“Yes. I said I needed evidence.”
Sehwa recalled the story Ki Tae-jeong had told him in the office. Perhaps because he was shocked, he couldn’t act calmly. The memories poured out like scattered puzzle pieces, wandering chaotically through his mind.
‘The point is that Lieutenant Kim supposedly hid something worthless there. The item you take out today will serve as evidence.’
‘Fill exactly five syringes. That’s all. Got it?’
“Are you trying to make it look like these guys joined hands with Lieutenant Kim…”
“No, that would be a configuration error. These bastards just got the information from somewhere. Kim Seok-cheol is a drug addict who makes suspicious drugs.”
That wasn’t particularly hidden. Rumors had spread that the apology box given to Kim Seok-cheol contained drugs, not cash. And it was highly likely to be true.
“They needed a card to negotiate with the military. Since their comrades are all captured and on the verge of being shot, they decide to go on an adventure while hearing a fairly believable rumor. They decided to forcibly take the items Kim Seok-cheol had hidden. They could use this to threaten Kim Seok-cheol’s family. They may even be able to blackmail people in other countries. After all, these guys have greater options outside of Korea.”
So, it seemed like Ki Tae-jeong was planning to completely erase all traces of himself and frame them as the last struggle of first-class criminals who were probably going to die anyway.
“Those guys who succeeded in the operation thought about it and brought the item to me. Anyone who is interested in the internal affairs of the military will be fully aware that my relationship with Lieutenant Kim is not good. It’s not an awkward flow.”
“Then are these people in prison now? But if they roam around like this…”
“No, I took it from them.”
He casually responded, saying they hadn’t died yet.
Sehwa understood in which context Ki Tae-jeong had planned this. Ki Tae-jeong has emphasized evidence throughout. Even if he didn’t know exactly why, he understood that credibility was crucial for Ki Tae-jeong to achieve his goal.
What frustrated Sehwa was how to implement this plan. Ki Tae-jeong had only given the design plan so far in order to expose the incident. The most important ‘how’ was missing. Even though the ‘how’ was right in front of them, he was not telling him how to enter the building. He speaks nonchalantly as if we can handle it well. Instead of a strategy, he just handed him a few small syringes.
It wasn’t a bunker, and though it was a shelter, how would two outsiders, especially just the two of them, infiltrate a military facility? Moreover, how would they escape? Sehwa was a civilian. Ki Tae-jeong might be a formidable person in combat, but Sehwa was someone who would struggle to defeat even a small thug in the House. Yet, how on earth could they…
“Do the bastards who sell this for money have a conscience or not?”
Ki Tae-jeong had originally wanted to ride in a luxurious car that Sehwa didn’t even know the name of. It was so enticing that even he, who wasn’t especially fond of cars, wanted to touch it. But Ki Tae-jeong seemed dissatisfied with that very thing.
‘It’s excessively luxurious, impractical, and still seems too new among all that.’
‘I don’t think the type of car will be a problem. Criminals also have a tendency to show off.’
Lieutenant Park also suggested thinking again about driving an old car. If Sehwa knew that the destination was a military facility, he probably would have objected.
“Um, Director. Are we really going alone?”
“Lieutenant Park and the others are hacking the surrounding facilities. We have to catch the moment when these guys with unfamiliar faces move around.”
In any case, entering and taking out items from the inside had to be done only by the two of them. Ki Tae-jeong didn’t seem to have any weapons with him. Sehwa glanced at the back seat, but there wasn’t even a bat, let alone a gun.
“We’ll be getting off soon.”
Sehwa craned his neck and looked around. Perhaps it was true that it was an abandoned facility, but there was no strict security like a normal checkpoint. Still, when the sound of a car rolling was heard, several soldiers walked out from inside. Maybe because it wasn’t an unfamiliar car model, they didn’t immediately point their guns, which was fortunate… However, the situation could change in an instant.
