Translated by Springlila
Ja-kyung took out a bottle of water from the small refrigerator in the room and quenched his thirst. He was tired after walking around late last night. He went with his bottled water and looked down at the man in the corner of the bed. The man was wearing only a pair of underwear and his limbs were tied behind his back, and he had colorful tattoos tattooed all over his body.
Ja-kyung removed the tape covering the man’s mouth and poured water on him. The man weakly opened his eyes and hurriedly drank the water before making a sound. Ja-kyung quickly covered his mouth again with the tape, and muffled sounds echoed within the tape.
When Ja-kyung opened the door and come out, Wang Lun was dividing a bundle of money in a briefcase. After drinking the water, he went to the side and picked up a wad of money, and tossed it into his bag.
“Why are you awake already? Sleep more.”
“I got a call from CEO Kang.”
Wang Lun, who was closing the bag, raised his head.
“You, you didn’t say anything right?”
Before he can answer, the door on the other side opens and Wang Han comes out. There was only one towel dangling from his lower body, which had just been washed.
“Wei. You’re up already?”
“CEO Kang called.”
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“Did you tell him?”
Ja-kyung replied with a puzzled expression.
“Do you think I did?”
“No. If you did, he’d already be knocking on that door with a gun.”
Wang Han shuddered as he remembered the time they had fled and were caught on the island. That scene would occasionally appear in his dreams, and on those days, he would be especially tense. Wang Lun entered the room and dragged the man on the floor with him. The man screamed as soon as he removed the tape.
“What do you want? I’ll give you anything you want! Just say it! I have a lot of money! I’ll listen to anything, please!”
Ja-kyung taped his mouth again. So noisy. His head hurts. After tossing the empty water bottle into the trash can, he unfolded the suitcase for the man. The man was Japanese and the right-hand man of a giant organization. However, he became a wanted man after stealing secrets from his organization and handing them over to Hong Kong.
“Pray a lot. After all, you don’t have much time left to breathe.”
Wang Lun and Ja-kyung carried the man into a travel bag. The man cried tears and let out muffled sounds from within. His desperate eyes, filled with an almost breaking plea, and a poignant voice didn’t match the vibrant tattoos that covered his body.
Ja-kyung stared at the man silently as he closed the lid of the bag and zipped it up. Gradually, the man’s groans and cries subsided. There was no point in leaving a will behind; there was no one to listen to it anyway.
***
On the roof of a tall building, Ja-kyung lowered himself and looked through the telescope at the building opposite the hotel. A little later, Wang Han and Wang Lun entered a hotel room on the 22nd floor. Once they handed over the kidnapped man, it would be over. Just in case, Ja-kyung was waiting on the other side, aiming a sniper rifle.
After spending a few months under Kang Il-hyun’s care, being loved like a pet, Ja-kyung found the sensation of holding a gun strangely unfamiliar. Just half a year ago, he used to commit murders without a second thought. That’s why they call humans the animals of their environment.
He took a piece of gum out of his pocket. Along with the sound of it crackling in her ear, Wang Han’s voice came through.
[Wei. Can you hear me?]
Ja-kyung put the gum in his mouth.
“I can hear you.”
[We’ve arrived now, so get ready.]
“Yeah.”
He looked down as he chewed the gum slowly. Several black cars arrived in front of the hotel. They all went inside at the same time after the unusual figures got off. Ja-kyung drew his sniper rifle and focused his gaze on the scope.
He could clearly see the faces of Wang Han and Wang Lun in the opposite building, who appeared tense.
Drdrdr, drdrdr, the cellphone she had left in her pocket vibrated as if he’s been waiting for it. Ah, of course now. Ja-kyung tried to ignore it, but the vibration wouldn’t stop. When he took it out and check it, it was from ‘My baby’. Ja-kyung threw his phone aside and focused on the situation in front of him as the hotel door opened.
They exchanged greetings for a very short time, and soon the bag of money was handed over to Wang Han and Wang Lun.
Wang Han opened the bag and checked the amount. Ja-kyung focused his attention on each and every movement of the opponent. A brief conversation ensued, and Wang Han and Wang Lun safely exited the room. He looked at the closed door and sighed in relief.
Wang Han’s voice came through the in-ear again.
[Wei. Get out now. Come down.]
Ja-kyung removed the silencer from the gun. Organize the scope and support rod and put it in the bag. Bang! A loud cracking sound was heard. Jakyung sat up. The man who was inside the bag just moments ago now lay on top of the car parked in front of the hotel. Red blood flowed down to the ground, causing a commotion among the passersby.
Boom! An explosion was heard immediately and the building shook. Screams could be heard, and flames could be seen raging in the hotel room where the man across the street was staying. They were ruthless in their treatment of traitors.
