Chapter 85.2: Prelude (2)

Kang Chan was thinking of eating the jjampong that he had before with Kim Hyung-Jung, but he left his office before dinner.

To someone prepared to die, a week would pass by so quickly that it would feel no longer than a day, especially if they had a family or a person they love.

On his way home, Kang Chan called Seok Kang-Ho.

“You have a suit jacket, right?”

- I’ve cleaned it and prepared it so I can wear it anytime.

“I’m going to go to the funeral home for Oh Gwang-Taek’s men. Do you want to come?”

- Should I wait in front of your house?

“I’ll be at the entrance of the apartment in twenty minutes.”

- Alright.

Kang Chan went up to his house and put on dress pants and a clean shirt, then headed out of the apartment.

Seok Kang-Ho was already waiting with his Chiffre’s emergency lights on.

“Where’s the funeral home located?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“I was told it’s in Sanggye.”

Seok Kang-Ho input the location in the GPS, then immediately left.

What should I do with this fucker?

Kang Chan glanced at Seok Kang-Ho.

“What’s wrong?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“I’m looking at you because that suit doesn’t suit you.”

“Huh? My wife said to be careful of the young bitches that would be running after me.”

Kang Chan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“How’s your father?” Seok Kang-Ho asked again.

“He’ll probably get discharged tomorrow. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t think it was a bad idea. He was just at the hospital out of fear and because he was going through severe aftereffects due to the accidents anyway.”

“That’s a relief.”

This time, Seok Kang-Ho discreetly looked at Kang Chan.

“What?”

“Is something going on? What is it? Be honest with me,” Seok Kang-Ho pushed.

“There isn’t! I just feel down because I’m going to a funeral home with you despite how good the weather is today.”

“Why do I doubt that?”

“After dropping by the funeral home, let’s visit the hospital where the agents that got hurt in Yongin are confined.”

“Sure.”

They arrived at the funeral home after driving for about forty minutes. Starting from the entrance, it was swarmed with guys that, given their looks, could have just as well held signboards that said ‘I’m a gangster!’

Three or four people approached them when they entered the parking lot.

Kang Chan didn’t really want to deal with them, so he got out of the passenger seat.

“Where did you come from?” one of the people asked. He looked at Kang Chan while twisting his lips.

“Welcome, hyung-nim!” Another man urgently ran over from the inner part of the parking lot. Kang Chan didn’t know his name but remembered his face.

“You fuckers! You don’t know Kang Chan hyung-nim?” he asked the others as he arrived in front of Kang Chan.

Damn it!

The men in the parking lot all bowed, making those walking nearby look at Kang Chan in surprise.

The man quickly gestured with his head to help Seok Kang-Ho get out of the car. He then said, “This way, hyung-nim.”

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho followed him down to the basement.

As they descended, Kang Chan remembered that the person they were following was the one who had called people for him when Seok Kang-Ho had been hospitalized because of a neck injury.

It seemed like they were using the entire first floor of the basement. While they were passing the hallway, they saw portraits of the deceased hung up in every partition and people that seemed to be their family members, looking stunned.

“No! Anything but this! Please!!” From far away, they heard the melancholic cries of a mourning old woman.

“Oh Gwang-Taek hyung-nim is inside this room, hyung-nim,” the guy told Kang Chan.

Oh Gwang-Taek was at the innermost partition of the room. When Kang Chan went in, the gangsters inside all stood up and greeted him.

“Oh, I wasn’t expecting you. Welcome,” Oh Gwang-Taek greeted Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho. He looked haggard and had his beard grown out. It looked like it had a mind of its own.

“Let’s sit. Hey! Bring us coffee,” Oh Gwang-Taek ordered one of his subordinates, then took out cigarettes. He bit on one then handed the rest to Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho.

“I made the incident appear as a car accident,” Oh Gwang-Taek told Kang Chan.

What am I supposed to say?

Oh Gwang-Taek looked at Kang Chan, then nodded. “I thought that you wouldn’t come, since you said so many times that you don’t like gangsters.”

“Do you need anything?” Kang Chan asked.

“Just look into the fucker that Cha Yang-Woon brought here.”

“Let’s talk about that after the funeral.”

Oh Gwang-Taek gritted his teeth instead of answering him. It didn’t matter what Kang Chan said. Oh Gwang-Taek was so full of spite that nothing could appease him right now.

Kang Chan sat at the funeral home for about twenty minutes, then left.

Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho then headed to the police hospital. When they went into the patient room that Kim Hyung-Jung had told him about, they found two agents beside their colleague, who had half of his body covered in a cast. One of the two agents had crutches, while the other had a cast on one of his arms. Seok Kang-Ho handed over a fruit basket.

“Please have a seat,” one of the agents offered.

“It’s fine. We can’t stay long,” Kang Chan responded.

“I’m sorry,” one of the agents said.

“Thank you. It’s because of you guys that my father is safe,” Kang Chan said, then walked out of the room. The agents bowed with awkward expressions.

“Where are we going now?” Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan.

“Let’s have dinner and smoke somewhere comfortable. Is there something that you want to eat? My treat.”

“How about eel?”

“Sure.”

They headed to Gimpo. It felt like they were circling around the outskirts of Seoul.

After eating eel until they were full, they sat down at a specialty coffee shop.

“Feeling better?” Seok Kang-Ho asked Kang Chan.

“I’m not angry anymore.”

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“You’re clearly hiding something.”

This fucker was now quick-witted as well.

“Hey, should I sleep with Michelle? Would I become a bit more generous once I relieved everything I’ve been holding in?” Kang Chan asked.

Seok Kang-Ho grabbed a cigarette while grinning, then asked, “See? You’re even changing the subject now. Stop doing that, Captain. Just tell me what’s going on so you won’t have to carry the burden alone.”

Kang Chan just took out a cigarette and bit it.

“Are you thinking of going to Africa, by any chance?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.

“No.”

“If that’s not it, then it’s fine.”

Kang Chan nodded.

***

Kang Chan went home at around 10 pm, and he fell asleep after he talked with Yoo Hye-Sook and washed up a bit.

On Monday morning, Kang Chan called Lanok.

- Mr. Kang Chan, is there a problem with tomorrow’s appointment?

“There isn’t, Mr. Ambassador. I’m calling you to ask you a favor before the meeting tomorrow. I don’t want Anne to know about this.”

- How much time do you need?

“One hour should be enough.”

- Please wait for a moment.

Over the phone, Lanok talked about his schedule with an employee.

- Mr. Kang Chan, I have time to meet you at 1 pm today, although it will be tight. Can you come to the embassy?

“Sure. I’ll see you then.”

After he ended the call, Kang Chan washed up, had an omelet, and headed to the hospital. Yoo Hun-Woo, who had been waiting for him, examined his wounds.

“They look okay. You’ll even be able to shower starting tomorrow,” Yoo Hun-Woo said as he dismissively bandaged Kang Chan’s wounds, almost as if he was just putting a band-aid on him.

“Can my father be discharged from the hospital?” Kang Chan asked.

“Hmm! That should be fine, he doesn’t really need any special treatment. It’s safe to say he can get discharged as long as he’s no longer afraid and has calmed down.”

“He’s going to ask about being discharged later when you see him in the in-person rounds.”

“I’ll explain it to him well.”

After he finished getting treated, Kang Chan went up to Kang Dae-Kyung’s room and found him in a much better state than the day before. Yoo Hun-Woo arrived not long after Kang Chan, and they decided that Kang Dae-Kyung would get discharged.

Kang Chan returned home with Kang Dae-Kyung, then immediately headed to the French embassy. An agent had been waiting for him at the front door. He accompanied Kang Chan to Lanok.

“Mr. Kang Chan!”

“Mr. Ambassador.”

Kang Chan was happy to see him. They greeted each other according to French customs. Kang Chan then sat on the seat that Lanok pointed at.

“What’s going on?” Lanok asked.

“Mr. Ambassador, is this room safe?”

Lanok glanced at Kang Chan, then gestured with his eyes to the agent that had been waiting in front of the door. The agent closed the door, and calm classical music filled the room.

“We’ve blocked nearly all frequencies that are used for wiretapping. Even if someone placed a mic outside, the music would be louder than us, so it would be difficult to catch the conversation. What’s wrong?”

After Kang Chan took a sip of the tea that Lanok recommended, he picked up a cigarette. While the classical music was being played, Lanok, who was sitting with his long legs crossed, listened to what Kang Chan had to say.

“Is that really necessary, Mr. Kang Chan? From my perspective, I find it incredibly reckless,” Lanok said afterward. He had straightened his posture and was looking at Kang Chan.

“I know it’s a difficult favor, Mr. Ambassador, but I can’t just sit on my hands and watch this unfold.”

Lanok looked like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“I’ll give you an answer to your request at tomorrow’s dinner,” Lanok said.

“Understood.”

They stood up from their seats. Lanok’s expression remained extremely grim.

1. Sanggye, or Sanggye-dong, is a neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea