Chapter 11

〈 Episode 11 〉 Part 1 Chapter 1 (10)

“Uh-oh! Sorry I’m late!”

The door opened, and a young man entered carrying a luggage box. Behind him, Seok-pil, the blonde young man, walked in with a pale face and glared at me.

“……”

“……”

Feeling the icy gaze, I slowly turned my head away.

“Um, well… Mister? This is a situation that could easily be misunderstood, so please understand.”

Sang-a gently patted Seok-pil’s hand and tapped his shoulder. Seok-pil, still hunched over, shuffled into the room and let out a heavy sigh everyone could hear.

“…500,000 won to New Seoul.”

“What? Wait. Wasn’t it 150,000 won just now?”

Sang-a’s face showed her confusion. Indeed, they started low and then jacked up the price once we were desperate.

The young man standing next to Seok-pil stepped in front of Sang-a and smiled warmly.

“Calm down, ma’am. You know this business has its own complications. We got a call from some friends in New Seoul saying the military and police movements have gotten strange lately. Like they’re searching for something specific.”

“Maybe they’re looking for a serial killer or something.”

Seok-pil said sarcastically. I silently sipped my tea, which was cheap teabags in a paper cup.

“…Hmm.”

One sip.

“Anyway, doubling the price like this… We’re not digging holes for business here. We told you we only take what we need to survive. The extra 350,000 isn’t profit; it’s necessary expenses. There are a lot of people we need to bribe to get through the back alleys of New Seoul.”

“But this kid doesn’t even have money.”

As Seok-pil sneered, the young man beside him gave him a warning glance and waved his hands defensively at me.

“Ahaha! Student! He’s just bitter, so please forgive him! You, you bastard, weren’t you feeling sorry for her while pitching your sales talk?”

“I don’t know about that. Who knew you’d start criticizing others’ privates?”

“Hey!”

Seok-pil and the young man began bickering. In the midst of it, Sang-a seemed to make a decision and carefully pulled something out of her cloth wrapping.

“…It’s pure gold. Would this work?”

On Sang-a’s palm sparkled a golden ring, sized perfectly for her ring finger.

“Hmm. Well, we do accept physical goods…”

Seok-pil’s eyes lit up with interest. After exchanging signals with the young man, he awkwardly stood up.

“We can’t tell if it’s real. Let’s go check with a jeweler nearby. We wouldn’t want to be scammed, would we?”

“Scam?! How dare you! Do I look like someone who doesn’t have an office? I’m a lawyer—”

“We’re going.”

Seok-pil left, and after hesitating for a moment, Sang-a gathered her cloth wrapping and followed him out.

“……Sorry. That guy’s a bit… prickly.”

The young man laughed and sat across from me. I stared at him for a moment before lifting my paper cup to my lips.

“……”

The young man’s eyes flicked between my lips and the half-empty paper cup.

Well, Phoenix is kind of pretty. With looks surpassing any ordinary celebrity and dressed in a high school uniform, it’s understandable why he feels tense. I used to feel the same way.

“So, did you hear the price? 500,000 won. And the amount of money you currently have…”

“20,000 won.”

“Yeah, 20,000 won. Even as charity, that’s a loss. Not counting what we’ll get from the lawyer lady.”

The young man pulled out a Bacchus drink from the table and popped the cap open.

“If you have anything you can trade for money, fine. But otherwise, no deal. Our business always requires full payment upfront.”

“What should I do then?”

At my question, the young man eagerly flipped over a piece of paper on the table.

“Haa…”

I grabbed the paper with one hand clutching my head.

“‘Contract,’ huh.”

“Well, yeah. It’s basically repaying the shortfall through labor.”

The young man glanced at his wristwatch and fidgeted nervously.

“Ah, not the weird stuff you’re probably thinking of! You know the fast-food place near the terminal? That’s Seok-pil’s shop. You’ll work there to cover the missing amount.”

The young man gulped down more Bacchus, clearly parched.

“Just minimum wage. Eight hours a day, that’s all. If you change your mind midway, we’ll pay you accordingly.”

I sank deeper into my chair, my veil covering my nose.

“And where will I sleep? I don’t even have a place to stay right now.”

“Huh? …Oh, you should discuss that with Seok-pil. If you negotiate well, he might let you stay at the shop.”

“Hmph…”

I closed my eyes tightly.

“Pfff… Pfffttt…”

Ah, I can’t hold it in anymore. Suppressing the giggles leaking out, I pulled my veil tighter.

“Well, sure. If I don’t have money, I’ll work for it. So how much work will I need to do?”

“Oh, with minimum wage… About a week, maybe? I’m not great at math either.”

The young man glanced at his watch again. Feeling somewhat sorry for him, I hid my face behind the contract.

“Excuse me.”

“Hm?”

I lowered the contract slightly to glare at the young man.

“How many fools have fallen for this trick so far?”

“…What?”

The young man’s expression hardened. I grabbed the ends of the contract with both hands and ripped it in half.

Snap—

“Not anymore. How many kids have you duped like this? These days, kids aren’t dumb enough to fall for such tricks. It’s not the ’80s anymore.”

“What are you talking about—”

“Why do you keep looking at your watch?”

At my words, the young man froze mid-action.

“This is… business-wise—”

“Why? Shouldn’t the drug have kicked in by now? Yet you’re still awake, which is odd.”

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“Did you put something in the water? Or the teabag? Oh, maybe the paper cup? Change your methods. If I don’t even touch a drop of water, how do you expect me to ingest your drugs?”

* * *

Sang-a instinctively hugged her bundle tightly and looked around.

“Um, are we really going the right way?”

Following Seok-pil out of the office, the alleyways grew darker with every step. A place where screaming would bring no help.

“We’re here.”

Seok-pil briefly glanced back before pushing open a rusty iron door.

‘What should I do?’

Alone in the alley, Sang-a was deep in thought.

Her instincts screamed danger, but her rationality spoke otherwise.

If she didn’t follow this young man, there’d be no way to reach Busan, where her daughter was waiting. Waiting in line again would only waste more time.

“…Alright. The world isn’t that cruel yet.”

Sang-a took a deep breath, pulled out her self-defense electric shocker from her bundle, and followed Seok-pil inside.

Creeeak—

The heavy gray iron door opened to reveal a small room. Across from Seok-pil sat a middle-aged man polishing his watch.

“What do you want now?”

“To confirm this ring.”

Sang-a sighed in relief and bowed to the middle-aged man.

“Ring.”

The man simply held out his hand. Sang-a placed the small ring onto his thick palm.

“…A wedding ring?”

The man’s voice rose. Sang-a avoided eye contact and simply bowed deeply.

“Hmph. In this world, who doesn’t have a story?”

The man inspected the ring without a word, turning it under the light and checking it with a device. After examining Kim Sang-a’s wedding ring, he picked it up again.

“Seok-pil, it’s genuine.”

“Really?”

Seok-pil perked up and straightened his posture. Sang-a fidgeted her fingers and asked the man.

“Um, how much?”

“Let’s see…30?”

Ah. Sang-a’s face contorted. There wasn’t anything else valuable in her bundle to sell.

The man smirked at Sang-a’s expression and said,

“Don’t be too disappointed. Since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll add 50,000 won.”

The man cheerfully pulled out cash from the safe. Seok-pil grinned as he counted thirty-five hundred won bills, licking his fingers.

“Thank you always. This makes it exact.”

“Yes, thank you very much. Exactly—”

Sang-a suddenly stiffened.

After enduring tough jobs for over a year, her senses had dulled, but in this moment, her first-class lawyer’s instincts sounded a warning.

350,000 won was needed, and now it’s been filled exactly? Do you really think that’s a coincidence?