Residents outside the Castle, like Sehwa, were well aware of the lines that should never be crossed in their lifetime. Among them, the most fearsome was the military checkpoint. The moment one accidentally stepped on the forbidden line, the soldiers guarding it would crush their skulls without hesitation. Yet, here he was, walking towards a military facility with his own feet, wearing the disguise of criminals who would be shot on sight if discovered.
“On my signal, get off and run.”
Ki Tae-jeong turned off the engine and scanned the surroundings. Soldiers who detected something suspicious exchanged signals among themselves. They seemed to be checking their radios. It shouldn’t be long before they’re firing on this side.
Sehwa tightly closed his eyes. He knew that he had to follow Ki Tae-jeong’s orders, or else he might be killed by Ki Tae-jeong before getting shot by the soldiers… However, he couldn’t move his body.
“Your male face is too conspicuous.”
“…What?”
Sehwa found himself standing at the crossroads of life and death, pondering which path would be better to meet his end—when Ki Tae-jeong suddenly made a ridiculous comment. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sehwa raised his head in response. Even though he couldn’t see Ki Tae-jeong’s face beneath the disguise, he could vividly imagine the expression Ki Tae-jeong was making.
“Since I’ve been wearing this unfamiliar face, you haven’t listened to a single word I’ve said, have you?”
“What…?”
“Should I fuck you once before we go? Then do you think you’ll feel like it’s me?”
“Oh, no!”
If it were someone else, he might not have understood, but it was Ki Tae-jeong. He was the kind of person who could still do such things even in this situation.
“It’s simple. Just follow behind me. And the drugs. How many did I tell you to fill?”
“Five…”
“Okay. I will save your life no matter what, so just do as I tell you. Do you understand?”
Sehwa felt Ki Tae-jeong would kill him right here and there if he complained one more time. Sehwa clenched his fists tightly. An unfamiliar smell of cosmetics came from his tightly bitten lips. He felt like crying for some reason. He didn’t usually cry this much, but somehow, ever since getting involved with Ki Tae-jeong, he had been crying every day.
Ki Tae-jeong put on a radio headset on one ear and tapped it as if checking the volume. Even though the soldiers had similar devices, Ki Tae-jeong’s seemed a bit different. Or rather, he hoped there was some kind of device in the receiver, desperately wishing for his own desire.
“Uhm, director!”
It seemed like Ki Tae-jeong was going to leave the place, so Sehwa suddenly called him without even realizing it. Ki Tae-jeong, who was trying to take something out of his arms, turned his eyes to look at Sehwa. Although Sehwa knew he might get scolded, he still wanted to confirm. If he did, the fear could subside just a little.
“… I… Are you going to save me?”
“…”
“Are you going to take me until the end?”
In fact, what he wanted to say to Ki Tae-jeong the most was, ‘Please don’t abandon me.’
A gaze with unknown intent passed through Sehwa. His unfamiliar face was reflected in Ki Tae-jeong’s eyes, which had changed color due to wearing colored lenses. He also seemed to see himself in Sehwa’s eyes.
His fingertips naturally twitched in the dense silence. Sehwa barely resisted the urge to grab something and scream.
“… Yes.”
Ki Tae-jeong’s lips parted only after their bodies had leaned inexplicably toward each other since they had locked gaze. The silence seemed to bring them closer together. Ki Tae-jeong unlocked the driver’s side door, and even with that little movement, the old car creaked loudly.
The outside sounds, which had been faint until now, poured into Sehwa’s ears as if amplified by a loudspeaker when the car door opened. Wailing sirens, warning sounds, approaching footsteps timed to the heat… Sehwa remembered the scenery of the checkpoint he’d visited three times before. The scent of death he had once smelled there lingered even here. His chest tightened as those memories resurfaced, but Ki Tae-jeong’s words cut through.
“I’ll save you.”
Ki Tae-jeong said in a whisper. The man who seemed the least trustworthy uttered those words, dispelling all the noises of the world as he tapped Sehwa on the shoulder.
“You, I’ll take you with me until the end.”
No matter what his intentions were, it was the confirmation that Sehwa had been longing for.
