid enough to take the host’s money as a guest.

“Boss.”

One of his men approached and whispered in his ear. Baek Haegyeon turned, expecting news, but was met with an awkward expression.

Glancing at his wristwatch, he saw it was 7:20 PM. Guk Jiho was supposed to arrive here by 6 PM, but the time was already far past that.

“Mr. Guk Jiho didn’t show up at the airport. While searching the area, someone handed this over.”

His subordinate handed him a card envelope. Inside was an unused Incheon-to-Khabarovsk plane ticket, followed by a short note.

Let’s meet at the XXX Hotel lobby anytime between 10 AM and 10 PM tomorrow. Please contact me.

My phone only works when there’s Wi-Fi.

Messenger ID: k_jiho

“He wants to meet at a hotel?”

All the effort of setting up a welcome party with banners and barriers was wasted in an instant.

“Yes. Isn’t he being too rude? Saying he’ll only respond when there’s Wi-Fi. Is he playing hard to get or something? Does he know about your sexual preferences? Maybe he’s trying to pull something…”

Baek Haegyeon was the type to lose his temper when things didn’t go according to plan. Although he knew the subordinate was trying to lighten the mood with a joke, it wasn’t funny.

Setting his vodka glass down, Baek Haegyeon looked up at his subordinate, who immediately shut his mouth, scared.

“Hyunseong.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Do you want to come to my room tonight? You haven’t been followed yet, right?”

“Ah, ah… W-well, if you want me to, I’ll—!”

Ha Hyunseong’s face turned bright red, and he stammered, trying to respond. Baek Haegyeon spoke mercifully.

“Just kidding.”

“Ah, ah… Yes. I knew I wasn’t your type.”

“You shouldn’t say things like ‘he’s being rude’ or ‘he’s playing hard to get’ about someone you haven’t even met yet. You have to judge people after meeting them, right?”

“Yes, hyungnim.”

“Face the wall and reflect. 15 minutes.”

“Understood.”

Click. The subordinate turned sharply, his shoes making a crisp sound as he faced the wall. That was a bit amusing. Baek Haegyeon hid his curling lips behind his vodka glass and smiled faintly.