Tomorrow morning, the newspapers would publish an article stating that a key figure of a Japanese organization committed suicide in Hong Kong. It was disguised as a suicide, but it served as a warning of sorts. By disposing of the traitor, they instilled fear in the remaining members of the organization. That was how they strengthened their bonds.
He packed his bag, came down the emergency exit stairs, and quickly got into a black car waiting on the road. He saw people crowding around the corpse. He faced the dead man’s face with its eyes open. He wondered what he was about to say.
The car started right away, and fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances were on their way. Ja-kyung turned around to find a bag of money beside him. The money bag seemed to smell like blood.
Looking at the passing police cars, Wang Han whistled softly.
“They’ve gathered like ants.”
“Looks like we’ve made some money, shall we have some fun with the ladies tonight?”
At Wang Lun’s words, Wang Han laughed and pointed behind him.
“You want to see Wei die?”
Ja-kyung frowned. He had no intention to play with women.
“Don’t talk like I’m being held captive.”
Wang Han and Wang Lun giggled.
“But it’s the truth. I didn’t know you had such a sentimental side.”
Ja-kyung scowled as he kicked Wang Lun’s chair. Stop talking, Lun hyung. It wasn’t because he was afraid of Kang Il-hyun, but because he liked him, so he said that he was loyal to him, but their teasing didn’t stop. Ja-kyung reached into his pocket in desperation. Then his eyes widened.
Ah. The phone.
Damn it. He’d thrown it on the ground and left it there.
Going back now would attract too much attention. He would have to wait until tomorrow dawn. Frustrated, he borrowed Wang Han’s phone and tried to contact Kang Il-hyun. But there was no response.
Ja-kyung tried several times, but it was the same. Wang Han, who had been watching, asked with a worried expression.
“He’s not picking up?”
“No…”
Seeing Ja-kyung’s restlessness, Wang Lun chuckled.
“Look at that. He’s being held captive.”
“And who’s responsible for all this!”
Ja-kyung kicked angrily on Wang Lun’s seat again. Ja-kyung initially thought they were just traveling and followed along, but it turned out they had a different agenda. He had unintentionally lied to Kang Il-hyun because of him. He grumbled and made another phone call, but there was no answer despite the signal going through.
***
Upon arriving at the accommodation and packing his belongings to return to Macau, Wang Lun’s phone rang. He checked the number and called Ja-kyung. CEO Kang. Ja-kyung received the call and walked a bit away from the Wang brothers.
[What happened.]
“While shopping… I lost my phone.”
Ja-kyung lied as he looked out the window. In the distance, smoke still billowed from the hotel. The flashing lights of fire trucks and police cars were still visible. He momentarily diverted his gaze elsewhere, and the other end of the line was noisy. There were announcements and such.
“Are you outside?”
[Yeah. At the airport.]
“Why?”
[I’m on my way to Hong Kong. Something came up.]
Ja-kyung paused for a moment and looked back at Wang Han and Wang Lun. They were excitedly kicking up a fuss as if something amazing had happened. Ja-kyung bit his lower lip discreetly.
“Why Hong Kong…”
[One of the clients we were dealing with died.]
“…”
[They said he fell from the hotel.]
Ah, no way.
“What’s the name?”
[Furukawa Daichi.]
Ja-kyung almost let out a sigh at the unexpected response. Sensing that something was amiss from Ja-kyung’s troubled expression, the Wang brothers also noticed and focused their attention on him. Ja-kyung grimaced and shook his head toward them. Wang Lun asked why, but he couldn’t give an answer.
[I’ll go there first and then cross over to Macau. Return to Korea together.]
“…”
When he couldn’t answer right away, Il-hyun called Ja-kyung.
[Lee Ja-kyung.]
“Yeah…”
After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call. Ja-kyung held the disconnected phone against his face and cursed. Wang Lun asked what was wrong, and Ja-kyung tore his hair in despair.
“We’re fucked…”
“Why?”
“I think the person who died earlier is… Kang Il-hyun’s client.”
The two stood up at the same time. What!?
“Damn it. Are you sure?”
“It might not be true.”
Ja-kyung looked at both of them alternately with a despondent expression.
“Even the name is exactly the same.”
“…”
Everyone fell silent. They considered the slim possibility that it might not be true, but the chances of another Japanese man with the same name falling to his death at the hotel today were extremely slim. The ticking of the second hand on the wristwatch felt like a signal announcing death. Wang Lun, the instigator, suggested they just disappear, while Wang Han said that if he really wanted to die, he should go ahead.
In the end, Ja-kyung seemed to have made up his mind and packed his bag.
“First, pack your things. Let’s leave right away.”
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