“Yes. I said I needed evidence.”
Sehwa recalled the story Ki Tae-jeong had told him in the office. Perhaps because he was shocked, he couldn’t act calmly. The memories poured out like scattered puzzle pieces, wandering chaotically through his mind.
‘The point is that Lieutenant Kim supposedly hid something worthless there. The item you take out today will serve as evidence.’
‘Fill exactly five syringes. That’s all. Got it?’
“Are you trying to make it look like these guys joined hands with Lieutenant Kim…”
“No, that would be a configuration error. These bastards just got the information from somewhere. Kim Seok-cheol is a drug addict who makes suspicious drugs.”
That wasn’t particularly hidden. Rumors had spread that the apology box given to Kim Seok-cheol contained drugs, not cash. And it was highly likely to be true.
“They needed a card to negotiate with the military. Since their comrades are all captured and on the verge of being shot, they decide to go on an adventure while hearing a fairly believable rumor. They decided to forcibly take the items Kim Seok-cheol had hidden. They could use this to threaten Kim Seok-cheol’s family. They may even be able to blackmail people in other countries. After all, these guys have greater options outside of Korea.”
So, it seemed like Ki Tae-jeong was planning to completely erase all traces of himself and frame them as the last struggle of first-class criminals who were probably going to die anyway.
“Those guys who succeeded in the operation thought about it and brought the item to me. Anyone who is interested in the internal affairs of the military will be fully aware that my relationship with Lieutenant Kim is not good. It’s not an awkward flow.”
“Then are these people in prison now? But if they roam around like this…”
“No, I took it from them.”
He casually responded, saying they hadn’t died yet.
Sehwa understood in which context Ki Tae-jeong had planned this. Ki Tae-jeong has emphasized evidence throughout. Even if he didn’t know exactly why, he understood that credibility was crucial for Ki Tae-jeong to achieve his goal.
What frustrated Sehwa was how to implement this plan. Ki Tae-jeong had only given the design plan so far in order to expose the incident. The most important ‘how’ was missing. Even though the ‘how’ was right in front of them, he was not telling him how to enter the building. He speaks nonchalantly as if we can handle it well. Instead of a strategy, he just handed him a few small syringes.
It wasn’t a bunker, and though it was a shelter, how would two outsiders, especially just the two of them, infiltrate a military facility? Moreover, how would they escape? Sehwa was a civilian. Ki Tae-jeong might be a formidable person in combat, but Sehwa was someone who would struggle to defeat even a small thug in the House. Yet, how on earth could they…
“Do the bastards who sell this for money have a conscience or not?”
Ki Tae-jeong had originally wanted to ride in a luxurious car that Sehwa didn’t even know the name of. It was so enticing that even he, who wasn’t especially fond of cars, wanted to touch it. But Ki Tae-jeong seemed dissatisfied with that very thing.
‘It’s excessively luxurious, impractical, and still seems too new among all that.’
‘I don’t think the type of car will be a problem. Criminals also have a tendency to show off.’
Lieutenant Park also suggested thinking again about driving an old car. If Sehwa knew that the destination was a military facility, he probably would have objected.
“Um, Director. Are we really going alone?”
“Lieutenant Park and the others are hacking the surrounding facilities. We have to catch the moment when these guys with unfamiliar faces move around.”
In any case, entering and taking out items from the inside had to be done only by the two of them. Ki Tae-jeong didn’t seem to have any weapons with him. Sehwa glanced at the back seat, but there wasn’t even a bat, let alone a gun.
“We’ll be getting off soon.”
Sehwa craned his neck and looked around. Perhaps it was true that it was an abandoned facility, but there was no strict security like a normal checkpoint. Still, when the sound of a car rolling was heard, several soldiers walked out from inside. Maybe because it wasn’t an unfamiliar car model, they didn’t immediately point their guns, which was fortunate… However, the situation could change in an instant.