While Sang-a searched her back pocket, the man approached with the ring.

Of course. Seeing the man’s large hand coming toward her, Sang-a raised her hidden electric shocker.

Just as the man was about to make a move…

“What’s with all the fear?”

The man lifted Sang-a’s left hand and slipped the ring back onto her ring finger.

“Huh?”

“What’s with the surprise? It’s a wedding ring, right? No matter how desperate you are, you shouldn’t sell your wedding ring.”

The man gruffly said while focusing on counting money, then flicked Seok-pil’s forehead.

“Hey, dung-pil. Even if you raise prices, you don’t strip married women of their wedding rings.”

“Ahh! Boss! How were we supposed to know she’s married?!”

“Shut up, damn it.”

Watching the two men bicker, Sang-a exhaled in relief. True, the world may be dirty and tough, but there’s no rule that says it must be hopeless.

“Ah, by the way. This counts as fate. Nice to meet you, I’m Ho-chul Park.”

The man, Ho-chul Park, extended his hand. Sang-a shook it with a smile. Ho-chul’s thick hand was warm.

“I’m Sang-a Kim.”

“Kim Sang-a. Sang-a. What a pretty name.”

Ho-chul grabbed both of Sang-a’s arms, made eye contact, and grinned.

* * *

The young man abruptly stood up. Simultaneously, the door slammed open, and shoulders crept into the room.

“What happened?! The drug isn’t working at all!”

“I told you, this brat seems super sharp.”

“No way! Can’t you see?! She definitely drank the drugged water!”

The last shoulder locked the door.

I turned my head to check the dark-tinted window.

Indeed. Escape-proof bars blocked the window, making it impossible to flee even if I broke the glass.

“Will you answer? I’m genuinely curious how many women fell for this cheap trick and ended up selling themselves.”

“That little brat, listen to her.”

One of the shoulders, bald-headed, clenched his fists and laughed.

“Hey, do you even realize what situation you’re in?”

“Do I? It’s obvious you’re trying to seduce women, slip sleeping pills into their drinks, and then rape them.”

My calm statement twisted the expressions of the young man and the shoulders.

“…Hey, kid.”

“What?”

The bald guy shoved the young man aside and sat across from me.

“If I answer, will you answer one of my questions? I swear I’m dying of curiosity.”

“My heart wants to answer more than one, but sure.”

The shoulder snorted and signaled the young man with his fingers.

“Hey, how many victims have you caught with this brat included?”

“…All total, 69 people, boss.”

“Wow. Jackpot.”

I was genuinely surprised.

“You mean 68 people actually fell for such a moronic plan?”

“That little brat talks like…”

An absurdly funny situation where everyone is mutually astonished. I pointed at the exit door and asked the shoulder.

“Is the lawyer lady also part of your gang?”

“No. That auntie is currently being taken care of by Seok-pil and the others… Wait, what am I even saying? Hey.”

The bald guy got up from the sofa and leaned over the table, almost breathing on me.

“Now, let me ask you something. What makes you think you can sass us like this?”

“……”

I quietly raised my finger and ignited flames above the shoulder’s face.

Whoosh.

The bald guy flinched and quickly pulled his face back.

“Is this what you trust?”

The fire orb circled my finger. The shoulders, despite retreating a step, were laughing.

“Huh?”

“So, this is your bottom line, huh?”

The eyebrow-singed shoulder began swelling up. His already massive body doubled in size as the surrounding henchmen joined in cheering him on.

“Boss! Be careful!”

“Don’t tear off anyone’s arm like last time! My lifelong dream was to get a handshake from a high school girl!”

“Whoaahh!”

Watching the youth unleash his unfiltered true nature, I gave him a disdainful glance before meeting eyes with the bald giant whose head nearly touched the ceiling.

“Uh, can we pause? I need some thinking time?”

“It’s too late, you wench.”

The bald guy’s fist charged toward me.