Residents outside the Castle, like Sehwa, were well aware of the lines that should never be crossed in their lifetime. Among them, the most fearsome was the military checkpoint. The moment one accidentally stepped on the forbidden line, the soldiers guarding it would crush their skulls without hesitation. Yet, here he was, walking towards a military facility with his own feet, wearing the disguise of criminals who would be shot on sight if discovered.
“On my signal, get off and run.”
Ki Tae-jeong turned off the engine and scanned the surroundings. Soldiers who detected something suspicious exchanged signals among themselves. They seemed to be checking their radios. It shouldn’t be long before they’re firing on this side.
Sehwa tightly closed his eyes. He knew that he had to follow Ki Tae-jeong’s orders, or else he might be killed by Ki Tae-jeong before getting shot by the soldiers… However, he couldn’t move his body.
“Your male face is too conspicuous.”
“…What?”
Sehwa found himself standing at the crossroads of life and death, pondering which path would be better to meet his end—when Ki Tae-jeong suddenly made a ridiculous comment. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sehwa raised his head in response. Even though he couldn’t see Ki Tae-jeong’s face beneath the disguise, he could vividly imagine the expression Ki Tae-jeong was making.
“Since I’ve been wearing this unfamiliar face, you haven’t listened to a single word I’ve said, have you?”
“What…?”
“Should I fuck you once before we go? Then do you think you’ll feel like it’s me?”
“Oh, no!”
If it were someone else, he might not have understood, but it was Ki Tae-jeong. He was the kind of person who could still do such things even in this situation.
“It’s simple. Just follow behind me. And the drugs. How many did I tell you to fill?”
“Five…”
“Okay. I will save your life no matter what, so just do as I tell you. Do you understand?”
Sehwa felt Ki Tae-jeong would kill him right here and there if he complained one more time. Sehwa clenched his fists tightly. An unfamiliar smell of cosmetics came from his tightly bitten lips. He felt like crying for some reason. He didn’t usually cry this much, but somehow, ever since getting involved with Ki Tae-jeong, he had been crying every day.
Ki Tae-jeong put on a radio headset on one ear and tapped it as if checking the volume. Even though the soldiers had similar devices, Ki Tae-jeong’s seemed a bit different. Or rather, he hoped there was some kind of device in the receiver, desperately wishing for his own desire.
“Uhm, director!”
It seemed like Ki Tae-jeong was going to leave the place, so Sehwa suddenly called him without even realizing it. Ki Tae-jeong, who was trying to take something out of his arms, turned his eyes to look at Sehwa. Although Sehwa knew he might get scolded, he still wanted to confirm. If he did, the fear could subside just a little.
“… I… Are you going to save me?”
“…”
“Are you going to take me until the end?”
In fact, what he wanted to say to Ki Tae-jeong the most was, ‘Please don’t abandon me.’
A gaze with unknown intent passed through Sehwa. His unfamiliar face was reflected in Ki Tae-jeong’s eyes, which had changed color due to wearing colored lenses. He also seemed to see himself in Sehwa’s eyes.
His fingertips naturally twitched in the dense silence. Sehwa barely resisted the urge to grab something and scream.
“… Yes.”
Ki Tae-jeong’s lips parted only after their bodies had leaned inexplicably toward each other since they had locked gaze. The silence seemed to bring them closer together. Ki Tae-jeong unlocked the driver’s side door, and even with that little movement, the old car creaked loudly.
The outside sounds, which had been faint until now, poured into Sehwa’s ears as if amplified by a loudspeaker when the car door opened. Wailing sirens, warning sounds, approaching footsteps timed to the heat… Sehwa remembered the scenery of the checkpoint he’d visited three times before. The scent of death he had once smelled there lingered even here. His chest tightened as those memories resurfaced, but Ki Tae-jeong’s words cut through.
“I’ll save you.”
Ki Tae-jeong said in a whisper. The man who seemed the least trustworthy uttered those words, dispelling all the noises of the world as he tapped Sehwa on the shoulder.
“You, I’ll take you with me until the end.”
No matter what his intentions were, it was the confirmation that Sehwa had been longing for.
